TORONTO, CANADA. - MAY 8: Kiki Iriafen #44 of the Washington Mystics drives to the basket during the game against the Toronto Tempo on May 8, 2026 at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 17: Kiki Iriafen #44 of the Washington Mystics shoots a free throw during the game against the Chicago Sky on September 17, 2026 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Game Info
When: Thursday, September 24th at 7:30 p.m. ET
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Injury Report
Sky: DiJonai Carrington – Out (Foot), Skylar Diggins – Out (Knee), Rickea Jackson – Out (Knee), Azura Stevens – Out (Knee)
Mystics: No Injuries Reported
Pregame notes
And it comes down to this. The final game of the season is upon us, as the Mystics are looking to continue the momentum they have built since coming back from the FIBA Tournament. Winners of three straight games, the Mystics’ win over the Sun on Tuesday night marked the franchise mark for most wins in a season, at 27 wins. Don’t let that get in the way of what should be an interesting night in the “W”.
At stake for Thursday’s game is the potential to move up as far as the 5th playoff spot, and lock in a 1st round matchup against the Atlanta Dream, but the Mystics will need some help. A combination of beating the Chicago Sky and the Minnesota Lynx beating the Indiana Fever, will allow the Mystics to move up to the 5th playoff spot.
On the other side, Chicago has been dealing with a great deal of injuries. This game is an opportunity for their team to play spoiler and stop the Mystics’ momentum going into the playoffs.
Bottom line, the Mystics need to put the Sky away early and focus on resting their key players so that they can go into the playoffs, not only with momentum, but also with a healthy roster. This game will be at Capital One Arena, which has been undergoing significant renovation over the summer, so that should add a little more excitement to an already important game.
Having been blasted all over the Wanderers by Herschelle Gibbs and co. on his way to an unwanted slice of history, only a text from an Australian cricket legend could lift Mick Lewis’ spirits.
Extension talks with Karl-Anthony Towns have stalled as Knicks training camp nears, but the sides haven’t given up on an agreement.
Towns has been eligible for an extension since early August and the Knicks, as The Post reported earlier this month, are asking him to take a discount from his max of four years, $272 million.
It’s part of the front office’s attempt to keep the championship core together amid James Dolan’s mandate of staying below the second apron. With Jalen Brunson eligible for a big extension next year (four years, $257 million), the Knicks are watching their spending now and Towns — a multi-time All-Star — is in the middle.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) lifts the Larry O’Brien trophy after defeating the San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA championship during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
New York’s exact offer to Towns is unclear but ESPN reported Wednesday that “a deal before training camp is considered unlikely.” It’s relevant because the story will now hang over camp and beyond.
But the sides also have all season to negotiate.
“There’s been plenty of conversations with KAT, all cordial, all positive,” a league source told The Post. “We want KAT to be here for a long time.
“And just because a deal isn’t done now doesn’t mean it can’t get done.”
Towns was also eligible for an extension before last season and didn’t come close to an agreement. He expressed a desire to stay with the Knicks and was key to the championship run, transforming into a playmaking force at the elbow while elevating his defense in the playoffs.
Both Towns and the Knicks can feel they have leverage in these negotiations. With the Knicks, there’s time to assess since contract eligibility extends through the season. For Towns, who visibly dropped weight in the offseason, there’s the threat of leaving in free agency in 2027 while armed with the security of a player option. If Towns is injured this season or underwhelms, he can pick up the option and be paid $61 million for the 2027-28 campaign.
The Knicks already sacrificed one player to stay below the second apron, allowing Mitchell Robinson to leave in free agency this summer and sign with the Celtics. Towns, who was either the Knicks’ second or third best player during the playoffs, is obviously more important.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and his wife Jordyn Woods pose for a photo during a David Yurman event at the Willaim F. Passannante Ballfield on West Houston and MacDougal Street, Thursday, September 17, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Josh Hart and Miles McBride are also eligible for extensions. Hart has a team option in his contract but McBride would become a free agent next summer with no deal.
The Knicks will host Media Day on Monday at their Tarrytown facility, where Towns will undoubtedly be asked about his extension negotiations. It’s worth noting that he has a longtime relationship with team president Leon Rose, who once served as Towns’ agent.
