Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler #31 is greeted by his teammates in the dugout.
Amid all the anger, frustration and pitchforks around the swept-out-of-the-playoffs Yankees and their fanbase, there is the bright, shining and flame-throwing light that is Cam Schlittler.
There are no rings, but there probably will be hardware for the Yankees ace, whose dominance, from the start of the season through the end, likely will culminate with the American League Cy Young Award on Wednesday.
Schlittler, the favorite, is a finalist alongside Toronto’s Dylan Cease and Cleveland’s Parker Messick in a competition that Schlittler’s manager essentially declared over in September.
“He’s the best pitcher in the league,” Aaron Boone said then of Schlittler, who had emerged from obscurity to assert himself as one of the premier arms in the game.
Toward the end of the season — about when Cease began to slow down in September and then was placed on the injured list with shoulder inflammation — Schlittler’s competition transitioned from his peers to his baseball ancestors. Cease (2.40 ERA with 239 strikeouts in 169 innings) was excellent in his first season with the Blue Jays, and Messick (2.56 ERA in 32 starts and 186 ¹/₃ innings) was extraordinary while finishing as the runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year.
This season, Schlittler’s 1.95 ERA was the best in the American League — only trailing Jacob Misiorowski’s 1.80 mark in the majors — and the third lowest in franchise history, behind Spud Chandler’s 1.64 in 1943 and Ron Guidry’s 1.74 in 1978. He allowed one run or fewer in 21 starts, which led the majors and was a franchise record. His 239 strikeouts were tied with Jack Chesbro (1904) for fourth most by a Yankees pitcher ever, trailing Cole (257 in 2022 and 243 in 2021) and Guidry (248 in 1978). His 1.16 ERA in 17 road starts was the fifth lowest such mark in a season since 1913, behind Bob Gibson’s 0.81 ERA in 1968, Walter Johnson’s 1.06 ERA in 1913 and 1.13 ERA in 1918 and Greg Maddux’s 1.12 ERA in 1995.
New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays. Charles Wenzelberg for New York Post
The bigger the stakes, the better Schlittler has been. In Game 1 of the wild-card series against a team from his hometown and one he owns, the righty struck out 10 across 6 ¹/₃ scoreless innings in a win over the Red Sox. In his follow-up, he was let down by the defense behind him and allowed four runs — just two of which were earned — in 4 ¹/₃ innings in a loss to the Rays.
In four career postseason starts, he has pitched to a 1.44 ERA in 25 innings. For a Yankees team that has not figured out the cause of its consistent October disappointments, Schlittler has not been the problem.
“The personal stuff, whatever happens, that’s great,’’ Schlittler said after the Yankees were knocked out. “But at the end of the day, I’d rather win a championship.”
Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler #31 is greeted by his teammates in the dugout. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Nearly as remarkable as Schlittler’s first full season in the majors was his journey to the majors. A Walpole, Mass., kid who stayed home and played at Northeastern, where he did not strike out a batter per inning as a lanky, 6-foot-6 redshirt sophomore, and became overall pick No. 200 in the 2022 draft.
In his first minor league season, he threw a low-90s fastball, pitched to a 4.11 ERA in 14 games and later would look back at that pitcher and say he “sucked.”
Schlittler began to put on pounds and saw his velocity begin to spike. He became an interesting prospect in 2024, when he topped out at Double-A. He took off in 2025, when he forced his way to a debut in July, unveiled an assortment of triple-digit heat that did not need an offspeed pitch mixed in (although he since has developed a curveball) and simply has been the best pitcher in baseball since.
Beginning with his July 9, 2025, debut, the 25-year-old leads the majors in ERA (2.23), is tied for first in starts (47), ranks fourth in opponents’ batting average (.194) and sixth in WHIP (1.00). For a pitcher whose first 47 appearances were all starts, his ERA is the second best ever since 1913, trailing just Paul Skenes’ 1.95.
“You have a plan for every player that they do this, this and that, they can get better — Cam’s shown the ability to do that,” Boone said of Schlittler in October. “Whether it’s taking information, whether it’s coming out of the draft and getting physically stronger. All the things that have been put on his plate, he’s handled with relative ease and not been overwhelmed by any of it.
“You saw kind of a rapid, steady improvement through the minor leagues to what he is now, and he’s turned into an ace in the sport. That’s a credit to a lot of people, most of all Cam, though, for having that aptitude.”
Pedro Guerrero spent two seasons as the Miami Marlins hitting instructor after stints with the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants. (Rich Storry / Getty Images)
The Dodgers hired former Miami Marlins hitting coach Pedro Guerrero, filling the one opening on their coaching staff.
The team announced the move Tuesday, during the first day of MLB’s general managers meetings.
Guerrero has ties to the Dodgers organization, as a minor-league player from 2006-13. He also served as the bench coach for rookie-level Ogden in 2016-17.
“Petey, we obviously have some familiarity with having been here before,” general manager Brandon Gomes said. “We know he’s an amazing person, going to fit in great culturally. Has a lot of strengths that we think will complement our group.”
The Dodgers had wanted to bring Guerrero back in some capacity, “independent” of their unexpected opening on the coaching staff, Gomes said.
Guerrero spent two seasons as the Marlins’ hitting coach before the team decided not to retain him, opting for a “new voice,” as president of baseball operations Peter Bendix put it in late September, while praising Guerrero as a person and a coach.
