Bronx, N.Y.: New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe is on 2nd base after his apparent home run is overturned by a fan interference in the 6th inning as the Yankees take on the Tampa Bay Rays in the Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York on Oct. 7, 2026 (Photo by Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
It’s Day 3 of a post-2026 Yankees world, and the MLB playoffs continue on without the Bombers. Tonight, the Rays will learn who they’ll be playing in the ALCS on Monday at Tropicana Field, as the 2-0 advantage that the White Sox once held vanished upon their return to the South Side. The Guardians won both games in Chicago and can complete the 2001 Yankees-esque comeback with just one win tonight back home in Cleveland. No matter who emerges, they will be heavy underdogs against the top-seeded Rays.
On the site today, Josh discusses the apathy he, and surely many other fans, are feeling after another Yankees exit that felt just so typical. Later, John writes up David Bednar for our Yankees Birthday series, while Kento analyzes Aaron Boone’s perplexing decision to bat Trent Grisham leadoff in Game 3, and Matt offers his biggest gripes with the Boone Era. With the NLCS already set and beginning tomorrow night, Peter also previews that Dodgers/Brewers rematch, which Milwaukee is hoping is a lot closer than the 2025 version.
Today’s Playoff Matchup:
American League Division Series Game 5 (winner-take-all)
Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago White Sox (RHP Gavin Williams vs. RHP Sean Burke)
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
TV: TBS/HBO Max, TruTV, Univision
Venue: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Questions/Prompts:
1. Will any of the Yankees significant pending free agents (David Bednar, Trent Grisham, Paul Blackburn, Jazz Chisholm Jr.) be back with the team next year?
2. Does tonight’s Game 5 between the Guardians and White Sox intrigue you? Or are you left feeling empty, both because of the Yankees’ exit from the postseason, and the underwhelming quality of both these AL Central squads?
Damn, Igor Shesterkin had to be helped off the ice. That could be bad news for the Smurfs. Captain J.T. Miller said it’s awful and a shock to the team. [NHL | Sportsnet]
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 28: Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens answers questions during a press conference during Boston Celtics Media Day at Auerbach Center on September 28, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Thursday’s preseason opener was the Celtics sicko equivalent of a gambling addict having gone six months without betting, and then hitting a six-leg parlay that they bet $0.50 on.
Low stakes. Unbelievably high dopamine levels.
After spending the longest offseason in 10 years sitting around and talking ourselves into this refreshed roster, we’re all the way back in and drinking the green Kool-Aid.
Not only did the Celtics beat the “Cavs” (the first team ever that I completely despise for reasons unrelated to their uniforms — those guys were a bunch of losers in the Eastern Conference Finals) but they beat them while sitting eight rotation players. Cleveland, by the way, played everyone but James Harden.
Even by the time the Cavaliers pulled their starters in the second half, the Celtics had outscored them by nine and it didn’t feel flukey. The story wasn’t red hot shooting from the Cs or the opposite from the Cavaliers. In fact, Boston made just 41.4% of their attempts from the field, while Cleveland sank 47.8%.
So, how did the Celtics win a game where they shot relatively inefficiently without key personel?
It was work.
Boston just did what they do. They controlled the possession battle, dominated the glass, and outshot the Cavs 99-92 by the end of the night. That number doesn’t even tell the entire story because Cleveland shot just 16 free throws to Boston’s 35.
Possession maxing is real and it’s spectacular.
The beautiful thing about it is that that aspect of the game will always be in the Celtics’ control. No matter who’s out there or how well they’re shooting, they can always be careful with the basketball and fight for extra possessions on the boards.
Their 56-39 rebounding advantage came without any of Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta, and Mitchell Robinson even dressing. It’s pretty insane when you think about it, especially against a frontline of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
When the full roster is available, or at least some of the big dogs, we could all be in for a supercharged version of the preseason opener. The Celtics have figured out their identity, and they still have another 11 days before they open the season.
Oh, and all of the wings that everyone’s been talking about battling for bench minutes all looked pretty solid. Baylor Scheierman was the best of the bunch. He took on a facilitating role against Cleveland’s regulars and did it comfortably. Scheierman put the ball on the floor, navigated the defense, and made shots off the dribble — a skill that could be key in the next step of his development.
He finished the night with 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while knocking down four threes.
dear Joe Mazzulla: let Baylor Scheierman rock out. 16 points, 4/7 3FG, 3 assists. pic.twitter.com/gryg7bs5vd
Both Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh had their moments, too.
