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Seven DFAs later, has Josh Walker figured it out?

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 1: Baltimore Orioles pitcher Josh Walker (61) reacts after pitching in the sixth inning during a game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 1, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Josh Walker has learned not to take it personally. Well, to be honest, I haven’t actually asked him, but you figure somebody DFA’d seven times in his career—twice by his current team—has developed some thick skin.

He’s also developed his game in this, his fourth season, and it was good news for us, because the unsung lefty was an essentially costless addition to the team, and turned out to be one of its best relievers, with a 2.08 ERA in 30 1/3 innings, 29 strikeouts, a 1.19 WHIP, and his first big-league save. Along the way he put up 18 straight scoreless outings, the longest such streak by an Oriole in a decade.

You may have heard this story, or one like it, before. Walker was taken in the late rounds of the draft (in 2017, by the Mets, out of the University of New Haven), then saw his career delayed by injury/bad luck. First, a car accident left him needing elbow nerve-transposition surgery. Then the pandemic wiped out the 2020 season.

When Walker finally reached the majors, he got hit hard: an 8.10 ERA in fourteen games in 2023 and a 5.11 ERA in ten games in 2024. The Mets DFA’d him, then traded him to Pittsburgh. From there, waivers, waivers, waivers, as Walker made stops with the Pirates, the Blue Jays (a 7.20 ERA in three games in 2025), the Phillies, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Baltimore again. The O’s DFA’d him too, to clear room for Shane Baz, and he cleared waivers in January.

Walker entered 2026 with a 6.59 career ERA, little in the way of expectactions, and his season started like this: a May call-up, an option, another call-up, another option, a doubleheader 27th-man cameo, an on-paper move, and then, around August, a quiet turn into the most reliable arm in the Orioles bullpen. This was around the time he posted an 18-inning scoreless streak.

With Keegan Akin out due to injury, Josh Walker became Craig Albernaz’s most trusted lefty out of the ‘pen. And one of its most valuable, his 0.9 WAR ranking behind only Rico Garcia and Tyler Wells among relievers.

So what turned Walker from discarded over most of his career to indispensable this year? It’s not so much changed stuff: his four-seamer averaged 93.0 mph this year, slightly slower than before, and his slider was much the same as ever.

But the pitch mix was indeed different. As a rookie Walker was close to a two-pitch pitcher: 65% four-seamers and 33% sliders. This year, he threw 38% sliders, 27% sinkers, 25% four-seamers, and about 10% changeups. The changeup, in particular, was new: he didn’t throw the pitch at all in 2024 or 2025, and this season it was his best strikeout pitch, with a 44% whiff rate and a .172 xwOBA (the slider was close behind, at a 32% whiff rate and .195 xwOBA). Walker mostly threw the change mostly against righties, who actually hit him much worse than southpaws.

Improved, too, was Walker’s control. While Walker’s strikeout rate of 23% wasn’t much to write home about, he did avoid hard contact, with the lowest barrel, sweet-spot, and xwOBA rates of his career.

He also got ahead in counts. His first-pitch strike rate was 62.1%, up from 50% as a rookie, and his walk rate fell from 12.5% to 9.5%. It appears that, because Walker was able to land his offspeed stuff, hitters could no longer sit on his four-seamer.

So, is the Walker revival smoke and mirrors, or something to rely on next year? Mostly the former, I’m happy to report. His 3.33 FIP says the ERA is somewhat too flattering. But his 2.70 xERA, which accounts for the quality of contact he allowed, backs up his stinginess, and there is barely a gap between his actual and expected wOBA (.265 and .255), speaking to the weak contact he allowed. That said, we don’t have a huge sample size from him (30 innings), and relievers who thrive on weak contact, as opposed to strikeouts, are more prone to year-to-year swings than pure flamethrowers.

Still, this version of Walker seems convincing. A four-pitch lefty who throws strikes, has a real weapon against righties, and limits hard contact definitely has a role to play in the bullpen. And he’s still on a pre-arbitration salary. After seven DFAs, Josh Walker has earned the right to be taken seriously—and perhaps some prime real estate in next year’s bullpen, too.

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A closer look at the Raptors 17-5 record in 2019 ahead of Magic matchup

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 7: Pascal Siakam #43 is helped up by Fred VanVleet #23 and Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors during Game Four of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 7, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

For the Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic, this was supposed to be their first real test.

While the Raptors previously finished fifth in the Eastern Conference standings and the Magic were stuck in play-in purgatory, only one game separated the franchises. Despite pundits refusing to give them a fighter’s chance in the first round of the playoffs, both Toronto and Orlando punched back, as fighters do.

Nearly six months after taking their respective post-season opponents the distance, they’re ready to once again scrap and claw for their place in the Eastern Conference.

Unfortunately, before the sound of the round one bell, both teams are already dinged up. The Magic are without Paolo Banchero (ankle sprain) for four to six weeks and Jalen Suggs (bone bruise) for at least two weeks.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the Raptors vs. Magic on Wednesday.

Much ado about everything

The Raptors are without Kawhi Leonard. For those outside of the Toronto (and Canadian) basketball world, it may seem like the streets are on fire. The 35-year-old superstar is expected to miss a period of weeks due to swelling in his left knee, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. In the team’s Oct. 27 update, it was mentioned that Leonard would be reevaluated in one week.

