ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Evan Bouchard had two goals and an assist to become the second defenseman in NHL history with at least six goals through the first four games of a season, and the Edmonton Oilers used a five-goal second period to beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 on Wednesday night.
Bouchard has a league-leading six goals through four games. Harry Cameron had eight goals in four games for the Toronto Arenas during the NHL's inaugural season in 1917-18.
Leon Draisaitl had four assists, Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists, Kasperi Kapanen and Vasily Podkolzin also scored, and the Oilers overcame a sluggish start to win their third straight game. Devon Levi made 28 saves.
Beckett Sennecke had two power-play goals and Leo Carlsson had two assists, but the Ducks lost for the first time in three games. Lukas Dostal made 12 saves, stopping just six of 11 shots in the decisive middle period before being replaced to start the third. Ville Husso made two saves in relief.
Bouchard scored twice in the second period, sparking Edmonton’s rally by cutting it to 2-1 11 seconds into the frame on a long wrist shot through traffic. He put the Oilers in front 3-2 on a one-timer from Draisaitl with 5:48 to go.
Bouchard is the fifth defenseman in league history with at least 10 points through the first four games of a season. The feat was last accomplished by Morgan Rielly in 2018-19 for the Maple Leafs.
McDavid capped off the five-goal outburst by netting his third goal and 12th point of the season with 51.7 left during 4-on-4 play.
After scoring one power-play goal in 82 games as a rookie, Sennecke found the back of the net twice on the man-advantage in the first period.
Ducks winger Nikita Klepov, the No. 15 pick in the 2026 draft, made his NHL debut and became the youngest player in franchise history at 18 years, 102 days old.
NEW YORK — It was a microcosm of this American League Division Series.
During the bottom of the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium in Game 3, the sellout crowd of nearly 49,000 sat eerily quiet, waiting for something, anything, to happen as their beloved team trailed the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2.
Until then, in nearly three games of action, New York had scored four runs, but with two outs, the Bronx Bombers had a rare runner on base after George Lombard Jr. walked on five pitches.
Anthony Volpe came up to the plate with two outs and drilled a 95 mph sinker from Rays reliever Griffin Jax that came in on the middle of the plate and went to left field, where Victor Mesa, Jr., who later provided the winning margin with his two-run home run in the top of the inning, went back to the wall trying to make the catch.
Instead, fans got flashbacks to 1996. Mesa’s attempt went awry after a fan reached over the fence to catch the ball and was later escorted out of the stadium for his efforts. In that year's American League Championship Series, 12-year-old Jeffrey Meier reached over the right-field wall to catch a ball hit by Derek Jeter, much to the dismay of Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tony Tarasco.
It’s too bad that video replay would not come to MLB for another 12 years, as New York went on to a five-game series victory and then went on to win the World Series.
There would be no such luck this time, because as soon as the ball went over the fence, the umpiring crew huddled and immediately sought help from Major League Baseball’s Replay Operations Center, located about 11 miles from Yankees Stadium.
Volpe came around the bases, touched home plate, and entered the dugout, congratulated by teammates, only to be called back to second base moments later after an umpire’s review ruled spectator interference. Lombard, Jr. scored on the play, but the Yankees never got any closer than the final score.
“After viewing all relevant angles, the replay official definitively determined the spectator interfered with the ball over the field of play. The ball would not have left the playing field nor would it have been caught,” the MLB replay center later said in their explanation.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he had no issue with the call and felt the umpires got the call right.
Game 3 reeked of desperation from the moment Boone announced their lineup. Jazz Chisholm was benched, and Trent Grisham took the leadoff spot.
In the eighth inning, still trailing by one run, oft-injured Giancarlo Stanton was called upon to try to add a spark, making his second appearance since April 24 after a calf injury. But he struck out swinging in his only at-bat of the night.
The bottom of the order could do nothing with Bryan Baker, who saved all three games of the series, sending the Rays back down to Tampa Bay for their third-ever LCS appearance against either the Cleveland Guardians or Chicago White Sox after striking out Grisham to end the game.
The team will again search for answers in the offseason, with a tentative March 25 Opening Day home game against the Toronto Blue Jays – that might not happen.
But in this case, the stats don’t lie: New York scored five runs in the ALDS, hit an abysmal .130 with a .192 on-base percentage and slugged .239.
Boone, who said he wants to be the manager next year and is under contract, took about 30 minutes to meet the media after the game, and the disappointment was obvious from the second he opened his mouth.
“But for us, there's just no easy way. It's a broken clubhouse. It's what you go through as a team, as a family over the last eight, nine months getting ready for this, and there's just -- it's the worst. Boone said. “So you go through a lot as a group and then it's just sudden end. It's the worst fricking feeling in the world. You know, again, offering that perspective with all due respect. And I have that perspective of we are playing a game. I understand that.
But it doesn't lessen the pain of the ending, you know, and hopefully that's something that again continues to fuel guys that are going through this for the first time and then those of us that have been through it a lot.”
The Yankees’ problem certainly wasn’t the pitching, and they will need to figure out what to do with Grisham and Chisholm, who will become free agents at season’s end.
