Tuesday is the NHL's Frozen Frenzy, meaning all 32 teams will be in action throughout the day. The NHL has done this for the last three seasons and is doing it again this year.
The Penguins will face a Blackhawks team that has really struggled to start the year. They are 1-5-0 and have been outscored 26-12 in those six games. Defenseman Bowen Byram has also been rough to start his Blackhawks tenure after they acquired him during the offseason.
However, they'll get major help on Tuesday, as star forward Connor Bedard returns from offseason shoulder surgery. He's their best player by far and finished the 2025-26 season with 30 goals and 75 points in 69 games.
Forward Anton Frondell has been their best player to start the season, compiling one goal and four points in six games. This is his first full NHL season after making his debut last year, and he already looks the part.
Goaltender Spencer Knight is expected to start in goal for the Blackhawks, and he's coming off a stellar 2025-26 campaign. He saved 10.9 goals above expected, good for 14th among all NHL goaltenders last year, and finished with a .902 save percentage. The fact that he put up those numbers on one of the league's worst defensive teams is staggering.
As for the Penguins, Sergei Murashov will start in goal after having the night off on Saturday. He's been electric in his first two starts this year, posting a .938 save percentage and a 2.45 goals-against average.
Andrei Kuzmenko is expected to play after sitting out the previous two games. He'll likely start on the third line with Ben Kindel and Ville Koivunen.
Here's a look at the full expected lines and pairs:
Forwards
Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
Kuzmenko-Kindel-Koivunen
Dewar-Lizotte-Robertson
Defense
Carlile-Karlsson
Girard-Korczak
Stastney-Letang
Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
DAYTON, OH - MAY 29: Myles Smith #11 of the Dayton Dragons gives high fives in the dugout after scoring during the game between the West Michigan Whitecaps and the Dayton Dragons at Day Air Ballpark on Thursday, May 29, 2025 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Grace Hoppel/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
The 2026 regular season marked the fourth straight year that Major League Baseball has seen overall attendance rise. As Sports Business Journal noted at the end of September – coinciding with the end of the regular season itself – MLB teams averaged 29,601 fans per game through their 2,429 games, a mark that was up a half-percent year over year from 2025.
The Reds, though, saw their average attendance decline some 8.1% in one of the worst year over year declines, and at 24,589 per game they failed to top 2,000,000 million fans at all during 2026.
There are endless theories as to why the Reds stepped backwards. The obvious one is that they went from a team chasing a playoff spot (and eventually waltzing into it) to a team that collapsed early. There’s also the notion that ‘Reds Country’ is an expanse that depends upon the smaller metro areas an hour, two hours away that watch and listen and show up when the goings are good but ditch the idea of a six, or seven hour round trip to catch meaningless weekday games in August and September.
One place firmly entrenched within Reds country still perpetually finds a way to get in front of some incredibly sound baseball, however. Perhaps it’s the idea that the future of the Reds hasn’t yet been spoiled that draws them out on the regular, or perhaps it’s just that the minor league game that is played in their brilliant stadium is just simply a better overall product than what the Castellinis put on the field in Great American Ball Park year after year after year.
That, of course, is up the road in Dayton. Their Dragons drew in over 511,000 fans across the home slate of their regular season, and as Baseball America noted today that was the fourth most of any minor league club across the sport during the 2026 season.
The minor league baseball teams with the highest total home attendance in 2026 ⚾️
While that’s overly impressive in its own right, context is key here. Ranking in spots one through three on this list are all AAA clubs with significantly larger home stadiums, while only the Richmond Flying Squirrels (of the AA Eastern League and ranking seventh) join the Dragons as non-AAA clubs within the Top 10 in attendance overall.
And Richmond, you may recall, is a city that hosted AAA baseball for nearly 35 years before the Richmond Braves relocated to Gwinnett, Georgia.
It rarely matters how good the Dragons are to draw out their fans, either. Back in 2011 they famously broke the record for the most consecutive home game sellouts by a pro sports club y packing Day Air Ballpark for the 815th consecutive time, and the 2026 iteration of the Dragons only posted a 67-63 overall record. In other words, it’s not the winning that matters so much to the Dayton fans, it’s the baseball itself, especially since in the Midwest League they’re often viewing insanely talented prospects (such as Alfredo Duno for the first half of 2026) playing alongside and against 19 and 20 year olds who are about as un-finished as professionals as it gets.
Props to Dayton and Dragons fans for another year of incredible partnership. Maybe they can give the Reds themselves a few pointers!
