NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 24: George Lombard Jr. #96 of the New York Yankees high fives teammates in the dugout after hitting a two run home run during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on September 24, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The final series of the regular season is here, but it’s going to look a little wacky. A nor’easter coming through over the weekend has prompted MLB to reschedule Saturday’s game pre-emptively into a single-admission doubleheader today. There’s nothing to play for on either side as the Yankees are going to the postseason as the No. 4 seed and the Orioles are couch-bound in a few days, but these game will still serve as a final tune-up for the team as they line their rotation up for the Wild Card Round. Also, on a sillier note, if the Yankees manage to sweep this series they’ll end 2026 with more regular season wins than they got in 2024 or 2025 without Aaron Judge playing for most of the year, which I find kind of incredible. Go get those wins boys! Just please, no more last-minute injuries.
We’ve got a lighter schedule to get through before the doubleheader takes up most of the day, but we’ll start it off with Matt giving us a series preview on the starters we expect to see from the Orioles (the Yankees haven’t announced any of their starters as of last night). Peter has the Rivalry Roundup covering the Guardians and White Sox securing their postseason tickets, John celebrates the life and accomplishments of Phil Rizzuto on his birthday, and I’ll be back to answer your questions in our last mailbag before the postseason.
Today’s Matchup:
New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles
Time: 4:05 p.m. EST (Game 1), 7:05 p.m. EST/30 minutes after Game 1 ends (Game 2)
TV: YES Network, MASN (both games)
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Questions/Prompts:
1. Do you think the Yankees are overthinking their Game 1 starter for the Wild Card, have a legitimate reason to start someone other than Cam Schlittler (days of rest, matchup, etc.), or are they just laying a smokescreen?
2. Who plays more games in the postseason, Giancarlo Stanton or Aaron Judge?
After getting swept in the second round of last year's playoffs and losing LeBron James to free agency, president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka was emboldened by Mark Walter's heavy investment in building out the front office to overhaul the roster around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
The first swing was the biggest one: trading for Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz for two first-round draft picks and two unprotected first-round pick swaps and immediately signing him to a four-year, $129.47 million contract. It may have cost everything, to quote Thanos, but the Lakers secured the best available center this offseason to pair with Dončić for the long-term.
Pelinka used almost all of the cap space created by James' departure on depth, adding Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams. All solid signings, but there are still questions on what this Lakers team's ceiling truly is, especially in a stacked Western Conference in which they'll have to go through the likes of the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.
Almost all of that was overshadowed by Walter's shocking decision to sell his majority stake in the Lakers to Joshua Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger for a record $12.5 billion amid a federal investigation into disclosures involving Walter-controlled insurers and related investments. This all just 10 months after buying the team from the Buss family, the majority of whom in turn voted to sell their remaining 17.8% in shares to Kushner and Iger. The entire transaction, however, is on hold as Lakers governor Jeanie Buss contested her sibling's plans in court.
With no clear resolution to the Succession-esque power struggle seemingly in sight, it looks as if the re-tooled Lakers will start this season with just as many questions off the court as they have on it.
Here's a breakdown of the Los Angeles Lakers' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
JJ Redick told reporters at the Lakers' start of the season press conference on Thursday that he feels good about three of the five starting spots: Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler. That leaves two spots open on the wing. Assuming Reaves starts at shooting guard alongside Dončić in the backcourt, they'll need guys to slot in at the 3 and the 4. The biggest name, and contract, is Sandro Mamukelashvili, who became a favorite in Toronto among the fanbase, in the locker room and around NBA scouting departments due to his size and his 38.9% 3-point percentage. There are questions about his defense, however, and depending on how healthy Kevon Looney can stay, there's a real chance Mamukelashvili gets a chunk of minutes as a backup center. Sierra Canyon High School alum Ziaire Williams was signed to a one-year flier and fits the 3-and-D bill that the Lakers have badly needed over the last few years. He's also reportedly added muscle to his slender 185-pound frame, but will it be enough to withstand big minutes over a full season? There's also Jake LaRavia, who struggled mightily down the stretch of the regular season and in the playoffs last year to the point where his minutes dropped to just 14.3 per game. He does, however, have a year of experience playing alongside Dončić and Reaves, and he played relatively well in the first half of 2025-26. That chemistry is hard to dismiss on a roster that's been as overhauled as the Lakers' has. Matisse Thybulle is probably the best defender of the bunch; he could slide in at the 2 if Reaves were to move over to the 3, but that would leave Dončić (6-8) as the team's tallest starter outside of the 7-foot-2 Kessler and with his injury history, would it even be worth it? The one thing we do know? "The other two spots will not be two white guys," Redick joked to reporters on Thursday.
