ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 22: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 and Mauricio Dubón #14 of the Atlanta Braves celebrate in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Truist Park on September 22, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While the Braves are taking a very passive approach to their pitching this weekend in order to best align for next week’s wild-card series at Truist Park, the lineup is being kept in top condition.
For Game 1 of its final regular-season series at Miami (Friday at 7:10 EDT), Atlanta is using a lineup that could very resemble the one it opens the postseason with next Tuesday.
Drake Baldwin leads off and will be the designated hitter against a right-handed starter, while Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and Michael Harris II round out the top four in the order. Mauricio Dubón will hit fifth and play shortstop, while Sean Murphy is catching and hitting ninth.
No one on the Marlins’ active roster has ever faced Braves starter Ray Kerr. But that shouldn’t matter a ton as he’s unlikely to go much past one time through the order before the bullpen game continues with a variety of arms in use.
The Braves have had quite a bit of success against Marlins starter Eury Pérez. They’re a combined 27-for-71 (.380) against the right-hander with four homers, six doubles and 15 RBIs, walking six times and striking out 16.
Ronald Acuña Jr., Drake Baldwin, Michael Harris II, Austin Riley and Dominic Smith are all hitting over .400 against Pérez in a small sample size of nine or fewer at-bats. Baldwin has two of the four Braves’ homers off of Pérez with a sterling 1.111 slugging percentage in the matchup.
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 9: Dereck Lively II #2 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 9, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As much excitement and potential as this year’s version of the Dallas Mavericks has, there are also many questions that will determine just how high the team’s ceiling can be in 2026-27. One of the biggest questions involves just how healthy Dereck Lively II is. After having an incredible rookie year that ended up in a trip to the 2024 NBA Finals, the fourth-year big man has been battling foot injuries ever since.
During Mavs Media Day on Friday morning, Lively gave Mavs fans an update on how he’s feeling and how his offseason recovery has gone.
“Everything’s been great,” Lively said. “It’s been a lot of focus, a lot of days in the gym, a lot of hard days working. It’s been ups and downs. Trying to keep my focus on what I can control, not worry about things I can’t keep out of my control, and just having trust in my team, having trust in the people around me, my doctors, and the people who support me.”
During every NBA Media Day, there’s always a lot of buzz about certain guys getting taller or adding more muscle. That was the case in Dallas on Friday when it comes to the height of reigning 19-year-old Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, who is now reportedly 6-10 without shoes on. Lively, who is still just 22 years old, was asked if he’s grown a little bit as well.
“Who knows? I feel taller than everybody. I feel like that’s had to change. I know I’ve definitely put on some size. I’ve definitely put on a good amount of muscle,” Lively said. “I feel like I’ve been trying to lose as much body fat as possible, trying to stay in the right shape, no matter if that’s me on the bike, me riding the treadmill, me swimming. That’s definitely been a big change in my routine. So just doing whatever I can to make sure I keep my body right and keep my mind right.”
The biggest question for Lively, though, is: when will he be ready to get on the court again? It’s a good sign that he’s no longer in a walking boot that he seemed to be in forever over the summer, but according to a report from ESPN’s Tim MacMahon earlier this week, Lively still hasn’t been cleared for training camp yet. Lively was asked about his injury timeline on Friday, and here’s what he had to say.
“I’m happy where I am. I’m very grateful to the team for just giving me the ability to just take my time, make sure I’m doing everything right, and making sure I’m taking care of my body,” Lively said. “I’ve been running on the treadmill, been practicing jumps, been slowly getting back on the court, getting my shots up, making sure I’m still confident in my shot, and just being part of the team. Having everybody around the team, no matter if it’s the trainers, the medical staff, the team, the coaches. It’s been great just to have everybody around, having the energy again … It’s been a great time to be back with the team.”
Although Lively’s foot health is concerning, he deserves to be able to take as much time as he needs to make sure he gets 100 percent right again before stepping foot on the court. That’s the least the Mavs can do for him, given the malpractice that took place with the previous front office regime when it came to his injury management.
Adric from Coors Field | Michael Elizondo / True Blue LA
As the Dodgers embark on their final series of the regular season, let us revisit the last series where both the Dodgers won and Shohei Ohtani had an RBI, which happened to be with my mother in Denver.
We’ve had a lot of fun this year, and the campaign flew by.
Before I knew it, it was over. I’m so glad you stopped to smell the pine tar with me along the way.
As an aside, Mom and a friend of mine from law school will be joining us for the penultimate game of the year.
Rocky Mountain High
Denver was the first stop on my second circuit around the league. Ultimately, a lot of people sleep on Denver, and they really shouldn’t, as it’s a lovely ballpark. The tour of the facilities confirmed that.
Also, on the Tour, I learned that the visiting team does not have a kitchen and thus has to order all meals while playing. Afterward, the Rockies pick up and pay for the orders, and get reimbursed once the visiting team leaves. Coors Field is surrounded by restaurants with its own plaza and hotel across the street from left field.
The main delicacy of Coors Field is the Rocky Mountain Oyster, a deep-fried, breaded bull’s testicle. I meant to try it during this visit, but I found my stomach was not agreeing with me after trying some of the local restaurants. For once, I decided that discretion was the better part of valor.
