Game over. Two ultimately straightforward victories from three group games would ordinarily be enough to secure qualification in the Rugby League World Cup, but the format means that, barring a rugby league miracle from Tonga on Sunday, England are heading home early.
That format – 10 teams in lopsided groups and England in a unique position of being effectively out after defeat on the opening weekend – has been a point of discussion since that defeat by the Tongans a fortnight ago. But at some stage, the attention has to turn internally and the tough, uncompromising questions have to be asked of English rugby league.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks on October 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Philadelphia 76ers are 4-1, coming off a solid win against the shorthanded Indiana Pacers. They’ll kick off a back-to-back against two strong teams in the deep Eastern Conference, hosting the New York Knicks before traveling to Charlotte for the second half of their back-to-back.
This will be the second time in the young regular season that they face off against the Knicks, the team that swept them in the NBA playoffs. The Sixers won the season-opening matchup against the reigning champs, 106-100. Since their last matchup, the Knicks have had a semi-turbulent start to the season. They started the year 0-3, with several subplots worth monitoring. Extension talks have stalled with two of their key players, Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns, resulting in the Knicks “tabling” extension talks via a PR statement. Mikal Bridges has also struggled mightily, averaging 5.0 points per game on 27% shooting on the year. Their star, Jalen Brunson, has begun finding his groove, but he’s had to carry a heavy load amid their struggles and the off-the-court noise.
The Sixers, on the other hand, have mostly been good. Their only loss came against the Detroit Pistons, who, albeit shorthanded, are a capable team with a legit star. Much like the Indiana game, the subplot to watch with the Sixers has been their offense. It’s come and gone in spurts. The Sixers have had decent success in the half court, but they’ll need to lean on their defense yet again to generate some easy transition baskets.
Despite the flashes, the Sixers’ offense is best labeled as a work in progress. LeBron James has yet to really light it up in the scoring category. Their stars are still figuring out when to be aggressive and when to defer, but there have been glimpses of hope. Jaylen Brown is averaging 20.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists on good efficiency. He, in particular, is important in this Knicks matchup, as they have no shortage of wings to throw at him and James.
This matchup will also be another iteration of Towns vs. Embiid, the latter of whom is coming off two strong showings that saw him record a double-double and a triple-double. Heading into this game, Brown is listed as questionable with knee soreness. Jabari Walker, Tacko Fall and Dominick Barlow remain out.
Despite it not being November, this game does have some extra juice behind it, and no, I’m not talking about the Cup tournament with the ugly court. If the Sixers were to win this game, they’d guarantee no worse than a season-series tie against their division rivals, which means any potential tiebreaker could come down to division standing at the end of the year. We’re months away from hawk-watching the standings and playoff seeding, but this matchup could prove important when we get to that point.
And for those who don’t mind the highlighter courts and/or the NBA Cup, there is that, although the Sixers’ group for the NBA Cup is best described as a gauntlet: New York, Cleveland, Indiana and Miami. Miami’s struggles aside, that’s a tough group to go up against regardless of the raised stakes.
There’s very little margin for error with the NBA Cup, so we’ll soon know whether the Sixers are serious about it or if we experience more of the same from prior years: fizzling out. Let’s see what happens in what’s slated to be an intriguing late-October matchup.
Game Details
When: Friday, October 30, 7:30 pm ET Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA Watch: Prime Video Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
Sep 30, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) talks with reporters during media day at Spurs Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
On Wednesday, the San Antonio Spurs played the Utah Jazz in Salt lake City. While walking into the arena, Victor Wembanyama was seen donning a Tim Duncan t-shirt.
It was all over social media, but during Spurs Live on DAZN (the network has included the Spurs pregame show to their streaming) Sean Elliott made his obligatory teasing comment of the GOAT power forward stating he thought the shirt was Lord of the Rings until he saw Duncan’s number.
The t-shirt homage was not the only Duncan sighting this week.
The two-time league MVP does not typically attend games in the same way fellow big man David Robinson does and is rarely seen in public. But the five-time NBA champion was spotted with his partner Vanessa Macias waiting in line to participate in early voting early in Northside Independent School District.
“Tim Duncan showin up to vote?! Just casual San Antonio things,” stated Ashly Shinde, the fan who posted the photo on Threads.
Early voting wraps up tomorrow with election day set for November 3rd.
No word on which Spurs legend’s t-shirt Wemby will wear next.
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ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 28: William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers poses with the Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player award after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2026 World Series at Tropicana Field on October 28, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the Brewers’ first World Series title now in the rearview, it’s time to enter the baseball hibernation months. Here are some of the key dates to remember as the offseason begins. Remember, this will be one of the weirder offseasons we’ve seen in some time, with a lockout expected to begin in December.
Free Agency & Options
Free agency officially began on Thursday for any players with six or more years of MLB service time who are not under contract for 2027. Negotiations begin immediately, but players cannot sign with a new team until Monday, November 2 at 4 p.m. CT (five days after the conclusion of the World Series).
Likewise, contract options are exercised (or not) within five days of the end of the World Series.
For the Brewers, impending free agents and options include:
1B Jake Bauers (free agent; top qualifying offer candidate)
C William Contreras ($15.5 million club option, but also arbitration-eligible for 2027 even if option isn’t exercised)
RHP Dustin May (already declined $20 million mutual option; $500,000 buyout)
LHP JoJo Romero (free agent)
C Gary Sánchez ($1.75 million mutual option with $250,000 buyout)
RHP Antonio Senzatela ($14 million club option, no buyout)
RHP Brandon Woodruff (free agent)
60-Day Injured List Activations
As it stands now, the Brewers’ 40-man roster sits at 39 players, with three on the 60-day injured list — Brian Fitzpatrick, Quinn Priester, and Angel Zerpa. With at least three free agents departing in May, Romero, and Woodruff, the Crew will have no problem activating those three. Senzatela and Sánchez may not have their options picked up, meaning they would join that free agency group, and if Bauers is offered and declines a QO, he would also be a free agent. If the Brewers opt to make some more space on their roster, non-tender candidates may include Grant Anderson, Jared Koenig, Bryse Wilson, Akil Baddoo, and Tyler Black.
