Former Syracuse basketball star Lawrence Moten dies at 53
Lawrence Moten, who still holds the Syracuse basketball career scoring record with 2,334 points, died Tuesday at his Washington, D.C., home.
MLB managers on the market: Top candidates and job openings for 2026 season
MLB managers on the market: Top candidates and job openings for 2026 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Postseason baseball is underway, but many teams are already preparing for next spring.
With 18 teams not continuing into the playoffs, those clubs have a month to prepare for the offseason before free agency kicks off following the World Series.
A handful of franchises are getting an early start with changes to their coaching staffs, whether that’s firing their old manager or not renewing contracts for 2026.
Here’s a look at the teams with managerial openings and the top candidates available:
Which MLB teams need a new manager in 2026?
As of Oct. 1, eight MLB teams will hire a new full-time manager for the 2026 season. Teams still playing in the postseason could move on from their managers after being eliminated, too.
Here’s the full list of job openings:
- Atlanta Braves
- Baltimore Orioles
- Colorado Rockies
- Los Angeles Angels
- Minnesota Twins
- San Francisco Giants
- Texas Rangers
- Washington Nationals
MLB managers fired in 2025
The Orioles, Rockies, Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates got a head start on the coaching cycle by firing their managers mid-season.
Warren Schaeffer was named Colorado’s interim skipper on May 11 when Bud Black was fired, while Tony Mansolino took over for Brandon Hyde in Batlimore on May 17. The Nationals had Miguel Cairo replace Dave Martinez on July 6, with new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni leading a search for a potential replacement. All three clubs still haven’t announced, as of Oct. 1, if their interim managers will be given the full-time tag for 2026.
The Pittsburgh Pirates fired Derek Shelton on May 8, but interim manager Don Kelly was given the full-time job following the season.
The Giants fired Bob Melvin on Sept. 29 despite picking up his option for the 2026 season in July. Rocco Baldelli had a similar fate in Minnesota, with the Twins firing him the same day after reportedly picking up his 2026 option in June.
Bruce Bochy, three years after leading the Rangers to a World Series title, won’t return to Texas after he and the team mutually agreed to end his tenure on Sept. 29.
The Angels are moving on from the combination of Ron Washington and Ray Montgomery, who led the team to a 72-90 record in 2025. Washington underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery, forcing Montgomery to take over for most of the season. The team announced on Sept. 30 that neither manager would return in 2026.
On Oct. 1, the Braves announced that Brian Snitker will transition to an advisory role within the organization after managing since 2016. The 2021 World Series winner went 811-668 in 10 seasons.
Top MLB managerial candidates for 2026
Many of the managers who were let go could be top candidates to quickly get new gigs, including Melvin, Hyde and Bochy.
Other teams could look to coaches already on their own staff to be promoted, or potential front office voices to move down into the dugout.
Looking beyond the names already mentioned, here are five other potential candidates to keep an eye on during this cycle:
Mark DeRosa
Since retiring in 2013 after 16 MLB seasons, DeRosa has largely made his name as an analyst for MLB Network. But he has some managerial experience, too, leading Team USA at the World Baseball Classic in 2023. He’s never coached on a big league staff, but his time with the nation’s best players could make him a home-run hire. DeRosa played for the Braves (1998-2004), Rangers (2005-06), Giants (2010-11) and Nationals (2012).
Skip Schumaker
The current senior advisor for the Rangers, Schumaker has an obvious tie that makes him a candidate in Texas. He managed the Miami Marlins in 2023 and 2024 — making the postseason in his first year — and he’s still just 45 years old. If he wants to get back in the dugout, Schumaker could be a top option for several clubs.
David Ross
During four seasons as the Chicago Cubs manager, Ross made the playoffs just once. But two seasons on the sidelines should be enough to get him back on the list of viable candidates. The 48-year-old former catcher played for the Braves from 2009-12.
George Lombard Sr.
Lombard is due for his first managerial job after 10 seasons as a first base coach and bench coach. His first five years were with the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning the World Series in 2020 before moving to the Detroit Tigers in 2021. A former outfielder, Lombard played for the Braves (1998-2000) and Nationals (2006).
Ryan Flaherty
The Cubs’ bench coach is a prime candidate for a promotion after Chicago’s turnaround. Flaherty spent most of his playing career with the Orioles (2012-17) before a year with the Braves (2018). If Baltimore doesn’t make Mansolino the full-time manager, the 39-year-old Flaherty is an obvious option.