Now, did Hunter Feduccia become ill during Game 2 of the series because he had a Rocky Mountain Oyster or had a bad reaction to Denver takeout? I have no earthly idea; sadly, I’m not a credentialed reporter, so the big questions like this one get unanswered while everyone focuses on why Kyle Tucker dropped that fly ball.
Considering the follies that arose from our choice of hotel in Los Angeles in 2025, Mom finally listened to me and was willing to split and splurge on The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square.
The hotel was quite nice, and the service was excellent, but it was a little pricey for my budget. Yes, the convenience of just walking out the left field gate only to be right at the hotel is amazing when the weather is muggy and/or you are surrounded by fans.
The Mountain Ranch Bar and Grille is an interesting option if you want to eat at a buffet in the ballpark, overlooking batting practice. Again, best views are the effectively closed-off areas of the ballpark that open up two hours before first pitch.
Mom enjoyed herself both at the games and on the tour. Sometimes there is the temptation to try and make more of experiences than what they were at face value.
Sometimes a ballgame is just that, and I continue to remain grateful for the company.
But there are times one has to admit a personal truth, and if you are indifferent to me venturing into foul territory for a bit, you can stop right here.
No longer walking the line
I need to make a confession. For five years, I have steadfastly said that I walk that line between serious journalist and hardcore fan. But that sentence isn’t true anymore.
The cost of experience is wonder. At some point, I learned too much, experienced too much, and I somehow became more journalist than fan. I don’t know when it happened, but I do know when I realized it happened; the fact that this change did happen is noteworthy.
For most of my life, you could define a significant portion of my personality by my fandom of the Dodgers.
26 years ago, I attended a summer program at UCLA for business students. I had no desire to go into business, but I needed to do something to pad out my transcript as an underachieving A-student from a rural Central Valley town that I was desperate to get away from.
The highlight of the program was an outing at Dodger Stadium on July 20, 2000, where the Dodgers were set to face the Colorado Rockies. Before the game, I had cornered some Fox/Dodger executive, and I was peppering him with questions as I was genuinely thrilled to be there.
I fully admit that I have an awkward social manner, and it was much worse when I was younger. And maybe he was having a bad day. I think his last name was Chase, but I wouldn’t testify to it. Anyway, he blew his stack at me loudly, wondering why I didn’t just grow up, and finished his rant by saying, “It’s just a job, man. Grow up.”
I felt like I had been slapped. I must have looked crestfallen. The room went quiet. I apologized meekly, went to finish my dinner, and the silence of the room was broken up by Gary Sheffield hitting a first-inning homer.
Who says that my life lacks poetry? But the moment was transformative, as public humiliation often is. In some ways, I grew up.
17-year-old me would be appalled at that sentence. 43-year-old me, who has literally been around the world to cover this team and to every MLB ballpark to watch this team, would think I’m being ridiculous.
I’m not bona fide. And that’s okay.
Apart from some of the sponsored posts (…don’t stop, I need the money…), I have been proud of everything I have created during these five seasons.
I try not to revel in being right, because when I’m wrong, oh Lord, do I miss the mark.
As I described above, when I realized I was more journalist than fan at this point was when I told Melissa Myer of the podcast Talk Dodgers to Me that at some point, I became an actual journalist and columnist by feeling vindication about being right about the Dodgers’ handling of Ohtani. She was moderately appalled at my vindication.
Ms. Myer is adamant that she is always fans first, and her podcast with Jaclyn Ruiz reflects that approach. The lineup of people who have gone on, including players, broadcasters, and other luminaries, is impressive. It’s hard not to feel a little envy when I have to kick and scream to be noticed on even minor topics. You won’t see hard topics on that podcast, but if you want to indulge your inner fan, have at it.
I realized I know too much. I have spent too much time on the figurative slaughterhouse floor watching how the sausage gets made. I have no problem calling things as they are, including any health code violations in this metaphor, and having a Greek salad afterward.
When Eric Stephen hired me five years ago, he gave me one directive: write about the interesting stuff.
I had it in my head that somehow finishing the circuit and finishing five seasons would somehow confer clout or status on me. As if the heavens would part, and there would be some deeper meaning to all this with Stephen Nelson and Orel Hershiser saying “attaboy.”
It didn’t. At least, not yet, which may not help with the deflating delusions of grandeur.
More folks say hello to me when I’m on the road, which is both neat and confusing.
Dad’s final words to me were that he loved me and a request to have fun. He never got to see Ohtani as a Dodger, or Ohtani’s Perfect Day in Miami, or The Fifth Inning, or my madcap romp to Toronto last year. As I said at the beginning of the year, when you literally experience a high that cannot be topped, one either has to come to terms with it or go mad seeking a repeat.
I got to goof on the road with people I like, respect, or both. I was an accidental witness to some of the best moments in recent Dodger history. I had fun. Originally, this essay was going to be an “Adric’s Retiring” post, but he’s not. I still have four more Guide entries to write, and he’s featured in all of them. Plus, the first question from Mom would be “Where’s Adric?” if I kept him at home.