It’s beginning to feel like Boston’s bench platoon is going to handle business in stride this season, regardless of which member’s number is called.
The depth is as real as the possession maxing, and just as spectacular.
Speaking of, Devin Carter completely stole the show off the bench, and he’s not even on the team! The former Providence Friar shattered whatever expectations the fanbase had for him and showcased his ability to get the rim, annoy opposing ballhandlers, and provide a spark.
His first action was a coast-to-coast push in transition, which he capped off with a loud dunk with Peyton Watson trailing closely in pursuit.
It literally got a loud “OH” out of me from my couch.
Celtics Devin Carter 17 PTS (5-9 FG, 1-3 3P), 5 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, +22 vs. Cavs
— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) October 9, 2026
After having spent months without Celtics basketball it’s impossible not to overreact here. But it doesn’t feel like an overreaction.
The takeaways are still real. Boston’s system clearly works. They clearly have the personel to afford resting stars here and there. Brad Stevens might’ve sniped another demon from the Sacramento Kings scrap heap.
It’s almost too bad that there’s not more time between games to ride the high.
New York Post | Jon Heyman: ($) One of the most prominent names in Yankees media added his voice to the chorus calling for Aaron Boone’s dismissal Friday. The reasons are not revelatory — lack of postseason success, discipline, and accountability. Heyman offers his own “analytics,” namely the Yankees manager’s inability to lead his team to a single championship in nine years (and only one World Series berth as well). He joins a crowded field, including The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor, in drawing a line in the sand.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Despite the increasing urgency for a leadership change from journalists and fans alike, there are some key indicators that Boone is likely to stick around for at least one more season. For one, he’s owed $5.5 million for last year, the last on his deal. For another, the impending lockout would make it an uphill battle for a new manager to put in the legwork necessary to build trust with his players before the new season, as they wouldn’t be able to contact each other from December 1st until a new CBA is struck. Boone also retains the vocal support of his locker room, a fact which might solicit eyerolls from the Yankees faithful but still holds sway with the front office.
FanGraphs | Brendan Gawlowski: The Arizona Fall League is a full week into play at this point, and Michael Zeno helpfully wrote up the action on how the Yankees’ prospects fared our west during this initial showing. For more on one of said prospects, here’s Gawlowski on a number of different AFL-ers (a-fellers?) who he saw in person. He’s a big fan of Dax Kilby, the Yankees’ top draft pick from 2025 who had an injury-riddled year and is catching up on lost time. Gawlowski wrote that Kilby is the best player he saw, and that he “is quick and direct to the ball, he doesn’t leak early, his swing stays on plane forever, he adjusts well off the fastball, and he can use the whole field.” Good review!
MLB Trade Rumors | Charlie Wright: The 2026 season went better for Paul Goldschmidt than his Yankees debut in 2025, when he burned bright early but faded down the stretch. There was some of that this past season as well for the veteran, but he was generally more consistent and the Yankees were more disciplined about using him less against righties. All told, it led to a 111 OPS+ and 18 homers in 380 plate appearances, good for a .452 slugging percentage that was his highest since his NL MVP-winning 2022 in St. Louis (with a reliable glove at first, too). Although Goldschmidt turned 39 in September, he would like to keep playing in 2027.
The fit might not be there for the Yankees with Luis García Jr. now joining Ben Rice in the first base mix next spring, but if Goldy wants to play for a few million again, I suspect that someone can pick him up — if not only to see if he can get the 10 homers he needs to reach 400 in an excellent career that is a bit of a dark horse Hall of Fame case.
Podziemski and the Warriors have agreed to a five-year, $110 million rookie-scale contract extension, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Saturday, citing WME agent Bill Duffy.
Just in: Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski has agreed to a five-year, $110 million fully guaranteed rookie-scale contract extension, agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball tells ESPN. The deal includes a mutual option in the fifth year (2031-32) and a trade kicker. pic.twitter.com/yLwSmS1M2z
The final year of the contract — the 2031-32 NBA season — is a mutual option, and the deal includes a trade kicker, per Charania.
Podziemski reportedly sought between $20 million and $24 million per season, and when the deal was finalized, he and the Warriors settled on $22 million annually.
The No. 19 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Podziemski enters his fourth professional season with a legitimate chance to start alongside Steph Curry in the Warriors’ backcourt.
The 23-year-old steadily has improved in his first three NBA seasons, averaging 9.2 points per game as a rookie and 13.8 points in 82 games last season.
The Warriors are expecting big things from Podziemski this season, and he had a strong training camp in Hawaii earlier this month.
