PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during a preseason game on October 10, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I don’t know how you define progression or what you ultimately expect from the preseason. Progression is subjective, with too many intricacies and variables to truly define it. But whatever we witnessed on Saturday night against the San Antonio Spurs in downtown Phoenix was what I would consider progress.
We witnessed improved ball security. Granted, the Suns still committed 16 turnovers, but that’s a far cry from the 29 they averaged through their first two preseason games. We witnessed consistent effort, but more importantly, we witnessed improved execution throughout the roster. And that’s going to be the key for the Phoenix Suns this season.
I have no doubt the effort will be present night in and night out. That’s not going to be an issue for this team. Execution is ultimately where success and failure will meet, and Saturday night provided encouraging signs that the Suns are beginning to figure some things out.
Jalen Green looked much cleaner running the point. His eyes were up, he was reading the floor, and he was delivering passes with both his left and right hands off the dribble. Khaman Maluach, who earned the start against Victor Wembanyama, appeared more comfortable and aware of his positioning, particularly when pursuing rebounds. Luke Kennard once again demonstrated that he’s much more than a spot-up three-point shooter, showcasing his ability to handle the basketball and participate in multiple offensive actions.
There are still opportunities for improvement, because of course there are. No game is ever perfect, especially at this stage of the season. But the Suns are utilizing the preseason the way they should. They’re experimenting, mixing and matching rotations, giving players extended opportunities to build confidence and comfort within their roles, and gradually developing the execution necessary to complement their effort.
All while preparing for the long trek that lies ahead.
Bright Side Baller Standings
There was no “mailing it in because it’s the preseason” for the Villain on Wednesday in Chicago. 24 points for Dillon on an efficient 77.8% shooting from the field.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Preseason Game 3 against the Spurs. Here are your nominees:
It’s been a while since we’ve done one of these! Some things have changed here at Canis Hoopus, but the now long-standing tradition of polling our community has not. Does it take me hours to collect responses, write up summaries, and chop up charts to show you the results? Yes. Do a lot of people read, let alone click on the results piece? No.
But it’s a labor of love.
At some point in the future, I’ll have to start going through some old results and pulling receipts on people.
“Hey, you! Yeah, comments section poster! I saw you once voted Jaylen Nowell as your prediction for NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2022!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. You think Kuminga needs to come off the bench? That’s rich coming from someone who thought D’Angelo Russell would be the best locker room voice in 2021.”
Regardless, this is still important data collection that must be done. What’s a place to talk about sports if it didn’t continue to track and log snapshots of our groupthink throughout the years? Based on the amount of websites you click “Accept cookies” on, or random mobile applications you’ve mindlessly allowed access to your data (SB Nation app not included, as it’s clearly a very ethical app that you should all have), I assume you love sharing your data!
Alright, that went a little off the rails. Let’s refocus on the ensuing Timberwolves season that is just about upon us. There have been a ton of changes both on and off the court so it’s important we run Canis Pulsus back for this.
Let’s hear it.
Welcome to Canis Pulsus Vol. 51!
For those of you who have been ignoring this series since the 2021 season — Canis Pulsus is designed to give our Canis Hoopus community a published voice.
A pulse, if you will.
We all know that if CH occupied all seats of the Minnesota Timberwolves front office, we would be celebrating our 37th consecutive championship this year. But for now, it’s time for us to exercise our right vote. Are the Wolves finally going to hit the over on total wins? Will LaMelo Ball be the MVP of the team?
It’s a simple concept, really. Just submit your vote as honestly or sarcastically as you would like. All individual submissions will remain anonymous so no one will know if you were the one voter who wrote in Rob Dillingham has league MVP. Once the polls close, the results as a whole will be published on Canis Hoopus and (in theory) be sent to ESPN’s front page to publish as not misinformation.
Canis Pulsus Vol. 51 – Season Predictions (‘26-’27)
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 13: A general view of the jumbotron with the 2025 NLCS logo on display during batting practice prior to Game One of the National League Championship Series presented by loanDepot between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Monday, October 13, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers begin the National League Championship Series with Game 1 on Sunday night at American Family Field in Milwaukee, with a high-octane pitching battle.
Tarik Skubal, the American League Cy Young Award winner in 2024 and 2025, makes his second consecutive Game 1 start for the Dodgers, after striking out seven in six innings on October 3 against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium, including 15 straight batters retired at one point.
The left-hander started twice against the Brewers this season, both six-inning starts at home — he allowed four runs in a no-decision in Detroit on April 23, then gave up two runs (one earned) at Dodger Stadium in a loss on August 16.
Jacob Misiorowski, the heavy favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award this season, makes his second start this season. He struck out six on October 3 against the San Diego Padres but was pulled after only four innings and two runs in, 88 pitches in.
In three career games against the Dodgers, including last year’s NLCS, Misiorowski has a 1.59 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 17 innings.
Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks “3 Standouts From The Game.” In this recurring series, The Hockey News’ Canucks team will do a deep dive into three standouts from Vancouver’s last game. This article will focus on the Canucks' most recent 4–1 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
Jake DeBrusk
While he didn’t end up on the scoresheet on Saturday, Jake DeBrusk was easily the Canucks’ most noticeable forward. It was difficult for Vancouver to generate offence against the Devils on Saturday, but when they did manage to, DeBrusk was often involved in the play. The winger finished the game with the team’s high in shots with seven and played in the second-most minutes by a Canucks forward with 17:15.
As a whole, however, DeBrusk and his line of Elias Pettersson and Jonathan Lekkerimäki were notable offensively. The trio combined for their team’s highest volume of scoring chances-for with seven. They also logged five high-danger scoring chances-for while surrendering only one.
Leevi Meriläinen
Leevi Meriläinen put up a strong performance today despite dealing with equipment issues mid-game. He surrendered only one goal before a hard shot knocked the blade off of his skate, taking him out of the final five minutes of the first period. Meriläinen’s skate blade popped out another time, during the second period, though this time he didn’t need to come off the ice for an extended period of time.
Even with the awkward flow of the game for Meriläinen, the goaltender stopped 31 of 34 shots faced and did not allow a goal-against on 27 even-strength shots faced. His stats on the season are now up to a .929 SV% and 2.18 GAA.
Linus Karlsson
Vancouver’s lone goal-scorer in Saturday’s game was Linus Karlsson, who potted his first of the 2026–27 season and is now up to five points in six games so far. The forward wound up on Vancouver’s first power-play unit after Elias Pettersson briefly left the ice, finding the back of the net early into the elevated opportunity.
