Posts

Posted on

Poll Results: Advancing to the World Series

TORONTO, ON - JULY 18: The Toronto Blue Jays' World Series Commissioner's Trophy is seen before an MLB game between the Chicago White Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays on July 18, 2026, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Mathew Tsang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Earlier this week, we did a couple of World Series polls — specifically, who would advance to the World Series from the American League and from the National League.

After last night’s game, almost 25% of you are already wrong in regards to your American League picks, as Houston received 11.9% of the vote, and Boston got 11.3% of the vote. Both teams got swept in the Wild Card round.

The top two vote getters, Tampa and Cleveland, are still around, and are, not coincidentally, the two American League teams that received byes. Tampa got 40.4% of the vote, while Cleveland got 25.2% of the vote. The Yankees, who bounced the Red Sox, were the pick of 9.3% of voters, while the ChiSox got just 2% of the vote.

In the National League, the Brewers got a majority of the vote, with 59.8%. The Dodgers were the best of the rest, at 17.1%. The Phillies, who stayed alive with their late comeback last night, were the pick of 8.5% of voters, followed by the Cubs, Padres and Braves at 6.1%, 4.9% and 3.7%, respectively.

Posted on

Former Wallaby hooker Nathan Charles diagnosed with MND at 37

  • Charles played professional sport with cystic fibrosis

  • Diagnosis ‘just at times quite cruel’

Former Wallaby Nathan Charles, who became the first cystic fibrosis sufferer in the world to play a contact sport professionally, has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).

The 37-year-old, who played four Test matches for Australia, revealed he has been diagnosed with the same disease as retired South Sydney NRL star Jai Arrow.

Continue reading...
Posted on

MacKinnon has 2 goals and a rare fight in the Avs’ 8-4 victory over the Kings in opener

NHL: Los Angeles Kings at Colorado Avalanche

Sep 30, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche left wing Jaden Schwartz (71) and center Nathan MacKinnon (29) after the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

DENVER (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon scored twice in a four-goal second period and capped his night with a rare fight, and the Colorado Avalanche opened the season with an 8-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night.

Hours before the game, Colorado coach Jared Bednar was given a four-year contract extension. Bednar, who led Colorado to the 2022 Stanley Cup title, was in the final year of his current contract. The extension ended speculation on his future after being swept by Vegas in the Western Conference finals last spring.

“I didn’t want him to go through the whole year and have those distractions of being asked that same question, especially as the year goes on,” Avs president and general manager Joe Sakic said before Wednesday night’s game.

Artturi Lehkonen had two goals, Brock Nelson had a goal and two assist and Mackenzie Blackwood made 26 saves for Colorado, which scored four times on the power play and allowed two short-handed goals.

MacKinnon, who had a career-high 53 goals last season, scored on a 5-on-3 just 23 seconds into the second period and gave the Avs a 4-2 lead with his second at 8:33.

The 2024 MVP, whose last fight was four years ago, dropped the gloves with Kings defenseman Brandt Clark with Colorado leading 6-4 late in the third. Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog scored less than a minute later and Lehkonen iced it with his second 1:03 later.

Trevor Moore, Joel Armia and Brian Dumoulin scored for Los Angeles, and Darcy Kuemper stopped 21 shots.

Nelson and Kelly scored in the first period to give the Avs a 2-1 lead, and Moore and Armia had goals in the second period for the Kings.

Artemi Panarin scored on a delayed penalty midway through the third.

Up next

Kings: At San Jose on Saturday night.

Avalanche: Host St. Louis on Saturday night

Posted on

Malkin scores, Silovs stops 19 shots as Penguins pile on in 7-0 win over Flyers in teams’ opener

Pittsburgh Penguins v Philadelphia Flyers

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates a goal against Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period at Xfinity Mobile Arena on September 30, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Evgeni Malkin, Hendrix Lapierre and Filip Hallander scored in the second period and Arturs Silovs stopped 19 shots to help the Pittsburgh Penguins steamroll the Philadelphia Flyers 7-0 on Wednesday night.

Silovs posted his third career shutout in his 57th start. Nick Robertson scored two goals and Ville Koivunen and Egor Chinakhov also scored for the Penguins. Sidney Crosby added an assist.

The Penguins’ season ended on the same Philadelphia ice in April when the Flyers won a first-round playoff series in six games.

The Flyers left the clincher to a roaring ovation on Cam York’s winner. Five months later, the Flyers were soundly booed off the ice – reaching a crescendo after the second period – and the opening night festivities were spoiled for a team trying to become a force in the Eastern Conference.

The Penguins are trying to run it back at least one more time between the longtime core of Crosby, Malkin and Kris Letang. Malkin signed a one-year deal to remain in Pittsburgh, and the hope is there’s enough magic left to help put the Penguins in position to win a playoff series for the first time in nearly a decade.

The 40-year-old Malkin ripped a one-timer from the slot early in the second period for the 3-0 lead that also gave him 100 career points against the Flyers. He became the sixth player with at least 100 points against the Flyers. Crosby’s assist on Robertson’s game-opening goal extended his record with 140 career points against Philly.

The Penguins scored five goals on their first 18 shots against Dan Vladar. Vladar didn’t play a full period in the preseason as he battled an unspecified injury, and with the Flyers in the first game of a back-to-back set, he was left in the game to take the beating.

Vladar knocked Robertson’s second goal of the game into the net with the back of his skate in a gaffe that made it 6-0.

Up next

Penguins play their home opener Saturday against Montreal.

Flyers play Thursday at New Jersey.

Posted on

Wild Player to Watch: Maxim Shabanov Gets First Chance To Prove Preseason Was No Fluke

The preseason auditions are over. Now it counts for Maxim Shabanov.

The Minnesota Wild will open the 2026-27 regular season Thursday night against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena, and Shabanov will be one of the more intriguing players to watch as Minnesota begins a new season.

After signing with the Wild during the offseason, Shabanov spent much of training camp getting an opportunity alongside Kirill Kaprizov and Danila Yurov.

Now comes his first chance to show what that combination can do when the games count.

Shabanov steadily improved throughout training camp and started to look increasingly comfortable as the preseason progressed.

