Derrin Horton has been hired as the Los Angeles Lakers' next public address announcer on Thursday, Oct. 1.
Horton will take over the role at the Lakers’ home games at Crypto.com Arena. He will be a familiar face to some, having worked as a sports broadcaster for more than 35 years.
Horton has served as an anchor, reporter, host and play-by-play announcer covering a variety of sports during his career.
He will announce his first Lakers’ game – a preseason contest against the Sacramento Kings – on Thursday, Oct. 8.
“There’s no way you can fill his shoes,” Horton told the media. “And so you just come here with a passion and a goal to be informative and entertaining and be a part of Showtime.”
Tanter spent more than 43 seasons with the Lakers. He suffered a stroke on March 17 and missed the last six regular-season home games and the postseason. He announced his retirement in June and was expected to transition to a game-day advisory role.
Fans came out in droves to see “The Rivalry” play out in the postseason.
Tuesday’s Yankees-Red Sox wild-card matchup averaged 7.3 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, the most-watched Game 1 among wild-card and division series games in 20 years, the network reported Thursday.
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The 9-0 Yankees win was the most-viewed game of its category since Game 1 of the Tigers-Yankees ALDS series in 2006.
Tuesday’s game peaked at 8.5 million viewers from 9-9:15 p.m. ET, and posted an overall 12 percent increase from last year’s Yankees-Red Sox wild-card series Game 1.
New York Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon (19) greets designated hitter Ben Rice (22) after the final out of the ninth inning of Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 29, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Both games saw the Yankees’ offense explode for late-inning rallies, with the Bombers scoring five runs in the eighth of Game 1 and six runs in the sixth of Game 2.
“I thought we did a lot of good things offensively,” Boone said following Game 2, “whether it was obviously a couple big long balls, Spencer legs out a strikeout to start the big inning, the stolen base comes into play, we put some balls in play, a couple of really well-computed bunt situations.”
New York Yankees first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. reacts as he rounds the base on his solo home run in the fourth inning of Game 2 of the Wild Card game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 30, 2026. Robert Sabo for New York Post
In the National League, Tuesday’s Phillies-Braves matchup was the most-watched afternoon wild-card Game 1 of all time, averaging 3.9 million viewers across NBC and Peacock.
The 5-3 Braves win, which peaked at 5 million viewers from 4:30-4:45 p.m. ET, was a 15 percent increase from the Padres-Cubs Game 1 wild-card matchup in 2025.
The historic numbers come during NBC’s return to MLB playoff broadcasting for the first time in 25 years.
These increases also appear to be reflective league-wide this season, with Front Office Sports reporting in May that national MLB broadcasts were up 44 percent compared to last year.
In-game attendance also grew for the fourth straight season, with 71.5 million fans going to games in 2026, the most since 2017.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: Draymond Green #23 (R) of the Golden State Warriors stands with head coach Steve Kerr during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 111-96. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are a lot of questions facing the Golden State Warriors ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season. Some of them are complex and nuanced, but some of them are as simple as can be. Such as: who starts?
Golden State kicked off training camp on Monday in Hawaii, and that question is one that likely won’t be answered for weeks. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Steve Kerr revealed that three-time All-Star Draymond Green will definitively be in the starting lineup. Add in the obvious starter — Steph Curry — and that leaves three spots up for grabs.
And according to Kerr, all three of those spots are there for the taking. After emphasizing that Green would be a starter, the team’s coach — who re-signed for two years this offseason — was asked if there’s an open competition for the other three positions. “Yeah. For sure. Yeah,” Kerr said while nodding his head. “Nothing has been decided at this point.” Because the prior question had been about Gui Santos, Kerr added, “Gui’s right in there, in the mix for being a starter.”