The longest stretch Leonard missed during his 2018-19 stint in Toronto was four consecutive games. Leonard also dealt with swelling in the other knee when he missed the first 34 games of the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Regardless of what happens, one thing is certain: there will be stretches without Leonard. This year’s iteration of the Raptors, like the 2019 champions, will be defined by how they perform without Leonard. It’s been widely noted that Toronto went 17-5 without Leonard in 2019, but what doesn’t go noticed enough is that the team (either strategically or by happenstance) hedged their chances against specific opponents.

Ten of the Raptors’ victories without The Klaw came against Eastern Conference opponents. That’s always a good measurement of where a team stands as playoff brackets begin to form. However, of those ten wins, nine of them came against non-playoff teams. This is important to note after the unfortunate misfire in their first game without Leonard against the Timberwolves on Oct. 25. While Toronto finished a sparkling 7-0 against the Western Conference (including three wins against playoff teams), how the Raptors fare against teams vying for the same playoff spots will obviously carry more weight.

Wins are wins and teams should take them no matter how they come, especially when playing without one of the best players in the world. The Raptors five losses without Leonard all came against Eastern Conference playoff teams, but that’s to be expected. To tip the scales back the other way, they took care of business against lineups that a team with an injured Leonard is expected to beat:

  • Wizards (32-50)
  • Bulls (22-60)
  • Hawks (29-53)
  • Pacers (48-34) – Playoff team
  • Hawks (29-53)
  • Wizards – (32-50)
  • Heat – (39-43)
  • Knicks (17-65)
  • Knicks (17-65)
  • Bulls (22-60)

Toronto also finished the calendar year (2018) 7-2 without Leonard. This likely helped the front office decide whether to go for it at the trade deadline.

Leonard transforms good teams into contenders, and good teams should defeat a Magic squad without two of their best players.

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National rumors persist about Rickard Rakell

It’s nothing new for veteran Penguins players to find their names being brought up on national panels and media outlets when it comes to potential trades. Lately, Rickard Rakell has been a popular name to share among the likes of Frank Seravalli, Nick Kypreos and Chris Johnston for early season chatter about potential names to keep an eye on for a possible trade.


7. Rickard Rakell, Pittsburgh Penguins

Age: 33
Position: RW
Contract term: 2028 UFA
Cap hit: $5 million

No stranger to the Big Board in the past few years, Rakell may finally be in his final months with a Penguins team slowly transitioning to a younger group. He’s delivered an outsized amount of production on a reasonable contract, but it’s been a slow start for both player and team. Still, Rakell is an above-average finisher who has a history of holding his own when playing alongside highly skilled linemates. He’s scored at a 29-goal-per-82-game pace across the last four seasons.

The last one from over the weekend might be the spiciest since it contains some specific information.

That nugget makes the mind wander back to the behind the scenes video that the Ottawa Senators shared over the summer, where they were considering moving the 25th overall pick on draft night in June in exchange for an unnamed ‘roster player’ from the Penguins. Nothing further came to light regarding who was involved, but it’s not a huge stretch to imagine that could have been an effort to move Rakell in the summer as Kypreos mentioned. It also was unclear from the video if there were more parts involved than just one roster player and Ottawa’s 25th overall pick, which they ultimately elected to hang onto and use themselves, so it’s impossible to judge from the outside just what that exact proposal might have been – if it involved Rakell at all.

As perhaps usual when it comes to Rakell, the value that the team views him considering his on ice contributions still outweigh the amount other NHL clubs are willing to offer. So then, as it is now, comes the lasting period of rumors and whispers with little other tangible information out there.

Rakell’s name isn’t the only one being spoken about. There are various reports about the availability and potential likelihood of Bryan Rust and Erik Karlsson also making the rounds. Say enough names for long enough and it’s bound to come true eventually, though it’s very clear that many eyes outside of Pittsburgh are keeping a close eye on how the Penguins do in the standings in the immediate future and what pivots that Kyle Dubas and company might choose to make as they build their team for this season and potentially beyond.

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Knicks 111, Pistons 97: “Y’all cool now?”

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 27: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 27, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

All together on three: One, two, three—exhale!

And to respond to the question of Real Clydes Wear Plaid in the Postgame Thread with the amazing wisdom of one OG Anunoby: Uh, it feels pretty cool. The first win for your New York Knicks as defending champions, that is. But even if Fat Joe didn’t have to keep sweatin’ through the latter stages of this particular game, it sure took a while to really feel comfortable.

When Mikal Bridges’ halfcourt prayer to end the first quarter didn’t draw any iron, nothing felt cool. Paul Reed had just finished his shooting motion from hell on the other end and scored Detroit’s 38th point with a triple, putting the Pistons up by 13 on their orange and blue counterparts. An eternal optimist might have seen the Knicks returning to their winning ways at that point since they had actually given up 40 in the final frame to Orlando on Sunday. Baby steps and all in the right direction, I guess.

Seriously, though, the Knicks were hanging on by a thread to start the second quarter, especially since they couldn’t buy a basket for the first two minutes of the period. Fortunately, Detroit didn’t manage to capitalize even though they had numerous open threes during that stretch. If they had made a shot or two here and blown the lead up close to 20? Let’s not think about it, especially since the actual reality that followed was so much nicer.

