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Golden Knights' Goaltending Tandem Faces Early Test as Hart, Hill Navigate Ups and Downs

Three games. Two goaltenders. Two victories and one defeat. And a developing storyline for the Vegas Golden Knights that could become a key factor in their success this season.

The Golden Knights have demonstrated they can win with either Carter Hart or Adin Hill between the pipes. They've also learned that neither is immune to difficult stretches, especially in the opening period, when mistakes can quickly change a game's complexion.

Monday's 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild provided the latest example.

Hart surrendered three goals during a five-minute stretch of the first period before settling down, finishing with 24 saves as Vegas saw its four-game winning streak snapped.

The performance was reminiscent of Hill's start against Toronto four nights earlier, when he allowed three goals on the Maple Leafs' first six shots before recovering to backstop a 4-3 shootout victory.

In between, Hart delivered perhaps the most complete goaltending performance of the Golden Knights' young season, stopping 26 shots in Saturday's 2-1 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Kings.

Three performances, each with its own challenges, have given first-year coach Ryan Craig an early glimpse of what his goaltending tandem can offer—and where improvements are still needed.

Another Early Deficit Raises Questions

Monday's setback in Minnesota unfolded in a familiar fashion.

Vegas played a competitive opening stretch before the Wild erupted for three goals in 5:07, beginning with Matt Boldy's rebound goal at 11:50 of the first period.

Maxim Shabanov scored a power-play goal at 14:32, and Danila Yurov extended Minnesota's lead to 3-0 at 16:57.

For the second time in three games, the Golden Knights found themselves facing a three-goal deficit before the first intermission.

Hart wasn't solely responsible for the breakdown. Defensive lapses, positioning and the inability to quickly regain composure contributed to Minnesota's surge.

But the goaltender was once again left confronting the challenge of keeping his team within striking distance.

To Hart's credit, he did not allow another goal on 15 shots over the final two periods.

Rasmus Andersson scored early in the second period, and William Karlsson brought Vegas within 3-2 midway through the third.

The Golden Knights pressed for the equalizer before Joel Eriksson Ek sealed Minnesota's victory with an empty-net goal.

Hart finished with a .889 save percentage, allowing three goals on 27 shots.

The loss dropped Hart to 3-2-0 in five starts.

And while Monday was a setback, it did little to diminish the confidence his teammates had expressed after his previous appearance.

Hill's Comeback Against Toronto Provides a Blueprint

If there was a positive lesson to be drawn from Monday's loss, it was that Vegas had already experienced a similar situation and demonstrated an ability to recover.

Thursday's matchup against Toronto began disastrously for Hill.

Jack Roslovic scored 34 seconds into the contest, Easton Cowan converted a breakaway, and Nick Paul made it 3-0 just 8:37 into the game.

Hill had allowed three goals on six shots.

But instead of allowing the situation to deteriorate, the veteran goaltender settled down and gave his teammates an opportunity to rally.

Vegas dominated the remainder of the contest, eventually tying the game before Trevor Connelly scored the deciding goal in the fifth round of the shootout.

Hill stopped 21 of 24 shots in regulation and overtime and made the decisive shootout save against John Tavares.

Craig praised his goaltender's ability to recover.

"I think the guys picked Hilly up and he responded," Craig said. "As our team got better, Hilly got better."

Mitch Marner was equally impressed with Hill's composure.

"I feel like Hilly's so calm and confident himself, regardless of what happens before, so you see that tonight," Marner said. "Just stayed with it. We have a lot of trust in either of those boys in net. So, when we needed him massively, he made some big saves."

That trust has become an important component of Vegas' early-season identity.

Hill, who helped lead the Golden Knights to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2023, understands the demands of playing in high-pressure situations.

Through his first two appearances this season, Hill is 2-0-0 with a 2.41 goals-against average and .886 save percentage.

Those numbers aren't spectacular, but his ability to overcome Thursday's difficult start illustrated the mental resilience necessary to succeed at the position.

Hart Demonstrates His Value Against Los Angeles

Saturday's victory over the Kings offered perhaps the clearest example of why Craig has confidence in Hart.

The 28-year-old goaltender stopped 26 of 27 shots, finishing with a .963 save percentage in a tightly contested game that required patience and precision.

His biggest contribution came during a Los Angeles five-on-three power play, when a timely save helped preserve the tie and energized the crowd at T-Mobile Arena.

Craig recognized the significance of the moment.

"Well, it energized us. That's what it did for us," Craig said. "I thought the building got alive after that."

The coach credited his penalty killers for their work during the sequence but emphasized Hart's contribution.

"But Carter came up big when we needed him to make a save," Craig said.

Hart also denied Quinton Byfield early in overtime, setting the stage for Marner's winning power-play goal at 2:40.

Afterward, Hart downplayed his individual performance.

"I mean, just I think just compete and just trying to make saves," Hart said. "Really, that's about it."

His understated approach reflected the mentality Craig has been trying to establish throughout the lineup.

For Hart, the performance also represented another encouraging step after serving as Vegas' primary postseason goaltender during its run to the Stanley Cup Final last spring.

Hart started all 22 of the Golden Knights' playoff games, providing valuable experience in pressure situations that could prove important as the season progresses.

A Goaltending Competition Worth Watching

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Through seven games, the Golden Knights have relied on both goaltenders, with Hart receiving five starts and Hill two.

Hart's totals include his 24-save performance on Monday. Combined, the tandem has made 154 saves on 171 shots for a .901 save percentage.

Hart's workload suggests Craig has been comfortable giving him the majority of the starts, although Hill's championship experience and undefeated record provide another viable option.

