CHATTANOOGA, TN - SEPTEMBER 13: Alfredo Duno #44 of the Chattanooga Lookouts uses a tiny camera prior to the game between the Rocket City Trash Pandas and the Chattanooga Lookouts at Erlanger Park on Sunday, September 13, 2026 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (Photo by Maddalena LoRae/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
The World Series hit pause on Sunday, yet tonight (Monday) will feature the Tampa Bay Rays playing host to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 down by the bay. Yet while the big league Cincinnati Reds sit idle as their peers determine who gets to claim the title of World Champs, several of the top prospects in their farm system have been plying their trades all over the place in preparation for a (hopefully) big step forward in 2027.
Over in the Arizona Fall League, outfielder Yerlin Confidan is fresh off a week to remember with the Peoria Javelinas. The toolsy 23 year old hit .255/.332/.405 in 527 PA split between High-A Dayton and AA Chattanooga during the regular season in 2026, the 15 homers he socked in total perhaps an understatement of the overall top-tier power he possesses in his long, left-handed swing. That power has been playing up in-game in AFL play, though, and last week alone he went 7 for 12 with 4 runs, a pair of doubles, a triple, and a dinger, with MLB Pipeline noting that he hit a trio of balls in play in excess of 110 mph off the bat. Overall he owns a 1.097 OPS across 42 PA to start AFL play in what’s becoming a bit of a breakout party for him.
Confidan is in the lineup for Peoria today playing LF and batting cleanup.
Down in the Venezuelan Winter League, 20 year old stud catching prospect Alfredo Duno is holding his own quite well. As Doug Gray noted over at Redleg Nation, Duno became the youngest player in the league to homer so far this campaign when he swatted a homer on Friday night – and one of only two 20 years olds who’ve homered in that league in the last two years. There’s video of said blast, too.
Over in the Dominican Winter League, Noelvi Marte has seemingly found his groove again with the Gigantes del Cibao. After finally, mercifully being optioned back to AAA Louisville mid-August after a long run of poor form, said poor form dogged him at the minor league level, too. He hit just .273/.291/.374 in 103 PA from that point through the end of the AAA season, logging just a lone dinger in the process. However, this October has seen him turn 25 years old and go right back to mashing, and as of Monday morning he’s the owner of a .400/.424/.567 line across 33 PA to begin DOWL play. That includes this mammoth blast over the tall wall in CF from yesterday:
The Gigantes sport a roster full of recognizable names, including the likes of Marcell Ozuna, Nomar Mazara, Agustin Ramirez, and old friend Aristides Aquino. Also on the roster is promising Reds rookie Carlos Jorge, though he’s off to a bit slower start than Noelvi. He’s gone just 2 for 18 with a pair of walks and 9 K through his first 8 games played, but one of those hits was a 2-run blast over that same tall wall in CF last week:
🐎🤎 ¡SUBIÓ LA LIBRA DE CACAO! 💣 ¡CARLOS JORGE DESAPARECIÓ LA BOLA CON UN GARROTAZO GIGANTE! ⚾🚀
The Dallas Mavericks are in Miami playing their old rivals, the Heat, as they look for their second win of the year. Miami made a huge splash over the offseason trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but have not seen the fruits of their labor thus far. They have yet to win, but despite their hunger, the Mavericks are not going to go down easily. With Cooper Flagg looking good to go, Dallas can catch Miami with their pants down if they make shots early. Given the Mavericks’ center rotation, this will be Dusty May’s first true test of how he can scheme a win. It should be a chess match against one of the NBA’s longest-tenured coaches, Erik Spoelstra.
Game intangibles
Dallas Mavericks (1-2) at Miami Heat (0-3)
Tipoff: 6:40p CT at the Kaseya Center, Miami, FL.
How to watch: The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29, or streaming on MavsTV+ for anyone in the Mavericks media market. For those outside of the viewing area, the game will be on NBA League Pass and NBATV.
I think May opts for the “Luka” game plan with Giannis: let him get what he wants and take away the other guys. Miami has very little shooting around him, and letting Antetokounmpo get his 40 in the paint while everyone else is locked up will be key to keeping this close.
