Alas, the NHL lost a great rivalry. | Getty Images
Hi, I got tired of seeing every hockey site posting “BOLD predictions for each NHL team” that weren’t very bold. Truly, they were mostly just lists of “this completely realistic thing could happen but my editor required that I make it sound bold,” and then they slapped “bold” on the headline for some rote, click-baity reason.
So I made my own list, for catharsis. Kindly disregard.
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks: Pat Verbeek is such a tough salary negotiator that he spends the entire season trying to fit his 23-man roster under the cap.
Calgary Flames: The Flames miss the playoffs. Bold!
Edmonton Oilers: After being suspended for projecting individual players’ TikToks on the hot tub big screen, Mike Babcock is replaced as head coach by Mark Messier, who promptly awards himself with the Mark Messier Leadership Award.
Los Angeles Kings: Pete Laviolette is fired by his seventh franchise, replaced by Darryl Sutter who guides them to a Stanley Cup.
San Jose Sharks: Ryan Warsofsky is replaced by Pete Laviolette.
Seattle Kraken: Jordan Eberle remains captain, but laments that his best-performing years were when he was required to be clean shaven before showing up to work.
Vegas Golden Knights: Praised for always going above and beyond, Vegas puts a bunch of guys on LTIR and acquires Connor Hellebuyck. But this achievement pales in comparison to ensuring Bruce Cassidy remains unemployed.
Vancouver Canucks: With performance and attendance dwindling, the Canucks announce a rebrand based around a new logo featuring an orange and black orca whale skating downhill in the shape of a hockey rink.
Atlantic Division
Detroit Red Wings: Dylan Larkin is traded. Bold! But the Wings still extend their franchise-record playoff drought to 11 seasons.
Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres miss the playoffs, because Buffalo is a cruel, cursed sportstown.
Boston Bruins: Warning that he won’t re-sign when his ELC expires in three years, James Hagens requests a trade. Also: Mired in a five-game losing streak, Hampus Lindholm and Elias Lindholm get in a bloody fight in practice, tearing the locker room apart.
Montreal Canadiens: Noah Dobson wins the Norris Trophy.
Florida Panthers: Brady and Matthew Tkachuk combine for 50 goals and 200 PIM. Bold!
Ottawa Senators: The LeBreton Flats arena plan falls through yet again, and the Senators announce a plan to share a state-of-the-art arena in Hamilton with the Hammers.
Tampa Bay Lightning: The Lightning make the playoffs.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews and his teammates return from their Phoenix preseason junket without harassing any security guards.
Metropolitan Division
New Jersey Devils: Sunny Mehta — not to be confused with the late, longtime Alfred A. Knopf publisher Sonny Mehta — is fired as GM and replaced by Lou Lamoriello. Chris Lamoriello is named assistant GM, Martin Brodeur is named interim head of player nutrition.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Every single American on the team demands a trade to a U.S. market where there is less pressure.
Washington Capitals: Alex Tuch outscores Jordan Kyrou by four goals, but they are separated by 26 in plus/minus.
New York Rangers: After years of disappointing everyone by simply existing, the sadsack Rangers franchise finally folds. All their historical statistics are transferred to the Winnipeg Jets, except for the 1994 Stanley Cup, which is returned to the Edmonton Oilers franchise.
Philadelphia Flyers: Kevin Kurz files multiple articles about the team in the opening week, including another “Why I Joined The Athletic” thought piece.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Egged on by local media, Penguins fans spend the entire 84-game season complaining that Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang do not get enough respect, while Mario Lemieux laments that he needs to rethink whether he wants to be a part of it all.
New York Islanders: The Drive for Five…regular season wins continues into November.
Carolina Hurricanes: NHL fans are reminded that this team won the Stanley Cup, and it turns out it’s their second in this century.
Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Kane returns to one of his old franchises and manages to avoid a drunken tussle with a cab driver.
St. Louis Blues: With both franchises in self-deluding late-season playoff pushes, the Blues swap a 7th defensemen to the Islanders for a fourth-line forward, each team raving about the new acquisition’s “veteran presence.”
Colorado Avalanche: ESPN names Ray Bourque the Most Inspiring Sports Story of the 21st Century.
Winnipeg Jets: What prediction can you possibly give a team who already has everything?
Utah Mammoth: Anders Lee reaches 20 goals for the 10th time in his career at age 36.
Dallas Stars: Despite doing almost everything right for about a decade, GM Jim Nill continues to have to push the rock uphill.
Minnesota Wild: Not getting quite enough media praise, Bill Guerin is awarded an Emmy for his performance as Jimmy McNulty on The Wire.
Nashville Predators: Former GM Barry Trotz looks at the current Predators and looks at the current Islanders and mutters, through tears, “Why…why did we ever do any of this?”
Dansby Swanson shrugs after his grand slam against the Padres July 1 | | Getty Images
Well, here we go again — for the second straight season, the Cubs and Padres meet in a Wild Card Series. Last year, the Cubs won it in Wrigley Field. This year, they’ll have to do that in San Diego.
If the regular season results are any indication, they can do it. The Cubs took the season series from the Padres five games to one, winning two of three in Petco Park in April and sweeping them in Wrigley Field at the end of June/beginning of July.
The Cubs fell behind 3-0 in the first inning, hut homers by Seiya Suzuki (in the second) and Moisés Ballesteros (a grand slam in the third) put the Cubs up 5-3 after three.
The Padres hit Matthew Boyd, Ben Brown, Phil Maton and Jacob Webb pretty hard, including a home run by Gavin Sheets off Webb, to take a 9-5 lead going to the ninth.
Mason Miller, the Padres’ supposedly unhittable closer, entered to finish up. The Cubs hit him. Matt Shaw, Dansby Swanson and Pete Crow-Armstrong singled to load the bases with nobody out. Nico Hoerner hit into a force play at second, scoring Shaw and sending Swanson to third. Dansby scored on a wild pitch, bringing Michael Busch to the plate as the tying run. But Miller got Busch to ground out and struck out Alex Bregman to end the game.
The game went 2-2 into the sixth. Dansby Swanson had doubled in the two runs in the second.
The Cubs took a 4-2 lead in the sixth on a two-run double by Nico Hoerner. One of the runners who scored was Nicky Lopez. Yes, he played for the Cubs this year. That was the only run he scored as a member of the 2026 Cubs. The Padres closed to within one in the bottom of the inning off Edward Cabrera, who then departed the game having allowed three runs, striking out seven.
Then the Cubs blew the game open in the seventh. Seiya Suzuki led off with a walk and advanced to second on a groundout. Michael Busch was hit by a pitch and Carson Kelly hit into a force play, with Suzuki taking third. Alex Bregman singled in Kelly to make it 5-3 and then Pete Crow-Armstrong hit this three-run homer [VIDEO].
Ryan Rolison finished up with two scoreless innings, just his third appearance as a Cub.
Miguel Amaya’s RBI single in the second gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead and that was extended to 3-0 on a Pete Crow-Armstrong two-run homer in the fourth.
But Miguel Andujar (solo) and Nick Castellanos (two-run) homered off Jameson Taillon in the fifth to tie the game 3-3.
Now that’s an interesting sentence. Not one of those players is on either team at this time. Andujar fractured his wrist and has been out since July (though has been on a rehab assignment and might return). Castellanos was released by the Padres in June. Taillon was released by the Cubs in July, caught on with the Blue Jays, then was injured and hasn’t pitched since early September.
The Cubs took the lead back in the sixth. Michael Busch led off with a walk and was forced by Michael Conforto. Conforto went to third on a double by Matt Shaw and scored on a PCA groundout.
Shaw then homered in the eighth to make it 5-3. In the bottom of the eighth the Padres got that run back on a sac fly by Fernando Tatis Jr. off Ben Brown.
