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Braves News: Tampa Hosts Game 3 of World Series, Player Reviews, More

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 13: The baseball cap and glove of Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) sits on the dugout steps during the MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves on September 13, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Game 3 of the 2026 World Series is later today, and the scene shifts to Tampa Bay. The Rays hope some home cooking will turn the tide of the series, as the Brewers look very hard to beat as they have all season. It will be interesting to see what adjustments are made on both sides. No matter what, it should certainly be an interesting game to enjoy.

Braves News

Danny Young is the latest player review to enjoy for the 2026 season. There was a time this year that Young was given an opportunity to stick with the pen, but the performance was not up to par.

MLB News

Rocco Baldelli informed the Mariners that he no longer wanted to be in consideration for their managerial opening.

MLB.com looks at the specific questions that the Rays must answer in order find success against the Brewers.

Brewers Pitcher Quinn Priester continues to recover well from surgery.

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Magic 111, Knicks 102: “This is getting real”

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 23: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks reacts during second half of the Celtics Home Opener at TD Garden on October 23, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Knicks 107-103. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The New York Knicks knew that it would be hard to repeat as NBA champions after they had the shortest summer out of all teams and spent weeks throwing parties in the “Big Apple” that would make the Great Gatsby turn pale with envy. On top of that, recent history, with nine different title winners in nine years, also told the Bockers that it would be almost impossible to win it a second time in a row. If they or you needed a reminder, here’s the 0-3 start for the defending champs. It’s not just talk anymore; it’s right in front of us in hard, cold numbers. Or as Keef suggested in the Postgame Thread: “This is getting real.”

How real remains to be determined, but right now it looks like nobody in Knick Nation wants to find out how bad this can get. Your beloved New York Ballers dragged themselves through another anemic, incomplete performance on Sunday night and granted the shorthanded Orlando Magic (playing without Paolo Banchero) their first win of the young season. It’s not like the Knicks didn’t try, starting with Jalen Brunson, who came out extremely aggressive and stayed that way throughout the entire contest. But 28 shots and 16 misses later, it turned out to be all for naught.

Knicks searching for… what exactly?

It’s one of the captain’s many remarkable traits that he never shies away from a challenge and is willing to put the team on his back even in the darkest of times. Whether him shooting that much is the best way for the Knicks in a game like this can be debated, though, and has been plenty in the past, especially when his shot is as off as it certainly seems to be early in the year. Nobody wants Brunson to change because eventually we will get the Finals Game 5 version of him (damn, that was beautiful). Yet he himself knows that not even the new king of the city has found a solution for all that’s wrong with the team right now.

Against Orlando, it actually looked like the Knicks had finally grabbed the rope and started to pull themselves out of the mud with a 12-0 start in the first quarter. The gameplan of leaving the Magic wide open from downtown worked to perfection as one of the worst three-point shooting teams in recent memory stacked up brick after brick. But before they finished a nice little three-story Brooklyn townhouse, their reserves, led by Anthony Black and Tristan Da Silva, all of a sudden did the unthinkable: they hit their open shots! Countless times, the Knicks overhelped on drives and could not recover out to the arc in time. With every new make, you could sense the confidence growing for their counterparts.

Magic reserves dominate Knicks bench

In turn, the Knicks themselves all of a sudden realized that they could actually lose this game against an opponent who has traditionally played them very tough over the last few years. They got careless with the ball, and you could feel them thinking too much. In the end, they did exactly what you would have expected from those scrappy stonethrowers from Disney World: they missed their three-pointers. A lot of them, all the way to a clip of 24 percent on the night.

Superior talent in the form of Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns or OG Anunoby still let the Knicks lead for most of the night, but at no point did it really feel sustainable. Missing Jose Alvarado, the Knicks reserves were outscored 47-11 by the magical second unit and couldn’t muster up anything more than a few nice moments. Andre Drummond was, well, Andre Drummond. James Wiseman had a spectacular block but played way too giddy. Tyler Kolek had plenty of helpers (9 assists in 15 minutes) but once again struggled against Orlando’s size. Landry Shamet and Deuce McBride were off, and it certainly didn’t help them that Mike Brown experimented with a lineup that saw Mikal Bridges exclusively initiating the offense, surrounded by reserves. Yup, unfortunately it went as expected and did not really unlock the coldest player in basketball right now.

A fourth quarter to forget or learn from

But even if their reinforcements or their shooting hands weren’t up to par, the Knicks starters still had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. At that point, they decided it might be a fun idea to let Franz Wagner get going a little bit, and the big German certainly enjoyed it. After being silenced for most of the night by OG Anunoby, he all of a sudden stumbled upon the green light of seeing Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges in front of him for a long stretch. Wagner hit that metal quicker than he ever would on the Autobahn A100 in Berlin and drove into the paint at will against the smaller defenders. With all the momentum on their side, shots fell again for Orlando, and New York was wondering what actually had happened to them. In case you are also still wondering: 40 points by the Magic in the fourth quarter alone. Ballgame.

The bad defensive execution against an offensively challenged Magic team feels symbolic of what the Knicks are still missing to start the season. They made a living during their long playoff run by being the smartest squad in the arena, making the right pass at the right time and the correct rotation whenever it was needed. Paired with plenty of toughness, Jalen Marquis Brunson and an innovative offensive system, it turned out to be a devastating combination, especially in a league where fundamentals have become a relic of the past at times. It also could hide many of the flaws that the Knicks had shown us for the better part of two years with this current nucleus.

Some of these flaws are showing up again because right now New York isn’t making the “right” plays often enough. Until they are making them, this losing streak could continue. “There’s no light switch that we can just turn on and think we’re going to go win ballgames,” head coach Mike Brown said in the postgame. “Nobody is going to give us any of that. We have to be better with the little things until we start shooting the ball well.” Just like his players, he seems to be searching. The solution for the current issues might be physical; it might be mental. It might be a little bit of both.

Let’s hope that it is real sooner rather than later.

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Grading the Mavericks: A strong start hidden under mixed results

The Dallas Mavericks finished their first week of the 2026-27 season with a 1-2 record. They got blown off the floor in game one by Houston (128-110), bounced back with a win in Indiana (121-105), and then fell to San Antonio in their home opener (122-106). Cooper Flagg led the way with 23 points per game. Flagg also injured his shoulder against Indiana and missed their last game.

Grade: B+

If you take out the second quarter against the Rockets and the fourth quarter against the Spurs, the Mavericks played three excellent games of basketball. They beat Houston by 14 in the second half, had a 30-point lead in the first half of their win against the Pacers, and played the defending Western Conference champions tough without Kyrie Irving or Cooper Flagg. Marcus Sasser and Sergio de Larrea shined off the bench in the sought-after guard minutes, and Zaccharie Risacher showed intrigue as a connecting piece on defense. P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall have looked like themselves, and Kyrie Irving seems to be on track to be the guy he was 19 months ago.

They are in the top half of the league for offensive rating (112.0) and near the bottom of the league in pace (100.33), meaning they have been very deliberate and effective in what they want to do. The defensive flashes have been there, but, as is the case for all young teams, they are not consistent yet. They’re going to have quarters like the second in Houston, where they got boatraced 38-12. But they will also click as they did in the same period against Indiana, where they held them scoreless for nearly half the quarter and outscored them 33-16.

Despite the 1-2 start, there is reason to have hope for a good season. Dusty May will continue to figure out the lineups as the season goes on, the rookies and fresh faces will find more confidence as they play more, and Cooper Flagg alongside Kyrie Irving is awesome to watch. This next week (at Miami, at home against Oklahoma City and Houston) will be a great test for this group if they want playoff dreams.

Straight A’s: Cooper Flagg

Cooper Flagg made the jump we expected him to make. He came out of the gates swinging with 32 points, and followed that up with 14 points in 17 minutes before getting hurt in Indiana. He has made 14 of his 23 shots, including three of his six threes, and has two blocks and six steals. He was efficient last year, as we know, but the big jump so far in his scoring has been his ability to get to the line. Flagg took 13 free throws against the Rockets and four before exiting on Friday, making 15 of his 17 attempts. He looks like a more seasoned player, and a true number one on a winning team.  

Fail: Dusty May’s first NBA half

I have not been much more bewildered than I was watching the Mavericks’ first half to open the season. 10 guys played in the first quarter, and it seemed like every time I looked up, a new player was on the floor. There was no rhythm, no pattern, and seemingly no purpose other than to get a look at everyone for two minutes at a time. A positive spin could be that he wanted to speed-run the 20-game Jason Kidd test period, but he legitimately punted the game against Houston by doing this, given how Dallas played in the second half. Thankfully, he has not pulled this gimmick in either game since, but he does have a quick trigger on the substitutions. 