Flagg has 10 rebounds in his last four quarters, as he had five in the second half against Houston and five in the first half against Indiana. If he can put a full game together, this should be an easy over.
Game sides
Dallas +7.5 (+100)
Under 241.5 points (-112)
Dallas has slowed the pace down in their three games. I thought the contest vs Indiana would be run-and-gun, but they kept it to a battle of execution. I think the same goes tonight in Miami. You do not want to let them get out and run; they have the better transition players. I think this will be a close, well-played game, with the Heat victorious 113-109.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 23: The sneakers worn by Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics against the New York Knicks on October 23, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Should fantasy managers who drafted Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander be concerned? While the league's reigning Most Valuable Player is healthy, some of his key teammates couldn't avoid injuries that will sideline them for extended periods. As a result, SGA has been left to shoulder even more responsibility, leading a rotation that has become less experienced than it was on Opening Night.
First, the Thunder lost Cason Wallace (shoulder) and Jalen Williams (ankle/fibula) during the same game, an October 25 win over the Clippers, and they're not guaranteed to play again this season. That game is also the last time Chet Holmgren (knee) played, and he'll be out for at least 8-10 weeks. Lastly, Alex Caruso was sidelined by a sprained ankle suffered during an October 26 win over the Suns and has not played since.
In Oklahoma City's last three games, Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 24.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.7 three-pointers per game, shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 85.7 percent from the foul line. Those certainly aren't "bad" numbers, but they aren't on par with what most fantasy managers expect from SGA when selecting within the first three or four picks of a draft.
Can he continue to produce at a level that would align with his preseason ADP? And do the injuries in Oklahoma City open the door for Lakers guard Luka Dončić to crack the expected top three of Gilgeous-Alexander, San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama and Denver's Nikola Jokić (in no particular order)? It will be interesting to see how things play out for SGA, including whether or not the Thunder use some of their future draft capital to improve the roster.
G Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers: Dončić played three of the Lakers' four games last week, averaging 41.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.3 blocks and 6.7 three-pointers per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 91.2 percent from the foul line.
C Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs: Wemby's averages over the last week: 36.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.0 steals, 4.3 blocks and 2.3 three-pointers per game, and he shot 56.3 percent from the field and 78.6 percent from the foul line.
▶ WHO’S NOT
G LaMelo Ball, Minnesota Timberwolves: With Anthony Edwards (knee) out for at least two months, the Timberwolves will need more from Ball than what he provided last week. Shooting 37.3 percent from the field, he averaged 13.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.8 steals, 2.3 three-pointers and 5.0 turnovers per game in four appearances.
F/C Naz Reid, Charlotte Hornets: Benched for the second half of the Hornets' October 28 loss to the Pistons, Reid struggled over the week. In four games, he shot 33.3 percent from the field, averaging 12.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.3 three-pointers per game.
As the World Series shifts to Florida for Game 3, all eyes will be on the pivotal pitching matchup and the energy in Tropicana Field. The Milwaukee Brewers, up 2-0 on the Tampa Bay Rays, will send rookie Robert Gasser to the mound on Monday, facing former Brewer and current Rays ace Freddy Peralta.
In the latest episode of Yahoo Sports’ "Bar-B-Cast," podcast hosts Jordan Shusterman and Jake Mintz highlighted the contrasting approaches: Peralta's experience and emotional stakes for the Rays vs. the Brewers' confident reliance on another rookie arm in a high-pressure situation.
“I have watched Freddy already a couple times in this postseason … and he’s just looked incredible,” Shusterman said. “He was not as sharp in his final start in [ALCS] Game 6 … but the velocity was still there. He was still pumping 99.”
When he takes the mound for Game 3, Peralta is not only pitching against his former team but also weeks away from free agency — he ranks No. 2 on Yahoo Sports’ list of this winter’s top free agents — making him a major storyline regardless of the series outcome. Shusterman notes Peralta's impressive velocity and dominance in this postseason, emphasizing that he has thrived indoors and the added intrigue of him facing the Brewers.
