Los Angeles Kings (0-2-1, in the Pacific Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (4-1, in the Pacific Division)
Paradise, Nevada; Saturday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights host the Los Angeles Kings after the Golden Knights took down the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in a shootout.
Vegas had a 39-26-17 record overall while going 19-7-6 against opponents from the Pacific Division last season. The Golden Knights gave up 3.0 goals per game while scoring 3.2 last season.
Los Angeles has gone 0-2-1 overall with a 0-0-1 record in Pacific Division games. The Kings have given up 15 goals while scoring nine for a -6 scoring differential.
The teams meet Saturday for the first time this season.
INJURIES: Golden Knights: Raphael Lavoie: day to day (undisclosed), Ben Hemmerling: out (undisclosed), Lukas Cormier: out (undisclosed), Victor Olofsson: out (undisclosed), Kai Uchacz: out (undisclosed).
Kings: Jakub Dvorak: out (upper-body), Kevin Fiala: out (leg), Jan Jenik: out (undisclosed).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
As the Premier League returns, we dive into the signing who could boost United’s midfield – or confuse things further
Carlos Baleba cost Manchester United $88.7m (£65m) plus $6.8m (£5m) in add-ons when they signed him from Brighton in August. He may be worth even more now despite the fact that the Cameroonian has yet to debut for his new club. Many United fans are counting on Baleba to be a one-man solution to their early-season problems. No pressure.
An ankle injury kept Baleba on the sidelines as Michael Carrick’s side struggled against Everton, Manchester City and Fulham. The 22-year-old joined United just a few days after the opening-weekend defeat to Hull City, so he’d already had a preview of his new team’s troubles to come. The scale of Baleba’s task has grown since then.
The last three games that the Vegas Golden Knights have met the Toronto Maple Leafs have been must-see television. A lot has been made of the fact that the announced attendance for Thursday’s Golden Knights home game was nearly 1,400 tickets short of a sellout. It’s a shame, really, because the people who might’ve sat in those 1,390 unsold seats missed one heck of a hockey game.
Tonight’s matchup had everything you could ask for. Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill had an in-game redemption arc, allowing three goals on the first seven he faced before stopping the next 18. Former Maple Leaf Mitch Marner made a great play that led to the Golden Knights’ second goal of the game. Jack Eichel even converted on the honest-to-god penalty shot that he was awarded.
But that’s not all. There was also a thrilling full five minutes of overtime. And in the ensuing shootout, a young Golden Knight got his first taste of how great it can feel to play hero in an NHL game.
Of course, none of this would be the case if not for the Golden Knights’ first successful multi-goal comeback of the season.
This team knows how to take a punch, and although falling behind 3-0 just 8:37 into the first period is one hell of an uppercut, the Golden Knights are nothing if not resilient. They simply tightened things up, put their heads down, and began to chip away at Toronto’s lead.
“Obviously not the start we wanted to have,” said Mitch Marner following the 4-3 shootout win. “But like last year, we’re a resilient team. We stay with it. We have a lot of confidence in our game throughout 60 minutes, and I thought we did a great job of that.”
“I like that we picked each other up,” agreed head coach Ryan Craig. “I like that we stayed with it, individually and as a team. I don’t like going down 3-0, but there’s something to be said for how we stuck together.”
1. An Up-Hill Climb
Things didn’t look great for Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill when Jack Roslovic scored on the Maple Leafs’ first shot of the game just 34 seconds into the first period. The outlook didn’t look any better when Easton Cowan doubled Toronto’s lead on their fifth shot, and it looked pretty bleak when Nick Paul made it 3-0 on the Maple Leafs’ seventh shot.
After that, Hill looked pretty exceptional. He didn’t allow another goal and went all-out to stop the next 18 shots he faced.
“I loved everybody’s response, including Adin Hill’s,” said head coach Ryan Craig following the 4-3 win. “I thought as our team got better, Hilly got better. He made some big saves in the second period there as we were pushing, and then allowed us to get it to overtime and then the shootout.”
Hill also stopped four of the five shots he faced in the shootout en route to his second win of the season.
“Hiller’s so calm and confident in himself, regardless of what happens before,” said Mitch Marner. “You saw that tonight; he just stayed with it. We have a lot of trust in either of our goalies, and when we needed him, he made some big saves.”
2. The Kids Are Alright
Despite having a roster chock-full of some of the league’s best offensive talent, Golden Knights head coach Ryan Craig sent 23-year-old Braeden Bowman over the boards first in his first NHL shootout. Three shooters later, Craig deployed 20-year-old Trevor Connelly.
They were the only two Golden Knights to convert, with Connelly’s goal standing as the game-winner.
“Oh, it’s awesome. It’s super cool for us. I think he kind of knows our ins and outs from Henderson, so I think it was super cool for him to put us both out there,” said Connelly of the opportunity following the win. “It just kind of shows the confidence that the group and the coaching staff has in us. This is such a tight group, and we all have each other’s backs, and all have trust in each other.”
“I’m comfortable enough [putting Bowman and Connelly out in the shootout] when we have NHL games on the line,” said head coach Ryan Craig following the 4-3 win. “There’s a lot of trust in all of our players… We saw Bowman do it in the preseason, and Trevor as well. I’ve seen them do that at the American Hockey League level. And at that point, it’s a one-on-one with the goalie. I thought those guys did a real good job… Nice for those guys to contribute.”
3. The Mitch is Back
Despite what the box score might suggest, the Golden Knights’ second line of William Karlsson, Mitch Marner, and Brett Howden has been pretty dangerous offensively. In 38 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time, Howden-Karlsson-Marner have generated 1.9 expected goals while allowing only 1.2 expected goals against.
Up until now, however, they’ve struggled to capitalize on those scoring chances.
“I’m sure everyone just looks at the score sheet and thinks that because we’re not scoring or doing anything,” said Marner following Thursday’s 4-3 shootout win. “But I think our line has done a lot of good things in these games. We haven’t been rewarded for it. We were tonight, which is great, and hopefully it gets things going for us a little more.”
The second line struggled at the start of tonight’s game, as did most of the team, and were on the ice for the first two Maple Leafs goals. After that, they were off to the races, holding a 17-12 edge in shots and scoring Vegas’ second goal of the night.
“They scored a real big goal for us tonight off a nice rush entry,” said head coach Ryan Craig. “They’ve done a lot of good things through the first five games… The message to them is to stay with it. Everything gets magnified at the start of the year. When you look at the stat sheet, and you’re four games in, that’s what happens at this time of year. If this is January, and they’re going through something like that, we’re probably not talking about it or looking at it in the same way.
“My message to those guys is, you’re helping us win hockey games,” Craig finished. “Stay with it. Your time will come.”
