PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 16: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns looks to pass the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz on October 16, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
And that’s all she wrote on the 2026 Phoenix Suns preseason.
The dress rehearsal that took place Friday night against the Utah Jazz was one you walk away from feeling pretty good about. The starters played three quarters, and Phoenix held a 95–90 lead heading into the fourth. That’s an encouraging sign, especially considering how many people around the league believe the Jazz are poised to leapfrog the Suns in the standings this season, with years of tanking and accumulating young prospects finally putting Utah in a position to make some noise.
Against a Jazz team that possesses an unbelievably large front line, the Suns did a spectacular job attacking the glass, forcing the issue on the interior, and executing in the manner we’ve come to expect from this version of Phoenix Suns basketball. It certainly didn’t hurt that they shot 13-of-28 from beyond the arc through three quarters, good for 46.4%. If Phoenix can shoot anywhere near that effectively on a consistent basis, this team is going to be dangerous.
But what stood out was the collective effort across the board. Dillon Brooks finished with 18 points, as did Jalen Green, while Devin Booker added 16. Khaman Maluach earned the start and contributed seven points and 12 rebounds, while also getting Jaren Jackson Jr., who scored 17 points, into foul trouble.
Is there still plenty of work to do? Absolutely. There’s work to be done every day, especially for a team like the Phoenix Suns, one that will have to fight for everything it earns throughout the upcoming season. But if Friday night showed us anything, it’s that this is a team willing to fight.
Bright Side Baller Standings
Ryan Dunn won in a landslide for his performance against the Spurs.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Preseason Game 5 against the Jazz. Here are your nominees:
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 05: Kyle Kuzma #18 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the preseason NBA game at Fiserv Forum on October 05, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The question that’s stuck on everyone’s lips like a remnant of American cheese after a gluttonous stop at the drive-thru, “How will the Milwaukee Bucks trim their roster to 15 by opening night?”, continues to bemuddle Bucks fans. We mostly agree on removing the dead wood, but there’s reason to keep that around too. We don’t want to take the easy way out and cut Pete Nance—he’s such a good guy!—but will if we have to. And we definitely don’t want to bite the bullet on youth (or do we?). So, a combination it is.
Combo meal, please
Yes, with 34% of the vote, it appears Bucks fans are more inclined on some veteran/youth/path-of-least-resistance combination to sort out the roster crunch—but just what that desired combination looks like isn’t the same for everyone:
naveed2000s: I voted combo. I think it’d be easiest for it to be Nance and Bogo, but not having a guard be one of the cuts just seems wrong… We have a lot of fat that needs to be trimmed in the next year. So start trimming.
Jo Ma: Sadly Trent is untouchable. LeVert is the obvious candidate to be waived, Nance can get a two way, so he is around for another year.
Gerald Knox-van de Camp: I’d pay Caris LeVert what the Bucks owe him, and gratulate him upon his retirement. I bet he’d probably take it, too. This young Bogo is just not going to make it this side of the Atlantic.
This promotion has expired
Outside of combo meals, 34% of fans think it’s time a certain long-in-the-tooth promotion expired. Kuz, that’s you:
MKE: At this point I don’t care if Kuzma could be traded. I don’t want to watch a minute of him playing on the Bucks. Dump him.
Theshackman: It is possible that Kuzma is included in a trade given his expiring deal, but I still think he gets bought out at the deadline and signs for the minimum with a desperate, old, underperforming playoff team… whatever team most resembles the Bucks of the last few years. Then he might be done in the NBA.
retired janitor: However, if it was me. LeVert and Kuzma are given the opportunity to find new homes sooner rather than later. In fact, I think the organization would be doing each guy a solid. Kuzma contract has some strange unlikely incentives attacked to it, that makes it harder to trade to teams near the apron. Thus the odds of him being traded in the other team looking for cost cutting is greatly reduced.
Then again, maybe that’s more wishful thinking than anything else:
Gerald Knox-van de Camp: If some wannabe playoff contender seriously considers the player here in question to be the acquisition which will help them achieve their hopes, I would suggest as being much more helpful a quick and lasting visit at their local Alcoholics Anonymous Chapter.
Secret menu saviours?
While roster cuts seem the only solution at this point, some fans think there’s still time to customise their boxed meals. That is, make a trade:
toasterrebound: Kuzma and Herro for Michael Porter Jr. Nance a 2 way.
BUCKWILD: Trade 1, Memphis get Kuz expiring, LeVert expiring and AJ Green. Brooklyn gets Jerimi Grant, JJJ and a 1st from Memphis ( most favorable between Clev, Utah and Minn) for getting 2 expiring contracts and we taking on 2 yrs of Grant. Milwaukee gets MPJ and GG Jackson.