Extra Credit: Sergio de Larrea

When the Mavericks selected de Larrea 25th overall, the chances are you had no idea who he was. I had no clue, but one thing is clear about him from the get-go: the kid can play. A lot of young players are constantly trying to adjust to the pace of the NBA; de Larrea already controls it. He has incredible touch on his in-between game, a great feel for passing, and a smooth-looking jumper. He is clearly too slender, but that will change with a real NBA offseason. His 21 points against a very good Spurs defense, and specifically the ease with which he got to his spots against Stephon Castle, were impressive. I am excited to watch him develop next to Cooper Flagg. 

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The Solar Report, Week 1: Suns continue developing chemistry after challenging opening week

Oct 24, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) drives on Golden State Warriors forward Georges Niang (32) in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

All right, time to dust off the old weekly recap and give it another rejuvenation as I reinvent it once again this year. I’d previously mentioned that I’d be calling this the Solar Report, and I’ve already given you my reasons why. Now I’m here to report on the overarching themes we experienced in Week 1.

Week 1 served as a reminder that there’s plenty of basketball left to be played and that overreactions and rash decisions need to be tempered, even when you feel they shouldn’t be. Because what seems logical to you as a fan isn’t necessarily as logical when you get into the intricacies of a locker room, the dynamics involved, and the egos that come with them. As we look back at Week 1, it’s clear that challenges await the Phoenix Suns if adjustments aren’t made. And we’re already beginning to wonder how long it’ll take before those adjustments occur.

The shine of hope and promise, fortified by the belief in continued development, was quickly erased within the opening minutes of the season. The reality of the Suns’ current situation, combined with the flaws in their roster construction, was on full display.

Like everything in life, it’s a process. Think back to last season. A team that ultimately became one of the most beloved Suns teams in recent memory because of the way it played and executed began the season 1-4. And then something clicked. When it did, Phoenix became a team nobody wanted to play against. So with only two games in the books, I’m tempering my words and observations when it comes to the overall assessment of a team that’s still learning where to be and how to play together.

With that being said, here’s your Solar Report for Week 1.

Week 1 Record: 1-1

@ Portland Trail Blazers, L, 124-83

I’m going to file this under “Things I wish were permanently scrubbed from the internet”…

vs. Golden State Warriors, W, 131-122

A nice win in which the offense looked functional and the defense let the C Squad feel like the A squad.

Malu-Watch

Tracking rebounds plus steals plus blocks per 36 minutes through the first week (“restocks”, if you will) gives us a potential baseline for what Khaman Maluach can become. When he’s on the court, he’s statistically productive. But visually, I think we all recognize that we’re embarking on a journey filled with bumps, bruises, mental lapses, and moments of clarity. He’s a 20-year-old center who’s suddenly being asked to start following Mark Williams’ injury and Oso Ighodaro suffering an oblique strain during the first week of the season. That developmental timeline for Maluach has accelerated substantially, and we’re all along for the ride.

Looking at his Week 1 restocks production, here’s what you get:

For context, Victor Wembanyama is averaging 17.8 restocks per 36 minutes through Week 1.

What this week showcased to us, in my opinion, isn’t necessarily reflected in the statistics. Because there were plenty of minutes when Maluach was on the court and the discombobulation was evident. His positioning was less than optimal, and at times, the ability to grab the damn rebound simply wasn’t there.

Now, you have to take all of this with some context. The Suns aren’t a great rebounding team, which I’ll get into momentarily. And when opposing teams recognize that, they have one mission: box out the one guy who can rebound and make his life a living hell. That guy is Khaman Maluach.

He’s currently leading the team with 7.5 rebounds per game through two games and possesses a defensive rebounding percentage of 16.9%. For comparison, Wembanyama sits at 15.3%. When you look at Maluach’s restocks, he’s doing a decent job of making his presence felt. But Maluach isn’t the only player responsible for securing rebounds. When opposing teams are actively boxing him out, the rest of the Suns need to step up in his stead. The attention he’s drawing should create opportunities for his teammates to slip inside and snatch some boards of their own.

Instead, it’s the opposition that’s consistently showing more activity on the glass and coming away with those rebounds. Which brings me to our next segment…

Stat Me, Dave

Back in the old Solar Panel podcast days, there was a segment in which Dave King would provide a statistic. The name of that segment, not ironically at all, was “Stat Me, Dave.” That’s what I’m here to provide every week. One statistic, or perhaps a collection of statistics, that points to a theme I’ve noticed throughout the week.

I think, without a doubt, the biggest concern surrounding the Phoenix Suns right now is rebounding.

It’s not like this was a great rebounding team a season ago. Phoenix ranked 20th in the NBA, averaging 43.1 rebounds per game, while its 49.8% rebounding percentage ranked 14th. Over the course of the season, the Suns finished with a rebound differential of minus-46 and were outrebounded in 43 games.

You could point to the advanced rebounding metrics of Miles Bridges and make the case that his addition should improve Phoenix’s overall performance on the glass. But holistically, Bridges is a slightly above-average rebounder, and his arrival hasn’t moved the needle through the first two games.

He’s averaging 5.5 rebounds per game with a rebounding percentage of 7.9%. So Bridges has struggled, and the team as a whole has struggled. Which brings me to my stat: The Phoenix Suns are currently dead last in the NBA with a rebounding percentage of 41.6%. Combine that with the fact that they’re allowing 26 second-chance points per game, the most in the league, while generating only 10.5 second-chance points themselves, the fewest in the NBA.

Everything you’re seeing with your own eyes is supported by the numbers. This team has a rebounding problem.

Next Week

The competition gets increasingly difficult next week, although the Suns have only two games on the schedule. First up is the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, a team that has looked absolutely possessed to begin the season. They’re 3-0, although they’ll be playing tonight on the second night of a back-to-back after beating the Los Angeles Clippers last night.

In an unfortunate turn of events, Jalen Williams suffered a horrific ankle injury near the end of that game and is most likely done for the season. So Phoenix will be facing an emotional Thunder team following the loss of a player who fought so hard to return after missing the majority of last season. But at the end of the day, they’re still the Thunder, a buzzsaw of a team loaded with depth, length, and rebounding. They’re currently ninth in the NBA in total rebounds, averaging 46.3 per game.

Following that matchup, the Suns get a nice little break. Three nights off for us to sit and stew over whatever happens Monday against Oklahoma City. And their opponent on Friday? The Denver Nuggets, who currently sit at 1–1.

Denver lost its season opener to Oklahoma City before beating the New Orleans Pelicans in overtime on Saturday. They’ll face Golden State and New Orleans this week before traveling to Phoenix for what will be the Suns’ first NBA Cup game of the season. Long pause…I think you know how I feel about that event, and I’m going to do my best to never mention those thoughts again.

The point is that this week, the Suns will face players with a combined five MVP awards. That’s never going to be easy.

Week 2 will present a challenge as the Suns test themselves against some of the Western Conference’s top teams while also continuing to battle themselves. What have they learned from their first two games that they can carry forward? And more importantly, can they actually put those lessons into action?

That’s it for this week, Bright Siders. Stay frosty.

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Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers Preview & Game Thread: Season’s just started

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 16: Tyler Herro #11of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball while defended by Jay Huff #32 of the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on October 16, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After dropping a tight game against Philadelphia, the Milwaukee Bucks return to Fiserv Forum to face their regional rivals, the Indiana Pacers, who come in on the second night of a back-to-back. The Bucks have slumped to 0-3, losing to Washington, Chicago, and Philadelphia, and they’ll want at least one win as they begin a three-game home stretch. Milwaukee has important questions to answer, especially about its porous defence, which has allowed 129 PPG in the early season, the league’s most.

The Task Ahead

With floor general Tyrese Haliburton back from a torn Achilles, the Pacers have started the season solidly at 2-1 (granted, the wins came against New Orleans and Brooklyn). Notably, Ivica Zubac suffered an ankle injury last night against the Nets and, per reports, is unlikely to play tonight.