The challenge isn't necessarily deciding which goaltender deserves the No. 1 designation.

It's determining how to maximize both players over the course of an 82-game season.

Craig has already demonstrated a willingness to trust his goaltenders through difficult stretches rather than making immediate changes.

That approach was rewarded Thursday when Hill recovered against Toronto and again Saturday when Hart delivered against Los Angeles.

Monday's loss offered another reminder that consistency remains a work in progress.

The Golden Knights have allowed three first-period goals twice in their past three games, a concerning trend that extends beyond goaltending.

Defensive coverage, puck management and composure all contribute to a team's ability to protect its netminders.

And while both Hart and Hill have demonstrated the capacity to recover from difficult starts, repeatedly asking them to overcome early three-goal deficits isn't a sustainable formula.

Finding Consistency Between the Pipes

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of Vegas' goaltending situation is the confidence that continues to exist throughout the dressing room.

Marner's comments following Thursday's victory were particularly revealing.

The Golden Knights aren't approaching their goaltending tandem with uncertainty. They believe either player can provide the saves necessary to win.

And while Monday's result exposed areas requiring improvement, it also reinforced the importance of maintaining perspective during the opening weeks of a long season.

Hart has already delivered several strong performances, including victories against Chicago, Seattle and Los Angeles.

Hill has won both his starts, including Thursday's comeback against Toronto.

Neither has recorded a shutout, and both have experienced periods when the opposition has dictated play.

But their combined five victories have helped Vegas establish itself among the early contenders in the Western Conference.

The Golden Knights return to action Tuesday at Nashville, where the second game of a back-to-back presents Craig with another opportunity to evaluate his goaltending options.

Whether Hill gets the assignment or Hart returns to the crease, the expectation remains the same.

Give the Golden Knights an opportunity to win.

And if the first seven games have demonstrated anything, it's that Vegas has two goaltenders capable of doing exactly that — even if the path toward establishing consistency remains unfinished.

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12 hits and 1 run? How strange was the Red Sox win over the Guardians?

It’s not the type of game you’re likely to see again
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 23: Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after scoring off a single hit by Andruw Monasterio (not pictured) in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Fenway Park on September 23, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Before we begin looking ahead to 2027, OTM is looking back at 2026, highlighting some of the biggest, strangest, and most memorable moments of a memorable season. Today, we look back at a statistical anomaly that says a lot about the 2026 Red Sox offense.

With the Championship Series in full swing in both the AL and NL, the 2026 season is quickly winding down. But that doesn’t mean we’re quite done with it. There are some loose ends. Some questions unanswered. Some further insights to probe. In particular, one game was still tickling my brain. September 23rd.

This was a Wednesday night game against the Cleveland Guardians. Part of the penultimate series of the year, the one right before the Cubs came to town and things went crazy with the storm. The Red Sox would win the game 1-0 with 12 hits. And they were all singles. That seems weird right? This was noted at the time as somewhat uncommon. And, yes, as you slice stats and measurements you end up with small samples. That’s how so many online accounts can make “fun fact” claims about nearly every game. But I wondered just how uncommon this actually was.

In the 2026 season, this was the only game where a team had at least 12 hits and scored up to a single run. That includes if a team had 12 hits and was shut out. The Sox are unique here.

If we expand this to the Wild Card Era (1995 onward) it has occurred just 73 times. And just five of those teams won. The 2026 Red Sox, 2015 Pirates, 2014 Angels, 2000 Rangers, and 1997 Yankees all pulled off 12 or more hits and 1 run for a win. Only the Red Sox and Yankees did the trick without an extra base hit. Although even for the other teams, the most they hit was a double.

If we look at it in the other direction, there were 252 teams that had exactly 12 hits and scored more than 1 run in 2026 alone. This included the Sox on March 26th against the Reds. Opening Day. They were the first to do it. What a world that was, starting the season with 3 hits by Roman Anthony.

But back to the original question: 12 or more hits, 1 run or fewer. If we go all the way back to 1898 on Baseball-Reference, it’s only happened 368 times. And of that total, the team with 1 run on 12 or more hits only won 22 times. The Dodgers had 20 hits (18 singles) over 22 innings on August 23, 1989 against the Montreal Expos And the only run— by either team — was scored by LA in the 22nd inning. It was a Rick Dempsey home run off Dennis Martinez.

What if we forget the number of runs and just look for teams that had at least 12 singles? That happened 5 times in 2026. The Yankees pulled if off against the Sox in the August doubleheader we don’t really want to think much about. The Rays, Astros, and Marlins each did it as well. The Sox, Yankees, and Marlins won while the Rays and Astros lost. There are 157 occurrences of this during the Wild Card Era. The team hitting all singles won 89 times. Sometimes it really is just the hits that matters. One interesting tidbit looking at all these box scores is on June 18, 2023 that Marlins and Rays had 12 hits (all singles) and 4 runs, against the Nationals and Padres, respectively. The Marlins won 4-2 and the Rays list 5-4.

So the 12 hit, 1 run game against the Guardians was uncommon. Not the most uncommon. But not the type of thing that happens often. Just a couple games per season at most. But the fact that they won? That’s not something you’re likely to see. Another weird moment in a weird season.

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Tuesday Morning Texas Rangers Update

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 03: Nathaniel Lowe #30 of the Texas Rangers yells to the crowd during the World Series Championship parade at Globe Life Field on November 03, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good morning.

Kennedi Landry writes that, if nothing else, MacKenzie Gore was available to pitch for the Texas Rangers in 2026.

Evan Grant writes that the infield was stricken with injuries all season but it was also the most productive unit for Texas in 2026.