District judge Ana Reyes halts tree-cutting at the East Potomac golf course until 26 October, and now requires advance notice before making course changes
US district judge Ana Reyes on Tuesday ordered a halt to tree-cutting at the East Potomac golf course until 26 October, putting a further pause on work at the historic Washington DC course that has been part of Donald Trump’s plans to remake the country’’s capital city.
Reyes issued the order one day after a tense three-hour hearing in which she harshly criticized the government for having deceived her with its actions over the holiday weekend.
With his return, he is slotted back into his usual spot, centering the second line between Easton Cowan and William Nylander. Nick Paul filled that void against the Avalanche, recording a couple of assists on the night.
At morning skate in Salt Lake City, Tavares also got his spot on the top power-play unit back as the net-front presence. When he was unavailable against Colorado, rookie Gavin McKenna took that spot and made an immediate impact, recording a primary assist on Toronto's first power-play goal from Nylander and making an impressive backcheck that sparked Auston Matthews' goal.
Despite not giving the 18-year-old a longer look with the top unit on the man advantage, Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller recognizes the effect that McKenna had with the team's superstars.
"Gavin did a good job, and you know, just like other situations in the game, Gavin will get put in and then pulled back a little bit," Hiller said after Tuesday's morning skate.
Given the early influence he had on the top unit on Saturday, questions have arisen about whether McKenna should remain on the top unit and Tavares should stick to the second unit upon his return.
"We're talking with John Tavares, it's a pretty easy decision to get John back in there," Hiller revealed. "He's had a great career. Still a great goal scorer. So that wasn't a hard one at all."
In five games played, Tavares has one goal and three points, including a point on the power play. McKenna has one goal and four points in six games this season, also with one power-play point to his name.
As a team, the Maple Leafs are tied for sixth in the NHL in power-play percentage, along with the New York Rangers. Toronto has executed at 26.3 percent, scoring five goals on 19 opportunities with the man advantage.
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Guy Conti, a longtime Mets instructor and advisor, has died after a lengthy illness, The Post confirmed. He was 84.
The Tarentum, Pa. native served as Mets bullpen coach from 2005-08 before becoming a minor league advisor within the organization. Conti previously worked for the Dodgers and was instrumental in Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez’s early development.
The Dodgers had earlier signed Pedro’s older brother Ramon, and Conti was dispatched to the Dominican Republic to scout the younger Martinez, who was very generously listed at 5-foot-11.
Former Mets coach Guy Conti has died at the age of 84. Anthony J. Causi
“I got there, I was presented with 20 pitchers and there was no 6-foot pitcher in there, never mind 6-foot-4 like Ramon was,” Conti told The Post in 2015. “All of a sudden when Pedro got on the mound and started throwing the ball, it just exploded. He just jumped off the page after that and, ‘Oh my goodness, this must be him.’ And it was history from that point.”
After signing with the Dodgers, the younger Martinez referred to Conti as his “white daddy.” Conti helped Martinez begin throwing a changeup, and perhaps just as importantly to speak a new language.
“Pedro, of all the kids that came from the Dominican, knew that he had to learn English as soon as he could,” Conti said. “My wife was a high school librarian, and I said, ‘Go to my wife, and learn the language.’ He would go to her and get a word in the morning and at 4 o’clock, he knew how to spell it, how to use it, how to write it and he wanted another one.”
Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez (r.) greets Guy Conti (l.) at Shea Stadium on May 30, 2008. Anthony J. Causi
The two were reunited with the Mets from 2005-08 after Martinez signed with the club.
Conti, after his major league coaching tenure concluded, served as the Mets spring training coordinator for several years. His friendship with Sandy Koufax helped bring the Hall of Famer to camp on several occasions.
“Guy was the first one to arrive at camp every morning and the last one to leave,” former media relations director Jay Horwitz said.
Former Senators first-rounder Stefan Noesen is back in the NHL after being recalled by the New Jersey Devils on Monday. The news comes three days after clearing waivers and his surprising demotion to the minors.
The Devils recalled the 33-year-old winger from the AHL's Utica Comets after placing Connor Brown, another former Senator, on injured reserve. Noesen did not suit up against the Senators, who defeated the Devils 4-1 on Monday evening.
Steve Warne describes the Senators amped up commitment to defensive structure this season.
Noesen's demotion last week came as a surprise, considering he had spent the previous four seasons as a full-time NHL player. After appearing in New Jersey's first two games this season, Noesen was placed on waivers, went unclaimed, and was assigned to Utica on Friday.
His fortunes have changed considerably over the past two years.