There's also another question to be answered about who makes the roster at all. The Lakers currently have 16 players signed to guaranteed contracts; they'll need to get down to 15 by opening day. The obvious solution is to simply waive one of the fringe players on the roster, but Pelinka told reporters Thursday he's looking into all options, including a consolidation trade. That would allow the Lakers to get something back − while preferably addressing an area of need − instead of letting a player go for nothing. Pelinka does, however, want to let camp play out before making his decision on how to move forward.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Luka Dončić
G Austin Reaves
F Quentin Grimes
F Ziaire Williams
C Walker Kessler
Rotation players
G Collin Sexton
G Matisse Thybulle
F/C Sandro Mamukelashvili
F Jake LaRavia
F Jarred Vanderbilt
C Kevon Looney
What to expect in 2026-27 season
JJ Redick has led the Lakers to back-to-back 50-win seasons but enters his third year as head coach with a bit more uncertainty and an almost entirely new supporting cast built around Luka Dončić. Rob Pelinka shelled out nearly $480 million, thanks to cap space created by LeBron James' departure, to tailor the roster around the Slovenian superstar.
Pelinka and Redick made their offseason intentions clear during their press conference on Thursday: 1, Re-sign Austin Reaves; 2, acquire a franchise-level center; 3, get young guys who can dribble, pass and shoot. They checked all three of those boxes.
But with an overhauled roster come question marks, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
"To me, this has not been — and it never will be — a full rebuild around Luka in one offseason," Redick told reporters. "That’s not the way the NBA works, and particularly with free agency the way it is now. But I like everything we did this summer to build around him, to build around AR, and to provide us with a ton of depth.”
Walker Kessler is "a perfect fit" alongside Dončić and Reaves, in Redick's own words. He'll step in as the best rim protector the Lakers have had since trading away Anthony Davis, but his acquisition from Utah came at a steep cost − what was left of their tradeable draft capital and a four-year, $129 million contract extension. Redick told reporters on Thursday that he plans to run a different defensive scheme this year and use Kessler in a way similar to how the San Antonio Spurs use Victor Wembanyama − keeping him close to the paint to clean up around the rim from one-on-one matchups around him.
The Lakers added depth, with Collin Sexton now running the offense of the bench. He should pair nicely with Mamukelashvili if the Georgian big man doesn't crack the starting five as a power forward. The gaping hole at center has been filled. They have size now. Some solid defenders have also been added, such as Quentin Grimes and Matisse Thybulle, but they're still lacking an athletic wing despite being linked heavily to Jonathan Kuminga throughout the offseason.
It'll take time for these new-look Lakers to jell but if and when they do, their actual standing in the stacked Western Conference is still anyone's best guess. Redick, on the other hand, feels good that they'll have something to say about that.
"I’m confident we’re going to develop into a championship-level team this season," he said.
The NBA's reigning defensive player of the year enters the 2026-27 NBA season as the early betting favorite to win MVP honors. Wembanyama also agreed to a new contract extension in July in which he took less money than he could have received had he waited until next year to sign. This will help San Antonio maintain a young core that showed during last year's postseason run it's capable of being a title contender for the next decade.
The emergence of 2025 No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper and the addition of veteran forward Tobias Harris have further fueled optimism (and expectations) concerning the Spurs' future. But their immediate NBA title hopes, and long-term dreams of forging another franchise dynasty, ultimately hinge on Wembanyama.
Is this the year he officially becomes the NBA's best player?
Here's a breakdown of the San Antonio Spurs' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
F Jayden Quantenance (No. 20 pick in 2026 NBA Draft)
C Tarris Reed Jr. (No. 26 pick in 2026 NBA Draft)
Key roster losses
C Kelly Olynyk
Biggest question entering training camp
Is the Spurs' backcourt too crowded?
