Bronx, N.Y.: New York Mets pitcher Christian Scott on the mound during his game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York on Sept. 13, 2026. (Photo by Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
Mets lineup
Francisco Lindor – SS
Juan Soto – LF
Bo Bichette – 3B
Carson Benge – RF
A.J. Ewing – CF
Marcus Semien – 2B
Brett Baty – 1B
Francisco Alvarez – C
Ronny Mauricio – DH
SP: Christian Scott – RHP
Phillies lineup
Kyle Schwarber – DH
Trea Turner – SS
Bryce Harper – RF
Luis Arraez – 2B
Alec Bohm – 1B
Bryson Stott – 3B
Brandon Marsh – LF
J.T. Realmuto – C
Justin Crawford – CF
SP: Andrew Painter – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 4:10 PM EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
The Vancouver Canucks hit the ice at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Saturday for the annual training camp scrimmage. After regulation, the score was tied 3-3, with Team White picking up the win over Team Blue in the shootout.
Liam Öhgren's Shot Is Dangerous
The star early on in the scrimmage was Liam Öhgren. The 22-year-old scored twice, including a hard wrister that went post-and-in. Öhgren has been a standout throughout training camp thanks not just to his shot, but his confidence with the puck.
Based on line combinations, Öhgren appears set to start on a line with Marco Rossi. The two showed some chemistry at the end of last season and will likely be joined by either Brock Boeser or Jonathan Lekkerimäki. While it is still very early in the campaign, Öhgren looks ready to break out this season.
Zeev Buium Mobility On Full Display
Zeev Buium has always been known as a strong skater with high-end puck-handling. Both those skills were on full display Saturday. Buium not only broke up plays in the defensive zone, but he also took every opportunity to jump up into the neutral zone and join the rush.
Buium also appears to be developing some chemistry with his partner, Luke Schenn. Having a stay-at-home defender on his right side may be beneficial for the 20-year-old as it would allow to take more chances knowing that the extra layer of protection is there. Overall, Buium looks energized and ready for the start of the campaign.
Brendan Gallagher Comes As Advertised
Brendan Gallagher is the type of player young guys should be learning from. He never takes a shift off and can push the pace in practice. Even though Saturday was just a scrimmage, Gallagher was up to his old tricks, as he was one of the most noticeable players on the ice.
On top of battling hard against the board, Gallagher crashed the net and demanded the puck all game. He also spoke to the crowd afterward, which drew a huge cheer from the fans. Gallagher's ability to lead on and off the ice will be key to building an environment where young players can thrive in the future.
Elias Pettersson's Engagement Level
There was a scary moment during the scrimmage where Elias Pettersson was hit into the boards by Cole Clayton. That moment appeared to wake him up, though, as he had a strong scrimmage overall. Pettersson made plays at both ends of the ice, including scoring the game-tying goal for Team Blue.
Pettersson is always going to be a storyline as long as he is with the team. Overall, he has looked decent in training camp, but we all know his performances don't matter until the puck drop on the regular-season. That being said, it was a positive to see him moving his feet and shooting the puck in Saturday's scrimmage.
Luke Schenn Shootout Moment
The moment of the shootout involved Schenn. After receiving a loud cheer from the crowd, the 36-year-old defenceman scored, beating Ty Young up high. Not only were the fans in attendance excited to see the goal, but so were both benches.
Schenn is expected to play a key role for the organization this season, not just on the ice, but off it as well. He will be a leader in the dressing room and has already received plenty of praise from both his teammates and Manny Malhotra. The question now is: will we see Schenn get a chance in the shootout this year?
Vancouver Canucks 2026 Training Camp (Photo Credit: Izzy Cheung/The Hockey News)
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 12: Rasheer Fleming #20 of the Phoenix Suns drives around Brooks Barnhizer #23 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center on April 12, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
Khaman Maluach
Center, 7’1”, 250 lbs., 20 years old, 2nd season
Khaman Maluach enters his second season in Phoenix after a year of “slow-burn” development under his belt. That was always the plan, especially since they traded for Mark Williams on the same night they drafted him 10th overall.
The 10th pick was a key return from Houston in the Kevin Durant trade, of course. “Man Man” is a core piece for this franchise, and will be a popular “breakout” pick among pundits, especially after his terrific Summer League showcase.
Now, with Mark Williams suffering a torn labrum in his left shoulder, Maluach’s development becomes paramount. He and Oso Ighodaro will assume the majority of the minutes at center, and they just added Duop Reath for insurance purposes.
Just how confident will Ott be in Khaman from the jump? I am hoping they view Reath more as a depth piece than a necessary and immediate contributor, although I do like the signing.
What does it all mean for the second-year product out of Duke? Let’s talk about it.
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams underwent surgery Thursday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and will miss an extended period of time, sources tell ESPN. Williams suffered the injury in an offseason workout. pic.twitter.com/iXVlVVItv4
Phoenix took their sweet time with Khaman last season. They did not rush him into the rotation as you might see from your typical 10th overall pick. They entered this whole thing playing the long game, understanding he will be a project that takes time to develop. Jordan Ott consistently stuck with veterans or players he could trust throughout the year, which limited the minutes we all wanted to see from Rasheer Fleming or Khaman Maluach.
Khaman only saw 15+ minutes in nine games last season, and cracked the 20-plus minute mark just four times.
“Man Man” had a pair of promising games late in the season, including an 18-point, 14-rebound season finale against the Thunder in game 82, and a 12-point, 9-rebound effort in game 74 of the season against the Utah Jazz in just 19 minutes.
