The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Los Angeles Kings by an 8-4 final score on Wednesday night, and former Montreal Canadiens forward Artturi Lehkonen certainly played a role in it.
Lehkonen scored two goals for the Avalanche in their season-opening win against the Kings. With this, there is no question that the former Canadiens forward has kicked off his 2026-27 campaign on the right foot for Colorado.
Seeing Lehkonen have a strong opening night for the Avalanche is not too surprising. He has had plenty of success during his time with the Avalanche and has emerged as one of their key players because of it.
In 70 games during the 2025-26 season with the Central Division club, Lehkonen posted 21 goals, 27 assists, 48 points, and a plus-32 rating. This was after the former Canadiens forward had 27 goals, 18 assists, 45 points, and a plus-36 rating in 69 games for the Avs in 2024-25.
It will now be interesting to see how the former Canadiens forward builds off his strong start to the campaign from here. In 396 games over six seasons with Montreal from 2016-17 to 2021-22, he posted 74 goals, 75 assists, and 149 points.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 15: Cade Cunningham #2 celebrates with Daniss Jenkins #24 of the Detroit Pistons during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Six of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There might not have been a better story in the NBA’s regular season last year than the Detroit Pistons. After coming up short in the first round of the playoffs in 2025, the Pistons roared back with a vengeance in the 2025-26 regular season, winning 60 games in route to earning the number one seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
The playoffs brought a different challenge, however. Detroit needed an all-time comeback in the first round against the Magic to survive that series, but ultimately their offense failed them in a six-game loss to the Cavaliers in the second round. Jalen Duren was missing in action the entire postseason, which ultimately clouded the offseason in the Motor City. As of this writing, Duren and the Pistons have still yet to come to a long-term agreement. The Pistons did not include him on their media day roster, and the deadline for him to sign the qualifying offer is rapidly approaching.
Detroit Pistons: Over/Under 48.5 wins (-105/-120)
To win Central Division: +130
To win Eastern Conference: +850
To win Finals: +2500
Last season: 62-20, lost in the second round to Cleveland in six games
Key additions: John Collins (via LA Clippers), Ebuka Okorie (17th pick in 2026 Draft), Isaiah Joe (via OKC)
Key losses: Tobias Harris (San Antionio), Caris LeVert (Milwaukee), Isaiah Stewart (Memphis)
DETROIT, MI – MAY 5: Ausar Thompson #9, Cade Cunningham #2, Daniss Jenkins #24 and Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons looks on during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Cade Cunningham continues to take leaps, as the first time All-NBA first team selection managed a career high in assists last year. A core of he and Ausar Thompson is fun to think about, but Thomspon needs to take a leap offensively to help this team reach its potential. But looking at the rest of this roster, I just have more questions than I did last season. Ebuka Okorie is a great option to play off of Cunningham, but he’s likely a year or two away from slotting into the starting lineup. I don’t believe them to be as deep as they were last year, and the depth that they do have is more limited in what they can do.
Even if the Duren situation works itself out, it’s caused a cloud to hang over this team a bit. It was always going to be tough to replicate the success of last year, but even with the respect that I have for Cade Cunningham, I’m expecting a pretty large step back for Detroit basketball this season.
Mar 28, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson (77) skates with the puck in the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Rick Osentoski/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
DETROIT — Simon Edvinsson remained unsigned as a restricted free agent the day before the Detroit Red Wings were to open the season at home against the New York Rangers.
Edvinsson did not skate with the Red Wings, but the 23-year-old defenseman was seen training with a team in his native Sweden.
“The organization will continue conversations with Simon and his representatives,” interim general manager Shawn Horcoff said.
Edvinsson had nine goals and 25 points in 72 games last year, his second full season in the NHL. Detroit drafted him No. 6 overall in 2021 and he has 19 career goals and 60 points in 175 games.
Dylan Larkin, meanwhile, still is in limbo heading into the opener.
Larkin asked for a trade in the offseason with the franchise mired in a decade-long playoff drought. After he was not traded, the team stripped him of his captaincy. Larkin has been limited during training camp after saying he got hurt working out.
He has five seasons left on the eight-year, $69.6 million contract he signed in 2023. That deal includes a no-trade clause and he initially told the Red Wings he would only accept a move to Florida, Minnesota or Las Vegas. Larkin recently declined to share which teams he’s willing to be traded to.
He has played his entire NHL career in Detroit, which took the former Michigan star with No. 15 draft pick in 2014. Larkin ranks 10th in franchise history in scoring with 643 points. Larkin was an important role player for the United States when it won the Olympic gold medal at the Milan Cortina Games in February.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 9: Ray Kerr #58 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Truist Park on September 9, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the Postseason run on the line, the Atlanta Braves are now in a situation where they’ll likely be leaning on their bullpen to get them through to the Divisional Series over the Philadelphia Phillies. There was an open question as to whether or not Grant Holmes would get the start or if they’d go with a bit of a strategy for the final game of this series and as it turns out, there will be some tactics at play.
The Braves have announced that Ray Kerr will be on the mound to start tonight’s game for the Braves.
From a personal standpoint, it’s an amazing story for Kerr as he’s gone from missing the entirety of the 2026 season to returning to the bullpen a couple of months ago, making the Wild Card Series roster and now getting the call to make a start. Perseverance matters and Kerr is full of it.