Minor League Free Agency
This is the point where the Brewers could add any players eligible for minor league free agency to the 40-man roster and/or to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. This year’s Rule 5 protection deadline is Tuesday, November 17. Players who have been released from their original pro contracts or with six full years of minor league service can opt for free agency if they aren’t on the 40-man roster. They can also opt to sign a new minor league deal to remain in the organization.
It should be noted that the Rule 5 Draft, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, December 9, during the Winter Meetings, won’t take place if there is a lockout.
Last season, the Brewers opted to protect right-handed pitcher Coleman Crow, who had a cup of coffee in the majors in 2026, appearing in five games (18 2/3 innings).
As a reminder, to prevent players from becoming eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, organizations must add players who signed at age 18 or younger to their club’s 40-man roster within five seasons and players who signed at age 19 or older to their club’s 40-man roster within four seasons.
Qualifying Offers
After Brandon Woodruff was offered and accepted a qualifying offer last season, the only real candidate for Milwaukee this year is first baseman Jake Bauers. While he made just $2.7 million in 2026, Bauers became a key player for the Crew in 2026, putting up 3.7 fWAR as he hit .266/.389/.484 with 26 homers over 144 games, earning NLCS MVP honors and helping the Brewers win it all.
This year’s top candidates for qualifying offers ($23.15 million for 2027) include Bauers, Randy Arozarena, Brandon Lowe, Seiya Suzuki, Trevor Rogers, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Adrian Morejon, Ian Happ, Ryan Jeffers, David Bednar, and Matthew Boyd.
If a team gives a qualifying offer to a player who then signs elsewhere, the club that lost the player is eligible for Draft pick compensation the following year. A team’s highest first-round pick is exempt from forfeiture.
Last season, 13 players received qualifying offers ($22.025 million) and four accepted (Woodruff, Trent Grisham of the Yankees, Shota Imanaga of the Cubs, and Gleyber Torres of the Tigers). Bo Bichette, Dylan Cease, Edwin Díaz, Ranger Suárez, Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez, Zac Gallen, Michael King, and Kyle Schwarber all declined their offers, though each of the last three re-signed with their original team.
Award Dates
November 1: Gold Glove Awards (8 p.m. CT on ESPN)
November 2: National Baseball Hall of Fame announces its eight-person Contemporary Baseball Era Players ballot
November 2: BBWAA award finalists (5 p.m. CT on MLB Network)
November 5: Silver Slugger finalists (10 a.m. CT)
November 6: MLBPA Heart & Hustle Award (MLB Network)
November 6: Rawlings Gold Glove dinner and announcement of Platinum Glove winners
November 9: Rookie of the Year Award (6 p.m. CT on MLB Network)
November 10: Manager of the Year Award (6 p.m. CT on MLB Network)
November 11: Cy Young Award (6 p.m. CT on MLB Network)
November 11: Hank Aaron Award, Comeback Players of the Year, Relievers of the Year, Outstanding Designated Hitter of the Year, MLB Executive of the Year, and selections for All-MLB First and Second Teams (8 p.m. CT on MLB Network)
November 12: MVP Awards (6 p.m. CT on MLB Network)
November 16: BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot released, with voting taking place through December 31
November 17: Silver Slugger Awards
December 6: Contemporary Baseball Era Committee of the Hall of Fame will meet and announce results (7 p.m. CT on MLB Network)
December 9: Winner of Hall of Fame’s Frick Award (for broadcasters)
January 19: Hall of Fame announces 2027 class (5 p.m. CT on MLB Network)
Other Key Offseason Dates
November 9-12: General managers meetings (Las Vegas, Nevada)
November 17-19: Owners meetings (New York)
November 17: Qualifying offer deadline (3 p.m. CT)
November 17: Rule 5 protection deadline (5 p.m. CT; see more details above).
November 20: Last day for teams to offer 2027 contracts to arbitration-eligible unsigned players on their 40-man rosters. More commonly known as the “non-tender deadline.” Last year, the Brewers tendered contracts to all arbitration-eligible players.
December 1: Likely lockout; some of the events listed below might not happen or be rescheduled.
December 7-9: Winter meetings (San Diego, California)
December 8: MLB Draft lottery, determining the first 18 picks of the 2027 draft. As World Series winners, the Brewers hold the No. 30 pick in 2027.
December 9: Rule 5 Draft (1 p.m. CT)
December 15: 2026 international signing period closes (4 p.m. CT)
January 8: Salary arbitration exchanges take place between players and teams
January 15: 2026 international signing period opens (8 a.m. CT)
Late January/early February TBA: Salary arbitration hearings
2027 Season Dates
February 10: Pitchers and catchers report to spring training
February 14: Remainder of players report to spring training
February 19: Spring Training schedule begins
March 25: The Brewers begin the defense of their title with a series against the Los Angeles Angels at American Family Field
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 13: Philadelphia Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs (21) slides into 2nd base during the MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves on September 13, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
One day to Halloween. An unknown, but certainly much greater, number of days until baseball returns.
Happy birthday to Roe Skidmore, and a mighty host of others.
Today in baseball history, in 2016 – The Cubs remain alive in the World Series with a 3-2 win over Cleveland in Game 5. The Indians score first, on a solo homer by Jose Ramirez off Jon Lester in the second but Chicago scores three against Trevor Bauer in the fourth. Aroldis Chapman* gets the final eight outs to record the save, and other stories as well.
