Welcome to the latest edition of the Viva El Birdos podcast, where we dive into the journey of baseball’s rising star. This week, we sit down with Jacob Odle, a right-handed pitching prospect with the St. Louis Cardinals who shares his unique experiences leading up to the draft and his current training regimen.
A Journey Through the MLB Draft League
Jacob Odle’s path to becoming a professional baseball player began unexpectedly in the MLB Draft League. “The draft league kind of happened on a whim,” he recalls. After a few impressive outings in junior college, Jacob was given a chance to showcase his skills. He describes the atmosphere as a stark contrast to junior college baseball, with professional facilities and a strong sense of camaraderie among players.
“You know, we call him old man Dave because he’s not on the younger side, but he’d be out there every day before us, and he’d take his shirt off and some short shorts and running around the track. And that set the tone for the rest of the team.”
Jacob’s confidence grew as he learned from experienced coaches and played alongside talented teammates. His breakthrough came when he was drafted by the Cardinals, a team that often surprises with late-round picks.
The Draft Day Experience
Jacob’s draft day experience was a rollercoaster of emotions. Initially projected to be picked in the earlier rounds, he found himself waiting longer than expected.
“I was at my old facility, you know, throwing a bullpen just because I was bored and wanted to throw something. And then we turn the draft on. I finished just in time. Then about my agent called me and he was like, ‘The Cardinals are gonna take you.'”
Despite the uncertainty, Jacob’s persistence paid off, landing him a spot in the Cardinals’ organization. He reflects on the whirlwind of conversations and decisions that influenced his draft fate.
Connecting with Fellow Players
Growing up in Southern California, Jacob has maintained connections with fellow players. He shares that several of his high school peers have also made it into the professional ranks, including Ariel Armis with the Cubs and Jacob Christian with the Giants. Their shared experiences provide a strong bond.
“My high school class had three guys that were drafted. I got drafted first, but I got drafted the latest.”
Training and Development
Currently, Jacob is participating in a structured training program in Florida. He describes the regimen as highly individualized, allowing him to focus on his development alongside other prospects. The program includes tailored schedules, workouts, and even a book club that promotes mental skills development through literature.
“We do a chapter a week from a book called ‘Thinking in Bets’ by Annie Duke,” Jacob explains.
The discussions focus on decision-making and processing outcomes, emphasizing that a bad result doesn’t always stem from a poor decision.
Closing Thoughts
Jacob’s journey is just beginning, but his dedication, adaptability, and thoughtful approach to the game set him apart. As he continues to refine his skills, there’s no doubt that his story will inspire many aspiring athletes.
For more insights and the full conversation, be sure to check out the latest episode of the Viva El Birdos podcast!
TUCSON, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 10: Dominick Reid #11 of the Chicago Cubs pitches during a game between the Mesa Solar Sox and the Peoria Javelinas at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 10, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s Monday, so that means it’s time to check in on the Cubs’ Boys of Autumn playing for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League.
In case you missed the earlier installments, the Solar Sox are a team in the Arizona Fall League, a minor league that plays every October and November in Spring Training stadiums. The Mesa Solar Sox play their home games at Sloan Park, the Cubs’ Spring Training home. This year, their roster is made up of minor leaguers from the Cubs, Athletics, Angels, Blue Jays and Red Sox.
The Solar Sox played five games this past week and went 2-3, giving them an overall record of 6-9. Here’s how each individual game went with a link to the box score. The home team is listed last.
Although the Solar Sox were the home team on Saturday, the game was played in Glendale at Camelback Ranch.
Here’s how each individual Cubs prospect did this past week.
Infielder Juan Cabada: We said that the Arizona Fall League would be challenging to Cabada. At just 18 years old, he had only played 17 games above rookie ball before the AFL season, all of which were in Low-A Myrtle Beach. Cabada is playing against players far older and with much more experience than he has.
So far, we’ve been right. The AFL has been a real challenge for Cabada. This week he played twice, at third base on Tuesday and third base on Thursday. He had a good game on Tuesday, going 1 for 3 with a double, a walk and a run scored. In Thursday shutout loss, Cabada went 0 for 3. He wasn’t the only one.
For the AFL season, Cabada is hitting .167/.286/.2oo over nine games. He has three RBI, three runs scored and one stolen base.
Outfielder Harrison Feinberg: Feinberg only played on Monday. He played right field and he went 1 for 5 with an RBI single.
Over five games with the Solar Sox, Feinberg is hitting .333/.455/.333 with two RBI and two runs scored. He’s also two for three in base stealing.
Outfielder Kade Snell: Snell played in four of the five Solar Sox games this past week. Snell got his first AFL action in center field on Monday, while playing right field on Wednesday and Thursday. He shifted over to left field on Saturday.
For the week, Snell went 2-13 with an RBI triple on Saturday. He also walked three times, with two of those walks coming with the bases loaded. That gave Snell three RBI for the week.
Here’s a ground view shot of that triple.
A tripleheader triple for the lead!
Kade Snell pulls the Solar Sox ahead with his first triple of the Fall driving in Arjun Nimmala pic.twitter.com/6DAHPLIinq
For the season, Snell is hitting .244/.426/.317 with seven RBI, six runs scored and two steals.
Catcher Miguel Useche: I have to apologize for missing that Useche was added to the Solar Sox roster midway through last week. This week, Useche got into all five games for the Solar Sox. He pinch-hit on Monday (going 0 for 1) and then finished the game at first base. He was the first baseman on Tuesday, going 1 for 3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI. He caught on Wednesday and once again went 1 for 3 with a walk.
