MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 19: Taj Bradley #26 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Target Field on August 19, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
FIRST PITCH: 838p Central TELEVISION: Twins.TV, still presented by Progressive RADIO: W-C-C-O 830 AM, KMNB 102.9 FM “The Wolf, rawr”, Danny Gladden Radio Network, Audacy Application KNOW YOUR FOE: none from SB Nation (Why? James tells us here.); alternatively, try Crashing the Pearly Gates
I thought the Minnesota Twins started this road trip in San Francisco, so I was going to put Scott McKenzie’s song “San Francisco” in and say the Twins should wear flowers in their hair and blah blah blah because the Giants are not doing well either and I dunno, man. But no, the Twins are going to Anaheim to play the Angels, another California team that is not doing well. I don’t know what you wear to Los Angeles though. Sequins?
It’s a meaningless late-season West Coast road trip against two teams that are also in the cellars of their respective divisions. What a party! The first series is a four-gamer against the Angels of Anaheim.
Walbert Ureña will get the ball for Los Angeles (A. L.) and he’s been pretty good this year. The rookie has put up a 2.88 ERA/3.68 FIP in 27 games (25 starts), does not give up many homers (nine on the season!), and strikes out two batters for every walk he issues. Also he has a cool name.
Taj Bradley gets the call for the Twins (A. L.) and he’s also been pretty good this year. He faced the Agnels on July 12 of this season, throwing seven innings of two-run baseball, both runs coming on homers – and both those hits were the only ones he allowed. He also struck out six and walked two batters. The Twins ended up winning 4-2 and he was awarded the W.
In a scary scene at Citi Field on Thursday night, Mets first baseman Jared Young was taken off the field on a stretcher after being kneed in the head by Nolan McLeanon a play at first base in the sixth inning against the Phillies.
The Mets announced shortly after Young was injured that he had feeling in his extremities and was being taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
On the play, the ball -- which was hit by Justin Crawford -- rolled slowly up the first base line with both Young and McLean pursuing it. As it got close to the bag, Young lunged to his right to attempt to field it as McLean arrived near first base, with McLean's right knee hitting Young in the head/face, resulting in Young lying face down and motionless.
Young was down for several minutes while being attended to by the medical staff. Young, who was surrounded by McLean and every starting position player while lying on the field, was eventually placed on a stretcher and removed from the field on a cart.
As Young was being taken through the opening in the left center field fence, he gave fans a thumbs-up.
“It was really scary," interim manager Andy Green said after the game. "Since he’s got to the hospital, he’s had a CT scan and the results have come back negative. Still experiencing real concussion symptoms right now. Likely avoided the scariest outcome. It was a terrifying moment on the baseball field."
McLean, who was visibly shaken as Young was being taken care of, returned to the mound after Young was removed from the field and recorded the final out of the inning.
Young was replaced at first base by Mark Vientos.
The 31-year-old Young, who has become the Mets' regular first baseman this season, is hitting .268/.332/.431 (.764 OPS) in 102 games this season. It has been a breakout year for him after playing just 44 games for the Mets and Cubs between his big league debut in 2022 and 2025.
The Lakers have signed forward Anton Watson to an Exhibit 10 contract, the team announced Thursday.
The 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward played for the South Bay Lakers last season, averaging 11 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals in 27.3 minutes.The 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward played for the South Bay Lakers last season, averaging 11 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals in 27.3 minutes.
Anton Watson (41) of the Los Angeles Lakers plays against the Miami Heat during their 2026 California Classic Summer League game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Sunday, July 5, 2026. Getty Images
Watson was selected 54th by the Celtics in the 2024 NBA Draft. After the Celtics waived him in March 2025, he played nine games for the Knicks.
The San Diego Padres’ Low-A affiliate, Lake Elsinore Storm, pummeled their way to the California League Championship on the backs of their newest players, with some assistance from some of their other highly ranked young prospects.
