The 2026–27 season only started last week, and already, the Vancouver Canucks are taking part in the second-half of their first back-to-back. After winning 4–1 against the Calgary Flames on Saturday night, Vancouver is back with a matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights tonight. Vegas suffered a 4–3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.
Saturday saw Vancouver put together a solid team effort. Not only did they find the back of the net four different times (three times at even-strength), they also stepped-up to defend one-another, from Luke Schenn dropping the gloves to Brendan Gallagher mucking it up with Jacob Middleton. While all of Vancouver’s games have had a lighter air about them so far to start 2026–27, Saturday’s game seemed to show best how tight the team has gotten.
While the vibes have sure been high, Vancouver will face their toughest test of the early season when they face Vegas tonight. Having made it to Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, Vegas is a strong team both offensively and defensively. Adding to this is the fact that Vancouver is coming off a back-to-back, while Vegas has had the extra day of rest. For a team like Vancouver, still on track to re-build despite their strong start to the season, tonight’s game will be about sticking to their game-plan regardless of what happens on the scoreboard.
Players To Watch:
Elias Pettersson
The Elias Pettersson that has taken to the ice for the 2026–27 season has looked very different from the player seen the past couple of seasons. Pettersson has played with an added bite to his game through the first three games, currently standing as the NHL’s hits leader with 16. He’s also recorded two goals and three assists in this span, which is tied for his team’s lead in total points. Scoresheet aside, the level of engagement Pettersson has shown to start the year has been nothing but positive.
Jack Eichel
On top of leading his team with five points through Vegas’ first two games of the 2026–27 season, Eichel also recently hit the 700-point mark through his NHL career. As the Golden Knights’ top-line centre, it’ll be interesting to see who Vancouver matches up against Eichel, as the forward is strong on the puck both offensively and defensively.
Vancouver Canucks (2–1–0):
Points:
Paul Cotter: 3–2–5
Elias Pettersson: 2–3–5
Marco Rossi: 3–1–4
Liam Öhgren: 1–3–4
Filip Hronek: 0–4–4
Goaltenders:
Kevin Lankinen: 1–1–0
Leevi Meriläinen: 1–0–0
Vegas Golden Knights (1–1–0):
Points:
Jack Eichel: 1–4–5
Shea Theodore: 1–2–3
Brayden McNabb: 0–3–3
Victor Olofsson: 1–1–2
Ivan Barbashev: 0–2–2
Goaltenders:
Carter Hart: 1–1–0
Adin Hill: 0–0–0
Game Information:
Start time: 6:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: KiSS West Coast
Apr 7, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson (40) battles with Vegas Golden Knights forward Cole Smith (22) in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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The Chicago Blackhawks' loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night was a sad ending to what is now an 0-3-0 road trip to begin the season. Before they even hit the United Center ice for the first time, they are in a hole that will be incredibly hard to dig out of.
Is it time to panic? Absolutely not. It also sounds like the team as a whole is not even close to panicking yet, either, but they do acknowledge that things have to get cleaned up sooner rather than later. You can't make the playoffs in October, but you can certainly miss them.
"I don't think we're worried about the record," head coach Jeff Blashill said. "It's all about process. I've talked about that from the start with our group. That process is way better. Let's build on the process. You can't take one step forward and two steps back. That's not always going to show in wins and losses. Over the long period of time, if the process is good, the wins will follow."
One part of that process must be doing a better job of protecting the goaltenders. The Blackhawks have hung out their guy in the crease to dry in all three games so far.
In game one, Spencer Knight faced 36 shots. In game two, Arvid Soderblom faced 32. In game three, back to Knight, he faced 32 as well. In the first game, the Blackhawks had 26 of their own shots, but a lowly 15 in each of the next two. That's not even close to an even distribution. There has been significantly more pressure on their goaltenders than on the opponent's.
With that kind of workload, it is impossible for any goalie to win consistently in today's NHL. Both Blackhawks netminders, especially Knight, can steal a game here and there, but it can't be expected every game.
Let's use the Buffalo game as an example. The Blackhawks went up 2-0 early, but they allowed the Sabres to dominate possession, offensive zone time, and shots on goal in the process of gaining that lead. It was only a matter of time before the Sabres evened things up. Spencer Knight was only able to do so much before they finally got one past him.
Shot suppression and backchecking are the hardest things for a young team to master, but they have to step up and be better in that regard as early as their next game. If there isn't an improvement, they will continue to lose in the fashion that they have.
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Jun 29, 2026; Dallas, TX, USA; New Dallas Mavericks’ head coach Dusty May, along side Masai Ujiri, Dallas Mavericks’ President of Basketball Operations, answers questions from the media during an introductory press conference at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Welcome back to Moneyball Mailbag! Here we will answer your questions relating to anything and everything Dallas Mavericks. Questions are gathered from our very own Feed, as well as social media and face-to-face.
If you asked a question, we’re grateful and thank you for joining in. If you haven’t, please both spread the word and also let us know what’s on your mind – We have a spot in The Feed where you can easily post questions to us.
With Media Day in the books, we have a few items to pique our curiosity. For questions of a similar nature asked by multiple people, we’ve simply distilled it down to a single iteration to best cover what may be on the minds of most readers. Also, some questions are edited for proper context. Let’s get to the questions!
“Is there any realistic chance Naji Marshall can shoot 45% from beyond the arc this season?”
If this question isn’t on your mind, it should be. If you peeped my player preview piece on Marshall from Monday, you know that I listed his best case scenario as being the third best player on the team and his season goal as improving his three-point percentage. I wrote that piece prior to Media Day, so I was thrilled to see his plans about shooting 45% from downtown.
To answer the question directly: no, I don’t think that’s realistic. Exactly two qualifying players accomplished that level of efficiency last season. Luke Kennard at 47.8% and Bobby Portis at 45.6%. Marshall wasn’t in the top 150 players in the category, as he shot a woeful 29.1% from deep. For his career, Marshall shoots exactly 30.0% with his best season clocking in at 38.7%. If he jumped to 45% this season, it would be one of the most incredible improvement you could imagine.
None of that is really the point, however. The point is that Marshall knows he needs to improve this area of the game, and he’s aiming for the next galaxy while hoping to land on the moon. That’s a great start and a great sign that he focused on the right things this offseason. If he can pull himself back to his career high 38.7%, we should all be throwing a party.
“Are the two preseason games in Macao going to be televised on channel 29?”
-Reh
The Mavericks are set to take on the Houston Rockets on Friday October 9 and Sunday October 11 in Macao, China. As of this writing, the official TV broadcast is “TBD,” which is a bit unfortunate for those wanting their first taste of Mavericks’ basketball since Summer League wrapped in July. What we do know is that the October 9 game will take place at 7:00am Dallas time, and the October 11 game will be at 5:00am.
“What will be the most important things to see from the Mavs during their first 10 games of the regular season?”
-DCON
My top three most important things for the first 10 games are health, cohesion and .500 basketball.
