Sep 16, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) delivers a pitch against the Detroit Tigers in the fourth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
We have two games today, hopefully. Though it seems like it is cold in Baltimore but not raining. Well, cool, not cold.
Game one is at 1:30 Eastern. Max Scherzer (game #500 for Max, and I’d imagine last) and Chris Bassitt are the starters. The losing team will be eliminated from the playoffs. If they split the two games both will be elminated.
Game two is at 6:30 Eastern. Both teams list TBD. Odds are the rest of the season will be TBD. Likely which ever arms are still connected to bodies after game one.
The lineups for game one. No Kirk or Vlad. The Jays are saying that Brett Bateman had another MRI and nothing structural is damaged. He might play again this season (but really I don’t see the point).
Today’s Lineups
BLUE JAYS
ORIOLES
Nathan Lukes – RF
Dylan Beavers – LF
Josh Smith – LF
Pete Alonso – 1B
Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
Gunnar Henderson – SS
George Springer – DH
Coby Mayo – DH
Sean Keys – 1B
Christian Encarnacion-Strand – 3B
Andres Gimenez – SS
Colton Cowser – CF
Brandon Valenzuela – C
Jeremiah Jackson – 2B
Myles Straw – CF
Leody Taveras – RF
Ernie Clement – 2B
Carlos Narvaez – C
Max Scherzer – RHP
Chris Bassitt – RHP
The Jays have CJ Van Eyk, John Klein and Chase Lee are in Baltimore. Yohendrick Pinango is also in Baltimore. They get an extra roster spot. I don’t know that all four will be active for game one. I’d imagine some will be added for game two.
Wins would be nice.
AL East record vs .500 or better teams:
Rays 13-11 Yankees 1-8 Orioles 7-13 Blue Jays 8-13 Red Sox 7-11
The Yankees have the fewest games played in all of baseball against .500 or better teams, and they have the worst record against those teams too
The Mets are hiring Derek Falvey as senior advisor, baseball operations.
He will report directly to president of baseball operations David Stearns and "serve as a trusted voice across a wide range of baseball operations decisions."
"I’m thrilled to welcome Derek, his wife Meghan, and their children to the Mets," Stearns said in a news release. "Throughout his career, Derek has distinguished himself as one of the most respected executives in our sport. His experience across the full scope of baseball operations functions and his familiarity with leading an organization will serve as a great addition to our front office group."
Said Falvey:
"I am excited to join the New York Mets and become part of a franchise that means so much to so many people. Throughout my conversations with the organization, what stood out were the high expectations and the commitment to winning at every level. What I've always loved most about this game is being part of a team, and I look forward to bringing my experiences and contributing to this group in any way I can. I want to thank Steve and Alex Cohen and David Stearns for this opportunity."
Falvey, 43, worked for the Twins from 2017 until January 2026, when the sides mutually parted ways.
During his time with Minnesota, Falvey -- who has a background in scouting -- served as the executive vice president and chief baseball officer.
Prior to joining the Twins, Falvey worked the then-Cleveland Indians from 2008 to 2016, when he overlapped with Stearns(who worked in Cleveland from 2011 to 2012).
Speaking in the SNY broadcast booth during this past Saturday's game, Mets ownerSteve Cohen said that the plan was to make some additions to the front office.
"We’re going to try to add certain voices into the front office that I think will be helpful and I know David supports that," Cohen explained. "And I’m looking forward to, when we make those decisions, to announce them."
Cohen added:
"It doesn’t have to be a GM. It could be other ways to support David and the front office, and I think the whole point is to get more opinions in the front office and people who are either pretty good at evaluating talent or people who have been in those positions before in the front office – in high positions – and help David out and help the team out as far as getting a different point of view."
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 22: Kevin Ginkel #37 of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Gabriel Moreno #14 celebrate after the Diamondbacks defeated the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ray Bahner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Diamondbacks Pound Rockies, Gain Ground on Padres Nolan Arenado continued his hot-hitting ways. Michael Soroka had another strong outing. The Diamondbacks cruised to a win, keeping pace with the Phillies and gaining ground on the Padres.
Cardinals Have Nothing to Regret from Arenado Trade Despite Arenado’s strong 2026, the trade away from St. Louis still appears to have been very much the right move, not unlike when popular franchise cornerstone Paul Goldschmidt was rightly traded to them by Arizona. Both teams have benefitted fromboth those trades.
How San Diego Has Become Flashpoint in MLB Labour Battle At a time when Major League Baseball is attempting to upend its economic model by instituting a salary cap, the Padres have emerged as a beacon for players and union officials who believe a level playing field can exist without one.
How Good is the 2026-27 NPB Free Agent Class? There are certainly some intriguing players expected to be posted should MLB avoid a lockout. However, it is unlikely Arizona would be in on any of them.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Ziaire Williams, Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton attend a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Clippers on July 14, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This summer, the Lakers were expected to make roster changes, but few expected the overhaul that followed.
