Ben Rice turned Game 1 of the American League wild card series into a laugher with his two-out grand slam in the bottom of the eighth against the Boston Red Sox, his second home run of the night in the New York Yankees' 9-0 win.
The Yankees led 4-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth and pushed a fifth run across on Austin Wells' sacrifice fly. But Brayan Bello walked Paul Goldschmidt to load the bases again, bringing up Rice. The All-Star fell behind 0-2 but worked Bello to a full count before driving the sixth pitch of the at-bat over the wall, sending Yankee Stadium into a frenzy.
Rice hit 41 home runs in the regular season and had a solo homer off left-hander Erik Miller in the bottom of the sixth inning that had extended the Yankees one-run lead to 2-0.
Cam Schlittler is going to win the American League Cy Young winner in November, and likely garner MVP votes while he is at it.
But if the Yankees ace is going to keep pitching like this against the Red Sox in the postseason, they are going to start naming babies and streets and everything else after him around these parts.
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Schlittler and Rice, the sons of Massachusetts, continued to torment their hometown team and carry the Yankees, combining to run away with a 9-0 win over the Red Sox in Game 1 of the AL wild-card series on Tuesday night at a boisterous Yankee Stadium.
Schlittler struck out 10 across 6 ¹/₃ shutout innings, all of which came in a tight game before Rice helped blow it open — his grand slam in the eighth inning providing the knockout punch on his second home run and fourth hit of the night.
New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice reacts after connecting on a home run in the fifth inning during Game 1 of the 2026 American League wild-card series at Yankees Stadium in The Bronx. JASON SZENES FOR NEW YORK POST
“The job’s not done,” Schlittler said. “We’ve got to get another win [Wednesday]. But it’s very well known that if you want to be a legend, which is obviously the goal, you’ve got to do it in the postseason.
“So go out there and have dominant starts and put the team in a position to win. And that’s kind of the most important thing. I thought a lot of guys today did a great job of that.”
The flame-throwing, 25-year-old Schlittler, who mixed in more curveballs than he has in any start of his career, allowed just two singles and one walk. After throwing his career-high 117th and final pitch of the night in the seventh inning of what was then a 2-0 game, he walked off to “MVP” chants and a thunderous standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 48,737.
New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) points at catcher Austin Wells (28) after Wells called for a challenge which was overturned to end the first inning of Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium, Sept. 29, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
After dominating the Red Sox in a clinching Game 3 of the AL wild-card series here last year — tossing eight shutout innings with 12 strikeouts to announce his arrival on the big stage — Schlittler delivered yet again on Tuesday to give the Yankees a chance to finish off the sweep Wednesday when they hand Max Fried the ball against Sonny Gray.
Rice, who like Schlittler (and Anthony Volpe, who also enjoyed a strong night) was signed and scouted by Matt Hyde, led the Aaron Judge-less offense with four of its 12 hits — matching the same number of hits he had across six playoff games last year – while driving in six runs.
“I’ll remember getting a ‘W’ versus the Red Sox — there’s nothing better than that,” Rice said. “I’ll remember Cam going out there and just being lights out, like he always is. I’ll remember the atmosphere. It was just an awesome night.”
New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice (22) is greeted by Trent Grisham (12) after scoring on a grand slam in the eighth inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
What threatened to be the Yankees’ kryptonite coming into the series — the Red Sox’s parade of lefty arms — proved to be their offensive key to Game 1. Their left-handed hitters (Rice, Cody Bellinger, Spencer Jones and Austin Wells) went 7-for-13 against three Red Sox lefties, including starter Payton Tolle, who lasted just 4 ²/₃ innings.
Making matters worse for the Red Sox was the fact that they lost one of their best hitters, Roman Anthony, to a recurrence of his hand injury in the middle of Game 1 that threatens his availability the rest of the series.
Schlittler came out firing, striking out three in the top of the first inning — two on his curveball, foreshadowing how important it would be for him on the way to a career-high 24 whiffs — on a night when he lowered his career ERA to 0.47 in six starts against the Red Sox.
The bottom of the Yankees’ lineup started the scoring in the second inning, which George Lombard Jr. led off with a single — becoming the youngest player (21 years, 119 days) in franchise history to record a hit in his playoff debut — before Volpe roped a one-out single of his own.