Ticket row throws Super League play-offs into turmoil as Leigh threaten to pull out
Owner Derek Beaumont unhappy at Wigan’s allocation
Fixture in doubt as organisers scramble to find solution
Super League’s play-offs have been thrown into turmoil after Leigh Leopards’ owner threatened to withdraw his side from Friday’s semi-final against Wigan over a row surrounding ticketing allocations.
With the winners progressing to next Saturday’s Grand Final at Old Trafford, Leigh are bidding to reach the showpiece for the first time, but their participation in the game is in doubt.
Continue reading...Roosters star James Tedesco wins his second Dally M Medal
Big win completes year of redemption for fullback
Tamika Upton of the Broncos wins women’s award
James Tedesco has romped to his second Dally M Medal with the Sydney Roosters star finishing 22 points clear of his nearest rival.
In a big night for the Roosters, Tedesco claimed the NRL’s highest individual honour for the first time since sweeping the awards in 2019.
Continue reading...Heartlanders Announce 19 Current And Former Players To Attend AHL Training Camp
The Iowa Heartlanders announced that 19 players with Heartlanders ties will attend 2025 Iowa Wild training camp. The Wild are AHL affiliates of the Iowa Heartlanders.
Of the 19 players, 10 are signed to 2025-26 contracts with the Heartlanders. The other nine are former Heartlanders signed to AHL contracts with the Iowa Wild or NHL contracts with the Minnesota Wild.
The Heartlanders will begin their training camp next Monday, Oct. 6. They open the team’s fifth season at Xtream Arena on Friday, Oct. 17 vs. the Tulsa Oilers.
Here are the players attending Wild training camp with Heartlanders ties.
Goaltenders (3)
Samuel Hlavaj (played with Heartlanders in 2024-25)
Dante Giannuzzi (ECHL contract with Heartlanders)
William Rousseau (AHL contract, played with 2024-25 Heartlanders)
Defensemen (8)
Mike Koster (AHL contract, played with 2024-25 Heartlanders)
Will Zmolek (AHL contract, played with 2024-25 Heartlanders)
Thomas Stewart (ECHL contract with Heartlanders)
Elliott McDermott (ECHL contract with Heartlanders)
David Spacek (NHL contract, played with 2023-24 Heartlanders)
Lordanthony Grissom (ECHL contract with Heartlanders)
Carter Allen (ECHL contract with Heartlanders)
Kyle Masters (NHL contract, played with Heartlanders 2023-25)
Forwards (8)
Matthew Sop (AHL contract, played with Heartlanders 2024-25)
Ryan McGuire (AHL contract, played with Heartlanders 2024-25)
Isaac Johnson (ECHL contract with Heartlanders)
Ryan Sandelin (AHL contract, played with Heartlanders 2024-25)
Jaxon Nelson (ECHL contract with Heartlanders)
Keltie Jeri-Leon (ECHL contract with Heartlanders)
Jack O'Brien (ECHL contract with Heartlanders)
Adam Capannelli (ECHL contract with Heartlanders)
12 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #12
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 12 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #12.
Let's take a look.
Ted Drury - 2001 - Drafted by Calgary in 1989.
Drury played a single game for the Jackets during the 00-01 season. He never played another NHL game after Columbus and would retire in 2007 after playing five seasons in Germany.
Ted is the brother of former New York Rangers Captain and current President and General Manager of the Rangers, Chris Drury.
Sean Pronger - 2002 - Drafted by Vancouver in 1991.
The brother of Hall of Famer Chris Pronger played 104 games in Columbus and had 17 points. He retired in 2005 after playing in Germany.
The brother of Hall of Famer Chris Pronger played 104 games in Columbus and had 17 points. He also attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
After his two seasons in Columbus, he played for Vancouver and then left for Germany, where he played one season before retiring.
Mathieu Darche - 2003 - Undrafted out of Saint-Laurent, Quebec.
Darche played 24 games for the CBJ over their first three seasons, totaling two points. Darche played until 2012, retiring with the Montreal Canadiens.
He is now the Assistant General Manager and Director of Hockey Ops for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He started with Tampa Bay in 2019 and has held various positions.
Jiří Novotný - 2008-2009 - Drafted by Buffalo in 2001.
Novotný played 107 games for the Jackets and had 29 points. He never played another NHL game and left for Europe where he played until 2023.
Novotný spent time in Russia, Czechia, and Switzerland until he retired. He is now the Sports Manager for HC Motor České Budějovice.
Elite Prospects said about Novotný "Novotný is a center with a sound two-way game. With good vision and passing ability, he is more of a playmaker than a shooter. Handles the puck and skates well, too. Can kill penalties and win faceoffs."
Mike Blunden - 2010-2011 - Drafted by Chicago in 2005.
