Opener’s painful duck gets tourists’ series off to bad start
Renshaw and Cummins keep hosts’ attack at bay
If we accept that sporting tenures are results-based, then the Australian selectors George Bailey and Tony Dodemaide should be conferring with the coach Andrew McDonald to submit a mass resignation. The opening moments of the first Test in Durban were enough to return the predictable harvest of one of the most bizarre selection decisions ever made for the national XI, with Nic Maddinson bowled for a torturous 33-ball duck, early impetus for Australia’s slide to 187 for 6 by the time bad light ended play.
Maddinson should not have lasted half that long, nailed on the pad by Wiaan Mulder after 15 balls but spared by umpire error and a timid South African non-review. Even that huge slice of luck never looked like becoming anything more. His innings went nowhere, shuffling, defensive, missing opportunities on his legs, dealing in extras. His only shots were a few cuts hurled at wild width, all air-swings until the bottom edge that took out his stumps.
With Australia’s hopes of posting a significant first innings score in Durban resting on his shoulders, Matt Renshaw declared he had no worries with being moved around the batting order as criticism mounted on Friday.
It’s not a stretch to say that the Philadelphia 76ers’ championship hopes still rest on the broad shoulders of Joel Embiid even after bringing in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown over the offseason. It’s not just that Embiid was arguably the best player in the NBA as recently as Jan. 2024, but also that Philly just doesn’t have much center depth behind him, particularly after backup Ariel Hukporti already suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in the preseason.
LeBron made his Sixers debut in the team’s second preseason game on Thursday night, but Embiid stole the show in the worst way possible. With the caveat that it’s only preseason … Embiid looked absolutely atrocious during his 24 minutes on the floor, and it already feels like a legitimate concern for the 76ers.
Embiid shot 1-of-5 from the floor and finished with eight turnovers in 24 minutes against the Brooklyn Nets. Those numbers don’t even capture how viscerally washed he looked. Embiid already had a few terrible plays early in the game, but he went mega-viral for this pathetic fastbreak attempt midway through the second quarter. Embiid was thrown a perfect alley-oop, but he didn’t jump for it, and then missed the easy layup. Watch the play all of NBA Twitter was talking about here:
Is Joel Embiid physically capable of jumping? I’m not sure after watching this clip. Seems important for a basketball player, even if you’re over 7-feet tall like Embiid.
Embiid was bad from the very start of the game, airballing a fadeaway on his first touch. He was making some incredibly sloppy decisions with the ball as Nets defenders crashed down on him in the paint, and just looked like he wasn’t locked in at all on either side of the floor. Maybe there’s nothing Embiid could have done about his physical downfall in the last couple years since his peak, but it almost feels more concerning that he’s making so many mental mistakes. This is not what you want out of the seventh highest paid player in the NBA at a tick below $58 million this season.
The Sixers are pretty deep elsewhere on the roster after a quality offseason that saw them sign Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the bench while drafting Labaron Philon out of Alabama. The one spot where the roster is really thin is at center, and that was true even before Hukporti’s Achilles tear.
Realistically, how many games can the Sixers count on Embiid to play? Over/under 45? That is going to put immense pressure on backup Adem Bona, and the Sixers are going to need some more big bodies after him. Embiid really won’t help the team much regardless of how often he plays if he’s this lackadaisical mentally and physically.
There was already a report in training camp that Embiid showed up to practice late — a theme throughout his career — and got yelled at by LeBron. Both Embiid and James shot down the report, and ESPN apologized for it. Embiid gave another sad sack comment on the report after the game:
Joel Embiid on the recent report about LeBron James getting on him for being late: "I don't know where that came from. It never happened. … One, it's not true. And then again it's like, 'Why me?' But I guess I'm Joel Embiid, I've been in this situation."
Embiid’s professionalism has always been a question even when he was at his peak. He’s slipped so much physically at this point that he can’t afford any mental mistakes. Embiid seems like he has a “woe is me” attitude far too often. I certainly have some empathy for the amount of injuries he’s dealt with, but at a certain point making a bunch of excuses isn’t a good look for a player who is this highly paid.
Yes, it’s the preseason. It’s totally possible that the Sixers look great by May, and Embiid is a big part of the team on both ends of the floor. It’s troubling that the veteran center looks so bad after a long summer where he dropped weight and seemed to show a new commitment to his body. The Sixers are loaded offensively, but it’s only going to work if Embiid can step up defensively and on the glass. There’s no safety net behind him anymore.