In 2024-25, Noesen enjoyed the finest season of his NHL career, scoring 22 goals and collecting 41 points in 78 games with the Devils.
But injuries then derailed his 2025-26 season. After missing the start of the season with a groin injury, Noesen later underwent knee surgery and finished the year with just three goals and seven points in 38 games.
Despite never wearing the centurion crest, Noesen has an interesting connection to Sens’ history.
He was one of three players selected by the Senators in the first round of the 2011 NHL Draft, joining Mika Zibanejad (sixth overall) and Matt Puempel (24th overall). Noesen was selected 21st overall with the pick Ottawa acquired from Nashville in the Mike Fisher trade.
Noesen never played a regular-season game for the Senators because, in July 2013, they traded him to the Anaheim Ducks as part of the Bobby Ryan deal. That deal came shortly after longtime Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson departed for Detroit.
More than 13 years after that trade, Noesen is still trying to extend his NHL career, and Monday's recall gives him another chance to do just that.
Here are the key dates to keep an eye on during the 2026-27 MLB offseason...
5 DAYS AFTER WORLD SERIES ENDS: FREE AGENCY BEGINS
Teams have an exclusive five-day negotiating window with their internal free agents. Once that day passes, free agents are free to sign with any club.
NOV. 9-12: GM MEETINGS IN LAS VEGAS
The annual meeting of general managers could be more interesting this time around due to the expectation that a lockout will begin on Dec. 1.
These meetings usually serve as a prelude of sorts to the Winter Meetings, but it's possible that -- due to the likely truncated offseason -- free agent and trade action could already be percolating by the time the GM Meetings begin.
MID-NOVEMBER: DEADLINE FOR PLAYERS TO ACCEPT OR REJECT QUALIFYING OFFER
Teams have until the fifth day after the World Series ends to extend a qualifying offer to eligible players.
Any player who receives the QO has 10 days to decide whether to accept it or reject it.
If a player accepts, he returns to his current team for the 2027 season.
If a player rejects and signs elsewhere, his former team receives draft pick compensation.
NOV. 17-19: OWNERS MEETINGS IN NYC
The Owners Meetings could be especially notable this year given the expectation that there will be a work stoppage when the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires on Dec. 1.
NOV. 20: NON-TENDER DEADLINE
Players on the 40-man roster who have fewer than six years of major league service time must be tendered a contract each offseason by the non-tender deadline. This includes players who are due raises via arbitration. If a club non-tenders a player, he immediately becomes a free agent.
DEC. 7-10: MLB WINTER MEETINGS
The Winter Meetings are set to take place in Orlando, but there is a giant asterisk next to this one since the lockout is expected to begin on Dec. 1. The same can be said for the MLB Draft Lottery and Rule 5 Draft, which take place at the Winter Meetings.
DEC. 8: MLB DRAFT LOTTERY
The lottery will determine the order for the 2027 MLB Draft.
DEC. 9: RULE 5 DRAFT
The Rule 5 Draft takes place at the Winter Meetings, with certain minor leaguers who are not on the 40-man roster available. If a team selects a player, they must keep that player on their 26-man roster (or the IL) for the entire season or be forced to offer him back to the team he was selected from.
FEBRUARY: ARBITRATION FIGURES EXCHANGED
Once a player is offered arbitration, the team and that player's agent have a decent amount of time to come to terms on a new contract. If that doesn't happen, both sides submit salary proposals and the player's salary is determined by independent arbitrators during hearings.
MID-FEBRUARY: SPRING TRAINING BEGINS
Mets and Yankees pitchers and catchers report in mid-February. The first spring training games begin roughly a week after pitchers and catchers arrive in camp.
On Tuesday, the Chicago Blackhawks made it official that Connor Bedard is returning. He will be in the lineup when they take the ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the United Center on Tuesday night.
Bedard missed all of training camp, the preseason, and the first 6 regular-season games as he worked his way back from shoulder surgery. A lot of work was put in for him to return this quickly, as the July diagnosis had him coming back in mid-November.
To make room for Bedard on the roster, they had to send someone down to the AHL's Rockford IceHogs. Instead of putting someone on waivers and taking that type of chance, they sent Nick Lardis down.
Lardis was outstanding in camp and in the preseason, but it has been a tough six games for him. Playing a handful of games for the IceHogs could be good for him, if that's the route that they go. He already has experience scoring lots of goals down there, and it helped him have a strong showing when he was called up to the NHL last year.
When Frank Nazar returns from suspension, there will be even less room in the forward room, but they likely won't keep Dominic Toninato up long beyond that. They chose him over Lardis because Toninato can play center with Nazar out.