Blunden played 41 games with the Jackets and totaled 4 points.
He retired in 2020 after playing the last two years of his career in Germany and Italy. He finished his NHL career playing in 127 games. Blunden has been a Pro Scout for the Tampa Bay Lightning for the last four season.
Ryan Craig - 2014-2015 - Drafted by Tampa Bay in 2002.
Craig played 8 games for the Jackets and had zero points. He was also the Captain of both the Springfield Falcons and the Cleveland Monsters. He retired in 2017 and went into coaching for the Vegas Golden Knights. He is currently the head coach of the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights.
Owen Sillinger - 2025 - Undrafted out of Regina, Saskatchewan.
Sillinger has played one career NHL game and has zero points. The older brother of Cole has spent his career playing for the AHL's Cleveland Monsters. In parts of four seasons, he has a total of 114 points.
Owen will be looked at as a vet on an otherwise very young Monsters team. Expect Sillinger to be called up should the CBJ need him.
One scouting report said of Sillinger. "Sillinger is a pure sniper. He might be the best shooter in this draft class. His wrist shot is powerful and accurate. He has quick hands and is able to get the shot off quickly. Sillinger also does a good job of changing the angle on his shot, fooling goaltenders. His snapshot is also very good and features a similar quick release. Sillinger also has a knack for getting open for a one-timer, especially on the power play. His slap shot is also very good. He can even score with a good backhand. Sillinger has the hands to get deflections and pounce on rebounds in front of the net. His lateral agility and hands allow him to move laterally to open up shooting lanes."
Another scouting report said of his defensive game, "Sillinger also needs work in his own end of the ice. He can become too focused on the puck away from the play, losing his man and getting out of position. He also seems to take risks at times, leaving the zone early and trying to create offence. Sillinger could improve by using his size and strength to help contain in the cycle game but is not always committed to working down low in the defensive zone. These are areas where he will need some strong coaching in helping out his defense."
There are 12 days left until opening night at Nationwide Arena.
The pre-season schedule is as follows:
Saturday, Oct. 4 at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET
After that, the Blue Jackets will open the regular season on the road against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.
Let us know what you think below.
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Power’s Absence Further Depleting Sabres Defense
The Buffalo Sabres practiced at KeyBank Center on Tuesday, and while the club got back center Jiri Kulich after he sat out for a week with a muscle tweak, the club was still without four regulars, as defenseman Owen Power joined forward Jordan Greenway, and defensemen Bowen Byram and Mattias Samuelsson on the sidelines.
"Owen just strained something yesterday, and so we held them out today," Ruff said.
Power was described as being day-to-day, but it is in question whether the Sabres will risk putting him in the lineup for the first of their final home-and-home preseason games against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. Byram was injured in the Sabres 5-2 victory over Detroit on Saturday and has not practiced the last two days, but did skate prior to practice according to Ruff.
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Kulich and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will play on Wednesday, although it is not certain that the Sabres goalie will play the entire game since it is his first action of the season. Greenway has not taken part in any camp workouts after he suffered an recurrence of the mid-body injury that he had surgically repaired over the summer, but has started to ramp up his work on the ice.
"(Jordan) skated at Harborcenter. He's progressing nicely and (it's) just probably a short period of time before he joins us in practice." Ruff said. "(We're) just trying to do the right thing, but he's feeling good."
Without Power or Byram, the Sabres top pairing at practice was Rasmus Dahlin and Michael Kesselring, Ryan Johnson partnered with Conor Timmins, and 2025 first-rounder Radim Mrtka partnered with Vsevolod Komarov.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo
Giants' top prospect Bryce Eldridge will have offseason surgery on left wrist
Giants' top prospect Bryce Eldridge will have offseason surgery on left wrist originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Bryce Eldridge was a name Giants fans clamored for much of the 2025 MLB season.
When the 20-year-old finally joined the roster in mid-September, hoping to help San Francisco make a playoff push, the 6-foot-7 first baseman struggled with his bat as he finished the season with a .107 average in just 10 games played.
There might have been a reason for that, however, as the Giants announced on Tuesday morning that Eldridge will undergo surgery on his left wrist to remove a bone spur.
The surgery will require an eight-week rehab process, so Eldridge’s availability for next season shouldn’t be affected.
Giants general manager Zack Minasian spoke on Tuesday at San Francisco’s end-of-season press conference about the team’s top prospect and if the first base position will be Eldridge’s moving forward.