The Mavericks have had more than their fair share of injuries over the past two seasons and can’t afford any setbacks out of the gate. This is especially true with Kyrie Irving’s return. He is critical to the success of the team and his pairing with Cooper Flagg is something we’ve all been waiting to see. Which leads us to the cohesion factor.
There are some outright new faces on the team, but also a ‘new old’ face or two with key players like Irving reentering the fold. They need to maximize training camp so everyone knows their roles and tendencies and the team isn’t figuring things out as they go (as was the case last year). Fortunately, it seems like Irving and Flagg already have some chemistry building from offseason work.
As for playing .500 basketball, that doesn’t sound too ambitious, but a look at the schedule indicates splitting wins and losses over the first 10 games is probably a good outcome. The Mavs play six games at home and four on the road over the first 10 games, however they play three games in the first four nights of the season and will play the Oklahoma City Thunder once and the San Antonio Spurs twice in that span. They also play the Houston Rockets twice, Indiana Pacers and the rebuilt Miami Heat. If a new team with returning players can get five wins in that mix, that’s a pretty good start.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 03: Jared Spurgeon #46 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates his goal against the Boston Bruins with teammate Marcus Foligno #17 in the third period during the home opener at Grand Casino Arena on October 03, 2026 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Bruins 4-1. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Playing their second game in 24 hours, the Bruins got off to a flying start when Tanner Jeannot scored less than two minutes into the game.
Unfortunately, that was about as good as things would get for the visitors.
Minnesota would score twice in each of the final two periods to pull away from the B’s, skating to a 4-1 win.
Michael DiPietro took the loss in his first NHL start in more than four years, making 26 saves.
Jeannot’s goal came after a hard-working shift from his line, as he collected a Connor Clifton point shot and beat Jesper Wallstedt to make it 1-0 Bruins.
Kirill Kaprizov got the Wild on the board with a power play goal six minutes into the second period, as the Bruins made a somewhat poor choice and left him all alone at the top of the crease. 1-1 game.
The Wild got a fortuitous bounce to start the third, with Jared Spurgeon’s shot deflecting off of Nikita Zadorov and past DiPietro to make it 3-1 Wild.
The Bruins didn’t exactly roll over, landing 13 shots on goal in the third period, but ultimately, they couldn’t cash in.
Kaprizov would add an empty-netter to seal the deal.
Bruins lose, 4-1.
Game notes
You could be forgiven for considering this a scheduled loss, given the strength of the opponent, the back-to-back games, and the fact that we’re less than a week into the season. However, the Bruins played a decent enough game overall and were very much “in it.” It would very much be a stretch to say they deserved more from this game, but a few moments shifted the momentum in Minnesota’s favor.
One of those moments was the deflection on the Spurgeon goal, which is one of those “what are you gonna do?” goals that happens several times a season. The more back-breaking moment was the Hughes goal, as that came with the Bruins just one second away from killing nearly two full minutes of a Minnesota 5-on-3 power play. If you make that kill, it’s a 1-1 game and momentum is on your side; instead, the Wild took the lead and never really looked back.
Speaking of special teams, the Bruins were let down by their power play in this game, going 0-for-3 on the man advantage. That included nearly four consecutive minutes of power play time midway through the third period, when Minnesota took a minor, killed it off, then took another minor about 30 seconds later. The Wild, meanwhile, scored two of their three non-ENGs on the power play.
On the season, the B’s are 0-for-6 on the man advantage. Not exactly time to panic quite yet, but not ideal either.
David Pastrnak remains without a goal on the season, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying on Saturday night: the Bruins captain landed five shots on goal and played 21:02, second-most on the B’s behind Hampus Lindholm.
The Bruins will return home to host the Ottawa Senators on Monday night at 7:30 PM.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 22: Freddy Peralta #51 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with teammates in the clubhouse after defeating the New York Yankees to clinch the American League East title at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Meet the Mets
“I was happy over there. Obviously I wasn’t in the spot that I wanted to be with my numbers…but this is baseball,” said Freddy Peralta to the media of his journey from New York to Tampa Bay after Game 1 of the ALDS. “Everything changed when I got traded. I’ve been treated here as a king, and I feel really good about it. They work on me really well here. For me, and my family, this is a great opportunity to be the pitcher for the second game of the ALDS.”
There is no greater disconnect between fanbases in New York than the one between the two New York baseball teams, writes Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post.
Around the National League East
The Braves’ bullpen game strategy fell short, as the Dodgers took Game 1 of the NLDS 5-3 behind six innings of one-run ball by Tarik Skubal.
The Dodgers are forcing the Braves to make a tough decision about Chris Sale; will Atlanta start him in Game 2 after he was deployed on Thursday for the final four outs of the Wild Card Series or will they save him for Game 3?
The city of Washington DC is looking at legislation to authorize bonds to generate $380 million for an “extensive” renovation of Nationals Park, per reporting by the Washington Business Journal. It is unclear how much the Nationals would contribute to the project.
Game 1 of the AL Central ALDS matchup also was a shutout, as the White Sox blanked the Guardians 3-0.
The Brewers won a nail-biter in Game 1 of the NLDS, defeating the Padres 3-2. The Padres took an early 2-0 lead off Jacob Misiorowski, who only managed to record 12 outs, but Jackson Chourio tied the game with a two-run homer in the third inning and William Contreras went deep off Padres setup man Adrian Morejon for the decisive blow in the eighth. This game truly had everything, as a potential go-ahead home run in the ninth off the bat of Ty France struck a cable running across the roof of American Family Field and redirected itself into Jackson Chourio’s glove like an act of divine intervention by the home ballpark.
On this date in 1999, the Mets beat the Reds in a decisive Game 163 behind a two-hitter by Al Leiter to send the club to their first playoff series in 11 years.
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson (41) circles the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers Friday, September 25, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Now that the St. Louis Cardinals season is over, it is now fair to look at the entire year together and evaluate the team’s performance rather than grading the season with games left to play. According to basically every respected outlet that produces baseball content, the Cardinals and their fans should be ecstatic for how this season went.
Admittedly, there were plenty of times during the season that the Cardinals were upsetting or disappointing, even when they were playing well above preseason expectations. The team sat at nine games over .500 multiple times but could never hit that double digit, the trade deadline left some to be desired, and their September performance made it easier to check out than I had hoped. Even with this, the Cardinals kept me engaged, entertained, and hopeful by the end of the 162-game season.
The Cardinals surpassed 2026 expectations and set a solid foundation for the future
Since the season is over, I decided to go back and find any preseason predictions built around the Cardinals team and see if expectations met reality. Based on what I could find, I would say that even with me expecting them to surpass the atrocious 68.5 win total given at the start of the year, the Cardinals did indeed surpass what I was hoping for. It was fun to check things out from early in the season, especially opening weekend when I wrote about blown leads and comeback wins. Sounds like the first three games of the year really set the tone.
