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SAN FRANCISCO – Moses Moody officially is out for the Warriors†regular season opener Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers while still rehabbing a strained calf, coach Steve Kerr announced Sunday.Â

Moody did not practice Sunday. He went through individual work on the court and in the weight room, but has not scrimmaged since missing the Warriors†final three preseason games.

Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga, both coming back from ankle issues, scrimmaged Sunday and everything went well for them physically. The two forwards will be listed as questionable for the season opener with the expectation being theyâ€ll be able to play.Â

Losing Moody for at least the first game of the season already throws a wrench in Kerrâ€s plans for his starting lineup and how heâ€ll use different combinations. Moody started both preseason games he played in and averaged 14.5 points on 52.4 percent shooting and was 7 of 12 (58.3 percent) on 3-pointers. The Jimmy Butler trade last season cemented Moody into a role of being a go-to on-ball defender who can hit open threes.Â

Moodyâ€s versatility as someone who can play up as a forward in smaller lineups or down as a shooting guard in bigger lineups proved key down the stretch last season. And it also has Kerr trying to fill a missing piece.

“I honestly have not decided yet whoâ€s going to start on Tuesday,†Kerr said.

Which prompted the question: Do you know who will start on Tuesday?

Sprinkling in some sarcasm, Kerr rattled off the obvious choices of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Butler, assuming heâ€s healthy enough. He then made it clear who at least the fourth person will be.Â

“With Moses out, thatâ€s kind of the question,†Kerr said. “[Brandin Podziemski] will be out there. BP will be out there.â€

Kerr mentioned veteran center Al Horford as an option, as well as Kuminga, but he could go a number of ways. The Warriors donâ€t want to play Horford, 39 years old, more than 20 to 25 minutes per game, making it tricky to decide if heâ€s better served as a starter or coming off the bench. If he starts and the Warriors want to close games, that means long lulls on the bench in between.Â

“What we have to think about is, what does that do to the rotation and what does that mean coming off the bench,†Kerr said. “Honestly, we have not decided yet and weâ€ve got to talk to guys as well.â€

The player who will be most affected by the fifth spot is Green. Starting Horford would slot Green into his more natural position of power forward. But if Kerr opts to go smaller and start Kuminga, Green would continue rising above as a small-ball center.

None of this is new to Green, who joked that if he has to play the five “Iâ€m going to ask for a trade.†The 6-foot-6 defensive genius has probably played more center than Kerr would have liked over the years, but heâ€s also a main piece of the modern NBAâ€s revolution. The deciding factor going into Greenâ€s 14th season is the same that itâ€s always been for someone so decorated.

Whatâ€s best for the team? What is going to help the Warriors win? And what will put them on the path to contending for another championship?

“Iâ€ve teetered with it my whole career. Sometimes at the five, sometimes at the four,†Green said. “I think you all know me. Whatever helps this team, whatever puts us in the best position to win, thatâ€s what Iâ€m going to do. I train to prepare myself for whateverâ€s to come. Playing the five isnâ€t always about the size, itâ€s about the size of the heart and I think my heart is as big – if not bigger – than anyoneâ€s in the league. I always trust in that.

“I think my brain helps me get by quite a bit. I can outthink some guys. I just use the tools that I have. But Iâ€m not putting no huge emphasis on whether I play the four or the five. In life we all have ideally what we would like. I have ideally what I think it would look like. But I also know that I play a team sport and in playing a team sport, what may be best for you personally or what you think is best, if thatâ€s not best for the team then youâ€re being selfish. And I take pride in not being selfish.

“So whatever that looks like, wherever I can help … if thatâ€s like, ‘Oh man, you sliding to the five is going to help this lineup, thatâ€s going to help this rotation,†then great. If itâ€s sliding to the four, great. Ultimately, Steve proved in Year 1 that he knows how to do these things, so Iâ€m not going to be the idiot to sit here and question him. Iâ€ll move on in my life and get ready for whateverâ€s ahead.â€

Lakers head coach JJ Redick is expected to use Gabe Vincent, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton as his starting five against the Warriors. LeBron James remains out because of sciatica.

Who Kerr slots in next to Curry, Podziemski, Butler and Green is to be determined, and always, Draymond is ready for however the cards are shuffled.

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England fast bowler Mark Wood says he is “quietly confident” of being fit for the first Test of the Ashes series in Australia.

Wood has not played since a Champions Trophy defeat by Afghanistan in February and had an operation on a left knee injury in March.

The Champions Trophy and tour of India that preceded it was the 35-year-old’s return from an elbow injury that had kept him out of action since August 2024.

“It was a frustrating summer,” Wood told the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast., external “I didn’t get to play any cricket and my knee, at times when you think that you’re just about ready to play, it was not just quite there.