“I think we’ll try to stay open-minded,” Minasian said. “Still go into spring training with the idea what’s best for the Giants and what’s best for Bryce so hopefully, for him, the offseason focus is just getting healthy, getting that wrist back to 100 percent, come to spring training ready to go and we’ll where it goes, what the options are for us. But, I think he did a great job for us while he was here.”
Eldridge, the 16th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, began the 2025 season at rookie ball, then played 34 games at Double-A and finally ended up at Triple-A where he cranked 18 home runs in just 66 games.
That power ultimately proved worthy of a late-season MLB call-up, where he spent most of his time as San Francisco’s designated hitter.
How Kirill Kaprizov’s $17 Million Per Year Extension Impacts Maple Leafs’ Future Signings
It was just a matter of time until a talented player would reset the market, but few expected it to be Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov. The Russian star signed an eight-year, $136 million contract on Tuesday. The deal, which takes effect at the beginning of the 2026-27 season, sees the player earn $17 million in Average Annual Value (AAV) per season.
Kaprizov didn’t just become the new NHL leader in AAV; he smashed the previous high of $14 million per season that Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl received in his eight-year extension. Perhaps a player like Mitch Marner could have approached that number. His agent, Darren Ferris, indicated he wanted to take the player on a tour around the NHL to see what was out there, but the former Toronto Maple Leafs player was set on joining the Vegas Golden Knights agreeing to a sign-and-trade deal worth $12 million per season. The Wild didn't want to let Kaprizov walk, and after reports that the player turned down $16 million, here we are at $17 million.
This $17 million contract is the new benchmark, and there is one player who is an even bigger threat to reset the market: the hard-to-dispute No. 1 player in the NHL, Connor McDavid. While reports suggested McDavid could take less money with the Oilers if he chooses to stay, it’s hard to know if that's true after Kaprizov set the market into a state of uncertainty. The salary cap is projected to be $104 million for 2026-27. If McDavid took the maximum allowable percentage of the cap, he could command as high as $20.8 million per season. And while he probably doesn’t demand that much, how do you not command $17.5 million per year if Kaprizov got $17 million?
Why Connor McDavid Shouldn't Consider An Oilers Discount After Kaprizov SigningNews that Minnesota Wild superstar left winger Kirill Kaprizov signed an eight-year contract extension Tuesday sent ripple effects throughout the NHL – most notably, in Edmonton, where Oilers dynamo Connor McDavid is in need of a contract extension.
This financial escalation directly affects the Maple Leafs, who are still looking to improve their forward depth and would like to acquire a top-six winger following Marner's absence. What does this escalation mean for other players in the top-10 or top-20 in the NHL?
The Maple Leafs have about $20.3 million in cap space for 2026-27 based on a roster of 18 players. Their defense and goaltending are essentially locked in; they need forwards. A player like Kyle Connor would certainly fit that bill of an elite winger. With 97 points in 82 games with the Winnipeg Jets, he certainly could have commanded $11 million per season in his next contract. But maybe that’s now $14 or $15 million after seeing what Kaprizov got. Jack Eichel is in the final year of an eight-year contract. Perhaps Vegas gets a discount to keep the player and flex the tax advantage, but he’s probably a $14–$15 million guy otherwise, if not more. What about second-line forwards? Does a player like Alex Tuch get $9 million in this new financial landscape? It’s hard to argue against it based on what we’ve seen.
Why The Maple Leafs’ Best Chance to Replace Mitch Marner Will Come At The 2026 NHL Trade DeadlineIt’s been a quiet August for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and unless something unforeseen happens before training camp, the team’s roster could head into camp as it is currently constructed. This means there is no direct replacement for Mitch Marner, who departed the organization in June in a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Suddenly, $20.3 million doesn’t look like a ton of money for Toronto to work with, though they could certainly clear out more. In this instance, the Leafs weren’t the market setters, as Minnesota paid what they had to for the player to not entertain offers. But it doesn’t mean they are thrilled about seeing Kaprizov get that kind of salary. Just think about the money Auston Matthews will command when he’s eligible for a contract extension on July 1, 2027.
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Canadiens: Big Battle In Quebec
It’s been 20 years since Quebec City lost its beloved Nordiques thanks to the need for a new building and the weakness of the Canadian dollar, but last night at Centre Videotron, Quebec showed it was ready for another team. The Centre Videotron was filled to the brim for the preseason tilt between the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators. While the Sens were technically the local team, the Habs were clearly the crowd’s favourite.
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A Fantastic First
Martin St-Louis had decided to test some new lines in this second-to-last preseason game, and one of his newly formed combinations wasted no time in paying dividends. Ivan Demidov may not have gotten an assist, but it was his play that led to the only goal of the first frame. The puck went from him, to Mike Matheson, to Alex Newhook, to Oliver Kapanen and finally, to the back of the net. The crowd erupted with joy as the Canadiens took a 1-0 lead.
