Posts

Posted on

Playoff Roundup: Yankees narrowly escape getting no-hit

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 03: Jonathan Aranda #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the third inning in game one of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on October 03, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Saturday marked the first day of the divisional series, a round the Red Sox have not reached since 2021. For those tuned out of the playoffs since Boston’s exit, there are still plenty of storylines to watch. If you’re on team “I root for the Red Sox and whoever is playing the Yankees” you likely had a good day yesterday.

White Sox 3, Guardians 0 (BOX SCORE)
(CHW leads 1-0)

Munetaka Murakami is electric to watch this postseason already. The series opener in Cleveland was pretty devoid of much offense, but Murakami’s two-run shot was the defining point of the game among the White Sox using six pitchers, including Jordan Hicks, for a combined three-hit shutout. This includes Chicago’s 24-year-old Grant Taylor recording a twelve-out save in which the 3-0 lead never felt in jeopardy.

Dodgers 5, Brewers 3 (BOX SCORE)
(LAD leads 1-0)

This is why, if you’re the Dodgers, you go out and grab the reigning Cy Young winner at the trade deadline if you have the chance. Skubal didn’t disappoint in his first postseason start as a Dodger. He went six strong innings allowing just two hits. Although one of those hits was a solo shot to Sean Murphy in the sixth, he finished his last inning strong with a 3-1 lead (thanks to a Teoscar Hernandez home run) and Kyle Tucker answered that Murphy shot with a home run of his own to bring the lead back to three. Max Muncy would get one of his own also in the sixth to put it on ice.

Rays 1, Yankees 0 (BOX SCORE)
(TB leads 1-0)

Those calling the Yankees’ lineup hapless without Aaron Judge were justified, but it simply took until the divisional series for that retort to have any land legs. And, wouldn’t you know, Drew Rasmussen took his second no-hit bid in as many weeks far into an outing against the Yankees in Game 1. Rasmussen was flirting with history Saturday night before Austin Wells got to him, but that lead was held steady because, in case you think baserunning errors are exclusive to the Red Sox, Wells inexplicably ran to third on a ball he was clearly going to be thrown out on. That ended the inning and, effectively, any threat for the Yankees to win Game 1 even with Gerrit Cole pitching a great five innings of his own despite giving up the game’s only run, a Jon Aranda homer.

Brewers 3, Padres 2 (BOX SCORE)
(MIL leads 1-0)

In Jacob Misiorowski’s first playoff start (and fourth overall appearance) he looked a bit shaken early as he let guys into long counts and neared 60 pitches through two innings. He even let folks respect the offspeed pitches, as he “slowed down” to 98-99 during his fourth inning. Still, he made it through four innings and struck out six. Jackson Chourio hit a mammoth two-run shot to ease Misiorowski’s struggles and make it so that he left the game in a tie, but the defining moment of perhaps the entire day came on William Contreras’ late go-ahead homer.

Posted on

James Wood’s season followed a familiar pattern for the Washington Nationals

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 23: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals bats during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Zack Belsky/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The 2026 season was an interesting one for James Wood. On one hand, he hit 30 home runs, posted an .891 OPS and hit the ball harder than anyone in the league. However, he hit his last homer of the season on July 26th and was bad after the All-Star break for a second straight season.

Wood had a better season than last year, but he still leaves you wanting a little bit more. I wanted to break down his season and look at the good and the bad. James Wood is an exceptional talent and still only 24 years old. He can also be frustrating though.

First let’s start with the positives. When Wood is on his game, he is a top 5 hitter in baseball. He has shown that over long stretches in each of the past two seasons. Even with his tough finish, Wood had the 9th highest wRC+ in all of baseball and the 5th highest OPS. 

Wood’s average exit velocity, barrel rate and hard hit rate all sit in the 100th percentile. When it comes to quality of contact, nobody does it better than James Wood. It is why he has back to back 30 home run seasons despite not pulling the ball like most power hitters. His opposite field power is legitimately jaw dropping.

In the first half, we saw that power on display consistently. He hit 28 homers before the All-Star break. That legendary first half was a big reason why the Nats were pushing for a Wild Card spot deep into the season. When Wood got hurt and then struggled, you could really feel that impact. The lineup is not the same when he is not rolling.

The run that Wood went on from the start of July until the All-Star break was wild. In those games, Wood went 15 for 33 with 7 homers. Talk about putting a team on your back. That is exactly what James Wood does when he is at his best.

