We’re getting the AL playoff matchup we deserve with Yankees-Rays, the league’s two top teams, though it’d be cooler if it were one round later than this best-of-five AL Division Series.
Oh, well. Maybe the shorter dose will jolt the intensity even higher because this will be intense. Even if Yanks-Rays doesn’t have the dates-back-to-Babe Ruth lore of Yanks-Red Sox, it still has the right kind of heat to make this a compelling October.
The Rays are a pesky lot who seem to have it coded into their DNA to annoy the Yankees. What fun! They pitch, run, bunt and, oh, have a guy who smashed the second-most home runs in the AL -- Junior Caminero, one of the great young hitters in the game.
Tampa Bay won the season series, 7-6, and even got to clinch and celebrate their AL East Division title at Yankee Stadium. The only previous time the Yanks and Rays met in the playoffs was in the five-game 2020 ALDS won by Tampa Bay.
This year’s models are well matched -- they scored at nearly the same rate this season (the Yanks, at 4.59 runs per game, were 0.05 better), even if their offenses hum differently. The clubs, led by the Rays, were 1-2 in the AL in steals. Tampa Bay (.728) had a better team OPS by eight points. The Yanks’ 3.24 ERA topped the Rays’ 3.70.
There’s even pre-series intrigue -- will Aaron Judge be healthy enough to make the Yanks’ roster? We’ll know by the time the series begins Saturday night at the Rays’ home, Tropicana Field.
WHAT THE YANKEES HAVE GOING FOR THEM
If you watched the dismissal of the Red Sox, it looks like every dang thing, right?
They outscored Boston, 18-2, and outhit the Sox, 26-7. They raked with RISP (.450 average). Their lefties mauled Boston’s left-handed pitchers (an absurd .429 average and 1.002 OPS over the two games). The Red Sox batted .117 in the series and did not score for the first 14 innings. The Yanks even stole four bases.
“We played great baseball in a lot of ways,” Aaron Boone said after the series.
Things figure to be much more difficult against Tampa -- in plain language, the Yanks ain't going to be scoring nine runs per game in this dogfight.
Still, they should generate offense, especially since they’re blazing hot -- Boston manager Chad Tracy said some form of “they swung the bats great” five different times in his postgame press conference after Game 2.
New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice (22) celebrates with outfielder Cody Bellinger (35) after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Ben Rice was a one-man game wrecker in the opener, and Luis García Jr. and Cody Bellinger smacked homers in Game 2. Even Austin Wells, a frustrating null set at the bottom of the order most of the regular season, was tremendous against Boston, batting .500 with four RBI.
And Judge could really impact the series if his calf is healed enough.
Then there’s the rotation, a pinstriped behemoth all year and into the postseason. Gerrit Cole or Carlos Rodón (1.42 ERA in September) figure to start Game 1. Cam Schlittler, the best pitcher in the AL all year, is lined up for Game 2 and Game 5, a nice slot for the Yankees.
“That has been the biggest strength for us throughout the year,” Boone said of the rotation, a constant when Judge missed time. “It sustained us. It got us through some difficult times.”
Schlittler and Max Fried ate up 12.1 innings against Boston, meaning the Yanks’ bullpen had a mostly light load.
WHAT THE RAYS HAVE GOING FOR THEM
Only Kyle Schwarber (101) has more home runs than the 87 Caminero has over the last two seasons. Caminero, just 23 years old, slugged 42 home runs this year and showed evidence of evolving into an even tougher out -- his on-base percentage soared 49 points to .360.
As a team, the Rays thrive when they put the ball in play. They struck out the fewest times in baseball. They tied Milwaukee for the highest batting average (.258) and led everyone in batting with runners in scoring position (.283), despite producing some of the lowest hard-hit numbers in the sport.
Speaking of hard contact, outfielder Chandler Simpson doesn’t really make any. That’s OK -- it’s not his game. He batted .306, second in the AL, and frustrates opponents with speed and slap. He led the AL with 46 stolen bases.
The Rays will run some quality pitching at the Yankees, including presumptive Game 1 starter Drew Rasmussen, who led the AL in WHIP and K/BB ratio and relies on three fastballs with differing movement, a la Schlittler. Fordham product Nick Martinez (15-6, 3.10 ERA) was perhaps the most savvy free agent signing last winter, and ex-Met Freddy Peralta had a 0.79 ERA over his final six starts and was the AL Pitcher of the Month for September.
The last time Rasmussen pitched against the Yanks, he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning the day the Rays clinched the division. In his career, he’s 5-2 with a 1.81 ERA against the Yanks.
/ IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Rays tied for the best home record in baseball (55-26) and, even if the Yanks are a good road team, it’s a big advantage playing three games in a best-of-five at the Trop. It’s a gray, sterile atmosphere and experience tracking fly balls with the roof as a backdrop can be important. Dome, sweet dome, indeed.
