Rivers will join NBC Sports as a NBA game analyst, where he will continue to display his knowledge and expertise of more than 40 years in the league as a player and coach.
“I loved playing the game, I loved coaching it, and I’ve always loved talking about it,” Rivers said in a statement. “I have great memories working with NBC, and I’m excited to be back and share my perspective alongside such a talented team. This season should be a lot of fun. I can’t wait.”
Doc Rivers' extensive NBA resumé
Rivers was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1983 NBA Draft with the 31st overall pick in the second round. He went to play 14 NBA seasons and earned an All-Star selection in 1988, playing with the Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs before hanging up the jersey.
Three years later, Rivers stepped back into the league, this time with a suit and clipboard as he coached the Orlando Magic from 1999 to 2003, winning Coach of the Year in 2000. He then agreed to a deal with the Boston Celtics, where Rivers won his first and only NBA championship in 2008.
He went on to coach one of his former teams, leading Clippers from 2013 to 2020 and becoming the winningest coach in franchise history.
He spent the final years of his coaching career with the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks before his retirement.
Rivers is highly regarded for his 2008 NBA title in Boston, but what he was able to accomplish in Los Angeles could make him the greatest Clipper of all time. Consider this:
Is Doc Rivers the greatest Clipper of all time?
Well before Rivers was named one of the NBA's "15 Greatest NBA Coaches," he played for the Clippers in 1991 following a draft day trade for the No. 9 overall pick in that year's draft, which became Stacey Augmon. Rivers was the Clippers' starting point guard and led them to their first winning season and playoff appearance in Los Angeles at 45-37, a 14-win differential from the previous season. As the Clippers, the franchise had only tallied one winning season prior to Rivers' arrival, their inaugural 1978-79 campaign in San Diego.
Rivers averaged 10.9 points, 3.9 assists and 1.9 steals in 59 games played. He was traded in the offseason to the Knicks just before the start of the 1992-93 season. But it wouldn't be the last time Rivers was a significant part of the Clippers organization.
Decades after he'd been traded from the Clippers, Rivers became their head coach and senior vice president of basketball operations. The Clippers traded for Rivers in 2013, sending the Celtics an unprotected 2015 NBA first-round draft pick in a rare coaching transaction.
Rivers didn't win a championship like he did with Boston, but he helped turn Los Angeles into a perennial playoff team throughout his tenure. For the first time in history, the Clippers were considered the better basketball team in L.A. while under Rivers' direction. In his seven seasons, the Clippers only missed the playoffs once.
Rivers has the best record of among all Clippers coaches with an overall 356-208 record and a .631 winning percentage. Other coaches on that listed include Vinny Del Negro, Mike Dunleavy, Tyronn Lue and Jack Ramsay.
The Clippers are the only NBA franchise that hasn't retired a player's number. There is no jersey hanging in the rafters for Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Deandre Jordan, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, James Harden, Elton Brand, Darius Miles, Lamar Odom, Norm Nixon or Danny Manning.
Maybe, just maybe the Clippers will consider No. 25 – or No. 356.
Sep 11, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run against the Colorado Rockies in the eighth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Detroit Tigers (73-83) vs. Washington Nationals (73-83)
Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site:Federal Baseball Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP River Ryan (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. LHP DJ Herz (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
We know where the regular season will end. In front of roughly 10,000 at sleepy Sutter Health Park, home to the Sacramento River Cats and their joint tenants, the A’s. The question is whether or not the Astros will be playing beyond this Sunday. Many (myself included) thought the divisional crown would come down to the final week but never in a million years did anyone foresee only 77 wins this late in the season.
Perhaps the warning signs were there all along. On April 1st, Houston was riding high, winners of five straight, a sweep of the Red Sox in which they outscored Boston by a margin of 23-7. One week later, that very same squad was swept out of Coors Field to the lowly Rockies. That wouldn’t be the only club to accomplish that feat. Sadly, the Cardinals, O’s, Rays and Braves also took out the brooms at various stages.