New York Yankees pitcher Paul Blackburn reacts after ending the seventh inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostThe New York Yankees celebrate after the final out of the ninth inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Then with two outs, Wells lined a left-on-left single through the right side for the 1-0 lead.
Rice, who crushed 41 home runs during the regular season but cooled off some during the summer months when Judge was out with a broken rib, greeted lefty reliever Erik Miller in the fifth inning with a solo blast into Monument Park to double the lead.
Paul Blackburn relieved Schlittler in the seventh inning and rolled a double play ball to erase the inherited runner. But from there, the Yankees added on against the Red Sox bullpen, scoring twice against lefty reliever Alec Gamboa before Rice blew it open in the eighth, a fitting exclamation point on a night that belonged to him and Schlittler.
“Pretty remarkable,” manager Aaron Boone said. “For them to go out and have that kind of night together to start this postseason, pretty amazing and kind of hard to grasp a little bit, frankly. But I’m certainly glad we have those two.”
Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (19) is introduced before game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026.
Roman Anthony was unexpectedly lifted for pinch hitter Andruw Monasterio in the top of the sixth inning after striking out in his first two plate appearances in Boston’s 9-0 loss in Game 1 of the wild-card series against the Yankees.
Tracy added that it was “hard to say” whether Anthony would play in Wednesday’s Game 2 or not.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (19) is introduced before game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Anthony was seen flexing his right wrist in the dugout after his first-inning strikeout but stayed in for another plate appearance before he was removed.
“That’s not a good sign,” ex-Red Sox infielder Lou Merloni said during the NBC broadcast.
Merloni referred to an at-bat in Boston’s regular-season finale on Sunday against the Cubs in which Anthony appeared to experience discomfort in his right hand.
This was Anthony’s last swing on Sunday. Check swing, immediately flexes hand. pic.twitter.com/RAXErsNhDV
“There was a check swing [in Sunday’s game], where we weren’t sure what we were seeing,” Merloni added. “It looked like he was shaking it out a little bit. Obviously, [he] hasn’t been right and there’s something going on with it.”
The 22-year-old missed 107 games after sustaining an injury, which was initially reported as a wrist issue but later called a ring finger ailment, and experiencing a myriad of setbacks during his rehab.
In 55 games this season, Anthony hit .245/.339/.396 with just five homers and 15 RBIs.
It was not the type of season either side envisioned after Boston inked Anthony, considered one of baseball’s top prospects, to a historic $130 million deal shortly after his MLB debut.
The Carolina Hurricanes got their championship rings this week, they raised their Stanley Cup banner on Tuesday, Sept. 29, and they have their first loss of the season.
They did pick up a point as the Florida Panthers and Hurricanes pushed their scoreless tie to overtime in the NHL's 2026-27 season opener.
But Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling scored with 4.3 seconds left in overtime to get a 1-0 win as Florida tries to return to the playoffs after the two-time Stanley Cup champions were crushed by injuries last season.
The NHL had five games on the schedule. Here are the winners and losers of the early games from opening night:
WINNERS
Panthers goalie Jacob Markstrom
The question heading into the season was whether the Panthers' goaltending would be good enough.
They couldn't work out a deal with two-time Cup and Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky and he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the days leading up to free agency, the Panthers traded for Markstrom and Akira Schmid.
Markstrom, who began his career with the Panthers, was steady in the opener, making 15 saves, including on Carolina's 4-on-1 break. He matched his shutout total from last season, when he struggled with an .883 save percentage for the New Jersey Devils.
Hurricanes' Stanley Cup banner raising
The Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in Las Vegas last season, so they gave fans the on-ice celebration that they missed. Better yet, they did a Storm Surge, the traditional post-win celebration. The players gathered around the faceoff circle, captain Jordan Staal brought in the Stanley Cup and they did their traditional overhand clap. Then they posed with the banner before it went to the rafters.
Nylander was the Maple Leafs most consistent player in a season in which their nine-year playoff streak ended. He was again on Tuesday, scoring the first goal of the 2026-27 NHL season and adding another to pull the Maple Leafs close in a 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
Boston Bruins' Fraser Minten
Minten was one of the youngsters who cashed in this summer, signing a seven-year, $50 million contract. He broke a scoreless tie with a wicked shot late in the third period of a victory against the New York Rangers.