Useche was the designated hitter on Thursday and was 1 for 4. He served as the first baseman on Saturday and was o for 4.
Since joining the Solar Sox, Useche is hitting .217/.308/.304 in seven games. He has scored four times, driven three and has stolen two bases.
Right hander Jhon Cabral: Cabral was a busy bullpen arm this week, pitching in three of the five games. On Monday, Cabral got the final two outs in the ninth, striking out both batters he faced.
On Wednesday, Cabral had more trouble with control. He walked the first batter he faced with two outs in the fourth. That baserunner then stole second and went to third on a wild pitch on the play. Next, Cabral threw another wild pitch to score the run. He then walked the next batter again but got a strikeout to end the threat.
Cabral entered the game on Saturday with a man on first and no outs in the third inning. After getting the next batter to ground out and then a strikeout for the second out, Cabral proceeded to walked the next three batters, forcing in an inherited run. But then Cabral got a strikeout to end the inning and his outing.
For the season, Cabral has now pitched 4.1 innings over six outings. He sports a 2.08 ERA and has yet to give up a hit. However, he’s walked eight while striking out seven.
Right-hander Anhuar Garcia: Garcia pitched three innings in Thursday’s 10-0 loss. The first two innings he threw were very good, giving up just one hit but facing the minimum thanks to a double play. But the third inning was bad as Garcia allowed two two-run home runs. So his final line for the week for four runs on five hits over three innings. He struck out one and walked nobody.
For the season, Garcia has pitched 9.2 innings over four appearances and sports an ERA of 8.38. He’s also allowed five unearned runs, so that’s not great. Garcia has walked eight and struck out seven.
Right-hander Yoendris Gonzalez: Gonzalez is having a rough AFL season. This week he entered Tuesday’s game to start the sixth inning and only managed to retire one batter. Before he left, he allowed two runs on three hits and a walk. He struck out one.
For the AFL season, Gonzalez has pitched three times and managed to collect just 1.2 innings. He’s allowed eight runs on five hits, giving him an ERA of 43.20. Gonzalez has walked six and struck out three.
Right-hander Dominick Reid: Reid has undoubtedly been the Cubs biggest bright spot in the AFL this year. He made hit third start on Monday and got the win after four scoreless innings, giving up just one hit. He struck out five and walked just one.
For the season, Reid is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA over twelve innings and three starts. Reid has struck out 14 and walked five while allowing just six hits.
Right-hander Luis Rujano: Rujano had just one appearance this past week, but it was a really good one. Rujano entered Wednesday’s game in the top of the ninth and, yeah, the Solar Sox were already trailing 9-2. But the bases were loaded and there were no outs. Rujano managed to keep the Saguaro’s lead to “just” seven by getting a strikeout and then following it up with a 4-3 double play.
Rujano has pitched four times this AFL campaign, totalling five innings. He has an ERA of 1.80. Rujano has given up three hits, walked four and struck out five.
A few weeks ago, when the NBA announced it had worked with sportsbook partners to remove specific wagers, prop bet parlays on games — the kinds of bets that could most easily lead to another betting scandal — there was one big loophole: It did not include the major prediction markets, such as Kalshi and Polymarket. The NBA had no partnership deals with them.
Now it does. The NBA has announced agreements with Kalshi and Polymarket that allow the NBA to have control over what trades on NBA games the markets are allowed to offer. In exchange, those prediction markets officially become the "Preferred Prediction Market Exchange of the NBA," meaning they can use NBA logos and intellectual property, but more importantly, get official NBA data from Sportradar to operate their markets.
"Protecting the integrity of the game is our top priority," Scott Kaufman-Ross, the NBA Head of Media Distribution & Partnerships, said in a statement announcing the deal. "As this category develops, we believe it is important to work constructively with regulators and operators to help ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place."
As part of the agreement, both Kalshi and Polymarket will work with the NBA to identify suspicious trading and help prevent insider trading, which is what led to the most recent NBA gambling scandals. If needed, the markets will share data with the league for investigations.
The NBA said it sees this deal as a framework for working with prediction markets into the future. Because prediction markets are regulated differently than sports betting sites — prediction markets currently fall under federal regulation, and there isn't a lot of it, while the states regulate sports betting sites — this deal required a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
"Announcing our partnership with the NBA is a significant milestone," Adam Barrick, Head of Sports Partnerships at Kalshi, said in a statement. "The relationship we've built together reflects a shared mindset that prioritizes fan engagement, innovation and safety."
"The NBA is one of the most influential sports leagues in the world, and we're excited to work together to bring fans closer to the game," Ari Borod, President, Sports Business Development at Polymarket, said in the same statement. "This partnership will allow our customers to engage more deeply with the game of basketball on Polymarket. We look forward to partnering with the NBA on establishing a safe, transparent prediction market ecosystem for everyone."
Both Kalshi and Polymarket already allow users to buy event contracts on the outcomes of NBA games and other in-game wagers. The NBA is now working with them — and has a deal with sportsbook partners DraftKings and FanDuel — to limit bets such as under prop bets for players expected to play fewer than 12 minutes (things such as points scored, or rebounds in that game).
The prediction markets already had other NBA ties, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo investing in Kalshi and appearing in its commercials, and LeBron James having a sponsorship deal with Polymarket.