Still fighting for a place in the lineup, Florian Xhekaj dropped the gloves against Jan Jenik, and if the younger Xhekaj couldn’t get a win against Nicholas Deslauriers last week, he certainly did this time. It was a spirited fight that saw him get the better of his opponent, much to the delight of everyone in attendance, especially the Canadiens players who weren’t playing but were watching from a box above the press gallery.
By making changes to his lines, the bench boss was clearly hoping to see a renewed level of effort from his men, and he certainly did. Demidov was relentless on the forecheck, forcing two turnovers. Kirby Dach dove in desperation to break up a shorthanded chance he created by missing the puck on a back pass. After 20 minutes, the Canadiens were up 1-0, and spirits were flying high in Quebec.
The Pack Mentality
St-Louis said earlier in camp that he wanted to see a pack mentality, and he was served in the second frame. After the Canadiens had scored another two goals, Hayden Hodgson hit Alex Newhook from behind, and the Habs collectively took exception. Carrier (who had scored the third goal) flew to his teammate's defense. Once that tilt was over, Xhekaj and Struble were talking to the Senators by center ice, and whatever was said led to two more fights breaking off. Jenik came out of it worse for wear, bleeding profusely.
It seems like the days of the Canadiens being labelled “soft” are truly over. Of course, being three defensemen down is not a brilliant outcome, but the coach wanted to see his team play harder to be more physical. Based on tonight, that box can be checked.
After the game, the bench boss said:
I liked how we behaved as a pack; we stuck together from a physical and grit standpoint, but what I liked even more was how we played hockey together as a pack. I think we played an excellent game, and we were there for one another.- St-Louis on his team's performance
When Things Go Too Far
There’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed, especially when it comes to preseason hockey, and tonight, former Hab Nick Cousins crossed that line. To quote Friends, he was so far over the line that the line was a dot to him. In the final frame, the Canadiens’ rookie avoided his hit by the boards, and the Senators forward then decided to slash the Russian player in a very aggressive manner. St-Louis didn’t seem overly worried about Demidov in his post-game press conference, but things could have turned out very badly.
Ivan Demidov first dodged a boarding hit by Nick Cousins, then he was slashed on the arm/wrist with a dirty two handed axe chop.
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) October 1, 2025
He looked in visible pain afterwards. pic.twitter.com/PyZkv7mWrt
What should be taken away from this 5-0 win over the Senators, though, is not only the rough stuff, but the fact that several Habs players shone brightly. Demidov was an absolute force, and the truth of the matter is, if you let him control the puck too much, he will burn you. He finished his night with two assists, but was also instrumental in a couple of other goals. Kapanen had a strong game as well, putting six shots on net and scoring a goal. Newhook also picked up a pair of assists, and the line meshed very well.
As for Patrik Laine, who found himself on a line with Joe Veleno and Owen Beck, the coach said he thought he played very well at even strength throughout the game. The big Finn also scored a power-play goal and got three shots on net; it was a good response to what was a significant demotion.
Dach also had a solid game, not only because of his backchecking effort in the first frame, but offensively, he was very much involved and chasing the puck hard when the Habs weren’t in possession. He had two shots and got a goal and an assist, the lamplighter was a fantastic piece of hand-eye coordination as well, batting in a saucer pass for the goal. As always, Lane Hutson was very noticeable, with plenty of twists and turns that led to him scoring a goal and an assist as well.
(つ•—•)つ 🚨
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 1, 2025
MTL 5, OTT 0#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/hRr5czvL80
Jakub Dobes saved the 16 shots he faced for the shutout, and it was also an excellent night for Brendan Gallagher, who was named the first star of the game thanks to his three assists and heard the sold-out building chant “Gally, Gally, Gally!” as it was announced.
Will tonight’s events alter St-Louis’ plans for the last preseason game? He’s giving himself a few days to think about it…
Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.
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Tuesday’s playoff heroics ranked, as WNBA and MLB take the stage
Pulse Power Rankings: Multiple WNBA dramas highlight frenzied day
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There are not many days in which we start this newsletter by saying, “I have to just tell you everything that happened yesterday.” Yesterday, however, was so good that we’re going to do exactly that.
Consider this a power ranking of Monday’s incredible playoff action, starting with the WNBA stealing the spotlight:
1. The Aces are back in the WNBA Finals, barely
For the third time in four seasons, the Las Vegas Aces will play in the finals. It’s an expected outcome after a most unexpected, bonkers game last night.