LOSERS
Maple Leafs' newcomers
GM John Chayka was busy remaking the Maple Leafs this summer and fall. Just-acquired Kirill Marchenko had an assist and another opportunity. But defenseman Darren Raddysh was a minus-2. So was No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna, who made an ill-advised bank pass off the boards. None of the other newcomers had a point and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky had an .875 save percentage.
Hurricanes' play on Florida's winning goal
The Hurricanes had the puck deep in the Florida zone late in overtime and allowed the Panthers to come down the ice and set up Forsling's winner on a one-timer. Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi didn't like how he gave up a shot from distance and lost an opportunity for the game to go to a shootout. "By my standards, it's a bad goal," he said.
PURE FILTH BY PETERKA IN HIS BRUINS DEBUT AND THE B'S TAKE A 2-0 LEAD LATE 🔥🚨 pic.twitter.com/TFQh2ooJov
The Bruins-Rangers game looked like it might be the second one of the night to be scoreless through regulation. But the Rangers gave up three goals in 75 seconds for the loss. JJ Peterka made a great move through Braden Schneider for the Bruins' second goal.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 29: Nikita Zadorov #91 of the Boston Bruins skates against Alexis Lafrenière #13 of the New York Rangers during the second period of the Boston Bruins season home opener at TD Garden on September 29, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After waiting all summer for hockey to return, the Bruins made you wait another 40+ minutes before their 2026-2027 really began.
The Bruins got three goals just 75 seconds apart late in the third period to turn what had been a relatively sleepy affair into a 3-0 Opening Night win.
Fraser Minten broke the deadlock with a laser past Igor Shesterkin with 3:46 left in the third period, then that was followed by JJ Peterka’s first goal as a Bruin and an empty-netter by Mark Kastelic to sew up the win.
The Bruins controlled play for the majority of the first two periods but were unable to solve Shesterkin. The Rangers had a bit more push-back in the third, but never really managed to turn the tide in their favor.
Minten led the way for the B’s with the game-winning goal and an assist on Kastelic’s goal, while Jeremy Swayman made 24 saves in the shutout win.
The B’s had a few good chances early in the game and hit a couple of posts, but the game remained scoreless into the last five minutes of the third period.
That’s when Minten, fresh off of a new contract, beat Shesterkin top corner to make it 1-0 Bruins.
Peterka saw that rocket from Minten and raised him an undressing of Braden Schneider and a five-hole goal against Shesterkin to make it 2-0 Bruins just 52 seconds later.
Mike Sullivan would pull the goalie shortly after, and…it didn’t work.
Kastelic scored into the empty net just 23 seconds after Peterka’s goal, and that was all she wrote.
Bruins win, 3-0.
Game notes
Well that all happened pretty fast, didn’t it? This game started as “yes, hockey is back!” then had a long period of “we waited all summer for this?” However, all’s well that ends well, particularly when the end features three goals in less than two minutes.
While the Rangers outshot the Bruins in both the second and third periods, it never really felt like this game was getting away from the B’s. Whether that speaks more to the offensive ineptitude of the Rangers, the stinginess of the Bruins, or just general early-season hockey remains to be seen, but it was ultimately a sturdy overall performance from the home team.
This game featured just two penalties, one per side and both in the first period.
Mason Lohrei deserves a lot of credit for gloving the puck out of the air immediately before Minten’s goal, turning what may have been a Rangers clear into a scoring chance for his team. While Lohrei Hockey is often quite an experience, he had a good game tonight.
Speaking of an experience, Connor Clifton received a hefty “welcome back” in the form of leading the B’s in ice time. Clifton skated 23:23, almost two minutes more than second-place Nikita Zadorov.
Peterka’s goal was a DOUBLE LINDHOLM, as both Hampus and Elias recorded assists. I don’t know if that’s rare or not, but I enjoyed it.
The giveaways/takeaways stats are often murky at best, but tonight’s seem like they tell a pretty accurate story: the Rangers were charged with 20 giveaways, compared to just 10 for the Bruins.
James Hagens had a relatively quiet night, recording just one shot on goal. However, he was credited with two blocked shots, tied for second-most on the team.
Per the ESPN broadcast, tonight’s win was the 11th consecutive home opener win for the Bruins; that ties the NHL record previously held by the Montreal Canadiens.
In a weird bit of coincidence, Minten scored the game-winning goal in last season’s home opener as well; that one was an OT goal against Chicago.