From a tactical standpoint, it makes sense. Kerr has gone three innings in four different occasions so far this season and he actually did so against the Phillies back on September 13. That was when he pitched three scoreless innings and struck out four batters while only giving up one hit and zero walks. I’d imagine that Atlanta would be thrilled with a repeat of those results in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series.
Kerr’s last appearance on Septmeber 25 was similar in that he went three innings (all scoreless) and only gave up two hits and a walk while he was out there. He’s perfectly capable of eating multiple innings in effective fashion and the Braves are going to need every bit of it in order to stay alive in this one.
As for what’s happening afterwards, I’d imagine that Grant Holmes could come in for relief after that and if he gets three innings then that’ll get the Braves through to the sixth and then they can start to really use some of their big arms out of the ‘pen. I’d say it’s an open question as to whether or not both Didier Fuentes and Dylan Lee make appearances in this one but everybody else in the bullpen would appear to be available.
So there you have it, folks: It’ll be Ray Kerr vs. Aaron Nola to start out the Winner-Take-All Game 3 of the Wild Card Series. What do y’all make of this?
NEW YORK — Having bashed Boston without Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees face a far different task when they face the pesky Tampa Bay Rays in an AL Division Series.
Riding powerful pitching led by Cam Schlitter and Max Fried, Yankees batters broke though just enough against Red Sox starters and beat up Boston’s bullpen in sweeping their rival in the Wild Card Series.
“We’re going to continue to rely on amazing starting pitching like we have all year,” Ben Rice said after the 9-2 win. ”Especially in the postseason, that’s what you need.”
Schlittler and Fried combined to go 2-0 with a 0.73 ERA against the Red Sox with 16 strikeouts and two walks in 12 1/3 innings.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone must decide whether to open against the Rays with Gerrit Cole, who was set to start a Game 3 against Boston, or Carlos Rodón.
“Obviously, Gerrit’s lined up for that. Carlos is very much in play for that,” Boone said. “We have a ton of confidence in both guys. I think they’re both throwing the ball really well.”
Boone said it was possible Schlittler, Fried, Cole and Rodón all will start against the Rays. New York’s starters led the major leagues with a 3.30 ERA.
“That’s been the biggest strength for us throughout the year,” Boone said. “It sustained us. It got us through some difficult times. And I feel like they’re all in a good place right now.”
New York’s best-of-five series against the Rays has an extra off day between Games 1 and 2, allowing Schlittler to start the second game and come back on normal rest for a Game 5.
Whether Judge will return to the lineup remains unclear.
Sidelined since Sept. 16 by a strained right calf, Judge has resumed hitting.
“Saturday’s a long ways away, but I’m doing everything I can, all morning, night, during the game, everything to prepare myself to be ready to go,” Judge said. “So I want to be in there. So we’ll see what happens.”
Tampa Bay won the season series 7-6 en route to an AL-best 98-64 record, their runners often spinning around the bases like a roulette ball going around the wheel. The Rays were sixth in the major leagues with a .326 on-base percentage and tied for second with 164 stolen bases.
Rays batters struck out the fewest times in the major leagues at 1,145, an average of about two per game fewer than the Yankees.
Because they won the AL East and had a bye, the Rays will enter the series with five days’ rest — which some in baseball is convinced causes rust.
“The alternative is playing three must-win games or two out of three. I’ll take where we’re at,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Rays left-handed pitchers held lefty batters to a .205 average during the regular season. Yankees lefty batters hit .500 (11 for 22) against Boston southpaws.
“They faced so many guys for months there where we were very left-handed, where in the fifth inning every day it was one lefty and then another one because that’s how they attack us,” Boone said. “So I’d like to think some of that familiarity and reps and all that prepared us well.”
New York was second in the majors with 223 home runs, three behind Houston. What was often a home-run-or-bust batting order diversified in the Wild Card Series.
Homegrown players — Rice, Spencer Jones, George Lombard Jr., Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells — combined for 11 RBIs.
“The young guys have done a tremendous job,” outfielder Cody Bellinger said. “It’s been fun to watch. It’s fun to watch them grow and they’ve been a huge part of our success.”
The Vegas Golden Knights soundly beat the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night. This was the first of a three-game road trip to kick off their 2026-27 season. Chicago improved slightly as the game went on, but Vegas proved too strong that night.
Now, Chicago’s second of three road games will be on Thursday against the Utah Mammoth. This is the first game of the season and the home opener for Utah. The Mammoth are another strong team trying to build on what was a fantastic 2025-26 season for them.
Scouting Utah
The Utah Mammoth have a roster capable of challenging for a top-3 spot in the Central Division. Will they beat out one of the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, or Minnesota Wild for it? Can they bypass all of them and win the division? Everything is in play for them heading into the new season.
Their captain, Clayton Keller, is the best player on the team. A Gold Medal winner with Team USA back in February, Keller has the tools to be a major contributor on a Stanley Cup-caliber team. It’s on the organization to keep building around him, which they have done a great job of since moving to Salt Lake City.
Alongside Keller are a ton of forwards who are blossoming stars. Nick Schmaltz has been an established great player for a long time, but Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, and Barrett Hayton all help them have tremendous scoring depth.
Utah also added veteran forwards Vincent Trochek and Anders Lee during the off-season. Each of them has been a great NHL leader for a long time in a big market like New York, and now they have the task of helping this young Utah group take that next step.