It’s silly to overreact to preseason, but this game will at least serve as an important note in the Sixers’ story whether they end the season as champions or fail to win a playoff series. Embiid looked awful in his first preseason game. Let’s see where he goes from here.
NBA preseason action has returned to Macao, China, where the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets will play in a two-game series.
Friday’s opening matchup at The Venetian Arena saw the Mavericks’ offense shine, led by reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, along with strong performances from Naji Marshall, Zaccharie Risacher and Max Christie.
Despite their efforts, the Mavericks fell 135-117 to a seasoned Rockets squad. Houston was led by Kevin Durant, who began his 19th NBA season, along with Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson.
Beyond the games, this preseason trip offers an immersive experience both on and off the court. The Venetian Arena will become a basketball hub featuring NBA House, an interactive expo that blends music, live entertainment, fashion and retail experiences to celebrate basketball culture.
Fans will also have the chance to participate in NBA Fan Day on Saturday, Oct. 10, an event where they can interact with players and enjoy performances by top Asian artists. These festivities set the stage for the second preseason game on Sunday, Oct. 11.
The NBA China Games bring two preseason matchups between the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets at The Venetian Arena in Macao on Oct. 9 and 11 at 6 a.m. ET.
Fans in the U.S. can watch the NBA China Games on NBA TV and NBA League Pass.
Why are the Rockets so popular in China?
The Houston Rockets rose to popularity in China largely thanks to Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming. Selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, Yao spent all nine seasons with the Rockets before retiring in 2011.
NBA's other international showcases
This season, the NBA has five events outside the U.S.
Beyond the doubleheader contests in China and the Canada Game in Quebec City, the NBA’s international calendar features additional stops in Mexico City, Paris and Manchester.
Here is a look at the International showcase schedule (times ET)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 12: Xavier Neyens of the Houston Astros on the American League Team warms up at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This offseason, I’m bringing back a series that focuses on one notable statistic from an Astros minor league player during the 2026 season. The statistic could be good or bad, but it will be something worth highlighting.
STAT OF THE WEEK:
Xavier Neyens finished the 2026 season with a 24.5% walk rate.
Walk percentage (BB%) is a simple statistic that shows the percentage of a player’s plate appearances that end in a walk.
Among all Minor League Baseball players with at least 400 plate appearances, Neyens had the highest walk percentage. The slugger totaled 114 walks in 103 games while splitting time between Single-A and High-A.
The Astros selected Neyens out of high school in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft, and so far, he has lived up to expectations. The young hitter showed off elite exit velocities this season while also displaying tremendous patience and a good understanding of the strike zone.
Neyens did have his share of strikeouts, but some of those could be cut down with a slightly more aggressive approach on pitches he can hit. As he continues to develop, finding a balance between being patient and aggressive will be important.
Even with the strikeouts, the 19-year-old put together a strong first full professional season, finishing with a .874 OPS and 137 wRC+. He also connected on 20 home runs and stole 19 bases.
Overall, it was an impressive season for a teenager playing his first full year of professional baseball. With his combination of power, patience and athleticism, Neyens has one of the highest ceilings in the Astros’ system and gives fans plenty of reasons to be excited about his future.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 01: Trea Turner #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies catches a fly ball during Game Three of the National League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Thursday, October 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kathryn May/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Given the nature of the third annual TGP off-season guide and when it will probably be released, I made the call to split this section into it’s own piece. A lot of decisions that will shape the Phillies’ off-season are going to be made quickly. To ensure this section does not quickly become outdated, it will be split from the rest of the guide entirely.
For the first time since the 2020, the Phillies did not increase their winning percentage from the year before. That season prompted the Phillies to hire Dave Dombrowski as the President of Baseball Operations and it’s ultimately been a success. They’ve made the playoffs for five years in a row, went to a World Series, and won the division twice with 95 and 96 win seasons.
2026 was not one of those seasons, they won just 88 games despite a rotation that featured Cristopher Sánchez, Jesus Luzardo, and Zack Wheeler. The offense ranked 28th in wRC+ and was propped up by timely hitting, ranking 6th in the same metric with runners in scoring position. They overperformed their Pythagorean record by five games and went 25-16 in one run games. If that is not enough, they nearly blew a four game lead on a playoff spot with five games to go and the Braves knocked them out of the wild card.