Then, former co-hitting coach Aaron Bates and the Dodgers reached an impasse in contract negotiations and parted ways last week.
Guerrero will work alongside longtime hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc.
“It’s really important for us, how we see things, to have a flat structure and know that it’s collaborative across the board,” Gomes said. “The main thing is trying to put people in a position to succeed. And how that looks, we’re going to continue to hammer out over the next week to month.”
Guerrero also worked as an assistant hitting coach for the Philadelphia Phillies (2018-21) and San Francisco Giants (2022-24) before joining the Marlins.
Ilya Safonov is headed back to the KHL. According to a report from Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie and Dhali, the Russian forward has left the Abbotsford Canucks and is headed back home. At the time of writing, it is unknown what KHL team Safonov will join, but he has spent his entire pro career in Russia with Ak Bars Kazan.
Safonov signed a one-year contract with the Canucks this past off-season. He started the year in the AHL with Abbotsford, where he posted four points in 12 games. Safonov is able to go back to the KHL, as he has a clause in his contract that allows the move.
Vancouver acquired the rights to Safonov back in 2025 from the Chicago Blackhawks for future considerations. The 25-year-old was drafted 172nd overall in 2021, but did not sign with Chicago. In 331 career KHL games, Safonov has scored 65 goals and recorded 128 points.
Ilya Safonov at Vancouver Canucks Development Camp (Photo Credit: Kaja Antic/The Hockey News)
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 07: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees reacts after giving up a home run to Victor Mesa Jr. #25 of the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning in game three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 07, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This afternoon, Brian Cashman spoke with reporters at the GM meetings in Las Vegas, revealing among other tidbits that that Max Fried recently underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his throwing elbow. The left-hander will be able to resume throwing at some point in December and is expected to make a full recovery in time for spring training.
Fried experienced issues with his throwing arm throughout the 2026 season. He first hit the injured list in mid-May after suffering a bone bruise in his elbow in a start against the Orioles. He returned in July but only lasted about a few weeks back in the rotation before another bone bruise landed him on the IL again in mid-August. That trip to the IL was described as more precautionary than anything at the time, and indeed Fried was activated in September and was fully stretched out by the time the playoffs rolled around.
Even as Fried’s throwing arm proved troublesome, he managed to produce when on the field. Fried posted a 2.80 ERA and 2.65 FIP in 2026, both slight improvements on his stellar 2025 debut campaign with the Yankees, albeit in just 112 innings this year.
You never want to hear that your ace needs surgery, but the fact that Fried has avoided major injury, all while pitching at a high level when active, suggests he could be even better when he returns in 2027. Of course, his expectation of being back for spring training is complicated by the fact that we have no idea when spring will even start next season. In any event, whenever the season starts, the Yankees will expect a healthy and elite version of Fried.
LAS VEGAS — The Dodgers didn’t leave their hitting coach vacancy open for long.
The team announced on Tuesday that it had hired 37-year-old Pedro Guerrero as its new co-hitting coach alongside Robert Van Scoyoc, filling the void that was left by Aaron Bates’ departure from the organization last week.
“We know he’s an amazing person, going to fit in great culturally,” general manager Brandon Gomes said during MLB’s annual General Managers’ Meetings at the Aria Resort and Casino. “He has a lot of strengths that we think will complement our group.”
Pedro Guerrero #85 of the Miami Marlins stands in the dugout at Oracle Park on June 25, 2025, in San Francisco, California. Getty Images
Guerrero comes to the Dodgers after spending the past two seasons as the Marlins’ hitting coach. Before that, he was an assistant hitting coach with the Giants and Phillies, as well as a minor-league bench coach in the Dodgers’ organization from 2016-17 with their rookie-level affiliate in Ogden, Utah.
“We obviously have some familiarity with having been here before,” Gomes said.
That familiarity led the Dodgers to begin exploring a role for Guerrero –– who was not retained by the Marlins at the start of this offseason –– even before they encountered a contract impasse with Bates.
Once Bates’ exodus became official last week, the team quickly pivoted to Guerrero to fill the open post.
“This is kind of something we’ve been talking about for a bit,” Gomes said. “[At first], it was independent of Aaron, to be honest. Thinking about how could we bring him on in some role. And then as things shaked out, we figured we would make it official and bring him on board, and then kind of see where we’re at from there.”
While the share of exact duties between Guerrero, Van Scoyoc (who has been in his role since 2019) and game-planning and communication coach JT Watkins (the team’s de facto assistant hitting coach) still have to be ironed out, Gomes said “it’s really important for us, how we see things, to have a flat structure” between their hitting staff and “know that it’s collaborative across the board.”
“[We have a roster full of] a lot of really talented guys that have been incredibly successful and understand what it takes to succeed at the highest level,” Gomes said. “And with that comes making sure [your coaches] continue to build trust and have that relationship to, if you see something that maybe looks a little bit off, having the ability to bring it up in a way that’ll land properly. So we’re fortunate enough that we have a group that is not ego-based, and all they want to do is win.”
Miami Marlins hitting coach Pedro Guerrero (85) and Agustin Ramirez (50) stand on the field against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, April 4, 2026. Getty Images
As a player, Guerrero also spent most of his eight-year minor-league career (from 2006 to 2013) in the Dodgers’ farm system, where he hit .236 with 23 home runs in 411 games. The Dominican-born infielder reached the club’s Triple-A affiliate in 2010 but never got a call-up to the majors.