Every year over at Redbird Rants, Josh Jacobs asks the team to put in their preseason predictions around Team MVP, breakout players, and bold predictions. Looking back at my own thoughts, it looks like the Cardinals played exactly like I expected but there was still some meat on the bone. Starting with Team MVP, I decided to go with DJ Burly Biscuits as my choice. In my write up, I spoke to his consistency, continued trend of improving, and being the leader of the team. I predicted .275 with 25 homers and 80 RBIs and I think we all would have taken that from Alec Burleson. Instead, he decided to go out and surpass all those numbers AND lead all of baseball in RBIs. I’ll count this prediction as a big, fat W for me.
Moving on to breakout players, I think I am officially taking Masyn Winn off of my players to watch list but still believe in him as a main fixture for the Cardinals organization. For the third year, I predicted Winn to put it all together and hit a dozen or so homers, swipe a few more bags, and bring that batting average back up to .270 or so. As much as I nailed the Burly prediction, this one was well on the other side. I do not know what to expect from Winn next year, but I have jumped ship on my 20/20 predictions and am now just hoping for .250 with 10 homers and to stop playing through injury.
Pitching wise, I think I hit the nail on the head but still think I expected a bit more in order to call it correct. I decided to roll with Dustin May as my breakout pitcher even with him being a lock to be traded at the deadline. For May, I wrote that “it is unfortunate that we are only going to see him for a few months, but this could be the season that May fans have been waiting for”. Well, we did only get to see him for a few months and he did put together a decent season before getting dealt to Milwaukee. The second half of my prediction was that he would be a difference maker for whoever acquired him (netting the Cardinals a nice return), so I will say I was close but no cigar in total.
My bold prediction was indeed bold… I went back to the well with Masyn Winn while also putting faith in Victor Scott II, which I never had in general for him. I predicted that these two and JJ Wetherholt would combine for 100 stolen bases after the team finished near the bottom of the league in that category for too long. All three players stole bases in the season’s first week and had me feeling good. But then reality set in for VSII, Winn was unable to consistently get on base and run, and Wetherholt was too busy hitting homers or getting driven in that he did not steal as much as I had hoped. It may not be these three again, but I do need the Cardinals to get more aggressive running the bases.
Finally, it went to record and final standings. I will again give myself a passing grade because not only did I nail the 77-85 record on the head, I also was correct in my fourth place finish in the division. Where I missed was saying the rest of the division was mediocre and the Brewers were the best team in baseball with the Cubs getting to make a cameo in the postseason. Adding on that the Pirates finished above .500 and the NL Central was one of the better divisions in the game.
As I was looking for my predictions, I also found a couple stories from the year as it progressed relating back to the beginning of the year expectations. Early in April, I asked the question if the Cardinals would improve the bullpen if they continued to compete. The team continued to compete but they definitely did NOT address the bullpen that was doomed from the start. A month later, I then asked if we were allowed to be disappointed by the Cardinals this year. In the quarter checkpoint of the year, the Cardinals remained competitive but definitely had some holes that continued to be an issue throughout the season.
Now that the dust has settled on the Cardinals season, how did they do compared to your preseason thoughts? Did you expect them to be the worst team in the majors like the experts or were you one of the few optimstic ones?
After spending nearly three months on the free agent market, former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Logan Stanley signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the New York Islanders in late September.
Now, Stanley is already making an impact with the Islanders. This is because the former Sabres blueliner put together a solid game for New York against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
Stanley recorded two assists in the Islanders' 6-0 win over the New Jersey Devils. With this, the former Sabres blueliner chipped in some solid offense for his new club.
Stanley will now be looking to continue this kind of play for the Islanders as the season rolls on. The former Sabres defenseman showed last season that he has the potential to provide some offense from the point in addition to his toughness, so it will be intriguing to see if he can again for New York this season.
Stanley was acquired by the Sabres from the Winnipeg Jets ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. In 17 games with the Sabres following the move, he posted five assists, 14 hits, 29 penalty minutes, and a plus-5 rating. This was after he had nine goals, 21 points, 96 hits, and 99 penalty minutes in 59 games for the Jets before the trade in 2025-26.
October 4th, 2016: Toronto Blue Jays Designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (10) celebrates after hitting his game winning three run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning during the American League Wild Card game between the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Remembering the Blue Jays’ Wild Card Walk-Offten years ago today.
In the 11th inning, with the Orioles best reliever sitting in the bullpen (Buck Showalter was a genus), the Orioles brought in Ubaldo Jimenez into the game. With one out, we got singles from Devon Travis and Josh Donaldson. At this point, I was sure Zach Britton would be coming into the game. But Showalter left Jimenez in there.
Then, the unforgettable moment unfolded:
Buck Showalter certainly deserves a thank you—perhaps a nice fruit basket.
Earlier in the game, offense was limited. Jose Bautista hit a solo home run in the second, and Ezequiel Carrera brought home Michael Saunders with a single in the fifth.
We grounded into three double plays, despite only putting seven runners on base all game. According to the recap:
The one that hurt the most was in the 9th inning, Josh Donaldson (off a leadoff double) and Edwin Encarnacion (intentional walk) on first and second with one out (Bautista strike out on a check swing) when Russell Martin ground one straight at third for an easy 5-4-3 double play.
Marcus Stroman pitched six strong innings, his only blemish being a two-run homer allowed to Mark Trumbo.
The bullpen was outstanding—Brett Cecil, Joe Biagini, Jason Grilli, Roberto Osuna, and Francisco Liriano combined for five scoreless innings.
From the recap:
Jays of the Day: Edwin (.126 WPA, I thought it would higher), Liriano (.214), Osuna (.195, please don’t be hurt), Grilli (.106), Donaldson (.284).
We won, so I’m not giving any suckage awards, but if I did: Travis (-.240), Martin (-.296), and Tulo (-.134).
I remember thanking Showalter for the assist, and someone on Twitter telling me, “If you put Britton in there, who gets the save?” I was amazed that people still thought managing for the save stat was a priority.
Edwin left as a free agent after the season, finishing with 239 regular season home runs (third in Jays history) and four postseason homers for Toronto. After that, he played for Cleveland, the Yankees, Mariners, and the White Sox. Over those four years, he posted a .241/.344/.489 line with 114 home runs. This past year was tough: he hit just .157/.250/.377 with 10 homers for the White Sox.
The Jays went on to sweep the Rangers in the ALDS, taking all three games.
Toronto then fell to Cleveland in five games in the ALCS—a series defined by outstanding pitching. Cleveland’s hitters managed just .168/.215/.329, while the Blue Jays hit .201/.251/.283.
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt (12), =second baseman Brice Turang (2) and shortstop Joey Ortiz (3) watch a replay during the ninth inning of their National League Division Series game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, October 3, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
LOS ANGELES — After a four-game Saturday, the National League has Sunday to itself with a pair of Games 2 of the NLDS first in Milwaukee and then in Los Angeles.
