Former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ilya Solovyov is back on waivers after the Pittsburgh Penguins made him available Friday.
Solovyov made Pittsburgh’s opening-night roster but has yet to play this season. If he clears waivers Saturday, the Penguins can assign him to their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Colorado claimed Solovyov off waivers from the Calgary Flames on Oct. 3, 2025. He scored his first NHL goal with the Avalanche on Jan. 10, finding the net in a 4-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Solovyov after capturing his first NHL goal.
His stay in Colorado was brief. Ten days after scoring his first NHL goal, Solovyov was traded to Pittsburgh. The Avalanche received forward Valtteri Puustinen and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Colorado later used the pick to select Shawn Carrier.
Solovyov Has Yet to Play This Season
Solovyov appeared in 14 regular-season games for Pittsburgh after the trade, recording five assists. He also played three games in the playoffs before the Penguins were eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Across his time with Colorado and Pittsburgh, Solovyov played 30 NHL games last season. He finished with one goal and seven assists while averaging just under 13 minutes of ice time per game.
His next move depends on whether another team claims him. If he goes unclaimed, Pittsburgh can send him to the AHL, where he would have a chance to keep playing while waiting for another NHL opportunity.
The Penguins have also welcomed forward Bryan Rust back to the lineup. Rust missed the start of the season with an upper-body injury suffered during a preseason game against Buffalo on Sept. 26. He returned Wednesday against the Washington Capitals.
Solovyov has already spent time with Calgary, Colorado and Pittsburgh. With his latest waiver placement, he could soon be looking for an opportunity with a fourth organization.
ST. LOUIS -- Dillon Dube missed practice on Friday and is doubtful to play for the St. Louis Blues on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a neck injury.
"We're just being precautionary, MRIs on his neck," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. "He went into the boards there awkwardly in the first minute of the game, I think it was. Obviously a tough kid that played really well for us in the minutes that he played. Scored a big goal that should have been the game-winning goal for us. We haven't gotten the results back yet.
"I'd say doubtful (for tomorrow), but I can't rule him out. He's got a lot of Western Canadian in him. He's going to rub a little dirt on the neck and he'll be fine."
Dube played in his third straight game and recorded his first goal in the NHL since Nov. 16, 2023, and should he miss Saturday, look for Zach Dean to move into his spot and play on the fourth line alongside Pius Suter and Ross Johnston.
What does Montgomery need to see?
"Tenacity, speed, physicality, relentlessness on pucks and starting to develop habits of our structure, where to stop, where to go, routes to be run," Montgomery said. "It's really early for him and we're trying to get him as many reps as we can so he can use his God-given speed to his advantage."
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As the top flight returns, armed with the knowledge its serial champions have been the authors of a 10-year sham supremacy, the first question is simple: how is it going to feel?
The internet: an apology. It turns out you were right. It was actually a simulation all along. Now, talk to me about chemtrails again. And yes, maybe Vinícius Júnior has been replaced by a handsome, baffled-looking waxwork.
Welcome to the weirdest weekend of them all. We are now post-judgment, post-statement, postlapsarian. As the Premier League prepares to snap back into what must be described, out of habit, as reality, armed with the knowledge its serial champions have been the authors of a 10-year sham supremacy, the first question is fairly simple. How is it going to feel?
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: Jordan Goodwin #23 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after scoring against the Golden State Warriors during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 111-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fourteen months ago, Jordan Goodwin was a waiver claim. He was fighting for a 14th roster spot.
Now he’s one of the first guys every Suns fan points to when somebody asks what changed in this building. Dillon Brooks gets the lion’s share of credit, and deservedly so. But Jordan Goodwin’s impact should not be discounted.
His energy, effort, and overall attitude every time he steps between the lines is contagious. And he’s only getting better.
Rewind: Shams reported the Suns would keep the 6’3″ combo guard for the 2025-26 season after he won a training camp battle, with guard Jared Butler believed to be his main competition for that final spot. This was after Butler had a monster preseason, and some Suns fans questioned the decision. A year later, he agreed to a three-year, $19 million deal to stay in Phoenix in June 2026.
Suns fans know by now… it’s no secret. Some national people know, but not to the extent they should. He is not talked about enough. And he certainly needs to be in the conversation about being an All-Defensive team guy. Because he is, and should have been last year.
"He's a real one."
Jordan Goodwin on Collin Gillespie pointing out Goodwin didn't receive a vote for NBA All-Defensive teams.
Said that motivated him to make one of those All-Defensive teams this season.
In Detroit, Goodwin put up seven points on 3-of-6 shooting, six rebounds and three steals in just 11 minutes. Two nights later in Chicago, he had five points, six steals, three rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes off the bench.
That is nine steals and nine rebounds in 27 total minutes. I’ll repeat that.