I can remember expressing concern to fellow colleagues at The Crawfish Boxes how the health of Josh Hader would be the key determining factor. Hader has been the most consistent player on the entire roster. Turns out, no one could’ve seen the Astros future rotation woes. Tatsuya Imai was as pleasant to watch at times as a canker-sore. Mike Burrows is on a milk carton. Peter Lambert last won a game when LeBron was still debating where he wanted to play, and remember Spencer Arrighetti? That guy just beat the Rangers, one of multiple games he’s won this month for the Blue Jays.
As great as Altuve’s 2,500 hits feat and Yordan’s flirtation with the Triple Crown have been, it comes down to six games.
As the Real Slim Shady once encouraged, “Please Stand Up, Please Stand Up.” Let’s open a series next week and play meaningful baseball in October once again.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 02: A view of the stadium after the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Baltimore Orioles is called in the sixth inning due to rain at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 2, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Philadelphia Phillies won 8-0. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tonight’s game is already listed as delayed even though it isn’t to start for another 45 minutes (as I type this). I like how they say it: “Tonight’s game will start in delay”. They will wait as long as they can before calling the game.
When it does start, it will be Trey Yesavage will be starting.
Spencer Arrighetti was optioned to make room for Yesavage. Also Joe Mantiply was optioned to Buffalo and Chad Dallas makes his return to Dallas (well Arlington).
And the team has said that Dylan Cease doesn’t need surgery. He says the shoulder is ‘heavy and achy’. I think someone should take that as their screen name. I would bet that he won’t be pitching again this year, but I guess, until they are officially eliminated, they won’t say that out loud.
Baseball America has name Sean Keys as the Jays minor league player of the year. 28 home runs and 1.019 OPS. He’s in tonight’s lineup. Or tomorrow morning’s lineup, depending on when they the game going.
Here’s the lineups in case they do start.
Today’s Lineups
BLUE JAYS
ORIOLES
Brett Bateman – CF
Dylan Beavers – LF
Alejandro Kirk – C
Pete Alonso – 1B
Nathan Lukes – RF
Gunnar Henderson – SS
George Springer – DH
Coby Mayo – DH
Sean Keys – 1B
Christian Encarnacion-Strand – 3B
Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
Samuel Basallo – C
Josh Smith – LF
Rece Hinds – RF
Andres Gimenez – SS
Colton Cowser – CF
Ernie Clement – 2B
Jose Barrero – 2B
Trey Yesavage – RHP
Shane Baz – RHP
Go Jays Go (if you play).
Detroit’s Comerica Park is now going to be Fifth Third Park (the dumbest sounding name in baseball).
ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 19: Daylen Lile #4 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with CJ Abrams #5 after hitting a home run in the first inning during the game between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Saturday, September 19, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Ali Overstreet/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
We are in the last week of the season. The Nats only have six more games until the 2026 season is over. This road series in Detroit will be the last one of the season. It is crazy that it is almost over. Spring Training still feels like yesterday but here we are.
With a righty on the mound, the Nats have a lot of lefties at the top of the lineup. Abimelec Ortiz will be hitting third at first base. Daylen Lile will be the DH today which means James Wood is in left, Jacob Young is in center and Dylan Crews is in right. Jorbit Vivas plays second which moves CJ Abrams to short. DJ Herz will be on the mound for the first time since 2024 in this contest. Welcome back DJ!
The Tigers are loading up on right handed bats tonight. Riley Greene will be the only lefty in the lineup for AJ Hinch. Javier Baez will actually be playing center field in this one. The long time infielder has been playing more outfield the past couple of years. River Ryan was a major piece in the Tarik Skubal trade at the deadline. The 28 year old prospect has nasty stuff but has struggled to stay healthy. He is on the mound in this one.