The shadow hanging over all of this, and why the league wanted a deal with the prediction markets, is last year's arrests of now-former Miami guard Terry Rozier, former Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, and former NBA guard Damon Jones on insider-trading of information allegations. Jones pled guilty and is working with federal prosecutors, while the Billups and Rozier cases are ongoing. Similar charges led Commissioner Adam Silver to ban former Raptor Jontay Porter for life back in 2024.
Alex Cora may have twice turned down the opportunity to become the Phillies’ manager, but he’s not ruling out returning to a dugout in 2027.
The 51-year-old, who was fired by the Red Sox in April after a 10-17 start, isn’t committing to managing next season but he didn’t shut down the possibility during an interview with Rob Bradford on the “Baseball isn’t Boring” podcast.
“I don’t know, man. We have to wait and see. We’ve still got one more year for that, which is great,” Cora said on the episode released Monday, noting he’s still getting paid by Boston through next season. “If we decide as a family that’s the route we want to take, we’ll do it. It’d be cool to go through the process again, it’d be cool. It will help whoever — if I decide I want to go through the process and somebody gives us a chance to interview, it’d be good for them to hear it, how I see it, my values as a manager, understand everything that goes with it and go from there, and they make a decision.
“I’m not 100 percent sure I want to do it,” he added.
Alex Cora speaks on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast released on Oct. 26, 2026. YouTube/Baseball Isn't Boring
The Phillies fired Rob Thomson shortly after Cora lost his job, and Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski — who hired Cora in late 2017 when he ran the Red Sox front office and won a World Series in 2018 — offered Cora the Philly job, which Cora turned down to spend time with his family. He did so again after the season, and the Phillies elevated Don Mattingly from interim to full-time manager.
Cora is in the final stages of planning his wedding to longtime partner Angelica Feliciano. They share twins who were born in 2017, and he has a daughter with his ex-wife, Nilda.
Cora said he and Dombrowski talk frequently, and Dombrowski was one of the first people he called after he got fired in April as he was seeking guidance.
Alex Cora and his fiancée Angelica Feliciano are getting married next month, which is one of the big reasons Cora is passing on managerial options in MLB. Instagram @ac13alexAlex Cora during a Red Sox-Brewers game at Fenway Park on April 7, 2026. Boston Globe via Getty Images
“I’ve got to be very honest — obviously pride comes into play early on, but then when people that you really care (about) and you love, they fly into Boston and they slow things down, it’s like, OK, we’ve got to make sure we do the right thing,” Cora said of talking with Dombrowski in the aftermath of the firing. “You have to make sure you take care of your people. And I think the best thing for the Cora-Felicianos is this, is to stay away and, at that point, kind of regroup and enjoy.”
As for why he got fired, Cora acknowledged that an executive inheriting a manager like Chaim Bloom and Craig Breslow did with him in Boston isn’t ideal, and he was upset that other coaches also lost their jobs. But he boiled the dismissal down to one thing.
“I got fired because we didn’t pitch in the month of April. It’s as simple as that,” Cora said.
The Stanley Cup champions have four former Sabres on their roster, including Taylor Hall, who missed the last two weeks with an upper-body injury. Jankowski, who split time between the AHL and NHL in 2021-22 and played 19 games in Buffalo, had his best offensive season in seven years last season with 21 points and has been on fire this season, with six goals in nine games.
Evan Rodrigues - New Jersey
The 33-year-old played parts of five seasons in Buffalo and has been well-traveled since, with stops in Pittsburgh, Toronto, Colorado, and Florida. He was dealt to the Devils last summer in the deal for goalie Jacob Markstrom and has five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 11 games.
Logan Stanley - NY Islanders
The big blueliner was acquired from Winnipeg along with Luke Schenn last March, and had five assists in 25 regular season and playoff games with the Sabres. Stanley remained unsigned until late September, when he hooked on with the Isles on a one-year, $1.5 million deal. In 11 games, he has equaled his offensive output in Buffalo, with five assists.
Owen Power is off to a strong start with the Sabres this season
James Reimer - NY Rangers
The veteran journeyman played 22 games with the Sabres in 2024-25, and after a stop in Ottawa last season, is joining his ninth club, signing a one-year veteran minimum deal with the Rangers after earning a shutout in Hartford on an AHL deal last week.
Rasmus Ristolainen - Philadelphia
The former Sabres first-rounder has been oft-injured in recent seasons, but was impressive for Finland at the Milano-Cortina Olympics and down the stretch for the Flyers on their playoff run. This season, after playing three games, the 31-year-old missed three weeks and returned for one game before suffering an upper-body injury that is expected to keep him out for two weeks.
Alex Tuch - Washington
If you could not see Tuch killing the Sabres in his first meeting with them, then you don’t know hockey. The 30-year-old winger was sent to Washington in a sign-and-trade with the Sabres in June. In the first year of his eight-year deal with the Capitals. Tuch leads the club with seven goals, including a pair in a 4-3 overtime victory over Buffalo on Saturday.
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 21: Sergio de Larrea #55 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets on October 21, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With a game Saturday night, then all Sunday and all of today between the game tonight, we didn’t have a ton in the hopper to publish. So I gave a simple prompt: please overreact to the first three games of Dallas Mavericks basketball.