THE YANKEES WILL WIN THE SERIES IF…
The starters are the thing. Again. Schlittler is authoring a postseason resume that ultimately will be like few others if he keeps adding October gems. It’d be fascinating if Game 5 comes down to his start. Fried might not have had his best stuff in Game 2, but he also didn’t have any trouble with the Red Sox and now Cole and Rodón await their turns.
The above mentioned “difficult times” Boone talked about were those vexing days when the Yankee offense would vanish. It’s happened in previous Octobers to the Yankees, which perhaps is why the flashes they got from the running game against Boston seem so promising. If their lineup flags, perhaps they can force offense – like the Rays do – with speed.
Rice has hit free and easy for weeks now after seeing his numbers tumble when Judge first went out during the regular season. He’ll be a constant threat.
And if Judge does make it back and can give them a lightning bolt or two, watch out.
THE RAYS WILL WIN THE SERIES IF…
Caminero puts on a show and the rest of the Rays continue their frenetic baseball stylings.
Annually, there is a ton of hand-wringing over home runs and October baseball. Detractors whine: “You can’t rely on the long ball.” Maybe. But hitting home runs is an extremely effective way to win playoff games.
Already this year, teams that out-homer their opponent are 5-1, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com. Last October, teams that did it were 30-5.
Yeah, it’s nice to find other ways to score and the Rays will. But if Caminero parks a few, Tampa Bay is all the more dangerous. He was one of baseball’s best against fastballs, in terms of slugging and OPS. But there’s pressure on him, too, because the Yanks, who out-homered the Rays, 223-169, during the season, seem much more likely to go deep as a team.
If Caminero has a power outage, perhaps the Rays will discombobulate the Yanks by flooding the basepaths and putting runners in motion.
PREDICTION
Yanks in five.
Maybe there’s some recency bias involved, but it’s hard to pick against the Yankees after watching them annihilate Boston, especially knowing their rotation is healthy.
And it wasn’t just stars that fueled two routs -- hitters up and down the lineup, even as young as 21 (George Lombard Jr.), made huge contributions. A repeat might be enough to get the Yanks all the way to the ALCS.
Derrin Horton’s first job was in public address announcing. His first passion was the Lakers. The longtime sports broadcaster’s new job is the marriage of both.
Horton will take over the mic as the Lakers’ home public-address announcer, the team announced Thursday, stepping into the role for legendary Lakers announcer Lawrence Tanter, who died last week.
“There’s no way you can fill his shoes,” Horton said in an interview with local reporters. “And so you just come here with a passion and a goal to be informative and entertaining and be a part of Showtime.”
Tanter, who provided the smooth, baritone soundtrack for Lakers home games for 43 seasons, suffered a stroke on March 17 and missed the final six regular-season home games and the playoffs last season. Tanter announced his retirement in June, transitioning to a game-day advisory role with the team. Horton, a former KTLA broadcaster who has worked as an anchor, reporter, host, play-by-play announcer and voice actor, reached out to the team about the opportunity.
Horton showed up to his audition and instinctively tried to emulate Tanter’s signature baritone voice. He wanted to sound like what he thought the classic PA announcers should sound like. Lakers president and chief business officer Lon Rosen stopped the tryout in mid-sentence.
“He said, ‘Hey! Knock it off! I want to hear your voice,’” Horton said. “And so I just was myself.”
Horton’s new role is a return to his roots. Before carving out a career in sports broadcasting and voice acting, Horton was just a teenaged high school basketball reject. Not good enough to play on the team, he found his first job in communications as the PA announcer for Holy Cross High in Queens. The New York City-raised Syracuse alumnus has been enamored with the Lakers since the Showtime era. He doesn’t think enthusiasm will be a problem; Horton considers himself a diehard Lakers fan.
And he knows what Lakers fans want at a game.
“They’re there to see the Lakers,” Horton said. “So what I do is just try to enhance the experience like a little salt and pepper. Season it up a little bit.”
The Lakers have their first home preseason game Oct. 8 against the Sacramento Kings. Horton said he is focused on informing fans and mastering the fundamentals. He has been working on player names and practiced at several Sparks games to understand the rhythm of professional basketball. The broadcaster said he favors understated and professional PA announcing. The style that made Tanter famous.
Horton considered the Lakers announcing legend a friend. Tanter even recorded an introduction for Horton’s wedding, announcing the newlyweds as they entered the reception: “‘For the very first time,’” Horton said, dropping his voice low like Tanter’s “‘Mr. Derrin and Elise Horton!’”
Horton wished he could have spoken to Tanter ahead of the first game.
“We’re going to miss him,” Horton said, “and I hope I do him proud.”