The key storyline of Indiana’s season so far has been Haliburton, who has picked up right where he left off, averaging 21.7 PPG on .533/.353/.917 shooting splits, plus 9.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, and 0.7 BPG. His superb vision, aided by a slender 6’5” build, has allowed his teammates to thrive too. Obi Toppin is averaging 16.3 PPG off the bench, while Andrew Nembhard (16.0 PPG), Aaron Nesmith (11.0 PPG), and Ivica Zubac (9.0 PPG) have all been key contributors. However, Haliburton’s most prominent co-star has been Pascal Siakam, who is posting 24.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 3.3 APG. Suffice to say, the Hali-Siakam connection is alive and well.

That said, Indiana has struggled at times early in the season, most notably in a rough first half against Dallas, who handed them their only loss so far. The Pacers turned the ball over 13 times and let the Mavs consistently penetrate the paint and bully them inside. Indy lacked urgency on offence, struggled to shoot, and grew so frustrated that a scuffle broke out at the end of the half when Aaron Nesmith made a hard foul on Cooper Flagg. The point being: Indiana has certainly looked strong at times, but they’re certainly not unbeatable. The Pacers come in tonight tired and (likely) without their starting center; the Bucks have a shot.

Injury Report

Bucks:

  • Clean injury report

Pacers:

  • Not yet submitted, as they played last night. But as mentioned, Ivica Zubac left on crutches after spraining his ankle and is unlikely to play.

Player to Watch

Pascal Siakam has been searingly hot for Indiana through their first three games. Siakam’s been clicking from long range, and his athleticism has translated into dominance on the glass. He also stepped into a playmaking role in Indiana’s recent win over Brooklyn, posting six assists. The veteran has looked very good with Haliburton back in the lineup, and he could very easily trouble Milwaukee’s underperforming bigs.

Projected Starters

BucksPositionPacers
Ryan RollinsPGTyrese Haliburton
Tyler HerroSGAndrew Nembhard
Jaime Jaquez Jr.SFAaron Nesmith
Kyle KuzmaPFPascal Siakam
Kel’el WareCJay Huff

Game Details

Who: Milwaukee Bucks (0-3) vs. Indiana Pacers (2-1).

When: 7:00 p.m. CDT

Where: Fiserv Forum—Milwaukee, WI.

Watch: MY24.

Listen: Check local listings.

Prescient Prediction

The Pacers continue to catch fire from three. Indiana shot 49% from deep against Brooklyn after two struggling games. The Bucks allowed the 76ers to catch fire in their Saturday loss, with Philly shooting 43%. Coming off a successful shooting night on Sunday and the likely addition of seven-foot sharpshooter Jay Huff into the rotation, expect the Pacers to hit their shots from the land of plenty.

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Weekly Cupcakes: Brady receives a NSFW welcome in Ottawa

OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 21: Brady Tkachuk #8 of the Florida Panthers skates during warm-up before a game against the Ottawa Senators on October 21, 2026, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images


Colorado Avalanche News

  • T.J. Hughes is quickly adjusting to the NHL, earning praise from Nathan MacKinnon and Jared Bednar for his work ethic, hockey IQ, and ability to turn lessons into results. [The Hockey News]
  • What an NHL expansion draft could mean for the Colorado Avalanche. With a potential NHL expansion team on the rise, it’s time to take a quick look at the rules of what an expansion draft could look like based on past occurrences. [Sports Illustrated]
  • Avalanche prospect Egor Shilov putting together a solid season in the QMJHL. [Mile High Sticking]

News Around the League

  • What we learned from Connor Hellebuyck’s first weekend with the Devils. [Sportsnet]
  • Hurricanes, D Nikishin end stalemate with one-year contract. [TSN]
  • NHL, Rogers need to figure out, together, how to make more games accessible. [Toronto Sun]
  • McCann out 10 weeks for Kraken. [NHL]
  • Connor McDavid is off to a historic start. Could some of Gretzky’s records fall this season? [CBC]
  • Senators rout Panthers in Brady Tkachuk’s hostile return to Ottawa, fans chant some NSFW things, and some PG ones including “You eat crayons” and “You can’t read”. [The Score]
  • Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki out 2-4 weeks with upper-body injury. [ESPN]
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Detroit Tigers News: World Series, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Jackson Chourio, Jacob Misiorowski

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 24: Yandy Diaz #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after striking out for the final out against the Milwaukee Brewers to end the ninth inning in game two of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field on October 24, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Happy Monday, everyone. It was quite a weekend for those who watched the World Series get underway in Milwaukee. While the match ostensibly pairs the two strongest teams in baseball, the Rays have been struggling mightily against the Brewers, making some truly egregious defensive gaffes that would look bad during the regular season but are doing them no favors in the World Series, especially. We’ve got more on that below, plus a look at the players proving to be difference-makers this postseason, a new World Series pitching record, and Stephen Vogt puts to bed any rumors he might be heading West.

Let’s get right into it!

Detroit Tigers News

  • Not surprising at all. Just wish they’d been able to see some more wins.
  • Hao-Yu Lee working this offseason.

MLB News

  • Payton Tolle is having the time of his life as a postseason correspondent.
  • Can’t say I expected to see a Marvel/MLB crossover.
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Possible free agent target for St. Louis Cardinals: Adrian Morejon

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 03: Adrian Morejon #50 of the San Diego Padres pitches during Game One of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Saturday, October 3, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Before I get into the meat of this article, I want to be clear that I think this has only a slightly higher chance of happening than the Cardinals signing Tarik Skubal, which is to say I don’t think there’s much of a chance at all. I’m also not necessarily advocating for it, but I am sort of intrigued at this kind of move, because there really aren’t many, if any, more impactful bullpen moves a team can make than sign Adrian Morejon, who provides lots of elite innings. And few teams had a worse bullpen than the Cardinals.

I had a great difficulty determining what Morejon’s future contract could be, which is a very important aspect on whether or not to sign him. It was easy enough to figure out his WAR estimates – until ZiPS comes along, any estimate will be imperfect, but I felt comfortable labeling him a 2 WAR reliever. Morejon enters this offseason at 28-years-old, so I estimated a four year contract, although five may very well be needed. 2 WAR reliever, 4 years. Should be easy to figure out that contract right?

Uh no. I do what I always do when estimating contracts, which is knock off half a win for each subsequent year, which is mostly accounting for injury. And while I’d love to pretend Morejon won’t decline at all for the sake of a more realistic contract, I’m very determined to maintain that it a reasonable thing to assume for a reliever, who is even more subject to randomness. Problem was this system spit out a 4 year, $50 million contract. That ain’t happening.

If I am adamant any future contract needs to bake in a normal decline, that means my WAR per dollar figure is wildly wrong. Relievers don’t fit under the same framework that starting pitchers and position players do. Edwin Diaz got 5 years, $100 million at 29-years-old with an opt-out after three years. Diaz was closing games and Morejon was not, which I do think matters with a future contract, so I don’t think he’s looking at $100 million, but he’s looking at more than $50 million. My point in bringing up Diaz was also that he was absolutely not projected for 10 wins when he signed that contract.

I did find a solution. According to Michael Rosen of Fangraphs, he looked into the overpaying of relievers, at least from a projected standpoint, and found that relievers in the 2020s got paid $15 million per projected win. There we go. At that price, Morejon is looking at a future contract of 4 years, $75 million. Technically, by my half a win deduction, adding a year to that would not actually add anything to that price. Because deducting half a win from his fifth year lands him at replacement level. Part of me also thinks 5 years is more realistic, at least in a normal free agent market without an impending lockout. This might be lowballing considering what Diaz got a few years ago, so it wouldn’t shock me if he got more, but I do think not closing will lower his potential price.

Estimated contract: 5 years, $80 million

A free agent profile on a specific reliever is a bit unusual, so I thought I’d stray from my usual format and instead list some reasons to sign Morejon and some reasons to not sign Morejon. First off, because he’s not really that well-known. If I’m proposing a $75 million contract to a reliever you’ve never heard of, it’d be best if I explained why exactly he might get that contract and why it might make sense for the Cardinals. And in the opposite direction, if you just see the best reliever on the market and a very weak bullpen he would help, maybe reasons not to sign him will ease the pain when the Cardinals do not sign him.

Reason to sign Morejon

Stats: 70 G, 74.1 IP, 27.3 K%, 7.3 BB%, 54.4 GB%, .288 BABIP, 2.58 ERA/2.46 FIP/2.98 xFIP, 3 saves, 20 holds, 2.1 fWAR

If you are wondering what those stats are, they are not his 2026 stats. I took the average of his last three seasons, because it really illustrates just how elite of a reliever he is. And he was actually better in 2026 than that average suggests. He threw 86 IP last season in 76 games played, so he is very accustomed to pitching multiple innings. At least in theory, you can use Morejon in the middle to late high leverage innings for however long you need him, which is very rarely true for an elite reliever on the free agent market, who is normally used to closing out games and thus being restricted for one inning and the 9th.