2019 – The Nationals win their first-ever World Series, defeating the Astros, 6-2, in Game 7. Zack Greinke is masterful for Houston, facing only one batter over the minimum through the first six innings, while Max Scherzer has to work hard to limit the Astros to two runs in his five innings, as he strands a boatful of baserunners. Things turn around in the seventh when Anthony Rendon hits a solo homer off Greinke, and Howie Kendrick hits a two-run shot off the right foul pole against Will Harris to give Washington the lead they will never relinquish. In an unprecedented development, the visiting team wins all seven games of the series. Stephen Strasburg is honored with the Willie Mays Award as the Series’ MVP after winning both of his starts, in Games 2 and 6.
2021 – The Braves take a three-games-to-one lead in the World Series by winning Game 4 at home, 3-2, over Houston. The Astros take an early 2-0 lead, scoring a run against unlikely openerDylan Lee in the 1st and another on a solo homer by Jose Altuve in the fourth, but they also strand ten baserunners through the first six innings. The Braves score once in the sixth before leaving the bases loaded, and then strike with back-to-back homers by Dansby Swanson and pinch-hitter Jorge Soler to take the lead in the seventh.
2023 – The Rangers win Game 3 of the World Series by scoring all three of their runs in the third inning against Brandon Pfaadt, on a single by Marcus Semien and a two-run homer by Corey Seager. After having a runner thrown out at home in the second, the Diamondbacks can only reply with a single run in the eighth. Rangers starter Max Scherzer has to leave the game after three innings with back tightness, but Jon Gray steps in ably to earn the victory.
1866 – Jesse James‘ gang robs bank in Lexington, Missouri ($2000).
1873 – P. T. Barnum‘s circus, “Greatest Show on Earth,” debuts in New York City.
1938 – A radio broadcast of H. G. Wells‘ “The War of the Worlds,” narrated by Orson Welles, allegedly causes mass panic.
1960 – Michael Woodruff performs the first successful kidney transplant at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in the United Kingdom.
1970 – English metal band Black Sabbath make US concert debut at Glassboro State College in Glassboro, New Jersey; show interrupted twice when they blow out the power.
1973 – The Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, is completed, connecting the continents of Europe and Asia over the Bosphorus for the first time.
1974 – Muhammad Ali KOs George Foreman in the eighth round in “The Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa, Zaire, regaining the world heavyweight boxing title using the famous “rope-a-dope” tactic.
1987 – “Faith,” the debut album by George Michael, is released.
1988 – Brazilian McLaren driver Ayrton Senna wins the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, his record 8th Grand Prix win of the season, and clinches his first Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship.
1990 – Britain and France complete the “Chunnel” under the English Channel.
1990 – George Michael releases his single “Freedom 90” with a music video starring supermodels Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford.
1997 – Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona announces his retirement from football on his 37th birthday.
2022 – Dutch Red Bull driver Max Verstappen wins the Mexican F1 Grand Prix in Mexico City for his record-breaking 14th GP win of the season, surpassing Michael Schumacher and fellow German Sebastian Vettel
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 28: Trevor Megill #29, Christian Yelich #22, and Abner Uribe #45 of the Milwaukee Brewers embrace after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2026 World Series at Tropicana Field on October 28, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Friday, everyone! Well, the World Series title has been decided, and the Milwaukee Brewers are the new MLB champions. The team won their first-ever World Series (though, to be fair, no matter which team won they would have been first-time winners, which was pretty cool). It was an incredible series, with some amazing performances, some of which we’ll get into in the links below. William Contreras could probably teach an offseason seminar in ABS challenges, because he was unreal.
Now that the World Series is over, contract opt-outs are picking up, free agency is going to start heating up, and the looming MLB lockout might be the biggest topic of conversation. So let’s just jump right into it.
Detroit Tigers News
In case you’re keeping track:
Tigers free agents the day after the World Series ends:
Jack Flaherty Tyler Kinley Burch Smith Gleyber Torres Justin Verlander Jacob Waguespack
That would move the 40 man to 35.
60-Day guys get activated and options get adjudicated five days after the World Series ends.
The Tigers mourn the passing of Pio DiSalvo and share our condolences with his family and loved ones.
DiSalvo was the Tigers head athletic trainer for 15 seasons, including the World Series Championship in 1984 and American League East Championship in 1987. pic.twitter.com/N3W696uDeV
If you ever wanted to be lectured about recycling by a giant tiger, today is a good day for you.
Celebrating World Sustainability Day!
We’re proud to partner with @WasteManagement as they provide recycling infrastructure and education to empower Detroiters to Recycle Right® through greater access and tangible action. pic.twitter.com/e51f4WvSwX
Brewers manager Pat Murphy to Jake Bauers after the World Series:
“You’re gonna be a rich fucker. Just remember when you’re on that horse shit Yankee team and you’re all playing for yourselves… just remember this is way we used to do it.” pic.twitter.com/zPt5AzV3kH
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani prepares to bat during Game 1 of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 3. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
This year, the Dodgers watched the World Series from home, with the Milwaukee Brewers’ World Series victory over the Tampa Bay Rays officially ushering in a fresh slate for the Dodgers to plan their 2027 championship pursuit.
“When you take the experience and the talent of our core guys, and you look at what is coming [up through the farm system], that is what gives us a high degree of confidence about being able to sustain this,” said Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, in his end-of-season news conference, “not just in 2027, but as we look out.”
As the Dodgers attempt to strengthen their roster to climb back to the top, however, they’ll have to navigate a disjointed winter transaction window.
MLB owners are expected to impose a lockout when the collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1. If that happens, the offseason will grind to a halt, suspended indefinitely until the two sides sign a new agreement.
Will that expected shutdown spur early action in free agency?