Nine Steals and Nine Rebounds in 27 minutes.
This was no preseason fluke either… Suns fans know this is what he does. Goodie led the Suns with 106 steals last season, averaging 2.4 steals per 36 minutes (almost the most on the team).
He plays way bigger than 6’3”. At times, it feels like having an extra forward on the court.
Goodwin was second on the team with 136 offensive rebounds and was one of five guards in the league who averaged more than two offensive boards per game. Against the Pistons, three of his six rebounds came on the offensive glass. He is perhaps the best rebounding guard in the NBA, especially if you filter that to 6’3” and under.
Crashing the glass. Swiping the ball. Diving for loose balls. Deflecting passes. Pressuring ball-handlers. He truly does it all.
Through 2 games, Jordan Goodwin is now averaging 5.3 ORB and 12.0 steals per 36 😭 https://t.co/6AFQCU35tM
— Sam Cooper #GetOffMyMeaterson (@scooperhoops) October 8, 2026
And now, the shot is falling. The offensive value feels like a bonus at this point. He is no longer just a defensive specialist. He is making teams pay for leaving him open. He can handle the ball and make plays for others when needed.
I will not stop writing about how much they missed him against the Thunder in the playoffs.
Stop calling him a glue guy like it’s a consolation prize. He deserves just as much credit as Dillon Brooks does for turning the culture around in Phoenix. The Suns got a bargain of a deal to bring him back, and I’m glad they locked him and Collin Gillespie up at the prices they did before they hit the open market.
Jordan Goodwin remains criminally underrated to many, but not to anyone paying attention.
PHOENIX, AZ – NOVEMBER 2: Jordan Goodwin #23 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on November 2, 2025 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 05: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice before game two of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on October 05, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good afternoon everyone, we’re back for the latest edition of the mailbag, our first since the end of the Yankees season. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
jmack175 asks:What are the chances MLB changes the postseason format and re-seeds after the wild card round? Kinda dumb that the top two teams are playing each other after the wild card round is finished. A Tampa vs. Yankees series would be better as the final battle for the AL in a 7-game series.
I agree that the current format leaves a lot to be desired, with one of the glaring flaws being that in years such as this, when talent is so heavily concentrated in one division at the expense of the other two divisions in a particular league, you end up with the best teams all on one side of the postseason bracket, while the teams that made it in by default on the other side duke it out for a pass to the ALCS.
I’d imagine there are quite a few fans that would like to see change, and well, it seems like the league agrees. MLB’s latest proposal to the MLBPA reportedly includes a 154-game season, a seven-game division series, and allowing the higher seeds in each league to choose their opponents. Under this system, the three seed would get to choose their Wild Card round opponent, and then the number one seed would get to choose its division series opponent between the two Wild Card winners. This format isn’t at all perfect; if it was in place this year, for example, the third-seeded 81-81 Astros would’ve gotten to choose their first round opponent, and the Yankees still would’ve likely been left to play the Red Sox in the opening round. However, such a format also would have probably led the Rays to choose the White Sox as their Division Series opponent, letting the Yankees face the Guardians, and leaving the possibility of the Rays-Yankees ALCS that would’ve felt much more fitting given those were the top two teams in the AL all year.
Though I think this proposal would be a step in the right direction, I’d prefer the league go even further, and just seed the playoffs in order of record. It felt pretty silly to see the literally .500 Astros earn a higher playoff seed than a Yankees team that won 12 more games during the regular season. You could structure this in a way that still preserves some of the sanctity of the divisions themselves, by allowing the three division winners in, plus the three Wild Cards, and seeding those six teams by record. If MLB is to let 12 teams into its postseason tournament, I think this is the best way to seed it.
Don Hood writes in:What has bothered me the most all season long is the lineup. I wrote into Pinstripe Alley several weeks ago remarking how I thought Lombard should be installed as the leadoff hitter. He gets on base, can steal a base, can cause distraction for the opposing pitcher, is fast at taking the extra base, etc. Last night, in the elimination game, Grisham, a horrible example of a leadoff hitter, went 0-5 with three K’s. Lombard, on the other hand, had two hits and a walk, on base three times. Absolutely time for change.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone that agreed with Aaron Boone’s decision to move Trent Grisham to the leadoff spot in the order. I’m something of a Grisham apologist, and I’ll note that before he got hurt in June, Grisham had a .332 wOBA a robust .360 expected wOBA, but it was clear before Boone penciled his name on top of the card on Wednesday night that that version of Grisham was nowhere to be found.
