COLUMBUS, GA - AUGUST 21: Owen Carey #17 of the Columbus Clingstones bats during the game between the Montgomery Biscuits and the Columbus Clingstones at Synovus Park on Friday, August 21, 2026 in Columbus, Georgia. (Photo by Lyndon Terrell/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
As the major league postseason churns on, a handful of Braves farmhands are making an impact in the Arizona Fall League. Let’s dive into Friday’s action.
(1-5) Glendale River Dogs 9, (5-1) Salt River Rafters 13
Briggs McKenzie made his second start of the postseason, but it unfortunately did not go all that well for the lefthander.
While his first start a week ago was fairly solid despite a few command issues, McKenzie was tagged for eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and a pair of walks before being pulled with two gone in the third inning.
On the one hand, the baseline numbers weren’t great Friday. On the other hand, the underlying metrics were still impressive for McKenzie.
Overall, he registered seven whiffs on the night, while his fastball generated four of those, which was good for a 33.3% clip.
The biggest issue for McKenzie was the fact he left a good number of changeups and sliders up in the zone, which doesn’t bode well for a guy who needs the upper part of the zone for his fastball to be effective.
It’s probably just a blip on his resume given the fact he hasn’t pitched since late June, and it’ll be interesting to see how his next start goes.
On another pitching note, reliever Tyler LaPorte came on to toss the final inning for Glendale and pitched a scoreless frame while striking out a pair. Overall, LaPorte has yet to allow a run during his AFL stint.
At the plate, Owen Carey came through with an RBI by lacing a two-out single into right centerfield to tie things up at 1-1 in the top of the second.
On the season, albeit a short stint, Carey is hitting an even .300 with a .762 OPS.
Later in the game, Isaiah Drake came on as a pinch hitter and managed to register an infield single as well.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 27: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Sunday, September 27, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Andrew Ritter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Hello everyone and welcome to the weekend!
Yesterday was an off-day for the lone remaining Division Series. The Guardians and White Sox will face off in a do-or-die Game 5 tonight with first pitch slated for 5pm PT.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 09: Spencer Knight #30 of the Chicago Blackhawks makes a save against Eric Robinson #50 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period at the United Center on April 09, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes are aiming to make it four wins in a row as they continue to bounce back brilliantly from a pair of season-opening defeats with a showdown against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.
After drubbing the Vancouver Canucks by a 7-2 margin on home ice Thursday, the Hurricanes will get a crack at another one of the lower-tier teams in the Western Conference.
The Blackhawks had their sights set on making real progress toward being competitive in their rebuild this season, as general manager Kyle Davidson made a splash in landing defenseman Bowen Byram in a sign-and-trade. But an offseason injury has held 2023 No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard out for the first portion of the year, and Chicago has instead gotten off to a 1-4-0 spot that has them in the familiar spot of being last in the Central Division.
The Blackhawks are coming off of a 4-1 loss on Long Island on Thursday, and they’re led in points by the skilled young Swedish forward Anton Frondell, with four.
On the Canes’ side of things, the top guns are really humming right now. Sebastian Aho is up to eight points in five games, and Andrei Svechnikov and Jackson Blake are both over or at a point-per-game pace. Logan Stankoven’s four goals in five games aren’t too shabby, either.
In the last five seasons, Carolina owns a 9-0-1 record against the Blackhawks, who have not notched a regulation victory over the Hurricanes since the two teams were in the same division during the re-worked, pandemic-shortened 2021 regular season, when the two sides squared off eight times.
It will most likely be Brandon Bussi between the pipes for Rod Brind’Amour after Pyotr Kochetkov picked up the win against the Canucks.
Saturday is the first half of a back-to-back for Carolina, so it’s a virtual certainty that the goalie that doesn’t go tonight will get the nod in Philadelphia on Sunday.
Here’s how to check out the action…
Time: 7 PM Eastern
Location: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
TV: Hurricanes Hockey Network. Hanna Yates and Shane Willis handle the pregame duties at 6:30, and then Mike Maniscalco handles play-by-play with Tripp Tracy providing color—we’re still waiting for the NHL and DirectTV to work out whatever it is holding up them getting this channel on there.
Streaming Video:Hurricanes Hockey Network on Prime Video in the Hurricanes Footprint. Outside you’ll need to use the ESPN app and have at least an ESPN Select subscription, which comes with ESPN Ultimate.
