Posts

Posted on

The Championship Series matchups prove the Washington Nationals do not need a monster payroll to win

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 04: Jackson Chourio #11 of the Milwaukee Brewers is congratulated by his teammates after hitting the game-winning two-run single against Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres during the ninth inning in game two of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 04, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With the notable exception of the Dodgers, this has been the October of small market teams so far. Of the four teams remaining, three of them rank in the bottom half in terms of payroll. Remarkably, the two cheapest teams in the American League will battle it out for a spot in the World Series. 

While Nats fans have complained a lot about the lack of spending, and rightfully so in my opinion, there are ways to win without spending much money. Paul Toboni should be studying how teams like the Rays, Brewers and Guardians operate. Ideally, the Nats can become another version of that with a bit more spending power.

With how he is operating, I have no doubt that Toboni has learned a lot from the three small market teams that are still alive. There are unique things that each team does well, but there are also aspects of the game that tie all of them together.

These teams have shown the value of pitching. All four teams that are still alive have elite pitching staffs. The Nats are not there yet, but with all the trades he has made, Toboni clearly understands the importance of building a deep and nasty pitching staff.

There is actually a fun video I watched which argued that the Nats are taking a lot of things from the Brewers. From how they develop players to how they build the roster, there are things that the two clubs share. It took the Brewers a little while to become the well oiled machine they are today. Hopefully the Nats can get to that level as an organization.

Despite the fact smaller market teams are thriving, that is not an excuse to not use the free agent market. It should not be how you build the team, but free agency is a great way to augment the roster. In the last great era of Nats baseball, we saw that on full display. Jayson Werth, Max Scherzer, Daniel Murphy, Patrick Corbin and Anibal Sanchez were among the free agents who played big roles in making the team special in the 2010’s.

There should be money to spend this offseason. If that money is spent wisely, this team could take the next step quickly. When I look at some of these offenses in October, I am confident that the Nats are better than many of them. The numbers and the eye test show that. However, the pitching still needs to catch up.

When you watch a team like the Guardians, you can really see the value of an elite bullpen. Cade Smith just locks games down in the 8th and 9th innings. The Nats will either have to develop or acquire a true alpha in the back end. 

Each of the teams still in the hunt have elite bullpen arms, but the way they were acquired differs. The Dodgers spent a lot of money to acquire the likes of Tanner Scott and Edwin Diaz. However, they also developed Edgardo Henriquez and picked up Alex Vesia in a minor move. The Rays got Bryan Baker in a medium sized trade and made an already good reliever elite. 

There are a lot of ways to build bullpens, but the Nats need to have a good one to reach their potential. In October, you need a lot of solid arms. The teams that can develop the most arms are the ones that tend to have success. This postseason has shown us that you do not have to break the bank to have success. However, you need good pitching and it might take a big move or two for the Nats to have the necessary firepower to compete.

Posted on

JJ Redick feels the Lakers are in a good spot so far this preseason

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a foul call against the Sacramento Kings during the third quarter in a preseason game at Crypto.com Arena on October 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Preseason results are thoroughly meaningless. With players shuffling in and out of the lineup as everyone ramps up for the regular season, it’s hard to place too much emphasis on the wins and losses.

Instead, it’s all about the process and if the team is doing the right things in the minutes the starters and regular rotation players are on the floor together. And in those moment, head coach JJ Redick is pleased with what the Lakers have been able to do.

“I like where we’re at,” Redick said after Thursday’s win over the Kings. “I think getting a bunch of guys more than like that 20 to 21 minutes is good for live play. Again, we’ll look to continue to build up, in terms of playing time, for a lot of these guys over the next two games. Would love to get some news on some people in the next few days and be able to see what we look like at full strength in at least one of these games and just build that rhythm with each other.”

Against Sacramento this preseason, the Lakers have looked great. The offense has featured lots of 3-pointers and impressive moments from Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Defensively, the performance of the team’s wings as part of a new identity on that end of the floor has been one of the big standouts.

