While the San Jose Sharks have yet to make any cuts to their training camp roster, teams around the league are getting straight to business. On Monday, the Chicago Blackhawks placed former Sharks defenseman Derrick Pouliot on waivers with the intent of sending him to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.
The eighth-overall selection in the 2012 NHL Draft, there were once high hopes for Pouliot to be a game-changer at the NHL level. By the time he joined the Sharks organization for the 2022-23 season, those hopes had all been dashed and he had been solidified as a regular in the AHL and as a depth defenseman at the NHL level. He spent just one season in the Sharks organization, appearing in eight NHL games and registering two assists. He also played 37 games at the AHL level, recording 25 points from the blue line.
Pouliot had one more brief NHL stint after leaving the Sharks, appearing in five games for the Dallas Stars in the following season, but since then, he's been strictly playing at the AHL level. After time with the Syracuse Crunch and Hartford Wolf Pack, he's now rejoining the IceHogs for the second straight season.
Raphaël Lavoie’s push for an NHL roster spot has hit a temporary pause after the Vegas Golden Knights forward suffered an injury during the preseason.
Lavoie is considered day-to-day, with Vegas not disclosing the nature of the issue, according to Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The 25-year-old was injured during Saturday’s 4-2 preseason victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
The setback comes at an important time for Lavoie, who is looking to turn another dominant season in the American Hockey League into a more permanent NHL opportunity. He scored 30 goals and 56 points in just 45 regular-season games for the Henderson Silver Knights in 2025-26, continuing to show the offensive ability that made him a second-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in 2019.
Lavoie has now recorded 83 points in 87 games with Henderson, including 47 goals and 36 assists. That production has yet to translate consistently at the NHL level, however, as he has appeared in 10 games with Vegas without registering a point.
There is also a roster complication working against Lavoie. If the Golden Knights ultimately decide to send him back to Henderson, the forward would first have to clear waivers.
Lavoie’s journey to Vegas has been a long one. He played his junior hockey with the Halifax Mooseheads and Chicoutimi Saguenéens before Edmonton selected him 38th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. After signing his entry-level contract in 2020, he spent time in Sweden and eventually began establishing himself in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors.
He made his NHL debut with Edmonton in November 2023 before his career took an unusual turn the following year. Vegas claimed him off waivers in October 2024, only for Edmonton to reclaim him days later. The Oilers waived him again almost immediately, allowing Vegas to claim him for a second time.
Lavoie eventually made his Golden Knights debut in January 2025. Now, after another impressive season in Henderson and a new one-year contract, he is trying to prove he can become more than an AHL scoring threat.
That opportunity will have to wait until he is healthy enough to return to the ice.
BALTIMORE – Dylan Cease will not require surgery on his balky right shoulder, leaving the Toronto starting pitcher free to build back up over the off-season and follow up his Cy Young-caliber campaign with another good season in 2027.
The bad news is that Cease likely won’t have a reason to return in 2026.
Cease said Monday, Sept. 21 that an MRI and other examinations determined inflammation in his shoulder, a relief to pitcher and club after he left his last start in the third inning with shoulder discomfort amid diminished velocity.
Cease, in the first season of a seven-year, $210 million contract, said his shoulder first felt funny as he warmed up for a July 25 start against Boston. He threw a one-hit shutout, striking out 12 that night, part of a 10-start run in which he posted a 1.89 ERA, struck out 89 in 62 innings and posted a 5-0 record.
But all the while, his velocity was diminishing. During his Friday start at Texas, the discomfort proved untenable. He walked six in 2 2/3 innings and gave up four runs, one earned, in an 11-6 loss at Texas.
“The velocity being down has been a little concerning but at the same time, I was getting outs,” says Cease. “It wasn’t anything too scary. Nothing about it feels like I need surgery. I was never really panicked or worried. Just more of an inconvenience that I couldn’t maximize my best self.
“The last couple starts, velo kept going down and down and then command – that last one, it almost felt like I was hurting the team.”
The Blue Jays lost both Cease’s start and the next night at Texas, two defeats that were likely the fatal blows to their wild card hopes. Manager John Schneider said Monday that the club will assess both Cease’s health and the relevance of their final three games against Cincinnati at Rogers Centre to determine if he’ll pitch.
“Him feeling better, with this time down, and feeling like himself and obviously the game meaning a lot,” says Schneider of the necessary conditions for a Cease return. “If those two things line up, hopefully he’ll be good to go.”
Toronto enters a three-game series at Baltimore with a 77-79 record, three games behind the Chicago White Sox for the final wild card, though the White Sox hold the tiebreaker so the deficit is effectively four games.
The Blue Jays do hold the tiebreaker over the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians, who lead them by 3 1/2 games, but their elimination number is three entering Monday.
Cease, 30, is enjoying the first All-Star season of his career. His 239 strikeouts in 169 innings have boosted him to atop the AL leaderboard in strikeouts per nine innings, at 12.7. His 2.40 ERA ranks second to Cy Young Award favorite Cam Schlittler and he leads the AL in fielding independent pitching (2.55).