The B’s will be back in action on Friday night in Winnipeg, as the NHL graciously gives them several days to take horses and buggies to the lone NHL city without an airport.
Hey, an Oregon Trail-style journey to Manitoba feels better with a win stashed amongst your provisions.
HOUSTON — In Tuesday’s Game 1 of the American League wild-card series, Chicago White Sox rookie left hander Hagen Smith found himself in uncharted territory: making his first postseason start and facing the reigning AL batting title winner.
He didn’t blink.
Smith spun three scoreless innings and helped the White Sox deliver a deluxe version of a bullpen game in a 6-3 win over the Houston Astros at Daikin Park, putting Chicago on the precipice of advancing to the AL Division Series for the first time since 2021.
“It was awesome,” Smith told USA TODAY Sports. “From the first day out here, the guys on the team have just been awesome. It’s super fun to show up every day and just play with them, so I was really happy to go out there with them.”
Facing a Houston lineup known for its power, Smith surrendered two hits, singles to Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith, and stifled one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball. AL MVP candidate Yordan Alvarez went 0-for-2 with two groundouts against Smith.
“He's a great hitter,” Smith said of Alvarez after the game. “Obviously, when you look at the scouting reports you kind of circle him as one of the guys that you try not to let him beat you. And, yeah, just trying to go to go out there and do the same thing I always do. Just not make the moment too big for that certain hitter, and just try to attack him with my strengths.”
After Smith’s start, the White Sox used three relievers – Jordan Hicks, Sean Newcomb and David Sandlin – as a bridge to closer Grant Taylor. Taylor secured seven laborious outs, the biggest among them when he stifled a Houston rally in the eighth inning by striking out Yainer Diaz, who represented the potential tying run with two on base and two outs.
On the other side, the Astros used eight pitchers in total after rookie opener AJ Blubaugh walked three of the five batters he faced and didn’t even get out of the first inning. Bryan King gave up two runs on four hits while finishing the first inning. Miguel Ullola briefly stabilized the home team but couldn’t stop the bleeding as the White Sox hit .324 with four walks. The crowd in Houston, accustomed to postseason dominance, booed Astros pitchers on multiple occasions.
White Sox manager Will Venable said Smith’s outing “couldn't have gone better” for the visitors, who head into Wednesday’s Game 2 with a chance to avenge an ALDS loss to the Astros from five years ago.
Smith, a former collegiate starter, was primed for the moment.
The University of Arkansas product was drafted fifth overall by the White Sox in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft and made his major-league debut out of the bullpen on Aug. 9 of this year. Since then, the White Sox have mostly utilized him as a middle reliever capable of covering multiple innings.
Smith went 3-3 with a 1.29 ERA in 28 innings pitched this season, the lowest ERA by a White Sox pitcher over his first 18 career outings since 1912.
Although Smith changed elements of his routine when he became a reliever, he said he prides himself on “being able to go out there ready to roll” and said his familiarity with starting helped him prepare to be the White Sox opener against the Astros.
After the game, Smith stopped in a back hallway and greeted a half dozen family members, many of them wearing his White Sox jersey.
Smith grew up as a Texas Rangers fan in the eastern Texas town of Bullard, about a two-hour drive from Dallas and three hours from Houston. The Rangers and Astros were both potential wild-card opponents for the White Sox, but Smith said he didn’t have a preference for one matchup over the other.
Before Tuesday, Smith had started just one other game in his big-league career and had never faced the Astros. He pitched three innings for just the second time in his young career and threw 28 of his 38 pitches for strikes. Smith leaned heavily on his slider and cutter, two pitches that generated a 33% whiff rate against the Astros.
“The newness is always kind of tough, right?” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “Kind of cross-fire, tough angle. His pitches do have some kind of difficult shape that keeps you off balance. He did a nice job of doing that. Once we got into the middle of the game, I thought we were more familiar with those guys, we’d seen ‘em before and that's when our offense started clicking a little bit. But not enough just to get it to that finish line.”
Smith, 23, is emblematic of a young White Sox roster with barely any postseason experience. Although the team’s run to its first postseason in five years has been characterized as improbable, those inside the clubhouse say they always believed it was possible.
“I think just all the guys in the clubhouse, you see the team play – we play super hard and play with our hearts,” Smith said. “I think it’s just very contagious for everybody and everybody wants each other to win. I think that’s a big part of it.”