Steve Kerr made it clear yesterday that Draymond Green will remain in the starting lineup with Steph Curry
Today, I asked if the other three spots are an open competition: “Yeah, for sure. Nothing has been decided.” pic.twitter.com/6uDSwFHkcf
There are lots of good options for Kerr to choose from, including Santos, newcomer Brandon Williams, and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, among many others. Choosing a starting lineup, however, is made more difficult due to the serious injuries that will sideline Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody for the first few months of the season, the constant injuries and ailments that Kristaps Porziņģis (who is currently out indefinitely) deals with, and the fact that Al Horford doesn’t play back-to-backs. As such, it seems likely that the Warriors will not have a set starting lineup this season, and will rotate through a few different options.
While it will likely be a while before we know who suits up when the season begins on October 21, Kerr did reveal the starting five for Sunday’s preseason opener: Curry, Green, Lendeborg, Horford, and Brandin Podziemski.
The NHL preseason was shorter this year, and I'm sure there weren't many fans complaining about that.
Everyone had four games to get through, make their cuts and start playing meaningful hockey. Sounds pretty good when you're sitting at home waiting for the regular season to start.
What about the players though?
The Edmonton Oilers lost 6-5 in overtime to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night, and Tristan Jarry brought up the shortened preseason afterward, albeit without making it an excuse.
“It's the first game of the season. It's always always tough,” Jarry said. “It was a short preseason, so I think just learning from every game, whether it's the ups, the downs, and just being better every single game.”
Well, it was definitely short.
The NHL cut the preseason to four games this year as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, extending the regular season going from 82 games to 84. The league's preseason schedule lasted eight days, beginning Sept. 19 and ending Sept. 26, before the regular season started three days later.
That left the Oilers with four games and a handful of practices to prepare for game No. 1.
Veteran players weren't necessarily playing all four of those games either. Under the new CBA, players with at least 100 games in the NHL are restricted to two exhibition games, meaning some players entered the regular season with two preseason games and a few weeks of practice together.
Jarry also spent the entire offseason working on his game with goalie coach Pete Aubry. Babcock talked prior to Tuesday night about Jarry improving his conditioning and stabilizing his game, but even he only got five periods of preseason before the games started counting.
That's not a lot of hockey before somebody asks you to start an NHL season. The same goes for everyone trying to learn Babcock's system. Edmonton has a new head coach, players moving around the lineup and several injuries that forced Babcock to spend camp trying different combinations. Then suddenly it's Sept. 29 and Vancouver is in town.
The old preseason certainly had its problems, though, don't get me wrong. Nobody needed weeks of random hockey, and fans weren't exactly sitting around in June counting down the days until preseason started.
So fans got what most of us wanted. Preseason ended quickly and the regular season started sooner.
Four exhibition games might sound like plenty when nobody cares about the score. That said, it might feel a little different for the guys expected to have everything figured out the second those games start counting.
However, it is up to the team itself to maximize it's preseason, and if the Oilers failed to properly prepare their players for this season, they can hardly blame the CBA.
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DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 4: Scoot Henderson #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers, Player Development Coach Pooh Jeter of the Portland Trail Blazers, & Assistant Coach Scott Brooks of the Portland Trail Blazers look at film before the game on February 4, 2024 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Thursday, Marc Spears of Andscape reported that the team had hired Pooh Jeter as the new Director of Pro Scouting, a move made by Amsler.
Pooh Jeter has been hired as the Lakers’ new Director of Pro Scouting, source told @andscape. The LA native previously worked with the Trail Blazers as Player Development Coach and Assistant GM of NBA G League Rip City Remix. Jeter was hired by new Lakers asst GM Eric Amsler. pic.twitter.com/Jkc11MiJtD
Jeter had a lengthy professional career overseas with stops in Ukraine, Spain and China, among other countries. He had a brief stint with the Sacramento Kings and spent some time with the shortly-lived G League Ignite.
After retiring, Jeter joined the Blazers as a player development coach and assistant GM of the team’s G League franchise, Rip City Remix. Shortly after being hired, he spoke with SLAM about his new role and his career in basketball up to that point in an informative interview for fans looking for more insight into him.