MLB Trade Rumors’ Mark Polishuk checks out the offseason outlook for the Rangers where Chris Young and crew will be tasked with putting together a team to return to October.

And, in other news, Jon Daniels once traded with the Tampa Bay Rays to acquire Nathaniel Lowe when he was still Nathan Lowe and Daniels was the decision maker for the Rangers. Now Jon Daniels is a senior advisor with Tampa Bay and Lowe collected the go-ahead and game-winning RBI hit against the Rays in Game 1 of the ALCS. It’s a small world, I suppose.

Have a nice day!

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How many starting pitchers will the Braves add this offseason?

ATLANTA, GA - MAY 17: Atlanta Braves pitchers Bryce Elder #55,Spencer Schellenbach #56,Spencer Strider #99,Chris Sale #51 and J.R. Ritchie #60 watch the action from the dugout during the MLB game between the Boston Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves on May 17, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Sticking with the rotation since there isn’t really much else to discuss…

Didier Fuentes may or may not be ticketed for the rotation in 2027, assuming there is a 2027 season. Chris Sale can’t fend off Father Time forever, but he’s done a good job of it so far. Grant Holmes exists. Bryce Elder exists. Everyone else is either injured-and-oft-injured, coming off a not-so-great MLB season, or a mix of both.

The Braves will probably add starters from outside the organization, and/or re-up with Tyler Mahle and perhaps even Martin Perez. But, unless it’s literally Mahle and Perez to go with Holmes, Elder, Fuentes, and Sale, they’ll have to make some more moves.

So, how many do you think they’ll make? No scoring, but for purposes of your guess, consider only a starter making about $8 million (or the equivalent of that if the CBA immediately curtails salaries), or a trade equivalent of such. They could add all sorts of Martin Perezes, but we wouldn’t really know whether that should count as an earnest effort or not until the proof ends up in the proverbial pudding.

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Should MLB shorten the length of the regular season?

Sep 29, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Commissioner of Major League Baseball Rob Manfred before game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

As we get closer and closer to the end of the 2026 MLB season, the impending lockout and CBA negotiations will begin to take center stage in the baseball world. Even now as the final four teams get the league championship series underway, we still received some drops of information regarding the negotiations between the league and the MLB player’s association.

It’s imperative to take all of these leaks and reports with an appropriate grain of salt, as both sides will likely try to use the media to negotiate in public. The proposals this far out should receive even more skepticism, as neither side will be willing to concede this early. However, one of the latest reported proposals from the league has a somewhat interesting topic of discussion, and that’s the length of MLB’s regular season.

In the proposal, MLB broached the idea of shortening the regular season from the current 162 games back to the former 154 games. The latter was the standard until the American League moved to 162 games in 1961 with the National League following the year after. Seven less games obviously mean that the regular season would be one week shorter, allowing for each week to have a built-in off day for each team. That would theoretically help keep players, especially pitchers, healthy as they would be less wear and tear on their bodies. Part of the league’s reasoning for this idea was also the ability to then extend the length of the divisional round of the postseason from a best of five to a best of seven. In addition to that, MLB proposed that the higher seeds would be able to choose their opponents for those series.

There will be many more ideas exchanged back and forth from both sides over the coming winter, but this is one of the first ones that feels like it has at least some realistically possibility of happening in some form. So, should MLB shorten the length of the regular season? Or should it stay where it is? Or does it not even go far enough for your liking?

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Shead on conditioning: Way ahead of where I was in my first two years

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 10: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball against Jamal Shead #23 of the Toronto Raptors during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden on April 10, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Pamela Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a Canadian tour that included stops in Quebec City and Vancouver, the Toronto Raptors finally make their return to Scotiabank Arena to take on the New York Knicks on Tuesday.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST on Sportsnet.

Here are three storylines to consider ahead of the contest:

He’s back

As announced by Raptors Head Coach Darko Rajakovic during practice on Monday, Kawhi Leonard will be available against the defending champions. This potentially marks the first time Leonard has played in a Raptors uniform in Toronto since the team’s Game 5 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.

While there won’t be a Nick Nurse in sight to call a momentum-halting timeout, expect Rajakovic to restrict Leonard to first-half minutes. Despite this, Leonard is seemingly on track for the regular-season.

“He went through practice (Monday),” said Rajakovic. “He’s feeling great.”

Last pre-season, Leonard played in three of four games for the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging roughly 21 minutes. After making his return from an ACL injury, Leonard appeared in two of four exhibition games in 2022-23. He averaged just over 16 minutes a contest.

Conditioning is key

When the Raptors wrapped up their 2025-26 season, Rajakovic noted that the team’s conditioning needed to improve. It came up again during Media Day on Sept. 28.

While the entire roster has seemingly worked on their endurance, one player who took that suggestion to heart was Jamal Shead, especially after his playoff experience. After averaging just over 21 minutes of action in his first two seasons in the league, Shead’s playing time ballooned to 32 minutes a game in the seven-game series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Since then, Shead has focused on preparing his body for the demanding environment of playoff basketball.

“I think that I’m way ahead of where I was in my first two years,” said Shead during practice on Oct. 12. “I think I still can do a little bit more work…but I’m in a good spot.”

Toronto begins a stretch of three games in four nights to conclude the pre-season. To open the regular-season, the Raptors play three games in five nights. That’ll certainly be an early test of the team’s conditioning and depth.

“I’d rather have it now than we run into it for the first time after seven or eight games and all of our legs are not used to it,” said Shead. “We’ll get to see how in shape we are, where our bodies are.”

Shead’s increased playing time during the playoffs was primarily due to Immanuel Quickley’s injury. With several players currently dealing with early ailments – and Leonard primed for load management – it’s in everyone’s best interest to be ready to do more.