This pitching matchup should be an exciting one. Both of these guys have good stuff but have not been available much. They are on the mound tonight though. Each of them are making their season debut. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
After an intense few days on the ice, the Vancouver Canucks have wrapped up their 2026 training camp. The four days in Penticton featured plenty of battle drills and a first-hand look into how Manny Malhotra and his coaching staff plan on running the team. Overall, there were a number of intriguing moments, including when Malhotra and his staff joined the players for conditioning skates after practice was complete.
This year's camp was Malhotra's first as an NHL head coach. The 46-year-old was vocal throughout the four days and kept everyone on the same page. After the final on-ice session, Malhotra met with the media to share his thoughts on training camp in Penticton.
"I was really happy with the progress of camp from having gone through all the preparation work and watching videos and analyzing everything and wanting to structure practices a certain way," said Malhotra. "I feel like we executed the days the way we wanted it to. The guys were very adaptable. They picked up on all the concepts really quickly, and just even that game group. Skating, traveling, playing, traveling, skating again. They did an outstanding job of just not feeding into any excuse, and they just got the work done."
The organization has a very different vibe than in previous years. One example is the players' commitment level, as almost the entire team was in Vancouver for informal skates at the beginning of September. As Malhotra explained, the early preparation paid off as players were ready to go once training camp began.
"I think even just coming into it, they had a much better sense of urgency, knowing that they didn't have three or four exhibition games to get up and going. Just talking to them prior to camp, they had made the decision to come in early September to get those skates in and get those touches in, and it was noticeable. There was no delay out there. When I asked them to push and step on the gas, they did so. They responded well to the way practice is supposed to look."
Another big difference this year is the messaging from Malhotra, as well as the Sedins and Ryan Johnson. There is a real emphasis on ensuring that the team is hard to play against, regardless of the final score. When asked about the group's buy-in, Malhotra was happy to report that everyone appears to be on the same page.
"Very much so. Just in terms of the effort level, each guy pushing the next to do better and want to get better. Even in those corrective situations, when we're talking to guys, they're very receptive to the teaching and the corrections, and they want to get better. So from that standpoint, it's been really good as well."
Training camp also served as a learning opportunity for Malhotra. While he has attended plenty in during his career, this was the first time he was in charge of an NHL camp. As Malhotra explained, he is proud of the way training camp was run this year.
"When you look back on it, after each day, after each session, you kind of analyze how the drills went, how you could tweak them a little bit, timing-wise. Overall, yeah, it was a good experience. Having put everything together, realizing how much detail goes into every step, and obviously managing the number of bodies that we had, putting together game groups and practice groups, and trying to get every topic touched on was a pretty tall task, but our staff did a really good job of preparing for that in all aspects."
With training camp now complete, the Canucks head back to Rogers Arena as they prepare for the 2026-27 season. The next nine days will be busy as Vancouver plays three pre-season games and makes more roster cuts leading up to September 29. If training camp was any indication, Malhotra will have his players ready to go when they open the campaign against the Edmonton Oilers.
Manny Malhotra at Vancouver Canucks Training Camp (Photo Credit: Adam Kierszenblat/The Hockey News)
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ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 18: Interim Manager Chad Tracy #17 of the Boston Red Sox walks through the tunnel before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 18, 2026 at at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On June 25, the Red Sox were 32-46. The season looked over. Most people had stopped paying attention, and that was a reasonable call.
They ended up becoming the first team in MLB history to lose 46 of their first 78 games and still finish above .500. The 15-game win streak in July—which tied the all-time franchise record—was the moment that flipped it, but it wasn’t just that. Then came August. Then came September. Even with all the ups and downs. They went from 14 games under .500 to 14 games above .500 in 62 days. The only team in MLB history to do it faster was the 1914 Miracle Boston Braves, who got there in 60 days and then swept the World Series.
That’s the company this team is keeping. That’s the thing you just watched.