The Brewers took a tight opener over the Padres in Game 1, a contest that was not without controversy. Ty France hit a ball that looked like it might have had the distance for a go-ahead home run, but hit the roof in Milwaukee before being caught in deep left field.
San Diego and Milwaukee have the early slot on Sunday, with both NLDS games on FS1.
Sunday Division Series schedule
1 p.m. PT: Padres at Brewers Milwaukee leads, 1-0 NLDS Game 2: Michael King vs. Logan Henderson FS1 (Adam Amin, Adam Wainwright, A.J. Pierzynski)
5 p.m.: Dodgers vs. Braves Los Angeles leads, 1-0 NLDS Game 2: Blake Snell vs. TBA Fox (Joe Davis, John Smoltz)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 03: Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians walks against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning in game one of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 03, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Home run totals from yesterday’s games:
Dodgers 3, Braves 2 – Dodgers win
Rays 1, Yankees 0 – Rays win
Brewers 2, Padres 0 – Brewers win
White Sox 1, Guardians 0 – White Sox win
That’s pretty much all you need to know. When the top 6 in your order go 0 for 18 and do not hit a homer, you are going to lose a playoff baseball game.
Now, an off-day to regroup and remember how to hit. The shadows of the afternoon sun were an issue which should only be a problem for the opening of game two. We will see if that enables the Guardians to hit the White Sox bullpen… or, gulp, the White Sox to hit our relievers.
Drew Rasmussen threw seven scoreless, hitless innings against the Yankees which was an all-time performance. Yankee Austin Wells hit a two-out double off Rasmussen in the eighth but was thrown out trying to get to third and I just hope the Guardians were taking notes on what not to do because they make way too many outs at third base. Don’t make the first or third out of an inning at third should be way more of an involiable rule than it is.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 28: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves poses for a portrait during Media Day at Target Center on September 28, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Grades are an imperfect metric, but they are a widely shared cultural reference point. As a former teacher, the A-F grading system is baked into my brain. A few years ago, I created a grading system for the Minnesota Timberwolves because I thought it would be fun to try and channel each player’s contribution to the team into an easy-to-sum-up format by focusing on key stats based inplayer role.
After a couple seasons away, I’m thrilled to be back diving deep into the numbers with my favorite team, hoping that these grades lead to good conversation, debate, and all the fun that comes with processing the upcoming 82 game rollercoaster ride.
A handful of quick reminders about how the grades work:
These grades are roles-based, so the stats I’m looking at for each player are different and meant to highlight their team role.
Roles on the team can change as the roster and playing time changes —I will alter or add statistical categories throughout the season as needed. Especially in a preseason article, the expectation is that some of these initial stats will change as we get to know the team better.
The grade ranges and their correlation to stats are educated speculation based on previous career averages, team role, and minutes expectation. Like the categories themselves, if there is a range that is clearly missing the eye test, expect some tweaks as the season goes along.
The season is divided into four quarters; twenty to twenty-one game increments. There will be mid quarter (10ish games), quarter (20ish games), semester (41 games) and final grades (82 games) throughout the regular season and series grades in the playoffs.
Let’s get to it!
LaMelo Ball: The Mixologist
The Stats: Team Offensive Rating, Games Missed, Defensive Rebounds Per Game
The Why Behind Them: Having Mike Conley as a point guard is like drinking an Old Fashioned with lifelong friends. There is safety, comfort, and familiarity. Having LaMelo Ball as your point guard is going to be like going to a fancy new bar that doesn’t have a menu, and behind the bar is a mixologist that takes a long, studious look at you, starts working behind the bar, and then places a whole new concoction in front of you.
It could be a terrible experience, but it also might be one of the best drinks you’ve ever had. You just will never know unless you actually walk out the door and try it.
Also the mixologist was traded to your city because he has a history of tripping over barstools and missing nights at the bar so there’s a decent chance he might not be in the night you go out for drinks and… I think I’ve stretched this metaphor too thin so let’s get back to basketball.
Here’s the thesis on LaMelo: he was brought here to unlock the offense and set up Anthony Edwards to be the best version of himself (more on that soon). If things go according to plan, this is phase one of a long relationship as LaMelo injects pace, creativity and joy back into Minnesota’s offense. The best signs that this project is working? Overall offensive numbers and Ball being healthy and available for the majority of the season.
The final stat is all about his role on the other end of the floor: defensive rebounding. Ball is never going to be expected to be a defensive stalwart, but where he can best contribute is in helping to close out defensive possessions and start offensive ones.
For those that are unaware, the Wolves’ new 6’7’’ point guard is one of the best defensive rebounding guards in the NBA. Last season, Cleaning the Glass had him as a 95th percentile defensive rebounder as he averaged 4.8 rebounds per game, a career low overall number. However that coincided with about four less minutes per game.
For a player like Rudy Gobert, a defensive rebound means closing out a possession. But for a player like LaMelo, it means that the ball gets in his hands as quickly as possible for a hit-ahead pass or initiating a fast break. It’s an immediate adrenaline boost to a starting group that has had a habit of playing slow the last few years. It is a desperate team need meeting an elite player strength.
Anthony Edwards: The Charizard
The Stats: True Shooting Percentage, Personal Fouls Drawn, Conference Standing
The Why Behind Them: Welcome to the Anthony Edwards final evolution.
So much of the offseason talk by president of basketball operations Tim Connelly and head coach Chris Finch has been about shaping the roster around what Edwards does best. A recurring theme throughout any longform interview (special shoutout to Britt Robson’s interview with Chris Finch) was about the weight of point guard duties and the effect that had on the all-star guard’s defensive energy. Ant is more Kobe Bryant than James Harden, and the big bet the team is making is that this shift will allow him to find his final form as he enters the prime of his career.
The first stat is simple: If Anthony Edwards is in his ideal offensive role, this should be the most efficient shooting season of his career. His previous career high TS% last season was 61.7%, so that’s the highwater mark that he needs to get over.
On the second stat, personal fouls drawn (PFD), I feel compelled to elaborate more. I have multiple doctorates from Foul-Baiting-Ruins-Basketball University. I’ve gotten into a fight with one of my best friends after saying, “I’d rather watch Julius Randle on my team than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander” because of how much I hate that style of play. I cannot stress enough my credentials in this department.
This is not a plea for four-time All-Star to overexaggerate contact, flop, or spend large portions of TV timeouts working the officials. This stat came about because the more I dug into Edwards’ numbers and the final step he needs to take into the MVP conversation, the reality is he is the worst among his superstar peers at drawing contact.