Sudarshan: Cooper Flagg will make 1 of the All-NBA teams (I predict All-NBA 3rd team), and depending on how much game time he gets, Sergio De Larrea will make the All-Rookie 1st team. Flagg has come out of the blocks all guns blazing to start the season, and Larry was so good against San Antonio that Mavs internet is already squinting and trying to make Luka Doncic comparisons. ¡Viva la youth revolución!
Also, Aaron Nesmith needs to hire a bodyguard to protect himself from Bryan when he comes to play in Dallas.
Bryan: The individual player skill development most important to long-term winning for the Mavs is no longer Cooper’s shooting: it’s now Sergio’s ball handling. If Larry becomes a good enough ball handler to take on a primary role even off the bench by midway through next year, that will more than mitigate not having our own 2027 first-round pick because he’s already an NBA player in every other skill that matters.
If he continues to progress as he’s shown from summer league to now, we are going to look at the 2027 draft class and be able to count on one hand the number of players that we’re sure are better than him.
Gracie: I will go further than Sudarshan, Cooper Flagg will be in MVP talks. He took over for the Mavericks in their loss to Houston, showing that he has taken another step offensively after a strong rookie year. Before he was hurt against Indiana, he was on pace for a 30-point triple-double. His two-way skills set the tone for Dallas. He has emerged as a leader for the Mavericks, and the team is significantly better when he’s on the floor. His willingness to grow as a player and a leader will have him getting nods for MVP of the Mavericks can make the postseason.
Eric: Sergio deLarrea might be the draft-night steal of 2026. Twenty-one points, five rebounds, and four assists against San Antonio. He looked comfortable running the offense against one of the league’s toughest young defensive backcourts.
Joe: I don’t know how this isn’t EVERYONE’S overreaction, but PJ looks back to PJ. Now that doesn’t mean he looks like this all-world role player who is gonna be the difference in us winning X amount of games compared to Y amount of games, but also the team isn’t really good enough for him to be that piece anyway. But PJ has looked really surprisingly competent and has been really impactful through 3 games. He’s been hitting shots, getting to the rim at will, playing solid defense and rebounding, and has been the best player for the Mavs when Kyrie and/or Cooper aren’t out there. He’s averaging 14 points and has knocked down 40% combined from 3 in the second and third games.
Tyler: Let’s dive into some small sample size theater, shall we? The PJ Washington, Naji Marshall and Max Christie minutes need to GO. Per Cleaning the Glass, in 87 possessions together, those lineups are -42.5 points per 100 possessions, with an offensive rating of 82.8. The vets have been good soldiers over the last couple of turbulent seasons, but we can officially close the book on them now. Conversely, the two-man unit of Cooper Flagg and Zaccharie Risacher are +81.5 points per 100 possessions in 54 total possessions. The youth movement is here, so let’s lean in to it!
Michael: My overreaction to the first three games is that Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz are much better at maximizing limited assets than anyone gave them credit for. Sergio de Larrea looked like a seasoned player against one of the best teams in the West. His first two games weren’t the prettiest, but I chalk that up to getting acclimated. Meaning, I think what we saw from him against San Antonio is more the true version of him than not. Marcus Sasser is another one. A forgotten man in Detroit, he comes home to Dallas and fits in immediately, playing within himself and able to score off the bench and hit the long ball with consistency. All to say my overreaction is that the front office is equipped to make good things happen even with limited resources.
Kirk: This isn’t an overreaction in so much as something I need more of: the three guard line up. Play a mix of Kyrie, Sergio, Sasser, and Walter, please.
Matt M.: Well, you asked for overreaction, so here we go. The Mavs have turned over a few rocks, and the guard play they have found stuck to the bottom of those rocks has been intriguing enough so that I am now more curious what Dallas can get in a trade for Kyrie Irving than I am about what wisdom he can impart to a squad of youngsters. I like what I’ve seen from Marcus Sasser, Sergio de Larrea, and even Walter Clayton Jr. (yes, I know he’s not full-time but there are solutions for everything) to such a degree that I am beginning to wonder if the best use of Irving this year is not a salute and an expression of heartfelt gratitude while ushering him out the door in exchange for a tasty first-round pick and a usable younger guard. Full-on youth movement now, please.
Trink: My overreaction is this team is one point guard away from being a legit playoff team. If they can have someone relieve Kyrie of ball handling in the starting five, they have a legit chance to be a 6 seed or higher. Cooper Flagg refuses to lose, and the team will come with him.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 19: A general view of Tropicana Field during Game Six of the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, October 19, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This series has been amazing for casual baseball fans and those supporting the Milwaukee Brewers but it’s been infuriatingly brutal for those behind the Tampa Bay Rays.
The first two games have been filled with costly mistakes and nearly almosts and the end result is the Rays being down two games to none against the team with the best record in baseball. Milwaukee has nearly been unbeatable this postseason with their only loss thus far coming against the San Diego Padres in game three of the NLDS.
For the Rays to have any chance of getting back into the series, they’ll have to have a masterful performance from the ALCS MVP, Freddy Peralta.
Peralta, 30, has been among the best pitchers in baseball over the past two months and found a new gear on his fastball since the playoffs began. Earlier this season, Peralta was averaging 94 mph on his fastball but that is up to 96.9 during his four playoff outings thus far. This was Peralta’s 9th season in the big leagues and over that time, he has only thrown 10 pitches at or above 99mph, 5 of them have been this postseason with the highest of his career (99.4) coming during his last time out in the 5th inning against Cleveland in game six. Perhaps facing his old team will allow him to find one more gear and reach triple digits.
