The Atlanta Braves blast Lil John off the walls at Truist Park.
The Atlanta Braves are ready to play the back-to-back World Series’ champions.
Just before they kicked off Game 3 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta was living it up in the weight room.
WSB-Ch.2 Sports Director Zach Klein posted a video on X of himself in the halls of Truist Park, where the song “Throw it up” by Lil John & The East Side Boyz was blasting out of the speakers in the background.
Atlanta Braves’ Lane Thomas celebrates his single during the fifth inning in Game 3. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
“Alright, I’m here at the tunnels of Truist Park walking by the Braves clubhouse; this is the weight room. These guys are feeling it,” Klein said. “Game 3. Let’s get it.”
The video caught the attention of the Braves fandom as fans started to go just as crazy in the comments.
@sleep33 posted a GIF of Lil John saying his iconic phrase, “OK!!”
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale pitching in Game 3 of the NLDS. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectAtlanta Braves outfielder Lane Thomas hits a single during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Braves mascot Blooper got a shoutout in the comments as @ThatDude_JT commented, “Zach the rumor is that it was just Blooper alone in a dark room blasting music.”
@TheNermin1 wrote, “Bah Gawd that’s Chris Sale music!!!”
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 04: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres throws out Cooper Pratt #12 of the Milwaukee Brewers during the third inning in game two of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 04, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Milwaukee Brewers (2-0) at San Diego Padres (0-2), October 6, 2026, 6:30 p.m. PST
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Momentum and narratives swing wildly in October. Against the Red Sox, George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones looked like the present and future of the Yankees.
In two games against the Rays, they have looked like rookies.
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They have had plenty of company on a team that has neither hit nor won, but Lombard and Jones have been part of the problem for a Yankees club on the brink of elimination.
For Lombard, the largest issue was two plays in the Game 2 loss — one deemed an error (even if the error could have been assigned to Luis García Jr.) and the other generously ruled a fielder’s choice that allowed a run to score.
Jones had his own questionable play in right field Monday, but the bigger problem is the slugger going hitless in seven at-bats against Tampa Bay and now being 2-for-15 with seven strikeouts in the postseason.
“It was just one of those games where things kind of compiled and stacked up on top of each other,” Lombard said after the team combined for four errors in the 5-2 loss.
The worst moment for Lombard — who went 4-for-8 against Boston and has gone 0-for-7 against Tampa Bay, albeit with some hard-hit outs — came in Monday’s fifth inning. With one out and Junior Caminero on third and the Yankees trailing 2-1, Chandler Simpson tapped one softly to shortstop. Lombard charged, attempted to field on the backhand and rush a throw to the plate, but even as his arm was beginning his throw, the ball deflected off his glove.
Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. #96 reacts after he strikes out. Charles Wenzelberg for New York Post
“I wouldn’t say tough. It’s definitely different,” Lombard said of the turf. “But we went out there in practice and kind of tried to get accustomed to it. But it’s different than other fields. But that’s the same thing with every other stadium — everyone’s going to play different.”
His next mistake was less field dependent: Two batters later, Jonny DeLuca hit a three-bouncer to Lombard, who could not charge it because Simpson cut in front of him on his way to third.
He then had to rush. “I just pulled the throw a little bit,” Lombard said, with García unable to make a stretch and catch on a throw that was not that far offline.
Yankees center fielder Spencer Jones hits a ball off the roof in the second inning of Game 2. Charles Wenzelberg for New York Post
In an inning that should have been over, Richie Palacios then knocked a two-run single that essentially put the game out of reach.
Jones’ defensive night was more debatable. The four-run fifth inning began with Jonathan Aranda smacking a line drive in front of him.
Maybe Jones had a chance at charging, diving and making a remarkable grab. Maybe an overaggressive Jones would have dove and allowed the ball to get past him.
In reality, Jones did not get a great jump and then played it on a hop for a single.
“Playing it back in my head, I thought I had a good first step,” Jones said. “I just hesitated, and then that was the difference between making a play and then just trying to keep it in front of me.”
His manager did not take issue with the play.
“There are plenty of others to pick on tonight,” Aaron Boone said after the game. “That wasn’t one of them.”