Adding to his game-opening goal is the fact that Karlsson drew the early penalty for Vancouver after ending up on the receiving end of a hook by Anthony Mantha.
Oct 10, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson (94) controls the puck against the New Jersey Devils during the third period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Don't expect another NLCS sweep this year. Yes, the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Brewers are once again taking on the No. 2 seed Los Angeles Dodgers in the best-of-seven series. Yes, the Brewers have home field advantage again. Yes, they had the best record in baseball for the second year in a row.
But this is a different Brewers team. Somehow, they got better after parting ways with Freddy Peralta and Caleb Durbin this offseason.
It starts with the pitching staff. Jacob Misiorowski took a leap in his second year with an outstanding 0.80 WHIP and is a virtual lock for the NL Cy Young Award. The 24-year-old flamethrower has grown into a full-fledged ace, and he won't be relegated to a bullpen role like in 2025 -- he's starting Game 1 as the MLB leader in strikeouts and ERA. Logan Henderson also emerged as a solid No. 2 guy in the rotation with a 2.47 ERA in 18 starts this season. His 5.1% walk rate is among the best in the big leagues; that's going to be crucial against a Dodgers lineup that slugged their way to victory in the NLDS but struggled to string together hits and walks.
Then there's one of the deepest bullpens in baseball, led by Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe on the back end. Combine that with the Dodgers just as formidable pitching, and it's clear that runs will be at a premium this series. That's an area the Brewers are all too comfortable with.
These have been two of the best offenses in the big leagues this season; they're both elite when it comes to getting on base. But from there, their successes have come in completely opposite ways. Dodgers had the second-most home runs; the Brewers had the second fewest. That's not to say they don't have pop; Jackson Chourio and Jake Bauers are true long ball threats. But where Milwaukee excels is at putting the ball in play, stealing bases and getting guys over.
This should be a much closer series than it was last October, but one thing this matchup isn't is David vs. Goliath, despite what some talking heads might try to have you believe.
"They have the best record in baseball," Dodgers manager Roberts told reporters on Friday. "They have that for a reason, and they’ve got home-field advantage. So we got to play our best baseball. I mean, they’re certainly not afraid of us. They’ve got the guy who’s going to win the Cy Young in the National League, starting Game 1.
After the Los Angeles Dodgers eliminated the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the NLDS, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was asked by reporters when he'd rather face the Milwaukee Brewers or San Diego Padres in the NLCS.
"I just want chaos," he said, drenched in beer as the clubhouse celebration ensued.
Two hours later, Friedman would have his answer. The Brewers punched their ticket, securing a rematch of the previous year's championship series. Don't expect a Dodgers sweep this time, though.
Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy loves to break out the "David vs. Goliath" narrative whenever his team plays the Dodgers and their exorbitant payroll. He'll wax poetic about how nobody can name their lineup compared to the star-studded roster in the other dugout. How they're "little woodpeckers" that just keep pecking away at the money tree that stands between them and their first pennant since 1982.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts isn't buying it.
"They have the best record in baseball," Roberts told reporters on Friday. "They have that for a reason, and they’ve got home-field advantage. So we got to play our best baseball. I mean, they’re certainly not afraid of us. They’ve got the guy who’s going to win the Cy Young in the National League, starting Game 1.
"We got our work cut out."
That they do. This year's Brewers are not the team that the Dodgers swept in 2025. They somehow got better after parting ways with Freddy Peralta and Caleb Durbin. Jacob Misiorowski and Jackson Chourio both took a leap this season, and Chourio's much healthier than when he was hampered by a hamstring injury last October. Logan Henderson is a bonafide No. 2 starter behind the Miz, and the back end of their bullpen has two anchors in Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe.
Here are three key factors that will decide the NLCS:
The Dodgers need to manufacture runs
The Dodgers offense has been streaky all season, but they haven't lacked for slugging. That carried over into the postseason, where they've led all teams with eight home runs in October. On the other hand, they were mostly unable to string hits and walks together against a depleted Braves pitching staff. It wasn't until the second inning of Game 4 on Mauricio Dubón's dropped pop up from Max Muncy allowed Shohei Ohtani to score that the Dodgers got their first run on a non-homer. Even then, they were still 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position until Andy Pages poked a two-out single up the middle to bring in the go-ahead runs in the seventh.
The Dodgers offense doesn't necessarily have to turn into the Brewers, who led the big leagues in team batting average and were fourth in stolen bases this season. But they're up against a pitching staff that does not give up the long ball. Misiorowski, MLB's strikeout leader in 2026, was third in expected slugging percentage (.255). Henderson, Megill and Uribe were all also in the top 20 in xSLG.
LA can get guys on base, but they have to bring them home.
Dodgers rotation depth
As formidable as the Miz and Henderson are, the Dodgers have two pitchers who are just as lethal with Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto set to start Games 1 and 2. Where they should have the edge, though, is the two games after that. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow round out the Dodgers rotation of four aces, but neither pitched particularly well in the NLDS.
Snell threw 90 pitches in just 3.2 innings against the Braves in Game 2, forcing the Dodgers into an impromptu bullpen game. He was able to limit damage while he was on the mound, giving up just one earned run, but Snell walked five batters. Glasnow threw 4.2 innings in Game 4 and also allowed a run with five walks. That can't happen against a Brewers lineup that was third in wOBA (weighted on-base average) this season.
Shohei Ohtani's health
Maybe the signature moment of Ohtani's career came against the Brewers one year ago, when he pitched six scoreless innings and mashed three home runs -- the last of which cleared the awning in the pavilion seats and left the ballpark entirely -- in a decisive Game 4 of the NLCS. What a difference a year makes.
Ohtani started the year with what looked like it could have been a Cy Young campaign. But lingering injuries to his right bicep and left knee shut him down from the mound in July and ultimately led to him to focus on just hitting for the remainder of this season. The Dodgers hoped an IL stint in September could reset some bad habits Ohtani developed while trying to play through pain, but the reigning back-to-back NL MVP still struggled at the plate down the stretch with an abysmal .566 OPS to close out the final month of the season.
He has yet to turn a corner in October and was dropped from leadoff to fifth in the lineup for Game 3 of the NLDS and hit from the cleanup spot in Game 4, though he still found a way to make an impact by drawing a walk in the second inning and immediately stealing second and advancing to third on a Braves throwing error. He then scored on a fielding error to tie the game early.
Ohtani is still Ohtani, though. He's clearly not 100%, but Dodgers brass still believes he'll have a breakthrough at some point this October.
"He’s the best player in the world," Friedman told reporters. "And at some point, it’s going to click for him, and the other team’s going to be in big trouble when that happens."