On defense, it’s a mixed bag led by Mikhail Sergachev, who has Stanley Cup pedigree himself. Behind their defense is goalie Karel Vejmelka, whois projected to start against the Blackhawks.
Their lineup as a whole in front of Vejmelka, based on practice, should look like this:
Keller - Schmaltz - Trocheck
Lee - Cooley - Guenther
Crouse - Hayton - McBain
O’Brien/Carcone - Stenlund - Yama/But
Sergachev - Weegar
Schmidt - Marino
Simashev - Peeke
Duda - DeSimone
Vejmelka
Cossa
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Blackhawks shook things up with their lines at practice on Wednesday. They reflect some of the adjustments that head coach Jeff Blashill made during the loss to Vegas on Tuesday. The most notable is placing Patrick Kane with Tyler Bertuzzi. Anton Frondell sits between them.
There is no morning skate ahead of this Thursday night Utah match, so it will have to be assumed for now that they will roll with those changes that were made during practice:
Bertuzzi-Frondell-Kane
Teravainen-Kantserov-Lardis
Donato-Nazar-Moore
Smith-Greene-Greenway
Vlasic-Byram
Kaiser-Levshunov
Cole-Rinzel
Soderblom
Knight
For now, it is assumed that Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro will be the two defensemen scratched again. However, if they repeat their Tuesday night performance against the Vegas Golden Knights, there will be changes that follow.
The Blackhawks are down to 12 healthy forwards with them on the trip as Andrew Mangiapane went back to Chicago for further evaluation on an injury. After all, Teuvo Teravainen will get his chance to play and possibly stick in the lineup.
Teravainen will play on what appears to be the second line with Roman Kantserov and Nick Lardis. He is known for being a playmaker, so these two snipers may help him get back on track.
Arvid Soderblom is the projected starter based on the fact that Spencer Knight played in Game 1 and faced more than 30 shots. We won't know for sure, however, until warmups, which will also confirm the lines and pairs to start the game.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. You can stream it on ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney+. The puck will drop shortly after 8:30 PM CT.
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SAN DIEGO — After a slow and stuttering start to the season, the San Diego Padres tore through September with passion and poise. Every impressive thing they’ve done during their current 20-3 surge suggested they were determined to reach October as the most dangerous team in baseball.
October finally is here — and so is the best version of the Padres, as they demonstrated in their two-game destruction of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Wild Card Series.
The Padres are hitting, pitching and executing at a level rarely seen in a city that has never celebrated a World Series title, and this streaking group is eager to keep chasing San Diego’s impossible dream.
“We feel great right now, but we’re not done,” Manny Machado said after the Padres finished off the Cubs with a 4-1 victory in Game 2. “Winning games like these, it just makes you hungrier to win more.”
The MLB-leading Milwaukee Brewers are up next in the NL division series, but the Padres’ clubhouse is full of players who clearly can’t wait to test themselves against the best.
“It’s going to be (some) of the highest-level baseball games ever played, so we’re looking forward to it,” Fernando Tatis Jr. said between cigar puffs in the Padres’ booze-soaked clubhouse.
The Padres beat the Cubs by a combined 12-1 in a thorough two-game domination of their 89-win opponent. San Diego’s vaunted pitching staff held the majors’ highest-scoring offense to eight low-impact hits while the Padres racked up 21 hits of their own, including four homers.
But this is similar to what the Padres have been doing to the majority of their opponents ever since they turned around their season in the second half.
Despite a roster laden with tested veterans and young talent coming off four playoff appearances in the previous six years, the Padres needed four months to find their best form. They scuffled around .500 into the All-Star break and had a losing record on July 25.
And then San Diego got an enormous confidence boost from a three-game sweep of the Brewers at Petco in early August. The Padres eventually won their final seven series and finished with 91 victories, surging past the Cubs and the Phillies to claim the first wild-card berth and homefield advantage in the opening round.
That’s a big deal to the Padres, who won 51 games at Petco Park during the regular season in front of the fans who turn this downtown stadium into a lively party each night during the summer.
“At the beginning, it was tough — it was rough,” said Tatis, who finished with 25 homers despite inexplicably not hitting his first until June 1. “We were looking really ugly. I was looking really ugly. We decided to turn it around, and with this group, nothing is impossible.”
Even the improbable happens with regularity for the Padres these days.
For instance, Gavin Sheets stepped up to the plate on a plantar plate tear in his left foot in Game 2 and blasted a pinch-hit homer on his only swing of the Wild Card Series.
Sheets was determined not to miss the playoffs, and he fought his way back onto the Padres’ roster on the last weekend of the regular season even though he probably isn’t healthy enough to play defense in October. He got just one chance to contribute against the Cubs, and he set off a celebration.
Sheets said the Padres are glad they didn’t have an opening-round bye. They wanted to keep their roll going — and this demolition of the Cubs only boosted San Diego’s confidence in its ability to beat the best.
“I think you gain a lot of momentum from series like this,” Sheets said. “Obviously the Brewers are a 1 seed for a reason. They’re a great team. They’ve got great arms. We’ve played them strong all year, and we know what they offer. ... We’re going to start in Milwaukee, and it’s going to be just like here. It’s going to be rocking. But I think there’s some momentum that gets built when you play these two games.”