"He got better and better as the game went," Wild head coach John Hynes said during the preseason. "I think overall in camp, he's gotten better and better. He understands kind of what's going on."

Shabanov also found the back of the net during the preseason while creating several other scoring opportunities.

The 25-year-old made it clear during camp that the opportunity to play alongside Kaprizov is something he wants to earn.

"He a good player," Shabanov said of Kaprizov. "I happy to play with him. I need try everyday work to play with him. Such a good guy and good skill."

Shabanov also said one of the reasons he chose Minnesota was the opportunity to compete for a Stanley Cup.

"It's a good team," Shabanov said. "This team have chance to win [Stanley] Cup and I want help team win a Cup."

Thursday represents the first real test.

Playing alongside Kaprizov comes with an obvious opportunity, but Shabanov will have to show he can complement one of the NHL's top offensive players once the pace and intensity increase in the regular season.

Wild Teammate Sees ‘A Little Bit Of Kucherov’ In Maxim ShabanovWild Teammate Sees ‘A Little Bit Of Kucherov’ In Maxim ShabanovYakov Trenin sees “a little bit of Kucherov” in Maxim Shabanov, who believes the Wild can contend for the Stanley Cup and is working to earn an opportunity alongside Kirill Kaprizov.

Watch how involved Shabanov is in creating offense, whether he can get himself into scoring areas and, perhaps most importantly, whether he can make plays with Kaprizov rather than simply looking to get him the puck.

Minnesota entered training camp with openings higher in its lineup following significant turnover on the wings during the offseason. Shabanov was given an opportunity to seize one of those spots and did enough throughout camp to remain there entering the regular season.

Now he gets the chance to prove he belongs.

The Wild won't learn everything about Shabanov from one night in Nashville. But after weeks of practices and preseason games, Thursday provides the first meaningful look at what Minnesota might have in its new winger.

And that makes Maxim Shabanov the Wild player to watch in Game 1.

See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

Aaron Nola, The Man for The Moment

As this is written—just before nine o’clock on Wednesday night— it is not yet clear who will start for the Phillies in the deciding game of their Wild Card series. The information is being held, kept close to the vest, perhaps not actually decided. Maybe they’ll sleep on it. Still, one thing is certain: Aaron Nola is going to pitch. Perhaps as the starter, perhaps in relief. But he will pitch. (UPDATE: he will start)

Despite a very solid second half of the season for Nola (3.33 ERA), this fact may prompt some consternation among the fanbase. He is not long separated from a stretch in which he was utterly out of sorts. Even in this late-season surge, he’s been tremendously homer-prone. In the postseason, when a single moonshot can spell the end of everything, it is entirely reasonable to be nervous about his presence. That being said: Aaron Nola is the perfect man for this moment.

Not necessarily in terms of how he will perform. Not being psychic, and being skeptical of fortune telling, crystal balls, horoscopes, and the reading of tea leaves, I do not propose to predict how his performance will go. But symbolically, nobody is more suited to this moment. Bryce Harper is the team’s biggest star, the one most associated with the city the team represents. Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez are the aces. But nobody, I would argue, represents the Phillies, and these Phillies in particular, than Nola. Being the longest-tenured member of this team, his career overlapping, if only just, with the Phillies’ tenures of Utley and Howard and Hamels, he is a bridge between eras. He was present when this era began, whether you wish to date it back to the signing of Bryce Harper, the 2022 pennant, or the finalization of this current core with Trea Turner’s arrival. If this era should end, with the Phillies being sent ungently into a less-than-good-night, it is fitting that Nola should be present for the curtain’s fall as he was for the rise. If it should continue, with the Phillies raging against the light, and against the hated Braves, it is fitting that Nola should be there as the trail goes on.

But it is not merely his seniority that makes him the most fitting representative of these 2026 Phillies. This year’s Phillies team has been erratic, up and down, magnificent and maddening. Capable in a short period of time of looking unbeatable and looking utterly vincible. And so, too, is Nola. At his best he pitches like a star, dicing and darting with his dervish of a knuckle curve. And his worst, he looks utterly lost, bereft and baffled. The same is true of his team. If the Phillies hack Atlanta’s chophouse to bits with a parade of homers today, it will not surprise. If the bats fall silent, it will not be a surprise. If Nola should demolish the Braves hitters (with, yes, perhaps a solo shot scattered in there somewhere), it will not be a surprise, and if his pitches should be tossed and batted around like a cat’s favorite toy, it will not be a surprise.

Bryce Harper is the icon of the Phillies, the poster boy. He, too, is Philadelphia. But his lows, while attention-grabbing, are not low enough to truly capture the up and down nature of this team, the essence of erraticism that suffuses it, makes their down periods feel endless and the best stretches feel eternal. Yes, he is not always elite. But he has never truly had the variance that Nola does. In Nola’s stretches of brilliance, in his periods of maddening struggle, he is the truest avatar for this team. He is not the anointed hero, and he is not the everyman, he is both and he is in between and he is neither. He is the potential for brilliant leaps and terrible faceplants. He is the embodiment of these Phillies. And no matter what he does in game three, it will be fitting.

Posted on

2026 Cubs Playoff Heroes and Goats: Nico Hoerner is the Superhero vs. the Padres

And just like that, the season comes to an end with barely a whimper. Over two days, the Cubs looked completely and totally over matched. If you’re a decades long Cubs fan, you’ve seen this before. There were exceptions along the way in the playoff era, but generally the Cubs have a really good season, then get trashed in the playoffs. Here’s the thing though. The Red Sox? Got trashed. The Astros? Showed some fight against the White Sox, but got trashed. By the White Sox of all teams. But then, the Astros were an 81-win team winning a division and reaching the playoffs. I only half jokingly feel like if you can’t win a majority of your games that they should replace your division with another Wild Card for the playoffs. Of course, interleague play was so lopsided this year that you’d only be sliding in another team that barely had a winning record.

So it happens. The playoffs can take a hypothetical two to five percent difference between two teams and make it look like one of the teams is scrimmaging against its Triple-A affiliate. I’ve no doubt that if the Cubs had ever found their footing in this series that it could have looked very different. But the moment can swallow you when it goes bad. The team finishes the season with 53 regular season games and two playoff games since they last won a game where they didn’t homer. That’s a mighty long stretch.