Brown remained in the game in the ninth. He struck out Xander Bogaerts and got Ty France on a ground ball.
Then the two managers started playing the platoon game we rarely see in modern baseball. Craig Stammen sent Gavin Sheets up to bat for Andujar. Craig Counsell brought in left-hander Hoby Milner, so Stammen countered with Ramon Laureano.
The Padres took a 2-0 lead off Shōta Imanaga with single runs in the third and fourth, but the Cubs tied it up on single runs in the fourth (RBI single by Michael Conforto) and fifth (sac fly by Seiya Suzuki).
Imanaga threw well in this game, not allowing a home run and striking out four in 6.2 innings.
The game remained at 2-2 into the bottom of the ninth. Jason Adam, who had retired the Cubs 1-2-3 in the eighth on just 10 pitches, remained in the game to start the ninth. Dansby Swanson and Pete Crow-Armstrong singled off Adam, so Craig Stammen summoned Mason Miller.
The Cubs hit him again. Alex Bregman singled to load the bases with nobody out. Unfortunately, Michael Busch then hit into a double play. He flied to short left and Swanson tried to score, but was thrown out at the plate [VIDEO].
The Cubs got payback of sorts for the 9-7 Padres win in San Diego in April by defeating them by the same score at Wrigley Field two months later.
Fernando Tatis Jr. led off the game with a home run off Matthew Boyd, but the Cubs got that run right back on an RBI single by Carson Kelly in the bottom of the inning.
Then the Cubs exploded for four in the second. With one out, Dansby Swanson homered. Then Kevin Alcántara singled and Pete Crow-Armstrong walked, and Alex Bregman smashed a three-run homer to make it 5-1 Cubs.
It became 5-3 in the third when Manny Machado hit a two-run homer off Boyd. Michael Busch homered off JP Sears in the fifth to make it 5-3, and after Ian Happ singled, the Padres brought in Ron Marinaccio. Swanson homered again, his second of the game, to make it 8-3. PCA added a homer in the sixth to put the Cubs up by six.
Easy peasy, right? Well, nothing’s been that way for the Cubs this year. Javier Assad threw a scoreless seventh, but then gave up four in the eighth, including a three-run homer by Gavin Sheets and a solo shot by Tatis.
That was it for the Padres, though, and Tyler Ferguson and Ryan Rolison finished up.
This game began as a blowout and then turned into silly season.
Seiya Suzuki began the fun with a three-run homer in the first. Dansby Swanson homered in the second to make it 4-0, and after Miguel Amaya hit a two-run single in the third, Swanson homered again, a three-run job that made it 9-0.
The Padres scored a pair off Colin Rea in the fifth, but the Cubs increased their lead in the bottom of the inning. Michael Conforto homered with one out, and after Amaya walked and Swanson reached on an error, Pete Crow-Armstrong smacked a three-run homer to make it 13-2.
If you’re counting, that’s five home runs for the Cubs, and they were far from being done. Conforto homered again in the sixth with Ian Happ on base to make it 15-2.
The Padres brought in backup catcher Rodolfo Durán to throw the bottom of the inning. He retired the Cubs in order and San Diego scored one in the eighth.
Durán remained in the game to “pitch” in the eighth and I put that in quotes because, well, some of those “pitches” were thrown at ridiculously slow spees, in particular this one, hit for a grand slam by Swanson:
The Cubs scored eight in that inning and won 23-3. That was the most runs scored by any Cubs team since Aug. 18, 1995, when they scored 26 at Colorado, and the most at Wrigley Field since May 17, 1977, when they won 23-6 over… the Padres.
Nevertheless, all those homers and runs count, and the Cubs thus outscored the Padres 55-28 in the six games. That’s not likely to be repeated in this Wild Card Series, but three Cubs did have monster seasons against the Padres.
Dansby Swanson: .647/.667/1.647 (11-for-18) with two doubles, five home runs, 13 RBI and eight runs in five games Pete Crow-Armstrong: .364/.481/.909 (8-for-22) with four home runs, five walks, 10 RBI and eight runs in six games Seiya Suzuki: .500/.520/.864 (11-for-22) with two doubles, two home runs and eight runs in six games
Overall the Cubs hit 18 home runs against the Padres this year and allowed nine.
Lastly, the Cubs handled Padres closer Mason Miller pretty well. It’s a very small sample size — three games and 13 plate appearances — but the Cubs had five hits and a walk off Miller, and struck out just twice. That’s an encouraging sign, and I’d think this should be a close and competitive series.
TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks speaks to the media during New York Knicks Media Day at the Knicks Training Facility on September 28, 2026 in Tarrytown, 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. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here’s the second Bulletin covering Media Day with everything else that I couldn’t find yesterday.
Apologies in advance for any repeated quotes, but hey, y’all can’t have it all.
Here’s the latest before training camp gets going today, with the first preseason game less than a week away.
On playing through his left wrist injury during the playoffs:
“It was painful. I played through it. I did what I had to do to make sure I was right. I didn’t think I needed surgery. If I had known, I maybe would have got it done sooner.”
On not being satisfied after winning the championship:
“Not being satisfied, I think, is the biggest takeaway moving forward. You still want to figure out how you can grow as a person and as a player. So I will use that experience. As a group, we figured out that we need each other to win, obviously. We need each other to be all on the same page.”
On his confidence in his teammates, with a joke about Josh Hart:
“I have all the confidence in the world in my teammates. Not so sure about Josh Hart; we’ll see how he acts.”
On the confidence and danger that come with being defending champions:
“I think we have the confidence knowing that we did do it. That’s going to help us, but that can also hurt us. So it’s all about how we go into training camp and how we go into these first few weeks to see where we are as a team, and then we’ll be able to adjust or continue to grow.”
On the opening weeks revealing the new Knicks’ identity:
“The first couple of weeks or whatever of the season is going to show us who we are and where we are.”
KAT: "In the offseason I always lose a lot of the weight"
“I made it known I want to play here. I’ve been a fan since I was young. I would like to get one done, of course. Obviously I would like to get it done so I can feel as comfortable as possible.”
On what it will take for the Knicks to repeat as champions:
“To repeat is gonna take an even higher sense of discipline and execution. And we’re gonna have to be even better than what we showed in the playoffs. All of us are aware that we’re gonna have to bring a whole other level to the table if we expect to have a chance to repeat.”
On the lack of progress on a contract extension and wanting to remain a Knick:
“Are things going to get done? There hasn’t really been much movement or conversation with that, so I don’t think it will get done. But I would love for it to get done. Once the season starts, I’ll probably have that mentality of ‘I don’t really wanna deal with this, I want to try and focus on playing the season.’ I’m sure there will probably be a little extra weight to the jersey. You don’t know the certainty of your situation and obviously it affects home life. There are certain things that you might want to do, but you’re like ‘I can’t, because I have no idea what the situation will be in two months, three months, four months, in a year, if I’m gonna be here or not.’ You don’t know. But hopefully, like I said, I’m a Knick, I’d love to be a Knick and I love the city.”
On the human impact of unresolved contract situations:
“I would hope that that stuff gets done. At the end of the day, we’re humans and I think what sometimes gets lost is that we are people, that we all have lives and things that we have to deal with and fix. I wish I could sit there and say it wouldn’t have any weight or any bearing, but you never know. Some people can handle it great and some people can really struggle with it and that can kill their performance. I hope it gets done, but we’ll see.”
On Jalen Brunson’s “Saturday Night Live” performance:
“I think his performance was fine. I don’t think he has a future in acting.”
On whether Brunson’s $113 million pay cut is still available:
“Is that money still up for grabs?”