Last season, Towns was asked by The Post about not agreeing to an extension and said, “Hell yeah I want to stay here. Obviously get a chance to be home, see my family. It means more than the money, you know. So just to be able to be here with the fans, be with the family. It means a lot. I would like it to continue.”
Australia A’s batters failed in their first audition to impress Test selectors as the tourists were bowled out for 171 on day two of their first four-day game against India A in Puducherry.
The Vegas Golden Knights are getting closer to their regular-season roster, and another round of cuts has brought their training camp group down to 28 players.
Vegas assigned nine players to AHL Henderson on Wednesday, while five others were placed on waivers with the intention of joining the Silver Knights. Three more players remain sidelined with injuries, and another five prospects are headed back to junior hockey as the Golden Knights continue to shape their roster for the 2026-27 season.
The nine players assigned directly to Henderson are Mathieu Cataford, Jackson Hallum, Viliam Kmec, Carl Lindbom, Mitch McLain, Matyas Sapovaliv, Tuomas Uronen, Alex Weiermair and Cameron Whitehead.
Five players — Jeremy Davies, Jakub Demek, Joe Fleming, Adam Ginning and Jaycob Megna — were placed on waivers. Assuming they clear, they can join Henderson for the start of the AHL season.
Vegas will also be without Ben Hemmerling, Lukas Cormier and Kai Uchacz for the time being. All three remain listed as week-to-week with injuries.
Meanwhile, five players are headed back to their respective junior clubs for the start of the 2026-27 season: Sean Burick, Will McLaughlin, Mateo Nobert, Noel Pakarinen and Jonah Sivertson.
That leaves 28 players still with the Golden Knights as preseason winds down.
Golden Knights Forwards
The 16 forwards remaining in camp, listed alphabetically by last name:
Ivan Barbashev
Braeden Bowman
Trevor Connelly
Nic Dowd
Jack Eichel
Marc Gatcomb
Tomas Hertl
Alexander Holtz
Brett Howden
William Karlsson
Tanner Laczynski
Raphael Lavoie
Mitch Marner
Victor Olofsson
Jonas Rondbjerg
Mark Stone
Golden Knights Defensemen
Ten defensemen remain in the mix:
Rasmus Andersson
Dylan Coghlan
Noah Hanifin
Ville Heinola
Jeremy Lauzon
Brayden McNabb
Juho Piiparinen
Antti Tuomisto
Parker Wotherspoon
Shea Theodore
Golden Knights Goaltenders
Two goaltenders remain:
Carter Hart
Adin Hill
The Golden Knights will get another look at their remaining group Thursday night when they return to T-Mobile Arena for a preseason matchup against the Utah Mammoth. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT.
Vegas will close out its preseason schedule Saturday against the San Jose Sharks.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning during game one of a double header against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 23, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles avoided being eliminated for at least a few more hours by winning the first game of their doubleheader against Toronto on Wednesday afternoon. In the process, they officially eliminated the Blue Jays from postseason contention. Too bad, so sad. In short, Chris Bassitt got the better of Max Scherzer in the Old Guy Starting Pitching Matchup and that’s what brought the O’s to a 4-2 victory.
It’s not an exaggeration to call this the Old Guy Starting Pitching Matchup. These two pitchers set a record for the oldest pair of starting pitchers in an MLB game 12 days ago and they set the record again when they met up today, each 12 days older than before. As They Might Be Giants remind us, “You’re older than you’ve ever been, and now you’re even older…”
Going off just the first inning, you might have been concerned that the Orioles were going to end up on the wrong end of this thing. Bassitt had to work around a one-out double to get a scoreless first, but the really concerning thing was that Scherzer struck out three batters looking in the first inning alone. Scherzer has apparently hoping to slip ahead of former teammate Justin Verlander on the career strikeout list, entering the day 11 behind. And at the end of the first inning, it was only eight behind.
What if he got them all today? It wouldn’t be unheard of to have the 2026 Orioles help a guy to an achievement like this. That’s not what happened, although Scherzer did get 7/11 of the way there by the time his five innings were up. The Orioles managed to get to him, though.