But now, with the injury to Mark Williams, the timeline speeds up quite a bit for Maluach. He will likely be seeing at least 20+ minutes per night, sharing center duties with Oso Ighodaro and newcomer Duop Reath.
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
BLK
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
46
8.9
3.0
2.9
0.1
0.7
53.3%
23.8%
71.0%
106.0
103.5
+47
Contract and Roster Context
Maluach is on a rookie scale contract, of course. In 2026-27, Maluach will earn a base salary of $6,316,680, while carrying a cap hit of $6,316,680 and a dead cap value of $6,316,680, per Spotrac.
Nothing groundbreaking here for the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
What He Brings
Khaman Maluach brings a rare blend of massive size, fluidity in his movement, plus the ability to finish with power or finesse. He can alter shots if he’s not blocking them, and serve as a true anchor defensively and a vertical rim threat. Now, we didn’t get to see a ton of it during his rookie year with the Suns, but all of those skills he showcased at Duke are still there.
He just needs to adjust to NBA pace, strength, and spacing. But he has shown those flashes. Most recently, he showcased what he can do during the Summer League, where he earned All-2nd Team honors after putting together a monster stretch of games.
Maluach averaged 19.5 points with a (Summer) league-leading 12.8 rebounds per game, plus 2.0 blocks and 1.3 steals per contest.
The Suns outscored their opponents by 48(!) points during the 109 minutes that Maluach was on the floor during that four-game stretch. He looked every bit the part of a second-year top-10 pick in Summer League. Which is exactly what you want to see in that environment.
Phoenix needs Maluach to be the defensive anchor who can disrupt the West’s elite bigs. He needs to be an elite lob threat for Devin Booker and Jalen Green. He needs to be able to knock down triples at a reliable rate. That’s who the Suns need him to be.
What Needs to Improve
Maluach has plenty of weaknesses, as you’d expect for someone as young, raw, and new to basketball as he is.
He can look lost on defensive rotations on the perimeter at times, or rotate just a bit too late on the weak side. These are habitual things. These are details that he can improve on over time as he improves his instincts and learns the ebbs and flows of an NBA game. It won’t happen overnight. Centers take longer to develop than just about any other position. He will get there if he is committed enough, and there’s no reason to think he is not based on everything this coaching staff and front office have said about him.
ESPN released a Three-year outlook for all 30 teams, and the Suns finished 26th overall. But what stood out was the note in the column, highlighting none other than Khaman Maluach, essentially tasking him as their saving grace. Quite a bold proclamation, though I do generally agree it’s vital he is a “hit,” considering their lack of an abundance of quality, controlled draft picks in future years.
Prediction
I have made it no secret that I believe Khaman Maluach will be the Suns’ starting center this season (even before the Williams injury) and play a huge part in this team’s success. Now, with Williams sidelined it only expedites the process.
We don’t need Maluach to play like an all-star center. He just needs to show up, build trust with the coaching staff and gain confidence in his game.
Consistency and confidence will be the two key traits that Maluach will need to showcase, along with flashes of dominance as a preview of what’s to come in his eventual prime. He has all of the tools to be a special center in this league for a long time. It’s your time to shine, Man Man.
Sep 18, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Edmundo Sosa (33) hits a double in the fourth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 18: Samad Taylor #0, Jackson Merrill #3 and Dustin Harris #29 of the San Diego Padres look on during the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Petco Park on September 18, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres continued their winning ways on Friday night, taking their series opener versus the Miami Marlins with another commanding performance from the offense. San Diego scored eight runs, hanging a six-run frame in the bottom of the fifth. It’s the third consecutive game where the Friars have scored eight-plus runs.
More than that, San Diego took advantage of a day where the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies all lost. That moves San Diego into a three-way tie with the Cubs and Phils for the top NL Wild Card spot. After their loss to the New York Yankees on Friday night, Arizona is now five games back in the Wild Card standings.
Taking the mound
Eury Pérez (MIA) v. Casey Mize (SD)
Pérez has struggled on Miami since his bid for a perfect game came up short earlier this season. The righty has pitched to a 5.19 ERA in his last seven starts. Pérez has also surrendered 14 runs in his last three starts. That seems likely to continue with the Friars’ offense playing white-hot baseball lately.
That said, Pérez has shown an ability to command his pitches well. The problem lately has been minimizing hard contact. Pérez has allowed 23 hits in his last three games. That started to turn for the better in his most recent start versus the Los Angeles Dodgers (4 H, 5.0 IP), but he may still struggle against San Diego.
Despite his tough track record with the Padres, Mize has pitched quite well in his last few starts. The righty is coming off a five-inning gem in Colorado, having surrendered just two runs to the Rockies. He did so allowing eight hits and two walks, but worked through the base traffic.
Mize has given up five runs in his last two starts (10.2 IP). However, he gave up just one run in his start against the Washington Nationals before departing. The other two runs came when Randy Vásquez entered the game in the sixth and allowed the inherited runners to score on a double. Since then, Mize has looked electric and should pitch well against Miami’s middling lineup.
Batter up!