He was 29th in the league at drawing fouls with 4.5 PFD per game. Every single player that received an MVP vote comfortably drew more fouls per game than Ant:
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 8.1 (not eligible for MVP last season, just the high standard mark for this stat)
Luka Dončić: 7.3
Nikola Jokić: 6.7
Jaylen Brown: 6.3
Victor Wembanyama: 6.3
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 6.1
Jalen Brunson: 5.1
Kawhi Leonard 5.1
Edwards doesn’t need to be in the top tier, but when you look at a player with a similar build to him like Jaylen Brown it does point to room for improvement. Drawing contact forces good defenders into foul trouble, puts your team in the bonus, and often is an outcome of attacking shifting/off-balance defenses. With LaMelo taking over point guard duties this season, part of the Atlanta native’s final alpha form evolution needs to involve him doing the thing he was built in a basketball lab for; getting downhill and punishing rotating defenses with his once-in-a-generation athleticism.
The final stat I’ll be tracking is the most obvious one: is Anthony Edwards’ team a threat to win the Western Conference? One third of Edwards’ overall grade will be pulled in the direction of the team’s standing – a fair next step for a player looking to plant his flag in the MVP conversation for the next decade in the league.
Jaden McDaniels: The “Whose Car Are We Going To Take?” Guy
The Stats: 3-Point Percentage, Points Per Shot Attempt, Defensive Estimated Plus/Minus
The Why Behind Them: You cannot win a title in the NBA without a player like Jaden McDaniels.
If I were in charge of building an all-time Timberwolves Mount Rushmore, Mr. “They’re all bad defenders” has earned his place on my monument. He does the little things, the big things when asked, and if something is going down and you need some backup, simply asks “Whose car we taking?”
In fact, when things go down, there is no time to even ask that question because he’s already charged headlong into the fray like Leeroy Jenkins.
In order for this team’s offense to reach its full potential, McDaniels has to be a capable shooter from deep to help offset the heretofore streakiness of Jonathan Kuminga and Rudy Gobert’s lack of spacing. The most common three-point look that Jaden gets? Wide open: no defender within six feet when he shoots the ball. If Jaden can hit these at a consistent clip, the whole offense opens up.
You know the stat that consistently bumps up to an elite level (playoffs) vs a good level (regular season) as the calendar turns to April? Jaden McDaniel’s points per shot attempt (PPSA). Besides the San Antonio series last season, McDaniels offensive efficiency with his PPSA goes from above league average (60th percentile) to 97th, 96th, and 82nd percentile in his three previous playoff runs. Like so many of the offensive stats I’m looking at for the starters, this is all about efficiency and making regular season monotony look more like post season excellence.
The final stat is McDaniels overall defensive EPM, a number where he finished at in the 90th percentile in the league last season. I’ve set the “A” season grade at a number that would have finished in the 95th percentile, and presumably be the marker of an all-defense team.
Jonathan Kuminga: The Knife-Wrench
The Stats:Rebounds Per Game, Contested Shots Per Game, Offensive Estimated Plus/Minus
The Why Behind Them: Perhaps my millennial is showing with a Dr. Ján Ïtor reference, but alas, it was the first place my mind went. Much like Jonathan Kuminga, the knife-wrench is an out of the box idea; a combination of two common tools (a toolsy prospect if you will!) that in theory could solve multiple problems at once. It also, in theory, could stab you in your thigh if placed at the wrong angle on your toolbelt. While the answer to his fit will come in time, the more you get to know him, the more you’ll find yourself pulling for him to succeed.
So what are the tools that this team most needs to see? Defense, rebounding and finding his niche as a slice of the offensive pie.
If Kuminga is committed to the defensive side of the floor, the ceiling of this roster completely changes. Presuming Gobert anchoring his presence in the paint, the DRC-native has the same opportunity Nickeil Alexander-Walker did when he came over in the trade from Utah: Re-invent yourself as a defensive dog and go into the offseason and get paid.
The departure of Julius Randle (6.7) and Naz Reid (6.2) opens up 13 rebounds per game that are up for grabs for the regular rotation guys. As mentioned above, I expect LaMelo Ball to get his fair share of the defensive boards, so the number reflected for Kuminga’s “A” rebounding grade comes with an expectation that the best version of himself is a weapon on the offensive glass.
According to Cleaning The Glass, Kuminga has been anywhere from a 61st-88th percentile offensive rebounder at the forward position since his rookie season. It’s a real part of his skillset and one I expect to be intentionally utilized to offset a lower usage number.
As for Kuminga’s final stat, offensive EPM, this is all about his offensive effectiveness as a role player. There aren’t a lot of pieces of the offensive pie left, but if he’s able to fit into the flow of offense and find his moments, it will be reflected in his offensive EPM as the team scores and thrives. The 0.5 “A” grade number would him around a 75th percentile.
Rudy Gobert: The GOAT-ee
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – SEPTEMBER 28: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves poses for a portrait during Media Day at Target Center on September 28, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Stats: Screen Assist Points Per Game, Dunks Per Game, Team Defensive Ranking
The Why Behind Them: Did you know that the facial hair formation known as the goatee derives its name from bearing a resemblance to a billy goat? The look is literally goaty.
Did you know that the goatee’s first rise in popularity is connected to a seventeenth century Flemish painter due to the widespread popularity of his self-portraits?
Did you know that after disappearing for centuries the goatee re-emerged hundreds of years later, made famous by Napoleon III and eventually being immortalized on the faces of “The Three Musketeers” by French author Alexander Dumas?
You may find yourself asking, “what does any of this have to do with Rudy Gobert’s upcoming basketball season?” And the answer to that is so simple you should frankly feel embarrassed for asking. Before the ball has bounced even one single time on the practice floor at Mayo Clinic, that tuft of hair on the Frenchman’s face has made a louder statement than any media day quote ever could: “All for one, and one for all. United we stand, divided we fall.”
And speaking of being united, Gobert has always been one of the best screen setters in basketball, finishing in the top five in screen assists for the past decade (seriously, he was #2 in the ‘16-‘17 season!). While you can debate LaMelo Ball being the best point guard that Gobert has played with, LaMelo is the most dynamic point guard of Gobert’s career. The French Big is a hall of fame screener and this season could be the pièce de résistance of his storied career.
The last two stats are short and sweet. Continuing on the same thesis of playing with the most dynamic passing point guard he’s ever played with, the goateed Frenchman should have a little bit of rejuvenation in dunking around the basket. And finally, team defensive ranking as a season long stat. Rudy Gobert has long been said to be a top ten defense in and of himself. The Wolves will once again test that theory and rely on his prowess to anchor the team on that end.
That’s it for now! Comment below if there is a potentially better category or stat to track – I’ve adjusted metrics based on ideas from the comment section in past seasons and will look closely at it if it falls within the date-oriented stat systems I can use for tracking.
I’ll be back soon with a preview of the bench, until then, may Rudy Gobert’s goatee offer us all peace and comfort while we wait for the preseason to start.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Allen Graves #22 of the Toronto Raptors shoots a three point basket during the game against the Miami Heat on July 16, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
6 Foot 7 Foot by Lil Wayne was one of 2011’s hottest songs, but also seems to have served as the blueprint for Allen Graves’ growth spurt. The Raptors’ first round draft pick shot up from 6’0” to 6’7” over his first two summers in high school, and this massive bodily change, in part, brought him to professional basketball. He hold this story over the summer, and with the preseason underway, it’s worth reflecting on where Graves came from.