There is the possibility of more injuries to follow for others, and Lardis is at the top of the call-up list once again. If Lardis shows he is ready for a call-up before it becomes a necessity, the Blackhawks have proven that they won't hesitate, either.
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SACRAMENTO, CA - OCTOBER 5: Chris Manon #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 5, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
During his Summer League debut in 2025, while playing for the Golden State Warriors, Chris Mañon recorded eight points, three rebounds, three steals, two blocks and one assist in 19 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers. Although Mañon spent the entirety of his 2025 Summer League stint with the Warriors, his play in that opening game caught the eye of the Lakers organization, which ultimately signed him to a two-way contract for 2025-26 and did so again this summer for 2026-27.
Mañon has appeared in all three of Los Angeles’ preseason games thus far, headlined by a 12-point, five-rebound, one-block, one-steal performance against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 5.
“I really like Chris. We had him in for a draft workout. I think we maybe had him in for two draft workouts,” Redick told reporters. “Then he was with Golden State during the California Classic and really popped against us. So we started working that pretty much immediately with his agent because he wasn’t on a two-way. So, we’re invested in him and we’re invested in his development, in his career. I thought he played really well against Sacramento. I don’t think any of our guards played well against Golden State.”
Mañon only played in nine games with the Lakers last season but logged 46 G League appearances for the South Bay Lakers, where he averaged 11.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.1 steals. His defensive playmaking, perhaps the standout trait of his game, has seemingly translated across every context. He posted a 5.6% steal rate in four years collegiately, posted a 3.8% steal rate in the G League last season, picked up five steals in 46 NBA minutes a year ago, and has four steals in 40 preseason minutes this season.
Redick has emphasized defensive disruption during training camp and preseason play, an area Mañon could clearly help boost with his knack for occupying the passing lanes. He’s also been a highly effective interior scorer, shooting 60.5% on 2-pointers for his collegiate career and 59.6% (155-of-260) in the G League. It’s doubtful the 24-year-old factors into Los Angeles’ rotation this year but he owns a collection of skills the Lakers are intrigued by, so his development will be worth monitoring wherever he receives the majority of his playing time in 2026-27.
With his contract to manage the Houston Astros expiring at the end of this month, Joe Espada was granted permission by the club to interview with the Seattle Mariners for their open managerial position.
A baseball official with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that Espada will interview with the Mariners. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Espada is still under contract.
Espada recently concluded his third season managing the Astros, leading them to a second American League West title in that span, even as they finished with an 81-81 record, the worst in major-league history for a division winner. The Astros' streak of eight consecutive playoff berths was broken in 2025; Espada was the club's bench coach or manager in seven of those seasons.
MLB.com first reported Espada was going to interview with Seattle.
The Mariners fired their manager, Dan Wilson, after a 76-86 season that fell well short of expectations after the club reached Game 7 of the AL championship series. Wilson's downfall arguably began then, as the club blew a 3-2 lead to the Toronto Blue Jays as Wilson made several questionable in-game decisions.
Espada's contract was set to expire along with Astros general manager Dana Brown's after this season. But Houston owner Jim Crane did not hesitate to fire Brown in August even as the club was fighting for the AL West title. Crane said then that Espada's status would be settled at season's end.
While Espada did guide the club to the postseason, the Astros' two-and-out performance against the visiting Chicago White Sox in the wild-card series certainly clouded his future.
Though switching managerial jobs within a division in one offseason is rare, it is hardly without precedent. Most notably, Craig Counsell jumped from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Chicago Cubs after the 2023 season.
The Sixers still have a few lingering injury questions as the days tick down toward their regular-season opener next Tuesday against the Knicks.
Adem Bona (left foot sprain) and Anfernee Simons (hamstring) were partial participants in practice for the second straight day, a team official said Tuesday. Dominick Barlow (back) did not practice.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Simons and Bona both “did a good majority of stuff in the half court.” Will they play Friday in the Sixers’ preseason finale vs. the Celtics?
“I hope so,” Nurse said. “I don’t know where that hope line is, but there’s certainly some hope.”
Barlow does not sound as if he’s on the verge of a return.
“There is no timeline,” Nurse said. “He just has some soreness that he’s dealing with. Giving him some real decent time off to see if that will kind of progress it quickly. There’s no timeline. Just hoping it gets a little better, he feels a little better and he can get back out there fairly shortly.”
Whenever he gets the green light to play, Bona would be the logical next name in line after Joel Embiid. The Sixers used Jabari Walker and Dean Wade at the five Saturday in their blowout preseason loss to the Celtics. Walker has boosted his stock in the preseason, averaging 11.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game and shooting 5 for 13 from three-point range (38.5 percent).