On returning to work after the championship summer:
“The weight of the jersey was extremely light this summer. This morning, it was a bit heavier. I think we’re all excited for the opportunity to do it again. We’re not satisfied to just get one.”
On the Knicks’ shot at breaking the no-back-to-back champion trend in the NBA:
“We write our own history.”
On the significance of the CBA and second apron in the league’s lack of repeat champions:
“Obviously, it probably shows the significance of the [collective bargaining agreement], the second apron, all those kinds of things. At the end of the day, that’s the past. It has no precedent on what the future is going to hold. For us, we’re not really worried about it. We’re worried about etching our own stories and our own legacies.”
On the Knicks’ hunger to repeat:
“I think we’re all excited for the opportunity to do it again. I think you guys will see that with how we conduct ourselves, with how we play, that we’re not satisfied with getting one and that hungriness that we’re gonna have.”
Q "Do you ever think about the fact that you did something iconic that will be remembered forever?"
OG "I mean, yeah, I don't think really about it that much. But I know it was a big play. Makes me happy that I brought joy to everyone. Hopefully do something like that again" pic.twitter.com/3HuUh7UVcF
“We’ll be hunted, but we’re going to be hunting other teams as well.”
Wemby on sitting with the emotions of the Finals loss: “It’s been hard to fall asleep sometimes. Hard emotions. But there is a point where you accept that you have to go through it. You have to feel all of it. We don’t want to hide from anything.” pic.twitter.com/Yhh1CJOtCn
On struggling to sleep after losing the NBA Finals to the Knicks:
“I’ve had a few sleepless nights. It’s been hard to fall asleep sometimes. Hard emotions. But there is a point where you accept that you have to go through it. You have to feel all of it. We don’t want to hide from anything.”
Lebron on almost signing with the Knicks:
"I had visions of definitely playing in the Garden, finishing my career in the Garden. One of the best places I've ever played. I think it's the No. 1 arena in the world, as far as for a basketball player. But after they beat San… pic.twitter.com/vWcx9WTYTm
On envisioning finishing his career at Madison Square Garden till the Knicks win it all:
“I had visions of playing in [Madison Square] Garden and finishing my career in the Garden. One of the best places I’ve ever played.
“I was like, ‘Hey, I can’t.’ I couldn’t do it.”
On the Knicks and Jalen Brunson:
“Much respect to the Knicks, obviously. An unbelievable team, unbelievable players. Shout out Jalen Brunson. I love that guy, he’s unbelievable.”
Celtics TV: "What else is in the bag? Are they asking you to expand?"
Mitchell Robinson: "Yeah…they have me kind of far away from the basket, I'm like 'OK maybe I can show a little something here & there,' so that's what we've been working on––touches, shots, all kind of stuff" pic.twitter.com/SGfrSUsBZ2
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 12: Ronald Acuna, Jr. (13) of the Atlanta Braves celebrates his solo home run as he runs past Alec Bohm (28) of the Philadelphia Phillies on the base path during the Saturday evening MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves on September 12, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Phillies barely made the playoffs. They went 10-14 in September, losing four of their last five games and had to wait until the last day of the season to claim the National League’s third and final Wild Card spot. They had a run differential of only +15, the offense was just 19th in runs scored, the defense was shaky, and the middle relief situation was a mess all season.
To that, I say: So what?
Once you reach the playoffs, what you did in the regular season doesn’t matter aside from home field advantage. Everyone’s stats have reset to zero, and runs don’t get added or deducted based on how well you did during the season. All that matters is that the Phillies will be taking on the Atlanta Braves in a three-game series, and whichever team wins two games advances to the next round.
With that in mind, I will preview this series with a little help from Philadelphia native Pink and her hit song “So What.”
Na-na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na!
I’m gonna drink my money
It seems like fan opinion was split on whether or not the Phillies should have celebrated after clinching the playoffs on Sunday.
Jayson Stark on the Phillies being criticized for celebrating
"Why should they not be allowed to celebrate? You are not celebrating that you staggered in. You are celebrating 6 months of grinding. Winning matters. Appreciating what you did matters."
Every other team that made the playoffs celebrated the accomplishment. You think the Phillies should have declined to do so just because they didn’t make it as convincingly as you would have liked? If they had actually backed in by still qualifying after losing their final five games, then I could see being a bit more subdued. But they actively clinched by winning the game.
As for the slow finish to the season, history has shown that like just about every factor, finishing the season strong is very predictive of a playoff run…except when it isn’t. For example, from 2022 to 2025, the Phillies’ worst month of September came in 2022, which happened to be their best postseason performance. And in September 2025, the Phillies went 17-8 – including winning four of their final five – and it didn’t help them win more than a single playoff game.
I got a brand new attitude, I’m gonna wear it tonight
The Phillies have not endeared themselves to the fans lately, and the nadir came on Saturday night when it looked like they might have actually quit. Fortunately, Zack Wheeler and the offense showed up on Sunday to propel the team to victory. If that version of the Phillies shows up, they can win this series. If the Phillies we saw for most of last week is what we get, it will likely be a short stay.
I don’t know where he went
Chris Sale is scheduled to start game one for the Braves. Theoretically this is a huge advantage for the Braves as Sale is one of the best pitchers in baseball. But that dominance hasn’t always showed up in the postseason. Sale has a career postseason ERA of 6.35 with a couple of really bad outings in there. He also hasn’t pitched in the playoffs since 2021.
Sale faced the Phillies four times this season. He undeniably did well against them, but familiarity often works against a pitcher come playoff time. If they don’t hit well against him, it won’t be because they don’t have a good scouting report or were taken by surprise.
The waiter just took my table
The Phillies’ trade deadline has turned out to be somewhat of a disaster with all the players they acquired having disappointed, gotten injured, or both. On the other hand, the Braves acquired starting pitcher Tyler Mahle from the Giants on August 2, and somehow, the guy who had an ERA of 5.13 with the Giants, has gone 4-1 with a 1.99 ERA in nine starting with the Braves.
Atlanta's deadline was widely criticized, but Tyler Mahle quickly changed that narrative with a dominant stretch after joining the Braves.
Those numbers include him giving up five runs in five innings in his final start. But that was also a low-pressure tune up for the playoffs, so it’s hard to know if that actually means anything.
Mahle has spent most of his career as a cromulent mid-rotation starter, and certainly not a sub-2.00 ERA type of pitcher. It seems likely that there’s some regression due, and ideally, that regression would come on Wednesday afternoon when he’s scheduled to start game two of the series.
I’m still a rock star
One of the reasons the Phillies didn’t have a great September record is because their supposed star position players didn’t play well.
Kyle Schwarber had a drastic drop in production in the second half, and after a terrific August, Bryce Harper has been just okay over the last month. It feels like there have been a lot of pitches that he would have destroyed earlier in the season that have ended up being foul balls.
Then there’s Trea Turner and J.T. Realmuto who both endured the worst seasons of their careers. Turner’s drop off from a guy who won the batting title and finished in the top five of MVP voting might be the biggest reason the Phillies’ win total dropped by seven. As for Realmuto, he finally ended his long hitless streak on Sunday. It seems clear that he can’t handle such a heavy workload anymore, but sadly, the backup catchers are somehow much worse.
For better or worse, these guys have all been here before. While the narrative seems to be that they’ve repeatedly failed in the playoffs, they’ve also had a lot of big moments in the playoffs as well. A strong run in the postseason can do wonders for flipping the narrative about how the season went.
And you’re a tool
I recently called Braves fans the softest in baseball, and sure enough, they’ve been at it again.
