A season after the Mets (and every other team but the White Sox) passed on slugging Japanese infielder Munetaka Murakami, another intriguing Japanese star is about to hit the market.
The Hanshin Tigers have granted infielder and reigning NPB MVP Teruaki Sato's request to be posted this offseason, according to Yakyu Cosmopolitan, paving the way for him to sign with an MLB team before the expected lockout on Dec. 1.
Sato, 27, won the Triple Crown in Japan this year after slashing .306/.383/.609 with 39 home runs, 40 doubles, 100 runs scored, and 106 RBI in 143 games for Hanshin.
He hit .278/.345/.579 with 40 home runs, 34 doubles, and 102 RBI in 139 games in 2025 as he won the Central League MVP award.
Sato, a third baseman, would very likely have to slide over to first base in a world where he lands in Queens and Bo Bichette doesn't opt out of his contract.
New York's in-house options at first base for next season include Jared Young and Jorge Polanco. However, Young doesn't hit for much power and struggles against left-handed pitching, while Polanco is an unknown following a 2026 season that was derailed by injury.
Regarding Bichette, he has opt-outs after this season and the 2027 season. However, it's difficult to envision him exercising it this offseason, with him set to get an AAV of $42 million in both 2027 and 2028.
These moves come as Toronto is in the midst of a three-game losing streak, with a 4-1 defeat to the New York Islanders on Saturday.
The San Jose Sharks are in town for a Monday night clash. It's possible that Lettieri makes his debut for the Maple Leafs, which would be his first NHL appearance since April 2025.
The 31-year-old has had a great start to the AHL season with the Toronto Marlies. He's notched three goals and nine points in five minor-league games.
As for Akhtyamov, appearing in the NHL this season was inevitable given the Calder Cup run he had in the American League last year.
The 24-year-old netminder played 22 games and registered a .923 save percentage and a 2.22 goals-against average. That performance earned him the title of AHL playoff MVP.
The Russian goalie hasn't been off to such a great start this season, numbers-wise. In three games for the Marlies, he's posted an .882 SP and a 2.94 GAA while earning a 2-1-0 record. He's been splitting starts with the other goaltender, Samuel Hlavaj, who also has a 2-1-0 record, but with a .870 SP and a 3.01 GAA.
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 18: Richie Palacios #1 and Chandler Simpson #14 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrate their 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians in game five of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Team news
[MLB] D-backs prospect Patrick Forbes discusses his pitching repertoire, his development playing in the Arizona Fall League and more
[Roundtable.io] Will Diamondbacks’ Garcia Take Another Leap in 2027? – Depending on which veteran players end up departing, some of the Diamondbacks’ younger players may end up having greater responsibility. One such player is left-hander Brandyn Garcia… Garcia joins a list of young players, such as Ryan Waldschmidt and Jordan Lawlar, who can play bigger roles for Arizona in the future. Given the amount of time they have logged so far, it would not be surprising to see them become mainstays on the field as soon as next season.
[MLB] Confident Rays quiet Cleveland, return home one win from World Series – The Rays are just one win away from the World Series, headed back to Tropicana Field with every ounce of momentum in the ALCS. Sunday’s 3-1 win in Game 5 felt even more convincing than the low score suggests, giving the Rays a 3-2 lead in the series. If the Rays advance, it would guarantee a first-time champion as neither the Rays nor the Brewers have won a World Series since their organizations entered the league. “We need to rebound tomorrow,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “I know we’re going to have a tough matchup tomorrow. But we need to get guys on base and we need to score runs. And we just haven’t done that enough over the last two days.”
[CNN] Why baseball teams party so hard and so often in October – Every year, as the postseason approaches, a carpet-cleaning company in Boston knows to stand by; if a series is clinched, they’ll be called in for a shampooing assignment at 2 a.m. The clubhouse managers try to protect as much of the property as possible, but there is only so much they can do. “No matter how much you clean it, it smells horrible for days,” [Red Sox Clubhouse manager Tom] McLaughlin said, adding that the ceiling tiles turn brown, almost black, and must be replaced.
[Tampa Bay Times] For Rays, stability in dugout is a big part of their onfield success – Cash, completing his 12th season, is the longest-tenured manager in the majors with his current team. Mottola, who was promoted from the minors in September 2016 to replace Derek Shelton, is the longest-serving active hitting coach in the majors. And Snyder, who was promoted from Triple-A Durham after the 2017 season, is tied with Cleveland’s Carl Willis for the second-longest run among current pitching coaches, trailing only Toronto’s Pete Walker (hired in 2013).
[SI] The Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Decade – More collectors have embraced building smaller, more focused collections. Consolidating and selling off lower-value cards can make it possible to own several iconic rookie cards that might otherwise seem too expensive or unattainable. If a collector just wanted to own the very best rookie card from each era, which cards would make the cut? Beginning with the 1910s, I selected the most valuable baseball rookie card from each decade… For each decade, I also included an iconic “budget” rookie card under $1,000 for collectors to target with a more modest hobby budget.
KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 30: A general view inside the stadium from outfield seating during the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Mikayla Schlosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Kansas City Royals cited two big reasons why they chose to change the dimensions at Kauffman Stadium for the 2026 season. First, the front office hoped that the dimensions would play more fairly, particularly on home runs. Second, the staff hoped that hitters would be able to have a more consistent approach at home and on the road, not needing to tailor their swings based on whatever park they happened to be in.
As far as the former goal goes, it’s too early to tell based on one season of data, butThe K played like a true hitter’s park this season—one of the best hitter’s parks in the league. As far as the latter goal goes, it’s again hard for us to know whether guys had a more consistent approach at home versus on the road. It’s much more difficult for us to judge intent and approach as fans. What we can judge, however, are results, and the results on the road during the first year of the new dimensions at The K were not good.