Scouting department change
The Lakers hired Pooh Jeter as director of pro scouting, The Times confirmed Thursday. The L.A. native was the Portland Trail Blazers’ player development coach and the assistant general manager of the team’s G League affiliate Rip City Remix.
After an ownership change in 2025, the Lakers have worked to build out their front office, following the lead of the Dodgers. After adding more than 15 people to the front office, president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said, the Lakers were still focused on adding more scouts.
Staff writer Broderick Turner contributed to this report.
An interesting controversy has emerged from the Vancouver Canucks' season-opening 6-5 overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers. On Vancouver's first goal, many believe that Kevin Lankinen should have received an assist. Instead, Paul Cotter was credited with an unassisted goal.
According to John Shannon of the 100% Canucks With Woodley & Shannon podcast, the Canucks did submit a request to the NHL to add a Lankinen assist to Cotter's season-opening goal. The potential assist in question occurred when the 31-year-old stopped Leon Draisaitl with his blocker and deflected the puck, which led to a shorthanded marker. Shannon said, "The league reviewed it and what happened was, the league feels that if a goaltender makes a save but does not have the intent of passing the puck to a teammate than it is not a pass and therefore not an assist."
One major issue with scoring is that the same rules don't seem to apply when awarding assists to skaters versus goaltenders. For example, if a puck bounces off a skater's skate and their teammate scores, the skater gets credit for the goal. This rule applies to almost every body part as long as the play is not an intentional hand pass.
The same can't be said about goaltenders. As mentioned, Lankinen deflected the puck with his blocker, and it went to Cotter, resulting in a goal. There was also no change of possession and no additional players touching the puck during the play.
In the end, the NHL needs to review how they award goaltender assists. If a skater can be awarded an assist because a puck bounced off them unintentionally, than so should a goalie. Ultimately, there is a case to be made that the league robbed Lankinen of an assist, which would have been the eighth of his NHL career.
Sep 29, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) makes a save on Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman (18) during the first period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
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The New York Islanders released their official 2026-27 Hometown Remix Jersey scheduled games for the 2026-27 season.
The Islanders will, according to rumors, be wearing a white or crème based jersey, as multiple opponents have revealed they'll wear their Hometown Remix jerseys while on the road against the Islanders, implying New York will be in white.
The #Isles will rock their Hometown Remix jerseys 11 times this season, including 10 games at home!
Check out the full schedule and mark your calendars.
The official jersey is expected to be released in the coming weeks as teams continue to build excitement for the league-wide promotions of the Hometown Remix jerseys.
The Flyers were unable to get the bounce-back win they needed. They had to defend a lot Thursday night and fell to the Devils, 3-2, in overtime at Prudential Center.
“That was maybe a little better than last game, nice to get a point,” Christian Dvorak said. “But it’s not even about the result right now, we’ve just got to be better, play our brand of hockey. We haven’t gotten there at all yet.”
Jack Hughes scored the winner in transition. Travis Sanheim had a tough turnover that led to New Jersey’s rush.
“We need to get back to playing the way that we know we can and we know that works,” Sanheim said. “I’m not sure why we’re kind of straying away from that when it has worked in the past. We just need to get back to our game.”
Sanheim sent home an absolute missile in the third period to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead. The Flyers opened the scoring in the first period thanks to a Rasmus Ristolainen goal.
New Jersey finally cracked Joseph Woll with 2:02 minutes left in the second period on a Dougie Hamilton shot. The Devils had been dominating the Flyers in possession.
They tied the game again in the third period when Luke Hughes beat Woll. Dvorak lost the puck in the offensive zone, which sprung New Jersey the other way. Travis Konecny appeared to overplay his coverage, which left Hughes open for a good look.
Last season, Rick Tocchet’s first as the club’s head coach, the Flyers dropped their opening two games. They had the same record at 0-1-1.
Tocchet was asked if the Flyers were experiencing any rust from the shortened training camp and preseason.
“Well, yeah, but then you see Jack Hughes play,” Tocchet said. “He was pretty special tonight. We chipped away, got the point, but we’ve got a lot of work to do. We have to up our skill level, we’ve got to make some plays.”
Thursday night was the Devils’ season opener. The Flyers face New Jersey three more times.
• Woll stopped 41 of 44 shots in his Flyers debut. The offseason acquisition had to be the team’s best player, denying 29 shots before the third period even started.
“Woll was outstanding,” Tocchet said. “He was terrific.”
In the final stanza, with the Flyers on the penalty kill, Woll made a fabulous save to keep it 1-1. He sprawled out and used his right leg pad to deflect a Jesper Bratt shot from in close.
“Just disappointed we didn’t finish the job,” Woll said. “But I thought we did a great job throughout the game of keeping them to the outside. Even if they’re a puck-heavy team, being smart about the chances we allow. … I liked our battle and our compete through the end.”