After struggling through most of the second half of the season, the Storm put on a postseason surge after suffering an 11-game losing streak during the last three weeks of the season. There was a hint of the turnaround during the last week of the regular season when Lake Elsinore finished with a winning series against Inland Empire, showing increased effectiveness on both offense and with their pitching.
After going 39-30 in the first half of the year, winning a spot in the playoffs, the Storm finished the second half with a 27-35 record and barely had a winning season at 66-65. Their first-half success was fueled by multiple players who earned themselves promotion to Single-A Fort Wayne. The Storm players that were promoted to Lake Elsinore from the Arizona Complex League were not able to sustain that success.
On Aug. 4, the Padres organization started adding the newly signed 2026 draft picks to the Lake Elsinore roster. Over the course of the month, outfielder Alex Conover (4th round), infielder Nu’u Contrades (6th round), infielder Elliot Lascelles (2nd round), C/1B/DH Augie Lopez (10th round), and infielder Joe Tiroly (7th round) all made their professional debuts.
They joined infielder Dawson Willis, who was promoted from the ACL when that league finished but had been injured and was activated shortly before their arrival. It took most of August and into September for the new Storm teammates to adjust to the major changes in the roster. Their prolonged and frequent losses attest to the time it took for them all to become a cohesive team.
Divisional playoffs
The Ontario Tower Buzzers (Dodgers) were the first to discover the Storm had found their footing. After dominating the second half, Ontario finished 10 games over .500. Playing a divisional playoff series, the Storm swept the best-of-three by winning the first two games.
RHP Jesus Castro, 19, had a stellar start in the first game, with six innings of two-hit and one-run ball. The pitching staff had been reinforced at the beginning of September with some more 2026 signees, including lefty relievers Rob Evans (12th round) and Andrew Wright (UDFA), both contributing. LF Conover went 4-for-5 with two RBI, and DH Contrades had three hits in four at-bats. 1B Joe Tiroly went 1-for-4 with two RBI.
In their clinching game on Sept. 10, LHP Kruz Schoolcraft had his best outing of the year. Finishing five innings, Schoolcraft allowed two hits and no runs with eight strikeouts. He was followed by 2026 first-rounder Coleman Borthwick, whom the Padres sent to Lake Elsinore from their Bridge League to pitch in the playoffs. The 18-year-old, who tops out his fastball in the high-90’s, threw two innings of two-hit ball, allowing a run with two walks and four strikeouts, making his professional debut in a playoff atmosphere. The last two innings were covered by 19-year-old Lan-Hong Su, who registered his first professional save by shutting out Ontario on a walk and three strikeouts.
DH Nu’u Contrades had two hits in three at-bats with two RBI while CF Dawson Willis hit 2-for-4, upping his average to .375. Canadian SS/2B Elliot Lascelles, 18, hit a double, drove in a run, and had an RBI.
Using all starters to cover nine innings, the Storm allowed only four hits and recorded 15 strikeouts in their 6-1 win.
Winning a Championship
Advancing to the Championship series, the Storm had to face off against the team with the best record in the league.
The San Jose Giants (SF Giants) finished their season at 80-52, 11 games up on the second-place Fresno Grizzlies. They led the league in both hitting and pitching stats for the regular season.
The best-of-three series kicked off on Sept. 13 in Lake Elsinore with a rout by the Storm. Scoring 12 runs to the Giants’ one run, the Storm had 13 hits, with 2B Lascelles going 3-for-6 with three RBI, including a double. 1B Joe Tiroly had three hits in five at-bats, with a run scored and an RBI. He also hit a double as part of his offensive effort. LF Conover went 2-for-4 with four RBI, including a two-run home run.