The exception in the middle of that was the loss to the Warriors in which the Lakers rested a lot of players. It’s easy to overlook, especially since the team looked great in the other two contests.

One of those aforementioned wing standouts has been Jake LaRavia. After fading into the background as the season progressed last season, LaRavia has looked as good as ever this preseason. He, too, feels the team is in a good spot through the first week of exhibition games.

“I said after the game, I think we’re just playing really good basketball on both sides of the ball,” LaRavia said. “Obviously we’re going to make mistakes and things are going to look sloppy at times, but I think, for the most part, our chemistry is really good right now on both sides. I think we’re doing a good job communicating to each other, helping each other out and just having fun together.”

Playing well in Week 1 of the preseason means little if it doesn’t translate to the games that matter. But it’s been a very encouraging start to a new era of Lakers basketball.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Posted on

Canadiens: A Vote Of Confidence For Xhekaj?

Kent Hughes began to break the logjam on the left side of the Montreal Canadiens’ blueline on Friday night by sending Jayden Struble to the Nashville Predators. For the last four seasons, Struble had been competing for a roster spot with Arber Xhekaj for the last three seasons and was poised to do it again this season. This time, however, Adam Engstrom had joined the fight, and with Kaiden Guhle ready to jump back into action, something had to give.

Fans have generally welcomed Struble being dealt, even though the 25-year-old sometimes partnered with Lane Hutson; he wasn’t the fan favourite, but Xhekaj and his gritty side were. This past offseason, Xhekaj took some time to sign his new deal, likely because the blueline was so crowded.

Canadiens Power Play Worryingly Inefficient
Canadiens Reportedly Still In On Larkin
NHL Rumors: 2 Canadiens Who Be Traded Next After Jayden Struble

This season, Xhekaj has seen more action in four games, though that's a small sample. In all but one game, he played 12 or more minutes. He’s been used on the penalty kill, and after getting hit with a ten-minute misconduct on Thursday night, he wasn’t benched. Martin St-Louis still used him. Granted, as Lane Hutson said after the game, it was a questionable call, one that might not have happened had he not been called Xhekaj, but still. In game five, he only had 7:30 of ice time, but there were seven defensemen in the lineup, meaning less ice-time to go around. 

The Hamilton native seems to have a longer leash this season, and he might have been craving that last year; at the smallest mistake, he was stapled to the bench. Still, Xhekaj doesn’t see Struble being traded as a vote of confidence from the organization to him:

I don’t look at it that way really. There are still a lot of guys, still a lot of good prospects, so I still have to earn my spot every day, work on my game. I don’t look at it like that.
- Xhekaj on his reality

Xhekaj isn’t wrong; with Guhle back in action, the Canadiens will dress seven defensemen on Saturday night. When the same question was put to St-Louis, the coach found a nifty way to sidestep the question:

Well, yes, I mean, with Strubs [Jayden Struble] we reached a point where we cannot give him what he deserves a bit more. He’s an NHL defenseman, and I think he’ll get a better opportunity to grow his game. He gave us great hockey; he's a great guy, so we wish him the best.
- St-Louis on Struble

He might not have said that Xhekaj has earned a vote of confidence, but the proof is in the pudding: he’s been using the hulking defenseman more than before and whichever way you look at it, he’s still in Montreal while Struble isn’t. When the bench boss was pushed a bit more about Xhekaj, he explained:

I think he’s – Arber gave us some good minutes. He’s helped us on the kill, in managing ice time. I think he can be dangerous in the offensive zone on the right side. He’s got a big one-timer and stuff. So overall, I’ve liked what I’ve seen.
- St-Louis' assessment of Xhekaj's season start

It remains to be seen whether Xhekaj stays in the lineup when the Canadiens revert to a more traditional six-blueliner, 12-forward formation, but so far, so good for the fan favourite.

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

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

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

Posted on

Wizards sign Alondes Williams to Exhibit-10 deal

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Alondes Williams #31 of the Washington Wizards celebrates after a play against the Indiana Pacers during the second half at Capital One Arena on February 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Washington Wizards have signed Alondes Williams to an Exhibit-10 contract, the team announced Sunday.