Unless something drastic happens, there should be no scenario where those two players are back in pinstripes in 2027, as three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge, who did not appear in a game after Sept. 16 and played only 66 games all year, will most certainly be healthy whenever baseball decides to get its business in order. But Judge turns 35 in April, and Stanton will be 37 next month and could be entering the final year of his 13-year, $325 million contract, which includes a club option for 2028.
The emergence of 27-year-old Ben Rice, who hit a team-leading 41 home runs, will make a powerful trio once his two slugging teammates are back to full strength.
So it’s back to the drawing board for the Yankees, with calls for change echoing loudly again until they break a now-16-year championship drought.
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And, akin to their loss Monday, their sloppy, dysfunctional start was too much to overcome.
The Capitals defeated the Penguins, 5-3, in what was a remarkably sloppy defensive effort from the visiting club. Pittsburgh brought it to within one by the end of the second period, but they were ultimately unable to undo their own mistakes from the first half of the game.
Arturs Silovs stopped 22 of 27 Washington shots on goal, and Logan Thompson went 27-for-30 for the Capitals in net.
Just 23 seconds into the game, former Penguin Anthony Beauvillier found himself on a breakaway, and he converted on it to give Washington the early 1-0 lead. However, Bryan Rust - fresh off injured reserve and playing in his first game of the season - had the equalizer just 56 seconds later after a nice play in the neutral zone by Kindel got him the puck and allowed him to make his patented power move to the net.
But, then, the mistakes really started to pile up.
Nearing the 12-minute mark of the opening frame, Kris Letang found himself with the puck on the right wall in the defensive zone. He softly played the puck down the wall and behind the net, where Pierre Luc-Dubois was waiting for it. Dubois swiftly got the puck into the slot, where Tom Wilson was set up and made it 2-1.
The mishaps carried into the third. Less than five minutes in, Hendrix Lapierre played the puck down the wall again in the defensive zone, and Arturs Silovs went back to retrieve it with a few Capitals gaining on him. Declan Carlile was beat to the puck by Alex Tuch, and the puck squirted over to Wilson, who was able to scoop up the puck before either Penguin could get to it and slip it to Dubois in the slot, returning the favor from the second goal to give the Caps the 3-1 lead.
Almost 10 minutes later, the Penguins were pressuring in the offensive zone, and Carlile made an ill-advised cross-ice pass attempt in the direction of Erik Karlsson on the offensive blue line. Tuch intercepted it and went in on a breakaway, beating Silovs to make it 4-1.
The Penguins would not go quietly, though, and seemed to wake up after the fourth goal. Less than a minute after Tuch's goal, Egor Chinakhov and Evgeni Malkin found themselves on a two-on-one due to a neutral zone breakdown by the Caps, and Malkin hit the crossbar on off a feed from Chinakhov. The puck bounced into the slot area, where Tommy Novak was waiting for it to cut the deficit to two with his third of the season.
Then, with only two minutes left in the second, Nick Robertson - playing on a fourth line with Blake Lizotte and Connor Dewar - deflected a Kaedan Korczak shot while getting cross-checked to the ice, and it snuck past Thompson to bring Pittsburgh to within one.
Even with the Caps beginning to make a lot of defensive mistakes of their own - surrendering a few breakaways to the Penguins, too - they were able to seal the victory on a power play goal by Ryan Leonard less than four minutes into the period, which came after a few shorthanded chances from the Penguins.
Despite ending the first period with just four shots on goal to the Capitals' 14, Pittsburgh ended up outshooting Washington at the end of it. If not for such glaring mistakes, the game likely has a different result.
"We've got to manage the game better," head coach Dan Muse said after the loss. "We've got to manage momentum."
- The Penguins could, rather easily, be 4-0 right now if they weren't so busy beating themselves.
They're a better team than the Jets, but a sloppy, lackluster effort with far too many careless plays led to a 3-2 regulation loss. They're probably a pretty even matchup with the Caps, and they quite literally handed them three goals they wouldn't otherwise have had.
Simply put, they need to be smarter with the puck. There are way too many critical giveaways in their own zone and in the neutral zone and way too many odd-man breaks happening, and if they expect to win games this season, they need to cut down on the mistakes.
Mistakes happen every game for every team, but the Penguins are rolling the dice far too much and leaving their goaltenders out to dry.
- This was a particularly brutal game for Penguins' blueliners not named Sam Girard and Kaedan Korczak.
Letang's turnover preceding the second goal was putrid. There are many other choices he could have made with the puck there, but he chose to softly send it down the right wall and right to Dubois, who fed it on a silver platter to Wilson in the slot.
Then, some kind of miscommunication between Carlile and Silovs led directly to the third goal. Then, Carlile handed Tuch the keys to the fourth goal. Silovs appeared to be screened on the final goal, but the optics on it weren't great.
Karlsson was giving the puck away with frequency again, too, even if none of his plays resulted in goals against. Same with Trevor van Riemsdyk, who looked lost most of the evening.
It's early in the season, and sloppiness is to be expected. However, the Penguins' blue line needs to clean things up and get accustomed to one another sooner rather than later.
- Sidney Crosby does not look himself. He was a minus-5 in this one.
Yes, a minus-5. He was on the ice for all five Capitals' goals.
He and Rakell have been slower starters in the last couple of years. So, just four games in, it's not yet time to raise alarm bells.