Two Atlantic Division rivals will renew hostilities on a new battleground Monday night.
The Senators will open their brief preseason against the Montreal Canadiens in the annual Kraft Hockeyville game at Colisée Vidéotron in Trois-Rivières. Face-off is at 7 pm on Sportsnet One and TVA Sports.
The Senators arrive to sign autographs Monday morning ahead of the Kraft Hockeyville game.
Although the matchup is officially listed as a neutral-site game, the Senators are under no illusions about where the crowd's loyalties will lie. Fans were invited to Monday morning’s practice, where a sea of red, white and blue greeted the Canadiens with chants of “Go Habs Go” before the home side had even taken the ice.
Last year’s memorable 5-0 preseason loss to Montreal was also played on supposedly neutral ground, and in another Quebec Videotron building. That one took place at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, where the crowd was also heavily behind the Canadiens.
It was a miserable night for the Senators all around. Beyond being shut out, they were drawn into several scraps that helped the two teams combine for 150 penalty minutes. Arber and Florian Xhekaj were at the centre of it all, with each Montreal brother fighting twice.
Three days later, Ottawa traded Zack MacEwen to the New Jersey Devils for heavyweight Kurtis MacDermid, adding one of the NHL’s most established enforcers.
MacDermid will not be available for Monday’s rematch, but that probably won't stop the two teams from being disagreeable.
The lineups should also help raise the competitive level. Based on the game-day skates, both teams are expected to dress a pile of established NHL players.
Trios des #Sens à l'entraînement à Trois-Rivières :
The Senators will counter with a veteran-heavy lineup featuring Drake Batherson, Dylan Cozens, Shane Pinto, Ridly Greig, Jake Sanderson, Jordan Spence and their most notable off-season additions. Tim Stützle skated as an extra and won't play. Thomas Chabot and Linus Ullmark both stayed back in Ottawa.
Montreal’s group includes Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook and both Xhekaj brothers
Today's lineup for the Habs: Caufield-Suzuki-Newhook Slafkovsky-Kapanen-Demidov Bolduc-Dach-Texier Berard-Xhekaj-Pastujov
Monday will provide the first game action in a Senators uniform for William Eklund. He is expected to skate on the left side of Cozens, opposite his close friend and former San Jose teammate Fabian Zetterlund.
Head coach Travis Green has kept the trio together throughout training camp, but Monday will provide the first meaningful opportunity to see whether their apparent chemistry carries over from practices and scrimmages.
According to Senators' host Jackson Starr, Andre Burakovsky, another new addition, is expected to play with Stephen Halliday and Batherson.
Samuel Blais will also make his Senators debut in familiar surroundings after signing as a free agent this summer. Blais had 5 points in 13 games for the Canadiens last season and 38 points in 35 games for their AHL team in Laval.
Samuel Ersson is expected to wear the Sens jersey for the first time in a game after being acquired from Toronto during the off-season. Leevi Meriläinen and prospect Jackson Parsons were the other goaltenders on the ice Monday morning.
It may be only the first game of a very short preseason, but there should be no shortage of reasons to watch. And if the past two preseasons are any indication, the “friendly” part of this exhibition game may not last very long.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest THN Ottawa headlines below:
A recent Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinee is moving to the broadcast booth and is insisting he’s retiring from coaching.
Long-time NBA lifer Doc Rivers, who most recently served as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks last season and who has more than 40 years of experience in the NBA as a player and coach, will be joining NBC Sports as an analyst for broadcasts during the 2026-27 season, which begins next month.
The move was announced Monday, Sept. 21, in a press release.
Elsewhere, in an interview with the Associated Press, Rivers insisted that he would no longer pursue coaching opportunities, as he transitions to his role in the media, saying he was “absolutely retired.”
And with his new gig, Rivers will join his son, Austin, who is also an analyst for NBC Sports and who regularly appears on broadcasts.
In fact, six of Rivers’ former players — Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Brian Scalabrine, Jamal Crawford and his son — are currently part of NBC’s coverage team of the NBA.
Rivers was inducted into the Hall of Fame in August as part of the Class of 2026. Just months earlier, he had concluded his 27th season as head coach when the Bucks finished 32-50, missing the playoffs.
He ranks sixth all-time in victories (1,194) and fourth in games coached (2,060). He won his only NBA championship in 2008, as the coach of the Boston Celtics.
This won’t be Rivers’ first stint in broadcasting, and it won’t even be his first stint with NBC; he served as a studio analyst during the 2012 London Olympics. Rivers also worked for Turner Sports in 1996 and also worked briefly for ESPN in 2003-04 and 2023, when he had been in between coaching jobs.
“I loved playing the game, I loved coaching it and I’ve always loved talking about it,” Rivers said in a statement that published Monday. “I have great memories working with NBC, and I’m excited to be back and share my perspective alongside such a talented team. This season should be a lot of fun. I can’t wait.”