The result is a roster that hardly resembles last season’s. With LeBron James among this summer’s departures, it’s an entirely new era for the Lakers.
As a reminder, teams can carry up to 20 players, not counting two-ways, in the preseason, but only 15 once the regular season starts. Presently, the Lakers have 16 guaranteed contracts with at least one move, either in the form of a trade or waiving a player, required before the start of the season.
Let’s take a look, then, at the Lakers’ roster breakdown
Guaranteed contracts
Luka Dončić
Austin Reaves
Walker Kessler
Quentin Grimes
Sandro Mamukelashvili
Jarred Vanderbilt
Collin Sexton
Jaden Hardy
Jake LaRavia
Dalton Knecht
Cameron Carr
Kevon Looney
Matisse Thybulle
Ziaire Williams
Bronny James
Adou Thiero
Two-way contracts
Arthur Kaluma
Chris Mañon
AK Okereke
Exhibit-10 contracts
Anton Watson
Robbie Avila
Williams Kyle III
Robert McCray
Chase Ross
Meechie Johnson
As things stand, it’s not entirely clear which players are under Exhibit-10 deals right now. The team has handed them out throughout the offseason, dating back to the start of Summer League, as a way to help build out their G League team. We know Anton Watson was waived in one of their most recent transactions and, at the same time, Chase Ross and Meechie Johnson are both under deals…for now.
During training camp, the Lakers can have up to 20 players under contract.
Clearly, the Lakers will have to make a move before the season begins. Do you think it’ll be a trade or waiving a player? Let us know what you’d do down below!
The MLB postseason is getting closer, and the list of October-bound teams continues to grow.
The Tampa Bay Rays locked up the American League East on Tuesday, Sept. 22, and with it secured home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs. They're one of several teams that have already punched their tickets to October, while a pair of AL division races and several wild-card battles remain unresolved.
Here's a look at every team that has clinched a playoff berth, plus the clubs closest to joining the 2026 MLB postseason field.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates a home run during the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 21, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For a lot of the season, there has seemed to be only one obvious choice to end up as the Most Valuable Oriole. You never know if some voters will talk themselves into something silly to stop it from being unanimous. In 2026, it was so obvious that even those people got it right. Pete Alonso was announced ahead of Wednesday’s doubleheader as the Most Valuable Oriole for this season.
The only real downer about Alonso’s first season as an Oriole is the fact that so much of the roster around him was incapable for large stretches of the season of doing its part to make this a good Orioles team. Alonso’s 40 homers, .265/.359/.510 batting line, and 4.6 bWAR (hopefully with more to come over the last five games) were, in some sense, “wasted.” The team will probably be eliminated from postseason contention officially today.
That doesn’t take entirely away from the joy that Alonso has brought to the Orioles. He’s also brought better-than-advertised first base defense. If he doesn’t win a Gold Glove, that would be an egregious snub. He seems excited to be an Oriole in a way that comes along maybe once or twice in a decade, and his sign-off of every interview with “Let’s go O’s” is charming. We can all feel good about that contract going for four more years, at least for now.
The unanimous selection of Alonso marked the first time that the team had a unanimous winner since Cedric Mullins was the choice in 2021. That was the year that Mullins had the 30 home run/30 stolen base season for the Orioles, breaking out at the plate after giving up on being a switch hitter.
The Orioles do not announce the exact vote breakdown, or even who votes for this award. It is a mystery list of media and broadcasters who cover the team. Camden Chat is not included on that list. Ballots are submitted with a first place, second place, and third place, and the winner is tallied based on a points system. It’s easy when it’s unanimous for first place.
What the Orioles do announce is a list of players who did not win but also received votes. These guys were all on at least one voter’s ballot, in addition to the unanimous winner, Alonso: Blaze Alexander, Samuel Basallo, Shane Baz, Kyle Bradish, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Rico Garcia, Gunnar Henderson, Trevor Rogers, and Brandon Young.
Weird votes are typically a fixture of this opaque process. Last year was a bigger “weird vote” year – somebody actually voted for interim manager Tony Mansolino a year ago. Somebody else, or maybe the same person, voted for Dylan Carlson, who was a -0.7 bWAR player for the 2025 Orioles. Most of these guys on the 2026 list were at least good for part of the season and can be somewhat justified as choices. Nobody voted for Craig Albernaz or this year’s negative bWAR outfielders, Dylan Beavers and Leody Taveras.
In the case of Alexander and Encarnacion-Strand, they just didn’t get to play enough to demonstrate more value; their overall performance was good in the games that they played. Alexander missed a bunch of games due to getting bones broken by a hit by pitch. Encarnacion-Strand only arrived in the organization during the season. He might turn out to be a Ryan O’Hearn kind of late bloomer story, or he might turn out to be a Jeremiah Jackson kind of flash in the plan.