The Flyers surrendered 38 shots in Wednesday night’s blowout at the hands of the Penguins.
“We’ve been leaving our goalies out to dry here these first two games,” Dvorak said. “We’ve just got to execute better, maybe just play simple hockey and build from there.”
New Jersey netminder Jake Allen turned away 23 of the Flyers’ 25 shots.
• Ristolainen scored the Flyers’ first goal of the season when he planted himself in front of the net for a deflection of a Sanheim shot. The Flyers had an extra man because of a delayed penalty.
The Flyers didn’t have a great first period, but their penalty kill was very good, going 3 for 3.
With his team trying to avoid a deficit, Nick Seeler had a pair of gutsy blocked shots on the first PK. The second blocked shot came with Woll trying to stretch for a save. Seeler, already hobbled a bit, ate the shot right in front of his goaltender.
• The Flyers are off Friday before they welcome the defending champion Hurricanes on Saturday (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).
When noting that questions about Dach and Montembeault's futures have come up for a while now, it is understandable that they have made Richardson's trade board.
Dach was given the No. 4 spot on Richardson's trade board. The big forward is a pending unrestricted free agent after signing a one-year contract with Montreal during the off-season. Due to this, if the Canadiens do not view him as a long-term part of their plans, it would be understandable if they traded him this campaign.
Dach recorded an assist in his first game of the 2026-27 season for Montreal. This is after he posted eight goals and 15 points in 37 games during the 2025-26 campaign with the Canadiens.
Montembeault, on the other hand, was ranked at No. 6 on Richardson's trade board. This is another one that makes a lot of sense.
Not only is Montembeault a pending unrestricted like Dach, but the Canadiens also have exciting young goalie Jacob Fowler waiting in the wings. Montembeault was also a very popular name in the rumor mill this summer, so it would be surprising in the slightest if he ended up getting dealt.
In 25 games last season for Montreal, Montembeault had a 10-8-4 record, a 3.43 goals-against average, and an .872 save percentage.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning in game two of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on September 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It even includes a mother, father and plenty of other relatives the Chicago White Sox pitcher made sure to shout out after his AL Wild Card Game 2 performance lifted the recently woebegone franchise to its first playoff series victory since winning the 2005 World Series.
"I don't have family," Burke quipped. "No girl, no kids. This is all I do."
He still does not have any children, Burke confirmed – so far as he knows, his teammates joked.
For a franchise whose last three seasons were defined by lowlights and humiliation, Burke’s comments typified the turnaround not just of his ballclub, but the wider perception of the White Sox. The quote took off online. Memes were spawned, and those who'd never paid Burke any mind suddenly had reason to lock in for his next appearance.
"Yeah our Ace answered the question, 'how do you feel for tomorrow's start' with basically 'if I died nobody will mourn me', he might throw a perfect game." A Sox fan posted in response.
Burke had to settle for four innings of four-hit ball with eight strikeouts. He gave up three solo home runs, but sat down AL MVP favorite Yordan Alvarez twice with a fastball-knuckle curve combo the slugger couldn't catch up to.
After Chicago’s lack of rotation depth forced manager Will Venable to throw a bullpen game for Game 1, Burke's 72-pitch outing was exactly what the ballclub required to avoid taxing its relievers even further. It also sparked a new rallying cry of sorts in the clubhouse: "Celibate for Sean" echoed across the clubhouse amid the raucous celebrations in Houston, and his teammates tried their best to get the phrase trending on social media not long after.
For those who have followed Chicago's magical run all season, these shenanigans are nothing new. The pregame dugout dance party that's since gone viral was a staple of the summer. Before Pope Leo XIV invoked "abundant blessings" on his beloved Southsiders, rehabbing pitcher Mike Vasil was casting spells across the diamond with a $20 wand purchased off Amazon in April.
The White Sox later gave out replica wands in a rare impromptu promo night for a player who hasn't even appeared in a game this season. When Vasil finally threw his first pitch off flat ground since Tommy John surgery in the spring, the whole team came out to cheer him on.
"It's like a fraternity," Chase Meidroth said hours after his three-run homer on Tuesday slammed the door on Houston’s comeback. "It's like a college team."
Vasil has served as the team's Minister of Vibes since getting hurt, keeping the energy up, making sure his teammates are partying hard and conducting impromptu interviews, like the one that allowed Burke to clear the air after his comments went viral.
That family was with Burke on the field in Houston after Game 2. They’ll be locked in when he makes his next start against the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS. And even if Burke were living that loner life, he'd still have 40,000 fans dressed in all black waiting for him back on the South Side when the White Sox play their first postseason game at Rate Field since 2021.
Whether the team stays "celibate for Sean," the brotherly love in the dugout that's taken Chicago this far will remain ineffable.