HERSHEY, Pa. — With an inexperienced lineup Monday night in their preseason opener, the Flyers suffered a 5-2 loss to the Capitals at Giant Center, the home of Washington’s AHL affiliate.
The loss will actually sting a bit if Denver Barkey has to miss time after exiting the game early. More on that below.
Jack Studnicka and Cole Knuble provided the Flyers’ goals.
“I thought Cole Knuble was flying out there,” Rick Tocchet said. “Studnicka was skating well. A couple of guys like that caught my eye.”
The majority of the club’s regulars were not on the trip.
• Barkey took the opening shift of the second period before quickly departing.
The 21-year-old forward didn’t return to the game because of a lower-body injury. Tocchet didn’t have an update on him after the game.
Barkey appeared to be in some discomfort after taking a hit along the side boards from Martin Fehervary with about four and a half minutes left during the first period.
He was the Flyers’ first-line center Monday night, playing between Zach Aston-Reese and Porter Martone. Barkey entered training camp poised for a season-opening lineup spot. We’ll see if this changes things.
The 22-year-old forward also had a goal in his one rookie game. He has been a riser in the club’s system. The 2023 fourth-rounder is set for his first full season of pro hockey and could be knocking on the Flyers’ door.
“I came here to make an impact,” Knuble said. “I just try to bring compete, a good attitude every skate. It’s going well.”
Jett Luchanko showed some flashes of his speed and collected an assist. He can be an effective guy on the penalty kill. But the Flyers will look for more of his offense to come out this season.
“He’s fine, he was good tonight,” Tocchet said. “I wasn’t really worried about the score and stuff, but there are just certain concepts that we really want to attack. The one thing is, you guys know me, I hate giving up the middle of the ice or the weak side. So that’s something we’ll clean up as the camp goes on.”
With under two minutes left in the second period, the Flyers made a poor line change that led to the Capitals’ go-ahead 3-2 goal. Dylan Strome took advantage of the Grade A look on Woll.
Ryan Leonard, who was taken one pick after Matvei Michkov in 2023, sent a laser past Woll with 41 seconds to go before first intermission. The goal handed the Flyers a 2-1 deficit. They had a 1-0 lead just 2:42 minutes into the action when Studnicka scored a power play goal.
But Washington answered with a 5-on-3 power play goal that Woll nearly prevented.
“It was a pretty cool experience, I enjoyed wearing the new colors,” Woll said. “It was a pretty good atmosphere out there. The game didn’t go our way, but it’s the first of many here and I thought there were a lot of good things.”
The Flyers believe the 28-year-old will give them more stability at the backup spot behind Dan Vladar.
“He can carry the load and he’s an intelligent goalie,” Tocchet said Monday morning. “Even just on the puck handles, he’s going to help our goalie handles tremendously. Because some of the system stuff we do, we’re going to need the goalie to handle the puck a lot. I think we were just OK last year in that. I think that will help us break out the puck better and he can do that.”
Carson Bjarnason took over at the start of the third period and allowed two goals on eight shots.
• None of the Flyers’ defensemen really stood out.
The club’s sixth defensive spot is up for grabs between guys like Simon Benoit, David Jiricek and Oliver Bonk.
All three played Monday night. Bonk had an assist, but nobody really separated themselves.
“There’s some good stuff and some stuff that they’ve got to clean up,” Tocchet said of the Flyers’ defense. “Just things under pressure, don’t get yourself boxed in. Sometimes you play Washington, they have three or four guys back. I think the D has got to skate with it; a lot of times we were passing it instead of skating with it. Those are things that as camp goes on, you’ll start to get used to.”
• The Flyers are right back at it Tuesday when they visit the Bruins (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP+).
The game group has an optional skate at 9:30 a.m. ET in Voorhees, New Jersey. The non-game group will practice at 11:30 a.m. ET and 12:05 p.m. ET.
SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants’ final homestand of the 2026 MLB season started with positive feelings on the position player side, but another injury on the pitching side.
Behind a top prospect and an outfielder who has made a second-half statement, they got a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. The victory was the 65th of the season and guaranteed that the Giants would come up short of their 98 losses in 2017, their most since moving to Third and King.
A debut always brings some buzz, and Bo Davidson’s brought a little extra to Oracle Park. The organization’s top outfield prospect singled in his first at-bat and got a standing ovation. That hit helped ignite an early two-run rally, and Drew Gilbert tacked on two more in the second with a single. Gilbert’s homer in the fifth made it 5-1 and continued a breakout second half for the young outfielder.
The good vibes dissipated quite a bit in the fourth when Blade Tidwell became the latest Giants starter to come out of the game with an injury, but the bullpen continued his good work, with Tristan Beck, Sam Hentges and Jason Foley getting the lead to Trent Harris, who picked up his second save.
Not Again …
Tidwell’s 57th pitch was a sweeper, and he grimaced as it left his hand. He immediately waved his glove at the dugout, and a minute later he was headed back to the clubhouse with a member of the training staff.