The game was started by RHP Tyler Schmitt, who went 4.1 innings, allowing four hits and no runs with three walks and three strikeouts. He was followed by RHP Jack Pineau, a 22-year-old Canadian who was signed as an undrafted free agent (UDFA) in July. Pineau completed the fifth inning with no hits and a strikeout. LHP Adler Cecil got the win with three innings of two-hit pitching, issuing two walks and striking out five.
LHP Ben Stubbs (2026, ninth round) finished off the game, allowing the only run on two hits with two walks. Overall, the pitchers issued seven walks and had nine strikeouts.
After an off day, the second game was played in San Jose, with the Giants showing why they were the best team in the league. Their pitching staff no-hit the Storm over nine innings, with the Storm scoring a run on a Dawson Willis walk followed by a balk and then a passed ball, scoring on a double steal (with Lascelles).
RHP Jesus Castro threw 4.2 innings of two-hit, two-run baseball with a walk and three strikeouts. The effort by the bullpen included UDFA RHP Tyler Pitzer, who allowed three runs in 0.1 innings, and 2026 12th-rounder Rob Evans, who pitched 1.1 innings with two hits and a run allowed.
Besides being no-hit, the Storm hitters only managed two walks while striking out 11 times.
The deciding game of the series was played the next day, Sept. 16, in San Jose. Lake Elsinore liked the effort made by first-rounder RHP Coleman Borthwick so much in the Ontario series that they started him in the deciding game for the championship.
Shutting out the Giants over two innings, Borthwick struck out two while using his fastball/slider combo, proving effective in four innings of playoff pitching, while leading the Storm to a 13-2 decisive clincher and a championship.
Borthwick was followed by RHP Lan-Hong Su for three innings of work. He gave up four hits and a run but struck out eight hitters. The last four innings were finished by Jack Pineau, Andrew Wright and LHP Sean Fitzpatrick, who combined to limit San Jose to one run on six hits with a combined 15 strikeouts.
The offense went to town on Giants pitching, amassing 13 runs on 13 hits while the pitching staff held the Giants to two runs.
Second baseman Lascelles was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. 1B Tiroly went 2-for-4 with two RBI, including a double. DH Contrades had two hits in four at-bats with three RBI, including a double and a home run. RF Qrey Lott, 21, who had a good season with a .272 average and a .805 OPS, went off in the postseason. In the five games, Lott had 18 ABs while hitting .444/.524/.944 with two doubles, two triples, a home run, and five RBI.
The surprising turnaround for the Lake Elsinore Storm shows what a team can do when talented players start playing together. I watched all three of the championship series games, and the Storm played at an intensity not seen in prior games. The Storm won their last California League Championship in 2021.
PHOENIX — There always was the understanding that there would be some bumps along the road in Gerrit Cole’s first season back from Tommy John surgery, as there are with any pitcher returning from major elbow surgery. Yet, for most of his first 20 starts back, he looked like the Cole of old.
The last two, however, have started to ring some moderate alarm bells at an inopportune time — or, if viewed through the Yankees’ pinstriped glasses, a decent time so that he can get himself straightened out over his final two starts before the playoffs.
Access the Yankees beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.
That quest begins Friday, when Cole will take the mound against the Diamondbacks having allowed seven home runs over his last two starts, the most in any two-start span of his career.
“I expect him to be right next time,” manager Aaron Boone said after Cole’s last start against the Mets.
Cole has insisted throughout that he is feeling good physically, 115 ¹/₃ innings into the season after missing all of last year.
The metrics on his pitches over the last two starts against the Mets and Padres have mostly stayed in line with where they have been over the course of the full season, including his fastball velocity, which averaged 97.1 mph and 96.9 mph in those two starts (both faster than his season average in 2024).
Except all of a sudden, that four-seam fastball has become a lot more hittable. Dating back to Cole’s last four starts, hitters are batting 16-for-48 (.333) against the pitch, compared to 32-for-173 (.185) across his first 16 starts. Perhaps even more concerning is that hitters are not just hitting the fastball — they are hardly even missing it.