The offense has been white-hot lately for San Diego. The Friars continued that in their series opener last night, going 12-for-35 with four walks. The Padres collected just eight hits, but they made them count. Ty France slugged a three-run homer in the crucial fifth inning and Jackson Merrill continued his torrid stretch with a long ball in the eighth.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Dustin Harris, LF
Manny Machado, 3B
Ty France, 1B
Jackson Merrill, CF
Luis Campusano, DH
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Freddy Fermin, C
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Bogaerts has had a particularly hot few days at the plate. The veteran shortstop has gone a blistering 5-for-9 in his last two games. If Bogaerts can continue that surge in the box, it would mark a turn for the better in what has been a tough year for the Padres’ long-term shortstop.
Relief corps
With the Friars taking a five-run lead in the fifth inning, starter Nick Pivetta departed ahead of the sixth in place of Wandy Peralta. David Morgan, Adrian Morejon and Griffin Canning finished out the final 2 2/3 frames following Peralta. Apart from Morejon, the remainder of the relievers used were all lower-leverage.
That affords the Padres plenty of options for the remainder of the series. They’ll have an off day on Monday that will serve as the final reset before the Friars face the Dodgers next week. For Game 2, San Diego will have Kyle Hart, Yuki Matsui, Mason Miller, Morejon, Bradgley Rodriguez and Vásquez available out of the ‘pen.
Sep 18, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene (31) points after he hits a two run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the eighth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Detroit Tigers (73-81) vs. Chicago White Sox (78-75)
Time/Place: 2:10 p.m., Rate Field SB Nation Site:South Side Sox Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Jackson Jobe (2-2, 3.89 ERA) vs. RHP Sean Burke (9-7, 3.47 ERA)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 02: Daylen Lile #4 of the Washington Nationals bats against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on September 02, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The recent news of the Nats extending breakout starter Cade Cavalli to a 4-year, $47 million extension is nothing but great news for Washington fans, and now many have their sights set on who the next extension candidate could be.
James Wood and CJ Abrams remain the far-and-away most deserving players, but getting either star to sign a long-term deal looks to be an uphill battle. Not saying that it won’t be completed, but it might be in the front office’s best interest to get creative with extending other players while waiting on a change of heart from their superstars.
LHP Andrew Alvarez (FA in 2032)
In terms of urgency, the Nationals don’t need much to get anything done with Alvarez any time soon. With that being said, what he’s done in 2026 to help stabilize the rotation has been nothing short of lifesaving.
It’s far from unheard of for teams to lock down consistent arms even with plenty of control left, and the upcoming CBA negotiations leave many discussions open as to how pre-arbitration players’ contracts will be handled moving forward.
If Washington believes that what Alvarez has shown this season isn’t a fluke, it might not be the worst idea to show a vote of confidence in the 27-year-old and buy out his arbitration years. A move like that would solidify his place in the 2027 starting rotation and beyond, as well as getting ahead of his market if he continues to perform as he has.
OF Daylen Lile (FA in 2032)
Lile looks like the definition of a player on the rise. His play this season has already been enough to pencil him down as a starting option for the future, and his ceiling could be that of an incredibly valuable everyday player. The defense has been his calling card, which is already enough to make him an asset in the outfield, but it’s been the development of his bat that has elevated him into extension conversations.
The home run power has really come along in 2026, mashing 21 long balls so far and teetering on the 90 RBI mark. Lile is a player that President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni could evaluate similarly to Red Sox rising star center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, who was extended during Toboni’s time in Boston for 8 years and $50 million.
If Lile can take another step forward with his offensive approach, there should be no reason that Washington shouldn’t keep him in town for the foreseeable future, and he’s already shown enough to be considered for an extension going into this offseason.
SS Eli Willits (#1 Prospect via MLB Pipeline)
Willits’ rise through the Nats’ system has been simply meteoric. At just 18 years old, he’s already looking like a player who could make an impact at the MLB level within the next 2 seasons, if it even takes that long for him to break into the bigs.
The organization might choose to keep him in the minors for a longer period of time to work out any kinks in his development, but he might simply break the door down and force their hand sooner rather than later. If his trajectory continues, he could be in line for a massive payday years down the line, and one that could price him out of the city.
The Seattle Mariners navigated their own version of this situation by giving top prospect Colt Emerson an 8‑year, $95 million extension. That deal could become the framework for a future deal for Willits, and would prevent the Nats from finding themselves behind the curve with another one of their young talents.
RHP Jarlin Susana (#3 Prospect via MLB Pipeline)
What was looking like it could be a massive season for the flamethrowing righty was severely damaged by an injury that limited his time on the mound. Still, Susana’s timeline as both a contributor at the MLB level and an extension candidate could be accelerated in the near future.
Extending prospects, sometimes even before they see a single MLB inning, has quickly become the new wave across analytics-based front offices. Depending on how Susana’s development (and health) looks throughout the offseason and into 2027 Spring Training, the organization may deem it advantageous to give him a long-term extension.
This is another area where Toboni has experience, being a part of the Red Sox brass when they completed deals with top prospects Roman Anthony (8-year, $130 million) and Kristian Campbell (8-year, $60 million).
The Pittsburgh Penguins wrapped up their third day of training camp before a packed house at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex on Saturday.
Team 1, featuring Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, Nick Robertson, Owen Pickering, and Harrison Brunicke, kicked things off, followed by Teams 2 and 3.
This was the final day of group practices before the Penguins play the Buffalo Sabres in their first preseason game on Monday,
With that in mind, here's a look at some observations from the three groups.
Team 1
- I know I probably sound like a broken record, but Nick Robertson has had a fantastic camp. He was lights out again on Saturday, showcasing his release and his agility. He roofed a puck past Arturs Silovs during an offensive-zone drill, then made a great diving play to keep another puck in the zone.