Blade Tidwell came out of the game with a trainer after appearing to suffer an injury pic.twitter.com/UcRkHUOQsq
The injury came at a time when Tidwell was continuing to show that he should get an opportunity to be in the mix next season. He had four strikeouts and had allowed just one run over 3 1/3 innings, continuing the progress he made last week in St. Louis, when he allowed two earned over 6 2/3 innings.
If that was the end of his season — and it certainly looked like it was — Tidwell made 16 appearances, including eight starts in the second half. He posted a 4.45 ERA and 4.74 FIP, with 46 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings.
The Giants already have lost young starters Hayden Birdsong, Carson Whisenhunt and Trevor McDonald to elbow injuries this season. Birdsong is the only one who is considered an option for 2027.
The Debut
Davidson joined a pretty cool list before he ever swung the bat. He became the first Giant since Dan Gladden in 1983 to bat third in his MLB debut, and just the sixth over the past 75 years. Two of the others are Willie Mays and Willie McCovey.
When Davidson did swing the bat, it was ferocious. He took a huge cut at a 95 mph fastball from right-hander Zebby Matthews and then battled for several minutes before driving the ninth pitch of the at-bat into right field. Davidson immediately stole second, which allowed him to score on Brett Harris’ single.
With that sequence, Davidson became the first Giant since Johnny Vergez to get a hit, a stolen base and a run in his big league debut. He grounded out in his next two at-bats and then struck out.
The Debut, Part II
The Giants and Marcelo Mayer wanted the infielder to get on the field before the end of the year, but the calendar didn’t help. The Triple-A season ended on Sunday while Mayer was finishing his rehab from a foot injury. He went in the lineup — and the cleanup spot — Monday without a rehab assignment, and he had not taken live at-bats since Aug. 18 with the River Cats.
Mayer looked predictably rusty, striking out in all four of his at-bats. The plan is to get him a few games this week at DH so he feels a bit more comfortable heading into the offseason. At the moment, the Giants envision him as a strong option to start at second base in 2027.
Entering the final week of the regular season, the Dodgers more or less know their postseason fate.
They’ve locked up the National League West. They are a seemingly safe four games clear of the Atlanta Braves for a first-round bye. And, unless they can close a two-game gap on the Milwaukee Brewers without holding the tiebreaker, they will finish as the NL’s No. 2 seed, getting home-field advantage at least for the NL Division Series.
Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate a 10-4 win over the San Francisco Giants with Mookie Betts at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. Getty ImagesLos Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, left, pitcher Tarik Skubal, middle, and manager Dave Roberts celebrate after clinching the National League West title after a game against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, September 17, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Thus, the real intrigue for now is who might be on the Dodgers’ postseason roster when the playoffs begin next month.
This year, injuries and fluctuating performances have forced them to cycle 53 different players through their clubhouse.
And while the core of the group is clear, many questions remain about how the club will construct its lineup and pitching staff for this fall’s pursuit of a third-straight World Series.
Here is the California Post’s best guess about how it will all shake out.
Lineup locks
Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, Tommy Edman, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages, Kyle Tucker, Shohei Ohtani, Kiké Hernández, Miguel Rojas, Hunter Feduccia
Teoscar Hernández and Kyle Tucker have cemented their place as everyday hitters thanks to late-season surges. Andy Pages is due back on Tuesday from a fractured hand. Freddie Freeman still seems somewhat limited by his right knee injury, but has nonetheless been able to manage it well enough to this point. And while Tommy Edman has been slumping lately, he doesn’t seem to be in immediate danger of losing at-bats.
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers works out before a game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Getty Images
On the bench, Hunter Feduccia has locked up the back-up catching job, and could be a left-handed hitting option as a pinch-hitter. Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas, meanwhile, each provide versatile defensive depth, as well as extensive track records for postseason heroics when called upon.
Entering the final week of the regular season, the core of the Dodgers’ position player group looks as they expected.
Dodgers Lineup questions
Bubble candidates: Josue De Paula, Dalton Rushing, Alex Call, Alex Freeland, Hyeseong Kim
The Dodgers will still have one, if not two, position player spots to fill depending on how they construct their roster (i.e. an even 13 pitchers/13 hitters, or a 12/14 split like they used last year?)
And for those, they could have a number of difficult decisions.
Josue de Paula (95) of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a double during the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Getty Images
If he does, it will likely be as a left-handed bench bat; though if there is any lingering uncertainty with Ohtani, he could also provide insurance as a backup DH option. His main competition right now figures to be Alex Call (who might be redundant to Rojas and Hernández as a right-handed bench bat) or Dalton Rushing (who is an intriguing alternative as a left-handed bat, but remains sidelined from the setback he suffered with his elbow injury earlier this month).
In just 10 MLB games, De Paula has quickly built a strong case, showing supreme plate discipline (10 walks to only four strikeouts) and the potential for power (three doubles, one home run, seven RBIs). At this point, it might be more of a surprise if he doesn’t make it.
If the Dodgers elect to carry an extra position player on top of that, the choices are even more varied.