But the other half of Boone’s decision in Game 3, that of moving Ben Rice into the two slot out of the leadoff spot, made sense. Without Aaron Judge, Rice is the Yankees’ best hitter, and though it’s tempting to just bat your best hitter first to guarantee the most at-bats, you need to balance that desire with actually getting your best hitter in position to do maximum damage. To wit, Rice hit two home runs in Game 2, but with no on base. That game could’ve gone completely differently if men were on when Rice went deep, and the odds of the Yankees getting runners on ahead of Rice were higher with him hitting second behind a competent hitter.
Of course, a compromised Grisham does not look like a competent hitter, so that all leads to another question: who should have batted lead off? As Don notes, George Lombard Jr. could’ve been a reasonable option. Lombard has speed, and though it was just five games, he got on base at an excellent .368 clip in the playoffs.
That said, Lombard’s overall offensive numbers this season were nothing special, and it’s a lot to ask of the rookie to slot into the leadoff slot, especially without the platoon advantage, as he was on Wednesday (though for my money, I think Lombard might be a quality choice to lead off against lefties as soon as next Opening Day). Elsewhere, the choices still aren’t clear. Luis García Jr. is an excellent hitter against righties, but he’s not a guy who gets on base, and is better served lower in the order. The likes of Anthony Volpe and Jose Caballero have speed but just not nearly enough offensive juice to warrant hitting leadoff.
I think there’s a safe choice, and then a wild card choice here. Cody Bellinger is either the Yankees’ second or third-best hitter with Judge out, and has the inverse skillset as García; Bellinger gets on base at a solid rate and has less power than Garcia. I would’ve likely penciled Bellinger in ahead of Rice on Wednesday. I do, however, want to highlight a sneaky option… Austin Wells. Though he made the baserunning blunder that may be the single moment that’s most remembered from this Yankee postseason, he put together some of the strongest at-bats of anyone in the lineup not named Rice in these playoffs. He’s also posted a .377 OBP and 143 wRC+ against righties post All-Star Break.
I’m not saying I would’ve done it, but the Yankees have experimented with Wells leading off before. He’s not the prototypical leadoff man, but since getting healthy this year, he’s been locked in against right-handed pitching. Maybe it’s something the Yankees can toy with again in 2027?
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 28: Jabari Walker #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex on September 28, 2026 in Camden, New Jersey. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Much of the conversation around the Philadelphia 76ers this past offseason rightfully surrounded the pair of high-profile additions entering the starting lineup. However, the depth of the roster will also play a critical role in the Sixers achieving their goal of making a deep playoff run. One of the guys comprising the bench unit is Jabari Walker, who was on a two-way contract last season before being converting to a standard deal in February. The organization signaled their stamp of approval of Jabari during the offseason, opting to free up needed cap space by sending a second-round pick to Los Angeles in order to move Johni Broome’s contract, rather than waiving Walker, whose contract is only guaranteed up to $250k until January.
Walker has demonstrated thus far during preseason play that the front office made the right call. He has played excellent minutes off the bench in both games, recording a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds against the Knicks, and tallying eight points and seven rebounds against Brooklyn. Head coach Nick Nurse offered praise for Walker’s performance on Monday:
“He’s kind of been playing with a little bit more confidence this week. Just feels like he’s ready to pull the trigger, and certainly he goes in and snaps down rebounds. … On the perimeter shot just kind of looks like he’s maybe over a hump on when he’s got space, he’s going to take them, which is where we want him because he’s a really good shooter. So it’s good if he can provide space and rebound, he’s going to be on the floor.”
New teammate Jaylen Brown also spoke Monday in favor of Jabari’s play:
“I love Jabari. Jabari’s been great. He’s been awesome. He’s been doing his job. He’s been hitting shots. He’s been rebounding defensively and offensively. He’s been doing what the coaches have asked him to do. So he’s been great, and he’s been doing really well since training camp.”
Back on Media Day, Walker spoke to his comfort level in being here for his second season, playing under Nurse again with many of the same teammates:
“I know what Nick wants now. It’s pretty simple. You just have to do what’s right for the team. When you’re open, shoot the ball, make the right play, and the guys that we have are willing to do that. We have a great group, so just makes my job easier. I know that there’s no second guessing when I’m open. Coach is confident in me to do the right thing, so I know that I have to focus on the things, and it’s ultimately going to help the team. So me being selfish with shooting the ball when I’m open opens the court up for everybody. So when I think about it like that, then it’s exciting because you know that you’re an important piece to something that’s special.”