When it comes to guys like Bradish, Henderson, Rogers, and Mayo, they weren’t good for significant portions of the season, so their season numbers don’t look like anything special. You have to squint more for some than for others to see the case. Mayo is closing out the season with three excellent months. Henderson has been hitting well since about mid-August and has maintained value with solid shortstop defense – that’s not to say it’s flawless, but the good has outweighed the bad even in what is another disappointing year for him overall. For Bradish, I don’t know. It felt good when he got that contract extension.
For me, Alonso is at the top, followed by Young and Rogers. Young’s surprisingly-good season was probably the only thing that prevented the Orioles from being completely buried in May or June. The team is 19-8 in Young starts this year. Whoever voted for Baz clearly didn’t hold the team’s 10-21 record in his starts against him. Baz probably “deserves” like 15-16 in his starts.
After Alonso and Young, you can make the case for a lot of people as third place, and that’s reflected in the variety of names who also received votes. Rogers was not good in April and May but has looked like a fringe Cy Young candidate ever since. That picks up on last year, when he was a Cy Young-caliber pitcher in the 18 starts that he made. That’s why I’d pick him for the third place spot; Rogers was the MVO winner a year ago.
Somebody’s going to pay Rogers this offseason. I don’t have any hope that it will be the Orioles.
The Knicks have launched their individual game ticket sales. Part 2.
After acknowledging a blunder in its original exorbitant pricing, MSG rebooted sales Wednesday morning with cheaper tickets.
They could be purchased starting at 11 a.m. via Ticketmaster.
“We thank our loyal Knicks fans for their patience. Individual tickets for this season are back on sale and now reflect [an] approximately 12 percent increase over last season,” a Garden spokesman told The Post. “All fans who paid more than that when tickets originally went on sale last week will receive a direct communication regarding their refund.”
Knicks fans celebrate after the team’s NBA Finals Game 4 win over the Spurs at MSG on June 10, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Tickets for the title-defending Knicks season first launched last week and featured eye-popping markups, including a $2,500 average price for opening night against the 76ers — with nosebleed seats that night exceeding $1,000.
As The Post first reported, the Knicks said they made a mistake and quickly suspended sales. They promised a more modest increase — roughly 12 percent above last season — and relaunched six days after the suspension.
Fans who purchased tickets during the original sale will be refunded the difference between their price and the new one. Emails about the refund will be sent today, The Post has learned.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson reacts after hitting a 3-point shot in the second quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden, Monday, June 8, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Under owner James Dolan, ticket prices were raised only when the team advanced to the playoffs.
That’s happened four straight years since Jalen Brunson’s arrival, including last season’s run to the championship.
Tickets at MSG have long been among the most expensive in the NBA, but the demand is high enough that it’s always a sellout.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 07: Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Aaron Holiday #0 of the Houston Rockets during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
Collin Gillespie
Point Guard, 6’1”, 195 pounds, 27 years old, 4th season
Collin Gillespie has been a diamond in the rough for the Phoenix Suns, as they have found someone who went from a two-way player to a record-setter in just two years. He has transformed his NBA image through sheer tenacity and determination never to give up. This upcoming year, he looks to build on that image as a potential starting guard alongside Devin Booker.
After a big offseason payday, Gillespie needs to keep stamping his name in the franchise record books like he did last year. That is when he set the franchise record for most threes in a season with 232, and this season looks like a chance to build on it. With two of the better three-point scorers gone, Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, it is likely that Gillespie can continue the hot streak from last year.
Last Season
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
80
28.5
12.7
4.1
4.6
1.2
41.8%
40.1%
87.4%
113.7
110.0
+200
Last year, Gillespie set out to make an imprint on the Suns’ rotation early, and he did. After an impressive second half on his two-way contract, he earned a full deal and returned for a prove-it season. Last season was key, and he stayed healthy for most of it, playing in 80 games. He did start on the bench; however, playing alongside big men Oso Ighodaro and Mark Williams, he showed off his playmaking skills and true knack for setting up teammates. The bench unit’s simple pick-and-roll plays, with him at the helm, brought early success to this underdog unit.
As he continued to show he could be a solid bench point guard, the Suns realized they should get him in the starting lineup. With Jalen Green dealing with his hamstring injuries, Gillespie then saw himself inserted to replace him. Alongside Booker, he looked solid and had some big moments in his newfound role. One I remember was in December against the Wolves: with no Devin Booker, he and Dillon Brooks went out on the road and pulled off a sneaky win, to the fans’ dismay.
Gillespie, who had 19 points in this one, came up huge as the lead guard with no Booker or Green, and it showed he can truly live up to his potential. Not only that, but he got the nickname “Villain Jr.” given to him by Dillon Brooks, who was the new culture setter in the post-KD Suns world. His connection with Brooks ultimately brought out that true competitor in Gillespie, something he’s had since his Villanova days. At the end of the season, he did slow down offensively, but for a guy who went from a two-way deal to starter in two seasons, he paved his own path to success in the Valley.