Karl-Anthony Towns leads the way for Knicks

For the first time this season, it felt like the Knicks really found a consistent rhythm on both ends of the court. It started with the defense that completely shut down any idea the Pistons had of scoring points, limiting the bad shooting boys from the Motor City to a 3-for-21 clip in the quarter. The offense took a little longer, but opportunism reigned supreme here. Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond had some nice putbacks, the Knicks finally hit some threes, and Jalen Brunson drew a bunch of fouls after almost looking like Jordan Clarkson in a Utah blowout early on.

The real fun started after halftime. Supposedly, Mike Brown challenged Karl-Anthony Towns in the locker room, reminding him that a scrappy, hard-working soul named “Bball Paul” shouldn’t be a match for him. “Got it, coach,” said the newlywed, and then went to work on the entire Pistons team. 27 and 20 is serious business; we can even give him a pass for the 7 (turnovers) and 5 (fouls) this time around. It speaks to the growth of Towns that he responded to extremely physical play with some haymakers of his own. I’ll let you decide if he or the hero called Bballman looked more composed in the end. Just kidding, Paulie!

Apparently, it wasn’t only KAT, though, who took the coach’s words to heart. The entire team came out firing after the intermission. The pace was good, the Bockers got out running, and they really defended the high pick-and-roll better—shoutout to Mikal Bridges here. In the first, Pistons star Cade Cunningham spent more time in the Knicks’ paint than anywhere else on the court, but New York put an end to that. They themselves moved the ball inside, swung it back out, and all of a sudden everything looked easy.

Knicks find themselves again versus Detroit

Open shots lead to open minds; play looked free, inspired. Brunson woke up; KAT was downright dominant on both ends of the court, and OG, Mikal, and Hart were flying around. The reserves also did their part after looking very reserved against the Magic. Landry Shamet couldn’t buy a basket at the rim yet cashed in on 3 of 5 from downtown. More importantly, though, he brought relentless energy fighting over screens and throwing his body around like he doesn’t need it anymore. Andre Drummond was good Andre Drummond again, didn’t try to channel his inner Hakeem Olajuwon, and made his gigantic presence felt inside on both ends. Even “Pee Wee” Kolek got in on the act a few times.

Let’s ignore the sloppy finish to the fourth that made a laugher a little less funny or JB Bickerstaff bickering about physicality for the sake of the good vibes. The New York Knicks are back, baby, and it feels tremendous even if they were never really gone. Deep in our hearts, we all knew they had this very type of performance in them and that if they are playing at their best, not many teams in the NBA can hang with them. That doesn’t mean that they can or should punt the entire regular season—far from it. They can’t sleepwalk through the year and just show up for the final act. There’d be a good chance they would’ve forgotten their lines by then. In the end, you still have to win some games—and quite a few of them. Tuesday night was a good start.

A really cool start, actually.

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Jorge Posada reveals rift with Yankees: 'Don't think they want me there'

Former New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, who won five World Series rings as a member of the team's "Core Four" during his playing career, says he no longer feels welcome by the organization.

On a new episode of "The Show" podcast, Posada told New York Post writers Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman that the current version of the team needs a coaching staff that will "push" them to be more accountable to themselves and each other.

But he said he doesn't think he'll be involved in any official capacity.

“I could, but I don’t think they want me there, to tell you the truth,” Posada said on the episode, which premiered on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

“I don’t feel welcome when I go there, you know? Even in spring training, I don’t feel like – I’m just like, I don’t know, like, I don’t feel welcome. I don’t feel like they want me there, so I don’t go.”

The five-time All-Star was part of the Yankees' "Core Four," along with shortstop Derek Jeter, starting pitcher Andy Pettitte and closer Mariano Rivera, that won four World Series titles from 1996-2000. He later won a fifth ring in 2009.

Posada, who spent his entire 17-year major-league career in Yankee pinstripes, didn't go into any specific details about his rift with the organization.

“I don’t know what happened. I’d rather just move forward,” he said. “My last season of my career was a really tough one when it comes to handling everything in my part and also the Yankees toward Jorge Posada. So, it’s tough to go back and feel that again.”

The five-time All-Star had his number 20 retired by the Yankees in 2015 and has been a participant in the team's Old Timers' Day ceremonies.

However, his final season in 2011 was tainted by public disagreements with the team about playing time and his shift from playing catcher to serving as designated hitter.

More: World Series winners by year: Full list of MLB champions

Posada, a fan favorite for his emotional style of play, said on the podcast that the current Yankees squad seemed to lack some of his trademark fire, and that the players need leaders in the clubhouse to uphold the team's high standards.

"[Mental mistakes are] magnified during the playoffs," he said. "So during the season, if it happens and you don't address it, that's when it becomes a problem. So it needs to happen more during the season and make these guys more accountable."

The Yankees were eliminated from this year's playoffs when they were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League division series.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jorge Posada reveals rift with Yankees: 'Don't think they want me there'

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“Returning soon.” Kawhi Leonard writes post-health announcement

TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 21: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during the game against the Chicago Bulls on October 21, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Yesterday morning, the bombshell dropped that Kawhi Leonard would be missing his first stint of games this season, with twin reports coming directly from the Raptors, and ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Charania posted this morning that Leonard would not be playing for “a period of weeks due to swelling in his left knee” despite “no structural damage.” The Raptors, almost simultaneously, released notice that reevaluation of Leonard would take place within a week, but that there was “no acute injury,” rather, just swelling.

Leonard swiftly came out with his own statement, posting on socials about the circumstances, thanking Raptors fans for their support and committing to a speedy return.