It’s not the end, even though no one is guaranteed a tomorrow; it’s just the end of the beginning. For this next act, there will likely be more of me, rather than our unofficial mascot. It’s scary, but it’s good and, in some ways, long overdue. That’s the fun part about the second trip around the circuit; there’s absolutely no rush to complete it in a hurry.
So until next time, once more into the breach, my friends.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 04, 2026 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Orioles 12-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is it. The final series of the 2026 Orioles season. And we’ll knock out two of the three games in one fell swoop as the O’s and Yankees play a doubleheader today.
Because of this weekend’s impending nor’easter, Saturday’s scheduled game was moved up to this afternoon, giving the Orioles their second straight doubleheader. Wednesday’s twin bill against the Blue Jays went very well indeed, with a pair of 4-2 O’s wins to sweep Toronto out of the postseason race, and now the Birds will try to repeat the feat against a Yanks team that has nothing to play for. The Yankees’ postseason spot is already secure, as the first wild card winner and #4 overall seed, so they’ll likely be resting most of their regulars this weekend to prepare for Tuesday’s Wild Card Series against the Red Sox.
The Orioles, who were eliminated by the White Sox win yesterday, also don’t have anything to play for, although they could finish the season with a .500 record if they sweep the three-game series. That’s something! But not really.
Trevor Rogers takes the mound in the opener, making what could be the final start of his Orioles career, a thought that makes me sad. After a sluggish start to the season, he’s been fantastic since the start of June, posting a 2.92 ERA and looking more like the 2025 Most Valuable Oriole version of himself. In his last start, he racked up 10 strikeouts and gave up just one run in eight innings, but still got the loss because the Orioles’ offense is dumb. To quote John Malkovich from Rounders: Pay that man his money.
The first game begins at 4:05, and the nightcap will begin about a half hour after the first one ends (but no earlier than 7:05). Brandon Young will start the second game. This thread will be the place to discuss both games.
Game 1 lineups
Orioles:
RF Dylan Beavers 1B Pete Alonso SS Gunnar Henderson DH Coby Mayo 3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand CF Colton Cowser 2B Jeremiah Jackson LF Christian Franklin C Carlos Narváez
LHP Trevor Rogers
Yankees:
1B Paul Goldschmidt DH Ben Rice LF Heliot Ramos RF Amed Rosario SS George Lombard Jr. CF Spencer Jones 3B Anthony Volpe C Ali Sánchez 2B José Caballero
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 29: Brendan Beck #89 of the New York Yankees pitches during the second game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on August 29, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Expected inclement weather of Saturday led to the Yankees and Orioles moving around their weekend regular season finale and playing two games today on Friday. Today’s opener will feature the CC Sabathia number retirement ceremony that was originally set for tomorrow. After that pomp and circumstance, the Yankees and O’s will get their three game set going.
In the first of today’s games, the Yankees will give the start to Brendan Beck, who was just called up alongside Yerry De los Santos with Luis Gil and Bradley Hanner farmed out last night. So far, Beck has made three MLB appearances since debuting earlier this season. He has an 8.22 ERA in 7.2 innings, including five runs allowed in 3.2 innings back on July 4th, which was his first career MLB start. Between the playoffs coming up and today now being a doubleheader, the Yankees more than anything will be hoping he can soak up some innings.
Backing up him, the Yankees will be running out their lefty lineup, sending out Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario. Ali Sánchez will be behind the plate before switching with Austin Wells for the nightcap.
With the lefty lineup starting, the Yankees will be facing, as you might guess, a lefty. Trevor Rogers will be going for Baltimore. He has a 4.07 ERA in 165.2 innings this season. This could be his last start with the Orioles after a very up-and-down tenure that began at the 2024 Trade Deadline, as he is a free agent at season’s end.
We hope that you’ll come join us in the game thread for all of today’s action, so here’s how to watch the opener today.
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY
First pitch: 4:05 p.m. ET
TV broadcast: YES (NYY) | MASN (BAL)
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | 98 Rock 97.9 FM, WBAL 1090 AM (BAL)
The Warriors might not have made many moves this offseason, but they made the most important one on Friday evening.
Golden State signed superstar point guard Steph Curry agreed to a contract extension, the team announced.
A true legend of the Bay, here to stay.
The Golden State Warriors have signed four-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry to a contract extension. pic.twitter.com/hhjygBvN0Q
The new deal is for two years, $116 million and includes a player option for the 2028-29 NBA season, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday, citing sources.
BREAKING: Golden State’s Stephen Curry has agreed on a two-year, $116 million contract extension with the franchise, with a player option in 2028-29, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/KSdyNDCsRx
Curry became eligible for an extension of up to two years and $136.7 million on Aug. 29 coming off his current one-year, $62.6 million expiring deal. But he took $20 million less to continue his career in the Bay.
After the Warriors missed the playoffs following an up-and-down 2025-26 season, there was speculation, as there always is, that Curry could look elsewhere and be more competitive as he reaches the tail end of his career.
But the speculation was just that, as the two-time NBA MVP will continue in Year 18 with the only NBA team he’s known.