Dylan Harper's ascent during the Spurs' postseason run has intensified speculation about whether the Spurs can effectively divvy up minutes between Harper, Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox, and whether the franchise can afford to keep Fox in the fold with both young players emerging as stars. Harper needs more than the 22.6 minutes per game he received as a rookie, and Fox could be the player most affected. It will be a delicate balance for coach Mitch Johnson this season if all three players are healthy.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G De'Aaron Fox
G Stephon Castle
G/F Devin Vassell
F Tobias Harris
C Victor Wembanyama
Rotation players
G Dylan Harper
F Carter Bryant
F Julian Champagnie
F Keldon Johnson
F Harrison Barnes
F/C Luke Kornet
What to expect in 2026-27 season
The Spurs will have a target on them in the Western Conference after making the NBA Finals, but that should matter little if Wembanyama's evolution into perhaps the sport's most dominant player continues. The reigning NBA defensive player of the year still has room to grow offensively, and the added scoring punch from Harris, combined with the expected development of Harper and Castle, make San Antonio a trendy NBA title pick again. Anything less than a run to the Western Conference finals would be viewed as a disappointment.
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The Oklahoma City Thunder appeared poised to become the first team to repeat as NBA champions since 2018 before injuries took their toll.
And it was the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City’s newest rival, who were ready to capitalize.
But now it’s a new season for the Thunder, who have most of their core returning for what should be another push for a title. Much of that will depend on two-time consecutive Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. But for the Thunder to get back to the NBA Finals, role players will have to do their part, too.
Here's a breakdown of the Oklahoma City Thunder's offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
With the Spurs still lingering, can the Thunder reclaim dominance in the West?
In what’s becoming the best rivalry in the NBA, the Spurs had Oklahoma City’s number last year, beating the Thunder four of the five times they played in the regular season. Then, in the Western Conference finals, a brutally physical series went seven games. Injuries played a crucial role for the Thunder, as both Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell — key offensive threats — missed significant time. That put immense pressure on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, significantly restricting Oklahoma City’s offense. Now, the Thunder rotation will look a little different, after tough decisions needed to be made to stay under the apron. That also means younger players — ones like Mitchell, Cason Wallace and Jared McCain — will need to step up.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
G Cason Wallace
F Jalen Williams
F Chet Holmgren
C Isaiah Hartenstein
Rotation players
G Jared McCain
G Ajay Mitchell
G Alex Caruso
C Jaylin Williams
F Kenrich Williams
G Bennett Stirtz
G Nikola Topić
C Thomas Sorber
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Expect one of the best teams in the NBA to have a laser focus on returning to the top of the league. Even though they paid their top stars, the Thunder are still built to compete with the NBA’s very best. Gilgeous-Alexander is a perennial Most Valuable Player candidate, the Thunder play a smothering brand of defense that has led the league in rating the last two seasons and they have an established culture in which players selflessly embrace their roles. Despite that, some of Oklahoma City’s supporting stars, players like forward Chet Holmgren, have disappeared in the playoffs. With plenty of elite teams, that can no longer happen. The Thunder were the most dominant team for large parts of the last two seasons. Will they be able to return to championship form? As long as they stay healthy, there’s no reason to expect them not to.
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Jalen Johnson averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists for the Atlanta Hawks last season, a career year that came together as the franchise stopped trying to build around anyone else.
The Hawks were 19-21 and ninth in the East when they dealt Trae Young to Washington. They went 27-15 the rest of the way and took the eventual champion Knicks to six games, the only team in the postseason to beat New York twice.
So Onsi Saleh, Atlanta's president of basketball operations, left it alone.
The Hawks made no move this summer for a starter. They shopped the clearance rack instead, taking Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins off a Thunder team drowning in luxury tax, at a cost of five second-round picks between the two deals. Wiggins alone cut $61 million off Oklahoma City's tax bill. Atlanta stayed at No. 8 in the 2026 NBA Draft and selected Houston point guard Kingston Flemings, brought back CJ McCollum for one year and $21 million and declined Jonathan Kuminga's $24.3 million option.