“They’ve both played pretty (well). I think Jabari’s played outstanding, actually,” Nurse said. “And Dean, we’ve seen that he’s a really good player, kind of a multi-faceted guy. … He can pop, he can guard multiple positions, he rebounds really well for his position.
“So I think those guys have done a nice job and that’s where we’ll start if we have to, as far as backup five. But it looks like they both are capable. I guess we’ll see. It’ll matter with matchups, who we’re playing and all that kind of stuff, too. … I’m pretty happy with the jump Jabari has taken, just confidence-wise. And I’m really happy with the player that Dean is.”
Meanwhile, Simons has yet to make his Sixers preseason debut.
For what it’s worth, Labaron Philon Jr. gave a rave review of the 27-year-old guard’s practice performance.
“He looked great,” Philon said. “Coming off screens, shooting the ball, getting into the lane, pull-ups. He’s a very confident, high-level shotmaker. … Seeing a guy come back and be ready like that, it’s crazy. I would say he made a lot of threes today and he was coming off of real quick actions.”
Philon had his most productive game of the preseason last time out, posting 14 points and seven assists.
The rookie has been learning the many new details of life in the NBA and feels “the game has really slowed down as I’ve gotten better and the preseason has gone on.”
“There’s really more space on the court,” Philon said, “and you’ve got to be able to knock down shots. … Knowing where to be on the court, knowing how to space on offense, and knowing how to be at the right place at the right time on defense.”
Being around tons of talented players and stepping into a bench role hasn’t seemed to dent Philon’s self-belief.
“His confidence is through the roof,” VJ Edgecombe said. “Everybody knows he plays with such a swagger. We’ve seen it in college. I played against him in high school. He always had that swagger; he’s always been confident. I’m just happy to see him on the floor and he’s been playing really well.”
Could Philon be part of the Sixers’ opening-night rotation?
Nurse indicated that Simons’ health will be the largest factor in answering that particular question.
“I think they’re different players,” Nurse said. “It’s not maybe direct competition, but I think the competition is, ‘Who’s the guard off the bench in the rotation?’ I’m going to probably lean more toward a nine-year veteran, as long as he’s healthy. And I think with the talent that he has … I envision those three — VJ, Tyrese (Maxey), Anfernee — sharing that spot as much as possible.
“And then (Philon) gets a crack in probably pretty short stints at the start (of the season). That’s how I would see it. And if Anfenee’s out, then (Philon) is now in that rotation.”
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 12: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on prior to Game Two of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Monday, October 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Bouncer up the middle. Betts to the bag – over to first! To beat the champ, you gotta knock ‘em out! The Dodgers stand tall and win back to back titles!
-Joe Davis, Rogers Centre, November 2, 2025
So go the best-laid plans of mice and men, as the Dodgers flop in Game 2 of the NLCS, going into a 0-2 hole.
From a game where everything went to plan except winning, to a game basically handwrapped for the taking before the bottom fell out in dispiriting fashion, using Davis’ iconic call, the Dodgers suffered the indignity of a standing eight count in the second round of this bout.
The team has had its figurative bell rung as it returns to its own corner for round 3. Now the Dodgers have to climb out of a hole they have largely dug for themselves.
The good news is that the last time to dig themselves out of a 0-2 LCS hole was the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays in last year’s ALCS. The bad news is that those Blue Jays were the gooberiest goobers to ever goober, which are adjectives that are so far away from this iteration of the Dodgers, they might as well be antonyms.
Still, stranger things have happened.
Plenty of ink will be spilled on the lack of performance from Shohei Ohtani, the one-man argument to bring full ABS to Major League Baseball by Will Smith, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto having his worst postseason start since his debut against the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of the NLDS in 2024, and that will be done by others.
If Milwaukee had to have Game 1, the Dodgers needed Game 2, if only to keep themselves from now facing the specter of being eliminated in front of their home fans at Dodger Stadium.
The math is pretty simple
Respectfully, I disagree with Max Muncy’s assessment of the NLCS: yes, there is a lot of series left, provided that the Dodgers actually start playing better and winning.
The Dodgers need to win four of the next five games in order to have the opportunity to defend their title for a second time, either against Tampa or Cleveland.
The Dodgers need to win at least two of the next three home games in order to earn a trip back to Milwaukee to try and do something they haven’t done all year: win in Milwaukee without Adric present. And before anyone asks, no, I have zero desire or budget to revisit Milwaukee in 2026.