Booing your own team when they desperately need some support. I won’t ever understand it. Like kicking someone when they’re down. These “fans” don’t deserve October baseball. https://t.co/MPfdyDXu2a
Let’s go over what the fans on Saturday night were enduring:
Rainy weather
A team that looked to be in full collapse mode
A team that seemed incapable of scoring a run
Falling behind early and eventually by double digits
Yes, they deserved to be booed! Any fan that didn’t boo was probably too numb to care. I’m fairly certain that just about every fanbase in America would have booed them. But probably not Braves fans. They would have left to watch college football or thrown garbage on the field.
A fans base that litters the field when the Braves underform criticizing Phillies fans for booing is peak lack of self awareness. pic.twitter.com/Yz8Nt7o9EK
Remember that Braves fans whined endlessly about how unfair it was that they had to sit for a couple of days when they earned a bye through the Wild Card series in 2022 and 2023. Now it’s unfair that they actually have to play in the series?
It’s like they don’t understand or appreciate the very concept of playoffs. I guess if they had their way, we would just crown the regular season champion Brewers as the champions of baseball. (That might be the only way the Brewers ever get a title!)
You weren’t there, you never were
When these teams met in Philadelphia earlier in the month, the main character of the series was Ronald Acuña, Jr. He hit two key home runs and then did his celebratory home run trot, and for some reason, Braves fans acted like Zack Wheeler went on a hysterical tirade about it, even though he clearly did not.
Zack Wheeler basically said Ronald Acuña Jr.’s home run doesn’t bother him but it really does 😭 pic.twitter.com/QAwJu5eieB
The Phillies will need to do better against Acuña this time around, although shutting down Acuña in the playoffs hasn’t been all that much of an issue in the past. (He was a combined 7-29 in the 2022 and 2023 NLDS) The one year the Braves actually did make a run was 2021 when Acuña, coincidentally or not, missed the playoffs due to injury.
Two stats to watch before the MLB Playoffs begin:
Ronald Acuña has not homered in a playoff game (with fans in the crowd) since 2019
Christian Yelich hasn’t had an RBI in the postseason since 2018
Based on recent history (“Atta boy!”), there does seem to be some legitimate bad blood between these teams, which usually adds a degree of fun to a playoff series. I doubt there are going to be any “message pitches” or physical alterations, but it feels like the players would get a little extra pleasure from winning this series.
I gave you life, I gave my all
The Phillies have been carried by their starting rotation for most of the season. Can that strength carry them through this round of the playoffs?
Jesus Luzardo will start game one. He was dominant against the Braves this year, but after missing three weeks with shoulder inflammation, it’s unclear how long he’ll be able to pitch. Andrew Painter will follow him, and it’s tough to know what to expect from the rookie after his inconsistent season.
Presumably, Cristopher Sanchez will start game two. Sanchez was 0-2 against the Braves, but that’s more of an indictment of the defense (three unearned runs in 12 innings) and offense (three total runs scored in support in the two games).
Aaron Nola is scheduled for game three. (No, I don’t think they should start Zack Wheeler on short rest.) He faced the Braves three times, and based on how his overall season went, it shouldn’t surprise you that his start against them in April went poorly, while his two starts in September went well. (Three earned runs in 13.1 innings.)
Much like with Sale against the Phillies, nothing these guys do should surprise the Braves.
You let me fall
The Phillies have one of the best starting rotations in baseball. They also have a top closer. But it’s the guys who pitch in between them that has everyone understandably worried. Who among the setup relievers do you trust in this bullpen to hold a lead right now? Anyone?
The bullpen was probably the primary reason the Phillies exited the playoffs in 2023 and 2024, and those teams seemed to be in better shape entering the postseason than this year’s edition. The 2026 bullpen has a bunch of questionable arms, and a manager who hasn’t shown much of a knack for handling them.
Phillies relievers have allowed 84 runs in 106⅓ innings this season to the Braves, Cubs, Dodgers and Brewers, the teams they’d have to beat in the NL playoffs.
The bullpen has 7 losses and 6 blown saves in those games. Phils have gone 7-21.
The Phillies may need to pull from the 2019 Nationals’ playbook and use their starters in off-day relief appearances. But they will need to use some actual relievers at some point. Hopefully guys like Alex McFarlane, Jonathan Bowlan, and whatever lefthanders Don Mattingly trots out on a given day can come through.
I don’t want you tonight
The television schedule makers have made it clear that they don’t consider Phillies vs. Braves to be a marquee matchup since they’ll be relegated to the 2PM slot every game. It makes some sense. Yankees vs. Red Sox gets the 7 PM slot 10/10 times and the other two matchup feature western teams. (Although they certainly could have swapped them with the White Sox vs. Astros.)
6 months. 162 games. 8 teams. 3 days. It all comes down to this.
Most of us are working at 2 PM, so hopefully, you’ll be able to either watch it somehow, avoid spoilers until you can watch, or just have to follow along remotely. Since I work from home, it isn’t a major problem for me, unless I’m unfortunately scheduled for a meeting during that time.
Braves vs. Phillies at 2pm Tuesday
I understand the desire for a 2pm, 5pm, 8pm and 10pm start, but very few fans will watch 10-11 hours straight on a Tuesday afternoon/night.
Also, even a 5pm timeslot is tough for families after work/school, during dinner, bedtime routine, etc. pic.twitter.com/qgGp1vW2p9
The final trivia answer of the season: In the first game the Phillies ever played at Tropicana Field, future Hall of Famers Scott Rolen, Fred McGriff, and Wade Boggs all played. Dirkniblick got it right.
Thanks for everyone who played this season!
I’m gonna show you tonight
Braves fans can talk a big game, but considering the history between the teams, you know they can’t be pleased about having to face the Phillies in the playoffs again.
“I am so tired of watching Rhys Hoskins slamming his bat off an injured and wounded Spencer Strider.” – @scottcoleman55
The Braves have everything lined up in their favor. Scott says it’s time to exorcise some postseason demons. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/HTa1A6Rk6o
Will history repeat itself? I honestly don’t know. I think the starting pitching will at least keep them in every game, but after that, it’s hard to predict much with this team. They’ve gone through stretches where they consistently get on base and then get hits with runners in scoring position. They also have stretches where every hitter seems to want to be the hero and pops up the first pitch as soon as a runner gets aboard.
It may come down to how well the bullpen performs, and that’s not a reassuring thought. But worse bullpens than this one have won playoff series, and the Phillies’ best hope might be that if the Braves find themselves trailing in the late innings, those past playoff failures start weighing on them, and they’re the ones who start pressing at the plate.
For what it’s worth, the Phillies seem to view themselves as a battle-tested team who has been there before. It’s time for them to back that up and show they have what it takes.
Every generation has its random breakout journeyman, the guy who comes up, thrusts himself into the limelight with some big performances in key spots, and then, in time, fades into relative obscurity. In the late ‘90s and early 2000s, it was Shane Spencer. For the mid-2010s, Yangervis Solarte and Prestone Claiborne briefly locked down the hot corner and a middle relief spot, respectively. During the Baby Bomber years, Greg Bird, Mike Tauchman, and Oswaldo Cabrera each took a turn in this role, becoming — at least for a time — fan favorites.
Once upon a time, that flash-in-the-pan star was Shelley Duncan, now the manager for the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton (no longer) RailRiders.
David Shelley Duncan Born: September 29, 1979 (Tucson, Arizona) Yankees Tenure: 2007-09
On this day in 1979, Duncan was born into a baseball family. The son of former A’s catcher Dave Duncan and brother of the late 2006 Cardinals champion Chris Duncan, he played ball at Canyon del Oro High School in the Tucson suburb of Oro Valley, alongside future All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler. From there, he went on to the University of Arizona, where he was named an All-American first team outfielder by Baseball America as a freshman and a Pac-10 All-Star the following year. Based on his performance, he was drafted by the Yankees in the second round of the 2001 draft.