Here's a breakdown of the Atlanta Hawks' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Atlanta got outscored by 51 points in the closeout game against New York, the version of this team nobody in the building wants to talk about. Johnson is the engine, Dyson Daniels finished as runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker just won Most Improved Player after averaging 20.8 points as a starter. But, none of them has ever been the guy a defense builds its game plan around in May. McCollum, who turns 35 this month, was that guy three teams ago.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G CJ McCollum
G Dyson Daniels
G Nickeil Alexander-Walker
F Jalen Johnson
C Onyeka Okongwu
Rotation players
G Luguentz Dort
Aaron Wiggins
Kingston Flemings
Ryan Nembhard
F Asa Newell
C Jock Landale
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Atlanta is going to be miserable to play against. Daniels and Dort on one roster gives Snyder two of the five best on-ball defenders alive, and Okongwu and Jock Landale can both shoot enough at center to keep the lane open for Johnson.
The shooting behind them is a real question. Atlanta gave up 116.0 points a game last season, and an offense that lives on drive-and-kick needs shooters standing in the corners. The Hawks also have more players than roster spots and will have to cut somewhere before opening night. Fifth seed feels about right in a conference that got considerably heavier at the top.
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But the Cavaliers can't prove much else in the regular season at this point. They're banking on Mitchell's long-term viability as a premier scorer, internal improvement and Watson's potential to turn this conference finalist into a real contender once the playoffs start again.
Here's a breakdown of the Cleveland Cavaliers' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Can Donovan Mitchell be the best player on a championship team?
Though concerns about Mitchell's capabilities as a No. 1 option in the playoffs aren't new, they were amplified by the Cavaliers' disappointing exit from the playoffs and the massive contract extension he signed this offseason. Mitchell's four-year, $273 million deal ties him to the Cavaliers for the foreseeable future, but will also limit the front office's flexibility given the restrictive NBA salary cap rules.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G James Harden
G Donovan Mitchell
F Peyton Watson
F Evan Mobley
C Jarrett Allen
Rotation players
G Tyrese Proctor
G Sam Merrill
G Meleek Thomas
G/F Jaylon Tyson
F Mario Hezonja
F Nae'Qwan Tomlin
What to expect in 2026-27 season
The Cavaliers gave up some of their depth in order to add Watson to the fold and re-sign Mitchell and Harden, but they should have one of the best records in the Eastern Conference again if their core stays healthy. The challenge remains the playoffs, where Watson's help on the wing won't fix that the team's title hopes still ultimately hinge on Mitchell and an aging Harden.
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HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 22: Jae'Sean Tate #8 of the Houston Rockets poses during media day at Hilton Americas-Houston on September 22, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I think we all remember rookie Jae’Sean Tate as one of the few bright spots of the 2020-2021 season, but now, six seasons later, his role looks very different, so what can we expect from the captain of The Stay-Ready Crew this year?
Throughout his Rockets career, Jae’Sean has frequently struggled with injuries, but when he has been available, he has demonstrated consistency. You are aware of what Jae’Sean Tate will give you. You won’t see Tate whining about not receiving playing time, and Ime Udoka won’t ever have to bench him for lacking consistent effort. He had the option to leave the Rockets in free agency, but he made the decision to see the process through to the end, which he and the rest of us hope will result in an NBA title. The ultimate “Ime Udoka Guy” is him.
Last season, Tate barely saw playing time, and only played more than 20 minutes in a game during the last game of the NBA season where the Rockets took on the Grizzlies. Jae’Sean Tate did, however, score 13 points and 6 rebounds in that game, but it was mostly due to the Rockets having rested their starters. Tate did also see some playing time post all star break, but again that was likely due to the season-ending injury of Center Steven Adams.
As usual, Tate’s health will be crucial to helping the Rockets achieve their goal of a championship. He will have opportunities if he can stay healthy. With Kevin Durant turning 38, Steven Adams recovering from a season-ending ankle injury, and Fred VanVleet recovering from an ACL rupture, there will unavoidably be more ailments that give Tate more playing time, which is why having him on the team is such a luxury.
So if Tate somehow happens to be reading this, I recommend lots of yoga, stretching, and, if it calls for it, a nice ice bath to get those joints loose.
That’s all we have for today, but for more Rockets player season previews, make sure to check back here at The Dream Shake.
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 24: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Thursday, September 24, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Christopher Denver/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates might not be a playoff team this year, but the team still has a chance to finish the session with a winning record. The Pitching deserves a lot of credit for the success of this season.
The Pirates set a new franchise record for strikeouts in a season with 1,444, after right-handed pitcher Lake Bachar struck out St. Louis Cardinals Alec Burleson in the top of the first inning of the 5-1 loss at PNC Park on Sept. 23. Pittsburgh eclipsed its previous record (1,443), set in 2019 with four games left, and should easily add to it before 2026 ends.