Radio: The pregame Storm Watch with Adam Gold on 99.9 The Fan starts at 6:30 PM, At 7 PM the Hurricanes Radio Network (consisting of 99.9, 730 The Game in Charlotte, ESPN New Bern 107.5/1490, and ESPN Greenville 107.5/1570) will pick up the Mike Maniscalco and Tripp Tracy HHN simulcast.
New Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Cam Talbot beat the Pittsburgh Penguins last night in a shootout to pick up his first win in Union Blue.
But he also set two NHL records.
With the start, he became the first NHL goalie to play for nine different NHL teams. He's played for Edmonton, NYR, Detroit, Minnesota, LA, Ottawa, Calgary, Philadelphia, and now Columbus,
With the win, Talbot became the first NHL goaltender to win a game with nine different teams. Yes, NINE different teams. Some people look at this record and think he's bad. I look at this record and see longevity. Will he be able to keep it up this season? Time will tell.
He also became the oldest goalie in Blue Jackets history to record a win with the franchise, surpassing Fredrik Norrena by almost five years.
His career record is now 279-204-53.
Next Up For Columbus: The CBJ take on the St. Louis Blues tonight at 7 PM.
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Mets infielderRonny Mauricio's relatively small taste of the majors in parts of three seasons can be summed up pretty easily: His chances have been sporadic and his performance at the plate has been largely ineffective, but he has displayed enough eye-popping exit velocities and light-tower power to keep your eyebrow raised just a bit.
Still just 25 years old, Mauricio has also been bitten by the injury bug.
He missed the entire 2024 season and a chunk of the 2025 campaign after tearing his ACL while playing winter ball.
This past season, when it looked like Mauricio would get a long look at shortstop while Francisco Lindorrecovered from a serious calf injury, he fractured his left thumb on a headfirst dive into first base.
Given a chance in the last two games of the 2026 season, Mauricio went off, going 4-for-7 with three homers, six RBI, and a walk. Mauricio's two home runs on Sept. 26 put an exclamation point on New York's final victory of the season, and his blast in Game 162 the next day gave the team something more to think about heading into the winter.
With Mauricio out of minor league options, it's now or never for him to stick.
Will the Mets move on from him ahead of the 2027 season? Should they?
Apr 24, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets third baseman Ronny Mauricio (0) singles during the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO MOVE ON FROM MAURICIO
Three years removed from his MLB debut, Mauricio is still the same kind of offensive player he was back in 2023.
In 107 games spanning three seasons (he missed 2024 due to the ACL injury), Mauricio has never had a batting average over .248. He has never had an on-base percentage higher than .296. He has never had an OPS+ that was even league average.
Some of that can be chalked up to inexperience and infrequent chances at the big league level, but it also has a lot to do with Mauricio's inability to lay off pitches outside the strike zone.
"He missed a lot of time, that was a nasty knee injury," Mets manager Andy Green said when discussing Mauricio after the 2026 season ended. "He’s come back and the athleticism has returned. I don’t see any residual effect from that -- from my vantage point, people come back from injuries all the time.
"Does it make life harder? Sure. Does he have every opportunity to still turn this into a good career? Sure, he does. The path forward for him is to impact the baseball consistently, and if he can, minimize the chase."
When it comes to the chase issue, Mauricio was near the very bottom of the league in 2023, 2025, and 2026 in chase percentage while unsurprisingly also being near the bottom of the league in strikeout percentage. The strikeout rate has actually ticked up each of his first three seasons, from 28.7 percent to 29.3 percent to 32.3 percent.
While bouncing around the infield and getting starts at third base, second base, and shortstop, Mauricio's defense has been a mixed bag. He might not be the best fit to play shortstop regularly, but that wouldn't be an issue with the Mets because of the presence of Lindor.
What could impact Mauricio, though, is that the Mets will be set on the left side of the infield if third baseman Bo Bichette opts in. At second base, New York has three highly thought of prospects at the upper levels of the minors -- Jefferson Rojas, Mitch Voit, and Émilien Pitre -- who could push Marcus Semien for the job early next season.
/ IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO KEEP MAURICIO
When Mauricio squares a ball up, it often explodes off his bat.
In his three seasons in the bigs, Mauricio has consistently posted elite exit velocities with impressive bat speed to match. During Mauricio's 20-game look in the majors this past season, his barrel percentage was elite.