The shot will certainly be a swing skill for Walker, after shooting 33.7 percent from behind the arc last season on low volume. How well he shoots the ball could determine the extent of playing time Jabari receives because the opportunity is there, particularly in the wake of Ariel Hukporti’s season-ending Achilles injury. The Sixers are thin at the center position now, with Joel Embiid and Adem Bona the only true fives. Bona is currently out with what’s anticipated to be a minor foot injury, and Embiid will obviously miss games throughout the season due to load management (if hopefully nothing else). Walker is one of the players Nurse has mentioned as a small-ball five option, which is the role he has assumed across both preseason games with Bona out (and Embiid also sitting against the Knicks). On Media Day, Walker described how he’d like to establish his ability to play multiple positions:
“Yeah, I think I’ve showed bits and pieces of me being able to do it. I haven’t put it all together, which is exciting for me because I know where I have to improve. But I think I have the physicality to guard the five. I have the feet to guard the one. So there’s flashes of it, but I think this year I just want to put it all together and know what I’m looking for. Setting the right screens at the five and extending my range. I think my shot is feeling better. It’s looking better right now. So being able to be a real threat at the five and have that pop option and that just opens up the floor. So I know they’re not going to respect it right away, and I’m looking forward to proving them wrong and just being more of a threat.”
The chemistry built among the Sixers’ starting five and how healthy they can remain over the course of the long NBA season will be the driving forces in determining Philadelphia’s success this season. The contributions from the second unit and beyond will also play a role, though. Right now, Walker looks ready to play his.
The Buffalo Sabres road to repeating as an Eastern Conference playoff team this season appeared challenging, not only because of the departure of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram would put more onus on the Sabres youngsters being able to fill the void, but also because a number of clubs looked to be better on paper. After two weeks, some of those teams are proving that evaluation is closer to reality.
The Florida Panthers, who the Sabres will host on Monday afternoon in the finale of their five-game homestand, are an unbeaten 2-0-2 and second in the Atlantic, in spite of losing team captain Aleksander Barkov and veteran winger Brad Marchand to injury.
The Ottawa Senators are tied for the lead in the Atlantic with a 3-1 record, which is somewhat surprising after the departure of Brady Tkachuk, but newcomer William Eklund suffered a severe ankle injury in a 2-1 win over Philadelphia that is expected to keep him out an extended period, while Tampa Bay is 3-1 after a 3-2 victory over Minnesota on Thursday with backup Dennis Hildeby making 34 saves.
Boston has started strong with a 3-2-0 record and throttled the Sabres opponent on Saturday, the Utah Mammoth, 6-0 at TD Garden on Thursday, while the Toronto Maple Leafs stole a point against the Vegas Golden Knights, thanks to a 40 save performance from Sergei Bobrovsky. The Leafs are 2-2-1 to start the season and Auston Matthews appears to be fully healthy for the first time in three years.
The big surprise is the New York Rangers, who lead the Metro and the East with a 4-1-0 record. The Montreal Canadiens are surprisingly struggling at 1-2-1 and are behind the Sabres by a point, and will have to battle the next month without star forward Ivan Demidov. Buffalo has two more games on their five-game homestand before finishing October with seven of the next eight games on the road.
What occurred last year, when Buffalo was in last place in the East in early December and finished atop the Atlantic Division is not likely to be repeated. The Sabres will need to stay within range early in the season to remain in the mix for the postseason.
One story that former Lakers guard Nick Young shared during his appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” podcast earlier this week paints Bryant in a completely new light.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) during a game between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Toyota Center on April 10, 2016, in Houston. Bryant plays in the last road game and second to last game of his NBA career. USA TODAY Sports
“Kobe was cool, though. I remember, people don’t know, at the beginning of the season, Kobe [has], like, a party for the team to get together. [He’d] have a stripper party. Yeah. Like, a little stripper party,” Young said.
“But, he taught me a little bit of swag, cause he had a party—had the bottles, and the girls come. And then he’ll leave. Like, you just won’t see Kobe no more. He’ll be like, ‘Hey man… I got y’all a little something something.’ We go upstairs, we see the strippers and stuff. Then Kobe like, ‘Y’all have fun and leave out.’ I was like, ‘Man, thank you!'” he added.
Nick Young talking about Kobe Bryant throwing a “stripper party” for the Los Angeles Lakers. (YouTube/@Club Shay Shay).
Young’s comments make it sound like Bryant didn’t partake in the parties himself, instead creating them for his teammate before fleeing the scene.
The Mamba is recognized as not only one of the greatest basketball players to ever grace the court, but also one of the most driven, focused players in history.
Kobe Bryant (24) of the Los Angeles Lakers looks back in the first half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center in Los Angeles, April 13, 2016. Getty Images
MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 24: Hyeseong Kim #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers tags out Brice Turang #2 of the Milwaukee Brewers at second base during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Dodgers and Brewers meet in a best-of-seven NLCS beginning Sunday night in Milwaukee. The Brewers already won four out of seven regular games against the Dodgers this year, but in the regular season. While last year showed us the regular season and postseason are different — Los Angeles lost all six games to Milwaukee before sweeping them out of the NLCS — there are some potential takeaways from the 2026 regular season matchups.