“We are going to continue to be talking about Freddy Peralta from now until first pitch, during the game, after the game and then for weeks to come,” Shusterman said.
Mintz focused on Gasser, aka “Bobby Diesel,” who pitched five shutout innings in the NLCS at Dodger Stadium. Mintz noted how Gasser is another example of the Brewers' organizational philosophy: They trade away high-profile pitchers such as Peralta because they trust their pipeline, illustrated by Gasser's rapid rise.
"But the reason that the Brewers trade Freddy Peralta, they trade the Freddy Peraltas of the world, is because one day they will have the Robert Gassers of the world. Right?" Mintz said. "Robert Gasser, whom they got in the Josh Hader trade, right? Like, it is the perfect balance here."
Shusterman and Mintz are also curious about the crowd dynamic for Game 3. With the Brewers' passionate fan base traveling well — Mintz mentioned a “Let’s go, Brewers!” chant breaking out on his flight — the atmosphere at the Trop will be a story in itself.
"I think they're going to be well represented at Tropicana Field," Shusterman said of Brewers fans. "I'm looking on our beloved GameTime app right now. And there are many tickets that I imagine are much more affordable than they would have been for Games 1 and 2 [in Milwaukee]. And it would not surprise me if the cost to go in Milwaukee is pretty similar to the cost it would take to fly to … St. Pete's and see the game at the Trop."
That said, Shusterman noted the electric atmosphere at the Trop for ALCS Game 6 after the Rays took the lead in that series before returning to Florida.
“When they come back up 3-2, it was packed,” he said. “It was awesome. It was 98% Rays fans. It was terrific.”
However the crowd breaks down, Game 3 presents a crossroads: Can Peralta pitch the Rays back into this series, or will the Brewers' unflappable offense and shutdown bullpen put them on the doorstep of a title?
ORLANDO, FL - OCTOBER 23: Jonathan Kuminga #24 of the Minnesota Timberwolves grabs the rebound during the game against the Orlando Magic on October 23, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s a small sample size, but the Minnesota Timberwolves lead the league in rebounding after the first three games this season.
The Wolves hauled in 52 boards against the Miami Heat, 61 against the Orlando Magic, and 49 against the Toronto Raptors. In all three contests, the Wolves dominated the glass, and it led to three blowout victories. Wolves head coach Chris Finch explained why there has been a shift in the team’s approach to rebounding over the weekend.
“It starts with Jaden (McDaniels) and Anthony (Edwards) and JK (Jonathan Kuminga). Those guys just getting back in the play and rebounding the ball in the air. We’ve been harping on it,” Finch said.
“Obviously, it’s easier to rebound when you play really good kind of first-shot defense, and you can force them into shots where you’re not in rotations and stuff like that, so that’s been key to it as well – being able to be in good help spots and then go pursue the ball. That’s really what it is. It’s the pursuit of the ball on both ends of the floor. We were one of the worst teams in terms of watching rebounds and not actually pursuing the ball, and this year we’ve been able to switch our mentality to be more of a pursuit team.”
Crashing the glass on the offensive side of the ball has increased the number of possessions Minnesota gets. The more shots they’re taking, the more are falling. If the Wolves can continue this mindset across the course of the season, they should be one of the biggest threats in the Western Conference.
Many thought that the loss of Naz Reid and Julius Randle would hurt the team’s rebounding efforts, but going smaller in the lineup has forced everybody to prioritize rebounding when they are on the court.
Wolves center Rudy Gobert emphasized the importance of all five players contributing to the rebounding efforts and how much of a difference it is making.
“I think just compete, and just having the mindset of doing something… whatever is happening on the floor, finding a body, contesting the shots and I think it goes from one to five,” Gobert said. “Having five guys doing something… being active, and when we do that, it makes it easy for me, and it makes it easy for us as a team.”
It’s going to be difficult to keep up this trend, but this could be what sets the Wolves apart from their competitors.