They clinched it Sunday despite losing 5-1 to Tampa, thanks to the Astros losing to Atlanta. The magic number hit zero in a visiting clubhouse, against a team that seemingly has the division all wrapped up. Back-to-back postseason berths for the first time since the 2016-2018 run. 85-72. Wild card.
How vindicated must Craig Breslow feel? After firing Alex Cora and crew in late April, NO ONE had any hope this team could do anything. They changed the entire ethos around this ballclub in one fell swoop and are actually starting to accomplish the mission Breslow came to Boston to achieve: sustained success.
The October questions are coming—lineup depth, roster decisions, whether this group can actually win a series when it matters. All of it. But that’s not what today is. This week is for the people who were still watching in June when this looked done.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 14: Dylan Beavers #12 of the Baltimore Orioles makes a catch during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Monday, September 14, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Update: The Orioles announced that tonight’s game willstart in a delay. The team said it would announce updates as they become available.
The Orioles postseason hopes have all but vanished, but they’ll still play the remainder of their schedule. Nobody can blame you if you’ve checked out on this disappointing season. But if you’re reading this now, you’re probably down to watch a few more baseball games while you still can.
Shane Baz will take the mound hoping for some late season run support. He’ll need to get it from a lineup that features Rece Hinds in right field and José Barrero at second base. Barrero is a career .182 hitter over five seasons (161 games). Tonight will mark his Orioles debut.
Dylan Beavers will leadoff and play left field. Pete Alonso (first base) and Gunnar Henderson (shortstop) will follow. Coby Mayo will bat fourth and DH against Toronto starter Trey Yesavage.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand will hit fifth and play third base. Samuel Basallo will catch Baz, and center fielder Colton Cowser will round out the lineup with Hinds and Barrero.
The Orioles (75-81) can only finish .500 this year. They would clinch a second-consecutive losing season with a loss today.
While the San Jose Sharks have yet to make any cuts to their training camp roster, teams around the league are getting straight to business. On Monday, the Chicago Blackhawks placed former Sharks defenseman Derrick Pouliot on waivers with the intent of sending him to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.
The eighth-overall selection in the 2012 NHL Draft, there were once high hopes for Pouliot to be a game-changer at the NHL level. By the time he joined the Sharks organization for the 2022-23 season, those hopes had all been dashed and he had been solidified as a regular in the AHL and as a depth defenseman at the NHL level. He spent just one season in the Sharks organization, appearing in eight NHL games and registering two assists. He also played 37 games at the AHL level, recording 25 points from the blue line.
Pouliot had one more brief NHL stint after leaving the Sharks, appearing in five games for the Dallas Stars in the following season, but since then, he's been strictly playing at the AHL level. After time with the Syracuse Crunch and Hartford Wolf Pack, he's now rejoining the IceHogs for the second straight season.
Raphaël Lavoie’s push for an NHL roster spot has hit a temporary pause after the Vegas Golden Knights forward suffered an injury during the preseason.
Lavoie is considered day-to-day, with Vegas not disclosing the nature of the issue, according to Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The 25-year-old was injured during Saturday’s 4-2 preseason victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
The setback comes at an important time for Lavoie, who is looking to turn another dominant season in the American Hockey League into a more permanent NHL opportunity. He scored 30 goals and 56 points in just 45 regular-season games for the Henderson Silver Knights in 2025-26, continuing to show the offensive ability that made him a second-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in 2019.
Lavoie has now recorded 83 points in 87 games with Henderson, including 47 goals and 36 assists. That production has yet to translate consistently at the NHL level, however, as he has appeared in 10 games with Vegas without registering a point.
There is also a roster complication working against Lavoie. If the Golden Knights ultimately decide to send him back to Henderson, the forward would first have to clear waivers.
Lavoie’s journey to Vegas has been a long one. He played his junior hockey with the Halifax Mooseheads and Chicoutimi Saguenéens before Edmonton selected him 38th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. After signing his entry-level contract in 2020, he spent time in Sweden and eventually began establishing himself in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors.