The Padres did the opposite of what they did last year in the postseason: They overcame the Cubs.
Now they have a date with the Brewers on the horizon, but even then, they still have bigger fish to fry.
Harold Reynolds, a former Mariners star and baseball analyst, appeared on “The Dan Patrick Show” on Thursday and said the biggest National League threat isn’t the Padres — it’s the Dodgers.
“They won 100 games and it’s, ‘Oh, bad year.’” — Harold Reynolds thinks people don’t understand how dangerous the Dodgers are. pic.twitter.com/UrGWAp5Bg5
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani celebrating getting on base against the San Diego Padres. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
“They’re really dangerous. The problem is, they gotta face the Dodgers,” Reynolds said of San Diego. “I don’t think people realize how good the Dodgers are. They won a hundred games and it’s ‘Oh, bad year.’ They lived through and now they’re healthy, and they’ve got pitching and depth.”
Reynolds said the Dodgers are “loaded” and said he believes they will win the World Series. He compared the Dodgers-Padres rivalry to Michael Jordan and Karl Malone.
“Karl Malone was great. But he didn’t win because Jordan won MVPs. That’s kind of what we’re seeing right now,” Reynolds said.
Since 2020, the Dodgers and Padres have blossomed into one of MLB’s best rivalries, especially during the postseason.
Before Wednesday night’s 4-1 victory over the Cubs, new Padres owner Jose E. Feliciano took a jab at the Dodgers by saying, “The owner of the Dodgers owns a lot of dinosaurs.”
The Dodgers have had the edge over the Padres, going 7-5 against them in the playoffs over the last six years.
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy celebrating getting on base. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Padres have taken one playoff series against the Dodgers, during the 2022 season, but failed to capitalize on it as they ended up losing in five games against the Phillies in the NLCS.
The Dodgers have been the polar opposite, eliminating the Padres from the 2020 NLDS and going on to win the World Series.
In 2024, the teams met again in the NLDS. Los Angeles got the last laugh, overcoming a 2-1 deficit, forcing a fifth game and winning the series.
Since then, LA has won back-to-back World Series, while San Diego has struggled to find its footing.
Padres pitcher Mason Miller celebrating after they eliminated the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
The Padres were impressive in Tuesday and Wednesday night’s games, but they still have a long road to go to win their first World Series in franchise history.
If the two meet in the postseason this year, it would be during the NLCS.
“Do you want to go to the #Padres / Cubs playoff game on Wednesday night with me? This is me. I sit here….dugout club section 4. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I no longer have a date for the game and want to fix that,” his initial X post wrote.
“Are you: 1) Female / 2) Single / 3) Age 30-55 / 4) A Padres fanatic / If so, you qualify!,” the post continued. “If you’re interested, send me a DM.”
X user @Eggorian posting a selfie while trying to find a date to the San Diego Padres game.
The fan got flamed for using social media to find a date.
However, a recent update revealed that he had no shortage of interest, even if the interest didn’t suite his taste.
“It’s been an interesting couple of days. 100s of DMs received…Most of them from men and large women under 30. I did not have a date when I hopped in my car at 4pm yesterday. While driving I received a DM from a friend of @julie_at_law saying that I should ask her 41 year old friend to go. So I did,” the X user wrote on Thursday morning.
Fans cheer before the start of the game between the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectManny Machado of the San Diego Padres reacts at the end of the third inning against the Chicago Cubs in game two of the National League Wild Card Series at Petco Park in San Diego, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. Getty Images
“She accepted and we went. By all accounts, we had a great time. Healthy conversations about a variety of topics. Our opinions didn’t always align and believe it or not…that’s OK. Most importantly, the Pads closed out the Cubs and are moving on,” he added.
The St. Louis Blues have high expectations for Adam Jiricek, and although he may be entering his NHL career sooner than they anticipated, they aren't going to shelter him completely.
Practice lines indicate he'll start on the third pairing alongside veteran Cam Fowler, but given Jiricek's progress, it wouldn't be surprising to see him earn minutes alongside Philip Broberg.
"When you have a thoroughbred, you let'em out of the stable."
Jiricek is exactly that. Standing 6-foot-3, Jiricek has the size and skill to be a top defenseman in the NHL. At just 20 years old, Jiricek has proven at countless levels and tournaments that he has the offensive and defensive game of a modern-day NHLer, mixed with the skating and athletic ability to be a high-end player.
With Logan Mailloux out, the Blues need a defenseman to run a power play unit. Broberg will likely quarterback the top unit alongside Robert Thomas, Dylan Holloway, Jimmy Snuggerud and Mason McTavish, but Jiricek should find himself with Jake Neighbours, Connor McMichael, Pavel Buchnevich, and Dalibor Dvorsky.