First of all, seeing Kawhi sign his messages as “Whi” is very cool, and is a nickname for himself that is certainly overshadowed by his “Klaw” monicker. But, more importantly, Leonard being this active on social media on his personal accounts is a new development that has arisen since he began the process of rejoining the Raptors earlier this year.

There seems to be an effort at transparency from both Leonard and the organization, that especially from the latter, is particularly appreciated. Much has been said about Kawhi’s famous aloofness appearing diminished as his second stint on the Raps begins, and this statement today, addressing fans directly in tandem with Raptors reports, is a breath of fresh air from the superstar.

In Leonard’s absence, there are signs of what the Raptors might look like. RJ Barrett predicted more time with the ball in his hands, suggesting that his role as an offensive creator will become even more important with Leonard out. Barrett produces a great deal of gravity on his downhill drives, which would perfectly compliment the return of an outside shooter like Ja’Kobe Walter to the starting lineup.

Walter was fantastic in his first outing as a starter, scoring 22 points and nabbing two steals in a loss against Minnesota, and it will be likely that Walter settles into this role for the upcoming stint of games. While Collin Murray-Boyles has contributed in a more public manner to the Raptors’ success over the past two years, starting him at small forward in place of Leonard would tank the Raptors’ spacing further, on a team that already struggles with range.

Whether or not the Raptors are able to rally in Leonard’s absence will be a prime indicator of how well the rest of the season will go, with Leonard all but certain to have other instances where his at-times shaky availability will force the team to run modified units. The next few games against the shorthanded Orlando Magic will be a prime opportunity for the Raptors to field modified lineups and see what might work against a team that is also operating without its primary offensive piece.

Leonard will hopefully be back soon enough that any experimentation comes in the form of a temporary patch rather than a long-term fix, but with his public approach to handling his load management, it seems that fans will be well informed about any decisions that arise.

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Mets Morning News: Rays stay alive

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 27: Ben Williamson #15 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with Jorge Mateo #9 and Ryan Vilade #26 after hitting a walk-off single during Game Four of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Meet the Mets

Danny Abriano at SNY imagined how the Mets might rebuild their bullpen ahead of next season.

Voting is open for the 2026 Heart and Hustle Award, and Carson Benge is the Mets nominee.

Like many Mets fans, Daryl Strawberry is “heartbroken” over the Mets 40 year championship drought, but he isn’t losing faith in the team.

Ron Darling clarified his recent comments on his future in the SNY booth.

Around Major League Baseball

Jim Bowden at The Athletic ranked the top 40 free agents this offseason and speculated on where they could end up.

Cam Schlittler seems like a lock for the Cy Young Award, but he’s not the only Yankee with a chance at some hardware.

Jackson Chourio is growing into his superstar potential this October, raising the standards for young stars in the postseason.

William Contreras—or “Wild Bill” as he’s becoming known—has been showing off his many talents this postseason, including his mastery of ABS challenges.

Aaron Ashby now holds the record for the longest scoreless streak by a reliever in postseason history.

Ben Williamson’s walk-off single gave the Rays life for at least one more game.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Micah Noe reviewed Ronny Mauricio’s disappointing season abbreviated by injury.

This Date in Mets History

65 years ago, ground was broken on an ash heap in Flushing Meadows, soon to be the home of the New York Mets.

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Braves News: Hurston Waldrep review, Rays force Game 5, and more

PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 07: Hurston Waldrep #64 of the Atlanta Braves in action against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on July 7, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Fall Classic has been extended to Game 5 after the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 on Tuesday. With a 3-1 series lead, the Brewers have the chance to win their first World Series tonight at 8:00 ET.

Braves News:

Our 2026 player review series continues with right-hander Hurston Waldrep. 

MLB News:

Minnesota Twins right-hander Jeff Hoffman underwent surgery on his right elbow. He is expected to be ready for the start of the 2027 season. 

The Philadelphia Phillies have officially announced Peter Fatse as their next hitting coach. 

From the Feed:

Will the Rays win again tonight? Drop your predictions here.

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Controversial overturned call helped keep Rays alive in World Series

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows A baseball player in a white uniform slides into a base as a fielder in a blue and yellow uniform attempts to tag him out, Image 2 shows A baseball player sliding into a base as the infielder attempts to tag him
Rays Stolen base

The 2004 ALCS swung on a stolen base in Game 4 and if the Rays are going to join that Red Sox team in MLB history, perhaps it will be a caught stealing that swings the series.

One of the pivotal plays in the 4-3 win in 12 innings in Tuesday’s Game 4 that got the Rays on the board in this series involved an agonizingly close overturned stolen base that instead ended a Milwaukee scoring threat in the top of the ninth inning in a 2-2 game.

Cooper Pratt has originally been ruled to have stolen second with two outs before video replay changed the call.

“There’s a caught stealing there that’s … really, really close. Maybe in season that’s a stands,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “Who knows? We had a couple things not go our way in terms of calls — not saying they’re wrong, but I’m just saying we had a couple things really — running out of the baseline there the first run we gave up or second run, whatever. Come on.

“Look at it. The ump didn’t have it that way, and that’s part of it. We got some benefit of some things too sometimes.”

With Andrew Vaughn at the plate with two outs facing Rays closer Brian Baker, the Brewers attempted to get Pratt in position to potentially score on a bloop by having him steal.