Then there is figuring out who the next manager is and what the coaching staff might look like. After Cora turned them down, they might consider just pivoting back to Don Mattingly, which would keep the entire coaching staff in order. This would continue to show their trust in the entire coaching staff and operation despite a down season that featured several red flags, a managerial change in April, and disappointing results. Maybe they run a full search but time is ticking.
Then this all goes down to the roster. What kind of upgrades will they feel are necessary?
Trea Turner’s season was a disaster both offensively and defensively. It’s not going to be easy to get him right at the plate but they can look for a position change, if he’s bought in. Turner finished with -17 Defensive Runs Saved and -8 Outs Above Average. Both rank right at the bottom among shortstops with at least 500 innings. Second base seems like the best fit, given that he has played there in the recent past with the Dodgers and looked solid there. It would really help slow the game down for him and likely make routine plays easier both mentally and physically. Maybe he goes to CF or LF if they want to completely change things up.
They then have to decide if Brandon Marsh is someone they want to trade, who had by far his worst season as a Phillie. If Justin Crawford is worth running out there most days again despite looking horrific both offensively and defensively for most of the season. What happens with Bryson Stott. Also, Bryce Harper probably needs to go back to first base.
Given that the off-season guide won’t come out until probably late October or early November, this section would’ve been very outdated. It was still worth discussing before we get into the meat and potatoes (and then the lockout).
Jonah Tong of the Syracuse Mets delivers a pitch during a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on June 26, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
First Half Record: 38-37 (5/10 International League East)
Second Half Record: 43-31 (2/10 International League East)
The 2025 Syracuse Mets season started off poorly, but by the second half of the season, the team was beginning to find its footing. They ended the season as playoff contenders, just missing a playoff berth in the last week of the season, but as is almost always the case with Triple-A, roster moves over the course of the off-season almost completely reshaped the team and numerous players who helped spur that playoff push did not return. Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams were traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in January. Nolan McLean and Jared Young spent their entire season rostered at the major league level. Veteran free agents who had solid seasons, such as Pablo Reyes and Joey Meneses, were not re-signed. Further compounding matters, players who we expected to be good were, for various reasons, not. Jonah Tong and Ryan Clifford, both of whom were expected to potentially be major league contributors in 2026, both struggled.
Much like the 2025 season, the 2026 Syracuse Mets got some new life in the second half, in particular around the trade deadline. Players who deserved promotions were sent to Syracuse, such as D’Andre Smith, Billy Amick, Emilien Pitre, and Brian Metoyer, and had success. Players who had been scuffling, such as Tong, Dylan Ross or Tobias Myers, found their grooves. Syracuse went 5-6 in July following the All-Star break, 17-9 in August, and an impressive 13-5 in September to find themselves in the hunt for the International League second-half championship.
The Syracuse Mets fought tooth and nail until literally the last day of the season; they came into 2026’s final regular series game on a six-game winning streak and found themselves a half-game behind the Rochester Red Wings in the standings. Rochester, unfortunately, won their game against the Buffalo Bisons, ending Syracuse’s season.
MJ Melendez signed a one year, $1.5 million split contract with the Mets back in early February. With Carson Benge still a major unknown and Luis Robert representing an omnipresent health risk, Melendez gave them a player who could handle an outfield corner and was a left-handed bat with some pop. The former Royals prospect had unimpressive surface numbers from 2022 until 2025, but was roughly a league-average offensive contributor thanks to his power. In 2025, the bottom fell out on him, prompting Kansas City to demote him to Triple-A for the majority of the season, and then non-tender him.
He did not make the team out of spring training and began the 2026 season rostered with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, but by mid-April was called back up to Queens thanks to Luis Robert’s early season injury. He looked good in limited innings in April, but as the calendar moved into May and he began getting more playing time, it became increasingly clear that he was struggling. By the end of June, Melendez was hitting .192/.315/.350 in 120 at-bats over 56 games and the decision was made to outright him back down to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Tyrone Taylor on the Mets’ roster.
The slugging outfielder had no issues handling Triple-A pitching. In one game in June and 22 in July, he hit .247/.382/.616 with 3 doubles, 8 home runs, 3 stolen bases, and 16 walks to 27 strikeouts. In 21 games in August, he hit .256/.307/.634 with 8 doubles, 1 triple, 7 home runs, 1 stolen base, and 6 walks to 24 strikeouts. In 17 games in September, he hit .339/.458/.695 with 6 doubles, 5 home runs, and 13 walks to 15 strikeouts. All in all, after being sent back to Triple-A, he finished the season hitting .276/.378/.645 with 17 doubles, 1 triple, 20 home runs, 4 stolen bases, and 35 walks to 66 strikeouts. Combined with his time in March and April, Melendez hit a combined .264/.361/.604 in 75 Triple-A games with 20 doubles, 2 triples, 22 home runs, 5 stolen bases, and 40 walks to 79 strikeouts.