Contract and Roster Context
Collin Gillespie just inked a new deal with the Suns after spending the past summer as a free agent. He signed a whopping four-year, $48 million deal that was definitely well worth the investment. With early-bird rights, the team could offer Gillespie more money than rival teams in free agency, and he was the first free agent to re-sign with the team this offseason.
What He Brings
I think the question is: what does Gillespie not bring to the team? Honestly, though, he is solid on both ends, and his hustle is unmatched. He has always been the underdog, and coming to Phoenix was the same scenario as in high school or after the draft. He had to fight for his spot and show he could be the game changer, and he has. Yes, he may be a little undersized at the guard position, so he may get picked on defense, but with his heart and hustle, he forces turnovers when opponents least expect it.
On the offensive end, he’s also a solid playmaker who can set up his teammates whether it’s a three-point attempt with an extra pass, a lob throw for an impressive dunk, or even a simple pass for two points in a pick-and-roll situation. He is also lights out from three-point range and set the franchise record for most threes in a game. With Ott prioritizing that style of offense as well in run-and-gun threes, it fits the skill set he succeeds in most. Not to mention, he can score at the basket and attack bigger defenders; he’s not afraid of any opposition.
What Needs to Improve
I think he needs to be in better shape than last season to improve. Coming off a solid two-way stint, he expected a bigger role, but with Allen as a solid three-point scorer and Green coming in via trade, he probably didn’t expect a starting spot, especially so early. That leaves him being forced to play more minutes and take up more shots per game, which is good but can take a toll on the body. After going from very low playing time to now almost 30 minutes a night, also for 80 out of the 82 nights, it is not easy.
As I said earlier, as the season went on, the three-point percentage started to dip. He went into a bit of a slump, and I ultimately think it was just fatigue at that point. So for Gillespie to get this contract now shows he’s expected to play a larger role in Phoenix, and he should make sure his body is ready so he can keep getting more opportunities in the rotation.
Prediction
I think Gillespie will have a season to remember here in the Valley. With Green and Booker ready to go, he will be more of a bench contributor this season, but that also brings the spotlight as one of the NBA’s best bench guards. His numbers continue to soar, and he will be in the early Six Man of the Year conversations.
Gillespie’s most important goal is to prove this payday was not a mistake. They found him as a talent and brought him into the spotlight, and now he must show he can build on it. I have no fear that he can be someone to be a staple of this bench core for now and the future, but the question remains whether he can find his way to leap into that starting role by the end of the season, as that truly will have not just Suns fans but NBA fans knowing how impactful he can be.
A Pod of Their Own and Home Run Applesauce are hosting their annual Dollars 4 Dingers fundraising event this Saturday, September 26 at the Lion’s Head Tavern. The event starts at 2:00 PM, and all proceeds go to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
For those unfamiliar with Dollars 4 Dingers, in the month of September, fans pledge a dollar amount per home run hit by the New York Mets, or any baseball team the donor chooses, with all of the proceeds going to the NDVH. Now in its eighth year, Dollars 4 Dingers has thus far raised over $77,000 heading into this month. This year, we’ve raised almost $6,000 thus far, and will raise even more this weekend with our annual raffle.
Saturday’s event acts as the unofficial close of the year’s fundraising, and we’ve got some amazin’ prizes for our raffle. If you missed a giveaway this season there will be several included as raffle prizes such as a Carlos Beltrán bobblehead, a Mr. Met Unisphere bobblehead, a Francisco Lindor WWE bobblehead, a Mets squishy dumpling, and a Mets’ K-Pop Demon Hunters jersey. For Seinfeld fans, there will be a Cosmo Kramer bobble and a “Nice Game Pretty Boy” t-shirt.
Art But Make It Sports and Athlete Logos were generous enough to donate some prizes as well. There will be a signed copy of Art But Make It Sports’s book and multiple Mets themed hats courtesy of Athlete Logos.
The Mets’ Double-A affiliate, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, put together amazing prizes for the fundraiser including signed balls from A.J. Ewing, Jefry Yan, Chris Suero, D’Andre Smith, and Jonathan Santucci.
And now for the grand prize (insert dramatic drum roll here). Courtesy of the Amazin’ Mets foundation, a Francisco Lindor signed ball!
The Lions Head has been a fantastic partner for us over the last two years, and this year will have drink specials all day, plus the Mets’ game on so that we can cheer on a meaningless game in a rough season. That shouldn’t deter you from coming, though! There will be delicious drinks, great prizes, and fellow Mets fans to hang out and commiserate with. Misery loves company, after all!
It’s also not too late to make a pledge this season. For every Mets home run hit in September you can pledge any amount of money. No amount is too small for the National Domestic Violence hotline.
NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Joba Chamberlain #62 of the New York Yankees celebrates striking out Vladimir Guerrero #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to end the top of the seventh inning in Game Two of the ALCS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium on October 17, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The legend starts with the name. Born Justin Louis Heath, now legally Joba Chamberlain, Joba actually was picked up and assigned to him by his father after a cousin struggled to say the name of a different relative. Chamberlain’s father was born on and grew up on the Winnebago Reservation, giving him access to the exclusive club of Indigenous major leaguers.
Justin Louis “Joba” Chamberlain Born: September 23, 1985 (Lincoln, NE) Yankees Tenure: 2007-2013
Growing up in Lincoln, Nebraska, Chamberlain had to work for everything he would eventually earn. After graduating high school, Chamberlain took a year off from school to work and save money for school. He then landed at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. After a dominant freshman year, Chamberlain transferred to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Chamberlain helped the Cornhuskers reach the 2005 College World Series.
Injuries limited Chamberlain in 2006 at Nebraska, but the Yankees still used their supplemental-round pick to select the right-hander 41st overall. Due to injuries, Chamberlain did not get any minor league experience that summer or early fall after being drafted. However, Chamberlain burst onto the scene and shot through the system in 2007.
The Yankees had Chamberlain start the 2007 season with High-A Tampa. After a month of dominating to the tune of a 4-0 record with a 2.03 ERA in seven starts, the Yankees promoted the youngster to Double-A Trenton. Chamberlain kept rolling and was selected to pitch in the Futures Game that summer. On July 20, 2007, Chamberlain made his final start in Double-A against the New Britain Rock Cats. I was actually sitting beside Reggie Jackson, who gave me the first bit of breaking news I ever received… despite giving up three home runs that day, the Yankees were calling the kid up to Scranton.
Chamberlain only needed three games and eight innings of Triple-A baseball before he got the call to the show and Joba Mania took hold of the Bronx. Upon reaching the big leagues, Chamberlain pitched 16 innings without allowing an earned run to begin his career, further fueling the craze. The organization wanted to protect their young blossoming star and created the now-infamous Joba Rules.
Designed by upper management and enacted by manager Joe Torre to prevent injuries, the rules prohibited Chamberlain from pitching on consecutive days, mandated an extra day of rest for every inning he pitched, and required two full days of rest if he threw two innings in an outing. These rules changed over the next few seasons as the team tried to transition him back from the pen to a starter. These rules would be no match for the banks of Lake Erie and the midges of the 2007 postseason.
After posting a 0.38 ERA in 24 innings, Chamberlain and the Yankees were ready for a playoff run in 2007. However, Chamberlain got coated in tiny flies and lost control of the ball. The Yankees lost the game and series, in what has to be one of the biggest what-if moments of modern Yankees baseball.
Chamberlain was built up during the 2008 spring training to be a starting pitcher. However, the club decided to use him in the bullpen to start the season. He had another dominant stretch, and the Yankees decided to transition Chamberlain mid-year into a starting role. He continued to roll until he suffered a rotator-cuff injury in early August, one that was partially attributed to a quick throw by catcher Iván Rodríguez. When Chamberlain returned at the end of the season, the Yankees were eliminated and kept him in the bullpen.
Entering 2009, the Yankees added CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, which gave the young Chamberlain two aces to pitch behind in the rotation. The season was up and down for Chamberlain, but as the innings started adding up, the Yankees brought back Joba Rules. This time, the rule was he could make one start every seven days, then changed back to regular usage but limiting outings to four innings per appearance. The team used Chamberlain out of the bullpen in the playoffs, en route to the 2009 championship.
The 2010 season would be the beginning of the end for Chamberlain in pinstripes. In spring training, he lost the last rotation spot to fellow former prospect Phil Hughes and found himself back in the bullpen. Then, during the 2011 season, Chamberlain found himself under the knife, undergoing Tommy John surgery in June. That injury and recovery was further complicated when he injured his ankle on a trampoline in January of 2012.
Injuries limited Chamberlain to just 22 appearances in 2012. Chamberlain could not catch a positive break, as after battling back, he again got hurt, this time suffering an elbow injury on a broken bat in Game 4 of the 2012 ALDS. The Yankees brought Chamberlain back in 2013 for what ended up being his final season as a Yankee.
Across seven seasons as a Yankee, Chamberlain in total struck out 446 batters across 444.2 innings, had a WHIP of 1.38, and an ERA of 3.85. Chamberlain later pitched for Detroit, Kansas City, and then ended his career down by the lake in Cleveland. Chamberlain announced his retirement on October 4, 2017. Since retiring, Chamberlain has occasionally appeared on television as a baseball analyst and hosts a podcast.
Happy birthday, Joba!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
If you’ve been a long time follower of my work, you’ve seen me write many times from the perspective of glass half empty, glass half full. I particularly like to do it when you could justifiably look at a game and go either way with the information you got out of it. I thought Tuesday night was one of those games. As usual, your mileage may vary.