The Orioles took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, one of those innings where you could argue they probably should have scored more than they did. The inning began with a single-walk-single sequence, the second of those hits – a Jeremiah Jackson single – bringing a run home and leaving the Orioles still with men on first and third and nobody out.
The problem for the Orioles racking up a big inning after this was that the next two batters were Leody Taveras and Carlos Narváez. They each popped out, neither managing to bring home Colton Cowser from third base with some kind of productive out. Cowser did finally score, but only after Jackson tried to steal second base and ended up in a rundown, which he managed to drag out for long enough for Cowser to race home. This doesn’t count as a steal of home for Cowser. It did still count for a run.
Bassitt made that lead stick, even as he continued to work around giving up doubles. The Jays hit a double off of Bassitt in each of the first four innings of the game. None of those men ended up scoring a run. He did well to dodge further trouble in those innings. Even in the fifth inning, where Bassitt ended the doubles streak, he still gave up two singles, facing men on first and third with only one out, yet Bassitt was able to get the double play ground ball he needed, and the Orioles defense actually turned the double play behind him, preserving the 2-0 Orioles lead.
More damage was dealt to Scherzer’s ERA in the bottom of the fifth inning. There wasn’t much more to it than Dylan Beavers drawing a one-out walk ahead of Pete Alonso. The Polar Bear entered the game with 40 home runs this season. Scherzer attempted to elevate a four-seamer on Alonso and he didn’t elevate it enough. Alonso bashed the pitch into the Orioles bullpen. Make that 41 home runs for the season and 110 RBI. It is an impressive RBI number when you consider the disappointment that has frequently been going on ahead of him in the batting order. I really like that guy. The Orioles led, 4-0.
With Bassitt at a reasonable pitch count (82) and still seeming effective, the Orioles let him start the sixth inning. Eight pitches later, Bassitt had given up a walk and a single and then Bassitt was out, replaced by rookie pitcher Luis De León. If his first two games are stuck in your head, De León’s appearances may still inspire dread. He has done well since those first games, though, and entered this game with a 2.08 ERA. The real concern wasn’t his own ERA but what he would do with the inherited runners.
An easy groundout and a strikeout later and it looked like the answer was that De León would strand both of those guys. He induced a ground ball to second base that really should have been the third out. However, Jeremiah Jackson – seemingly intentionally – chose to make the throw to first as a two-hopper, and Alonso was not able to make the pick on the second bounce.
In the official scorer’s determination, this was an infield single with two runs scoring as a result of a throwing error on Jackson. The runs were charged to Bassitt. De León allowed a single after this and things were not far from going off the rails. Manager Craig Albernaz brought in Anthony Nunez and Nunez closed the door, getting the last out in the sixth before throwing a scoreless seventh as well.
Bassitt finished with two runs allowed over five innings plus two batters, mostly scattering seven hits and a walk. Scherzer allowed four runs over his five innings, with the Orioles picking up four hits and three walks. Neither team hit very well with RISP: The Jays were 1-14 and the Orioles were 1-8. Alonso’s homer plus the “steal” of home accounted for 75% of the runs without even needing a hit with RISP to do it.
The two teams will be back in action at 6:35 for the second game. The Orioles will be mathematically eliminated with a loss, or if the White Sox beat the Royals in a game that begins at 7:40. Trey Gibson is set to start the game for the O’s. There will be a roster move to facilitate this.
It is a longtime tradition on Camden Chat to name a Most Birdland Player after each victory. What is Most Birdland? Each person must decide for themselves. Sometimes, this is the most valuable player. Sometimes, it is not. For me, the answer does line up with Most Valuable today, as Alonso hitting that two-run homer on the same day he was unanimously named Most Valuable Oriole feels pretty Birdland. If only more of his teammates had lived up to their potential this year.