One of the angles showed on the broadcast. @MLBONFOX/X

A bang-bang play went in their favor at first before Rays manager Kevin Cash opted to challenge.

The Fox broadcast booth of Joe Davis and John Smoltz analyzed the slo-mo angle while they world awaited the verdict.

The slowed clip appeared to show second baseman Richie Palacios just getting Pratt before his leg touched the bag, although one could possibly argue it wasn’t conclusive.

A tighter look at the tag being applied. @MLBONFOX/X

“The first thing to know is the strings on the glove don’t count,” Davis said.

“I think the glove got the hand. How about the pressure on the two dudes sitting down in a little cramped closed telling Kevin Cash, ‘Challenge this.'”

New York officials ultimately saw enough to feel confident in reversing the call to end Milwaukee’s threat, setting the stage for the Rays’ heroics in the 12th.

After Pratt redeemed himself with a homer to take a 3-2 lead, an error followed by four straight hits gave the Rays the win and set up Wednesday’s Game 5.

“We weren’t knocking balls in the gap or knocking balls out of the ballpark,” Cash said. “We pieced together a big inning, maybe the most important inning of our season.

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Jayson Tatum For The Win!

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 27: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shoots the game-winning shot against the Brooklyn Nets on October 27, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Former Blue Devil and current Chief Basketball Officer for Duke Basketball Jayson Tatum has had an interesting time of it lately.

Boston shockingly traded Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers, a move that some people seem to hold Tatum responsible for.

And when he recently spoke out on this, saying that he had no role in the trade, that he was “just as much caught off guard as the rest of the world,” and that “I don’t have any animosity or beef or ill will towards him,” Brown had a few things to say about it.

First, he posted a blue cap, suggesting that Tatum was not telling the truth. Then he said this: “We’ve accomplished some great things. He’s a hell of a basketball player. He’s got a great PR team. There’s no beef but it might be a little lamb chops and some gravy. He should stay ready at all times.”

“That’s what it is. No beef. It should never, ever be that. It’s just basketball. We both blessed. But it might be a little lamb chop. We’ll be alright.”

Whatever the truth is, it’s bound to be a distraction. However, it didn’t matter much Tuesday night.

Boston was down to Brooklyn 124-123 with 2.3 seconds left. Derrick White got the ball into Tatum, who spun to his right. Three Nets had a reasonable chance of stopping him: former Louisville star Mikel Brown, Noah Clowney, and Keon Ellis. He shook them all off, though Ellis made a valiant attempt to get back into the play.

But he was too late: Tatum got a shot off as Ellis tried to catch him from behind. He didn’t get there late by much, but he did get there too late, and Tatum’s shot became the game-winner.

Pretty nice outcome for the guy who is now the undisputed face of his team.

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NBA power rankings: Injuries shake up league, winless Miami Heat plummet

The NBA season is young – we’re one week into it, and no team has played five games yet – yet injuries have already made a massive impact.

The names are significant, from Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, to Thunder star Jalen Williams, to Magic forward Paolo Banchero, these issues are certain to impact the immediate futures of their teams. And those are just a few of them.

But after one week of action, there are already significant risers and fallers from the power rankings once training camps opened. And no team has plummeted more than the Miami Heat, who made the massive offseason splash to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo but who have yet to win a game.

Here are the Week 1 USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings:

NBA Week 1 power rankings: Nos. 30-21

30. Sacramento Kings, 0-4 (-1)

They’re oddly constructed, and, even though they have the game’s top rebounder (Domantas Sabonis; 16.5 per game), they rank 24th in that statistic. In fact, Sabonis has collected a staggering 39.8% of Sacramento’s 166 total boards.

29. Brooklyn Nets, 0-4 (-1)

Their loss Tuesday night against the Celtics proved how young and inexperienced this team is. All rookie Mikel Brown Jr. needed to do when he got the ball with 6.1 seconds left in overtime, with Brooklyn up one, was dribble it out, get fouled and go to the line. Instead he tried a contested layup, missed and Jayson Tatum hit the game winner on the other end.

28. New Orleans Pelicans, 0-3 (-1)

The Pelicans, unsurprisingly, lead the NBA in points in the paint per game (60.7). Also unsurprisingly, they’re tied for 28th in catch and shoot points per game (23.3).

27. Chicago Bulls, 1-3 (-7)

The Bulls entered the season with some intrigue, but new coach Tiago Splitter hasn’t gotten this group to gel, as Chicago ranks dead last in net rating (-18.3), field goal percentage (40.6%), 3-point shooting (23.8%) and second-to-last in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.13).

26. Milwaukee Bucks, 1-3 (+4)

Milwaukee has gotten decent early returns from the Heat package for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and any time the Bucks can beat their hated rivals, the Pacers, it’s a positive.

25. Los Angeles Clippers, 1-2 (—)

They haven’t been efficient, ranking last in the league in turnovers (23.3 per game) by a wide margin.

24. Utah Jazz, 1-3 (-6)

Not only has Utah disappointed with its new-look roster, but now Jaren Jackson and Lauri Markkanen, two front court pillars, are both contending with injuries.

23. Phoenix Suns, 1-2 (-6)

Starting with an embarrassing opener in which Phoenix fell into a 21-0 hole, it hasn’t been the best beginning for Phoenix. Making matters worse, they’re dead last in the NBA in defensive rating, allowing 124.5 points per 100 possessions.

