Lakers' Luka Doncic makes history twice, fills up stat sheet vs Raptors

The Los Angeles Lakers put away the Toronto Raptors, thanks in no small part to another monster game from Luka Dončić, who scored 45 points and filled up the stat sheet as he continues to make an early-season case for MVP honors.

Coming off a disappointing loss to the Golden State Warriors on Friday, Oct. 30, in which they faded after a fast start, the Lakers returned to Crypto.com Arena Sunday, Nov. 1 and got off to a fast start, with Dončić being particularly active on both ends of the floor. The Slovenian superstar finished the first half with 24 points, eight rebounds, four assists and a career-high five steals – four of which came in the first quarter.

"Luka doesn't get enough credit for his defense," Lakers center Walker Kessler said. "He's a very high IQ individual when it comes to being on the court, so his positional defense, just being in the right spots at the right time, is really good and it showed tonight."

Then there's also a bit of history he made: Dončić became the first NBA player in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) with 20 points, five rebounds, five three-pointers and five steals in a half and the first point guard in NBA history with five steals and five three-pointers in a half.

The six-time All-Star and two-time scoring champ finished the game with eight 3-pointers, one shy of his career high.

Dončić was on quadruple-double watch early, especially with his five first-half steals, but he was not able to add to that category. Still, he finished with his second double-double of the season and his fourth in a row scoring at least 35 points even as the Raptors clawed their way back from a big deficit by outscoring the Lakers 43-27 in the fourth quarter.

It remains unclear if Dončić will play in the second game of a back-to-back on Monday against the Miami Heat.

"I got to get rest, a cold tub, a massage, and rest and see you tomorrow," Dončić told Spectrum SportsNet after the game on Sunday night.

Here’s how Dončić performed in the Lakers' 131-125 win over the Raptors:

Luka Dončić stats vs. Raptors

  • Points: 45
  • FG: 12-for-23
  • 3PT: 8-for-12
  • FT: 13-for-13
  • Rebounds: 15
  • Assists: 6
  • Steals: 5
  • Blocks: 1
  • Turnovers: 7
  • Fouls: 5
  • Minutes: 35

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers' Luka Doncic makes history twice, fills up stat sheet vs Raptors

Kochetkov becomes third NHL goalie to start 10-0 as Carolina blanks Jets

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Pyotr Kochetkov’s 26-save shutout gave him 10 straight victories to begin the season, Sean Walker scored two goals, and Carolina beat the Winnipeg.

Kochetkov became the third goalie in NHL history to start a season at 10-0.

Sebastian Aho, Juuso Valimaki, Logan Stankoven, Mark Jankowski and Jesperi Kotkaniemi also scored for the Hurricanes, who’ve won four in a row. Stankoven, Seth Jarvis, Nikolaj Ehlers and Shayne Gostisbehere all had two assists.

Kochetkov tied Carey Price’s 10-win mark with Montreal from 10 years ago for the second-longest season-opening streak.

Only Jack Campbell holds a longer season-beginning mark with 11 consecutive victories for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2020-21.

Kochetkov’s second shutout of the season pushed his career total to 13 in 135 games.

The Jets have lost nine games in a row (0-7-2). Stuart Skinner, who made 12 saves, was pulled after allowing the fifth goal. Clay Stevenson stopped 13 shots in relief.

OILERS 4, RANGERS 1

NEW YORK (AP) — Connor McDavid scored a goal and extended his NHL record season-opening assists streak to 15 games, powering the Edmonton Oilers past the New York Rangers 4-1 on Sunday.

On his first shift, McDavid added to his highlight reel and showed why he is considered the best hockey player in the world. He banked the puck off the boards to himself, shifted into another gear, blew past defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and beat Dylan Garand.

The goal 50 seconds in broke a tie with two Hall of Famers: the 418th of his career passed Glenn Anderson for the fourth most in franchise history, and his eighth in the first minute of a game put him past Mark Messier for the most with the Oilers. McDavid is the fastest player in league history to 30 assists, leads all scorers with 39 points and is on pace to join Wayne Gretzky as the only players to reach 200 in a season.

