Fulham secured a first win of the season against a dismal Hull, while Liverpool came from behind to beat nine-man Brentford
Andy Hunter’s match report from the Hill Dickinson is here, and you can find it below.
Chelsea have returned from the international break with an authority that augurs well for Xabi Alonso. A brace from Pedro Neto condemned Everton to an inaugural defeat of the season as the visitors climbed to fourth on the back of their first Premier League clean sheet since January. A head injury sustained by Emi Martínez, who was carried off on a stretcher after seven minutes of treatment, was the only concern from a mature display in the Merseyside sunshine for Alonso’s team.
There were goalkeeping issues at both ends of the field with Jordan Pickford unconvincing for the second week in succession as David Moyes’ side suffered self-inflicted wounds. But Everton could have no complaints about the merits of Chelsea’s victory given their contrasting performances in the second half.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 08: Devin Carter #99 celebrates with Mike Conley #45 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on October 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 124-113. 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
Devin Carter’s lone preseason appearance was enough to impress the Celtics, apparently. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Carter’s Exhibit 10 training camp deal is being converted to a two-way contract.
The Boston Celtics are converting Devin Carter to a two-way deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Carter averaged 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 18.4 minutes during 38 games for the Sacramento Kings last season. pic.twitter.com/CZJQfZb4F6
The former Providence College standout wasted no time making an impression last Thursday in Clevleand in the preseason opener. He gave the Cavs the work. Carter poured in 17 points, ripped down five rebounds, dished five assists, and swiped two steals in 25 minutes off the bench.
This wasn’t just the typical “guy who’s been in the league a few years feasts on inexperienced players in the preseason” type of statlines, either. Carter balled out against the Cavaliers’ regular rotation, and did it in a way where it’s not hard to imagine him making an impact for Boston somewhere down the line.
He pushed the pace in transition, did a great job of getting himself to the rim, and used his gratiutous six-foot-nine-inch wingspan to create chaos on defense.
Many fans were left wanting more, but unfortunately didn’t get it. Carter missed the final three games of Boston’s preseason slate with an illness, and was never heard from again.
His future with the team felt murky after the rest of the Celtics’ Exhibit 10 players got the start in Friday’s preseason finale against the Phildelphia 76ers and held their own against Philly’s regular starters (minus VJ Edgecombe).
Murky no more.
The former 13th overall pick spent his first two NBA seasons with the Sacramento Kings. He appeared in 74 total games where he averaged 6.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 40.1% from the field and 27.4% from deep.
Sacramento traded Carter along with a second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks this summer, officially finalizing their stamp of disapproval — which we’ve all learned is actually a good thing (thanks for Neemi). The Hawks waived Carter shortly after, then he found his way to Boston.
The Celtics now have all three of their two-way spots filled as Carter joins Dillon Mitchell and Amari Williams in the G-League swing crew. This doesn’t necessarily mean all three players will remain on two-ways for the entire season. Boston can waive any of them at any time free up a slot.
By converting Carter to a two-way, rather than a standard contract, Boston avoids creeping any closer to the luxury tax threshold. They remain $1.7 million below the tax line.
Pedro Neto’s goals bookended the second half and earned Chelsea a rare victory at Everton
Everton kick off, and launch it long. Martinez claims the punt.
Before the kick-off, everyone takes the knee. It’s the first of two weeks of the Premier League’s No Room For Racism campaign. Challenge it, report it, change it.
Mets relief prospect Ryan Lambert enjoyed another successful outing in the Arizona Fall League on Friday.
Lambert shut the door on a commanding seventh victory of the exhibition season for the Surprise Saguaros, cruising his way through a perfect top-half of the ninth. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out the first batter he faced with a 97 mph fastball on the corner of the zone, then needed just five more pitches to get through the rest of the inning.
Lambert now has a total of five punchouts and he’s allowed just one baserunner, while not giving up a run across his first three appearances to open Fall League play. Though it’s still an extremely small sample size, it’s certainly the start the 24-year-old was looking for coming off his forgetful season at the Triple-A level.
After a breakout 2025 minor league campaign Lambert was expected to work his way into the mix as a big-league bullpen arm, however, that did not end up being the case.
He ended up having to miss some time to injury and battled ineffectiveness throughout the year, pitching to an ugly 7.71 ERA and 9.98 BB/9 across 23 Triple-A appearances.
So now instead of building off an opportunity to show if he could help the Mets in the midst of a meaningless season, Lambert enters the year as a bit of a question mark for the organization.