“I got knocked back a couple of times, but in the tent [training camp] it’s been going well. I’ve had the speed gun out and the pace is getting up there.”

The first match of the Ashes starts on 21 November in Perth, with England aiming to win their first Test series in Australia since 2010-2011.

“Hopefully, I’m in form, bowling well in the practice games and in the nets, and can put my hand up for that game [Ashes opener],” added Wood, whose last Test outing was against Sri Lanka 14 months ago.

“The rehab hasn’t just been a straight curve, it’s been a bit up and down, but I’m in a good position now where i’m hoping to kick on for that game.

“I never want to give an answer where I say, ‘Yes, I’m pumped, I’m ready’. I’m in a confident place at the minute and feeling a lot more positive, so I’m quietly confident.”

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Oct 16, 2025, 12:27 PM ET

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge won’t need surgery on his elbow, but left-hander Carlos Rodon underwent an operation this week and could miss Opening Day.

Judge’s throwing was limited after he hurt the flexor tendon in his right elbow in July. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that an MRI after the team was eliminated last week showed “no surgery is going to be needed.”

“He’ll take some time off and continue to do strengthening things and rehab and stuff,” Boone said. “But it felt like he finished the season in a pretty good place, as we saw continued improvements with him.”

Judge, 33, led the majors in batting average (.331), OPS (1.144) and WAR (9.7) while finishing with 53 home runs and 114 RBIs. He hit .500 with 1 homer, 7 RBIs and 4 walks in the postseason.

Boone said he expects Judge to be New York’s every-day right fielder in 2026 and downplayed the idea that the two-time American League MVP could see some playing time at first base.

Judge hurt the elbow making a throw at Toronto on July 22. The seven-time All-Star returned Aug. 5 from a 10-day stint on the injured list and threw gingerly upon his outfield return Sept. 5. He built up arm strength and made a 90.2 mph throw from right field in the AL Division Series opener.

Rodón was operated on by Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Wednesday to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and shave a bone spur. He has eight weeks of no throwing, and the start of his season could be delayed by a couple of weeks, Boone said.

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Rodón, who will turn 33 in December, was 18-9 with a 3.09 ERA.

Boone also said slugger Giancarlo Stanton does not need surgery on his elbows.

“He’s in a pretty good place,” Boone said. “He’ll treat it and everything, but nothing expected for Big G.”

Gerrit Cole, returning from Tommy John surgery in March, will throw lightly off a mound next week and could be available not far after Opening Day.

New York has a record 27 World Series titles but none since 2009. After beating the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series, the Yankees lost a four-game ALDS to the Blue Jays.

“It’s just playing at the highest level at the most important time, and you’ve got to maintain that and do that for the entire month of October,” said Boone, the manager since the 2018 season.

After losing to the Dodgers in the 2024 World Series, New York started the season 35-20, slumped during a 25-34 stretch as its bullpen struggled, then closed 34-14 and lost the AL East to Toronto on a tiebreaker.

“Could I have been more creative in some of the things that I could have done in those games in the middle of the season where we were a little short?” Boone asked out loud.

Boone’s contract runs through 2027.

“He’s one of the better managers,” GM Brian Cashman said. “Because of our environment, he’s someone that can be second-guessed 10 million times over.

“And I don’t care who you put in that, that would be the same, whoever else would be there. I trust him. I think he’s a good man. I think he works his tail off.”

Among potential free agents, Cashman said the Yankees would like to retain Cody Bellinger.

“We’d love to have him with our team moving forward,” he said.

Bullpen coach Mike Harkey and first base/infield coach Travis Chapman won’t return for 2026. Assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler won’t be in that role, and minor league hitting coordinator Jake Hirst will be taking that job.

Cashman added that third-base coach Luis Rojas was given permission to interview for Baltimore’s manager opening and that hitting coach James Rowson was allowed to interview for Minnesota’s manager job.

ESPN’s Jorge Castillo and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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SALT LAKE CITY — JJ Peterka and Barrett Hayton scored second-period goals, Karel Vejmelka made 19 saves, and the Utah Mammoth beat the Calgary Flames 3-1 on Wednesday night.

Utah became the sixth NHL franchise to win each of its first two home openers. The Mammoth also earned their fourth straight win over Calgary after going 3-0 against the Flames last season.

Kevin Stenlund added an unassisted empty-net goal with 22.2 seconds remaining to complete the scoring for Utah.

Calgary has surrendered 19 goals through its first five games and has a minus-9 goal differential — second-worst in the NHL. Devin Cooley made his season debut for the Flames and finished with 29 saves.

Rasmus Andersson opened the scoring for Calgary on a power-play goal at 8:37 of the first.