In seven total games, the Dodgers outscored the Brewers 27-25, with both teams averaging under four runs per contest. In five of the seven games, the losing team scored one or two runs.
Only two games saw one of the teams score more than five runs — on May 23 in Milwaukee, the Dodgers had five extra-base hits and broken open a one-run game with seven runs in the eighth and ninth innings combined; and August 16 in Los Angeles, the Brewers scored a pair of runs in the ninth inning to get to six in the their last regular season tussle of the year.
The Dodgers hit just .188/.291/.335 in these seven games, while the Brewers hit just .228/.313/.307.
Of the Dodgers seven home runs, three were hit by Andy Pages and two by Max Muncy. Teoscar Hernández homered once and hit .375/.444/.500 in seven games against Milwaukee. William Contreras hit two of the Brewers’ three home runs against the Dodgers, hitting .304/.360/.565 in his six games.
Milwaukee on the season stole 162 bases, fifth-most in the majors, with a 75-percent success rate, which will be something for the Dodgers to watch. But the Brewers only stole two bases in seven games against the Dodgers, and was caught three times. Notably, Milwaukee in the regular season did not face Tyler Glasnow or Blake Snell, the Dodgers’ two starting pitchers most susceptible to running.
Pitchers you will see in the NLCS
The likely starting pitchers of the first two games of the NLCS were all very effective in Dodgers-Brewers games this season.
Jacob Misiorowski struck out six and allowed one run in a win at Dodger Stadium on August 15, a game you might recall as Charley Steiner’s first full game broadcast on radio this season. Misiorowski has a 1.59 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 17 innings over three games against the Dodgers, including Game 3 of last year’s NLCS.
Tarik Skubal allowed only two runs (one earned) with seven strikeouts in six innings against the Brewers on August 16, but took a tough-luck loss.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto won both of this starts against Milwaukee, with 12 strikeouts and two runs allowed in 13 innings. Logan Henderson won both of his starts against the Dodgers, with 13 strikeouts and one run allowed in 12 innings.
Whether Justin Wrobleski makes the cut remains to be seen. In two starts against Milwaukee this regular season, Wrobleski allowed nine runs in 11 innings, including three home runs, and lost both games. Emmet Sheehan is another option should the Dodgers opt for a bulk pitcher in this round.
Four Brewers regulars — Jake Bauers (140 OPS+), Brice Turang (124 OPS+), Garrett Mitchell (112 OPS+), and Christian Yelich (91 OPS+) — all bat left-handed, as does Sal Frelick and David Hamilton. Should the Dodgers opt to carry more than three left-handed relievers, either at the expense of one of the five right-handed relievers who were active in the NLDS or adding a bulk pitcher, Jack Dreyer struck out four of his eight Brewers batters faced in the regular season in two appearances and 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
If the last week was the regular season, Austin Reaves would’ve been on the court with his Lakers teammates sooner than Thursday.
But the reality is that it’s still the preseason – and will be for another 1 ½ weeks, and two more games.
Lakers star guard Austin Reaves is back. Getty Images
Which meant there was no need for the Lakers to rush their star guard back onto the floor after he suffered a minor ankle injury during practice last week.
“There was a chance he might be able to play in either of those games in Northern California,” Coach JJ Redick said of Reaves ahead of the Lakers’ 114-110 win over the Kings at Crypto.com Arena. “We knew it’d be sometime this week.”
Lakers star guard Austin Reaves (15) hardly missed a beat during his preseason debut. NBAE via Getty Images
Reaves made his long-awaited preseason debut in the Lakers’ preseason home-opening win over the Kings, providing the first glimpse of how the team’s starting backcourt will look with the team built out around him and superstar guard Luka Doncic.
And he hardly missed a beat, dishing out 8 assists and grabbing 5 rebounds in 25 minutes during a night in which he struggled with his shot (8 points on 2-of-7 shooting).
“Obviously very nice to have Austin out there,” Redick said. “He did a great job [of] play-making and played overall just a nice floor game.”
But Thursday was the first time Reaves shared the court with many of his new Lakers teammates – from Quentin Grimes and Kevon Looney (both of whom started on Thursday) to Sandro Mamukelashvili and Matisse Thybulle.
“They were awesome,” Reaves said about his teammates. “Matisse has been great, Mamu was great, Jake’s been really good. Could go down the list. Very excited with what we have.”
The Lakers are hoping to get a better look at their entire team in one of their final two preseason games before their regular-season opener against the Warriors on Oct. 21 in Los Angeles.
Ziaire Williams, who’s competing for a spot in the starting lineup, has sat out of the last two games, while Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton have yet to make their preseason debuts.