“Our team’s in a good spot, you don’t see us with just hands on knees everywhere,” said Shead. “Of course we’re going to get tired, we play really hard, but I think for the most part, we’re pretty good.”

The ‘King of New York’

The Knicks are expected to rest their starters on the second night of a back-to-back. They arrive in Toronto after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-104 on Oct. 12. Jalen Brunson was electric, recording 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in only 21 minutes of play.

After the Raptors play the Knicks again on Oct. 15 for their penultimate exhibition game, the teams play a mini-two-game series on Nov. 15 and 17. Both games will be played in Toronto.

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Columbus Blue Jackets (4 pts) vs. Florida Panthers (6 pts) Game Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets are back at home for a brief two game homestand and will face the Florida Panthers tonight at 6:15 PM. 

Florida Panthers - 2-2-2 - 6 Points - Loss 2 - 6th in the Atlantic

Columbus Blue Jackets - 2-2-0 - 4 Points - Loss 1 - 6th in the Metro

Teams Notes Per CBJ PR

  • After being out for pre-season and the Jackets’ first two regular-season games, Damon Severson made his season debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 9, scoring a goal and an assist (1-1-2).
  • The Blue Jacket lead the league in faceoff % with a 58.6% win %.
  • Columbus is currently 5th in the Metro, 13th in the East, and 25th in the league. 

Player Notes Per CBJ PR

  • Charlie Coyle has 10-7-17 in 33 career GP vs. Florida with 6-4-10 in 17 career home games against the Panthers.
  • Danton Heinen has 4-9-13 in 24 career GP vs. Florida, with points in four of his last six matchups (1-3-4).
  • Matthew Knies has 3-3-6 in 12 career GP, including three multi-point games that have all occurred on home ice (6 GP).
  • Sean Monahan has 8-7-15 with five multi-point efforts in 22 career matchups and has notched 5-5-10 in 11 career home contests vs. Florida.
  • Valeri Nichushkin has collected 2-4-6 in 13 career games vs. Florida, with all points in his last four meetings against the club.
  • Cole Sillinger has 3-2-5 in 11 career GP, and has goals in two of his past four against Florida (2-1-3).
  • Carson Soucy has picked up 1-1-2 in back-to-back games against Florida and has notched 4-2-6 in 13 career matchups.

Blue Jackets Stats 

  • Power Play - 20.0% - 19th in the NHL
  • Penalty Kill - 75.9% - 23rd in the NHL
  • Goals For - 12 - 24th in the NHL
  • Goals Against - 14 - 14th in the NHL   

Panthers Stats 

  • Power Play - 9.4% - 28th in the NHL
  • Penalty Kill - 74.1% - 24th in the NHL
  • Goals For - 12 - 24th in the NHL
  • Goals Against - 17 - 21st in the NHL

Series History vs. ThePanthers

  • The Blue Jackets are 27-21-8 Overall, and 17-7-4 at Nationwide Arena vs. Florida. 
  • Columbus has picked up points in four straight games against Florida (1-0-3), with three of the past four games having gone past regulation.

Who To Watch For ThePanthers

  • Matthew Tkachuk leads Florida with 3 goals and 5 points. 
  • Lars Eller leads the Panthers with 3 assists. 
  • Jacob Markstrom is 2-1-1 with a SV% of .904%.
  • Akira Schmid is 0-1-1 with a SV% of .868%. 

Injured Reserve & Other Injuries

  • Dante Fabbro - Broken Hand - IR - 4 Games Missed
  • Isac Lundestrom - Achilles Surgery - LTIR - 4 Games Missed
  • Ivan Provorov - Lower Body - IR - 4 Games Missed

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 16

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be simulcast on The Blue Jackets Hockey Network and 97.1 The Fan, with Steve Mears behind the mic doing the play-by-play.

TV: CBJHN (Spectrum HD Ch. 320/1320; IP Ch. 349; Prime Video, Fubo)   

Next Up For Columbus: The CBJ take on the Florida Panthers tonight at 6:15 PM 

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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Mets Morning News: Brewers, Guardians win their LCS games

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 12: William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on October 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Meet the Mets

Anth0ny DiComo identified three Mets prospects who could find themselves making a big impact for the 2027 squad.

Tim Britton analyzed the effect that a salary cap would have on the Mets and explored the different types of teams that the organization could build with different budgets.

Pete Sblendorio looked at the team’s biggest questions ahead of the winter.

Danny Abriano ranked the top five priorities for the Mets heading into the offseason.

The Mets could be open to a change at second base next season, but it would cost them.

Joe Patorno wondered if the Mets may have missed out on the real architect of the Brewers in Matt Arnold.

Around the National League East

Mark Bowman wrote about the Braves’ five biggest offseason questions.

Cole Weintraub identified some of the key dates for the Phillies entering an uncertain offseason.

Dillon Lawson has been named the Marlins’ hitting coach.

Around Major League Baseball

The Brewers overcame three deficits to pick up a 7-4 win in Game 2 of the NLCS over the Dodgers and tighten their grip on the series, as they look to prevent Los Angeles from a three-peat.

The game turned on its head during a 12-pitch at-bat between Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jake Bauers, which wore out Yamamoto and led to him being knocked out of the game in the third inning.

Paul Casella highlighted some key takeaways from Game 2 of the NLCS, including the continued struggles of the Dodgers’ superstars and William Contreras coming through for the Brew Crew.

Shohei Ohtani is one of those struggling bats, and the Dodgers will discuss benching their superstar for Game 3 of the series.

The Guardians rallied past the Rays in Game 1 of the ALCS with two runs in the eighth and three in the ninth, resulting in a 7-3 victory.