He also had his highest GB% of his career and his highest K% of his career last year. He was better than he’s ever been although he did have a 2.03 ERA in 2025 (2.83 last year). He’s going to be 28 in the first year of his deal, and if you look at the list of free agent relievers after him, literally all of them are 30 or older unless Andres Munoz’s club option is rejected (it won’t be). So you have the best reliever and the youngest reliever, who can throw an amount of innings that makes you think it’s 1986 and who is willing to throw in any high leverage spot, not just the 9th inning. If you’re ever going to break your sign big money reliever rule, this is the guy to do it for.

I do also believe the Cardinals should spend money in this offseason, but their needs and the strengths of the free agent market do not line up well. There are not very good 3B or CF options in free agency, and the non-Skubal starting pitchers are kind of underwhelming. Why not use money you should have to instantly and massively improve the bullpen, the weakest part of the team if you aren’t excited about the other free agents? Most free agent relievers are bad investments because they are 30 and older. This guy is 28.

I cannot emphasize enough that the ideal version of Morejon is absolutely worth the money, it’s just that we don’t trust relievers. For most relievers on this market and really any market, if I learned they were signed for more than $20 million, I grit my teeth and hope it works out. If the Cardinals announced they signed Morejon to 5 years, $80 million, I would be excited.

That’s my best case for signing him. Onto the reasons not to.

Reasons to not sign Morejon

I began this by learning that relievers get paid $15 million per projected win. That doesn’t actually mean they are worth that. That means that’s what teams pay them. So strictly speaking, my proposed contract? He’s not worth the money. Again at least from a projection standpoint. Also, he’s a reliever. Just because he’s been reliable and just because he’s 28 does not exclude him from playing in just about the most unreliable spot in baseball. And while it is a positive he has proven to be able to pitch in 70+ games, let’s just say an injury would not be unexpected.

From a roster construction standpoint, the Cardinals may very quickly have no need for a left-handed reliever. I’m not entirely sure of what their plan is with Cooper Hjerpe, but if they intend to put him in the MLB bullpen next year, he might look something like a poor man’s Morejon and his potential is Morejon. He’s not the only lefty they have. Brandon Clarke sure seems destined for the bullpen as well. I’m guessing due to his injuries, he’d be a more one inning guy, but he could be in the MLB bullpen sooner than you’d think.

As for a surefire left-handed reliever who might be elite as soon as the middle of next season, Sandro Santana exists. He struck out 36% of batters in a limited amount of innings in Memphis to end last season. He started last season in High A. I doubt he makes the Opening Day roster, but if he comes even close to duplicating how he pitched in both High A and AA, he’ll be in St. Louis by June.

There’s also Justin Bruhl, although I would never advocate for not signing Morejon because of Bruhl. Same goes for Brycen Mautz. Mason Molina might soon be relegated to the bullpen. The Cardinals simply have a lot of left-handed pitchers who will very quickly be in the bullpen and a few of them have a very high potential. It’s not specifically a problem for half your bullpen to be left-handed, but I don’t know that you would spend $80 million if you already had 3-4 lefties you expected to make an impact during the duration of that contract. (Fairly early on in that contract in fact)

*Oh yeah duh Matthew Liberatore is also left-handed and maybe headed to the bullpen

And just as one final point, the money paid to him wouldn’t be an issue in this offseason, because it means the Cardinals didn’t find a better way to spend the money, which is very plausible, but the idea that they couldn’t find better ways to spend the money in years 3, 4, and 5 than for a 30+ year old reliever? That could, in the future, present more of a problem.

Conclusion

I’ll let you decide for yourselves. Like I said, I would be excited if they did this. I find it hard to believe they would find better uses of this money in the first couple years of his deal, just because the way the team is set up, they have plenty of excuses to not use the money in general. So I sort of look at as “it’s either him or nobody.” Which is why I’m more open to it than I otherwise would be. On year 4 of the deal, he might actually prevent the Cardinals from signing someone.

They never do it, but more money upfront would ease my concerns in this respect. Just to take an extreme stance here, if Chaim Bloom is given $30 million to spend on players, and doesn’t love any other option, so he uses that money for year 1 of an $80 million deal, it’s unlikely the end of this contract looks all that bad, even if his first year salary looks ridiculous. Also more money upfront is how you entice him to come here in the first place. So it works out both ways.

Book Corner

Frank is Dead suggested I have a book corner, because sometimes whatever I’m reading compels me to share my thoughts, and my outlet has been the comment section. My intention for this section will be to share my thoughts on books I am currently reading, but since I have nothing new to share about Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow at the moment, how about future books? I bought four books this week, most of them motivated by Chernow in some way.

His Masterly Pen: A Biography of Jefferson the Writer – The Founding Father’s Words That Shaped Revolutionary America by Fred Kaplan

Despite the title, my understanding is that Kaplan is not afraid to get critical of Jefferson using his own words, which frequently contradicted his actions. I have already read a biography of Jefferson by Jon Meacham, but Kaplan’s premise was too good for me to pass up.

Alexander Hamilton: The Persistence of Myth by Stephen F. Knott

I could have gotten this from the Chernow biography, as this predated it by a couple years. But I just as easily could have gotten it from another source and don’t remember. It was certainly found because of the Hamilton biography one way or the other. I assume covering the lies told by Philip Freneau, sometimes fed by Jefferson, and of course others as well.

James Monroe: A Life by Tim McGrath

He is the next president on my journey to read presidential biographies. Like James Madison, there wasn’t a clear, definitive pick. The Harry Ammon version from 1970 is apparently very dull and not all that entertaining even though it’s informative and there’s also one by Harlow Unger that is apparently comically biased. This was written in 2020 so I’m hopeful.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingslover

I know literally nothing about this book, it was an impulse buy because I recognized the name of the book and I saw it won a Pulitzer.

Judging by this, you would think I almost exclusively read history books, but I do try to mix it up. In fact, because I try to mix it up, I don’t actually know when I will read any of the books I just bought. I already have something like 20 unread books at my house. Hopefully people enjoy this section, because I will sometimes use it selfishly, like asking for what books to read if I have multiple options or maybe I want to read from a particular author, but don’t know where to start. I had a goal to read 50 books by the end of the year and I have a lot of work left to do, so hopefully you guys will be impressed how quickly I seem to be reading. These 700 page books are not helping, as readable as it is.

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Scaling the Rocks: Down by the (Tampa) Bay

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 19: A general view of Tropicana Field during Game Six of the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, October 19, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Milwaukee Brewers took a 2-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night on a check swing call to end the game. They, of course, came back from a 4-0 deficit and ended up winning 5-4. Now, the Series heads to the Trop as the Rays will look to even the series.

In Arizona, the Fall League is about half over. Jack O’Dowd (HM PuRP) continues to tear up the desert, and is making a push for the Fall Stars Game in two weeks. Jared Thomas (No. 8 PuRP) turned up the heat this week with five hits, nine RBI, two doubles and three triples. Fidel Ulloa and Konner Eaton (No. 28 PuRP) continue to keep runners off the board, as neither has given up an earned run yet. Earon has racked up three strikeouts across seven innings of work, while Ulloa has seven across 5.1 innings.

But here’s what’s going on in the baseball world this week:

Rockies News & Links

O’Dowd power surge turning heads in Fall League | MLB.com

Jack O’Dowd (HM PuRP) has been gaining a lot of well-deserved attention in the Arizona Fall League, as he leads the league in numerous categories halfway through the season. Thomas Harding is the latest to chronicle O’Dowd’s Arizona experience, and includes interviews with some Rockies coaches about his incredible 2026 season.

Strike 3: Will there be positive changes to the way the Rockies handle pitching? | Mile High Sports

Mark Knudson has been calling for the Rockies to fire Alon Leichman since the day he was hired, and got his wish last week. He once again suggests Jason Hirsh as a replacement, and recommends that the Rockies employ “piggybacking” more, especially with players like Tanner Gordon and Ryan Feltner.

It Still Makes Sense for the Rockies to Trade Hunter Goodman | Just Baseball

The Rockies made a few moves at the 2026 trade deadline, but ultimately decided to retain two-time All-Star Hunter Goodman. It was a debated move at the time — both leading up to the deadline and in the immediate aftermath — but the noise hasn’t quieted down, especially after Goodman became the first Rockie since 2019 to hit 40+ home runs. Cristian Crespo makes his case for why the Rockies should trade Goodman.