Will the threat of a salary cap freeze the player market?
It’s unclear, but teams are readying themselves to jump into action whenever the market does move.
“There’ve been a number of things that we’ve done over the last couple of years that, in October, early-November planning we didn’t think was likely or that possible,” Friedman said. “An opportunity popped up, and we were at least prepared enough to act in the time to get something done — there’ve been trades, there’s been free-agent signings.
“So for us, it’s just about our internal meetings, getting as prepared as we can be. Because things are going to play out in ways and timing and things that we can’t anticipate, so be as prepared as we can be.”
Amid those unique circumstances, here’s a guide to the Dodgers’ offseason:
Which Dodgers are entering free agency?
Reliever Alex Vesia is among the Dodgers players who are free agents. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Nine Dodgers became free agents at the conclusion of the postseason — although veteran infielder Miguel Rojas announced his intention to retire.
The other eight are utility player Kiké Hernández, and pitchers Tarik Skubal, Eric Lauer, Kris Bubic, Brusdar Graterol, Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia. So, bullpen help and all-around pitching depth have become areas of need.
“Obviously we’ve got some key free agents,” Friedman said. “That being said, if we started the season tomorrow, we feel really good about the roster and team that we have. But that’s never our mindset to say, ‘OK, we’re good enough.’ We’re going to work hard to try to figure out where we can improve, and in different areas.”
Could the Dodgers make a trade?
Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers' president of baseball operations, speaks to reporters before Game 1 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers on Oct. 11. (Patrick McDermott / Getty Images)
For the last two years, the Dodgers have had a hot offensive first half (115 WRC+) before a second-half dip (109 in 2025, 105 in 2026). Friedman said the team would work to diagnose the problems that plagued the Dodgers in July and August — and reemerged in the postseason.
“A lot of the rules are designed for the run-prevention side to have a real advantage,” Friedman said. “So much of our focus has been, how do we try to combat that on the run-creation side. And I think there are ways that we can get better. And even if we were coming off a consistent great year, our minds would be, how do we get better? But we’ll definitely spend a lot of time trying to wrap our arms around it and figuring out what is actionable and what things we can improve going forward.”
Friedman pushed back on the notion that age was to blame, saying that explanation was painting with too broad of a stroke.
If the solution involves personnel changes, however, a trade might be necessary to shake up the Dodgers’ veteran position-player group. Whether the Dodgers would want to part with one of their clubhouse leaders, and whether another team would be interested in taking on (or the Dodgers would pay down) any of those contracts, remains to be seen.
The Dodgers have pointed to their farm system, ranked No. 1 by MLB Pipeline as of mid-August, as a reason for optimism. But their position-player prospects, including three outfielders at the top of the list, are blocked by veterans already on the Dodgers’ roster.
“Things work themselves out,” Friedman said. “There are times where you wake up one day and you’re too left-handed. You start to address it, wake up another day and say, “Wow, we’re too right-handed now. Things happen.
“Like right now, we have a really talented group of outfielders coming through our minor-league system. There have been times where we haven’t. We also have a lot of really talented infielders coming as well. But for us, it’s just about having as many talented players as we can.”
What are the recovery timelines for injured Dodgers?
Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani delivers against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on July 3. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Shohei Ohtani is expected to return to two-way duties next season and be ready in time for spring training, according to Friedman. Though Ohtani battled lingering left knee and recurring right biceps injuries through much of the season, surgery is “not on the table.”
Backup catcher Dalton Rushing underwent elbow surgery last week. His nine-month estimated recovery would have him back to catching around late July and hitting before then.
Right-handed reliever Will Klein underwent a procedure to remove bone chips from his right elbow last week, and the Dodgers said he was expected to be ready in time for spring training.
What are key early-offseason dates?
Nov. 2: The first five days after the conclusion of the World Series are a “quiet period,” when teams have exclusive rights to negotiate with their free agents, before free agency opens in earnest. By the Monday deadline, teams must also decide whether to extend one-year qualifying offers to eligible players (Graterol, Hernández, Phillips, Treinen, Vesia), and it’s the deadline for contract option decisions.
Nov. 10-12: General managers meetings in Las Vegas. With the winter meetings in December expected to be canceled because of a lockout, GM meetings likely will be the one time for baseball operations leaders to all gather under the same roof this offseason.
Nov. 17: Players must accept or decline qualifying offers by the 1 p.m. PDT deadline.
Nov. 20: By the deadline, teams must tender contracts to 40-man roster players under team control who have not yet signed deals for the upcoming season. Non-tendered players become free agents.
The Warriors get another crack at defeating the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, hosting their rivals to begin their NBA Cup campaign. All eyes will be on the Yaxel Lendeborg vs. Luka Dončić matchup.
Golden State faced the Lakers on opening night, losing 127-105. Lendeborg guarded Dončić and held his own, but dealt with the challenges of facing a superstar right out of the gate. Lendeborg spoke with reporters after the game and called out Dončić, sparking anticipation for the next matchup.
Coach Steve Kerr spoke on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs,” and when asked about Lendeborg’s second opportunity to face the Lakers, he stated that he’s excited to see how he handles the rematch.
“Nope,” Kerr told Dan Dibley on if he wants Lendeborg to take a different approach. “I think what happened last week was great. He said what he said, put himself out there, and now he’s got to guard Luka [Dončić] again. And hopefully, he will have learned from the first game. And he was astonished after that game at the way the game was played and the tricks that Luka was playing on him and the officiating and everything else, and I told him it’s a completely different game than the college game, and you have to get used to all those tricks.
“He’s got five games under his belt, but one against Luka. So we’ll see how he handles it [tonight] because you have to be really crafty to avoid the reach-in fouls, jumping at pump fakes, that comes off when you play against Luka.”