Nic Maddinson’s remarkable return to Test cricket has begun with a rusty knock, with the Aussie opener dismissed for a 33-ball duck in the first Test against South Africa.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a three pointer against the Sacramento Kings during the third quarter in a preseason game at Crypto.com Arena on October 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — After popping out to the 3-point line following a ballscreen, Sandro Mamukelashvili caught the ball at the top of the key. As Kings center Maxime Raynaud ran to close out, the 6-foot-10 Mamukelashvili dribbled to the right, then put the ball between his legs before making a step back 3-pointer.
On the very next possession, Bronny James drove by his man and swung the ball to Mamukelashvili in the corner for another 3-pointer.
Cash.
The sequence breathed some much-needed life into the Crypto.com Arena crowd, and the Georgian center introduced himself to the Lakers faithful. He finished the night with 19 points, three rebounds and four assists off the bench on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, helping the Lakers to a 114-110 win over Sacramento on Thursday.
Mamukelashvili signed a four-year, $52 million deal this offseason and brings a unique skillset the Lakers haven’t quite had at his position for a while. He’s the ultimate connector. A forward, traditionally, capable of scaling up and down on defense and dribbling, passing and shooting on offense.
“I’m a basketball player,” Mamukelashvili said after Thursday’s win. “To be honest, wherever you put me, I’ll try to do my best.”
That’s exactly what he’s done. Through three preseason games, and with Walker Kessler yet to make his debut, he’s had to play backup center, starting center and has spent some time at the four next to Kevon Looney. He’s averaged 14 points and 3.7 assists in 19.4 minutes per game on 57.1/57.1/100 shooting splits.
“I thought [Mamukelashvili] was great today,” said Austin Reaves, who made his preseason debut Thursday after missing the first two games due to a tweaked ankle. “We just got to keep giving him confidence to be himself. He’s really good offensively and communicates defensively, but we need him to be himself. He doesn’t need to try and fit in for anybody.
“Early in training camp he was trying too hard to not disappoint anybody instead of just playing basketball the way that he knows how to play basketball … Like I said, we want him to be him and if he does that, he’s going to be really, really big for us.”
Mamukelashvili admits he’s still learning. His versatility comes withthe need to be — well — versatile. Many of his responsibilities change depending on the lineup on the floor. Defensively, when he’s at the five, he’s got to know his coverages, make sure he’s not too far from the ball handler, but also not too close to the rim. When he’s at the four, he needs to be physical and vocal and make sure he’s sticking to his guy.
“It’s a learning curve for me, for sure,” he said. “[Assistant] coach Lindsey [Harding] is doing an amazing job just in explaining and we work on it after shootarounds and after practices. … staying vocal on the court helps me because it kind of keeps my mind going all the time, and you just can’t relax.”
His skillset fits seamlessly around anyone. His contract, though, means that skillset has to be conducive to winning, whether it be now or sometimes in the four years he’s under contract. But for now, Mamukelashvili is just focused on getting better:
“I’m trying to get better. I’m trying to be more physical. I’m trying to not get out-rebounded. But you know, third game, and I’m sure I’m just gonna keep getting better.”
LAIE, Hawaii – Social media still was at its infant stage when Steph Curry was drafted by the Warriors in 2009.
The first iPhone was released two years prior in 2007, and Twitter came a year before that. Facebook was just passing MySpace in popularity as Curry made the move to the Bay Area. Podcasts were kind of around, but far from their eventual rise into everyday life, and Instagram hadn’t even been born.
Curry always has heard the noise, well before anybody could have an opinion on a myriad of platforms. He saw the headlines about being too small at little Davidson College, and he knew the doubts about his brittle ankles early in his Warriors career. Now that hot takes have become part of the air we breathe, Curry continues to be every bit in the know about the.
Since Kevin Durant’s departure in 2019, and even more so since the Warriors’ last championship in 2022, the theme has been Curry being let down by the franchise’s decision makers. That they haven’t given him enough help as he ages and pushes his prime further than they could have guessed. He doesn’t ignore the talking points, nor does he allow them to affect him and his team.
There are sprinkles Curry can understand, and others he shakes his head at.
“I’m not an idiot,” Curry says to NBC Sports Bay Area in an exclusive interview after the Warriors’ fourth day of training camp in Hawaii. “I know what it means in the sense of that window we had. We were coming off of ‘22, there were opportunities to get better, add new talent, and some worked out, some didn’t, and the jury is still out on how we end this entire journey with a competitive mindset.
“We knew there’s never really going to be a scenario where we’re going to be in the favorites conversation from a championship-contending perspective. … So, all I have to say, I’ve had a really amazing career and journey. I want to win. All the other chatter doesn’t necessarily matter to me in terms of how I grade our seasons.”
The Warriors have lost in the second round of the NBA playoffs twice since their 2022 championship, and failed to reach the playoffs entirely twice. They’ve been an NBA play-in tournament team each of the last three years, hitting a new low of 37 wins last season. Curry missed 39 games to injury last season, and his new normal is life with runner’s knee.
Jimmy Butler is rehabbing a torn right ACL he sustained in January, 11 days before Curry went down. Moses Moody is rehabbing a ruptured left patellar tendon, and Kristaps Porziņģis’ health status is a walking question mark. Dynasty is a word of the Warriors’ past. Expectations haven’t been lower in what feels like forever.
Experts predicted the Warriors could win north of 50 games last season after the promise of Butler’s arrival at the 2025 NBA trade deadline. Then came an awkward offseason, a slow start to the regular season and injuries no team can survive. The same 37 wins the Warriors ended last season with are about what’s being predicted of them for this upcoming season.
Internally, the Warriors are cautiously optimistic of their outlook. Externally, an aging team welcomes doubts and more challenges.
“We’re embracing all of it,” Curry says. “It’s just funny and more entertaining with the external conversations and chatter about us, because we want to be relevant, we want to be competitive. We all know that. And when we’re not, it’s loud, so we embrace it.”
Curry had his Jim Mora moment at media day. He was flabbergasted at the thought of the Warriors not even being a playoff team, but along with missing them in two of the previous four seasons, the Warriors have been without a playoff appearance in four the last seven seasons.
Greatness and irrational confidence can be siblings on a basketball court. Curry’s still a dreamer who has climbed the NBA’s tallest mountains and at the top celebrated being a four-time champion. He’s also a realist who might need to squint through binoculars to get a glimpse at the start of his next hike.
It didn’t go unnoticed when Curry, at the podium in Phoenix after the Warriors’ play-in tournament exit, said the Warriors don’t need to keep saying “championship, championship, championship” every day. He knew a shift in mindset, and maybe even philosophy, was needed.