And, like the rest of the team, he could return with a vengeance.
Curry missed nearly 30 games over two months dealing with runner’s knee. His co-star, Jimmy Butler, also dealt with his own injury, although it was a season-ending ACL injury in January.
There is strong belief within the organization that had Curry and Butler not been injured, the Warriors’ 2025-26 season would have ended much differently.
But the past is the past. Curry and his Dubs now are focused on the present and getting back to the top of the West.
Last season, Curry averaged 26.6 points on 46.8-percent shooting from the field and 39.3 percent from 3-point range, with 3.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 34 minutes through 43 games.
With NBA training camps opening up next week, news around the league is starting to pick up. While a lot of it is the standard signing of players to Exhibit 10 deals then releasing them — targeting said player for the franchise's G League team — there is some other news of note, here are the highlights.
Grizzlies release D’Angelo Russell
Memphis has a roster crunch, with 19 players on standard contracts heading into camp, but only 15 can make the opening roster. Cuts are coming.
D'Angelo Russell is the first one, the team announced Friday. This was expected around the league, it had been reported back in July that the Grizzlies were working with Russell to find a trade to a new home for him. That didn't work out, so they waived him, and it was done early enough for Russell to find a new home before the season starts. Russell had a $5.9 million contract for this season that the Grizzlies will likely eat (they could waive and stretch it to lessen the per-year hit, but they are under the salary cap as it is and can afford to just pay it now).
Russell played 26 games for the Mavericks last season, averaging 10.2 points and four assists per game. Dallas traded him to Washington as part of the Anthony Davis trade, but Russell worked it out with the Wizards and never reported there. This offseason, the Wizards traded Russell to Memphis, which has now released him.
Latest on Mavs bigs Powell, Lively
We have a couple of updates on the Dallas Mavericks big man front.
First, and as expected, the Mavericks have signed Dwight Powell to return to the team, something first reported by Marc Stein. Powell, 35, has played the last 12 seasons in Dallas, and while he doesn't have a huge impact on the court — 3.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 63 appearances last season — his real value to a young team is as a mentor who shows players how to be professional. This contract is only guaranteed for $500,000 until he makes the opening night roster, Powell will have to stay healthy to get paid.
Dallas may need Powell at the start of the season because center Dereck Lively has not yet been medically cleared, reports Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Lively played in just seven games for Dallas last season before undergoing foot surgery last December. If he can get healthy, he would be an interesting fit next to Cooper Flagg.
Cooper Flagg card sets record
While we're on the topic of Mavericks star, the Cooper Flagg Topps Rookie Debut Patch Card has officially sold through Fanatics Collect's September Premier Auction for $8.04 million. The auction drew 83 bids over the two-week process.
BREAKING: The Cooper Flagg NBA Debut Patch autograph card has officially sold in our auction for $8,040,000.
This sets the record for the most expensive Cooper Flagg card of all time, surpassing the previous record of $366,000.
New York Islanders' Pierre Engvall pursues New York Rangers' Alberts Smits during the second period at UBS Arena, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y.
When the Rangers routed the Islanders 6-1 on Friday in their preseason finale, it served as “the closest thing to a full lineup that we’ve had of any of the exhibition games to this point,” head coach Mike Sullivan.
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And that means that fourth-line winger Matt Rempe and rookie defenseman Alberts Smits are seemingly in the driver’s seat for the final two spots for the Blueshirts’ opening-night group. Nothing will become official until the Rangers make their final cuts by Monday, but the scene at UBS Arena that essentially served as a dress rehearsal was telling. Rempe was with the fourth line and picked up an assist on Tye Kartye’s goal in the second period.
Smits skated with Braden Schneider and logged 18:18 of ice time.
While Sullivan didn’t provide many hints about the final calls, he said that Smits — drafted No. 5 overall in June — has “certainly made a compelling argument through his play that he’s capable of playing in the NHL.” Smits impressed Sullivan with his physicality and sharp passing as an 18-year-old, but similar to the Rangers’ call with Gabe Perreault last training camp, when they sent him to AHL Hartford, they want to ensure that Smits can be an impactful player on their roster.
New York Islanders’ Pierre Engvall pursues New York Rangers’ Alberts Smits during the second period at UBS Arena, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“It’d mean a lot,” Smits said postgame when asked what it’d mean to make the roster, while leaving the decision as to whether he’s done enough up to the coaches and saying that he has to show daily that he’s ready to make the jump.
The presence of Rempe alongside Tye Kartye and Joe Veleno continued the trend throughout training camp of the 6-foot-9 forward settling back in after being limited to just 26 games last year. He underwent two procedures on his left thumb, limiting what he could contribute with his stick. Rempe would need to clear waivers too, while Jaroslav Chmelar can get assigned without the risk of being picked up by another team.
New York Rangers’ Alberts Smits pursues New York Islanders’ Mitchell Chaffee (26) during the second period at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Rempe knew entering training camp that he had a lot to prove, said he “wants to be here bad” and then collected eight hits during the Rangers’ preseason game against the Devils on Thursday. And Sullivan, who reiterated that Rempe simply needs to play games, said Friday that the 24-year-old can be more than someone capable of fights and a few hits.