The Pirates had a deep rotation this year, 30 different pitchers recorded a strikeout this season. The 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes leads the Pirates with 200 for the second straight season.
Braxton Ashcraft came in second with 173 and rookie Bubba Chandler coming right behind him with 138. Even with some injuries Mitch Keller and Jared Jones had a good season coming in fourth and fifth in strikeouts.
Mason Montgomery (102) and Yohan Ramirez (99) lead relief pitchers. Left-handed pitcher Gregory Soto is in third place with 79 strikeouts, while the other eight pitchers have fluctuated between the major leagues and minor leagues.
The Pirates had five pitchers who were with the team this season, but are no longer a part of the club.
The strong pitching is a really promising sign for the future in Pittsburgh. A lot of the top pitchers on the team right now are young guys like Pauk Skenes, Bubba Chandler and Jared Jones.
The Bucs breaking their own record this year is a great start and you can tell that the future is incredibly bright for the club in the Steel City.
Andrei Kuzmenko joined the Pittsburgh Penguins this summer [Getty Images]
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko has returned to Russia before the start of the NHL season after his father was killed by a bear.
Kuzmenko's father Alexander, who was an ice hockey coach in Russia, was on a fishing trip along the Krasnaya River in Southern Siberia with a group of seven others when a bear attacked from the trees.
The 62-year-old suffered severe facial injuries in the attack.
A member of the fishing party called for an ambulance but the dense forest made it difficult for emergency services to reach the area.
Kuzmenko was taken by river downstream for four hours before then being airlifted to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Penguins president Kyle Dubas said the team was "deeply saddened" by the death.
"Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with the Kuzmenko family and their loved ones as they grieve the loss of Alexander. We ask that the privacy of Andrei and the Kuzmenko family be respected at this time," the team said in a statement.
"Andrei chose to be surrounded by his team-mates and practice with the team this morning before returning to Moscow to be with his family this afternoon. Andrei and the Kuzmenko family have the full support of the Penguins organisation during this time."
The 30-year-old signed a one-year contract with the Penguins this summer and is about to compete in his fifth season in the NHL, following previous stints with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings.
Australia A captain Peter Handscomb has rued calling incorrectly at the toss as his team were soundly beaten by India A in their first unofficial Test in Puducherry.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 07: The grounds crew covers the field before rain before the game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 7, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: In case you missed it, last evening the New York Yankees announced that, due to the impending bad weather, this weekend’s series against the Baltimore Orioles has been rearranged. Saturday’s game has been “pre-poned” to this afternoon, serving as Game 1 of a single admission double header. CC Sabathia’s enshrinement in Monument Park will take place today, and Josh Hart bobbleheads will be given out to the first 18,000 fans who arrive when gates open at 2:30. Only those fans with tickets for the originally scheduled game will be honored; for those with tickets to the cancelled game, rainchecks will be available, subject to the team’s normal raincheck policy.
SNY | Julia Yohe: While most of the attention has centered on whether or not Aaron Judge will be available for the Wild Card Series as he deals with a calf strain, two other Yankee bats have been inching towards a return. Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham, on the IL for a series of calf strains and a strained hamstring, respectively, participated in baseball activities, and while it’s too early to say whether either will actually be able to play, it’s something worth paying attention to.
MLB Trade Rumors | Darragh McDonald: After spending the entire season rehabbing to return to the Bronx, Clarke Schmidt’s season ends after recording just two outs. The team placed him on the injured list with right bicep neuritis prior to last night’s game, and while he theoretically could return for the ALCS (assuming the Yankees make it that far), he will have essentially missed a season and a half.
ESPN | Roundtable: As the season ends its final days, ESPN’s baseball insiders got together to talk about what they’ve been hearing about the upcoming postseason. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Yankees appear to be one of the biggest wild cards: their starting rotation makes them dangerous in a short series, but their path to the ALCS consists of teams that have been very hot in the second half and whose strengths are perfectly placed to exploit the Yankees’ weaknesses — especially with Aaron Judge on the shelf.
The Boston Bruins have a solid core of David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman. Those three pillars are complimented by veterans such as Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie, JJ Peterka, Hampus Lindholm, and several others.
But for the Bruins to make the playoffs from what should be an ultra-competitive Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference overall, they need multiple young players to play key roles in the 2026-27 NHL season.