Here’s a table breaking down how the Royals performed at home at the plate versus on the road:
Location
PA
BB%
K%
BB/K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
ISO
BABIP
wOBA
wRC+
Home
3019
8.50%
18.80%
0.45
.266
.334
.439
.774
.173
.303
.337
110
Away
3064
8.30%
23.00%
0.36
.229
.299
.366
.665
.136
.279
.294
86
The Royals at home were a very good offense. If the 110 wRC+ they accumulated at home was their full-season number, they would slot between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers as the third-best offense in the league. This isn’t a fair comparison, as almost everyone performs better at home than on the road, but it shows that if you thought at times the Royals had a great offense, it was likely during one of their home stands. They have the fifth-highest home wRC+ in baseball, and ended up just one point behind the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates, the third- and fourth-place finishers, respectively.
The batting eye at Kauffman Stadium is considered excellent, and we see that contrast in the offense’s results on the road this season. The Royals struck out 150 times more on the road than at The K. They hit 16 more home runs at home this season. Their batting average was 36 points higher in Kansas City. Interestingly enough, they drew a similar number of walks between home and road games.
Overall, the Royals finished with a slightly below-average offense (a 98 wRC+). Their 24-point gap between their home wRC+ and their road wRC+ was the biggest gap in baseball this year. As good as the Royals were at home this year, they were significantly worse on the road, which brought down their overall average. Not for nothing, the Royals had a 40–39 record at home this season to go with a 28–53 record on the road.
What does all of this mean? Is batting at the new-look Kauffman so great for hitters that we need to expect a Coors Field hangover effect? Were the Royals just a bad hitting team buoyed by a great hitter’s park? Was this a large but not unexpected variance between home and road, and due to various factors outside of the batters‘ control, will look more normal next season? Why are we even alive?
I don’t think we have enough information to get good answers to these questions, but for this season we can say that whatever the Royals hoped moving the walls would do to help the team’s consistency between home and road results did not work. Whether this is just variance, whether the Royals need to petition to install the Kauffman batting eye in all stadiums, or whether something else entirely is causing this difference in results (such as needing to get more sleep on the road or something) is up to the Royals to figure out and implement changes.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 18: PitcherDrew Rasmussen #57 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates at the end of the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians in game five of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning! The Tampa Bay Rays will head home with a chance at the American League pennant after their 3-1 win last night. Up 3-2 in the ALCS, the Rays will face the Cleveland Guardians tonight for Game 6 at 5 PM.
A reliable closer is like an endgame security blanket for ball clubs made jittery by the generally-fickle nature of relievers and the pitfalls of the treacherous ninth inning. That’s why David Bednar figures to do well in free agency this winter.
He’s coming off a strong season with the Yankees in which he converted 35 of 39 save chances, notched a 2.47 ERA and allowed only 52 hits in 69.1 innings while striking out 76.
Now the Yanks have to figure out their endgame strategy with Bednar, who made $9 million this season. He just turned 32 years old, jacked up his ground ball rate to a career-best 50 percent, well above the MLB average (41.2 percent), and proved he can handle the Bronx cauldron, overcoming an early wobble or two.
And he threw three scoreless innings in the postseason, giving him a 1.00 ERA in nine playoff innings with the Yanks.
Sounds like a prime resume for a return. What will the Yanks do?
Here’s a look at whether Bednar should stay or go:
WHY IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO RE-SIGN BEDNAR
Bednar was by far the best thing to come out of the Yanks’ reliever splurge at the 2025 trade deadline, cementing an uncertain closer role that year and carrying that into 2026. He has a 2.39 ERA as a Yankee, not including the postseason.
In other words, he can hack it here.
It’s impressive that he’s still evolving, too. He threw his splitter much more this season and it was a devastating pitch for him. Opposing batters hit just .149 in at-bats ending on the split, with a .189 slugging percentage. According to Statcast, Bednar’s split was tied for 17th in Pitching Run Value, suggesting it was among the best single pitches in all of baseball.
He reduced his walk rate to 7.1 percent, career best for a full season, and had a 1.04 WHIP. Only the Rays’ Bryan Baker and Cade Smith of the Guardians had more saves than Bednar this year.
We could go on and on about Bednar the bullpen bedrock. We haven’t even brought up how much we like his entrance song – “Renegade” by Styx.
The Yanks will have to decide whether to extend him the $23 million-plus qualifying offer. They should. Even if he takes it, he’s probably worth that for one year. If he accepted, it’d be the top average annual value ever for a reliever, just above the $23 million Edwin Díaz is making with the Dodgers.
WHY IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO LET BEDNAR GO
We can’t think of any real reasons. No, seriously.
Jul 19, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher David Bednar (53) follows through on a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Fine, we’ll nitpick: He had an ERA of 5.14 as late as May 18 (but it was 1.30 afterward). He made four appearances against the Mets and the Mets scored against him three times.
The Yanks have been adept at developing bullpen arms in recent years, so could they have an in-house replacement lurking?
There are options on the free agent market, too. Raisel Iglesias has more saves than anyone in MLB over the last three seasons, as well as a sparkling 0.931 WHIP. He’ll be 37 in January, but if the Yanks feel they have a closer-in-waiting and Iglesias will accept a shorter-term deal than Bednar, is that a move?
Lefty Adrian Morejon remains appealing. Two-time All-Star Andrés Muñoz is coming off a 4.24 ERA, but is tied for the second-most saves over the past three years. However, the Mariners hold a relatively inexpensive $9 million club option on Muñoz for 2027.
VERDICT
Stay.
Don’t overthink this. Quality bullpen arms should be hoarded and everyone’s mood is elevated when a team can cling to any smidge of ninth-inning certainty. Paul Blackburn, a relief revelation this year, is also a free agent, so there’s already some uncertainty in the Yankee pen. Lefty Brent Headrick enjoyed a sparkling season, but there’s work to be done. Retaining Bednar is an easy stabilizer.