If the team fails at this first hurdle, the streak of teams other than the Dodgers celebrating a championship at Dodger Stadium will continue, as the 1963 champions were the only team to clinch at Dodger Stadium. Yes, the 2020 title would have been a clinch of a title at home, but alas, everyone was quarantined due to COVID, with the series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX.
The last person to have this miserable a time in Milwaukee was David Vassegh in August 2022. As a fellow Slide Bro, I will now abstain from posting or linking to the footage you are now likely thinking of. Thankfully, no bones were broken this visit, as the Bernie’s Slide Experience is closed for the offseason.
There are no bad ideas right now, except standing pat
The Dodgers’ offense, regardless of how Mookie Betts would define it, has been a slog to watch this NLCS. Unless the plan is to stand pat and/or go down quietly, the time to brainstorm ideas and try to jumpstart a comeback is here.
The Brewers have turned the tables and taken the Dodgers’ best pitchers in stride. It’s not panic if things are actually growing dire. Speaking of dire, let’s address Shohei Ohtani’s contributions, or lack thereof, since Denver in August.
As a weird happenstance of history, as things have turned out, I have been present for Ohtani’s final regular-season home runs in 2025 and 2026. Neat.
The problem with the latter is that the final home run in ‘26 was on August 18th in Denver.
Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic broke the story that the Dodgers were debating sitting Ohtani for Game 3 of the NLCS, while providing the following analysis:
Still, given [Ohtani’s] poor performance and questionable health, the possibility of sitting Ohtani should be on the table. Ohtani spent roughly two weeks on the injured list with left knee and right biceps pain before the end of the regular season. Before the postseason began, he said that although he did not feel 100 percent, he felt better than he did before the IL stint and was optimistic he’d be able to play through his ailments.
“I haven’t been able to get a good grasp of the root cause of all this,” Ohtani said ahead of the NLDS, through team interpreter Will Ireton. “I think that process is going to happen during the offseason when I’m going to have a little bit more time to be able to address it. But as of now, it’s something I’m just going to have to manage.”
The Dodgers have given Ohtani plenty of leash to do just that but can no longer ignore the glaring hole in the heart of the order. With their season closing in, the Dodgers must consider all options. That includes sitting Ohtani.
[Emphasis added.]
While I am generally skeptical of swing analytics as a panacea when folks are struggling, there is a key difference between Ohtani and his teammate Will Smith, who has also been a non-factor offensively this October: Smith doesn’t look like he is in physical distress while batting.
No one is asking, mockingly or otherwise, whether Smith has forgotten how to play baseball. I don’t think Ohtani has forgotten; I just think he’s that hurt.
Yes, one might be tempted to think that Ohtani is one at-bat from going on a hot streak. I sure did.
In the first nine games of the postseason last year, Ohtani had a woeful slash line of .158/.273/.368 with 2 HR, 3B, 6 RBI, and 6 BB to 17 K, while being smothered by the Philadelphia Phillies’ gamut of left-handed pitchers.
Yes, Ohtani had the greatest postseason game ever in 2025 NLCS Game 4, and if one were to exclude it from last year’s tournament, he had a slash line of .275/.431/.575, 3 HR, 3 2B, 5 RBI, 11 BB compared to 10 K.
Unlike last year, Ohtani was basically healthy but running out of gas on the mound. Here, I think the check on Ohtani’s injuries has finally come due and, if I were in a position to give counsel, it would be to not take a half measure when a full measure is due.
Ohtani didn’t roll his ankle or do something that can be mended in 24 hours. At this point, you either sit him in favor of either Josue De Paula or Teoscar Hernandez in the DH spot depending on the pitcher, or you openly ask him whether it is time to replace him on the roster, with Commissioner approval.
Here’s the problem. As of now, there is no World Series; there is only tomorrow and the next day. The day after that isn’t even guaranteed unless the Dodgers win a game in this series.
There is now a non-zero chance that Tarik Skubal has pitched his final game as a Dodger.
There is now a non-zero chance that Yoshinobu Yamamoto has pitched his final game of the year.
Win Game 3, and you guarantee another day with Skubal. Win two games, and you both guarantee another day with Yamamoto and a return trip to Milwaukee. Do otherwise and go into the long offseason wondering “what if?”
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 05: John Collins #20 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket against Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns in the second half during a pre season game at Little Caesars Arena on October 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Plenty of eyes will be on second-year center Khaman Maluach throughout this season as he looks to receive his first real opportunity to play consistent minutes in the NBA following the injury to Mark Williams.