Last year, they rostered two base-running/defensive specialists throughout the playoffs in infielder Hyeseong Kim and outfielder Justin Dean. Dean is now gone, and Hernández could serve as a late-game defensive outfield replacement anyway. But Kim remains in consideration, manager Dave Roberts said, thanks to his speed and infield glove. Alex Freeland could also factor in here, as someone capable of providing more at the plate.
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Hyeseong Kim (6) hits a sacrifice fly for center fielder Andy Pages (44) to score during the bottom of the fifth inning of a game against the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Friday, April 10, 2026. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
Lineup projection for Los Angeles
C: Will Smith
1B: Freddie Freeman
2B: Tommy Edman
SS: Mookie Betts
3B: Max Muncy
LF: Teoscar Hernández
CF: Andy Pages
RF: Kyle Tucker
DH: Shohei Ohtani
Bench: Kiké Hernández, Miguel Rojas, Hunter Feduccia, Josue De Paula, Hyeseong Kim*
The Dodgers’ starting rotation is set, assuming no further setbacks with Blake Snell’s groin injury. The back end of the bullpen has come into focus, too, with Tanner Scott and/or Roki Sasaki the most logical candidates to serve as closer, and Alex Vesia and Evan Phillips separating themselves as the team’s next most-trusted high-leverage relief options.
Roki Sasaki #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. Getty Images
The only real question here is how the Dodgers will line up the rotation. Yamamoto-Skubal would make sense for Games 1 and 2 of a division series (keeping them both on-line for a potential Game 5). But could Tyler Glasnow’s potential issues with traveling tempt the Dodgers to use him primarily at home, if they can? All factors to consider in the coming weeks.
Pitching staff questions
Roster bubble candidates: Brock Stewart, Edwin Díaz, Blake Treinen, Kris Bubic, Jack Dreyer, Emmet Sheehan, Justin Wrobleski, Edgardo Henriquez, Will Klein, Eric Lauer
The first thing the Dodgers need to figure out here is health.
Edgardo Henriquez will almost certainly be on the playoff roster, and pitching in a high-leverage role, if he can make a full recovery from his recent back strain. Will Klein and Eric Lauer might also be available health-wise, though lack clear roles to step immediately back into.
Otherwise, the Dodgers will effectively have at least four open spots for six to seven other pitchers.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Edwin Diaz (3) celebrates the third out and an 8-2 win over the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Friday, September 18, 2026. Getty Images
For added right-handed depth, they might be deciding between Brock Stewart (who has been a go-to weapon against right-handed hitters recently), Edwin Díaz (who is trying to salvage his dismal debut season, and did throw a pair of scoreless outings this weekend) and Blake Treinen (who has curiously pitched only five times in three weeks since being activated from the injured list, and not in the highest of leverage).
For another left-handed option, they could go with Kris Bubic (the trade deadline acquisition who has impressed with three scoreless appearances since returning from an injury) or Jack Dreyer (who was one of the Dodgers’ best relievers from June to August, but has given up five runs in his last seven outings).
There are many permutations that the Dodgers could employ depending on opponent. They’re still figuring out the exact hierarchy of all their bullpen arms, too.
But as long as their rotation is dominant, everything else should take care of itself.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 12: Malachi Smith #18 of the Brooklyn Nets controls the ball against Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half at Scotiabank Arena on April 12, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After being signed in August, guard Malachi Smith has now joined the team on a two-way contract as of today, September 21st.
On social media, Smith thanked God before asking where the best places to eat are in the city. It’s this kind of mentality, starving for a chance, that will make Smith fit in well on the Raptors this year.
Thank you Jesus… you get all the GLORY ❤️🙏🏾 Toronto I need some food spots 👀 https://t.co/msFyFLdkXQ
Smith played his first season in the NBA last year, having started out in the G League in 2023, and earned the collegiate Sixth Man of the Year award in the West Coast Conference in 2023. He is a shooting guard in the most literal sense of the term: roughly half of his shots last year were from the three point line, and he made 43% of them on solid volume for a bench player on the Brooklyn Nets. More shooting is something that the Raptors could always use, and it seems that between Jamison Battle, Ja’Kobe Walter, and now, Malachi Smith, we’re assembling some solid firepower on our second unit.
In last year’s second-to-last game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Smith was slotted into the starting lineup and exploded for a near-triple-double of 19 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds. Now, the last week of regular season basketball is always filled with inflated statlines, but Smith’s facilitation looked solid, making the open passes but knowing when he had to knock down a shot, not turning away from the need to contribute to scoring. In their final game of last year’s regular season, the Nets played the Raptors, where Smith contributed eight points, six assists, and five rebounds, shooting 33% from three.
Smith should be able to contribute well both to the Raps and the Raptors 905, bringing some extra offensive juice to a team that needs to develop itself on that side of the ball.
TULSA, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 19: Josue de Paula #55 of the Tulsa Drillers swings the bat during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dodgers top prospect Josue De Paula has become major league stretch-run contributor over the last week and a half. But that followed a wonderful season in Double-A Tulsa, and on Monday he was named Texas League MVP.