The White Sox receive a blessing from Pope Leo before the MLB playoffs.
You could say the White Sox holy rolled the Astros in Game 1 of the American League wild-card series, taking advantage of the divine intervention that one of the club’s biggest fans sent their way before the game.
Pope Leo XIV sent a letter of support to the White Sox, which the team shared on social media hours before the American League Chicago team went on to defeat Houston 6-3 at Daikin Park on Tuesday
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Holy Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Stephen on Sept. 28, 2026, in Metz, France. The mass is part of the papal apostolic journey to France. Grzegorz Galazka/SIPA/Shutterstock
“As I have noted, sport can truly become a school of life, where all can learn that abundance does not come from victory at any cost, but from sharing, from respecting others and from the joy of walking together,” the first American Pope wrote to White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.
Then known as Father Bob, the Pope attended the White Sox’s World Series opener in 2005 when they played the Astros, sitting in section 140, Row 19, Seat 2 to watch as the White Sox won 5-3.
It’s the White Sox first postseason appearance since 2021 and followed three consecutive 100-loss seasons
The White Sox receive a blessing from Pope Leo before the MLB playoffs. X / @whitesox
“In this spirit, it is my hope that the White Sox will continue to foster bonds of friendship and solidarity among people, and thus bear hopeful witness to the possibility of living and working together in peace,” the Pope’s letter, dated Sept. 5, continued. “With these sentiments, I willingly invoke the Almighty’s abundant blessings upon you and your loved ones.”
The letter was sent to the White Sox in response to the team’s promotion on Aug. 11, when fans at that game received Pope hats with the team’s logo.
One was delivered to Pope Leo by Chicago native Father Tom McCarthy in August.
Braden Montgomery (24) celebrates with teammates after the White Sox’s 6-3 win over the Astros in Game 1 of their American League Wild Card Series on Sept. 9, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston. Getty Images
Pope Leo was likely very happy with the result on Tuesday as his beloved White Sox moved one step closer to advancing, with Colson Montgomery hitting a solo home run and Sam Antonacci driving in a pair of runs in the Game 1 victory.
ruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) makes a save on New York Rangers center Noah Laba (42) while defenseman Mason Lohrei (6) defends.
BOSTON — For the second straight year, the Rangers were shut out on opening night.
Indeed, for the first time in franchise history, the Blueshirts have been blanked in back-to-back season openers after suffering a 3-0 loss at the hands of the Bruins at TD Garden on Tuesday night.
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In the first game of a season that is supposed to be different, it was much of the same for the Rangers.
“We’ve got a ways to go,” head coach Mike Sullivan said.
While it was a scoreless affair for over 56 minutes, the Bruins broke through with two quick goals — as well as one empty-netter — in the span of 1:15 to take the first of 84 games this season.
It was a game that was well within reach for the Rangers, who were also shut out 3-0 by the Penguins to start last season.
Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) makes a save on New York Rangers center Noah Laba (42) while defenseman Mason Lohrei (6) defends. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Once Fraser Minten scored from the high slot with 3:56 left in regulation, the Bruins broke the game open without much pushback from the Rangers.
JJ Peterka then made a nasty move around Braden Schneider and buried his first goal as a Bruin less than a minute later.
And just 23 seconds after that, Mark Kastelic put the puck into an empty Rangers net.
Bruins’ Morgan Geekie (39) lines up a shot against New York Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin (31) during the first period. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
“I thought our effort was good,” Sullivan said. “I just didn’t think our execution was great.”
The shortened preseason was apparent in the Rangers-Bruins game, as well as across some of the NHL’s other four matchups. Neither Sullivan nor captain J.T. Miller considered it to be a factor — especially since all 32 clubs are dealing with it — but there were signs of rust on both sides as the two teams attempted to kick-start the season with one fewer week of preparation.
Despite generating nearly the same number of shots as the Bruins, the Rangers bled odd-man rushes through the first two periods.
Star goalie Igor Shesterkin had to bail out the team on numerous occasions, whether it was a 2-on-1 opportunity or an uncontested breakaway. He ultimately finished with 20 saves in the loss.
JJ Peterka (10) of the Boston Bruins skates against Adam Fox (23) and Mika Zibanejad (93) of the New York Rangers at TD Garden in Boston, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images
Miller chalked it up to puck management and coverage issues, noting that the team’s “timing was off with reloading the forwards.”