Easier to pick on have been Jones’ at-bats. He looked overmatched against Drew Rasmussen (as did the rest of the lineup), swinging through high fastballs and low changeups on a night he struck out twice and went 0-for-3. Monday, he struck out once, grounded out twice and found some terrible luck with his first well-hit pitch of the series: a towering fly ball to center that bounced off one of the rings high above the field.
Alert right fielder in Victor Mesa Jr. ran over and caught the ricochet.
TSN insider Darren Dreger was a guest on The Nielson Show and dropped an interesting bit of news that has fans of the Edmonton Oilers guessing. He suggested GM Stan Bowman was in detailed talks with another NHL team from the Eastern Conference and is the frontrunner on someone, but he wouldn't say who.
Dreger noted, "I'm not gonna mention the player's name because I know it, and I don't think that would be fair to the process" started Dreger. Then he got into a bit more detail.
"A young forward, a young center potentially, with plenty of upside, plenty of room to grow, and plenty to prove at the NHL level. I know it's a conversation the Oilers have had for a number of weeks with a team in the Eastern Conference. I don't want Oilers fans to get too over the top. We're talking about a guy who's still trying to prove his NHL value at this point."
He finished with, "I just know that Edmonton was considered to be a front-runner in trade conversation with this team about this Eastern Conference player."
Dreger said he was purposely being vague because he also didn't want to derail it from the kid's perspective. "If he needs a change of scenery and he might have a good landing place in Edmonton, then so be it."
The Oilers still want to make sure that they get a good look at the young pieces they already have and want to be sure they understand the value of what they already have in house. Mike Babcock has elluded to trying to find players on several occassions.
Perhaps this deal never goes down, but if Edmonton doesn't feel like they have their own solutions, could this deal happen?
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts' decision to switch up the lineup comes to fruition as the Dodgers take an early 3-0 lead against the Atlanta Braves.
Freddie Freeman and Kiké Hernández continue to add to their postseason résumés.
An inning after Freeman was denied an opposite-field home run over the left field wall at Truist Park by Mauricio Dubón, he thought he might try hitting one right.
But Hernandez needed to show off his bat first.
Kiké Hernández hits a two-run home run in the 4th inning against the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the NLDS. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
The two got the Dodgers on the board, to give them a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning of the NLDS, by hitting home runs over the walls in left and right field.
Hernández saw an 89 MPH changeup come his way by Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale and sent it 406 feet out of the park for a two-run homer. One batter later, Freeman obliterated a 96 MPH sinker and sent it screaming off the bat at 103 MPH for 399 feet.
Freddie Freeman waves goodbye as he rounds the bases following a solo home run in the fourth inning of Game 4 of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
Sale managed to get out of the inning in the following at-bat, but at first glance, it looked he was going to gve up another homer.
Teoscar Hernández just came short of Sale’s slider out of the park, after hard-hitting Sale at 108 MPH.
Both Freeman and Hernandez, continue to show why they are dominant in October, as both of them have had playoff heroics.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made a major adjustment to the team’s starting lineup in Game 3 of the NLDS. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Freeman has a career batting average of .268 with 82 hits, 17 home runs, and 40 RBI through 81 postseason games.
Kiké Hernández has a career average of .272 with 80 hits and 16 home runs, with 42 RBIs in the postseason.
The combination of Hernández and Freeman came on the same day; manager Dave Roberts made a surprising decision to bump four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani down to the fifth hole in the Dodgers lineup and have Freeman hitting second, behind Mookie Betts, while Hernández was hitting ninth.
So far, his decision is paying off as Los Angeles holds a 3-1 lead against the Braves.
LA broke the seal with two home runs in the top fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Enrique Hernández had the honors and sparked a jolt in the Dodgers dugout with his 17th career postseason homer.
Hernández took Chris Sale's 86 mph changeup back 406 feet to the bleachers for a two-run home run that brought home Andy Pages to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.
Kiké Hernández hits his 17th career Postseason homer! https://t.co/rPyzcCfB6B
The homer continued the Dodgers' streak and historic MLB postseason run of scoring all their runs by way of home run.
It didn't end with Hernández. A couple of batters later, Freddie Freeman got some revenge. He had what seemed to be a home run robbed in the top of the third inning by Braves outfielder Mauricio Dubón, but Freeman would not be denied a second time.