From where I sit, there are exactly three ways to break down methods of winning. First, you can hit a lot of home runs. Second, you can have a really good pitching staff. Keep the score low and you don’t need to score as many runs. This is aided by having a really good defense to make your pitching even better. Third, you can find other ways to manufacture runs. Taking walks, aggressive baserunning and situational hitting.

Hit a lot of homers. Check. This Cub team was built to do that. They spent nearly the entire year at or near the top of the home run leaders as a team. What do I think their long term prospects are there? That’s a tricky question. I felt some of their players underachieved here. Most obviously was Michael Busch. So I’d expect a few guys to post higher numbers next year. But can either Pete Crow-Armstrong or Alex Bregman do what they did again next year? Is Seiya Suzuki back? What do you do with your two corner outfield spots and your designated hitter position? All three of those spots are historically slugger spots in MLB. It doesn’t mean they have to be. The Cubs championship team didn’t actually end up getting great power numbers from the corner outfield and, of course, that was pre-NL designated hitter.

Have a really good pitching staff? Well, no. Two games is a very small sample size. And the day two pitchers were a fair bit more effective than the day one pitchers were. Poor Daniel Palencia. I didn’t see where the numbers ended up, but I know well into the season there had been just one homer on a Palencia pitch over 100 miles an hour. So he puts 101 right in the wheelhouse of Gavin Sheets and Sheets might never have squared a pitch better in his whole career. But for that one pitch, Game 2 might have been a really classic game. That cushion made everything easier for the Padres.

If one were to draw conclusions from those two games, they might decide pitching wins playoff games. That might feel like a sweeping generalization from just two games. But boy I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s ever heard a form of it. I always found an irony that from the moment Theo Epstein and crew came to Chicago they began drafting a slugger in the first round every year. And in those days, the picks were near the top of the round. It felt like they were putting together some slow pitch softball team designed to bludgeon their opponents to death. And in the end, that team was propelled by one of the best pitching staffs in the storied history of this organization. It was aided by an excellent defense.

This organization has got to get better on the pitching side of things. I have one theory on top of all of the obvious ones. The obvious ones being find more of those guys that can dial it up into the high 90s and more. Find more of those guys with the stuff that dances all over the place. Ryan Zeferjahn makes us all nervous because it feels like he doesn’t know where the ball is going when he releases it. I don’t know if he’ll ever fully harness his stuff. But I know that Ryan is exactly what the Cubs need more of. A lot more.

My theory? This team started fixating some years ago on strike throwers. It doesn’t like allowing walks. For all of the ire the pitching staff received, they only allowed the 12th most runs among MLB teams. That is actually pretty decent. Of course, they were significantly aided by the best defensive unit since the current defensive metrics were put in place. One reason for that: They were ninth in fewest walks allowed. Two guys who have been susceptible to allowing a ton of homers are Jameson Taillon and Shōta Imanaga. Both work a ton in the zone and neither has particularly elite stuff. I’d argue that in getting allergic to allowing walks, they’ve found guys who are susceptible to homers. Walks are almost always bad. I do like the idea of limiting them. But a bad pitch in the zone will get you killed.

That last point was a nod towards small ball. It’s a lost art. The Cubs do have a lot of team speed. They also had one of the more prolific base stealers in baseball. And yet, they were 10th in steals. They drew a lot of walks. And they probably led the league in singles that advanced all of the runners exactly one base. This team was so good at getting runners on base that they tended to wait around for one big hit. In the regular season, those hits often came. But there were still long stretches where the offense would vanish. This isn’t new, we’ve been saying it since 2017. I don’t watch other teams or deep dive them statistically. I suspect to some degree or another these things happen to all of the teams. So this is probably not something to overthink.

Still, when the margins decrease, being able to actually put down a bunt or hit the ball to the other side. Those are dying arts. I know that is widespread. Chalk that up to one of the negative side effects to numbers crunchers getting heavily involved with the sport. There is value to those soft skills. I will grant that so many pitchers throwing 98 plus really makes that complicated. It was definitely easier when you were seeing a lot of pitches in the 80’s back in the day when starters were throwing every three or four days and throwing regularly into the seventh and eighth innings.

The game evolves. That’s part of what keeps the game interesting. I definitely liked the old game where the starters were of paramount importance and guys who knew how to have productive at bats with runners on were more valuable. But it’s hard not to appreciate teams like the Padres and their next opponent, the Brewers, with all of their pitchers with really elite stuff. The game is changing. Some of the old stuff works. A three-run homer has been effective for all of baseball history and will likely never go out of fashion. But there are other ways for sure.

Happy Wait Til Next Year Day to all who celebrate.

Three Postives:

  • David Peterson faced five hitters and recorded five outs. He did allow a hit, but also picked off a runner. I would have probably had him start one of the games. I don’t expect it would have changed much.
  • Nico Hoerner had two more hits, one a double. Might want one or two more of these guys who handle velocity well.
  • Tyrone Taylor had a hit in his only at bat of the series. I’m not sure he’d have been in the lineup even if Alex Bregman had been able to play the field. It would have been nice to see Taylor and Conforto rather than Pedro Ramirez and Matt Shaw (particularly against right-handed pitching).

Game Two, September 30: Padres 4, Cubs 1 (0-2)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

  • Superhero: Nico Hoerner (.109). 2-4, 2B, RBI
  • Hero: Carson Kelly (.068). 1-3, HBP
  • Sidekick: David Peterson (.027). 1.2 IP, 5 BF, H, K

THREE GOATS:

  • Billy Goat: Dansby Swanson (-.171). 0-3
  • Goat: Daniel Palencia (-.113). 1.2 IP, 7 BF, H, R, 2 K
  • Kid: Pete Crow-Armstrong (-.104). 0-4

WPA Play of the Game: Gavin Sheets hit a two-run homer in the fourth, effectively ending the series. (.176)

Cubs Play of the Game: Nico Hoerner batted with runners on first and second in the top of the fourth and one out. He singled and a run scored. (.114)

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 1 Winner: Nico Hoerner received 38 of 67 votes.