He made his NHL debut with Edmonton in November 2023 before his career took an unusual turn the following year. Vegas claimed him off waivers in October 2024, only for Edmonton to reclaim him days later. The Oilers waived him again almost immediately, allowing Vegas to claim him for a second time.
Lavoie eventually made his Golden Knights debut in January 2025. Now, after another impressive season in Henderson and a new one-year contract, he is trying to prove he can become more than an AHL scoring threat.
That opportunity will have to wait until he is healthy enough to return to the ice.
BALTIMORE – Dylan Cease will not require surgery on his balky right shoulder, leaving the Toronto starting pitcher free to build back up over the off-season and follow up his Cy Young-caliber campaign with another good season in 2027.
The bad news is that Cease likely won’t have a reason to return in 2026.
Cease said Monday, Sept. 21 that an MRI and other examinations determined inflammation in his shoulder, a relief to pitcher and club after he left his last start in the third inning with shoulder discomfort amid diminished velocity.
Cease, in the first season of a seven-year, $210 million contract, said his shoulder first felt funny as he warmed up for a July 25 start against Boston. He threw a one-hit shutout, striking out 12 that night, part of a 10-start run in which he posted a 1.89 ERA, struck out 89 in 62 innings and posted a 5-0 record.
But all the while, his velocity was diminishing. During his Friday start at Texas, the discomfort proved untenable. He walked six in 2 2/3 innings and gave up four runs, one earned, in an 11-6 loss at Texas.
“The velocity being down has been a little concerning but at the same time, I was getting outs,” says Cease. “It wasn’t anything too scary. Nothing about it feels like I need surgery. I was never really panicked or worried. Just more of an inconvenience that I couldn’t maximize my best self.
“The last couple starts, velo kept going down and down and then command – that last one, it almost felt like I was hurting the team.”
The Blue Jays lost both Cease’s start and the next night at Texas, two defeats that were likely the fatal blows to their wild card hopes. Manager John Schneider said Monday that the club will assess both Cease’s health and the relevance of their final three games against Cincinnati at Rogers Centre to determine if he’ll pitch.
“Him feeling better, with this time down, and feeling like himself and obviously the game meaning a lot,” says Schneider of the necessary conditions for a Cease return. “If those two things line up, hopefully he’ll be good to go.”
Toronto enters a three-game series at Baltimore with a 77-79 record, three games behind the Chicago White Sox for the final wild card, though the White Sox hold the tiebreaker so the deficit is effectively four games.
The Blue Jays do hold the tiebreaker over the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians, who lead them by 3 1/2 games, but their elimination number is three entering Monday.
Cease, 30, is enjoying the first All-Star season of his career. His 239 strikeouts in 169 innings have boosted him to atop the AL leaderboard in strikeouts per nine innings, at 12.7. His 2.40 ERA ranks second to Cy Young Award favorite Cam Schlittler and he leads the AL in fielding independent pitching (2.55).
Two Atlantic Division rivals will renew hostilities on a new battleground Monday night.
The Senators will open their brief preseason against the Montreal Canadiens in the annual Kraft Hockeyville game at Colisée Vidéotron in Trois-Rivières. Face-off is at 7 pm on Sportsnet One and TVA Sports.
The Senators arrive to sign autographs Monday morning ahead of the Kraft Hockeyville game.
Although the matchup is officially listed as a neutral-site game, the Senators are under no illusions about where the crowd's loyalties will lie. Fans were invited to Monday morning’s practice, where a sea of red, white and blue greeted the Canadiens with chants of “Go Habs Go” before the home side had even taken the ice.
Last year’s memorable 5-0 preseason loss to Montreal was also played on supposedly neutral ground, and in another Quebec Videotron building. That one took place at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, where the crowd was also heavily behind the Canadiens.
It was a miserable night for the Senators all around. Beyond being shut out, they were drawn into several scraps that helped the two teams combine for 150 penalty minutes. Arber and Florian Xhekaj were at the centre of it all, with each Montreal brother fighting twice.