Trade 2, Orlando gets Herro expiring ( they need more shooting)and Jordan Poole expiring. New Orleans gets Turner, Suggs and future 1st from Orlando (for getting a better shooter and moving a bloated Suggs contract. Milwaukee gets Trey Murphy and Wendall Carter.
While these may seem optimistic, you never know. What you doknow is that Horst isn’t leaving any line uncalled.
There you have it, Brew Hoopers, the full buffet of roster-trimming items, as voted by you. With just days until rosters have to be finalised—they must be set by 4:00 p.m. CT October 19—we don’t have long to find out who will be cut from the menu.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Aaron Ashby #26 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates after recording the final out of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Aaron Ashby did not have his best season in 2026. He pitched a ton: he tied for sixth in the league in appearances, and only Houston’s AJ Blubaugh surpassed his 87 bullpen innings this season (Ashby added another 2 1/3 innings in one appearance as an opener). Ashby’s 89 1/3 total innings are his most in a season since 2022, when he was primarily a starter; he’d only thrown 95 innings in the big leagues total since a shoulder injury cost him the entire 2023 season. That much action — arguably overuse — sapped Ashby’s effectiveness a little bit from 2025, when he was one of the best relievers in baseball:
Ashby was evolving, though, and underlying metrics suggest he wasn’t actually a lesser pitcher in 2026 despite more walks and a slight downturn in results. His “Stuff+” metrics, which attempt to put a number on how “nasty” a pitcher is, mostly held in 2026; his sinker and slider, two of the best pitches in the majors in 2025, were a little worse, but his curveball and changeup were both a little better. His Statcast profile in 2026 shows just as much red as it did in 2025; in both seasons, Ashby ranked among the elite in ground ball percentage and barrel percentage. In 2026, Ashby was in at least the 88th percentile in all of expected batting average, expected ERA, whiff percentage, and strikeout percentage — all higher than last season. His average fastball velocity was up a tick, from 97.4 to 97.7 mph.
So, while Ashby’s ERA was a run higher and an increase in walks created occasional problems, Ashby’s stuff was just as good as it was the previous season, in about 40% more innings. Watching Ashby was not always a comfortable experience this season — his command would come and go, and his 10.7% walk rate was higher than in any previous season — but his pitches were essentially as hard to hit as ever.
Maybe it should not have been a surprise, then, what we have seen from Ashby in the postseason.
Ashby pitched in three of four games against the Padres in the NLDS. He went multiple innings in two of those three outings, and picked up a win in the Game 4 series clincher when he went three scoreless, hitless innings to bridge the game from starter Robert Gasser to the big guns at the back of the bullpen, Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill. In those three games in total, he pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowed two hits and two walks, didn’t allow a run, and struck out five.
In the sweep of the Dodgers, Ashby also pitched in three of four games. In a tight Game 1, Ashby pitched the seventh and eighth in a one-run game and allowed only a walk. He picked up saves in Games 2 and 4, and his Game 4 performance — he pitched the final three innings, and twice, with the tying run on third with one out, got out of the jam — will go down in Brewers lore. His full numbers against the Dodgers: 6 2/3 innings, two hits, one walk, six strikeouts.
Through two series, Ashby has pitched in six of Milwaukee’s eight games. He has totaled 12 1/3 innings; he has a win, two saves, he’s allowed four hits, three walks, and no runs, and he’s struck out 11.
This run is getting into historic territory. There’s a whole other series to go, and who knows what will happen, but: there have been only 26 instances in the history of the postseason where a pitcher went at least 12 innings with an ERA below 1.00. If you want to drop the ERA down to zero, where Ashby’s currently sits, there are only six others:
Ken Dayley, who pitched 12 shutout innings in nine appearances for the 1985 Cardinals
Mariano Rivera, twice, in the Yankees’ World Series runs in 1998 and 1999
Another Yankee, Hall of Famer Goose Gossage, in 1981, who had six saves in 14 1/3 innings
Cody Allen, during Cleveland’s run which ended in their Game 7 loss to the Cubs in 2016, had 10 scoreless appearances that totaled 13 2/3 innings and six saves
Finally, a surprising name: John Rocker, who didn’t allow an earned run in 13 innings in the 1999 postseason (but who did allow two unearned runs)
Ashby is already at or near the innings pitched totals of all of these guys. He’s in relief ace territory at this point, and there’s a real argument that he should’ve won NLCS MVP; the cinematic nature of Jake Bauers’ exploits in the series probably clinched it for him, but Ashby was certainly just as deserving.