DENVER — William Nylander authored a five-point masterpiece and Sergei Bobrovsky secured his first win as a Maple Leaf as the Toronto Maple Leafs weathered a second-period storm at Ball Arena and beat the Colorado Avalanche 6-3 on Saturday night.
Nylander finished with two goals and three assists, tying a career high in points. Auston Matthews added two goals and two assists. Nick Blankenburg scored on his first shift of the season in his first appearance as a Leaf, Easton Cowan scored, and Bobrovsky stopped 30 of 33 shots. Nathan MacKinnon scored twice for Colorado, which lost its first home game of the season.
The Leafs improved to 3-2-1 and collected three of a possible four points on a tough back-to-back western swing against the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado. They now head into a day off with a statement road victory against a Stanley Cup contender, even as concern lingers over the status of defenseman Chris Tanev, who left the game in the first period and did not return.
“I liked the first (period), and I like the third,” head coach Jim Hiller said. “They had a couple of rush chances in the first, second period got a little crazy, but what a response in the third period. And even after Vegas, we were able to get it done tonight.”
Nylander’s Masterclass Starts Away From the Puck
Nylander’s night was defined by more than just the points. Hiller pointed specifically to the work that set up the opening goal, when Blankenburg scored 3:03 into the game on a feed from Nylander and Nick Paul.
“Well, he was skating. I think must have been the first goal. So he makes the nice pass to Blankenburg. Back it up ten seconds. He's in on the forecheck. He wins a puck battle. That sets the whole thing up, and then he's allowed to get the opportunity to make the next play because he made the first one. Skating on the forecheck, winning a battle,” Hiller said.
Nylander later scored a power-play goal at 6:53 of the second on a setup from Gavin McKenna and Matthews, then tied the game at 16:47 of the second. His three assists tied a career high in a game. Matthews, who scored the eventual game-winner on the power play in the third and added an empty-netter, was effusive.
Power play goal for Toronto!
Scored by William Nylander with 13:07 left in the 2nd. Assisted by Gavin McKenna and Auston Matthews.
“Yeah, he was great. I mean, I thought he was just skating all over the puck, making plays. You know, beautiful pass on that power play to me, and he was just all over it tonight. One of those games where it just seemed like he had the puck on his stick a lot, and he was making things happen,” Matthews said.
Nylander himself kept it simple:
“I don't know. I was just going out there playing, you know. I got some really nice passes. Able to score those two goals. I think the power play was great.”
Bobrovsky Earns His First Win Under Heavy Fire
Bobrovsky faced 33 shots, including 13 in the second period when the game turned chaotic. Colorado outshot Toronto 33-23 overall and held a territorial edge for long stretches, particularly at even strength in the middle frame. Yet Bobrovsky, who had been left without a win despite strong showings earlier in the trip, delivered the performance the Leafs needed.
“Those last two games, a lot of work for him, and I guess that's just classic Bob, right? That's why he's here. He just has a way to settle everybody down. Such a calm demeanor, and he made some great saves,” Hiller said.
Matthews noted the team’s early-season struggles in front of the netminder:
“We haven't been good enough in front of him in his first couple of starts, and he's had to come up big and hasn't gotten rewarded for it. So, I mean, I would have loved to see him get a win earlier, but obviously coming into this building against this opponent, he was huge for us tonight.”
Career win No. 457 for Sergei Bobrovsky and his first as a Toronto Maple Leaf 🫂 pic.twitter.com/s010b3VtZa
“I like it. I like the workload. I do like it. It's been great,” Bobrovsky said. “I had a good amount of work in Vegas, and I really feel good. Playing is fun in the NHL. You live in a dream. So every day is a paradise to be in this league.”
Tanev Injury Casts a Shadow
Chris Tanev left the game and did not return. Hiller had no immediate update.
“We had lots going on here, so I haven't talked to really anybody about him. And we'll probably know more tomorrow or the next day. Tomorrow's a day off (Sunday), so maybe a couple days,” the coach said.
Tanev was seen around the locker room after the game talking to teammates but there was very little to extrapolate from that.
Blankenburg, who played more than expected in his season debut, described Tanev as “kind of the anchor of the back end for those first couple games, just shut down defensively, him and (McCabe).”
Given Tanev’s injury history, the uncertainty will dominate the immediate aftermath in Toronto. Hiller praised the remaining defensemen for bending but not breaking:
“I thought that D corps battled. It was tough in D zone at times, but those guys did a really good job, just bending but not breaking.”
Blankenburg’s Instant Impact
Blankenburg, returning against his former club, scored 3:03 into the game on his first shift of the season. Nylander set him up after winning a puck battle on the forecheck.
“I think obviously the first time you get into a game in the year, you're a little bit nervous, but I think it's a good kind of nervous, like excited. So to get one there in the first shift definitely felt nice,” Blankenburg said. “I kind of took a weight off my shoulders and just kind of go all time and play.”
He acknowledged the wait had been familiar:
“I've done this so many times before in my career. I feel like every year in my four-year career so far, it's been like out of the lineup, wait. ... I just kept telling myself leading up to this, like, I've been in this situation before, and every time I've been able to handle it.”
Power play goal for Toronto!
Scored by Nick Blankenburg with 16:57 left in the 1st. Assisted by William Nylander and Nick Paul.
“Blank’s the man,” Matthews said, praising the first-year Leaf’s vibe in the room, as well as his personality and work ethic.
“He roofed that thing. That was how many seconds into his first shift? Was it his first shift? That's awesome,” Nylander said with a big grin.
McKenna’s Seamless Addition to the Top Power Play
With John Tavares not available after becoming a father for the fourth time, 18-year-old Gavin McKenna earned time on the top power-play unit and delivered the setup on Nylander’s power-play goal. Both Matthews and Nylander highlighted his vision.
“Yeah, it's pretty seamless. I mean, he's elite, super skilled and smart, and made a beautiful play there on the first power play goal to Willy,” Matthews said. “He just has such a good IQ and can see the play kind of developing before it happens.”
Nylander called the pass “unbelievable.”
The GREAT pass by McKenna and then the SILKY mitts in close by Willy, WHATTA GOAL 🔥🚨 pic.twitter.com/GnFlfFcJaM
Hiller noted McKenna’s progression against elite competition on consecutive nights:
“Just seems to be every game he's taking steps. Just play Vegas and Colorado, and you're a young guy at 18 years old to play those two games back to back. It's pretty impressive. And he's dynamic.”
Toward the end of the game, McKenna had been promoted to the top line for some shifts.