Evan Bouchard had a goal and two assists to join Bobby Orr, Al MacInnis and Denis Potvin as the only defensemen with 25-plus points in his first 15 games. Journeyman goaltender Matt Tomkins, making his first start for Edmonton and seventh in the NHL, backstopped the team to its third consecutive victory by making some important saves among his 27.

WILD 5, CAPITALS 1

WASHINGTON (AP) — Quinn Hughes and Michael McCarron scored in the first 5:27 for Minnesota, and the Wild held on for a victory over Washington.

Justin Sourdif scored the only goal for Washington in the dying seconds of the second period, but the Capitals’ three-game winning streak came to an end during this visit by the Central Division-leading Wild.

Maxim Shabanov’s power-play goal with 2:23 left in the third restored a two-goal margin, and Kirill Kaprizov added an empty-netter for his 500th career point and league-leading 15th goal of the season.

With 24.9 seconds left and the goalie back in, Danila Yurov scored one more for Minnesota.

Washington had scored at least four goals in five of its previous six games, but the Capitals ran into a stingy Minnesota team and goalie Jesper Wallstedt. The Wild permitted two goals or fewer for the fifth time in six games.

FLYERS 6, MAMMOTH 3

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Travis Konecny scored a goal and assisted on another in his first game since missing more than three weeks with an injury as Philadelphia beat Utah.

Konecny, who missed 10 games with a lower-body injury, scored his first goal of the season at 1:06 of the second period, banking a shot off Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka to put Philadelphia up 2-1.

He later set up Christian Dvorak for a one-timer from the high slot to extend the lead to 4-1. Konecny also set the tone with his physical play, finishing with four hits. Owen Tippett, who missed the last six games with an upper body injury, also returned to the lineup for Philadelphia.

Matvei Michkov scored the Flyers’ first goal, snapping a shot past Vejmelka for his 10th of the season. He became the first Flyer to score 10 goals in his first 17 games of a season since Konecny did it in 2023.

Dvorak and Noah Cates also finished with a goal and an assist each. Oliver Bonk added a goal for Philadelphia and Dan Vladar made 19 saves as the Flyers snapped a three-game winless streak (0-2-1).

DUCKS 6, SENATORS 3

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Cutter Gauthier had his second career hat trick, scoring the go-ahead goal early in the third period, and Anaheim overcame a three-goal deficit to beat Ottawa.

Judd Caulfield scored twice, rookie Roger McQueen added another and Leo Carlsson had three assists to help the Ducks win for the second time in nine games. Anaheim went 4 for 5 on the power play.

Laurent Brossoit made 20 saves in his Anaheim debut. Brossoit played his second NHL game in three seasons after being recalled from San Diego of the AHL on Saturday.

Claude Giroux had a goal and an assist as the Senators lost for the third time on a five-game trip. Thomas Chabot and Michael Amadio also scored first-period goals while Jonas Johansson made 27 saves.

After the Ducks rallied to tie it at 3 in the second period, they took advantage of a two-man advantage at 1:50 of the third when Gauthier scored from a sharp angle past Johansson. While still on a man advantage, Gauthier scored 36 seconds later for a two-goal cushion.

Yaxel Lendeborg scores 37, carries Warriors to 124-112 win over Clippers

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 1: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the LA Clippers on November 1, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night 124-112, improving to 4-3 on the season. It is the first time the Dubs have had a winning record since March 8th (when they were 32-31 last season). Despite sitting Steph Curry and Draymond Green on the first half of a back-to-back, Dubs rookie Yaxel Lendeborg continued showing he is capable of leading the team.

Both teams were pushing the pace early, and a cold three-point shooting start for Golden State allowed the Clippers to jump out to an early lead. Los Angeles led 37-29 at the end of the first quarter. Lendeborg responded with a 14-point outburst in the second that led Golden State to a 63-57 halftime lead. De’Anthony Melton continued his hot shooting stretch and Brandon Williams added 12 first-half points of his own.

To say Lendeborg looks better than anyone could expect of a rookie remains an understatement. The 11th overall pick is already the second most fluid offensive player on the Warriors roster. He has already showcased an excellent ability to utilize his size to attack openings with his size when he gets moving downhill. His jump shot has looked far more polished than expected.

But none of those previous flashes were as dominant as Yaxel’s outpouring of offense on Sunday.