To drill down a bit more, here's a deeper dive on Mauricio's big league home runs over the last two seasons:
As far as Mauricio's potential fit, it could come as a backup infielder and designated hitter option.
Brett Baty figures to be in New York's plans in 2027, and could be in a super utility role. Beyond Baty, though, no one on the 40-man roster stands out as a clear backup infielder who can also be part of the DH mix.
Jared Young could be the backup first baseman or part of a timeshare situation at the position, and Jorge Polanco profiles best as a DH -- but Polanco being a contributor in 2027 is health-dependent. When it comes to Mark Vientos, it feels like his days as a Met could be coming to an end.
Regarding Mauricio's contract status, he is under team control through 2030 and won't be eligible for arbitration until 2028.
New York Mets shortstop Ronny Mauricio (0) is congratulated by shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) after hitting a home run against the New York Mets during the ninth inning at Nationals Park. / Brad Mills-Imagn Images
VERDICT
The Mets don't have to be in a rush when it comes to making a decision on Mauricio.
Unless there's a team out there that views Mauricio highly via trade, New York can simply have him come to spring training (whenever it begins, given the expected lockout) and take things from there.
It's possible a crowded 26-man roster situation could squeeze Mauricio out, but that would likely mean that Young is on the bench, Baty is on the bench, and Polanco is healthy (along with every other expected Opening Day position player).
The likeliest outcome with Mauricio is that he doesn't seriously reduce his tendency to chase, resulting in him never being an average or better offensive performer in the majors.
But a 25-year-old switch-hitter with this kind of power potential should be given every last opportunity to reach his ceiling before the Mets move on.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 07: Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after a strike out against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Truist Park on October 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The watching Braves baseball portion of our year has ended. Now it’s the offseason. We’ll watch the rest of MLB’s postseason with you here. But outside of that, we will be into offseason programming. We’ll have player reviews soon. We’ll slowly perform an autopsy of the season. After that, it’s a lockout. The owners seem determined not to start the season on time. I would expect them to start at least a month late, then have an abbreviated Spring Training. Heh, if we get a shorter Spring, then maybe it won’t be terrible.
I guess I’m asking what would you all like to do in the meantime. I have some ideas for spending the time while we wait on the lockout to end:
Let’s start the Community Prospect List selection. This has been a tradition for a decade, but during 2025 no one was interested. Does anyone want to run it this year? I don’t mind, but I would rather someone else run with the ball on this one. It consists of setting up a Feed post asking who should be ranked number one. You tally the vote by recs, then continue until you reach number 25 or 30. If you’re interested, we may be able to set you up so that you have access to create polls in the Feed, which mere commenters can’t do.
While we’re voting, does anyone want a Commenter of the Year contest? I’ll organize that, if so.
I know lots of you like the version of football that is played on Saturday. Does anyone want an official Battery Power Alleged College Football Pick’em?
I have been kicking around starting a series on random/forgotten Braves over the years. I was thinking about a daily-ish Braves interesting post from years before. I may be hitting the Feed with that soon.
That’s what I have unless you guys want to play Yahtzee.
The Columbus Blue Jackets hit the road for their first game away from NWA this season and will take on the St. Louis Blues tonight at 7 PM.
St. Louis Blues - 1-2-1 - 3 Points - OTL 1 - 7th in the Central
Columbus Blue Jackets - 2-1-0 - 4 Points - Won 1 - 5th in the Metro
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Sean Monahan has a 6-game point streak (2-7-9) against the Blues and has notched 10-11-21 in 29 career GP vs. STL.
Emil Andrae has 0-3-3 in four career games vs. St. Louis, with all points in his last two matchups, including a two-assist effort last time out at the Enterprise Center.
Adam Fantilli has notched 3-1-4 with points in four of five career games against St. Louis, including points in both road contests (1-1-2).
Dmitri Voronkov has 3-4-7 in six career GP, with points in 5 of his 6 career matchups with two multi-point efforts.
Zach Werenski has posted 3-8-11 in 17 career GP, notched 1-2-3 last season, and has collected 1-5-6 in the last 5 matchups overall.
Greaves has a career 4-0-0 record against the Blues, while stopping 139-of-147 shots against for a .946 SV% and 2.00 GAA.
