Before heading to Washington on Tuesday night, the Montreal Canadiens will host the Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre. The two teams played a nail-biting second-round series last season. The Habs won on an Alex Newhook overtime goal in Game 7, but the Sabres had a 39-25 shot advantage that night and felt they should have won the series. On Tuesday night, they’ll have a chance to avenge their elimination.
In the regular season, the two teams met four times and split the series, each winning one at home and one on the road, and both scoring 13 goals. They could not have been more evenly matched. Unlike the Canadiens, though, the Sabres made many offseason changes, bidding farewell to Alex Tuch, Bowen Byram, Jordan Greenway, Logan Stanley, and Luke Schenn, to name a few. They’ve added Louis Crevier, Olen Zellweger and Dennis Gilbert. Over six games this season, they scored 16 goals and went 3-3-0, leaving them in sixth place in the Atlantic Division, they leapfrogged the Habs last night with a win over the Florida Panthers. Meanwhile, the Canadiens are 2-2-1 with five points for seventh place in the Atlantic Division and 23rd in the league, having scored 15 goals.
The Sabres are struggling in net. Alex Lyon has yet to make his season start and is day-to-day; Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has one win, a 4.02 goals-against average, and a .782 save percentage; and Colten Ellis has one win, a 2.91 GAA, and an .880 SV. Meanwhile, in Montreal, Jakub Dobes also has one win with a 4.43 GAA and a .856 SV, while newly recalled Jacob Fowler is 1-1-0 with a 1.46 GAA and a .938 SV.
At Monday’s practice, the Canadiens spent a lot of time working on their anemic power play ( a single goal in 17 opportunities for a 5.9% success rate), which is currently 31st in the league, just like the Sabres’. Florian Xhekaj returned to practice but left after a few minutes, clearly still bothered by a minor ailment. St-Louis refused to confirm whether he’d run the same formation with 11 forwards and seven defensemen or to confirm which goaltender would get the first game of the back-to-back.
In the regular season, Dobes has a 3-0-0 record against the Sabres with a 2.00 GAA and .937 SV, while Fowler has lost his only start against Tuesday night’s visitors, posting a 4.13 GAA and a .846 SV. Will St-Louis give the youngster a third straight start, or will he let Dobes back between the posts? Hard to sit Fowler after he pitched a perfect game against the Detroit Red Wings. The Florida native was absolutely flawless through regulation, overtime and the shootout.
As for the Sabres, Ellis got the start on Monday against the Florida Panthers, so it makes sense for Luukkonen to start. The former has a 1-0-0 record against the Habs, surrendering three goals in a 5-3-win last season and a .870 SV, while the latter is 2-2-0 with a 3,95 GAA and a .871 SV.
Up front, captain Nick Suzuki has 26 points in 21 games against the Sabres, the same total as newcomer Chris Kreider, but the veteran has faced them 40 times to reach that total. Sniper Cole Caufield ranks third with 16 points in 18 games.
Tage Thompson leads the Sabres in points against the Habs with 23 points in 20 games; Rasmus Dahlin has 21 points in 24 games; and Jack Quinn comes in third place with six points in 12 games. Unfortunately for Buffalo, Dahlin was injured in Sunday's game and didn't make the trip to Montreal.
Beware, the game starts at 6:30 PM, and you can catch it in French on RDS 2 and in English on TSN 2. It will be the first of four duels between the two sides this season. The Canadiens have won six of their last 10 games against the visitors and will no doubt hope to improve that record. Jake Brenk and Pierre Lambert will be the officials on the night while Ryan Daisy and Tommy Hughes will be the linesmen.
BRIGHTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 28: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at the Auerbach Center in Brighton, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Internal monologue:
Ok, time to write the annual preview article for the season. This is important, try not to mess it up. I mean, I know growing up that one of my favorite things to do was to open up the Sports Illustrated NBA preview issue and find the Celtics section. Then I would devour the previews from the Boston Globe. I want the new generation to feel that with this blog and look up to me like I looked up to Jack McCallum, Bob Ryan, and Jackie MacMullan. I should really make an effort to be objective, informative, fair, and balanced.
Then again, I’ll never have the kind of talent and drive those legends did. Why do I need people looking up to me? Maybe don’t take yourself so seriously. What, do you think you’re going to get your big break at age 51? Why don’t you just write from your heart and see if people connect with it?
Ok, you convinced me. Or maybe I convinced me. Whatever.
Sometimes I try to approach these things by establishing the bookend of “best case” and “worst case” and go from there. But let’s be honest, we all know that the worst case involves injuries and failures and sad times; and really who needs that in their preseason preview article? So we’re going with good vibes only in this one.
Jayson Tatum is back
Everything starts with the star of the show. The MVP candidate who returned in record time from Achilles surgery to look (mostly) like his old self at the end of last season. He has had a full offseason to recover and train and should (by all accounts) be up to full speed for the season.
It is a joy to watch Jayson Tatum play basketball. Full stop. He’s so talented in so many different ways. In fact, his versatility is one of his greatest and sometimes most underrated talents. He can score at all 3 levels (and even in the creases between those levels). He’s a willing and talented playmaker. He can be the hub of the offense but he can also get off the ball and still be effective. He’s a monster on the boards. He’s a disruptive help defender and generally an extension of the coaching staff on the court.
He’s so buttoned up and politically correct that it is almost boring. But he’s also so genuine with it that it comes across as endearing rather than eye rolling. He actually does just love basketball with all his heart and wants to play it the right way. He wants to be a leader and an inspiration to the next generation.
The spotlight tends to gravitate toward more edgy personalities, but I want to show some appreciation to a man that I’m proud to have my kids root for. I can’t wait to see what he does with the year ahead and beyond.
Brad Stevens has a plan
We can’t have a preview without addressing the departure of Jaylen Brown. That one hurt a lot of hearts and we each processed the news in our own ways. I was confused and angry and full of several other emotions at the time. The following months provided a little more context and perspective. Call it cope if you like, but I think I can see the vague outline of the vision.
In the back of our minds we knew something like this was probably coming sooner or later. Smart cap people were warning us about it for years. Nearly every other decision this front office has made has looked extremely smart over time. Why would this one be any different? In short, I’d trust Brad Stevens and his judgement long before I’d trust my own heart. He’s not without flaw, but he’s very good at his job.
As it stands, the roster is built around Jayson Tatum and a “replace Giambi in the aggregate” collection of Moneyball support players. Derrick White is poised to shake off his shaky shooting and remind everyone why he’s a plus-minus god. Payton Pritchard might be the best bargain contract in the league (not counting rookie deals).