Louisiana is a football state, hands down, with the New Orleans Saints being far more successful than the New Orleans Pelicans. Factor in college ball (the state’s most popular sport), and you get a group of people who really like watching the pigskin get thrown around.
“I love football,” said Graves in a presser. “Growing up in Louisiana you kind of have to play football. You gotta love it.” When playing his “first love,” Graves was a quarterback and wide receiver at the beginning of high school, but after an elbow injury and the development of a “shooting arm,” he told his mother at the end of the football season that he was done with the gridiron, and would follow in the footsteps of his family members, going to play college basketball.
His mother, looking at her six-foot son, told him in no uncertain terms that “I don’t think you’re athletic enough… you’re not tall enough. If you want to play a college sport, then I think it’s going to be football, so you need to stick with it.”
Graves’ response? “I’m gonna show you, mom.”
Then, over the next year, Graves grew up to be the 6’7” forward that he is to this day. His height has been reported as varying between 6’8” and 6’9” as a rookie, so it seems that he still had some growing left in him before beginning his professional basketball career.
#19 pick Allen Graves FILLED the stat sheet for the @Raptors in his NBA Summer League debut:
Allen Graves averaged nearly 17 points and 7 assists in Summer League, shooting 50% from three across all games played. While it cannot be overstated how much Summer League production does not necessarily translate to the NBA’s regular season, as a first gauge of the temperature, Allen Graves came off blazing hot. While the selection of Graves was met with some controversy at the time, in the wake of his production over the summer, Raptors fans seemed to have warmed up to the former Santa Clara Bronco.
While he didn’t play in the team’s first outing of the preseason due to injury, it was reported by Josh Lewenberg of TSN that the tweaked groin wasn’t serious. Soon, Graves will be showing what he can do in meaningful games for the Raptors, bringing all the defence and shooting he’s shown to be able to provide. Not bad for someone who grew seven inches out of a desire to prove his mother wrong.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, a deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team in which the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: What grabbed your attention the most from the information that came out on Media Day?
zenzino: Let’s call it what it is. Media Day is a hype day to get us excited about the season. From that standpoint, it was hugely successful as far as I’m concerned. Color me excited.
There was a genuine positivity and excitement to get the season going. Starting with the head cheerleader and team owner, Mat Ishbia. Do I take everything he says as gospel? Nope. Do I love his rosy outlook and enthusiasm for the team and the city? Hells yeah!!! And it went from the top down.
I’ll limit my takeaways to three (more).
While training camp officially started on Tuesday, it definitely sounds like training camp has been going on all summer long for them. This group could rival the 21-23 team in terms of teammates who genuinely like each other and love playing together. These guys have each other’s backs and have been working out together almost since they got knocked out by the Thunder, anxious to get back to it. My wish that the Suns hit the ground running when the season starts instead of working themselves into shape at the beginning seems likely to come true.
We only caught a glimpse of what Jalen Green was capable of last season. So much raw talent, desperately needing the right coaches to harness. He didn’t have a lot of that in his first few years. Now he’s spent some quality time with the coaching staff this summer and, notably, practice and film sessions with Steve Nash. I expect to see a leap forward from Green this season.
Finally, under the radar, when Goodie was asked who surprised him the most this summer, without hesitation, he said Book. Goodie says he guards Book most of the time, and he was surprised at how much stronger Book has gotten and that he’s shooting even better. There were a couple other stories/comments about how much Book was in the gym this summer. Not an ounce of complacency there.
Ashton: I was all jacked and jazzed to catch the livestream on Monday, but I decided to run an errand before and ran out of gas. Not like Booker running out of gas because he played too many minutes, but a faulty fuel gauge led to me getting my steps in. It was like I was back in high school. So, I missed the livestream and could have caught it post-hoc, but at that time the write-ups were in with most of the main talking points, leaving me with breadcrumbs. John Voita summarized it just fine here.
And apparently a lot of smoke was in the air.
I would turn to Dillon Brooks answer about studying Kung Fu while meditating in the Wudang Mountains over the summer. I have watched a lot of martial arts movies over the years, but the one thing I never saw was a basketball court in the Chinese scenic backdrops. And all of that was to learn to how to drop-kick an official?
Dillon, maybe you should have meditated on your upcoming court case because, knowing Arizona’s tough DUI laws, a suspension from the NBA seems inevitable before you get to performing your inner Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on an official. That, or you could have just hit the practice court with Booker and KM. Also, as a former martial artist, Kung Fu really is not the way to go. You could have practiced thumb or finger locks before the official reaches for his whistle. Which will happen.
OldAz: I was out of town during media day, so I only caught the write-ups and X highlights. For my biggest takeaway, see question #2. I was struck by how many comments were all about Maluach. It seemed each and every player made it a point to call out his hard work, his physical transformation, or his on-court development. Everything else I heard sounded like typical media day blabber.
Rod: One thing that stood out to me was that both Khaman and Oso said that which one of them starts should depend on what’s best for the team. Khaman spoke about matchups and how, against different opponents, different players might need to start. Oso also talked about how he worked well with the 2nd unit last season, which was a good role for him. They both just seemed more interested in team success than feeding their own egos. They both seemed more mature than their ages might suggest, and I love the “team first” attitude from them.
Q2:Khaman Maluach received a lot of praise from just about everyone on Media Day. What are your thoughts on this?
zenzino: I hated that. Felt like they were blowing smoke. Ha! Just kidding.
Loved it! It really sounds like he has made a huge leap forward. The patience and sticking to his development could really pay off. Teammates talked about him ‘brightening up the room’ with his presence and enthusiasm. We’re seeing the beginnings of Khaman being the future of the Suns, and it sounds like he’s impressing everyone, on and off the court.
It’s going to be fun to watch him play and develop through the season. Hopefully, everyone will stay patient and understand that this is a journey, and even if he’s just playing significant minutes this season, he’ll be right on schedule. If he works his way to starting, he’ll be ahead of schedule.
Ashton: It sounds great and it led to the Suns using those references to pick up his third year. And it is really a glimpse of what players are working on over the summer, something that is lacking in written articles during the dead times. Yes, practices are closed, but you would think there would be a leak here and there. Learning that Book and KM were working on the court together and then having a cacophony of other players chime in shows there is truly some dedication to training on the court over the summer. To be honest, I am never sure if the players are on a permanent vacay, fishing, or hitting the links around the world.
Except for Brooks. He was trying to overtake Wemby in a future Kung Fu competition (Wemby has also trained in China in Kung Fu – great article on ESPN if you want to look it up). But all that meditation does not lead to better playmaking; as Brooks has stated himself, he was working on improving those skills.
OldAz: Like I said in Q1, the sheer quantity of comments from other players pointing to Maluach was eye-opening. With Williams down for much of the season, the hope is that this is not just more Media Day spin. If Maluach truly is both growing into his body, while also working on his game, and showing a Booker-like commitment to being great, then Maluach may turn out to be the most consequential addition since, well, since Booker.