All 10 runs the Dodgers have scored these playoffs have come via home run, the longest streak to start a postseason in MLB history.
Freeman sent Sale's 95 mph sinker flying across center field, soaring 399 feet out of the playing area for a solo home run as the Dodgers' lead climbed to 3-0.
The score was 0-0, the Dodgers had Mookie Betts on base with Freddie Freeman at the plate with a chance to make it a 2-0 game with one swing in the top third inning.
Freeman blasted a pitch to right field that looked deep enough for a home run. Instead, Braves outfielder Mauricio Dubón had other ideas.
Dubón robbed Freeman of the homer, leaping on to the fence to make the stab before the ball was out of play.
The Braves ended the inning with a couple outs following the spectacular catch made by Dubon.
The Dodgers and Braves split the first two games of their best-of-five series. The Braves can clinch a berth in the National League Championship Series by protecting home field, while the Dodgers will either need to steal a game on the road to stay alive, or win both road games to advance.
And he picked up right where he left off in his preseason debut, showing his offensive skill set translates on the court against genuine NBA talents.
Lakers rookie Cameron Carr made 3 of 7 3-point attempts in Monday’s win over the Kings. Getty Images
The Lakers rookie looked sharp during LA’s 127-103 win over the Kings on Monday at Golden 1 Center, scoring 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting (3 of 7 on 3-pointers) in 23 minutes off the bench in the Lakers’ preseason opener.
“Every chance I get to step on the court,” Carr said, “just growing in areas and just getting more comfortable with just playing in the offense and being efficient.”
Lakers rookie Cameron Carr (43) was poised during most of Monday’s win over the Kings outside of bobbling the basketball before a dunk. Getty Images
Carr said he was nervous ahead of his first exhibition.
But it didn’t show — outside of bobbling the basketball ahead of a dunk in the open court in the second quarter.
“I was definitely nervous, but I mean, it’s basketball,” Carr said. “I go out there and another opportunity to play basketball and now at the highest level. So it’s fun. Get to compete with my guys.”
But just like during the summer, Carr didn’t focus too much of his attention on what he did offensively.
Whether Cameron Carr can get more playing time will depend on his development defensively. NBAE via Getty Images
He continued to discuss what he needs to do defensively to earn a consistent spot in the rotation.
And Carr got a firsthand look at what coach JJ Redick expects from the wings defensively, with Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Quentin Grimes and Adou Thiero each taking turns picking up full court and hounding the Kings’ ball handlers.
“Just staying on top of my cues,” Carr said. “Don’t be late and don’t give lapses up. I mean, these dudes guard, they’re in the right spot, so just be in the right spot for them.”
Carr continues to make a strong case for himself to get meaningful playing time once the Lakers’ regular season starts with their Opening Night matchup against the Warriors on Oct. 21.
Whether he earns that spot will depend less on what he offers offensively and more about if he can keep up on the defensive end of the floor.
“A great example — just watching and learning,” Carr said. “Pick up whatever I can from them and just try to implement it and do it … myself.”
SACRAMENTO, CA ― It seems like yesterday that JJ Redick was a rookie head coach in the NBA with no previous coaching experience. It was the talk of the town. It seemed almost inconceivable that a former podcaster could simply join an NBA sideline and be as successful.
Redick always accepted the challenge as just that, a challenge. He was a former player who conscientiously worked to be the best version of himself. He was always willing to outwork his competition, and he has taken that same approach into coaching.
It's helped him grow in the position as he enters his third season as the Los Angeles Lakers coach.
"I'm somebody who self-critiques and somebody who self-possesses," Redick told USA TODAY Sports before the Lakers' preseason win against the Sacramento Kings on Monday, Oct. 5. "I think that there's a term for, like, metacognitive, I think it's called, where you think about your thinking. So there's a lot going on in my brain."
Redick, 42, is a deep and meticulous thinker. " His brain doesn't stop; even when you think he's in a relaxation mode, Redick is on. It's actually what has made him a better coach. He's always wired, thinking about how he can be better.