While Amsler’s hiring already dispelled the notion, this further pushes back against the idea that the team was in a hiring freeze during the transition from Mark Walter to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner. And the quicker the team can build out its scouting department, the better it is for everyone involved.
Obviously, everyone is going to bring with them an inherent knowledge of the league, few more so than Amsler himself, but the quicker the staff can be built out, the quicker the franchise and this year’s Lakers can reap the benefits of having a fully fleshed-out scouting department.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 29: The Wild Card base logo is seen before Game One of the Wild Card Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park on September 29, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
And then there was one. Three of the four wild-card games proved to be pretty dull, with the Red Sox, Cubs and Astros rolling over with the lightest of struggles. So that just leaves the Phillies and Braves. Game #1 saw Atlanta come back from behind to take victory, while the roles were reversed in Game #2. So that sets the stage for a “winner takes all” Game #3 tonight in Atlanta. Enjoy it, because it’s the only baseball you are going to get today or tomorrow, before the Division Series get under way on Saturday. That’ll be another four-game slate, and might be the last such of the post-season, if one or other NLDS is a sweep. Because we then go into staggered games, the ALDS getting a day-off on Sunday.
Philadelphia Phillies @ Atlanta Braves (1-1): 5:00 pm, NBC/Peacock
Starter question: it’s likely to trivial to bother with a poll, but who do you want to win this one?
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Alec Bohm #28 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the tenth inning in game two of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on September 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Blink and you’d have missed it: three of four wild card series are already over in two games. The Yankees, Padres, and the White Sox all punched their tickets to the Division Series yesterday. There were good storylines in all three. Too bad, so sad, for the Red Sox and their truly MIA offense (but Adley went 0-for-4 and I am rather bummed). The White Sox ended a 21-year drought in which they hadn’t won a playoff series. And the Padres downed the Cubs, and now get to face the presumptive NL Cy Young Award winner in Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski.
So that leaves just one game today: the Braves vs. the Phillies, for all the marbles. In Game 1, the Braves took a stunning come-from-behind win on a Philadelphia bullpen collapse, but Philadelphia staved off elimination in Game 2.
For Philly, it’ll be right hander Aaron Nola on the mound. Nola had a 4.50 ERA in three starts against Atlanta this season. MLB.com suggests we might see ace Zack Wheeler entering the game in relief, despite being on short rest. With everything on the line, certainly could be.
As for the Braves, it’ll be southpaw Ray Kerr appearing as an opener, presumably to handle lefty sluggers Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber at the top of the lineup. After that, righty Grant Holmes (10-6, 3.44 ERA in the regular season) is expected to handle most of the innings.
LOS ANGELES — The full schedule for the Division Series round was announced by Major League Baseball on Thursday, giving us the start times for potentially all five games of the Dodgers’ first postseason round.
When the series shifts to the Eastern time zone, Game 3 on Tuesday will be televised at 3 p.m. PT, with Wednesday’s Game 4 also starting at 3 p.m. PT, if necessary. Both Games 3 and 4 will be televised by FS1.
If there’s a Game 5 in the Dodgers’ NLDS, it will be back at Dodger Stadium on Friday, October 9, with a 5 p.m. PT start time on Fox.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13, Michael Harris II #23, and Mike Yastrzemski #18 of the Atlanta Braves celebrate defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on September 29, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Only one Wild Card series made it to three games. Phillies and Braves play at 8:00 Eastern.
Aaron Nola (7-12, 4.67) vs. Ray Kerr (0-0, 1.47 in 9 games, 1 start 18.1 innings).