He also continued to get more reps with Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell on the top line. There's a decent chance it sticks once the regular season starts on Sept. 30.
- Elmer Soderblom was promoted to this group and had a strong session. He scored a couple of really nice goals, including one at the end of a drill when he went around Owen Pickering and sniped the puck into the top corner of the net.
His camp got off to a bumpy start after he misread the schedule on Thursday and practiced with Team 3, but he followed it up with two great days in a row. He's very much in contention for that 12th forward spot.
- Taylor Gauthier had his best day yet in the crease. He made a ton of nice saves and looked confident in each drill.
It's highly unlikely he makes the main roster, but he should get plenty of starts in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this year.
- Owen Pickering was great defensively throughout the session, breaking up several odd-man rushes and maintaining great gap control. His skating also looks improved compared to last season.
He'll get some NHL time this season, but I doubt it's going to be right away.
Apr 9, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel (81) skates with the puck against the New Jersey Devils during the first period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Luther Schlaifer-Imagn Images
Team 2
- Ben Kindel was sniping the puck with authority throughout Saturday's session. It didn't matter whether it was Joel Blomqvist or Sergei Murashov in the crease; he peppered pucks to the top corner.
He definitely got bigger over the summer, which will only help him moving forward. There's a real chance he pots 20+ goals this year.
- Rutger McGroarty had a strong session on Friday and continued that momentum into Saturday. He skated on the fourth line with Blake Lizotte and Ville Koivunen and made several strong defensive plays during 5-on-5 drills.
In one play, he applied pressure at the point and knocked the puck away from Ilya Solovyov with ease.
He also forechecked hard and scored a few nice goals, including one where he went forehand, backhand through the five-hole. He scored another at the end of a 3-on-3 drill with the same move, but he lifted the puck over Blomqvist's glove.
He's competing his tail off out there.
- Bryan Rust was absolutely flying out there and, like Kindel, was scoring at will. He got more reps with Kindel and Kuzmenko, and there's a real chance the Penguins open with those three on their third line when the season starts.
- Tanner Howe and Bill Zonnon were finding each other pretty frequently in the offensive zone. They showed great chemistry, which fans should look forward to in WBS this year.
- Carter Sanderson scored some nice goals at the Prospect Tournament last week and brought that ability to Saturday's practice. He has a quick release and isn't afraid to use it.
It will be fun to track his progress with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen this year before he heads to the University of North Dakota in 2027-28.
The Penguins have an off day on Sunday before they play the Sabres in their first preseason game on Monday. The lineup will be revealed sometime before Monday's morning skate.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 07: Grant Holmes #66 of the Atlanta Braves takes the sign from the catcher during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, September 7, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Denis Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
With last night’s win, your Atlanta Braves earned their 90th dub of the season and punched their ticket for the postseason. They were the fifth team to clinch a playoff berth, following the Rays, Brewers, Dodgers, and Yankees.
The job is not finished, however. The magic number is currently at three. Mets/Phillies starts at 4:10 pm ET. If the former feels like helping out a little, it would certainly be welcome.
To trim it down further, the Braves are looking for a series win tonight behind Grant Holmes.
Holmes (9-5, 3.49 ERA) continues to be an enigma. He looked intriguing in his rain-shortened start against the Nats on September 2, spun six innings of three-hit ball against the Phillies at their place on September 7, and was yanked after four innings after five hits and two earned runs when the Phillies were at Truist on September 13. Good defense kept things from being scarier with the amount of trouble he had finding the zone. What will today’s Grant Holmes Experience have in store for us?
Houston will send right-hander Hayden Wesneski (5-2, 3.70 ERA) to the mound to keep their chances to win the AL West alive. He’s been a stabilizer for the Astros rotation since his return from Tommy John in late July.
Wesneski started September with an absolute gem of an outing where he one-hit the White Sox for seven innings. The Phillies tagged him for three runs on five hits in six innings the following week, and his latest outing was his shortest of the season: 61 pitches, three innings, six hits, seven runs (only three earned) against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Wesneski has a signature sweeper that he supplements with a four-seamer, sinker, cutter, and changeup to throw a lot of strikes. He hasn’t thrown more than 91 pitches yet in his nine games this season and has been getting extra rest between starts.
The Braves should be prepared for Wesneski to attack them in the zone. Here’s hoping yesterday’s two-run homer barrage is the start of the offense getting on the right track at the right time.
First pitch for Game 2 is at 7:10 pm ET.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, September 19, 7:10 p.m. ET
Through the early days of training camp, the Philadelphia Flyers are quietly working to decide how the center depth will shake out as the beginning of the regular season approaches.
This is less a question of which players make the NHL roster after final cuts, and more about who plays where.
As far as the first few days of training camp are concerned, there are a few obvious players who will be sticking at center, and a few wildcards who muddy the picture a bit.
During Saturday's scrimmage, Trevor Zegras and Sean Couturier reprised their roles as the first- and fourth-line centers with Zegras playing with Owen Tippett and a rotation of Zach Aston-Reese and Jack Studnicka and Couturier playing with Noel Acciari and Carl Grundstrom.
Surging prospect Denver Barkey was the third center on that Orange team, while the Black team featured Jett Luchanko, Christian Dvorak, and Noah Cates down the middle.
If we include Luchanko as part of the equation and roster battle, the Flyers have six centers vying for four spots, and some players will be sent to the AHL (Luchanko) or be forced to play the wing.