Instead, Guerrero has forged his big-league path as a coach. He spent four seasons in his assistant hitting coach role with the Phillies and three with the Giants (working both times with former Dodgers farm director Gabe Kapler). He was then tabbed as the Marlins’ primary hitting coach ahead of the 2025 season (under then newly hired Miami manager Clayton McCullough, who was previously the Dodgers’ first-base coach).
This past year, the Marlins ranked just 18th in the majors in scoring but made other improvements compared to 2025 in batting average (from ranking 11th to seventh among MLB offenses), on-base percentage (from 17th to sixth) and OPS (from 18th to ninth).
“He did a tremendous job for us,” Bendix said, according to MLB.com. “He’s a wonderful human being. We’re going to miss having him around and really appreciate everything that Pedro gave to us. Just time for a new voice in the hitting space.”
The Dodgers are hoping Guerrero (who has the added benefit of being able to speak Spanish) can now provide the same dynamic in Los Angeles –– coming off a season in which the team ranked top five in scoring, batting average and OPS but also slumped through much of the second half of the campaign and struggled to consistently manufacture offense in the playoffs.
“We certainly didn’t come in expecting [to make a coaching change this offseason],” Gomes said, reiterating that the Dodgers had been planning on things to remain status quo with their staff before their contract negotiations with Bates stalled.
But “no matter what,” he added, “we were going to kind of take a step back to reevaluate and understand what are some of the things that we can do better? How can we message? Can we take a fresh look at some of our reports and how they’re being digested? So we were going to take a fresh look no matter what. The goal is to be better than we were the year before and continuing to find ways to improve and get back to being a world champion.”
San Jose Sharks forward Mason Marchment has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowed under the current collective bargaining agreement, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced on Tuesday morning.
At 8:52 in the third period of the Sharks’ game against the New York Islanders on Monday night, Marchment was awarded a double-minor penalty for roughing Islanders rookie Victor Eklund.
After Eklund threw a dangerous hit on Kiefer Sherwood, which was reviewed for a five-minute major but eventually it was ruled that was no penalty on the play, Marchment hit Eklund will multiple ungloved upper-cuts.
The money from Marchment’s fine goes toward the Players’ Emergency Relief Fund.
With the Department of Player Safety's ruling, Marchment is expected to be available for tomorrow night's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins since he was able to avoid suspension.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 16: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 16, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston Celtics (8-2) at Philadelphia 76ers (9-2) Tuesday, November 10, 2026 8:00 PM ET Game #11 Road #6 TV: Peacock/NBC Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub, 97.5 The Fanatic, Sirius XM Xfinity Mobile Arena
The Celtics visit the Philadelphia 76ers for the first of 4 games between them this season. They will meet in Philadelphia again on February 7. They will meet twice in Boston on January 21 and March 7. This is likely the most anticipated matchup of the season so far as there are many stories to watch in this game.
First, there is the beef, or the lamb chops and gravy, or whatever you want to call what has been going on between Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown since the trade. In the preseason, as they were both warming up, they didn’t even acknowledge each other. There has been a back and forth of words between them ever since. Also there is the story of Paul George returning to Philly for the first time and of Jaylen Brown and PG13 facing their former teams. There is also the story of the long time rivalry between the Celtics and 76ers and the teams who faced each other in the 2nd round of the playoffs last season.
There is also the story of the top 2 teams in the East facing off. The 8-2 Celtics are 2nd in the East with only Philadelphia (9-2) half a game ahead of them in the standings. The Celtics have won their last 3 games and the 76ers are looking for their 2nd straight win. The Celtics are 2-2 on the road while the 76ers are 4-2 at home. The Celtics won both games in the preseason. Both teams are 2-0 in games against division rivals.
The Celtics are playing in the first of back to back games. This is their 3rd back to back set this season already. They won the first game in both of their back to back sets this season. One win was at home while the other was on the road. The Celtics are 275-200 overall all time against the 76ers. They are 94-130 in games played in Philly. They tied the series 2-2 last season, with each team winning one at home and one on the road.
The 76ers made one of the biggest moves of the off season, trading Paul George to the Celtics to get Jaylen Brown. They also signed LeBron James, Dean Wade, Ariel Hukporti and Anfernee Simons as free agents. They drafted Labaron Philon, Jr with the 22nd pick in the draft. Along with Paul George, they lost Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre, Jr and Andre Drummond. Mike Gansey also replaced Daryl Morey as the 76ers’ president of basketball operations.
After this game, the Celtics will complete their 4 game road trip with a game in Toronto in back to back games Wednesday. Then they play Dallas and Orlando at home before a West coast trip that takes them through Denver, Sacramento, Golden State, and Washington. They then play one game at home against Atlanta before playing at San Antonio and Dallas. Then it’s home against Charlotte before a game at Brooklyn.
The 76ers will host Toronto and Indiana before road games at Brooklyn and Orlando. Then they host Milwaukee, Portland and Miami before games at Indiana and Houston. Then they have a 3 game home stand against Memphis, Denver and Orlando before playing at Orlando. Next they host Dallas and play at Charlotte. They will host Houston before a 5 game Western road trip.
The Celtics have been changing their starting lineup with Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Neemias Queta getting starts along with Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum and Mitchell Robinson. The starting lineup is a work in progress for the Celtics, especially the shooting guard spot that has changed pretty much from game to game. Mike Conley got the start against the Bucks, but I’m guessing that White, Walsh, George, Tatum and Queta get the start in this one. The 76ers should start Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown, James and Embiid.