In the 13 seasons since great Mariano Rivera retired, the Yanks have had seven different pitchers lead the team in saves, including Bednar this year. Aroldis Chapman (five times) and Clay Holmes (three) are the only pitchers who did it more than once.
Díaz, Josh Hader ($19 million per year), and Tanner Scott ($18 million) are the three highest-paid relievers in MLB via AAV, according to Spotrac. Bednar likely will be in that kind of company.
The Yanks would be smart to be the team paying him.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 18: Chandler Simpson #14 of the Tampa Bay Rays bunts during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians in game five of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Monday everyone and welcome to a new week!
The Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays are giving us one heck of a series. The Rays took yesterday’s contest and now find themselves just one win away from the World Series. One of the newest additions to the league, they’ve already made it to the Fall Classic twice but have yet to win it in their 28 year of existence. Not bad all things considered but they’re still waiting to hoist that trophy.
The Guardians meanwhile wasted a golden opportunity to take a stranglehold over this series at home after stealing a game in Tampa. Now they’ll be tasked with winning two straight games on the road in Florida or else their season is over. Like the Rays they have their own championship drought hanging over their heads and that might be too much pressure to overcome in a short series for the Stephen Vogt-led Guardians.
While the Brewers and all of the baseball world wait to see how the ALCS ends up, the Athletics meanwhile have their own major decisions going on in the back round at this very moment. The team is still looking for its new leader in the front office, presumably the person that will take charge of the club as we head into our new home park in Las Vegas. Red Sox assistant GM Taylor Smith is reportedly a favorite, but in what role? The Athletics were willing to offer the title of President to the Phillies’ Sam Fuld, but is that something they’re offering all of the candidates? Or is that what’s holding up any sort of announcement of a hire? We’re all waiting with baited breath and would like to know our newest General Manager before the end of the World Series. So, you know, chop chop A’s.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 07: Trevor Zegras #46 of the Philadelphia Flyers takes a shot on goal against Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on December 7, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
After a weekend off, the Colorado Avalanche embark on another back-to-back on a brief two-game road trip to begin the week.
Their first stop takes them to Philadelphia to meet a Flyers team that’s having some early season struggles to say the least.
Colorado Avalanche (5-2-1)
The Opponent: Philadelphia Flyers (1-6-3)
Time: 5:00 P.M. MDT/7:00 P.M. EDT
Watch: ALT, ALT+ (Avalanche Local Broadcast Area), NBCSP (Philadelphia Local Broadcast Area), ESPN+, NHL Center Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Areas – US), SN+, NHL Centre Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Areas – Canada)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avs head into today’s game fresh off clearing one of their biggest hurdles of the young season. They earned three of a possible four points in a split of a home and home set against Dallas, and put together an unanswered five-goal rally to defeat the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday. Mackenzie Blackwood earned wins in Dallas and at home against Pittsburgh, while Scott Wedgewood couldn’t prevail in the shootout versus Dallas in Denver.
Martin Nečas helped provide the offense in Dallas with a pair of goals, while two goals from Artturi Lehkonen sparked the comeback effort against Pittsburgh. T.J. Hughes also scored his NHL career on Friday, which he scored after Nathan MacKinnon fed him a perfect pass to redirect past Pittsburgh goaltender Artus Šilovs.
“That first one feels incredible to get that first one in,” Hughes said in postgame comments. “I think the power play just expired […] Great pass by [MacKinnon], just nice to finish it off.”
In another first, Friday’s game marked the debut of new Avalanche assistant head coach Brett McLean. McLean, who replaced David Hakstol, will face the challenge of revamping a power play that has been woefully anemic over the past couple of years. As McLean acclimates to his new role with his one-time former club, changes that go beyond simple personnel swaps like we’ve seen implemented over the past couple of games leading up to Hakstol’s departure (exchanging Nečas for Jaden Schwartz on the top unit, for example) should be on the horizon.
Head coach Jared Bednar highlighted the struggles his team has had in putting together a full sixty minute effort over the past few games. “We’re having a tough time putting together a full sixty,” he said in postgame comments on Friday. “I look at Toronto; I didn’t like a period against Toronto. I didn’t like the first in Dallas. I didn’t like the second at home against Dallas. But, when we decide to play, and play the right way with the right level of—you know, for me, it’s intensity and discipline—then we’re a really good team, and we’re playing well. We have to find a way to just get it there for sixty minutes.”
Gavin Brindley was called up from Loveland on Wednesday to take the place of the injured Zachary L’Heureux. While Bednar said Brindley has showed well since being called back up, he pointed to Brindley’s performance prior to the start of the season which earned him his call-up. “The reason he’s up is because he had a great training camp and a great exhibition,” Bednar explained on Saturday, “and we have the leeway with him to be able to send him down. That’s just the situation he’s in, and we’re going to do what’s best for our team long term, not just for the right now.”
Bednar also stated that L’Heureux and Nicolas Roy were considered “week-to-week”, but indicated that both will not be on the road trip. Logan O’Connor also will remain in Denver, but Bednar indicated that he was much closer to returning to the lineup and will be working through on-ice drills while the team is on the road.
Minnesota’s victory over Columbus on Sunday has them occupying first place in the Central Division, but a win in Philadelphia coupled with a Pittsburgh victory over Utah tonight could put the Avs in front of Minnesota.
MacKinnon still leads all skaters in points (16) and assists (10), and is tied with Lehkonen for the team lead in goals (6). Defenseman Noah Juulsen spent the 2025-2026 season with Philadelphia prior to signing a two-year contract with the Avs this off-season.