Ryan Galanie gave Charlotte a steady presence in the lineup, batting .284 with 19 homers in his time with the Knights. | (Laura Wolff/Ryan Galanie/Instagram)
For an affiliate whose primary role is to serve as the last checkpoint for MLB readiness while having some fun along the way, the Charlotte Knights delivered much more on the latter than the former. Finishing tied for second place in the International League East with an 81-68 record and +126 run differential, Chicago’s Triple-A club exhibited remarkable growth from 2025’s frustrating 65-85 finish and -100 run differential.
Charlotte’s success this year is even more impressive considering the strength of its division. The Rochester Red Wings dominated the field with 90 wins, helped by a lights-out 45-29 road record. If the Washington Nationals swapped rosters with their Triple-A affiliate, they might have an easier time reaching 81 wins. Syracuse and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre also caused trouble in the East, each winning more than 77 games, while the top three teams in the West finished with more than 80 wins. Falling short of the playoffs in such a competitive division makes the Knights’ season that much more impressive.
Charlotte consistently had a rotating set of key offensive contributors, but one guy played the most consistently.
Ryan Galanie, 1B
After tying up loose ends in Birmingham, Galanie became a pivotal member of Charlotte’s lineup. He slashed .283/.343/.516 and hit a career-high 19 homers for Charlotte, including five in June, when he batted .355 with a 1.083 OPS. Galanie’s ability to get on base and move runners around the diamond, and not just crack home runs, stands out as a first baseman. Although he’s not a top-30 prospect in the farm system, Galanie’s a guy to monitor this fall.
May was Galanie’s lone stumble at the plate, though even then he hit .213/.295/.479 and drew nine walks. That batting average might look familiar to a couple of current starting infielders. Yes, Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery, I’m looking at you two.
Though they were less steady, a few other bats regularly earned South Side Sox’s game MVP or runner-up honors.
The Knights made good use of Nishida’s patience at the plate. He batted leadoff 105 times and posted a .289 average and .422 on-base percentage. Even during a slower second half, his plate discipline made him a threat regardless of the score or the number of outs.
Nishida may be a 4A player, but he stepped into Jacob Gonzalez’s role in Charlotte and helped spark several needed rallies.
Andy Weber, INF
Called up from Birmingham in late spring, Weber made an immediate impression in June, collecting 29 hits and driving in 20 runs. He finished his time in Charlotte with a .251/.312/.423 slash line, 15 homers and 35 walks. His production tapered off late in the season, but his hot bat at the bottom of the order helped keep the offense moving.
Weber’s defense at shortstop needs work, and his strikeout total climbed, but his versatility on the left side of the infield could make him one of Charlotte’s first call-up options if injuries hit the White Sox in 2027. Whatever next season brings, he should have another chance to show off his bat-to-ball skills with the Knights in April.
While the offense often received the most recognition this year, Charlotte’s pitching also deserves applause. The pitching deck got shuffled several times throughout the season, largely because the parent club mismanaged its bullpen, but two guys thrived by staying with the Knights nearly the entire season.
Jairo Iriarte, RHRP
It took Iriarte two years to settle into the Sox after leaving the Padres in the Dylan Cease exchange, but better late than never. He spent 17 games proving that he was ready to face higher-caliber hitting than what Double-A could provide, and he followed through. Iriarte finally dropped his ERA below 3.00, giving up just 18 earned runs and 28 walks in 64 1/3 innings. He also dramatically cut his WHIP from nearly 2.00 to 1.18 since last year, and he held hitters to a .207 batting average. When Iriarte entered the game this year, a sigh of relief followed, rather than a groan.
The jury is still out on whether Iriarte will rejoin the Sox or remain in the minors. The jump from Charlotte to Chicago is steep, but this season gave him a stronger case for making it.
Garrett Schoenle, RHRP
Schoenle was a go-to option for the Knights in the late innings. He posted a 3.12 ERA and 1.27 WHIP, catching hitters looking and keeping runners off base. After spending nearly a month on the injured list, he showed little rust upon his return in May, allowing three runs on 10 hits and four walks over 10 1/3 innings.
He hit a rough patch in mid-August, allowing four runs in three games after rarely giving up more than four in an entire month. The stumble was brief, though, and Schoenle finished the season much as he started it.