At this time last year the big rotation was universally cited as the team’s most glaring weakness. Stealing Mitchell Robinson from the defending champs gives the Celtics one of the better center rotations in the league, with Luka Garza a luxury as the 3rd string big.
Then there’s the PG13 sized signature shoe waiting to drop. At some point the front office will have to decide if they want to move Paul George (and possibly draft picks) in exchange for a player or multiple players that better fit into the team’s short and long term plans. But there’s no need to rush that decision until we understand exactly what the needs are for this team.
Of course there’s also a world in which the team decides to keep George. Why would they keep the guy that just a year ago was listed among the worst contracts in the league? Well, what if everything goes right with the young players and several of them end up as high level rotation players? If there are no holes on the roster then there’s no need to move George (or those valuable draft picks) to fill roles. You could either extend George on a more reasonable number or let his contract eventually expire as extensions are starting to kick in.
The kids are more than alright
As hard as it was to move on from the core of a championship roster, the front office has replaced aging veterans with developing talent. While most (myself included) assumed last year would be a big step back (gap year), the team barely missed a step and gave guys valuable reps in a winning system (something a tanking team just can’t replicate).
Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and even Ron Harper Jr. each took turns proving they belong in this league. Each has had a season to build off the confidence those reps gave them and shore up shortcomings in their games. Neemias Queta went from major question mark to a tremendous success story.
Through the draft the team added Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell. Both of whom may see more time in Maine than Boston, but each of whom as real translatable talents for the NBA. They may have even uncovered a hidden gem in Devin Carter (when in doubt, take a flyer on a Kings cast-off, right Neemy?)
This isn’t a “two timelines” thing either. These are young players that have proven they can contribute to winning and they will have opportunities to show their stuff. The veterans are all willing teachers and “old heads” that can provide guidance and direction when needed. From Tatum to White to Paul George to Mike Conley, there are enough adults in the room to keep everyone focused. And of course when those guys need an extra few days of rest, the young guys will happily step into bigger roles.
Speaking of keeping everyone focused, I am a Joe Mazzulla believer. The biggest long-term challenge a coach has is getting the same guys to buy in year after year without the message turning stale. Joe seems to inherently understand this and he’s continually looking for new ways to get his message across. It helps that the roster turnover has given him new ears to bend and the veterans remaining (Tatum, White) are notoriously coachable.
Why not us?
Prediction time. There are a lot of very good teams in the East. I have a lot of respect for the defending champion Knicks. The Sixers have assembled a lot of on-paper talent. The Cavs have a track record of regular season success and are coming off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. The Pistons had a dominant regular season. The Heat added Giannis to their “culture.” The Raptors brought back Kawhi Leonard and didn’t have to plant a single tree. The Pacers are bringing back Tyrese Hilburton and adding Ivaca Zubac. There’s going to be a lot of competition for the East title.
However, I keep coming back to the subtitle question. Why not us?
The Celtics have the talent and the system and enough young try-hards to finish in the top 3 of the Eastern Conference standings. Maybe even the top 2 (again). As I’m sure you’ve heard 100 times already, it is notable that fewer teams will be tanking, so the win totals might be harder to replicate from last year. But I could see the Celtics easily clearing the 5o.5 to 51.5 wins that Vegas is setting their over/under at (kids, don’t gamble, the house always wins).
My official prediction is 55 wins, if anyone cares. In the spirit of good vibes only, who’s to say that this team can’t win it all? Sure, it would take some good matchup luck, reasonably good health, and perhaps a few fortunate bounces, but what title team hasn’t had all those things in their favor? They key will be translating all that “try hard” execution from the regular season into consistent execution in the playoffs when everyone else is trying hard too.
Sure, there are plenty of things that could go sideways this season. There will be plenty of time to react to those things in real time. For the moment, however, anything is possible and the vibes are fresh and new. I’m excited to start this journey and see where it leads us again. This feeling of giddy anticipation is what got me hooked on basketball in the first place (all those decades ag0). Why not embrace it a little bit longer? Let’s go Celtics!
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 10: Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers during a preseason game on October 10, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Luther Schlaifer/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Onyeka Okongwu enters his seventh NBA season with his perimeter game taking shape and his long-term future in Atlanta approaching an important checkpoint.
Coming off the best three-point shooting season of his career, Okongwu gives the Hawks something valuable at center: a player who can stretch the floor without sacrificing the mobility that makes him useful defensively. After starting 63 games last season, the challenge now is building on that progress and strengthening his case as Atlanta’s long-term answer at the position.
Okongwu shot 37.6 percent from three on 5.2 attempts per game last season. The volume matters almost as much as the percentage. Taking those shots consistently forces opposing centers to account for him outside the paint, creating more room for Atlanta’s perimeter players to attack.
That spacing makes him a natural fit in Quin Snyder’s five-out offense. When Okongwu pulls a defender away from the basket, Jalen Johnson has more space to drive and create. It also gives the Hawks flexibility to move their center between screening, rolling and spotting up rather than keeping him stationed near the rim.
His next step is making that shooting a dependable part of Atlanta’s offense again. Another productive season from beyond the arc would reinforce that his development can hold up as opponents adjust their coverage.
However, his evaluation cannot begin and end with three-pointers. Atlanta still needs its starting center to finish defensive possessions, protect the basket and compete against physical frontcourts. Okongwu’s mobility gives Snyder options when defending ball screens, but pairing that versatility with consistent interior play remains essential.
Those responsibilities carry additional significance because of his contract situation. According to Brad Rowland, Okongwu is eligible for an extension worth up to three years and $76.6 million, with an October 19 deadline to reach an agreement.
An extension would represent another investment in his place alongside Atlanta’s young core. The absence of one would leave questions about how the organization values him, particularly after its reported offseason interest in Isaiah Hartenstein and Jarrett Allen. Those pursuits suggest the Hawks have continued evaluating their options at center.
Still, missing the deadline would not automatically mean Okongwu’s departure is approaching. He has two seasons remaining on his current contract, and negotiations can stall over price or timing. His performance would remain a significant part of any future decision.
For Okongwu, this season is an opportunity to make his importance clear. His shooting already helps unlock Snyder’s offense. Sustaining that production while delivering more consistently inside would strengthen his argument that the Hawks’ search for their long-term starting center should end with the player already in their lineup.