Up Next: Nobody really knows. The offseason looms after the rest of the playoffs unfold. I’ll be rooting for the Rays the rest of the way. I’m always going to throw my support behind the teams that excel in scouting and player development. After the playoffs? A work stoppage. The sides seem intent on this being a long one. Everyone is making a ton of money and baseball feels like it has made something of a resurgence in popularity. Definitely time for a work stoppage.

I’ve never been put into the position of a mediator, though I do mediate very regularly. Were I asked to mediate, I would give both sides an opening statement that would say that both of you do put forth some good arguments about why the other side frustrates you and is difficult to deal with. I get why the friction is there. I get where there are goals that are very much in contradiction to one another.

I’d tell them that you should have come to me with a very clear list of things you wanted. Then I’d tell you that you aren’t getting all of them. That’s the way mediation works. Neither side is going to get everything it wants. Ordinarily, you’d say that each side figure out their number one priority and try to satisfy that. I’m afraid that it would generally look like one side wants a much more formalized salary structure and the other wants no part of it. I guess I’d try to come up with some loosely formalized salary structure and a significant increase in the amount of revenue going to the players. You take this thing that you don’t want, but you get what you really want. At the end of the day, the players want an increasingly large amount of money. Shouldn’t we all?

That has to look like teams at the bottom spending (way) more. The players get a larger chunk of the revenues. The players share is absolutely indexed to inflation or a standard increase or whatever, so they don’t have to collectively bargain increases. And the owners get some very basic structure that is a bit more harsh than what exists now. I suspect this is the outcome. Or close to it.

How long will that take? Who knows. Until then, extra time to rest and recharge and remember all of the other things we do for fun. I’ll try to pop in from time to time in the offseason. Until then, thanks for your clicks, your comments and a kind word from time to time. They keep me going when the days seem to stretch without end. I wish all of you well in whatever comes your way.

Maybe next year will be the year, right?

Go Cubs.

Posted on

Eichel hits 700 points as Golden Knights beat Blackhawks in Ryan Craig’s first game behind the bench

NHL: Chicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights

Sep 29, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) and Chicago Blackhawks right wing Roman Kantservo (80) face off during the second period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Trim-Imagn Images

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jack Eichel had a goal and two assists to reach 701 career points, and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 in their season opener Tuesday night.

Victor Olofsson notched Vegas’ first goal of the season, rookie Trevor Connelly scored in his NHL debut and Noah Hanifin and Mark Stone added goals as Ryan Craig earned his first victory as the Golden Knights’ head coach. Carter Hart made 24 saves.

Jordan Greenway and Patrick Kane scored for Chicago, and Spencer Knight stopped 32 shots.

Kane marked his return to the franchise he helped lead to three Stanley Cup championships with a third-period goal, but Chicago couldn’t complete the comeback.

Craig took over after six seasons as a Vegas assistant and three coaching its AHL affiliate in Henderson. He inherited a veteran team that reached last season’s Stanley Cup Final.

Vegas got scoring from five players after trading Pavel Dorofeyev, its leading goal scorer last season with 37, including 20 on the man advantage.

Olofsson opened the scoring midway through the first period when his power-play wrist shot found the top shelf from the far side.

Connelly doubled the lead when he flipped a rebound over Knight’s pads.

Greenway scored late in the second when his shot from the right circle flew past Hart, cutting Vegas’ lead to 2-1.

Kane trimmed the deficit to one early in the third with a slick backhand, but Hanifin answered shortly thereafter to restore the two-goal cushion.

Stone’s empty-netter provided the final margin.

Chicago opened without Connor Bedard, who is recovering from shoulder surgery and isn’t expected back until late October at the earliest.

Up next

Blackhawks: Visit Utah on Thursday night.

Golden Knights: Host Anaheim on Friday night.

Posted on

Jamal Shead inks $24 million deal with the Raptors

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 01: Jamal Shead #23 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-110 in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 01, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After Jamal Shead’s ironman season — playing all 82 games — he is being rewarded with job security and a big paycheque, inking a $24 million dollar deal keeping him on the Raptors for the next three years.

This news comes on Thursday from Shams Charania, with the insider giving few additional details on the terms of the deal, but noting Shead’s playing of every game of last season, while dishing out a league-best 354 bench assists. Shead is built in the mold of other Raptors point guards like Kyle Lowry and Davion Mitchell.

The Raptors are continuing their philosophy of building around two-way players, with the bulldog being retained behind Immanuel Quickley as the Raptors’ backup PG for the beginning of a period of serious contention for Toronto. The underdog, get-it-out-the-mud mindset is clearly present into the 2020s, and the retention of Shead bodes well for keeping a level of grit in the Raptors’ locker room.

This contract comes in the wake of the unfortunate staredown incident that he faced at the hands of Dejounte Murray last year, where the team was criticized for its lack of energy in sticking up for their guy after the New Orleans point guard subjected him to some real disrespect. It’s good to see that months later, the franchise is sticking by their guy, and putting their faith and their financials into the undersized but dogged-defender.

Posted on

2026-27 Fantasy Basketball: Kyrie Irving, Tyrese Haliburton among big names returning from injury

Injuries are a part of the NBA and fantasy basketball, and the 2025-26 season saw a number of notable players miss extended time.

Here are the Top-12 players returning from injuries and what to expect from them in the upcoming campaign.

1. Kyrie Irving (G - DAL) | 2025-26 Games Missed: 82 | Injury: ACL | 2026-27 Availability: Full Go

Prior to his injury, Irving posted nine straight Top-20 fantasy seasons, but availability has been a concern of his for years. The star PG hasn’t played more than 60 games in a single season since the 2018-19 campaign, and this latest severe injury could further hamper his ability to stay on the court.

The last time Irving was on the court, the Mavericks had recently traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, and Cooper Flagg hadn’t been drafted. Irving comes back to an entirely new situation, and while Flagg will certainly siphon off some usage, Irving should play a prominent role on a team missing a secondary scorer and playmaker.

Irving has thrived with star running mates, doing so with Doncic and LeBron James, so there’s no reason to worry about his per-game outlook alongside Flagg. Just keep his injury history in mind when deciding where to draft him.