He has commended Steve Kerr’s ability to adapt and change, bringing a new offense that veterans like Curry and Draymond Green will have to be on board with, and adding a new voice with a wealth of knowledge in Frank Vogel to lead the defense. Curry isn’t blind to where the Warriors are, and the word “championship” still isn’t leaving his vocabulary going into Year 18.
“Of course, we’re going to use the championship word. Of course, that’s the mentality,” Curry says. “It’s why we work as hard as we do, and you have to kind of have that in the back of your mind as a goal. But the last couple years, we’ve maybe talked about it too much, where you’re not really just honing in on the details of what it means to just play good basketball, and then the habits then produce a championship caliber team.”
Further explaining himself, Curry takes a stroll down memory lane. Not to the dynasty years of five straight trips to the NBA Finals from 2015 through 2019, but to the building blocks that stacked on top of one another and created a castle of dominance.
“That’s kind of going back to ‘13, ‘14, and kind of reminding ourselves what it took to get to that level,” Curry continues. “It’s OK to take a step back and be honest about yourself that we didn’t play well enough to have the audacity to even say that word. We have to earn that back.”
Looking in the mirror and taking the easy way out could have been Curry’s next course of direction. It’s not who he is, what he’s made of and how he’ll ever operate. He’s a Warrior through and through. He’s a Warrior for life.
The lifespan of being in a Warriors jersey is shrinking, and that isn’t to say Curry will ever look elsewhere. Curry is 38 years old and under contract for two more years, plus a player option for a third. The Warriors aren’t rebuilding, nor are they reloading. Not yet, at least.
Their greatest player ever is trusting a new process towards the end of his career and walking the tightrope that few, if any, have survived to the other side.
Curry mocked reporters who said he wouldn’t win another championship by putting up a zero against his right eye at the podium in 2022, and screamed, “What are they gonna say now!?!” while soaked from champagne inside in the Warriors’ locker room. The final chapter is now here, and the competitor within remains.
“That’s always been the case, and it never changes,” Curry says of still chasing one last title. “That’s why we work so hard. It’s why the energy of starting a new year is so fresh, because all 30 teams, within reason, feel like they can have a great year. And if that ends up being a chance for a championship, then you know everything that has to go into that.
“You need good fortune health-wise. You need the team identity to kind of take shape quick, and all the ups and downs of an 82-game season. That’s why the NBA is in such a great place, because it’s a fresh opportunity every year.”
Opportunities for Curry and the Warriors are dwindling as each page turns. The book hasn’t been closed, and as Curry the realist soaks each day in, the dreamer inside him has created countless believers. He’s rearing to buckle up for one last ride, accepting the unknown of where the road will lead.
The Phillies’ season has ended, but 10 of their prospects are continuing their seasons in the Arizona Fall League.
The group is headlined by Aidan Miller, the organization’s No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 59 overall prospect. Miller is one of nine Phillies playing for the Surprise Saguaros. Catcher Luke Davis is playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions.
The Fall League features prospects from all 30 major-league organizations across six teams. Each team plays a 30-game schedule. The season began Oct. 3 and concludes with the championship game Nov. 14.
This tracker will be updated throughout the Fall League season.
Last updated: Oct. 8
Statistics through games played Oct. 7
Surprise was off Wednesday. Davis did not appear in Scottsdale’s 4-3 win over Peoria.
Phillies position-player tracker
Player
Team
G
H-AB
AVG/OBP/SLG
HR
RBI
SB
Aidan Miller
Surprise
2
3-7
.429/.667/.429
0
0
0
Aroon Escobar
Surprise
2
1-8
.125/.222/.125
0
0
0
Dante Nori
Surprise
2
2-10
.200/.200/.400
0
1
0
Kehden Hettiger
Surprise
2
3-8
.375/.500/.625
0
0
1
Luke Davis
Scottsdale
2
0-3
.000/.500/.000
0
0
0
Phillies pitching tracker
Player
G
IP
ERA
WHIP
K
BB
SV
Keegan Batka
1
1.0
18.00
2.00
1
0
0
Ryan Dromboski
1
3.1
0.00
1.20
1
1
0
Estibenzon Jiménez
1
1.0
0.00
0.00
2
0
1
Kevin Warunek
1
1.0
9.00
2.00
1
0
0
Andrew Walling
1
1.0
0.00
1.00
1
0
0
Aidan Miller, INF
Miller entered 2026 as the Phillies’ top-ranked position-player prospect, but a back injury kept him out until September and required surgery in June.
He returned to play four regular-season games between the Florida Complex League and Double-A Reading, going 4-for-12 with three doubles, two walks and two RBIs. Miller remained with Reading during its run to the Eastern League championship and started all four playoff games at third base, his first professional action at the position.
Miller was originally assigned to the Arizona Fall League in 2025 but did not play because of his back. He has started at third base and designated hitter through his first two games this fall.
He opened the Fall League with one hit and two walks against Scottsdale. Miller followed by reaching base five times against Glendale, going 2-for-3 with two walks and a hit by pitch.
Aroon Escobar, INF
Escobar spent the entire 2026 season with Reading, where he hit .230 with a .332 on-base percentage and .347 slugging percentage in 132 games. He finished with 12 home runs, 17 doubles, 69 RBIs and 27 stolen bases.
His production improved late in the season. Escobar hit .372 with three home runs and 11 RBIs over 12 games in September.
Escobar is eligible for the Rule 5 draft this offseason. The Phillies must add him to their 40-man roster to prevent another organization from selecting him.
He went 1-for-4 with a walk in his Fall League debut before going hitless in four at-bats against Salt River.
Dante Nori, OF
Nori is the only member of this year’s Phillies group who also played in the 2025 Arizona Fall League.
The Phillies’ 2024 first-round selection was limited to 67 games with Reading this season because of a stress fracture in his hip. He hit .244 with a .318 on-base percentage and .360 slugging percentage, recording three home runs, five triples, 13 doubles, 26 RBIs and 17 stolen bases.
Nori also represented Italy in the World Baseball Classic before beginning his minor-league season.
He opened the Fall League by going 2-for-5 with a triple, one RBI and one run scored against Scottsdale. He went hitless in five at-bats in his second game.
Kehden Hettiger, C/1B
Hettiger played 61 games for Reading in 2026, hitting .191 with a .317 on-base percentage and .348 slugging percentage. He recorded eight home runs, eight doubles and 20 RBIs.
The left-handed-hitting catcher missed time with knee injuries during the season. He did not play during August before returning to Reading in September.
Hettiger threw out 24 percent of attempted base stealers during the regular season.
He has three hits and two walks through his first two Fall League games. Two of his three hits have been doubles.