During one scrimmage in Hawaii, Podziemski drew a foul on backup center Charles Bassey and then blew past guard Dalen Terry for a layup, garnering praise from coach Steve Kerr.
“That’s what we like about Brandin: His ability to see the game, attack angles and he understands the officiating,” Kerr told reporters. “He can dribble, pass, shoot. You can put him at any spot out of a timeout. Really versatile and obviously crucial to make the whole thing go.”
Now, as the Warriors try to maximize Curry’s final years while also planning for what’s next, Podziemski and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg are set as foundational pieces.
Former Test batter and Afghanistan coach is taking the Lions abroad and is telling his players to ‘be smart’
Jonathan Trott pretty much entered Ashes folklore from the outset, scoring a series-winning century on his Test debut at the Oval back in 2009. Less spoken about, but just as relevant to the latest move in his upwardly mobile coaching career, is the first time he pulled on an England shirt two years earlier.
Drafted into the Twenty20 side for a low-key home series against West Indies, Trott knew only Ian Bell from Warwickshire and, out of his comfort zone, walked away with scores of nine and two. The difference two years on? Playing cricket in the finishing school of the Lions setup that he has recently taken charge of.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 19: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns plays defense during the game against De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs on March 19, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs showed why they are considered NBA Finals favorites in their first preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks. Despite dropping the game 123-116, San Antonio’s starters shined in a first-half run filled with explosive offense.
Now the Spurs will head to Phoenix for a matchup with the scrappy Suns, who are looking for their first preseason win. It may be the first time we see San Antonio’s full starting lineup featuring De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper all playing alongside each other. Mitch Johnson announced that those three guards, Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama, would start the first preseason game, before Fox was ruled out in a late-game scratch.
Whether the full starters play or not, game two of the preseason will give the Spurs another opportunity to experiment with lineups and see how this group gels.
Spurs Injuries: Jayden Quaintance – Out (knee), Tobias Harris – Out (calf), Maliq Brown – Questionable (back), De’Aaron Fox – Questionable (soreness), Malik Williams – Questionable (undisclosed)
Suns Injuries: Mark Williams – Out (shoulder), Miles Bridges – Questionable (ankle)
What to watch for:
Small-ball starting five
The Spurs are allegedly starting a smaller group, with Vassell effectively playing the four. That becomes a lot easier when you have a 7-foot-5 center in the middle of the floor. San Antonio did a pretty good job of gang rebounding around Wembanyama in the first preseason game. Saturday’s contest will pose an even bigger challenge, as they will be a smaller lineup, and the Suns are a more physical team.
Backup guards
David Jones-Garcia and Ja’Kobi Gillespie had impressive games in their first preseason contest, scoring 14 and 8 points apiece off the bench. San Antonio is going to need depth at guard if they are starting three of them and planning to stagger their minutes. Jones-Garcia and Gillespie will have a legitimate chance to earn minutes during the dog days of the regular season. More solid play in the preseason could earn them a larger role when the time comes.
Carter Bryant
The Spurs sophomore wing looked more confident in the first preseason game. He had 11 points on 3-for-8 shooting with 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, and 4 turnovers. He still needs to be a bit more patient, but his aggressiveness is a welcome sign after some of his timid play last year. If Bryant makes a big leap in year two, the Spurs could have another versatile three-and-D player they can plug in alongside their three guards and Wembanyama. Watch to see if he can continue improving in the second game of the preseason.
How will Arsenal and Leeds United fare today? Here is what to know, including kick-off time, TV channels and live stream options
Three points is all that separates Arsenal and Leeds United as the Premier League returns after a three-week international break, with the latter one of the surprise packages of the season so far.
Unlike Arsenal, Leeds have yet to lose a league game this season. Daniel Farke’s team have earned a reputation for being difficult to beat and have the quality to cause an upset in north London this weekend.
The Wallabies suffer a 12th straight defeat to the All Blacks as the home side extend their unbeaten streak at Eden Park to 54 Tests
Out come the Wallabies into the arena. The response, as you might expect, is muted. The Eden Park floodlights are starting to take effect as a beautiful evening transitions into a gloaming.
Tonight’s referee is the Cardiff-born, former Belgium international, now Irish Rugby Football Union official Andrew Brace.
The Wallabies were looking to do something they haven’t done in 24 years as they took on the All Blacks in the opening Bledisloe Cup Test at Eden Park.