Melendez seems like the definition of a Quad-A player. Including this season, he has a cumulative .213/.298/.385 batting line in 491 games over the course of his five-year career, good for an 89 wRC+. In 248 games spent at the Triple-A level, with the Syracuse Mets and the Omaha Storm Chasers, he has a cumulative .259/.346/.527 batting line, good for a 121 wRC+. I would be interested in bringing the slugger back for the 2027 season and giving him another shot. His pop from the left-side seems legit, and by all accounts, he was a good dugout presence. Worst case scenario, if he is given some playing time in a limited capacity and sinks, he can be outrighted to Triple-A.
In 2019, when I saw that the Cleveland Indians drafted Xzavion Curry in the 7th round of the 2019 MLB Draft, I wish that the Mets had drafted him if no reason other than his name. Ultimately, it was not possible, as Cleveland gave him a $125,000 signing bonus, and while that was still an underslot deal as compared to the MLB-recommended slot of $197,300, it would’ve been way too much money for the Mets to give to a player, given that they were arranging picks carefully to be able to afford prep pitching star Matthew Allan. Ironically, the Mets might have been better off drafting Curry, as Allan was limited to just 30.1 innings over seven years due to repeated catastrophic arm injuries and their 7th round pick, Luke Ritter put in plenty of work to turn himself into a viable MLB hitter but simply wasn’t able to get over the hump.
Curry worked his way up the Cleveland minor league ladder quickly, making his major league debut in 2022. He spent the entire 2023 season on Cleveland’s major league roster, but spent 2024 bouncing up and down between their major league roster and the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. He was left exposed to waivers that August and was claimed by the Miami Marlins. All in all, he appeared in 50 games with Cleveland, appearing in 50 games and making 15 starts, and posted a 4.53 ERA in 129.0 innings, allowing 140 hits, walking 41, and striking out 85.
The Marlins rostered him at the major league level for the remainder of the 2024 season, where he was solid, but after struggling at the beginning of 2025, Curry was optioned down to Triple-A Jacksonville. The 26-year-old continued struggling in Triple-A and was released in early June. In total, he appeared in 12 games for the Marlins, making 1 start, and posted a 3.43 ERA in 21.0 innings, allowing 13 hits, walking 5, and striking out 14.
He sat idle for roughly a month and then signed a contract with the Tigres de Quintana Roo in July. He had a solid few games in the Mexican League, and that prompted the Colorado Rockies to sign him to a minor league contract in early August. Curry made a few starts for their Triple-A affiliate, the Albuquerque Isotopes, and then became a free agent at the end of the year.
The right-hander did not receive any offers from MLB clubs over the off-season and returned to the Tigres when the 2026 season began as a result. He did not remain there for long, as the Mets offered a minor league deal in early May. He spent the year bouncing up-and-down from Triple-A Syracuse to Queens and back, posting a 3.36 ERA in 72.1 innings with the Syracuse Mets over 16 appearances and 14 starts and a 5.48 ERA in 21.1 innings for the Mets over 9 appearances and 1 start.
If you look at his stats and the underlying metrics supporting them for both his time in Triple-A and his time in the majors, there are very few positives about Curry: his fastball is below-average, he doesn’t strike enough batters out, he gives up too many fly balls, when hitters make contact they barrel the ball with more regularity than you’d want…and yet, the right-hander managed to post a 3.36 ERA in 72.1 innings in the International League, a full run-and-a-half below the league average, and run a .256 BABIP. Just nine other players in the league threw at least 72.1 innings and had an ERA under 3.36, and most of them did so with much more impressive peripherals than Curry. And until his particularly dreadful final appearance of the season with the Mets that saw him give up 6 earned runs in 3.0 innings against the Baltimore Orioles, the right-hander had a 3.44 ERA in 18.1 innings at the MLB level.
I don’t know exactly how he finagled all of that, but I’d bring Curry back on a minor league contract next season just to see if we might possibly figure out how.
UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 08: Dax Kilby #11 of the Saly River Rafters bats during the game between the Solar Sox and the River Rafters at Salt River Fields on Thursday, October 8, 2026 in Scottsdale, AZ United States. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
The first week of the Arizona Fall League is now in the books. Since the league kicked off last Saturday, the Salt River Rafters have played five games and are full of big Yankees contributions through their 4-1 start. All eight of the representatives have gotten in games thus far with mixed levels of results. If you want a quick rundown on who’s in the desert this month, check here.
October 3 (Rafters 9, Desert Dogs 4): The AFL opener saw five Yankees get into the action. Kyle West looked the best, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and lacing a ball at 109.2 mph. Dax Kilby—the Yankees’ 2025 first-rounder and their star of the show here—ripped a 101.1 mph RBI double and drew a walk, while Core Jackson went 0-for-5 with a walk and two strikeouts. On the pitching side, Anthony Mena allowed a hit in 1.1 scoreless innings, while Mack Estrada got on the mound and walked a pair in 1.1 choppy innings.
October 4 (Rafters 4, Saguaros 6): The lone defeat of the opening week, only West was in the lineup at first base from the Yankees contingent, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout and a stolen base. He has sneaky speed for a guy who only plays first, having stolen 20 last season. Chris Veach came out of the bullpen in the fourth and got two innings of work in his AFL debut, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks. The highlight of his day was a successful pickoff of Sebastian Walcott to get out of a jam in the fourth.
October 5 (Rafters 10, Javelinas 7): It got even quieter in the Monday victory over Peoria, where only one Yankee got into the game. Kilby got his second start, leading off and playing shortstop, and was the best player on the field. After striking out in the first, he was perfect the rest of the day. He cracked a 105.1 mph single up the middle in the third, blasted a two-run double off the wall in the fifth, lifted a sacrifice fly in the sixth, and capped his day with a 105.4 mph RBI double to end the day 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two doubles.
Kilby said in an interview that he’s “working on a swing change,” and the first looks are clearly promising.
October 6 (Rafters 7, Saguaros 2): Kilby got into another game on Tuesday, but went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Jackson smoked a 106.6 mph double in his second start at third base, but the star was West, who had a single and two RBIs. On the pitching side, we got a scoreless inning out of converted catcher Antonio Gomez, who had a walk and a strikeout. He was only up to 98.4 with less ride on his fastball than usual, but that could be for any number of reasons.
October 8 (Rafters 4, Solar Sox 3): West got another start at first base and went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Both singles were scorched 110 mph, with the latter being a walk-off single. Four different pitchers got into the game, with JT Etheridge tossing 2.2 solid innings to start before giving way to Estrada to finish the inning. Veach walked a pair, but struck out the side in a scoreless inning of his own. Mena finished things off with two innings of his own, allowing a run with two strikeouts. The star of this game? Kilby, who led off the game with a home run to finish off a spectacular first week in the AFL.
Harold Griffin, guitarist and songwriter for Long Island-based punk band Koyo, helps us kick off Season 6 of Weird Islanders by talking about distinguished defenseman Dennis Seidenberg’s odd path to the team.
Seidenberg was both unlikely and perfect for the Islanders at the same time. A Stanley Cup champion in Boston and as solid and respected a player on the ice as you’ll find anywhere, he suddenly found himself bought out of his contract at 34-years old. After a great showing for Team Europe at the World Cup of Hockey, GM Garth Snow signed Seidenberg to a one-year contract just before training camp, one of the most Islanders-esque moves we’ve ever seen. It turns out the big German still had a lot in the tank and provided the young team with the same steady play he was already known for. Although injuries derailed his second season with the club, he found a new and very important role in a longstanding Islanders lineage: as landlord to one of the team’s up-and-coming stars.
Harold talks to us about how Long Island, the Islanders and sports have shaped him and his band, Koyo. We reminisce about Seidenberg’s short Islanders tenure, his surprisingly sick stat line of that first season, the Isles’ connections to the Bruins and the “New York Saints” spring of a few seasons later, and how Seidenberg has become one of the most Long Island-Weird Islanders ever. We also sneak a surprise extra Weird Islander in there, who even more surprisingly comes up again in our next episode!
Thanks again to Harold for coming on. We also have a Weird Islanders Extra! bonus episode where he tells us about getting harassed by Canadians for wearing Islanders gear on stage and other observations from rock n’ roll touring. Check out Koyo on YouTube, Spotify, Bandcamp or wherever you get your music and see them on tour starting this December at Warsaw in Brooklyn.
WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL
Seidenberg’s first NHL goal came in his first NHL season for the Flyers against the team they would eventually trade him to, the Coyotes.
After stops in Carolina and Florida, he landed in Boston and had some great moments for the Bruins including this loooooong distance goal against Ottawa. One might say he specialized in goals from embarrassingly far away.
He didn’t score often for the Isles but it was possible. This was a nice one in a heartbreaker against the Habs at Barclays Center.
But the injuries became too much and a comeback for the 2018-19 season had to be shut down. He officially retired in October of 2019 (this article ignores his seasons spent on Long Island, naturally).
Seidenberg’s greatest contribution to the Islanders will always be acting as Mat Barzal’s landlord, a team tradition that continues to this day.
What makes a “Weird Islander?”
We’re always open to suggestions about other Weird Islanders to discuss. Remember the criteria. Candidates must fulfill one of the two of the following:
Played one (1) season or less for the Islanders or very short stints over multiple seasons.
Be a veteran NHLer who is not generally associated with his time on Islanders.
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An initial video on Wednesday night captured the moment, but if you weren’t looking for it, you likely missed it. That was not the case with the latest video to surface on the internet.
Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott, seen in the new video, was keenly aware of the situation as it unfolded.
His baffled reaction to the bare butt went viral on social media in the wake of the Dodgers’ win.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott reacts after the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves in game four of the NLDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park in Cumberland, Georgia, Oct. 7, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Hilariously, another Dodgers teammate took a different approach, walking up to the bare naked player and poking him in the cheek.
Scott, who made three appearances against the Braves during the NLDS, could be seen walking into the clubhouse, seeing the bum, recognizing it was on camera, pointing it out, then walking away, as if deciding it was not his problem to deal with.
Perhaps Scott will address the situation at some point. But he has bigger fish to fry with the Brewers’ lineup, which includes star 22-year-old Jackson Chourio.
It Los Angeles manages to beat Milwaukee and advance to their third World Series in as many years, hopefully there’s some more discretion about what’s being shown on camera during the victory celebration.
Tanner Scott reacting to a Los Angeles Dodgers player’s butt during the team’s NLDS celebration. (X/@yestosehunn).Los Angeles Dodgers players celebrate winning Game 4 of baseball’s National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 07: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians hits a double against the Chicago White Sox during the fourth inning in game three of the American League Division Series at Rate Field on October 07, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians won both games in Chicago and now head home to see if they can solve their homefield woes and their inability to hit White Sox ace Sean Burke.
Make sure you read Jake’s great recap from last night here.
Patrick Bailey has a 145 wRC+ since I tweeted that his lack of offense probably made trading for him a mistake. (To be clear, this had nothing to do with the return for Bailey, which I always was clear was fine).
The Guardians internet sphere is going nuts about using Smith with a 5-run lead. I have to say I find that crazy as someone who has watched a lot of Matt Festa this season and who watched Espino in Chicago on Wednesday. In regards to reliever familiarity, also important to read this from Mike Petriello who does not find reliever familiarity to be that significant of a factor. I like Smith’s chances of being fresh with 48 hours of rest and Vogt went to Gavin Williams at exactly the right spot last night.
Zack Meisel has an article about the Guardians bullpen.
Jose was chirping back at a hostile White Sox crowd yesterday. He now has a 185 wRC+ in the ALDS for everyone who said he was washed and unclutch (language warning):
MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 9: Fred VanVleet #5 of the Houston Rockets plays defense during the game against Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 9, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks tipped off a four-game preseason slate on Friday against the Houston Rockets, losing 135-117 at the Venetian Arena in Macao, China.
Dallas’ goal in the preseason opener was clearly to get a good look at all the new players on the roster, to see how the rookies mix in and to see what pieces fit where. Both Morez Johnson Jr. and, inexplicably, Daniel Gafford hit 3-pointers in the first quarter for the Mavericks, but the Rockets led 27-19 after one as Yao Ming looked on from his courtside seats.
Cooper Flagg stood alone in the second for the Mavs, as the rest of the team looked stuck in the mud on the offensive end. The Rockets built a lead as large as 23 before taking a 65-45 lead into the halftime break. The Mavs pulled to within on 27-23 on an alley-oop dunk by Flagg early in the second before the Rockets outscored Dallas 38-22 for the rest of the half. Tari Eason hit a 3-pointer from the right wing as time expired to end a Mavs mini-run late in the quarter and give the Rockets 20-point edge at the break.