The Aces and Fever played to overtime in a Game 5 classic, with Vegas only separating after Indiana lost Kelsey Mitchell to injury and Aliyah Boston to foul trouble. The Aces were clearly the better team, but anyone watching last night’s game came away equally impressed with a Fever team that’s been through a lot this year. To come five minutes from reaching the finals after all that is almost unbelievable.
The W also soaked up an entire news cycle’s worth of headlines yesterday outside of the exquisite game:
Minnesota Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier said the league has the “worst leadership in the world” in a prepared statement during a news conference. Collier was largely referencing some pain points with game officials, who became a focal point after Collier suffered an ankle injury in Game 3 of Minnesota’s semifinal loss to Phoenix. Collier and Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve were furious with the lack of a foul call. Read Collier’s full statement here.
Collier also referenced ongoing negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, which seem like a mess at this point. Kelsey Plum said yesterday the league is stalling. Plum and others agreed with Collier that the league needs new leadership, too. Tough day for commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
Oh, and the finals begin Friday. I asked Ben Pickman for his early read on the matchup:
“This series has a fascinating frontcourt matchup as the Mercury have reached the WNBA Finals in large part because of their star bigs, Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally, while the Aces are led by four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson. How the two coaches try to defend each team’s frontcourt will go a long way in determining who takes home the title. Bonus interesting question: Can the Aces re-ignite any dynasty talk by winning a third title in four years?”
2. Shohei Ohtani went nuclear
In baseball’s nightcap, the Dodgers took a 1-0 series lead over the Reds with a 10-5 win, fueled by Shohei Ohtani’s two home runs. L.A. hit five dingers in the game, and this one felt over quickly. Look how quickly his leadoff homer got out:
Welcome to the SHO 💥
🎥 @MLB | #Postseasonpic.twitter.com/JJH4dVGwty
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 1, 2025
Dude might be pretty good. Let’s take a quick news break before returning to the rankings:
News to Know
Wild sign Kaprizov after all
The Minnesota Wild agreed to a record eight-year, $136 million extension with superstar Kirill Kaprizov, the richest in NHL history by both total salary and average annual value ($17 million). It comes three weeks after the 28-year-old Kaprizov declined to sign an eight-year deal worth $128 million, which many thought could lead to Kaprizov hitting free agency next summer. Instead, Minnesota secured its future.
More news
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni insists A.J. Brown wants to be in Philadelphia despite some cryptic social posts yesterday.
In other WNBA news: The league agreed to an 11-year media rights deal to air games on USA Network. Read more here.
The Jonathan Kuminga saga is over in Golden State. The 22-year-old agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million contract yesterday. Full details here.
Golf legend Tom Watson was “ashamed” of the American Ryder Cup crowds. See his comments.
The Angels will also be searching for a new manager after announcing yesterday that Ron Washington will not return.
Chris Koras, head of baseball for the Klutch Sports agency, abruptly resigned last week.
A warning given to Daniil Medvedev at the China Open about his effort level was an error, according to the ATP. Strange story.
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Pulse Power Rankings, Cont.: Shout-out to pitchers
Back to the power rankings:
3. Boston’s steely swipe
The Yankees entered these playoffs as arguably the hottest team in the bracket. A loaded roster and a great September made them a trendy World Series pick.
The division-rival Red Sox instead went to Yankee Stadium last night and exited with a thrilling 3-1 win. Garrett Crochet was spectacular over 7 2/3 innings, giving up just the one run. And Aroldis Chapman, who has reinvented himself in Boston, got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth to win the game.
Sox can clinch tonight. Wild.
4. Tarik Skubal course-corrected
For now, the story of Detroit’s season is its historic collapse down the stretch. The thing the Tigers needed most, after letting the AL Central slip to the Guardians, was a Game 1 win, on the road in Cleveland, in the AL Wild Card Series.
Staff ace Skubal delivered just that in 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball, as Detroit eked out a 2-1 road win. The margins are so small in this round. This was a massive, massive win.
5. The Cubs found a buzz
Chicago finished the season 92-70, which in a normal year would’ve been plenty good to win a division title. But this is a wild-card team, and the emotions are more tenuous in this fan base.
The Cubbies used back-to-back home runs yesterday to beat the Padres, 3-1, the franchise’s first postseason win since 2017. There was pent-up energy at Wrigley Field, as Patrick Mooney wrote, and a Game 1 win was cathartic.
What a day all around. Let’s do it again in a few hours.
What to Watch
📺 MLB: Tigers at Guardians
1 p.m. ET on ESPN
We have the same run of schedule today as we did yesterday. The Tigers, Cubs, Red Sox and Dodgers can all advance. See all the games here.