The Avs split the season series against Philadelphia last season, with both teams winning as the road team.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Nazem Kadri Jaden Schwartz – Fedor Svechkov – T.J. Hughes Parker Kelly – Gavin Brindley
Defense: Devon Toews – Cale Makar Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski Josh Manson – Brent Burns Noah Juulsen
Between the Pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood Scott Wedgewood
Philadelphia Flyers
Coming into this season, the Flyers had every reason to feel optimistic. They returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in five years this past spring and eliminated their archrival Pittsburgh in the first round. They fell to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes in a four game sweep in the second round.
Flyers general manager Daniel Brière spent his off-season revamping his goaltending platoon in the hopes of building on that playoff appearance. On June 16, he acquired goaltender Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for goaltender Samuel Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae (later traded to Columbus for Kirill Marchenko), and Philadelphia’s 2026 third round pick.
At the start of free agency, he also signed goaltender Dan Vladar to a five-year, $27.5 million dollar contract. Brière also signed right wing Noel Acciari to a two-year, $5.6 million dollar contract the same day. Garrett Wilson and Michael Bunting were late additions to Brière’s roster: Wilson signed a one-year, $850,000 contract, on September 27, while Bunting signed his one-year, $1.2 million dollar contract, on October 06.
Brière also triggered what became an unprecedented spike in player salaries when he tendered a five-year, $90 million dollar offer sheet to restricted free agent center Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks on July 03. Although Anaheim matched the offer sheet, this move was a clear statement to the rest of the League: the Flyers were on the way up, and Brière was willing pay a significant price to build on what he believed was a franchise on the rise.
The assumed ascent for the Flyers became a calamitous crash right from the opening puck drop. Philadelphia lost their home opener in a rematch with Pittsburgh by a humiliating 7-0 outcome on September 30. They followed this performance up with eight consecutive losses—a new franchise record—before finally recording their first win of the season, a 3-1 decision against the visiting Ottawa Senators this past Saturday.
To add insult to injury during the losing streak was actual injury: right winger Nikita Grebenkin underwent back surgery on October 10 following a 5-1 loss to the Boston Bruins, and is expected to miss four months of action. The following day, fellow right wing Travis Konecny was placed on injured reserve with a lower body injury. Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen was also placed on injured reserve on October 14 following a 3-2 shootout loss to the Seattle Kraken the previous evening.
Even the win against Ottawa was costly: forwards Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster, and Flyers captain Sean Couturier are now considered day-to-day.
Head coach Rick Tocchet said this after the win on Saturday. “It was a gutsy effort. We have a lot of guys hurt. Some guys stepped up. […] It was nice to see some resiliency, you know? It was good. We saw a lot of compete tonight. Better execution. There was some stuff we really liked tonight, and hopefully we can carry it on.”
When asked about the contributions from the lineup, Tocchet said, “I think, honestly, to a man, everyone contributed something. It wasn’t pockets of people. That’s the way we’re built. We need everybody. We just can’t have everybody on the sidelines.”
Matvei Michkov leads all Philadelphia skaters in points (5) and goals (4), while the injured Konecny and Couturier currently share the team lead in assists (3). Porter Martone leads all Philadelphia skaters in penalty minutes (14). Vladar and Woll have a combined nine (9) losses in goal, with Vladar holding the single win.
Although Philadelphia is last in the Metropolitan Division, they sit one point behind Columbus, who lost to Minnesota on Sunday night.
Philadelphia heads to Buffalo on Wednesday before beginning a two game home stand at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday against Anaheim.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Trevor Zegras – Christian Dvorak – Tyson Foerster Porter Martone – Noah Cates – Matvei Michkov Denver Barkey – Sean Couturier – Michael Bunting Garrett Wilson – Jack Studnicka – Noel Acciari
Defense: Travis Sanheim – Oliver Bonk Nick Seeler – Jamie Drysdale David Jiříček – Simon Benoit
As Dončić enters his third season in Los Angeles, he has already seen the legendary franchise be sold twice, but the All-Star guard has remained supportive of the ownership changes as the front office has continued to support him.
Dončić has proven he has what it takes to be a franchise star, leading a team to the NBA Finals when he took the Dallas Mavericks to the title series to end the 2023-24 season. The Boston Celtics beat the Mavericks 4-1.
It may take some time before there’s a better idea of what this Lakers team can look like and what that ceiling might be, but there have been some early glimpses during the preseason.
The Lakers' new big three came together for the first time against the Denver Nuggets in the preseason finale on Oct. 16, with the trio playing together in the first half.
That one half indicated it will still take some time for the trio to jell, finishing the outing at a minus-four in their 13 minutes together.
While Kessler appeared a bit out of rhythm against Nikola Jokić, he called it "a lot of fun" to play together as a trio for the first time.
Outside of the big three, Dončić showed he also has a connection building with Lakers newcomer Ziaire Williams, who was also in the starting lineup. The veteran guard found Williams for multiple lobs during the first half.
Can Luka Dončić stay healthy?
The biggest question for Dončić is whether he can stay healthy.
Dončić has continued to put in the work as well during the offseason, taking his training seriously for a second straight season.
He’s come into the season in shape and looking lean to improve his on-court mobility and overall condition.
The guard had faced criticism throughout the early years of his career because of his weight and lower-body injuries.
Dončić took a step forward, playing in 64 games last season, the most he has played since the 2023-24 season when he played 70 games.
He earned his second scoring title, averaging 33.5 points per game last season. He also averaged 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds for Los Angeles.
Dončić will have to play like an MVP candidate again this season to help push the Lakers beyond the Western Conference semifinals.
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 03: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins moves the puck against the Montréal Canadiens during the first period at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 3, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The October schedule has turned out to be a brutal one for the Pittsburgh Penguins, full of some big tests against some of the NHL’s best teams.
So far, they are struggling with that test.
It is not going to get any easier at the start of this week.
The Penguins enter Monday’s game at the Utah Mammoth on a three-game losing skid, currently 0-for-3 on their four-game road trip, and have lost six of their past seven games since a 2-0 start.
Nothing is going well.