2. Tyrese Haliburton (G - IND) | 2025-26 Games Missed: 82 | Injury: Achilles | 2026-27 Availability: Full Go

Hali heartbreakingly tore his Achilles in the first quarter of Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, and he sat out all of last season to recover. Prior to his injury, he strung together three straight Top-14 fantasy finishes, finishing no lower than 22nd in 8-cat rankings since arriving in Indiana.

Per Haliburton, he’ll be a full go to open the 2026-27 campaign, and his role should remain unchanged as Indiana’s floor general. Haliburton is a reliable scorer, efficient shooter and capable defender who does a little bit of everything in the box score. He’s absolutely still got first-round upside.

3. Damian Lillard (G - POR) | 2025-26 Games Missed: 82 | Injury: Achilles | 2026-27 Availability: Full Go

He missed 112 games across his last four seasons before sustaining the Achilles injury, but the questions surrounding the 36-year-old aren’t limited to health. The last time Lillard was on the court, he was the 1B to Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee. Now, it’s unclear what his role will be for an ascending Blazers squad.

The Trail Blazers made the playoffs last season without Lillard, led by strong efforts from Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan and a solid supporting cast of role players. Not only will Lillard be back in action, but he’ll be joined by another guy on this list in Ja Morant. How the two will share ball-handling, playmaking and scoring responsibilities remains to be seen, and given Lillard’s age, it’s fair to tread lightly and wait until the later rounds of fantasy drafts to take him.

4. Ja Morant (G - POR) | 2025-26 Games Missed: 62 | Injury: Ankle, Calf, Elbow | 2026-27 Availability: Full Go

Morant has appeared in only 79 games across the last three seasons due to injuries and suspensions. Despite the missed time, Morant is a guy with a Top-100 floor and a Top-50 ceiling, even with numerous uncertainties surrounding his arrival in Portland.

Health and role change are baked into his early ADP, as Morant carries an eighth-round price tag. That makes him a value selection in fantasy basketball drafts given the heights he’s reached in his career. Still only 27 years old and ready for a fresh start in Portland, Morant is one of my favorite picks in the Picks 85-100 range.

5. Fred VanVleet (G - HOU) | 2025-26 Games Missed: 82 | Injury: ACL | 2026-27 Availability: Could be on Minutes Restriction to Open Season

He finished as a Top-30 option in five seasons prior to finishing 81st a season ago, but VanVleet’s days as a second or third-rounder are behind him.

With Kevin Durant in town and Amen Thompson signed to a monster extension, FVV will still offer appeal in assists, steals and three-pointers, but his usage will surely be down from where it was pre-injury, and playing time won’t be as plentiful with this loaded Rockets team. He’s a late-round PG with upside for big nights if Thompson or KD have to miss time, but fantasy managers should proceed with caution, as he may open the season on a minutes restriction.

6. Zach Edey (C - MEM) | 2025-26 Games Missed: 71 | Injury: Ankle | 2026-27 Availability: Still Recovering, On Track for Regular-Season Opener

In 11 games last season, Edey posted career highs across all counting stats and shooting percentages. His ability to excel in traditional big-man stats like rebounds, FG% and blocked shots affords him a sturdy floor, but his ceiling is capped.

The Grizzlies made a concerted effort to bolster their frontcourt depth, adding Isaiah Stewart and Quinten Post and drafting Cameron Boozer. Edey’s early-career injury history and additional competition for minutes makes him a risk/reward selection in fantasy drafts. Early ADP means you’ll need to spend a mid-round pick on him, but those risks paint him as more of a late-rounder.

2026 NBA Finals - New York Knicks v San Antonio Spurs
How to Play Fantasy Basketball 2026-27: Beginner’s guide and draft tips
Deciding to play fantasy basketball for the first time? Here are some tips to make it a good experience.

7. Walker Kessler (C - LAL) | 2025-26 Games Missed: 77 | Injury: Shoulder | 2026-27 Availability: Full Go

Kessler has only played 63 games across the last two seasons, but he’s improved in each season since joining the league. Last season, Kessler only played a handful of games, but he showcased his multi-faceted game.

It’s a small sample size, but if last season showed anything, it’s that the big man can be more than just a rebounder and shot-blocker. He handed out a career-best three assists and knocked down 1.2 triples per contest. He’s finally out of Utah’s logjammed frontcourt and ready to take center stage as LA’s top big man. Kessler is fully healthy ahead of the season, and he makes an interesting selection in the fourth round range of fantasy drafts.

8. Dereck Lively II (C - DAL) | 2025-26 Games Missed: 75 | Injury: Foot | 2026-27 Availability: Return Timeline Unclear

He’s only played in 98 of a possible 246 games in three seasons since joining the Association, so it’s fair to be concerned about Lively II’s availability heading into Year 4.

In the smattering of games in which Lively II has played across the last three seasons, he’s only averaged 21 minutes. Daniel Gafford is still around, and Morez Johnson Jr. was drafted in the lottery, so it’s unlikely Lively II sees a boost in playing time.

Lively II is still recovering, and Masai Ujiri noted that the team will “be patient.” An unclear recovery timeline and increased competition for minutes means Lively II is not a high-upside fantasy option, and he shouldn’t be drafted outside of deep leagues.

9. Jayson Tatum (F - BOS) | 2025-26 Games Missed: 66 | Injury: Achilles | 2026-27 Availability: Full Go

He ruptured his Achilles in May of 2025 but rather than sit out the entire 2025-26 season, Tatum debuted on March 6 against Dallas. He ultimately played 16 games and finished 26th in per-game fantasy value, offering late-season magic for managers who kept him on IL.

Tatum will be full-go for the 2026-27 campaign, and with Jaylen Brown off to Philly, the former will be leaned on even more heavily. Tatum is a first-round fantasy talent, and given his quick recovery and strong play to close out his limited 2025-26 season, he’s worth grabbing with a Top-10 pick.

10. Domantas Sabonis (C - SAC) | 2025-26 Games Missed: 63 | Injury: Back, Knee | 2026-27 Availability: Full Go

He finished with his lowest points, rebounds, assists and minutes since 2018-19 when he was still with the Pacers, but his struggles were due at least in part to nagging injuries.