It should be a roster management crime that Schoenle didn’t spend a single day on the 40-man roster, let alone the 26-man. Given how well he pitched early in the season, continuing to turn to Huascar Brazobán in August and hoping he wouldn’t give up a run was a baffling choice.
Charlotte missed the playoffs by five games in the first half and 5 1/2 in the second, but the Knights still put together a solid season. They didn’t send as many players to the majors as expected, though David Sandlin and Sam Antonacci have made their mark on the Sox while working through the usual learning curves. After last year’s wave of promotions depleted Charlotte’s talent pool, that shortfall is understandable.
The Knights grew stronger as the season went on, bolstered by players arriving from High-A and Double-A, including Riley Unroe and Nick Altermatt. With a talented roster and several players on the cusp of reaching the majors, Charlotte is well positioned to be the team to beat in 2027.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Hunter Brown #58 of the Houston Astros walks to the dugout during the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Daikin Park on September 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Joe Buvid/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s never a good idea to get into arguments with a Deacon at your home parish, but that’s exactly what transpired after mass on Wednesday morning between myself and Deacon Glenn.
The topic of “happy to be there” was on the sports debate missal. My contention was that of my experience of Senior Prom, “just happy to go”, whereas Deacon Glenn paraded around as Prom King.
This centers around the Astros and my sentiments are simple, after all they’ve endured, if playing next week it’s nothing short of a divine miracle. Before you’re quick to judge and cast the first stone, consider the following:
Hunter Brown spent 75 days on the IL.
Mike Burrows last win in the big leagues came back on June 30th during a subpar outing vs. Minnesota in which he allowed 4 runs over the course of 5 innings.
Tatsuya Imai just recently cracked 75 innings of work. In Japan’s Nippon Pro League, he logged 829 innings over portions of 8 seasons.
Lance McCullers dazzled with a 7 inning performance back in March during a victory over Boston, little did we know the eventual ending weeks later.
Followed by May 5th, which was one of the darker moments. Carlos Correa tore a tendon in his left ankle. Instead of leading the club to a postseason run, he’s reclining back in commercials with Mattress Mack, unable to contribute.
Then there’s the division, the lone saving grace being the record against the Texas Rangers which might ultimately decide things in the end. Houston has won just 25% of their contests vs. the Seattle Mariners this season. They dropped a total of 11 games to the lowly Los Angeles Angels & (Sacramento?) A’s.
Outside of the division, there are plenty of warts. Baltimore took 5 of 6 meetings. Along the way, there were even lost series to the Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies who are going nowhere fast.
Fortunately, against the Boston Red Sox and both clubs in Chicago, 13 of 16 wins were posted or all of this would be a moot point.
I’m just content in the moment to potentially be stepping into the limo that will bring me to the postseason after a one year hiatus.
Derek Falvey | (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
The Mets are “moving toward” adding Derek Falvey to their front office, per a report by Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The 43-year-old mutually parted ways with the Twins at the beginning of this year after having served as their president of baseball operations for years. There’s no word yet on what Falvey’s title will be, assuming he’s officially hired by the team.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns and Falvey worked together in Cleveland’s front office in 2011 and 2012. There’s been talk of the Mets adding to their front office in recent months, and the report from Sammon and Rosenthal notes that Falvey is expected to have “a significant role in the Mets’ decision-making process.”
The Mets are, of course, playing the last few games in one of the most underwhelming seasons in franchise history. Despite entering the year with a payroll well over $300 million, their best-case scenario—winning all five of their remaining games—would see them end the year with 77 wins. Coming off a disappointing 2025 season that saw them start the year as one of the best teams in baseball before struggling mightily and missing the playoffs, the team’s moves ahead of the 2026 season did not work out.
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 08: Danny Jansen #9 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with teammate Nicky Lopez #33 after hitting a home run in the fifth inning during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Eric Hiller/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for September 23, 2026 against the New York Mets: starting pitchers are Cody Bradford for the Rangers and Nolan McLean for the Mets.
Texas did not play well yesterday. We shall see if they play better today.
The lineup:
Langford — LF
Seager — SS
Jung — DH
Nimmo — RF
Duran — 3B
Burger — 1B
Lopez — 2B
Jansen — C
Carter — CF
7:05 p.m. Central start time. The game is a pick ‘em.