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates a home run with Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning 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
Three of the four Wild Card series were decided on Wednesday. The White Sox took out the Astros by again jumping out to an early lead and then pulling away. In the process they won their first postseason series since their 2005 World Series title. The Yankees pitching staff continued to work over a pretty hapless looking Boston Red Sox lineup, while Ben Rice and rookie George Lombard Jr. continued to power the Yankees’ offense despite the lack of Aaron Judge. Finally, the Cubs chances depended largely on their offense getting red hot, and it just didn’t happen. Their pitching staff was always pretty suspect but they weren’t really the problem as the Padres held the north siders to just one run in two games.
The divisional round will get underway on Saturday, but there is one series left to be decided. The Philadelphia Phillies lost on Tuesday and they were hanging on by a thread on Wednesday as the Atlanta Braves led 3-1 heading into the eighth inning. Instead, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper came through with back-to-back solo shots against lefty Dylan Lee to tie the game. They ultimately scratched out a run extras and blanked the Braves to win in 10 innings.
So, Thursday’s 2:00 p.m. ET matchup on Peacock is for all the marbles. Whoever ends up starting for each team won’t matter much as this is an all hands on deck scenario.
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 13: From left, Colorado Rockies Executive Vice President Walker Monfort, new President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta and owner Dick Monfort during Depodesta's introductory press conference at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado on Thursday, November 13, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
We don’t know for sure how much payroll space the Rockies will have available this offseason. We don’t know for sure how high ownership is willing to allow the budget to go, and and we don’t know how much their handful of arbitration-eligible players will end up making.
We can, however, use historic precedent and some back-of-the-napkin math to estimate a range.
Kris Bryant is the only player the Rockies have slated to make more than $8.5 million next year. They only have four guaranteed major-league deals for players who are beyond their arbitration years. Their total estimated payroll in 2027, other than arbitration-eligible players, is just $71 million. This is a club that has run a payroll between $119 and $170 million dollars every season this decade.
Using that recent track record of player payrolls and estimating somewhere between $15-$25 million dollars in arbitration salaries (both Hunter Goodman and Jake McCarthy are eligible), we could infer that the Rockies would have somewhere between $25 and $65 million dollars in payroll space available next season. However, it seems unlikely the Rockies will match their previous high in payroll this decade ($172 million in 2023), so it’s probably safe to shrink the top end of that range down a bit.
Given all of this, it’s pretty safe to assume that in 2027, the Rockies will have somewhere between $25 and $50 million of payroll space available for signing free agents this offseason.
For context, last offseason the Rockies spent just under $25 million dollars in 2026 payroll for free agents. That money was divided between three starting pitchers (Michael Lorenzen, José Quintana, and Tomoyuki Sugano) and a super utility player (Willi Castro).
This offseason, the Rockies should have more money to play with. The question is, which parts of their roster should they be looking to spend it on?
The infield
If nothing changed right now, the Rockies would go into 2027 with an infield that looked something like this:
C: Hunter Goodman
1B: TJ Rumfield
2B: One of Adael Amador or Connor Norby
SS: One of Ezequial Tovar or Cole Carrigg
3B: One of Kyle Karros or Connor Norby
Utility: Willi Castro
That’s a couple of positions (catcher and first base) with locked-in standouts, and two others (second and third base) with a couple of young players that have showed signs of big-league potential this season. That’s without even considering Roc Riggio (No. 13 PuRP), who may be close to big-league ready. You wouldn’t want to block playing time by bringing in a free agent at any of those spots, especially with Willi Castro’s versatility providing a baseline of competency anywhere should those young players falter.
Shortstop is a more interesting conversation.
As things stand, Tovar would be the second highest paid active player on the 2027 Rockies roster, but he is coming off of back-to-back disappointing seasons. He ended the final two months of 2026 hitting well, but that doesn’t guarantee future success. As the season rolled on, the Rockies started giving Carrigg starts at shortstop, and he handled the position competently.
Given that the Rockies have a young backup plan waiting in the wings at short, should Tovar’s struggles return, finding a replacement wouldn’t be at the top of my priority list for how the Rockies should use their payroll space.
The outfield
The Rockies outfield picture is large and murky as things stand today.
Starter Locks: Jake McCarthy and Cole Carrigg
Other Options: Mickey Moniak, Troy Johnston, Jordan Beck, Zac Veen (No. 6 PuRP), Charlie Condon (No. 2 PuRP), and Sterlin Thompson (No. 16 PuRP)
That collection of players contains a decent mixture of upside and floor, but many of these names come with a lot to prove at the major-league level. There are enough interesting names here that simply filling the lineup shouldn’t be a concern. The greater need is clarity on which of the younger players are going to be able to take the next step and become long-term solutions for the franchise.
Given the need for playing time among that large collection of players, there isn’t really obvious space for a free agent outfield starter. There are two potential smaller roles I could see spending to address:
Currently, Carrigg looks to be the starter in center with McCarthy as the backup and Moniak as the emergency option. If Carrigg were to actually end up moving into the infield full time, there would be a need to find a defensive-minded backup option.
After hot starts, both Moniak and Johnston put up decent overall numbers this season but failed to reach the level of production ideal for a full-time starter. Both, however, have had significant platoon splits. The Rockies could potentially look to free agency for a right-handed platoon bat if they don’t think an in-house option like Jordan Beck fits the bill.