The big right-hander continues to showcase his big-time fastball velocity on the radar gun, but if he can’t consistently keep his stuff in the zone, he'll really limit his success. That's been the case throughout Lambert's minor league career, averaging an impressive 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings, but also walking a ton (6.7).
Continuing this strong start to fall ball and building some confidence would be huge for Lambert heading into what's shaping up to be a big offseason for him. With the Mets' bullpen still having a handful of openings, perhaps he'll be able to work his way into the mix with a strong spring training showing.
Nuno Espírito Santo was delighted West Ham finished a “demanding week” by toppling Championship leaders Swansea.
Divine Mukasa’s first-half strike in front of a record Swansea.com Stadium crowd of 20,973 gave the Hammers a 1-0 win and took them into second place and within a point of the league leaders. It was their second success in four days after a 6-0 romp at Lincoln, and ended a week that began with a 1-1 home draw against QPR following Jarrod Bowen’s last-gasp penalty miss.
Less than three weeks into the campaign, the Philadelphia Flyers (0-6-3) may be playing for their season, and getting their first win won't be an easy task having to host the red-hot Ottawa Senators (6-2-0) at the Xfinity Mobile Arena at 7 p.m. on Saturday night.
If they can't get it done, well, they'll be on the wrong side of NHL history with a 10-game losing streak to start the season.
Of course, these two teams already played once this season, with the Senators escaping with a narrow 2-1 win over the Flyers last Thursday.
The Senators lost top winger William Eklund to a lower-body injury in that game, and it was recently announced that Eklund will be out for 10-12 weeks after undergoing ankle surgery.
So, Ottawa will be without one of their most talented players, but so will the Flyers, who incidentally lost Travis Konecny to an injury in last week's game as well, even though he toughed it out and played the full game.
In addition to Konecny, the Flyers are still without defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York, pending an official status update from the Flyers and/or head coach Rick Tocchet.
Assuming the Flyers make no further roster moves, they will face the Senators on Saturday with an unchanged lineup yet again.
Saturday night's Flyers game can be found on NBC Sports Philadelphia, TVAS-D, and Sportsnet 1.
Flyers player to watch
Jamie Drysdale has been unusually quiet this season, having not recorded a single point in his nine games played thus far. He's also second on the team in average ice time, getting 22:06 a night, even with David Jiricek overtaking him on the top power play unit.
The Flyers have placed an emphasis on defensemen jumping up into the play in recent games, with Travis Sanheim and Oliver Bonk making impacts in that aspect in the game against Seattle on Tuesday night.
The 24-year-old Drysdale has just nine shots on goal in nine games this season, but scored a career-high eight goals on 101 shots in 78 games last year.
Like Sanheim and Bonk, the Flyers badly need Drysdale (and Jiricek) to begin getting involved, too, otherwise they will continue to be one of the worst offensive teams in the NHL.
Savannah Bananas players celebrate after defeating the Firefighters during a Banana Ball game at Kauffman Stadium on May 23, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Emily Curiel/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Power & Light, in fact, never has generated the revenue to meet debt obligations. As the Kansas City Business Journal put it in April, annual “bond gaps have required about $10.5 million a year from the city’s general fund and $199 million total to date.”
But here’s where the Rorschach test comes into play. Or at least a matter of perspective.
Because there’s a compelling case that Power & Light figuratively paid for itself many times over in how it changed the density and vibe of downtown (from around 5,000 residents to 33,000 over 25 years) — and in no small part the very perception of Kansas City.
“I didn’t have a curveball in college,” the Texas A&M product said. “That was something I took into last offseason, and we had a pitch design group. So I was in that to add a fourth pitch to the arsenal, give a different look to righties at least so it’s not just fastball-slider. But I just stuck with it and trusted in our coaches.”
Lamkin would have continued to work on the deuce all summer long, if not for a left shoulder injury that cut his regular season short after May 25. Now the 22-year-old left-hander’s back in the Grand Canyon State in the Arizona Fall League to not only reestablish his health but pick up where he left off with that curve development.
I know a lot of people want Cam’s dad to join the organization, but that’s not happening with the current structure. I do wonder if Cam might be an interesting answer. The White Sox seem to be doing something right with their hitting development, and you’d assume there’s at least some organizational familiarity with Thames from their year together in the organization. I don’t know much about Seitzer’s philosophies, but it might make some sense.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 15: Manager Rocco Baldelli #5 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the New York Yankees on September 15, 2025 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello friends, and welcome to the weekend!
The ALCS resumes today after an unplanned day off (more on that below). Let’s explore all of that and more in today’s batch of links.