Luke Davis, C/1B
Davis is the lone Phillies player not playing for Surprise. Scottsdale needed another catcher, so Davis was assigned to the Scorpions while the other nine Phillies prospects joined the Saguaros.
Davis hit .201 with a .367 on-base percentage and .336 slugging percentage over 188 plate appearances in 2026. He finished with four home runs and 23 RBIs while playing primarily for High-A Jersey Shore.
He drew 39 walks against 51 strikeouts during the regular season.
Davis walked in his lone plate appearance in Scottsdale’s opener against Surprise. He then went 0-for-3 with two walks against Mesa. He is hitless in three at-bats but has reached base three times through two games.
Keegan Batka, RHP
Batka began the season with Single-A Clearwater and finished it with Reading.
The 24-year-old made 35 relief appearances across three levels, posting a 3.14 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 51⅔ innings. He struck out 69 batters, walked 17 and recorded seven saves.
Batka began the season with 12⅓ consecutive scoreless innings over his first 10 appearances with Clearwater. He later pitched 24 games for Jersey Shore before making one appearance for Reading.
He allowed two earned runs on two hits over one inning in his Fall League debut.
Ryan Dromboski, RHP
Dromboski made 18 starts and one relief appearance between Jersey Shore and Reading. He went 3-10 with a 5.56 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 81 innings, striking out 80 and walking 40.
The South Jersey native spent most of the season with Jersey Shore, where he posted a 4.89 ERA over 73⅔ innings. He allowed four earned runs over his final 20⅔ innings at that level.
Dromboski made two starts for Reading in September. He struck out eight over five innings in his second Double-A start.
He worked 3⅓ scoreless innings in his Fall League debut, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out one.
Estibenzon Jiménez, RHP
Jiménez pitched exclusively as a reliever in 2026 after making 60 starts over his first five professional seasons.
The right-hander went 7-0 with a 2.38 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 35 appearances across four levels. He struck out 51 batters over 45⅓ innings and converted all seven of his save opportunities.
Jiménez spent most of the season with Reading, where he posted a 2.84 ERA and recorded seven saves in 28 appearances.
He earned the save in his first Fall League appearance, striking out two during a perfect ninth inning against Salt River.
Kevin Warunek, LHP
Warunek made 17 appearances across four levels during a season that included multiple stints on the injured list.
The left-hander went 3-0 with a 3.43 ERA and 1.48 WHIP over 21 innings. He struck out 26 and walked 12.
Warunek pitched for the Florida Complex League Phillies, Clearwater, Jersey Shore and Reading. His final regular-season appearance came with Reading on Sept. 12, when he worked one scoreless inning.
He allowed one earned run on two hits over one inning in his Fall League debut against Salt River. Warunek struck out one and did not issue a walk.
Andrew Walling, LHP
Walling replaced Jose Peña Jr. on the Surprise roster. Peña remained at the Phillies’ complex in Clearwater while recovering from elbow discomfort.
Walling was limited to 11 appearances with Triple-A Lehigh Valley after suffering an elbow sprain. He went 0-1 with a 9.58 ERA and one save over 10⅓ innings. The left-hander struck out 16 and walked 15.
Walling was placed on the injured list in May and transferred to the 60-day injured list in July.
He allowed one hit over a scoreless inning in his Fall League debut against Salt River. Walling struck out one, did not issue a walk and needed 12 pitches to complete the inning.
Which Phillies played in Arizona last year?
Eight Phillies prospects appeared for Surprise during the 2025 Arizona Fall League season:
Dante Nori, OF
Bryan Rincon, INF
Dylan Campbell, OF/INF
Eiberson Castellano, RHP
Jack Dallas, RHP
Jaydenn Estanista, RHP
Daniel Harper, RHP
Tommy McCollum, RHP
Miller and Carson DeMartini were included in the Phillies’ original group, but neither played. Campbell and Rincon replaced them before the season began.
Nori hit .308 with a .386 on-base percentage and .436 slugging percentage in 12 games. He recorded one home run, two doubles, seven RBIs and two stolen bases.
Campbell hit .304 with a .419 on-base percentage and .625 slugging percentage in 19 games. He finished with four home runs, one triple, four doubles and 16 RBIs.
Dallas allowed one earned run over nine innings. Estanista posted a 5.63 ERA with 10 strikeouts over eight innings. McCollum recorded a 3.60 ERA with seven strikeouts over five innings.
Surprise defeated Peoria, 9-4, to win the 2025 Arizona Fall League championship.
LeBron James was named the NBA Finals' Most Valuable Player all four times his team won the NBA title [Getty Images]
LeBron James said it's "going to take some time" for his new team-mates to gel after suffering defeat on his debut for the Philadelphia 76ers in a pre-season game.
The 41-year-old American joined the 76ers in July for what he says will be his final contract in the NBA following a glittering career.
James is the highest points scorer in the history of the league and is entering a record-extending 24th NBA season.
James scored 10 points and added four rebounds, five assists and a steal in 18 first-half minutes as his side fell to a 114-108 defeat by the Brooklyn Nets.
"We're still trying to put each other in the position to be successful and complement each other the best way we can on the floor. But it's going to take some time," said James.
"Tonight was a good sample size for us to build on."
James played alongside new team-mates Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown, with the latter leading the scoring with 18 points.
James has won titles with every NBA side he has played for, including two with the Miami Heat, one with the Cleveland Cavaliers and another with the Los Angeles Lakers.
He left the Lakers this summer after spending eight years with the franchise.
James has been named the NBA's Most Valuable Player four times, all between 2009 and 2013, and has been an NBA All-Star the last 22 seasons running.
He is aiming to help the 76ers win their first NBA title in 43 years.
LAS VEGAS -- A three-goal deficit gave way to a rookie's shootout winner and a veteran goaltender's recovery Thursday night.
Trevor Connelly scored in the fifth round of the shootout, and Adin Hill stopped John Tavares to complete the Vegas Golden Knights' 4-3 comeback victory over the Toronto Maple Leafsat T-Mobile Arena.
Vegas improved to 4-1-0 with its third consecutive win.
"I think as a group, we just came together and kind of took over the game by our style of hockey," Connelly said.
Toronto built a 3-0 lead in the opening 8:37 before Mark Stone scored late in the first period. Brett Howden converted Mitch Marner's gem early in the second, and Jack Eichel tied it on a penalty shot at 3:58.
Eichel added an assist, extending his point-and-assist streak to five games and bringing his season total to 12 points.
Hill made 21 saves and denied four of five shootout attempts. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 40 shots for Toronto.
Braeden Bowman also scored for Vegas in the shootout, while Kirill Marchenko provided Toronto's lone conversion.