Overall, spending to supplement this group through modest additions could make some sense. It isn’t, however, an urgent need given the depth of serviceable options.
Pitchers with starts in the Majors: Ryan Feltner, Mason Adams (No. 17 PuRP), Tanner Gordon, Gabriel Hughes (No. 7 PuRP), and Sean Sullivan (No. 21 PuRP)
Pitchers with starts in Triple-A: Eiberson Castellano, Jack Mahoney (No. 15 PuRP), and Jake Brooks
Pitchers that missed most of 2026: Chase Dollander, McCade Brown (No. 18 PuRP), and Mason Albright
There’s no way around it: While there are some potentially quality individual names here, this group as a whole does not constitute even a mediocre Major League starting rotation next season. The most likely scenario for next year’s rotation, if the Rockies aren’t able to improve over the offseason, is that it would be far worse than the 2026 version which was already bottom five in the league in fWAR.
The eventual return of Dollander sometime towards mid-season should provide some much-needed upside. The timeline for that return, however, shouldn’t be rushed, and the team should not assume his production will pick up exactly where it left off prior to his injury.
The rotation, as it stands, is in desperate need of at least two additional arms simply to ensure that they have enough innings to get through the season. This is clearly the greatest area of need on the roster that free agent signings could address.
The bullpen
While closer Jordan Romano is set to be a free agent this offseason, the remainder of the Rockies bullpen from the end of 2026 is under contract through at least next season.
Right-Handed Relievers: Juan Mejia, Jimmy Herget, Jaden Hill, Nick Frasso, Zach Agnos, and Blas Castaño
Left-Handed Relievers: Brennan Bernardino and Mark Manfredi
While many of these players have at times looked like solid big-league relievers, most have lacked consistency. Given the volatility of relief pitchers season-to-season, it’s difficult to project confidently how effective this group will be next season.
The bullpen as a whole has shown enough in short stints that spending significantly to overhaul it probably isn’t warranted. One or two more buy-low types (like Romano from last season) would probably be a wise use of payroll space. The combined performances of Bernardino and Manfredi in 2026 indicate that the right-handed side of the bullpen is the more pressing need if the Rockies do spend on relievers.
Conclusions
Having looked through the roster as currently constructed, the Rockies 2027 shopping list should look something like this:
For Sure: Two starting pitchers
Probably: A third starting pitcher and a righty reliever
Maybe: A right-handed platoon outfielder, a defensive-minded center field backup, a second reliever, and/or a fourth starting pitcher
It feels strange to say but realistically the only area of the Major League roster that warrants spending a lot on is the starting rotation. Every other area either has an entrenched player or an intriguing young one that should be given a chance to prove themselves in the majors.
As the shopping list implies, however, some smaller additions around the margins wouldn’t be astray. Depth and buy-low options that could be acquired relatively cheaply should not be avoided.
The vast majority of money the Rockies spend on free agents this offseason, however, should go to starting pitchers. The exciting thing is that, if they have as much payroll space available as it looks like they will on paper, the tier of starting pitching names that they could realistically afford to pursue could be higher than Rockies fans have grown accustomed to in recent years.
CIRCA 1960's: Reggie Smith #7 of the Boston Red Sox bats during a game from his career with the Boston Red Sox. Reggie Smith played for 17 years, with 4 different teams, and was a 7-time All-Star. (Photo by SPX/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
A few weeks ago, I wrote about seeing Jesse Cole, owner of the Savannah Bananas, give an inspirational speech. One of the pivotal moments of Cole’s life was his relationship with former player Reggie Smith, when Smith was a star for the Red Sox and Cole was a shy and withdrawn youth. The 20 minutes Smith spent with Cole changed his life. Smith, who enjoyed a terrific 17-year career, is often described as “the other Reggie.”
There’s no disrespect in that. Reggie Jackson drew a lot of attention from the media. Reggie Smith just quietly went about having excellent season after excellent season.
Much has been written lately about players who have been overlooked by the Hall of Fame. You know the names: Luis Tiant. Bobby Grich. Lou Whitaker. Dwight Evans. Tommy John.
At the top of that list should also be Reggie Smith.
Smith, like many young men of the 1960s, was a multi-sport standout in high school, excelling in football and baseball. His father, Lonnie, played one season in the Negro American League. As a teenager, Smith played for a Los Angeles team coached by former Negro League star Chet Brewer. Being a ballplayer was his destiny.
Smith signed a free-agent contract with the Minnesota Twins shortly after graduation. After a strong start for the Twins’ Rookie League team, they inexplicably left him unprotected in the minor league Rule 5 draft and lost him to the Boston Red Sox. Smith blasted his way through the Red Sox minor league system, posting an excellent 1964 season at Class A Waterloo. He spent the summer of 1965 at Double-A Pittsfield, then, in 1966, at the age of 21, won the International League batting title with a .320 mark for the Triple-A Toronto Maple Leafs.
This earned him a six-game cup of coffee with the Red Sox. He collected the first three hits of his career on September 24 at Yankee Stadium. He never played another game in the minors.
Manager Dick Williams installed Smith as his starting center fielder in 1967, and the rookie helped lead the Sox to the pennant, the Impossible Dream season. Smith played in his first World Series and finished second in the Rookie of the Year vote behind Rod Carew.