As Marnus Labuschagne was dreaming about a South African homecoming that has become a nightmare, he was asked about Steve Smith during a chat at the SCG last month.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 19: Freddy Peralta #51 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after wining the ALCS MVP after defeating the Cleveland Guardians in game six of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field on October 19, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The D-backs and the Rays both entered the major leagues in 1998. Arizona has the only World Series win, but Tampa Bay have been more successful in reaching the post-season, with ten playoff appearances to the D-backs’ seven. Overall, the win percentages of the teams are very similar. The D-backs are two points higher, at .495 against the Rays’ .493. But of late, our East coast siblings have definitely had the edge. In the past eight seasons, they have six trips to the post-season, to Arizona’s one. Over the same time-span, since the start of 2019, they have averaged 92 wins, a whopping fourteen victories per season more than the Diamondbacks.
That’s despite Tampa Bay having significantly less resources. From 2019-26 (and excluding 2020, for obvious reasons), Arizona had an average end of year payroll, per Spotrac, of $138 million. Tampa Bay’s mean salary bill was just $93 million. Here’s how the two teams have compared, year-by-year, in terms of salary, where that ranks in the majors, and their W-L record.
The Rays have spent one season outside the bottom quartile (25%) of team payrolls. The D-backs have been outside that six of the eight season, including a payroll in the top half, the past three years. Now, in 2024 and 2025, this did lead to the team winning nine and three more games than their siblings. But that run ended this year, with a vengeance. The Rays are in the World Series, while the Diamondbacks fell short of making the playoffs. Admittedly, had Arizona been in the American League, their 86 wins would have got them into the third wild-card. But that’s still a dozen games fewer than Tampa Bay.
So, what can the D-backs learn from the Rays? To try and get some idea, I want to start of by looking at the 26-man World Series roster for the Rays, and see how the team came to acquire each player. Below is the information on that, along with how valuable the player was for the Rays this year.
Pitchers
Bryan Baker (2.9 bWAR) – Traded by the Orioles for pick #37 in the 2025 draft.
Cam Booser (1.1) – Signed as a Free Agent.
Garrett Cleavinger (-0.3) – Traded by the Dodgers for German Tapia.
Griffin Jax (0.7) – Traded by the Twins for Taj Bradley.
Kevin Kelly (1.9) – Purchased from the Rockies.
Nick Martinez (3.9) – Signed as a Free Agent.
Steven Matz (-0.7) – Signed as a Free Agent.
Freddy Peralta (1.2) – Traded by the Mets for Gary Gill Hill, Émilien Pitre and Aidan Smith.
Drew Rasmussen (4.7) – Traded by the Brewers with J.P. Feyereisen for Willy Adames and Trevor Richards.
Ian Seymour (0.7) – Picked in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft.
Cole Sulser (-0.3) – Purchased from the Mets.
Tyler Wells (0.9) – Traded by the Orioles for Michael Forret.
The narrative would have you believe that the Rays’ success is due to strong drafting and a good farm system. But the above suggests otherwise – at least, directly (we’ll get into that eventually). Only one of the dozen pitchers on Tampa Bay’s roster for the World Series was drafted by them. Six were trades, with another two purchased, and three signed with the Rays as a free agent. But looking at the trades, it’s startling how little they generally had to give up. Willy Adames is easily the biggest name, and he was good for Milwaukee, putting up 14 bWAR over four seasons. But you think the Brewers wouldn’t rather have Drew Rasmussen, right now?
The Sulser thing is worth noting, because it was the third time the Rays had acquired him. He’s like their version of Ildemaro Vargas. They first did so in 2018, as part of a three-team trade which netted them Yandy Diaz. But they lost him on waivers the following October. Sulser was actually a Diamondback for a while, having been picked off waivers from the Marlins in November 2022. He played four games with Arizona, but was DFA’d in August 2023 and went back to Tampa, because we needed the roster spot for… Jace Peterson. Yeah. About that. Sulser hit free agency that winter, signed with the Mets but returned again to Tampa Bay the next July.
Catchers
Nick Fortes (0.8) – Traded by the Marlins for Matthew Etzel
Liam Hicks (0.7) – Traded by the Marlins for Jacob Kisting, Adrian Santana and Brayden Taylor.