KEY MOMENT: Connelly's Game Winner
With the shootout tied after four rounds, Connelly delivered the breakthrough, beating Bobrovsky with a backhand-forehand move in the fifth round. The rookie leaned on a finish he had rehearsed rather than changing his approach under pressure.
"That's a move that I've kind of been doing in practice a bit, and it's seemed to work a lot," Connelly said. "So kind of just trusted what's been working in practice."
Hill then stopped Tavares to secure Vegas' third straight victory and complete the comeback.
KEY STAT: Shots Aplenty, But No PP
Vegas outshot Toronto 36-15 after the first period, including a 21-8 advantage in the second as the Knights erased the remaining two-goal deficit. They maintained that pressure with an 11-4 edge in the third and finished ahead 43-24 overall, forcing Bobrovsky to make 40 saves.
The comeback also came without a power-play goal: Vegas went 0-for-4 after converting in each of its first four games. Howden's even-strength goal and Eichel's penalty-shot finish supplied the second-period scoring that brought Vegas level.
WHAT A KNIGHT: Adin Hill.
After surrendering three goals in the opening 8:37, Hill held Toronto scoreless for the rest of regulation and overtime. His shootout stops included a glove save on William Nylander and a game-ending stop on Tavares. Marner praised Hill's composure after the early goals and emphasized his teammates' confidence in him.
"I feel like Hilly's so calm and confident himself, regardless of what happens before, so you see that tonight," Marner said. "Just stayed with it. We have a lot of trust in either of those boys in net. So, when we needed him massively, he made some big saves."
UP NEXT
Vegas hosts the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday at 7 p.m. PT.
PHOTO CAPTION
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) stops a shot from Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (91) during a shootout at T-Mobile Arena.
ST.
LOUIS – You hear the term that pucks eventually start to go into
the net when you’re doing other good things on the ice.
The
St. Louis Blues are doing a lot of good things; they just aren’t
completing the finished product. That finished product is scoring,
and in the early part of the NHL season when goals seem to be going
in by the bushel, the Blues can’t buy goals.
It
cost them again on Thursday
when they created plenty of scoring opportunities, led twice but
ultimately fell to the San Jose Sharks, 3-2 in overtime, at
Enterprise Center on Thursday.
The
Blues fell to 1-2-1 on the season and are off to the kind of slower
start that they were looking to avoid, losing their third in a row
after a season-opening 4-0 win against the Dallas Stars.
To
the game and the pivotal points …
*
Blues’ top line is doing them no favors right now – Robert
Thomas, Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud created ample
opportunities, probably more so than they have in the previous four
games this season.
The
puck is simply not going into the net for them. No better examples
were when Thomas pulled a puck into the slot and rang the post in a
2-2 game, and then he had the winning goal on his stick – also in
the slot – and a yawning, empty cage staring at him, only to see
San Jose’s Kiefer Sherwood get a stick on the shot attempt and push
it over the bar.
So
when they’re not scoring, they sure as heck better be good
defensively, but that wasn’t the case on San Jose’s tying goal by
Collin Graf at 6:05
of the third period that tied the game 2-2.
In
the shift, Thomas lost the puck twice, Pavel Buchnevich – who had
taken Snuggerud’s spot on the shift – lost it a third time,
Holloway wasn’t hard enough on a puck in the righthand corner that
Sam Dickinson threw into the crease area before it caromed off Adam
Jiricek right to Graf in the slot.
“You’re
up 2-1 and you’re towards the end of a shift, pucks go deep and you
just keep grinding them down,” Blues
coach Jim Montgomery said.
‘You keep your shifts short, you keep staying on top of them. I use
the term when you’re up by a goal in the third period, you skate
‘em into the ground, and that means you never stop checking. You
can only do that if you’re maintaining short shifts and you’re
playing north.”
The
line on Thursday generated 15 shot attempts (five on net) but Thomas
(three) and Snuggerud (five) missed the net a combined eight times.
You’d
be concerned if they weren’t generating, but when you’re paid to
score and you’re not, then other areas of the game need to be up to
par and when you’re giving up without putting away, then it
continues to be a concern.
“In
this league, they want to be putting the puck in the back of the net
and I thought they did a lot of great things really well, and as long
as they’re creating chances, they’re eventually going to drop,”
said
Blues forward Connor McMichael.
‘I’ve seen it many times from them.”
*
Generating
chances plus finishing chances isn’t equaling out – For all the
chances the Blues are generating, the finished product just isn’t
equating.
When
they led early in the hockey game on a beautiful give-and-go sequence
between McMichael and Mason McTavish (more on them below), there were
ample opportunities to extend that lead with several quality scoring
chances.
The
Blues outshot the Sharks, who were thoroughly beaten 5-0 on Monday
against the Dallas Stars, 11-3 in the first period but led by just
one goal thanks to a lack of finishing again.
“I
thought for the majority of the game, our process was really good,”
Montgomery
said.
‘Right now, if we fell out of a boat and we were trying to score a
goal, we would not hit the ocean, and it’s causing problems.
There’s frustration coming because we’re not scoring, and it’s
hard to stick with the process when you’re getting frustrated. We
just have to keep working. I thought in the third period we came out
and again we started to dictate play really well, and we were
dictating play and even though we ended up shorthanded, we get that
great goal shorthanded; our penalty kill’s been really good so far
this year.
“I
thought we were in complete control of the game and we need to be
comfortable winning 2-1. It’s like we want to try and win 3-, 4-1.
It’s mistakes we made that allowed them to score that second goal
and you end up in overtime and anything can happen in 3-on-3 hockey.
Unfortunately we were on the wrong end of it.”
In
a time when scoring is way up because of the shortened training camp
and only four preseason games, the Blues have scored a grand total of
nine goals (including two empty-netters) in four games.
“I
think we were the better team for most of the game,” McMichael
said.
“We kind of just got up by one and kept falling asleep and let them
back into the game and that’s the type of stuff that hurts you in
this league.
We’ve got to tighten that up.
“…
I
think we’re generating chances. I think we’d obviously like to
see a couple more go into the back of the net, but that’s not
really an excuse. We’ve got to find a way to win those 2-1 games
when we’re not scoring as many as we would like to. It’s just
something where we’re going to have to go to the drawing board and
get better from.”
Montgomery
said, “In
three of our four games, I’m not positive of this one yet, but I’m
assuming we have more Grade A chances 5-on-5. This would be three out
of four. So our process of what we believe in, getting more Grade A
chances of winning the net front battles, which we’re doing
consistently again this year; the only game that we haven’t done
those things is the Colorado game and as you would have guessed, but
besides that, there’s a lot of positives that are coming. The fact
that we’re not scoring is causing the results to be magnified in
the wrong direction. If we are a process-oriented team, we look at
what the numbers are telling us, and in practice, our players need to
bear down and score goals. Scoring’s a habit just like skating fast
and stopping and starting and creating good habits, screening the
goalie. Those are things we’ve got to bury. I think we missed a
couple open nets tonight and you think, ‘Oh jeez, they just got
their stick on it,’ but if you do it in practice, then it just
becomes natural. You try to bury the puck right through the net, make
a hole in the net like
Brett Hull would.”