Depth is vital, especially in the regular season. Eighty-four games is a lot of hockey.
Let’s look at three young players who could have a meaningful impact on the Bruins’ success during the upcoming campaign.
Fraser Minten
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Fraser Minten signed a seven-year extension last last week.
Position: Center
Age: 22
2025-26 stats: 17 G, 18 A in 82 GP
Minten’s first full NHL season was an impressive one. He didn’t miss a single game, he took a strong step forward offensively, he played a smart defensive game and had a meaningful role on the penalty kill.
There’s no doubt has a good two-way skill set and excels in many of the defensive aspects of the sport. In fact, the B’s had a .937 save percentage at even strength when Minten was on the ice, which led all Boston forwards. He’s also a very mature player for his age.
The real unknown is whether Minten can take another step or two offensively. Can he score 20-25 goals, or even 30, some time in the near future? If healthy, Minten should absolutely be able to surpass 20 goals this season, especially if he plays a significant amount of time with David Pastrnak. The Bruins outscored opponents 23-7 during the 306:34 of ice time that Pastrnak and Minten played together at even strength last season, per Natural Stat Trick. It was an effective duo, and certainly one worth going back to early in the upcoming season.
The Bruins are in dire need of legit top-six centers. Minten, who recently signed a seven-year, $50.4 million extension, is one of the few players on the roster that might be able to fill that role long term. But he needs to become a more prolific scorer to really become a center of that caliber.
In addition to scoring more goals, if Minten can play more minutes on special teams, improve on faceoffs (49.3 win percentage last season) and take on more difficult defensive zone assignments, he could end up being one of the team’s most valuable forwards in short order.
Minten has a high floor. It would be very surprising if he wasn’t at least a very good No. 3 center in his prime. But the Bruins probably need him to become a legit No. 2 if they’re going to be a perennial contender throughout the length of his extension.
James Hagens
Position: Left wing/center
Age: 19
2025-26 stats: 0 G, 1 A in 2 GP
Hagens has the most potential of any young player in the organization, which makes sense considering he was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and was ranked as his class’ top prospect at one point.
His offensive talent is obvious. He has fantastic speed and his overall skating is impressive. He has high-end playmaking ability and a shot that features both accuracy and power. He has a high hockey IQ, too, and plays with more strength than his frame would suggest.
For a Bruins team desperate for more elite offensive players, Hagens has the ability to make a huge impact on the team’s scoring output for many years. If Hagens reaches his ceiling, he could be a legit No. 1 center. But the Bruins might not start him at center right away. His early experience at the NHL level has been on the wing, where his defensive responsibilities are not as important compared to center. It wouldn’t be surprising if he continues on the wing until he’s fully comfortable with the speed and physicality of the NHL.
In an ideal world, Hagens would make the Opening Night roster and be with the Bruins all season, score 20 or so goals, become a key part of the power play and be responsible enough defensively to play in most situations. Hagens also could be one of the first players selected for shootouts, which is not an insignificant role when you consider Boston was 4-3 with only six goals in seven shootouts last season. In what should be a tight Eastern Conference playoff race, one or two extra points in the standings could be pivotal.
Expectations are high for Hagens, but the progress he has made thus far is encouraging.
“When he came last year, I felt like he was just a little kid,” Sturm said of Hagens on Thursday before a preseason matchup versus the Philadelphia Flyers. “He’s still a kid – he looks like it in the face – but on the ice, it just feels a little bit different. Part of it is he’s more confident out there. He’s not as nervous. Now he knows us, he knows the system, he knows everything, he knows the players, he knows how we have to play. He already looks different to me than last season. He’s bigger, stronger.”
Frederic Brunet
Position: Defenseman
Age: 23
2025-26 stats: 12 G, 24 A in 65 GP (all with AHL’s Providence Bruins)
The Bruins have some tough decisions to make on their blue line with 10 waiver-eligible defensemen. There aren’t enough roster spots for everyone. But through training camp and the preseason so far, it could be pretty tough to leave Brunet off the roster.
He is a very good skater and makes smart, confident plays with the puck on his stick. He has a good shot and does an effective job getting it on net. He tallied two assists and played on both the power play and penalty kill in Tuesday’s preseason win over the Flyers.