However, he is not only ineffective offensively at five-on-five right now, he is also costing them on the defensive side of the puck. His dip in footspeed is rather noticeable this season, and Rickard Rakell's lack of speed on his line isn't helping matters, either.
Crosby and Rakell have, historically, been very good together. I liked what I saw from Robertson in training camp and in the first couple of games on that line as a complement, but that experiment was ended quickly. By the second period in the Caps' game, Rust was back up on the first line with Crosby and Rakell, and it was status quo.
Even if the Penguins have a ton of depth - and, contrary to national narratives, the Penguins are not even close to entirely reliant on Crosby for offense - it's going to become a legitimate problem if this first line doesn't start producing for a plethora of reasons. I'd give it a few games, and I'd shift things back to what was intended early on.
But they need to get going soon. The Penguins have scored 19 goals this season - and Crosby and Rakell have zero of them. That's not ideal at all.
I'd really like to see the Penguins give their originally intended lines, minus Kuzmenko, another look Friday:
- Speaking of which, there is far too much lineup shuffling happening right now.
I actually did a bit of a 180 on this in the middle of the game. Most of the time, when lines aren't producing, it makes sense to change things around. I said the Penguins should have a short leash with the first line.
I take that back. I think a lot of their issues the last two games have been a result of players not having ample time to gel together. It's difficult to build chemistry when you're constantly playing with different people.
I'd like to see the Penguins revert to the original forward lines they had built during training camp in their next tilt on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, with the lone exception being Ville Koivunen subbing in for Andrei Kuzmenko, who is on non-roster leave from the Penguins:
Chemistry needs time to build. Muse clearly had a vision for these lines during camp, and they weren't given much runway with all the lineup shuffling and personnel rotations.
So, give them some time. Robertson has three goals in four games and has produced more than Crosby and Rakell. Rust and Kindel have looked good in the little time they've spent together.
The Penguins have a lot of depth. But it's still important for them to find the right combinations for that depth, and the only way to figure those things out is to allow guys room to gel.
- On a positive note, Kindel is far and away the best player for the Penguins right now.
Novak and Robertson have been quite good up to this point as well. But Kindel has been doing it all. He has more speed than he did last season. His increased size is evident in how hard it is to knock him off the puck. He's making highly cerebral plays and reads. He looks excellent on the penalty kill and in all three zones. He's effective on the power play.
This kid is 19. He's playing like a ten-year veteran, and his offensive ceiling gets higher by the game. Kindel has two goals and four points in three games, and the pace, honestly, looks pretty sustainable, especially if he's glued to a scorer like Rust.
Point-per-game is not out of the question, and him being this team's best player going forward may not be hyperbole. He looks like a first-line center with the way he's playing. Right now.
He is going to be a special player for the Penguins. Underestimate him at your peril.
- Lastly, Kindel needs to be out in six-on-five situations. At this juncture, having Letang, Karlsson, Crosby, Malkin, Rust, and Rakell all out there is malpractice.
Kindel, their best player in the present, needs to be on the ice when the stakes are highest. I'd throw Novak out there, too. They've earned those opportunities.
Oct 7, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham (12) reacts after striking out during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game three of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Another Yankees postseason run has come to a close in devastating fashion as the Rays executed the three-game sweep with a 4-3 win in the Bronx to advance to the ALCS. It’s the first time that the Yankees have been swept in a best-of-five series since 1980.
One thing that was true about this game: it was truly a rollercoaster of emotions. The New York offense finally showed signs of life for the first time in the series and came out swinging, but it was all for naught. The Rays ultimately sealed the victory with a two-run homer from Victor Mesa Jr. in the sixth that the Yankees just couldn’t overcome. They made some noise before going down in a one-run loss.
Aside from giving up a single to Yandy Díaz on the first pitch of the game that quickly injected even more nerves into Yankee fans than there already was, Max Fried did well keeping the Rays’ offense quiet until the third inning. Jonathan Aranda ripped one to right in the third and allowed Jonny DeLuca to cross home plate, but Taylor Walls got caught in a rundown. Austin Wells tagged him out, bringing the Yankees to the plate.
Soon after that, the Yankees’ offense also started to make waves when Ben Rice drilled a single to right that brought in Spencer Jones to tie it up before the Rays could make the play at home.
However, the excitement quickly faded to nerves again as Ryan Vilade sent a go-ahead home run just over Jones’ leap and into the short porch in the fourth, marking Fried’s second run allowed of the evening. He struck out Liam Hicks in four pitches to give the Yankees offense another scoring opportunity.
After giving up a double to Jones that allowed Anthony Volpe from first to tie the score 2-2, Rays lefty Ian Seymour replaced Nick Martinez, who allowed five hits, a walk, and two runs through 3.2 innings.
It was curtains for Fried in the sixth inning after he gave up a two-run shot to Victor Mesa Jr. that put the Rays ahead 4-2. He finished his outing with seven strikeouts, seven hits, and four runs allowed through 5.2 innings.
All hope was briefly lost again until the bottom of the sixth, when Volpe slammed one to left in what initially appeared to be a two-run homer to tie it up, but the call was reviewed due to potential interference. A fan reached his hand slightly over the wall to make contact with the ball, but it was far enough for the officials to determine that Mesa wasn’t going to make the play. The final ruling gave George Lombard Jr. the run and put Volpe on second, allowing the Yankees to cut the deficit by a run.