Three days later, Ottawa traded Zack MacEwen to the New Jersey Devils for heavyweight Kurtis MacDermid, adding one of the NHL’s most established enforcers.
MacDermid will not be available for Monday’s rematch, but that probably won't stop the two teams from being disagreeable.
The lineups should also help raise the competitive level. Based on the game-day skates, both teams are expected to dress a pile of established NHL players.
Trios des #Sens à l'entraînement à Trois-Rivières :
The Senators will counter with a veteran-heavy lineup featuring Drake Batherson, Dylan Cozens, Shane Pinto, Ridly Greig, Jake Sanderson, Jordan Spence and their most notable off-season additions. Tim Stützle skated as an extra and won't play. Thomas Chabot and Linus Ullmark both stayed back in Ottawa.
Montreal’s group includes Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook and both Xhekaj brothers
Today's lineup for the Habs: Caufield-Suzuki-Newhook Slafkovsky-Kapanen-Demidov Bolduc-Dach-Texier Berard-Xhekaj-Pastujov
Monday will provide the first game action in a Senators uniform for William Eklund. He is expected to skate on the left side of Cozens, opposite his close friend and former San Jose teammate Fabian Zetterlund.
Head coach Travis Green has kept the trio together throughout training camp, but Monday will provide the first meaningful opportunity to see whether their apparent chemistry carries over from practices and scrimmages.
According to Senators' host Jackson Starr, Andre Burakovsky, another new addition, is expected to play with Stephen Halliday and Batherson.
Samuel Blais will also make his Senators debut in familiar surroundings after signing as a free agent this summer. Blais had 5 points in 13 games for the Canadiens last season and 38 points in 35 games for their AHL team in Laval.
Samuel Ersson is expected to wear the Sens jersey for the first time in a game after being acquired from Toronto during the off-season. Leevi Meriläinen and prospect Jackson Parsons were the other goaltenders on the ice Monday morning.
It may be only the first game of a very short preseason, but there should be no shortage of reasons to watch. And if the past two preseasons are any indication, the “friendly” part of this exhibition game may not last very long.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest THN Ottawa headlines below:
A recent Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinee is moving to the broadcast booth and is insisting he’s retiring from coaching.
Long-time NBA lifer Doc Rivers, who most recently served as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks last season and who has more than 40 years of experience in the NBA as a player and coach, will be joining NBC Sports as an analyst for broadcasts during the 2026-27 season, which begins next month.
The move was announced Monday, Sept. 21, in a press release.
Elsewhere, in an interview with the Associated Press, Rivers insisted that he would no longer pursue coaching opportunities, as he transitions to his role in the media, saying he was “absolutely retired.”
And with his new gig, Rivers will join his son, Austin, who is also an analyst for NBC Sports and who regularly appears on broadcasts.
In fact, six of Rivers’ former players — Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Brian Scalabrine, Jamal Crawford and his son — are currently part of NBC’s coverage team of the NBA.
Rivers was inducted into the Hall of Fame in August as part of the Class of 2026. Just months earlier, he had concluded his 27th season as head coach when the Bucks finished 32-50, missing the playoffs.
He ranks sixth all-time in victories (1,194) and fourth in games coached (2,060). He won his only NBA championship in 2008, as the coach of the Boston Celtics.
This won’t be Rivers’ first stint in broadcasting, and it won’t even be his first stint with NBC; he served as a studio analyst during the 2012 London Olympics. Rivers also worked for Turner Sports in 1996 and also worked briefly for ESPN in 2003-04 and 2023, when he had been in between coaching jobs.
“I loved playing the game, I loved coaching it and I’ve always loved talking about it,” Rivers said in a statement that published Monday. “I have great memories working with NBC, and I’m excited to be back and share my perspective alongside such a talented team. This season should be a lot of fun. I can’t wait.”
Entering the final week of the regular season, the Dodgers more or less know their postseason fate.