“He's playing good. You know what I mean? We're not just giving that to him. He's earned that.”
Containing MacKinnon and the Checking Line’s Role
MacKinnon scored twice in the first period and finished with eight shots. Matthews described the challenge directly:
“He's one of the best in the world. It's always a really tough, tough challenge. I mean, he's a really hard guy to contain. He's explosive. He possesses so much power when he skates and when he moves. And when he's on the ice, you've got to have a bit of a group effort to kind of contain him because he's too good one-on-one.”
“Well, in the third period, we really tried to get (Colton) Sissons, (Teddy) Blueger and (Brandon) Duhaime against them. So, if you check that, I think we got, outside of the power plays and stuff, we really were able to five-on-five match them up and get our matchup. And I thought those three in particular did a great job in the third period,” Hiller said.
Blankenburg credited Bobrovsky first when asked about limiting MacKinnon:
“I mean, I'd say first thought would just be Bob (Bobrovsky). Bob's been great for us all year. I think, yeah, just obviously he's such a special player just trying to limit his time and space.”
A Measuring-Stick Result
The three points from the Vegas-Colorado swing give Hiller’s group early validation against two Western Conference heavyweights. The Leafs alternated wins and losses to open the season and now sit with a road win in Denver that required goaltending, special teams, and a composed final period after the second-period mess.
“I thought we did a good job weathering the storm,” Matthews said. “Sometimes you've just got to weather the storm, bend, don't break. Just grind out a win, and I thought we did that tonight.”
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The 0-4-2 Philadelphia Flyers remain the last team in the Eastern Conference without a win, and the tall task of earning a victory will get no easier on Sunday night when they host the first-place 4-1-1 Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
This is already the second meeting of the season between the two teams. Back on Oct. 3, the Flyers hosted the Hurricanes and were able to drag the reigning Stanley Cup champs to overtime, but a power play overtime goal from old Shayne Gostisbehere ended the contest in unceremonious fashion.
The Flyers were out-shot 30-12 through the first two periods of that game, and 40-18 overall. This has, unfortunately, been far too common a theme for the winless Flyers, who still look incapable of doing the basics with any level of consistency.
Injuries exacerbated the Flyers' already existing issues, as Cam York, Travis Konecny, and Rasmus Ristolainen were all out for the team's 5-1 smackdown suffered at the hands of the Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon.
After a largely unsuccessful three-game road trip, the Flyers return home with the gift of facing the Hurricanes and the danger of losing a seventh straight game looming large.
Where does it all go from here if they do, in fact, lose again?
Flyers lines vs. Hurricanes
Christian Dvorak - Trevor Zegras - Tyson Foerster
Owen Tippett - Sean Couturier - Matvei Michkov
Denver Barkey - Noah Cates - Porter Martone
Michael Bunting - Noel Acciari - Garrett Wilson
Travis Sanheim - Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler - David Jiricek
Simon Benoit - Helge Grans
Joseph Woll (S), Dan Vladar
Hurricanes lines for Flyers game
William Carrier - Sebastian Aho - Andrei Svechnikov
Taylor Hall - Logan Stankoven - Jackson Blake
Nikolaj Ehlers - Jordan Staal - Jordan Martinook
Mark Jankowski - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Eric Robinson
Sunday night's Flyers game can be found on NHL Network, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Sportsnet+, and TVAS.
Flyers player to watch
On the second leg of a back-to-back, goalie Joseph Woll is expected to make his fourth start of the season for the Flyers.
Woll, 28, has been phenomenal so far this season, owning a 2.61 GAA and .927 save percentage despite the unflattering 0-1-2 record that is completely unreflective of his own performance.
Woll stopped 37 of 40 shots in the Flyers' first meeting against the Hurricanes eight days ago, and he'll be the only chance Philadelphia has of winning this one, especially if they continue to play in front of Woll the way they have all season.
The Montreal Canadiens faced the Detroit Red Wings for the first time this season as the Michigan team came to town last in the division with a 1-3-0 record. On Friday, Georges Laraque had suggested on BPM Sports airwaves that fans should try to seduce Dylan Larkin with cheers and chants. Timid attempts were drowned out by the Bell Centre’s pregame show early on, but fans didn't boo the American anthem, and in the first frame, when Larkin took the ice, the “We want Larkin!” chants were clearly audible.
For the second time in as many games, the Canadiens appeared to score early, but the goal was called back. This time, Cole Caufield appeared to score from an impossible angle, but after a lengthy review, they determined the puck didn’t cross the line.
The Canadiens didn't let the setback get to them and kept going strong; with 6:35 left in the first frame, they led 9-2 in shots, but a couple of penalties to Kirby Dach and Jake Evans gave Detroit 27 seconds at five-on-three.
Given the state of the Habs’ special teams, one would have been forgiven for thinking they'd surrender at least a goal, but Jacob Fowler decided otherwise. The young netminder made five saves on the PK, and while he did give a couple of juicy rebounds, his teammates were able to prevent the Wings from getting to them, and he gave them credit:
The killers were great; even in the last game, they were really good. It only came down to a couple of tips. Love the effort, love kind of the intensity, the urgency to get pucks out, and I think the boys just stuck up for one another, from the kill all the way out. It’s a big win for the group.
As calm as ever, the youngster stood tall and held his ground, even stopping a late push in the dying seconds of the first frame. Allowing a goal there would have been a gut punch. He kept up the good work in the second frame, stopping an early chance and even getting his stick on the crease to block a shot.
When the Habs couldn't score on the PP, he stopped Alex DeBrincat, who was alone in front of him, once again keeping things from going sour for the Canadiens. All night long, his positioning and tracking were flawless, all the way to the six-round shootout. A well-deserved shutout for the youngster.
Power Play Struggles
The Canadiens dominated the Wings in the second frame, taking 11 shots on net, but they still couldn't bury their chances. Their golden opportunity came on the power play; they were up a man while Detroit had to make do with four players but three sticks. The Habs kept trying the same play, moving the puck to the wings for one-timers instead of adapting and taking more shots from the middle with traffic in front of the net.
Maybe give Zach Bolduc a shot on the first power-play unit to shake things up. With a power play that has one goal on 17 opportunities, changes are needed to shake things up. Waiting for Ivan Demidov’s to come back won’t do.
Bolduc Made Up For It
The Trois-Rivières native is off to a great start, and he’s already found the back of the net a few times, scoring three goals in the first four games. On Saturday, he played another solid match, and it was fitting that he was the one to put an end to it with a shootout goal after Alexandre Texier’s goal in OT was waived off for an offside he caused:
I don’t know if I felt owed that goal, but I felt a bit guilty about the offside I caused in overtime. I’m disappointed I cost my stall mate, Tex [Alexandre Texier], a goal, but I’m happy with how it ended.