Around MLB

Jennie Finch Empowerment Award recipients take center stage at World Series | MLB.com

Former Olympic medalist Jennie Finch started the Empowerment Award in 2019 as a way to honor girls who excel at MLB’s softball events. Each winner receives a $10,000 scholarship and recognition during the pregame ceremony ahead of Game 2 of the World Series. This year, Alina Elias, Kayleigh Allen, Janiya Pillow and Amarianna Hill (who was unable to attend) were honored.

Manfred: Rays-Brewers World Series good for game, but salary cap still needed | ESPN

While we’re in the midst of an excellent World Series, there is still an unfortunate cloud hanging over it as the labor dispute and lockout are still expected in a little over a month. Jesse Rogers asked MLB commissioner Rob Manfred his thoughts on the small market World Series and while Manfred thinks it is good for the sport, he still believes the owners should pursue a salary cap. Interim executive director of the MLBPA also offered his thoughts, saying any team can accomplish what Milwaukee and Tampa Bay have, but also noted that winning might not be sustainable without spending.

How the Rays can send the World Series back to Milwaukee | MLB.com

The Milwaukee Brewers are up 2-0 as the World Series heads south to Tampa Bay. Adam Berry breaks down how the Rays can even the series and push it back to America’s Dairyland:

  1. Ride the rotation
  2. Clean it up
  3. Build the bridge

Brewers’ Aaron Ashby thrives in World Series as a reliever, dreams of being a starter | The Athletic ($)

Aaron Ashby has been thriving in the Brewers’ bullpen, despite wanting to make a push for the starting rotation. Across 15.2 innings in eight appearances in October, Ashby has yet to allow a run and has given up just five hits and three walks while punching out 17. That is the second-most in MLB history to begin a postseason behind Andrew Miller in 2016 for the Cleveland Guardians.

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Who are Giants fans rooting for in Game 3?

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 19: A general view of Tropicana Field as fans in the upper deck cheer during Game Six of the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, October 19, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Good morning, baseball fans!

The 2026 MLB Playoffs continue tonight with Game 3 of the World Series between the visiting Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. Tonight’s game will start at 5:00 p.m. PT, airing on Fox/Fox One, with national radio coverage available on ESPN Radio.

As usual, this is being written in the past, so I don’t yet know who has won the previous two games. Additionally, neither team has announced a starting pitcher for tonight’s game as of the time this is being written. I’ll try to hop in on Monday and add more information.

Who are you rooting for in Game 3?

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MLB News: World Series, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Stephen Vogt, Jackson Chourio, Jacob Misiorowski

Happy Monday, everyone! The World Series got underway this weekend, and it hasn’t felt particularly close at all so far. While the Rays did take an early lead in Game 2, they seemed to drop the ball (literally) after the first inning with lacklustre defense and silent bats. The Brewers now have a 2-0 series lead as the games head to St. Petersburg for the week, so we’ll see if the Rays have another series comeback in them.

We have a lot about the World Series below, plus some Blue Jays insight, and Stephen Vogt shooting down rumors that he might be leaving Cleveland. So let’s just jump right into it.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.

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2026-27 NBA Power Rankings Week 1: Oklahoma City, Detroit new top two, Knicks fall fast

The first week of the regular season saw the top two teams from our preseason rankings (Knicks and Spurs) each drop their first two games. That has led to a lot of movement at the top, as there always is early in the season as teams are sorting themselves out and we see small sample size theater. That said, not a surprise to see the Thunder on top, they look like a team on a mission.

Oklahoma City Thunder Primary Logo
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 3-0
Ranking last week: No. 3
Games this week: Suns, at Mavericks, at Rockets

The entire vibe of Oklahoma City's opening week changed with 1:14 left in its win Sunday against the LA Clippers. Jalen Williams suffered a gruesome leg injury and had to be stretchered off the floor. As of this writing there is no word on exactly what the injury is or a timeline, but after seeing it happen, it feels like he will be out for the season. Which sucks. Especially after Oklahoma City made a statement to start the season with back-to-back double-digit wins over arguably its two biggest rivals in the West, including one on a night Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was just off (and didn't score 20+ points). As always, everything starts with the Thunder's defense, which held Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic to a combined 6-of-32 shooting this week. The most positive OKC highlight of the week came from the opening-night win against the Spurs, when Aday Mara shut down Wembanyama at the rim.

Detroit Pistons Primary Logo
2. Detroit Pistons
Record: 3-0
Ranking last week: No. 6
Games this week: at Knicks, Hornets, at Nets

Jalen Duren being out for at least a couple of weeks with a strained hamstring is a blow. Paul Reed has looked good this young season and will start with Duren out, but the drop-off comes when he sits, don't be surprised to see JB Bickerstaff lean into some small-ball lineups with John Collins at the five. One thing that was clear in the opening week: The Pistons are putting the ball more in Ausar Thompson's hands and giving him a chance to be a secondary playmaker. He does that by attacking downhill and finishing in the paint (6-of-10 shooting there), but he's 0-of-3 from outside the paint in the first two games.

Houston Rockets Primary Logo
3. Houston Rockets
Record: 3-0
Ranking last week: No. 7=
Games this week: Hawks, at Bucks, at Mavericks, Thunder

Fred VanVleet's return seems to have the Rockets playing at a much faster pace than a year ago, including 29 fast-break points in the season-opening win over Dallas. Last season, the Rockets ranked 29th in the league in the percentage of offensive possessions started in transition, it's just two games, but they're 10th right now (stats via Cleaning the Glass). Also through two games, VanVleet has 16 assists to zero turnovers, helping solve one of the Rockets' biggest issues from last season. One thing that hasn't changed is that Alperen Sengun will win this team a lot of games — he had 14 of his 29 points against the Spurs in the fourth quarter. Then Amen Thompson saved the win with a block of Wemby at the rim.

Minnesota Timberwolves Primary Logo
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 3-0
Ranking last week: No. 11
Games this week: at Cavaliers, Warriors, Clippers, at Spurs

Minnesota and LaMelo Ball walked all over opponents this week… literally walking. Look at the non-call below. Through two games, the Timberwolves have a ridiculous 154.2 offensive rating when Ball and Anthony Edwards share the court (in just 45 minutes, so a very small sample size). Edwards has thrived in the new offense, dropping 45 on Miami in the season opener. That came one season after he dropped 41 in the opener in Portland, and with that Edwards joined Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players with multiple 40+ point games in season openers in NBA history. That's good company. Tough back-to-back this weekend, playing at home against the Clippers on Friday night, then flying to San Antonio for a Halloween Saturday night game against the Spurs.

Philadelphia 76ers Primary Logo
5. Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 3-1
Ranking last week: No. 4
Games this week: at Pacers, Knicks, at Hornets

Philadelphia's first two wins last week — over the Knicks and Cavaliers — feel like a proof of concept for this roster. Tyrese Maxey looks like a winner with the revamped roster, he is unquestionably their best overall offensive player, and things looked simple for him on opening night, playing off the ball more while LeBron James was the facilitator. Maxey dropped 28 points on the Knicks while Jaylen Brown and LeBron drew the defense to them. Maxey had 32 against the Cavaliers, and I love the Maxey and LeBron two-man game. One early concern: The 76ers offense can get very stagnant. My other concern? The one we all talk about, health. Not having Joel Embiid against Detroit was telling.

Los Angeles Lakers Primary Logo
6. Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 3-0
Ranking last week: No. 8
Games this week: Trail Blazers, at Clippers, at Warriors, Raptors

Walker Kessler has the jokes. "Contrary to my name, I run a lot," Kessler told the media after his impressive opening night. He can afford to joke around because after three games (two against teams with underwhelming front lines), the Kessler and Luka Doncic connection has looked smooth. As has the Kessler and Austin Reaves connection (or just about any other Laker). The best evidence is that he went 12-of-12 with 10 dunks in the opener against Golden State, and through three games he is 23-of-28 from the floor— and he has yet to take a shot outside the paint. Which is good. He should roll hard to the rim and dominate (especially against the Warriors and Clippers, two teams without a quality five to match him). The Lakers' soft schedule to start the season continues this week, although Portland is interesting (Tuesday night, watch it on NBC and Peacock) and Sunday against Toronto will be a real test.