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 24: Nathan Church #27 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on prior to the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Thursday, September 24, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Christopher Denver/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As we inch closer and closer to the offseason, the more we try to pick apart what the roster picture looks like as of right now and how that picture could be manipulated before opening day to give the Cardinals their best chance to win in 2027. Perhaps I’ve been too gullible in believing them when they say they expect Nathan Church to open 2027 as the starting center fielder. But the devil’s advocate of that stance is that they’re being extremely transparent in their approach to the offseason, and they truly believe that they don’t need to commit any substantial resources to the position. The latter of those two viewpoints has drawn the ire of a majority of the readers, which led me to create this piece today that will explore outside additions that are both realistic and have the capacity to overachieve what the incumbent might be capable of.
The question of “Could the Cardinals upgrade in center field?” is one that is easy to answer. Could they? Yes, fairly easily. Will they? TBD. We can argue about the who of it all day long, but unless they choose to take action, it’s all a moot point.
Nathan Church in 2027 slashed .247/.290/.364 -> .654 OPS; his .288 wOBA was actually higher than his .283 xwOBA, which means that, for as underwhelming as his offense was, it actually slightly outproduced what his expected production was. Further evidenced by his 81 wRC+ and his 0.7 fWAR. His +2 OAA and 90.8 MPH were both above-average rated defensive outputs, and his 28.5 MPH sprint speed rated in the 81st percentile in baseball according to Baseball Savant. Those are replacement-level stats, and I came into the season viewing Church as a 4th outfielder long-term, and his performance did not move me off that stance.
The Cardinals have pieces in their pipeline they’re excited about long-term: Tai Peete, Josiah Ragsdale, and Trevor Condon, who might eventually force the issue. Peete and Ragsdale likely will start the season in Triple-A Memphis, and if they get off to hot starts, they could be realistic options by June/July. Condon, who was just drafted 13th overall as a prepster, is likely 3-4 years away from knocking on that big league door.
The other name worth mentioning here is 2023 1st-round pick Chase Davis, who primarily plays CF and has not quite been what the Cardinals had expected when they drafted him. He parallels a lot of what Nathan Church does: a really solid defender in CF, flashes occasional power, and they go about their at-bats a little differently, with church swinging early and often; Davis is far more passive, somewhat like what some fans’ frustrations were surrounding Lars Nootbaar and his patience bordering on passivity. Davis is R5 eligible this offseason, so the Cardinals will be forced to make a decision on him. Might he instead be part of a package to get an established CF, or do they protect him and continue to throw numbers at the position and see who sticks?
I identified a few options that might intrigue you based on your current belief in the internal options. If you believe that Ragsdale/Peete are solutions, perhaps a 1-year short-term stopgap might be your best bet. If you aren’t sold on those guys and you think that Trevor Condon is the more likely future CF, perhaps a medium-term guy with years of control might be better. And perhaps if you think prospects are overrated and waiting for them to ascend is just a foolish waste of time, then young MLB-experienced long-term pieces are what might appeal to you the most.
I’ll try to provide a little something for everyone and put the onus on you, the reader, to decide what path you like the most. None of these players project to be stars, face of the franchise, or organizational direction-altering players, but guys who could factor in as everyday contributors/fringe all-star caliber depending on upside. We’ll work from short-term (most likely) to long-term.
SHORT TERM PLACEHOLDERS
CF/LF Steven Kwan – ARB 3 (1 year /11.5 million projected salary)
Kwan is the ideal 9-hole hitter in modern baseball. The subsequent 2nd lead-off hitter in a lineup as it turns over and rolls back into the top of the lineup. Kwan has no power, but that’s okay because he does everything else so exceptionally well that he still makes an impact. For fans who love throwback-style hitters who don’t strike out, put the ball in play, use their speed to manufacture hits, and can play above-average defense and steal bases. This guy is a “whiteyball” fan’s dream. .282/.382/.349 -> .731 OPS, Kwan was 15th in the AL in hits and 7th in the AL in walks. He only struck out 62 times this season and has never done so more than 75 times in a season in his career. He produced 3.8 fWAR and is a 2x All-Star in ’24 and ‘25 and has won 4 consecutive Gold Gloves. So, why would Cleveland trade him? He’s entering his final season of Salary Arbitration, and at 11.5 million, that’s a little pricey, especially when they have 12 other arb-eligible players and a team that routinely carries a bottom-10 payroll in baseball. They also have guys like Angel Martinez, Chase DeLauter, and Daniel Schneeman who can cover CF. It might cost the Cardinals some future value, but of the short-term options, he would be the best of the bunch.
CF Trent Grisham – FA
After a 2025 season in which Grisham hit 34 home runs and earned the qualifying offer, he followed it up with a performance that saw him hit .211/.308/. 395 -> .703 OPS and still managed to blast 18 home runs into the New York sky. The underlying data suggests that there wasn’t a marked difference between what he did in 2025 and what he produced in 2026. He produced a .311 wOBA that was 26 points below his .337 xWOBA and still managed a slug that was nearly .400 and an OPS that was 50 points higher than Nathan Church in 2026. Grisham produced 0.7 fWAR this season, and his defense has taken significant steps back since he went to New York, producing -5 OAA, which is a complete 180 from his 2023 in SD when he produced a +6 and was one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball. I’m not totally sure what to make of that, given that he is still only 29 years old, so it shouldn’t be age-related decline. Perhaps an indictment of the Yankees’ coaching staff? A 1-year flier on a guy looking to bump his value back up, and to work with an excellent outfield coach in Jon Jay, could help him look to cash in during the 2028 offseason after all of the CBA hubbub is behind the league.
MEDIUM TERM PLAYERS WITH UPSIDE
OF Colton Cowser ARB 1 (1 year/2.2 million projected salary)
After an impressive breakout 2024 season, Cowser has followed it up with back-to-back underachieving seasons in Baltimore. Slashing .226/.317/.370 -> .687 OPS. On the one hand, that’s pretty underwhelming, and the 30% K rate and lack of consistently squaring up the ball (17.5%) does give some pause. Considering his .144 ISO, he still produced slightly above-average power, produced an 11.7 BB%, which was 81st percentile, and was credited with a +10 OAA, which means he can really go get the baseball. Cowser is Nathan Church with power potential, and that’s something that shouldn’t be overlooked. It seems as though Cowser would benefit from a change of scenery, where in Baltimore the outfield picture is very crowded, and in St. Louis he could be given every opportunity to take hold of an everyday OF job. Would the Orioles entertain a Cowser for Gorman swap and engage in a challenge trade? Maybe. Gorman could serve as quite the complement for Coby Mayo and Pete Alonso.