"And so when that happens, like, you're constantly living this in this world of, like, honesty with self," Redick told USA TODAY Sports. "That could be an interaction with the player, that could be how you handled emotional regulation with a referee. That could be how you communicated something, game plan wise (during) pre game. That could be how you run a practice, like, literally, like, your brain is just constantly assessing all of those things. And so, I think I've grown in all those areas."
The 2026-27 season will present a different challenge to the Lakers coach – his first without four-time NBA champion LeBron James. The offense will now flow through MVP candidate Luka Dončić as the the Lakers adopt a new identity.
But Redick is excited as he continues to endeavor on his coaching journey and the process of becoming great.
"That's the really fun part about this, for me, is, you know, it's no different than shooting a basketball, right? It's the pursuit of mastery," he said. "(I'm) never gonna master coaching cause it's an adaptive, evolving thing, but it's something different every day."
Jake Weatherald has made a disastrous start to the Sheffield Shield season, with the former Test opener falling for a duck as Victorian debutant Harry Hoekstra rescued the hosts on a dramatic first day.
Jake Weatherald has made a disastrous start to the Sheffield Shield season, with the former Test opener falling for a duck as Victorian debutant Harry Hoekstra rescued the hosts on a dramatic first day.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 04: Brice Turang #2 of the Milwaukee Brewers looks on during Game Two of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Sunday, October 4, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
To get there, Milwaukee sends right-hander Dustin May to the mound. May, who has had an up-and-down Brewers tenure, went 2-2 with a 5.65 ERA and 5.06 FIP across 10 starts with Milwaukee, striking out 38 over 36 2/3 innings. He’s had a few really good starts, though, including against these same Padres. He went seven-plus innings, allowing one run and striking out six against them in a no-decision in San Diego back in August. He also had a pair of solid starts against them while with the Cardinals earlier in the season, including a one-hit shutout with nine strikeouts and six innings of three-run ball (two earned), striking out seven. For his career, May has made 16 appearances (13 starts) against San Diego, with a 3.14 ERA and 75 strikeouts over 86 innings.
For San Diego, right-hander Nick Pivetta will get the ball. Pivetta, 33, finished sixth in NL Cy Young voting a year ago, and he pitched even better this season, though he was limited to just eight starts due to injury. In those outings, he totaled 34 2/3 innings with a 2.86 ERA, 2.21 FIP, and 42 strikeouts, and the Padres have won six of those eight games, including all four he made after his return in September. The 10-year veteran has made five career starts against Milwaukee with very rough results, going 1-3 with an 8.76 ERA and 24 strikeouts across 24 2/3 innings.
The star of Sunday’s game, Jackson Chourio bats in the leadoff spot and starts in left. He’s followed by Jake Bauers and William Contreras, with Brice Turang moving down to bat in the cleanup spot. Christian Yelich bats fifth as the DH, with Garrett Mitchell, Cooper Pratt, Sal Frelick, and Joey Ortiz rounding things out behind May.
First pitch in this one is at 8:38 p.m. CT on FS1 and the Brewers Radio Network.
For the second time this year, Alex Cora will not be the Phillies’ next manager.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski recently spoke with Cora about becoming the Phillies’ manager in 2027, but Cora informed him that he plans to sit out next season, according to a report from USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale.
Cora is still owed approximately $7.25 million by the Red Sox in 2027, the final year of the three-year, $21.75 million extension he signed with Boston in July 2024.
The Phillies’ interest in Cora is hardly new.
Dombrowski spoke with his former manager in April, shortly after Boston fired Cora following a 10-17 start. At the time, the Phillies were in the middle of their own disastrous opening month and Dombrowski was prepared to make a managerial change if Cora wanted the job. Cora declined, choosing instead to step away from managing and spend the remainder of the season with his family. (More on the Phillies’ April pursuit of Cora)
Rob Thomson was fired shortly afterward with the Phillies sitting at 9-19, and bench coach Don Mattingly took over on an interim basis.
Cora’s family situation has remained an important part of his time away from the dugout. He is scheduled to marry his longtime partner in November, while their twin sons turned 9 this summer. Cora has also been establishing a home base in Puerto Rico.
The connection between Cora and Dombrowski made him an obvious candidate whenever the Phillies’ managerial job initially became available. Dombrowski hired Cora to manage the Red Sox before the 2018 season, and Boston went 108-54 before winning the World Series that October.