The Mavs cut into the lead early in the third before the Rockets built it back to 20-plus late in the third and early in the fourth, behind a game-high 20 points from Tari Eason and 17 more from Fed VanVleet. Flagg led Dallas with 19 points in the loss, and Naji Marshall added 16.
Flagg pours it on
From tipoff, Cooper Flagg was getting after it on the defensive end. Though he was credited with just one steal in the first quarter, he forced the Rockets into three of their first five turnovers. He scored just one bucket in the first quarter, an uncontested drive and dunk as both teams were dipping their feet into the preseason water.
Cooper Flagg throws it down for his first preseason bucket 💥
Flagg made a couple of highlight plays early in the second, blocking Amen Thompson’s driving layup attempt on one end before receiving an alley-oop to finish off the break on the other as he scored Dallas’ first four points of the frame. He picked up his third foul of the game with 9:22 left in the second quarter, but head coach Dusty May left him in for a few minutes because, hey, it’s the first preseason game of the year. Flagg rewarded May by hitting his first 3-ball of the game the next time down, drawing Dallas to within 34-26 with 8:45 left in the half.
All signs to Flagg easing his way into a transcendent second year. He looked free to roam a little and disrupt things on the defensive end, which was good to see. That’s how he can be an elite defensive disruptor.
Flagg scored 17 easy points in the second. He got exactly where he wanted, mainly the nail, but he also excelled on the fast break. This kid is already, say nothing of what he’s going to be, amazing to watch. His comparative readiness to go and the ease with which he adapted to in-game circumstances in the first preseason game stood in stark contrast to the rest of this roster.
If this game is indicative of what kind of leap Flagg could take in his second NBA season, we could already be looking at a top-15 NBA player. His strength and confidence with the ball was the most obvious point of growth on Friday. The scoring and defense were always going to be there.
Flagg sat out the second half after scoring 19 points and grabbing six boards on 7-of-14 shooting in 19 first-half minutes.
Get a look at Risacher
Zaccharie Risacher started the first preseason game for the Mavericks, and take a mental snapshot of that. If his effort was indicative of what he’ll bring to Dallas this season, Risacher won’t sniff the starting lineup in any meaningful games any time soon.
He was timid — soft at times. His first 3-pointer barely grazed the rim, and he missed all three of his shot attempts in the first quarter, when he and Flagg got a little more run than the rest of the starting five. It seemed like first-year head coach Dusty May really wanted to get a look at the player Dallas traded Ryan Nembhard for this offseason — only to find out that there’s a reason that all it took to acquire Risacher was an end-of-the-bench undrafted rookie like Nembhard.
Much has been made of how much good a change of scenery could do the former No. 1 overall draft pick and how he’s apparently now 6’10”, but until he starts doing anything at all on a real live basketball court, expectations should be tempered. He scored his first bucket of the game on a broken play inside late in the second quarter and finished the game with nine points and eight rebounds in 24 minutes.
Risacher looked a little more comfortable in the second half. He curled around a screen and pulled up for his first 3-pointer of the preseason with 7:50 left in the third as the Mavs worked their way out of the 20-point first-half hole. Then, he started a fast break the next time down that ended in Max Christie’s driving jam, which made it a 72-61 game.
Risacher finished a tough baseline drive through Eason’s defense with 5:08 left in the third before bricking an awkward-looking 3-point attempt from the top of the key two possessions later. Then, he put his head down and got to the basket again for a finger roll to give him seven points in the quarter.
May announced before the game that Kyrie Irving would rest for the first game of preseason play on Friday, likely to make his debut on Sunday, when Dallas plays even earlier in the morning than Friday’s 7 a.m. tip.
“The leverage he provides the other guys, I think that’s one area we can make a big improvement offensively,” May said in his pregame comments. “Simply having a floor general like him on the court with the young group I think will open up a number of things.”
At times, it felt like that center of gravity was exactly what was missing for the Mavericks in Friday’s preseason opener against the Rockets. It felt like if you added Irving to the mix in a lot of scenarios that went wrong for Dallas on Friday, things could have gone the other way on those possessions.
It was a good early reminder. Patience is going to be key this season — in so many ways. This team has a couple of things going for it, but there are is a ton more that needs to be worked out and will take time to get worked out.
Sergio de Larrea is going to be one of the most intriguing pieces of this Mavericks’ roster all season long. He quietly knocked down his first two 3-point attempts before using some of his extended run in the fourth quarter to drop a nice assist nearly the length of the court to a sprinting Tobi Lawal for his fourth assist of the game.