De Paula with the Drillers hit .303/.401/.547 with a 145 wRC+, 27 home runs, 37 doubles, 106 runs scored, 104 RBI, and 31 stolen bases in 124 games. He set career highs across the board, including more than doubling his previous marks for home runs (previous high of 12) and extra-base hits (66, up from 30).
He led the league in runs scored, RBI, hits, doubles, and was in top five in the league in OPS, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, batting average, home runs, stolen bases, total bases (274), and extra-base hits.
De Paula hasn’t stopped producing since getting his first call-up to the majors, reaching base 18 times in 38 trips to the plate with his 10 walks more than doubling his four strikeouts, hitting .286/.474/.500 with three doubles and a home run in his first 10 games in the majors.
Eric Wedge was named Texas League manager of the year, the fifth Tulsa Drillers manager to capture the award, and the first since Tim Ireland in 2002 when Tulsa was a Texas Rangers affiliate. This honor comes 19 years after Wedge won American League manager of the year with Cleveland in 2007.
The Cubs haven’t yet said anything about the frightening injury to third baseman Alex Bregman during Sunday’s game in Cincinnati. I’ll spare you more photos, you’ve probably seen enough of Bregman’s swollen left eye.
We do have this update from ESPN’s Jeff Passan:
Chicago Cubs star Alex Bregman suffered multiple facial fractures after being struck by a foul ball while standing in the on-deck circle Sunday, sources tell ESPN. Bregman will not undergo surgery and is hopeful to return in the postseason.
So… at this point what we have is “hopeful.” What that post also says is that Bregman likely will not return for the six games remaining in the regular season.
Could he be ready to play a week from tomorrow when the Cubs will (presumably) be opening a Wild Card Series… somewhere, either at Wrigley Field or on the road? I suppose that depends on how quickly the swelling around his eye goes down and how he feels.
Will they place Bregman on the injured list? If the Cubs do that, he’d be out for the Wild Card Series. My feeling is that they won’t, hoping that he could play by then and that they can manage a roster a player short for the next six games.
It seems likely that Pedro Ramirez will play third base, mostly, with Matt Shaw possibly taking a game or two there. The Cubs also have Gabriel Arias to back up all three infield positions.
If the Cubs do decide to IL Bregman, I suppose they’d call up James Triantos, who can play third base, though most of his experience this year is at second base.
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 15: Atlanta Braves injured pitcher Robert Suarez looks on from the dugout during the MLB game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Atlanta Braves on August 15, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
All eyes have been on Robert Suarez, one of the Braves’ prized offseason additions, as he rehabs and recovers from an elbow ailment that has cost him the last three months of the season.
Following his first rehab appearance with the Gwinnett Stripers on Sunday — which was Gwinnett’s final game of the season — it was a bit unclear what the next steps would be as he continues ramping up with hopes of pitching in the postseason.
On Monday afternoon, Alex Anthopoulos went on 680 The Fan Radio and was asked about Suarez. While Alex did not guarantee anything, he said it was “highly likely” that Suarez would be activated to the active roster “relatively soon,” perhaps on Wednesday or Thursday.
Alex also mentioned that Suarez, who is currently on the 60-day IL, will need a roster spot opened for his return. My guess would be Owen Murphy, who does not seem very likely to be in the Braves’ postseason mix and has options. But we will see.
Regardless, the healthy return of Suarez would be a major development for the Braves as they make final preparations for the postseason. We will see how he looks whenever he gets his name called in a few days.
Brighton have impressed in a goal-laden start to the season, in a league that remains a brutally strong attraction
Get ready for the dopamine crash. And this one really is a proper autumn nosedive. The past 17 days up to and including Sunday’s cut-off gave us 30 Premier League games and 79 goals. Which, if you take Spurs out of it – and this is fair because Spurs are now post‑goal, an entertainment concept unrelated to goals or even football itself – is really quite a lot.
Are your pathways stimulated? Are the neural connectors flickering? Well get ready for cold turkey, for 19 blank days of shivers and shakes until the Premier League show resumes in October. Maybe it really is time to buy one of those powders off the internet.
The Boston Red Sox have officially clinched a postseason berth, completing one of the most improbable turnarounds in MLB history.
But the real test begins next week. After falling to the New York Yankees in last year’s Wild Card Series, Boston is looking to make a deeper October run this time around, and it looks like the Yankees will once again stand in the way.
It’s been a total team effort for Boston all season long, but the playoffs are where stars emerge and the margin for error becomes razor thin. While nearly everyone on the postseason roster will play a role, we’ve narrowed it down to the 10 players who could have the biggest impact on how far this team goes.
Here are the 10 most important — not necessarily the best — Red Sox players for the 2026 playoffs:
1. Payton Tolle, SP
What a difference a year makes. Last year, Tolle experienced growing pains in his first MLB stint and pitched just 1/3 of an inning in the Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium. This time, he’s coming off an exceptional rookie campaign with a chance to start Game 1 in the Bronx.