The deal, which doesn’t count toward Washington’s 15-man roster, allows Williams to participate in training camp with the Wizards while the team secures his G League rights. The 27-year-old has exhausted his two-way eligibility, so Washington will likely sign him to a G league contract following training camp.

If Williams is waived by the Wizards and later signs with their G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, he can earn a bonus of up to $90,000.

Williams averaged 11.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists across four appearances with the Wizards last season. He shot 61.5% from the field and 35.7% from 3-point range during that stretch.

His best showing was a 25-point outburst in Washington’s 131-118 win over the Indiana Pacers in February.

Posted on

Flyers Make More Roster Moves in Latest Attempt to Course-Correct

Dealing with a rash of untimely injuries and a woeful, winless 0-4-2 start, the Philadelphia Flyers have made more roster moves in search of a spark for the slumping roster.

On the heels of a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon, the Flyers have re-called top defense prospect Oliver Bonk from the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

In a corresponding move, the Flyers placed standout winger Travis Konecny on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 8, ruling him out at least a week from that date. Konecny, 29, has three assists this season, and appeared to have suffered an injury late in Thursday night's game against the Ottawa Senators.

On Sunday night, the Flyers will have the tall task of facing the reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes without Konecny and top-four defensemen Cam York and Rasmus Ristolainen, and the absence of the latter, in particular, creates the opportunity for Bonk to play.

Defenseman Helge Grans, who remained with the NHL club due to his placement on season-opening injured reserve, was given the chance to play against the Bruins on Saturday, but he and veteran defense partner Simon Benoit were distressfully ineffective.

As a result, the Flyers are going to change things up at the position, re-calling a defenseman like Bonk instead of a forward to replace the injured Konecny.

Grans, 24, will have to pass through waivers in order to be re-assigned to the Phantoms should the Flyers elect to send him down.

This will be a bit of a precarious position for Bonk to be in, having just played for the Phantoms on Saturday and getting thrown right into a back-to-back, but that was also his first game since Oct. 3.

Assuming Bonk's legs are fresh - he had two assists, three shots on goal, and a +2 rating in a 5-4 overtime loss to Cleveland on Saturday - he should be able to help keep the Flyers moving in the right direction going up against a ferocious Carolina forecheck.

The 21-year-old played in two NHL games last season, one in the regular season and one in the playoffs, scoring one goal and one assist.

Posted on

Premier League returns in shadow of Manchester City’s judgment day | Jonathan Wilson

Football felt secondary on the first weekend of action since club were found guilty of breaking financial rules

The Cimbri are heading menacingly south, but in Rome life goes on. The asteroid is definitely coming this way, but people go to work, eat, drink, plan as usual. The White Walkers are approaching the Wall, but the squabbles between the great houses go on. Everyone in the Premier League knows the crisis is approaching, thinks – hopes, fears? – it may be apocalyptic, but until it arrives, what can you do but carry on?

After any break, there’s always an awkward moment while everybody resets. What was the cliffhanger we left the soap opera on? What new plotline had just been seeded? This is one of the reasons international weeks are so disruptive. It’s not just that the Premier League story slows for a while, it’s that we are reminded that these entities are not eternal but alliances of convenience between paid employees who have a life outside the soap opera.

Continue reading...
Posted on

The greatest pitching matchup of the 2026 postseason

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 08: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after a ground out by Michael Conforto #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning at American Family Field on July 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Teams that know each other well—having met in this same stage a year ago—the Dodgers and Brewers open the National League Championship Series with a battle on the mound that’s unparalleled. On one side, one of the more accomplished current stars on the mound in Tarik Skubal for the Dodgers; on the other, the likely future Cy Young winner, Jacob Misiorowski.

Both teams did what was expected of them in advancing in the NLDS, but neither had what you’d describe as an easy time. Heading into such an important moment, these two organizations will feel battle-tested—not only for what they’ve faced in the grand scheme of things over these past two seasons, but in particular for how hard they were pushed by the Braves and Padres.