For their first road trip of the 2026-27 season, the Anaheim Ducks set out for a brief two-game-in-two-days trip to Canada to face the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, followed by the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
After winning their first two games of the season, the Ducks suffered their first loss at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.
The opposing Jets entered the game undefeated in regulation, with a surprising 3-0-1 record on the season. They were without star defenseman Josh Morrissey in this game, who is listed as “day-to-day” with an upper body injury.
Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville shuffled several of his lines and pairs, as he’s want to do after losses, and especially losses where multiple lines need a jolt. The only forward line to remain intact from Wednesday was the fourth line and the only defense pair untouched was the middle pair.
Here’s how the Ducks lined up to start this game:
Sennecke-Carlsson-Colangelo
Gauthier-Granlund-Nesterenko
Killorn-Poehling-Greer
Malott-Washe-Caulfield
LaCombe-Warren
Mintyukov-Mitchell
Hinds-Luneau
Lukas Dostal got the start for the Ducks for the fourth time in four games to open the season and stopped 15 of 16 shots. He was opposed by Clay Stevenson in the Winnipeg crease, who saved 12 of 16.
This was far and away the Ducks’ tightest-checking, low-event game of the season and likely such in recent memory. However, it was less sloppy and more efficient an effort, as they were opportunistic on the rush, where all five of their goals were scored, and they allowed virtually no inside looks for Winnipeg and cleared any second-chance opportunities.
Game Notes
Fourth Line: Scoring two of the Ducks’ five goals was their consistent fourth line. They did everything expected of a modern NHL fourth line in this game: provided energy, displayed responsible defense, pressured heavily on the forecheck, etc.
However, when they won possession of the puck, they operated like an excellent top-nine line in this game. They were reading how plays were breaking, carried pucks smartly and skillfully through neutral ice with speed, and revealed a finishing quality that’s rare among players in their roles.
Washe was disruptive on the defensive end and drove cycles, Mallot showed surprising IQ, speed, and vision with the puck on his stick, and Caulfield made stickhandles and passes under opposing sticks all game.
The Ducks needed to find depth scoring from somewhere, and the fourth line, the last place one would expect to find it, delivered masterfully.
Noah Warren: Warren finished the Ducks’ game against the Oilers alongside star defenseman Jackson LaCombe, where he played the entirety of this game. He logged 24:12 TOI, including 5:16 on the penalty kill, where he was a significant contributor to the Ducks killing all four penalties they took.
Warren didn’t miss a beat with his promotion, and provided not only “stay at home” support for LaCombe, but he proved remarkably effective with his mobility, more akin to a modern-day shutdown defenseman. As mentioned, he covered a lot of ice on the defensive side of the puck with his stride and reach, greatly and rapidly minimizing time and space for his opponent.
Even on the occasional misread, he recovered remarkably well and was able to disrupt multiple attacks singlehandedly. His puck-moving was simple, but effective, as he was equal parts careful and decisive.
Breakouts: As a whole, the Ducks breakouts were much more simplified in this game. Defensemen weren’t quick to settle for rimming pucks to open half walls. Instead, if they were unable to make a tape-to-tape outlet, they resorted to high flips or glass-chips into neutral ice, so as to punt an ensuing battle to neutral instead of deep in the defensive zone.
Forwards, especially lower in the lineup, were similarly elementary with their second touches and more willing to chase down and pressure opponents who attained possession.
Beckett Sennecke: Sennecke’s 365-day evolution from turnover-prone rookie to bona fide play-driving sophomore will go a long way toward mitigating what the Ducks’ depth chart lost over the offseason. One of his biggest strengths coming out of junior was his ability to read how pucks bounce out of battles and how to manufacture puck touches for himself at full speed.
He’s translating that element of his game seamlessly just 86 games into his career. He’s understanding his limitations at the NHL level, limiting his propensity for risky plays. Sennecke is attacking the game rather than letting it come to him and operating at breakneck speed. He’s singlehandedly dictating the flow of play and not only reading and manipulating single defenders one-on-one, but entire opposing defensive structures. He’s playing like a true superstar winger four games into this young season.
The Ducks will have a quick turnaround, as they’ll travel to Calgary to face the Flames on Saturday at 7 pm PST.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will have Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto start the first two games of the National League Championship Series.
Those games will come on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers, who have home-field advantage after finishing the regular season with an MLB-best 103–59 record.
The Dodgers, seeking a three-peat, are making their 14th straight playoff appearance, tied with the Atlanta Braves (1991-2005) for the most consecutive postseason appearances in MLB history.