The Rays and Peralta will have to battle Robert Gasser, a southpaw drafted by the San Diego Padres as the 71st overall selection of the 2021 draft. Gasser was acquired by the Brewers in the lamented trade that sent Josh Hader to San Diego in 2022; now those with bad opinions on that deal may revise their judgement as Gasser could help to clinch the Brewers’ first World Series title in history. The 2026 season was Gasser’s longest time spent in the big leagues as he had short stints in 2024 and 2025. The 27-year was up and down this season until being brought up for good after the All-Star break.
Over 21 games — 20 starts — this season, Gasser has a 3.87 ERA | 4.23 FIP with a 22.2 K% & 7.6 BB% over 109.1 IP. Thus far in the postseason, Gasser has pitched in 2 games, and has been incredible allowing just 1 run over nine innings of work.
An observation from the previous games is that the Brewers hittes are tenacious with two strikes in the count. During the two World Series games thus far, the Brewers are hitting .182/.308/.333 with two strikes and have a 16.4 whiff%. Compare that to the regular season, the Brewers whiff rate was at 23.5% while the Rays led the MLB with a 21.0 two strike whiff%; that has jumped to 27.1% this postseason.
It became clear it was so bad – even in the first seconds after it happened – that a trainer rushed over to throw a towel over the ankle, hiding it from view.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams, a 2024-25 All-Star and one of the bright young players in the NBA, suffered a seemingly devastating lower leg injury Sunday, Oct. 25. And though the Thunder haven’t issued a formal diagnosis, the way Williams’ left ankle dangled sideways off his foot strongly suggests that Williams’ season is over just three games after it started.
So now the Thunder, who entered the season as favorites to win NBA Finals, must regroup, because this injury – assuming it’s as bad as it looked – changes the pathway for Oklahoma City moving forward. Because the overwhelming notion for this Thunder team was that it was a strong favorite because Williams was finally healthy.
Williams, the team’s second best player, missed significant chunks last season as he recovered from offseason wrist surgery. Then, late in the year and into the playoffs, it was multiple soft-tissue hamstring injuries.
So now, two-time reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, once again, will have bear more of a burden. Williams can handle the ball and initiate offense. He can slash to the basket and has a dependable perimeter jumper. He’s a plus defender and is often the anchor through which the Thunder run their offense when Gilgeous-Alexander is catching a breath on the bench. When available, he is a staple, having started 238 of his 251 career regular season games. The loss is massive.
"These are tough, man," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said after the game. "We’re not doing great. That’s tough on the guys. Everyone empathizes, I think both teams, in those situations. We’re not doing great."
Yet, if there is any team in the NBA built to weather the loss of a player like Williams, it’s the Thunder. No team has been better at identifying and developing young players through the draft, and Oklahoma City is the deepest team in the entire association. They have options.
Thunder's depth provides options after Jalen Williams injury
In fact, the Thunder are so deep that they can alter whom they start at small forward in place of Williams, depending on the matchup.
The first indication of how the Thunder plan to make up for the loss of Williams comes fewer than 24 hours after he suffered the injury; Oklahoma City hosts the Phoenix Suns Monday, Oct. 26 on the second leg of their back-to-back.
The cleanest move is for Daigneault to replace Williams in the starting lineup with Alex Caruso, a veteran guard who specializes on defense. Caruso is nowhere near as talented as Williams on offense, though his perimeter shot has been a spark off the bench; Caruso is shooting a blistering 45.5% from 3-point range this season.
Each of starting guard Cason Wallace, who also suffered an injury Sunday night, one to his shoulder, and reserve guards Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain will likely see increased minutes and responsibility.
Daigneault likes to have a serviceable ball-handling creator on the floor when Gilgeous-Alexander heads to the bench, so it makes sense on some level for both Mitchell and McCain to come off the bench. Rookie guard Bennett Stirtz will also be called up for spot minutes.
Thunder's injury history prepared SGA, team to weather long season
This, unfortunately for the Thunder, is a familiar spot. They pushed the San Antonio Spurs to seven games in the 2026 Western Conference Finals despite injuries to Williams and Mitchell. Because the pair are Oklahoma City’s best offensive engines not named Gilgeous-Alexander, the team’s offense stagnated under San Antonio’s defense.
In previous seasons, it was Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein who were knocked out for extensive stretches because of injury.
This is all to say that, in many ways, the Thunder are used to this.
But as much as Oklahoma City is built to mitigate the loss of a star like Williams, one devastating fact is clear, and it’s a fact the team must contend with the rest of the season, assuming the injury ends Williams’ campaign.
The Thunder today are not as strong as they were yesterday, and that’s indisputable.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler has been playing excellently for the Original Six club.
Now, Fowler has been rewarded by the NHL because of it.
The NHL has announced that Fowler has been named the league's Third Star of the Week from Oct. 19 to Oct. 25. When looking at how well Fowler played during this past week, it is easy to understand why.
In his two appearances this past week for Montreal, Fowler had a 2-0-0 record, a 1.00 goals-against average, and a .964 save percentage. This included him stopping 20 out of 21 shots against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 23 and saving 33 out of 34 shots against the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 25.
Fowler has been very good for the Canadiens this season in general, too. In six appearances this campaign with Montreal, he has a 5-1-0 record, a .924 save percentage, a 1.79 goals-against average, and one shutout.
With this, Fowler is only continuing to impress as he gains more NHL experience. It will be interesting to see if he can stay hot for the Habs from here.
AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 23: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets look on during the game on October 23, 2026 at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to Week in Review: a Monday feature that looks back at the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a look at the week ahead, and more. Enjoy!
It wasn’t the season opener the Spurs had hoped for. With the Thunder out for revenge for the Western Conference Finals and red hot from three in the first half, the lethargic Spurs went ice cold in the second quarter to fall behind by 26 points and, despite an admirable effort in the second half, couldn’t rally all the way back.
On a side note, keep Jalen Williams in your thoughts after he suffered a brutal looking leg injury last night (I don’t recommend making the same mistake as me and watching it). Assuming it’s as bad as it looks, he’s more than likely out for the season and faces an even harder road back.
The Spurs looked better in their second game as they continued to shake off the rust and find some rhythm, but it still wasn’t enough against a healthy Rockets squad that finally has a true point guard. Alperen Sengun was unstoppable down low no matter who guarded him, and Amen Thompson blocked Victor Wembanyama’s game tying attempt for the heart-breaking loss.
The Spurs finally got their first win of the season against a depleted Mavs team that was missing Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, among others. While nothing special, the Spurs’ starters did their jobs and put the opponent away with a few timely runs, and we even got to see what Tarris Reed could bring to the table in rotation minutes.
A season with big expectations got off to a rough start for Victor Wembanyama (1-for-13 against the Thunder) and the Spurs. After losing to Oklahoma City and Houston, they trailed the shorthanded Mavs (no Kyrie Irving or Cooper Flagg) late in the third quarter on Saturday before pulling away in the final 13 minutes.
Two takeaways
1. The Spurs’ new starting lineup played limited minutes (just 9.4 per game) and the results were mixed. It outscored the Thunder by 10 points on Tuesday, but scored an anemic 30 points on 45 offensive possessions (67 per 100) against the Rockets and Mavs over the weekend. The offense was at its best with last season’s starter (Julian Champagnie) on the floor.
2. Victor Wembanyama has struggled with his jump shot. Combining preseason and Week 1, he’s shot 2-for-11 from mid-range and 5-for-28 from beyond the arc. But the Spurs have allowed less than a point per possession with him on the floor, while allowing 133 per 100 with him on the bench.
Coming up: The Spurs’ win in Dallas over the weekend was the start of what seems like a pretty soft, 12-game stretch of schedule that should have them at or near the top of the West in mid-November. Minnesota is the toughest opponent on that stretch, but the Spurs will have a rest advantage when they host the Wolves on Saturday.
Opening week question: Do De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle complement one another well enough?
Defensively, the trio has been fine — it helps to have Victor Wembanyama back there. But these three are only starting together because that’s the team Mitch Johnson has to manage this year. Last year, Johnson could bring the second pick of the draft (Harper) off the bench, have Fox minimize his touches and play primarily through Castle while Wembanyama enjoyed his ascent to MVP finalist. This year, the Spurs are letting their guard trio dominate the ball. San Antonio is shooting only 41.5 percent from the field and 28.1 percent from 3.
Through three games, the jury is still out on starting the three guards together — De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper — with the group posting a +1.4 net rating when on the court together. With that trio, the defense has been spectacular, but the offense has struggled (granted, on an exceedingly small sample). One issue with starting the three-guard lineup is that the Spurs now lack the bench punch Harper brought last season. It’s wild to say it, but the bigger problem for the Spurs — especially against the Thunder on opening night — was Victor Wembanyama. Against OKC, he held the ball too long, which disrupted the three-guard offense’s flow. Wemby shot 1-of-13 in the opener, partly because the Thunder are an elite defensive team, collapsed on him, and have three seven-footers to throw at him. In the Spurs’ second game against Houston, Wemby had a much better first half but struggled after halftime, then against Dallas he looked more like himself. The Spurs need that version of Wemby.
This was an unprecedented start for the defending Western Conference champions. While falling to the Thunder in the first game of the season wasn’t all that shocking, losing to the Rockets in a game they never really controlled was.
Not only is Victor Wembanyama struggling to find his shot early on, but the Spurs are still trying to figure out what their three-guard approach looks like on a nightly basis with De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper.
Getting Tobias Harris back on the floor from his calf injury will be important for this team, especially since he brings extra rebounding and secondary scoring. Nonetheless, this team’s success revolves around Wembanyama’s production, which was lackluster during the first week of the season.
Coming up
Tues. 10/27 vs. Sacramento Kings (7:00 PM CT)
Wed. 10/28 at Utah Jazz (8:00 PM CT)
Sat. 10/31 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (7:00 PM CT)
ST. PETERSBURG - AUGUST 03: Manager Joe Maddon #70 of the Tampa Bay Rays directs his team against the San Francisco Giants during the game at Tropicana Field on August 3, 2013 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Manager who ushered in one of the greatest turnarounds in sports history will be back at Tropicana Field on Monday night as Joe Maddon will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the start of game three of the 2026 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers.
The last time the World Series was played at Tropicana Field, Joe Maddon was in the Rays dugout, managing the team as they took game two against the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008. It was the franchise’s first foray into the postseason after going worst to first, finishing the season with a 97-65 record. Unfortunately, Tampa Bay fell in the World Series, but the team could take solace in being the champions of the American League and the division leader of the tough American League East.