📺 Soccer: PSG at FC Barcelona
3 p.m. ET on Paramount+
The Champions League also continues today with a full slate. This is probably the juiciest matchup, but decide for yourself.
Get tickets to games like these here.
Pulse Picks
The college QB class has been … surprising this year. It’s still “special,” as Bruce Feldman reports, but it’s different than we expected. Here’s what scouts have gotten right and wrong about the top signal callers.
Want a preview of the future of college sports? Read Ralph Russo’s breakdown of the SCORE Act and the SAFE Act.
Jurgen Klopp is one of the best managers in the modern era of European soccer. In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, he said he never wants to coach again.
I really enjoyed Dan Woike’s story from earlier in the week on Austin Reaves, who’s at an inflection point with the ever-interesting Lakers. Reaves wants to stay in L.A. — but just made a huge bet on himself.
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: NFL Power Rankings, of course.
Most-read on the website yesterday: ☝️
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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Shaikin: Why the Dodgers don't need to worry about rested starting pitchers for NLDS
The Dodgers are not here for conventional wisdom. The Dodgers are here to win the World Series.
So what if an unforeseen hurdle appeared in front of their October path? The Dodgers are on the verge of turning that hurdle into an unexpected but well-planned advantage on their quest to become baseball’s first back-to-back champions in 25 years.
Conventional wisdom says the odds favor a team with a bye, because that team can set up its pitching rotation for the division series just the way it wants while its opponent burns through its best arms in the wild-card series. The Dodgers are one win away from storming through the wild-card series and setting up their pitching rotation for the division series just fine, thank you very much.
Read more:Plaschke: Dodgers flatten overmatched Reds in unwanted first round. But about that bullpen...
That, it turns out, is what you can do when your star-studded starting rotation is healthy and effective for the first time all season, at precisely the right time.
The Dodgers thoroughly outclassed the Cincinnati Reds, 10-5, in Tuesday’s opener of the best-of-three wild-card series. If the Dodgers win Wednesday, or if they win Thursday, they would advance to what would be the premier matchup in all the National League playoffs: the Dodgers vs. the Philadelphia Phillies.
“I think the biggest downside of playing in a wild-card series, obviously, if you’re able to advance, is what your pitching looks like after that,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “That’s the cost.
“And I think, with our depth, that’s really mitigated.”
It ain’t over ‘til it’s over. If the Angels could go 6-0 against the Dodgers this season, the Reds could win the next two games.
Read more:'It's awesome.' Blake Snell gives the Dodgers just what they paid for
However, the Reds used their best pitcher, Hunter Greene, in Game 1. The Dodgers have their best pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, ready to deploy in Game 2.
And, since the best-of-three wild card format was introduced in 2022, all 12 teams that have won Game 1 have gone on to win the series.
So let’s plan this out. If the Dodgers win Wednesday, Shohei Ohtani could start Game 1 of the division series Saturday. If the Reds force a decisive third game Thursday, Ohtani is the scheduled starter — and, if the Dodgers win, Tyler Glasnow, Emmet Sheehan and Clayton Kershaw all could be options for Game 1 of the division series.
Kershaw would be available for sure, as he is not on the wild-card roster and he would be pitching on regular rest.
“To have Clayton Kershaw standing there ready, no matter how we deploy our pitching this week, gets at the cost (of playing in the wild-card round) not being as great,” Friedman said.
And the division series includes an off day after each of the first two games, which would enable the Dodgers to use Snell on five days’ rest for Game 2 and Yamamoto on six days’ rest for Game 3.
The Dodgers have so much flexibility, in fact, that manager Dave Roberts declined to say that Ohtani would start Game 1 of the division series if the Dodgers close out the wild-card series Wednesday.
“You’re getting ahead,” Roberts said, “but one of the first two games, probably.”
It is important that Snell held the Reds to two runs in Tuesday’s victory, but it is more important that he pitched seven innings. The Dodgers asked their relievers to cover two innings with an eight-run lead, and it took four of them to do it.
The Dodgers’ road to success is clear: more of the starters, less of the erratic relievers, and less need to lean on Glasnow and Sheehan in an unfamiliar role.
Read more:Dodgers open playoffs with displays of dominance and disorder in win over Reds
“The deeper that the starters go in the game — one, it means that we’re pitching good; but, two, you’re giving the bullpen a break and a breather, and they get to be 100% every time they come out,” Snell said.
“That makes for a different game that favors us.”
The Dodgers improvised their way to a title last October, with three starting pitchers and four bullpen games. That was not conventional wisdom, either.