It’s especially encouraging to hear about all the time working with Booker because a real two man game between those two would be great to see. We have talked before in this space about who will start in Williams’ absence. If the comments on KM were legitimate and based in reality, then I suspect we will see him get a real shot at starting during the preseason.
Rod: It actually got me a little more excited to see him on the court. I thought he played very well in Summer League but…that was Summer League, not really the NBA. Hearing all the praise coming from his teammates, old and new, is quite encouraging as was he and Book spending time working out together over the Summer. The more in sync he and Book are on the court, the higher the ceiling of this team in my opinion.
All this just blends into what I’ve heard all along about Khaman, that he’s a sponge, working to soak up every bit of basketball knowledge he can, and to work as hard as he can, to become the best basketball player he can possibly be. Hopefully, that will turn out to be someone special.
Q3: One of the reasons Luke Kennard said he was excited to be in Phoenix was, “This is going to be an opportunity to be a basketball player, not just a shooter.” What are your thoughts on this?
zenzino: Settle down, Sparky. Nobody is asking you to play basketball.
Kidding. It’s great! We saw some surprisingly good play from him when he was starting in place of the injured Reaves in the first round of the playoffs. If that’s something he can build on, that’s great news for the Suns.
I’m firmly in the camp that we are going to feel the absence of GA and Royce in a not-so-good way. Anything extra Kennard can bring to his game will help to mitigate that.
I also love that Ott told him that his three-point percentage is going to go down because he will be shooting more threes.
Finally, it was very cool how he said that he wanted to come to Phoenix because he’s seen players have career years here and he wants to have a breakout year. I think that’s proof of concept to what the Suns are building.
Ashton: What an odd response. It almost seems like he made a dig at his former team’s coaching staff in LA (and others) for utilizing him heavily on the perimeter. And this is exactly what the Suns should do.
Look, I get it. NBA players want to be an NBA All-Star and view themselves in that light. I do not fault Kennard for wanting to improve in all the facets of the game and applaud it. But not every player can be an NBA All-Star, and his bench role is to provide spot-up perimeter shooting when called upon.
Like with Q1 on media day, there was a lot of smoke.
OldAz: After I finished rolling my eyes, I realized that “In Brian Gregory we trust.” It is possible BG saw the potential to replace more of Grayson Allen’s game than just shooting. If so, it would be a coup for the Suns to replace those elements of GA’s game at a much lower price point. On the other hand, this is a middle-of-the-bench signing and these comments sound a whole lot more like Media Day spin and typical overestimation of one athlete’s own abilities.
Rod: It’s interesting because I’ve read that the team has also given him the green light to shoot more. It sounds as though someone’s recognized that he can be more than just someone who stands at the three-point line waiting for the ball to come to him. I haven’t really watched him play much, but there have been comments that he can do much more and could be a Grayson Allen replacement in more than just three-point shooting.
I did watch some of his playoff highlights with the Lakers and saw he had pretty good ball-handling skills and a nice midrange game, which should get him rotation minutes even on this deep Suns team. If he can bring even close to what Grayson gave the Suns in areas other than three-point shooting, he’ll be an even nicer addition than I initially thought he would be.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Quotes of the Week
“It’s not like, oh who’s gonna start or who’s gonna play this kind of minutes. It’s what the team needs. If that night Oso is a good matchup for whatever center we’re playing, then if coach thinks it’s the best thing also we’ll play. If the other night I’m the better matchup, I will play. I don’t see it like an individual competitive thing. I see it like a team thing, what the team needs.” – Khaman Maluach
“They want me to shoot, and they want me to shoot a lot. Whether it’s wide open or it’s more difficult shots.” – Luke Kennard
“It’s going to be great and super competitive. All of the guys work hard. We all have the same goal.” – Rasheer Fleming (on training camp)
“We have no reason, no excuse not to be in elite shape.” – Jordan Ott
For those who enjoyed the Suns picking up full court and applying early defensive pressure, this season will be even more electric
After ranking Top 10 last year in pickup distance and ball pressure, one of Jordan Ott’s goals now? Double down and increase that frequency: pic.twitter.com/7II7cthFQw
Fun fact: Since making his NBA debut in 2015, Devin Booker has been responsible for 29% of the Suns’ points scored or created. pic.twitter.com/XUUK75R4ZI
The Suns are returning 76.2% of their player minutes from last season, which is the sixth-highest continuity rating in the league behind San Antonio (93.8%), Orlando (90.2%), New York (87.7%), Houston (85.0%), and New Orleans (84.6%).
On October 8, 2018, the Suns fired former GM Ryan McDonough and appointed James Jones and Trevor Bukstein as interim co-GMs.
On October 9, 1972, the Suns waived SG/SF John Wetzel who was picked up by the Atlanta Hawks. Three years later, the Suns claimed Wetzel after he was waived by the Hawks on Oct. 24, 1975.
Important Future Dates
Oct. 5 – Suns @ Pistons (preseason) 4:00 PM Oct. 7 – Suns @ Bulls (preseason) 5:00 PM Oct. 10 – Suns vs. Spurs (preseason) 7:00 PM (ESPN2) Oct. 14 – Suns @ Spurs (preseason) 5:00 PM Oct. 16 – Suns vs. Jazz (preseason) 7:00 PM Oct. 20 – 2026-27 NBA Season Begins Oct. 24 – NBA G League Draft Oct. 26-Nov. 5 – NBA G League Training Camp Nov. 6 – NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament begins Dec. 15 – Most players signed to new contracts can be traded Jan. 5 – 10-day contracts may now be signed Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season Jan. 15 – All players signed to new contracts can be traded Feb. 11 – Trade Deadline Feb. 19-21 – NBA All-Star 2027
Oct 3, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells (28) is tagged out at third base in the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game one of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
Look, it sucks that the Orioles aren’t in the playoffs. Their 2026 season was an abject failure. They were bad and they should feel bad. There’s no way to overcome that disappointment.
But in the absence of the Orioles, watching the Yankees fail miserably in the postseason provides at least some small measure of happiness for O’s fans. And the Yanks’ failure last night was nearly one for the record books. They almost became the victims of the fourth no-hitter in postseason history, as the Rays’ Drew Rasmussen came within four outs of a no-no in a simply dominant performance against a punchless Yanks lineup.
Even more deliciously embarrassing, when the Yankees finally did get their first hit — on an Austin Wells liner just inside the right-field foul line — he foolishly tried to get to stretch it into a triple and was thrown out by about the length of a football field, short-circuiting a potential rally. Never make the third out at third base! That’s Little League stuff. The Rays ended up with a 1-0 victory to secure the first game of the ALDS.