"What happened last week was great. We'll see how he handles it tomorrow because you have to be really crafty when you play against Luka."
Lendeborg needed to adapt quickly in his first game against Dončić and showed promise. Scoring 12 points in 29 minutes, he was one of five Warriors players to score double digits and put his physicality on full display. Opening night gave him a good foundation to build on, and he followed that up with an 18-point performance in Golden State’s second game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Lendeborg, the No. 11 overall pick in this year’s draft, is an older rookie at 24 years old and joins a team that urgently needs him to perform. Luckily, Lendeborg steadily has improved each and every game, coming off a 26-point game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Averaging 22.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists through five games, he has surged in NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
The Warriors are decimated by injuries, with players such as Moses Moody, Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porziņġis all unavailable, but are still hungry to contend for one last title with the main core of Steph Curry and Draymond Green. Lendeborg’s early-season success has given the team new life while simultaneously giving Curry the perfect sidekick.
The Montreal Canadiens had a chance to complete a perfect road trip with a win over the Dallas Stars in the Lone Star State on Thursday night, and they didn’t disappoint their fans. Mike Matheson missed the game with a lower-body injury the Habs said was new, so Arber Xhekaj returned to the lineup. In net, Jakub Dobes finally returned between the posts after Jacob Fowler pitched three near-perfect games.
The Stars were no easy prey, despite dealing with injuries to Matt Duchene, Esa Lindell, and Oskar Back. Glen Gulutzan’s men started the game in third place in the Central Division with 15 points in 12 games and one of the league’s best goaltenders in Jake Oettinger.
After playing a key role for the Canadiens in the last playoffs and scoring both Game 7 game-winning goals, Alex Newhook fully deserved a look on the first line. In fact, if the Habs hadn't been showcasing Oliver Kapanen after Nick Suzuki’s injury, he might have gotten it earlier. That didn’t matter to him, though; he kept his head down, went to work, and answered the call when it came.
He scored a brace, and both lamplighters were impressive in their own way. Newhook has incredible speed, but when he turns on the jets to enter the zone on the power play, and the blueline is crowded, the play often dies. However, when he gets a pass at full speed and catches a defenseman flat-footed, he can easily outrun them and cut to the net, as he did to score the Habs’ second goal of the game. As for his second goal, it was a fantastic display of hand-eye coordination: he backhanded the puck in mid-air while heading to the back of the net. Right in front of a helpless Lian, Bichsel tried to kick the puck clear after losing his stick.
The Canadiens led by three in the second frame, and unsurprisingly, the Stars started to push back. These are the moments Martin St-Louis talks about when he says his players have to play a mature game and know the situation. Still, Juraj Slafkovsky once again made one of his all-too-frequent no-look backhand passes near the offensive blueline, and the hosts picked it up.
When you’re protecting a lead, you can still attack, but you need to keep defense in mind. On the offensive side of the puck, you need to evaluate the odds of your play succeeding and what failure could mean. If you make that kind of play on the power play when you can see four defenders in a box shape in front of you, it's one thing; doing it at even strength, when you don’t know where the opposing players are, is quite another.
Slafkovsky doesn’t lack defensive instincts; his forecheck proves it. He played a big role in Caufield’s second goal through his forecheck, but he needs to do the same in other situations. It took him time to understand why St-Louis wanted him to bring speed and movement on the forecheck, but he gets it now. Hopefully the same occurs with this issue. If and when the team is healthy, and the coach has more options, he could suffer the consequences of repeating the same mistake.
Dobes Bounced Back
Dobes didn’t hide it; he spoke with his mental coach this week, and it certainly showed. While he wasn’t peppered with shots, the Stars only got 19 shots on net, and he made some big saves. The Czech netminder isn't Fowler; he never will be, and that’s perfectly fine. Two goaltenders can have different styles and perform well.
Fowler is calm, collected and always well positioned. Dobes is more aggressive and loves to challenge shooters. Fowler, who’s three inches shorter and smaller in his net, has had to be technically sound; he couldn’t get away with Dobes's brand of aggressive goaltending. Those extra three inches matter when he gets in the shooter's face to cut their angle; he’s big, and it limits their options. However, that only works when he’s fully confident; if he’s tentative, it becomes risky. On Thursday night, he was in the right mindset, and it showed. It took time, but he finally got his second win of the season.
Ultimately, the Canadiens won 5-2, with Cole Caufield scoring a brace as well and Phillip Danault getting his first of the season in an empty net thanks to Jake Evans. The Habs notched their fourth consecutive road win, a feat that has only happened five times in 30 years. The team heads back to Montreal on Friday morning and will then prepare to host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Halloween night at the Bell Centre.
Feb 17, 2010; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catchers work out at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Frequent board commenter Solanus tracks an enormous amount of pitcher and catcher data, tabulating each game result by hand. Last year, he gave me enough insight into his spreadsheets where I was able to re-create much of the data he hand tabulates (I’m way too lazy for that!) and I wanted to peak at some of those data points and see what we could learn about the defensive side of their catching corps.
The data itself comes from a mix of sources. Statcast data for actual line-ups and game events (who pitched, who caught, which innings, etc.). Baseball reference.com for overall pitching lines for each game, and with Fangraphs because of course there has to be differences in how the data is constructed that doesn’t make it easy. Team ids between sites are different. Player Ids are different. Even game Ids are different, and all three have to be brewed together to knit the data into one consistent result.
I wrote the code. The methods are all Solanus. I simply copied his logic into R code and ran it. So he gets all the credit.
I chose to query both the 2025 and 2026 seasons (you will likely understand why when I go through it). Here is the raw data, and following that some of the interesting morsels I discovered and thought about some.