The Bruins want and need to generate more scoring chances and goals from the blue line, and Brunet’s offensive-minded skill set make him an ideal fit for that style of play. After tallying five goals and 12 assists in 69 AHL games in 2024-25, he had a breakout 2025-26 for Providence with 12 goals and 24 assists in 65 games.
“Sometimes I think the offense was kind of the one thing, one area, it kind of got lost a little bit. I think there’s times we could have maybe joined the rush more (last season),” Sturm said at a press conference earlier this month. “We could have been more active overall as a defensive group. That’s something we’re going to touch on starting (in camp) to be more involved, I would say, in our offensive game.”
Brunet needs to be a little stronger in the defensive zone, and learning the team’s hybrid defensive system will take some time. But Brunet could definitely play a valuable role on the blue line now and well into the future. And it would be a huge boost to the Bruins if he did, because they don’t have any elite defenseman prospects in the pipeline.
Former rugby league star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will start on the wing for the first time in his Wallabies career when Australia hosts world champions South Africa in Perth on Sunday.
There are three games remaining in the 2026 regular season, and somehow the Astros control their own destiny in the American League West.
The Astros have won two of three games this week despite not having a starting pitcher complete three innings. Hunter Brown will start Friday’s game in West Sacramento, with Hayden Wesneski likely to follow Saturday. But what about Sunday?
This would’ve been Cristian Javier’s turn in the rotation, but Javier was placed on the injured list Wednesday after leaving Tuesday’s start with a groin injury.
It is possible Sunday’s game will be meaningless, but what if it’s not? What if it’s a must-win? Who starts, and how on Earth do Joe Espada, Josh Miller and company piece together 27 outs?
Here are some logical, illogical and downright crazy possibilities for who could start Game 162.
Pitchers already on the active roster
Ethan Pecko
Pecko would be starting on three days rest in this scenario, but he only threw 51 pitches in 2 2/3 innings in what was a disappointing start on Wednesday in Seattle. Pecko has not pitched in a game on less than four days of rest since his second professional outing in 2023 after facing three hitters in his pro debut in rookie ball.
Miguel Ullola
Ullola will be down on Friday after another impressive outing on Thursday against the A’s. It’s hard to think he wouldn’t come into play on Saturday, assuming he’s available, but if not, the Astros could try to extract a three inning start from him on Sunday.
Ronel Blanco
Blanco has pitched once since slogging through four shutout innings against the White Sox on Sept. 1, and that was the 14-4 game in Tampa when he entered with the Astros trailing 9-0. Blanco hasn’t been good since returning from Tommy John surgery in July. He has a 7.11 ERA over 31 2/3 innings with a 6.66 FIP, but Blanco has completed at least four innings in all five of his starts.
Tatsuya Imai
Needing just 13 outs for a $1 million bonus, Imai has thrown just 17 innings in seven games since being banished to the bullpen two months ago. He has a 2.12 ERA with a 2.21 FIP and a 34.3% strikeout rate out of the bullpen, but he hasn’t thrown a pitch with the Astros leading or tied since his last start in Anaheim on July 27, when he failed to complete the first inning for the third time in 15 starts. That Blanco made that start against the White Sox should tell you all you need to know about how the team currently feels about Imai.
Pitchers in the organization
Mike Burrows
Remember him? Burrows was returned from his rehab assignment on Monday after the minor league season ended. While on the 60-day IL, Burrows is throwing bullpens are joined the Astros in Sacramento on Thursday. He was a candidate to start that game against the White Sox on September 1, but shoulder inflammation ended that possibility. Burrows hasn’t pitched in the Majors since July 6, but he did post a 1.76 ERA in four rehab starts with Sugar Land.
Bryce Mayer
The Astros minor league pitcher of the year posted a 5.45 ERA in seven Triple-A starts after finishing his time in Double-A with a 2.61 ERA. Allowing 10 earned runs in eight innings while making two starts in Albuquerque and Las Vegas didn’t help that ERA. Mayer’s last two starts were a struggle despite pitching in neutral ballparks, and he eclipsed 100 innings for the first time as a pro. I imagine the Astros are content with his season being over.
You want to get nuts? Let’s get nuts!
Lance McCullers Jr.
Listen, I have no idea if McCullers has even thrown a baseball since he was released by the Brewers two months ago. I’m here for the story, and what a story it would be if the man who closed out game seven of the 2017 ALCS and started game seven of the World Series 11 days later, ended his career by helping the Astros win another American League West crown.