CF Jake McCarthy ARB 2 (1 year/4.6 million projected salary)
Jake McCarthy showed what he can do when given a chance to play every day after leaving the complex outfield picture in Arizona. Slashing .291/.334/.475 -> en route to an .809 OPS and 2.7 fWAR. He is a real spark plug of an offensive piece and can cause havoc on the bases at the big league level in the way that fans had hoped Victor Scott would provide. He stole 32 bases and ran at 30.0 ft/s, which is in the 98th percentile. Paying for guys’ career years coming out of Coors Field will generally cause fans and analysts to pause, but when you consider that what he produced was just a continuation of what he showed in AZ, he was able to recreate what he did in ‘24 and exceeded it because of volume, not necessarily because of ballpark factor alone, which should reconcile some of those concerns, and you also consider what kind of havoc he was able to create in their 3-game series in St. Louis in August. Perhaps on days the offense struggles to get going, as it did at times in ‘26, a spark plug like McCarthy to wake the guys up a little might be something worth investing a couple of resources in.
LONG TERM INVESTMENTS
CF Jakob Marsee – Pre-Arb
2026 wasn’t quite the encore to the 2025 cup of coffee that Marsee obtained in 2025 when he slashed .292/.363/.478 -> .841 OPS in 234 PA. In 2026, his first full season, Marsee slashed .231/.348/.359 -> .707 OPS and produced 2.5 fWAR. A lot of the power and impact Marsee showed in 2025 didn’t carry over to 2026 due to multiple injuries suffered throughout the season; to Marsee’s credit, he continued to post and do what he could to help his team win. A quality this Cardinals organization finds endearing, perhaps to the players’ detriment, Marsee had UCL surgery on his left elbow (non-throwing) arm this month and is expected to have a 6-month recovery timetable that should put him on track for a May return in 2027; considering potential labor strife that might eat up all of April, he theorhetically, could be available for most of the season. The Cardinals would likely have to include multiple young players to pry Marsee away from Miami, though they’ve never been known to be a particularly difficult organization to pry players away from.
CF Drew Gilbert – Pre-Arb
2026 was Gilbert’s first real taste of big league baseball, and he showed really well in his opportunities. Slashing .238/.330/.394 -> .724 OPS and produced 1.7 fWAR. After being drafted by the Houston Astros and traded multiple times to the New York Mets and now the San Francisco Giants, Gilbert is no stranger to being moved around, and he could find a long-term home in St. Louis. Defensively, he was a +4 OAA and displayed an above-average throwing arm, more of an average runner in terms of sprint speed, and underlying metrics in terms of whiff%, chase%, and BB% are all positive indicators, as well as the ability to display some sneaky raw pop, producing a max EV of 110. The Giants have more young SS than they know what to do with, which could lead to one of them finding their way to CF long term, and that follows a modern philosophy of roster building, which could then theoretically make Gilbert gettable for the right price after a disaster of a 2026 season as a team; they should be open to anything.
The Cardinals don’t have many glaring holes on their roster from an offensive perspective heading into 2027, but one of the more persistent ones that continued to frustrate fans throughout the season was the play of Nathan Church in CF. Your perception of where you think the Cardinals are in their build will likely lead you to which of these plausible options could be the right answer. The Cardinals could argue their belief in Nathan Church to be capable of playing on par with some of the names listed above, and thus they don’t see a great need to make a change in CF at the start of the 2027 season. I’m somewhat indifferent on the topic, as I can see the rationale for both sides. Though I will always lean towards the direction of the higher upside just because I believe that the more high-upside players you can obtain, the greater the likelihood you are to be successful in a 162-game marathon season. I’d like to know your thoughts on the article, if there was someone presented you hadn’t really thought of, or if there’s someone you really have your eye on you think would be a perfect fit.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 12: William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates at home plate after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning during Game Two of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Monday, October 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
A cursory glance at the numbers over the past two seasons will tell you that William Contreras is still a good major-league catcher, but that he’s taken a little step back. After he was the league’s best catcher in 2024 at age 26 (he made First Team All-MLB and finished fifth in NL MVP voting), one could find a way to be disappointed with his two follow-up seasons; his OPS+ dropped from 130 in ‘24 to 111 in ‘25 to 108 in ‘26. Maybe he was hurt, maybe he wasn’t. Maybe he was being overused, maybe he wasn’t. But the numbers were declining earlier than you’d expect them to.
But those following the Brewers know how valuable he’s been to the team. While Christian Yelich is universally acknowledged as the team’s leader and Jake Bauers has had a couple of important leadership moments this season, Contreras brings a different dimension to this team: swagger, confidence, soul. Even during the moments when his offense has struggled—he went through a brutal slump this season, in which he hit just .159/.248/.506 for six weeks between the beginning of July and mid-August—he still brought that dimension to the team.
Well, his offense is back. Since his OPS bottomed out at .702 on August 14, Contreras hit .321/.384/.557 over the regular season’s last six weeks—in 33 games in that stretch, Contreras had 10 doubles, seven homers, and more than an RBI per game (35). More importantly, he’s kept it rolling in the postseason. Against the Padres, Contreras went 6-for-16 (.375) with two solo homers. He was 0-for-3 with a walk in Game 1 on Sunday, and followed that up with a monster game on Monday in which he was 3-for-4 with a massive solo homer and a pair of RBI singles. All three of Contreras’s run-scoring hits either tied the game or gave the Brewers the lead, which makes him just the fourth player ever to have three such hits in a postseason game.
Should we look at them all? Let’s look at them all. First, a first-inning RBI knock to tie up the game after the Dodgers got out to an early lead:
The result is that the Brewers are headed to Los Angeles with a 2-0 lead in the NLCS, as good a position as they could possibly be in. There have been several games this postseason—even games that the Brewers won, like the first game against the Dodgers and game 4 of the NLDS against the Padres—where there was plenty of traffic and plenty of hard-hit balls, but the big hits just weren’t falling. On Monday, Contreras made those hits fall.
It hasn’t always been easy for Contreras in the postseason. He’s had his moments—he homered twice in the NLDS victory over the Cubs last season, for instance. But coming into tonight Contreras was a .241/.308/.410 lifetime postseason hitter (compared to .272/.354/.442 in the regular season), and while he had four homers he had only seven RBI in 91 plate appearances and was a negative Win Probablity Added player in the playoffs.
I suspect the WPA numbers will look much better once they’re updated.
There is no shortage of heroes through the Brewers’ first six postseason games; Aaron Ashby has been the most impressive member of a bullpen that has been, almost literally, unhittable, and they set a postseason record by throwing five perfect innings on Monday. Jake Bauers and Yelich both had big moments in game 2. Brice Turang has been huge so far in the NLCS. David Hamilton had one of his best games as a Brewer when it mattered most.