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It took some time before Martin St-Louis gave Bolduc the nod to have a shot on Daniil Tasarov, but he put that time to good use:
You’re always looking forward to your turn; you try to get ready as well as possible. You try to analyze as much stuff as you can when your teammates are taking their shots. You’re always looking forward to it; you’re always a bit nervous, but it’s a good stress- it’s excitement.
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While Bolduc might have felt guilty about costing Texier a goal, the Frenchman wasn’t the only one to see a goal overturned during the game. After Caufield's early goal, the referees also waived off Bolduc's own goal because Jake Evans interfered with the goaltender in the crease.
The referees don't have an easy job, and it could be easier if the NHL followed soccer’s example and put a tracker in the puck to prove whether it went in. Still, St-Louis didn’t want to entertain that thought:
I think they’re doing their best; I’m not sure I agree that they don’t have the technology. I think it’s rare for the calls to be wrong. I think they do a good job, so I’m going to stay on the right side.
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The coach didn’t want to get on the referees’ or the league’s bad side, but in those kinds of instances, human error and unnecessary lengthy delays could be removed from the game, and that’s something the league should look into.
In the end, the Canadiens got the two points, but it certainly wasn’t easy or quick. The first period featured a lengthy review, and the rest of the game featured a myriad of icing calls and offsides; the Habs had to work hard for those two points, and they will certainly make it easier to have a good day off on Sunday.
Could Washington Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa end up having the best career among players selected in the past three NBA drafts? | Getty Images
The most recent episode of the Thinking Basketball podcast, hosted by Ben Taylor and Cody Houdek, featured a fascinating thought exercise: what would a draft lottery look like if we put the past three drafts into a single prospect pool?
It was an interesting conversation that involves weighing the relative merits of players about whom we have varying levels of knowledge. The 2026 draft has yet to play a single regular season game, so they have to be ranked among players who have played one or two full seasons. In Bub Carrington’s case. “full seasons” is literal — he has yet to miss a game. All 82 both years.
I’m engaging in the exercise myself because their conversation was interesting, and it went directions and included and ordered players in ways I didn’t agree with. This is not to say they’re wrong, we’re picking based on who from this group will have the best careers, and reasonable minds can reach different conclusions.
Could Washington Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa end up having the best career among players selected in the past three NBA drafts? | Getty Images
For example, their top two was Dylan Harper and Caleb Wilson, which…I can’t get there. And I think both players are going to be really good. They Ajay Mitchell going tenth. I couldn’t get him in my top 15. Their full picks are below along with mine.
All that said, give their episode a listen — and then listen to some of their backlist and future episodes. It’s an engaging episode and a great show, and I learn a lot by listening to them.
Taylor and Houdek ended up selecting a top 10 — they’d planned 14 but punted the last four — I’m going the full lottery plus one, just for the heck of it. My consideration list runs 28 players deep — four from the 2026 draft, 13 from 2025, and 11 from 2024.
My draft of the drafts (comparing the relative merits of each draft class) goes 2026, then 2025, then 2024. The YODA evaluations of this year’s draft had four players with scores consistent with being the top overall pick in nearly any draft. In 2025, it was one. In 2024, it was zero. The top overall pick in 2024 — Zaccharie Risacher — had a second round grade in YODA and has already been traded.
For the top pick in this draft class, I have three candidates: AJ Dybantsa, Cooper Flagg, and Cameron Boozer. Those are the top picks in 2026 and 2025, and the third overall selection in 2025. In the “just missing the cut” group I have Darryn Peterson, Caleb Wilson, and Dylan Harper. While I think Harper is going to be terrific, I just can’t get him into that top group.
Choosing between the top three is about hair splitting. All three have great potential. I expect all three to be top-shelf NBA players over the next 10-15 years.
The Wizards chose Dybantsa first in a historically strong draft class because they believe in his athleticism, scoring, and overall ability. So do I.
Flagg went at the top in 2025 because he was clearly the best prospect in the draft and had virtually every marker of future success — strong NCAA production at a young age (he’s still the third youngest in the three combined draft classes), and good size and athletic tools.
Boozer had every statistical marker of becoming an elite NBA player — he was the most productive player in college basketball at age 18. He didn’t turn 19 until July. That kind of production from a collegiate player of any age is rare. At that age? It’s once in a generation kind of stuff. He “fell” in the draft because of questions about his size, athletic tools (he’s not blessed with quick feet or outstanding leaping ability) and perceived limitations on his ceiling.
When I evaluated Boozer, I thought the size questions were misplaced. He makes up for height with long arms, and his strength, craft, guile, and impact impressed.
So, who’s the top pick? While I was impressed with Flagg’s rookie season, and I think highly of Dybantsa and his future, I think Boozer is more likely to have the best career of the three.
For the second selection, I’m obviously choosing between Flagg and Dybantsa. My pick is Dybantsa because of the superior athletic tools.
At four, I’m considering four candidates. Peterson and Wilson from 2026, Harper from 2025, and Alex Sarr from 2024.
As previously mentioned, Peterson and Wilson each scored at the level of top overall picks in nearly any draft, according to YODA. Harper just completed a strong rookie regular season (92 PPA — average is 100 — 92 is a very good score for a teenage rookie), capped by outstanding performances in the NBA Finals. Sarr made a gargantuan leap in his second season, which included being one of the league’s busiest and most effective rim protectors.
This may be rank homerism, but my pick is Sarr. Based on watching every game he’s played the past two seasons, I think he has Defensive Player of the Year potential (especially in seasons when his countryman Victor Wembanyama doesn’t play 65 games) and has shown enough offensive chops to believe he can be a major contributor on that end, as well.
I’ll go Wilson, Harper, and Peterson with the next three picks — a modest preference for Wilson’s size and physical tools, and more hair splitting to choose Harper’s potential over the next decade ahead of Peterson’s.
That brings me to pick No. 8, and I think there’s a significant step down in quality. The top seven are all guys I can see appearing on All-NBA rosters and contending for major awards, including MVP. I see the next few more in that Bradley Beal type of level — potentially very good players who appear in multiple All-Star games, but are more fringe to All-NBA conversations. Like Beal or his backcourt buddy John Wall, third-team All-NBA, not first or second.