Ashby’s work in this postseason so far reminds me of two other players from the not-so-distant past. The first was another well-regarded prospect who didn’t work out as a starter but who became, briefly, a shutdown reliever and a major figure of the postseason: Andrew Miller. By the time he was 26, Miller had been a top 10 prospect; he’d already thrown almost 300 big-league innings in a variety of roles, and he’d been traded twice — once as the linchpin of one of the biggest trades of the 2000s, when the Tigers traded him and others for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. Miller struggled as a starter but finally found success in his seventh season when he became a full-time reliever; over the next five years, Miller was as good as any relief pitcher in baseball and played a major role on several postseason teams. The 2016 campaign was the most magical, though: in 19 1/3 innings across 10 appearances for Cleveland, Miller allowed three runs (a 1.40 ERA), struck out 30 batters, and walked only five. For his entire postseason career, Miller allowed just four runs in 38 2/3 innings, giving him a lifetime 0.93 postseason ERA.
The other player I’m reminded of is Wade Davis, yet another big-time prospect who failed as a starter but who finally clicked as a full-time reliever. Davis was drafted by the Rays, but it didn’t work out there; he was traded to Kansas City in the James Shields trade, but had a disastrous 2013 season as a starter. In 2014, the Royals put him in the bullpen… and over the next four seasons, Davis had a 1.45 ERA in almost 250 innings. In the 2014 postseason, Davis allowed one earned run and struck out 20 in 14 1/3 innings across 12 appearances as a setup man, including 10 innings of a 0.00 ERA across the ALCS and World Series. The following season, when Kansas City won it all, Davis did not allow a run in eight appearances; he struck out 18 and walked three in 10 2/3 innings, the Royals won every game he pitched in, and he earned four saves and a win.
From a storyline standpoint, I remember Davis and Miller dominating the postseason discussion for those three years in the mid-2010s. The idea that the role of starting pitchers in the postseason was diminishing was still quite new at the time, so it was a big deal that you had these guys coming in and mowing everybody down. They just felt like the most dangerous weapons in their respective playoff runs. Miller came up a game short (and indeed, two of the three runs that Miller gave up in that 2016 postseason run came in the Cubs’ Game 7 triumph), but Davis is forever etched into the history of Kansas City baseball.
Ashby might already be there for the Brewers; even if things don’t go particularly as planned in the World Series, few will forget his heroics in the first two rounds. But for a guy who, like Miller and Davis, didn’t work out as a starter, and for a guy who had not had a good postseason career before this season (in 10 appearances across three seasons, he had a 7.71 ERA in 9 1/3 innings and as many walks as strikeouts), Ashby has written himself into the Milwaukee record books. If he can keep it going in the World Series, he just might join a truly elite list of postseason relief runs, the likes of which have only been seen a handful of times.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 15: A general view of Progressive Field during Game Three of the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, October 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
There is, unfortunately, no baseball to be had today (Saturday). But the 2026 MLB Playoffs will continue on Sunday with Game 5 of the American League Championship series between the visiting Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians.
As usual, I am writing this in the past, which means I do not yet know the outcome of Game 4. And neither team has announced a starting pitcher as of this time. But either way, the game will start at 5:00 p.m. PT on Sunday, airing on TBS/HBO Max, with national radio coverage available on ESPN Radio.
I think we’ve all weighed in on who we want to win this series, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s who we want to win this game. Personally, I hope this series goes a full seven games so the winner is tired going into the World Series, because it’s a rare year that my rooting interests are for the National League team. But after sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers, I think the Milwaukee Brewers have more than earned our support.
But that’s just my opinion. Who are you rooting for in Game 5?
THE DODGERS LOSE! THE DODGERS LOSE! THEEEEEE DODGERS LOSE! (I know that was John Sterling’s phrase, but I respectfully enjoyed — I mean, borrowed it)
And Cleveland is still up two games to one after Friday’s game was rained out. Game 4 tonight. Things get better and better! (except it doesn’t involve the Cubs)
It’s been a confusing time. After spending season after season getting stabbed in the heart by the Brewers with every great hit and great play, it has been entertaining to sit back, watch and enjoy the team that Milwaukee has built. Sigh. The Cubs’ front office has had the same relaxing opportunity to watch the organization this month and maybe there will be a change in the acquisition and the development process of the Cubs’ players to whatever the Brewers have been able to accomplish. It is getting old feeling like, “Wow, the Cubs have A good pitching prospect,” or “Hey, at least the Cubs have A COUPLE of good hitting prospects.” Nothing against Pedro Ramirez and Matt Shaw, but wouldn’t it be nice to have of a couple of potentially great prospects that are occasionally and successfully battling for a starting spot, than going, “Well, we think XXXXXX might be the better of the two”, and be some level of wrong every time?