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 22.2% - 15th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 72.7% - 23rd in the NHL
Goals For - 10 - 28th in the NHL
Goals Against - 9 - 8th in the NHL
BluesStats
Power Play - 10.0% - 24th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 92.9% - 4th in the NHL
Goals For - 9 - 26th in the NHL
Goals Against - 13 - 15th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheBlues
The Blue Jackets are 39-42-3-13 Overall and 14-26-1-8 at St. Louis.
Columbus went 2-0-0 in 2025-26.
Columbus has won six consecutive games against St. Louis since Dec. 8, 2023, outscoring the Blues 22-12 and sweeping the past three season series.
The Jackets have earned three straight wins at Enterprise Center and have picked up points in seven of the past 11 in St. Louis (5-4-2).
The Blue Jackets have gone 13-7-2 against the Blues since the 2014-15 season, earning points in 15 of the past 22 in the series.
Who To Watch For TheBlues
Connor McMichael leads the Blues with 2-2-4.
Mason McTavish has 2 goals and 3 points.
Jordan Binnington is 0-1-0 with a SV% of .833.
Joel Hofer is 1-1-1 with a SV% of .930.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Dante Fabbro - Broken Hand - IR - 3 Games Missed
Isac Lundestrom - Achilles Surgery - LTIR - 3 Games Missed
Ivan Provorov - Lower Body - IR - 3 Games Missed
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 13
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be simulcast on The Blue Jackets Hockey Network and 97.1 The Fan, with Steve Mears behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
TV: CBJHN (Spectrum HD Ch. 320/1320; IP Ch. 349; Prime Video, Fubo)
Next Up For Columbus: The CBJ take on the St. Louis Blues tonight at 7 PM.
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After 13 seasons in the NHL, former Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey.
Dumba, 32, announced his retirement Friday, bringing an end to a career that included 748 NHL games with the Wild, Arizona Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins.
While his playing career took him to several different cities over the past few seasons, Minnesota has always held a special place in Dumba's life. Now, with his playing days behind him, the former Wild defenseman has returned to the place where it all began.
For Wild captain Jared Spurgeon, having his longtime friend and former teammate back in Minnesota means a lot.
"Yeah, we're still very close right now," Spurgeon said. "I still remember the first road trips rooming with him. We've had a great friendship from the day he walked in here. So to see him up there and living here and putting his roots back here is awesome."
Dumba spent the first 10 seasons of his NHL career with Minnesota, appearing in 598 games and recording 79 goals and 157 assists for 236 points. During that stretch, he became a familiar presence on the Wild's blue line, helping the organization reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs eight times.
During those eight years in the playoffs, Dumba recorded five goals, ten assists, 15 points, 73 blocked shots and 104 hits in 49 games.
But Dumba's impact in Minnesota extended well beyond what he accomplished on the ice.
During the 2019-20 season, Dumba received the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and makes a significant humanitarian contribution to his community.
His connection to Minnesota has remained strong even after leaving the organization following the 2022-23 season.
Dumba returned to Grand Casino Arena earlier this month to deliver the ceremonial "Let's Play Hockey" call ahead of the Wild's home opener against the Boston Bruins.
For Spurgeon, seeing his former teammate back in a Wild jersey was a reminder of the years they spent together.
"We see him outside the rink a lot as well, but see him back in that jersey it feels right," Spurgeon said.
The two defensemen spent a decade together in Minnesota, developing a friendship that has continued long after their time as teammates ended.
Now, with Dumba settling back into Minnesota, Spurgeon and other members of the organization will have more opportunities to see him away from the rink.
And although Dumba's NHL career has officially come to a close, Spurgeon believes the next chapter of his life will be just as meaningful because of the person he is.
"Yeah, for sure," Spurgeon said when asked about Dumba's next chapter. "I think you can see just the energy he has, and just the joy he brings people around him. He's a very special person."
Nov 27, 2018; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise (11) celebrates his goal with forward Nino Niederreiter (22), defenseman Matt Dumba (24), and defenseman Jared Spurgeon (46) in the second period against Phoenix Coyotes at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
Dumba finishes his NHL career with 85 goals, 176 assists and 261 points in 748 regular-season games.
The numbers tell the story of a lengthy NHL career, but in Minnesota, his legacy stretches beyond goals, assists and games played.
For 10 seasons, Dumba was part of the Wild's identity, both on the ice and in the community. And while he may no longer be wearing a Wild jersey on game nights, his connection to the organization and the people inside it remains.