Runs like that are why Wood had a 4.1 WAR season despite missing a month and struggling down the stretch. The talent is so apparent with him. That natural ability can make it frustrating when he isn’t clicking though. In each of the last two seasons, Wood has really struggled after the All-Star break. 

After running into massive strikeout issues in the second half of 2025, I was curious to see if he could hold up in the second half of this year. From the second play resumed after the break, Wood just looked like a different player. He had a brutal road trip to start the second half, and that just set the tone.

Wood did have a monster series against the Diamondbacks, but his impact was muted. Then he went down with an oblique injury at the start of August. The Nats hoped Wood would return quickly, but his recovery took a little while.

However, after a month, Wood was back on the field. Despite being out there, it did not feel like Wood was 100% healthy. He has never been a high energy player, but he was not playing with much intensity at all when he got back. There were a few times where he did not run balls out, and even got benched by Blake Butera. I wonder how much of that was effort related and how much was Wood not trusting his body.

His swing also seemed a little bit off after he came back. Wood did not hit any home runs in September. He still hit a lot of balls hard, but his ground ball rate was 68%. Before September, Wood was elevating the ball more than ever before. That spike in ground ball rate tells me something was off mechanically with his swing and it might have something to do with his injury.

I actually wrote about Wood’s power outage. Unlike last year, Wood’s strikeout rate did not balloon to a crazy level. The reason for his .650 second half OPS this year was just a lack of power. That is weird to say about a guy who has the highest average exit velocity in the league, but it is true.

James Wood does not pull the ball in the air and sell out for power like other sluggers. That is part of what makes him special and unique. However, it also leads to him falling into some homerless runs. As he develops, I hope we see more consistency.

Even though it was not a perfect season and the second half fall off was disappointing to see, the good still outweighed the bad. James Wood remains one of the best young players in the sport. After the season, Wood said there was a lot of meat left on the bone for the team and himself. I absolutely agree with him there.

He is already a very good player, but if he can string together a full season of excellence, he will be an MVP candidate. I still have faith that the monster full season will come. James Wood is a blue chip talent, but he still needs to figure out his second half woes if he wants to reach his ceiling.

Season Grade: A-/B+

Posted on

Lakers ace defender Matisse Thybulle learning from savants Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves

Lakers guard Matisse Thybulle answers questions during team media day on Sept. 28.
Lakers guard Matisse Thybulle says he has been tested on defense daily by dynamic scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. (Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

When Matisse Thybulle was asked what it has been like trying to defend offensive savants Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves during the Lakers training camp, he shook his head and smiled.

Thybulle was emphatic with his answer.

“I mean, you have to work soooo hard. They’re soooo talented,” Thybulle said, laughing. “And it’s just … I think for me it’s great because getting to play against two of the best offensive players in the NBA every day just primes you for — I think it primes all of us, but me specifically — just primes you for what to expect. And I think it was a big thing when you’re growing up that practice should be harder than the games. And I think in the NBA it’s a little different because you just have to pace yourself for such a long season. But guarding Luka and AR, practice is definitely going to be harder than the games.”

During the first four days of Lakers training camp, Thybulle was frequently listed as one of the players who has been a menace on defense.

It was why the Lakers signed the 6-foot-5 free-agent wing to a one-year, $3.2-million contract.

Thybulle, along with Ziaire Williams and Adou Thiero, has been praised for how disruptive he has been during workouts.

“I just think naturally it’s going to be a healthy competition and it gets you better. It’s going to make Austin better when Ziaire is picking them up full court every possession and Matisse is in the passing lane trying to blow things up,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “I think [Thybulle and Williams] — [and] Adou with his physicality — those guys are getting better from practicing that way. It goes both ways.”

Thybulle made a name for himself on the defensive end of the floor. He is a two-time NBA all-defensive second team selection, both times with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2021 and 2022.

Still, Thybulle said he’s picking up new skills.

“I think, like the best offensive players in the league — Luka being probably one of the best — change pace so well,” Thybulle said. “And I think as I’m growing in this league, growing as a defender, learning when to change pace and go for steals versus sitting back and being solid and make it more of a cat-and-mouse game as opposed to trying to be in every passing lane every single time.”

Read more:Lakers sign Matisse Thybulle to a one-year deal as roster overhaul continues

On offense, Thybulle will try to mold his game around Doncic and Reaves.