You could essentially call last season a redshirt year for Maluach, considering how little he played. Sure, he appeared in 46 games, but he averaged only 8.9 minutes per contest. It’s difficult to draw many meaningful conclusions from a sample size like that, especially when you’re talking about a young player still learning the nuances of the NBA game. Add in the fact that he’s entering his second season following a full summer of what we hope was growth and development, and projecting what to expect from the 20-year-old big man becomes even more challenging.
That said, I came across an interesting statistic that could serve as the foundation for a weekly update tracking his progress throughout the season. A “Malu-Watch”, if you will. It’s certainly a flawed metric, but one that could serve as a useful reference point for evaluating his impact on the defensive end. Because at the end of the day, that’s where I’m hoping Maluach makes his greatest contribution.
Whoever starts at center for the Phoenix Suns isn’t going to be somebody the team relies upon to score 20 points every night. Perhaps there will be occasional performances where that happens, but with Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and Miles Bridges occupying the other four starting positions, the expectation is that those players will dominate the shot diet. The center position will primarily serve a complementary role offensively. But defensively? That’s where the opportunity truly lies, and it’s where I’m hoping Maluach can establish his value.
So what’s the statistic I’m referring to? Rebounds + blocks + steals per 36 minutes.
It’s not a perfect representation of defensive impact, and there are certainly limitations to evaluating a player through those three categories alone. But I came across an interesting little nugget that caught my attention. Based on that measurement from last season, Maluach ranked among the top five centers in the NBA. And considering how limited his opportunities were a season ago, that’s an intriguing starting point as we prepare to evaluate what he can become with a more consistent role.
Again, I recognize how flawed this statistic is. Maluach played only 8.9 minutes per game last season, and per 36 numbers are much like single-game plus-minus. They tell part of the story, not the entire story. When you’re extrapolating production across 36 minutes, you’re assuming a player can maintain the same level of effectiveness and energy over that extended period. That’s not necessarily realistic, especially for a young center still developing his conditioning and understanding of the game.
But the advantage of using per-36 is that it provides a consistent baseline for comparison. Rather than relying solely on counting stats from game to game, where minutes can fluctuate due to rotations, injuries, and foul trouble, it provides a standardized metric for evaluating a player’s production relative to his time on the floor. And I think that could be an interesting way to monitor Maluach throughout the season, tracking his defensive production as his role evolves and his minutes potentially increase. It won’t tell us everything about his impact, but it could provide another layer of context as we evaluate his development.
What does that look like through the first three preseason games?
When you look at his performances through the first two preseason games against the Pistons and Bulls, I think the numbers reflect much of what we witnessed. Defensively, Maluach looked out of sorts. From a rebounding perspective, he wasn’t consistently securing the basketball, often tipping rebounds around rather than grabbing them with authority. His positioning seemed off, and he didn’t appear entirely comfortable with what was happening around him. It almost felt like he was thinking too much rather than reacting instinctively.
But one thing I’ve noticed about Maluach throughout his young career, whether it’s been in Summer League, the G League, or playing against NBA competition, is his ability to adjust. Whether those adjustments happen within a game or from one game to the next, he’s consistently demonstrated an ability to process what went wrong and execute more effectively following difficult performances.
And we saw that in his third preseason appearance. His positioning on the glass was noticeably better, and he attacked rebounds with much more conviction. He looked more comfortable, more decisive, and more confident in where he needed to be defensively. Perhaps my favorite play of the game came when he picked Jordan McLaughlin’s pocket, showcasing the kind of defensive instincts that make his development so intriguing.
Last season, Maluach’s per-36-minute numbers in rebounds + blocks + steals came in at 15.0. Thus far this preseason, considering he’s played 21.8 minutes with 8.0 rebounds, 0.7 blocks, and 0.3 steals, he finds himself at 14.9. Initial analysis says the trend he set last season, albeit in a very limited role, is continuing.
As the season progresses, feel free to check in with Bright Side each week as we track Maluach’s development, how his defensive impact manifests itself statistically, and whether those numbers align with what we’re seeing on the court.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 16: Braxton Fulford #37 of the Colorado Rockies looks on prior to the game between the San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome to the 2026 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at every player to log playing time for the Rockies in 2026. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context. The “Ranking” is an organizing principle that’s drawn from Baseball Reference’s WAR (rWAR). It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll begin with the player with the lowest rWAR and end up with the player with the highest.
No. 44, Braxton Fulford (-0.3 rWAR)
Had the Colorado Rockies not signed free-agent (and left-handed bat) Brett Sullivan, Braxton Fulford probably would have had a very different 2026.