On one three-play sequence, Lendeborg knocked down a mid-range fadeaway, a catch-and-shoot three at the top of the key, and then brought a Clippers player to the floor with an ankle breaker and drew a foul on a layup. Three levels of scoring on three plays.

Given some of Lendeborg’s recent struggles with turnovers, the Clippers tried attacking him with the smaller Kris Dunn. Dunn wreaked havoc all day defensively, racking up 7 steals, but Yaxel finished the game with just two turnovers.

Yaxel capitalized on his size advantage when he had it, pushing defenders into the paint and finding easy buckets. When the Clippers tried attacking him with defenders who could match his strength, they all were afraid of his drive, leaving him a lot of space to operate on the perimeter. With plenty of wide open opportunities, going 6-for-8 from three point range to start the game before some late-game launches as he forced it to try and reach 40.

Lendeborg finished with 37 points, the highest by a Warriors rookie since Steph Curry scored 42 in the final game of his rookie season, alongside 4 rebounds and 6 assists on 13-for-19 from the field. The Clippers deep bench went on a 13-0 run to cut the deficit to single-digits with two minutes to go, but head coach Steve Kerr trusted Melton and Brandin Podziemski to close the game out. Melton knocked down back-to-back threes to put the game out of reach.

Melton had a game-high +20 plus/minus, recording 21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block on 6-for-8 shooting from the field (6-for-7 from three). Podz filled the statsheet with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Charles Bassey was very solid as the starting center, finishing with 6 points and 10 rebounds. Brandon Williams scored 17 points off the bench.

Rui Hachimura finished with a Clippers high 24 points. Kobe Sanders, Darius Garland, Kris Dunn, and Nick Marinelli also finished in double figures, but they simply lacked the offensive punch to keep up with Yaxel’s Warriors.

The Warriors will not have to wait long to continue their homestand. Golden State will be back at the Chase Center tomorrow night, hosting the Phoenix Suns. Steph Curry and Draymond Green should be back in the lineup (although the Dubs will certainly be sitting Al Horford and could conceivably be sitting Gui Santos and/or Brandin Podziemski as well). Opening tip is scheduled for 10 p.m. pacific time.

3 thoughts as the Mavericks seek to extend win streak to four against the Sacramento Kings

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 30: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on October 30, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks (4-2) will look to extend the first winning streak of the 2026-27 season on Monday when they host the Sacramento Kings (0-6), who are searching for any semblance of balance or defensive identity, at American Airlines Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Mavericks have won three in a row, including impressive showings against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets, which have fans wondering whether the fifth-youngest team in the NBA, which came into Dusty May’s first year as head coach with so many questions, might actually be good. I mean, what happens if the Mavs are actually good? Is that allowed?

Monday’s matchup against Sacramento offers the Mavericks an opportunity to do one of the things that good teams do: beat a bad team. Take care of business. My, how the mindset shifts when the first few things start going right.

Here are three things the Mavericks will have to account for to get a win over a struggling Kings bunch.

Fresh air vs. stale stink

In six short games, the Mavs have become one of the pleasant surprises of the early part of the 2026-27 season. The league is officially taking notice after the team’s 116-111 win over the Houston Rockets on Friday. Cooper Flagg is one of the most likable young, budding stars in the NBA. Irving’s return after missing the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a mangled ACL is endearing.

Meanwhile, the Kings find themselves on the business end of a brutal 0-6 start in a year when the league’s worst record will no longer be rewarded with the most lottery balls in the 2027 Draft lottery. Including Monday’s game at Dallas, their next seven don’t provide many opportunities to get off the proverbial schneid, either. Sacramento has matchups the Los Angeles Lakers, the San Antonio Spurs, the Portland Trail Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder mixed in after the date in Dallas. They are staring 2-11 in the eye. Third-year head coach Doug Christie is a cumulative 49-90 since taking over for Mike Brown, who presided over the short-lived “Light the Beam” era of Kings basketball.

This year’s team has yet to hold an opponent to fewer than 121 points. The defense is… wanting.

Mavericks’ injury report

Mavs fans have been wondering in recent days how stretch big man Santi Aldama will fit into a team chemistry that is already working as the season gets off the ground. Aldama (right knee) is listed as doubtful once again for Monday’s game against the Kings. Word is that Aldama is close to being back, but it doesn’t appear Monday will be the day for his season debut in a Mavericks jersey, at least not as of Sunday night.