Upon joining the Yankees organization, Duncan began to slowly but steadily climb through the ranks: he spent 2003 and 2004 in High-A Tampa, broke out with Double-A Trenton in 2005, then reached Triple-A Columbus in 2006. He began the 2007 season with Triple-A Scranton (the Yankees swapped minor league affiliates that winter), before he got the call to the Show on July 20, 2007; with the team 7.5 games behind the first-place Red Sox in the standings and barely sitting up above .500, the Yankees were looking for a jolt — and fortunately, the hard-hitting outfielder provided.
Batting ninth and DHing during his first career start, Duncan went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth, capping off a rally that made a 13-1 Yankees deficit into a not-quite-as-awful-but-still-bad 13-4 loss. The next day, he hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth for his first career home run, helping lead the Bombers past the Devil Rays. Two games later, he had his first multi-homer day, driving in four runs as the Yankees absolutely obliterated Tampa Bay 21-4.
Duncan excelled in a part-time role down the stretch for the 2007 Yankees, slashing .257/.329/.554 with 7 homers in 83 plate appearances. While he wasn’t the main reason for the 44-22 finish to the season to secure a Wild Card spot, his ability to produce off the bench certainly helped ensure the Yankees finished the season with the best offense in the American League.
Duncan spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons bouncing between Scranton and the Bronx, slashing just .181/.250/.264 in 80 plate appearances in the Majors, but earning the 2009 International League MVP while leading the league in home runs and runs batted in. On the back of these performances, when he chose free agency after the season when outrighted to Scranton, signing a deal with Cleveland that January.
Duncan was a part-time player for the next three years in Cleveland, where he was teammates with future Yankee Jayson Nix. Splitting time between first base, left field, and the DH spot, he posted a .231/.309/.430 slash with 33 homers across three seasons. Following a brief spell with Tampa Bay in 2013, Duncan bounced between minor league systems for the first couple of months of 2014 before hanging up the cleats for good after being released by the Reds in June.
After finishing his undergraduate degree in 2014, Duncan embarked on a minor league coaching career in 2015. He spent four years working for the Arizona Diamondbacks organization as a minor league manager, then joined the Blue Jays front office as a Major League Field Coordinator and scout. After a couple years north of the border—and unfortunately personal hardship when his brother Chris passed away from brain cancer in 2019—Duncan worked as an analyst for the Chicago White Sox for two seasons. Soon, he was back in both the dugout and the Yankees family, as he took the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders managerial job in January 2023.
Duncan has spent the last four seasons in the role, leading the RailRiders to the league finals last season while earning the 2025 International League Manager of the Year Award. Happy 47th birthday, Shelley!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 25: Carter Jensen #22 of the Kansas City Royals hits a home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium on September 25, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Carter Jensen capped off a terrific rookie season with his best month in September. The catcher hit .338/.407/.788 with eight home runs in 20 games, leading all of baseball in month in ten doubles, 19 extra-base hits, slugging percentage, and OPS (1.194). The league recognized his performance, awarding him not only American League Rookie of the Month, but American League Player of the Month.
It is the second month in a row a Royals hitter has taken home the monthly award in the American League, with Jac Caglianone winning honors in August. The two young hitters combined for 50 of the team’s 170 home runs this year.
Jensen’s 1.194 OPS is the second-best ever by a Royals hitter with at least 20 games in September, behind only Danny Tartabull’s performance in 1987. He is the first Royals catcher to win American League Player of the Month. It is just the fifth time a Royals hitter has won American League Rookie of the Month since the award was created in 2001. Eric Hosmer won it in July and September of 2011, Brian Bannister won it in June and August of 2007, and Billy Butler won it in July of 2007. It is the 14th time that a player has won both Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month at the same time.
Jensen seems to enjoy hitting in the fall. Last year he hit .300/.391/.550 with three home runs in 16 games upon a September callup.
Overall, Jensen hit .239/.323/.467 this year with 27 home runs, 80 runs scored, and 81 RBI. His 3.7 fWAR is fourth among all MLB rookies, and his 116 wRC+ leads all qualified American League catchers.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Mauricio Dubon #14, Ozzie Albies #1 and Mike Yastrzemski #18 of the Atlanta Braves celebrate a three-run home run during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Joe Buvid/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Braves are going with a lineup that’s simultaneously surprising and not-so-surprising in Game 1 of their three-game playoff set against the Phillies:
The top half of the lineup isn’t that surprising. Sure, maybe you expected the Braves to start with Ronald Acuña Jr. given that the nominal starter they are facing today throws with his left hand, but they’ve chosen to alternate handedness while keeping Matt Olson ensconced in the third spot in the lineup.
This means that Mauricio Dubon, of the 317 wOBA, .308 xwOBA, 99 wRC+, with an 84 wRC+ and .290 xwOBA against southpaws this season, is hitting cleanup. Now, you might say, hold on — Dubon was one of the few guys hitting for this club in September. And, that’s true — he had a 131 wRC+. But, he also outhit his xwOBA by .064 in that month, so… the Braves are hoping it works anyway, I guess?
The rest of the lineup is surprising insofar as Mike Yastrzemski slots in at DH, despite said southpaw on the mound. The Braves are either hoping Jesus Luzardo doesn’t last long enough to get to the eighth spot in the lineup (or that if he does, there was a big early rally and it doesn’t matter), or afraid that they simply don’t have enough options to protect Yastrzemski against a lefty reliever later if they start someone else and then give the reins the Yastrzemski. After all, they’re not really awash in righty pinch-hitting options.
All of this means that Dubon starts in left, and Ha-Seong Kim gets the reins at shortstop. By carrying both Rowdy Tellez and Dominic Smith, the Braves have a lot of latitude to pinch hit for Kim whenever they feel like it, including early on — and move to Dubon to short in the process — we’ll see what happens, though.
While really anything can happen and something weird probably will, this game is more likely going to be about whether the Braves’ actual good bats can do stuff against Luzardo and/or whomever replaces him (Andrew Painter? I don’t know). From Dubon-onward, only Michael Harris II has actually hit at all well this year (and he’s been great, if kind of weird offensively with strong bookend months and a lot of luck in between), so either those guys all having bad seasons manage to show a scintilla of something positive, or it’s gonna be waiting for one of the mashers to mash.
The Phillies were kind enough to post their lineup right as I was ready for it, and it looks like this:
With Luis Arraez injured, the Phillies get to plug in an extra righty. Chief Ivan Annoyer Derek Hill hits fifth, former Brave and famed horse armor aficionado Bryan De La Cruz hits sixth, and Edmundo Sosa is hovering out there and will probably annoy Chris Sale and us out of the eight hole.
I won’t do batter-versus-pitcher stats against Luzardo since I have no idea how long he’s going to last, but for those that care about these guys versus Sale:
These numbers are neither good nor bad, really. They just kind of are. Alec Bohm’s gotten a bit lucky, and Sale has dominated most of the weaker hitters (except, of course, in seven PAs, Derek f’n Hill aargh). If you sum these all up, it bodes well with a .258 wOBA / .279 xwOBA in head-to-head matchups, but of course that means managing the mischief of Bohm, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber a bit, while avoiding tumbling off the Derek Hill, roo. Anyway, I can’t imagine batter-versus-pitcher has that much bearing here, but what else is there to talk about? I guess I could scratch my head about Dubon hitting cleanup some more.
NEW YORK — Injured Yankees captain Aaron Judge was left off New York’s roster for its AL Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox starting Tuesday night.
Giancarlo Stanton, out since April 24 because of strained calf muscles in both legs, was included. So was center fielder Trent Grisham.