“I think he has to be,” Sullivan said. “When you look at the nature of how the game’s being played today, if a player, if their value is only in their ability to fight, how many fights does the average NHL fighter get in the course of a season? Half a dozen?
“So if he’s only gonna make an impact five or six times a year … you would all say that there needs to be other elements to a player’s game. And I think Remps brings other elements.”
Igor Shesterkin made 15 saves and nearly delivered a preseason shutout against an Islanders team of mostly AHL players before Pierre Engvall’s shot beat him with just over eight minutes left. … Perreault, Oliver Bjorkstrand, J.T. Miller, Will Cuylle and Mika Zibanejad scored the Rangers’ other five goals. … Nathan Aspinall, Liam Greentree, Drew Fortescue, Cole Beaudoin, Jackson Dorrington and Carey Terrance were all assigned to the Wolf Pack. Anton Blidh, Marc Del Gaizo, Glenn Gawdin and William Trudeau were placed on waivers, according to multiple reports.
With just one preseason game left to play, the Philadelphia Flyers have all but decided on their final 23-player roster ahead of the start of the regular season.
On Friday, the Flyers announced four more cuts to their training camp roster, sending surging prospects Jett Luchanko and Cole Knuble back to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, alongside power forward Jacob Gaucher and top defense prospect Oliver Bonk.
The Flyers' current roster now stands at 26 players, and they need only make three more cuts to finalize their roster ahead of opening night.
For Knuble and Luchanko, it is a bit of a shame, as Knuble had two goals and an assist in his three preseason games with the Flyers, while Luchanko recorded an assist in each of his three preseason games, too.
This is the unfortunate result of a numbers game for both players, though this was a decision largely made in the best interest of Luchanko's development ahead of time, too.
In an offseason Q&A with The Hockey News, Danny Briere had already strongly indicated that Luchanko would spent the season in the AHL with the Phantoms unless he had clearly established himself as one of the Flyers' 12 best forwards.
With Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, Noah Cates, and Sean Couturier all still ahead of him in the pecking order at the center position, Luchanko will spend the season in the AHL until if and when the injury bug strikes.
Jett Luchanko recorded an assist in all three of his preseason appearances for the Flyers. (Photo: Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
At the same time, Bonk was not especially impressive in the preseason and made a few uncharacteristic mistakes that undermined his standout hockey IQ, his top trait as a pro player.
That's fine, though, as Bonk hasn't even played a full professional season yet after missing the start of last year due to injury. The Flyers will be happy to let him marinate for another year.
Projecting Flyers' final cuts
So, the Flyers have three more cuts to make, and they are all fairly obvious moves, depending on the health of the rest of the team.
Prospect Aleksei Kolosov, the Flyers' de facto No. 3 goalie, remains on the roster with Dan Vladar temporarily on the shelf with an upper-body injury.
If and when Vladar is healthy, Kolosov will return to the Phantoms and reprise his role as their starting goalie, working with Carson Bjarnason as his backup.
On defense, Helge Grans remains on the roster for now after suffering a lower-body injury in Thursday night's 2-0 preseason win over the Boston Bruins.
Grans played his best game of the preseason in the brief 1:29 he skated for before exiting with a dubious injury, and he will require waivers to be assigned to the AHL. Perhaps the Flyers are waiting until other teams all make their cuts at the same time to reduce the chance Grans is claimed.
Veteran tough guy Garrett Wilson remains as the one notable AHL player yet to be cut by the Flyers; Wilson fought Dylan McIlrath in the Flyers' first preseason game against the Capitals, and that's been about it for him since then.
And, in the event the Flyers need roster flexibility, Carl Grundstrom already cleared waivers earlier this week, which protects him for the next 10 games he plays or for the next 30 days on the roster, whichever comes first. Then, he'll need to clear waivers again.
Knuble and Luchanko were the two toughest remaining cuts for the Flyers, and now that the decision has been made, the Flyers' NHL roster ahead of opening night is virtually set in place.
The end of the line for a future Major League Baseball Hall of Famer comes on Saturday afternoon in Detroit.
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander will make his final career start for the Tigers in a celebratory day against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 43-year-old righty pitched only one game in March this season due to left hip inflammation and a left hamstring strain, hampering an emotional return to Detroit.
Verlander was one of the most dominant pitchers baseball has seen over the last 50 years, totaling a career 81.8 WAR, 266 wins, and a 3.33 ERA.
He’s a member of the 3,000-strikeout club and ranks eighth all time with 3,554 punchouts in 21 seasons.
Verlander won the Cy Young in 2011, 2019, and 2022, the latter two with the Houston Astros.
A two-time World Series champion with Houston in 2017 and 2022, Verlander still consistently threw upper-90s with his fastball and was the Astros’ ace during two historic runs in the playoffs
The 2006 AL Rookie of the Year also won the ERA title twice, won the pitcher Triple Crown in 2011, and was a 10-time All-Star selection. Rob Manfred named Verlander an honorary All-Star for the game in Philadelphia this past summer.