Thybulle will be asked to knock down corner threes and fill the lane on the fast break.

Over the course of his seven-year career, he has made 34.9% of his three-pointers.

“I think luckily for me, I started my career in an offense that was similar to that, and just understanding you never know when it’s going to come, but just to be ready,” Thybulle said. “And just for me personally, at this point, having the confidence in my shot to know that when it comes, I’m ready for it, as opposed to just hoping for the best. I think it goes a long way as well.”

Read more:Bronny James continues to refine his skills and role with the Lakers

Health has been an issue for Thybulle during the past two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers.

He played in just 30 games last season while recovering from a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb and in just 15 games during the 2024-25 season because of right knee and right ankle injuries.

But he’s healthy now and ready for a breakout season.

He’s one of nine new players on the roster and he’s one of the Lakers that will compete for a starting role.

“I leave those decisions up to the coaches,” Thybulle said. “Yeah, so for me, if my teammates are happy with how I’m playing and the coaches are happy with how I’m playing, that’s a good sign to me that I’m doing a good job. But if that means I’m coming off the bench or that means I’m starting, I trust that the coaches know how to use me best to create the most impact, and we’ll go with that.”

Two starting spots up for grabs

When the Lakers play their first exhibition game Monday night in Sacramento, the big story line will be the starting five.

Redick has said Doncic, Reaves and Walker Kessler will for sure start and that the other two spots will be decided by an open competition.

Redick was asked who would be available in Sacramento.

“Obviously, [we’re] still working through stuff,” he said.

Read more:How a healthy and motivated Walker Kessler could transform the Lakers' defense

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Posted on

NL Division Series Game Discussion: Padres vs Brewers Sunday

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 03: Jackson Chourio #11 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a two-run home run against the San Diego Padres during the third inning in game one of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a dramatic Saturday night showdown in Milwaukee won by the Brewers, it’s game two of the NL Division Series Sunday afternoon. RHP Michael King will try to help the San Diego Padres draw even while the Milwaukee Brewers will give the ball to RHP Logan Henderson. First pitch is scheduled for 3pm central time and the game broadcast is available via Fox/FS1.

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!

Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android. 

Posted on

Jalen Duren speaks: I see myself ‘finishing my career’ in Detroit

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 09: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons waits during the fourth quarter of Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on May 09, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 116-109. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jalen Duren wanted to make one thing clear — he’s happy to have signed his long-term deal with the Detroit Pistons and wants to finish his career with the team that drafted him.

That might come as a surprise to many fans, who have been living and dying by unsourced media reports about him angling for a trade out of Detroit, feeling disrespected by the franchise, and the relationship being beyond repair.

During his introductory press conference following signing his five-year, $200 million deal to return to the Pistons, Duren said those reports certainly didn’t come from him.

“I’ve never spoken to anyone in the media, made any statements or comments about anything or everything that’s been out there, so you can accept those as rumors,” Duren said. “They do not represent how I feel or what I think.”

So what does Duren think?

That he loves his teammates, loves his team, loves his coaching staff, and sees himself in the Motor City for the long haul.

“I’ve built lifelong bonds and relationships with the people here, and I’ve always seen myself finishing my career here, leaving a legacy in an already legendary organization and city,” Duren said during his opening statements.

The bottom line for Duren?

“I am a Detroit Piston. I want to be a Detroit Piston for life. I want to give everything I’ve got to the Pistons and the fans.”

So how did we get here? Well, Duren said he also learned how much of a business the NBA is, and that all sides are working for the best situation for their respective sides. The Pistons certainly didn’t handle everything perfectly. Perhaps if they started out negotiations much closer to a $200 million number, we never would have gotten here. Duren’s camp seemingly did everything in its power to extract every potential dollar for Duren. That’s their job. But it can also lead to contentious negotiation and some fractured relationships.

If I were going to extrapolate from that just a bit further, I’d say it’s pretty clear where those unattributed comments were coming from that just kept finding their way into reporters’ notebooks, but it’s best to move on. Because there is no reason we all shouldn’t move on.

Jalen Duren wants to be a Piston. The Pistons want Jalen Duren to be their starting center in a legitimate title window. They made a deal that brings the big man back for the next five years. Nothing else really matters.

Posted on

Blues' Toropchenko To Miss Minimum Six Weeks With Upper-Body Injury

Alexey Toropchenko is the latest St. Louis Blues players to join the list of the wounded.