Toronto Raptors Primary Logo
7. Toronto Raptors
Record: 2-1
Ranking last week: No. 14
Games this week: Magic, Magic, at Lakers

It may be early, but Toronto's defense looks fierce. It's small sample size theater, but through three games the Raptors have the third-best defense in the league with a 97.8 defensive rating (which falls to an 88.6 defensive rating in games Kawhi Leonard plays). This isn't a surprise. After playing Toronto just once in the preseason, Clippers coach Ty Lue had high praise for the Raptors' defense. "With Toronto, they're going to make you pay on the defensive end because if offensively you're not taking care of the basketball, you're not owning your space, if you don't have your physicality on the offensive end, they can embarrass you," Lue said. The Raptors start a four-game road trip on Sunday and will play both Los Angeles teams first.

San Antonio Spurs Primary Logo
8. San Antonio Spurs
Record: 1-2
Ranking last week: No. 2
Games this week: Kings, at Jazz, Timberwolves

Through three games, the jury is still out on starting the three guards together — De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper — with the group posting a +1.4 net rating when on the court together. With that trio, the defense has been spectacular, but the offense has struggled (granted, on an exceedingly small sample). One issue with starting the three-guard lineup is that the Spurs now lack the bench punch Harper brought last season. It's wild to say it, but the bigger problem for the Spurs — especially against the Thunder on opening night — was Victor Wembanyama. Against OKC, he held the ball too long, which disrupted the three-guard offense's flow. Wemby shot 1-of-13 in the opener, partly because the Thunder are an elite defensive team, collapsed on him, and have three seven-footers to throw at him. In the Spurs' second game against Houston, Wemby had a much better first half but struggled after halftime, then against Dallas he looked more like himself. The Spurs need that version of Wemby.

Boston Celtics Primary Logo
9. Boston Celtics
Record: 1-1
Ranking last week: No. 10
Games this week: Bulls, Nets, Bulls, at Magic

Paul George would like to remind you that he is very good at basketball. He was one of the biggest stories of opening day, dropping 38 on the Pistons with five steals, even if Boston lost. More concerning was Jayson Tatum's rough opening night, going 6-of-23 with just one free-throw attempt. As Brian Windhorst pointed out on his podcast, the number to watch with Tatum is the free throws — when he was a consistent top-five player in the league, he was getting to the line six to eight times a game (at least). He had 35 points and five free throws in the win over the Knicks. Just something to monitor.

Atlanta Hawks Primary Logo
10. Atlanta Hawks
Record: 2-1
Ranking last week: No. 15
Games this week: at Rockets, Heat, Cavaliers, at Pelicans

Aaron Wiggins' impressive start to the season has made fans forget, or maybe at least forgive, the team for letting Jonathan Kuminga go this summer. Wiggins is averaging 17 points and three rebounds per game, shooting 52.6% from 3-point range, and is doing it in 27 minutes a night off the bench. Atlanta is off to a strong 2-1 start with a top-10 defense, but just how good are the Hawks? We'll get a better early-season picture of that this week after they face Houston, Miami and Cleveland.

Cleveland Cavaliers Primary Logo
11. Cleveland Cavaliers
Record: 1-1
Ranking last week: No. 5
Games this week: Timberwolves, Wizards, at Hawks, at Bucks

Cleveland has struggled in the fourth quarter in its first two games, losing those quarters by a combined 24 points and posting a -51.9 net rating. The fourth-quarter defense has been bad, but the bigger concern is how the team struggles when opponents turn up the defensive pressure, leading to turnovers: 27.8% of Cleveland's fourth-quarter possessions have ended in a turnover this season. That's more than one in four trips down the court. "We got to clean up the turnovers," Kenny Atkinson said, stating the obvious.

Denver Nuggets Primary Logo
12. Denver Nuggets
Record: 1-1
Ranking last week: No. 12
Games this week: Warriors, at Pelicans, at Suns

Wing depth is an early-season concern in Denver. Part of that is Julian Strawther's knee injury, with him out now until likely December. Then Cameron Johnson tweaked his ankle, missed the win over the Pelicans, and will likely miss Monday against Golden State, maybe longer. That has meant more of the athletic rookie Trevon Brazile — and he has been up to it, averaging 10.5 points and 10.5 rebounds a game. Brazile said before the season he had to adjust his game style to the NBA: "It's just learning where to go on the floor. It's different from college. In college I was just trying to run in the rim, I can get a lob or something, but it's a different type of space in the NBA." It looks so far like he's figuring it out.

New York Knicks Primary Logo
13. New York Knicks
Record: 0-3
Ranking last week: No. 1
Games this week: Pistons, at Bulls, at 76ers

Ignore all the off-court drama about who gets their rings and when (though that was unnecessary drama born of the culture James Dolan has fostered) — the Knicks need to figure some things out on the court. As coach Mike Brown noted, that starts with the fact that the Knicks got pushed around physically in their first three games, it's something they need to address. It's early in the season, this roster has proven itself, no need to stress too much about losses in October (consider it a championship hangover). New York picking up Dalton Knecht on a two-way deal was smart, he has good size and can shoot. It's worth the low-risk move to see if a new home gets him looking more like the guy he was in his first couple of months with the Lakers.

Indiana Pacers Primary Logo
14. Indiana Pacers
Record: 2-1
Ranking last week: No. 9
Games this week: at Bucks, 76ers, at Heat, Nets

You have to love just how much being on the court and playing again matters to Tyrese Haliburton, who had 23 points — 16 in the fourth quarter — and 13 assists in the season-opening win. You can see it in the video below. Unfortunately, injuries are already hitting the Pacers, who could use to get T.J. McConnell back from his hamstring strain, although Quenton Jackson has held his own. Also, shooting guard Ben Sheppard tore his left knee meniscus in the season opener and will miss time. Just how good are the Pacers? It's early, but they face some interesting tests this week against the Heat and 76ers.

Washington Wizards Primary Logo
15. Washington Wizards
Record: 2-1
Ranking last week: No. 20
Games this week: at Hornets, at Cavaliers, Hornets

Maybe my favorite stat from opening week: With their opening-night win over the Bucks, the Wizards were above .500 for the first time since November 28, 2022. The reason the Bucks won that game is that Anthony Davis looked like he was all the way back — he was the best player on the court, making plays on both ends (check out the video below). The problem is that in the next two games combined he scored a total of 28 points on 33.3% shooting. Also, not having AJ Dybantsa for the first couple of games sucked a little excitement out of watching the Wizards.

Portland Trail Blazers Primary Logo
16. Portland Trail Blazers
Record: 2-0
Ranking last week: No. 21
Games this week: At Lakers, Grizzlies, at Jazz

It's a small sample size, just 29 minutes, but the Ja Morant and Damian Lillard starting backcourt looks good – in the opening blowout win over the Suns they combined for 39 points, eight 3-pointers and 14 assists. Through two games, the Blazers have a 126.6 offensive rating and a +29.9 net rating when they are on the court together. Portland started the season 2-0 and looked dominant, but those wins came against the Suns and the Kings, so the jury is still out. Real tests start this week, most notably when they take on the Lakers Tuesday night in a game you can watch on NBC or stream on Peacock.

Memphis Grizzlies Primary Logo
17. Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 3-0
Ranking last week: No. 25
Games this week: at Jazz, at Trail Blazers, Kings

Cameron Boozer is still finding his shot in the NBA. He averaged 16 points per game through his first three, but he's shooting just 28.6% from the field. That said, he's still impacting the game pulling down 12 rebounds and dishing out 5.5 assists per night. Boozer can afford an off night when analytics-darling Ty Jerome goes off for 45 points, as he did on opening night.

Orlando Magic Primary Logo
18. Orlando Magic
Record: 1-2
Ranking last week: No. 16
Games this week: at Raptors, at Raptors, Celtics

Somebody needs to burn some sage around the Magic locker room, the Kia Center and maybe the entire city of Orlando because this team needs to ward off some injuries. Paolo Banchero is out 4-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain. Jalen Suggs left Sunday's game with a scary non-contact knee injury. That's on top of Anthony Black missing time with his own sprained ankle. It's early, but the Magic also need to find a way to close games better: They shot just 1-of-12 in the fourth quarter of the season-opening loss to Atlanta. Shooting is again an early concern for this team. The Magic have a tough early schedule (which makes them difficult to rank), and it doesn’t get easier this week, with Orlando playing two games in Toronto before taking on Boston.