The glass is half empty. The Marlins won their 77th game Tuesday night. They are a full 10 games behind the Cubs. I doubt scores are much of a spoiler this time of the year, but all three Wild Card teams finished Tuesday in a three-way tie. So the Marlins are then 10 games out of a playoff spot. If they swept their last five games (it would be very bad news for the Cubs) they would end up with 82 wins. Just better than .500. They are improved, but they are at least one tier removed from the caliber of playoff teams. Struggling to score runs, needing an unearned run to end up with two runs in 12 innings, eventually losing to the Marlins, it’s all not great.
The middle of the road pitching staff Marlins stifled your offense, not for nine innings but 12? Obviously, Alex Bregman was out. Get well soon Alex! The good news with him is that he does appear to have missed all of the worst outcomes. But it still remains to be seen if his field of vision is clear enough for the fine skills necessary for playing baseball. Without him in the lineup we saw something we haven’t seen a ton of. That is, Pete Crow-Armstrong getting intentionally walked. Between his speed and the lineup support he has, that hasn’t been a readily deployed strategy even as he skyrockets to the top of nearly top of seemingly every offensive category.
This game was a real drag. After tying this game, the Cubs had opportunity after opportunity to win it and just could not come up with the combination of plays to make it happen. The bullpen was so good for so long. But ultimately, the collective bullpen ends up with lousy collective numbers. In the end, the Cub bullpen worked seven innings and allowed seven runs, six of them earned. That’s brutal. Surely I’m not the only one who flashed back to Ryan Pressly’s 11th inning from May of last year?
So much not good here.
But also, the glass was half full. This game was probably not playoff caliber. But it did end up having a playoff like feel to it. Wrigley was jumping when the Cubs rallied to tie the game. It’s an interesting thing to me. Ian Happ feels pretty universally loved at Wrigley Field and largely disliked on social media. I’m not sure if I can think of a player with that kind of gap between different portions of the fandom. Pedro Strop is the last polarizing figure I can remember like that. A guy who people either really liked or really didn’t.
The crowd buzzed as the bullpen held the Marlins down, giving the Cubs all of those opportunities to win. Daniel Palencia faced four batters and retired them all. Ryan Rolison faced five batters and retired four. Ryan Zeferjahn wiggled out of a jam. Those are the guys you are going to have to count on out of your pen. Aaron Civale gave up a really rare homer (at least as a Cub), but also faced eight batters and retired six. Your first four choices out of the Cub bullpen (save for maybe Jacob Webb) threw a total of 5.1 innings, facing 21 batters, allowing three hits, a walk and a hit batsman. You’d love for your starter to get a few more outs than that, but otherwise you’d take that as a start.
Palencia particularly seems to be regaining some of his form. Ryan Rolison has been surprisingly good as a Cub and Ryan Zeferjahn… well, he’s an adventure. But the Cubs didn’t lose this one on his watch. Again, not necessarily the bullpen you want, but it’s what you’ve got. You saw reasons to believe they could hold a lead for this team in a playoff atmosphere.
For me, other than the general frustration of a winnable game slipping away, my one frustration is the way modern baseball affects a game like this. We’ve done years of studies and correctly determined that outs are way too valuable a commodity to give away. So much so that it is generally a bad idea to sacrifice bunt. That’s all well and good and given the amount of time I spend looking at WPA and run expectancy, I’m as aware of those things as anyone. Also, all of that math starts slipping away in the bottom half of an extra inning tie game. In that spot it is very much worth it to sacrifice the ghost runner to third to start the inning. But it is darn hard to execute a skill under pressure that you basically never use.
Heavy sigh. There’s always the next one.
Three Positives:
Pete Crow-Armstrong had a single, double, two walks (on intentional) and his 39th stolen base. I’m going to keep saying that it is a remarkable season weather he reaches 45/40 or not. Our infatuation with round numbers is silly sometimes.
Daniel Palencia’s four up/four down.
Ryan Rolison’s five up/four down.
Game 157, September 22: Marlins 8, Cubs 2 (87-70)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Ryan Rolison (.280). 1.1 IP, 5 BF, H, 2 K
Hero: Daniel Palencia (.170). 1.1 IP, 4 BF, K
Sidekick: Michael Busch (.146). 1-4, 2 BB
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Pedro Ramirez (-.328). 0-5
Goat: Matt Shaw (-.285). 0-4
Kid: Carson Kelly (-.267). 1-5
Note: Edward Cabrera’s -.175 was the fifth lowest score. Caleb Thielbar was actually a .065 because he got out of a jam the previous inning. So in the end, the cumulative struggles of the offense outweighed that 12th inning, aided by the split inning between Thielbar and Cabrera.