As far as the Dodgers’ choice to roll with Skubal as their leading starter in this postseason, the benefits of having Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitching second in a seven-game series have been well-documented—integral to this decision. Last time a Cy Young-winner left-handed ace opened a playoff series against the Brewers; things worked out well, as Blake Snell dominated in Milwaukee to kick off last year’s NLCS.

Counting the regular season and playoffs, the Brewers take the field for Game 1 of the NLCS, having won each of Misiorowski’s last 10 starts, including one at Dodger Stadium in which he tossed six innings of one-run ball. Dominant anywhere, The Miz had as many earned runs allowed at home (16) as he had starts (16) in the regular season.

Beyond the imponderable that surrounds any baseball game, especially in the playoffs, anything besides a pitcher’s duel here would be downright shocking. There is really no way to put it. First and foremost, it’ll be about the small victories for these two offenses, forcing an extra pitch or two, and putting a bit of pressure on the basepaths—more so the Brewers. Misiorowski had some issues with his pitch count in Game 1 of the NLDS, exiting after four as he was averaging 22 pitches per inning versus the Friars.

NLCS Game 1 info

Posted on

Cardinals’ uncertainty reinforces appreciation for Suns ownership

Football: View of Arizona Cardinals fan with paper bag over head in stands during game vs Detroit Lions at University of Phoenix Stadium. Glendale, AZ 12/16/2012 CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X155946 TK1 R3 F161 )

If you’re somebody who invests emotionally in the Phoenix and Arizona sports scene, you woke up yesterday to a notification that probably left you a little stunned. Not necessarily because of the transaction itself, but because of the manner in which the organization handled the situation and a potential trade that now appears imminent. The more I thought about it, the more I found myself arriving at a familiar conclusion: I’m happy with the current state of Phoenix Suns ownership, flaws and all.

Of course, I’m referring to the news that the Arizona Cardinals are reportedly finalizing a trade involving third-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

I’m not overly upset about the transaction itself because, quite frankly, it felt imminent. For two and a half seasons, it felt like we weren’t getting the same player we watched at Ohio State. That dominant, game-changing wide receiver who could dictate how opposing defenses approached the game never really materialized in Arizona.

“Masarati Marv” (who I’ve grown to call “Mazda Marv”) has been underwhelming, to say the least. You can point to scheme, you can point to connectivity with quarterback play, and you can point to any number of circumstances that may have contributed to his struggles. But whatever the reasoning, Harrison has certainly underdelivered relative to expectations.

The frustrating aspect of the potential transaction, however, is the simple fact that a suitor has yet to be named. That’s right. He is being to traded to…um…no one knows quite yet.

Like, what? Ex-squeeze me? Who gets a full-blown Adam Schefter breaking news notification that they’re being traded, yet the trade hasn’t happened, and we don’t even know which teams are involved? “Hey folks, the Suns are trading Jalen Green. Eventually”. Only in Arizona, my friends. Only in the defunct sports orbit knows as Arizona.

This is where, as a fan of Arizona sports, you can’t help but look at the landscape and appreciate what Mat Ishbia and the Phoenix Suns currently represent as an organization. Do they have their flaws? Absolutely. No organization operates perfectly, and considering the microscope professional sports franchises operate under, perfection is an impossible standard. Ishbia has made his mistakes, some of which the Suns will continue paying for into the next decade. But in the same breath, they’ve recognized the need to pivot, reset their approach, and attempt something different.

Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals seemingly have a PhD in mismanaging every aspect of their organization. You know, the team thank earned a D+ grade for the way they treat families, F- for their locker room, and D- in ownership, per the 2025 NFLPA team report cards?

Take the Marvin Harrison Jr. situation, for example. Maybe multiple bidders are involved, and the Cardinals are doing everything they can to drive up the asking price. That’s certainly one possibility. But it feels far more likely that information leaked from somewhere within the organization, national reporters caught wind of it, and now the entire football world knows the Cardinals are looking to move Marvin Harrison Jr. As a result, the perception of his value as a trade asset potentially diminishes. Opposing teams interested in acquiring him now know Arizona wants to move on, which could compromise whatever leverage the Cardinals might have possessed during negotiations.