The power play? An absolute mess that is struggling to do anything right.
The penalty kill? Starting to become a little leaky.
The defense? Struggling to cleanly exit their own zone, handling the puck like it’s a tennis ball and leaving people all alone for scoring chances.
The goaltending? Not up to the early challenge.
Combine all of that with games against teams like the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights, and you have some ugly results and losses starting to pile up.
Unfortunately for the Penguins, it is not going to get much easier this week. That includes Monday’s game against a Utah team that is starting to emerge as an early season contender in the Western Conference.
The Mammoth enter Monday’s game with a 6-3-0 record, and boast one of the league’s best offenses early in the season. They are sixth in the NHL in goals per game (3.67), already have four players averaging at least a point per game (Clayton Keller, Mikhail Sergachev, Nick Schmaltz and Dylan Guenther) and have a power play unit that is clicking at a whopping 35.3 percent, the highest mark in the NHL through the first three weeks.
Not exactly a great opponent for a team that is struggling to defend right now.
If there is a silver lining in that matchup, it’s that Utah’s goaltending has been sub-par through the first nine games, while their penalty kill is working at only a 73.9 percent success rate.
Maybe this is a chance for the Penguins power play to break out of its slump, or for the offense to score more than two goals, which has kind of become their number over most of the past seven games. The Penguins also just need to salvage something from this road trip.
Whether they do or not, their return home is going to put them up against yet another contender when the Florida Panthers make their way into Pittsburgh on Thursday night.
Even though they missed the playoffs a year ago, the Panthers still entered the 2026-27 season as one of the top betting favorites to win the Stanley Cup, and that was largely due to the return of top center Aleksander Barkov and the addition of winger Brady Tkachuk.
Well, Barkov is sidelined again (but not for the entire season this time) and will not be available on Thursday. Or for several more weeks.
But that has not really slowed down the Panthers offense.
They enter the week on a three-game winning streak and have scored at least seven goals in two of those games. Even more eye-opening: They have four hat tricks over that stretch, including a natural hat trick in three consecutive games (two from Brady Tkachuk, one from Carter Verhaeghe; Sam Benntt had the fourth hat trick in that stretch, though it was not a natural hat trick).
Not only do the Panthers have plenty of depth, they are also one of the most physical teams in the league with a lineup that thrives on creating chaos.
The Penguins do get a little bit of a scheduling break here as they will be home, and rested for a couple of days, while Florida plays the night before in Ottawa.
This week’s schedule concludes on Saturday with a home game against the Nashville Predators. Nashville is a team in a similar boat as the Penguins, trying to orchestrate a version of a rebuild with a roster that still has a lot of veteran pieces on it. On paper, this is the most winnable game of three on this week’s schedule.
Even more than getting wins (which they need), I really just want to see the Penguins start to figure some things out this week.
The top line is starting to show some signs of life. That’s … something.
But they need Rickard Rakell to find the net. They need the power play to look like a functioning unit. They need the defense to stop stepping on a collection of rakes in their own zone. I basically just want to see a better, more consistent process, especially against good teams. Show you can at least hang with them, or at least avoid the five-to-ten minute meltdowns that seem to happen every game that put them out of reach. There have been some stretches of good hockey this season. They have carried games for significant stretches, and outplayed teams for significant stretches, only to have everything get completely undone by a handful of mistakes that unravel everything and always seem to end up in the back of their net.
It is game 10 of the season. There are 74 games remaining after Monday. There is still time to fix things. But you have to start making some progress on that. Start showing a better, more consistent process and let the results take care of themselves after that. That’s the thing I want to see this week. Just play better. Play more consistently. Even if it doesn’t translate into immediate wins yet, just show you are capable of it for more than short stretches.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -OCTOBER 16: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs is congratulated by Devin Vassell #24 in the first half of a preseason game against Sacramento Kings at Frost Bank Center on October 16, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
How much better do you think the Spurs are compared to last season?
Marilyn Dubinski: It’s hard to put a number to it considering it’s almost the exact same team, with only other new talent guaranteed a main rotation spot yet to suit up, but even so, depth and maturity are already big factors that will make this team even better than last year. There’s still plenty of room for internal growth from three of their best players in Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Caste and Dylan Harper, Tobias Harris brings depth and dimension they lacked last year, and more improvement from Carter Bryant and interior defense from Tarris Reed will help improve bench play. If nothing else, the Spurs will be less dependent on their stars compared to last season.
Jacob Douglas: From a talent and experience perspective, they are a level above last year’s team. Dylan Harper looks to be making the turn from impressive rookie to a legitimate star guard. Victor Wembanyama’s passing and vision seem to have taken another step forward. Even Carter Bryant looks more confident and aggressive. The additions of Tobias Harris and Tarris Reed Jr. give them more depth and physicality on the interior.
I do expect their regular season record to dip a bit, however. Mitch Johnson seems set on experimenting with the three-guard lineup which will likely have its ups and downs, even if it’s for the best long term. With fewer teams tanking and San Antonio more likely to rest players, I think we will see a rockier regular season that could potentially pay dividends in the postseason and moving forward.
Bill Huan: The team has leveled up on paper, as the young core continues to develop and gel. Even so, it’s entirely possible (and even likely) that they won’t get as far as they did last season, strictly due to the erratic nature of sports. Everything broke right for the Spurs during the playoff run, such as their core remaining relatively healthy, and things outside of their control went their way too: avoiding Denver in the postseason and facing an OKC team without JDub all contributed to the Finals run. So even if the team doesn’t make it back to the Finals, seeing the young core take another step forward should be considered a success.
Devon Birdsong: I think the reality is that this team has finally reached the place where how good they are can really only be determined in the postseason. That being said, they bolstered their weaknesses at power forward and big man depth. At this point, it’s hard to figure out exactly what their weakness will be, and they still won 60+ games with obvious flaws last year. Unless Hector Banana Bread ends up out of the picture, I’d be shocked if they won less than 60 games. They could probably sleepwalk to that number, and you definitely couldn’t say that about them last year.