WPA Play of the Game: Caleb Thielbar got Esteury Ruiz to pop foul to first with the bases loaded and one out in the 11th. (.193)
Marlins Play of the Game: Griffin Conine’s RBI single that started the scoring in the 12th inning with no outs. (.181)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 156 Winner: Pete Crow-Armstrong received 55 of 91 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Alex Bregman +26
Pete Crow-Armstrong +25.5
Carson Kelly +16.5
Shōta Imanaga +15
Ben Brown +13.5
Jameson Taillon -13
Nico Hoerner -16
Dansby Swanson -17
Caleb Thielbar -17.5
Seiya Suzuki -20
Scoreboard Watching: Congratulations to the Rays on clinching the AL East title. Diamondbacks win and stay alive, four back of the three wild cards. Phillies win. Padres lose. All three teams are tied for the Wild Card spots. The clock remains very close to midnight on the Diamondbacks season.
Up Next: The Cubs are going to need some length out of Kevin Gausman (9-12, 4.55) to reset their bullpen after this game. In eight starts as a Cub, two of the have gone seven innings (both wins) and has pitched past the end of five one other time, that being last time when he made it 5.2 innings. He allowed a run over five innings as a Blue Jay starter against this Marlins team earlier this year.
Ryan Gusto (1-5, 4.14) starts for the Marlins. The 27-year-old righty has lost two of his last three starts, including one against the Cubs. He allowed five earned runs in 4.2 innings against the Cubs a couple of weeks ago. Let’s hope the Cubs can get their bats going Tuesday.
Find a way, win a game. Celebrate a playoff spot and find the good vibes. We’re going to need them to chase down that top Wild Card spot. It’s still very much on the table.
The Chicago Blackhawks have made many high draft picks during Kyle Davidson’s tenure as general manager. He came in wanting to tear things down and force a proper rebuild that would lead to long-term success. That process involves a lot of losing to achieve that level of draft capital.
For this to be successful, you need to get good play out of those first-round picks. Connor Bedard is a star first overall pick, but they need guys like Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov, and Kevin Korchinski, among others, to contribute.
In addition to those high-end first-round prospects, there needs to be some luck within the draft process. Finding diamonds in the rough is a major key to a rebuild working. You saw it with the dynasty in the early 2010s, as plenty of late-round picks made their impact.
Right now, Nick Lardis is looking like one of those hits for Davidson. Lardis was selected with a third-round pick (67th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. Since then, he has become one of Chicago’s most important pieces.
Lardis, a 21-year-old winger, is a star goal scorer in the making. He has one of the best shots in the entire organization, and the hockey IQ he possesses allows him to take full advantage of that gift.
Being a 3rd-round pick is nothing to sneeze at, but Lardis showed he probably should have been selected higher during the 2024-25 season. As a member of the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL, Lardis scored a remarkable 71 goals in 65 games played.
That’s a lot, even for major junior. By the end of that season, he was on the Hawks’ radar as a potential candidate to be on the team a year later. That was way ahead of schedule, as most would have thought he’d need a lot more marinating before becoming a full-time NHL player.
They did have Lardis start in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs in 2025-26, and he continued to fill the net. He scored 18 goals in 35 games played with Rockford in a league that is incredibly difficult to score. It was only a matter of time before he reached his dream of playing in the NHL.
When Connor Bedard went down with a shoulder injury in early December, Lardis was the player called up to play forward in his absence. When Bedard came back, he had another short stint in the AHL, but when he came back, he came back for good.
In 41 NHL games during the same season, he scored 10 goals. That’s a 20-goal pace over a full year’s slate of games. It is impressive when veterans can reach 20 goals in limited minutes, let alone a 20-year-old rookie who started in the minors. If he is already scoring at that pace now, what heights can he eventually reach?
"I try to go game by game, week by week, summer by summer," Lardis said about reaching certain goal-scoring totals. "This summer, I wanted to take big strides with my speed - show that more consistently. [I want to] put on more strength, win more battles, and improve my two-way game. I think if I can improve on that, every game, every practice, those totals will go up."
Lardis is exactly right. If you play the game the right way in the NHL, certain players with certain gifts will have a much easier time finding ways to use those gifts.
In Monday's preseason tilt against the Minnesota Wild, Lardis scored one of Chicago's four goals. He scored it by coming out of the penalty box (he was serving the team's too many men on the ice penalty), stripping a Minnesota player of the puck from behind, and creating a breakaway for himself.
Lardis was also tripped up on the breakaway, but he got up in stride and still found a way to fire it home. A delayed penalty was coming, but it wasn't needed as a result of the goal.
With it being a preseason game, it won't count toward his record, but the work he put in when it comes to speed and strength was on display. If that's the norm for him going forward, the goal totals will skyrocket. The fact that he's just 21 and has plenty of time to continue improving is perfect for the Blackhawks.