Sabonis was a Top-20 player in four of five seasons prior to his injury, and he led the Association with 26 triple-doubles during the 2023-24 campaign. A fully-healthy Sabonis has obvious upside due to his ability to rack up big rebound and assist totals as a center. The rebuilding Kings may trade Sabonis, and his ceiling will be measured by where he plays.

11. Dejounte Murray (G - NOP) | 2025-26 Games Missed: 68 | Injury: Achilles | 2026-27 Availability: Full Go

From 2020-21 to 2023-24, Murray averaged 20 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.7 triples, finishing as a fantasy third-rounder twice and a first-rounder once.

Murray is all-systems-go for the start of the new season, and at Media Day, he expressed his excitement to get back on the court, lead and win games for the Pels. New Orleans has a deep and talented roster, but Murray should open the season as a starter. His ability to stuff the stat sheet in a number of categories gives him early-round upside, but his late sixth-round ADP makes him a tremendous value pick.

12. Giannis Antetokounmpo (F - MIA) | 2025-26 Games Missed: 46 | Injury: Achilles | 2026-27 Availability: Full Go

Giannis played his fewest games ever last season. His points, rebounds and assists were his fewest since 2017-18, and his 28.9 minutes were the second-lowest mark of his career.

After an offseason to recover and a fresh start in South Beach, the Greek Freak looks like he’s ready to make some noise for the Miami Heat. The Heat gutted its roster to acquire him, so he’ll be in a situation similar to the one he was in with the Bucks as the go-to option on a team lacking many complementary scorers.

As always, he’ll be a first-rounder, and managers drafting him should strongly consider a Punt FT% build to account for Giannis’ terrible efficiency from the charity stripe.

Posted on

Simon Edvinsson remains unsigned on eve of Red Wings' season-opening game against Rangers

DETROIT (AP) — Simon Edvinsson remained unsigned as a restricted free agent the day before the Detroit Red Wings were to open the season at home against the New York Rangers.

Edvinsson did not skate with the Red Wings on Thursday, but the 23-year-old defenseman was seen training with a team in his native Sweden on Wednesday.

“The organization will continue conversations with Simon and his representatives," interim general manager Shawn Horcoff said earlier in the week.

Edvinsson had nine goals and 25 points in 72 games last year, his second full season in the NHL. Detroit drafted him No. 6 overall in 2021 and he has 19 career goals and 60 points in 175 games.

Dylan Larkin, meanwhile, is still in limbo heading into Friday night's opener.

Larkin asked for a trade in the offseason with the franchise mired in a decade-long playoff drought. After he was not traded, the team stripped him of his captaincy. Larkin has been limited during training camp after saying he got hurt working out.

He has five seasons left on the eight-year, $69.6 million contract he signed in 2023. That deal includes a no-trade clause and he initially told the Red Wings he would only accept a move to Florida, Minnesota or Las Vegas. Larkin recently declined to share which teams he’s willing to be traded to.

He has played his entire NHL career in Detroit, which took the former Michigan star with No. 15 draft pick in 2014. Larkin ranks 10th in franchise history in scoring with 643 points. Larkin was an important role player for the United States when it won the Olympic gold medal at the Milan Cortina Games in February.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Posted on

Senators Now Expect Andre Burakovsky To Miss Senators Season Opener

Andre Burakovsky was looking like one of the more encouraging developments of Ottawa Senators training camp.

But now the familiar question surrounding the talented winger has surfaced again: Can he stay healthy?

Burakovsky suffered an upper-body injury Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens after taking a cross-check in the back near the boards. He was in the process of trying to reverse the puck and Arber Xhekaj checked him head first into the boards then fell on him.

Burakovsky was asked at the start of training camp about his second half slump in Chicago last season (Senators YouTube)..

Burakovsky hasn't been back on the ice since.

On Wednesday, Senators head coach Travis Green confirmed that Burakovsky isn't likely to play in the regular season opener in Toronto on Saturday.

“He still hasn't skated. Upper body. I don't expect him to play on the weekend,” Green said.

Burakovsky joins Artem Zub as players who won't be ready to start the season. Green sounded more hopeful about Jake Sanderson's status, though he didn't skate on Wednesday.

It's unfortunate timing for Burakovsky, who had been very noticeable throughout training camp and the preseason.

At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Burakovsky's size and skating ability stood out, and he appeared to be comfortably tracking toward a spot in the top six. That's exactly what the Senators were hoping for when they acquired him from the Chicago Blackhawks in June for a sixth-round draft pick.

At his best, Burakovsky has shown he's a guy who can produce at a top-six level.

His finest NHL season came with the Colorado Avalanche in 2021-22, when he established career highs with 22 goals and 61 points in 80 games before helping Colorado win the Stanley Cup. The previous two seasons, he produced 45 points in 58 games and 44 points in 53 games.

Even his first season in Seattle started well. Burakovsky had 39 points in 49 games and was leading the Kraken in scoring when a groin injury in February ended his season. He suffered setbacks during his rehab and eventually required surgery.

Unfortunately, injuries have been a recurring theme in his career.

Early the following season, Burakovsky required surgery after suffering an upper-body injury against the New York Rangers and was projected to miss six to eight weeks.

Even in his early days with Washington, he missed significant time with injuries to both hands, including a fractured thumb that required surgery, and also underwent another procedure after being injured during the 2018 playoffs.

Burakovsky has been healthier over the past two seasons. He played 79 games for Seattle in 2024-25 and 75 for Chicago last season, producing 11 goals and 33 points for the Blackhawks.

Last November, he missed five games after taking a brutal hit to the head from Seattle's Ryan Lindgren. But that didn't slow down his production in the first half of the season. By Jan. 7, he had 29 points in 38 games. But in the second half? Crickets. Even while playing consistently with Connor Bedard, he had only 4 points in the final 32 games.

The Hawks stuck with him on the top line because their analytics said, despite his slump, he was producing chances. But at some point, the simple goals and assist totals override everything else, which is part of why the Hawks were willing to move him for just a sixth rounder.

When Burakovsky showed up in Ottawa for camp last month, he looked like he might be in the process of rediscovering his first half magic of last season. Instead, he rediscovered the injury bug.

It's bad timing for the Sens, and bad timing for Burakovsky.