Gerrit Cole reacts on the mound during the second inning of the Yankees’ blowout loss to the Mets on Sept. 12, 2026 at the Stadium. Bill Kostroun for NY Post
Over his last three starts, Cole has generated just eight whiffs on 69 swings against his fastball (11.6 percent), including zero on 16 swings last time out against the Mets, compared to a 22.8 percent whiff rate on the pitch in his first 17 starts (which is still down from the rest of his career).
Former American League Cy Young Award winner and current YES Network analyst David Cone, speaking this week on “The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman,” theorized that Cole often has been in between on which secondary pitch to use, which has allowed hitters to wait and attack his fastball.
“To me, that just leans back to they’re not respecting your secondary stuff, they’re sitting on your fastball,” Cone said. “You got to get some protection for your fastball, and you got to do something about your secondary pitches and get your slider tunneling again on that same plane off of that fastball. That will give you what you’re looking for.”
Of the seven home runs Cole has given up in his last two starts, four have come on his fastball.
Gerrit Cole reacts during the fifth inning of the Yankees’ blowout loss to the Mets on Sept. 12, 2026 at the Stadium. Robert Sabo for NY Post
During those two starts, hitters have put 22 fastballs in play, with 15 of them registering as hard-hit balls, meaning they have come off the bat at exit velocities north of 95 mph. The average exit velocity on Cole’s fastballs during those two starts has been 98.3, compared to 92.7 in his first 18 starts.
All of that suggests that hitters are seeing Cole’s fastball well. Whether that is because of a lack of deception, he is not getting it to the spots he wants, or they simply are sitting fastball and unleashing their best swings when they get it is a matter of opinion.
Now, it is on Cole to adjust back in his final two starts of the regular season (lined up to come against the Diamondbacks and Rays). Prior to the clunkers against the Padres and Mets, he had pitched to 3.29 ERA across 18 starts, looking very much like the kind of pitcher the Yankees would want to start in a potential AL wild-card series along with Cam Schlittler and Max Fried.
While the concerning last two starts probably still are not enough to make the Yankees change course and start Carlos Rodón over him, Cole could go a long way in offering some reassurance by solving his home run and fastball problem before the postseason arrives.
It's the Dodgers' fifth straight NL West title and 13th in the last 14 years.
The San Francisco Giants are the only team to interrupt the streak, winning the division title in 2021.
“There are a lot of unforeseen things, but I'm proud of all the contributors,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told SportsNet LA after the game. “… It's another box that’s checked, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.”
The Dodgers' 14 straight playoff appearances is tied for the most in MLB history with the Atlanta Braves (1991-2005). The magic number to clinch a first-round bye is six.
“(We) just keep going and eliminate distractions,” Roberts said. “(We have to) keep the blinders on.”
There are still plenty of hurdles Los Angeles will have to overcome before securing a third straight World Series title.
Only two other organizations have accomplished the feat: The New York Yankees and the Athletics. The Yankees have achieved at least a three-peat three times in their illustrious history.
The Yankees won four straight from 1936-39, five consecutive titles from 1949-1953 and most recently completed a three-peat from 1998-2000. The Athletics won three straight titles from 1972-1974.
Here's the four biggest questions facing the Dodgers as they prepare for the playoffs:
When will Shohei Ohtani be healthy?
Ohtani’s status remains uncertain as the postseason approaches, due to knee and biceps issues. He started his swing progression off a tee on Sept. 15. He could make his return to the lineup as a designated hitter as early as Sept. 23.
The two-way star is expected to return in time for the playoffs but remains unlikely to pitch this season. Despite an effort to try and get him back on the mound, he’s been unable to progress further.
The Dodgers had declared Ohtani not healthy enough to take the mound after he participated in a short bullpen session on Aug. 28 and threw close to 20 pitches.
Will Dodgers' roster age and injuries be a concern?