José Ramírez caused havoc on the basepaths, which was a key to helping the Guardians picked up their fourth straight win.

Will Leitch wrote about some storylines to keep an eye on in both the NLCS and in the ALCS.

Ramírez is relishing the second chance to bring Cleveland to the World Series after failing to do so in 2024.

Anthony Berry talked about the 2021 trade that sent Junior Caminero from the Guardians to the Rays, and wondered how it happened in the first place considering how much of a steal if seems to be in retrospect.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Linus Lawrence ranked the Mets’ biggest LDS moments.

If you find yourself bored and missing baseball, or just want to connect with your fellow Mets fans in a fun way, join the Amazin’ Avenue offseason book club, beginning with The Worst Team Money Could Buy.

This Date in Mets History

Unfortunately, the Mets have not had a lot of luck on games played on October 13, having lost playoff games on this date in 2024, 2015, 2006, 1999, and 1973. The worst of which has to be Game 2 of the 2006 NLCS, which I’d still argue is the most heartbreaking loss and the biggest “what if?” game of that series.

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F1 returns to Africa for first time since 1993 with 10-year Rwanda deal from ‘early 2030s’

  • African Grand Prix will take place at new track near Kigali

  • Stefano Domenicali: ‘Today is a landmark moment for F1’

Formula One has confirmed Rwanda will join the calendar having concluded a 10-year agreement for the meeting to be hosted on a purpose-built circuit, with the first race set for the early 2030s. It will mark the first time F1 has raced in Africa since 1993.

The meeting, to be known as the African Grand Prix, will be held on a circuit in Bugesera, approximately 40km south of the capital Kigali and represents a successful conclusion to the sport’s long-held ambition to return to the African continent championed by Lewis Hamilton.

Continue reading...
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Atlanta Braves News: Austin Riley, Acquiring Arms, More

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 06: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves throws to first for an out in the fourth inning during Game Three of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Once again, the Braves are entering an offseason where many questions need to be answered. And unfortunately, many of those questions will be focused on how reliable talents already with the Braves will be moving forward. That of course spotlights all the injuries that some of the Braves most promising your arms have went through over the past few years, thus leading to the question of how many arms must the Braves acquire.

And then, there is the matter of the now years long issue of the Braves offense under performing. A major factor in that is the decline of Austin Riley, someone the Braves must get going again to truly get back toward contention. In an offseason where there already is so much uncertainty around the game itself, the Braves have their own questions to answer.

Braves News

While the Braves will go into Spring Training with Didier Fuentes as a starter, it will be interesting to see how they use him as the season progresses.

MLB News

In a bit of a surprise development, the Guardians defeated the Rays in Game 1 of the ALCS.

The Brewers gained early control of the NLCS as they are now up 2-0 over the Dodgers.

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Shohei Ohtani looks broken for the Dodgers, and he could be benched in NLCS vs. Brewers

(Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The NLCS now shifts to the West Coast, after the Milwaukee Brewers took the first two games of the series at home, pushing the Los Angeles Dodgers into unfamiliar territory as they trail two games to none in the series.

But more unfamiliar territory could follow.

Benching superstar Shohei Ohtani.

The slugger continues to struggle at the plate, and Ohtani endured an 0-for-4 night with two strikeouts on Monday after going 1-for-3 with a single in Game 1. Ohtani entered the NLCS having gone just 2-for-13 against the Atlanta Braves, and now sits at 3-for-20 this postseason with a trio of singles, along with three walks.

That is good for a slash line of .150/.261/.411.

Speaking after the game, manager Dave Roberts had this to say about the team’s superstar, as quoted by The Athletic:

“Yeah, I mean, obviously it hasn’t been good. He doesn’t feel great. I think for me, it’s having a conversation with him tomorrow, kind of try to figure out what’s best for him, what’s best for us. He certainly has earned that conversation and deserves it.

“I’ll have (that conversation) with him tomorrow.”

Our own Eric Stephen, who “has practice in Robertsese” as he described it, declared early Tuesday morning “that means Ohtani won’t be starting in Game 3 on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.”

How did we get here, with the Dodgers contemplating sitting none other than Shohei Ohtani in a must-win playoff game?

Ohtani has been dealing with several injuries this season, starting with a left knee issue which caused him to miss some starts on the bump in the summer, and to miss the All-Star Game together as he sought treatment for the knee ailment.

But a right bicep issue followed, and he was eventually put on the IL in September with that issue, and the team shut him down as a pitcher on September 7.

Yet, Ohtani’s performance at the plate had begun to dip well before September. he began the year hot at the dish, slashing .293/.403/.549 with 22 home runs ahead of the All-Star break.

Over the second half of the season, Ohtani slashed just .245/.325/.447 with eight home runs. And when you dive into those numbers a bit more, the dip in performance looks even steeper. After slashing .273/.330/.557 in July, with six home runs, he slashed .241/.322/.472 in August, with six more homers.

Over eight regular season games in September and October, he slashed just .200/.333/.233, without a home run. His last homer came back in the middle of August, a blast against the Colorado Rockies on August 18. In that three game series at Coors Field, Ohtani went 5-for-14 with three home runs and five RBI.

However, since that game Ohtani has gone 14-for-90 without a home run, and with just a single RBI. That is good for an average of .156, and an OPS under .490.

Digging into Ohtani’s numbers a little more, and watching his at-bats, you can see the struggles at the plate. His swing speed has dipped — according to data from FanGraphs his bat speed on line drives is 74.8 miles per hour, down from 76.0 last year and a high of 77.7 during the 2023 season — as has his exit velocity. After averaging an EV of 93.3 mph this season, his lone hit in the NLCS came off the bat at just 74 mph:

And his approach on this single helps tell another part of the story.