The 31-year-old is entering the final season of the five-year, $27.5-million contract he signed with Seattle in 2022 and can become an unrestricted free agent next summer. With salaries escalating around the NHL, a healthy and productive season could put him in position for another big payday.

There is still plenty of time for that to happen.

But after an encouraging start to his first training camp in Ottawa, already being shut down by injury before the Sens play their first regular-season game is not the ideal start.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

This story was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. For more from THN Ottawa, click one of the headlines below:

Hoyt Stanley's Surprising Selection To Senators' 23 Man Roster
Thomas Chabot Named Captain Of The Ottawa Senators
Steve Staios Provides Latest Injury Updates, Weighs In On Yakemchuk Readiness

Posted on

What to know for the 2026 ALDS, NLDS: Bracket, schedule, format and how to watch

What to know for the 2026 ALDS, NLDS: Bracket, schedule, format and how to watch originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2026 MLB playoffs began with 12 teams. Now, that number is down to nine.

The American League’s No. 4 New York Yankees and No. 6 Chicago White Sox, along with the National League’s No. 4 San Diego Padres, have advanced to the Division Series of the postseason. All three teams recorded Wild Card Series sweeps — New York dominated the rival No. 5 Boston Red Sox, Chicago rolled past the No. 4 Houston Astros for its first postseason series victory in over two decades, and San Diego took care of the No. 5 Chicago Cubs.

The only Wild Card Series headed to a decisive Game 3 is the matchup between the No. 3 Atlanta Braves and No. 6 Philadelphia Phillies. That series wraps up Thursday night.

The Division Series will see the introduction of the top two seeds in each league — the AL’s No. 1 Tampa Bay Rays and No. 2 Cleveland Guardians, and the NL’s No. 1 Milwaukee Brewers and two-time defending World Series champion No. 2 Los Angeles Dodgers. Those clubs received byes past the Wild Card Series.

From the matchups to the schedule and more, here’s what to know for the ALDS and NLDS:

Are teams reseeded in the MLB playoffs?

The MLB postseason follows a bracket format, so teams are not reseeded after the Wild Card Series.

How many games are in the ALDS, NLDS?

The ALDS and NLDS have a best-of-five format where the higher seed hosts Games 1, 2 and, if necessary, 5.

2026 ALDS bracket: What are the matchups?

The AL side of the bracket features a pair of divisional showdowns:

  • No. 1 Rays vs. No. 4 Yankees
  • No. 2 Guardians vs. No. 6 White Sox

2026 NLDS bracket: What are the matchups?

Over in the NL, the Brewers meet the Padres, while the Dodgers await the winner of Braves-Phillies:

  • No. 1 Brewers vs. No. 4 Padres
  • No. 2 Dodgers vs. No. 3Braves/No. 6 Phillies

When do the ALDS, NLDS start?

All four Division Series matchups start Saturday, Oct. 3.

What is the ALDS, NLDS schedule in the 2026 MLB playoffs?

Here’s a look at the full Division Series schedule (this section will be updated as more details are finalized):

Oct. 3

  • White Sox at Guardians, Game 1 — 1 p.m. ET, TBS and HBO Max
  • Braves/Phillies at Dodgers, Game 1 — 4 p.m. ET, FOX
  • Yankees at Rays, Game 1 — 6:30 p.m. ET, TBS and HBO Max
  • Padres at Brewers, Game 1 — 8:30 p.m. ET, FS1

Oct. 4

  • Padres at Brewers, Game 2 — 4 p.m. ET, FS1
  • Braves/Phillies at Dodgers, Game 2 — 8 p.m. ET, FS1

Oct. 5

  • White Sox at Guardians, Game 2 — 5 p.m. ET, TBS and HBO Max
  • Yankees at Rays, Game 2 — 8 p.m. ET, TBS and HBO Max

Oct. 6

  • Dodgers at Braves/Phillies, Game 3 — time TBD, network TBD
  • Brewers at Padres, Game 3 — time TBD, network TBD

Oct. 7

  • Guardians at White Sox, Game 3 — time TBD, TBS and HBO Max
  • Rays at Yankees, Game 3 — time TBD, TBS and HBO Max
  • Dodgers at Braves/Phillies, Game 4 (if necessary) — time TBD, network TBD
  • Brewers atPadres, Game 4 (if necessary) — time TBD, network TBD

Oct. 8

  • Guardians at White Sox, Game 4 (if necessary) — time TBD, TBS and HBO Max
  • Rays at Yankees, Game 4 (if necessary) — time TBD, TBS and HBO Max

Oct. 9

  • Padres at Brewers, Game 5 (if necessary) — time TBD, network TBD
  • Braves/Phillies at Dodgers, Game 5 (if necessary) — time TBD, network TBD

Oct. 10

  • White Sox at Guardians, Game 5 (if necessary) — time TBD, TBS and HBO Max
  • Yankees at Rays, Game 5 (if necessary) — time TBD, TBS and HBO Max

Where to watch, stream the 2026 ALDS and NLDS

All ALDS games will air on TBS and stream live on HBO Max, TBS.com and the TBS app.

NLDS contests will air across FOX and FS1 and stream live on FOX One and FOXSports.com.

Posted on

What to know for the 2026 ALDS, NLDS: Bracket, schedule, format and how to watch

What to know for the 2026 ALDS, NLDS: Bracket, schedule, format and how to watch originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The 2026 MLB playoffs began with 12 teams. Now, that number is down to nine.

The American League’s No. 4 New York Yankees and No. 6 Chicago White Sox, along with the National League’s No. 4 San Diego Padres, have advanced to the Division Series of the postseason. All three teams recorded Wild Card Series sweeps — New York dominated the rival No. 5 Boston Red Sox, Chicago rolled past the No. 4 Houston Astros for its first postseason series victory in over two decades, and San Diego took care of the No. 5 Chicago Cubs.

The only Wild Card Series headed to a decisive Game 3 is the matchup between the No. 3 Atlanta Braves and No. 6 Philadelphia Phillies. That series wraps up Thursday night.