Sidelined since Sept. 16 by a strained right calf, Judge took live batting practice on the field Monday, a day ahead of the series opener, in an effort to persuade manager Aaron Boone and the medical staff. He walked twice, hit a comebacker to the mound and took a called third strike against teammates Ryan Weathers and Elmer Rodríguez.
A three-time AL MVP, the 34-year-old slugger had a platelet-poor plasma injection Sept. 21. He was sidelined by a fractured rib from May 31 to Sept. 8 and played in just seven games before the latest injury.
Judge was limited to 66 games this season. He hit .241 with 18 homers, 41 RBIs and an .871 OPS, including .174 with one homer and three RBIs in September.
Stanton started the season with a .256 batting average, three homers and 14 RBIs in 24 games. The 36-year-old former NL MVP had 38 homers and 100 RBIs in his first season with New York in 2018 but has missed 500 of 1,194 games since (41.9%).
PEORIA, AZ - MARCH 12: Daniel Vasquez #98 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the San Diego Padres at Peoria Sports Complex on Thursday, March 12, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Before we get to the four main minor league clubs of the Kansas City Royals, we are going to look at the Arizona Complex League and Dominican Summer League for Royals prospects.
The ACL
Tyson Moran, a 2025, 13th round pick by the Royals from Canada, spent most of his season in the ACL. The 20-year-old shortstop had a solid year too. Moran had a slash line of .322/.406/.538 in 171 at bats. He hit 12 doubles, 2 triples and 7 homers as well. Despite being listed as a shortstop, he spent most of his time defensively at first or second base. He was a perfect .1000 on his fielding at second, but around .980 at first. Moran did end the year in Columbia, but not before a good season in the ACL.
Manuel German is a 21-year-old first baseman that the Royals signed when he was 16 out of the Dominican Republic. After going through all the Dominican Royals affiliates, German played in the ACL this season. He has played in the ACL the last two season in fact. This year, his numbers were substantially better. German slashed .308/.370/.564, all of which are way better than his 2025 campaign. German also had 19 extra base hits. He had a .975 fielding at first base.
Ricson Gonzalez turned into a fast riser this season. The 21-year-old catcher from Venezuela played in 4 different levels, playing in the ACL, Columbia, Quad Cities and Northwest Arkansas. His ACL numbers were solid, slashing .292/.426/.438 over 31 games. He walked 16 times, while only striking out 19 times. He did only play a combined three games between Quad Cities and Northwest Arkansas, but did get 19 games in Columbia, where his average was better than what it was in the ACL. He threw out 20 of 69 base stealers, or 29%.
Switching over to some of the better ACL pitchers. The Royals had plenty of guys who had tons of strikeouts, but a high ERA, like Keisther Castillo, a 19-year-old right hander from the Dominican Republic. Or Jesus Oliveira, a 21-year-old right hander. A guy that we did talk about, because of what he did in Columbia, is Ryan McDonagh, a 20-year-old right hander. The Canadian was exceptional, posting a 2.57 ERA in 21 innings, allowing hitters to only bat .187 against him. He struck out 20 batters in the 21 innings, only walking 6. It was mixed bag results for him in his 12 starts at Columbia, but expect McDonagh to start next season there for sure.
Cameron Millar, a 19-year-old right hander, who the Royals drafted in the 3rd round in 2025, out of high school, threw 17 innings this season, with a 4.76 ERA. He made 7 appearances, 6 starts, allowing 15 hits, 9 runs, 5 homers, walking 3 but striking out 25. Moises Amezquita, a 22-year-old left hander from Venezuela, had a good year between the ACL and Columbia. In the ACL, Amezquita posted a 2.40 ERA in 30 innings. He struck out 21 batters and allowed just 22 hits and 8 earned runs. Batters only hit .202 against him.
The DSL
Angeibel Gomez, the 17-year-old phenom, put up video game numbers this season. In 144 at bats, he slashed .361/.467/.653. He hit 13 doubles; a triple and 9 homers did the outfielder. He was also 15 of 17 stealing bases. He had a .978 fielding percentage in centerfield, with 5 outfield assists. He will be playing in the Arizona Fall League too.
Wow. Gomez is 17 years old and will be going against polished minor leaguers in Arizona. https://t.co/0LOFlR7aKB
Adrián Lunar, an 18-year-old catcher from Venezuela, posted a .336/.410/.369 slash line this season. Lunar is a left-handed hitter. He only had 4 extra base hits, all those being doubles. He started 31 games at catcher and was signed this past January by the Royals. Alan Angulo, an 18-year-old shortstop, slashed .323/.468/.421 this season. He also stole 14 bases. The Royals signed Angulo when he was 17. He split time between second and third base, despite being listed as a shortstop. Max De La Cruz, a 17-year-old outfielder, slashed .263/.456/.323 this season. De La Cruz, walked 31 times, compared to 23 strikeouts. He also stole 14 bases. He played all three outfield spots and had a perfect fielding percentage, all the way around.
Marcos Hernandez, a 17-year-old catcher slashed .278/.407/.340, walking 17 times and striking out 17 times. He also threw out 21 base stealers. Roy Rivero, an 18-year-old infielder, slashed .338/.422/.424. He stole 14 bases and hit 9 doubles. Jaider Suárez, a 17-year-old infielder slashed .379/.508/.564 in 140 at bats. He hit 6 doubles, 7 triples and a pair of homers. He was also 30 of 34 stealing bases. He might be one to keep an eye on as well.
On the mound, Luis Garces, a 17-year-old left hander, from Colombia, threw 28 innings, with a 4.82 ERA. He struck out 36 batters, allowing a .245 opponents’ batting average. The Royals signed him this past January. Ricardo Montilla, a 19-year-old right hander, from Panama, pitched 16.1 innings, with a 0.55 ERA. He walked 10 batters but struck out 8. Batters hit just .214 off him. Melvin Robles, an 18-year-old left hander, made 11 starts, totaling 35.2 innings, striking out 37 batters, allowing a 3.53 ERA. Batters hit just .237 off him.
Alving Campusano, a 19-year-old right hander, from the Dominican Republic, threw 17.2 innings, striking out 14 hitters, with a 2.04 ERA. The Royals signed him when he was 17. Kenyer Penaloza, an 18-year-old right hander, from Venezuela, threw 37 innings, allowing a 3.16 ERA, striking out 23 batters. Batters hit just .206 off him. Reynell Ramos, a 19-year-old from Venezuela, threw 37.1 innings, allowing a 2.41 ERA, striking out 42 batters, batters hit .248 off him.
A pair of National League East division rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves, kick off the 2026 MLB postseason with an afternoon opener at Truist Park.
The Philliesjust squeaked into the playoffs thanks to Zack Wheeler's gem in their regular-season finale, taking the final NL wild card spot over the hard-charging Arizona Diamondbacks. But their faltering finish means nothing now that everyone starts from scratch.
Meanwhile, the Braves cruised into the postseason, winning the NL East by six games over the Phils. They were able to set their playoff rotation so that ace Chris Sale (14-9, 2.16 ERA) will be on the mound for Game 1 of the best-of-three series. He'll be opposed by left-hander Jesus Luzardo (14-5, 2.86 ERA), who was Philadelphia's best pitcher during the second half of the season, but who just returned from the injured list on Sunday after dealing with shoulder inflammation.
Follow along for live updates, highlights and analysis from the Phillies-Braves NL wild-card matchup:
Derek Hill made a tremendous leaping grab at Ozzie Albies' fly ball at the wall, after the jump however, everything went wrong. Hill lost his glove when he came down, chased the ball and lost his footing on the warning track. He recovered, but not before Albies had an RBI-triple and the Braves had a 2-1 lead after six.
Jesus Luzardo was supposed to give the Phillies two innings. He gave them five and was effective doing it.