Smith spent eight seasons in Boston, where he developed into a star, making two All-Star appearances, winning a Gold Glove and earning MVP votes in four seasons. I only saw Smith play once in person, coincidentally in the very first game I ever attended. He went 1 for 3 with a walk while facing Steve Busby. Busby was one of the top pitchers in the game at the time and only gave up five hits that game, a 3-2 KC win.
Smith’s time in Boston ended after the 1973 season with his trade to St. Louis. The move represented a fresh start for Smith, who suffered under the racial strains of Boston. The Red Sox were the last baseball team to integrate when they added Pumpsie Green in, get this, 1959. It seems almost inconceivable today that a team would wait almost 12 full seasons before integrating. Smith called Boston out for being a racist city, a charge that was also made by other prominent Black athletes such as Satch Sanders and Bill Russell. It got so bad for Smith that he began wearing a batting helmet in the field at Fenway Park to protect himself from coins, batteries and other hard objects thrown by his home crowd!
The city of St. Louis had a much more relaxed racial atmosphere, plus the Cardinals had two strong Black superstars in Lou Brock and Bob Gibson, which took a lot of pressure off Smith. On paper, it was the perfect landing spot for him.
He only played 2½ seasons in St. Louis but was generally excellent, both at the plate and in the field. He developed into a leader and mentor for younger players and always set a great example by staying in excellent physical condition. He moved to right field while playing with the Cardinals, making room in center for the up-and-coming Bake McBride. Smith was widely recognized for having one of the strongest arms in the game, so strong that the Red Sox briefly considered trying to turn him into a pitcher while he was in their minor league system.
In June of 1976, the Cards made one of their worst trades of the decade, and they had a few, when they sent Smith home to Los Angeles in exchange for Joe Ferguson and a couple of throw-ins. Smith had a career rebirth in LA, spending eight years with the Dodgers, where he played in two more World Series.
In 1977, Smith clubbed a career-high 32 home runs, led the league in OBP at .427 and posted the best OPS+ of his career with a 168 mark. The Dodgers met the Yankees in both the 1977 and 1978 World Series and lost both times. Smith hit .273 with three home runs in the 1977 classic but was overshadowed by the other Reggie and his titanic three home runs in three at-bat game.
Smith joined the San Francisco Giants for the 1982 season, but at the age of 37, the end was near. He still hit a very respectable .288 with 18 home runs in almost 400 plate appearances.
Not finding any suitors in the States, he played for two seasons in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants before finally retiring at the age of 39.
What a career. Over 2,000 hits, 314 home runs, over 1,000 RBI, over 1,100 runs scored and a career slash of .287/.366/.489 with a career OPS+ of 137 worth almost 65 WAR. Add in his seven All-Star appearances, the Gold Glove, the four World Series appearances (he played on the Dodgers’ 1981 winner), and his Hall of Fame case looks strong. He ended his career as one of the best switch-hitters ever. Here’s another crazy tidbit: The teams that Reggie Smith played a full season for never had a losing record. The guy was a hell of a player, and people forget just how good he was.
In retirement, Smith stayed close to the game, serving in various capacities for USA Baseball (Pan Am Games, Olympics, World Baseball Classic). He also runs a baseball clinic in Encino, California. Smith was always one of the more cerebral players of his era. He plays seven different musical instruments and found time to get his pilot’s license. Smith was in Kansas City last week for his induction into the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Hall of Fame. Here’s hoping the National Baseball Hall of Fame takes another look at his case while he’s still alive.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 30: Chase Meidroth #10 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates after hitting a three run home run against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Daikin Park on September 30, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Wednesday’s games have come and gone, and two other teams were sent packing along with the Red Sox as Boston’s season ended unceremoniously at the hands of the Yankees. Plenty more ex-Red Sox made impacts on their respective games, and the playoff picture for the divisional round is now set…. on the AL side, anyway. To borrow my usual Minor Lines segueing line, let’s get into it.
The only series to get tied up in game 2 did so in dramatic fashion as this game is also the only game of the postseason thus far to reach extra innings. Things looked bleak for the Phillies’ season when they gave up two runs in the seventh; the Phillies had Christopher Sanchez putting in work but his production was just a hair under that of the Braves’ Tyler Mahle. But, Mahle couldn’t stay in forever, and after 7 innings of allowing just one run, he was pulled and Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper took full advantage in the 8th with back-to-back homers. Alec Bohm then got in on the action with a solo shot of his own in the 10th off of Didier Fuentes. Game 3 begins at 8:00 PM tonight.
The White Sox’s first playoff advancement in more than 20 years came with another decisive victory including some heavy offense in the first inning. The White Sox, who led the league in 1st inning runs this season, got Hunter Brown for four runs before the frame was over. This included a two-run knock by Andrew Benintendi followed by another RBI by Tristan Peters. The Astros answered with a lead-off home run by Jeremy Pena, and stayed in the game due to an unusual outing by Sean Burke wherein he struck out eight but allowed three home runs; thankfully for him, those were all solo shots.
The reaper’s kiss for Houston came from Chicago’s Chase Meidroth, who belted a three-run shot to put this game, and the series, out of reach. And, yes, Meidroth was part of the return for Garrett Crochet, who also saw some playoff reps on Wednesday. Chicago will now head to Cleveland to begin their divisional series on Saturday afternoon.