At this spot, I’m considering VJ Edgecombe and Kon Knueppel, and Stephon Castle from 2024. Once again, I like all three players. I had high evaluations on each in the draft. Castle was okay as a rookie made a Sarr-like leap in year two. The shooting is a question mark, but the defense, playmaking, and physical tools are outstanding. As a rookie, Knueppel’s shooting was already elite, and his movement shooting is plug-and-play on any good team. Edgecombe rated above average as a rookie last season (though behind Knueppel and Flagg).
So, my next three picks are: Castle, Knueppel, and Edgecombe, in that order.
As an aside, holy crap Spurs! In 2023, they drafted Victor Wembanyama. In 2024, they got Castle. In 2025, they chose Harper. That’s loading up!
At this point, I think there’s another step down in talent and potential. The next group are more likely to be high-quality role players who might make an All-Star game or two if everything breaks right, but I don’t think they’ll be competitive for all-league honors (except for maybe Sixth Man or perhaps All-Defense). That’s not to say they won’t be valuable — just that I don’t see “elite” in their futures.
That next group for me is Ace Bailey, Jeremiah Fears, Collin Murray-Boyles, Cedric Coward, Derek Queen, Ajay Mitchell, Matas Buzelis, and Tre Johnson. That’s eight guys for five spots. A few thoughts:
Bailey is a skilled wing with good size and some shooting ability.
Fears is a dynamic playmaker with great speed and not great size.
Murray-Boyles is a potential defensive terror.
Coward is a good shooter and solid all-around player.
Queen is a skilled big man with below average athletic tools, defensive deficiencies, and a higher turnover rate than I’d like.
Mitchell is a strong wings-and-guards defender with some shooting ability, though he’s 24 years old.
Buzelis is long, athletic, and skilled.
Johnson might be a great shooter in the mold of Klay Thompson, but hasn’t shown all-around production or defended well.
So, for picks 11-15, I’m going: Coward, Fears, Buzelis, Bailey, and Murray-Boyles.
AJ Dybantsa | F | Washington Wizards — TB: Caleb Wilson
Cooper Flagg | F | Dallas Mavericks — TB: Cooper Flagg
Alex Sarr | C | Washington Wizards — TB: Cameron Boozer
Caleb Wilson | F | Chicago Bulls — TB: Darryn Peterson
Dylan Harper | G | San Antonio Spurs — TB: AJ Dybantsa
Darryn Peterson | G | Utah Jazz — TB: Kon Knueppel
Stephon Castle | G | San Antonio Spurs — TB: Stephon Castle
Kon Knueppel | W | Charlotte Hornets — TB: VJ Edgecombe
VJ Edgecombe | G | Philadelphia 76ers — TB: Ajay Mitchell
Cedric Coward | W | Memphis Grizzlies
Jeremiah Fears | G | New Orleans Pelicans
Matas Buzelis | F | Chicago Bulls
Ace Bailey | W | Utah Jazz
Collin Murray-Boyles | F | Toronto Raptors
My biggest disagreement with the Thinking Basketball guys was Sarr — I had him fourth, they left him out of the top 10. Another big one: they picked Harper first overall, and I had him sixth.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 10: Aaron Wiggins #2 of the Atlanta Hawks handles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers during a preseason game on October 10, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Luther Schlaifer/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Editor’s note: this is the first piece from new staff writer Garrett Brown. He’ll be contributing to our site’s coverage. Please give him a warm welcome as we’re excited for him to join our team at Peachtree Hoops.
A champion lands in the A.
Aaron Wiggins brings versatility and championship experience to an Atlanta Hawks team looking to take another step forward.
The first player Atlanta traded for this offseason, Wiggins helped establish the direction of the Hawks’ summer. Improving depth and adding defensive flexibility became priorities, and the former Oklahoma City wing offers both while bringing experience that should benefit a young roster.
In the modern NBA, Wiggins fits the mold of a 3-and-D wing. Last season with the Thunder, he shot 36 percent from beyond the arc on 4.2 attempts per game. His shooting gives Atlanta another perimeter option alongside Jalen Johnson, particularly when opposing defenses collapse into the paint.
However, Wiggins can contribute beyond catching and shooting. He has shown the ability to attack closeouts, finish around the rim and handle the ball when needed. That versatility should help him keep possessions moving when the initial offensive action breaks down.
His career-high performance against Sacramento on February 1, 2025, demonstrated his scoring potential. Wiggins finished with 41 points on 16-for-30 shooting, including six three-pointers. Atlanta will not expect those numbers regularly, but that outing illustrates his ability to provide additional offense when opportunities arise.
Defensively, Wiggins can guard multiple perimeter positions and make an impact away from the ball. His active hands help disrupt passing lanes, while his awareness allows him to rotate into position for a potential steal or block. Those habits should fit Snyder’s emphasis on creating offense through defensive execution.
With Zaccharie Risacher and Jonathan Kuminga gone, the Hawks have responsibilities to redistribute on the wing. Wiggins should help fill that void, although Atlanta’s improved depth means he will need to earn consistent minutes through reliable shooting and disciplined defense.
His championship background adds another layer to that role. Alongside Lu Dort, Wiggins gives Atlanta another player who understands the preparation and commitment required to win at the highest level.
“There’s championship pedigree and experience that I bring, but with that as a basketball player, there’s competitiveness and just the motivation to win again that exists within me,” Wiggins said.
Wiggins believes that competitive energy can be contagious, helping teammates push one another and improve together. For a young Hawks roster, his everyday approach could prove as valuable as his individual production.
Head coach Quin Snyder also recognizes the importance of adding championship experience. He connected that background to defending consistently, establishing strong habits and giving Atlanta opportunities to run.
“I think first, to add players with championship-level pedigree, that’s something in and of itself that’s an excellent addition,” Snyder said. “Fundamentally, you do understand the importance of defending….that’s something our team began to really embrace. It’s a crucial element of our team…and when we’re grounded there and with our habits, that’s when we’ll be able to run. Those [Wiggins & Dort] guys have experienced that.”
Wiggins does not need to become a featured scorer to have a successful first season with the Hawks. Making open shots, attacking available lanes and executing defensive rotations would give Atlanta dependable production. Pairing those contributions with the winning habits he brings could make him an important piece of the Hawks’ next step.
Feb 25, 2024; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and general manager Sam Fuld talk in the dugout before a game against the New York Yankees at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
So now we know all the participants in the coming ALCS and NLCS matchups. Dodgers and Brewers begins tonight, which should be an outstanding series.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Colton Cowser #17 of the Baltimore Orioles walks back to the dugout out during game one of a baseball doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 23, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello, friends.
There are now 164 days remaining until the next scheduled Orioles game. The next several months will be full of trying to find fresh ways to express that there is uncertainty as to whether any game will be played on that date, whether spring training report dates will happen as scheduled, and so on.