He allowed one run on three hits, one walk and six strikeouts. He got 11 swings and misses and topped out at 98 miles an hour. It was only his second appearance since Sept.7. He's been on the injured list with a shoulder problem and threw one inning on four pitches Sunday.
The Braves never squared him up. Of the 12 balls they put in play, just one left the bat at 95 mph or harder, an Ozzie Albies groundout pounded straight into the dirt. Atlanta's only run needed some help. Statcast gave Mike Yastrzemski's RBI single in the second a 16% chance of being a hit. It got through and cost the Phillies.
He kept the Braves baffled with two pitches. Three of his strikeouts came on fastballs and three came on sliders.
Rookie, right-hander Alex McFarlane took over for the bottom of the sixth.
Clearly Chris Sale has decided the Phillies are going to have to hit his slider. Through five innings, 36 of his first 66 pitches were sliders, more than half.
It's working. The Phillies have swung and missed 15 times, and at least four of Sale's seven strikeouts have come on the slider, including Trea Turner in the first inning, Bryson Stott in the second and Bryan De La Cruz in the fifth.
The pitch gets hitters to chase. Sale finished the regular season with a 36.5% chase rate, third-best among pitchers with at least 120 innings.
Phillies manager Don Mattingly will be watching starter Jesus Luzardo closely, since he'd only thrown one competitive inning (and just four pitches) since going on the injured list after his Sept. 7 start against the Braves.
So far, so good through three innings in this wild card game. Luzardo, who had a 6-1 record and 1.84 ERA in 10 post-All-Star break starts, may not be able to go much longer ... but he's kept the visiting Phillies in the game to this point.
Jesus Luzardo's average 4-seam fastball velo by inning:
The Braves have pulled even against Phillies starter Jesus Luzardo with a manufactured run in the bottom of the second inning.
Mauricio Dubon led off the Atlanta second with a double to left. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Michael Harris, but was caught in a rundown when a pitch hit off the knob of Austin Riley's bat and dribbled out to Luzardo.
Ozzie Albies, who had walked earlier to put runners on the corners, smartly advanced all the way to third during the play. He then scored on Mike Yastrzemski's two-out single up the middle.
A 1-0 pitch in the bottom of the second inning to Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies was called a strike, but Albies immediately called for an ABS challenge.
There's an interesting subtext with today's game with Chris Sale on the mound and umpire Dan Merzel behind the plate.
Merzel ejected Sale from a game in August against the Yankees before it even started when the left-hander brought up a balk Merzel called the night before. Sale started barking at Merzel as the umpires came out onto the field for the Aug. 9 series finale. Mezel didn't waste much time, ejecting the Cy Young Award winner quickly.
We'll see if any of that bad blood might happen to carry over into the postseason.
Braves left-hander Chris Sale isn't pounding the strike zone by any means to start the game, but he's getting the Phillies hitters to swing anyway. Trea Turner struck out swinging on a 79 mph slider to start the game.
After a Kyle Schwarber walk on a 3-2 check swing, Bryce Harper went down swinging on a 100 mph heater.
With the count 2-2 on Alec Bohm, Sale tried to get him to chase a high fastball, but the Phils first baseman went up and got it, hammering it over the head of center fielder Michael Harris to score Schwarber all the way from first for the game's initial run.
What time is Braves vs Phillies today?
First pitch in Game 1 of the NL wild card series is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
This might be hyperbole, but we feel safe to say that the potential World Series matchups have never been so politically loaded. Gabe Lacques breaks down the nine most delicious World Series matchups based on narrative, geography and, dare we say, ball itself. — Gabe Lacques
The Braves won the season series from the Phillies, 9-4.
Atlanta took five of six from their NL East rival in April, including a three-game sweep in Philadelphia. The two teams didn't play again until September, splitting a four-game series in Philly before Atlanta took two of three at home on Sept. 11-13.
Atlanta outscored Philly 66-43 during their 13 matchups.
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Stephon Castle apparently wasn’t feeling the heat in Madison Square Garden.
Castle, who shot 37.7 percent from the field in the Knicks’ five-game NBA Finals series win, said he was unfazed by the Knicks in Games 3 and 4.
“It was underwhelming in that first game,” Castle said of the MSG crowd. “They made it seem like it was going to be way crazier in there.”
Castle did have his best game of the NBA Finals in Game 3, shooting 8-for-14 (57.1 percent), scoring 23 points and adding five rebounds and five assists in a 115-111 victory for the Spurs.
Knicks fans were rabid during a wild NBA playoff run. Aristide Economopoulos for NY Post
“OKC was way louder than MSG,” added Castle, in reference to the Spurs’ prior Western Conference Finals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Though, that was the Thunder’s only victory in the series, as Oklahoma City blew both games at home and were down 0-2 going into Game 3.
The comments are at least a little surprising, though, as the Thunder appeared to be seriously rattled by the environment at MSG as they blew a 29-point second half lead, as the score was 81-52 with 9:40 left in the third quarter before the roof caved in on Mitch Johnson’s group.
After the Game 4 collapse, Spurs players were left stunned looking for answers, with even star player Victor Wembanyama admitting that the team lost its hunger after taking a big lead.
Stephon Castle admitted that the Madison Square Garden faithful were not loud. Jason Szenes for The New York Post
“It was painful, of course. It feels like we worked too hard and give up our leads. It’s as simple as that. It just hurts.” Wembanyama said at the time. “We clearly weren’t the most hungry in the second half… I can’t really explain it right now. I don’t know. I think it’s just execution, greediness of some sort. Stopped moving the ball. Stopped executing.”
The Spurs were among the youngest teams in the NBA last year and head into the new season with a still young cast but more battle-tested than in years past having eliminated the Thunder in the playoffs and leading in every NBA Finals game.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 2 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena.
Let's take a look at who all has worn #2, and where they are now.
Anders Eriksson - 2004-2007 - Drafted by Detroit in 1993.
Eriksson played 145 games for Columbus and had 50 points after signing with Columbus in 2006.
He retired in 2011 after returning home to play in Sweden.
Kris Russell - 2008 - Drafted by Columbus in 2005.
Russell played 288 games in Columbus and had 79 points. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues on November 11, 2011, in exchange for Nikita Nikitin.
He went on to play 912 NHL games and total 254 points. After playing 6 seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, Russell retired in 2022.
Nate Guenin - 2011 - Drafted by the New York Rangers in 2002.
Guenin played 3 games for the Jackets and had zero points. After his time in Columbus, he went on to play for Anaheim and Colorado.
The former Ohio State Captain returned to the school and was an asst. coach for a season.
"Guenin is a defensive defenseman with a good reach. Enjoys playing a physical game and has the size to wreck opponents. Owns alright skating ability and a decent outlet pass." - Elite Prospects
Radek Martínek - 2012 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 1999.
Martínek played 7 games for Columbus and had one goal. Martínek suffered a season-ending concussion against the Detroit Red Wings on October 21, 2011, and also lost teeth and broke his leg. He returned to the NHL in 2013 and played 26 more games before retiring.
"Martínek is a defenseman who plays a well-rounded game. Owns solid passing ability and has a good slapper. However, he is very prone to injury." - Elite Prospects
Andrew Bodnarchuk - 2016 - Drafted by Boston in 2006.
Bodnarchuk played 16 games as a Blue Jacket and totaled two points.
He left for Europe in 2018 and still plays there today. Bodnarchuk plays in Germany's second-tier league, DEL2, for EC Kassel Huskies.
"Bodnarchuk is known as a defenseman with a solid all-around game. Moves the puck well and has a hard shot. A hard worker and quality teammate, he plays bigger than his size would indicate. Also has fine skating ability and agility." - Elite Prospects
Andrew Peeke - 2020-2024 - Drafted by Columbus in 2016.