Xander Boegarts was involved in both defining plays for the Padres on Wednesday night as they advanced to the divisional round. He hit an RBI single in the second inning and was also on base when Gavin Sheets tore the game open (or, as it was only the fourth inning, at least put it on notice) with a two-run shot. The inning could have gotten even uglier for Chicago, but Pete Crow-Armstrong had one last leaping catch at the wall in him for 2026 to end the inning. The rest of the game rolled on without incident or too much clamor, and the final score stayed 4-1. The guy who started the game for San Diego? You might recognize him – it was Nick Pivetta. The Padres now head to Milwaukee to face a pretty powerful contender for their best-of-5.
HOUSTON — Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable already was looking ahead just minutes after his team won its first playoff series in 21 years by sweeping the Houston Astros in their AL Wild Card Series.
“I can tell you right now that the group isn’t satisfied with this,” he said.
The White Sox used a big first inning and a three-run homer from Chase Meidroth to propel them to a 7-3 victory and series win.
It’s the first time Chicago has won a playoff series since beating Houston in the World Series in 2005. Under the direction of Venable, the second-year skipper, and with a letter of support from Pope Leo XIV, the White Sox advanced to face AL Central champion Cleveland in the AL Division Series beginning in Cleveland.
They’re thrilled to give their fans in Chicago at least a couple of home playoff games after playing their first two postseason games on the road. Their first game at Rate Field will be Game 3.
“They have been incredible all year,” Meidroth said. “So, the main thing was getting back to Chicago for some postseason baseball, and so we’re really blessed that we get to do that.”
The White Sox, who lost 100 games in each of the last three seasons, are the only team in major league history to follow consecutive 100-loss seasons with a playoff berth.
It’s an improbable and swift turnaround that most people — not even owner Jerry Reinsdorf — saw coming.
“I didn’t think it would come to fruition this fast, I really didn’t,” he told reporters postgame. “I really thought 2027 was the year that we would contend. But nobody told the players that they couldn’t do it.”
The White Sox were expected to be the worst team in their division again this season but instead made a 24-game jump to go 84-78 and capture a wild-card playoff spot.
Meidroth shared the important qualities that allowed them to defy expectations.
“Belief, energy, those are the two things,” he said. “Confidence. We got a young, hungry group, some veteran guys that we lean on. But, yeah, it’s been the same all year. We believe we can win every game.”
Entering this season, it had been an awful stretch for the White Sox, who set the record for most losses since 1899 when they dropped 121 games in 2024. It was a year that Reinsdorf reflected on as “depressing.”
He lauded the work general manager Chris Getz did to build a strong foundation for the team to grow. And pointed to the blockbuster trade of left-hander Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox after that dreadful season that netted them Meidroth, catcher Kyle Teel and outfielder Braden Montgomery as a turning point.
Venable, the 43-year-old who is in his first managerial role, is glad to have helped bring the White Sox back to respectability after their years in baseball’s basement.
“I’m really proud and I’m really just happy for everybody who over the last few years had experienced White Sox baseball when it obviously wasn’t at its best,” he said. “And it’s such a storied franchise and Jerry puts so much into this team, loves this team so much, and to be able to reward him and the city of Chicago who have been in our corner and supported us from day one that I’ve been there, it just feels really good.”
After the teams combined to use seven pitchers in Wednesday's 10-inning thriller, the state of the respective pitching staffs is the biggest question mark going into the winner-take-all showdown.
The two teams didn't announce their Game 3 starters immediately, but we can look at the rosters, see who's already pitched and make some educated guesses about who's available for tonight's game.
To reset the stakes, the winner of the Braves-Phillies series will travel to Los Angeles to face the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers in the NL division series, which starts on Saturday.
The Phillies have the luxury of having four solid starting pitchers on their active roster. So after using lefties Jesus Luzardo in Game 1 and Cristopher Sanchez in Game 2, they can turn to right-handers Aaron Nola or Zack Wheeler (or both) in Game 3.
Nola seems to be the logical choice. He's been excellent down the stretch, with a 2.93 ERA and 1.16 WHIP during his final 11 starts in the regular season. Plus, he'd make the start on his normal schedule after last taking the mound Saturday, Sept. 26 for one inning against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Wheeler, who delivered six strong innings in the regular-season finale on Sunday, Sept. 27 to get the Phillies into the playoffs, would presumably be available out of the bullpen on three days' rest.
Bullpen note: Andrew Painter's three stellar innings of scoreless relief in Game 2 allowed the Phillies to give closer Jhoan Duran the day off after he pitched two innings in Game 1. Duran should be fresh, if needed, for the late innings.
Who is starting Game 3 for Braves?
UPDATE: The Braves have selected left-handed reliever Ray Kerr to take the mound first in Game 3.
Atlanta's two best starters down the stretch – Chris Sale and Tyler Mahle – pitched in the first two games of the series, leaving an open question as to who gets the nod tonight.
Right-hander Grant Holmes would be the logical choice, since he last pitched on Saturday and would be on his normal four days of rest. Holmes made a career-high 29 starts this season, but he came out of the bullpen to toss four innings in that Sept. 26 appearance against the Miami Marlins.
However, the Braves could also use one of their four left-handed relief pitchers on the roster as an opener to try and neutralize lefty sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper in the first inning. Then after that, they could turn to Holmes for as long as he's able to last.