Barkey was that guy who shifted to the wing last season, but that may not necessarily always be the case going forward.
"I think it takes a lot of work to be an established NHL centerman, but I think something I've always taken pride in is being a versatile player, someone that can play up and down a lineup, and someone that can play center or wing," Barkey said after Saturday's scrimmage.
"I haven't played [center] too much since I was younger in junior, but given the opportunity here now, I know the task at hand for what a center needs to do in all three zones throughout a game. So, having that opportunity here to show them that I can maybe play center and hold my own. It's just another opportunity for me, and looking to run away with it."
Barkey, 21, spent much of his time last year with Noah Cates and Sean Couturier as his centers, two players who are defensively sound and can chip in offensively when things are doing well.
Flyers turn to Barkey, linemates for better offensive look?
Denver Barkey (left) played as the center for Alex Bump (right) during Saturday's training camp scrimmage. (Photo: Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
On Saturday, Barkey was interestingly slotted in between two fellow youngsters in Alex Bump and Matvei Michkov, which speaks to what Rick Tocchet and the Flyers' coaching staff think of the former third-round pick's discipline and ability to play responsibly in all three zones. His two wingers are in the NHL for their offensive prowess, but no so much for the defense.
After a tentative start, the fascinating trio found some chemistry and eventually cashed in for two of their team's four goals.
Tocchet acknowledged the nature of the scrimmage and how rosters had to be divvied up between two teams, but feels there is real potential for Barkey at the center position regardless.
"There's also something there that we got to look at, because he's a smart guy. I don't think he hurts you defensively," Tocchet said. "What I liked about that, the line started out slow, and then if you watch, they got cooking, and they started having puck possession. There's a lot of factors into that, and we'll see. We have some other centers, too. So that's something that we're going to have to really look into."
The Flyers also used Saturday's scrimmage as an opportunity to work on the power play for the first time this training camp.
Tocchet also spoke about "deception" being the key to a successful unit that scores goals and generates chances; Barkey featured on the first unit alongside Trevor Zegras, Matvei Michkov, Jamie Drysdale, and Owen Tippett and believes his best attributes can shine with such an opportunity.
"My vision and my IQ has always been something that's separated me for most, and I think on the power play, you have a little more time and space, and you have that extra second to maybe sell a pass and shoot, or make it look like you're passing somewhere that you're not," Barkey assessed. "I think, yeah, as time goes on here, you get more comfortable and continue to grow as a team. I think definitely that'd be something that you look to help this team win games."
The former London Knights captain finished 11th on the Flyers in total power play ice time last season, playing 69:16 in just 43 regular season games, per Natural Stat Trick. His 1:36 of power play time per game ranked 10th among Flyers forwards, trailing the top dogs and veterans like Michkov, Travis Konecny, Zegras, Tippett, Cates, Christian Dvorak, Porter Martone, Tyson Foerster, and the now-departed Bobby Brink.
Of course, the Flyers' usage of Barkey in training camp thus far suggests that they have an expanded role in mind, both in terms of position and 5-on-5 play, as well as offensively with increased power play time.
Throughout the summer, GM Danny Briere and the Flyers have mentioned the growth and maturity of their young players as keys to the upcoming season, especially with the overall lack of offseason additions, and Barkey will be as big a piece in that puzzle as anyone as training camp thunders onward.
Sean Burke has had plenty of time to think after his last home start ended in the second inning. | (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Eight games remain in the regular season, and suddenly the White Sox are fighting for their postseason lives.
The South Siders enter Saturday’s contest against the Tigers in second place in the AL Central and clinging to the third and final Wild Card spot. They lead the Texas Rangers by one game and the Toronto Blue Jays by two. Thankfully, Chicago holds the tiebreaker over both clubs, having won the season series against Texas, 4-2, and Toronto, 5-1.
Those advantages matter, but only if the White Sox start winning games again.
The pitching staff will try to redeem itself after completely blowing Friday night’s game. The Good Guys put six runs on the board in the first inning and carried an 8-2 advantage into the fifth. That should have been more than enough to push them across the finish line. Instead, the staff surrendered nine unanswered runs in an 11-8 collapse that ranks among the season’s most gut-wrenching losses.
Chicago began the night tied with Cleveland for first place in the division, but holding the tie-breaker. Of course, the Guardians beat the A’s, leaving the White Sox looking up from behind once again.
Can they flush that disaster and rebound this afternoon? Hopefully, Sean Burke can steady an increasingly unstable ship.
The righthander was solid in his last outing against Cleveland on Sept. 14, tossing five innings and allowing one unearned run on four hits. He walked two and struck out four while throwing 94 pitches.
The Baseball Savant numbers offer a fairly clear blueprint for Burke: Stick with what works. His fastball run value ranks in the 94th percentile, while his four-seamer and cutter sit in the 93rd and 89th percentiles, respectively. Those have been his two most effective weapons, and he will need to lean on them against a Detroit offense that is beginning to heat up.
Burke’s breaking pitches are a much different story. His overall breaking-ball run value ranks in the 18th percentile, with his slider in the 28th and his curveball all the way down in the 14th. His sinker hasn’t been especially effective, either, ranking in the 33rd percentile.
In other words, this probably isn’t the afternoon to get cute. Burke needs to establish the four-seamer, work the cutter off it and avoid falling behind in counts where he is forced to bring a lesser secondary pitch into the heart of the zone. His strikeout rate ranks in the 73rd percentile, but his walk rate is below average. Free passes against this lineup could quickly turn into trouble.