One odd note is that Kyrie Irving’s name continues to appear on the Mavericks’ injury report, even after (or, maybe because) he was turned loose in the win over the Rockets. He’s listed as questionable under the heading of injury management. Irving scored a game-high 35 points (in 35 minutes) and dished nine assists in the win that really got the league talking about the young upstart Mavs. The team had 73 hours off after Irving dropped 35 in a win. Is this just going to be a thing on the injury report all year, or what?

Sergio de Larrea (right knee sprain) is listed as out.

Darius Acuff

Love his game or hate his game, rookie Darius Acuff is the most interesting Sacramento Kings talking point for miles and miles and miles. The seventh overall pick of the stacked 2026 NBA Draft class comes into the game averaging 26.3 points per game through his first six. Golden State’s Yaxel Lendeborg (19.8 ppg) has made headlines for his scoring, along with his penchant for running his mouth, and Caleb Wilson (21.2) has impressed for the Chicago Bulls, but no one in the league, rookie or not, has the chance to redefine the term volume shooter quite like Acuff. Head coach Doug Christie has few other options on the roster, as Keegan Murray, Zach laVine, Ben Simmons, Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell have all been sidelined or limited with injuries to open the year.

Acuff, who was third in the nation in scoring last year while playing college ball for Arkansas, is hoisting a healthy — a robust — 24 shots (9.8 3-pointers) per game. He comes into the game against the Mavericks on the heels of back-to-back 30-plus-point games and is now the youngest King (19 years, 349 days) to ever do that, surpassing the great Oscar Robertson (21 years, 357 days). He scored 38 on nine made 3-pointers in a 136-105 loss at the Memphis Grizzlies and 34 (to go along with 14 assists) in a 132-120 loss at the New Orleans Pelicans. Only Wilt Chamberlain has gotten to 150 career points faster than Acuff to start an NBA career.

Teammate Draymond Green, himself no stranger to on-court drama, had this to say on his podcast:

“My advice to him was just ‘hey man, who else touched the ball that possession?’, he’s like ‘nobody’ and I was like ‘don’t have many of those’ because you can end up having a bunch of those with the Sacramento Kings this year and a few things can happen, you can get guys start plotting against you, guys that don’t really wanna see you do well, guys that start bickering on the side to other guys… you can get guys that get upset like ‘aahh man they wanna give this rookie this, they wanna do that, f**k that!’… and so for me when I saw that, I just wanted to give him a little game.”

For the record, LaVine (elbow soreness) and Cardwell (calf strain) are listed as questionable for Monday’s game.

How to watch

The Mavericks and the Kings are scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip on Monday. The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29 and regionally on sister station throughout the Mavs’ viewership area, which includes North and Central Texas as well as parts of Northern Louisiana. The game will be streamed on MavsTV and on NBA League Pass, where available. The radio call will be on KRLD 105.3 The Fan.

Former Canadiens Defenseman Is Thriving With New Team

Right before the start of this season, former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Justin Barron placed on waivers by the Nashville Predators and claimed by the St. Louis Blues. 

Barron being placed on waivers came after he had nine assists in 52 games during the 2025-26 season with the Predators. Overall, he had a quiet campaign last year, but he is now impressing after getting this fresh start with the Blues.

In 11 games this season with the Blues, Barron has also recorded two goals, six assists, eight points, and a plus-6 rating. With numbers like these, the former Canadiens defenseman is providing a new amount of offense for the Blues early on this season.

Barron is not showing signs of slowing down right now, either. He has recorded two goals and seven points over his last five games for St. Louis. This included him putting together a four-point game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 23.

With this, it is clear that Barron is fitting in very nicely with the Blues. It will be interesting to see if the former Canadiens defenseman can keep this kind of play up from here.

In 109 games over four seasons with the Canadiens from 2021-22 to 2024-25, Barron recorded 13 goals, 18 assists, 31 points, and a minus-11 rating. 

Duran wins Gold Glove

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 23: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers looks on during a game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on September 23, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kai Kanzer/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Texas Rangers infielder/outfielder Ezequiel Duran has been named the American League winner of the Gold Glove Award for the utility position. It is Duran’s first time winning a Gold Glove award.