It reminds me of the Eric Bledsoe situation in 2017, when it became abundantly clear that he no longer wanted to be in Phoenix (because he told us so). The Suns ultimately moved him for Greg Monroe and a pair of draft picks, negotiating from a position in which everybody knew a separation was coming.

This isn’t meant to be a puff piece for Ishbia and the Suns. But when you juxtapose how the two organizations operate, you can’t help but notice the stark differences. Ishbia has consistently showcased his desire to be competitive, his willingness to invest financially in the team, and his ability to adjust when a particular strategy isn’t working. He hasn’t always made the right decisions, but he’s demonstrated a willingness to recognize when something needs to change and act accordingly.

Meanwhile, Michael Bidwill operates as both owner and team president of the Arizona Cardinals, overseeing an organization that continues to struggle with its direction. He employs Monti Ossenfort as general manager, somebody who, in my opinion, has repeatedly demonstrated an inability to consistently identify and develop talent. And when you look at the results, it’s difficult to have much confidence in the direction of the franchise.

The key to successful leadership is surrounding yourself with people who are experts in their respective fields. And if you have a hankering to be the ultimate decision maker, you can still make those decisions based on the advice and expertise of the people you’ve hired. Trust those around you, empower them to do their jobs, and good things can happen. Ishbia-style.

But in the case of Bidwill and the Arizona Cardinals, that quite simply has never seemed to be the case. He’s an owner who inherited the franchise, operates as though he’s the smartest guy in the room, and continually fails to put anything resembling a contender on the field. If this were any other business outside of the NFL, his track record would be viewed as a failure. The only reason it isn’t is because the NFL is one of the largest and most lucrative businesses in the world. Financially, it’s practically impossible to fail when you’re operating within a league that generates that much revenue.

So year after year, suffering Cardinals fans are left watching an inept organization attempt to fill its stadium while its fan base becomes increasingly despondent. When’s the last time you went to a Cardinals game? Chances are, the stadium was filled with opposing fans. It’s difficult to build loyalty when it feels like the organization itself isn’t making a legitimate effort to reward that loyalty.

That’s where the difference between the Cardinals and the Suns becomes increasingly apparent. The Suns might not be the greatest team in the NBA this season. They might lose more games than we expect them to. But if that happens, it won’t be because of a lack of effort from ownership or a lack of direction at the top. There’s a culture in the process of being established, one built around accountability, competitiveness, and a willingness to evolve. And that stands in stark contrast to what’s happening over in Glendale.

Posted on

Cardinals hope to avoid longest home losing streak in franchise history

The Arizona Cardinals were one of the charter members of the NFL. And from the Racine Cardinals to the Chicago Cardinals to the St. Louis Cardinals to the Phoenix Cardinals to the Arizona Cardinals, they've never lost nine straight home games.

A loss later today to the Lions will be the first time in franchise history that the Cardinals have lost nine straight home games.

Via NBC Sports research, they've previously lost eight in a row from 1942 through 1945 (at Comiskey Park) from 1958 through 1958 (also at Comiskey Park) and from 2021-22, in their current home venue.

The Cardinals last won at home on September 14, 2025, with a 27-22 victory over the Panthers. The streak began on Thursday, September 25, in a loss to the Seahawks.

Posted on

Buffalo Sabres Prospect Update – 2021 and 2022 Draftees

Here is a quick update of the prospects the Sabres who are not currently in the NHL:

Prokhor Poltapov – LW - 33rd overall in 2021 

The 23-year-old winger slogged through his first two KHL seasons, playing a depth role with CSKA Moscow, but after scoring just 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) in 56 regular season games in 2024, Poltapov tripled his career-high with 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) in 68 games in 2025. Poltapov signed a two-year contract extension to remain with CSKA, and finished last season with very similar totals (16 goals, 24 assists in 68 games. 