22. Golden State Warriors, 1-3 (-1)

Yaxel Lendeborg has been a solid addition, and leads all rookies in points (21.8 per game) and ranks second in rebounds (9.3). Still, Golden State’s defense is a liability.

21. Miami Heat, 0-4 (-13)

This looks very much like a team that still hasn’t figured out how to play together, but some serious flaws have emerged: defensive effort has been lacking and if perimeter shots don’t fall, spacing collapses and teams can crowd the paint to clog up driving lanes for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

NBA Week 1 power rankings: Nos. 20-11

20.  Orlando Magic, 1-2 (-4)

The injury bug, again, has come for the Magic, who now face extended time without Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs. A nice win over the Knicks without Banchero, though, shows Orlando can still be feisty in his absence.

19. Washington Wizards, 2-2 (+5)

Trae Young leads the NBA in assists (11.0 per game) and Anthony Davis has been solid, but No. 1 overall rookie AJ Dybantsa (ankle) is yet to make his debut. It will be interesting to see how he changes things.

18. Dallas Mavericks, 2-2 (+5)

Cooper Flagg was spectacular in a come-from-behind win at Miami, and rookie coach Dusty May has this group playing competitive hoops, ranking fourth in effective field goal percentage (56.7%).

17. Charlotte Hornets, 3-1 (+5)

The Hornets haven’t had the most cohesive offense – they rank dead last in assists (21.5 per game) and are tied for 28th in field goal percentage (41.4%) – but Kon Knueppel (hamstring) is yet to play this season.

16. Memphis Grizzlies, 4-0 (+10)

A surprise undefeated, Ty Jerome has been an offensive powerhouse with 29.8 points per game. Rookie No. 3 overall forward Cameron Boozer is averaging a double-double. Their competition, though, hasn’t been all that stiff, so a larger sample size is necessary to judge this young squad. Solid rebounding metrics, though, are a positive sign.

15. Atlanta Hawks, 2-2 (—)

As they have under coach Quinn Snyder, the Hawks are once again prioritizing assists, leading the NBA with 31.5 per game. And though he doesn’t get the national recognition, Jalen Johnson (21.5 points per, 9.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists) is the offensive engine that makes it all work.

14. Indiana Pacers, 2-2 (—)

Indiana really missed Tyrese Haliburton, who ranks second in the NBA in assists (9.5 per game), but losses to the Mavericks and Bucks show that it may take some time for this offense to return to form from two seasons ago, especially as the Pacers incorporate Ivica Zubac into the system.

13. Toronto Raptors, 2-1 (-1)

Kawhi Leonard is banged up once again and will miss time, but the revelation has been RJ Barrett, who is leading the team with 21.0 points per game at a red hot 51% shooting clip.

12. Denver Nuggets, 1-2 (-3)

Could things be fraying in Denver? Three-time Most Valuable Player and all-world star Nikola Jokić was not only booed at home, but he also criticized the fans doing so.

11. Cleveland Cavaliers, 2-1 (—)

Peyton Watson has infused a solid defensive presence, even early on, averaging 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per game. In fact, Cleveland – not the Spurs – leads the NBA in blocks per game, with 8.7.

NBA Week 1 power rankings: Top 10

10. Portland Trail Blazers, 3-0 (+9)

The surprise of the first week, rookie coach Micah Nori has this group playing clean, efficient basketball. The addition of Ja Morant looks like it was an excellent low-risk, high-reward maneuver, and Portland’s offense is rolling, leading the league in several key categories.

9. New York Knicks, 1-3 (-7)

The Knicks desperately needed a win like they had Tuesday over the Pistons; entering the night, New York had ranked 29th in offensive rating (103.4).

8. Boston Celtics, 3-1 (+2)

There has been plenty of good – Boston entered Tuesday night as the best 3-point shooting team, at a blistering 42.4% – and the Celtics are still incorporating some new faces, so they should only get better from here on out.

7. Los Angeles Lakers, 3-1 (—)

Luka Dončić is once again leading the NBA in scoring (with 36.0 points per game) and could be on the path toward strong Most Valuable Player consideration. Walker Kessler has been a tremendous pairing with Dončić, and Los Angeles should figure to be one of the league’s top offenses, if healthy.

6. San Antonio Spurs, 2-2 (-1)

A slow start with losses to the Thunder and Rockets hurt San Antonio, but Victor Wembanyama has bounced back to lead the Spurs to convincing wins over the Mavericks and Kings.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves, 3-1 (—)

The Timberwolves were looking like they had found a winning formula with the Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball pairing. Now with Edwards out up to two months, Ball and backup Ayo Dosunmu will have to produce more offense. It’s a shame, because Minnesota looked like a legitimate title contender.

4. Philadelphia 76ers, 3-1 (—)

So far, so good. The 76ers are incorporating a new system with new stars, but the results have been promising. And Tyrese Maxey is fully coming into his own as the star of this team.

3. Houston Rockets, 4-0 (+3)

Fred VanVleet has stabilized the point guard position, and that has helped create easier offense for center Alperen Şengün (24.5 points per game) and forward Amen Thompson (17.0).