It was just the start of success for Joe Maddon’s led team as he helped guide the Rays to the postseason in 2010 (won the division), 2011, and 2013 but was unable get the past the Division Series each time. Maddon was named the AL Manager of the Year in 2008 and in 2011. Following the 2014 season, Maddon left to take over the Chicago Cubs with whom he won the World Series in 2016, ending a 108 year championship drought for the Northsiders.
After leaving Chicago following the 2019 season, Maddon managed the Los Angeles Angels but could not bring his prior magic to that star studded roster and the team played well below .500 during his tenure there; Maddon was let go in June 2022 after a 27-29 start.
Maddon spent the most time of his managerial career with the Tampa Bay Rays, leading the team for 9 years, ending his time with a 754-705 record. The Rays reached the postseason four times and won one pennant.
The Rays will look to battle back from a 2-0 series deficit tonight against the Brewers with first pitch slated for just after 8:00pm
The Chicago Blackhawks brought 8 defensemen to their NHL roster out of training camp. Two of them, Ethan Del Mastro and Kevin Korchinski, have mostly been rotational players if they are needed due to injury or performance.
Bowen Byram has missed the last handful of games with an upper-body injury. For the first few, the head coach tapped Ethan Del Mastro to come into the lineup. However, Kevin Korchinski was used on Sunday against the Florida Panthers.
Kevin Korchinski, like most of his small sample size in the 2026-26 training camp, preseason, and regular season, played very well against the Panthers. In a lot of ways, he was the best defenseman on the team for 60 minutes.
This is the type of performance that makes you question the point of him sitting out at all. He seems to be one of the six best defensemen in the organization at this time, but he's not treated like it. Even after this game, it doesn't sound like head coach Jeff Blashill was as impressed as one would have thought. Blashill had his compliments for Korchinski, but there was plenty of "coach speak" with critiques as well.
"I thought he did a lot of good things," Blashill said of Korchinski. "He's going to want the change back, but I thought there were moments where he did good stuff. He's got a habit of drifting back when he's got the puck in the neutral zone. We want him to plant his feet and go North. He played solid. His pair with Rinzel - both of them did a lot of good things. It's unfortunate he had the tough change."
It is hard to tell, based on Blashill's postgame quotes, whether or not Korchinski will get to follow up this game with another. Sure, he had the tough change, but that doesn't change the fact that he was the team's best defender over the course of the 60 minutes. That may be true even if you include the forwards.
There is no easy way to approach Korchinski's situation, and he knows that. It has been a very up-and-down start to his NHL career, but he certainly has the tools to become an everyday contributor. He is aware that one good game doesn't mean he'll even get to dress in the next. Whether that's fair or not, he has accepted it and will continue to work until he is an everyday player.
"Every day you have to earn it," Korchinski said about getting to play again after a good showing. "It starts with showing up the next day and proving myself again. The past doesn't matter. You want to be good in the present and help the team win. You have to be good every day. It's a hard league. That's the approach you want to have to be a difference maker and have a long career."
Korchinski has the right attitude. Everything he said is spot on. However, if he doesn't play against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, the Blackhawks are announcing to the world that his being in the lineup has nothing to do with his prior performance. Would he like the one bad line change back? Sure. But other defensemen have had way worse plays that didn't result in being scratched.
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 23: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks looks on during second half of the Celtics Home Opener at TD Garden on October 23, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Knicks 107-103. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When people said they wouldn’t care if the Knicks went 0-82 this season, I don’t think that they meant it as an invitation.
The first three games have gone from disappointing to annoying to bewildering as the Knicks sit at the bottom of the standings with a 0-3 record after three close losses to Eastern Conference rivals, all of which were winnable with better execution. It’s the first 0-3 start since David Fizdale was coach in 2019-20 (yikes).
In these games, the Knicks have scored 103 or fewer points in all of them. Raw point totals aren’t everything with this team’s preferred slow pace, but that doesn’t work in the modern NBA. This is early-Thibsian-level offense.
Is it process-based or just shoddy shooting? It could be both.
On Opening Night, the Knicks fell to the Sixers not only due to inconsistent shooting at the perimeter, but also startlingly bad finishing at the rim. As a team last year, they shot 66.3% in the restricted area and 58.3% on shots in the paint. On Opening Night? 58.6% and 42%.
These shots make up half the team’s shot diet, so shooting 16% worse at it can decide games. That’s especially concerning against a team with incredibly little rim protection, even if it were the freshest Joel Embiid you’ll ever see.
The jarringly bad shooting continued through Boston and Orlando. They’re 26th in FG% at the restricted area (63%) and dead last in total FG% in the paint (50%).
The main culprits? Andre Drummond (8-for-15 at the rim, 8-for-18 in the paint), Jalen Brunson (4-for-18 outside the restricted area), and Josh Hart (4-for-8 at the rim, 7-for-13 in the paint).
Those last two are the ones we can directly compare to last season. Brunson shot 47.9% on incredible volume outside the restricted area last season, while Hart shot 67.4% at the rim and 60.4% in the entire paint. The sample is small, but important in three close losses.
The perimeter shooting has been pretty bad, too. Outside of Deuce McBride’s Boston heater, nobody has had the touch to start the season. Four players have attempted at least 14 threes so far, and all of them are below league average (Brunson 26.7%, Anunoby 28.6%, Hart 33.3%, Shamet 35.7%). Mikal Bridges is also doing his best October 2024 impression, starting the year 0-for-10 from deep.