The Celtics have no one on the injury report as of this time. Chris Cenac, Jr and the Celtics 3 two way players will likely be with Maine. The 76ers have 3 players out as of now. Adem Bona and Dominick Barlow are both out due to back injuries. Ariel Hukporti is out for the season due to a torn Achilles. Joel Embiid has been struggling with plantar faciitis but is expected to play in this game.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey
Derrick White | Getty ImagesTyrese Maxey | Getty Images
SG: Jordan Walsh vs VJ Edgecombe
Jordan Walsh | NBAE via Getty ImagesVJ Edgecombe | Getty Images
SF: Paul George vs Jaylen Brown
Paul George | NBAE via Getty ImagesJaylen Brown | NBAE via Getty Images
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Lebron James
Jayson Tatum | NBAE via Getty ImagesLeBron James | Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Chris Cenac, Jr Mike Conley, Jr Luka Garza Jordan Walsh Ron Harper, Jr Sam Hauser Payton Pritchard Mitchell Robinson Baylor Scheierman
Two Way Players Devin Carter Dillon Mitchell Amari Williams
Injuries/Out Adem Bona (back) out Dominick Barlow (back) out Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) out
Head Coach Nick Nurse
Key Matchups Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey Maxey is averaging 26.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He is shooting 48.1% from the field and 34.1% from beyond the arc. His 26.9 ppg ranks 3rd in the East. He is quick and so the Celtics will need to work hard to stay in front of him. They will need Derrick White’s defense to be sharp in this one.
Paul George vs Jaylen Brown This should be an incredible matchup to watch. Brown is averaging 22.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.2 steals. He is shooting 47.7% from the field and 39.2% from beyond the arc. I expect Brown to come in with a chip on his shoulder to prove that he is the better player among Paul George, Jayson Tatum and himself. Paul George just needs to focus on playing team ball and being his best self.
Honorable Mention Neemias Queta vs Joel Embiid Embiid is averaging 17.9 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. He is shooting 38% from the field and 10% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to keep Embiid out of the paint and off the boards. Queta needs to find a way to stay out of foul trouble and to counter Embiid on defense.
Keys to the Game Defense – As always, defense is absolutely the key to winning this, and every, game. It is very true that defense wins championships. Shots don’t always fall but players can always play hard on defense. The Celtics are 3rd with an offensive rating of 117.9 while the 76ers are 20th with an offensive rating of 110.3. The Celtics are 4th with a defensive rating of 106.3. The 76ers aren’t far behind with a defensive rating of 107.6. The Celtics must give full out effort on defense for every minute of this game if they hope to beat the loaded 76ers team.
Rebound – Next to defense, rebounding is always a big key to winning. The key to rebounding is effort and focus. The 76ers are 19th with 43.4 rebounds per game while the Celtics are 10th with 45.0 rebounds per game. The Celtics have to fight as a team to try to grab every rebound to avoid the 76ers getting 2nd chance points because the 76ers average 14.7 second chance points per game. In order to win the possession battle, the Celtics must crash the boards and fight for every rebound.
Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes – The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. They have to stay focused on playing basketball the right way as a team. They have to avoid getting wound up in the Tatum vs Brown and Brown vs George narratives. They have to play team ball and give all out effort to get to the basket, to defend, to rebound, to hustle after loose balls and to play hard on every possession.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics play the best when they move the ball and find the best shot. They struggle when they try to do too much individually. But, they have to be careful handling the ball and making passes. The 76ers are best in the league at taking care of the ball with just 12.9 turnovers per game. The Celtics are 12th with 14.9 turnovers per game. They have to stay focused and avoid turning the ball over.
X-Factors On the Road – The Celtics will be on the road once again for the 3rd straight game and they will be facing a very hostile crowd. Philly fans hate the Celtics because they have pretty much owned them in recent years. They hate Jayson Tatum because the Celtics took him with Philly’s pick after the 76ers traded up to take Markelle Fultz. They now have another reason to hate the Celtics and that is to back up Jaylen Brown who has been very bitter against the Celtics and his former running mate. There will likely be a lot of boos and the Celtics need to play through them. They have to shake off the distractions of playing on the road and stay focused on playing Celtics basketball.. They can use the boos as motivation to play even harder.
Coaching – Joe Mazzulla is in his 5th season as Celtics’ head coach. He won a title in 2024 with a very talented team that was packed with shooting stars. Now he has to win in a different way since his personnel has changed and so far he is doing a good job. Nick Nurse is in his 9th season as a head coach overall and his 4th as the 76ers head coach. He won a title with the Raptors in 2019. Nurse came out ahead in the playoffs last season. Can Mazzulla win this round?
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus from playing the game. The Celtics also have to be aware of the new points of emphasis for this season and try to avoid flopping, off‑arm push‑offs, reckless closeouts, delays before free throws, and illegal screens. They have been especially calling flops and push offs and so the Celtics need to make an effort to avoid doing both.
No Japanese pro team scouted Teruaki Sato out of high school.
Now, he's Japan's Triple Crown winner and he has three weeks to land an MLB contract.
Sato, 27, won the Central League Triple Crown for the Hanshin Tigers this season, hitting .306 with 39 homers and 106 RBIs, a year after he was named league MVP. No Japanese-born Tiger had ever done it. Hanshin posted him for MLB teams Nov. 1, and USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale said Sato might be the top position player in a weak free agent class. The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Detroit Tigers have all been lined to him.