The average age for the Dodgers' roster is 30.6 years old, which is the highest in MLB, just ahead of the Chicago Cubs (30.4) and Atlanta Braves (30.3).
Pitcher Blake Treinen is the oldest player on the roster at 38 years old. Miguel Rojas is the next oldest at 37 years old. Rojas has already stated this will be his last season as an active player.
The Dodgers have managed to add some younger talent to the roster to help finish out the season and gain experience.
They've leaned on Josue De Paula, who was considered the team’s top prospect, to serve as the designated hitter in Ohtani’s latest absence.
The 21-year-old made his major-league debut on Sept. 11 at LoanDepot Park, becoming the youngest Dodgers player since Alex Verdugo on Sept. 2, 2017.
De Paula's bat could become a necessity depending on the status of several other veterans, including Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Kiké Hernández.
Freeman has produced big moments for the Dodgers in the World Series, but the 37-year-old's status in the days leading up to the postseason is worth monitoring. He's considered day-to-day with right knee soreness caused by patellar tendinitis.
Pitcher Edwin Diaz and outfielder Andy Pages could be inching closer to a return and could be activated during the team's upcoming homestand.
Who will make up Dodgers' pitching rotation?
The Dodgers made a big splash, acquiring Tarik Skubal ahead of the trade deadline.
Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow project as the starters for the first four games of a seven-game series.
Yamamoto has remained fairly healthy throughout the season, posting a 14-8 record with a 2.51 ERA in 27 starts.
There are injury concerns, though.
Skubal was placed on the injured list in May 2026 due to loose bodies in his left elbow that required surgery. The two-time Cy Young Award winner has produced a 10-7 record with a 2.70 ERA in 24 starts.
Snell also had loose bodies removed from his elbow that caused him to miss three months before returning in early August. He also missed some time earlier this season with shoulder fatigue. His latest start was cut short after one inning on Sept. 16 due to groin tightness.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner has a 4-1 record and a 1.86 ERA in eight starts.
Glasnow went on the 60-day injured list this season due to a lower back spasm. He returned to the rotation in late August. He did not have an opportunity to participate in the 2024 World Series run due to right elbow tendinitis, but he played a vital role in winning the title in 2025.
Who could Dodgers play in postseason?
The Atlanta Braves or San Diego Padres appear to be the Dodgers' most likely first opponent in the MLB playoffs. The Braves have gotten the best of the Dodgers this season, winning five of six games.
The Dodgers have produced better results against the Padres, winning seven of 10 games this season. The Dodgers will host the Padres for a three-game series Sept. 22-24.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 10: Assistant coach Frank Vogel of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during a game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on January 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Don’t look now, but the NBA season is almost upon us. The Golden State Warriors will converge in Hawaii in just 12 days to get started on the 13th season of the Steve Kerr era and the 18th season of the Steph Curry era. They’ll be plotting and planning and practicing, in hopes of putting forth another 2022-esque surprise season.
On Thursday, the Warriors announced their front office hirings and promotions for the season. The biggest one is just a formality, as it was news that was first reported months ago: the Warriors have added Frank Vogel to Kerr’s coaching staff.
Vogel, who replaces Terry Stotts as the Associate Head Coach, brings a ton of NBA coaching experience to the job. After seven-plus years as an assistant coach, Vogel took over as head coach of the Indiana Pacers during the 2010-11 season, a job he held for five-and-a-half seasons. Following that stint, Vogel served as the head coach of the Orlando Magic for two seasons and then, after a year off, spent three years at the helm of the Los Angeles Lakers, where he led LeBron James and Anthony Davis to an NBA title in 2020.
After being fired by the Lakers, Vogel took a year off before returning as head coach of the Phoenix Suns, a job that last one year. He took the 2024-25 season off, and spent last year as an assistant for the Dallas Mavericks. And now he brings all that experience and expertise to the Dubs.