2026
Herrera, Ivan
Pages, Pedro
Bernal, Leo
Crooks, Jimmy
2026 Tot
2025
Pozo, Yohel
Herrera, Ivan
Pages, Pedro
Crooks, Jimmy
2025 Tot
CatcherStarts
52
61
15
34
162
CatcherStarts
35
13
102
12
162
StarterSD
27
30
6
13
76
StarterSD
12
3
41
3
59
StarterMD
17
25
5
12
59
StarterMD
19
5
42
7
73
StarterND
16
27
6
18
67
StarterND
8
8
34
5
55
CatcherWins
25
31
7
14
77
CatcherWins
12
5
57
4
78
CatcherLosses
27
30
8
20
85
CatcherLosses
23
8
45
8
84
CatcherTotRS
214
267
74
165
720
CatcherTotRS
119
69
461
40
689
CatcherTotRA
217
280
79
173
749
CatcherTotRA
170
67
452
65
754
CatcherRSperGame
4.1
4.4
4.9
4.9
4.4
CatcherRSperGame
3.4
5.3
4.5
3.3
4.3
CatcherRAperGame
4.2
4.6
5.3
5.1
4.6
CatcherRAperGame
4.9
5.2
4.4
5.4
4.7
StarterWPA
1.8
-0.1
-0.4
-0.6
0.7
StarterWPA
-2.2
-1.4
-0.5
-1.1
-5.2
RelieverWPA
-0.5
1.9
-0.8
-3.1
-2.5
RelieverWPA
0.1
-0.2
5.0
-0.9
3.9
RelieverSD
53
82
11
28
174
RelieverSD
17
14
99
4
134
RelieverMD
34
46
8
25
113
RelieverMD
14
12
45
10
81
CatcherWins2orLessRS
0
6
1
1
8
CatcherWins2orLessRS
1
0
5
1
7
CatcherLosses2orLessRS
14
13
4
10
41
CatcherLosses2orLessRS
14
3
25
5
47
CatcherWins6orMoreRS
12
13
4
9
38
CatcherWins6orMoreRS
8
3
30
1
42
CatcherLosses6orMoreRS
3
6
2
3
14
CatcherLosses6orMoreRS
3
2
6
1
12
CatcherWins2orLessRA
14
15
2
6
37
CatcherWins2orLessRA
9
1
29
3
42
CatcherLosses2orLessRA
3
2
2
0
7
CatcherLosses2orLessRA
2
1
4
1
8
CatcherWins6orMoreRA
1
5
3
3
12
CatcherWins6orMoreRA
1
1
5
1
8
CatcherLosses6orMoreRA
13
18
5
10
46
CatcherLosses6orMoreRA
14
2
25
6
47
Wpct2minusRS
0
0.316
0.2
0.091
0.163
Wpct2minusRS
0.067
0.000
0.167
0.167
0.130
Wpct6plusRS
0.8
0.684
0.667
0.75
0.731
Wpct6plusRS
0.727
0.600
0.833
0.500
0.778
Wpct2minusRA
0.824
0.882
0.5
1
0.841
Wpct2minusRA
0.818
0.500
0.879
0.750
0.840
Wpct6plusRA
0.071
0.217
0.375
0.231
0.207
Wpct6plusRA
0.067
0.333
0.167
0.143
0.145
What do you see?
Here is what I picked up…
Take a look at the line marked Reliever WPA. This is “Win Probability Added” (or subtracted) by relievers across the two seasons, distributed by which catcher they were throwing to. This is calculated by accumulating the WPA (added or subtracted) that came with each pitch said relievers threw. What I noticed is that Pedro Pages, in both years, ends up with a significantly larger gain of WPA than the other catchers combined. It would appear that across two seasons and two largely different reliever staffs, Pages is better able to coax out winning performance among the reliever set. Interesting?
In what may be a companion stat, take a look at the rows marked RelieverMD and RelieverSD. SD and MD stand for Shutdown and Meltdown and are Fangraph proprietary calculations of reliever performance, where a relief appearance that nets > .06 WPA (ie. increases win chances by 6% or more) is an SD (Shutdown) and a Meltdown is the opposite, which is a relief appearance that decreases win chances by 6% or more. Pages has, by far, the highest ratio of SD:MD among the catchers across both years.
Take a look at the line CatcherRApergame. RA is runs allowed. Note that the only catcher to exceed 5 RA in both seasons is Jimmy Crooks. This is a wee bit different than catcher ERA, as this stat just counts runs, not just earned runs.
Here is an unexpected twist. Across two seasons, only one catcher was able to coax positive StarterWPA. The 2026 version of Ivan Herrera. Who had that on their pre-season predictions?
Having nothing to do with individual catchers, but look and the StarterWPA and RelieverWPA totals across 2025 and 2026 and see how much they shifted. Reversed is really what happened. The 2025 bullpen with the 2026 rotation produces a WPA of 4.6 (instead of just below 0). That is ~85 wins right there. Wow. And I knew the bullpen was bad, but holy cow!
Again, having nothing to do with catchers, but notice how evenly distributed the games are in both years. Almost 1/3 of the games were games where the Cardinals scored 6 or more runs and another 1/3 were games where the Cardinals scored 2 or less runs. Presumably, if my math skills persist, the remaining third falls in the range of 3 to 5 runs scored. While much ado can be made about all the close games the Cardinals played, the reality for most teams, most years is that the 3-to-5 runs cohort is going to be crapshoot, 50-50 on wins and losses, unless they have a lights out bullpen. Two major areas of improvement for the Cardinals are going to be 1) reduce the number of games they score 2 runs or less (they only won 16% of these) and 2) reduce the number of games they score 6 runs or more AND lose (they only won 73% of these games). That number needs to be nearer or above 80%.