Front offices are in Las Vegas this week for the general manager meetings, the first big stop of the offseason.
Here's who Sato is, how good he is and which teams are really interested in him.
Who is Teruaki Sato?
Sato grew up in Nishinomiya, the city that's home to Koshien Stadium, rooting for the Tigers. He hit 15 homers as a senior at Nigawa High School, and the pros still passed on him. Kindai University did not. He moved from left field to third base in college and set the Kansai Big Six league record with 14 homers as a senior and won two league MVP awards.
Japan's draft doesn't work like MLB. In the first round, teams don't pick in order. Every team names the player it wants at the same time, and when more than one names the same player, they draw lots for him.
In 2020, four teams named Sato. He went to his hometown Hanshin Tigers.
As a rookie in 2021, he hit 24 homers and struck out 38% of the time. He became the first left-handed hitter in Japanese pro history to open a career with three straight 20-homer seasons. Then he slumped badly enough in 2024 to get sent down for 17 games.
Sato grew into the game. In 2025 he hit 40 homers with 102 RBI, and the home run and RBI titles, the MVP award and a Golden Glove at third base.
This year, he added the batting title. He hit .306/.383/.609 in 143 games, led the league with 165 hits and finished four homers ahead of teammate Shota Morishita. He's the ninth player in Japanese pro history to win a Triple Crown and the first since Munetaka Murakami in 2022. The only other Tiger to do it is Randy Bass (1985 and 1986).
Sato is the first reigning MVP position player to join MLB since Hideki Matsui in 2003.
Sato bats left, he throws right and is listed at 6-1, 207 pounds. He turns 28 in March.
How good is Teruaki Sato?
His raw numbers undersell him. Central League hitters batted .236/.301/.350 this season, and teams averaged 3.40 runs a game. Sato hit .306/.383/.609 in 143 games. Sato also plays his home game at Koshien, one of Japan's best parks for pitchers.
According to MLB.com, Sato's swing averages close to 75 miles per hour, which would rank him among MLB's top 50 hitters. His exit velocity matched Shohei Ohtani's mark in 2026.
"When he hits them, he hits them really hard," said an MLB scout who has evaluated Sato and spoke on the condition of anonymity because he isn't authorized to discuss players publicly.
The scout called Sato's raw power "definitely above average," though not Murakami's.
The concern is that he misses a lot.
Japanese baseball analyst Yuri Karasawa found that Sato swings more than nearly any notable hitter in Japan over the past five years. He made contact on 66% of his swings this season. The MLB average is 77%.
"In-zone fastball misses are an issue," the scout said.
His glove is the other question. He won a Golden Glove at third base in 2025, but some have speculated that Sato will have to move to a corner outfield or first base in the future. The scout who spoke to USA TODAY Sports thinks Sato can stay at third with work, and noted that he has played corner outfield before and runs well enough to handle it.
"I do like Sato," the scout said, "but he comes with the Murakami risk."
The Chicago White Sox took that risk last winter with Murakami and gave him a two-year, $34 million deal. Then he went out and hit 35 homers as a rookie while batting .207 and striking out 35.4% of the time. Kazuma Okamoto signed for four years and $60 million with the Toronto Blue Jays and hit 33 homers with 92 RBI.
There are plenty of teams that were kicking themselves this season for passing on Murakami.
Which MLB teams want Teruaki Sato?
The Yankees have the clearest need. Ryan McMahon hit .213 with 11 homers and a .635 OPS at third base this season. They have expressed concern about whether Sato can remain at third base internally.
The Mets looked like the favorite for months. President of baseball operations David Stearns flew to Japan to scout Sato in person after the Mets' season ended. Then Bo Bichette opted into his $42 million salary for 2027.
The Phillies need a third baseman with Alec Bohm a free agent. The Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported that the Tigers have scouted Sato. The Dodgers, Red Sox and Padres have been linked to him, too.
Will Teruaki Sato sign before the MLB lockout?
Players posted from Japan normally get 45 days to sign. Sato's window opened Nov. 2 and would run through Dec. 16.
It won't get that far. The collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 ET on Dec. 1, and a lockout freezes every signing. The league has said it will not pause the posting window this time.
The last lockout went the other way. In 2021-22, MLB froze Seiya Suzuki's window for all 99 days of the lockout and he signed for five years and $85 million with the Cubs once it ended
Only four players have scored more points than Reaves (278) this season, including Doncic (393), Victor Wembanyama (331), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (299), and Tyrese Maxey (296).
Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a 3-point basket against the Detroit Pistons in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. Getty Images
Reaves is averaging career highs in points (25.3) and 3-point percentage (41.3) while also shooting an extremely efficient 50.8% from the field.
Reaves is 15th in the league in points per game.
Of those players, only Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Wembanyama have higher field-goal percentages than Reaves. Only Jamal Murray and Steph Curry have higher 3-point percentages.
Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers moves the ball against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
When Doncic, who’s averaging a league-leading 39.3 points per game, was sidelined against the Pistons on Sunday because of lower back tightness, Reaves poured in a season-high 43 points against a team with the third-highest defensive rating in the league to lead the Lakers to a 121-116 win.
INGLEWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 8: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns looks to pass the ball during the game against the LA Clippers on November 8, 2025 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Who: Phoenix Suns (3-6) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (2-7)
When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Suns+, 3TV/AZFS
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Phoenix Suns will need to have a short memory after being dominated by Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs last night.