Anthony Volpe makes it 4-3 with an RBI double.
The play was initially ruled a two-run home run, but was overturned upon review due to fan interference. pic.twitter.com/qGMiKDUrRY
Blackburn replaced Fried in the sixth and got through 1.2 innings unscathed, then was retired in the eighth for the Yankees to bring in Bednar from the bullpen.
The offense was quiet again, but all the signs of an explosion were there for Giancarlo Stanton to pinch-hit for Austin Wells in the bottom of the eighth with two outs and the go-ahead run on first. Unfortunately, unlike several Yankee playoff games in the past, Stanton never got his moment and struck out swinging to effectively put the nail in the coffin for the Yankees — or at least put it in position.
Bednar got through the top of the ninth, giving Volpe another shot at evening the score with Bryan Baker on to close for Tampa Bay. He struck him out on seven pitches before walking Jones on four pitchers and threw his first offering wide to Jazz Chisholm Jr. Chisholm didn’t start the game but entered as a pinch-hitter a couple innings prior. He bounced into a fielder’s choice this time up, putting the Yankees down to their last out.
Comically, Trent Grisham was their final hope since he was the controversial choice to lead off in the lineup despite barely playing this past month and looking bad when he did. Chisholm stole second to move into scoring position, but it was to no avail. Grisham struck out horribly, as anticipated, giving the Rays a cakewalk to the ALCS to face the winner of the White Sox/Guardians Division Series.
For just one note of context, the Yankees posted one of the worst offensive showings in franchise history. This is no exaggeration, per Stathead’s Katie Sharp:
Yankees in 2026 ALDS: .130 BA .192 OBP .239 SLG .431 OPS
Those stats are their lowest BA, OBP, SLG and OPS in any multi-game postseason series in franchise history
This marks another painful end to the season for the Yankees, an all-too-familiar situation that they’ve found themselves in once again. With the rumors circulating of an impending lockout, all we can hope is that the owners and the union reach an agreement so they can bring back the game we all love most in 2027 with minimal games lost.
It's a question that's asked seemingly after every postseason exit over the last few years, but if you asked GM Brian Cashman, it's clear how he feels.
When he was asked about Boone's job status by FOX Sports' Deesha Thosar prior to Wednesday's ALDS Game 3 against the Rays, it doesn't seem like a change is imminent.
"I think Boone's a really good manager," Cashman said. "We're here for a reason. There are a lot of reasons behind that, and certainly he's part of that."
Unless the Yankees extend his contract this offseason, the 2027 season will be Boone's last under his current deal.
But Boone expects to be back next season, but is not ready to think about what his future looks like.
"That’s for another day. Right now is about trying to reflect on this. Try to connect with guys as much as I can," Boone said after the Game 3 loss. "Appreciative of a lot of things. But those conversations and things are for another day."
The skipper has amassed an impressive 790-565 regular season record, which ranks seventh in franchise history, and has missed the postseason just once in his nine seasons (2023). In all nine seasons under Boone, the Yankees have finished above .500, but it's the lack of World Series championships that has plagued Boone and the Yankees since he took over in 2018.
In eight postseasons, the Yankees have made the World Series just once, and after Wednesday's loss, they've been bounced in the ALDS for the second consecutive year.
The Yankees are 27-30 in the postseason under Boone.
Aaron Boone was asked about his contract status and his future with the Yankees:
"That's for another day. Right now is about trying to reflect on this, trying to connect with guys right now as much as I can." pic.twitter.com/K827gkVSkV
But ask any of the players and they support Boone. Cody Bellinger was asked about his skipper before Game 3 and he spoke positively about Boone and the winning culture he's created.
"Boony is a great guy to play for. I've played for four really good managers, in my opinion, and my transition over here was smooth," Bellinger said. "It's all about winning here. When you put on this logo, it's all about winning, and we understand that. We understand what comes with the logo, what comes with the history, and he helps present that."
Even after a tough loss, Aaron Judge gave Boone his flowers when speaking of the managerial job he did handling injuries to himself, Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and others.
“He’s our manager. He’s running this ship,"Judge said. "Especially a season like this. I’m banged up, missing 100 games. You miss Big G, Cole, Rodon. Miss a lot of guys. Trent Grisham for a little bit, Cody Bellinger, who was an MVP for us. For him to manage it the way he did and put us in the best position in the playoffs and give us an opportunity to win a World Series."
"He’s definitely had our back, and is our guy."
But you can also ask the players what they need to do to get over the hump in the postseason. While they thought they had what it took, they didn't have a specific answer.
"Don’t really have an answer for you," Cam Schlittler said. "Last year, this year pretty similar. Going on the road, and not playing the way we’re capable of. I look at today and thought the guys played great, they battled. Honestly, just a good game by [the Rays] as well. Don’t have an answer for you. We have an opportunity to go into the offseason, have a chip on our shoulder and take it into next season.”
“There’s a standard to win a championship. It’s black and white, there’s no gray area," Judge said. "Every little thing you do, are you working towards a championship or are you not? That’s the biggest thing. Everyone in the room understanding that you have to bring it every single day. Especially here in New York. There’s no days off. It comes down to the little things.”