Duran entered spring training fighting for a bench role on the major league roster before being an invaluable regular presence in the team’s 2026 lineup. Duran played all over the field, with 49 starts at shortstop, 41 at third base, 25 at second base, 14 in center field, nine in left field, seven in right field, and one at third base. His versatility led to his being dubbed “the Solution.”

Duran was one of four Gold Glove finalists on the Rangers, with Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Jacob deGrom being the other three.

The complete list of winners in the American League and in the National League can be found here.

Duran wins Gold Glove

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 23: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers looks on during a game against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on September 23, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kai Kanzer/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Texas Rangers infielder/outfielder Ezequiel Duran has been named the American League winner of the Gold Glove Award for the utility position. It is Duran’s first time winning a Gold Glove award.

Duran entered spring training fighting for a bench role on the major league roster before being an invaluable regular presence in the team’s 2026 lineup. Duran played all over the field, with 49 starts at shortstop, 41 at third base, 25 at second base, 14 in center field, nine in left field, seven in right field, and one at third base. His versatility led to his being dubbed “the Solution.”

Duran was one of four Gold Glove finalists on the Rangers, with Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Jacob deGrom being the other three.

The complete list of winners in the American League and in the National League can be found here.

St. Louis Cardinals Denied as Gold Glove Winners Announced

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 30: Masyn Winn #0 speaks with JJ Wetherholt #26 of the St. Louis Cardinals during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium on May 30, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Gold Glove winners for the 2026 season have been announced, but none of the St. Louis Cardinals finalists were chosen.

Second baseman JJ Wetherholt, shortstop Masyn Winn and pitcher Michael McGreevy were all finalists for the Gold Glove. Unfortunately, none of them were selected.

Here are the National League winners just announced by MLB:

Catcher: Gabriel Moreno

First base: Matt Olson

Second base: Brice Turang

Third base: Alex Bregman

Shortstop: Geraldo Perdomo

Left field: Jackson Chourio

Center field: Pete Crow-Armstrong

Right field: Corbin Carroll

Utility: Mauricio Dubon

Pitcher: Nolan McLean

Here are the American League Gold Glove winners:

Catcher: Dillon Dingler

First base: Christian Walker

Second base: Cole Young

Third base: Caleb Durbin

Shortstop: Taylor Walls

Left field: Cody Bellinger

Center field: Ceddanne Rafaela

Right field: Wilyer Abreu

Utility: Ezequiel Duran

Pitcher: Tanner Bibee

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!

Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android. 

St. Louis Cardinals Denied as Gold Glove Winners Announced

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 30: Masyn Winn #0 speaks with JJ Wetherholt #26 of the St. Louis Cardinals during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium on May 30, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Gold Glove winners for the 2026 season have been announced, but none of the St. Louis Cardinals finalists were chosen.

Second baseman JJ Wetherholt, shortstop Masyn Winn and pitcher Michael McGreevy were all finalists for the Gold Glove. Unfortunately, none of them were selected.

Here are the National League winners just announced by MLB:

Catcher: Gabriel Moreno

First base: Matt Olson

Second base: Brice Turang

Third base: Alex Bregman

Shortstop: Geraldo Perdomo

Left field: Jackson Chourio

Center field: Pete Crow-Armstrong

Right field: Corbin Carroll

Utility: Mauricio Dubon

Pitcher: Nolan McLean

Here are the American League Gold Glove winners:

Catcher: Dillon Dingler

First base: Christian Walker

Second base: Cole Young

Third base: Caleb Durbin

Shortstop: Taylor Walls

Left field: Cody Bellinger

Center field: Ceddanne Rafaela

Right field: Wilyer Abreu

Utility: Ezequiel Duran

Pitcher: Tanner Bibee

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!

Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android. 

Hawks rookie Kingston Flemings suspended one game for elbow to the head

The NBA has suspended Atlanta Hawks point guard Kingston Flemings, the league announced on Sunday, Nov. 1.

Flemings will sit out one game without pay after the league ruled that he intentionally elbowed New Orleans Pelicans guard Bryce McGowens in the head during their matchup on Saturday, Oct. 31.