In addition to Vogel, the Warriors announced that Ben Stelzer, who had been the Head Video Coordinator, had his title enhanced to Head Video Coordinator/Player Development Coach. Also on the development side, Everett Dayton has been promoted from Player Development Coach to Director of Player Development/Assistant Coach, while Tyler Larsen has jumped from being an assistant for the Santa Cruz Warriors to a Player Development Coach with the NBA squad.
Rounding out the player development additions and promotions are a trio of newcomers hired for the role of Video Associate, Player Development: Adam Fravert, John Wade, and Nate Karren.
The Warriors also announced that Tatianna Lampley has been promoted from Specialist of Basketball Development to Specialist of Player Engagement. After working as a Pro Scout, Jason Staudt was promoted to Director of Pro Personnel.
On the team operations side, Eric Housen was promoted from Vice President of Team Operations to Senior Vice President of Team Operations, as he prepares for his 40th season with the franchise. Bert Ortiz Jr., who served as Team Chef, has been promoted to Housen’s old role as Vice President of Team Operations.
Finally, the Warriors announced that Stephanie Weston has been hired as the Team Massage Therapist. It’s a promotion and a new team for Weston, who served as Assistant Massage Therapist for three seasons with the Pacers.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - APRIL 08: Liam Doyle #19 of the Springfield Cardinals pitches during the game between the Tulsa Drillers and the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 in Springfield, Missouri. (Photo by Kaylee Vaughan/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
The Springfield Cardinals are playing game 2 of their playoff series vs the Tulsa Drillers Thursday night. Liam Doyle is on the mound for the Cardinals. You can watch the game for free here.
Sep 15, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson hits a double against the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Detroit Tigers (72-79) vs. Chicago White Sox (77-75)
Time/Place: 7:40 p.m., Rate Field SB Nation Site:South Side Sox Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Framber Valdez (10-10, 4.01 ERA) vs. RHP Erick Fedde (8-9, 3.97 ERA)
On a Mission: Erick Fedde looks to get the White Sox back on track after a series loss dropped them a half-game behind Cleveland. | Photo by Isaac Wasserman/Getty Images
After a 2-1 series loss in Cleveland against the Guardians (78-75), the White Sox (77-75) are trying to recover in Chicago against the Tigers (72-80). This will be the series opener of a four-game series, and it is crucial in terms of the South Siders’ playoff chances.
Right-handed pitcher Erick Fedde will start on the mound for the South Siders. Fedde, 33, enters this game with a 3.97 ERA and a 5.12 FIP in 133 2/3 innings. Since FanGraphs bases its pitcher WAR totals on FIP, Fedde has still been below replacement level (-0.2 fWAR), although he has looked much better recently. In his past five games, Fedde has posted a 1.50 ERA and a 3.47 FIP in 24 innings.
The White Sox will go up against left-handed starter Framber Valdez, a two-time All-Star. Valdez, 32, has a 4.01 ERA and a 4.17 FIP, accumulating 1.8 fWAR in 163 2/3 innings. This will be his 12th career game against the White Sox, and in the first 11, he posted a 3.25 ERA in 63 2/3 innings.
Here are tonight’s starting lineups:
Interestingly, Tommy Pham will bat second. Granted, Pham homered yesterday, and he has the platoon advantage over the left-handed Valdez, but he is only slashing .056/.105/.222 (-13 wRC+) in 19 MLB plate appearances this season.
Returning to the stadium tonight is Tim Anderson, who received a warm ovation during pregame festivities. Anderson, who recently retired, is being honored, and rightfully so. We expressed our gratitude for the All-Star shortstop earlier.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on CHSN, and ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM will have the radio coverage. We look forward to discussing this matchup with you. With the Guardians off today, a win would move the White Sox back into first place, as they hold the tiebreaker over Cleveland.
The Buffalo Sabres were one of the NHL’s best teams last season, finishing first in the Atlantic Division before beating the Boston Bruins in their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series. Buffalo lost to the Montreal Canadiens in Round 2, but long-suffering Sabres fans wanted to see them end their decade-and-a-half playoff drought, and they did that..