It was a pretty competitive night all around in the opener of every Division Series, as all four games were decided by three or fewer runs. The White Sox stormed into Cleveland and blanked the Guardians by a 3-0 score, while the Dodgers were annoyingly efficient in dispatching the Braves, 5-3. The Brewers and Padres ended the night with a 3-2 thriller that was decided when a would-be go-ahead ninth-inning homer by Ty France deflected off the roof of American Family Field and into the glove of left fielder Jackson Chourio, one of the unluckiest events you’ll ever see in a professional baseball game.
Today, only the National League is in action as the AL teams get a weird non-travel day off after just one game. The Padres and Brewers have the early game at 4:00, preceding the Braves and Dodgers at 8 ET. That means there won’t be any further embarrassment for the Yankees today. But there’s always tomorrow.
Just when you thought Albernaz’s managerial tenure couldn’t get any more infuriating, apparently he gave the cold shoulder to the best pitcher in franchise history. This guy is seriously the worst.
If you thought trading Adley to the Red Sox was painful, consider how close the O’s came to trading him to the Yankees instead. Just think: Austin Wells could have been making terrible baserunning blunders for the Orioles instead of the Yanks.
Notwithstanding the typo in the headline, it’s a valid point — the O’s seem overstocked at the hot corner with Jordan Westburg set to return and Coby Mayo, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Blaze Alexander all worthy of regular at-bats. I guess you’d call that one of those good problems to have.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Five former Orioles were born on this day: right-hander Alec Asher (35), outfielder Drew Stubbs (42), utility man Mark McLemore (62), right-hander Dave C. Johnson (78), and the late outfielder Don Lenhardt (b. 1922, d. 2014), a St. Louis Brown who came over with the franchise to Baltimore in 1954.
The Orioles have played seven postseason games on this date in history. They won the first four and lost the last three. The losses were Game 3 of the Division Series in both 1996 and 1997, and the Wild Card Game in Toronto in 2016. We need not say any more about those. As for the wins:
In 1969, in the first-ever AL Championship Series game after the league split into two divisions, the O’s beat the Twins, 4-3, in a 12-inning thriller at Memorial Stadium. Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, the Birds tied the score on Boog Powell’s leadoff homer against Twins starter Jim Perry. It was the Orioles’ third solo homer off Perry after Frank Robinson and the light-hitting Mark Belanger did so earlier in the game. In the 12th, the Orioles walked it off on Paul Blair’s bunt single that scored Belanger from third.
A year later, the O’s again beat the Twins in the ALCS, this time in Minnesota, with an 11-3 rout in Game 2. The Orioles held a meager one-run lead until the top of the ninth, when they erupted for seven runs, their second straight game with a seven-run inning. For the second straight game, every Orioles starter except Paul Blair had at least one hit. Frank Robinson and Davey Johnson each crushed a two-run homer, backing a complete game by Dave McNally.
On this date in 1971, the Orioles won Game 2 of the ALCS against the Athletics, 5-1. Mike Cuellar pitched a complete-game, one-run masterpiece to outduel Hall of Fame A’s righty Catfish Hunter. All five Orioles runs against Hunter came on homers: a pair of blasts from Boog Powell and solo shots by Brooks Robinson and Elrod Hendricks.
And on this day in 1979, the O’s outlasted the Angels in Game 2 of the ALCS, 9-8. The O’s seemed on their way to an easy victory by storming out to a 9-1 lead after three, but the Angels kept chipping away at the lead in the late innings, eventually putting the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position in the ninth before Don Stanhouse induced a bases-loaded groundout to end the game. Had ‘em all the way. Eddie Murray homered for the Orioles and leadoff man Al Bumbry reached base four times.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 18: Kevin McGonigle #7 of the Detroit Tigers throws towards first base during the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on September 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jessie Alcheh/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The first thing we should do this offseason is appreciate an all-time great rookie season, and what seems certain to be an AL Rookie of the Year award. The only real question around the Tigers fresh-faced star is where to play him.
McGonigle played almost his entire, though certainly brief minor league career at the shortstop position. In his first season in 2024, he did get a little bit of time at second base, but otherwise he was a full time shortstop. In the 2025 Arizona Fall League, he finally started getting some reps at another position, but it was third base. He then split his time as a major league rookie hitting at an extremely high level while also juggling two difficult positions on the field.
As a prospect, I always graded him as a solid but slightly below average shortstop, mainly because of his arm strength. His hands are sound and he’s good around the bag but despite his quickness, his limited wingspan and arm strength cut into his effective range somewhat. Second base seemed the better fit for him, at least down the road. Instead, McGonigle put in the work last offseason and managed to improve at shortstop while playing a pretty solid third base as well. All the more reason to be impressed with him. He’s still quite young and keeps improving all parts of his game.
This season McGonigle played 644 innings at third base and 675.2 innings as a shortstop. Sports Info Solutions liked his defense just fine, crediting him with +8 defensive runs saved (DRS) at third base, and +2 DRS as a shortstop. That’s pretty good work.
Statcast’s player and ball tracking saw things differently. By outs above average (OAA), McGonigle scored a -2 OAA at third base, and a -1 OAA as a shortstop. Overall, Statcast gives him a -1 fielding runs value (FRV) as a third baseman, and a neutral 0 FRV at the shortstop position. Despite the technology, there is always some subjectivity in evaluating and projecting defense. The numbers guide you to a general range, and I tend to just mash them together to get a rough average.
Essentially, the takeaway is that Kevin McGonigle is already an average defender at both positions. With his bat, that’s plenty good enough, and his ability to handle the switch between positions is also big for the Tigers’ roster construction and flexibility. For the most part, they should just play McGonigle at shortstop to allow them to mix in all their other infield bats at second and third base. Based on his trajectory, steady improvement, and youth, there’s a good chance he’s going to keep getting better at the position until he physically starts losing a step, hopefully sometime in his late 20’s if we’re fortunate.
On the other hand, McGonigle’s average and max velocity on his throws were below average in comparison to all qualified fielders. That’s still a good argument for a long-term home at second base. It’s just that an upgrade at shortstop would be required to move him there right now.
They can always adapt as needed, because McGonigle has shown himself so able to adapt already. If John Peck hits and the Tigers like him slightly better at shortstop? Great, he can take some of the reps there, with McGonigle moving to third if needed. Maybe the Tigers can find a legitimate defensive upgrade at shortstop on the trade market, but that just doesn’t seem like a Scott Harris move. Otherwise? Just leave McGonigle at shortstop and let him work at the position until a plus full-time shortstop, hopefully top prospect Bryce Rainer, is ready to seize the reins in 2028 or so.
Kevin McGonigle did it all in his rookie season, and it’s going to result in the 2026 AL Rookie of the Year award. The attention is understandably on his bat and how much power production he’s going to develop with experience. There’s so much more to his game though, as he also showed off his speed, ran the bases well, and improved his defensive ability to produce solid work at both shortstop and third base. He can still move around in 2027, and maybe a bit of work at second base again becomes part of the equation, but for now? Leave him at shortstop and make someone else push him off the position.