After stops in Arizona, Tampa Bay, Dallas and Pittsburgh, Dumba's hockey career has come full circle.
He's back home in Minnesota.
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Nick Blankenburg could make his Toronto Maple Leafs debut against the Avalanche on Saturday at Ball Arena.
Blankenburg hasn’t played in any of Toronto’s first five games this season. It’s still unknown if he’ll be in the lineup against his former team.
The Maple Leafs signed him to a one-year, $1.4 million contract on Sept. 27 after bringing him in on a professional tryout. Blankenburg earned the deal after putting together the best offensive season of his NHL career.
Colorado acquired the right-handed defenseman at last season’s trade deadline to add depth to its blue line for the playoff push. He played 12 regular-season games with the Avalanche, scoring twice and adding an assist. He also appeared in five playoff games.
Blankenburg’s biggest moment in Colorado came in Game 2 of the second-round series against the Minnesota Wild. He scored his first career playoff goal with his parents watching from the stands, giving him a memorable moment during his short time with the Avalanche.
Colorado ultimately decided not to bring him back in free agency and signed Noah Juulsen, who has appeared in three of Colorado's four games this season, including on Thursday when the Avalanche defeated the Flames 7-3 on the road, as Sam Malinski was benched by head coach Jared Bednar reportedly due to poor play.
Blankenburg moved on to Toronto after finishing the 2025-26 season with eight goals and 16 assists between the Predators and Avalanche. Both totals were career highs.
He has appeared in 178 NHL games, recording 18 goals and 40 assists.
Blankenburg now has a chance to get his season started with Toronto. If he plays Saturday, he’ll do it against the team that acquired him at the trade deadline last season and gave him an opportunity to chase a Stanley Cup.
Thursday's game kicks off at 5 p.m. from Ball Arena.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 01: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during Game Three of the National League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Thursday, October 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Let’s say there is a scenario in which the Phillies had an offer on the table to improve their moribund offense. That incoming player was a guaranteed 3-4 WAR player at a position of need – third base, outfield, pick your poison. The only catch is that there had to be something of value going back to the trading team, and that something of value was from a position they did not want to move from.
Would you trade one of Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez or Jesus Luzardo in order to get a piece for the offense that improved it substantially?
There needs to be some creativity this offseason to get the Phillies back into a position where they are fighting for a World Series title. Maybe this is the creativity that is required.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 12: Luke Williams #37 of the Atlanta Braves stands ready in the ninth inning during the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Truist Park on April 12, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
No, this isn’t a post that was delayed four months.
That Atlanta Braves have begun their off-season roster machinations with the team’s transaction page showing that utilityman Luke Williams has been designated for assignment while left-handed reliever Danny Young has been selected to the roster.
This follows a slew of transactions on October 8 to activate players from the IL and recall players on the 40-man roster.
Williams has seen action with the big league team since being acquired by Atlanta in 2023, but only appeared in two games this season – walking in his only plate appearance – although he was on the team’s Wild Card Series roster. He spent most of the season with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Young appeared in 16 games with Atlanta this past season after seeing action nine times across the 2022 and 2023 seasons. After a solid start as a low-leverage option in the bullpen, he allowed nine runs in his final four appearances with Atlanta and was designated for assignment in mid-August.
With a lockout likely by December, there may be a small window for trade and free agent activities after the World Series.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 07: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic goes to the basket against Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at FedExForum on October 07, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 Justin Ford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Wednesday, the Memphis Grizzlies, featuring Cameron Boozer, fresh off a sensational freshman year for Duke, took on the Orlando Magic.
The star of the Magic is another member of the Brotherhood, Paolo Banchero, and after the game, he had this to say about Memphis’s prize rookie:
“He looked pro ready, definitely composed. Thought he just played very good basketball, played within himself, took the right shots. Yeah, I think Memphis has something to be excited about with him.”
It’s still the preseason, and by definition, it’s really early in the NBA season. Still, we’ve seen a number of NBA veterans say really positive things about the rising young star.
On Friday, the Grizzlies play Chicago, where Boozer will again encounter former AAU teammate and ACC rival Caleb Wilson. That should be interesting, to say the least.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 15: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his RBI triple next to Andrew Vaughn #28 of the Milwaukee Brewers during the third inning at Dodger Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Off the field, owners and players are digging in for what promises to be a painful and shameful labor dispute. But before we get to that, we still have some action to settle on the field. Specifically, an NLCS matchup that almost perfectly prepares us the imminent conflict.