For now, there are the MLB playoffs continuing as a diversion from the harsh labor situation to come. The Guardians and White Sox took their series to five games, with the decisive game taking place yesterday. Future Hall of Famer José Ramírez hit a two-run home run in a game the Guardians won, 2-0, to take the series.
Cleveland pitchers recorded 21 strikeouts in the clincher, with starting pitcher Gavin Williams leading the way with 12 of them. Williams struck out 248 batters in the regular season to lead all AL pitchers and he’s already struck out 24 through 11.2 innings in this postseason.
On the National League side, the LCS between the Dodgers and Brewers – a rematch of last year’s NLCS – gets under way tonight at 8pm. Good luck to the Brewers. Mostly because I think it will be pretty boring if the Dodgers get the three-peat, and I am not interested in the way a Dodgers three-peat will contribute to the CBA negotiation discourse. Somebody beat these guys already. Thanks!
Orioles stuff you might have missed
We are in the time of year where you may encounter links repeated on multiple days, particularly on weekends. Sorry!
Wondering how Orioles would have fared in the postseason (Baltimore Baseball) This topic has been on my mind as well. Rich Dubroff lays out that the O’s may have had a nice set of starting pitchers to go around, but otherwise thinks the team is far off from even the low level of the Guardians-White Sox series.
One of the best stories of 2026: Brandon Young (Steve on Baseball) The Orioles went 19-9 in Young’s starts, and how he pitched had a whole lot to do with that. He might be the difference between the team having a win total in the 60s and not.
Down to Earth: On ground ball rates and Aron Estrada (Green Spreadsheets of the Mind) This prospect-interested Substack crunched some numbers about prospects with high ground ball rates and their likelihood of becoming successful big leaguers, with particular notice of my guy Aron Estrada.
Are the Orioles listening? Their fans think they aren’t. (The Baltimore Banner) Here’s the thing for me. If the front office listens to the fans, they’re going to get fired. The fans don’t know anything. If the business operations aren’t listening to the fans, they’re going to have problems with keeping fans.
How Colton Cowser believes he can return to form in 2027. (Orioles.com) Among the goals are avoiding having the bad months be as bad as they were. This should be an achievable goal, which is not to say it’s guaranteed to be achieved.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
Today in 1971, the Orioles won Game 2 of the World Series against the Pirates, with Brooks Robinson setting a World Series record by reaching base five consecutive times. The Orioles won the game, 11-3, to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Let’s not think too hard about the rest of that series.
In 2012, the O’s pulled to a 2-2 tie with the Yankees in the ALDS that year, with J.J. Hardy driving in the go-ahead run in the 13th inning. Let’s not think too hard about the rest of that series.
In 2014, the Orioles played the second game of the ALCS. Let’s not think about that series at all.
There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2025 pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, 2009-10 infielder Ty Wigginton, 1988-93 pitcher Gregg Olson, 1968 infielder Mike Fiore, and 1956-60 catcher Joe Ginsberg.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: Heinz founder Henry J. Heinz (1844), first lady and diplomat Eleanor Roosevelt (1884), former Orioles broadcaster Jon Miller (1951), Mystery Science Theater 3000 guy Mike Nelson (1964), former Baltimore Ravens defensive standout Terrell Suggs (1982), and rapper Cardi B (1992).
On this day in history…
In 1899, settlers of the Dutch-speaking Boer republics of southern Africa launched preemptive strikes against the British colony in South Africa, sparking the Second Boer War, which lasted nearly three years and ended with those republics being absorbed into the British empire.
In 1910, President Theodore Roosevelt flew in a plane, becoming the first president to ever do so. He was flown around by a pilot named Arch Hoxsey.
In 1968, the Apollo 7 mission launched. This was NASA’s first successful crewed mission in the Apollo program. Over 11 days, the three astronauts in the crew tested a variety of functions of the spacecraft that would later take men to the moon.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on October 11. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!
CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 22: New York Yankee legend Bernie Williams, who not only has had his number 51 retired by the Yankees but has also been nominated for a Grammy Award, performs the National Anthem on his guitar prior to the game between the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals on September 22, 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | Getty Images
Several months back, I began a series here at Pinstripe Alley where I was going to put together an All-Star Yankee team of players who were born in a given month. Since then, we as a staff have started doing daily posts for the year 2026, highlighting a Yankee from history whose birthday happens to land on that day. As we near the end of this month, what better way to put a cap on a month’s worth of birthday posts then by using the all-month teams as a way to look back on who we covered? And maybe some we didn’t cover who shared a birthday with someone else?
With that in mind, here are my choices for the All-September Birthday Yankee Team. (I was a little busy with playoff stuff to get this post ready before the end of September itself.)
September has a pretty deep rotation, with the likes of Gerrit Cole, Bob Turley, Al Orth, Slow Joe Doyle, Randy Johnson, Jim Abbott, Doyle Alexander, and others available. However, the ace of the staff should probably be the Hall of Famer Hoyt, who won three World Series titles in the Bronx.
Catcher: Fran Healy
On the other hand, catcher is not particularly deep, so we’ll go with Healy, who was a backup on the 1977 World Series team.
First Base: Frank Chance
Chance is a Hall of Famer for his playing career as part of the “Tinkers to Evers to Chance” double play trio with the Cubs, who he also led to multiple championships as the manager. His Yankee player-manager career…went less well. He’ll be player-manager for September to see if he can lead this team to any better fate.
Second Base: Neil Walker
Walker wasn’t profiled as his September 10th birthdate is actually a pretty prolific one for the Yankees.
“Scooter” is a beloved figure in Yankees’ history, both for his playing career, where he won seven championships and the 1950 AL MVP, and his subsequent broadcasting career.
In his rookie season, Tresh was honored as the 1962 AL Rookie of the Year. He helped the Yankees to a championship that season and was a bright spot in the down years that came in the mid to late 1960s.
“King Kong” played with some other iconic Yankees of the 1930s and ‘40s, so he sometimes gets overlooked, but he was a beast. In 13 career seasons, he posted a 152 OPS+ with a career .410 OBP.
Because he missed out on the 2009 championship, Williams doesn’t get included in the “Core Four” stuff, but Bernie was an integral part of the late 1990s and early 2000s championship teams, being another homegrown star. Not only will he be right in the heart of September’s lineup, but he can also serenade the team with music before or after games.
As mentioned, September 10th was a common birthday in Yankees’ history, getting its second player on the team with another to come. Maris was undoubtedly the best September 10th Yankee, winning two MVPs, including in his famous 61 home run 1961 season.