Austin Reaves threw multiple lobs to second-year forward Adou Thiero. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Redick said Kessler, the Lakers’ 7-foot-2 marquee free-agency acquisition this offseason, will play during the preseason.
He also responded “no” when asked if there was a concern about Sexton not being ready for the regular-season opener.
The Lakers have two more preseason games: Tuesday vs. the Warriors in Las Vegas and Oct. 16 vs. the Nuggets in Los Angeles.
There’s clear direction for the Lakers over the next week outside of having more rotation players healthy and available.
“It’s just continuing to build chemistry and compete on the defensive end,” Reaves said. “I thought we’ve done a really good job, especially the guards, like I said, Matisse, Ziaire have been really good, Jake [LaRavia] as well, Adou [Thiero], [of] putting pressure on the other team’s best players but being able to keep the ball in front as well, not getting blow bys.
And if we do, [the] low man being there. But it’s kind of easier to dial that back instead of telling people not to pressure the ball when we want them to pressure but be smart while doing it. Like I said, it’s mostly just chemistry stuff.”
SACRAMENTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Houston Astros manager Joe Espada, right, presents Yordan Alvarez with a championship belt after defeating the Athletics 9-0 to win the American League West during an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
81-81 FINAL RECORD; AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST DIVISION CHAMPS
IN THE STANDINGS: The Astros finished the regular season in first place in the AL West with an 81-81 record, topping the second-place Rangers by 1.0 game. The Astros clinched their division on the final day of the regular season with a strong finishing kick, as they went 4-2 in their final six games, all on the road, to overtake the Rangers for the division title.
IN THE POSTSEASON: The Astros made their 19th postseason appearance in club history in what was the 65th year of the franchise that began in 1962. This season marked the 14th time in club history for the Astros to enter the postseason as a division winner. The Astros have won three different divisions in their history, the NL West (1980, 1986), NL Central (1997-99, 2001) and AL West (2017-19, 2021-24, 2026).
SINCE 2015: After a one-year hiatus, the Astros were back in the postseason this year for the 10th time in the last 12 seasons (2015-26). The Astros join the Dodgers and Yankees as the only teams in the Majors to qualify for the postseason in at least 10 of the last 12 years (since 2015).
POSTSEASON VETS: Since 2015, the Astros have played more postseason games (107) and earned more postseason wins (62) than any other AL club. The Astros are 62-45 in that span for a .579 winning pct. in the postseason.
THE WILD CARD ROUND: The Astros played in the Wild Card round for the fourth time in their postseason history. The Astros are now 3-4 all-time in the Wild Card round, dispatching the Yankees in the one-game playoff in 2015, sweeping the Twins in the 2020 Wild Card Series and getting swept by the Tigers in 2024 and the White Sox in 2026.
ABOUT THE WILD CARD SERIES: The Astros were swept in the Wild Card Series by the White Sox, losing Game 1 by a score 6-3, and losing Game 2, 7-3. The Astros out-homered the White Sox, 4-2, including one each by SS Jeremy Peña and 2B Jose Altuve. The Astros had several big performances out of their bullpen in the series, including impressive 3.0-inning appearances by RHP Miguel Ullola and RHP Peter Lambert.
AT THE HELM: Astros manager Joe Espada has guided the Astros to the postseason in two of his three seasons as the Astros manager since taking over before the 2024 season. Espada has posted a 256-229 regular season record in his three years as the Astros manager and ranks ninth in club history in managerial wins.
SLOW AND STEADY RECOVERY: After starting the season 20-31 after 51 games, the Astros went 61-50 (.550) in their last 110 games (starting on May 22). Their record since that date ranked fourth in the AL, trailing only playoff teams, the Red Sox (65-48), Yankees (63-47) and Rays (65-49).
LEAD PROTECTORS: The Astros went 70-0 when leading after 8.0 innings on the season. They were one of just four clubs that did not lose a game when leading after 8.0 innings, along with the Rays (85-0), Diamondbacks (72-0), and Rangers (70-0).
ROAD WARRIORS: The Astros posted a 42-39 record on the road, which was three games better than their home record (39-42), giving the Astros their sixth straight season with a winning road record. Houston started the season 1-9 on their first road trip before rebounding for a 41-30 (.577) road record after April 14.
MEASURING UP: The Astros went 29-26 (.527) against teams that finished with a winning record, with that winning percentage ranking fourth in the Majors, trailing only the Rays (40-28) in the AL. The Astros had winning records against five eventual playoff teams, the Cubs (3-0), Red Sox (5-1), White Sox (5-2), Guardians (4-2) and Phillies (2-1).
SILVER BOOT SECURED: The Astros finished their season series with a 9-4 record against the Rangers, securing them the 2026 Silver Boot. The Astros have now won the Silver Boot in 10 consecutive seasons (every year since 2017), during which the Astros have gone 102-55 vs. the Rangers.