OAKLAND – For more than two months last season, Stephen Curry only could watch as the Warriors spiraled downward without him. His ailing right knee forced him to miss 27 games, 18 of which ended in defeat.
Curry, whose workout routine is legendary among NBA players, acknowledged then that there would be a “new normal” because changes were required.
As Golden State prepares for NBA training camp next week in Hawaii, those changes have Curry brimming with optimism after he was diagnosed last February with patellofemoral pain syndrome, commonly referred to as “runner’s knee,” and forced to the sideline.
“Feeling fantastic,” Curry said Wednesday at an appearance in east Oakland. “There was a very particular and kind of prescriptive plan over the course of the summer of what I could do on court (and) off court to build the foundation back but give my knee some rest. And then slowly build to where when I get to camp on Monday, I’ve got enough reps, enough pickup sessions and court time where I’m able to do everything like I normally do but not overdo it going into camp.”
Curry, 38, realizes he is nearing the end of a career that will earn him first-ballot Hall of Fame status. Always devoted to conditioning – the primary source of his success for 17 seasons – a first-time knee issue left him briefly unsettled.
Even now, the experience lives in the back of his mind.
“I think because I missed so many games last year that that’s going to be like top of mind, and obviously should be,” Curry said. “But anybody at this age and with the number of miles, you’re managing something. So, it’s kind of part of the longevity aspect of this, and I’m not afraid of it.”
Golden State’s medical and training staffs, led by Dr. Rick Celebrini, are considered among the best in the league. Curry will be monitored on a regular basis beginning with the first practice on Sept. 29 at BYU-Hawaii.
The Warriors are, according to league sources, somewhat concerned because Curry long has been the key to their fortunes and “runner’s knee,” which generally affects distance runners, can devolve into a chronic condition.
“It’s at that stage of my career . . . so all of this was just information to design a summer where you’re pacing yourself, getting your reps in, trying to improve the things that I set out to do skill-wise,” Curry said. “But I’m feeling strong and healthy, and I’m pretty sure I’m there.”
The Warriors surely hope so. Either way, this will be a season during which Curry will miss select games, mostly on back-to-back sets, for cautionary purposes.
ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 14: Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Avery Hayes (85) celebrates his goal with Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jack St. Ivany (3) during an NHL game where the St. Louis Blues hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday April 14th, 2026, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis MO (Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Here are the players the Penguins are bringing to Columbus for their preseason game tomorrow night.
Below is the Penguins’ lineup for Thursday night’s preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM ET, and fans can tune in to the game on the Penguins’ official flagship radio station, 105.9 ‘The X’.
FORWARDS
2 – Rutger McGroarty 11 – Filip Hallander 13 – David Gustafsson 19 – Connor Dewar 23 – Bill Zonnon 25 – Elmer Soderblom 26 – Tristan Broz 34 – Liam Ruck 40 – Tanner Howe 41 – Ville Koivunen 70 – Mikhail Ilyin 80 – Markus Ruck 84 – Atley Calvert 85 – Avery Hayes
DEFENSE
4 – Jake Livanavage 7 – Ilya Solovyov 27 – Ryan Graves 38 – Owen Pickering 44 – Chase Pietila 45 – Harrison Brunicke 82 – Caleb Jones
GOALIES
1 – Sergei Murashov 39 – Collin Delia
The final preseason game will be played Saturday in Buffalo. The new rules dictate that NHL veterans with 100+ games can appear in a maximum of two games, thus why most of the major players on the team aren’t playing in Columbus and presumably will go Saturday night instead. That means Connor Dewar and Elmer Soderblom won’t be playing in the finale, should they play again.
A goalie decision for the starter hasn’t been announced but it stands to reason the team might ramp Sergei Murashov into playing the full 60 minutes, as Arturs Silovs did last night. Delia joins him as an option as a pro tryout.
Otherwise, the majority of the lineup is composed of players that need a good game to stay on the radar, like Avery Hayes and Rutger McGroarty. Ville Koivunen, who missed his planned preseason debut with an injury, has been listed here again. The push for those players to make a case at a roster spot will be one of the key focuses as the team gets to hold them up against players like Dewar, Soderblom and Filip Hallander to get a look at some down-the-lineup options on the same night against the same competition.