Charlotte Hornets Primary Logo
19. Charlotte Hornets
Record: 2-1
Ranking last week: No. 26
Games this week: Wizards, at Pistons, at Wizards, 76ers

Brandon Miller got his payday (five years, $209 million), and for those of us who are all in on the petty, giving him $1 million more than Amen Thompson is *chef's kiss*. Now he's got to show he can be the face of the franchise, the guy at the top of the scouting report. Through two games, he's averaging 19.3 points a game, but shooting just 29.7% overall and 20% from three. Part of that is not having Kon Knueppel (hamstring). It's not just the 18.5 points a game or floor spacing from 3, it was having him as a shot-creation threat and just his steadiness — he played in 81 games last season. He missed all of preseason, and it doesn't help that new point guard Coby White, who can also provide some shot creation, is out as well.

Los Angeles Clippers Primary Logo
20. LA Clippers
Record: 1-2
Ranking last week: No. 23
Games this week: Lakers, at Timberwolves, at Warriors

Big opening night game from Darius Garland, who put up 30 points with four assists in a Clippers win over the Kings. The Clippers are going to need a lot more of that this season, especially until Brandon Ingram returns from injury. Garland's backcourt mate, rookie No. 5 pick Keaton Wagler, has looked solid through two games, averaging 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists a night while shooting 45.5% from the 3-point line. Wagler is the third Clippers rookie to open the season with back-to-back games of at least 13 points and three assists (the others were Blake Griffin and Lamar Odom). After the opening night win at home, coach Tyronn Lue said, "First off, that win was for Mr. Ballmer. Just want to say thank you for everything, and we're still fighting for him."

Dallas Mavericks Primary Logo
21. Dallas Mavericks
Record: 1-2
Ranking last week: No. 15
Games this week: at Heat, Thunder, Rockets

Fortunately, Cooper Flagg's shoulder injury isn't serious, but he'll miss a handful of games (he'll be re-evaluated next week). Dallas is giving Zaccharie Risacher a real chance this season, he's playing 30 minutes a night and, so far, is averaging 8.7 points per game on 38.5% shooting (18.2% from beyond the arc) while grabbing 5.3 rebounds a night. His spot in the rotation is something to monitor over the course of the season. It's a rough week to potentially be without Flagg, with the Heat, Thunder and Rockets coming up.

Chicago Bulls Primary Logo
22. Chicago Bulls
Record: 1-2
Ranking last week: No. 22
Games this week: at Celtics, Knicks, at Celtics

Caleb Wilson might well have been the highest-ceiling player in last June's draft, but he's also more of a project than the three players selected ahead of him. This season should be all about his growth, and we saw that across the first two games. In the season opener, he shot 7-of-21 and had nine turnovers on his way to being -45 in a blowout loss against an elite Toronto defense. However, he bounced back against the Bucks — 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting, with key free throws and a rebound down the stretch — showing his potential. The Bulls start the season with six of their first eight on the road, including two games in Boston this week.

Miami Heat Primary Logo
23. Miami Heat
Record: 0-3
Ranking last week: No. 13
Games this week: Dallas, at Atlanta, Indiana

The Heat have issues on both ends of the court, and have trailed by at least 20 points in each of their three losses. Miami's defense was supposed to be the anchor of this team (while they figured out the offense), but through one week the Heat have the fourth-worst defense in the league, and that's mostly because they aren't getting stops in the half court. Specifically, they have struggled against good guard play, such as the loss to Minnesota with LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards. On the other end of the court, the offense is unbalanced, and there hasn't been much outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo's ability to get downhill. They need to run more Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo actions to get the long-time Heat big man more involved. Miami needs a win this week to start building confidence.

Utah Jazz Primary Logo
24. Utah Jazz
Record: 1-2
Ranking last week: No. 18
Games this week: Grizzlies, Spurs, Trail Blazers

Utah's defense was always going to be a potential issue this season, but giving up 45 to Ty Jerome in the season opener and then 52 to Luka Doncic on Sunday seems like a red flag. Through three games, the Jazz have the 28th-ranked defense in the NBA. Another area of concern, one the Jazz should be able to clean up, is ball-handling under pressure, which leads to turnovers. Memphis gave Utah problems with its pressure in the opener, and every other team in the league took notes.

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25. Phoenix Suns
Record: 1-1
Ranking last week: No. 19
Games this week: at Thunder, Nuggets

Phoenix's starting five — Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, Jalen Geen, Khaman Maluach — has struggled to start the season with a -48.2 net rating. It's a very small sample size, it needs more time (especially considering Bridges and Maluach were not here or in these roles a season ago), but the group's struggles on both ends of the floor are concerning. It was mostly the bench, led by Luke Kennard and Collin Gillespie, that got this team a win against Golden State. Tough week to build momentum for the Suns as they take on the Thunder and Nuggets.

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26. Brooklyn Nets
Record: 0-3
Ranking last week: No. 28
Games this week: at Celtics, Pistons, at Pacers

Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randall have accounted for 49.1% of Brooklyn's points this season and 39.3% of the 'Nets' shot attempts, including 43.8% of attempts from 3-point range. Just something to monitor. After missing a chunk of the preseason with an ankle injury, the Nets are easing Mikal Brown Jr. into the rotation, with him coming off the bench and on a minutes limit (20 minutes a night right now). This is expected to continue for a while. Brown had eight points on 3-of-10 shooting and five assists in his 20 minutes against Cleveland on Saturday.

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27. New Orleans Pelicans
Record: 0-3

Ranking last week: No. 27

Games this week: Nuggets, Kings, Hawks

Starting center Yves Missi is out with a left knee bone bruise (which is a lot better than it looked like when he had to be carried off the court). While the team hasn't put a timeline on it, expect him to miss at least 2-3 weeks and potentially longer. That's good if we get to see more Derik Queen (and Karlo Matkovic), although the Queen/Zion Williamson pairing doesn't have a great history. One good thing to start the season is new coach Jamahl Mosley starting Jeremiah Fears, although it means bringing Herb Jones off the bench (and he's got to play more than the 17 minutes he got in the opener). Don't let the record completely deceive you, the Pelicans have been competitive in games to start the season.

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28. Golden State Warriors
Record: 0-3
Ranking last week: No. 24
Games this week: at Nuggets, at Timberwolves, Lakers, Clippers

Kristaps Porzingis' health issues are much bigger than basketball, but they are also a setback for a Warriors team that gave him a new contract this summer and was banking on him. "You can't deny the fact that Kristaps was plugged in our starting lineup," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "Super talented guy, and his absence is definitely a blow." It showed against the Lakers when the Warriors had no answer for Walker Kessler. Warriors fans need to find the bright spots early in the season, and that means embracing Yaxel Lendeborg and the fact that he won't back down — the Warriors need that edge.

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29. Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 0-3
Ranking last week: No. 30
Games this week: Pacers, Rockets, Cavaliers

We all knew Tyler Herro was going to put up points as he stood at Milwaukee's all-he-can-shoot buffet (23.7 points per game, hitting 41.7% from 3), but the surprise standout of the opening week has been Jaime Jaquez Jr., who has been the Bucks' most consistent player, averaging 20.7 points per game on 61.1% shooting. Taylor Jenkins has the Bucks playing hard, they are not rolling over for anyone, and that's a good place to start.

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30. Sacramento Kings
Record: 0-2
Ranking last week: No. 29
Games this week: at Spurs, at Pelicans, at Grizzlies

This is the roller coaster you ride when you turn a team's offense over to a rookie: Darius Acuff shot 5-of-24 in a season-opening loss to the Clippers. Then he looked better with 33 points (on better but not great 10-of-26 shooting)against Portland (but still a Sacramento loss). Being a rookie point guard in the NBA is rough, expect a lot more highs and lows across the season as Acuff figures out how to play at the next level.

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Steve Kerr criticizes ‘very poor' part of Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg's game

Steve Kerr criticizes ‘very poor' part of Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg's game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are 0-3 and still in search of their first win of the 2026-27 NBA season, but rookie Yaxel Lendeborg has been a major bright spot to start the campaign, averaging 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds while starting every game.

But that does not mean he can’t improve. Speaking to reporters Saturday’s loss to the Suns, Warriors coach Steve Kerr pinpointed where he needs to see Lendeborg improve his game in order to be the ideal star for the franchise.

“He’s fearless and he’s huge and he’s got a great skill set,” Kerr told reporters. “He can dribble, pass, and shoot. The biggest thing is just continuing to learn the NBA, and he’s going to feel that, he’s going to do that. He had a play in the first half [against the Suns on Oct. 24] where he got free and then he launched himself into [Suns big man Khaman Maluach]. We saw that play a few times [on Oct. 23 against the Grizzlies] with Edey [Grizzlies big man Zach Edey].