Last season in the OHL, Jiricek posted 19 goals and 59 points in 55 games. Of Jiricek's 19 goals and 59 points, nine goals and 31 points came on the power play. His 31 points led all OHL defensemen in 2025-26.
With the vision to distribute the puck and a heavy enough shot to threaten a goaltender, Jiricek is a difference-maker on the man advantage.
There may be parts of his game he'll have to refine in the NHL, and there will definitely be learning curves, but what Jiricek has shown throughout his hockey life is that he can be a threat offensively.
Montgomery wants to see Jiricek play his game and be a difference maker.
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LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: The sneakers worn by Jalen Crutcher #40 of the Orlando Magic during the game against the Toronto Raptors during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 13, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 26: Dominic Smith #8 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on Saturday, September 26, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Brandon Pratt/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves, after failing to secure the Wild Card series sweep yesterday afternoon to eliminate their division rival Philadelphia Phillies, are looking to save their season and advance.
With the shift to 8 PM ET for tonight’s game time, Walt Weiss had a few more hours to game plan to face a potential “Oops, All Starters” pitching plan from the Phillies. Aaron Nola is tabbed to take the ball first, but Zack Wheeler is expected to jog out of the pen to follow. As noted in the preview, everything is on the table.
Walt Weiss has penciled in yet another novel lineup.
Drake Baldwin will catch for opener Ray Kerr and bat leadoff. We could very much use a big game at the plate from Ronald Acuña Jr., who currently has more stolen bases (2) than hits (0). He’ll hit second and play right field. Matt Olson is in his typical spot in the three-hole and at first base. Captain of the outfield Michael Harris II will hit cleanup. Next will be Mauricio Dubón, who gets the start at shortstop after Ha-Seong Kim got two straight starts. Mike Yastrzemski completes the outfield in left and will hit sixth. Austin Riley, the team leader in home runs against Nola and author of Game 1’s biggest moment, will bat seventh. Ozzie Albies drops down to eighth, and Dominic Smith will bat ninth as the designated hitter.
The lineup for Don Mattingly’s club is as follows:
The Phillies have the same top three that we’ve been seeing: shortstop Trea Turner, DH Kyle Schwarber, and RF Bryce Harper. After yesterday’s game-winning homer, first baseman Alec Bohm gets to move up one to the cleanup spot. Bryson Stott will play second base and hit fifth. Bryan De La Cruz gets the start today in left field. Edmundo Sosa is in the lineup after exiting Game 2 with injury – he’ll hit seventh and be at third base. Catcher JT Realmuto moves up to eighth and center fielder Justin Crawford rounds out the batting order for Philadelphia.
I don’t know about you, but I want to see a Blooper flag run more than anything in the world right now. Let it fly, Braves.
On Thursday, the Spurs superstar spoke to reporters at training camp and answered whether he’d ever sign a deal with a sports betting company.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama answers questions from the media during Media Day. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Absolutely not. I will never do that. Honestly, I think it’s very sad to see some players promote it,” Wembanyama said. “Everybody does whatever they want, but without me.”
The 23-year-old revealed he’s turned down endorsement deals in the past because values don’t align.
“Obviously, we earn millions and millions. This is not our biggest strength. Our biggest strength is inspiring, and we can inspire in a good way or a bad way. I want to inspire in a good way. That’s the strongest thing I can do,” Wembanyama added.
LeBron James warms up before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4. Getty ImagesA Polymarket logo is seen in this illustration. REUTERS
Kevin Durant has a partnership with FanDuel and Giannis Antetokounmpo is a Kalshi shareholder. James became the newest athlete to headline a commercial for a sports betting company.
The deal calls into question how the NBA will navigate partnerships with sports betting companies in the foreseeable future as athletes tap into the sports betting market.
It is already being called one of the most momentous home runs in White Sox postseason history, and now BreakingT has commemorated Chase Meidroth’s three-run blast in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card series in T-shirt form:
What a moment! And the definitive image to mark the first White Sox postseason series victory in 21 seasons.
BreakingT offered two more shirts today, listed here but without a separate post.
As always, anything else you buy with our link, whether a Mets mug or Sabres sweatshirt, gives South Side Sox a commission and helps us continue to provide the best coverage we can for you.
So go ahead and express yourself, courtesy of South Side Sox and BreakingT!
Munetaka Murakami has been a bit of a viral sensation from the start of his career in the United States, from the installation of bidets in the White Sox clubhouse to the on-base gestures of his teammates, and on from there. His latest bit of endearing hilarity came during the White Sox clubhouse celebration in Kansas City on Thursday, when his tribute to countryman Munenori Kawasaki became a viral moment:
If there’s any T-shirt offered this season that better encapsulates the joy of the 2026 White Sox, you’ve found it here!