Yes, in classic baseball fashion, the sport has once again found a way mirror the issue of the day. Namely: Does MLB need a salary cap?
In one corner, we have the Dodgers and their Pacific rim empire. They have all of the money, all of the stars, and are gunning to become the first three-peat champions of this century. Just as importantly, a large segment of MLB fans from coast to coast believe the only reason they’re this close to a three-peat is because they have all of the money and all of the stars. This means — whether these beliefs are true or not — the Dodgers also might hold the keys the owners need to sell a salary cap to the fans.
That may sound crazy at first glance, but if the Dodgers don’t win, we instantly morph into an entirely different landscape. Consider the following:
1) The three American League teams to enter the season with the lowest payrolls were the Guardians, White Sox and Rays. They are now the last three teams standing on AL side of the board. (In other words, you’re guaranteed to have at least one small market / low payroll team in the World Series.)
2) The Mets spent over $350 million this year and finished in last place. (In a vacuum, a strong case that Dodger level spending isn’t necessarily an automatic ticket to success.)
3) The Brewers play in Milwaukee, which is MLB’s smallest market.
Could the stakes be any higher for the owners and players in terms of how the upcoming winter work stoppage is going to play with the general public? If the Brewers win, you’re guaranteed an all small market/low payroll World Series. Any rational argument for a salary cap is dead on arrival (although the owners will still be trying like hell to implement one). In short, the owners could be picking the worst possible year to make their case for a cap.
But if the Dodgers win, the owners can and will sell the following narrative to a receptive and captive audience: “It’s not fair! The big bad billionaire behemoths are blowing everybody out of the water.” In short, a third straight Dodger World Series win would make the owners’ case for a cap in the name of maintaining competitive balance — Even though we know the real reason is they just want more money.
I’m of course oversimplifying things, but those two scenarios are very different worlds. Right or wrong, the outcome of Brewers vs. Dodgers will change the public perception on this issue, and which side the public puts more pressure on during the stoppage matters.
Make no mistake, a lockout is coming no matter what. Both sides are going to draw a line in the sand and retreat to their trench. However, whether that happens in a world where the Dodger dynasty is at the peak of its power or in a world where two small market teams prove you can win on limited resources might tip the scales. It’s basically the difference between starting a war on a sunny day or starting a war trying to invade Russia on the first day of winter.
The background conditions will play a huge roll in the upcoming negotiations, and while fans have no seat at the table, it looks like the baseball gods will get to decide which way the wind is blowing when the owners and players fully engage in their pissing match.
He’s led the team in scoring in its first two preseason games, notching 40 points across his 41 minutes on the court. The former Celtic has shot 59.1 percent from the floor, 50 percent from three-point range and 83.3 percent at the foul line.
Brown has showcased the value he could bring to the Sixers and to Tyrese Maxey in particular this season.
Like he was for the Celtics in 2025-26, Brown was the go-to guy in the preseason opener while Maxey, LeBron James and Joel Embiid were inactive. All of his 22 points came in the first half as he consistently initiated the offense, repeatedly attacking in isolation and off ball screens.
The second game was a slightly different story as all five of the team’s projected starters suited up for the first time. Brown capitalized on great ball movement by James and Embiid with a dunk early in the first quarter. But he only took one more shot in the first stanza and didn’t score again until the 3:54 mark in the second.
Each of his remaining three baskets came with Maxey off the floor, perhaps giving Sixers fans a glimpse of what splitting the two scorers’ minutes could look like.
Maxey was a workhorse for the Sixers last season. His 38 minutes per game led the league. With Embiid playing 38 regular season games and Paul George available for just 37, Nick Nurse relied heavily on Maxey to create offense. VJ Edgecombe pitched in here and there. But 2026-27 should be a different story.
With the potential for Embiid (who hasn’t played 40 or more games in a regular season since 2022-23) and James (who will turn 42 years old in December) to miss time, Brown’s presence can provide some meaningful relief for Maxey, especially given how Nurse wants the offense to run.
Under Nurse, the Sixers have been matchup hunters, subscribers to the weakest link theory. They spammed isolation ball in 2025-26, taking the second-most shots per game on isolation possessions in the NBA (9.3). On that high volume, the team was middle of the pack in terms of efficiency, scoring 0.92 points per possession in isolation, good for 15th in the NBA.