GOIN’ DEEP: The Astros hit 226 regular season homers as a team this year, which were the most in the Majors. The last time the Astros led the Majors in home runs was in 2000, when they hit 249 homers. The 2026 Astros also led the AL in SLG (.417) and OPS (.732).
20-HR CLUB: The Astros had five players reach 20 home runs this season: DH Yordan Alvarez (42), 1B Christian Walker (29), 3B Isaac Paredes (25), SS Jeremy Peña (22) and RF Cam Smith (21). They were one of just three teams in the Majors to do so, along with the Braves (5) and Cubs (5).
TWO-OUT MAGIC: The Astros led the American League in two-out runs with 324 on the season, trailing only the Cubs (333) in the Majors. 3B Isaac Paredes was the driving force behind this, as he led the Majors in two-out RBI with 46.
UP TO THE CHALLENGE: Astros hitters were third in the AL in successful ABS challenges with 93 (in 185 chances). Among individual players, Jose Altuve had 21 successful challenges on the year, the most in the American League.
ABOUT THE ROSTER: The Astros used 28 different position players and 31 true pitchers for a total of 59 players used in the 2026 season. They used 19 different starting pitchers, a franchise record.
THE LINEUP: The Astros used 156 different lineups in their 162 games, repeating a lineup just six times on the season. DH Yordan Alvarez had the most starts at any spot in the lineup among Astros, hitting second 147 times.
ANNUAL HOUSTON BBWAA AWARDS: The Houston Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America announced the 2026 Astros award winners as below:
• Astros MVP: Yordan Alvarez
• Astros Pitcher of the Year: Peter Lambert
• Astros Rookie of the Year: AJ Blubaugh
• Darryl Kile Good Guy Award: Bryan Abreu
• Fred Hartman Long and Meritorious Service to Baseball Award: Brent Strom
On Friday, the Knicks announced the tabling of all extension talks until after the season begins, putting aside the pressing issue of possible new deals for star players including Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart.
One of the biggest obstacles in running back the same team that ended the Knicks’ 53-year championship drought over the summer is avoiding the severe penalties that come with exceeding the NBA’s salary cap.
The Knicks, Warriors, Suns, Magic, Timberwolves and Thunder are the teams over the first apron, which alone carries some restrictions. Only the Nuggets are over the second apron.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts after making a 3-point basket next to Washington Wizards center Deandre Ayton. AP Photo/Adam Hunger
A team with a payroll above first apron, which in 2026-27 sits at just over $209 million, can only acquire players via sign-and-trade if they move them below the apron. It also must match salaries within 110% of the outgoing salary as compared to the usual 125%, and cannot sign any waived players during the regular season if that salary surpasses the midlevel exception.
The second apron sits at around $221.6 million for this season, and the limitations get more strict, impeding a team’s ability to make trades, sign big-name free agents and select the most desirable players in the first round of the draft.
New York Knicks owner James Dolan celebrates after defeating the San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA Championship during Game 5 of the NBA Finals at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, Saturday, June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Per the NBA’s CBA, should a team hit the second apron:
• It will not be permitted to combine the contracts of multiple outgoing players to match the salary of a player they’re trading for.
• It will lose their right to the midlevel exception that allows over-the-cap teams to still sign free agent players.
• Its future first-round draft pick will be frozen and thus cannot be traded, and there will be no cash considerations in their trades. That future frozen first-round selection will also automatically drop to the end of the first round, regardless of season performance, if the second apron is exceeded in two out of four seasons.
To put it simply, surpassing the second apron makes it extremely difficult for a team to build on its success and develop sustainable superteams, which certainly helps the league with parity, but doesn’t make players particularly happy as teams are often forced to make difficult decisions on high-value players.
That is exactly what the Knicks are facing right now.
Towns has a $61 million player option for next season and is eligible for a new four-year contract worth up to $276 million. The Knicks have offered Towns around $200 million, and while Towns is willing to take a pay cut as teammates have before him, he has made it clear that the two sides remain far apart.
To discuss an extension after October 19, Towns would have to decline his 2027-28 player option. Should Towns pick that up next season, adding in Hart’s player option and even if team options for Tyler Kolek and Pacôme Dadiet are declined, the Knicks are just $21 million under the second apron threshold with eight players locked in, and 14 total are needed.
Knicks owner James Dolan said over the summer that he would not go past the second apron, even in an effort to bring back the championship-winning team in full.
Center Mitchell Robinson left for Boston on a three-year deal, and now several stars are eligible for extensions. This week, Bruce Brown, in Knicks camp on a tryout, expressed displeasure with how the second apron restrains teams from paying the mid-tier players.