While Cashman's -- and Judge's -- vote of confidence ahead of Game 3 should close the book on speculation involving Boone's managerial status, until he inks an extension, those questions will continue, especially after the Yankees suffered another early postseason exit.
Junior Caminero had no problem rubbing salt in the Yankees’ wound after the Rays swept the Bronx Bombers out of the playoffs.
The Rays third baseman taunted Yankees fans after Bryan Baker struck out Trent Grisham for the game’s final out and secured the ALDS sweep at Yankee Stadium.
The TNT broadcast captured Caminero mimicking a sweeping broom while looking into the stands before going over to join his teammates in celebration.
Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero celebrates after defeating the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City, Oct. 7, 2026. Getty Images
Caminero did it while he was on the field, shouting the phrase and putting his hand against his head to mimic sleep.
He shouted it again while speaking with Spanish-speaking media inside the Rays clubhouse and another time when TNT’s Lauren Shehadi interviewed him.
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) reacts after the final out of the ninth inning during Game 3 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. Robert Sabo for New York Post
Andy Pages came through in the biggest at-bat of his life, driving in the go-ahead runs on a bases-loaded single up the middle in the top of the seventh inning to break a tie and power LA to a decisive 4-1 win in Game 4 of the NLDS, eliminating the Atlanta Braves and punching the Dodgers' ticket to the NLCS for the third consecutive year.
For a Dodgers squad that's dealt with inconsistency over the second half of the season, thanks to a myriad of injuries and prolonged slumps from key players like Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell and outright disappointing campaigns from new additions Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz, they seem to be piecing things together at just the right time.
Ohtani was dropped to fifth in the lineup for Game 3 after his rough start at the plate in the postseason and was moved up to the cleanup spot in Game 4. He found a way to make an impact despite his cold bat, drawing a five-pitch walk from Braves starter Tyler Mahle in the top of the second inning, stealing second base and taking third on a throwing error before scoring on another error when Mauricio Dubón dropped a pop-up from Max Muncy in shallow left field to tie the game.
The bullpen seems to be in good shape, too, picking up the slack on a night where Tyler Glasnow just didn't have his command.
The pieces seem to be lining up for the Dodgers at the right time, but what awaits them in the NLCS? That part's still up in the air.
The Milwaukee Brewers were the best team in baseball again this season and are one win away from securing a rematch of last year's League Championship Series with the Dodgers. But despite all of their regular season success against LA a year ago, the Dodgers' experience − and the two-way excellence of Ohtani − proved to be too much in October as they unceremoniously swept the Brew Crew en route to their second straight World Series trophy.
As the NL's No. 1 seed, Milwaukee would have home field advantage in the best-of-seven series.
The San Diego Padres have their backs against the wall and would need to win out against the Brewers to stay alive. They're another familiar face for the Dodgers, both within the division and in October. They most recently met in the postseason in the 2024 NLDS, where LA found itself down two games to one before rallying and holding the Friars scoreless over the last 24 innings of the series. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series that year, their first since 2020.
The Dodgers would keep home field advantage in this scenario.
NLCS schedule
Here's the full schedule for the NLCS:
Sunday, Oct. 11
Game 1: Dodgers vs Padres/Brewers (Fox/FS1)
Monday, Oct. 12
Game 2: Dodgers vs Padres/Brewers (Fox/FS1)
Wednesday, Oct. 14
Game 3: Dodgers vs Padres/Brewers (Fox/FS1)
Thursday, Oct. 15
Game 4: Dodgers vs Padres/Brewers (Fox/FS1)
Friday, Oct. 16
Game 5: Dodgers vs Padres/Brewers (Fox/FS1), if necessary
Sunday, Oct. 18
Game 6: Dodgers vs Padres/Brewers (Fox/FS1), if necessary
Monday, Oct. 19
Game 7: Dodgers vs Padres/Brewers (Fox/FS1), if necessary
Since the Dodgers advanced to the NLCS following a 4-1 victory on the road against the Atlanta Braves, videos have started to emerge of Hernández pouring alcohol on everyone in the locker room.
That included members of the media.
Before the festivities began, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had his team gathered in the locker room and told the team, “I want to give props to Kiké,” to which Hernández immediately responded by saying, “I do this s—. F— you talking about?”
Dave Roberts: "I want to give props to Kiké."
Kiké Hernández: "I do this sh*t. F*ck you talking about?"
Dodgers’ Kiké Hernández being interviewed by “Dodgers Talk” host David Vassegh. X / @ShotimeLAD
Then the champagne popping commenced, and the party started in the visitors’ locker room at Truist Park.
Hernández was spotted soaking wet next to host of “Dodger Talk” David Vassegh who was just as wet due to the alcohol that was being sprayed throughout the room.
Vassegh was wearing a 1970s-inspired Dodgers shirt that featured Hernández’s face on it.
Vassegh told Hernández that he was the hype man for Edwin Diaz, and Hernández responded by saying, “I’m the hype man for a lot of people. That’s part of why I’m here.”
He then went on to joke with the host to tell him that he’s having a “wet t-shirt contest.” Hernández ended the interview by thanking him and saying, “Nice nipples,” leaving Vassegh in laughter.