“Recognition, a little bit,” Miller said of all the odd-man rushes against. “We want our D to be a part of the play a lot. I mean, that’s how a lot of offense is generated in the league. Just the timing of when the forwards need to come down and replace. We’ll get better at it. It’s Game 1.”
The Rangers were most proud of their third-period performance despite the trio of goals against. Not only did they tighten up their defensive positioning to avoid getting caught as much as they were earlier, but the Rangers also made a significant push offensively early on. They unloaded five consecutive shots to open the frame and had a significant edge in shots on goal for much of the period.
Boston Bruins center Mark Kastelic (47) grabs a hold of New York Rangers center Matt Rempe (73) during the third period at TD Garden in Boston, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I thought we got better as the game went on,” Miller said. “I thought the third was our best period. We were coming. It was a pretty hard-fought game. It’s always the first game, seems to just kind of getting your legs and timing. We’ll get better.”
That first goal, however, continues to elude the Rangers.
Kyle Tucker watches his home run clear the fence against the San Francisco Giants earlier this month. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker has never shied away from just how bad his performance at the plate was for much of his first season in Los Angeles.
For the first five months of the season, when he’d show brief glimpses of progress before sinking back into an extended slump, Tucker’s .683 OPS was the third-worst among Dodgers hitters with at least 100 plate appearances, better than only Hyeseong Kim and Kyle Freeland, who both spent time in triple A.
In September, however, he found a sustainable adjustment. He fixed his bat path, extending through the ball more consistently instead of pulling off of it. He posted a .889 OPS in September, on par with his four straight All-Star seasons before signing with the Dodgers.
Now, all of a sudden, he looks like a potential difference-maker in the postseason.
“The last month or so is more or less what I expect out of myself,” Tucker said in a recent conversation with The Times. “The biggest thing is we have an opportunity now being in the playoffs to win another World Series. Once the playoffs start, you can forget about any stats or personal numbers. The only one that really matters is the win column. So that’s just what I’m gonna try and contribute towards.”
The Dodgers offense had a lot of success stories like Tucker’s in the final month of the regular season. He helped carry the offense, along with Teoscar Hernández and Mookie Betts, who turned around their seasons down the stretch, and Will Smith, who returned from the IL and quickly found his home run swing.
The Dodgers’ starting rotation is their biggest strength going into the postseason. But the offense’s performance against elite pitching, and the bullpen’s execution in tight games, could make or break a series.
Here’s how some other key players are trending going into the postseason:
Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani: Fortunate to have the bye
Shohei Ohtani appears on the right track for a successful postseason. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Ohtani returned from the IL with five games left in the season, and he went five for 21 with one extra-base hit.
All indications from general manager Brandon Gomes and manager Dave Roberts in video conference calls before the Dodgers’ closed workout Tuesday were that Ohtani was feeling good physically.
“I feel confident that you’re going to see the best version of Shohei of the last two months,” Roberts said. “I know that’s sort of a low bar given his injury, but I do think that he’s as healthy as he’s been in quite some time, and every day from the training staff, it keeps getting better. So, number one, he’ll be a threat being in the lineup, but I do think that the performance piece will be what we’re hoping for.”
First baseman Freddie Freeman: Ice cold
Freddie Freeman did not hit well in September. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)
Freeman, who pushed through a bout with tendinitis in his right knee earlier this month, hit just .184 in September and went 0-for-7 in his last two games.
On Tuesday, Freeman said he had no pain in his knee. But finally acknowledged that the injury could have affected his swing mechanics, while again emphasizing that he wouldn’t use that as an excuse.
Freeman has a plan for the bye week that he hopes will set him in the right direction for the playoffs.
“I’m going to hit on the field every day,” he said Sunday. “I already know how my Tuesday is going to go. There’s going to be a lot of blocked balls to left [field], a lot of flares into left. I’m hoping as Tuesday goes Wednesday, I’ll come back and those will be put down a little more. Thursday they’ll be moved over to shortstop and by Friday I will be feeling good. That is how my head is thinking right now.”
Center fielder Andy Pages: Out of the gate running
It was hard to predict how the center fielder would look at the plate when he returned from a fracture in his left hand. He recorded a 1.181 OPS in six games and homered twice in the final regular-season series against the San Francisco Giants.
“He went into last October really scuffling, and it sort of bled into October,” Roberts said over the weekend. “Where, I think right now he feels really confident, swinging the bat well, and the hope is that this one bleeds into October as well.”