The Blues announced on Sunday that the forward will be re-evaluated in six weeks after suffering an upper-body injury in the Blues’ 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars on Friday night. 

Toropchenko was injured when he was pushed from behind by Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel and sandwiched between Bichsel and Tyler Seguin behind the Blues net in the first period before skating off and leaving the game.

Toropchenko, 27, joins defensemen Tyler Tucker (knee) and Logan Mailloux (hand) on the injured list. Tucker is also on a six-week re-evaluation timeline, Mailloux was given an eight-week re-evaluation timeline.

As of Sunday afternoon, the Blues (1-1-0) have not recalled a forward from Springfield of the American Hockey League. Dillon Dube and Zach Dean were the extra forwards on the roster when the season opened and each played on Saturday in a 6-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

The Blues play Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks to conclude a season-opening three-game road trip before the home opener Thursday against the San Jose Sharks.

Posted on

Division Series Day Two Game Thread

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 03: MLB Postseason 2026 signage is seen before game one of the National League Division Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the San Diego Padres at American Family Field on October 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The first games of the second round are in the books. The young and upstart White Sox came away with a win, as did the low-payroll Rays, the reigning champion Dodgers, and the #1 seed in the playoffs the Brewers. Another win from these two teams puts them one win away from the Championship series and makes it nearly certain they’ll win the series.

We got two games today, both in the NL.

Padres at Brewers (4:00 PM EDT)

Yesterday’s game was arguably the most entertaining. It had everything, from home runs to late blown leads to some ninth-inning controversy. In the end, the league’s #1 seed Milwaukee Brewers came away with the win in front of their home crowd. What will round 2 look like this afternoon?

The Brewers will be sending right-hander Logan Henderson (11-3, 2.47 ERA) to the mound for his first career playoff appearance. The rookie has done nothing but impress in his time with the big league team. After a successful cup of coffee at the end of last year, Henderson established himself not only as one of the Brewers’ best pitchers, but one of the best young arms in the entire sport. Much of today will depend on if Henderson is ready for the big stage that is the playoffs. He’s had plenty of time to prepare for this.

The Padres do not want to go down 0-2. It wouldn’t be the end of the world since they’re heading back to San Diego after today, but you still don’t want to be in that position. They’ll be asking their top starter in Michael King (12-10, 3.21 ERA) to play stopper for them and help even this series. The 31-year-old will be taking the ball for the second time this postseason after he fired off seven shutout innings of one-hit ball against the Cubs. They’ve got to feel good about who they have on the mound today.

Here’s how Milwaukee stacks up this afternoon:

And here’s the Padres’ starting nine:

Braves at Dodgers (8:30 PM EDT)

The Dodgers were clearly the better team yesterday as they dominated in every fashion of the game. Maybe some of that has to do with the near-record heat at first pitch, when it was over 100 degrees on the field. It’s not going to be much better today, but at least for them the start time is a little later so it should be much cooler. Does that benefit the Braves more than the Dodgers?

The reigning champions will be sending postseason ace Blake Snell (4-1, 1.92 ERA) to the mound for his first October start this season. The left-hander has missed most of the season thanks to injuries but one has to wonder if he was really all that banged up. While the Dodgers were able to cruise to another top seed in the playoffs, Snell was able to rest and prepare for this moment, this month. We could be about to see another vintage playoff Snell performance. The Braves will need their right-handed bats to show up tonight.

While the Dodgers know their starter tonight, the Braves are keeping things a bit closer to the chest. As of this posting they have still not revealed their plans for who takes the ball to start this critical game 2. All indications are pointing towards another bullpen game. That didn’t work out so well for them yesterday so if I’m a Braves fan I’m not too confident asking six to eight pitchers to be perfect today. Ideally for them it’d be left-hander Chris Sale getting the ball but the Braves seem to be cautious with him. October is no time for caution. It’s time to lay it all on the line.

Do the Brewers and Dodgers both win today and more or less wrap up their series’? Or do the Padres and Braves have some fight left in them and manage to even the series before heading back to their own homes? Much will depend on today’s outcomes. Don’t you just love postseason baseball?

Posted on

Losing Carrier Could Have Big Repercussions For Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens are already without one regular defenseman in Kaiden Guhle, but on Saturday night, against the Pittsburgh Penguins, they might have lost right-shot blueliner Alexandre Carrier. Early in the second frame, the diminutive defenseman fell awkwardly into the boards, back and neck first, after battling with Egor Chinakhov. The defenseman tried to keep playing, but he eventually left the game.