“The new CBA is good for max guys, new free agents and rookie extension guys. The middle guys, it kind of sucks for us. There’s not a lot of people getting that full mid-level,” he said.
The NBA released a statement pushing back on similar claims, stating that “annual salaries have increased by nearly $1.3 billion resulting in pay increases of approximately 30% for all classes of players.”
The second apron helps owners by making it appealing to stay under the limit, but players are hurt when they find their teams can no longer pay them what they want or deserve, and might be forced to look elsewhere.
The Senators may be getting one injured forward back just as they lose another for an extended period.
Following Friday's practice, Travis Green provided some encouraging news on Andre Burakovsky, who's getting close to making his Senators debut. The veteran winger could potentially return to the lineup as early as Saturday as the Nashville Predators visit.
Unfortunately, the news wasn't nearly as positive for William Eklund.
Jake Sanderson, who scored the winning goal on Thursday, talks about the 2-1 with over Philadelphia (Senatos YouTube).
The Senators confirmed that Eklund suffered an ankle injury in Thursday night's 2-1 home-opening victory over the Philadelphia Flyers and will be sidelined for an extended period.
Eklund was injured in the first period after a hit from Flyers defenceman Simon Benoit and awkwardly jamming his skate hard into the base of the boards. He needed assistance getting off the ice and was unable to put any weight on his left leg.
It's a disappointing development for the 24-year-old, who was just beginning to settle into his new surroundings. Acquired from the San Jose Sharks during the offseason, Eklund was expected to be a major contributor to the Senators' top six this season.
With Eklund now out of the picture for the foreseeable future, Burakovsky's potential return couldn't come at a better time. Whether he's ready to play Saturday remains to be seen, but the fact that it's a possibility is certainly encouraging.
Enforcer Kurtis MacDermid was also back on the ice after missing much of camp and the early part of the season.
On the other hand, defenceman Artem Zub was not out there on Friday as he continues working toward his return. Zub has yet to make his regular-season debut after dealing with an injury dating back to last April. He opted for rehab, which has turned out to be an extended one, and it remains to be seen whether that was the right choice.
There were also a couple of other interesting notes at practice.
Defenceman Hoyt Stanley is still here, while Cameron Crotty (illness) was not at practice.
Crotty has been pressed into service early in the season because of the injuries to Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub and has provided some steady minutes in a depth role. But since he was sick, Stanley was called up from Belleville in the middle of the day on Thursday, giving the Senators another option as they figure themselves out, health-wise.
Sanderson has been sidelined since suffering an injury in the season opener against Toronto, Zub has yet to play, and Crotty is sick. Now Eklund faces a lengthy absence.
For a team that has already had to make a bunch of lineup adjustments, getting some healthy bodies back can't happen soon enough.
New Jersey Devils forward Stefan Noesen has cleared waivers after being placed on Thursday afternoon.
The 33-year-old appeared in the Devils’ first two games of the 2026-27 season, averaging 7:24 of ice time per game. He was recently removed from the lineup in favor of 27-year-old Jesper Boqvist.
Noesen, a first-round pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, has recorded 83 goals and 175 points in 484 career NHL games. His 2025-26 campaign was limited to 38 games because of injury during which he registered three goals and seven points.
The winger enjoyed a career-best season in 2024-25 with New Jersey, scoring 22 goals and recording 41 points.
Noesen returned to New Jersey in July 2024, signing a three-year contract worth $8.25 million, carrying an average annual value of $2.75 million. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
Throughout his NHL career, Noesen has played for the Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, and Devils. He also won the Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League in 2022.
With Noesen clearing waivers, the organization announced they loaned him to the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League.
The Comets are scheduled to host their home opener Saturday night against the Rochester Americans at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Utica enters the matchup with a 1-0-0-0 record after defeating the Providence Bruins in its season opener on October 2.
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Marcus Smith’s return from injury offers hope but Quins appear a fragile side beset by entrenched problems
Speak to anyone who holds Harlequins close to their heart and a word that often comes up is “fragility”. Fragile in defence against Gloucester last weekend but mentally fragile too. The scars of recent seasons are deep and the problems entrenched. A club that is famed for its swagger has, in short, lost its mojo and the more you pull back the curtain, the longer it appears it will take to return.
A caveat. It would be oh so very typical of Harlequins to swashbuckle their way past Sale Sharks on Sunday but in many ways, that feels like part of the problem. During pre-season Harlequins set themselves the target of following in the footsteps of Exeter, who finished ninth two seasons ago before reaching the final last June. As Marcus Smith pointed out, it was not so long ago that Quins were seventh in January with only two wins and champions five months later. But in the eyes of supporters, these former glories, these roadmaps out of their current malaise are doing little but masking the extent of the problems, offering but false hope.