MLB Postseason scores…
Game 4 of the ALCS was postponed yesterday due to rain. The Rays and Guardians will now square off during both days this weekend to make up for it.
The New York Islanders have had what can only be described as a frustrating start, opening the year 3-3-1.
Moreover, the Islanders have alternated wins and losses through their first seven games of the year.
Already, there's trends forming that the Islanders will have to address to gain more consistency throughout their game.
First, one key is scoring first. The Islanders are 3-0-1 when they score first, with Thursday's loss to Ottawa representing the first time they've lost after scoring first. They still collected a point.
When they allow the first goal, the Islanders are 0-3-0, and have been outscored 12-6 in those three games.
Through three games, chasing games has not been conducive to success in any way. The Islanders are, to their core, a defensive-minded team.
They do not do nearly as well when they've got to chase the game and open up their own play to chase offense.
Playing from ahead, however, allows the Islanders to be stingier defensively, and more selective of when to fly forward for rush chances and try to overload their opponents.
A lot of people have pointed to special teams as a reason for New York's futility. While it's certainly been far from perfect, the Islanders' special teams units have done their job through seven games.
In each of their three regulation losses, the Islanders' special teams units have contributed at least one goal.
Against the Toronto Maple Leafs, whom the Islanders play for a second time on Saturday night, the Islanders allowed one Toronto power play goal, but Emil Heineman scored a short-handed goal.
The Islanders' power play went 0-4 in the one-goal loss, so that was certainly a notable area for improvement.
New York's next game was a 6-0 rout of the New Jersey Devils, and the Islanders scored on the power play, going 1/3 in the win.
Next, the New York Rangers scored a power-play goal in a 5-2 win over the Islanders, but the Islanders also scored one. Nobody could pin that game on the Islanders' special teams, either.
The Islanders scored a power play goal for a third-straight game against the Chicago Blackhawks in a 4-1 win, a game that Bo Horvat opened up with a power play goal.
Against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Bolts went just 1-for-5 on the man advantage. The Islanders went 1-for-2, but still lost 5-3.
The Islanders won the special teams battle, but lost the game.
In the Islanders' next game against the Vancouver Canucks, the Islanders lost the special teams battle to the Canucks, but found a way to win 3-2 over Vancouver.
Finally, back to the Thursday, neither New York nor Ottawa struck on the power play in the tight shootout loss.
There's no clear trend through seven games about the special teams units, one way or another. New York's been above or at league average on the powerplay, a massive improvement from recent years.
Through seven games, the Islanders have yet to record a point if they've trailed at any point in the game.
That is, by far, the headline through their first seven games, entering a Saturday night game against the Maple Leafs.
Another year, another early postseason exit. That's what GM Brian Cashman and the Yankees have to reckon with after the Tampa Bay Rays swept them in the ALDS.
The front office decided to run it back the 2025 team -- yes, that's what they essentially did -- and it left them with the same result: an ALDS ouster. So, where do the Yankees go from here?
Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole aren't getting any younger, and with a weak American League, there are only so many more chances at capturing a World Series before their captain and the veterans age out of the team. Cashman will have to look for ways to get over the hump for the first time since 2009, and that could mean tough decisions regarding the core of the Yankees.
There are key players who will enter free agency and whether the Yankees bring them back or not will change how the 2027 team looks. And while the trade market is always a way to shift the roster makeup, Cashman has rarely used it during the offseason. But with such an influx of starting pitching, it's not out of the realm of possibility that some major league arms like Will Warren, Clarke Schmidt or Ryan Weathers are moved to open up roster spots and fill needs.
There's also the impending lockout, which could reshape how business is done in baseball. Whether there's a cap or not, the new CBA will create some hurdles the Yankees front office will have to manage.
With all that said, here's how the payroll for the Yankees looks for next season and beyond...
SALARY COMMITTED FOR 2027
When the offseason begins, the Yankees will have approximately $244 million committed (pre-tax) to the 2027 season, according to Cot's Contracts. That includes the nine arbitration-eligible players, zero-to-three players and those in the minors under team control.
The above number could change if the Yankees non-tender any of the arbitration-eligible players they trade. Weathers and Luis Gil -- yes, even Gil -- are potential trade pieces, while Fernando Cruz, who is looking to rehab and avoid elbow surgery, could be non-tendered if the team doesn't trust what they see medically.
And then there's the money coming off the books. Jazz Chisholm Jr. ($10.2 M), Trent Grisham ($22 M), Paul Blackburn ($2 M), Paul Goldschmidt ($4 M) and David Bednar ($9 M) are notable free agents.