The Canadiens have a day off on Sunday, so we likely won’t have an update on Carrier, but if he misses time, Adam Engstrom should integrate into the lineup. While the Swede isn’t a right-shot defenseman, he played on his off-side last season in the AHL and made the team out of camp, so it wouldn’t make sense to recall David Reinbacher because he’s a righty and keep Engstrom as a healthy scratch.

Canadiens Take A Big Nap, Storm Back But Get Burned In The End
Canadiens’ Hutson Leads The League In Unenviable Category
Canadiens Prospect Shines In Season Opener

That doesn't mean the Austrian blueliner won’t be called up; the Canadiens do need an extra defenseman. However, since they are entering a four-game homestand and Laval is so close to Montreal, they may not need to call anyone up yet. However, the Laval Rocket’s next game is on Saturday, October 10, meaning Reinbacher could conceivably join the Canadiens in practice this week without missing a game in the AHL.

The Canadiens’ defense corps also didn’t look great on Saturday. Mike Matheson had an awful game; Arber Xhekaj made a soft backhand pass in the neutral zone that directly led to one of the Pens’ goals; Jayden Struble’s coverage was awful, which led to another goal that was mercifully taken away by a coach's challenge for offside.

That said, Matheson plays too big a role to be scratched, and St-Louis wouldn’t even consider it. Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson are just as solid in the chairs. The question then becomes: did either Xhekaj or Struble play badly enough to deserve to be scratched in the home opener? I don’t believe so.

If Carrier cannot play, it stands to reason that Engstrom would be dressed, having watched the last two games from the press gallery. If Reinbacher is called up, he’ll have to wait his turn.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Posted on

NLDS Game Two discussion thread

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 03: Dustin Harris #29 of the San Diego Padres stands on the field for the national anthem prior to Game One of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Saturday, October 3, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

We have a pair of NLDS games today…

In the early game, Milwaukee looks to go up 2-0 on the Padres. Its a 3:00 p.m. start on FS1.

In the late game, the Dodgers try to make it two in a row against the Braves. 7:00 p.m. start, also on FS1.

Talk about them here.

Posted on

Sunday Divisional Round Discussion

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 03: Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres reacts after flying out after his hit bounced off of the roof during the ninth inning in game one of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on October 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Day two of the divisional round, with the National League playing both games today.

At 3 o’clock central time, the Brewers and Padres meet once again, man what a game that was last night. Royal killer Ty France almost did something special, but the pesky roof caused some “controversy”. I put that in quotes because it is the ground rules, so the umps got it right. Is it unfortunate? If it was someone other than Ty France, I might agree with you.

Anyways, Michael King starts for the Padres. He was awesome in game one of their Wild Card series against the Cubs. Logan Henderson, a right-hander, who was awesome for the Brewers this season will start for them. That game can be watched on FS1.

The night cap is the Braves at the Dodgers. Starting at 7 o’clock central time. All 8 runs scored in that game yesterday was via the long ball. Blake Snell starts for the Dodgers, Ray Kerr, who started game three of the wild card series against the Phillies, starts today for Atlanta. That game can be watched on FS1 as well.

Who are you rooting for today? And why?

Posted on

MLB Division Series: Padres at Brewers, Braves at Dodgers

It’s Game 2 of the National League Division Series. The American League series have that weird off day in between Games 1 and 2 and will resume tomorrow.

That was quite the ninth innin in Milwaukee Saturday night [VIDEO].

It didn’t end the game — it was just the second out — but if not for that roof cable, Ty France likely has a two-run homer and the Padres have the lead.

Instead, they go into today’s game trailing one game to none.

3 p.m. CT: Padres at Brewers (Brewers lead series 1-0)

TV: FS1. Announcers: Adam Amin, Adam Wainwright, A.J. Pierzynski and Tom Verducci.

Michael King, RHP vs. Logan Henderson, RHP

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com preview

7 p.m. CT: Braves at Dodgers (Dodgers lead series 1-0)

TV: FS1. Announcers: Joe Davis, John Smoltz and Ken Rosenthal.

TBD vs. Blake Snell, LHP

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com preview

Posted on

Islanders News: Feeling good after be-Deviling 6-0 opener romp

Starting us off right. | NHLI via Getty Images

Pete DeBoer is a veteran coach so he’ll surely temper enthusiasm after two games, but he’s got to feel at least a fraction of the joy Islanders fans experienced from a proper home opener romp over a rival.