This time of year, however, most postseason teams have three or four reliable starters. The Dodgers have six. If they have to play in an extra round, well, what doesn’t kill them makes them stronger.
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Hernández: Can the Dodgers win a World Series with such an unreliable bullpen?
Imagine if the Dodgers hadn’t scored a gazillion runs.
Shudder.
Imagine how the majority of spectators would have tensed up when manager Dave Roberts trudged to the mound to remove Alex Vesia if the game was actually close.
Hoo boy.
Imagine the devastation the Dodgers would have experienced if Jack Dreyer’s bases-loaded walk legitimately endangered their chances of winning.
Read more:Plaschke: Dodgers flatten overmatched Reds in unwanted first round. But about that bullpen...
Barf.
The postseason started for the Dodgers on Tuesday night, and their pumpkin of a bullpen didn’t magically transform into an elegant carriage in a 10-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of their National League wild-card series.
On a night when the hitters crushed five home runs and starter Blake Snell completed seven innings, the relievers continued to be as terrible as they were over the last three months of the regular season.
The Dodgers technically moved a win closer to defending their World Series title, but that ultimate goal suddenly looked further out of reach because of a shocking 30-minute top of the eighth inning during which three of their arsonist relievers nearly created a save situation out of an eight-run game.
Can a team possibly win a World Series with such an unreliable bullpen?
Before the game, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said he thought so.
“It’s not a talent issue,” Friedman said, but who knows if this was an honest assessment or a disingenuous effort to convince his audience that he hadn’t wasted tens of millions of dollars on a bunch of no-chancers.
Friedman continued, “We’ve seen it time and time again with guys who have scuffled and all of a sudden found it and they roll off a heater.”
That’s not what happened in Game 1.
If anything, the troublesome eighth inning eliminated certain relievers from consideration to pitch in in the highest-leverage of situations.
Suspicions about rookie fireballer Edgardo Henriquez were confirmed, as Henriquez walked a batter to load the bases, walked in a run and gave up a run-scoring single.
The wishful thinking that Dreyer could be a late-inning option was dented, as Dreyer entered the game and walked in another run.
Most disconcerting was the performance of Vesia, the team’s most trusted reliever.
Vesia started the inning, with the Dodgers leading 10-2. The use of Vesia in such a lopsided game spoke to how little Roberts wanted to use any of his other relievers in a game of this magnitude, but the fiery left-hander looked like a rubber band that had been stretched out too many times. Vesia, who pitched a career-high 68 games in the regular season, retired only one batter. He gave up a hit and a walk.
So what now?
Roberts sounded as if the only relievers he trusted were his starters. He said Tyler Glasnow and Emmet Sheehan would be in the bullpen for Game 2.
Glasnow was last used as a reliever in 2018. He’s never pitched out of the bullpen in the postseason.
Sheehan has pitched in relief in only five of 28 career games. He has only one career save, and that was in a four-inning appearance in a blowout.
The Dodgers have contemplated deploying Shohei Ohtani out of the bullpen. They could also have other starting pitchers such as Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Snell pitch in relief instead of throwing scheduled bullpen sessions between starts.
The team’s highest-ceiling late-inning option could be Roki Sasaki, who struck out two batters in each of the two one-inning appearances he made in the final week of the regular season.
Read more:Dodgers open playoffs with displays of dominance and disorder in win over Reds
But outside of Ohtani, who closed out the championship game of the most recent World Baseball Classic, can any of these starters really be counted on to perform in unfamiliar roles?
Will Yamamoto and Snell really be unaffected in their starts if they also pitch in relief?
It’s unclear.
But what is clear is the Dodgers can’t wait around for the likes of Tanner Scott or Blake Treinen or anyone who pitched in the eighth inning on Tuesday to magically round into form as Friedman envisions. They have to try something new.
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Sonay Kartal pulls off biggest win of career to stun world No 5 Mirra Andreeva
Victory in Beijing sees Briton reach quarter-finals
Jannik Sinner clinches his third title of 2025
Sonay Kartal put together the best performance of her burgeoning career to outlast the world No 5 Mirra Andreeva across three gruelling sets, winning 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 after two hours and 25 minutes to reach her first WTA 1000 quarter-final at the China Open.
The victory in Beijing marks Kartal’s first defeat of a top 10 opponent, a statement result as she rises up the rankings. Standing at just 5ft 4in (163cm) in a sport dominated by strong, imposing athletes, one of the most common questions surrounding Kartal’s career has been whether her game is too underpowered to trouble the elite. The Briton’s efforts on Wednesday provided a convincing answer to those questions.
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