The Sabres have indicated that Poltapov is in their plans once his KHL deal has elapsed. This season, he is tied for the club lead with seven goals in 14 games. 

Topias Leinonen– G – 41st overall - 2022

The big 22-year-old Finn wallowed at various levels of the pro league in his home country, but improved when he shifted to Sweden and thrived with Mora IK (13-10-0 record, 2.31 GAA, .910 save %, and four shutouts) in 2025. Leinonen was brought over to North America last season and alternated between AHL Rochester and ECHL Jacksonville, putting up subpar numbers. With Devon Levi gone, it was expected that Leinonen would share duties with Scott Ratzlaff with the Amerks, but an injury in off-season training has found the big netminder on injured reserve since the start of training camp.  

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL 

Power gets off to strong start with the Sabres

Vsevolod Komarov D - 134th overall - 2022

The Sabres have a number of right-handed blueliner prospects, including their last two first-round picks, Radim Mrtka and Daxon Rudolph. Komarov’s offensive game from junior did not translate to his first two pro seasons (6 goals, 23 assists in 124 games), but this season the 22-year-old has started well with three assists in four games for AHL Rochester. 

Jake Richard - RW - 170th overall - 2022 

The Jacksonville, FL, native made impressions at the prospect tournaments and summer development camps the last few seasons, and as a sophomore at the University of Connecticut, where he averaged over a point per game (15 goals, 28 assists) in 34 games. His numbers dropped as a junior (27 points), and Richard signed a pro deal with the Sabres this summer. The 22-year-old is getting a top-six opportunity with the Amerks with most of the club’s forward prospects playing in the NHL, and in four games, the winger has his first professional goal and an assist in four games. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

THN.com/Free
THN.com/Free
Posted on

2026 report card: Grant Holman

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 12: Relief pitcher Grant Holman (51) of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitch to a Braves batter during the Saturday evening MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves on September 12, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

After pitching in a combined 40 games with the Athletics the past two seasons, Grant Holman spent the spring getting passed from team to team. The A’s placed him on waivers in February, and he was claimed by the Diamondbacks. After failing to make their major league roster to start the season, he was placed on waivers again and claimed by the Dodgers.

He lasted ten days with the Dodgers before returning to the waiver wire where he was claimed by the Tigers. He appeared in three minor league games for them before once again going on waivers. This time, it was the Phillies’ turn to claim him. They sent him to Lehigh Valley where he spent the majority of the season but did manage to make up to the big league team for one appearance.

The stats: 1 game, 0.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 K, 1 BB

What went right

Holman was solid for Lehigh Valley in the second half of the season. Oddly, it seemed to correspond with a downturn in his strikeouts.

When he finally made his Phillies debut late in the season, he didn’t give up any earned runs. Sounds good, right?

What went wrong

Holman was called up to the majors in September. When Jesus Luzardo was scratched from his start, the Phillies had to use a bullpen game, and Holman made his Phillies debut. It didn’t go well.

He faced seven batters. Four of them got hits, one walked and another reached base on an error. He also allowed a stolen base and threw a wild pitch before finally retiring the final batter of the inning. Despite seven runners scoring while he was in the game, none of them were earned runs charged to Holman.

To sum: Holman pitched 0.1 innings for the Phillies, allowed zero earned runs, yet still racked up -0.5 wins above replacement.

Later in the month, it was reported that he had been recalled as an injury replacement, but then the Phillies decided against it.

The future

It seems a given that Holman will be dropped from the 40-man roster and will once again find himself on the waiver wire. He’s only 26 years of age, so it seems likely that some team will offer him a minor league invite to camp. If the Phillies liked what they saw from him in the minors, it’s possible that it could be them.

Posted on

Marvin Harrison Jr. trade is past the point of no return

The story of the weekend continues to be unwritten. But the ending is partially known.

The Cardinals will undoubtedly be trading receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

As one source with knowledge of the dynamics puts it, the situation has moved past the point of no return. He's not playing today, and he wasn’t present for Saturday night's meetings before the Week 5 contest against the Lions.