But Contreras is the reason why they won game 2, and he was a huge part of the reason why they defeated the Padres. He’s on one right now, and when he does that he is more than willing to let the whole team jump on. We’ll see how long he can keep carrying the team, but right now, Wild Bill is this group’s major driving force.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 12: Tyler Wells #68 of the Tampa Bay Rays walks off the mound during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians in game one of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field on October 12, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
Both the ALCS and NLCS are underway, and we’re one step closer to an all-Central division World Series as both the Milwaukee Brewers and Cleveland Guardians were winners yesterday. The Brewers’ 7-4 win over the Dodgers gave them a 2-0 series lead as the teams travel to Los Angeles today. It’s a delightful outcome for the majority of baseball fans, who are exhausted by the idea of a Dodgers World Series three-peat. The 103-win Brewers are showing why they were the best team in baseball this season, and they’re halfway toward getting revenge on L.A. for last year’s NLCS sweep.
The more surprising result came in the ALCS opener, where the Guardians (85-77 in the regular season) stole a win on the road from the heavily favored Rays (98-64). Things seemed to be going as planned for the Rays when they pounced for two runs in the first and handed the lead to their ace, Drew Rasmussen, who tossed five scoreless innings. But the Guardians turned the tables and stunned the Tropicana Field crowd by scoring seven times in the final four innings, including a pair of solo homers off Rasmussen to tie the game and a five-run explosion against the bullpen.
It was a particularly rough night for two former Orioles relievers, Tyler Wells and Cole Sulser, who combined to cough up five runs in the Rays defeat. Wells, making his first appearance of the postseason — and his first in exactly a month, after he missed much of September with forearm tightness — was tagged for a single and a double in a tie game in the eighth. Both runs scored after he left the game, saddling him with the loss. Later, Sulser, trying to keep it a one-run deficit in the ninth, instead let the Guardians put the game out of reach with a three-run rally in which he gave up two singles, a walk, a wild pitch, and a balk.
Wells and Sulser struggled, but you could question manager Kevin Cash’s choices to bring them into the game at all. Was it wise for Wells, who’d had a month-long layoff from the mound, to make his return in as high-pressure a situation as a tied playoff game in the eighth? And why use Sulser, who had a -0.3 WAR in the regular season, instead of All-Star closer Bryan Baker (another former Oriole) in the ninth? Yes, the Rays were losing, but it was only a one-run game. If Baker had shut down Cleveland in the top of the ninth, Tampa Bay might’ve had a real chance to tie the score in the bottom half. I guess now we’ll never know. But in happier former Oriole news, Cedric Mullins smashed a left-on-left homer in the eighth that kept the Rays close, at least for a little while.
The Rays will look to even the series tonight, with Freddy Peralta taking the mound against Guardians ace Parker Messick. Will there be more bullpen shenanigans this time around?
Purely my speculation, but I don’t think the Orioles’ beat crew are the biggest fans of Albernaz. Rich Dubroff states that it was “not a good look” for Albernaz to air out his criticisms of players in the media.
Honeycutt is continuing to rake in the AFL, and he credits his turnaround to consulting with a private hitting instructor in Gaithersburg. Not exactly a rousing endorsement for the Orioles’ development staff.
The performances of some of the Orioles’ AFL players might decide whether they join the 40-man roster or get left out in the cold, writes Meoli. No pressure!
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Two former Orioles were born on this day: right-hander Hayden Penn (42) and the late lefty Ron Moeller (b. 1938, d. 2009).
The O’s have played five postseason games on this date in history:
In 1970, the Orioles took an insurmountable three-games-to-none lead in the World Series against the Reds, winning a 9-3 rout in Game 3 in front of a crowd of 51,773 at Memorial Stadium. Orioles starter Dave McNally truly did it all. Not only did he pitch a complete game victory, but he also hit a game-breaking grand slam in the bottom of the sixth. McNally was the second (and final) pitcher in postseason history to hit a grand slam (and the other one was done by his Orioles teammate, Mike Cuellar, 10 days earlier in the ALCS). Former Reds superstar Frank Robinson burned his former team with a dinger of his own.
In 1971, the Orioles and Pirates played the first nighttime World Series game in history. The O’s lost, so we don’t need to discuss it further.
In 1979, the Orioles took a 3-1 series lead over the Pirates in the World Series with a 9-6 win in Pittsburgh. Trailing 6-3 in the eighth, the O’s erupted for a six-run inning. Pinch-hitter John Lowenstein drove in two runs with a bases-loaded double, and two batters later, pinch-hitter Terry Crowley did the same. Even relief pitcher Tim Stoddard joined in on the fun with an RBI single, and Stoddard also finished the game with three scoreless innings on the mound.
In 1996, the Orioles lost the ALCS to the Yankees with a 6-4 defeat in Game 5. Bleh.
And in 1997, the O’s stayed alive in the ALCS with a 4-2 victory in Game 5 in Cleveland. Geronimo Berroa’s two-run single in the third provided the game’s only runs for the first eight innings, and Eric Davis added some much-needed insurance with a home run in the ninth. Orioles pitchers Scott Kamieniecki and Jimmy Key held Cleveland’s powerful offense scoreless for eight innings before closer Randy Myers survived a two-run scare in the ninth.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Alec Bohm #28, Bryson Stott #5 and Trea Turner #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate a win over the Atlanta Braves in game two of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on September 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s pumpkin spice season. Do you think the Phanatic likes pumpkin spice? Given that he’s green, he’s probably more of a matcha guy.
Bruce Cassidy isn’t behind an NHL bench, where he hoped to be by now, but he’s certainly not sitting on his hands.
The veteran coach is currently at Canada’s women’s national team’s selection camp in Quebec City, helping out as Hockey Canada prepares for November’s World Championships in Denmark.
The 2023 Stanley Cup champion coach was named special adviser to Team Canada general manager Danièle Sauvageau last month, but most of his focus has naturally been on helping support head coach Kori Cheverie.
“It’s been great,” Cassidy told The Athletic on Monday. “I’ve been going to training camps for 45 years as a player and then as a coach. So we have one here. It’s what you’re used to. Just getting back involved, watching video, getting familiar with some of the players here, helping to prepare practice, going on the ice, teaching again.
“Just trying to stay in a routine, so to speak. Great people here. This opportunity came up, and it’s really helped fill that void. It’s been great. I can help out and I’m learning while I’m here.”
“She’s great, really organized,” said Cassidy, the 2020 Jack Adams Award winner as NHL coach of the year.