In that case, if you're the better team in three of four games, you can't be losing to the woeful Chicago Blackhawks (4-2 on Tuesday) without Connor Bedard, and you can't be losing Thursday when the Sharks were playing without their rising star and captain, Macklin Celebrini.
*
Moral
victories don’t count – Montgomery saying the Blues have been the
better team in three of their first four games, he isn’t off one
iota. But the bottom line is they have three of a possible eight
points. If you’re the better team in three of the first four games,
that’s not good enough then.
“It
was a hard-fought game I think by both teams,” said
Blues defenseman Cam Fowler, who had a had strong game playing 22:43.
“I certainly think we gave ourselves an opportunity to win the
game. Only coming away with one point is disappointing, but there’s
a lot that we can build off of as well, some points that we can work
on moving forward and getting ready for Saturday.”
*
McMichael-McTavish-Berggren
line continues to flourish – One of the biggest questions coming in
was would the Blues have ample enough support from the second line
this season to balance out the scoring.
Who
would have thought that just four games in, there would be no worry
regarding the McTavish line and plenty to worry about with the Thomas
line?
McMichael’s
goal came as a result of Berggren disrupting the play in the neutral
zone near the Blues’ bench, McMichael skating in with speed, and he
and McTavish doing the rest for a backdoor tap-in:
St. Louis goal!
Scored by Connor McMichael with 16:08 left in the 1st. Assisted by Mason McTavish and Jonatan Berggren.
“Yes
and Berggren. Berggren’s playing really well,” Montgomery said.
‘Ever since we put Berggren up with those two, that line’s been
our best line for two games in a row, generating the most chances,
controlling the game, making solid plays coming out of the D-zone and
leading to really good O-zone play. Very happy with that chemistry on
that line right now.”
McMichael
said, “I
think (the
chemistry’s)
been really good. It’s been easy for me, to be honest. Coming to
the Blues at the same time as (McTavish),
it’s been like a breath of fresh air having another guy in the same
scenario as me. We’ve been bouncing a lot of things off of each
other and just looking to keep that rolling.”
McMichael
is a point-per-game player (two goals, two assists) so far, and
McTavish has two goals and an assist, and Berggren picked up his
first point Thursday.
*
Penalty kill continues to shine, leads to a shorthanded goal – At
the start of the third period, the Blues had 1:56 to kill off a
Brandon Carlo delay of game minor.
It
came at a crucial time in a 1-1 game. Kill it, then settle in and try
to win the game.
Who
would have imagined a shorthanded goal to put the Blues ahead? But
that’s what Dillon Dube did when he made it 2-1 at 1:39 of the
third period off a 2-on-1 rush with Buchnevich, then keeping the puck
and beating Alex Nedeljkovic into the top right corner:
But I'd like to see saves on the first Sharks goal scored by Tyler Toffoli and you could make the case that even on Darnell Nurse's overtime goal, it wasn't an overly aggressive or pinpoint accuracy shot, more so right through Hofer.
It's hard to put much on the goaltending, but in those moments, one could make the case for a little more.
*
Individual standouts – Including Fowler, who we mentioned, Colton
Parayko looks really confident right now jumping into the offense and
looking to create havoc in the O-zone.
Parayko,
who passed Barret Jackman into sole possession of second place for
all-time games played in Blues history (804), played
23:23.
Philip
Broberg (24:25) had a really solid game as well, also jumping into
the rush and attacking when the situations arose.
Pius
Suter, who had a really solid shorthanded shift who finished with
11:13 of ice time, played well, as did Carlo (18:38 ice time).
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Jordi Fernández has constantly preached that he wants his Nets to play hard and disrupt defensively. It’s only preseason, but so far he has gotten just that.
And there was no clearer example than one picture worth a thousand words in Thursday night’s 114-108 win over Philadelphia, with Julius Randle hustling and pressing and diving on the floor for a loose ball.
That’s a soon-to-be 32-year-old veteran whose attitude was questioned in Minnesota.
“I mean, you said it, three-time All-Star, has been in the playoffs multiple times, and he’s coming here and the first one to dive on the floor and to pick up full court,” Fernández said. “I couldn’t ask for a better leader and a better vet right there, or a grown-up — because obviously he’s not old. He’s a very young player.
“Very happy because we need that and that’s contagious. Those to me [are] what we call winning plays, right? You dive for a ball, you get it, and then we score. So that picks up the momentum and the energy in the building. So very, very happy with that play And there [were] other plays where we tried to do the same thing.”
Randle finished with a team-high 14 points and a team-high-tying six rebounds, along with two steals and two assists in 21:37.
Julius Randle shoots a jumper over Joel Embiid during the Nets’ 114-108 preseason win over the 76ers on Oct. 8, 2026 in Philadelphia. Heather Khalifa for New York Post
The power forward said that he and Fernández have discussed his playing some small-ball center in five-out schemes.
Michael Porter Jr. (left wrist soreness), Day’Ron Sharpe (left shoulder soreness), Mikel Brown Jr. (ankle recovery) and Joshua Jefferson (lower back) were all out.
It’s unclear if any will play Monday in Washington.
“I don’t know,” Fernández said. “We’ll see how they feel. Mike was just sore. Mikel is doing a great job, getting close to get back. So we’ll assess them. … We have a day off [Friday], see how they feel coming back and making those decisions. But we’re happy with where everybody is right now health-wise.”
The Nets have signed guard Dion Brown.
Mo Wagner started in place of Sharpe.
He said he’s still getting used to Brookyn’s defense, but he notched a game-high four steals.
Chaney Johnson added two more steals, along with a couple of blocks.
“I take a lot of pride in my defense. That’s my calling card,” Johnson told The Post.
Johnson, on a two-way contract, played a lot of center Thursday at just 6-foot-8.
“Yeah, his versatility, multi-positional, really strong, can guard multiple positions,” Fernández said. “He can play on both sides of the floor [and] played multiple positions.”
Lakers stars Austin Reaves, left, and Luka Doncic stand on the court during a 114-110 preseason win over the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday night. (Luke Hales / Getty Images)
And though it was just a preseason game Thursday night, Doncic and Reaves showed why they form one of the most dynamic offensive backcourts in the NBA.
The Lakers duo linked up on the very first play against the Sacramento Kings, with Reaves passing to Doncic as he cut to the basket before scoring while being fouled.