The Islanders’ 6-0 win over the Devils Saturday night had a little of everything: Ilya Sorokin’s 30th shutout, goal and assist contributions from all over the roster, first NHL point and first NHL goal by Victor Eklund in front of his mom, special teams contributions, and another Matthew Schaefer highlight to set up the 3-0 goal that set the night on course for a homecoming party.

Whatever directions this season takes, nights like that are essential, and the perfect tonic after the bland opener in Toronto.

Islanders News

  • A special, meaningful birthday night for Eklund and fam. [Newsday]
  • Takeaways: DeBoer liked the depth and balance. Includes video of fans singing “Happy Birthday” to Eklund after his interview with Shannon Hogan. [Isles]
  • Score one for the line re-blend. [Post]
  • Sorokin got the new post-game hero award, a canoe paddle, while Casey Cizikas got the orange hard hat. [Isles]
  • Matthew Schaefer continues to enjoy life at the Martins as uncle and babysitter. Piece from Compton includes some Barzal-with-Seidenberg and Tavares-with-the-Weights tales, too. [NHL]

Elsewhere

  • With some injuries up front, the Oilers are shopping for some forward depth. [Sportsnet] We’ve got a couple with cup-winning pedigree…
  • It’s somehow getting even uglier in Detroit, where unsigned former first-round pick Simon Edvinsson now reportedly prefers a trade. Feels like that franchise needs another Jimmy Devellano to come to the rescue them from another Dead Wings era. [Sportsnet]
  • Aleksander Barkov’s latest injury looks long term, but they hope not season-ending. [NHL | Sportsnet]
  • R.I.P. Lyle Odelein, former Canadien and Devil, among others, including the Blue Jackets’ first captain. [Sportsnet]
  • The Blackhawks big-ticket acquisition Bowen Byram will miss his team’s return to Buffalo. [TSN]
  • Mario Lemieux was part of the Penguins’ 60th anniversary celebration, which is maybe news since he’s supposedly been in and out and in and out with the ownership and management. [NHL]
  • The Sharsk arrived to their home opener in old cars. [NHL]
Posted on

San Diego has heartbreaking loss in NLDS series opener

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 03: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres reacts after striking out against the Milwaukee Brewers during the eighth inning in game one of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

What a heartbreaking way to lose a game. The San Diego Padres had what appeared to be the go-ahead run over the Milwaukee Brewers when Ty France slugged a moonshot out to left field in the top of the ninth inning. Instead, the ball hit the roof and fell straight down into Jackson Chourio’s glove for an out. It almost certainly would have been a homer, but the official ruling is out.

However, San Diego had plenty of positives. The offense got to ace Jacob Misiorowski, tagging him for two runs before he was lifted in the fourth inning. After that, it got hazy. The Padres kept taking worse and worse at-bats as the game went on. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado both struck out on three pitches in key situations. They’ll need to do better to even the series this afternoon.

Taking the mound

Logan Henderson (MIL) v. Michael King (SD)

What Henderson doesn’t have in tenure, he makes up for in immense recent success. The right-hander posted a 2.47 ERA in 18 starts (98.1 IP) this season with a 1.93 ERA in his final seven starts of the year. Henderson would have been the best pitcher in Milwaukee’s starting rotation if not for a young flamethrower named Jacob Misiorowski.

The 24-year old has never faced the Padres, which should be an advantage for him. His four-seamer, changeup combo is devastating, but if San Diego can have some plate discipline they should be able to beat Henderson. If their offense keeps trying to play the hero, it’ll be another story.

King will be making his second start of this postseason, after pitching a gem against the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the Wild Card series. King took a no-hitter into the seventh that night and was incredibly dominant against a potent offense. He’ll need to do the same this afternoon to give the Padres a shot at winning the series at home.

The Padres’ ace faced the Brewers only once this season (May 13), when he faced off against Misiorowski. King twirled 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball. There’s an immense amount of pressure on King to perform similar to his Wild Card start. If he can get through six quality innings, it’ll be a huge sigh of relief for San Diego.

Batter up!

It was a rough game for the offense. The Padres could have won the game if they hadn’t regressed so much from how they looked in the Wild Card. San Diego’s lineup left 12 runners on and went a dismal 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The Friars will need to wake up if they have any hope of evening the Division Series in Milwaukee.