The rookie made contact with McGowens in back-to-back plays in the Hawks' 121-99 loss at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. With just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Flemings drove for a layup and his elbow hit McGowens in the face as the defender blocked the shot.

Trey Murphy III grabbed the rebound from Flemings' miss and tossed the ball to Zion Williamson. The two-time All-Star tossed it back to Murphy, who slammed home a dunk to make the score 119-93. In the background, Flemings threw an elbow at McGowens' head as they were following the play downcourt. The two teams scuffled at center court.

Upon review, Flemings was given a technical foul and ejected from the game. The Pelicans' Julian Reese was also handed a technical foul "for not being a peacemaker during the melee."

Flemings, who is averaging 7.1 points per matchup in seven games off the bench, spoke to reporters after the loss and explained how frustration got the best of him.

"Upset we were losing the game, so definitely apologize for that," he said. "Gotta be smarter than that."

He will sit out the Hawks' road game against the Indiana Pacers on Monday, Nov. 2.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hawks rookie Kingston Flemings suspended one game for elbow to the head

Purple Row After Dark: Who says baseball is over?

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 18: Sam Hilliard #16 of the Colorado Rockies bats against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The 2026 Major League Baseball season is over with the Milwaukee Brewers (and Antonio Senzatela!) emerging as league champions. The off-season has officially started, and baseball is over for the long, dark winter. It might be over for even longer with a looming and potentially acrimonious lockout on the horizon within the next month.

However, baseball is only “over” if you don’t know where to look.

While the MLB championship may be called the World Series, there is still baseball being played outside of the continental United States.

In Asia, the Japanese Baseball season may be over—with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks emerging as champions—but the Korean Baseball Organization will kick off their own championship series on Tuesday. This year’s Korean Series features the Samsung Lions against the KT Wiz. The KT Wiz are lead by a very familiar face. In his first season playing Korean baseball, former Colorado Rockies outfielder Sam Hilliard is a leading candidate for league MVP after hitting .304/.374/.593 with 139 RBIs and 44 home runs.

Down south, la Liga Mexicana del Pacífico (LMP) in Mexico and Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana (LIDOM) in the Dominican Republic are in full swing for their winter seasons. Games from both leagues can be watched via your MLB.tv subscription. La Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional (LVBP) in Venezuela is also underway with Puerto Rico’s Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (LBPRC) set to begin in just a few days.

And some Colorado Rockies will be playing Winter Ball, too. The table below shows which teams they’ll be with.

There’s also still baseball close to home. The Arizona Fall League—also available to watch on MLB.tv—has plenty left in the tank with a few more weeks left of play. The “Fall Stars” All-Star game will be played on Sunday, November 8th and feature the best of this year’s fall crop. One would assume slugging catcher Jack O’Dowd will be among those chosen to play. The Arizona Fall League playoffs will then begin on November 12th.

So, Purple Row readers, what winter baseball will you be watching? Let us know in the comments!

Player NameLeague
Baker, AndrewPuerto Rican Winter League
Betancourt, BryantVenezuelan Winter League
Brito, RoldyDominican Winter League
Castellano, EibersonVenezuelan Winter League
Eaton, KonnerArizona Fall League
Flesland, StuArizona Fall League
Hernandez, RoynierVenezuelan Winter League
Herrera, YujanyerVenezuelan Winter League
Jorge, DyanPuerto Rican Winter League
Mann, HunterArizona Fall League
O’Dowd, JackArizona Fall League
Olivares, ManuelVenezuelan Winter League
Perez, AndyArizona Fall League
Ritter, RyanDominican Winter League
Sullivan, SeanArizona Fall League
Thomas, JaredArizona Fall League
Ulloa, FidelArizona Fall League
Weigel, PatrickDominican Winter League

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!

Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android. 


Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Purple Row After Dark: Who says baseball is over?

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 18: Sam Hilliard #16 of the Colorado Rockies bats against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The 2026 Major League Baseball season is over with the Milwaukee Brewers (and Antonio Senzatela!) emerging as league champions. The off-season has officially started, and baseball is over for the long, dark winter. It might be over for even longer with a looming and potentially acrimonious lockout on the horizon within the next month.

However, baseball is only “over” if you don’t know where to look.