Reliever Edgardo Henriquez: Healthy
Henriquez is “trending really well” after throwing live batting practice, Gomes said. If this week continues to go smoothly, the flame-throwing right-hander is expected to be on the NLDS roster.
“Given the body of work, what he’s done, the unique skill set,” Roberts said, “could be huge for us — will be huge for us.”
Reliever Edwin Díaz: Strong finish
Díaz made five appearances after his latest return from the IL (neck). He gave up just one hit in those games, with a 52.9% strikeout rate.
“I don’t know if we could have asked much more out of Edwin,” Gomes said. “Felt like each outing was more and more sharp and looking more like himself. So feel that he’s in a great place right now. Stuff out of hand is as good as it’s been all year. And we know that he has pitched in the hottest of hot games in the past and in any role, especially in the postseason. So he’s looked great, and glad that he’s in the position that he’s in and was able to bounce back after the IL stint.”
NLDS weather: Sweltering
Los Angeles’ weather forecast for this weekend, when the Dodgers are set to host the first two games of the NLDS, shows temperatures reaching the high 90s. The Dodgers are scheduled to play Game 2 at 5 p.m. on Sunday. But Saturday’s game time will depend on the results of the wild-card round. First pitch for Game 1 could be at 1 p.m. or 6 p.m.
Athletics third baseman Zack Gelof has sued the Detroit Tigers over an injury he sustained during a 4-1 loss on July 9 at Comerica Park, according to a Sept. 28 court document filed with the Wayne County (Michigan) Circuit Court.
In addition to the Tigers, Ilitch Holdings Inc. and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority were also named as defendants.
Gelof, 26, was playing left field July 9 when Tigers outfielder Zach McKinstry hit a fly ball into foul territory in the bottom of the third inning. Gelof made a sliding catch to get McKinstry out, running his legs into the stands in a section covered by fencing. After the play, the A's infielder was clearly in pain, holding onto his knee.
A's outfielder Zack Gelof is suing the Detroit Tigers because he missed games in July and August after injuring his knee sliding into a metal fence pic.twitter.com/h35jDfz23h
Gelof's right knee struck an "exposed, dangerous metal-fence on the side wall that protruded into or alongside the playing area" that tore through his uniform and caused a laceration in his kneecap that narrowly missed a patellar tendon, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit says Gelof immediately felt significant pain and did not play the rest of the game. He was placed on the A's 30-day injured list following the collision.
"(The Tigers) knew or should have known that professional baseball players routinely run and slide at high speeds into foul territory while attempting to catch baseballs," the lawsuit says. "Padding and protective measures in an MLB ballpark exist for a reason."
"We are aware of the lawsuit and do not comment on pending litigation," the Tigers said in a statement Tuesday, Sept. 29.
The lawsuit described the fence as "exposed" and "rigid" with "sharp metal components capable of causing serious injury." The lawsuit also alleges that there was "insufficient padding or other protective material covering the fencing" and "inadequate clearance or runoff space between the playing area and the fencing."
Tigers left fielder Riley Greene "acknowledged to reporters that the specific area along that wall is made of metal and can be quite unforgiving during a hard slide," the court documents said.
The goal came 9:51 minutes into the first period while Vancouver was on the penalty kill after Tom Willander took a holding penalty. This is Cotter's first goal as a Canuck and his first career short-handed goal.
Cotter signed a one-year, $2.15M contract with Vancouver during the 2026 off-season, joining the team after stints with the New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights. In 2025-26, he scored nine goals and six assists in 79 games played.
Paul Cotter at Vancouver Canucks 2026 Training Camp. (Photo Credit: Izzy Cheung - THN)
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Well, it appears the Cubs summoned Ghostbusters star Bill Murray to Petco Park Tuesday for Game 1 of the National League wild-card series against the Padres. Murray was spotted in the crowd as a sea of yellow dominated the seats in San Diego.
Actor Bill Murray at Citi Field for a game between the Mets and Cubs in 2024. Noah K. Murray-NY Post
Murray is a lifelong Chicago fan and has famously said he was “baptized a Cubs fan” since birth. At Wrigley Field, he is a regularly attendee and has been seen signing during the seventh-inning stretch and celebrating wtih the team.