2. Detroit Pistons, 3-1 (+11)

They had been playing the role of giant slayers, taking down the Celtics, Heat and 76ers to start the season, but the toughest schedule to open the season eventually claimed Detroit Tuesday night when their comeback attempt against the Knicks fell short. Either way, Detroit, once again, looks like a player in the East.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-0 (—)

The loss of Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and the score of other injuries loom large, but the Thunder are the deepest team in the NBA, and they have plenty of experience finding ways to fill in for injured talent.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA power rankings: Injuries shake up league, winless Miami Heat plummet

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Do the Rays have a miracle in them?

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 27: Ben Williamson #15 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with Jorge Mateo #9 and Ryan Vilade #26 after hitting a walk-off single during Game Four of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

We awoke this morning to discover that the 2026 baseball season was still with us. Standing on the brink of elimination, Brewer brooms sweeping towards them, the Rays found a way to survive, walking off Milwaukee on a Ben Williamson single to right.

But doom still stares them in the face: a 3-1 deficit is a forbidding thing. The odds of a comeback are against them. But we are not asking about odds. We are asking about a stranger, less predictable thing: the vibes, the hopes, the general sense of it.

The Rays have faced World Series deficits twice before, in 2020 and in a year that you surely recall. They had no miracles in them then. Do they have one in them for 2026?

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Trying to Find Another Bad Cardinals Bullpen in recent times

This week, I set out on a quest to find a bullpen as bad or worse than the 2026 Cardinals bullpen. We all found it aggravating at times, with only a few bright spots if we were paying attention. The closer was an enigma with a lot of saves, and a lot of memorable blown saves. It certainly felt like. 8 was enough!

George Soriano also had 8 blown saves. etc

Let’s get in a time machine back to 2018. John Brebbia, Jordan Hicks, and Carlos Martinez were our only trustworthy bullpen arms… and Carlos Martinez only pitched 18 innings in relief, so he almost doesn’t count.

Guys with names like Mike Mayers, Tyson Ross, and Dominic Leone were at least a hair above replacement level. They were there, not doing too much harm, but also allowing damage.

Bud Norris, Dakota Hudson, Tyler Webb, and John Gant were also out there, not bad, not good, but there.

Sam Tuivailala showed some promise, but was not much of a factor, either. Greg Holland and his 7.92 ERA was also a member of this bullpen! Sigh. But Brett Cecil was the worst part of this horrible bullpen, with negative fWAR in over 30 IP.

The 2018 Cardinals bullpen ranked #25/30 teams. This team was a good team with a bad bullpen, going 88-74, which was not good enough for the playoffs that year, finishing 2.5 games out of wild card berth.

Oddly enough, the 2017 and 2019 bullpens were assets compared to the 2018 Cardinals’ bullpen. In 2019, Brebbia, Martinez, and Gant stepped it up a notch while Giovanny Gallegos emerged as the bullpen leader. Showing anything can happen, I suppose!

Fastforward to 2021 when the bullpen was an asset again thanks to peak Gallegos and Genesis Cabrera. This bullpen was good enough to make the playoffs, but fell victim to the one game playoff system in place at the time. This would end up Mike Shildt’s last chance in a Cardinal uniform. Ryan Helsley pitched 47 innings with a 4.56 ERA. Kodi Whitley was better than Helsley in only 25 IP.

The 2022 bullpen was lead by the talents of Ryan Helsley who emerged as a 1.25 ERA / 2.34 FIP dominant pitcher! Gallegos was also incredibly good that season, albeit not quite that astonishing at 2.88 FIP. That’s a nice duo to build a bullpen around…

The issue was that Jordan Hicks would have been a triple threat, but he had a rather unlucky 4.37 ERA, while his other rate stats were 2.39 xERA, 3.06 FIP, and 3.20 xFIP. That’s enough evidence for bad luck. Maybe he was tipping his pitches.

While 2022 relievers had some high end talent, the bullpen also included guys like Packy Naughton, Jake Woodford, Chris Stratton, and Zach Thompson. So even with the one-two of peak Helsley and a still really good Gallegos, this bullpen ended up in the middle of the pack.

The Cardinals bullpen remained mid in 2023 and 2024, but in 2025 the bullpen was actually an asset.

But… in 2026 it was an afterthought. sad, really.

So many lessons not learned by the organization. The bullpen is back to 2018 levels where it crippled the team for some reason, reasons unknown other than they though they thought they could get away with the bullpen as an afterthought. It is a fantasy that you do not need a reliable bullpen. I agree with all sabermetric finds outside of this one.

8 years later, the Cardinals have designed a bullpen almost to fail spectacularly with Gordon Graceffo the most valuable member by fWAR. That was not supposed to happen! O’Brien and Bruihl were both above replacement level. Yet, the Cardinals bullpen were #25/30 in WAR. They barely cracked the top 20 in ERA. Not real good, especially with a lackluster bullpen.

If there is some sort of decade cycle, we should not be worried about the bullpen. We had an offyear in 2018, which was surrounded by good bullpen years. There’s a good chance that the 2025 bullpen is closer to the 2027 than the 2026 one was. I think the Cardinals are overall bullpen savvy, so there should be some improvement during the next season. They don’t usually cough up a bad bullpen.

1999 Heavy Metal for Halloween!

Well there you have it, a heavy metal Halloween soundtrack time machine to the year 1999!

1999 Heavy Metal Underground Radio From George Matt Bowles

Happy Early Halloweeen VEB! I found a cat mask that looked like my cat, so I was a cat dad for Halloween at work. What are you going to be? I spent many years not being anything, which is just as good!