Tolle will enter the postseason with momentum on his side. The 23-year-old tallied 12 strikeouts while allowing just one run in six innings against Baltimore. He followed that up with six shutout innings against Kansas City, including an immaculate inning to begin the game.
If Tolle continues to perform at this level, he’ll give the Red Sox another frontline starter who can match up against other teams’ aces. He’s the pitcher with the greatest opportunity to change the trajectory of this postseason roster.
If the Red Sox make a deep postseason run, it’ll be because their rookie left-hander delivered each time he took the mound on the big stage.
2. Sonny Gray, SP
We’re sticking with pitching, because pitching is what propelled this Red Sox club to a postseason berth in the first place.
If Tolle is No. 1, it would be silly not to put Gray right behind him at No. 2. The 36-year-old veteran stabilized the rotation in the wake of Garrett Crochet’s injury. He was signed to be the No. 3 starter behind Crochet and Ranger Suarez, but he performed like an ace with a 17-5 record and a 2.82 ERA in 28 starts.
Now, Boston will lean on Gray and his big-game experience to lead the staff in October. Even if he doesn’t start Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, Gray will play a huge role in any postseason success.
3. Roman Anthony, LF/DH
The top position player on our list is the 22-year-old many expected to anchor Boston’s lineup and produce an MVP-caliber season in 2026. Instead, Anthony spent most of the year on the injured list and has largely struggled in the 50 games he’s been healthy. We know what the former No. 1 prospect is capable of, however, and he’ll significantly raise the Red Sox’ ceiling if he plays up to his potential in the postseason.
The Red Sox will lean heavily on their pitching staff throughout the playoffs, but Anthony is the X-factor in the lineup. This is a completely different club when he gets hot.
All it will take is a signature postseason moment for Red Sox fans to forget about the disappointing start to Anthony’s young career.
4. Ranger Suarez, SP
OK, back to pitching. A big reason the Red Sox signed Suarez to a five-year, $130 million contract in free agency is that he has a stellar postseason track record. The 31-year-old boasts a 1.48 ERA across 11 playoff appearances (eight starts) with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The only reason he isn’t higher on this list is we project him to be the No. 3 starter, which means we won’t even see him if the Sox get swept out of the Wild Card Series. If Boston advances, another strong postseason from Suarez will be critical for their World Series chances.
5. Wilyer Abreu, RF
Abreu is one of Boston’s best all-around players, but he’s a streaky hitter. The Red Sox’ mediocre offense can’t afford for him to go cold in the postseason, so he’s an incredibly important piece if they hope to make a deep run.
When he’s hot, Abreu’s bat is elite. He leads the American League with 36 doubles along with 24 homers in 151 games.
As important as his bat will be, Abreu’s Gold Glove defense in right field will also be a difference-maker. Postseason games can come down to one defensive miscue, and Abreu has earned a reputation as one of the best defensive right fielders in baseball.
If Abreu can give the Red Sox consistent at-bats and quality defense, he can quietly become one of the most impactful players on the roster over an entire series.
6. Willson Contreras, 1B
We’ve got the Venezuelan sluggers back-to-back. Contreras has been the Red Sox’ most consistent bat all season, and he’ll be leaned on heavily in the heart of the lineup throughout the playoffs.
Unlike most of Boston’s lineup, Contreras will enter the Wild Card Series with plenty of postseason experience. He won a World Series with the 2016 Chicago Cubs and has 30 playoff games under his belt in total.
With a team-high 27 homers, Contreras will be counted on to supply the Red Sox lineup with power throughout their playoff run. If he goes cold, there will be even more pressure on guys like Anthony, Abreu, and the player who’s next up on our list to get runs on the board.
7. Adley Rutschman, C
Rutschman will need to step it up offensively, but his importance goes beyond his bat because of his position. One could argue the role he plays behind the plate is even more crucial.
As Boston’s starting catcher, Rutschman will be responsible for managing the pitching staff through almost every postseason game, meaning he’ll be involved on almost every pitch thrown. There’s also a significant downgrade at catcher if he goes down with an injury, with only Connor Wong and Mickey Gasper as his potential backups.
For the Red Sox to make it far, Rutschman has to be more than just a productive hitter; he must also work seamlessly with the rotation and bullpen while living up to his reputation as one of the best defensive backstops in the league.
8. Aroldis Chapman, CP
Having a closer who can slam the door shut gives clubs a huge advantage come postseason time. The Red Sox are fortunate to have arguably the best of the bunch.
While Chapman wasn’t otherworldly in 2026 like he was in 2025, he still was elite with a 1.95 ERA in 52 appearances. He’ll look to limit free passes after watching his walk rate jump from 2.2 to 4.1 BB/9 over last year. If he does that, Boston can effectively shorten games by having him available for the ninth inning. He can also single-handedly lose games, automatically making him one of the club’s most important players for the postseason.