Maxey took more than double the shots off isolated looks than any other Sixer. While Embiid (1.01 PPP) and George (1.03) were both efficient on isolation possessions, their lack of availability often left Maxey alone searching for mismatches.
Barring an irregular decrease in availability, Brown should be the answer to playing Maxey less and allowing him to take possessions off.
As the guy on the Celtics offense last season, Brown scored the third most isolation points in the league. And it wasn’t just a matter of volume. He generated 1.01 points per isolation possession, good for the 77th percentile.
That’s been on display in the preseason. Right out of the gate against the Knicks, he attacked OG Anunoby – a two-time All-Defensive Second Team selection – off the dribble and hit a tough fadeaway jumper on the baseline.
Jaylen Brown scores tough jumper on iso vs. OG Anunoby. https://t.co/aFufwWqXPk
Brown’s success scoring in the mid-range is part of what makes him a tough individual cover. Basketball’s reliance on the mid-range shot has dwindled over time. But Brown made a living there last season, shooting 45.9% on 6.4 shots per game between 10 and 19 feet.
Part of what makes Brown so good at creating positive matchups to attack in isolation is how effective he is using ball screens. That’s another element of Brown’s game that should contribute to taking some of the onus off Maxey as the Sixers’ primary perimeter scorer.
The Sixers were middle of the road in both how often they used ball screens (19th) and how effective they were in those scenarios (11th in efficiency).
Of the team’s 16.1 possessions per game that used a ball screen, Maxey was the ball handler for 7.5 of them (46.7%). He generated 0.92 points per possession off a ball screen, which was in the 66th percentile in the NBA. But the Sixers did not have enough tenable options to pilot the offense off a ball screen.
Brown, again, is a reliable solution to that problem. He produced a similar efficiency to Maxey – 0.93 points per possession, good for the 70th percentile – on 6.4 such looks per game in 2025-26.
Against the Knicks in the first preseason game, he used an Ariel Hukporti screen and a slow dribble to get Anunoby on his back before exploiting Karl-Anthony Towns’ drop coverage and exploding through the open lane towards the basket.
Jaylen Brown exploits Knicks’ drop coverage by driving and putting back his own miss. https://t.co/pxgI5AdmBs
Brown’s effectiveness at coming off a ball screen, touching the paint and then making plays can contribute to opponents opting to switch ball screens. That’s how he becomes a nightmare for defenses to handle – and where he should thrive in Nurse’s offense. At 6-foot-6, 223 pounds, he can be a matchup problem for players both bigger and smaller than him.
He already has been as a Sixer. An Edgecombe screen forced the Nets to switch the 6-foot-4, 175-pound Keon Ellis onto Brown. Even with a help defender collapsing on him, he got to the basket and scored through contact.
Jaylen Brown scores a driving floater after forcing a switch via a VJ Edgecombe screen. https://t.co/Y6serlx6Gc
That’s how No. 7 tends to abuse switches onto guards: attacking the paint by dribbling into the post and overpowering them.
When he earns switches against bigs, he tends to rely on his twitchiness to get a jumper off, like he did on this fadeaway midrange look over Noah Clowney’s outstretched arm.
Jaylen Brown hits fadeaway jumper after Nets switch matchup between Brown and VJ Edgecombe. https://t.co/tdo5G6D5nA
Being the ball handler in a pick-and-roll isn’t the only way for Brown and the Sixers to create mismatches. He set a ball screen for Labaron Philon Jr. that Brooklyn switched between the 6-foot-8 Egor Demin and the 6-foot-8 Chaney Johnson.
Denim, a big guard, tried to get into Brown’s grill to throw him off. But this is where the former Finals MVP’s handle came into play. He absorbed the contact from Denim, ripped the ball across his chest, took a dribble between his legs and another back to his left hand before using his gather step to create enough separation for a silky 11-foot floater.
Jaylen Brown hits floater after creating a switch as the screener. https://t.co/IhNBNzd2QY
Brown’s unique combination of controlled strength and lithe explosiveness makes him the type of universal matchup beater that tends to thrive in a Nurse offense – and alleviate responsibility for the guys who’ve been burdened by it. He’s done just that through two games in a Sixers uniform.
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