There is a pretty simple question surrounding Collin Murray-Boyles entering his second NBA season: how high can his ceiling actually be?
Selected ninth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, Murray-Boyles entered Toronto with plenty of intrigue. At 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds, he is undersized for a traditional center, but his strength, physicality and instincts allow him to play much bigger than his frame suggests.
After an encouraging rookie season, the Raptors now have a better idea of what they have in their young forward.
What Did He Do Last Year?
Murray-Boyles averaged 8.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 57.9 percent from the field in 57 games. He also averaged 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks in 21.9 minutes per game.
The numbers do not tell the whole story. Murray-Boyles quickly became one of Toronto’s more physical defenders and reliable rebounders, using his strength to battle bigger players and his instincts to make plays around the basket.
That impact became even more noticeable in the playoffs. He averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks in 27.3 minutes per game while shooting 65.6 percent from the field.
He had 15 points and 10 rebounds in Game 4 against Cleveland before scoring 17 points in Game 6 to help Toronto force a deciding Game 7. For a rookie, it was an encouraging way to finish the season.
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (12) tries to get to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
What Should We Expect This Year?
The biggest change should simply be opportunity.
Murray-Boyles is no longer trying to figure out where he fits. He now has a full NBA season and playoff experience under his belt, and Toronto should give him more responsibility.
A reasonable expectation is for him to become a consistent rotation player and potentially start at times. He does not need to become a 20-point scorer. Instead, his development should focus on passing, cutting, screening and attacking mismatches.
The biggest question is his shooting. Murray-Boyles shot 34.0 percent from three as a rookie. If he can become a more reliable perimeter threat, his offensive fit becomes much easier to envision.
Can He Be the Raptors’ Long-Term Center?
This is where things get interesting.
Yes, but probably as a modern small-ball centre rather than a traditional one.
Murray-Boyles has already shown he can survive at centre because of his strength and mobility. He can switch onto smaller players, battle bigger forwards and provide help around the rim, giving Toronto defensive flexibility that a traditional big may not.
The obvious concern is size. There will be nights when a 6-foot-7 center struggles against a legitimate 7-footer, particularly on the glass or in the post.
That is why it is too early to declare him the long-term answer. But it is also too early to rule him out. Toronto still has Jakob Poeltl if it needs a traditional centre, allowing the Raptors to continue experimenting with Murray-Boyles without forcing him into a role he is not ready for.
What Needs to Improve?
Murray-Boyles’ three-point shooting is the biggest swing skill. Even becoming a high-30s shooter would change how defenses approach him.
His foul discipline also needs to improve. His physicality is a strength, but learning when to challenge and when to stay vertical will become increasingly important.
Finally, he needs to become more comfortable creating advantages offensively rather than simply finishing plays.
Apr 3, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (12) dunks during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The Verdict
It is too early to call Collin Murray-Boyles the answer to the Raptors’ long-term needs at centre.
It is not too early to say he could become one.
His rookie season showed that his physicality, defensive versatility and instincts translate to the NBA. If his shooting and offensive game continue to develop, Toronto could eventually have a centre who does not look like a traditional centre at all.
Contract extension talks between the Knicks and Karl-Anthony Towns have been ongoing this offseason after Towns played a huge role in helping New York capture its first championship in 53 years.
According to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley, there's been plenty of dialogue between the two sides, and those conversations have been positive, with the Knicks making it known they think highly of the big man and want him in New York for a long time.
As far as numbers go, during negotiations the Knicks have discussed extensions starting between $45-$50 million a year. Obviously, no deal has come to fruition yet. ESPN reported earlier Wednesday that the Knicks and Towns had hit a snag in negotiations.
Towns will earn $57 million this season and has a player option worth $61 million next year. The Knicks have until June 30 to extend Towns. Josh Hart and Miles McBride are also eligible for extensions.