Spencer Torkelson is swinging a particularly hot bat, and the Tigers as a whole have posted a team .814 OPS over the last seven days, sixth best in baseball. After Friday’s bullpen meltdown, the Sox desperately need Burke to provide both length and stability.
Jackson Jobe gets the ball for the Motor City Kitties. The righty was Detroit’s first-round pick, No. 3 overall, in the 2021 draft. He has yet to pitch a full season in the big leagues and is coming off Tommy John surgery in 2025.
Jobe returned on Aug. 8 and owns a 2-2 record, a 3.89 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP over seven starts and 34 2/3 innings. He won his last outing against the Rockies after allowing one run on three hits over 6 1/3 frames, walking one and striking out eight.
Jobe brings premium velocity, ranking in the 93rd percentile, but velocity does not necessarily equal dominance. His four-seamer has been one of his least effective offerings, while his changeup has also produced poor results. His sinker has been considerably better and helps explain his 77th-percentile ground-ball rate.
That gives the White Sox hitters a plan of attack. They need to avoid chasing Jobe’s secondary pitches outside the zone, force him to bring the ball over the plate and look to elevate something they can drive. His chase rate is strong, but his whiff rate is not, suggesting hitters can make contact if they refuse to help him.
The Sox should also avoid pounding his sinker into the ground all afternoon. Jobe has allowed plenty of damaging contact when hitters lift the ball, with his hard-hit rate ranking in the 73rd percentile and his launch-angle sweet-spot rate in the 94th. If Chicago can hunt the four-seamer or a changeup left over the plate, there should be opportunities to do damage.
Brenton Doyle is back in the lineup this afternoon. He has found his offensive groove recently and is one of Chicago’s hottest hitters, slashing .353/.353/.529 with a .882 OPS over the last seven days. Chase Meidroth, Miguel Vargas and Sam Antonacci also continue to swing the bat well.
On the flip side, Colson Montgomery, Munetaka Murakami and Kyle Teel remain stuck in the mud. The White Sox have managed only a .663 team OPS over the past seven days. That will not be good enough during a stretch in which every game carries postseason consequences.
Eight games remain. The division lead is gone, the Wild Card cushion is shrinking and the Rangers and Blue Jays are close enough to make things uncomfortable.
Time to see whether the White Sox can pick themselves up off the mat.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. CDT. The game will be televised on CHSN and can be heard on ESPN 1000.
MARYLAND
HEIGHTS, Mo. -- It’s go time for the NHL preseason on Saturday, and
the St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars will kick things off after
opening respective training camps just two days ago.
The
Blues and Stars will open preseason play at 6 p.m. at Enterprise
Center, and from a Blues perspective, there’s no time to get
extended looks at potential players looking to crack the opening
night lineup or prospects getting a lot of time with the big club.
But
the Blues will do so on Saturday before getting more time in with
those that will make the club.
Headlining
the lineup tonight includes what is projected to be the opening night
fourth line of Ross Johnston, Pius Suter and Alexey Toropchenko.
“(Tonight),
it will probably be the least amount of veterans dressed,” Blues
coach Jim Montgomery said. “We’ll get a look at some of our young
prospects. Then game two (Monday in Dallas), we’re going to have
our first power play unit go, then game three (Thursday at home
against the Chicago Blackhawks), we’re going to have our second
power play unit go and the last game’s going to be both units going
(Sept. 26 at Chicago). That’s going to be our team playing in the
last game.”
There’s
a good sense of what the lineup will look like Oct. 2 in Dallas when
the Blues and Stars open for keeps, but what’s going to be a battle
is the spots for the 13/14 roster spots among the forwards, and it
includes Oskar Sundqvist, Nathan Walker, Dillon Dube, Otto Stenberg and Jack
Finley all vying for two spots.
“I
think it’s always different with what do you have up front,”
Montgomery said. “Do you have enough offense where you’re just
going to look for checkers and grinders? Or are you lacking offense
where maybe you bring in a guy that’s had some skill to go up in
the second line and you have one guy that’s going to be a grinder.
It’s not your typical guys you’re just looking for that are going
to be just physical guys and other attributes would be can they play
center and can they play wing? Can they win draws? Do they penalty
kill or do they power play? It all depends on the makeup of your team
and I just love the fact that we’ve got a lot of different elements
that we can choose from right now. It’s very competitive.
“You
don’t want two guys that look the same. That you don’t want
unless you had a team that your four lines are set and you have a
fourth line that is an identity line like we had two years ago and
then you have a third line that’s a pure checking line that’s a
hard 200-foot line and then you have two scoring lines and then
you’re just looking for certain things, but we need versatility
right now because as we look through our lineup, we think we have a
first line, we think we have a fourth line. The second and third
line, they have to find an identity and that’s [because] we have
new bodies, we have new people, we have other opportunities too with
players that have been coming in.
“I
think everybody that has an opportunity to earn those spots have
shown really well. Whether it’s ‘Walks’ or ‘Sunny,’ Dube
had an excellent day [Friday]. (Dylan) Peterson I thought was
excellent [Friday]. (Aleksanteri) Kaskimaki’s been really good and
Stenberg I thought had a really good day [Friday] after an average
day yesterday.”
It
makes the limited time on ice and practice sessions so important for
all these players.