"I definitely see a lot more confidence in Nick Lardis," head coach Jeff Blashill said after the preseason game that Lardis scored in. "He's skating better with and without the puck; he has good speed, and he can move and create some separation. He just seems a little bit stronger, a little bit more confident; he's put himself in positions to score."
Lardis was on pace for 20 last year, but it can't be assumed until he actually does it. However, he may be able to go well past 20 if he stays healthy. He is taking it day by day, which is wise, but there is a lot of talent and a desire to get better, which can only lead to big totals for him.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: (Editors Note: Tonal effects have been applied to this image) Tyler Nickel #55 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at UNLV on July 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Knicks have yet to sign rookie Tyler Nickel, but the expectation around the league is that the two sides will ultimately reach an agreement.
Nickel joined the Knicks organization after New York used the No. 47 overall pick on the former Vanderbilt standout, but there were questions about whether or not the sharpshooter would eventually join the NBA roster.
On Wednesday, The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III reported that while Nickel’s status remains unresolved ahead of training camp, it’s likely he ends up sitting on the Knicks’ bench and getting minutes this season after eventually inking a deal in the next few days or weeks.
“From everything I’ve heard from talking to people throughout the league, Nickel and the Knicks are expected to reach some kind of contract agreement,” Edwards wrote.
New York Knicks training camp starts this time next week.
Here is my preseason preview with storylines I’m watching, roster thoughts and more:https://t.co/7OvHa95Eh2
What kind of contract Nickel receives, however, is less certain. Edwards noted that Nickel could make more through NIL by returning to college than on a two-way contract with New York, with early-summer reports of a possible $1-to-$1.4 million NIL deal waiting for him if he returns. A federal court ruling granted Nickel and a few other young men a fifth year of eligibility, so that door is wide open.
The situation could potentially explain New York’s roster construction to date, with open spots and a bunch of players in tryout deals heading into preseason. All we know is that New York is expected to add one more player on a standard contract before the season while surely avoiding the second apron.
“Could the Knicks be trying to make a trade to open up a roster spot to give Nickel a standard deal?” Edwards wrote. “The way this situation has played out, it sort of feels that way.”
Edwards identified Pacôme Dadiet and Miles McBride as logical trade possibilities if New York chooses that route, although he is skeptical McBride would be moved before the season.
While Nickel remains unsigned, Edwards’ reporting makes it very clear the expectation is that the Knicks and their second-round pick eventually reach an agreement. For now, we wait.
The Buffalo Sabres are set to try and build on their mostly-excellent 2025-26 season, in which they won the highly-competitive Atlantic Division in the regular-season, beat the Boston Bruins in Round 1 of their Stanley Cup playoff series before losing to the Montreal Canadiens in the second round..
And here at TheHockeyNews.com, we’re breaking down the Sabres’ Eastern Conference opponents in an online series we call “Know Your Enemy”. In this series, we’re breaking down how Buffalo played against every East team, and how they’re likely to fare against each team in the East this season. And in this file, we’re focusing on the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Flyers are still in the midst of a full roster rebuild, but they took a major step forward last season by finishing third in the Metropolitan Division and winning their first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Here’s this columnist’s view on how the Sabres should fare against the Flyers this season:
BUFFALO SABRES VS. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
NEW FLYERS PLAYERS: Joseph Woll (G), Noel Acciari (RW), Simon Benoit (D)
2025-26 SERIES: Sabres 2-1-0, Flyers 1-2-0
2026-27 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: October 21 at Buffalo; November 17 at Philadelphia; February 24 at Philadelphia
CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? There’s always been a healthy level of dislike between the Sabres and Flyers, but last season, Buffalo took two out of three games against Philadelphia, and there’s really no reason why the Sabres should lose the season series to Philly this season.
Now, it’s true the Flyers have improved this summer with the addition of goalie Woll from the Toronto Maple Leafs. If Woll is healthy – and that’s a very big ‘if’ – he can give his team a chance to win every night. But the Woll/Dan Vladar tandem won’t be regarded as one of the better duos in the game until both of them prove they can handle the rigors, mentally and physically, on a consistent basis.
The other thing the Flyers have going for them is the coaching of Rick Tocchet, who always finds ways to motivate his charges. And he’s also got a nice veteran addition in Acciari, who is a solid complementary piece and will make Philadelphia tougher to play against.
But make no mistake – this Flyers team is still transitioning to a new era, and they’re the kind of young, unproven team the Sabres had been until they took that next competitive step forward in 2025-26. So while Buffalo is going to have its hands full in their three regular-season games, the Sabres absolutely should take at least two of their three games against Philly this season.
The Sabres could wind up playing the Flyers in the playoffs next spring, so sending a message and setting the tone in their two early-season games will be important for Buffalo. Both teams could be significantly different between their second showdown in November and their final tilt in February, but to start the season, the Sabres need to hunker down and show the Flyers how far they have to go before they’re on the same level as Buffalo.