While the MLB championship may be called the World Series, there is still baseball being played outside of the continental United States.

In Asia, the Japanese Baseball season may be over—with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks emerging as champions—but the Korean Baseball Organization will kick off their own championship series on Tuesday. This year’s Korean Series features the Samsung Lions against the KT Wiz. The KT Wiz are lead by a very familiar face. In his first season playing Korean baseball, former Colorado Rockies outfielder Sam Hilliard is a leading candidate for league MVP after hitting .304/.374/.593 with 139 RBIs and 44 home runs.

Down south, la Liga Mexicana del Pacífico (LMP) in Mexico and Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana (LIDOM) in the Dominican Republic are in full swing for their winter seasons. Games from both leagues can be watched via your MLB.tv subscription. La Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional (LVBP) in Venezuela is also underway with Puerto Rico’s Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (LBPRC) set to begin in just a few days.

And some Colorado Rockies will be playing Winter Ball, too. The table below shows which teams they’ll be with.

There’s also still baseball close to home. The Arizona Fall League—also available to watch on MLB.tv—has plenty left in the tank with a few more weeks left of play. The “Fall Stars” All-Star game will be played on Sunday, November 8th and feature the best of this year’s fall crop. One would assume slugging catcher Jack O’Dowd will be among those chosen to play. The Arizona Fall League playoffs will then begin on November 12th.

So, Purple Row readers, what winter baseball will you be watching? Let us know in the comments!

Player NameLeague
Baker, AndrewPuerto Rican Winter League
Betancourt, BryantVenezuelan Winter League
Brito, RoldyDominican Winter League
Castellano, EibersonVenezuelan Winter League
Eaton, KonnerArizona Fall League
Flesland, StuArizona Fall League
Hernandez, RoynierVenezuelan Winter League
Herrera, YujanyerVenezuelan Winter League
Jorge, DyanPuerto Rican Winter League
Mann, HunterArizona Fall League
O’Dowd, JackArizona Fall League
Olivares, ManuelVenezuelan Winter League
Perez, AndyArizona Fall League
Ritter, RyanDominican Winter League
Sullivan, SeanArizona Fall League
Thomas, JaredArizona Fall League
Ulloa, FidelArizona Fall League
Weigel, PatrickDominican Winter League

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!

Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android. 


Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Cody Bellinger wins 2026 Gold Glove Award

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees catches a fly ball during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, September 25, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Award season is underway, and the 2026 Gold Glove Awards are the first batch of major hardware being handed out this offseason. The Yankees had three finalists worthy of the honor: Austin Wells as one of the AL’s top catchers, Cody Bellinger as the frontrunner for the left field candidates, and José Caballero in the utility role playing around the diamond. Ultimately, Bellinger found himself as the lone Yankee walking away with a trophy, earning his second-ever Gold Glove win after first winning it with the Dodgers back in his MVP 2019 season.

Bellinger has always been a capable fielder, and he was well-regarded last season when he posted seven Defensive Runs Saved but he took his game to another level in 2026. His 21 DRS tied him with Tampa Bay’s Taylor Walls and Boston’s Ceddanne Rafaela (both also Gold Glove winners tonight) for the third most in the majors, and his eight assists was tied for 10th among all outfielders. Bellinger managed to ratchet up the velocity on his throws to 93.3 mph, good for 94th percentile arm strength, and he also clocked in with 91st percentile range covering the spacious Yankee Stadium left field grass. With Aaron Judge out for most of the season, the Yankee outfield needed someone to step up as center and right field were both liabilities glove-wise — Bellinger more than did his part to anchor the outfield corps.

As for the Yankees’ other candidates, Wells had an outside shot as one of the best pitch framers (95th percentile) in the league. His 10 Fielding Run Value was also good for the 91st percentile, but the award went to Detroit’s Dillon Dingler for the second straight year after leading the pack with a 17 Fielding Run Value. Caballero, meanwhile, got off to a solid start in 2026 holding down shortstop in Anthony Volpe’s absence where he accrued 13 DRS and was a net positive at second and third base as well. The award wound up going to Texas’ Ezequiel Duran after a season where he was plugged into every position except catcher and pitcher for the Rangers.