Both played 25 minutes, with Doncic finishing with 23 points on six-for-16 shooting during the Lakers’ 114-110 win over the Kings at Crypto.com Arena. Reaves had eight points on two-for-seven shooting, eight assists and five rebounds.
Doncic, who picked up a technical foul with six minutes and 48 seconds left in the third quarter, and Reaves, who played in his first exhibition game after missing the first two, gave the fans something to be excited about.
Doncic’s moment came in the second quarter when he drilled a 31-foot, one-legged three-pointer off a pass from Sandro Mamukelashvili (19 points).
Reaves’ moment came late in the second quarter when he had a nice hesitation move that froze Emanuel Sharp, allowing him to waltz along the baseline for a layup.
Lakers coach JJ Redick explained why Doncic and Reaves have been so close in their time playing together.
“I think there’s good chemistry with each other,” Redick said. “I think it’s just the natural way they like each other. They like playing together. I think having them together means there’s automatically two ballhandlers on the court. I think that’s like an underrated part of the NBA now ... having two-to-three ballhandlers on the floor at all times.”
Injury update
Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton both missed their third straight preseason game and Ziaire Williams missed his second straight game. Cameron Carr, Dalton Knecht and Arthur Kaluma also didn’t play.
Kessler, the Lakers’ big acquisition at center from the Utah Jazz, has been nursing a finger injury he sustained after hitting the backboard during practice.
“We’ve got to check in tomorrow. ... It’s not concerning. He’ll play in the preseason,” Redick said.
Redick said Williams had “some soreness, but it’s not anything that we’re concerned about.”
Bruce Brown had a solid season last year in Denver. He averaged eight points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal in 24 minutes per game. He played all 82 games for the Nuggets and was a fixture of their rotation.
He's just 30 years old. Under previous collective bargaining agreements, a player of Brown’s archetype would get guaranteed money and probably a guaranteed spot in someone’s rotation.
But in the second apron era of today’s NBA, players of Brown's ilk aren't getting those opportunities.
That’s why the nine-year vet agreed to a non-guaranteed training camp deal with the Knicks.
“I played every single game last year. I thought I played well enough to have a guaranteed spot on a team. That wasn’t the case, so now it’s time to just fight and get a job,” Brown said after a solid showing in New York’s preseason loss to Washington.
“Hopefully play well in the preseason. Whatever you do on this stage, even if it doesn’t work out, just giving yourself an opportunity to showcase yourself to teams.”
Entering training camp, the Knicks signed a group of veteran centers and veteran wings to compete for roster spots. New York will not go into the second apron this season. So the club only has enough salary for one veteran. The Knicks would need to trade a player on an NBA deal if they wanted to keep both a wing and a center on their roster.
New York doesn’t have a third center on a guaranteed deal. So it makes sense for the Knicks to keep a big man – whether it’s James Wiseman, Drew Eubanks or Tony Bradley.
Brown, though, is putting together a strong case for a roster spot in New York.
“Everything I’ve seen from (Brown from) afar and as a competitor, I’ve seen within these couple weeks here,” Jalen Brunson said after the Washington game. “He brings a lot to the table. Just him being in the league for a long time gives him an advantage mentally. Physically, I think the things that he can do for us can be very helpful.”
At the moment, no NBA team has surpassed the second apron in team salary. It is not a hard cap, so teams are voluntarily staying below the apron. But they lose several roster-building tools if they exceed the second apron. (ESPN’s Bobby Marks explains those restrictions here)
Brown is one of dozens of veterans getting squeezed by the apron rules. According to spotrac.com, the Nuggets are the only team with a salary above the second apron. And they will presumably make some moves to duck below the apron before the end of the NBA calendar year.
“The new CBA is good for certain players, right? Max guys, top free agents and maybe rookie extension guys,” Brown said. “But other than that, like the middle guys, it kind of sucks for us. As you see, there’s not that many people getting that full midlevel (exception) anymore – or even the tax midlevel (exception). It’s tough, but that's just the way it is right now. So each time you're out there, you've just to play your best and hope for the best.”
IT WAS ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS
Hours before tipoff of the Knicks’ Game 5 win in San Antonio, a Jalen Brunson tweet from exactly 11 years prior resurfaced on Twitter.
“One win away”
The Knicks would go on to win Game 5 and the NBA title on June 13, 2026. Eleven years to the day since Brunson’s tweet.
No, Brunson wasn’t predicting an NBA Finals win that night. He said the tweet was a reference to the Chicago Blackhawks, who were one win away from winning the Stanley Cup.
For Knicks fans who saw the tweet on the day of Game 5 in June, it probably felt like fate.
It turned out to be one more remarkable element of the Knicks’ title run.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 8: Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 8, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With Austin Reaves back in the lineup, the Lakers picked up their second win over the Kings this preseason, winning 114-110 on Thursday.
LA built up a big lead with the starters and regular rotation members on the floor, then saw it dwindle away in garbage time to make the score look much closer than the game ever was.
What was consistent throughout was how sloppy the game was as the two teams combined for 50 turnovers. LA also struggled on the glass, allowing 20 offensive rebounds. They made up for it by getting to the line 38 times.
Luka opened the game with an and-one on the Lakers’ first possession before Austin found a soaring Adou Thiero for a dunk to open up the game in style for LA.
Sacramento did hold an early 10-7 lead, but an 8-0 run featuring threes from Luka and Jake LaRavia pushed LA ahead.
Still, it was a back-and-forth first quarter that saw neither team leading by more than five. Luka was up to his hot-starting ways with 10 points in the opening frame, but the rest of the team had 11 as the Lakers led 21-20 after one.
After falling behind 22-21 early in the second frame, the Lakers exploded for a 19-3 run to blow the game open.
Nearly all of the scoring in the run was done from beyond the arc with threes coming from LaRavia, Luka, Austin, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Matisse Thybulle.
Mamu was one of the stars of the second period with nine points while Austin really found his groove in the frame, scoring six points while dishing four dimes.
A 15-point Lakers lead was trimmed down to 10 points midway through the period, but LA responded with four points from Reaves and layups from Mamu and Kevon Looney to push it back to 16 points.
At the half, the Lakers led 57-43.
Adou Thiero continued his strong preseason by finishing at the rim off a nice dime from Austin earlier in the third.
Austin with the Euro no look to Adou cutting baseline.
After building up a 16-point lead again, the Lakers conceded an 8-0 run to halve the deficit. Much of LA’s scoring was coming at the line as they had five free throws and four field goals past the midway point in the quarter.
Luka was in midseason form by picking up a technical during a timeout while continuing to voice his displeasure with the officials throughout the third. Following a coming together at midcourt with Emanuel Sharp that had Luka particularly upset, he came out of the game for good.