I think it’s interesting that both Rays’ catchers came intrastate, by trades from their Florida neighbors. Fortes arrived at the trade deadline last year, and Hicks at the same point this season. Obviously, it’s impossible to judge these trades yet, since none of the four players sent to Miami have yet appeared in the majors. However, none of them were ranked higher than #16 in the Rays’ farm system at the time of the trade.
Infielders
Jonathan Aranda (2.2) – Signed as an international Free Agent
Junior Caminero (5.7) – Traded by the Indians for Tobias Myers.
Yandy Díaz (2.4) – Traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Indians with Cole Sulser to the Rays. The Indians sent Edwin Encarnación and a 2019 competitive balance pick to the Mariners. The Mariners sent Carlos Santana and cash to the Indians. Rays sent cash to the Mariners and Jake Bauers to the Indians.
Jorge Mateo (-1.0) – Signed as a Free Agent.
Richie Palacios (1.8) – Traded by the Cardinals for Andrew Kittredge.
Taylor Walls (3.5) – Picked in the 3rd round of the 2017 draft
Ben Williamson (0.8) – Traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Mariners to the Rays. The Mariners sent Jurrangelo Cijntje, Tai Peete and a draft pick to the Cardinals. The Cardinals sent Brendan Donovan to the Mariners. The Rays sent Colton Ledbetter and a draft pick to the Cardinals.
We see the same pattern as with pitchers. Only one of the seven was formally drafted by the Rays. You could perhaps stretch to include Aranda, who was signed out of Mexico as a 17-year-old, and has never played with any other organization. But here, I note the lack of money spent on the free-agent market. Mateo was the only one in that category, and he was signed for a pittance after being cut by the Braves. He’s also basically a pinch-runner who didn’t get a PA in the first two playoff rounds. The only player earning more than seven figures on the Rays this year is Yandy Diaz, at a very reasonable $12 million. The Dodgers have twelve players there, if you include Ohtani. And you should.
The Caminero trade is likely going to go down as one of the greatest thefts in recent history. Caminero has been worth 10 bWAR for the Rays in 2025-26. Myers never appeared for the Ind…er, Guardians, and was last seen as a bad reliever in the Mets bullpen. The Diaz and Williamson deals, meanwhile, are both among those “How the heck did they work that out?“ situations. Bauers never amounted to much in Cleveland, before blossoming this year with Milwaukee, and will face his old team in the World Series. Again, Ledbetter was a prospect outside the top twenty in the Rays organization at the time of his trade.
Outfielders
Jonny DeLuca (1.7) – Traded by the Dodgers with Ryan Pepiot to the Rays for Tyler Glasnow, Manuel Margot and cash.
Victor Mesa Jr. (2.9) – Traded by the Marlins to the Rays for Angel Brachi.
Cedric Mullins (1.0) – Signed as a Free Agent.
Chandler Simpson (2.5) – Picked by the Rays in the 2nd round of the 2022 draft.
Ryan Vilade (0.8) – Purchased from the Cincinnati Reds.
The trade which brought DeLuca to the Rays is an example of Tampa Bay selling high. Glasnow has been a bit of glass cannon for LA since: a 120 ERA+, but averaging fewer than 18 appearances per season. Pepiot was almost as good as Glasnow in 2024-25 – certainly more durable – and considerably cheaper. But he missed all of this season with a hip issue. Brachi was unranked by MLB Pipeline when he was dealt: I’m beginning to detect a theme here. But again, we see a limited number of players who were actually drafted by Tampa Bay. They seem keen on, and adept at, plucking players they need away from other teams.
Summary
Trades: 14 players
Signed as a free agent: 5 players
Purchased: 3 players
Draft pick: 3 players
International free agent: 1 player
This certainly demonstrates where the strength of the Rays lies. As mentioned, it’s not directly in the draft, with barely ten percent of their World Series roster having been acquired that way. It’s in smart trades, purchases and low-cost free-agent signings – or what’s often derided when Mike Hazen does it, as “dumpster diving.” Of course, that’s the kind of thing that’s easier said than done, though the Arizona bullpen this season shows that it is something Hazen can figure out on occasion. It’s an interesting contrast to the Brewers, who have a much more internal approach to their roster: seven draftees and three international free agents.