Justin Verlander
Hey man, you said you wanted to get nuts.
Verlander is currently scheduled to make the final start of his illustrious career on Saturday in Detroit, but hear me out: What if his old golfing buddy, Jim Crane, were to make a call to see if Verlander might be interested in rejoining his old team and pitching in a game with actual stakes?
The Tigers could then place Verlander on waivers, where the Astros could claim him and get him on a flight to California.
Of course, none of this will ever happen. The Tigers wouldn’t screw over their already pissed-off fan base, and even if Verlander wanted it to happen, he’d have to be placed on waivers now so the 48-hour waiver period could pass in time for him to start for the Astros on Sunday.
But imagine if it did happen.
You’d have one of this generation’s greatest pitchers making the final start of his career, pitching in one of baseball’s great cathedrals, Sutter Health Park, on the west side of Sacramento, California, trying to get a team he hasn’t played for in two years back to the playoffs.
Entering this week, the Dodgers seemed to be rolling toward the postseason.
They had won 14 of 17 games. They had clinched the National League West division crown. They separated themselves for a top-two NL seed. And they had finally gotten the entirety of their roster –– from a previously slumping offense to a once-scuffling bullpen to a star-studded rotation –– synced up and playing well at the same time.
There was, of course, one caveat to all that success.
The team had gotten an exceedingly soft late-season schedule, having not faced a fellow contender in almost a month.
Teoscar Hernandez tosses his bat after striking out during the fifth inning of the Dodgers’ 4-2 loss to the Padres on Sept. 25, 2026 in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Thus, this week’s visit of the San Diego Padres felt like something of a pre-October test, if not a preview of a potential postseason matchup.
And with a 4-2 rubber-match loss on Thursday night at Chavez Ravine, it was one they concerningly failed in their last true tune-up before the playoffs.
The Dodgers, of course, will downplay the significance of this week’s results. They won 7-0 with a bullpen game on Tuesday night. They felt Wednesday’s 5-1 defeat was closer than the final score reflected. In the big-picture, Thursday’s setback didn’t hurt them either –– especially after they clinched a first-round playoff bye pregame thanks to the Atlanta Braves’ loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
There was also a matter of motivation, with the Padres clinching their own postseason spot by winning each of the last two games.
Nevertheless, dropping this series continued an increasingly troublesome trend for the two-time defending champions.
On the season, the Dodgers are just 25-28 against above-.500 teams currently on track to make the playoffs this year (excluding the sub-.500 Astros and Rangers, who are currently tied atop the AL West).
In the last two months, that mark includes an eye-popping 2-14 rut in such matchups.
Over that period, there were series sweeps at the hands of the Red Sox, Cubs and Braves. There was just a lone win in a dispiriting four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers.
San Diego’s Jackson Merrill (right) claps after scoring on a single by Austin Hays during the seventh inning of the Dodgers’ loss to the Padres. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
And still, no outcome felt more foreboding than this one.
After a four-run rally in the bottom of the second on Tuesday, the Dodgers’ once-resurgent lineup scored just six more times over its next 25 innings –– even with Shohei Ohtani returning from the injured list on Wednesday, and recording a multi-hit effort Thursday that included a consolation RBI double in the ninth.
Though they manufactured plenty of traffic and prevented each of San Diego’s starters from completing even five innings, they wasted countless opportunities by going 4-for-25 with runners in scoring position.
It didn’t matter that the team got a pair of quality, though hardly dominant, starts out of Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Wednesday (six innings, two earned runs –– albeit with two more unearned) and Tyler Glasnow on Thursday (6.1 innings, three earned runs –– the last of which scored after he left the game).
Tyler Glasnow adjusts his cap after finishing the fifth inning of the Dodgers’ loss to the Padres. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Or that their own bullpen was, by and large, excellent; only done in during a three-run seventh-inning rally from the Padres on Thursday that was aided by some shoddy Dodgers defense (another area where the team suddenly regressed against a higher level of opponent).
Instead, their red-hot offense reverted back to its mediocre mid-summer form.
And now, after several weeks of increasingly auspicious form, the Dodgers have renewed questions to answer about their inability to beat other playoff-bound teams.
If it doesn’t change soon, it could portend an unexpectedly short October.
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