Goldschmidt has said he wants to keep playing baseball, while Chisholm has voiced his wish to return to the Yankees, although he also said he wants a lucrative, long-term deal.
With youngsters Anthony Volpe, George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones up with the big league club, it's unlikely Grisham and Chisholm return. That would give the Yankees more than $30 million to play with this offseason.
WHAT WILL THE ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS MAKE?
The Yankees have nine arbitration-eligible players.
Here is the list of players with their projected 2027 salaries:
Luis Garcia Jr. ($10.25 million)
Clarke Schmidt ($5.575 million)
Anthony Volpe ($5 million)
Jose Caballero ($4.25 million)
Ryan Weathers ($3 million)
Austin Wells ($2.5 million)
Fernando Cruz ($2.45 million)
Luis Gil ($2.3 million)
Heliot Ramos ($2.25 million)
If those numbers hold and the Yankees tender them all contracts, that's approximately $37.5 million added, an increase of about $13 million from what those players made in 2026. The $30 million coming off the books from Chisholm and Grisham alone will take care of the added money, and, again, there could be opportunities to trade some of these arbitration players, so that number isn't in stone just yet.
All the above names except for Weathers, Cruz and Gil are important to the 2027 roster. And while it's likely the Yankees tender all of them, if there's an opportunity to move them, they are prime candidates.
HOW MUCH MONEY IS THERE TO ADD PLAYERS THIS OFFSEASON?
Despite Hal Steinbrenner's wishes, the Yankees continue to exceed $300 million in player salary, and that will likely continue into 2027 -- unless there are major changes in the new CBA.
They need to rebuild their bullpen after the departures of Bednar, Blackburn and a couple of other mid-level relievers like Ryan Yarbrough and Tim Hill, and they still need to round out the bench after Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario hit free agency.
Already at $244 million committed (pre-tax), Cashman will need to get creative with the additions. The highest-ticket item the Yankees should acquire is re-signing Bednar. He made $9 million in 2026, and after one-and-a-half seasons proving he can play in New York, he'll get a pay raise in any contract he receives.
The Yankees are expected to issue a qualifying offer to Bednar, which would be around $23.13 million for one year, so if Bednar accepts it, it would essentially replace Grisham's from 2026.
New York Yankees relief pitcher David Bednar (53) reacts after defeating the Houston Astros 5-4 at Yankee Stadium / Wendell Cruz - Imagn Images
The same could be said for Blackburn, who revived his career as a high-leverage reliever this past season. He made just $2.1 million in 2026, and he won't cost as much as Bednar, but he should also seek a pay raise. The rest of the bullpen holes could be filled with starters transitioning to the 'pen, like Schmidt and Gil, minor league arms like Carlos Lagrange, or journeyman arms that the Yankees system transforms into a valuable reliever.
The tricky part will be the right-handed hitting catcher the team needs. Free agents like Ryan Jeffers will cost the team a pretty penny, so they'll have to determine whether they want to spend their offseason bucks. Perhaps they could backload the contract to stay under a certain threshold as they wait for contracts like Giancarlo Stanton and Carlos Rodon's to expire.
Or they can look for a cheaper option like Tyler Stephenson. This will be the aspect to watch this offseason as the team looks for more consistent offense in 2027 and beyond.
Those are the two major needs this offseason as the starting lineup and rotation are mostly set. On the lineup front, the Yankees won't have too much wiggle room to make a big splash, so they'll need to rely on Volpe and Caballero being used as a platoon with Ryan McMahon at third base. Unless the Yankees can convince the Rockies for Hunter Goodman or the Nationals for CJ Abrams, they'll need to rely on the young/inexpensive options they have.
WHAT ABOUT EXTENSIONS FOR UNDER-CONTROL PLAYERS?
Looking at the current Yankees roster, there aren't many players who could be good candidates for an extension.
Ben Rice, who looks to be a superstar, won't have his first year of arbitration until 2028 so there isn't a rush. While names like Ramos and Caballero don't feel like players Cashman would look to extend before he has to.
Schmidt will be in his final year of arbitration in 2027, but health concerns could muddy that possibility, while Garcia, a left-handed first baseman, doesn't necessarily have a spot on the Yankees past this upcoming year, with Rice likely to man the position in 2028 and beyond.
That leaves Volpe and Wells.
Volpe has one more year of arbitration after this one, but based on how his 2026 went, the Yankees will likely wait before exploring an extension. But he'd be prime candidate if he takes the second base job and keeps it in 2027.