The Hockey Canada assignment will keep Cassidy busy this fall right through November, when he plans to attend the World Championship in his role. After that? Well, he’s going to see what the rest of the season brings as far as his NHL future.
But in the meantime, the extra free time has its benefits, too.
“I’ve seen a lot of my son playing hockey on weekends. He’s 16, so that’s been great,” said Cassidy, who along with his wife has stayed in Las Vegas, where their daughter is a senior in high school this year.
Cassidy will also do the odd TNT game in studio in Atlanta.
“Those are always fun to do. Those guys are fun,” Cassidy said of the TNT panel.
But an NHL bench is where he belongs. He’ll patiently wait for that phone to ring.
It’s a similar situation to the one Peter DeBoer was in a year ago, when DeBoer was biding his time before the New York Islanders came calling late in the season. Now Cassidy is at the top of the food chain as the most likely coach to get hired if and when there’s an NHL opening.
Of course, the awkward thing for any coach in between jobs is that he isn’t wishing for any pals to get fired.
“They’re all colleagues and some of them friends,” Cassidy said. “I can’t say I know every single NHL coach well, but most of them you interact with somewhere along the line, and some are really good buddies.”
Also, the Vegas Golden Knights will still have to give a team permission to speak to Cassidy, as he remains under contract with them until June 30, 2027.
“Nothing’s changed,” Cassidy said. “They have to give permission. That’s how they left it. So there’s nowhere to go with that until a potential opportunity comes up. We’ll see where it goes. We’ll see if something comes up. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, you know?”
It’s been well documented that the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings were denied permission to speak to Cassidy last spring during the Golden Knights’ playoff run. And the NHL confirmed Vegas was well within its rights to do so, as Cassidy doesn’t have the “out” language in his contract that some other coaches have.
Whatever the case, Cassidy missed out on that NHL hiring cycle. He’s turned the page. He’s ready for the next one.
One thing I always ask a coach in this position: What has he learned after time to decompress and self-analyze that he will bring with him to his next NHL gig?
“Well, I don’t want to change who I am,” Cassidy said. “I’ve always thought I’m a pretty direct coach. I hold people accountable, and my teams play a certain way. But I think it’s always about how you message. You’ve always got to reflect on that. That’s the biggest thing I’ll probably look at again.”
“Again,” because he did the same after being fired by the Boston Bruins.
How can he improve the messaging? He won a Cup in Vegas, then got fired nearly three years later. Lots to digest in there.
“You win the Cup, you want to stay at that standard. How do you get that message across without pushing the guys (too far) and trusting they know what it looks like to win?” Cassidy said. “The first year after the Cup, you do that, and you lose early in the playoffs — you’re like, ‘OK, we’re not the same team. We’ve got to move on. We’re not the defending champs anymore.’
“So how are you messaging that every day and yet the guys in the room know they’ve won and they know what it takes? I think that was the biggest challenge in Years 3 and 4, that I would self-reflect and maybe say I should have done it this way or that way.”
No question there’s been some soul-searching and self-diagnosis going on there. You have to evolve. You have to learn. Or you get left behind.
In the meantime, his current gig comes at a perfect time, just as DeBoer’s work for the men’s national team came at the perfect time a year ago.
“Pete did work with Hockey Canada last year, as well, ahead of the Olympics,” said Cassidy, who was part of that Olympic staff with DeBoer. “That’s why I thought this was a really good fit, because you’re coaching. And you’re coaching women (for the first time), so you’re going to learn something. But you’re still breaking down video. You’re coaching.
“This has been a lot of fun. They’re a good group.”
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 9: Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies dunks the ball during the first half of a preseason game against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on October 9, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
During the run-up to the NBA Draft, Arizona’s Tobe Awaka and Duke’s Cameron Boozer faced a similar issue: neither was thought to have much of a vertical leap.
Awaka – 6-8 and 261 – registered a standing leap of 32.5 inches. For his part, Boozer – 6-9 and 253 – got 28.5 inches, which was better than expected. He also proved to be far more agile than scouts thought, with an 11.060-second pro lane drill time. That tied for first overall, and, incidentally, topped Cooper Flagg’s mark from the year before.
Anyway, Awaka and Boozer met in Sunday’s preseason match between the Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies. Boozer shook loose and drove the lane, which resulted in a slam that Awaka started to contest but ultimately allowed in order to avoid a foul.
It didn’t matter; in the end Memphis won 104-100. Boozer played 12 minutes, scoring 8 more points besides that dunk. He also had 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
It’s still exhibition season, which means teams are looking at players and lineups, so to an extent, you can’t take too much of it seriously. Still, Boozer is probably making Memphis execs and coaches pretty pleased that he’s on their team.
Now, the Dodgers are going home, which should help. Yet they will need to clean up a lot – and try something new – to prevent the Brewers from celebrating their first World Series trip since 1982 at Chavez Ravine.
With that, three turnarounds the Dodgers will need to get back in this NLCS:
It’s all on Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow
In losing both Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s starts, the Dodgers not only forfeited a significant advantage, but put themselves in a hole. Against the odds, Blake Snell must dig them out of it.
His Game 2 NLDS start against Atlanta – 3 ⅔ innings, five walks, setting the stage for a Dodgers loss that momentarily jeopardized their season – simply can’t be repeated or L.A. will again be back on the brink. Snell was brilliant last postseason, never better than his eight-inning, one-hit, 10-strikeout performance at Milwaukee in the NLCS, showing that despite health woes, Snell got right just in time.
He looked to be on track to pull off that trick again this year. And then, the clunker in the NLDS. The Brewers will take a 3-0 lead if he’s that shaky in Game 3.
As for Glasnow, he was good in his first playoff assignment, giving up just one run yet only recording 13 outs. But he must go deeper this time. Yamamoto’s 2 ⅔-inning start in Game 2 creates a problem for the Dodgers that was originally supposed to a Brewer conundrum: Too many relievers forced to face too many batters too many times.
The Dodgers need quality from Glasnow. They also need length.
Will Smith must come to life
At this point, both Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith can’t be counted on for any offense until 2027. Their physical woes are well-documented. Their production – Ohtani hasn’t homered since Aug. 18, is batting .157 since Aug. 19 and is 3-for-20 in the postseason, Smith 1-for-23 with eight strikeouts – shows no sign of improving.
Manager Dave Roberts long ago moved Ohtani from the top of the order and in Game 2 dropped Smith from third to fifth. Benching Ohtani seems like the only option, lest the Dodgers continue what looks to be a Weekend at Shohei’s set-up, placing him in the batter’s box and hoping the specter of him coming alive will affect the Brewers.