Then, for good measure, he knocked down a third straight 3-pointer in the game’s final minutes to give fans something extra to ruminate on.
This kid can play. He showed his special passing and playmaking abilities in Summer League play, and he flashed them again in smaller doses in the team’s first preseason game. He seems one step ahead of Tarik Biberovic in terms of development at this early juncture.
De Larrea finished with 11 points, six assists and four turnovers in 23 minutes against the Rockets on Friday. Two-way rookie Tobi Lawal led the Mavs’ bench unit with 13 points in 15 minutes.
More reports surfaced Thursday on the Detroit Red Wings and the offers they have received for restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson.
According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, as many as ten teams have contacted Detroit about the 23-year-old Swedish blueliner, who was the sixth overall pick in 2021. The Boston Bruins are among the clubs that have reached out.
LeBrun noted, as most reports have so far, that Detroit's preference is to re-sign Edvinsson. He added that the Red Wings have become flexible on term and are willing to offer whatever length Edvinsson prefers. The main obstacle is the annual cap hit, with LeBrun saying there is still "a sizeable gap" between the two sides.
David Pagnotta reported that several other teams have also inquired in the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, Seattle Kraken and Nashville Predators.
It remains to be seen whether a deal can get done, but the longer Detroit waits, the more costly it could become to bring Edvinsson back. If a worthwhile offer lands on general manager Shawn Horcoff's desk, it could also push Detroit to move the defenseman.
Edvinsson is coming off a disappointing second season in which he recorded 25 points in 72 games, down from 31 points as a rookie, when he was expected to take a step forward.
The market may be anchored by Vancouver Canucks defenseman Zeev Buium, who signed an eight-year deal carrying an annual cap hit of $9.38 million. That contract should be viewed as the baseline for Edvinsson's next deal, though the Red Wings may be trying to push back against it.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 26: Wyatt Langford #36 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with teammates after defeating the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Saturday, September 26, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Andrew Ritter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 08: Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals throws to first base during the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Kauffman Stadium on September 08, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals made plenty of spectacular plays in the field in 2026, even as the season didn’t go the way they hoped. They finished tied for seventh in baseball in Outs Above Average with +19, with Bobby Witt Jr. standing out as a likely Gold Glove candidate, with Michael Massey, Maikel Garcia, and Kyle Isbel also standing out.
From diving catches to leaping grabs and game-saving throws, there were plenty of moments that reminded us just how much fun great defense can be. Here are the best defensive plays by the Royals in 2026.
May 5 vs. the Guardians – Bobby goes deep in the hole
We’ve almost become immune to how great Bobby is on defense now. The 2025 Platinum Glove Award winner showed why he’s the best in baseball several times this year, including this play in May where he went DEEEEEP in the hole to get Cleveland’s Rhys Hoskins.
May 31 vs. the Rangers – Carter Jensen’s sliding catch
Carter Jensen impressed in his rookie season, and will likely earn some support for Rookie of the Year. Most of his damage was done with the bat, but he had some highlights on defense behind the plate as well. On May 31, he showed his athleticism with a terrific sliding catch on a bunt attempt by Rangers outfielder Michael Helman.
June 19 vs. the Cardinals – Massey flips to Tolbert
Even when Bobby Witt Jr. takes the occasional day off, the Royals can still flash leather up the middle. Tyler Tolbert was Bobby’s understudy, and he learned a lot by watching the maestro. In June, he paired up with Michael Massey, who made an impressive diving stop, flipping to Tolbert for the out.
July 28 vs. the Twins – Isaac Collins protects the lead with a catch
The Royals were clinging to a one-run lead in the ninth against the Twins in a late July game when Luke Keaschall laced a line drive toward the line in left. Isaac Collins went all out to make the catch and preserve the lead.
Alex Lange would blow the game anyway (shocker!). But Collins did his part!
Remember Derek Jeter’s iconic jump-throw? Well Bobby Witt Jr. can do it too, only Bobby actually covers a ton of ground out there. He showed off his athleticism in an August game against the Cubs, ranging deep in the hole to retire Alex Bregman.
August 15 vs. the Angels – Tyler Tolbert full extension
Tyler Tolbert showed a bit of everything this year, from speed, to surprising power, to highlights on defense. In an August game against the Angels he was in centerfield, and went full extension to rob Denzer Guzman of extra bases.