The Division Series will see the introduction of the top two seeds in each league — the AL’s No. 1 Tampa Bay Rays and No. 2 Cleveland Guardians, and the NL’s No. 1 Milwaukee Brewers and two-time defending World Series champion No. 2 Los Angeles Dodgers. Those clubs received byes past the Wild Card Series.

From the matchups to the schedule and more, here’s what to know for the ALDS and NLDS:

Are teams reseeded in the MLB playoffs?

The MLB postseason follows a bracket format, so teams are not reseeded after the Wild Card Series.

How many games are in the ALDS, NLDS?

The ALDS and NLDS have a best-of-five format where the higher seed hosts Games 1, 2 and, if necessary, 5.

2026 ALDS bracket: What are the matchups?

The AL side of the bracket features a pair of divisional showdowns:

  • No. 1 Rays vs. No. 4 Yankees
  • No. 2 Guardians vs. No. 6 White Sox

2026 NLDS bracket: What are the matchups?

Over in the NL, the Brewers meet the Padres, while the Dodgers await the winner of Braves-Phillies:

  • No. 1 Brewers vs. No. 4 Padres
  • No. 2 Dodgers vs. No. 3Braves/No. 6 Phillies

When do the ALDS, NLDS start?

All four Division Series matchups start Saturday, Oct. 3.

What is the ALDS, NLDS schedule in the 2026 MLB playoffs?

Here’s a look at the full Division Series schedule (this section will be updated as more details are finalized):

Oct. 3

  • White Sox at Guardians, Game 1 — 1 p.m. ET, TBS and HBO Max
  • Braves/Phillies at Dodgers, Game 1 — 4 p.m. ET, FOX
  • Yankees at Rays, Game 1 — 6:30 p.m. ET, TBS and HBO Max
  • Padres at Brewers, Game 1 — 8:30 p.m. ET, FS1

Oct. 4

  • Padres at Brewers, Game 2 — 4 p.m. ET, FS1
  • Braves/Phillies at Dodgers, Game 2 — 8 p.m. ET, FS1

Oct. 5

  • White Sox at Guardians, Game 2 — 5 p.m. ET, TBS and HBO Max
  • Yankees at Rays, Game 2 — 8 p.m. ET, TBS and HBO Max

Oct. 6

  • Dodgers at Braves/Phillies, Game 3 — time TBD, network TBD
  • Brewers at Padres, Game 3 — time TBD, network TBD

Oct. 7

  • Guardians at White Sox, Game 3 — time TBD, TBS and HBO Max
  • Rays at Yankees, Game 3 — time TBD, TBS and HBO Max
  • Dodgers at Braves/Phillies, Game 4 (if necessary) — time TBD, network TBD
  • Brewers atPadres, Game 4 (if necessary) — time TBD, network TBD

Oct. 8

  • Guardians at White Sox, Game 4 (if necessary) — time TBD, TBS and HBO Max
  • Rays at Yankees, Game 4 (if necessary) — time TBD, TBS and HBO Max

Oct. 9

  • Padres at Brewers, Game 5 (if necessary) — time TBD, network TBD
  • Braves/Phillies at Dodgers, Game 5 (if necessary) — time TBD, network TBD

Oct. 10

  • White Sox at Guardians, Game 5 (if necessary) — time TBD, TBS and HBO Max
  • Yankees at Rays, Game 5 (if necessary) — time TBD, TBS and HBO Max

Where to watch, stream the 2026 ALDS and NLDS

All ALDS games will air on TBS and stream live on HBO Max, TBS.com and the TBS app.

NLDS contests will air across FOX and FS1 and stream live on FOX One and FOXSports.com.

Posted on

Padres erupt at Cubs pitcher for plunking after game-changing home run: ‘F–k you’

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows A baseball pitcher throws a pitch toward a batter as the umpire and catcher watch, with a live game score of Cubs 1, Padres 4 displayed in the top left corner, Image 2 shows San Diego Padres players and coaches in the dugout during a game against the Chicago Cubs, Image 3 shows Chicago Cubs pitcher Daniel Palencia looks down dejectedly on the pitcher's mound as a batter rounds the bases in the background
Padres Cubs HBP

Things did not stay classy in San Diego.

Cubs pitcher Daniel Palencia enraged the Padres’ bench Wednesday night after plunking a batter immediately following a game-changing two-run homer in the 4-1 road loss in Game 2 that ended Chicago’s season rather unceremoniously.

One person on the Padres bench clearly shouted, “F–k you,” toward Palencia after Jake Cronenworth took a 100-mph 3-0 offering right in the back, while others seemed quite miffed.

A trainer attended to Palenica right after the hit by pitch, with one of the Peacock broadcasters noting they did not believe he hit Cronenworth on purpose.

The scene unfolded in the fourth inning after Palencia — a reliever — allowed a two-run homer to pinch-hitting Gavin Sheets that turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-1 hole.

Palenica then fired three balls to Cronenworth before his fourth hit him in the back, resulting in the latter staring down the reliever while the fans booed loudly.

Craig Counsell and medical staffers then checked on Palencia, who recorded the final out of the inning and then pitched a clean fifth inning.

The individual (second from right) screams an expletive toward Daniel Palencia. @JomboyMedia/X

That he would hit Cronenworth right in the typical spot for a beaning immediately after surrendering a homer certainly raised some flags, although the trainer coming out indicated something being amiss.

Tempers eventually cooled but the Cubs’ bats never heated up and they exited the postseason being outscored 12-1 over the two games.

Daniel Palencia hits Jake Cronenworth with a pitch. @JomboyMedia/X

Their lone run came on a fourth-inning RBI single by Nico Hoerner but the good vibes didn’t last long before Sheets took Palenica deep to make it a three-run game.

The Cubs have now lost in the NLDS and Wild Card in back-to-back years, raising questions about this team’s ceiling.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Daniel Palencia looks on after giving up a two-run home run in the fourth inning during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Petco Park in San Diego, California, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“It didn’t go well here. We just didn’t play well enough. They’re playing really well. We just couldn’t get anything going offensively obviously,” Counsell said.

“Look, it’s the end of the season is — when you’re in this position, you’re going to be disappointed. You’re going to feel unfulfilled, and you can’t — that’s just dominating everything you feel right now. Maybe as you reflect, I think I can get to some better places. Right now that’s all I feel.”