Wells is the likeliest candidate for an extension. He has two more years of arbitration after 2027, and has done wonders handling one of the best rotations in baseball. Sure, his offense has left a lot to be desired, but if he can capture whatever got into his bat in the last month of the regular season and the playoffs, the Yankees would surely want to keep their backstop for the long term.
THE PAYROLL SITUATION IN 2028 AND BEYOND
Here are the Yankees' projected 40-man roster salary obligations from 2028 to 2030, via Cot's:
2028: $192.6 million
2029: $112.7 million
2030: $89.4 million
The biggest difference between 2027 and 2028 is Stanton's contract. The Yankees have a club option to retain the slugger, but it's tough to imagine the organization exercising it after the last few injury-prone seasons. Even if the Yankees DFA Stanton for the 2027 season, that money will be off the books the following year.
McMahon, Garcia and Schmidt will all be free agents in 2028 as well, freeing up approximately $32 million.
Rodon and Cole's contracts expire after 2028, giving the Yankees even more flexibility for the 2029 season, especially if the young starters they currently have continue to pitch well.
If the Yankees can continue to develop their young players, they could be set up nicely without having to rely on high-priced free agents.
San Diego, California - October 06: Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres celebrates after tagging out Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers to win game three of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Ty France solidified a position of need for the San Diego Padres in the 2026 season. The right-handed slugger joined the team in the offseason on a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. At the time, there were questions of whether he would even make the team. France competed with Gavin Sheets and Nick Castellanos for regular playing time at first base but eventually made the team and took control of the position and added another Rawlings Gold Glove Award nomination to his resume.
France played at San Diego State University and was drafted by the Padres in 2015. He made his debut with the club in 2019 but eventually was sent to the Seattle Mariners in a trade along with outfielder Taylor Trammell, reliever Andres Munoz and catcher Luis Torrens in exchange for catcher Austin Nola and relievers Dan Altavilla and Austin Adams in 2020. It was a move that never seemed to make sense to the Friar Faithful.
France spent four years with the Mariners then bounced from Seattle to the Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays from 2024 to 2026. France returned to San Diego and took full advantage of his return. The right-handed slugger had 440 at-bats over 133 games and finished with 21 homers and 72 RBI. France ended the 2026 season with a slash line of .295/.363/.502. He solidified the cleanup spot in the Padres lineup and provided protection for Manny Machado in the No. 3 hole.
There is no question that France had a successful season at plate, but what he did in the field may have had an even greater impact. France provided Gold Glove caliber defense, which is supported by his nomination for the National League Gold Glove Award at the position. France allowed the infielders to play and throw free knowing if they short-hopped a throw or were offline to either side or up or down he was going to make a play and likely record the out.
France will be a free agent at the end of the MLB season, but he should be a top target for the Padres. The veteran has made no secret that he enjoys playing in and for the Padres. He stabilizes a position of need and arguably one of the most valuable positions on the field considering most plays end with him catching the ball. The Friar Faithful have seen the inconsistency and the struggles at first base over recent seasons, France provides an inhouse opportunity solidify the position. There are questions as to whether he can replicate his offensive production in future seasons, but if he is successful and comfortable in San Diego, he should be given the chance to prove he can.
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks to pass the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 13, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NBA 2K27 celebrated its Season 2 drop with the arrival of‘GOAT builds and a particular Toronto Raptors superstar is at the centre of it.
The game’s latest update (Oct. 16) added 18 unique player builds for use in the MyCareer game mode. Kawhi Leonard – in a Raptors jersey – is one of the archetypes gamers can choose from. Here’s the full list of Hall of Famers and all-time greats that he’s grouped up with in 2K27:
Point Guards
Magic Johnson
Derrick Rose
Gilbert Arenas
Penny Hardaway
Shooting Guard
Michael Jordan
Kobe Bryant
Ray Allen
Anthony Edwards
Klay Thompson
Small Forward
Kawhi Leonard
LeBron James
Carmelo Anthony
Andrei Kirilenko
Power Forward
Dirk Nowitzki
Anthony Davis
Centre
Wilt Chamberlain
Hakeem Olajuwon
Dwight Howard
Leonard’s build is described as an “Elite two-way titan. Pairs lockdown wing defence with unstoppable three-level scoring.” Under the hood, this build has everything for both casuals and competitive players. It starts with the one-of-a-kind combination of ratings Leonard provides.
Ratings
The traits that immediately pop are his measurables. Leonard’s GOAT build is 6’7 with a seven-foot-three wingspan. For those who spend countless hours experimenting with 2K’s MyPlayer builder at the beginning of every game’s cycle, they’ll know why this is special.