“I
think with such a short camp, every practice means a lot,”
Montgomery said. “We don’t have a lot of time to make decisions
so they don’t have a lot of time to impress. It’s either you’re
coming here to fight for a job and grab a job, or you’re watching
your job disappear. If you’re not playing with any kind of
intensity and any kind of purpose out there, you’re going to be
left behind.”
-
- -
Maddox
Dagenais, the No. 16 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, will make his Blues
debut and more than likely, get sent back to juniors where he will
play a third and likely final season with the Quebec Remparts of the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
“Pretty
excited,” Dagenais said. “Since I was a little kid, I’ve been
watching those games. You’re going on the ice on an NHL rink, so
it’s pretty nice. I’m just going to give it my all.”
Dagenais's father, former NHLer Pierre Dagenais, was supposed to come in to St. Louis for the game to see his son play but his flight was canceled.
Montgomery
really likes what the 6-foot-4,
186-pound can bring and feels there’s some unique traits there.
“Real
intelligent player,” Montgomery said. “You can tell that he’s a
gifted offensive player because he always knows what he’s going to
do with the puck before he gets it. Incredible release and he’s
really deceptive because he’s a little bit of a 10-to-2 skater on a
clock and his feet are going that way and that makes it hard because
the angles are completely different and he’s going to be very
deceptive, I think.
“It’s
not unique, no, but Ulf Dahlen was the most famous one for it, but it
makes him slippery.”
Will
have more from Dagenais in a separate story.
-
- -
Blues Projected Lineup:
Alexey
Toropchenko-Pius
Suter-Ross Johnston
Aleksanteri
Kaskimaki-Zach Dean-Justin Carbonneau
Maddox
Dagenais-Jack Finley-Otto Stenberg
Juraj
Pekarcik-Jakub Stancl-Dylan Peterson
Arseny
Koromyslov-Tyler Tucker
Colin
Ralph-Theo Lindstein
Quinton
Burns-Lukas Fischer
Jordan
Binnington will start in goal and play the
first two periods;
Georgii Romanov will back up and play the final period.
-
- -
Stars Projected
Lineup:
Matthew
Seminoff-Arttu Hyry-Cameron Hughes
Dylan
Hrychowian-Artem Shlanie-Emil Hemming
Curtis
McKenzie-Jack Becker-Justin Ertel
Michael
Sgarbossa-Christian Fitzgerald-Charlie Paquette
Jack
Anderson-Kyle Capobianco
Trey
Taylor-Kyle Burroughs
Jakub
Vanecek-Ben Gleason
Remi
Poirer is
projected to start in goal; Brandon
Halverson would
be the backup.
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SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 17: Michel Otanez #63 of the Texas Rangers poses for a portrait during photo day at Surprise Stadium on February 17, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers purchased the contract of righthanded pitcher Michel Otanez prior to Friday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays. To make room for Otanez on the active roster, the Rangers optioned lefthanded pitcher Robbie Ahlstrom to AAA Round Rock. To make room for Otanez on the 40 man roster, the Rangers transferred pitcher Cole Winn from the 15 day injured list to the 60 day injured list.
The Rangers’ starters have not been going deep into games of late, and with the usage of the bullpen in the Boston series, the Rangers opted to get a fresh arm up. I had thought that Ahlstrom, who has struggled of late and pitched on Thursday, would be sent down in favor of Winston Santos, who would give the Rangers a multi-inning guy for length in case of a blowout.
Instead, Texas opted for Otanez, who had been claimed on waivers by the Rangers this winter, but who was designated for assignment in June, cleared waivers, and was outrighted. The 29 year old has an unimpressive 4.42 in 55 innings over 50 appearances for Round Rock this season, with 74 Ks against 42 walks, but since a 5 run outing in Tacoma in late June, Otanez has a 1.33 ERA in 27 innings, with 35 Ks and 13 walks. It may be he’s turned a corner.
Entering Saturday’s action, the Cubs, Phillies and Padres are all tied for the three National League wild card spots at 85-69. The Diamondbacks are 80-74 and on the verge of elimination, five games behind; their elimination number with the Cubs is 3. (It’s more complicated for Arizona with the Phillies and Padres, but for now let’s skip that.)
This is where it’s really fortunate that the Cubs have the tiebreaker over both those teams. If all three teams wound up tied at the end of the regular season, the Cubs would get the first wild card spot. In that scenario they’d host the Phillies, because Philadelphia swept their season series 6-0 over San Diego. Here are all the various tiebreaker rules.
Today, The Athletic posted an article noting the odds and percentages for various postseason scenarios and so I thought it’d be useful for us to take a look at them.
First, here are the percentage odds for the possible postseason matchups for the first two rounds:
As you can see, the wild card round is still kind of muddled. The most likely matchup for the Cubs is still with the Phillies, but it’s possible they could face the Padres — or even the Braves, if the Cubs get dumped into the last wild card spot, the No. 6 seed.
The Brewers are very likely to be the No. 1 National League seed. They currently lead the Dodgers by two games and hold the tiebreaker.
Now, here are the Cubs’ percentages of making the postseason and where they would wind up, based on each possible W/L record:
The best-case scenario here would be for the Cubs to go at least 6-2 in the eight remaining games. That would give them an 89 percent or better chance of being the top wild card team and hosting the wild card series. Even at 5-3, they would be more likely than not to be the host team, depending on what the other teams involved do over the same span.
The worst-case scenarios are going 2-6 or worse, which could dump them into the No. 6 position. And an 0-8 run (which would actually be 0-9, since the Cubs lost Friday) would give them a small chance (10 percent) of missing the postseason completely.