And here at TheHockeyNews.com, we've been breaking down the Sabres’ Eastern Conference opponents in an online series we call “Know Your Enemy”. In each of these files, we’re focusing on how Buffalo played against each East team, in addition to how they’re likely to fare against the team this season. And in this file, we’re analyzing the New York Islanders.
The Islanders didn’t have an impressive off-season, but they still have some excellent pieces – most notably, young stud defenseman Matthew Schaefer. How will the Sabres fare against the Isles? Here’s this writer’s best guess:
2026-27 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: January 20 at Islanders; February 3 at Buffalo; March 21 at Islanders
CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The short answer to this question is a firm ‘yes, absolutely the Sabres should beat the Islanders – and they should sweep them as they did last season’.
Why? Because, for starters, Buffalo’s lineup is far deeper and more talented than the Isles’ is, as the Islanders are still trying to transition into a new era for the team. Isles GM Mathieu Darche has made some inroads in building a new team for a new generation, but there’s still plenty of work that needs doing on Long Island, and we don’t see the Islanders making the playoffs in 2026-27.
The Sabres have all of their games against the Isles in an eight-week period, and two of those games will come on the road for Buffalo. At that point in the year, the Sabres will have no excuse for not taking it to the Islanders. They need to snuff out any possible signs of life from the Isles, and they need to do it with authority.
Otherwise, we’re going to get to the end of the regular season, and Buffalo will be looking up at the standings, wondering why they didn’t finish with home-ice advantage – or why they may miss the playoffs altogether this year. The difference between standings position can come down to only two or three teams, and if the Sabres are squandering points against teams they ought to beat every time out, they could come to rue the day they took their foot off the gas and squandered their season.
The Islanders aren’t a pushover by any means, but their lack of depth and their aged players aren’t going to carry them to the top of the league. Thus, the Sabres should be beating the Isles each and every game, and that includes beating them in their three clashes this season.
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 15: Kevin McGonigle #7 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with Max Clark #15 after scoring a run on a single by Riley Greene #31 in the fifth inning during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 15, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The White Sox and Tigers are playing tonight and Ron Y. Asked for a game thread. Ask and ye shall receive. Geaux Tigs
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 12: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves speaks with Paul Byrd of BravesVision after the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park on September 12, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good evening, folks. We blinked and it’s mid-September.
The Braves are enjoying a much-needed off day after a stretch of thirteen straight games. This particular road trip finishes in Houston, where a win will clinch the Braves’ playoff berth as they inch toward that division crown.
Did we secure postseason tickets this morning? How are we feeling? I, personally, am staring at my Wild Card tickets with some dread.
There’s not too much for tonight’s slate of games for our scoreboard watchers. The red-hot Padres stomped Colorado while the Dodgers clinched the NL West in Cincinnati earlier today. But if I had to guess, most of y’all will be chatting amongst yourselves about the Phillies/Mets as they open a four-game set.
Either way, the floor is yours. I leave you with the Stripers’ new ballpark kitten, ChiPurr Jones, throwing out the first pitch in Gwinnett.
A member of the Braves Triple-A affiliate, the Gwinnett Stripers, rescued a kitten from traffic in late August, and the team called on fans to help name the cute kitty …
ChipPurr Jones was the runaway answer and the kitten (with the help of treats) threw out the first pitch ☺️… pic.twitter.com/2j3LRz6WU4
J.T. Miller will captain a Rangers squad that has undergone a number of roster changes over the past few months.
J.T. Miller was measured. Thursday, after all, was just the first day of training camp for the Rangers, and it’ll take weeks’ and months’ worth of games to change the franchise’s trajectory. There were no playoff declarations. No bold proclamations that the Blueshirts are better than last year after an offseason of change. No dissection of roster moves by the front office to overhaul parts of the roster, even.