In NBA 2K27, it’s impossible to make a small forward with that exact combination. The longest wing span available in the game for players listed at 6’7 is seven-foot-one. That extra length makes it easier to hawk passing lanes and force contests (especially in a game that doesn’t have the best contest system).
For fans who favour a defensive build to use in The Rec or The Park, or competitive players who like to build a lockdown every year, it often means sacrificing offensive attributes.
With the Leonard GOAT build, players unlock access to 91 mid-range and 83 three-point ratings. Under normal circumstances, a 6’7 archetype with maximum wing span can only reach 87 mid-range and 81 three-point ratings. Leonard can also reach an unbelievable 95 agility. For regular builds, players max out at 86 agility.
Despite its greatness, there are notable weak points. The most glaring ones are the low block rating (50) and the speed (77). Defenders need a higher block rating this year since it affects how much of a contest a player gets when defending on the perimeter. A 77 speed is also too slow to consistently keep up with shifty guards.
Fortunately, players can add cap breakers they can unlock throughout the year to bump those ratings up.
Unless it gets patched, increasing Leonard’s dunk from 80 (to anything higher) will help in a meta that currently rewards 99 dunk.
Badges
The badges are interesting because they feel like a mixed bag on the surface, at least before gamers grind their Leonard build. The finishing badges are better on a traditional lockdown build, but the Leonard GOAT build has the Limitless Range badge. When the badge works properly, it helps quite a bit.
Leonard has superior rebounding badges, which will significantly help in 3v3 park games. The elite passing badges are useful when playing with friends. It’ll be fascinating to see how the heightened Strong Handles badge helps sweaty lockdown players out of the corner during ranked or private match games.
By the time the game reaches its final seasons, when the most cap breakers are available, this Leonard GOAT build should have everything a 2K fan wants and more.
While the 2026 Yankees season has come to a frustratingly early end, it’s hard to blame much of that on the starting pitching. By several measures, the Yankees had one of the best rotations in all of baseball this year, and they have the favorite for the AL Cy Young Award in Cam Schlittler.
As part of our season in review, let’s take a look back at some of the rotation’s best efforts of the year. To do that, we’re going to rank them according to the Game Score statistic. Game Score takes a variety of stats from an outing and combines them to try and determine how dominant a pitcher’s outing. Fifty is generally about average, and if a pitcher nears 100, they’re probably putting up an all-time great outing. While we didn’t get any no-hitters or perfect games this year, the Yankees’ rotation still had its fair share of excellent outings, let’s look back at the best of them.
This is a post of the top five, but there was a three-way tie for fifth, so it’ll actually include two bonus games too.
One could hope that Schlittler’s Game 2 start in the ALDS against the Rays harkened back to a regular season outing he had against Tampa Bay. Facing the Rays on July 6th, Schlittler allowed one run on four hits, while striking out eight in eight innings. None of the hits he allowed were more than a single, it’s just that one of them was to the speedy Chandler Simpson, which led to him scoring on another single.
Sneaking onto the list as part of that three-way tie for fifth is, surprise, another Schlittler start. This is the only game on the list that the Yankees ended up losing, but you can hardly blame that on the Yankees’ Cy Young candidate. In his seven frames, he held Atlanta to one run on three hits while striking out 11. Thankfully the Yankees scored a run in the eighth and the loss came in extra innings, so Schlittler didn’t get dinged with a loss for that gem.
While it wasn’t as statistically dominant as his start against the Red Sox in the 2025 AL Wild Card Series, Schlittler’s 2026 outing was still plenty good enough to crack this list. He only went 6.1 innings this time around, but held the Red Sox to just two hits, while striking out 10. The Yankees’ lineup poured it on late on route to a win and an eventual dominant sweep of Boston. If only the rest of the postseason went that well…
Someone else has finally made an appearance on the list. Injuries limited Fried to just 112.2 innings this season, but statistically he was still very good. This performance against the Red Sox was part of that. Having been given a 3-0 lead to work with after the top of the first, Fried proceeded to go eight scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and two walks, striking out nine Boston batters.
Normal service has resumed as Schlittler matched Fried to tie for third place. However, this was another game where he ended up with a no decision thanks to the offense. In eight innings, Schlittler held the Angels to one run on two hits, striking out nine. The only issue was that one of those hits was a Vaughn Grissom homer that tied the game at one in the seventh inning. The Yankees eventually broke through with five runs in the top of the 10th inning to seal the win, although they deprived their ace of the victory.