Peeke played 218 games and totaled 42 points for Columbus before being traded to the Boston Bruins on March 8, 2024. Many CBJ fans were upset by this trade, seeing that former GM Jarmo Kekäläinen had just signed him in September of 2022 to a three-year extension. He was traded during the first year of his new deal, and no one liked that.
Peeke played 77 games for the Bruins last season.
Elite Prospects said of Peeke, "Big, mobile defenseman with great vision and hockey sense. Possesses a hard, accurate shot, but needs to use it more. Smooth skater but has room for improvement in his acceleration with the puck. Reads plays well in his own end and has a well-rounded understanding of the defensive game. Starting to play a gritty game, but that will take time to develop. Physical game is definitely ripening."
Jake Christiansen - 2025 - Undrafted out of West Vancouver, British Columbia.
Christiansen played in a career-high 68 games for Columbus last season and totaled 8 points. He has played 112 games over four years. Before last season, Christiansen spent most of his time playing for the Cleveland Monsters. He's currently the Monsters franchise leader for points by a defenseman.
Christiansen will most likely be the 6th/7th defenseman during the 26-27 season and is signed through 2027. So, he will be looking to have a good year and earn a nice, big contract.
NEWARK, NJ - SEPTEMBER 20: New Jersey Devils Matyas Melovsky #57 warms up before a game between the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on September 20, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey.(Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
For players not on the bubble, camp is less about making the team, but leaving an impression. Here are three prospects who did that this year.
Ethan Edwards
The 24-year-old defenseman looked confident in the preseason, even scoring a highlight goal off a nice feed drifting down into the slot. Throughout camp, Edwards appeared every bit a defender who could potentially hold his own on the bottom pairing of a NHL roster. After call-ups last season only to sit in the press box, this seems to be the year for Edwards to earn some games at the NHL level as a mid-season call-up. I wrote a few weeks ago that Edwards needed to become a top call-up option this season, and the young defender certainly made strides to be just that in camp.
While Edwards has never been a top offensive contributor during his career, the left-handed defender did pot ten goals for Utica last season, a career high dating all the way back to his time with the St. Albert Sabres U15 team in the AMBHL in 2015-16. The newly found offense is encouraging, but his poise and transition game will always be Edwards’s bread and butter. A strong start to his Utica campaign, especially with Seamus Casey’s injury, should put Edwards in a good position to play some games with the Devils this season.
Matyas Melovsky
The aforementioned feed to Edwards in the slot in the Rangers game was all due to the puck battle win behind the net by Matyas Melovsky.
Melovsky was excellent, winning puck battles, and setting up plays, earning points in just about every contest. Take a look at these metrics from his last preseason game.
Melovsky had a decent rookie campaign for Utica scoring 10 goals and 26 points in 55 games for an offensively-starved Comets roster. With better players his year, Melovsky has a chance to thrive, and if the 22-year-old center continues the momentum built up from camp, we should see him in some games for the Devils soon.
Mikael Diotte
With all the depth on the Devils blueline, Mikael Diotte was a bit of an afterthought coming into camp. The 6’3” 22-year-old defenseman scored one goal and added 7 assists in 53 games for Utica last year after missing most of his first professional season due to injury. As the top right-handed defenseman in Utica after Seamus Casey, Diotte’s job coming into camp was to get noticed and he did that, throwing hits, transitioning the puck, and playing steady defense.
Diotte still has a long way to go to becoming a full time NHL defenseman, and an ill-advised pinch in one of the preseason games shows there are still growing pains, but the talent that led to the Devils signing him out of the QMJHL were evident in camp this year, and I would not be shocked to see Diotte get a limited call-up opportunity late in the season. That’s not something I expected to write coming into camp, so Diotte did well for himself, and certainly warrants more attention in Utica this year.
Your Thoughts
Honorable mentions to Ben Steeves and Amadeus Lombardi, who also had strong camps. Lombardi, as expected, seems to have made the New Jersey Devils opening night roster. As I showcased here in an all too-early forecast of Utica’s potential lines, Lombardi making the Devils out of camp always appeared to be the most likely scenario, but he still had to earn his spot and he did that with a strong performance showcasing his speed and skill. Congratulations, Amadeus.
Anyone else surprise you in camp this year? Post your comments below.
Apparently, that wasn’t the case inside the organization, at least for the players.
“That hurt,” Karl-Anthony Towns said during the team’s Media Day on Monday. “I was very surprised. I was very surprised that Mitch wasn’t gonna be back here with us. I think all of us were, so it was a surprise to everybody. I thought something would get done there.”
Boston Celtics center Mitchell Robinson talks to reporters during media day at the Auerbach Center in Boston on Monday, September 28, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Knicks, operating under owner James Dolan’s edict to remain below the second apron and avoid its financial penalties, were not able to make a competitive offer to Robinson, the only significant departure from their championship-winning team.
“I was heartbroken with that one. That’s one of my guys,” Josh Hart said. “I love him. Obviously, he was drafted here, gave his heart to the city. That’s why people haven’t repeated [as champions] for the last eight years because of that second apron and that CBA. Obviously, extremely gutted when he left, but I wish him well all but the four times that we play them. But I got love for him. He helped us win a championship, and he should always be loved and shown love in the city and in the arena.”
The Knicks pivoted to budget option Andre Drummond, signing him to a one-year deal for the veteran minimum. He is set to serve as the team’s backup center behind Towns.
“Definitely tough,” Jalen Brunson said. “That’s my guy, and it just — I think, no matter what, I feel I’m happy for him. Obviously, it’s another opportunity. He got paid, as well. It’s definitely difficult, but you love to see someone advance their generational wealth, so it’s cool to see from that aspect. And just getting Andre, we’re excited. I think he could be a big key to this team. I’ve known him from afar, but getting to know him now, it’s gonna be great.”
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns speaks to the media during media day at the Knicks training facility in Tarrytown, New York, Monday, September 28, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I don’t think he has a future in acting,” Hart said.
Knicks guard Josh Hart speaks to the media during media day at the Knicks training facility in Tarrytown, New York, Monday, September 28, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Towns felt love from Knicks fans on the other side of the planet.
He got married to Jordyn Woods this offseason, and the two honeymooned in Africa.
“We went to Nairobi. We went to Kenya. We went to Tanzania,” Towns said. “And it was crazy just seeing — we’d be out in the Serengeti, and there were people in the open cars, in the wild going, ‘Knicks in five!’ That’s pretty crazy, actually.”
The Calgary Flames have finalized their opening night roster for the 2026-27 NHL season.
The roster comes with a few notable storylines, including Jonathan Huberdeau beginning the season on injured reserve as he continues his recovery from hip resurfacing surgery.
Huberdeau’s absence leaves a significant hole in Calgary’s lineup to start the season, but the Flames will have plenty of new faces looking to help fill the void.
Suniev was assigned to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers after putting together an impressive training camp and preseason. He scored three goals in his first two preseason games and consistently looked like an impactful player when given an opportunity.
There is plenty of intrigue on the blue line, particularly with Zayne Parekh and Simon Nemec among the younger defencemen looking to carve out significant roles.
Gridin’s inclusion is another interesting development after he impressed during preseason, while Brennan Othmann and Maxim Tsyplakov also earned spots after strong pushes for NHL jobs.
At the same time, Suniev’s assignment shows just how competitive the forward group became toward the end of camp.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Injury Reserve
Jonathan Huberdeau
Huberdeau’s status will be one of the first things to watch once the season gets underway.
The Flames will enter the 2026-27 season with a mix of veteran leadership, young players looking to establish themselves and several new pieces trying to make an immediate impact.
And while Suniev won’t be there on opening night, his strong preseason has put his name firmly into the conversation for a call-up down the road.