“That’s got to be a pull-up jumper. That’s got to be a Euro step. That’s got to be a kick it out. In college, he could do that, but this is a different league, and he’ll learn. He’s playing a ton, and he’s going to get all these reps, and we’re going to keep showing him film, and he’ll get better and better. The defensive side is where I want to see the most improvement, though. His weak side awareness right now is very poor, and with his size, he should be one of our best defenders at the rim. Right now, he’s unaware on the weak side, and that’s an area he really has to improve.”

Lendeborg took the league by storm as soon as the Warriors selected him with the No. 11 overall pick in this year’s draft. Leading the team to a summer league title, he won MVP for both the championship game and the entire summer league after averaging 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

Lendeborg has faced tough tests early on, guarding Lakers star Luka Dončić on opening night. That game, Dončić dropped 28 points and led all players in the game in scoring. It is games like that could be good lessons to help him improve and become a defensive anchor.

The Warriors take the floor again on Monday night, when they travel to Denver to face the Nuggets. The Nuggets have a lot of scorers on their team, headlined by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, making it a crucial defensive game. Lendeborg will need to put his best foot forward if he wants to lead Golden State to its first win of the season.

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Brewers Notes: What Pat Murphy, Aaron Ashby, & Brice Turang had to say during the World Series off day

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 24: Aaron Ashby #26 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches in the ninth inning during Game Two of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Saturday, October 24, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

After winning Games 1 & 2 of the World Series in Milwaukee, the Brewers are now in St. Petersburg as they’re set to take on the Tampa Bay Rays for Games 3, 4, & 5 (if needed). In Sunday’s workout day press conferences, Pat Murphy, Aaron Ashby, & Brice Turang all chatted with the media. Here’s what they had to say.

Pat Murphy

Pat Murphy — in typical Pat Murphy fashion — started his press conference with some icebreaking, as a reporter let Murphy know that Mike Vasallo figured out he moved past legend Casey Stengel for managerial wins in his first three seasons, with plenty of other legendary names on the list. Murphy, never one to toot his own horn, was then asked what traits he likes about some of those other guys, including Joe Torre.

“I like about Joe Torre that he looked like he was sleeping in the dugout. I’m like, are his eyes open? He told me all about it. So I’m grateful for that friendship. He was at Game 1, did you know that? He was there, and I got to see him,” Murphy deadpanned.

When it came to “real” questions, as Murphy called them, he was asked about potential check swing challenges, specifically in regard to Yandy Díaz’s controversial swing call to end Game 2.

“I can say this in general, that’s why the league is testing this opportunity to maybe be having a check bat and have a definition of what it really is because it is so tough to see and tough to judge,” Murphy said. “We’ve had a couple like that go against us, and you see the barrel at some point — stop action, you see the barrel out in front of the plate, and you’re like, wait a minute. If he hits that ball, it’s maybe half pulled, and you can tend to see that. The one that I saw last night, from the view that I saw last night, I’m like, no, he didn’t go. He did it so nicely, so quick, then brought his hands up. I didn’t feel like where I’m standing — I’ve got a pretty good view, but I didn’t think they were going to call it. Now, when you slow it down, sure enough, his barrel’s in front. That’s why we’re getting into these rule changes and ways to make the game even better.”

Despite the seven-day layoff between the NLCS and World Series, Milwaukee has come out strong in the first couple of games, and Murphy explained that he chatted with several former managers who went through these long layoffs previously.

“I’ve talked to a lot of managers that have went through it. They all had great things to add. Everybody has a different makeup of a team. Everybody’s team makeup is different. I try to blend it all together and see what works,” Murphy said. “The one thing I arrived at is contrived antics to create a game probably has to come from within. The players would have to kind of make it that competitive themselves. So bringing in fans and doing things like that, I didn’t feel like was going to feel organic. And I just wanted — I wanted the guys to rest and I wanted them — and we’re still — you can see the rust that we still have from being off that long.”

He went on to add that he’s been impressed with the team’s competitiveness even with that long layoff.

“We went out yesterday and saw 184 pitches. That’s abnormal, and that’s what — now, we left 12 guys on base. When you see 184, you usually score more than whatever number of runs we scored. So it’s one of those things where the competing part, but the layoff is a real deal,” Murphy said. “I’m sure MLB has had this on their plate for a long time.”

Murphy ended by answering a question about how to help his team avoid looking ahead too far with a 2-0 series lead.

“These guys are Major League players. They’ve been through all sorts of ups and downs over the last seven months, all sorts of, oh, my career is going this way, oh, injuries, adversity, stuff off the field, whatever it might be. These guys go through it, and they know the reality of playing today in the now. What can I get out of today? Tomorrow will take care of itself. What do I get out of today? I think that’s number one. Hopefully we reiterate it or they reiterate it to each other. Hey, take care of business today. It really becomes a team sport, and they let each other know like, hey, you got the responsibility in me, I have it to you. So that starts up here. The mentality is crucial,” Murphy said.

Aaron Ashby & Brice Turang

Building off of that last question Murphy answered, both Aaron Ashby and Brice Turang addressed the key to avoiding looking ahead to begin their joint press conference.

“I think we just go out and continue to play our game, just trying to win tonight. Like that mentality of winning tonight is so big for us. It’s been big for us during the season as well. I think with that mentality moving forward, trying to win every pitch, win every game, it doesn’t matter what happened the previous days, it matters about tonight and winning tonight,“ Turang said.

“Yeah, just kind of this mindset of like 0-0. We know they’re going to come out and fight us hard. Just got to keep our head down and play as hard as we can as many games as it takes,” Ashby said.

They were also asked about William Contreras’ game management and the impact he’s had on Milwaukee’s postseason run.

“I feel like I’ve been blessed to have him as kind of our back stop for three years ago now. So I get to see it night in and night out,” Ashby said. “He’s certainly one of those guys that locks it in and just seems to do those extraordinary things in the bigger moments, which is special. Not everyone has the ability to do that. He’s just kind of our captain out there, man, especially for the pitchers. He’s in control. You trust what he sees behind the plate with hitter swings and maybe what our stuff looks like, if it’s good or not as good as the night before. Easy guy to follow from a pitcher’s standpoint for sure.”

“The confidence he carries, the — I mean, just the weight of being a catcher is already hard, having to deal with the pitching staff and then your offense and your defense, and he does a great job at all three,” Turang said. “The way he handles the game and takes control is really impressive. It speaks for himself. He’s one of the best catchers in baseball. It’s been a pleasure to have him on the team and see him work. Yeah, I’m excited to see how things continue for him.”

Ashby was also happy to answer a question about Brewers fans traveling to Tampa for the series.

“Maybe this postseason is just — you know, with the craziness and ticket prices maybe in Milwaukee, and then for some of those fans to be able to get down here, that’s super special for them. I hope we can make them happy and make it worth their trip to come down here and support us,” Ashby said. Any time you can get some of your home fans on the road, it makes a huge difference when they’re on your side.”

Both players were asked about what it will be like to face former teammate Freddy Peralta in Game 3.

“Yeah, it will be fun. We’ll be having some fun going to compete against him. It’s part of his story. Part of everyone’s kind of story is learning, and it makes you better. Going through some rough times makes you better. But I think it will be fun being able to go out there and compete against him,” Turang said.

“I’m sure you’ve heard it from everyone, but everyone in our clubhouse was around him last year for the most part, and he’s like one of the best teammates you can have. He’s an unbelievable pitcher, but maybe another — like just the same, exact, awesome, fun dude every single day. He was a huge part in our organization’s success, and everyone over there in our clubhouse loves that dude,” Ashby said. “Excited for him and what’s to come for him. I hope we compete our butts off against him tomorrow.”

In one of the funnier moments of the day, Ashby and Turang were both taken aback with pleasure when they found out about the stingray tank in Tampa Bay’s outfield concourse.

Ashby: “They have stingrays in the outfield here? I didn’t know that.”

Turang: “I think it’s cool. Can you touch them, like the two-finger touch? Yeah, that’s cool. That’s really cool.”

Ashby: “Maybe we should have a brewery.”

Turang: “I think we have some. I think we’ve got some, right?”

Ashby: “We have a brewery in the stadium? … We need a bigger brewery and more in sight so I can see it; I guess, it would probably help.”