Not signing Sullivan might have resulted in Fulford spending much of 2026 as the Rockies’ backup catcher.
But that’s not what happened, and as a result, the 2021 Rockies draft pick spent the bulk of his season with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. Yes, Fulford was with the Rockies a bit too (more on that in a moment), but this was another year in which the Texas Tech alumnus did not make a significant developmental step.
First to his Triple-A numbers.
While with the Topes, Fulford had 201 plate appearances that resulted in a slashline of .251/.363/.468, including eight home runs and a 101 wRC+. That means that his hitting performance was slightly better than replacement level — in hitter-friendly Albuquerque.
He also caught 374.0 innings and had four errors. (He spent four innings at first base, which was not a significant part of his defensive portfolio.)
Granted, those are small sample-size numbers, but the early indications are that Fulford has failed to adjust to MLB pitching.
Defensively, Fulford caught 95.2 innings for the Rockies compared to 249.0 innings in 2025. He finished the MLB season with two errors, -2 DRS, and a FRV of -2 as well.
Here’s what Sam Bradfield wrote last year: “Overall in his rookie year, Fulford had a bumpy year. He showed flashes of brilliance, but also had incredibly cold stretches.”
That largely seemed unchanged in 2026, save that Fulford was given fewer opportunities to show what he could do given Brett Sullivan’s success.
The question, then, becomes what’s next.
At this point, it appears that Goodman will remain the starting catcher for the Rockies while Sullivan continues in his role as backup (with occasional stints on the mound).
There’s really no place in this equation for Fulford. It seems unlikely the Rockies will change anything given that Fulford remains under team control until 2032 and has one option remaining. Too, the front office probably is focused on Jack O’Dowd (HM PuRP), Daniel Jackson (No. 12 PuRP), and Jack Natili (No. 20 PuRP), the latter two being catchers they drafted in 2026.
Clearly, it’s too soon to count Fulford out. But in 2027, he will need to show he can be a big-league catcher.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Jake LaRavia #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Sacramento Kings in a preseason game at Crypto.com Arena on October 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Through three preseason outings, Jake LaRavia is shooting 6-of-11 (54.6%) beyond the arc. While an 11-shot sample is far too small to project any future success, LaRavia’s willingness to shoot is encouraging. Per 36 minutes, he’s attempting 5.9 3-pointers, an uptick from last preseason’s 3.8 and a jump from last regular season’s 4.2. In the playoffs, as his playing time dwindled and jumper cratered, he averaged just 2.2 3-point attempts per 36 minutes. LaRavia’s head coach, JJ Redick, notices him operating with a level of belief necessary to be a good shooter.
“I think Jake had a like a really nice base and foundation to shoot with. So it wasn’t like he was completely revamping his shot on those small tweaks. Ultimately, the tweaks don’t matter if they don’t give you confidence,” Redick told reporters after Thursday’s game against the Sacramento Kings. “I feel like he’s shooting the ball with a lot of confidence right now and he feels confident in the shot. [He had] a great summer shooting the ball, has had a great training camp of practices shooting the ball and that’s carried over to games.”
LaRavia’s playing time dipped last postseason for numerous reasons, largely because his outside shot abandoned him and derailed much of his decision-making offensively. After shooting 35.3% from deep through Jan. 15, he made just 27.9% of his 3s over the final 43 regular-season games before netting just 2-of-7 triples (28.6%) in the playoffs.
“I think the response has been great. Obviously, he’s played really good so far. He was big for what we wanted to do last year,” Austin Reaves told reporters postgame on Thursday. “I think he has spoken about it, not shooting the ball the way he knows he can and wants to. But he told me, I think it was one of the last games of the regular season, we were just [having a] casual conversation and he just told me he was like, I’m going to get the in the gym. I’m going to be one of the best shooters on this team.”
Before struggling over the second half of the season, LaRavia was a key cog in the Lakers’ rotation behind his defense, viable floor-spacing, quick decision-making and offensive rebounding. An extended cold spell from deep interfered with many of those traits. This season, following a summer of reflection, he’s altered his mindset to be less worried about whether each specific hot goes in and is instead harping on the controllable aspects to be the best version of himself.
“I think the one thing that kind of changed for me this year was focusing more on the input rather than the output,” LaRavia said. “So not really focused on my makes or my misses, but am I doing everything in my control to give myself the best opportunity to make the shot. So as far as the output goes, I’m not really concerned about how many shots I’m making right now because at some point, I’m going to also miss shots. But as long as the input stays the same, then I’ll be consistent.”