Harrison has been told he's being traded, we're told. The Cardinals have opted to wait in order to squeeze a little more out of the Texans, or in the hopes some other team will develop an urgency to make a deal, based on a possible injury.

The question becomes whether the Cardinals will finalize things after today's game, or whether they'll wait to see whether a receiver from the Bills or Rams is injured on Monday night.

At this point, there's no reason not to wait until Tuesday morning.

Regardless, it will be impossible for the Cardinals to turn back now and keep Harrison. Unless the Cardinals plan to deactivate him one week at a time, until the trade deadline arrives.

Could the oft-dysfunctional Cardinals decide to do the dysfunctional thing and change their minds about trading him altogether? In theory, yes. In practice, they'd be inviting a potentially ugly reaction from Harrison.

Or from his father, Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison Sr.

Posted on

Brewers-Dodgers NLCS prediction, schedule, scores, and more

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images

On Sunday night, the NLCS gets underway between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers.

This is a rematch of the 2025 NLCS, which saw the Dodgers sweep the Brewers in four games, on their way to a second straight World Series title.

Can the Dodgers keep their three-peat hopes alive, or will the Brewers finally get back to the World Series for the first time since they lost the 1982 World Series?

Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 NLCS.

NLCS schedule and scores

Here is the full schedule for the NLCS between the Dodgers and the Brewers. All times listed are Eastern.

NLCS Game 1: Sunday, October 11

Brewers 2, Dodgers 1 (Brewers lead series 1-0)

NLCS Game 2: Monday, October 12

Brewers 7, Dodgers 4 (Brewers lead series 2-0)

NLCS Game 3: Wednesday, October 14

Brewers 6, Dodgers 2 (Brewers lead series 3-0)

NLCS Game 4: Thursday, October 15

Brewers 6, Dodgers 4 (Brewers win series 4-0)

What happened in the regular season?

The NLCS will be the third series between the Brewers and the Dodgers this season.

The two teams met for a series in late May, for a three-game set in Milwaukee. The Brewers took the first game of that series, getting five scoreless innings from starter Logan Henderson en route to a 5-1 win in the opener.

But then the Dodgers bats came alive, as Los Angeles won the second game of the series 11-3, and took the rubber match by a final score of 5-1.

The second series between these two teams came back in mid-August in Los Angeles. But this time it was the Brewers winning the series, taking a 5-4 win in the first game by hanging three earned runs on closer Edwin Diaz in the top of the ninth. After dropping the second game 3-1, Milwaukee won the third game by a final score of 4-2, and once more it was a strong outing from Henderson on the bump that helped the Brewers clinch the series with a 6-2 win.

Milwaukee won four of the seven meetings in the regular season.

But as we saw last year, the season series matters little in the playoffs. A year ago the Brewers swept the Dodgers, winning all six regular-season games.

But Los Angeles swept the Brewers in the NLCS, on their way to a return to the World Series.

NLCS prediction

Picking either team feels like a chalky selection.

On the one side, you have the Dodgers. A team seeking a three-peat — which would be one of just a few in MLB history — bringing a $339-million payroll to the table, ranking second in the majors behind only the New York Mets.

While the Brewers might not have the same financial power, Milwaukee not only won the season series, but were the best team in the regular season and secured home-field advantage for this series, as the top team in the National League. And unlike the NLCS from a season ago, the Brewers are in a better position with their pitching staff for this series.

And that will make the difference.

Last year, Milwaukee was pushed to a five-game series against the Chicago Cubs in the NLDS, and needed to start Jacob Misiorowski in Game 5 to keep their playoff hopes alive. That led to the Brewers running out reliever Aaron Ashby ahead of an injured Quinn Priester, who would be diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome after the series, for Game 1 against the Dodgers.

This year, the Brewers have their rotation set to begin the NLCS. Misiorowski will get the ball for Game 1 and Henderson, who has yet to give up three runs or more in any of his 24 starts over the regular season and the playoffs, is in line for Game 2.