Heh. I went to look for Friday’s articles and there was one that heavily covered what I mentioned above, plus added some tidbits in a better way than I did.
Honestly, if I had read these two articles, including this, I wouldn’t have written all that up above! Here’s an excerpt:
“On the whole, using various Statcast measures, you can see how the Cubs rate out as having an almost average collection of pitching prospects, and below average hitting.“
I appreciate your reading.
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
The two articles I linked above:
Tony Andracki (CHGO.com): 3 lessons Cubs can learn from MLB playoffs. “As the Brewers continue to make waves in the MLB playoffs, the Cubs can take some lessons from around the league this fall.”
Randy Holt (North Side Baseball): Javier Assad Remains the Cubs’ Ultimate Swiss Army Knife. “Whenever Javier Assad wasn’t on the Cubs’ big league pitching staff in 2026, everybody should have been asking “Where’s Javier Assad?”.”
Sam Caulder (North Side Baseball): Matthew “Nominal Cubs Ace” Boyd’s 2026 Season Was A Tale of Two Halves. “Matthew Boyd finished the season with respectable numbers, but his 2026 campaign was more complicated than the surface stats suggest. Here’s what went right, what went wrong, and what it could mean for his future in Chicago.”
Brett Taylor (North Side Baseball): Good to See Alex Bregman Continuing to Heal, Talking About Hitting. “Come for the look at Bregman’s vastly improved face, stay for his thoughts on how important a pitcher’s vertical attack angle (i.e., how low they can release from) and extension are.”
Jason Ross (North Side Baseball): Could Kaima Taira Be the Next NPB Star in Chicago? “Kaima Taima will probably be posted this winter. Should the Cubs consider the reigning ERA champion of Japan in their search for pitching help?”
I’ve been following this guy and his hitting demonstration online. His presentation is kind of captivating. He has hit against multiple “HOFers”, RHP and LHP, from different slots. He played small college ball, so it’s not like he’s the next big thing — he just shows how unhittable these guys were. The Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson presentations have been my favorites so far. The funny thing is how the comments blow up because when he’s talking to the camera, his back is to the machine, which is on, and it looks like he’s going to get nailed by half of the pitches. But not yet — at least he hasn’t posted it. 😀
Lizzie Douglas (June 3, 1897 – August 6, 1973), better known as Memphis Minnie, was a blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter whose recording career lasted for over three decades. She recorded around 200 songs, some of the best known being “When the Levee Breaks“, “Me and My Chauffeur Blues“, “Bumble Bee”, and “Nothing in Rambling”. When she was seven years old, she and her family moved to Walls, Mississippi, south of Memphis, Tennessee. The following year, she received her first guitar as a Christmas present. She learned to play the banjo by the age of 10 and the guitar by 11, when she started playing at parties.
In 1910, at the age of 13, she ran away from home to live on Beale Street in Memphis. She played on street corners for most of her teenaged years, occasionally returning to her family’s farm when she ran out of money. Her sidewalk performances led to a tour of the South with the Ringling Brothers Circus from 1916 to 1920. Performers from the Mississippi Delta and other regions combined a mixture of dance rhythms, melodic phrasing, and storytelling of Black rural culture, all of which are elements that are audible in Minnie’s early guitar and vocal work. By adapting and reshaping this style, she became one of the performers who helped define the emerging country blues for later generations. She then went back to Beale Street, with its thriving blues scene, and made her living by playing guitar and singing, supplementing her income with prostitution.
This needs multiple angles!I got “Ghostbusters” vibes!
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 12: Kris Letang #58 of the Pittsburgh Penguins blocks a shot by Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on March 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who:Pittsburgh Penguins (3-4-1, 7 points, 6th place Metropolitan Division) @ Vegas Golden Knights (7-2-0, 14 points, 1st place Pacific Division)
When: 10 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Locally televised game on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and SCRIPPS, streaming for out of market at ESPN+
Pens’ Path Ahead: The road trip continues Monday in Salt Lake City. The Penguins then have two days off before returning to Pittsburgh for a three-game homestand, starting Thursday against the Florida Panthers.
Opponent Track: The Pens are about to take on one of the hottest teams in the NHL. The Golden Knights have won six of their last seven games, most recently including consecutive wins over the Nashville Predators and Calgary Flames in which the team outscored their opponents by a total of 11-4.
Season Series: The Penguins won’t have to wait long for another meeting with the Golden Knights, which are coming to Pittsburgh Nov. 3.
Hidden Stat: Only the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers have spent a higher percentage of their game time in the offensive zone than the Golden Knights so far this season, according to NHL Edge.