As noted by The Athletic, Ohtani has tried to shorten his swing, and take balls to the opposite field rather than trying to pull or drive balls to the right side. That is because he’s struggled to catch up to fastballs and pull them, as you can see on this strikeout from the first inning Monday night, when he swings through a 95-mph four-seam fastball up in the zone from Logan Henderson:

That approach leads to moments like this from Monday night, when Ohtani tries to go the other way on a ball off the plate and looks … unlike the Ohtani we are used to seeing:

At the start of that at-bat? Ohtani actually showed bunt, something else we are not used to seeing from the slugger.

Speaking ahead of the NLDS Ohtani, through team interpreter Will Ireton, had this to say about his swing:

“It feels really good overall. I do feel like my swing is in a better place, feels smooth, and just a little tweaks here and there, and I’ll be ready for tomorrow.”

And on the injuries:

“I haven’t been able to get a good grasp of the root cause of all this. I think that process is going to happen during the off-season when I’m going to have a little bit more time to be able to address it. But as of now, it’s something I’m just going to have to manage.”

However, he also talked about “transparency,” regarding how he is feeling physically:

“ I think the discussion became more about like what’s best for the team. Is it something that I can play through, and if that’s best for the team, sure. But I think we both came to an understanding where the decision to be on the IL came from the fact that it’s probably best for the team for me to recover and be able to focus on the postseason.”

And that might be the focus of the upcoming discussion with Roberts. As noted by Stephen early Tuesday morning, there’s “been an open question of how forthcoming Ohtani has been with his injuries as well.” But the player we have seen so far this postseason has been struggling at the plate, and with the Dodgers facing a two-game hole in the series, that could lead to a difficult decision for Roberts and the rest of the organization.

If Ohtani is indeed out of the lineup to start Game 3, Josue De Paula is likely the “top candidate” to replace him, according to The Athletic. De Paula, who was called up from Double-A Tulsa in mid-September, went 10-for-31 with a home run in limited action for the Dodgers, slashing .323/.500/.581. That was good enough for the team to add him to the postseason roster and he has a pair of walks in three plate appearances, including one on Sunday night in Game 1.

The Dodgers are set to meet the media later today during the off day before Wednesday’s pivotal Game 3.

Meaning we might learn more about Ohtani’s status in a few hours.

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Finding the Historical Equivalent of the 2026-2027 Utah Jazz

Alphonso de Lamartine (who surely we all know and revere) wrote in his 1854 documentation of the French Revolution, “History teaches all things, even the future”. While the great Frenchman was writing of something with greater consequence than the Jazz’s projection for the 2027 season, the principle stands – if we would like a forecast for this upcoming season, we need only to understand the success of some of the team’s historical parallels.

Now, this is not a perfect science. For starters, the NBA is rapidly evolving; a team in 2026 cannot craft wins from the same formula that a team in 1986 could. Additionally, the game is complex enough that you will never find a 1-to-1 comparison for a player by scouring the history books. This is to say that the task is more strenuous than finding the team with the 1980s version of Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George.

So, instead of drawing specifics from NBA history, we are going to look for general principles that link teams together. For example, the primary lesson that we learn from the French Revolution is not that we need to bolster the fortifications of the Bastille, but that when the government upholds unfair economic structures, people may seek radical change. The concept is timeless, even if the particulars of the playing field shift with time. So, while the Utah Jazz will undoubtedly shoot more three pointers than any of the team historical comparisons I discuss today, that difference in playstyle does not negate the concepts of basketball that connect the eras. Teams have needed and will continue to need playmakers, shooters, defenders. Teams that win the possession battle have been and will continue to be successful. Teams with a dynamic, creative coach have and will continue to exceed expectations. There is no historical team with Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey, but that fact does not impede our ability to learn from history.

In this article, I will attempt to find three teams from NBA history similar in construction to the 2026-2027 Utah Jazz. One of these teams will be the worst-case scenario; where has a team gone wrong with a make-up similar to Utah? Another will a more likely, closer to 50th percentile outcome; if we simulate Utah’s season 100 times, what type of success will we most often encounter? Finally, a best-case scenario; if everything clicks, just how good can this team be? As I look for comparisons, I will not be taking age or career trajectory into account. For example, none of these teams need to have a player with as much potential as Darryn Peterson, but we are trying to find a team with a player that plays like current Darryn Peterson. Finally, before we jump into things, let me reiterate one more time – none of the team or player comparisons I make are 1-to-1, so do not come for my throat if the historical player that I say plays the Lauri Markkanen role is, in your opinion, better or worse than Lauri Markkanen. We’re just trying to have a good time.

Worst case outcome: 2006-2007 Milwaukee Bucks

MIAMI – MARCH 24: Mo Williams #25 of the Milwaukee Bucks takes a breather with teammate Michael Redd #22 against the Miami Heat on March 24, 2008 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 2008 NBAE (Photo by Victor Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 28-54

Key Players: Michael Redd, Mo Williams, Andrew Bogut

Offensive Rating: 107.0 (12 out of 30)

Defensive Rating: 111.7 (29 out of 30)

Season Outcome: Lottery

This was the most encouraging aspect of my historical studies – it was very, very difficult to find a team with the Jazz’s level of talent that truly failed. The Bucks are the team that with the least clean comparison to the Jazz. That isn’t to say that I’m totally off-base here. This is a team who found offensive success with fairly limited playmaking and the lack of a tier 1 star. Additionally, this is a team that simply could not hang defensively, even with the presence of a genuine defensive anchor (Andrew Bogut was young, but already quite impactful on that end). Michael Redd fills the Lauri Markkanen role as a sturdy wing who devastates teams with off-ball scoring. Mo Williams functions as the Keyonte George: a smaller guard who is additive to a good offense but who can’t keep one afloat on his own. Charlie Bell, the teams starting shooting guard, was a solid off-ball shooter with some playmaking juice (about what I’m expecting from DP in year one). The Bucks had solid offensive pieces, but it wasn’t enough to build a genuinely competitive team.