Dodgers dugout reporter Kristen Watson had a more pleasant experience with Hernández as he started pouring a bottle of champagne over her head when their interview first started.
Kiké Hernández pours alcohol on Dodgers dugout reporter Kristen Watson. X / @SportNetLA
“Oh, baby, that’s cold,” Watson said as Hernández was pouring a bottle over her head. “But it feel so good.”
Watson went on to continue her question to Hernández by asking him about winning big games in the postseason, the group they have, and how they were able to pull through the NLDS.
“It doesn’t matter how many of these you have; you can’t take them for granted. These are special,” Hernández said to Watson. “Knowing we had to earn it. It was a great series. Very well-pitched series. We toughened it out.”
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Kiké Hernández is spotted pouring champagne on media members in Dodgers clubhouse celebration. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Hernández delivered in Tuesday night’s Game 3 matchup when he gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning by blasting his 17th career postseason home run against Chris Sale.
Near the midway point of his interview with Hernández was unaware that Tanner Scott was pouring alcohol down his shirt until Watson told him. “I’m so wet, that I didn’t even feel that I was getting more wet,” Hernández said.
It began on the field after the final out, as he did a dramatic sweeping gesture. He then was seen shouting "the Yankees lose!" − a phrase made famous by his countryman David Ortiz − while doing Stephen Curry's "night night" celebration.
But the real partying began in the locker room.
"Sweep! The Yankees lose!" Caminero shouted during an interview.
He gave high praise to Rays pitchers Drew Rasmussen, Nick Martinez and Bryan Baker, declaring them the best pitchers in the league. Asked what he was best at in the league, Caminero replied "I'm the best in the world."
Caminero hit 42 home runs in the regular season and had a strong ALDS for the top-seeded Rays. Tampa Bay will now await the winner of the White Sox-Guardians series in the ALCS.
Just like the rest of the Yankees in this series, Max Fried wasn’t good enough.
Pitching in an elimination game for the second time in his career, the lefty at times looked dominant but allowed runs in three of his last four innings in Wednesday’s season-ending 4-3 loss to the Rays in The Bronx in Game 3 of the ALDS.
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The big blow was a two-run shot by Victor Mesa Jr. to give Tampa Bay the lead in the sixth inning.
“It’s just as simple as: I threw a bad pitch,’’ Fried said. “I left it up. The guy hit a home run, just two more runs. Kind of put it out of reach. It really sucks because we played a good game. We played a really sound game and did enough to win. And unfortunately I didn’t do enough to be able to kind of hold up my end of the bargain.”
The Yankees said prior to the game that there wasn’t really a debate about whether to go with Fried or fellow southpaw Carlos Rodón, with pitching coach Matt Blake saying Tuesday, “Max has been one of our guys and we want to ride him here.”
Max Fried reacts after giving up a single to Junior Caminero in the sixth inning of the Yankees’ 4-3 season-ending loss to the Rays in Game 3 of their ALDS series on Oct. 7, 2026 in The Bronx. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostMax Fried walks back to the team dugout after being taken out of the game in the sixth inning of the Yankees’ season-ending loss to the Rays. JASON SZENES FOR NEW YORK POST
It was an understandable decision, even as Rodón was perhaps the rotation’s best pitcher down the stretch outside of AL Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler.
Rodón said he supported whatever decision the Yankees made, but seemed bewildered about not having pitched at all in the playoffs after throwing so well down the stretch.
And now the Yankees head into the offseason with Rodón not having been a factor in the postseason.
Carlos Rodón greets his teammates during lineup announcements before the start of the Yankees’ season-ending loss to the Rays in Game 3 of their ALDS series. Robert Sabo for New York Post
The real issue the Yankees had against their AL East rivals, who they couldn’t catch in the division and proved to be no match for in the playoffs, was their offense.
Fried, just like Gerrit Cole and Schlittler — who started the first two games of the series, respectively — was forced to be nearly perfect.
And he wasn’t.
It was not the ace-like outing the Yankees were looking for from the left-hander after he’d been fully built up following a 2 ½-week absence in August due to inflammation in his left elbow related to the bone bruise he had in the area earlier in the season.
Asked about the elbow, Fried said, “It doesn’t matter. Everyone’s not feeling good. You take the ball, you go out there, and no one remembers if you feel good, if you felt 100 percent, but it doesn’t matter.”
He added he didn’t think he’d need surgery on the elbow as he headed into the offseason.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 07: Tyler Mahle #54 of the Atlanta Braves reacts against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Truist Park on October 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well the Braves’ season is over, despite Tyler Mahle’s and Michael Harris’ best efforts. Now we move into the offseason that holds ample uncertainty for the sport and for the team. A lockout is essentially inevitable at this point and the owners seem geared up to instigate the most contentious set of CBA negotiations in decades as they push for a salary cap. The status of next season is very much in question. Meanwhile, this Braves team may be undergoing coaching changes and has significant player needs. If you thought a starting pitcher was a must last year, its much more of a necessity this year, though hopefully the return of Tyler Mahle can mitigate that issue. The team is also in need of an injection of talent on offense, as the offense has really struggled since a historically productive 2023, followed by an incredibly unlucky 2024 and the subsequent firing of Kevin Seitzer.