And remember, anything else you buy with our link, whether a Mariners mug or Spurs sweatshirt, gives South Side Sox a commission and helps us continue to provide the best coverage we can for you.
So go ahead and express yourself, courtesy of South Side Sox and BreakingT!
With the remarkable achievement of the 2026 Chicago White Sox — making the postseason after three straight 100-loss seasons, something that’s not been accomplished even after “just” two straight 100-loss seasons — BreakingT has gear for you that breaks down the math!
There is even a nod to Mike Vasil’s magic wand. If there’s any T-shirt offered this season that better encapsulates all that these 2026 White Sox are, you’ve found it here!
And remember, anything else you buy with our link, whether a Brewers mug or Dolphins sweatshirt, gives South Side Sox a commission and helps us continue to provide the best coverage we can for you.
So go ahead and crunch the numbers, courtesy of South Side Sox and BreakingT!
You gotta admit, it’s a pretty impossibly clever design, with the moon “O” and a bit of a nod to silent film Le Voyage dans la Lune. No doubt it will make a snappy addition to your closet.
And remember, anything else you buy with our link, whether a Pirates mug or Yankees sweatshirt, gives South Side Sox a commission and helps us continue to provide the best coverage we can for you.
So go ahead a book your trip to the Mune, from South Side Sox and BreakingT!
(Every purchase you make with our link drops a few pennies in the jar here at South Side Sox, so a list of all our prior BreakingT collaborations follow, below. Yes, some of the designs are now hilariously outdated collector’s items. But most, if not all of these, should still be available, so click a link and see!)
This link takes you to this newest T-shirt, plus our entire line of White Sox wear!
While several members of the Chicago White Sox will need your votes for the July All-Star Game, fans are encouraged to punch the Robert/Jiménez ticket for a dominant South Side outfield all season long!
Whether you’re voting offense (what say, 70 homers among them?) or defense (Luis already has a Gold Glove, Eloy is … still alive), there’s no better campaign to get behind.
With everyone now aware that on his 23rd try, Minnie Miñoso was elected to the Hall of Fame. And Breaking T has commemorated the nickname that manager Paul Richards bestowed on Minnie almost immediately after his arrival on the South Side:
Celebrate the White Sox moments of your life with the entire Chicago W Collection at Breaking T, where you can peruse everything available. Or, if you want to read all my terrific catalog copy for each item, just scroll down and enjoy!
The White Sox indeed did make a free agent acquisition or two before the lockout, so it’s well past time to raise our glasses to the Legend himself: Leury Legend, that is.
He’s the longest-tenured current White Sox player, and when he’s done, he could well crack the list of all-time White Sox. Can you believe it? Welcome back, Leury!
To celebrate the division title for 2021, Breaking T offers two new T-shirt designs commemorating the feat:
Certainly, we hope there will be more than just a division title to enjoy over the next month or so, but we have to start somewhere!
Contrary to the cynics among you, we haven’t featured every Breaking T White Sox design here at South Side Sox, for various reasons. But I’ve never seen one more confounding than the José Abreu and Eloy Jiménez Sugar Skulls designs.
If you scroll down far enough, I think you can see the original Yasmani Grandal Breaking T piece, Yaz We Can, which I think was pretty clever and should have pulled a lot of fans in with purchases. It was definitely different, as far as Breaking T fare.
But I don’t remember it doing all that well, which was a shame. Maybe Yaz isn’t sexy. Walks aren’t, as someone on Twitter wants to tell you every day.
Yasmani really is the bad boy of the White Sox. He’ll snark you. He’ll roll his eyes. He’s not out to please anyone. He’s just gonna be a badass catcher who drops the bat after clocking one a mile, thank you very much.
In just his second game back after a season-long stint on the IL, Eloy Jiménez announced his presence in the White Sox lineup with authority, hitting a home run and providing whirling dervish defense in Tuesday’s win at K.C.
It’s great to have Eloy back with the club in any capacity, and him starring in just his second game back is extra sweet. Now you can wear that sweetness!
It was a quite a moment on Monday, seizing a win from the jaws of a doubleheader sweep. When you’re running away with a division, tension can seem manufactured, but Len Kasper gave us a classic moment that our own Joe Resis likened to A.J. Pierzynski’s walk-off against the Dodgers during the 2005 season. Listen to Len last night:
Here it is! @cleansheets24 hits a walk-off HR and @LenKasper loses his mind!
The White Sox just keep humming along, with great pick-me-ups from the most unlikely of places. Waiver-wire pickup Billy Hamilton has managed to become a core bench and spot-start piece for the club as it ascending in the AL Central, and the veteran made his defensive presence known, with authority, in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s win at Minnesota:
You don’t usually expect to have to persuade your manager to defend his own player, but here we are. And in the Tony La Russa-Yermín Mercedes kerfuffle, we (and all of the White Sox players) are Team Yermín.