Wemby walked into our building and dropped 40, 11, and nine blocks in 25 minutes without breaking a sweat. Spurs 122, Suns 96. It was a rough night. But the silver lining is that the starters were on the bench with 9:34 left. Because tonight they have the second of a back-to-back, and tired legs cannot be an excuse.
The mood in this fanbase right now is somewhere between “burn it down” and “it’s November, relax.” The Suns sit at 3-6. They’re 2-2 on this seven-game homestand. The two-game win streak over Houston and Orlando either becomes a distant memory (after a loss) or a building block if they win, because then it’s suddenly ”they’ve won 3 of their last 4 games”. So which is it?
Make no mistake about it… this is a MUST-WIN game for the Suns. These are the teams you need to beat.
DevinBooker needs help, and he needs it from the starters.
Book went 10-for-17 for 32 last night. The other four starters combined for 27 points on 10-of-36 shooting. That’s 27.8%. Phoenix shot 39.3% as a team. Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and Miles Bridges have to be the second and third options tonight, or this turns into another Booker solo show that ends in a loss.
Hunt the Clippers’ second unit.
LA snapped a seven-game skid Sunday by beating New Orleans 139-123, and the bench won that game: 59 points and 14 assists from the reserves. Gradey Dick went 6-for-7. Top-5 pick Keaton Wagler hit 3 of 4 from deep in 18 minutes. Wagler also picked up five fouls. That unit is 4th in bench scoring per game, but defensively they have some flaws. Attack, attack, attack.
Garland is the engine without Ingram.
Darius Garland went for 24 and 10 against the Pelicans. Brook Lopez added 20. Brandon Ingram (heel) and Bradley Beal (knee) are both out tonight. Gillespie, Goodwin and Green have to make Garland work on the ball, and whoever draws Lopez has to drag him out to the perimeter, where his feet are slow.
Key to a Suns Win
Rebounding is going to be the key for every Suns game, as the Spurs outrebounded them by twenty, 55 to 35.
LA shot 55% from the field (46 of 84), went 16-for-38 from three, and piled up 34 assists against 11 turnovers in their win over the Pelicans. They lived at the line, too: 31 of 38 from the line while the Pelicans committed 29 fouls. The glass was basically even, 36-35 Clippers, with LA grabbing 13 offensive boards.
Bench Mob
The starters held serve, every one of them finishing between +2 and +9. The bench blew it open. Max Strus and Gradey Dick were both +17, Kobe Sanders was +15, and Keaton Wagler was +11. LA won the fourth quarter 37-28.
Collin Gillespie, anyone? It’s been a rough season for him, and boy could they use a breakout game in this one from him, not only for his confidence, but to outduel the Clippers’ bench. Jordan Goodwin is back as well, so that hopefully provides a spark.
Do not take them lightly. The Clippers are 2nd in the NBA in 3PT% and 4th in bench scoring. Despite their flaws and 7-game losing streak, they are fully capable of getting hot from deep and stealing this one.
The Suns bounce back, and their offense breaks out in a win over the Clippers. We enter the 10-game mark at 4-6, with mixed reviews, but ultimately trending in the right direction, winning 3 of 4.
The Buffalo Sabres goaltending situation has stabilized after the Connor Hellebuyck deal to New Jersey, as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Colten Ellis have played well enough between the pipes, and veteran Alex Lyon is poised to return to active duty after missing the first quarter of the season with a shoulder injury.
After last season, the Sabres resolved their goaltending depth dilemma by dealing Devon Levi to the Edmonton Oilers for a 2028 third-round pick. The writing was on the wall for Levi’s tenure with Buffalo after the club claimed Ellis off of waivers from St. Louis just prior to the start of last season. Buffalo demoted the 24-year-old Rochester after training camp because he was waiver exempt, and did not get an NHL look for the first time since signing with the Sabres in 2023.
“I knew there was a good chance of getting traded. So on July 1, I had my phone in hand,” Levi said. “My agents had a few conversations with them (Buffalo). So we knew that one guy was moving. When I heard it was Edmonton, I was pumped. Like, I was so happy.”
Levi appeared to be a fallback option to veteran Tristan Jarry and Stanley Cup winning free agent Frederik Andersen, but Jarry struggled early on and Andersen started the season on injured reserve. The former Sabre has seized his opportunity with Edmonton, as he is 8-1-0, with a 2.75 GAA and .899 save % after a 3-1 win over the NY Rangers on Monday.
“That's why I'm here, right? The last line of defence,” Levi said. “I kind of embrace that. I love it. If we played a perfect game, we wouldn't need a goalie. And they’ve got my back when I need them to—which isn’t much. We usually play really good.”
It is unknown whether Levi has wrestled away the starter’s job in Edmonton permanently, as Andersen, who was excellent during the Carolina Hurricanes run to the Stanley Cup, has not played a game yet, but it will be difficult for Mike Babcock to not start him if he keeps winning games.
On the Sabres front, head coach Lindy Ruff indicated after practice on Tuesday that Lyon will accompany the club on their six-game road trip that begins on Thursday in Chicago.
SACRAMENTO — The Kings still search for their first home win of the 2026-27 NBA season after falling to the Orlando Magic by a final score of 107-100 on Tuesday night at Golden 1 Center.