Hidden Stat II: The Penguins haven’t won on the road against the Golden Knights since January 2022, when Jason Zucker, Teddy Blueger and Jake Guentzel led the Pens to a comeback victory.
Getting to know the Golden Knights
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Mark Stone
Brett Howden – William Karlsson – Mitch Marner
Trevor Connelly – Tomas Hertl – Raphael Lavoie
Braeden Bowman – Nic Dowd – Marc Gatcomb
DEFENSEMEN
Brayden McNabb / Shea Theodore
Jeremy Lauzon / Rasmus Andersson
Noah Hanifin / Dylan Coghlan
Goalies: Carter Hart, Adin Hill
Potential scratches: Ville Heinola, Parker Wotherspoon (week-to-week, upper body)
Injured Reserve: Victor Olofsson
Season-ending LTIR: Alex Pietrangelo
Parker Wotherspoon won’t be reuniting with his former teammates tonight. The Golden Knights announced Monday the defenseman is week-to-week with an upper body injury after starting the season on the team’s second pairing alongside Rasmus Andersson.
The Golden Knights’ top power play unit of Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Tomas Herl and Shea Theodore has been dangerous so far this season. Vegas is one of seven NHL teams that has converted on more than 25 percent of their power play opportunities so far this season.
Carter Hart has made the bulk of starts for the Golden Knights so far this season. After a rocky 18-game campaign last season he has a .911 save percentage and 2.35 GAA through six appearances in net.
Mark Stone is heading into tonight fresh off a natural hat trick in the third period of the Golden Knights’ win over the Flames. He has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his first nine games of the season.
Jack Eichel is second only to Connor McDavid for the NHL production lead with 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) through nine games. His latest tally was a shorthanded strike against the Flames.
The Penguins will need to be alert early. Brett Howden scored the eighth-fastest goal in Golden Knights history when he opened scoring just 25 seconds into Thursday’s game.
Egor Chinakhov was a late scratch ahead of Friday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Penguins said he’s being evaluated for a lower-body injury. If he can’t skate tonight, Ville Koivunen could slot into the lineup again in his place.
Sergei Murashov is likely slated for the start tonight after Arturs Silovs made 27 saves on 32 shots from the Avalanche.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a foul ball against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning in game four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the third consecutive October Friday night, there was no Major League Baseball to be watched on television. While that is not entirely the fault of MLB — last Friday was empty because of the LDS series not going the distance, and last night was due to a rainout — the league could do a much better job with their playoff schedule. Matt Gross has written approximately 38 articles on this topic if you’d like to research further. Without any storylines coming out of Cleveland on Friday, let’s go back to the Dodgers.
After winning 100 games in 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers entered the playoffs as the odds-on favorites (better than 50% chance) to win the NL pennant and were far and away the favorites to win their third consecutive World Series. After a four-game sweep by the Milwaukee Brewers, it’s amazing how quickly the “dynasty is over” narrative has emerged.
At the same time, the Dodgers have myriad star/core players past their prime. As Buster Olney outlined today:
“Freddie Freeman is 37, Muncy is 36, Betts is 34. Ohtani is 32. Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Edwin Diaz, Teoscar Hernandez, Will Smith, Tommy Edman are all in their 30s. Many are on the downslope of accomplished careers.”
Personally, I think they’ll be just fine. The greatest baseball player of this generation, and maybe ever, was a shell of himself due to bicep and knee injuries in these playoffs. Tarik Skubal is a free agent, but the Dodgers barely put a dent in their farm system with who they traded for him. Their prospects are still in the top five in baseball. Josue de Paula has arrived and will be ready to contribute in 2027, with fellow outfielder Mike Sirota right behind him. Whether Andrew Friedman and company choose to move any of these prospects for major league help, or blend the kids with the veterans, will be fascinating to watch. And, of course, if there isn’t a salary cap, they will have plenty of money to throw at their problems.
Is the Dodgers dynasty in the rearview, or will this be a minor blip for the team of the 2020s? Discuss in the comments and be good to each other.
The Rugby League World Cup began with a sense of mission improbable for England, but after one game, it already represents something more like mission impossible.
The talk pre-tournament from Brian McDermott had been about being different. Going against the grain of how the national team has played against the world’s best and falling short; having a creative spark that would be significant in crucial moments. For all the talk of change, the most important thing of all remained the same in Perth on Saturday: the result.
The Atlanta Braves have already made some moves this offseason, according to the transaction log. Most notably, infielder Brett Wisely was selected to the major league roster. Outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett, and infielder Luke Williams elected free agency.