Murray celebrated the team’s historic 2016 World Series championship, where he even joined the players in the locker room with champagne. The legendary actor even traveled to Japan for last year’s season opening series at the Tokyo Dome between the Cubs and Dodgers.
Fans cheer before Game 1 of the wild card round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs between Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres at Petco Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectGeneral view before Game 1 of the wild card round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs between Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
On Tuesday, Murray was locked in for the wild-card series. He likely wasn’t very happy with how the first inning panned out for Chicago as Padres ace Michael King had an impressive 1-2-3 inning and Fernando Tatis Jr. proceeded to homer on the first pitch off Matthew Boyd in the bottom half of the frame.
Regardless of the outcome, Tuesday’s playoff atmosphere was electric in San Diego as fireworks flew before first pitch and the crowd was already raucous before the game began.
Boyd threw an 83-mph changeup and to get things going Fernando Tatis Jr. smacked a leadoff home run, 405-feet across center field to give the Padres a 1-0 lead.
But San Diego wasn't done. Another one of their sluggers stepped up shortly after Tatis.
Manny Machado, whether you love him or hate him, is that dude and a home run threat at the plate. He lived up to that reputation in the bottom first inning taking Boyd's 81-mph changeup 391 feet for a solo home run.
The Padres led 2-0 after the first inning in Game 1 of the NL wild card series. The winner takes advantage and moves one game closer to advancing to the NL Division Series against face the MLB-best Milwaukee Brewers.
Rui Hachimura moved on from the Lakers, and he’s hoping his fans do, too.
On his official Instagram account @blacksamurai, a clip of Hachimura gifting a Clippers jersey to a fan was posted. The fan originally was wearing Hachimura’s No. 28 Lakers jersey, but the forward asked the boy to swap it for a new Clippers jersey instead.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Rui Hachimura (28) on media day at Intuit Dome. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“This one looks way cooler,” Hachimura said of the Clippers’ threads. “Everyone, please go buy the Clippers jersey.”
Hachimura joins the crosstown rivals at a dark time in the franchise’s history.
The Clippers were stripped of five first-round picks, fined $30 million, and owner Steve Ballmer and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank face suspensions. It’s a trying time for an organization that has never quite stepped out of the Lakers’ shadow.
The 2026-27 campaign will be a key opportunity for the organization to win fans back after the summer’s biggest scandal.
“Our fans deserve to hear from us before this, and for that we’re sorry,” Redden said Monday. “We’ve been listening to the thoughts, the concerns and feeling the emotions of our fan base. They mean everything to us. … We hope to fulfill our promises to them, to build their trust and move forward through this time.
“This franchise often has done its best work with its back against the wall … We hope to represent our fans the same way we always have in dark times, by coming out fighting.”
The Clippers are attempting to retain their fan base, but it appears Hachimura is hoping to add Lakers fans to the group ahead of his inaugural season with the team.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Bradley Beal (3) and forward Rui Hachimura (28) pose for a photo on media day at Intuit Dome. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectRui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. NBAE via Getty Images
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox walks through the clubhouse prior to Game One of the American League Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees on September 29, 2026 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What’s the worst thing you would have imagined popping up on tonight’s MLB Gameday feed before the game started? Jarren Duran pops out to foul territory, caught by Marlins Man would be pretty bad. I wouldn’t want to see On-field injury delay, Payton Tolle overly aggressive hug either.
But I don’t think I would have imagined anything worse than this:
Yes. Andruw Monasterio — the last man on the Red Sox bench, the man who has just 2 hits in his last 32 at-bats, the man who many fans would have preferred be passed over on the roster in favor of Braiden Ward, who has never played in a Major League game in his life — pinch-hit for Roman Anthony. In the sixth inning.
The Red Sox have not yet said anything about Anthony’s injury status. But we don’t really need them to, do we? Anthony’s career, young though it may be, has been defined by two things: (1) Precocious brilliance at the plate, (2) A gut-wrenching inability to stay on the field. Anthony struggled with a bizarrely stubborn hand injury for most of the season. He returned to put up an OPS just a tick under .800 over the last few weeks, but appeared to still be battling the injury as of Game 162:
This was Anthony’s last swing on Sunday. Check swing, immediately flexes hand. pic.twitter.com/RAXErsNhDV
His first two plate appearances against Cam Schlittler tonight both ended in awkward check-swing strikeouts. He may not get another one in this series.