The Magic, even without their best player as Paolo Banchero remains sidelined with a right ankle sprain, picked up just their third win of the season against Sacramento.
As we’ve seen far too often this season, the Kings’ slow start to the game wound up haunting them. Sacramento turned the ball over eight times in the first quarter, resulting in 15 of the Magic’s 34 points.
The Kings responded with an 18-0 run through the second quarter, but the Magic never let up and fought all the way back to regain the lead and maintain it until the final buzzer.
Zach LaVine led the way for the Kings with 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting and 6 of 9 from 3-point range, with three rebounds, two assists, two steals but five turnovers in 33 minutes.
Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. trailed just behind him with 29 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field and 4 of 9 from downtown, with four rebounds, six assists, two steals and four turnovers in 40 minutes.
Keegan Murray came off the bench for the second consecutive game after returning from an ankle injury. He finished with 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting, with two rebounds, one assist and two turnovers in 24 minutes.
Malik Monk played just three minutes off the bench. Rookie guard Emanuel Sharp played 19.
Precious Achiuwa started for the Kings but left the game early and didn’t return with a leg contusion. LaVine also went to the locker room after rolling his ankle but returned.
The Kings, who dropped to 1-10 on the season, continue their seven-game homestand against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, when they will continue their search for their first home victory.
Here are the takeaways from the Kings’ loss:
Same ol’ Acuff
Darius Acuff Jr. entered Tuesday’s game leading the NBA in minutes played per game at just above 37.
Coach Doug Christie was asked about it pregame, and he admitted Acuff’s minutes should be “a tick” under where they currently are, but said he enjoys watching him play and seeing him on the floor.
On Tuesday, Acuff played 40 minutes, finishing with 29 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field and 4 of 9 from downtown, with four rebounds, six assists, two steals and four turnovers.
Longest streaks of 20+ point, 5+ assist games by rookies in NBA history:
Oscar Robertson 25 (1960-61) Michael Jordan 13 (1984-85) Allen Iverson 11 (1996-97) Darius Acuff Jr. 7 (2026-27) pic.twitter.com/wbnyRr39H7
The rookie really has become one of the few consistent bright spots for the Kings this season.
LaVine’s well-rounded effort
After a rocky start to this game, the Kings got going a bit toward the end of the first quarter.
The momentum continued into the second quarter, as Sacramento’s offense came alive with an 18-0 run that began with Keegan Murray’s first 3-pointer of the season.
Zach LaVine was a massive part of that run — on both ends of the floor. He had nine points in that stretch before being substituted out of the game.
Orlando went on a run of its own with LaVine on the bench, responding with an 8-0 run to get right back in this game and eventually regain the lead.
LaVine was thrown back into the game after about two minutes of rest on the bench.
After scoring four points in the opening quarter, LaVine dropped 11 points in the second.
He was plus-8 in the first half in plus/minus rating, while every other Kings starter was minus-7 or minus-8.
After a brief injury scare, LaVine finished with a team-high 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting and 6 of 9 from 3-point range, with three rebounds, two assists, two steals and five turnovers in 33 minutes.
Off night for Domas
Sabonis returned to action Tuesday after missing Sunday’s game against the Miami Heat with left knee soreness.
But it was an unusual showing from the double-double machine.
He went three quarters without attempting a single shot, and his first attempt came from beyond the arc after 22 minutes of playing time.
That isn’t entirely shocking, as Sabonis is averaging just 9.0 field-goal attempts this season.
But what was a bit more concerning were his rebound numbers.
Sabonis, who is averaging an impressive 14.6 rebounds per game this season and nearly 11 throughout his 11-year NBA career, had just two rebounds on Tuesday.
He finished with zero points, two rebounds and five assists in 24 minutes.
Perhaps his knee still was bothering him, but nonetheless, it was an uncharacteristic showing from the rebounding machine.
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 9: Collin Sexton #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on November 9, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Joe Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Over the past two games, Collin Sexton has been indispensable in powering the Los Angeles Lakers to wins with their star guards, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, each missing one contest.
Against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, the veteran guard tallied 17 points (5-of-10 shooting), two assists and two rebounds. A day later, he followed that up with 18 points (6-of-11 shooting), six assists, two rebounds and one steal in Monday’s win over the Atlanta Hawks.
If those consecutive performances are any indication, Sexton could be finding his footing after a slow start to 2026-27, which featured a calf strain that hampered him during training camp and preseason.
Through his first nine appearances, he averaged 8.7 points while shooting 40% from the floor and 25.8% from deep (49.5% true shooting). In this week’s pair of victories, he’s averaged 17.5 points on 52.4% shooting and 50% from deep (64.4% true shooting). Following those laudatory outings, Sexton said he feels he’s inching closer to fully being himself again.
“I think maybe another week and a half, two weeks and I think I’ll be back,“ he told reporters Monday. ”Right now, these last two games felt really good. So I’m moving in the right direction.”
As Sexton works to rediscover his rhythm, he’s embracing patience.
“That’s one word I’ve been using each and every day,” he said. “I would say each and every day is going to have its ups, have its downs but I’m blessed to be healthy enough to go out.”
JJ Redick mentioned pregame that he uses the word "patience" with Collin Sexton.
Collin on how challenging it's been being patient after being sidelined for several weeks during training camp/preseason with a calf strain: "That's one word I've been using each and every day…I… pic.twitter.com/MNFcjrwxcA
Head coach JJ Redick is counting on Sexton to help steady second units for the Lakers, given he’s their most talented scorer and qualified initiator off the bench. After Monday’s win, he spoke about Sexton’s role in keeping the offense humming when the speedy guard is at the forefront.