The holes in this comparison are admittedly obvious. For one, the comparison between Andrew Bogut and Jaren Jackson Jr. is a major stretch. Even if Bogut was already effective as a defender in his rookie year, and thus filled the archetype of a real anchor on a bad defense, the offensive gap is so substantial – who knows how good the 2007 Bucks would’ve been if Andrew Bogut was stretching the floor and giving them a fairly efficient 20 points per game? On top of that, the Bucks bench was not nearly as impressive as what I project the Jazz’s to be. A current dilemma the Jazz seem to be facing is having too many competent bench wings (Sensabaugh, Green, Okogie, Svi, Ace, Hinson). I think the majority of those guys would be getting a guaranteed 20 minutes off of the bench for Milwaukee. That is especially true when taking the Bucks’ injuries into account – Michael Redd missed 29 games, Mo missed 14, Bogut missed 16, and backup power forward Charlie Villanueva missed 43. This, again, is encouraging. A team that I view as less talented than the Jazz still needed to suffer significant injury to end the season with only 28 wins – the season before, when Redd played 80 games, the Bucks found a way to sneak into the playoffs. The fact that it is difficult to find an unsuccessful team that was both (a) healthy and (b) as talented as the Jazz is history’s way of teaching us that teams like the Jazz tend to win games. If everything goes wrong (Lauri injured, Keyonte taking a step-back, only minor improvements from Ace), sure, maybe the Jazz fare like the 2007 bucks, but the former’s advantages of the latter makes that seem unlikely.

Summary: A loose comparison built off the precedent an off-ball scoring wing, effective point guard, and defensive anchor failing to lead to wins. Jazz are much stronger on the margins, and the Bucks have no answer for Jaren Jackson Jr.

Median outcome: 1997-1998 Minnesota Timberwolves

MINNEAPOLIS – 1998: Kevin Garnett #21 and Stephon Marbury #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves pose for a 1998 photo in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges 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 1998 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Record: 45-37

Key Players: Kevin Garnett, Stephon Marbury, Tom Gugliotta

Offensive Rating: 107.8 (7 out of 29)

Defensive Rating: 107.1 (23 out of 29)

Season outcome: Lost to the Supersonics in the first round, 2-3

The parallel here is much stronger. This Timberwolves team built a strong offense off of ball movement – they ranked 3rd in the league in total assists in 1998, and averaged the 2nd most points per game without any one scorer reaching 21 PPG. Similarly to what many of us are predicting with the Jazz, this offensive cohesion did not translate to defensive success, even with the presence of an anchor like Kevin Garnett (who was young, but still an all-star).

There are cleaner player comparisons among these two teams, as well. A young Garnett is a solid 90’s equivalent of Jaren Jackson Jr. (with some additional rebounding juice) and Tom Gugliotta, with his floor-spacing (to the deep mid-range, but still) and off-ball movement, being reminiscent of Lauri Markkanen. Backcourt ballhandling duties for the Timberwolves were very much reserved to their two point guards – Stephon Marbury and Terry Porter – which is similar to the offensive load we can expect Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier to carry when they are on the court. Anthony Peeler provides some of the passing and shooting and Darryn Peterson, Sam Mitchell brings the defensive intensity of either Okogie or Green, and like the Jazz, the T-wolves employed a few very large players whose primary goal was to be imposing and pull down rebounds. Eras shift the roles a bit, but the general ideas of players permeate across both squads. There are some key differences between the team (Nurkic is more skilled a center than any of the Minnesota bigs, and Garnett+Gugliotta are much better passers than their Jazz equivalents), but their core principle of “shot creating guard dishing to two forwards who are most effective at the receiving end of plays” is very comparable.

The result of the Timberwolves season is very telling. First, I believe it emphasizes the importance of Lauri Markkanen. Tom Gugliotta went down with injury near the halfway point of the year, and the added offensive pressure put upon the rest of the players really hurt their proficiency. I watched some of their first round series against the Supersonics, and I could tell that without their stabilizing offensive force, newly overtasked players began to flounder. It is not some novel observation that a team losing their leading scorer will struggle, but I did find it interesting that the same held true in a context similar to Utah’s; losing a scorer, even if they are primarily off-ball and your attack is balanced, can be very difficult to overcome. Still, this team fought until the very end, and put up a strong fight against the heavily favored Supersonics. If they had another ballhandler, the story might’ve gone differently. However, with Marbury forced to fend for himself against the incessant pressure of Gary Payton, he put up horrendous efficiency, and Seattle was able to advance.

Summary: Gugliotta, Marbury, and a young Garnett make up a similar big three to Utah’s Markk, George, and JJJ. While injuries were likely the deciding factor in their season, their lack of ballhandling should be a sign that the Jazz may need to pick up another initiator before they face the pesky hands of OKC or San Antonio.

Best case outcome: 2003-2004 Sacramento Kings

DALLAS – MAY 13: (Left to Right) Mike Bibby #10, Predrag Stojakovic #16, and Vlade Divac #21 of the Sacramento Kings are upset in Game five of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Dallas Mavericks during the 2003 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 13, 2003 in Dallas, Texas. The Mavericks won 112-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Record: 55-27

Key Players: Peja Stojakovic, Mike Bibby, Brad Miller, Vlade Divac, Doug Christie

Offensive Rating: 110.2 (2 out of 29)

Defensive Rating: 104.9 (21 out of 29)

Season outcome: Lost to the Timberwolves in the second round, 3-4

A man can dream, right?