Today’s Lineups
PHILLIES
BRAVES
Trea Turner – SS
Drake Baldwin – C
Kyle Schwarber – DH
Ronald Acuna – RF
Bryce Harper – RF
Matt Olson – 1B
Alec Bohm – 1B
Michael Harris – CF
Bryson Stott – 2B
Mauricio Dubon – SS
Bryan De La Cruz – LF
Mike Yastrzemski – LF
Edmundo Sosa – 3B
Austin Riley – 3B
J.T. Realmuto – C
Ozzie Albies – 2B
Justin Crawford – CF
Dominic Smith – DH
Aaron Nola – RHP
Grant Holmes – RHP
In the other Series:
White Sox beat the Astros thru Divine Intervention. Always good to have a fan with red phone to God himself. 7-3 for the Sox yesterday. It was a fun game to watch.
Yankees thumped the Red Sox 9-2. Normally I’d be thrilled to see the Red Sox beaten so bad, but by the Yankees? Lots of complaints from the Red Sox players. A little weird that the Red Sox did their whole home run celebration for a home run that cut the lead to 6 in the seventh inning, but just be you I guess. And Red Sox players complaining that they use computers was interesting. I don’t think computers caused them to get just four hits. The Yankees had 14 hits.
And the Padres won 4-1 knocking the Cubs out, so now I don’t have a team to cheer for. Kevin Gausman had a rough time, giving up 3 runs in 3.1 innings.
Lakers coach JJ Redick had a meeting with Luka Doncic on Wednesday, something he plans to do with each player.
What did they talk about?
Leadership.
“It’s something he’s really excited about,” Redick said at Lakers practice Thursday.
The Lakers belong to Doncic after LeBron James left for the 76ers in free agency after eight seasons in Los Angeles, including leading the Purple-and-Gold to their first championship in 10 years in 2020.
It has now been six long years since the Lakers sat atop the league.
For a 17-time championship franchise, that’s an agonizingly long stretch. Doncic is next in line to carry them back to that lofty position. And to do so, he’s going to have to get a bit uncomfortable.
See, Doncic leads by example. He’s never going to be the loudest guy in the locker room. That’s just not him.
But the Lakers need more out of him.
He needs to be aware of how he carries himself. How he reacts to things. How he responds in tough moments.
Los Angeles Lakers player Luka Doncic (77) poses during media day at UCLA Health Training Center on Monday, September 28, 2026, in El Segundo, Calif. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I think as a leader you can always grow,” Redick said. “That’s part of most good leaders that I know at least — they have that growth mentality. I think Luka has a growth mentality as a player. And I don’t think there’s any reason to believe that it won’t extend that to leadership.
“He recognizes that the vocal side of things is one thing, the body language — both positive and negative— is another thing. That’s a focus is just having great body language. This group of guys is going to follow him and AR [Austin Reaves]. That’s just the reality. They’re going to follow those two guys, and that’s a huge responsibility for both of those guys.”
Obviously, being the head of a team is nothing new for Doncic. He became the youngest player in EuroLeague history to win the MVP award at age 19 while playing for Real Madrid en route to carrying it to the championship. He led the Mavericks to the Finals in 2024.
But everything is different with the Lakers.
They’re one of the biggest teams in the world. The spotlight is blinding. The microscope is unforgiving.
Doncic is aware of that. He says he’s ready for it.
When asked now that James is gone, how it feels to be the Lakers’ torchbearer, he didn’t hesitate.
“I was in this position in my career a lot of times, so it’s not new to me,” Doncic said. “But I feel great. I feel excited. And like I said, I’m ready to go.”
Austin Reaves, Head Coach JJ Redick, and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers pose for a portrait during NBA Media Day at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California, Monday, September 28, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic wants to win his first championship. He wants to make the Mavericks deeply regret stunningly trading him to the Lakers in February 2025. He wants to prove that he’s the best player in the league.
Now is his chance.
He had his fingerprints all over the roster this offseason.
Doncic wanted to keep playing with Reaves. The Lakers signed him to a four-year, $180 million deal, the richest contract in NBA history for a player who went undrafted.
Doncic wanted Walker Kessler as the team’s franchise center. They sent two unprotected first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps to Utah to acquire him, signing him to a four-year, $130 million deal.
When asked if Redick has seen anything extra from Doncic in terms of how badly he wants to win this year and his focus on leadership, he flashed a smile.