They’ve locked up the National League West. They are a seemingly safe four games clear of the Atlanta Braves for a first-round bye. And, unless they can close a two-game gap on the Milwaukee Brewers without holding the tiebreaker, they will finish as the NL’s No. 2 seed, getting home-field advantage at least for the NL Division Series.
Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate a 10-4 win over the San Francisco Giants with Mookie Betts at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. Getty ImagesLos Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, left, pitcher Tarik Skubal, middle, and manager Dave Roberts celebrate after clinching the National League West title after a game against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, September 17, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Thus, the real intrigue for now is who might be on the Dodgers’ postseason roster when the playoffs begin next month.
This year, injuries and fluctuating performances have forced them to cycle 53 different players through their clubhouse.
And while the core of the group is clear, many questions remain about how the club will construct its lineup and pitching staff for this fall’s pursuit of a third-straight World Series.
Here is the California Post’s best guess about how it will all shake out.
Lineup locks
Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, Tommy Edman, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages, Kyle Tucker, Shohei Ohtani, Kiké Hernández, Miguel Rojas, Hunter Feduccia
Teoscar Hernández and Kyle Tucker have cemented their place as everyday hitters thanks to late-season surges. Andy Pages is due back on Tuesday from a fractured hand. Freddie Freeman still seems somewhat limited by his right knee injury, but has nonetheless been able to manage it well enough to this point. And while Tommy Edman has been slumping lately, he doesn’t seem to be in immediate danger of losing at-bats.
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers works out before a game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Getty Images
On the bench, Hunter Feduccia has locked up the back-up catching job, and could be a left-handed hitting option as a pinch-hitter. Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas, meanwhile, each provide versatile defensive depth, as well as extensive track records for postseason heroics when called upon.
Entering the final week of the regular season, the core of the Dodgers’ position player group looks as they expected.
Dodgers Lineup questions
Bubble candidates: Josue De Paula, Dalton Rushing, Alex Call, Alex Freeland, Hyeseong Kim
The Dodgers will still have one, if not two, position player spots to fill depending on how they construct their roster (i.e. an even 13 pitchers/13 hitters, or a 12/14 split like they used last year?)
And for those, they could have a number of difficult decisions.
Josue de Paula (95) of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a double during the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Getty Images
If he does, it will likely be as a left-handed bench bat; though if there is any lingering uncertainty with Ohtani, he could also provide insurance as a backup DH option. His main competition right now figures to be Alex Call (who might be redundant to Rojas and Hernández as a right-handed bench bat) or Dalton Rushing (who is an intriguing alternative as a left-handed bat, but remains sidelined from the setback he suffered with his elbow injury earlier this month).
In just 10 MLB games, De Paula has quickly built a strong case, showing supreme plate discipline (10 walks to only four strikeouts) and the potential for power (three doubles, one home run, seven RBIs). At this point, it might be more of a surprise if he doesn’t make it.
If the Dodgers elect to carry an extra position player on top of that, the choices are even more varied.
Last year, they rostered two base-running/defensive specialists throughout the playoffs in infielder Hyeseong Kim and outfielder Justin Dean. Dean is now gone, and Hernández could serve as a late-game defensive outfield replacement anyway. But Kim remains in consideration, manager Dave Roberts said, thanks to his speed and infield glove. Alex Freeland could also factor in here, as someone capable of providing more at the plate.
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Hyeseong Kim (6) hits a sacrifice fly for center fielder Andy Pages (44) to score during the bottom of the fifth inning of a game against the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Friday, April 10, 2026. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
Lineup projection for Los Angeles
C: Will Smith
1B: Freddie Freeman
2B: Tommy Edman
SS: Mookie Betts
3B: Max Muncy
LF: Teoscar Hernández
CF: Andy Pages
RF: Kyle Tucker
DH: Shohei Ohtani
Bench: Kiké Hernández, Miguel Rojas, Hunter Feduccia, Josue De Paula, Hyeseong Kim*
The Dodgers’ starting rotation is set, assuming no further setbacks with Blake Snell’s groin injury. The back end of the bullpen has come into focus, too, with Tanner Scott and/or Roki Sasaki the most logical candidates to serve as closer, and Alex Vesia and Evan Phillips separating themselves as the team’s next most-trusted high-leverage relief options.