But we shouldn’t write off the Tampa Bay farm system entirely. Next time, we’ll take a look at that and see if we can figure out how it plays into the team’s strategy.
Jaxson Hayes (11) of the Utah Jazz looks on during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
At one point, Hayes was sitting on the bench and said something that sounded like advice on guarding Dončić while the Lakers star was dribbling down the court.
Dončić then pulled up and drained a three-pointer moments later. He immediately turned around and pointed to Hayes on the Jazz bench.
Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles during the game against the Utah Jazz on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. NBAE via Getty Images
A few moments later, he turned back to the bench and said, “You know better than that, Jax!”
A video of this entire exchange has gained a ton of interest on social media, given Dončić’s immediate response to his ex-teammates’s trash talk.
Jaxson Hayes tries to talk smack to Luka, who promptly nails a step back jumper without passing it to anyone, then says to Hayes: "You know better than that, Jax!" [Sound UP] pic.twitter.com/UJoLQn4CPn
This wasn’t the only time Hayes tried to trash-talk Dončić during the game. He also called him a “flopper” at one point, which also got a lot of social media attention.
But Dončić didn’t appear too disturbed by these comments, as proven by his 52-point outburst.
Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers hushes the crowd after sinking a three pointer against the Utah Jazz during the second half of their game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Getty Images
Dončić and Hayes still appear to be friendly with each other, given that much of this trash-talk appeared to be lighthearted.
Brewers closer Trevor Megill caused a stir over the weekend when he took issue with one aspect of Tropicana Field, the home of the Rays.
As Milwaukee prepared for Game 3 of the World Series on Monday in Tampa, Megill had a colorful complaint about the roof at the Trop.
“Whoever decided to make the roof the same goddamn color as the baseball is a f—ing idiot,” Megill opined while walking past reporters following batting practice Sunday.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Trevor Megill celebrates the final out after Game 1 of baseball’s World Series, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Milwaukee, between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. AP Photo/Ashley Landis
WISN 12 News’ Dario Melendez shared that the Brewers had been practicing fly balls and ricochets on the off day, two tasks that become more difficult to handle against the white backdrop of the roof at Tropicana Field.
Megill’s comments are especially interesting considering that this isn’t the first time MLB stadium roofs have been a topic during these playoffs.
Earlier this postseason, the Brewers saw their own stadium’s roof be used to their advantage when the cables at American Family Field potentially robbed the Padres’ Ty France of a potential game-changing home run in Game 1 of the NLDS off of Megill.
Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio caught the ball after it came down, and the play was ruled an out. The Brewers went on to win that game 3-2, and later clinched the series win in four games.
Tropicana Field is seen ahead of Game 3 of the World Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Florida, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Megill has tossed 6 ⅔ innings this postseason, giving up just one run on three hits with seven strikeouts. That run came in the chaotic ninth inning of Game 1 of the World Series with Megill surviving an overturned double play to close out the nail-biting victory for Milwaukee.
The Trop’s famous catwalk underneath the roof has also seen some action some postseason with the Yankees’ Spencer Jones being retired in Game 2 of the ALDS after his towering fly ball hit off it and into the glove of outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. for an out.
Should they win the next two games in Tampa, the Brewers can clinch the sweep of the Rays on the road for their first-ever World Series title.
Speaking at the club’s morning skate ahead of their game against the Calgary Flames on Monday, Chayka addressed the Leafs’ handling of McKenna, who has seen reduced minutes in certain late-game situations as the coaching staff prioritizes defensive reliability when protecting leads. Chayka described the approach as healthy development rather than a setback.
“I know Jim and the coaching staff loves working with him. I think he’s gotten better pretty much every game. There’s been ups and downs like any player, but a lot of good trends. I think when it comes to protecting a lead, you know, as a coaching staff, trying to win hockey games at the NHL level. And, you know, for all of Gavin’s offensive gifts, again, coming into the league, playing without the puck, when you’re used to having the puck your whole life, you’d probably guess there’s players on the roster that they get paid to play better defensively.