As it turned out, there was also a tie for first and, yes, Schlittler was involved. In July, he held a potentially very powerful Phillies’ lineup to no runs in 7.1 innings, surrendering just three hits all game. He struck out 12 batters, including Trea Turner and Bryce Harper twice each.
Tying Schlittler for the top spot is a Rodón start that had people wondering what order the playoff rotation should go in. Against the Rays in late September, Rodón threw eight shutout frames, allowing just three hits in arguably his best ever start as a Yankee. He also reached a milestone in getting to the 1500 strikeout mark during the outing.
The start — and his stretch run in general — was good enough that it led to people suggesting that Rodón should get the ball for one of the AL Wild Card Series games. In the end, they went with Schlittler, Fried, and Gerrit Cole had their been a Game 3. As it worked out, Rodón didn’t end up pitching at all in the playoffs. You can debate whether that should’ve been the case, but it’s hard to blame any of the starting pitchers for their ALDS losses.
Those are the best starts of the year according to Game Score, but which ones were the most memorably good to you?
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 22: Owner David Rubenstein of the Baltimore Orioles looks on prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Saturday, August 22, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
The ALCS is expected to continue tonight in Cleveland after a rainout on Friday. MLB doesn’t do doubleheaders in the postseason, so this reschedule has condensed the calendar a bit. No longer is there an off-day set for Sunday, which could mean that these two teams would play on three straight days from Saturday through Monday, if a Game 6 is needed. That change could force the two managers to play their bullpen cards a bit different than if they had the day off for relievers to recover.
Of course, the Orioles are just spectators to all of this while their manager’s former club is on the brink of a World Series appearance. They have a few things to figure out before they can get back to the point where playoff bullpen management is their top priority.
One of those things might be whether or not their owner actually understands what his role is here.
David Rubenstein just finished his third season as the club’s “control person.” The honeymoon period between him and the Orioles fan base is entirely over as the team has disappointed for 2.5 of the three years that he has been in the mix. But that didn’t stop him from recently writing a book about the experience, which people have started to thumb through during this quiet period before the offseason really gets going. And it has led him to talk a lot more about the experience publicly.
“A lot of my friends were buying teams, and I realized they’re making money. They’re making more money than I’m making in private equity,” he said. “I thought I should look at it as a financial thing, but ultimately I bought the Orioles for a philanthropic purpose.
Comments like this are not ideal from MLB’s perspective right now. The league and MLBPA are in the midst of a labor dispute in which many of the owners are crying poor, saying the smaller market teams cannot afford to compete with the clubs in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. To hear Rubenstein tell it, these teams are actually doing just fine.
I’m shocked, I tell you, shocked!
This upcoming World Series matchup won’t do much to help either. Milwaukee is arguably the smallest market in MLB, dwarfed by nearby Chicago, but they have been the best team in the sport all year and just took down the mighty Dodgers. Cleveland and Tampa are also in the bottom half of the league. One of them is going to he the AL champs. The Rays took down the Yankees to get here while the Guardians beat out the White Sox, who may not carry the same cachet as the Cubs in that city, but they are still able to draw from one of the country’s major metropolises.
That all is secondary to me. If you didn’t already know these billionaires weren’t just in this for the love of the game, then you aren’t paying attention. Instead, what I found interesting are the many other quotes that make Rubenstein look like both an out-of-touch rich guy, and maybe even an alien from another planet. For example:
“I couldn’t figure out why it is that people who are fans are so obsessed with the success of their local team,” he said. “They’re not going to make any more money. They’re not going to go to the Super Bowl and get a trophy out of it.
“I guess it’s because people take pride in being successful, and if something that’s connected to their local community is successful, they feel better about themselves. That’s why people love to watch sports, I guess.”
Dave, dude, did you just find out what sports are the week before buying the team? You didn’t understand why people were obsessed with their local team? Well, of course, it is so that predatory wealthy people like you can worm your way into something you don’t understand, and make everything more expensive and complicated. All so you can make even more money that “isn’t going to make a difference in [the owner’s] lifestyle”
Or maybe just keep some thoughts inside your head, and share them with your rich pals somewhere that’s not, I don’t know, a broadly broadcast forum that everyone can hear.
Again, most people understand that these billionaire owners are not doing this for entirely benevolent reasons. They want to make (more) money, and sports is an increasingly popular way to do that. But it would be nice to have an owner that at least gets what they are signing up for at a base level, and maybe even shares some level of passion that the fans have. It doesn’t seem like the Orioles have that.