Pirates manager Don Kelly told me he will not take it easy on his former team mate Justin Verlander when he pitches for the final time tomorrow. Hear the full interview in the comments! pic.twitter.com/apvqAjvOFg
The 2011 AL MVP pitched one of the most incredible seasons of all time, leading the AL in WAR (8.6), starts (34), wins (24), innings (251), ERA (2.40), ERA+ (172), WHIP (0.92), and strikeouts (250).
Verlander told AJ Pierzynski of Foul Territory that he’s going to throw “until my arm falls off” in his final appearance. The Tigers are honoring Verlander on Friday and giving away Verlander bobbleheads to fans coming to watch the Detroit great.
First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. as baseball says goodbye to one of the game’s all-time great pitchers.
While LeBron’s Lakers tenure didn’t end in the way fans had imagined, he still brought the franchise a championship.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the first half of a basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Brooklyn, N.Y. Noah K. Murray-NY Post
But Los Angeles didn’t get to celebrate that championship in the way teams and cities get to every other season. James revealed he’s still upset about this during an episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast that was released on Friday.
“I still think about like not being able to do the parade. That bothers me,” James said when reflecting on the championship he won in 2020. Los Angeles wasn’t able to have a championship parade due to the COVID pandemic.
“Like, [on a scale of] 1 to 10 [on how much it bothers me]: 20… It would have been super duper dope, man,” James added.
LeBron James, owner of Team AlUla, looks on during the E1 Series Luanda GP in Luanda, Angola, Sept. 13, 2026. Getty Images
James spoke glowingly of his time with the Lakers and the franchise during the podcast. At one point, he said, “When I came to the Lakers, [a lot of people said] I was just coming to be in Hollywood and do movies. But I’ve always loved a huge challenge, and to come to a historical franchise that has some of the greatest basketball players that we’ve ever seen in the history of sports. To be a part of that one was like a super duper big thing to me. It was super cool and humbling at the same time.”
He later added, “The expectations around here in Los Angeles when it comes to the Lakers is like, ‘Let’s win championships.’ And I heard that, and I understood that. And for us to be able to win one, that was something I would never forget. [To win] with that group, with that team, for this city.”
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is on the court during the third quarter of a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
Regardless of how fans feel about James taking his talents to Philadelphia, he did more than enough to earn a standing ovation from his former franchise and fan base when the 76ers come to Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided some updates ahead of the team’s doubleheader against the Orioles…
No Lagrange
Consider any talk of Carlos Lagrange joining the Yanks shut down.
Boone said that the righty could potentially be an option down the road, but he isn't on their radar at the moment.
“It’s not real,” the skipper emphasized. “He had an injury and he’s just starting to throw lives again, he threw one just two days ago, so he’s not in play right now.”
Lagrange was expected to get a shot in the Yankees’ bullpen during the second half, before being diagnosed with a capsular sprain of the right shoulder in late-June.
After a six-week shutdown he returned to throw an inning down in Triple-A last week.
The 23-year-old has put together a bit of an up-and-down season when healthy, pitching to a 4.48 ERA while striking out 85 batters across just 64.1 Triple-A innings.
Weathers on the mend
While the Yanks won’t be adding Lagrange, they appear to be close to getting another big piece back from injury.
Boone said that Ryan Weathers looked healthy, touching up to 96 mph on his fastball while throwing a one-inning simulated game in the Bronx on Friday afternoon.
Boone wasn’t ready to fully commit to the left-hander being ready for the Wild Card round, but it’s certainly another encouraging step in the right direction.
“He looked like Ryan stuff-wise,” he said. “He was a little scattered there in his inning, but from my vantage-point on the side his stuff looked good, look forward to flushing it out a bit.”
Weathers has been sidelined since late-August due to a left forearm flexor strain.
Though there was big concern at the time, the Yanks have always expected him to be back contributing in some capacity before the season comes to a close.
Rodon in the pen?
It appears Carlos Rodon could potentially be joining Weathers in the Yankees' bullpen.
With the team only needed three starting pitching for the Wild Card series, we should expect to see some mixing-and-matching with the pitching staff.
Cam Schlittler, Gerrit Cole, and Max Fried will obviously be their three starters.
New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
With that in mind, Boone said that Rodon is "very much in the conversation" to work out of the bullpen if needed during the three-game series with the Red Sox.
The left-hander has been tremendous for the Yanks since returning from another injury, allowing two runs or less in each of his last seven outings of the season.
He’s made just five relief appearances over his 12-year big-league career.
Stanton making the cut?
Giancarlo Stanton was one of the batters who dug into the box to face Weathers during his sim game.
Stanton has been sidelined since late April due to continued calf trouble, but Boone recently told reporters that he’s knocking on the door at a return.
So, what exactly would it take for him to be an option in the WC round?
“A lot of that comes down to how many position players we decide to go with,” Boone explained. “Those are the conversations we'll be having over the next couple of days -- we’ll talk to G and see where he’s at physically and mentally, and then we’ll do the best we can to make the right decision.”