“I mean, he paid for a private plane for 14 guys or 16 guys to fly to Slovenia,” Redick said, referring to Doncic hosting a four-day minicamp in Slovenia for the first time in his career. “That’s pretty extra.”
Redick said that ever since Doncic came to the Lakers, he has been in a leadership role of sorts, even when he was playing alongside James.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers attends Los Angeles Lakers Media Day at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. Getty Images
“The idea that he wasn’t in a leadership position or didn’t have moments of leadership over the last season and a half that we had him is just false,” Redick said. “I think it’s different without certain people on the team. Naturally, there’s a void. We talked about that all summer.”
Things are different now. And Doncic needs to fill that hole fast.
The Lakers not not only need him to be an offensive wizard, but they need him to pay attention to the small things. He needs to complain less to officials. He needs to hustle on defense. All eyes are going to be on him. The small moments matter the most.
And above all, he needs to be the leader of one of the most heralded franchises in sports.
There’s a long line of superstars who came before him, including Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and James.
He’s next. He’s now.
And Redick believes, he’s ready.
“He’s pretty much seen everything in the NBA at this point,” Redick said. “Beyond just being a vocal leader and being a great teammate, he has a wealth of knowledge to share.”
New York Yankees' Trent Grisham bunts during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in New York.
The most memorable swings of the Yankees’ wild-card triumph belonged to Ben Rice, Luis García and Cody Bellinger, whose home runs changed games.
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But the Yankees offense tormented the Red Sox’s pitching staff with lengthy, quality at-bats, timely hitting, simply making contact when contact was required and plenty of speed that Yankees teams of recent vintage did not have.
It was just two games. But they were two games that provided a blueprint for how the attack, particularly if it continues to lack the power of Aaron Judge, operates at its best.
In the two games, the Yankees went 9-for-20 with runners in scoring position and struck out just 14 times. A team that in the past has waited for the knockout blow instead scratched out whatever it could, perhaps best exemplified by Wednesday’s sixth inning.
Against Garrett Crochet, Spencer Jones looked overwhelmed in chasing a strike-three sweeper in the dirt — but then showed off rare speed in reaching first base on a wild pitch that did not get that far away from Adley Rutschman.
New York Yankees’ Trent Grisham bunts during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of baseball’s American League Wild Card Series, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Jones then stole second, advanced to third when the throw trickled into center field, and scored on the next pitch because George Lombard Jr., who just needed to put the bat on the ball, singled for a two-run edge.
After a Jazz Chisholm Jr. single that put runners on first and second, Trent Grisham — who had zero sacrifice bunts and zero bunt singles during the regular season — bunted nicely to third base and beat out a poor throw from Caleb Durbin.
With the bases loaded, none out and Garrett Whitlock in the game, the Yankees used more small ball to gain separation. Austin Wells lifted a sacrifice fly that scored a run. Ryan McMahon, who earlier in the at-bat attempted a safety squeeze, only sent a Whitlock changeup 1 foot in the air, but the soft chopper to third base scored another.
And two batters later, Bellinger poked a homer just deep enough to right to remind they can play big ball, too.
“I thought we did a lot of good things offensively,” Boone said, “whether it was obviously a couple big long balls, Spencer legs out a strikeout to start the big inning, the stolen base comes into play, we put some balls in play, a couple of really well-computed bunt situations.”
Among those to make his postseason debut Wednesday was Brent Headrick, who retired the only batter he faced.
David Bednar, who tossed a scoreless ninth inning, owns a 1.29 ERA (seven innings, one earned run) with 10 strikeouts in six career playoff games.
The Yankees are expected to have a workout day Friday in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The Yankees outrighted righty Alexander Cornielle, who had been designated for assignment Tuesday, off the major league roster and onto the roster of the FCL Yankees.
In the midst of a joyous but not raucous celebration in a Yankees clubhouse that was drenched but not flooding, Cody Bellinger provided perspective about what the club had done and had not done.