On Sunday night against the Magic, the Knicks shot 32 open and wide open threes and made only nine of them. There were some bad looks in there, but a lot of them were clean looks that you’re used to them making. Last season, they only averaged 30.5 of those attempts per game, but shot 37.3%. That’s equivalent to three extra made threes last night, which could’ve swung the game.
Really, they lost on Sunday because the Magic, an extremely poor shooting team, shot 43.6% on those looks and had just their third game in the last two years where they shot 40 threes and made at least 40% of them, but you could’ve also made shots yourself.
As if their shooting at the rim and behind the arc wasn’t bad enough, they’ve also been ghastly at the foul line.
As a team, they’re shooting 70.8%, which in prior years you’d think would be dragged down by the Hack-a-Mitch, but there’s no excuse this year. Even if you remove the only poor free-throw shooter on the roster, Drummond, they’re at an unacceptable 72%. If you removed Mitch last year, the team shot 81.6% from the line.
It added up against Philly; it didn’t help against Boston; and it directly hampered their chances at a late comeback against Orlando.
Anunoby is at 81.8%, but after him? Brunson is 14-for-20, and Towns is 12-for-17, both around 70%. For two guys who are career 85% free-throw shooters, it’s a back-breaker.
Looking at the splits (and turnovers, which are also a small problem) through three games, the Knicks aren’t close to where they need to be as a team:
vs PHI: 37/33/70, 14 TO @ BOS: 44/40/71, 16 TO vs ORL: 41/24/68, 14 TO – 25-26: 48/37/79, 12.9 TO
The only game they shot adequately was against Boston, but they committed a season high in turnovers and still didn’t make their free throws. In the other two games, it was poor play at all three levels.
In the modern NBA, three-point shooting is everything. For the Knicks under Mike Brown, they are as reliant as a team can be without being Joe Mazzulla-esque.
2025-26 Knicks, including playoffs: 22-0 when shooting 44% or better 0-7 when shooting 25% or worse
Last season, when the Knicks shot worse than 33.3% from downtown, they went 11-19.
When they shot 33.3% or better, a mark that is not even league average, they went 58-13.
It’s a cheat code for their success, and considering they returned every shooter from last season’s roster, it’s one that needs to show up to right the ship.
Despite their current 10-game losing streak, not all is doom-and-gloom for the Vancouver Canucks organization at the moment. Down in the AHL, the Abbotsford Canucks have won their past five games — and, for the most part, Jacob Quillan has been part of it all.
Quillan, 24, has had a hot start to his time as part of the AHL Canucks. Previously part of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, the forward joined Abbotsford for their home-opener on October 17 after being moved with forward Brandon Buhr for centre Aatu Räty. Since his first game with Abbotsford, Quillan has registered at least one point in each of his four games.
Quillan’s most recent outing saw the forward score a hat-trick against the Calgary Wranglers, helping his team along to a 4–2 win. This was Quillan’s second-career AHL hat-trick — his first came in the 2025–26 season against the Belleville Senators — and now brings his season total up to four goals and two assists with Abbotsford.
“It’s been pretty good — just pretty standard stuff, just getting a feel of the systems and the players, and getting to know the guys and stuff,” Quillan said after the game regarding the move to Abbotsford.
Notably, Quillan has spent his past two games centering Abbotsford’s top-line, consisting of himself, Kole Lind, and Trey Fix-Wolansky. 2025 first-round draft pick Braeden Cootes previously held the role, but has been absent due to a lower-body injury that is likely to keep him out of his team’s upcoming road trip.
Apr 15, 2026; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Jacob Quillan (26) battles witjh Ottawa Senators right wing Claude Giroux (28) for control of the puck in the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images
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NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 18: José Urquidy #70 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Friday, September 18, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
What if I told you that a pitcher that was picked up off the scrap heap at the end of the season to provide innings to a staff that could be described as beleaguered at the time and would end up finishing top ten on the team in WAR? Would you believe that that was the story of the Phillies pitching staff towards the end of the season?
Would you believe that it was Jose Urquidy?
2026 stats
2 G (1 GS), 7 1/3 IP, 9 K, 0 BB, 3 R (3 ER), 10 H, 0.4 fWAR
What went right
Listen, being brought in off the waiver wire at the end of the year to give the team a bulk outing and a start in the final week of the season isn’t easy. You’re expected to be effective enough that the team would want to keep you in the game long enough to save other more valuable arms, but also so that the team might actually have a chance at winning a game mostly assumed to be a loss.
Urquidy did just that though. Facing a Mets team in a game that the Phillies kind of had to win, he was the bulk guy in a September 18th start in which he threw 4 2/3 innings of shutout ball. He struck out six, scattered five hits and kept the Phillies in the game long enough that they could make something of a run. The problem was that Tim Mayza essentially salted the game away early by being an opener that couldn’t get anyone out. Urquidy earned a start for the team in the final week that wasn’t all that great, but hey – baseball seasons are long and sometimes, unexpected performances are needed. At that time, Urquidy gave them an unexpected performance that they really needed.
What went wrong
He kind of stunk in his only scheduled start and showed why he was on the scrap heap in the first place.
Final grade: B
Listen, I’m not going to fault a guy for being rough in these kinds of circumstances. Asking Urquidy to do anything was nigh impossible, yet he looked serviceable in both of his appearances. He’s not going to be a member of the 2027 Phillies unless he somehow gets a minor league deal and decides to ply his trade in Lehigh Valley for half a year, but at the very least, we have this.
Now you have a permanent answer for an Immaculate Grid square.