I don’t think that “worst case” is going to happen. I still think the Cubs will take the last two games in Cincinnati and then they’ve got the Marlins at home. Miami is 31-45 on the road this year and so the Cubs ought to take at least two of three from them at Wrigley Field. Then the Cubs travel to Boston, where the Red Sox are likely going to be locked in to the second wild card spot in the American League before that series begins. So the Cubs should win at least one, maybe two, at Fenway Park.
That would leave the Cubs at either 5-3 or 6-2 in the eight remaining games, giving them good odds of being the host team for a Wild Card series at Wrigley Field.
Fingers crossed. As always, we await developments.
Joe Tsai, co-founder and chairman of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., winner of the VivaTech x Bloomberg Leadership Award, in Paris, France, on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Winners of the VivaTech x Bloomberg Awards, celebrating global leadership, innovation and impact in the technology sector, were announced today in a ceremony at the VivaTech Conference in Paris. Photographer: Benjamin Girette/Bloomberg via Getty Images | Bloomberg via Getty Images
In a new book out next Tuesday, David Rubenstein, owner of the Baltimore Orioles, interviews sports franchise owners across America about what the view is like from the executive suites at arenas and stadiums across America.
Per the promotion, “From the Owner’s Box” examines, “the financial strategies, leadership secrets, and billion-dollar deal-making behind championship franchises through conversations with America’s most powerful owners.” And in the case of Brooklyn Nets Joe Tsai, how being a fan and reacting to fans is a big part of the job.
In an excerpt of the book, New York Post writer Eric Spitznagel, Tsai described first few months as an owner … and the ramifications of making a big move early.
Tsai, 62, knows how quickly an expensive trade can turn an owner into a target. The Alibaba cofounder, worth an estimated $12.1 billion, still takes heat from fans for the January 2021 trade that brought James Harden to Brooklyn alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Durant and Irving had arrived in 2019, before Tsai became controlling owner. Harden was his gamble, acquired at the cost of players and valuable draft assets. The trio never delivered a championship.
“The Harden decision was definitely on my watch,” Tsai tells Rubenstein. “That’s why I’m hated by fans on social media.”
(The excerpt, however, doesn’t make mention of Tsai’s decisions re: Kyrie Irving’s antics during the first months of Tsai’s ownership, including the superstar’s decision not to get vaccinated against COVID or his implicit endorsement of a book filled with antisemitic tropes. Both led to lost time, lost games and a lot of controversy for Tsai. We’ll have to wait for the book to see whether it is mentioned there.)
Rubenstein’s book does address a lesser-known part of Tsai’s legacy, a proposed trade that would test his personal fandom.
In July 2018, while still a 49% owner of the Nets, Tsai heard from Sean Marks about a trade the Nets GM was planning to make, a deal that would send Jeremy Lin to the Atlanta Hawks. Lin wasn’t just a Chinese-American whose LinSanity while a Knick years earlier had ignited pride among Asians and Asian-Americans worldwide. When he bought into the Nests Tsai had called Lin his “favorite player” and a “good friend,” praising his leadership and representation of the underdog.
“Sean, if you trade Jeremy Lin, I will be hated in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong,” According to the book, Tsai recalls telling Marks “The entire Chinese community will hate me forever.”
Marks replied, “That’s why I’m calling you.”
In the deal, a classic salary dump, Nets traded guard Jeremy Lin, a 2025 second round draft pick and the right to swap second round picks in 2023 to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the draft rights to a French guard Isaia Cordinier and a protected 2020 second round draft pick. (For you draft sickos out there, that 2025 pick got moved three more times and wound up back with the Nets and was used last June on Tyler Bilodeau!)
Tsai accepted the rationale but his prediction came true. Asian fans were not pleased that an owner with Chinese heritage had traded a player with Chinese heritage. He was heavily criticized across Asia. Later, Tsai and Lin did business together and Lin joined the advisory council of The Asian-American Foundation, an organization co-founded by Tsai.
As Rubenstein wrote, that episode taught Tsai a lesson.
He realized he needs a way to explain himself to fans, so he opened a Twitter account despite objections from his communications team, according to the book. He promised to discuss sports rather than Alibaba or politics, a promise he has stuck with although he’s not that active on the renamed x.com.
“I need to have a direct channel to communicate with our fans,” he told Rubenstein. “I can’t have the New York Post interpret.”
The book also noted Tsai’s basketball memories include skipping constitutional law classes at Yale to play pickup games. One opponent was future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who he calls a “decent player.”
His current ambitions require better players, per the book. “We need to win a championship,” Tsai tells Rubenstein. “We need to prove ourselves.”
Still, Tsai admitted ownership supplies a pleasure that running Alibaba cannot.
“I can be chairman of a public company, but there are thousands of public companies. There are only thirty NBA owners,” Tsai says. “When you have something that other people don’t have, it feels pretty good.”
In addition to Joe Tsai, Rubenstein interviewed Clara Wu Tsai for his book and she told him in an interview, separately excerpted on Bloomberg News that Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment is “selectively” interested in other sports investments and see sports as an “asset class” of its own, adding that sports is the anti-AI.
“As you know, sports has become legitimate asset class and they’ve become very good investment,” she told Rubenstein. “Who knew we’d have to develop an anti-AI? Who knew live experiences would become so valuable? Who knew something that was unscripted and unpredictable was something that bring people together in a shared experience would be something that was monetizable and also really valued. But it has happened and sports is some place where that can be manifested.”