“We were here last year,” the veteran outfielder said after his three-run home run Wednesday added some late thunder in a sweep of the Red Sox in the wild-card series. “We were at this [upcoming] series.”
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Bellinger did not finish the sentence, but this upcoming series is when their run ended.
The location and opponent will be different, but the Yankees’ next series mirrors the hurdle they could not climb over last year: an ALDS matchup with an AL East champion whom the Yankees could not catch and is built on a contact-hitting approach and also flourishes at home.
Playing the role of the Blue Jays this year are the Rays, whom the Yankees did not solve in the regular season.
Will the 2026 Yankees be any different than the 2025 version?
Beginning Saturday in St. Petersburg, Fla., they will find out.
New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger connects on a three-run home run off the Boston Red Sox in the sixth inning during game two of the 2026 American League wild-card series at Yankees Stadium in The Bronx, New York, Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Jason Szenes for NY Post
“We have, hopefully, a long month in front of us,” manager Aaron Boone said. “And we know the next obstacle is a really challenging one with the Rays, but I love how [we are] playing the game.”
The Yankees are thriving on the backs of a series of aces — Cam Schlittler and Max Fried combined for 12 ¹/₃, one-run, five-hit, 16-strikeout innings against Boston, thus not even requiring Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón to pitch — as well as an offense that, for two games at least, collectively stepped up without Aaron Judge.
But they only played Tuesday and Wednesday because the league-best Rays seized control of the division June 28 and never really were threatened afterward, finishing 4 ½ games clear of the Yankees.
Tampa Bay won the season series, taking seven of the 13 games. The Rays dominated on their home turf — a term here used literally — in winning five of the seven head-to-head contests, including a memorable sweep in April in which the Rays continually put the ball in play and the Yankees continually showed their defense was not up for the challenge.
No team in baseball made as much contact as the Rays (18.8 percent strikeout rate), who play the same brand of baseball as the 2025 Blue Jays who so frustrated the Yankees’ staff — and have more speed, tops in the American League in steals.
Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero (13) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. Getty Images
No team bunted, either for sacrifices or hits, than the Rays, who play their home games at Tropicana Field, where they try to use the hard and fast artificial turf to their advantage, putting constant pressure on the opposing defense.
Where the 2025 Blue Jays had Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the 2026 Rays have Junior Caminero.
Their rotation’s ERA (3.51), anchored by All-Stars Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez, only trailed the Yankees’ (3.30) in the AL. Their solid bullpen helped them go 25-14 in one-run games.
For the entirety of the season, they essentially did everything well.
“They’re a good team. Pitch well. Hit for power. Hit for contact,” Bellinger said. “… We’re going to have to play good baseball.”
That will mean the club’s defensive questions — maybe most notably in center, where Trent Grisham’s hamstring or effort level gifted an extra base to Boston on Wednesday — will go under the microscope. Whether Boone favors a platoon bat or a surer defender at several positions will be curious.
New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice reacts after connecting on a grand slam off of the Boston Red Sox in the eighth inning during Game 1 of the 2026 American League Wild Card series at Yankees Stadium in The Bronx, New York, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR NEW YORK POST
Not as curious as whether Judge — two-plus weeks removed from his calf strain and doing “everything I can” to be ready, he said — will talk his way onto a roster that at least did not need him for one round.
In explaining how they knocked around the Red Sox so easily, several Yankees referenced the club’s depth — Ben Rice and Bellinger may have led the team’s attack, but the lineup received contributions from just about everyone — that it will need to lean on with or without Judge.
“Keep playing like we’re playing, and trusting one another,” said José Caballero, who knows the Rays better than anyone. “We know that we have a deep team that we can beat anyone and just keep trusting the guys behind us.”
And if the Yankees are going to get past the Rays — and an ALCS opponent and whoever awaits in the World Series — their rotation would have to continue buzzsawing through opposing lineups.