"For a coaching staff, being on those players more heavily probably makes logical sense. But, you know, as we work through the development process with Gavin, and that’s what it is, I have no doubt that, you know, his time will come, and he’ll continue to build up trust and confidence with the coaches, and I think that’s all really healthy, actually. I think it’s actually the right thing for his development, and candidly, I thought Jim handled it well and continues to build a relationship with Gavin, and I think it’s going to be a really good relationship over a long period of time.”
During Toronto’s current four-game winning streak, McKenna’s ice time has hovered around the 11-minute mark.
Turning to Cowan, Chayka said the young forward has exceeded early expectations and brings the type of complete game the organization values.
“It’s tough to say he hasn’t exceeded expectations. At the same time, he’s a good player. He’s a really good player that impacts the game a lot of different ways. And, yeah, he’s been great. And any time you get young players like that, progressing like that, it gives you a shot in the arm. We saw a lot of these flashes at the American League level. To do what he did at that age was pretty special. But then to go elevate at this level, it’s been nice — found money for sure.”
When asked whether Cowan has become untradeable, Chayka was direct.
“I don’t think any player is untradable, but he’s a good player. He’s everything you’d want at Toronto Maple Leafs. He loves the Leafs, is passionate about it, plays a 200-foot game, does whatever it takes, in the gym, doing extra on the ice. It’d be tough to ever improve on a player like that.”
It’s clear the Leafs are high on Cowan right now, who has fit in well on the first line with Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic. Cowan has five goals and seven assists in 13 games.
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It's no secret that the Florida Panthers play physically and walk a fine line in terms of what is legal and illegal on the ice.
They don't back down from anyone and want their opponents to have a certain level of fear, but are the Panthers pushing it too far?
Through 12 games, the Panthers rank 32nd in the NHL in average penalty minutes with 15.1. The Calgary Flames, who rank 31st in the NHL, average just 12.8 penalty minutes. There is a clear gap.
With a 6-4-2 record and 14 points on the season, the Panthers haven't been overly affected by it, but they're still in sixth place in the Atlantic Division. The Panthers have the sixth-ranked penalty kill in the NHL, killing 84.9 percent of their penalties, but this path is a recipe for disaster.
So far, the Panthers have played three teams that rank in the top 10 in power-play percentage: the Carolina Hurricanes, San Jose Sharks, and Minnesota Wild. The Panthers lost two of those three games. They defeated the Hurricanes in the season opener without allowing a power-play goal, but they lost 4-3 to the Sharks and gave up a power-play goal, and they allowed one power-play goal in a 4-1 loss to the Wild.
With the in-your-face approach and personnel the Panthers deploy, they'll never be at the top of the penalty minute rankings, but they could be smarter in how they approach their physical play.
Offsetting penalties and fights aren't an issue. If players like Bokondji Imama, Garnet Hathaway, and the Tkachuk brothers rack up penalty minutes through fights, they don't hurt the team. But players like Radko Gudas, Dmitry Kulikov, Niko Mikkola, and Aaron Ekblad have all taken at least four minor penalties.
That puts the Panthers at a disadvantage too often and puts too much pressure on the penalty kill and goaltending.
The Panthers have played only two divisional games so far, and in November and December they'll face many Atlantic Division opponents. Those teams will capitalize on their power-play opportunities if the Panthers give it to them.
This isn't to say the Panthers need to change who they are, but they can definitely play smarter and take fewer penalties.
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England are fretting over the fitness of the fly-half Fin Smith in the lead-up to the Nations Championship home opener against Australia on 8 November. The Northampton player damaged a calf in the second half against Leicester on Saturday and will be unable to join the national squad who have a three-day training camp in Bagshot this week.
Losing Smith so close to the Wallabies game would be a significant blow given the 24-year-old started at 10 in all three of England’s Tests in July and was instrumental in Saints’ domestic title triumph last season.