Smith, dogged by a neck injury and out much of the second half, remains a valued receiver in the Dodgers’ pitching-catching universe. Yet Game 2 showed signs he might be letting his hitting affect his defense.
Twice Smith failed to challenge what proved to be ball calls, the first coming in the bottom of the first, when Yamamoto painted the outside corner on Brice Turang with a splitter. Turang doubled, and scored the game-tying run.
Later, Yamamoto practically hit himself in the head questioning whether Smith was going to challenge another pitch, the at-bat resulting in a walk.
“Obviously in that spot, Will didn't feel like it was a strike,” Roberts said of the Turang at-bat, “but obviously if you look back, that's a called third strike, he doesn't double, and that changes the outing.”
Move Kyle Tucker out of oblivion
Simply, the man has been punished enough.
Kyle Tucker, whose quiet demeanor was matched a too-silent first season in Los Angeles, flailed his way to the bottom of the Dodgers lineup, an odd look for the $60 million man. Yet he’s been perhaps their most consistent offensive performer this postseason, putting up strong at-bats, getting on base at a .391 clip and posting an .891 OPS.
In a more perfect Dodger world, he’d be the grim reaper lurking at the bottom of the lineup, a surprise for an opposing pitcher thinking they’d navigated the toughest stretch of it.
Yet the struggles of Ohtani and Smith and Freddie Freeman’s inconsistency – two postseason homers, but a .280 OBP – makes the top of the Dodger card far less imposing as the glitzy, well-paid names might suggest.
Move Tucker back to the high-rent district. He needs to come to the plate more often than almost anyone.
Tuesday, Oct. 13 will be a busy day and night in the NHL with all 32 teams in action.
ESPN is holding its fourth annual NHL Frozen Frenzy, with the 16-game slate starting at 6 p.m. ET and staggered every 15 minutes to allow for whip-around coverage on ESPN2.
The day starts at 5 p.m. ET with The Point on ESPN2 and ESPN+. The first game is the New Jersey Devils at the Detroit Red Wings at 6 on the main ESPN channel. The whip-around coverage starts at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 and runs through midnight.
ESPN will broadcast three games: New Jersey at Detroit, Colorado at Dallas and Boston at San Jose. ESPN2 will show whip-around coverage on all the games from 7 p.m. to midnight. John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes will host that.
How to stream NHL Frozen Frenzy
Fubo carries ESPN. The whip-around program can be streamed on Disney+ and the ESPN app. Individual games can be streamed on ESPN+.
5. Buffalo at Montreal, 6:30: These teams played a hard-fought seven-game playoff series last season, with the Canadiens advancing to the Eastern Conference finals in an overtime win. Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes led the way, but Jacob Fowler has started the Canadiens' last two games this season.
4 Washington at Carolina, 6:45: The defending champion Hurricanes take on the Capitals, with both teams expected to challenge for the Metropolitan Division title. Washington's Alex Ovechkin scored his first goal of the season on Sunday and now trails Wayne Gretzky (1,016) by nine goals for most combined regular-season and playoff goals. This is his last season in the NHL.
2. Colorado at Dallas, 8:30: The Avalanche, Stars and Wild are the elite teams in the Central Division and it's best to finish first to avoid a tough No. 2 vs. No. 3 first round. This game will play a role in that.
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DALLAS, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 25: Tobi Lawal #33 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for portraits during Mavericks Media Day at American Airlines Center on September 25, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When I think of the Mavericks’ impactful players in their 2024 Finals run, one of the first names that comes to mind is Derrick Jones Jr. He wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, do the little things, make a big defensive impact, and be an athletic sparkplug. Mavericks rookie forward Tobi Lawal brings those same exact qualities, but he’s two inches taller at 6’8, and six years younger.
The Dallas Mavericks have plenty of new faces heading into the 2026-27 season, but few are more intriguing as developmental projects than Lawal. He was selected 48th overall in the draft this summer and enters this year on a two-way contract after two seasons at Virginia Tech.
Lawal’s college numbers don’t necessarily jump off the page. The senior averaged 12.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game, while shooting 54.2% from the field. He also recorded six double-doubles in just 23 games. What DOES jump off the page is his athleticism. Lawal’s 45.5-inch maximum vertical at the NBA Combine was one of the best marks in combine history. He is a legitimate above-the-rim athlete who can run the floor, attack the offensive glass, and finish plays that most players simply can’t. Hello again, Derrick Jones Jr.
For a Mavericks team emphasizing youth and development under new head coach Dusty May, Lawal is exactly the type of player worth keeping an eye on.
The big question
The big question for Lawal is whether he can turn his physical gifts into a consistent NBA skill set. This isn’t as easy as it sounds for athletic and bouncy NBA prospects. Jones Jr. has been on six teams entering his 11th season. Lawal will need to add some finesse to his art while developing other offensive skill sets. Today’s NBA is all about scoring.
There is no question about the athletic ability. The questions are about everything that comes with it. Lawal is still developing as a shooter and ball handler, and he has primarily been a play finisher rather than someone who creates offense for himself or others. He shot just 25% from three as a senior at Virginia Tech. His offensive game will need to expand if he’s going to become more than an energy big who plays in short stretches. Dallas has several other athletic forwards who will take minutes and have so far proven they can score consistently.
The good news is that he doesn’t need to become a star to have an NBA career. The athleticism, rebounding, and defensive versatility give him a foundation. The next step is figuring out how many different ways he can impact a game.
Best case scenario
The best-case scenario for Lawal is that he earns consistent legitimate NBA minutes before the season is over. It’s challenging for two-way players to get consistent minutes, particularly early in the season, unless the injury bug strikes. So Lawal will need to make the most of every second he’s on the floor.
But there’s big upside. Think of a player who can run the floor, set good screens, dive toward the rim, clean up misses, and make life miserable for opposing wings and forwards defensively. A best-case scenario for Lawal won’t be about stats; it will be about impact. Catch and finish some lobs, knock down an occasional outside jumper, grab rebounds, and defend like your role depends on it (because it does).
If the jumper develops enough to make defenses respect him outside the paint, Lawal’s game will reach a whole new level. He has already shown flashes of being more than just a dunker. He shot 76.3% from the free-throw line as a senior and has shown flashes of being a decent catch-and-shoot player.
If those pieces come together, Dallas could have a legitimate rotation-caliber forward on its hands rather than simply a two-way developmental player.
Worst case scenario
The worst-case scenario is that Lawal’s athleticism doesn’t translate consistently enough to overcome the weaknesses in his offensive game. NBA defenses are much faster and more disciplined than what he saw in college. Simply being able to jump higher and run faster won’t guarantee playing time in the NBA.