Instead, the Phillies must continue evaluating their options.
Mattingly remains under contract with the organization for 2027 as bench coach. The 65-year-old went 79-55 after replacing Thomson, helping the Phillies recover from their 9-19 start and reach the postseason for a fifth consecutive year.
The ending was considerably less encouraging. Philadelphia struggled badly down the stretch, did not secure its Wild Card berth until the final day of the regular season and was eliminated by Atlanta in three games.
Still, Mattingly received significant support from his clubhouse after the season. J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner were among the players who spoke favorably about his work after the Phillies were eliminated, while Mattingly declined to campaign publicly for the full-time job.
Dombrowski now has another major offseason decision to make for a team that has not won a postseason series since 2023.
Cora, the candidate he pursued twice in less than six months, appears to be off the board.
DETROIT (AP) — Dylan Larkin played for the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night for the first time since asking for a trade, getting stripped of the captaincy, reporting to training camp, missing the start of the season because of injury and getting booed by home fans during introductions prior to their first game.
The crowd booed Larkin when he touched the puck for the first time on his opening shift. Larkin was then slow to get back defensively, and Ottawa's Tim Stützle scored off the rush less than three minutes in.
Coach Todd McLellan said following the morning skate that Larkin would play against the unbeaten Senators as long as the 30-year-old center was cleared by doctors. Larkin was activated off injured reserve prior to taking the ice for pregame warmups.
Larkin is a Michigan native who has played his entire NHL career with Detroit, which last made the playoffs in his rookie season a decade ago. That is the longest active drought of any of the league's 32 teams.
Fans at the home opener taped over Larkin's name with such things as “Loser," “Traitor” and “Leavin" and at times chanted, “Sell the team."
Larkin initially last spring gave the Red Wings only three destinations he'd accept a trade to — Florida, Minnesota and Vegas — before reportedly adding more possibilities in recent weeks.
A lengthy road trip against strong opponents like these — beginning with the defending Stanley Cup Champions, no less — is sure to put Vancouver through a grind.
For Jake DeBrusk, who is just coming off a case of the flu that saw him sit out of Saturday’s 4–1 win against the Calgary Flames and Sunday’s 3–2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, this task will be even more difficult.
Tuesday morning’s practice ahead of Vancouver’s flight to Raleigh was DeBrusk’s first time practicing with the full team since skating as an extra on Friday ahead of the weekend games. On Saturday, Canucks Head Coach Manny Malhotra revealed that DeBrusk was out with the flu.
On Tuesday, DeBrusk revealed that his illness had actually begun much earlier than Saturday.
“I initially felt it, actually, the day of the game in Edmonton,” he said in a media availability. “It was a long off-season, long year. You obviously want to play in the first game and the home-opener, but I think obviously the medical staff stepped in. They did their job and they told me that I probably should take some time off.”
In his first practice back with the team, DeBrusk was noticeably a little hoarser than usual, but still managed to emit energy.
Fittingly, in his first practice back, Canucks Head Coach Manny Malhotra had the players bag-skate to end things off. It was a good test of the lungs for the Canucks winger, but also served as a reminder of what state he’ll need to be in to play in Vancouver’s next game.
“I was able to do it, which is great. But I’ve obviously got to test the lungs. That’s the biggest thing right now. It was obviously an air-conditioned building. It sounds like a simple thing, but I feel [it] as soon as I walk in here. So I’ve got to go through it. If I want to play in the next game, I have to do these steps.”
Because of the fact that he’s missed half of Vancouver’s games throughout the start of the regular season — and had to deal with symptoms during the other two — the forward noted that it feels like he has yet to actually start the season. With that, comes those first-day-back feelings of excitement.
“I’m starting off at zero, so it’s been positive. Obviously the last two days I’ve been doing kind of nothing. But to be able to skate today, see the guys, it gives you energy, feeling for them. Everyone’s in a good mood, and it’s nice to be back in the room.”
Vancouver’s first game of their six-game road trip takes place against the Hurricanes on Thursday at 4:00 pm PT.
Sep 26, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) looks on against the Seattle Kraken during the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images
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