“It’s always good to celebrate,” said Schlittler, set up to start Games 2 and 5. “Hopefully we get to do it a couple more times.”
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 30: Matt Olson (28) of the Atlanta Braves hits an RBI single in the first inning during the Atlanta Braves versus Philadelphia Phillies game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series on September 30, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Only one game today, but it’s a goodie. Winner-take-all. One team’s season continues on to the next round to take on the Dodgers. The other begins their offseason far earlier than expected. We love do-or-die games here at Athletics Nation, and tonight’s matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and their division rivals the Atlanta Braves should be a great way to spend your Thursday evening.
Phillies at Braves (5:00 PM EDT)
The Braves have left-handed reliever Ray Ker (0-0, 1.97 ERA) opening the game for them tonight. He’ll likely be only asked to handle the first inning or two before making way for the bulk pitcher, right-hander Grant Holmes (10-6, 3.44 ERA). The former A’s prospect has blossomed with Atlanta over the past couple of years and now will be asked to soak up the middle innings of a must-win contest for his squad. No pressure.
Philadelphia meanwhile has a more standard approach to tonight’s starter. They’re sending out longtime Phillie Aaron Nola for the critical Game 3. The former Cy Young finalist is far past his heyday when he was constantly putting up ace-like numbers. While those days are long behind him he’s still capable of tossing a gem every now and then. The Phillies need vintage Nola tonight if they want to advance to take on the Dodgers.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Alec Bohm #28 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the tenth inning in game two of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on September 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to OCTOBER BASEBALL.
We have for you another Thursday baseball discussion thread, but this time, featuring 100% more playoffs! Which, of course, means no Royals 🙁
Only one game today as three of the four Wild Card series ended in sweeps yesterday.
First, the White Sox knocked out the Astros. Crane’s Boys are out! No great shock.
The Yankees disposed of the Red Sox last evening. Not much of a series as the nonJudgemental Yankees smoked Boston to the tune of 18-2 over two games.
Lastly, the Padres swept the Cubs, winning last night 4-1. I hope you agree with me that the playoffs just became 10 times more enjoyable with the Cubs eliminated.
The only series left is Philadelphia vs Atlanta. The Braves took game one on Tuesday 5-3 with three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Last night, the Phillies scored twice in the top of the eighth to tie the game at 3-3 before winning it in extras, 4-3. Alec Bohm, somewhat of a local kid—went to high school in Omaha before attending Wichita State—hit a home run in the top of the tenth to give the Phillies a lead it would not relinquish.
The pitching matchup will be Aaron Nola for the Phillies against Ray Kerr for the Braves.
Nola, a 12-year vet, all with Philadelphia, finished the season only 7-12 with a 4.67 ERA (3% below league average) and a 4.87 FIP. He also allowed the most home runs with 37. This will be his 12th career playoff start.
The Braves counter with Ray Kerr, more of an Opener than a Starter. The 31-year-old lefty only opened one game for the Braves this season, which was his last outing against the Marlins. He fared well, going three innings in which he walked one, allowed two hits, but didn’t give up any runs. He only pitched in nine games this season, but in that limited action, which totaled 18-and-1/3 innings, he sported a 1.47 ERA, 3.97 FIP while striking out 11 and walking two.
More importantly, Kerr faced the Phillies twice in September, and held them scoreless over both outings. In those two appearances, he pitched 6-and-1/3 innings, allowed two hits while walking zero batters and striking out five. None of his four inherited runners came around to score.
Kerr has never before pitched in the playoffs.
You can catch the game on NBC or Peacock at 7:00 p.m. CDT.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 11: Matt Olson (28) of the Atlanta Braves slaps five with coach Tommy Watkins (84) after hitting a solo home run in the 1st inning of the Friday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies on September 11, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Hello, October. We would like more Braves games this month.
The Braves will don the Friday home red uniforms tonight in order to bring those dominant vibes to this Wild Card series finale. Whatever it takes – just win today.