His shooting could keep him off the floor if defenders don’t have to respect him away from the basket, while his ball-handling skills in traffic limit his ability to attack closeouts or create offense. Dallas also has a crowded forward gang, with players like Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington, Santi Aldama, Morez Johnson Jr., and Zaccharie Risacher, all of whom will get meaningful minutes on a nightly basis.
That makes Lawal’s margin for error fairly small. If he can’t consistently defend without fouling, rebound at an NBA level, or provide enough offensive value, he could spend most of the season developing in the G League.
Season Goal
Lawal’s goal should be simple: become a serviceable NBA-level role player. This would be a good starting point. The athleticism is already there. He doesn’t need to prove that he can jump out of the gym. He needs to prove that he can use those physical gifts the right way. Defense and rebounding should be his tickets onto the floor. Doing the dirty work on offense, like running the floor, screening, and finishing around the rim, will make a major impact on the Mavericks’ offense, particularly one that Dusty May has said will have a fast pace.
And then comes the jumper. Lawal doesn’t need to suddenly become a 40% three-point shooter. If he can develop into a respectable catch-and-shoot threat, it would force defenders to make a decision when he is standing outside the paint. That small improvement could dramatically open up the rest of his game.
The Mavericks don’t need Lawal to do everything. They need him to become really good at a few things.
Overall
Lawal is one of the more interesting developmental players on the Mavericks’ roster because of his unique physical attributes. He’s 6’8, 215 pounds, with excellent length and explosiveness. The question is whether Dallas can help him turn all of that into a reliable NBA skill set.
For now, Lawal probably shouldn’t be expected to walk into the Mavericks’ rotation and play 20 minutes a night. His two-way contract gives him something much more valuable: time. If he can use that time to improve his shooting, tighten his handle, and become a more consistent defender, the Mavericks may have found a legitimate rotation piece with the 48th pick.
At his best, Lawal could become the kind of player coaches love to have on the floor: explosive, relentless, switchable, and constantly making things happen. Things that don’t jump out of the stat sheet but undoubtedly impact the game. Plus, at the end of the day, the kid has a 45.5-inch vertical. There aren’t many players on the Mavericks’ roster more capable of making something happen above the rim than him.
Eighteen-year-old Thomas Rew has earned his maiden call-up for England after being selected for the white-ball tour of Australia next month. Jacob Bethell is also fit to return after a knee injury but Brydon Carse remains frozen out.
Coming after the upcoming tri-series in Pakistan, the four-week trip features three one-day internationals and five Twenty20s. Fast bowlers Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson and Sonny Baker will play in the ODIs that start on 13 November, before turning their attention to the Test tour of South Africa.
The Dodgers will need Tyler Glasnow to be in top form during Game 4 at Dodger Stadium. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Tarik Skubal, the crown jewel of the trade deadline. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the biggest of big-game pitchers in two countries.
The Dodgers mapped out their National League Championship Series rotation before they even started the division series: Skubal in Game 1, Yamamoto in Game 2, and the World Series on deck.
You can call it logic or you can call it hubris, but reality bites.
The Milwaukee Brewers dumped the Dodgers in the first two games of the NLCS, and now the Dodgers might not need to map out a World Series rotation. If the Dodgers lose the next two games, Skubal and Yamamoto each have already made their final start this season.
“It’s certainly a challenge,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Some aces are portrayed as more equal than others. For two months, the Dodgers have talked about their four aces, but the headliners have been Skubal and Yamamoto, even with Snell a two-time Cy Young winner.
Glasnow stood at his locker late Monday night and pronounced himself “very excited” for the challenge. He’ll start Game 4, following Snell‘s start in Game 3.
“We’re down two, but none of us have lost the faith,” he said. “We’re a confident group of people. We’re ready to go.”
In fairness, the Dodgers cannot win on pitching alone.
Yamamoto’s performance was catastrophic. He got as many outs as he did pitching in relief in Game 7 of last year’s World Series, but he threw more than twice as many pitches. He pitched back-to-back complete games last October, but the Dodgers needed seven relievers behind him on Monday.
“He’s a human being too,” Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts said. “I think everyone is so used to him being a robot that if he didn’t go eight innings with no hits or whatever, then it wasn’t Yamamoto.”
Skubal’s performance in Game 1 was satisfactory, but neither him nor Yamamoto would have had much chance of winning with whatever passes for offense among the Dodgers this October.
The Dodgers are batting .193, the lowest of any of the nine postseason entrants to play at least three games. The on-base percentages, compared: .363 for the Brewers, .263 for the Dodgers.
On Monday, the Dodgers had three hits. So did the Milwaukee catcher.
Will Smith is one for 23 this postseason and 0 for 7 against Milwaukee. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
From the No. 2 through the No. 7 spots in the batting order, the Dodgers went 0 for 20.
The star attraction and current cleanup batter, Shohei Ohtani, is compromised by injuries. He is batting .150 this postseason, with no extra-base hits and seven strikeouts in 20 at-bats. The Dodgers are not committed to starting him in Game 3.
“Everybody knows he is struggling right now,” Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández said. “They’re being careful the same way as if he was doing an MVP season. It’s not like he has been getting pitches to hit.
“It’s going be even tougher, especially when you are in a slump like that, to come through, because they are not going to let you get hot.”
The absence of hitting puts the pressure squarely on the shoulders of Snell and Glasnow. The last thing a starting pitcher needs is to worry that he might get no more than a run or two of support and, well, here we are.
It could be a lonely feeling for Blake Snell on the mound in Game 3. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Dodgers started this NLCS with Skubal and Yamamoto, lost both games, and now?
“Now we’ve got Blake and Glasnow,” Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “Still a pretty good scenario we’re in. We’ve just [got] to get better on Wednesday.”
Hernández pronounced the state of his team as “still good,” even as Snell and Glasnow can determine the fate of the season.
“If you put them on any other team, they’re going to be No. 1,” Hernández said. “We’ve got a lot of trust in those guys and our team. I think we’re going to be OK.”
Maybe. No team since the 1923 New York Yankees has been swept by a postseason opponent one year and beaten that same opponent the next October, and those Yankees had Babe Ruth.
In the seventh inning of games here in Milwaukee, after “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” the Brewers and their fans sing the “Beer Barrel Polka,” better known as “Roll Out the Barrel.”
The line that stood out: “We’ve got the blues on the run.”
The Brewers certainly do. It will be up to Snell and Glasnow to stop them.