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates winning the National League East title after a game against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Joe Buvid/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’ve reached the final weekend of the season and the 2026 NL East champion Atlanta Braves have officially locked themselves into the three-seed and will be starting their Postseason journey at home in the Wild Card Series.
What we already know
We do know what day these games are going to be played but we still don’t know the time. Game 1 will take place on Tuesday, September 29, Game 2 will be on Wednesday, September 30 and if it comes down to it, Game 3 will be on Thursday, October 1. If the Braves can get through the Wild Card Series then they’ll have at least one day of rest before jetting off to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers for another Postseason series.
We know that all of the games during the Wild Card Series will be airing on NBC/Peacock, so keep that in mind once we get closer to the event. We also know that since the Braves are in the three-seed, they’ll be hosting the series and hopefully that’ll turn into a serious advantage for the Braves during this particular Postseason run. If you’d rather hear the home slant on things, then you can mute the TV and turn on 680 The Fan so you can listen to Ben Ingram do play-by-play on the Braves Radio Network. Again, if you can’t stand the National broadcasts then I highly recommend going down that route during the Postseason run.
We know that the pitching will be a bit of a mystery after the first two games of the Wild Card Series. Chris Sale is very likely going to get the ball for Game 1 and I’d imagine that Tyler Mahle has pitched his way into being the Game 2 starter. After that, it’s anybody’s guess. It likely would’ve been Martín Pérez but unfortunately he’s been sidelined with a back injury. Bryce Elder would’ve been the next candidate, but he’s down while recovering from a procedure being done on his knee. It could be Grant Holmes or it could very well be a bullpen game — and we’ll have to see what the state of the bullpen is in after the first two games of the Wild Card Series.
So based off of that, we know that the Braves are very likely going to want to get this Wild Card Series done as soon as possible, as a third game could potentially throw everything into flux as far as Game 1 of the NLDS goes.
What we don’t know yet
We still don’t know when the Braves are going to be playing these games during their dates and we likely won’t know until the season ends. When it comes to the timing of these games, I’d have to imagine that maybe geography would play a role and that the Padres would get the “late” game if they host a Wild Card Series. I’d also guess that the Cubs would get a primetime slot no matter what, so I’m going to speculate that the Braves could be looking at a late afternoon/early evening slot for their Wild Card games. I have no clue how that’s going to shake out, so don’t hold me on that one.
We don’t know who the Braves will be facing during the Wild Card Series. We do know that it’ll likely be one of the Padres, Cubs, Phillies or Diamondbacks — and yes, the Diamondbacks are still alive after they’ve won five-straight games and there is a scenario where Arizona gets in and Philadelphia misses out. It’s a long-shot for the D-Backs but it’s still possible.
We don’t know the official rosters just yet but it’s pretty safe to assume that the usual suspects will be there. It’s only a matter of them staying healthy from now until the series begins and also filling out the edges of the roster. Will JR Ritchie make it onto the roster? Is DaShawn Keirsey Jr. going to play the Terrance Gore-type role as a crucial pinch-running option? Will the Braves load up on piggyback options to supplement their bullpen? It will be very fascinating to figure out how the rest of the roster gets filled out.
There are still a few questions to be answered but overall, the Postseason picture is starting to come into full focus. I’d imagine it’ll get clearer and clearer as the weekend progresses but for now, the Braves are in a pleasant holding pattern as they wait for their Postseason journey to begin. Let’s see what happens, folks.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 10: The San Diego Padres mascot Swinging Friar and the mother version of swinging Friar pose on the field for Mother's Day before the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park on May 10, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the third season out of four, the Diamondbacks playoff hopes hinge on the final weekend of the series. Of the two other final weekends, one worked out, one didn’t. Tiebreaker time, I guess. This season, like in 2024, they come in without any control over their own destiny, this time needing the Phillies to lose at least twice, while they need to win two.
Neither side has it easy this weekend. The Phillies are going home to face the AL West winning Tampa Bay Rays, while the Diamondbacks have to go on the road to face the hottest team in baseball, the San Diego Padres. No pressure boys. On the other hand, the Padres locked up their Wild Card spot last night with a win against the Dodgers and now only have positioning left to play for.
Because of that, you’ll find that the Padres have not announced any of their pitchers yet. They get the luxury of moving their pitchers around and putting their best foot forward going into the playoffs. The Diamondbacks get no such luxury. They’ll play the cards they’ve been given and hope for the best.
Game 1 — 9/25, 6:40 PM: Brandon Pfaadt (1.7 bWAR, 7-3, 3.72 ERA/112 ERA+, 1.16 WHIP) vs TBD
Pfaadt is coming off a 4 1/3 inning outing against the Yankees where he only gave up one run. It was his shortest outing since returning to the rotation, but also his most successful since he went four starts and only gave up one run between them. You’ll see a similarly short leash in this outing, as Lovullo will be more than willing to get into the bullpen to avoid the One Big Inning.