Given his limited big league experience, the decision to add Wisely to the 40-man gives the Braves the option to use him in a later transaction. Atlanta will have plenty of decisions to make as it looks to improve the roster for 2027, and these early moves are a reminder that the team is already working to create flexibility for what comes next.
More Braves News:
Tate Southisene reached base four times in the recent Arizona Fall League matchup. More in the minor league recap.
MLB News:
Game 4 of the ALCS has been postponed to tonight due to inclement weather. Game 5 is slated for Sunday evening.
From the Feed:
Braves special assistant Martin Maldonado is headed to the Detroit Tigers as a quality control coach.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Luguentz Dort #0 of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a portrait during media day at PC&E Atlanta on September 28, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks made several additions to their team during the offseason, but there was none bigger than acquiring Lu Dort. After lacking consistent depth in the wing department last season, the Hawks made an effort to improve that area, and Dort ended up being a big key in improving the roster.
Coming from a championship team, Dort will bring a lot to the Hawks as they look to continue setting their eyes on building a contender. Not only will Dort bring his defense, but he has the experience that most of the young guys on the team will need.
Defense is Dort’s calling card, and that’s where he’ll help the Hawks in a major way. A former All-Defensive player, Dort can take on about any matchup on the floor, and that’s going to make Dyson Daniels’ job even easier. When Dort, Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are on the floor, teams may have a hard time getting an easy bucket on the perimeter.
Dort’s versatility on defense can also allow Quin Snyder to go into some smaller lineups if he wants to, especially since he can stretch the floor.
On offense, Dort doesn’t have the biggest variety of skills, such as shot creation, but his IQ is going to put the Hawks in some good positions on the floor. On the Thunder, Dort was able to get most of his 3-point shots from the gravity of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and it’ll be interesting to see if he can get those same shots with the Hawks. Outside of that, Dort knows how to make the right play on the court, and that’s only going to make the team better.
The one thing that many people have wondered is whether Dort will be inserted into the starting lineup, since that was his role with the Thunder. As much as that could be a valid question, it’s more important who finishes games instead of starting them. There could be a lot of scenarios where Dort could finish games with the Hawks, especially if they need 3-point shooting. In that case, it may be better to have him in the games rather than Daniels.
The Hawks’ starting five already has a lot of chemistry, and it doesn’t look like there are any plans to switch things up as the season approaches. That also probably isn’t a problem for Dort, who seems to be willing to do whatever he can for the betterment of the team.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Dort was the first player off the bench for the Hawks, and he can be slotted in for any player Snyder would want to take off the court at that moment. That’s how much of an impact he could have on the team this season, and there’s no doubt he makes the Hawks a better team.
The numbers reflect a promising individual night for the 30-year-old defenceman, who finished with three shots on goal, three blocked shots, one hit and a power-play assist while skating 31 shifts. Raddysh was on the ice for Marchenko’s first goal at 13:10 of the opening period, when he and John Tavares set up the right winger’s finish that gave Toronto a 2-1 lead. That assist extended Raddysh’s point total to four in eight games this season.
Yet the Leafs (3-3-2) could not hold a 4-2 advantage heading into the third period. Buffalo (4-3-1) scored twice in a span of just over two minutes to tie the game before Owen Power won it at 3:14 of overtime on a feed from Jack Quinn. Toronto managed only four shots in the third period after generating 15 and 11 in the first two frames, respectively. Overall, the Sabres outshot the Leafs 35-30.
Raddysh told The Hockey News after the game Thursday that the Leafs felt good entering the final regulation period after controlling play and forcing turnovers earlier.
“I just think we sat back a little bit. They’re a good rush team and take great chances from our mistakes. And I think when we saw that in the third period there, we just kind of sat back and let them come at us.”
He described the shift in approach as the difference between the first 40 minutes and the third.
“We made a mistake by sitting back. We just can’t give them an inch, and we kind of gave it to them. The first two periods, we played in their end, made them make the mistakes and give us the puck, and we kind of did that in the third period for them.”
Prior to the third, Raddysh felt the Leafs’ defensive structure was effective when they stayed aggressive and used their skating.
“Just trying to get up in the rush, trying to move our feet and defend with our feet and be skating,” he said. “We did that good. They were turning the pucks over to us and flipping them out to us, and we were just going right back at them.”
HOW COULD YOU EVER DOUBT THE SABRES DOWN TWO HEADING INTO THE THIRD PERIOD
MATTIAS SAMUELSSON IS THE GREATEST GOAL SCORER WE'VE EVER SEEN
“Not the result we wanted, but learn from your mistakes and get better for next game,” he said.
The Leafs host the New York Islanders on Saturday.
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Through nine games, the Philadelphia Flyers are the worst offensive team in the NHL, but the good news is that they could get a big boost from their top prospects if and when they deem necessary.