The outfield bench is…interesting, as it includes Tim Raines, Jacoby Ellsbury (if he’s not hurt), Heliot Ramos, and Chris Young.
Designated Hitter: Paul Goldschmidt
“Goldy” is the third member of the September 10th club on this team. His numbers as a Yankee won’t wow anyone years from now, but he was a perfectly solid platoon bat for the last two seasons.
That’s my team for September, but how would you fill out the lineup card?
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) pitches during the first inning of their National League Division Series game against the San Diego Padres at American Family Field on Oct 3, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
After eight days of Division Series games, we have arrived at the League Championship Series, and the top four seeds all advanced. Rest didn’t affect these teams much as they rode first-round byes through the round. The next round begins today, with the NLCS taking center stage before the ALCS kicks off tomorrow. It’s best-of-seven series the rest of the way.
Earlier this week, we’ve posted a few in-depth previews of the series:
AL Championship Series: (1) Tampa Bay Rays vs. (2) Cleveland Guardians
The two series went in opposite directions in the ALDS. The Rays finished the regular season leading the AL at 98-64, 4.5 games ahead of the 93-68 Yankees. While the Yankees came into the series after two blowouts of the Red Sox in the Wild Card round, that momentum was quickly squashed. The Rays never trailed in the ALDS and swept the Yankees 3-0 to advance. Meanwhile, the Guardians had to fight their way here. They lost their first two home games, forcing them into three straight elimination games. The Guardians survived, winning two in Chicago before taking Game 5 at home to advance. The Guardians are in the ALCS for the second time in three seasons, while the Rays are back for the first time since the shortened 2020 season.
Schedule
Game 1 @ Tampa Bay: Monday, October 12 @ 7:00 p.m. (TBS & HBO Max)
Game 2 @ Tampa Bay: Tuesday, October 13 @ 7:00 p.m. (TBS & HBO Max)
Game 3 @ Cleveland: Thursday, October 15 @ 5:00 p.m. (TBS & HBO Max)
Game 4 @ Cleveland: Friday, October 16 @ 5:00 p.m. (TBS & HBO Max)
Game 5* @ Cleveland: Saturday, October 17 @ 7:00 p.m. (TBS & HBO Max)
Game 6* @ Tampa Bay: Monday, October 19 @ 4:00 p.m. (TBS & HBO Max)
Game 7* @ Tampa Bay: Tuesday, October 20 @ 7:00 p.m. (TBS & HBO Max)
Team Rankings
Rays:
Offense: .258/.326/.402 (.728 OPS ranks eighth); 169 HRs (22nd); 736 runs (12th); 164 SBs (tied for second)
Pitching: 3.70 team ERA (seventh); 3.51 starter ERA (third); 3.99 reliever ERA (14th); 1,322 Ks (19th)
Pitching: 3.77 team ERA (eighth); 3.93 starter ERA (ninth); 3.54 reliever ERA (sixth); 1,530 Ks (third)
Projected Pitching Matchups
Game 1: TBD vs. TBD
Game 2: TBD vs. TBD
Game 3: TBD vs. TBD
Game 4: TBD vs. TBD
Game 5*: TBD vs. TBD
Game 6*: TBD vs. TBD
Game 7*: TBD vs. TBD
Prediction
This will be a series between a well-rested Rays team and a battle-tested Guardians team. The Rays are set up to deploy their rotation in whatever order they want, along with a fresh bullpen. Meanwhile, the Guardians had to deploy their top two starters twice against the White Sox, which means they likely won’t have Parker Messick until Game 2 and Gavin Williams until Game 3. Cade Smith, their closer, also pitched in all five games. The Rays dominated the season series between the two teams, taking five of six games including a sweep in Tampa Bay. I think it will be a similar situation in the ALDS, and will take the Rays in five games.
NL Championship Series: (1) Milwaukee Brewers vs. (2) Los Angeles Dodgers
On the NL side of the bracket, both the Brewers and Dodgers needed four games each to advance to the NLCS. The Brewers needed some time to get going, but comebacks in their first two games gave them a 2-0 lead, and a solid team performance in Game 4 sent them to the next round. For the Dodgers, they split their two home games, but their pitching staff held the Braves to two runs in Atlanta to advance. This sets up a rematch from last season between the Brewers and Dodgers, as well as their third NLCS meeting in the last nine seasons.
Schedule
Game 1 @ Milwaukee: Sunday, October 12 @ 7:00 p.m. (FOX)
Game 2 @ Milwaukee: Monday, October 13 @ 4:00 p.m. (FOX or FS1)
Game 3 @ Los Angeles: Wednesday, October 15 @ 7:00 p.m. (FS1)
Game 4 @ Los Angeles: Thursday, October 16 @ 8:00 p.m. (FS1)
Game 5* @ Los Angeles: Friday, October 16 @ 8:00 p.m. (FS1)
Game 6* @ Milwaukee: Sunday, October 18 @ 7:00 p.m. (FS1)
Game 7* @ Milwaukee: Monday, October 19 @ 7:00 p.m. (FOX or FS1)
Team Rankings
Brewers:
Offense: .258/.341/.403 (.744 OPS ranks tied for third); 154 HRs (tied for 28th); 832 runs (second); 162 SBs (fifth)
Pitching: 3.51 team ERA (second); 3.61 starter ERA (fifth); 3.40 reliever ERA (third); 1,544 Ks (second)
Dodgers:
Offense: .257/.338/.424 (.762 OPS ranks second); 204 HRs (tied for seventh); 801 runs (fourth); 72 SBs (28th)
Pitching: 3.55 team ERA (fourth); 3.43 starter ERA (second); 3.74 reliever ERA (ninth); 1,521 Ks (fourth)
Projected Pitching Matchups
Game 1: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (MIL) vs. LHP Tarik Skubal (LAD)
Game 2: TBD vs. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD)
Game 3: TBD vs. TBD
Game 4: TBD vs. TBD
Game 5*: TBD vs. TBD
Game 6*: TBD vs. TBD
Game 7*: TBD vs. TBD
Prediction
While the Brewers have been the best team in the regular season for two straight years, the four-game sweep by the Dodgers last year has been a giant blemish on their work. This team is hungry to prove that they can win in the big moments. However, the Dodgers have proven over and over again that they can win when it matters. Pitching will be on full display in this one as two of the best pitching staffs match up. I don’t think this one will go against the Brewers again. It was a 4-3 Brewers advantage in the regular season. I’ll take that same margin in the NLCS, with the Brewers winning in seven games.