Game 2 — 9/26, 5:40 PM: Corbin Burnes (-0.3 bWAR, 0-0, 7.84 ERA/55 ERA+, 9.00) vs TBD
Expect Corbin Burnes to be on the same short leash, if not even shorter. He hasn’t been stellar since returning from the injured list, nor does he seem to be getting stretched out. After throwing three scoreless in his initial return, he gave up five in 4 2/3 and then 4 in 2 2/3. The most startling number out of that is the five home runs he gave up in those two starts. It all comes down to him not having the feel for the control of his pitches. Evey analyst and former pitcher says that’s the last thing to come back after Tommy John Surgery and Burnes’ recovery is making that very clear.
Game 3 — 9/27, 12:10 PM: Michael Soroka (2.2 bWAR, 9-5, 3.31 ERA/126 ERA+, 1.08 WHIP) vs TBD
If you had told me at the start of the season that it would all rest on the final series of the season, and the final game of that final series would be started by Michael Soroka and I’d be okay with that, I don’t think I would have believed you. It’s almost like the people that are paid to put together baseball teams know more than me… No that can’t be it. Anyway, Soroka has had a great season, one of the very best in his career, and if it comes down to the final game, the starting pitcher will not be my concern.
Conclusion
Well, sorry, I spoiled the conclusion at the start of the article. It all comes down to this. Not a whole lot more to add, other than a reminder. After Sunday, we don’t know when the next Diamondbacks game will be. Make sure to take some time this weekend to enjoy it, even if it doesn’t go the way we’re all hoping it does. It’s going to be an especially long, cold offseason.
I think they’ve got a chance to win this series. We won’t face the top of the Padres rotation, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see hitters and relievers get days off that they wouldn’t normally get. But the team has to execute. They’ve been playing solid baseball this week, and it’s paid off in the form of a five game winning streak. To have the very best chance of success, they have to see that winning streak go to eight games. It’s going to be a tall order, but… I think they can do it. Give ‘em hell, men. Go Dbacks!
San Diego Padres SP Casey Mize (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres have only three games remaining in what has been an unbelievable season. Rookie manager Craig Stammen has plenty of work ahead after securing a Wild Card berth.
Several players are fighting for postseason roster security. They all have a legitimate opportunity to make a strong impression in the last series of 2026.
Which Padres have the most to gain? Because cuts are coming.
Casey Mize
Since the trade deadline, the Friars have given Casey Mize every opportunity to secure the No. 3 position in the starting rotation. But his brief time in San Diego has been disappointing.
In nine starts, Mize has a 6.64 ERA and a 1.623 WHIP over 40.2 innings pitched. Yes, we have seen glimpses of greatness, most notably when Mize threw six shutout innings against the Cleveland Guardians in August. His struggles with the long ball have been a problem, as Mize has given up 10 home runs in the Brown & Gold.
The organization will discuss how many starting pitchers are needed on the Wild Card roster. In his final start, Mize must prove he can back up Michael King, Robbie Ray, and Walker Buehler if a postseason emergency arises.
He must let his pitching repertoire be his best defense. If Mize finishes the season with a strong outing, he has made a case for postseason roster consideration.
Samad Taylor
In June, the Padres needed a boost to their lethargic offense. The team promoted minor-league journeyman Samad Taylor, and he made an immediate impact with speed and timely hitting.
Taylor is not a liability at the plate. He is hitting .324 with a .821 OPS over 168 plate appearances. The one concern is his strikeout rate (25.0%), which is higher than the major league average (22.4%). However, he puts the ball in play, and if Taylor continues to produce, the Corona native has a strong chance of making the Wild Card roster.
His legs will be a major weapon in the postseason. With game-changing speed, Taylor will exploit pitchers who forget about him at first base. He has 10 stolen bases in 13 attempts. Taylor will be called upon as a pinch-runner to steal a base in close playoff games.
Let’s not forget that he is an above-average fielder at multiple positions. Taylor can play all three outfield positions and has spent some time at both middle infield positions. In fact, he has made several outstanding defensive plays in his limited time with San Diego.
Whenever he is in the lineup, Taylor showcases his talents by getting on base and stealing a base.
Speed is a valuable weapon in October.
David Morgan
David Morgan is not exactly having a stellar 2026 season. He has a 4.11 ERA in 29 appearances. However, Morgan has been lights-out since Sept. 9.
The Good Captain has allowed one earned run over 6.0 innings, striking out seven. The right-hander’s four-seam fastball has been devastating of late; Morgan has regained velocity (97 MPH) since his recent call-up. And let’s not forget that his curveball has added more than two inches of vertical movement heading to the plate.
Morgan is under consideration to work out of the bullpen in the Wild Card round. He may need a strong finish to the season. If Morgan can show that he is a multi-inning reliever, it gives Stammen another option out of the pen.
Jase Bowen
The Friars have an abundance of outfielders on the 40-man roster. The everyday lineup is set: Fernando Tatis Jr. patrols right field, Jackson Merril in center field, and Dustin Harris roams left field. Unfortunately, Jase Bowen’s postseason status remains up in the air.
His .152 batting average does not make him an ideal pinch-hitter off the bench. But Bowen’s ability to steal a base and his versatility to play anywhere in the field offer Stammen another option late in games.
The Padres may have room on the Wild Card round roster for another positional player if a starting pitcher is left off.
No decisions will be made until their opponent is set.