Jalen Brunson will presumably be getting a new contract in the 2028 offseason. So if Hart and Towns extend, the Knicks' starting five will command a significant percentage of the salary cap.
New York will not spend beyond the NBA’s second apron ($221.6 million) in team salary this season, according to owner James Dolan. If the club takes that stance in future seasons, it will be challenging to extend Towns and Hart while also extending McBride. McBride is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Training camp for the defending champs opens next week.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 22: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees looks on from the on-deck circle during game one of a doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on September 22, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 MLB postseason schedule is just about locked in, and it’s time to take a deeper dive into the Yankees’ current roster to determine who will make the cut to kick things off.
The Rays clinched the AL East after defeating the Yankees in the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader, which means the Yankees will begin the postseason with the Wild Card Series against Boston. Unfortunately, it’s worth noting that the Yankees will be without Aaron Judge, who suffered a moderate grade right calf strain not too long after his lengthy IL stint.
Before we get into the ins and outs of the Pinstripes’ complex hitting dynamics, let’s begin with the starting rotation. Cam Schlittler had a standout season, finishing out the regular season with a 1.94 ERA and a frontrunner for the Cy Young Award. He also racked up an astounding 1.16 ERA on the road, the second-lowest in American League history, only behind Hall of Famer Walter Johnson, who recorded a 1.06 ERA on the road way back in 1913.
Schlittler will probably get the start for Game 1, and it’s likely that Max Fried gets the start in Game 2. Despite battling an elbow issue that limited him to 20 games this season, Fried finished the regular season with a 2.08 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. The veteran lefty will look to bounce back after taking the loss in the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader against Tampa Bay, where he only struck out four and gave up four runs on six hits and two walks in 6.2 innings.
The Game 3 starter, if needed, will likely be either Carlos Rodón or Gerrit Cole, both of whom have enough postseason experience to help propel the Yankees to the ALDS. Rodón, who was limited to 16 starts this season after struggling with lingering elbow issues from his offseason surgery, finished the season with a 2.67 ERA, allowing only 25 earned runs. Even if he doesn’t end up making the start in the Wild Card, he’ll make a nice addition to the bullpen. Cole, on the other hand, finished the regular season with a 3.63 ERA, his highest in the last five seasons. He began the season taking rehab assignments in the minors and first rejoined the team in May after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Aaron Boone recently added that he expects to see Cole start in the postseason, but it’s not definitive.
The question of whether Ryan Weathers will return for the playoffs remains unanswered. It would’ve been nice to see him get some reps or even a rehab assignment in before the end of the regular season, but his return for the postseason shouldn’t be ruled out.
The outlook for the bullpen is overall positive after adding a few notable starters to pitch relief, including Clarke Schmidt, who recently rejoined the majors after a nearly season-long stint on the IL. However, the Yankees may not take a gamble on Schmidt so soon after he cut his bullpen warmup short on Sunday against the Diamondbacks due to bicep soreness.
As for the outfield, Trent Grisham has yet to make his return to the majors from the IL with a right hamstring strain. He’s not completely out of the question to make the cut, but Boone may rely on a different option. Spencer Jones has made an impact both on defense and at the plate, showing off his progress as the regular season comes to a close, so it’s likely he’ll earn a spot.
Looking at the position players, there’s a plethora of uncertainty about the state of the infield. Jazz Chisholm Jr. made his return from the IL during the second game of the doubleheader against the Rays on Tuesday, so he’ll likely be a solid weapon at second. Will Warren, who finished the regular season with a 4.02 ERA and 1.38 WHIP, has made enough of an impression that can put him in a relief role as well.
Who will play at third base is arguably one of the most circulated topics of conversation among fans going into the Wild Card. Boone relayed that he’s planning on putting Volpe at third this week and keeping George Lombard Jr. at shortstop, according to Talkin’ Yanks. If he can show off his agility and make clutch defensive plays, then it’s likely Volpe will stay at the position heading into the postseason. Amed Rosario and José Caballero are also options, but it doesn’t seem like they’ve impressed the front office enough to be considered starters.
It’s all up in the air until next week, but experimenting with a few changes this weekend against Baltimore will hopefully make it obvious where everyone will end up.