There will be questions after that, but the Brewers are in a much better position to begin this year’s NLCS matchup against the Dodgers.

Also, there is the Shohei Ohtani factor. Last year the superstar delivered arguably one of the best individual performances in NLCS history in Game 4, when he blasted a trio of home runs while striking out ten as the starting pitcher as the Dodgers closed out the sweep.

Ohtani’s lingering injuries forced the Dodgers to shut him down as a pitcher, so only the Brewers hurlers will have to worry about him in the NLCS. But he has cooled off at the plate recently, after what was a scorching-hot June. In August he posted a slash line of .241/.322/.472, and over four games against the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS, Ohtani is 2-for-13 with a pair of singles, for a slash line of .154/.267/.154.

Certainly the Dodgers ahve more than just Ohtani, who was dropped to fifth in the batting order for Game 3, his lowest position in the lineup for his entire Dodgers tenure, but the trendline is concerning.

This should be a close series, and we expect it to go seven games.

But give us the Brewers to move in.

Prediction: Brewers in seven.

Posted on

Kimi Antonelli admits he can taste F1 glory after Verstappen wins Singapore GP

  • Italian can win title in Texas with win and other results

  • Verstappen led race at Marina Bay from start to finish

Kimi Antonelli said he can finally dare to dream about winning his first Formula One world championship after he finished in third place at the Singapore Grand Prix and put himself in a position where he could secure the title at the next round in Austin.

Max Verstappen won with a dominant drive at the Marina Bay circuit but behind him, Antonelli’s podium means he could become F1’s youngest champion at the age of 20, in two weeks’ time. Antonelli leads his Mercedes teammate, George Russell, by 102 points and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by 111. With six meetings remaining and 150 points to play for, the Italian will take the title if he wins in Austin and Russell finishes ninth or lower and Hamilton fifth or lower.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Sabres Spinning Their Wheels And Struggling Offensively On Long Homestand

The Buffalo Sabres dropped under .500 on the season and are having difficulties at both ends of the ice and between the pipes after a 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Saturday night. Head coach Lindy Ruff shook up his lineup after a shutout loss to Dallas on Thursday, but the tinkering did not help in providing a more consistent effort from his struggling club. 

Unlike the first three home games against Chicago, Minnesota, and Dallas, the Sabres opened the scoring, and ended their lengthy streak of ineptitude on the power play, as Tage Thompson notched his third of the season eight minutes into the game, but the lead lasted all of 2:12 before Kailer Yamamoto tied the game. 

The Mammoth pulled away with a pair of tallies late in the second from Nick Schmalt and Anders Lee, and added some insurance early in the third on the power play from John Marino. Buffalo went 1 for 4 on the man advantage, but surrendered a pair of power play goals on five opportunities. 

" We  haven't  been  connected,  we're  trying  to  find  who  we  are." Ruff said after the game. "We  weren't  able  to  carry  that  momentum. W e  talked  about  power  play.  It  did  a  lot  of  good  things,  even  in  the  third  period.  Could  have  got  a  couple  more.  Our  entries  were  a  lot  better.  That  part  of  the  game  seemed  connected. (We) were  using  some  different  pieces (penalty)  killing.  We  got  to  improve  that  part  of  the  game."

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL 

Owen Power is having a strong start to the season

Goalie Colten Ellis made 26 saves, but was more steady than Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been in each of his three starts, but more concerning to the Sabres has to be their lack of firepower through the first two weeks of the regular season. The club has 11 goals in five games, and has a -8 goal differential (29th in the NHL). 

The worry going into the season was the overdependency on youngsters like Zach Benson, Josh Doan, Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, and Noah Ostlund being able to make up the firepower lost by the departures of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram. Add that to the absence of veteran Jason Zucker (recovering from offseason core muscle surgery) and the Sabres are minus 68 goals from last season. 

Through five games, Ostlund, Helenius, and Kulich have one goal, and Benson and Doan have none. The Sabres finish up their homestand against the Florida Panthers on Columbus Day afternoon. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

THN.com/free
THN.com/free