This is about as good a team that didn’t play defense that there is in NBA history. 2004 Peja Stojakovic is likely the greatest individual season of any Lauri Markkanen comparison. Mike Bibby shows the benefits that can come as Keyonte’s dynamic offense ages and matures. Doug Christie’s union of 3, D, and playmaking could very well be replicated by a rookie Darryn Peterson. Vlade Divac, as a clever ground-bound anchor, likely sees shades of himself if he ever catches any Jusuf Nurkic minutes on TV. Brad Miller was stretching the floor, playing both big positions, and playing positive defense years before JJJ modernized that archetype for Memphis. And even though Bobby Jackson leans more into scoring than playmaking, he and Isaiah Collier effectively fill the same bench change-of-pace role. Fittingly, this Sacramento team that many said was ahead of its time finds its parallel in a 2027 squad.

For some, the success of this team is a mystery. With Chris Webber hurt most of the year (and when he returned, he was really a shell of himself), a traditional #1 scoring option could not be found. Peja led the team in points, but he isn’t a player that you can toss the ball to and ask to create consistent offense. Bibby, Christie, and Miller were all strong players, but were considered to be best when impacted by the gravity of a bigger star. Above all else, the Kings are an example of a team being greater than the sum of its parts, and that formula is what optimistic Jazz fans are betting on this year if the team is to exceed expectations. With a legendary coach and a near-unstoppable high-low, dribble handoff offense (we’ll miss you Jusuf Nurkic), the Kings were able to get the absolute most out of each of their offensive weapons. Go back and watch some of their highlights – some of their sets for Peja are eerily similar to what the Jazz run for Lauri Markkanen. If the Jazz are to make a substantial jump, it will be through the hivemind-esque cohesion exemplified by the Sacramento Kings (before Chris Webber came back from injury, at least).

Because of Webber, it is difficult to analyze the result of the Kings 2004 season. While Webber was out, the Kings had a scorching 42-15 record, or a 60 win pace. When Webber returned, they finished the regular season 13-12. It feels counterintuitive to assume that the Kings would’ve performed better in the playoffs without Webber, but it also seems obvious when you look at the actual results. Something had clicked during the 2003-2004 regular season, and by adding Webber into the lineup was the equivalent of throwing a grenade into the middle of it all. Had things stayed the way they were during those first 57 games, I would not have been surprised at all if the Kings found themselves in the finals playing the Pistons in 2004. Instead, they lost to the Timberwolves, partially because a dilapidated Chris Webber allowed Kevin Garnett to have the best series of his life. Nevertheless, the 2004 Kings provide a proof of concept – this is what the Jazz are gunning for until Darryn Peterson becomes the undebatable superstar that many of us believe he can be.

Summary: The Kings are the precedent. With a roster construction similar to Jazz, they meshed together to the tune of a 60 win pace without Chris Webber, all without a superstar or a strong defense. If it works, it’ll look like this.

Which historical team do you see in the 2026-2027 Utah Jazz? How do you feel about my comparisons? Let me know below!

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Dodgers notes: Three-peat in serious danger

Milwaukee, WI - October 12, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers Will Smith lined out in the second inning. The LA Dodgers play the Milwaukee Brewers in game two of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The Dodgers somehow scored four runs in Monday’s game against the Brewers but it wasn’t enough as the game devolved into a bullpen game and they lost 7-4, and now head home down 2-0 in the NLCS.

Bill Shakin of the L.A. Times ponders if the Dodgers should start playing baseball the way the Brewers are, especially since runs are at a premium. The Dodgers did score some of their runs as gifts from the Brewers, but the timely hitting still remains elusive.

“I don’t think guys are going up there trying to hit home runs,” Betts said. “Guys are going up there just trying to have good at-bats. Sometimes, you get ‘em. Sometimes you don’t. But we are playing against a really good team. We just have to put it behind us and just come out and play Dodger baseball.”

But, as Bill Plunkett of the OC Register points out, it didn’t work. He details the ways the Dodgers scored, and how they needed the Brewers’ help to do so.

Before the game, Plunkett also highlighted how Will Smith hasn’t had any production at the plate up until this afternoon.

“It’s been five games,” Smith said, dismissing the significance of his .053 batting average this October. “Obviously (I) want the results to be a little better. But at the end of the day, it’s five games at the plate. No panic from me. So I’ll be fine.”

Now, it’s been six games and Smith still only has one hit, and his postseason batting average is .043.

“I respect the Dodgers a great deal,” said Murphy. “That’s all there is to it. They’re arguably one of the best teams ever put together. They’re a great team.

“And I’m not going to think about anything but the next game. That’s it. Just one inning, one pitch at a time. Don’t look ahead. Don’t plan. Don’t complain, explain; just keep going.”

That’s what Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy told reporters after the game, as reported by AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. And as Cassavell notes in his article, the Dodgers threw their two top starters and have nothing to show for it.

Paul Casella also of MLB.com points out some keys for Game 3 back in L.A., including how to contain William Contreras, asking where the Dodgers offense will come from, and which bullpen will outlast the other.

The vaunted Dodger bullpen got outdueled by the Brewers bullpen, who has been phenomenal so far this postseason. They threw five perfect innings to finish out the game and seal the win.

The Dodgers have a lot of work to do to get themselves back in this series. Game 3 is at 5pm PT back in Los Angeles.