Braves News
Tyler Mahle put together another stellar performance, but the offense no-showed again, as the Braves bowed out in the NLDS.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 05: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first quarter during the preseason NBA game at Fiserv Forum on October 05, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves played a special game against the Indiana Pacers at the Hilton Coliseum on the Iowa State campus as former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton got his first game action in over 600 days. He addressed the crowd before tip-off, leaving a buzz circulating through the arena. Many were excited to see Hali’s first action at his alma mater, but just a three-hour and 15-minute drive north will bring you to Minneapolis and the Target Center. Timberwolves jerseys littered throughout the crowd to see Ball and Edwards put on a show. They did not disappoint.
Breaking Down the Starters
Minnesota ultimately lost the matchup 123-11, but there was plenty to take away from a second game of these new-look Wolves as the starters played the entire first half and nearly half of the third quarter.
The Wolves jumped out to a quick 10-point lead early in the contest through smooth ball movement and exceptional defense from both McDaniels and Gobert, but quickly realized that this Pacers team is no Milwaukee Bucks, especially with the return of their star floor general in Haliburton.
Things got ugly fast, though, as Minnesota went into the half with 13 turnovers, leading to some quick, easy looks for Indiana. The Pacers lit up the scoreboard early as well, shooting 62% from the field and 50% from three after the first quarter.
Sloppy rotations, lack of urgency to close out, and general confusion smothered the Wolves’ defense against a much smoother Pacers team. However, Minnesota was able to reel the troops in and grab 18 points off turnovers from Indiana to close the half.
All while that was happening on the defensive end of the floor, LaMelo Ball was showing what he brings to this Minnesota team on the offensive end. He finished his evening with seven assists, all in the first half, 14 points on 5-9 from the field, and 4-6 from three. That includes one cold-blooded three to tie the bow on quarter one. What Ball was able to do on the floor, manipulating defenders, was on display, especially for his running mates, Anthony Edwards (19 PTS, 5-10 from the field, 4-5 on threes) and Jaden McDaniels (16 PTS, 6-10 and 4-6 from the same distances).
Edwards found himself with more space to shoot than he had at any point last season. He started off the game deferring to his teammates, which allowed Ball to get his game going before a detonation happened in the second quarter from the three-point line. One of those shots was an electric back-and-forth between Ball and Edwards.
Not many shots felt forced from Edwards, who seemed to play at his own pace rather than trying to make something happen. That will be huge for the superstar, who was so often overtasked and can now expend more energy on the defensive side of the floor.
McDaniels had a signature quietly efficient game. Sprinkle in a couple of easy looks courtesy of Ball, and it’s starting to feel like McDaniels may put up his most efficient offensive year yet, as hard as that is to believe. The offensive barrage Minnesota laid on Indiana in the second quarter propelled them to a four-point lead at half.
Out of all the starters, it was apparent that Jonathan Kuminga is still figuring out his role in the offense and even on defense. The Wolves’ abysmal first quarter defensively was due in part to confusion on defensive rotations leading to wide open looks. A handful of contested looks and poor shot selection led to a two point night and 1-for-9 from the field. He was provided a couple of open looks from three-point range, but ended up missing all three attempts.
There weren’t as many impressive flashes as Monday’s game in Milwaukee, but there is still plenty of intrigue that Kuminga will be an effective player for this team at the power forward position.
Who Stood Out?
With the preseason being a time to get a look at some of the young talent, tons of eyes were following Joan Beringer, who was looking to build on an impressive performance in Milwaukee. He was able to match up against one of the league’s best bigs in Ivica Zubac.
Just like many young players in their sophomore season, it was up and down for Beringer, who went to the bench after his first stint with a -11 plus-minus. He was able to grab eight rebounds, but he is one of the most raw prospects in the league right now. You can see the development happening on the floor with each minute, but you also realize there is still so much work to do with his game.
As preseason games go, it comes down to the guys who are fighting for the final spots on the roster. When the Wolves made the deal to trade established veteran Josh Green for former 10th overall pick Cody Williams and journeyman John Konchar (who they later cut), eyebrows were raised.
His first two years in the NBA have been rocky, to say the least, but he’s far from a lost cause. He’s gone from sub-40% from inside the three-point arc to making a huge leap to 56% from two in year two. Although he only shot 2-for-7 from the field tonight, he showed characteristics that may give him the chance to stick in the league.
Anthony Edwards gushed about his defensive potential, which showed on Wednesday through tipped passes, physical defense, and shot contesting.
His offense was also impressive. Nearly all of his passes were led with anticipation and rarely put the ball in danger of a turnover. He only finished with one assist, but could’ve easily had three, producing wide-open looks for Bones Hyland. A Beringer block would lead to a Williams fast break, who proceeded to posterize Quenton Jackson with a two-hand slam.
CODY WILLIAMS PUT QUENTON JACKSON ON A POSTER, THEN JACKSON PUSHED HIM IN THE FACE FOR A TECHNICAL! 😳🍿 pic.twitter.com/y7gnJaRwGd
It’s not likely Williams sees a consistent role for this specific Wolves team, but there are some real NBA tools he has in his bag, and I will be intrigued by his development this season.