Jeje Gomez: The big bet is on internal development, and it seems like a solid gamble. The names are largely the same, but several rotation players should be better. How much better and how much more cohesive can they be in a new starting lineup is the real question. I think the three-guard unit is worth exploring, but I don’t think it will necessarily get the team more wins in the short term. The incentive to not tank for the worst teams could also shave off a couple of wins. But ultimately, this seems like a more talented, well-rounded roster that should at least be as good in terms of seeding as last year’s squad.
True or false: Anything other than another Finals appearance would be a disappointment.
Dubinski: Mostly false (but we’d be lying to ourselves if we claimed we’d be fine with it come June). With so much parity in today’s NBA and teams barely even making consecutive Finals appearances, let alone winning consecutive titles, I wouldn’t kill them for missing the Finals. However, anything less than a competitive Western Conference Finals appearance would be disappointing, especially when they (and the Thunder) are a clear tier above the rest of the West, and the East is now the deeper conference with more contenders. (Unless of course their reason for missing the Finals is blown double-digit leads, then it would be a massive disappointment no matter which way you slice it.)
Douglas: False. But anything other than a WCF appearance would be. The Spurs and Thunder are clearly the two most talented teams in the NBA and will likely be fighting for the Western Conference crown for years to come. San Antonio won’t win all of those matchups. But failing to meet them in the WCF would be disappointing.
Huan: Absolutely false. As I said previously, everything broke right for the Spurs last year, and their success this season shouldn’t just be evaluated on whether or not they return to the finals. The team could very well take another step forward without going on as deep a playoff run, as success should also be measured in the individual growth of the young core and how they all gel, especially in the three-guard lineup.
Birdsong: Somewhat true, in the sense that the goal at this point should be chasing championships. Obviously there’s the reality that even the Duncan-era Spurs only made the Finals six times, but now that these Spurs have made the championship round, that’s going to be the expectation, especially as Wemby and Co. continue to ascend (and even more so in the event that they don’t). Yes, the young Spurs made their leap early, but that doesn’t exempt them from the weight of expectation. You can ask the Durant-era Thunder about that. I would say the difference is that it wouldn’t be a hopeless disappointment. With Timmy, it always felt like next year could still be their year. I think the same will be true with Wemby, even when they fall short.
Gomez: True, I guess. When you make the Finals, keep your entire core intact, and add a few pieces, it feels like the expectations should be set high. I doubt anyone would be asking for Mitch Johnson’s head or for a big trade (not involving Fox) if the Spurs get to the Conference Finals and lose, but this team, as young as it is, is built to win big. If that doesn’t happen, I don’t think it would be crazy to call it a disappointment.
What’s your boldest prediction about the upcoming Spurs season?
Dubinski: Tarris Reed eventually passes Luke Kornet in the rotation. Kornet was arguably the best backup center in the NBA last season before a disappointing playoff run, and that falloff from the playoffs would have to continue well into this season (proving it was no fluke and/or a sign that he has past his prime) for Reed to surpass him, but it’s certainly possible if it means not having to be too dependent on Wemby.
Douglas: Jayden Quaintance plays meaningful minutes in the NBA playoffs. He will come back from knee surgery recovery in mid-February, ramping back up to a full minutes load by the end of the season. His defense behind Wembanyama will be so good that the team is forced to give him a role. His presence eliminates last year’s team’s problem of defensive drop-off when Wemby sits.
Huan: This might be more of a hot take rather than a bold prediction, but I can see Castle sacrificing the most in the backcourt logjam. It’s clear that Harper will be the #2 option long-term with a ceiling higher than Castle’s, and Fox is still needed for his reliable ball-handling and veteran presence. Naturally, that would leave Castle as the odd man out, and I can see a scenario where he seems to stagnate a bit. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though, as it’s all a part of the growing pains for a young player and letting him develop some off-ball skills will be beneficial for everyone long-term.
Birdsong: The Spurs will cut through the Western Conference in both the regular season and the postseason like butter, on the way to the title. The preseason is always the preseason, but I think that a lot of Spurs players have largely downplayed how locked in they’re going to be. A lot of the Western contenders have taken roster hits, and the top-heavy contenders in the East still have some chemistry things to figure out. Barring injury and/or the rise of someone or something completely unexpected, I think this is San Antonio’s year. I don’t just think they’re going to win, I think they’re going to dominate. No one is deeper, no one is angrier, and no one else is so obviously on the rise.
Gomez: One of the three guards will be coming off the bench by All-Star weekend. I love that Coach Johnson is willing to give the combination a try but, at least right now, it seems like the best option is to play a more traditional, bigger lineup, arguably as soon as Tobias Harris is ready to go. The wear and tear that playing four smaller players and Wembanyama during the entire regular season would entail simply doesn’t seem worth it, unless the starting unit blitzes opponents into submission and the stars get to rest in the fourth quarter. I’m not sure that will happen, so I believe there will be an adjustment made midseason.
Chaffee, 28, signed a one-year, one-way deal with the Islanders on July and has recorded six points (three goals, three assists) through six games with Hamilton.
The Michigan native has 109 games of NHL experience with 16 goals and 10 assists over that span.
He last played in the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning, recording one assist in 11 games during the 2025-26 season.
After two seasons of collecting top picks in the 2025 and 2026 drafts, the Nets seem ready to compete again. Brooklyn has little incentive to lose on purpose, as the Houston Rockets own swap rights to the Nets’ 2027 first-round pick.
Brooklyn already has forward Michael Porter Jr.,who had a career year in 2025-26. With the addition of three-time All-Star Julius Randle via trade, the Nets now have two players to rely on to create shots. But can the rest of the team’s youth join them for the ride? Let’s dive into what this season should look like.