As we have been harping on for the better part of two weeks, the Flyers at least partially put themselves in this position by their own doing.
Top winger prospect Alex Bump was a healthy scratch just four games into the season, and soon after he was replaced by veteran Michael Bunting on the NHL roster.
Meanwhile, Bump, since being sent down, has recorded a goal in each of the four games he's played in for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Overall, the 22-year-old has five goals, two assists, and seven points in four AHL games this season, and is quickly proving to the Flyers that his demotion was a mistake.
Surging alongside Bump is 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko, who did not make the Flyers' NHL roster out of training camp for the first time in three seasons since being drafted.
Jett Luchanko taking a major leap?
Jett Luchanko is finally producing offense, which has long been a question mark in his game. (Photo: James Guillory, Imagn Images)
The 20-year-old is quickly finding his groove in his first professional season, having already tallied a goal - his first as a professional player - and five assists in six games for the Phantoms.
In 14 AHL games across parts of two seasons, Luchanko has a goal, eight assists, and nine points, and that doesn't include the six points he recorded in seven Calder Cup playoff games in 2025.
Overall, Luchanko has 15 points in 21 games at the AHL level and, well, he might very well end up being one of those players who excels more at the pro level than the junior level because of the differences in how the game is played.
Indeed, Luchanko is not an offensively-oriented high-wire act, but he brings hockey IQ, superb attention to detail, speed, and playmaking to the table at his best. And, with years of the Flyers hammering the point home, it looks like the former 13th overall pick is finally taking initiative to shoot the puck, too.
There is a case to be made that, maybe the Flyers shouldn't break up a good thing with the Phantoms and instead just take their licks with the players they have for now.
Bump, Luchanko, and Cole Knuble have all played well early in the season, and the older prospects, like Hunter McDonald and Jacob Gaucher, have complemented them in kind.
The Flyers also learned last year that weakening the farm team too fast can have consequences, as the Phantoms crashed and burned out of playoff contention without Bump and Denver Barkey, combined with a slew of injuries that depleted them further.
At the same time, the Flyers called up Oliver Bonk and immediately thrust him into top-pair duties, and now it doesn't look like the 21-year-old will be returning to the AHL level any time soon.
It's a tough judgment call for the Flyers to make, as they generally prefer to let their young players to develop at an appropriate pace.
In Bonk's case, he proved and has continued to prove that he is ready for the NHL level, and it is now a matter of when, and not if, Bump and Luchanko do the same.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 15: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks with Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs after the NBA Cup game on NOVEMBER 15, 2024 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 2024 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
San Antonio Spurs former vice president for strategic research Kirk Goldsberry recently posted this graphic.
“It’s a young man’s game, and increasingly so. Over 80% of the NBA is now 29 or younger. This hasn’t always been the case but the combination of pace and space basketball with the lack of durability we associate with older players has resulted in the NBA getting younger and younger. Pretty soon it’s just gonna be 50 year-old LeBron and 500 23 year-olds!”
Goldsberry is an expert of the modern game, differentiating how the game has evolved. In addition to his time with the Spurs, he wrote for Grantland, the ESPN blog brainchild of Bill Simmons, from 2012-2015. Other notable writings include The Kobe Assist, The Evolution of King James, and DataBall. His 2019 book SprawlBall: A Visual Tour of the New Era of the NBA commented on the inefficiency of shots taken from the restricted area to the three-point line.
While the game has skewed younger, Goldsberry doesn’t delve into the rationale for the shift. Is it the pace of the game wearing players out at an earlier age? It’s commonly accepted that load management and modern healthcare allows for players to have longer careers. So why are they not?
Perhaps the propensity to draft and sign younger players feeds into the “win now” mentality that franchises have established. It pairs with the hiring and firing of coaches without allowing time for a team to fully develop.
Whatever the reason, players are entering the league younger — the “one and done” collegiate effect — and exiting the league sooner. Think of former Spurs shooting guard Lonnie Walker IV. At age 27, he’s played on four teams over seven seasons. Now, at age 27, it looks as if his time in the NBA is over. He can still have a long and prosperous career overseas (in fact, he just signed with Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi two days ago).
Seven years seems to a fair amount of time to analyze a player’s NBA career. But is it his age relevant to his ability to play in the NBA, or is he being assessed solely on talent?
A look at many players could yield a clearer picture. For now, it’s important to note that players do not have the time to develop that they did a quarter century ago.
Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.
Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.