  1. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
  2. Dustin Harris, LF
  3. Manny Machado, 3B
  4. Ty France, 1B
  5. Jackson Merrill, CF
  6. Xander Bogaerts, SS
  7. Gavin Sheets, DH
  8. Jake Cronenworth, 2B
  9. Luis Campusano, C

It’s possible that Sheets continues to only be used in pinch-hit situations. He is still dealing with a foot injury that sidelined him for much of the stretch run. However, with his potent bat left on the bench in Game 1, it’s likely that San Diego turns to the slugger in such an important moment.

Relief corps

The Padres expended a lot of high-leverage relievers in the series opener last night. After starter Robbie Ray went just 2 2/3 innings, San Diego turned to Bradgley Rodriguez, Yuki Matsui, Jason Adam and Adrian Morejon to pitch the final frames. Mason Miller is the only traditional reliever left for the Friars.

That being said, with the off day on Monday, it’s highly likely that everyone except Morejon will be on the table. The southpaw threw two innings and probably won’t pitch unless it’s absolutely necessary. Matsui and Adam each threw just 15 and 16 pitches, respectively, so they’ll factor as the first out of the ‘pen. Should King stumble early, Randy Vásquez could enter the game in bulk relief.

Posted on

NLDS Game 2 Discussion: Milwaukee Brewers (1-0) vs San Diego Padres (0-1)

Milwaukee Brewers
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 03: Garrett Mitchell #5 and Luis Lara #18 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after the 3-2 victory against the San Diego Padres in game one of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a drama-filled win in Game 1, complete with homers from Jackson Chourio and William Contreras plus a roof strike in the 9th inning, the Milwaukee Brewers are looking to take a 2-0 advantage in the series this afternoon.

The Brewers will have right-hander Logan Henderson on the mound, making his first career postseason start. Henderson had a 2.47 ERA in the regular season, and is yet to allow more than three earned runs in a start in his career.

“He’s an old fashioned executer.” Pat Murphy said.

The Padres will have their ace on the mound, Michael King. King was phenomenal in his start against the Cubs in the Wild Card series, going seven innings, allowing just one hit and no runs while striking out eight. He has a 3.21 ERA on the season and has won all three of his postseason starts in his career.

“I think the biggest thing with Mike is he sets the ton, and obviously we saw it in San Diego in the Wild Card series. He pounds the zone and keeps those guys off balance.”

The Brewers offense will do their best to throw King off his game. Jackson Chourio, the best big game hitter the Brewers have, will hit leadoff once again. Brice Turang and Jake Bauers will follow him. William Contreras will back cleanup while centerfielder Garrett Mitchell moves up to the 5th spot in the order. Christian Yelich will DH once again and bat 6th. Sal Frelick gets the start in right field today and will bat 7th. Cooper Pratt is back down in the 8th spot and David Hamilton rounds out the bottom of the lineup and is playing third base.

The Padres make just some minor changes from their Game 1 lineup. It’s Fernando Tatis Jr, Dustin Harris, and Manny Machado atop their order. Ty France, Jackson Merrill, and then Ethan Salas form the middle of the order. Salas swaps spots with Xander Bogaerts, who drops to 7th for this game. Then Luis Campusano is batting 8th with Jake Cronenworth batting 9th. Campusano is catching today after DHing yesterday and Salas is the DH after catching yesterday.

Pat Murphy did name his Game 3 starter as well. It will be Dustin May getting the ball in San Diego on Tuesday. May is a veteran that has pitched against the Padres more than anyone else in his career. He has a 3.14 ERA against San Diego over his career.

The Brewers will need Henderson to give them a little more length in this game after Jacob Misiorowski lasted just four innings in Game 1. Milwaukee used five relievers to cover the final five innings and King is going to present quite the challenge for this lineup.

It’s looking like it could be another pitcher’s duel. There was a lot of traffic on the bases in Game 1, but not a ton of scoring. Eventually, that dam is going to burst if that trend continues.

Also, the roof will be open for gametime! It’s not often to see October weather nice enough for the roof to be kept open, but on a clear, sunny day, it’ll be roof open and back panels closed. Ty France is sure to be one player who’s excited to see the roof open.

Logan Henderson. Michael King. Brewers. Padres. It’s Game 2 of the NLDS with the Brewers looking to go up 2-0 in the series before it turns to San Diego.