Skubal is slotted in as the Game 1 starter, the Dodgers said, with Yamamoto using his experience from last season's World Series run to his advantage in the second game.
Tarik Skubal starting NLCS Game 1 for Dodgers
The Dodgers acquired the ace pitcher in a blockbuster trade with the Detroit Tigers in early August, sending outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-handed pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith to Detroit.
Skubal has already provided the Dodgers with a postseason win this season. He allowed just two hits, a home run and a pair of walks in six innings pitched against the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Oct. 3. He recorded seven strikeouts.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto starting NLCS Game 2 for Dodgers
Manager Dave Roberts has tabbed Yamamoto as the Game 2 starter.
Much like Skubal, the right-handed pitcher also earned a victory in his first start of the postseason. He allowed four hits and an earned run while walking one in seven innings pitched in Game 3 against the Braves. He had 10 strikeouts.
He's produced an 8-1 record with a 2.14 ERA during the postseason over the last three seasons.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 06: Mauricio Dubón #14 of the Atlanta Braves bats during Game Three of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Friday marked a slow day for the Atlanta Braves on the news front as the club settles into the offseason. After another early exit, the Braves will determine which pending free agents should rejoin the club. From Ha-Seong Kim to Mauricio Dubón, let’s dive into the looming free agents and the value they could bring to the clubhouse.
More Braves News:
Isaiah Drake recorded a hit in the Arizona Fall League. More in the minor league recap.
MLB News:
Boston Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock was recently diagnosed with a fractured tibia. He is not expected to require surgery.
The New York Rangers’ 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Friday night was completely overshadowed by a scary lower-body injury suffered by Igor Shesterkin.
The injury occurred in the second period as Shesterkin went way out of his crease to challenge the puck carrier, Pierre-Luc Dubois. Upon sliding back into his crease, Shesterkin’s right skate made contact with the post, and he immediately collapsed to the ground, pounding the ice in pain.
The 30-year-old goaltender remained on the ice for a lengthy stretch of time before being helped to the bench by Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson, unable to put any weight on his right leg.
Shesterkin was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the contest, and while Mike Sullivan said after the Rangers’ loss that he had no update on the severity of Shesterkin’s injury, the way in which he exited the game brought a wave of concern throughout the entire team.
“It’s concerning,” Sullivan said of Shesterkin’s injury. “He’s an elite goaltender. I mean, you don't ever want to see anybody get hurt, but obviously, he's an important player for us.”
Through his first four starts of the season, Shesterkin was playing at an extremely high level, posting a .926 save percentage heading into Washington.
Shesterkin’s stellar goaltending helped propel the Rangers to a 4-1 start to the season, but that newfound momentum came to a screeching halt when the Blueshirts’ franchise star crumbled to the ice.
“It’s awful, he’s a pillar of this team,” J.T. Miller said. “It stinks. We don't even know what's going on, but to see him leave the game is a shock to all of us, a shock to all of us.”
In relief of Shesterkin, Dylan Garand stepped in and saved 11 of 12 shots as the rookie goaltender was thrust into a difficult situation.
Despite not knowing the severity of Shesterkin’s injury just yet, it’s hard not to speculate about the long-term ramifications that could possibly be on the horizon for the Rangers.
If Shesterkin were to miss time, the Rangers would find themselves in a difficult situation given their current goaltending depth.
Joonas Korpisalo was placed on injured reserve following the Rangers’ season opener due to a lower-body injury, and he had not resumed skating as of Thursday.
Meanwhile, Hartford Wolf Pack goaltender Spencer Martin is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, which means the Rangers may be forced to call up Callum Tung from the American Hockey League, who has no NHL experience under his belt.
Garand, who was placed on waivers by the Rangers before the season began, is slated to take on the Rangers’ starting goaltending role if Shesterkin misses time.
The Rangers’ impressive start to the season brought forward so much hope and excitement for a team desperately looking to turn the page after a frustrating two-year span.
Now, the Rangers are facing down the barrel of potentially missing Shesterkin for a long period of time, which would almost certainly set back any progress the organization was hoping to make.
“We're not going to let (Igor's injury) take the wind out of our sails,” Miller said.
The only thing left for Rangers fans to do at this point is wait to find out more about Shesterkin’s status and hope he is OK, or at least that the injury was not as bad as it looked.
“Definitely not a good feeling for anyone seeing anyone on your team go down, especially a guy like that who’s kind of the pillar on the back end,” Adam Fox said. “It sucks. Obviously, we’re hoping for the best for him.”