Roki Sasaki #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. Getty Images
The only real question here is how the Dodgers will line up the rotation. Yamamoto-Skubal would make sense for Games 1 and 2 of a division series (keeping them both on-line for a potential Game 5). But could Tyler Glasnow’s potential issues with traveling tempt the Dodgers to use him primarily at home, if they can? All factors to consider in the coming weeks.
Pitching staff questions
Roster bubble candidates: Brock Stewart, Edwin Díaz, Blake Treinen, Kris Bubic, Jack Dreyer, Emmet Sheehan, Justin Wrobleski, Edgardo Henriquez, Will Klein, Eric Lauer
The first thing the Dodgers need to figure out here is health.
Edgardo Henriquez will almost certainly be on the playoff roster, and pitching in a high-leverage role, if he can make a full recovery from his recent back strain. Will Klein and Eric Lauer might also be available health-wise, though lack clear roles to step immediately back into.
Otherwise, the Dodgers will effectively have at least four open spots for six to seven other pitchers.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Edwin Diaz (3) celebrates the third out and an 8-2 win over the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Friday, September 18, 2026. Getty Images
For added right-handed depth, they might be deciding between Brock Stewart (who has been a go-to weapon against right-handed hitters recently), Edwin Díaz (who is trying to salvage his dismal debut season, and did throw a pair of scoreless outings this weekend) and Blake Treinen (who has curiously pitched only five times in three weeks since being activated from the injured list, and not in the highest of leverage).
For another left-handed option, they could go with Kris Bubic (the trade deadline acquisition who has impressed with three scoreless appearances since returning from an injury) or Jack Dreyer (who was one of the Dodgers’ best relievers from June to August, but has given up five runs in his last seven outings).
There are many permutations that the Dodgers could employ depending on opponent. They’re still figuring out the exact hierarchy of all their bullpen arms, too.
But as long as their rotation is dominant, everything else should take care of itself.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 12: Malachi Smith #18 of the Brooklyn Nets controls the ball against Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half at Scotiabank Arena on April 12, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After being signed in August, guard Malachi Smith has now joined the team on a two-way contract as of today, September 21st.
On social media, Smith thanked God before asking where the best places to eat are in the city. It’s this kind of mentality, starving for a chance, that will make Smith fit in well on the Raptors this year.
Thank you Jesus… you get all the GLORY ❤️🙏🏾 Toronto I need some food spots 👀 https://t.co/msFyFLdkXQ
Smith played his first season in the NBA last year, having started out in the G League in 2023, and earned the collegiate Sixth Man of the Year award in the West Coast Conference in 2023. He is a shooting guard in the most literal sense of the term: roughly half of his shots last year were from the three point line, and he made 43% of them on solid volume for a bench player on the Brooklyn Nets. More shooting is something that the Raptors could always use, and it seems that between Jamison Battle, Ja’Kobe Walter, and now, Malachi Smith, we’re assembling some solid firepower on our second unit.
In last year’s second-to-last game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Smith was slotted into the starting lineup and exploded for a near-triple-double of 19 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds. Now, the last week of regular season basketball is always filled with inflated statlines, but Smith’s facilitation looked solid, making the open passes but knowing when he had to knock down a shot, not turning away from the need to contribute to scoring. In their final game of last year’s regular season, the Nets played the Raptors, where Smith contributed eight points, six assists, and five rebounds, shooting 33% from three.
Smith should be able to contribute well both to the Raps and the Raptors 905, bringing some extra offensive juice to a team that needs to develop itself on that side of the ball.