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Dodgers notes: Roki Sasaki, Shohei Ohtani, Shoki Oda

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 14: Roki Sasaki #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during Game Three of the National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

2026 was a tale of two seasons for right-hander Roki Sasaki.

To begin the season, Sasaki struggled to find his footing back in the rotation after becoming the team’s de facto closer during their 2025 title run. Sasaki entered the All-Star break with a 5.33 ERA and a 1.358 WHIP across 81 innings over his first 16 games. He followed up a poor first half with an incredible six start stretch to begin the second half until a blister on his right middle finger sidelined him for a month.

Just like the year before, there was no room for him in the starting rotation in October, and he was relegated to just 3 1/3 innings out of the bullpen in the postseason. The Dodgers don’t have to look far to add supplemental value to the rotation for 2027, and Sasaki’s goal for next season is to be become a reliable starter both in the regular season and when it matters most, notes Dylan Hernandez of the California Post.

“To start in the regular season and continue being a starter in the postseason, I think I have to give a performance worthy of that,” he said. “I know what I did this year wasn’t enough.

The Dodgers attempted to have Shohei Ohtani battle through both knee and biceps injuries in the second half, and it resulted in a nearly two-month long home run drought where he was a shell of himself offensively— let alone the fact that he hadn’t taken the mound since July 3.

It seems that there was a lack of full transparency between the two-way superstar and the coaching staff, as Katie Woo of The Athletic details.

“I think in his mind, he thought the best way to help the team was to go out and play, which I respect,” Friedman said in September. “But us staying really connected and sharing that information, I think, will be really important going forward. And again, the communication back and forth has been awesome. The fully sharing exactly how he’s feeling, maybe not as awesome.”

One of the more intriguing international talents entering this offseason is Japanese right-hander Shoki Oda. Oda intends to forego a career in the NPB, notes Michael Clair and Ayako Oikawa of MLB.com, and his fastball has put him on the same echelon of both Ohtani and Sasaki.

The Dodgers are already in the mix for Japanese outfielder Teruaki Sato, but Dylan Hernandez of the California Post notes that the Dodgers would be the expected landing spot for Oda.

And while people familiar with his situation insist he hasn’t made a decision, the widespread expectation around the industry is that 18-year-old Shoki Oda of Japan will end up with the Dodgers.

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Milwaukee Bucks vs. Houston Rockets Preview & Game Thread: Keep the momentum going

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 01: Ousmane Dieng #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against Tari Eason #17 of the Houston Rockets in the first half at Toyota Center on April 01, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Milwaukee Bucks will look to put together their first win streak of the year as they host the Houston Rockets tonight. The Bucks notched their first win of the Taylor Jenkins era on Monday against bitter rivals, the Indiana Pacers, 110-102, and beyond that win, the Bucks continued to show promising signs of growth. Tyler Herro continues to look comfortable as the lead guard, while Kel’el Ware has settled more into his role. The Bucks will aim to keep growing and finding ways to compete as the red-hot Houston Rockets come to town.

The Task Ahead

The Houston Rockets haven’t lost yet this season; they are 4-0 and playing like they took all the off-season criticism personally after getting blown out in the playoffs. Kevin Durant leads the team in scoring at 23.5 PPG on 47% shooting from deep, while Alperen Sengun leads the team in rebounds (8.9) and assists (6.2), though the Rockets are expected to rest Sengun with back soreness. With Steven Adams also still sidelined, the Rockets will likely start Clint Capela at the five.

The Rockets will lean on their defence to make up for Sengun’s absence, turning primarily to Amen Thompson, who averages 1.5 steals per contest. Despite being a top-10 team in points allowed per 100 possessions so far (108.8, 9th on Cleaning the Glass), the Rockets are an okay team at best when defending at the rim, in the mid-range, and most 3s taken (except in the corner, where they defend fairly well). Therefore, the Bucks will need to push the pace and beat the Rockets at their own game: getting rebounds and scoring second-chance points. If the Bucks can impose their will in the paint without Sengun or Adams, they have a chance to stay in the game and steal it at the end.

Injury Report

Bucks:

  • Clean injury report.

Rockets:

  • Alperen Sengun: out (back)
  • Steven Adams: out (calf)
  • Marcus Smart: questionable (forearm)

Player to Watch

After extending with the Rockets over the summer, Tari Eason has gotten off to a fast start this season. Eason is currently at over 60% in true shooting, and while the sample size is small, it suggests he’s getting in the right spots and taking high-quality shots. The five-year pro has also been one of Houston’s best paint defenders this season, so expect him to get serious minutes trying to contain the Bucks’ front court (especially with Sengun and Adams sidelined). This will be a good test for Kel’el Ware, in particular, to see if he can continue building on the positive progress of the last two games.

Projected Starters

BucksPositionRockets
Ryan RollinsPGFred VanVleet
Tyler HerroSGAmen Thompson
Jaime Jaquez Jr.SFKevin Durant
Kyle KuzmaPFJabari Smith
Myles TurnerCClint Capela

Game Details

Who: Milwaukee Bucks (1-3) vs. Houston (4-0).

When: 7:00 p.m. CDT.

Where: Fiserv Forum—Milwaukee, WI.

Watch: MY24.

Listen: Check local listings.

Prescient Prediction

Nate Ament has been ramping up, showing real tenacity against the Pacers. Look for Ament to post his first double-digit scoring line of the season, with 12 points off the bench.