Here’s the full list of who walked away with a Gold Glove from both leagues, as well as how many times in their career they’ve earned the honor:

American League:

P: Tanner Bibee, Guardians (1st)
C: Dillon Dingler, Tigers (2nd)
1B: Christian Walker, Astros (4th)
2B Cole Young, Mariners (1st)
3B: Caleb Durbin, Red Sox (1st)
SS: Taylor Walls, Rays (1st)
LF: Cody Bellinger, Yankees (2nd)
CF: Ceddanne Rafaela, Red Sox (2nd)
RF: Wilyer Abreu, Red Sox (3rd)
UTIL: Ezequiel Duran, Rangers (1st)

National League:

P: Nolan McLean, Mets (1st)
C: Gabriel Moreno, Diamondbacks (2nd)
1B: Matt Olson, Braves (4th)
2B Brice Turang, Brewers (2nd)
3B: Alex Bregman, Cubs (2nd)
SS: Geraldo Perdomo, Diamondbacks (1st)
LF: Jackson Chourio, Brewers (1st)
CF: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (2nd)
RF: Corbin Caroll, Diamondbacks (1st)
UTIL: Mauricio Dubón, Braves (3rd)

Cody Bellinger wins 2026 Gold Glove Award

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees catches a fly ball during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, September 25, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Award season is underway, and the 2026 Gold Glove Awards are the first batch of major hardware being handed out this offseason. The Yankees had three finalists worthy of the honor: Austin Wells as one of the AL’s top catchers, Cody Bellinger as the frontrunner for the left field candidates, and José Caballero in the utility role playing around the diamond. Ultimately, Bellinger found himself as the lone Yankee walking away with a trophy, earning his second-ever Gold Glove win after first winning it with the Dodgers back in his MVP 2019 season.

Bellinger has always been a capable fielder, and he was well-regarded last season when he posted seven Defensive Runs Saved but he took his game to another level in 2026. His 21 DRS tied him with Tampa Bay’s Taylor Walls and Boston’s Ceddanne Rafaela (both also Gold Glove winners tonight) for the third most in the majors, and his eight assists was tied for 10th among all outfielders. Bellinger managed to ratchet up the velocity on his throws to 93.3 mph, good for 94th percentile arm strength, and he also clocked in with 91st percentile range covering the spacious Yankee Stadium left field grass. With Aaron Judge out for most of the season, the Yankee outfield needed someone to step up as center and right field were both liabilities glove-wise — Bellinger more than did his part to anchor the outfield corps.

As for the Yankees’ other candidates, Wells had an outside shot as one of the best pitch framers (95th percentile) in the league. His 10 Fielding Run Value was also good for the 91st percentile, but the award went to Detroit’s Dillon Dingler for the second straight year after leading the pack with a 17 Fielding Run Value. Caballero, meanwhile, got off to a solid start in 2026 holding down shortstop in Anthony Volpe’s absence where he accrued 13 DRS and was a net positive at second and third base as well. The award wound up going to Texas’ Ezequiel Duran after a season where he was plugged into every position except catcher and pitcher for the Rangers.


Here’s the full list of who walked away with a Gold Glove from both leagues, as well as how many times in their career they’ve earned the honor:

American League:

P: Tanner Bibee, Guardians (1st)
C: Dillon Dingler, Tigers (2nd)
1B: Christian Walker, Astros (4th)
2B Cole Young, Mariners (1st)
3B: Caleb Durbin, Red Sox (1st)
SS: Taylor Walls, Rays (1st)
LF: Cody Bellinger, Yankees (2nd)
CF: Ceddanne Rafaela, Red Sox (2nd)
RF: Wilyer Abreu, Red Sox (3rd)
UTIL: Ezequiel Duran, Rangers (1st)

National League:

P: Nolan McLean, Mets (1st)
C: Gabriel Moreno, Diamondbacks (2nd)
1B: Matt Olson, Braves (4th)
2B Brice Turang, Brewers (2nd)
3B: Alex Bregman, Cubs (2nd)
SS: Geraldo Perdomo, Diamondbacks (1st)
LF: Jackson Chourio, Brewers (1st)
CF: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (2nd)
RF: Corbin Caroll, Diamondbacks (1st)
UTIL: Mauricio Dubón, Braves (3rd)