Here is one that probably needs a methodology tweak, but it looks to be on the right path. Solanus calcs starter WPA and assigns as SD (shutdown) or MD (meltdown) grade similar to relievers. If you look at the totals for each season, the number of starter SD and MD outcomes flipped between 2025 and 2026) in a good way. What I need to figure out is … is the .06 WPA threshold correct for starters. They pitch more innings, but lower leverage, so not sure the actual threshold is where I’d want it. More to chew on this winter.
I’m not sure if there is more to decipher from this or not. Although I think that over long periods of time Catcher ERA can be an indicator, it is pretty volatile over small samples. While I gathered two seasons of data, realize that this is only 60 starts for a guy like Herrera and only Pages exceeded 100 starts across both seasons combined. Probably too small to make definitive conclusions, but some trends (as noted above) emerge and can be hard to ignore. Some caveats include: Most of Ivan’s data set in based on 2026, and was mostly restricted to two starters – Pallante, McGreevy. Crook’s and Bernal’s sample sizes are too small to read much into.
Comparing to the Brewer’s catchers in 2026
One of the beneifts of having code instead of hand-tabulating is I can run this for any season, any team. For fun, I ran the same queries against MIL pitchers and catchers for the 2026 season. Some things I noted:
starting.catcher.name
Sanchez, Gary
Contreras, William
Naylor, Bo
Quero, Jeferson
2026 Tots
CatcherStarts
38
121
2
1
162
StarterSD
24
63
0
0
87
StarterMD
8
41
2
1
52
StarterND
16
53
1
1
71
CatcherWins
23
79
0
1
103
CatcherLosses
15
42
2
0
59
CatcherTotRS
158
653
12
9
832
CatcherTotRA
135
457
19
7
618
CatcherRSperGame
4.2
5.4
6.0
9.0
5.14
CatcherRAperGame
3.6
3.8
9.5
7.0
3.81
StarterWPA
3.48
3.04
-0.79
-0.47
5.3
RelieverWPA
1.45
8.24
-0.28
0.12
9.5
RelieverSD
40
125
0
1
166
RelieverMD
27
44
2
0
73
CatcherWins2orLessRS
5
6
NA
NA
11
CatcherLosses2orLessRS
4
25
NA
NA
29
CatcherWins6orMoreRS
8
45
0
1
54
CatcherLosses6orMoreRS
0
6
1
0
7
CatcherWins2orLessRA
18
43
NA
NA
61
CatcherLosses2orLessRA
0
2
NA
NA
2
CatcherWins6orMoreRA
0
7
0
1
8
CatcherLosses6orMoreRA
4
20
2
0
26
Wpct2minusRS
0.556
0.194
NA
NA
0.275
Wpct6plusRS
1.000
0.882
0
1
0.885
Wpct2minusRA
1.000
0.956
NA
NA
0.968
Wpct6plusRA
0.000
0.259
0
1
0.235
For fun, I ran the same queries against MIL pitchers and catchers for the 2026. Some things I noted:
Want to know the difference between Milwaukee and St. Louis? Look at the Starter and Reliever WPA numbers. In 2026, the Cardinals starters accumulated .7 WPA and -2.5 for relievers. Milwaukee? 5.3 and 9.5 respectively. The reliever gap alone is 12.12!! Using really rough math, I figure most games started out in the area of 50-50 win probability, with a little bit more to the home team and better team. A .5 increase in WPA takes a 50-50 game and turns it into a win. 12 WPA turns into 24 wins. Right?
Then, take a look at Catcher starts. Last I checked, William Contreras was a pretty good hitter. If Milwaukee can catch their pretty good hitter 120 games+, why are Cardinal fans in such a hurry to move Rainel Rodriguez off C?
Another thing to gander at. The Cardinal relievers had a few more Shutdown performances, but overran the Brewers with like 40 more Meltdowns. Hmmm. That could leave scars.
Last, look at the Brewers win PCT when the score 6 or more, or allow 2 or less. They are up around 90%. That is where the Cardinals should be, not in the mid 70’s.
Have a happy and safe Halloween, or Dia de los Muertos, whichever you prefer.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 28: Jake Bauers #9 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates after making the final out during the ninth inning against Richie Palacios #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays in game five of the 2026 World Series at Tropicana Field on October 28, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re fully in offseason mode now, as the Brewers’ celebration continues and the rest of the league prepares what moves they can make before the CBA expires. There were a couple of minor trades completed, both involving the Red Sox, and there were a couple of player options decided on — expect plenty more to come as teams whittle down their 40-man rosters and the free agent pool gets finalized. We’ll at least get to determine who gets qualifying offers and who elects free agency before transactions freeze, and it will be interesting to see if any extensions come in during this time period as the game’s salary structure is under the microscope.
We’ve got a couple things on the docket for you here, starting with Andres giving out the latest report card to Cody Bellinger (spoiler, he got a passing grade). Then Andrew will wish a happy birthday to Mickey Rivers, and in the afternoon Josh will reminisce on Gary Sanchez as the Kraken is now a World Series champion… well after his days in pinstripes.
Questions/Prompts:
1. With no more MLB games the rest of the year, what’s your interest level in following any of the other sports over the winter?
2. Any fun plans for Halloween weekend? Got a costume ready?
The NBA regular season just started, but it’s not too early to look ahead to the league’s most significant individual award.
It’s clear the field for Most Valuable Player is going to be a crowded one, and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s run of two consecutive awards may be in peril. It’s also clear that injuries are going to take their toll on the race for the prize.
▶Stats: 22.6 points, 5.6 rebound, 7.8 assists in 5 games
Though other players may have better numbers, Cunningham is the driving force behind Detroit’s offense and the kindling for its success. No team began the season with a more difficult schedule than the Pistons, who opened with the Celtics, Heat, 76ers and Knicks. Detroit won all but the one against New York. Cunningham handles the ball, scores, creates for his teammates, rebounds and is a willing defender. And he’s doing all this without fellow All-Star Jalen Duren (hamstring).