Bullpen note: Atlanta's best left-handed reliever during the regular season, Dylan Lee, has appeared in both of the first two games – entering in the eighth inning to face Schwarber and Harper. After pitching a 1-2-3 inning in Game 1, Lee gave up back-to-back homers to the lefty sluggers in Game 2. Would the Braves consider going back to him for a third consecutive game? Closer Raisel Iglesias has also pitched in each of the first two games, so his effectiveness may also be in question if he's called upon in Game 3.
NEW YORK — Yankees captain Aaron Judge remained unsure of his Division Series status following New York’s Wild Card Series sweep of the Boston Red Sox.
Sidelined since Sept. 16 by a strained right calf, Judge went to the Yankees’ Double-A ballpark in Somerset, New Jersey, for live batting practice as he tries to work his way back from a leg injury to be available later in the postseason.
“Saturday’s a long ways away, but I’m doing everything I can, all morning, night, during the game, everything to prepare myself to be ready to go,” Judge said after the 9-2 win. “So I want to be in there. So we’ll see what happens.”
Judge did not join teammates along the first-base line for introductions before the Yankees’ 9-0 win in the opener of the best-of-three series.
“I think he was getting treatment,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
Judge ran in the outfield before Game 1 and before Game 2 went to Somerset to hit. He returned to the Bronx in time to watch Game 2.
A three-time AL MVP, Judge was limited to 66 games this season. The 34-year-old slugger hit .241 with 18 homers, 41 RBIs and an .871 OPS, including .174 with one homer and three RBIs in September.
Left-hander Ryan Weathers, sidelined with a left forearm flexor strain since Aug. 22, was set to throw a bullpen at Yankee Stadium.
Boone said right-hander Clarke Schmidt won’t pitch again this year. The 30-year-old relieved on Sept. 16 at Minnesota in his first big league appearance since Tommy John surgery on July 11, 2025, then was put on the injured list with right biceps inflammation.
It hasn’t
always been easy for Arber Xhekaj to not only get into the Montreal Canadiens’
lineup but also to get some playing time once in it. In fact, in the last playoffs,
after playing the seven games of the series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, he
only saw five games of action against the Buffalo Sabres and none in the
Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes. Worse, in his last playoff game against Buffalo, he got only 1:52 of ice time, so it was hardly surprising that it took him some time to sign a new contract with the Habs. At 25, he needs to think about his future and establish himself as an NHL regular.
On Tuesday
night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he played on the third pairing with Jayden Struble and got 12:20 of
ice time, including 1:29 on the penalty kill. He hadn’t seen that much action
since the last regular-season game, when Noah Dobson was unavailable and
Kaiden Guhle was being rested. As for the penalty kill, that was very out of the ordinary for him, and Derek Lalonde now being in charge of
that aspect of the game may explain why he's getting that new opportunity.
In his 16
shifts, the 6-foot-4 and 240-pound blueliner didn’t land a single hit. The occasion didn’t present itself, and he didn’t go on the ice seeking the big hits. Xhekaj kept things simple and made the low-risk play whenever he was on the ice. At one point, first-overall pick Gavin McKenna pressured him in his own end, but Xhekaj turned the other way and easily escaped the highly touted prospect.
In the
second frame, Brandon Duhaime rocked him with a big hit behind the Canadiens’ net, and he ended up down on the ice. Once upon a time, he would have
gotten up and tried to avenge the hit right away, but he didn’t. He got back up and got right back to the task at hand: defending. The Habs led 2-1 at that point, and there was no time for extracurriculars.
It wasn’t a
spectacular game for Xhekaj and he didn’t even come close to dropping his
gloves, there was one sequence during which Nick Suzuki was sent down to the
ice after the play had been whistled and he looked frustrated, but Xhekaj was
on the bench. The camera cut to hit, looking on intently and most probably
noting the number of the guilty party, but with the Canadiens up by two goals
at that point in the final frame, it wasn’t time to start anything up and he
didn’t. The gritty blueliner has learned to pick his moments which can only
help him stay in the lineup.
Of course,
when Guhle is healthy, he’ll get back in the lineup and that means that one of
Struble or Xhekaj will have to come out. It’s still early, but one game in,
Xhekaj has the upper hand. If he can make himself useful enough on the penalty
kill, that could be a deciding factor. Of course, there’s also the matter of
Adam Engstrom. St-Louis said he was kept with the big club because he’s ready
for the NHL. That’s just one more body to get into the lineup. The team won’t
want him to sit for too long and once Guhle return, it will be interesting to
see if the team decides to keep eight defensemen on the roster. Right now, they’ve
also got 14 forwards which has allowed Florian Xhekaj to remain with the big
club, but when Oliver Kapenen is ready to reintegrate the lineup, that will be
two forwards to sit. When Guhle’s back, the Habs won’t be able to keep 14
forwards and 8 defensemen. Someone will have to go down.
For the sake of the older Xhekaj, Engstrom would be better. He’s still
waiver-exempt, and it would make the blueline less busy. If that happens, it will mean Stuble and Xhekaj have won their three-way battle with the young Swede, at least for now. Up front, there’s no denying
that the Canadiens could use some grit, especially when they take on teams who
play a physical style of play, such as the Florida Panthers, who now have the
Tkachuk brothers in their lineup, but the first duel between the two sides will
only take place in early December.