So is Breaking T, who’s issuing this “I’m Yermín” wear in solidarity with the rookie sensation:
Well, perhaps you’ve been waiting for a more “authentic” Yerminator T-Shirt, something more “as seen on TV.” Well, here you have it!
Terminator vibe? Check. Super cool uniform easter egg in the shades? Check. Money actually going to the players association to benefit minimum-salaried players like Yermín himself? Check.
It’s a sharp piece, with the clever use of accent mark, complete with high socks! (If only it was a warmer night, we’d have Rodón dressed in his full Grant Park 16´´softballer mode … #JulyGoalsForLos.)
As you well know, you don’t have to go 5-for-5 in your first MLB start or start a season 8-for-8 to merit a cool Breaking T shirt. But it doesn’t hurt!
Celebrate our Yermín Spring with The Yerminator, a delightful play off of everyone’s favorite killer robot-turned-sweet hero. Hoodies, Ts, we’ve got the gear.
Perhaps because he was injured for half of his first season, or he doesn’t have a snappy nickname yet, or he’s such a grinder he doesn’t lend himself to chest-emblazoned graphics, Nick Madrigal has to date missed the cut as a T-shirt subject.
To welcome our new, colorful closer, Liam Hendriks, Breaking T has gone positively Greek with the Australian, with Hercu-Liam!
Breaking T put together four great purchase options for Hercu-Liam, from petite to husky, winter bundling to summer sunning.
And click here to view everything in Breaking T’s White Sox collection in one spot.
Individual links below should get you to other White Sox products on site, including the Classic Collection that features the Ed Farmer and Mark Buehrle T-shirts.
To welcome our newest (and top WAR) starter into the rotation, Breaking T has drawn up some Lance Lynn-wear sure to please the bearded fan on your holiday shopping list, with Lynnsanity!
The big man is in town and ready to push the rotation toward a World Series!
I first got word of this shirt just as José Abreu was homering and singling in runs during the 2020 season.
And Breaking T’s hunch became reality, as José Abreu became the first White Sox MVP since Frank Thomas and only the fourth player, after Nellie Fox, Dick Allen and Thomas to win the award.
And peruse the rest of the collection below to add to your order and combine shipping.
Clubbing homers and scoring runs like there’s no tomorrow, the Chicago White Sox Murderer’s Row of Eloy Jiménez, José Abreu, Tim Anderson and Luis Robert is the subject of a new BreakingT shirt:
Some real nice details in this one: Each players’ expression, the gangster pinstripes, and the exotic player numbers among them. Grab one at BreakingT.
With Luis Robert not only staking his claim on AL Rookie of the Year but MVP, it makes sense that BreakingT is working overtime to present the best Panterawear out there.
Dig this supercool 1983 nod, which you can order here.
Looking for Luis Robert to assume his La Pantera form? BreakingT has you covered. Order here and celebrate the future MVP!
I’m digging the silhouette.
The 19th no-hitter in White Sox history is in the books, by none other than ace Lucas Giolito. So it’s time to celebrate the Gio No-No! It’s a quick, and slick, commemoration of an incredible, 101-pitch masterpiece, dated and suitable for a Gio auto!
Snag one here, and take a look at numerous other wonderful Breaking T offerings below.
So, it was bound to happen, but BreakingT is first on the scene to promote the latest dance party sweeping Soxdom: DANCING FOR DUBS
Featuring the boogie-down duo of Zack Collins and Danny Mendick, the T-shirt and/or hoodie is available in all sizes, so take a look now.
Running on speed and power, folded into the Change the Game platform, we’re now making these sweet Ts available so you can elect them to a six-year term lasting until 2026.
He’s only the hottest rookie — nay, the hottest player — in baseball heading into 2020.
So, BreakingT was watching ESPN on Sunday and said, “hey, that’s right, Tim Anderson speaks the truth: the preeminent sports network in America is sleeping on the White Sox again.”
All shapes and sizes are available, in T-shirt or hoodie.
Stay tuned for some excellent new merch dropping on Friday as well.
How about pairing it with the original classic?
Our best seller, the incomparable Tim Anderson neck-bow of STICK TALK!
BreakingT has a bunch of terrific ideas they’ve collaborated with us on for their newest designs in conjunction with the MLB Players Alumni Association. This one is, simply, Mister Perfect, commemorating Mark Buehrle’s perfect game in 2009:
The first White Sox product from BreakingT’s Classic Collection was a beautiful tribute to our Ed Farmer:
Order it here. When you click on our link to buy, we will donate a portion of the proceeds we see from these shirt sales in Farmer’s name to the Polycystic Kidney Disease Research Foundation (support.pkdcure.org).