4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
▶ Stats: 26.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists in 5 games
Gilgeous-Alexander, in short order, should move up this list. The Thunder have already been hit with a massive rash of injuries, with three starters missing The Oct. 28 loss against the Mavericks. Jalen Williams (ankle) may miss the entire season, and Cason Wallace (torn labrum), Chet Holmgren (knee tendinitis) and Alex Caruso (ankle) appear likely to miss extended time. That will likely make Gilgeous-Alexander’s life more difficult as teams devote more defensive attention to stop him. But if he continues his statistical consistency, it also makes his MVP case stronger because the Thunder will be so shorthanded.
▶ Stats: 27.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists in 5 games
Miami’s start to the season was not very pretty. Bam Adebayo and the Heat’s role players have struggled to find cohesion and rhythm as Miami continues to incorporate Antetokounmpo. Yet, in the Heat’s first win of the season, Oct. 28 against the Hawks, Miami reverted to a pick-and-roll offense, which suits Antetokounmpo. The result was noteworthy; he dropped 24 points but was dominant on the glass, scooping 18 rebounds. It will take some time for this team to reach its potential, but the one evident truth early on has been Antetokounmpo’s dominance. Miami now has a game-changing threat who can attack the rim at will. He already leads the league with an absurd 19.2 points in the paint per game. Miami will need to win more games, however, for Antetokounmpo to be taken more seriously for this award.
▶ Stats: 25.0 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists in 5 games
So far, his numbers, as they have been the past couple of seasons, are superb. But the thing about quantifying Wembanyama’s impact is that you need to account for the intangible. He remains the most singularly effective defensive presence in the world. Sure, he leads the league in blocks (3.8 per game), but Wembanyama forces players to rethink abandon attacks into the paint. The Spurs did start slowly with two losses to open the season but have since won three in a row. If San Antonio continues to be a primary threat out West – especially if Oklahoma City slips with all of its injuries – Wembanyama’s case will be undeniable.
▶ Stats: 36.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists in 4 games
The back tightness bears watching, but no player has singlehandedly mattered more thus far to his team’s productivity and success than Dončić, who leads the NBA in scoring. In fact, Dončić has accounted for 28.1% of Los Angeles’ points in the games he has played; and with assists, his offensive impact is even more pronounced. With LeBron James back in the East with the 76ers, Dončić is the anchor and offensive catalyst. His defense remains a massive liability, but no player thus far has been more in control and playing at his pace and structure than Dončić.
Also under consideration: Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets; Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks; Ty Jerome, Memphis Grizzlies; Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves; Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics; Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers; Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
They’ve reached the MLB postseason 10 times in the 19 seasons since 2008, something the Pirates have achieved just three times in the same span. They’ve posted 14 winning records compared to the Pirates’ five. It’s not close.
Still, Milwaukee’s lack of postseason success before this year allowed the Pirates front office the luxury of excusing the gap to a team that plays in a television market two thirds the size of Pittsburgh by casting both organizations as ultimately two unfortunate peas in the same small market pod.
Not anymore. The Brewers’ dominant, 103-win 2026 capped with a World Series victory this week shreds the narrative that Pittsburgh cannot afford to succeed in MLB’s current economic system.
One could also argue Kansas City’s 2015 World Series win did that, too. Or that Tampa Bay’s consistent competitiveness in the American League East division that’s loaded with high payroll teams demonstrated a clear path to competitiveness. Or that Cleveland’s eight playoff appearances in nine seasons in a similar market a mere two hours from Pittsburgh undercut the Pirates’ bellyaching about their economic disadvantages.
Those arguments would all be correct.
Pirates fans don’t see those American League teams up close very often, though. The Brewers amount to a much more intimate look in the proverbial mirror because of their status as a National League Central division rival.
They’ve seen the rise of Brewers stars Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio up close. They’ve charted the success of Pirates ace Paul Skenes against Milwaukee counterpart Jacob Misiorowski. They’ve witnessed countless series losses to this franchise far from the bright spotlights of October. They’ve instead stewed in the ordinary embarrassment of getting blown out by this team on plenty of random, low-profile weekdays in April, May and June.
That familiarity can only breed contempt for the fact that the Pirates were outspent by tens of millions of dollars by the Brewers this year. Spotrac puts Milwaukee at 19th in payroll at $146 million. The Pirates were 23rd at $106 million.
Holding any team to a World Series standard is often unreasonable. Championships require as much good luck as they do proper management. So it’s reductive to ask why the Brewers can win a title when the Pirates can’t.
What’s not unreasonable is asking why Pirates GM Ben Cherington appears poised to get an eighth season in 2027 despite exactly one winning record since 2020.
Even that achievement came by the slimmest possible margin, as Pittsburgh barely slipped over .500 at 82-80 this season. And yet he’ll get the opportunity to continue, even as Brewers GM Matt Arnold has won a championship and four consecutive division titles despite being hired one year after Cherington.
The most charitable explanation is that owner Bob Nutting doesn’t want to change front offices in the face of MLB’s expected push for the salary cap he has long coveted in collective bargaining negotiations this winter. That he’d rather bet on the owners breaking the players to create a more restrictive playing field on which Cherington can compete than meaningfully commit to improving his club’s situation.
It’s a purely defeatist posture that looks as ridiculous as it is now that the Brewers – and not the high-payroll Los Angeles Dodgers – are the team holding the Commissioner’s Trophy.
MLB is their sport now. They hold the same hand of cards as the Pirates, and they’ve taken the whole pot with it while Nutting and his mouthpieces have been happy to blame the dealer for being losers.
It will be as easy as ever for Pittsburgh sports fans to see through that, regardless of where the sport ends up on the other side of the labor battle to come.