Links
Holliday looking to build off positives from 2026 during ’27 season | Orioles.com Jackson Holliday is not turning into the franchise cornerstone that many hoped/expected him to be. That doesn’t mean he is without value, but it also shouldn’t mean the Orioles just keep pinning their hopes on him being a viable everyday second baseman. They should be open-minded to other solutions if they are serious about winning in 2027.
This, that and the other | Roch Kubatko Roch discusses some of the contract decisions coming for the Orioles. Ryan Helsley gets to decide his own fate, which likely puts him back in Baltimore next year. Zach Eflin doesn’t. He will hit free agency rather than having his $25 million option picked up. Ryan Mountcastle ($7.5 million) and Luis Robert Jr. ($20 million) are tougher calls, but the smart money is probably on their options being declined too. Dietrich Enns probablys hits the market too after a tough season spend mostly in Triple-A.
Hanser Alberto turns 34 today. The contact-oriented infielder emerged out of nowhere to have an impressive 3.4-bWAR season in 2019 with the Orioles, was a bit less productive in 2020, his final season in Baltimore.
Ken Dixon is 60 years old. All four seasons he spent in MLB came in Baltimore from 1984-87. Over 482.1 total innings he had a 4.66 ERA and was worth 2.4 bWAR.
Jim Hutto is 79 today. He played in four games for the 1975 Orioles.
The late Kelly Paris (b. 1957, d. 2019) was born on this day. He appeared in 10 games with the Orioles as a reserve infielder between 1985 and ‘86.
This day in O’s history
1971 – The Pirates prevail 2-1 over the Orioles in Game 7 of the World Series. Robert Clemente hits a home run off Mike Cuellar as the crowning achievement of his Series MVP performance.
1979 – Willie Stargell hits a two-run homer to lift the Pirates to a 4-1 win in Game 7 of the World Series over our O’s.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are back at home to face the New York Rangers tonight at 7:00 PM.
New York Rangers - 6-3-0 - 12 Points - Lost 2 - 2nd in the Metro
Columbus Blue Jackets - 2-3-0 - 4 Points - Lost 2 - 7th in the Metro
Teams Notes Per CBJ PR
The winning team has scored four-plus goals (including SO goals) 11 times in the last 13 outings overall and in 15 of the last 18 games of the series dating back to Oct. 29, 2021.
The Jackets have a 24.0 percent power play percentage in the last nine games at Nationwide Arena in the series (6-of-25).
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Conor Garland has scored in each of his last two games against New York (2-0-2) and has 7-2-9 in 14 career contests vs. the club.
Matthew Knies has collected points in five of his six career games vs. the Rangers (3-2-5).
Sean Monahan has tallied 5-9-14 in 20 career games vs. New York, with points in five of his last six contests (3-3-6).
Damon Severson has notched 5-18-23 in 48 career GP against New York, with points in back-to-back games against the club (1-2-3) and has points in seven of his past 10 meetings (1-6-7).
Zach Werenski has recorded 3-19-22with 5 multi-point efforts in 28 career games against New York, who notched 0-3-3 last time out on Mar. 19, 2026, and has 0-7-7 in his past five matchups.
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 16.7% - 23rd in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 61.1% - 30th in the NHL
Goals For - 15 - 29th in the NHL
Goals Against - 21 - 15th in the NHL
RangersStats
Power Play - 22.2% - 10th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 92.9% - 3rd in the NHL
Goals For - 28 - 7th in the NHL
Goals Against - 21 - 11th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheRangers
The Blue Jackets are 26-24-1-7 Overall, and 15-16-0-2 at Nationwide Arena vs. New York.
Columbus has earned points in eight of the last 11 meetings against the New York Rangers (5-3-3).
CBJ have gone 24-of-28 (85.7 pct.) on the penalty kill in the last 12 contests of the series.
The last matchup between teams oin Mar. 19, 2026 saw 11 combined penalties, the most in the series since 14 recorded on Oct. 24, 2008.
Who To Watch For TheRangers
Alex Lafreniere leads the Rangers with 7 goals and 11 points.
Adam Fox leads NYR with 9 assists.
Goalie Dylan Garand is 3-2-0 with a SV% of .915.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Dante Fabbro - Broken Hand - IR - 5 Games Missed
Isac Lundestrom - Achilles Surgery - LTIR - 5 Games Missed
Ivan Provorov - Lower Body - IR - 5 Games Missed
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 19
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be simulcast on The Blue Jackets Hockey Network and 97.1 The Fan, with Steve Mears behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
TV: CBJHN (Spectrum HD Ch. 320/1320; IP Ch. 349; Prime Video, Fubo)
Next Up For Columbus: The CBJ take on the New York Rangers tonight at 7:00 PM.
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