So far, after two games, this team has been pleasant on the eye. Edwards seems to be reaping the benefits of having a de facto ball handler. We don’t know how much more the starters will play as four preseason games remain.
Game highlights
Up next
The Wolves fly down to South Beach to visit the Giannis-led Miami Heat on Saturday, 10/10 at 7:00pm CT. The game will be on DAZN-MIN.
HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 31: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets looks to pass the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on January 31, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, 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 (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Forgive me for the early preview, but since this matchup between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks is tipping off at 7am CT, I figured it would be best to get this out there the day before.
The game is starting at an ungodly hour for Central Time denizens because it’s taking place in Macau, China, at Venetian Arena. A quick Wiki search says that it’s an arena with a capacity of 14,000 and has hosted several NBA preseason games, Celine Dion (twice), a Manny Pacquiao fight, BTS, and Hong Kong musician “Tari” Eason Chan. Okay fine he doesn’t go by Tari. But it was too neat of a coincidence.
This is a preseason game, so who knows how the teams will play it. Ime Udoka generally gives his rotation a decent number of minutes in preseason and the league will definitely want the stars to play in these international contests. Dusty May is coaching the Dallas Mavericks so there’s no data on how he’ll utilize his rotation. Again, I expect to see Kyrie Irving (back for the first time since March 2025) and Cooper Flagg get some real run just because the league doesn’t want these games to be played between guys who will be in the G-League and Europe when the actual season begins.
These teams will play each other again Sunday morning. That game starts two hours earlier than this one, which means you can start your morning with the Rockets, switch over the London NFL game, and then go straight into the early NFL window which features the 0-4 Houston Texans heading to Nashville to take on the 0-4 Tennessee Titans in a game the Weather Channel doesn’t even want to broadcast.
Tip-off
7am CT
How To Watch
NBA TV and Space City Home Network
Injury Report
Rockets
No one yet, but undoubtedly there will be some
Mavericks
Do you really care?
The Line (as of this post)
I can’t find one and honestly, if you really need this line, please get some help.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 22: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks gestures to teammates during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden on March 22, 2026 in New York City. 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 Pamela Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Knicks (0-1) host the Wizards (0-0) tonight in their first return to the court at 4 Pennsylvania Plaza since sinking the Spurs in June. New York seeks to rebound from a 97-120 loss in Philadelphia, where the starters played around 15 minutes each and Mike Brown fielded 20 players. For the Wiz, it will be their inaugural preseason game and their first chance to see how Trae Young, Anthony Davis and the top draft pick AJ Dybantsa fare against the defending champs.
The last meeting between these two came March 22 at MSG. New York won 145-113. Karl-Anthony Towns posted 26 points and 16 rebounds, and Jalen Brunson added 23. Jaden Hardy led Washington with 25 points, including seven threes. The Knicks’ second-half shooting (62%) buried a Wizards team that already had 15 straight losses.
Last season, Washington finished with a league-worst record of 17-65. Their defensive rating was dead last, and their offensive rating was close to it. They averaged 112.9 points and allowed 124.9. Cheer up, Wizards fans; we remember those days. The club has upgraded their talent pool with Young, Davis, and, of course, Dybantsa, but the supporting staff remains a work in progress.
Dybantsa, the number one pick out of BYU, joins the Wizards’ rebuild as a 6’9” scoring wing with elite athleticism, three-level scoring, and physicality. Davis has called him a special talent, and scouts see the 19-year-old as a new messiah for the D.C. gym, with potential to be a high-usage, two-way star. That’s a tough load for a youngster to carry. Alex Sarr (second pick, 2024) has been unable to lead the team out of the desert; neither has Tre Johnson (sixth pick, 2025). The club is rich with young talent, and eventually ownership might decide that Brian Keefe is not the coach to maximize it. Now where did I leave Thibodeau’s phone number. . . .
Projected Wizards starters: Young (PG), Kyshawn George (SG), Dybantsa (SF), Davis (PF), and Sarr (C). Off the bench, look for Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Khris Middleton, and Deandre Ayton (totally forgot he landed there).
New York’s starters looked sharp in limited minutes Monday before the bench lost the second half with simply atrocious shooting (finishing around 8-of-40 from deep). Mike Brown cited a lack of physicality across the board, so the ‘Zards should expect more chests and elbows. The third center position is still up for grabs, so you’ll see more of James Wiseman and Drew Eubanks off the bench.
For the Knicks: Jose Alvarado is day-to-day with a knee contusion. Wizards: Alex Sarr (foot) is a game-time decision; Tristan Vukcevic (hip) and Jamir Watkins (knee) are out.
The Knicks have won 12 straight regular-season games against the Wizards and 18 of the last 20 meetings. This scrimmage won’t count in the record books, but we predict the same result. Knicks by 10.
I’ll miss the game because of NYC Comic Con commitments, but will catch the rerun. Look for me in the crowd if you’re at Javits; I’ll be the good-looking one. On a personal note, today’s my 20th anniversary of sobriety. ODAT. If you think you can’t stop, drop me a line. And go Knicks.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (0-1) vs. Washington Wizards (0-0) Date: Friday, October 5, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM ET Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY TV: MSG Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
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