“I think the biggest thing [is] we’re trying to get organized and and there’s glimpses of really good organization when he’s out there as the primary ball handler,” Redick told reporters. “We got a little squirrely there at the end of the second quarter. I thought, for the most part, outside of the first few minutes in that third quarter where I had to call the early timeout, I thought we did a good job of just being organized and trying to get good shots. That’s how you end up with 124 points against a good team.”
Luka Dončić is playing as though he’s on a revenge tour and every opposing player has former Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison’s face superimposed on it.
Austin Reaves is playing as though he were shortchanged by signing a four-year, $180 million deal over the summer, the richest contract in NBA history for a player who went undrafted.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots against Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum during an NBA game, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
Walker Kessler is playing as though he’s hellbent on fulfilling his vow to “run through a wall” for the Lakers after they emptied their treasure trove of draft capital to acquire him in July.
And the Lakers’ role players are playing as though they deeply understood the assignment when they joined a 17-time championship franchise.
The Lakers have the league’s best record at 10-2. They’ve won six games in a row.
They’re the real deal.
They could win it all this season.
That isn’t a sentence we thought we’d write heading into this season. Not with nine new players. Not with so many question marks around their perimeter defense. Not with their lack of depth at backup center.
But now, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka looks like the Albert Einstein of basketball rosters and coach JJ Redick looks like a superstar whisperer.
The Lakers last won a championship in 2020, their first title in 10 years.
They could snap their six-year drought this season.
Dončić is on a historic tear, averaging 39.3 points (49.8% shooting from the field, 40.7% from beyond the arc), 7.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists and two steals per game.
In his first nine games of the season, Dončić scored 361 points, surpassing Michael Jordan’s 347 points in 1986-87 for the most points scored through that period in modern NBA history.
But what really made the Lakers look like contenders is how they played without Dončić (lower back tightness) on Sunday against the Pistons.
Austin Reaves (15) of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a late second-half 3-point basket against the Detroit Pistons in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. Getty Images
Without the league’s current front-runner for the MVP Award and against a Pistons team with the third-highest defensive rating, Reaves scored a season-high 43 points in the Lakers’ 121-116 win.
He reminded everyone of what he can do when he’s unleashed.
Reaves has quietly been putting together a spectacular season. He’s averaging 25.3 points on a very efficient 50.8% from the field and 41.3% from beyond the arc.
He’s the 15th leading scorer in the league, and of those ahead of him, only Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis and Victor Wembanyama have higher field-goal percentages than Reaves.
And only Jamal Murray and Steph Curry are shooting at a higher percentage from beyond the 3-point line.
Dončić and Reaves are the NBA’s highest-scoring duo by a mile, averaging 64.6 points, 12.6 more than the second-leading duo of Steph Curry and Yaxel Lendeborg, who are averaging a combined 52 points per game.
Then there’s Kessler, who’s averaging a double-double with 14.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
The Lakers’ Big 3 is ferocious.
But it doesn’t stop there.
When Reaves was out for Monday’s 124-114 win over the Hawks because of an illness, Dončić got help from the Lakers’ reserves, with Collin Sexton having an 18-point, six-assist performance and Sandro Mamukelashvili pouring in 23 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler (14) shoots against Atlanta Hawks center Jock Landale (31) during an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
The Lakers are great.
They’re deep.
They’ve soared past their expectations.
The Lakers have the highest offensive rating in the league at 121.5. And even though they’re 19th in defensive rating (113.8), they rank second in the league in steals per game (10.8), second in total deflections (240) and third in blocks per game (6.4).
Kessler leads the NBA in contested shots (140).
Heck, even Dončić, who has notoriously been slammed for his defense throughout his career, is showing a lot of effort on the less glamorous end of the court. He leads the league in defensive loose balls recovered (nine) and is tied for second in charges drawn (four).
Entering this season, it was presumed that the Lakers needed time to jell. It seemed as though they had major holes. They weren’t ready to compete with the league’s elite teams, such as the Thunder, Spurs or Knicks.
Well, we were all wrong.
The Lakers have sprinted past their doubters, proving that they’re a team to watch.
Chicago Cubs pitcher Ben Brown underwent successful cervical spine surgery Monday, according to a source familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly. Brown is expected to start a throwing progression in the new year, and the hope is he will be ready for game action during the first half of the 2027 season.
So, this can probably be viewed as good news. Brown had a neck issue in 2024 that apparently was mis-diagnosed, and it recurred last summer and finally the team got a proper diagnosis:
When the issue recurred in 2026, the original diagnosis of a stress reaction in his neck was confirmed. The surgery was a proactive procedure involving Brown’s C5 vertebra, done with the belief that it would speed up healing in the area.
Brown was having a breakout season as a starter when this issue ended his season in June. After a rough outing in relief on Opening Day against the Nationals, when Jacob Young hit the very first 2026 pitch thrown by Brown for a home run, Brown posted a 1.67 ERA and 0.928 WHIP and allowed just one more home run among 252 batters faced, and struck out 62. He was beginning to anchor the rotation at the time of the injury.
Based on this report, Brown could be back early in 2027, and who knows? If the upcoming lockout does cancel games, maybe he won’t miss any games at all. As always, we await developments.