Scoring combo
The addition of Randle should help address Brooklyn’s offense that ranked dead last in offensive efficiency (108.2 points per 100 possessions) last season. Over the last several years, Randle has proven that he can create his own scoring opportunities, averaging over 20 points a night six of his last eight seasons. But where he should have the most impact is creating looks for others. The power forward has averaged at least 4.1 assists in all of the past six seasons.
Brooklyn can run its offense through Randle, who is capable of initiating through pick-and-rolls as a screener or ballhandler. He should also help put Brooklyn’s other players in more advantageous positions to score. A beneficiary from Randle’s presence will be Porter. The small forward is coming off a strong debut season with the Nets, averaging 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 52 games.
Despite the career year, Porter’s efficiency dipped slightly. Adding a scorer and playmaker like Randle should allow Porter to slot into a role as second option with easier scoring opportunities. This year is important for Porter. He’s eligible for a contract extension, so proving that last year wasn’t a flash in the pan will be important for his future with the team.
Despite making three All-Star teams, Randle does have his flaws. He can be careless with the ball, creating turnovers. His defensive effort waxes and wanes on a regular basis. And he’s a career 33.2 percent shooter from the three-point line, making him a suboptimal floor spacer.
But Brooklyn is aiming for respectability, which Randle brings as a proven veteran. And we’ve seen Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez excel in the past despite a limited roster.
Show-and-prove
The Nets have had seven first-round picks over the past two years. Two of those seven players seem guaranteed to receive consistent minutes: Egor Dëmin and rookie Mikel Brown Jr.
The sixth pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Brown had a decent Summer League. He only played in Brooklyn’s preseason finale after missing time with an injury. At 20 years old, Brown has potential as a shot creator and playmaker at the point guard position. But it will likely take him time to establish a consistent NBA rotation player.
Entering his sophomore season, Dëmin was spoon fed minutes in his rookie campaign, where he showed that he makes good reads as a passer. Dëmin also shot 38.5 percent from the three-point line. However, he needs to improve as a driver and finisher around the paint to be a starting caliber player. There are high hopes for his second season.
Brown and Dëmin will be given tons of opportunity. And with Dëmin’s 6-9 frame, they both should be able to play in the backcourt together.
Outside of Randle, the Nets made a couple of moves in free agency, signing center Moe Wagner and guard Keon Ellis to contracts. Reserves Josh Minott and Terance Mann could also see some time.
With very few veterans on the roster there will be opportunities for the five other recent first-round picks. Nolan Traoré, Ben Saraf,Danny Wolf, Drake Powell and Joshua Jefferson will all have chances to crack the rotation. Specifically, Traoré, Saraf, Wolf, and Powell are all entering their second season. They will have to show some progress to justify a long-term roster spot past this season.
Sep 28, 2026; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets Mikel Brown Jr. (0) poses for a portrait during media day at Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Center. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Starting caliber
To acquire Randle, the Nets had to send mainstay Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal. Claxton’s defense and rebounding had dipped over the past few years. The center’s departure creates an opportunity for Day’Ron Sharpe to start at the five. Sharpe re-signed on a two-year, $20 million deal during the offseason.
Sharpe has been a per-minute darling over the past several years, dominating opposing backup centers by feasting on the offensive boards and finishing around the basket. Over five seasons, Sharpe is averaging 16.3 points, 13.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per 36 minutes. His work on the offensive glass will be a big help to Brooklyn creating more scoring opportunities. When Sharpe is on the floor, the Nets have played better. Teams outscored Brooklyn by 4.3 points per 100 possessions in 1,160 minutes last year, a figure far better than the -12.9 net rating the Nets had in Claxton’s minutes.
The question is can Sharpe be healthy and withstand a bump in minutes? He’s never played more than 62 games in a season and never averaged more than 18.7 minutes in a season. Also, he will now be matched up with the likes of Nikola Jokić, Karl-Anthony Towns and Bam Adebayo, a step up from his days as a backup.
Prediction
The Nets should be better than last year. The addition of a multi-time All-Star like Randle is a step in the right direction. And the NBA’s arrangement to disincentivize tanking of the draft will make the team naturally more competitive. But that also means the competition will also be trying.
Brooklyn’s lack of depth and heavy reliance on unproven youngsters means it’s unlikely the club will be competing for a playoff spot. Dëmin and Brown will need to wildly exceed expectations for a massive leap. Let’s go with 30-52.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 09: General Manager Mike Elias of the Baltimore Orioles watches the Orioles Hall of Fame ceremony before the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Athletics at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 09, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles really meant it this time about hiring a general manager. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported on Monday morning that the team has chosen Jared Banner, who was most recently serving as an assistant GM with the Cubs since 2023, to join the O’s front office as GM. Passan added that over the course of his career, Banner has also worked with the Mets and Red Sox.
In terms of the ultimate decisionmaking in the Orioles front office, hiring Banner as the GM is not going to change the fact that Mike Elias is still what is colloquially understood as “the GM,” that is, the guy who is in charge of baseball operations. That authority rests in a person with the president of baseball operations title.
However, in hiring Banner, the O’s have brought in someone from outside the organization who is supposed to have a lot of influence in player development, an area where Elias has obliquely acknowledged that he’s been lacking in recent seasons. Banner has been working in a variety of player development roles since 2007, when he took a job with the Red Sox. Among his past titles is executive director of player development, which he held with the Mets in 2018 and 2019.
Unless you are related to Jared Banner, you have probably never thought about him or been aware of his existence before today. I certainly haven’t. Whether he will actually be able to do what needs to be done to help improve the Orioles fortunes is not something we can know. He does have at least one nice feather in his cap, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman:
Banner was credited as an advocate to acquire PCA for Cubs as he’d know Crow-Armstrong when he was with the Mets @JeffPassan 1st with news https://t.co/9u79mqZGnW
That’s referring to Pete Crow-Armstrong, the probable National League MVP this season, who the Cubs acquired from the Mets back in 2021. Solid talent evaluation there, though Orioles fans, after two lean years, will be hoping for a smashing success on a much shorter time frame than that at this point.