Access the Rangers beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting withMollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.
“We’re not gonna get ahead of ourselves,” Miller, now back in his old No. 10 jersey, said.
But, Miller admitted, this all “seems like a nice reset for us.” A time for the Rangers to “turn the past from last year.” His injury-filled campaign of 2025-26 started in the preseason and continued with three stints of missed time — and two trips to injured reserve — during the regular season. His 17 goals and 53 points marked his fewest in both categories since 2018-19 with the Lightning. And it all unfolded during his first year as captain, stepping into the elevated role and trying to not force himself to do more than he normally would.
This year, the Rangers will get a chance to move past their dismal 77-point campaign of last year. It’ll be different from the start, with no Vincent Trocheck (traded in the offseason) and no Artemi Panarin (traded before the Olympic roster freeze) here at this training camp. But at the crux of it all, of course, will be Miller, who gets a chance to move past his own woes of 2025-26 while occupying a critical role as the second-line center — skating alongside dynamic acquisition Pavel Dorofeyev for now — with Trocheck now in Utah.
New York Rangers center J.T. Miller (8) shoots on goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at Crypto.com Arena. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
“It was a lot last year,” Miller said. “Just a little bit of distraction everywhere, it seemed like, around our team. Obviously with The Letter coming out, I was hurt a lot of the year, I was at the Olympics — just a busy season, and I feel like it’s kinda hard to evaluate.
“But certainly not satisfied and saying that that’s the standard for myself. I mean, we didn’t get to where we want to be, and I took a lot of ownership of that. I just feel fresh right now. I feel good. And I’m excited that we get another crack at it this year with a fresh slate.”
The stakes will always be high for Miller. That’s the pressure that comes with the “C” sewn on his chest, just as it did for Jacob Trouba and Ryan McDonagh and Ryan Callahan and Mark Messier and all the other past Blueshirts captains. Miller said he expects more from himself as a leader this year. He said he learned from mistakes last season, which quickly spiraled into selling at the trade deadline and a reality where president and general manager Chris Drury dropped The Letter 2.0.
Miller spent time at both center and wing last year in the 68 games he did appear in, and when the Rangers’ first group — with mostly NHL players — skated Thursday, Miller, 33, was positioned between Dorofeyev and Oliver Bjorkstrand. Dorofeyev collected more than 30 goals the past two seasons with the Golden Knights. He was the draft-day splash by the Blueshirts, the hyped acquisition during a public retool who could be the missing piece that tips the Rangers toward being a playoff team in April.
J.T. Miller will captain a Rangers squad that has undergone a number of roster changes over the past few months. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Head coach Mike Sullivan said that Miller’s play-making ability with the puck is “probably undervalued by some,” and Sullivan expressed a belief in Miller being able to serve as the Rangers’ second-line center, indirectly doubling as a belief that his skill set can complement Dorofeyev if they break camp still paired together.
“He has the ability to distribute the puck,” Sullivan said of Miller. “I think J.T. brings a physical element and a down-low game, a grind game that I think he can drag his linemates into a little bit so they can create some offense different ways. I think [Dorofeyev is] a guy that obviously can score goals, and so we wanted to see what that looks like.”
That role will only add to the pressure facing Miller this season. To the expectations that he can avoid the struggles from last year reappearing again and becoming a norm for his second Blueshirts stint. For one day, those stakes faded with the arrival of a new training camp, where “vibe” and “excitement” and anything else that described palpable energy were the buzzwords of his press conference that captured the emotion of the Rangers’ entire session.
“I feel very hungry,” Miller said. “I mean, after a year like last year, I just think in general I think I’m naturally competitive — I’d like to be better, I want the team to play better, I want better results.”
Sep 16, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers center fielder Ezequiel Duran (20) hits a single and drives in two runs against the Boston Red Sox during the seventh inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