Jul 20, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (7) slides safely into second base with adobe ahead of tag by Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas (72) during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
I don’t know, I’m not all that inspired by Dave Dombrowski’s end of year presser. He sounded like he’s going to try and make changes, but with this roster as it is, how will be actually do that? Some are going to have waive some no-trade clauses for that to actually happen.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman walks to the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning of Game 4 against the Brewers on Thursday night. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)
In the NLCS, the Dodgers faced two HUGE opponents. The Milwaukee Brewers and “Father Time.” The Brewers are an exceptional young team and Father Time is undefeated.
Wayne Kamiya El Segundo
Outpitched. Outhit. Outmanaged. Now OUT!
Richard Jewell Los Feliz
It’s the fall of the Dodgers empire. It was great while it lasted. I suspect the lineup will change dramatically next year. With a pending lockout, expiring player contracts and possible retirements, who knows what the future will hold. Thank you everyone for some memorable baseball.
Cheryl Creek Anaheim
There should be a master class for Dodgers left-handed hitters to learn how to hit opposing team’s left-handed pitchers when they throw sliders and sweepers!
Larry L. Gurewitz Los Angeles
Due to their 2020 championship, 2024’s World Series title earned against their AL rival New York Yankees, and last year’s thrilling seven-game World Series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, irrespective of how this season ended — getting to the NLCS ain’t bad — the Dodgers should continue to be celebrated and the Boys in Blue appreciated.
Ken Feldman Tarzana
The Dodgers don’t suck. This season wasn’t a failure. They got beat by a better team. It’s a simple as that. The playoffs are about which team is playing its best this time of year, and right now it’s the Brewers. They are a complete team. They won 103 games in the regular season, which was more than every other team. They have good discipline at the plate, speed up and down the lineup and a bullpen that was near perfect in this series.
Dave Roberts didn’t get outmanaged. His team lost to a better one.
Ron Epstein Woodland Hills
Good news and bad news. Bad news: The Dodgers were swept by the Brewers. Good news: At least they are no longer ruining baseball!
David Waldowski Laguna Woods
The excuses for the Dodgers collapse flew off the page minutes after the last out of Game 4. Observations: 1) The Brewers were a better team, more prepared and clearly better managed. No excuses, please. 2). Anyone surprised has not been paying attention. During the regular season the Dodgers lost more games than they won against teams with better than a .500 record. 3). I never thought I could write this but has Shohei Ohtani become the LeBron James control freak of the Dodgers? 4) Will the next headline be “Mark Walter puts the Dodgers up for sale?”
David Bialis San Diego
Starting with the Blue Jays last year, and continuing with the Brewers, Rays and Guardians this season, I truly hope MLB teams will return to “anti-analytics “ baseball. Watching games with base runners, tough at-bats and actual strategy by managers is much more enjoyable than strikeouts and home runs with no one on base.
Thanks for bringing back baseball. Keep it going!
Tim Boyd San Juan Capistrano
I’m sure there are Dodgers fans unhappy about losing to the Brewers. But nobody wins all the time and the Dodgers have won a lot.
Another great season. Three World Series titles in six years isn’t too bad. Lots of people would love to see their team win a championship just once. Ask a Padres fan.
Doug Dunlap Valencia
Stumbling finish
“OK Rams fans, don’t change the channel, we promise we’ll do it right this time. Just keep watching as we hold the ball and our kicker will come running up and kick a field goal. OK, here we go. .. Whoops! Ha! Gotcha again, didn’t we?!”
I’m not sure who’s been duped more times; Charlie Brown as Lucy keeps yanking the ball away from him when he’s about to kick it, or Rams fans, when the special teams are sent out to attempt a field goal.
Jerry Leibowitz Culver City
Hey, is George Blanda still alive? Maybe we can sign him to kick for us.
Eric Monson Temecula
If there were a real time machine would Les Snead and Sean McVay go back to the end of the 2023 season and re-sign Matt Gay instead of letting him go in free agency so they could save a few dollars?
Alan Lawler La Verne
Les Snead has built a Rams roster capable of winning championships, but his persistent failure to address the kicking game might have cost the team at least one or two more trips to the Super Bowl. With the departure of Harrison Mevis, the Rams will have used six field goal kickers in five seasons. Until the Rams prioritize the position and stop relying on practice-squad castoffs, they will continue to undermine their own championship hopes.
George Pisano Rancho Palos Verdes
Bumbling start
Thank goodness the Chargers again snapped defeat from the jaws of victory with that pathetic fourth-down try when they were leading 17-10. They increased their chances of the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Russell Hosaka Torrance
To Jim Harbaugh, what are you waiting for?
Cut yourself loose of Mike McDaniel now. It’s past time. McDaniel sold us all on a bill of goods that is now very fraudulent. Be a CEO and cut the guy loose!
Felipe Varela Whittier
The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.