Going into this, if I had believed the Orioles were actually going to hire a GM this time instead of poke around like they might and never do it, my ideal candidate would have probably come from either the Rays or Brewers, teams that either get by with about as many resources as the Orioles or even fewer.
The way this postseason has gone, those teams are still in it, meaning the guys are still doing their jobs and probably not getting the opportunity to interview for promotions. Should Elias have waited to see if he could talk to someone in those front offices? Again, I just have no way to evaluate.
What I can say is that the Cubs have not been a perennial powerhouse team of late. They have made the postseason as a wild card in each of the past two seasons, but before that, their last 162-game season where they made it into the playoffs was 2018.
If Banner can do what the Orioles need him to do, then it doesn’t really matter how his last organization performed lately. The franchise needs to actually develop talent that can play at the highest level consistently, rather than continue to unearth guys who can build up prospect hype and even rookie season hype but not manage to sustain that over the next few years.
The Knicks entered last season with the highest expectations in recent franchise history. This year, they enter the campaign having finally met them for the first time in 53 seasons.
For many that would be enough, but this squad looks intent on repeating, which would break the NBA’s streak of eight consecutive different title winners.
With the roadmap already laid out for more or less the same roster, there’s no reason New York shouldn’t be right there once again.
Here's SNY's 2026-27 season preview...
What worked
Head coach Mike Brown was brought in for one reason -- to get his team over the hump behind increased communication, a reformed offensive system, and heavier reliance on their depth. He accomplished all of the above, giving the Knicks a blueprint of a championship season they can fall back on if things get tough.
But Brown’s success wasn’t immediately apparent. As promised, he spent much of the regular season experimenting with schemes and rotations.
At times, that left some members of the team unsure of their roles. At others, the team was stuck in a rut. But everything clicked beginning with Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs in Atlanta.
Everybody comfortably settled into their roles at once, with the big change being how the team utilized Karl-Anthony Towns' playmaking. Each player locked in defensively and flourished as part of the team concept offensively.
Jalen Brunsoncontinued his postseason heroics while mixing in enough off-ball play to keep him fresh.OG Anunoby put together a historically efficient scoring run.
They found basketball nirvana, entering a flow state of ball movement and abandoning any other motives. How much of this can they carry over with the ground shifting underneath them?
What’s changed?
While the Knicks brought back most of their championship roster, this team isn’t identical to the one that won it all. They lost Mitchell Robinson, their backup center who was a key man all season but especially in slowing down Victor Wembanyama in the NBA Finals.
Replacing him is Andre Drummond, another rim-runner with a knack for offensive rebounding, though generally considered a tier below Robinson overall. Drummond will bring durability, free throw shooting and a couple other skills Robinson lacked, but this potential downgrade could impact their title hopes.
While the rest of the core roster is more or less the same, the conference surrounding the Knicks has improved dramatically. Philadelphia added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown after their Eastern Conference Semifinals beatdown at the hands of New York, Indiana is getting a healthy Tyrese Haliburton back, the Heat added Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Toronto added Kawhi Leonard.
This, while contenders like Boston, Cleveland, and Detroit remain in the picture. Even if the Knicks wholly recapture their magic, facing stiffer competition makes repeating much harder.
Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts in the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs during game four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
But perhaps the biggest year over year difference is the black cloud that’s hung overhead the past few weeks -- extension talks. Towns, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride can all test free agency relatively soon, with the front office shelving extension talks until later in the season.
Playing through uncertain long-term security can be a distraction, and if the Knicks re-engage on talks before the trade deadline unsuccessfully, it could open a much bigger can of worms. But all parties seem to want to come together on this, so there’s reason for optimism.
Finally, how does Brown adjust to all of this? Fans shouldn’t expect him to stay content with last year’s playbook and approach, and to continue experimenting with options through this regular season.
He’s mentioned evolving the Towns hub package as well as working in additional pick-and-roll reps for Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. There’s sure to be additional twists on the winning formula as well.
What to watch
The Knicks open up their repeat run against a slew of contenders, so the first month of the season will serve as an early test of the team’s preparedness. How they set the pace - hangover or hunger - will tell us a lot about the season to come.
It’ll be interesting to see how else Brown messes with his talent. One name that deserves added attention is Mohamed Diawara, who had an impressive though short-lived rookie season.
He’s arguably the team’s most tantalizing prospect, and as a big wing helps address a couple needs. If he can keep up his 40 percent shooting clip from three and show a little more consistency in his dribble and defensive games, watch out.
Then there’s James Wiseman, the former second overall pick that was brought into training camp and earned himself the third string center spot. That may not seem like a crucial position, but Towns' recurring foul trouble and the scarcity of reliable backups make him a pivotal piece.
Can he shake off his injury history to recapture some of his lottery upside?
Bench ball handling is another point of emphasis, with Jordan Clarkson moving more into a wing role and McBride potentially on the chopping block. Jose Alvarado has been their go-to but can have rough stretches, leaving Tyler Kolek as the remaining option here.
Whether we see more opportunities for Kolek or a trade, getting Brunson adequate ball-handling help proved invaluable during last year’s playoffs and will be this year, too.
Finally, the age old question for any contender. Now that everybody’s individual sacrifices paid off, will they continue to sacrifice, or will some guys now look to cash in on their own success, especially with extensions and aprons being a hot button issue?
Prediction
The Knicks have some concerns on the margins, but this group is returning healthy and largely intact, giving them some of the best title hopes in the league. The Knicks repeat as champions, 4-2 in the NBA Finals over San Antonio.