9. Garrett Whitlock, RP
Boston’s bullpen is perhaps its biggest strength heading into the postseason, and that’s because of the Whitlock/Chapman combo at the back end. Whitlock has been an elite set-up man with a 1.75 ERA and 0.877 WHIP across 53 appearances this season.
Starters typically have shorter outings in the playoffs, so we could see the Red Sox turn to Whitlock early and often throughout October if they advance past the Wild Card Series. He’s the reliever Boston will count on to mow down the heart of an opposing lineup in a high-leverage situation. That could be the difference between a win and a loss, and that’s why Whitlock makes the top 10 over some other very important players.
10. Ceddanne Rafaela, CF
Rafaela rounds out our top 10 most important Red Sox players for the postseason, but don’t let his ranking fool you. With elite defense in center field and a bat that made a significant leap this season, he can be considered another X-factor for this club in the playoffs.
If Boston makes a deep run, there’s a good chance we’ll get at least one signature Rafaela moment. The 26-year-old has a knack for coming up big in the clutch, whether it’s with a timely extra-base hit or a mind-blowing catch in center field.
Rafaela’s glaring absence during his time on the injured list with a quad injury has highlighted his importance to this club. If he’s back to full strength in time for the playoffs, that’ll give the Red Sox a major boost.
Honorable mentions: 3B Caleb Durbin, SS Trevor Story, LF/DH Jarren Duran, RP Erik Miller, RP Tyron Guerrero, P Brayan Bello and P Jake Bennett.
They didn’t crack the top 10, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have huge roles in October.
Durbin completely changes the outlook of the offense when he’s hitting. He’s also been an elite defensive third baseman all season long.
Story has been one of Boston’s best hitters since returning from the injured list. There’s no guarantee that’ll carry over into the playoffs, but he’ll at least have to be adequate defensively as the team’s starting shortstop.
Duran had a 2026 to forget, and with Anthony in left field and Mickey Gasper likely at DH, he’ll probably spend a fair amount of time on the bench. Still, he’s the type of player who can change a game with one swing, and his speed is a huge factor.
Miller and Guerrero will have major roles at the back end of the bullpen. Bello (if he makes the roster) and Bennett will be leaned on as bulk relievers. Miller has struggled lately, Guerrero is returning from injury, Bello is unproven in the playoffs, and we haven’t seen Bennett come out of the ‘pen.
Shortly after the end of his Pittsburgh Penguins' tenure, a former NHL forward has decided to call it a career.
After playing in just five KHL games and registering no points to begin the 2026-27 season, former Penguins' forward Kevin Hayes announced his retirement from professional hockey. The 34-year-old center signed a free agent deal with KHL team Ak Bars Kazan this offseason after failing to secure an NHL contract in light of his previous seven-year deal expiring at the end of last season.
The 6-foot-3, 217-pound Hayes registered 185 goals and 446 points in 805 career NHL games, including 17 goals and 31 points in 92 games with the Penguins from 2024-26.
After 861 games in NHL and 5 games in KHL, Kevin Hayes 🇺🇸 announced his retirement.
"I have decided to end my hockey career. I can no longer play at the level I am capable of because my body does not allow me to perform at my best. And I cannot accept not being in top form." pic.twitter.com/ItcQb18FA0
"I have decided to end my hockey career," Hayes said in a statement. "I can no longer play at the level I am capable of because my body does not allow me to perform at my best. And I cannot accept not being in top form."
Throughout his Penguins' tenure - and especially during the 2025-26 season in which Pittsburgh made the playoffs - Hayes often found himself on the outside looking in, frequently a healthy scratch and playing in just 28 games last season. He was acquired on Jun. 29, 2024, along with a second-round pick and 50 percent retention by his previous team in the Philadelphia Flyers, from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for future considerations.
Although the former All-Star could not get the on-ice results he wanted in Pittsburgh, he was a revered teammate and was loved by just about every guy in the locker room.
"Oh, he was an amazing person. Obviously, an amazing teammate," defenseman Kris Letang told Pittsburgh media after Monday's morning skate ahead of the team's first pre-season tilt. "A guy that everybody wants to hang around. He loves talking, loved to be in the dressing room. And just the stories after stories, it's just fun to be around him."
Hayes began his NHL career with the New York Rangers during the 2014-15 season and spent parts of five seasons there before being dealt to the Winnipeg Jets during the 2018-19 campaign. He was traded to Philadelphia the summer after and signed his seven-year extension worth $7.14 million per year there, and he was an All-Star in a career-best 2022-23 season. He spent one season in St. Louis after yet another trade before coming to Pittsburgh.
And he left an impression on just about everyone in the room, including the coaching staff - especially given his situation in Pittsburgh.
"What an incredible career," head coach Dan Muse said after Monday's skate. "What an incredible person, too. There's certain people that will always stand out in your mind when you're a coach, and he's definitely going to be one that I remember throughout the rest of my career.
"Just the way he handled himself last year, the teammate that he is, the person that he is. It was a real honor just to be around him for a year."