Things got very sloppy between the two sides, with the Kings coming out on top, cutting the lead to five after consecutive buckets from Precious Achiuwa.
LaRavia and Mamu helped restore some order to push LA’s lead back to double digits following a fastbreak finish from the former. Mamu then buried a step-back 3-pointer before a spot-up 3-pointer off a nice pass from Bronny James to make it an 86-70 lead going into the fourth.
The Lakers went to an uber-small lineup in the fourth featuring Bronny, Adou, Grimes, LaRavia and Thybulle. Eventually, LA cycled in fresh faces, including Chris Mañon and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Things got a little haywire in the closing minutes as the Kings made it a contest, pulling within four points with 2:00 left. William Kyle and Vando each scored to push the lead back to eight before Hardy and Bronny helped close the game at the free throw line.
Key Player Stats
Luka tallied 23 points in 25 minutes to lead the Lakers. Austin finished with eight points but had eight assists and six rebounds.
Mamu finished with 19 points off the bench while LaRavia notched 14 points, three rebounds and two assists. Adou Thiero had six points and Quentin Grimes finished with 12.
The Lakers will be back in action on Tuesday when they play the Warriors in Las Vegas at 7 p.m. PT.
Hagen Smith and Grant Taylor have been all over this American League Division Series for the Chicago White Sox, the rookie Smith starting two games and Taylor saving a pair himself as the papal-powered South Siders pushed their division rivals from Cleveland to the brink of elimination.
Yet like a volatile stock, Smith and Taylor and the White Sox are experiencing the cruel playoff reality of diminishing returns.
And as their stuff flattens out and Guardians hitters get more familiar with their repertoires, a 2-0 ALDS lead evaporated into the black of Rate Field.
Now they’re all in a free fall, with one faint chance to catch themselves.
Odds are, the White Sox’s season ends in a decisive Game 5 Saturday, Oct. 10 at Cleveland’s Progressive Field. It’s been a great run, their climb back from 121- and 102-loss seasons into the playoffs a well-documented, feel-great story.
But minus the horses traditionally associated with playoff teams, the White Sox are trying to head-fake their way through these playoffs with the ever-popular “pitching chaos,” where pretty much everybody pitches at least every other day, both to maximize platoon advantages and camouflage your own deficiencies.
It looked great when the White Sox won their first four postseason games, sweeping Houston in the wild-card series. Now?
They are just the latest club to prove this approach unsustainable – the latest illustration of Major League Baseball’s starting pitching crisis.
Hey, we know it’s not 1968 anymore, nor 2012, or even 2022. The starting pitcher is nearly extinct, in a global sense, a hard reality evidenced by four of the eight wild-card teams opting for bullpen games in Game 1 of their playoff openers.
Grim.
Our current predicament is more than a decade, maybe two, in the making. Teams opted to protect young pitching “assets” in the minor leagues, babying them and putting significant governors on innings.
The max velocity revolution exacerbated all those problems. For every Jacob Misiorowski, there were dozens of other pitchers who either blew out or could not pair power with precision consistently and ended up in a bullpen somewhere.
Which brings us to White Sox-Guardians.
In retrospect, it’s kind of remarkable the White Sox won 84 games, what with just three guys – Anthony Kay, Sean Burke and Davis Martin – making more than 15 starts. In this ALDS, Kay has been reduced to opener or situational guy, Martin virtually invisible and Burke a bulk pitcher.
That’s left Smith, the rookie from Arkansas who debuted in August, to start Game 1 of the wild card series. And Game 1 of the ALDS. And also Game 4 of the ALDS, with a relief appearance sandwiched into Game 3.
Like a boxer who came out a little too spry, his punches have failed to land as the bout dragged on.
He pitched a crisp 2 ⅓ innings in ALDS Game 1, striking out four but walking three. Less sharp in a Game 3 relief appearance, getting two outs while walking two, giving up a hit and a run.
And then Game 4, the black-clad Sox Park crowd roaring for a Cleveland kill shot. And Smith could only record one out, while walking three batters.
By night’s end, he’d faced 21 batters in this series – more than two whole trips through the Guardians lineup. Lots of looks.
He’s got nothing on Taylor, though. Taylor was the hero in Game 1, a stunning and efficient four-inning save in which he threw 42 pitches. After an off day, a four-out save in Game 2.
Yet by Game 4, the wheels came off.
Summoned in the sixth inning of a 4-4 tie, runner on second, Taylor, charitably, had nothing. The Guardians went single-walk-walk-single-single-single off him, 4-4 becoming 9-4 and clubhouse champagne giving way to a Friday flight to the shores of Lake Erie.
Little wonder. By the time Taylor took the ball in Game 4, he’d faced 18 Guardians. There were no more secrets.
Eventually, the discipline improves. The chase decreases. The balls get squared up, and chaos comes back to haunt you.
“They’re making really good swing decisions, making good contact,” White Sox manager Will Venable said after Game 4. “When you walk guys, they make you pay. We were able to get away with it the first couple games.”
Kind of the definition of “unsustainable.”
And consider this: There are two more playoff rounds remaining, both best-of-seven and not these three- and five-game tuneups. Imagine what the White Sox staff might look like at the end of a seven-game ALCS?
These are the sorts of things that get lost when half-serious proposals such as an expansion of the Division Series from five to seven games get tossed out.
Who's pitching Game 5 for White Sox?
Chicago’s pitching looks like it’s been through the Cuisinart already. Adrian Morejon, San Diego’s best reliever not named Mason Miller, lasted just two games in their NLDS before his shoulder barked too hard.
And now the Guardians and White Sox face one more all-hands meeting Saturday. Heck, Cleveland’s not in great shape either, with rookie ace Parker Messick struggling in both his starts and AL strikeout king Gavin Williams forced to get the final three outs of Game 4, simply because manager Stephen Vogt tried to stretch All-Star closer Cade Smith across two innings on consecutive nights.
Not enough pitching.
That’s where all these suboptimal decisions come from, and why it’s no coincidence the three teams safely on to the LCS round – the Dodgers, Rays and Brewers – have a deep well of arms to call upon.
Sure, maybe the Brewers only have two reliable starters in Misiorowski and Logan Henderson, but they truly lean on all their arms in leverage situations and, with off days, should navigate the remainder of the postseason just fine.
The White Sox? Well, in Game 5 they’re starting Burke – an actual starting pitcher, his second start this postseason. He’ll go as long and as hard as he can, and then Venable will have to hope the buttons he pushes don’t make the dashboard smoke.
Hope, they say, is not a plan. Eventually, well-considered chaos isn’t, either. And somehow the White Sox must find nine more innings to keep their dream season alive.