Hayton got Utah on the board at 1:16 of the second. He levelled it at 1-1 after snapping the puck straight down the middle. Peterka gave the Mammoth their first lead at 4:24 of the second, scoring on a close-range wrist shot off an unassisted breakaway.

Utah created many scoring chances in the second period because of six Calgary penalties. The Mammoth had an 18-3 advantage in shots on goal during the period, but failed to convert on four power-play opportunities. They are just 1 of 16 on the power play so far this season.

Flames: At Vegas on Saturday night.

Mammoth: Host San Jose on Friday night.

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The Utah Mammoth unveiled their new mascot, Tusky, during Wednesday night’s home opener against the Calgary Flames.

The Mammoth—formerly the Arizona Coyotes before the organization was transferred to the expansion franchise Utah Hockey Club—have started the season 1-2.

“We named the Utah Mammoth mascot Tusky to lean into our team’s ‘Tusks Up’ rallying cry,” Utah owners Ryan and Ashley Smith said in a statement. “Tusky is going to be a big part of our community, creating memorable experiences in and out of the arena. Fans can expect to see Tusky everywhere—from Mammoth games and team events to community gatherings, schools and hospitals.”

Tusky stands at 6’5″ and wears No. 00. The team has said he’s a great skater, shoots left-handed and his position is the center… of attention.

The team’s nickname, the Mammoths, is a nod to the prehistoric animal that lived in Utah during the last Ice Age.

“Tusky embodies the strength, momentum and earth-shaking presence of the herds that once roamed Utah more than 10,000 years ago,” the team said.

And listen, while Tusky might look a bit aggressively angry, you’d probably be a bit perturbed as well if you emerged from a block of ice in the middle of a hockey arena—like Tusky did on Wednesday night—and learned that the rest of your species was extinct.

Perhaps he’ll reach out to Gritty for consolation, who is assuredly is the only member of whatever his species is to ever exist.

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Oct 13, 2025, 11:09 PM ET

PHILADELPHIA — Sean Couturier wrestled with a bad back and slogged through a strained relationship with his former coach in recent years, and — at times — it was too close to call which hurdle irked the Philadelphia Flyers’ captain more.

Feeling healthy and starting the season with a clean slate under new coach Rick Tocchet, Couturier flashed a reminder of just how productive he can be for a Flyers team itching to move out of a rebuild and into the playoffs.

Couturier had two goals and two assists to make Tocchet a winner in his home coaching debut and lift the Flyers to a 5-2 win over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Monday night.

“I think he trained hard this year. He came into camp in really good condition,” Tocchet said of Couturier. “When your captain comes in in good condition, it helps the coach out. It was nice of him to come in real good shape for us.”

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The 32-year-old Couturier has been sidelined with back issues and was even a healthy scratch under former coach John Tortorella. Two seasons ago, Tortorella benched Couturier only 34 days after he was named team captain. Couturier was on the fourth line for the home opener last season — seemingly a lifetime ago and now anchored by a strong relationship with Tocchet.

“I’m starting to find my confidence back,” Couturier said.

Couturier, who was a rookie in the 2011-12 season, became the longest-tenured athlete in Philadelphia sports once Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham retired at the end of last season.

Tocchet easily received the loudest cheers from fans during pregame introductions ahead of the home opener. The Flyers hired the former fan favorite as coach in hopes his return would push them out of an extended rebuild and into playoff contention. Tocchet, who played more than a decade with Philadelphia in separate stints at the start and end of his career, is at the start of his fourth head-coaching job after time with Tampa Bay, Arizona and Vancouver.

Tocchet took over months after the Flyers fired Tortorella with nine games left in another losing season for a franchise that hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2020.

“Love the first win type of thing but I’m just happy the guys for the guys, the way they’ve been working on the concepts,” Tocchet said.

Philadelphia, once a model franchise in the league, has one of the longest championship droughts in the NHL.

The Flyers have failed to win the Stanley Cup since going back to back in 1974 and ’75. Those Broad Street Bullies teams have become a cherished part of the franchise’s past but also a reminder of how much time it has been since the Flyers won: They last played in the final in 2010.

The Flyers opened with a somber nod to those Bullies teams with a tribute for Bernie Parent. Parent, who died in September at 80, won Conn Smythe and Vezina trophies in back-to-back seasons for the Stanley Cup champions. The Flyers painted his retired uniform number “1” behind each net and chose to bypass a moment of silence for fans to instead “show the same passion he lived for with a standing ovation.” They will wear a “1” jersey patch this season.

“It was a great effort in his honor,” Couturier said. “He’ll definitely be missed around here. We used to always seem him around at the games. He always had that quality of just light, lighting everything up and putting a smile on everyone’s face.”

The Flyers gave the player of the game a goalie mask in the style of Parent’s version that he wore in the 1970s and netted the goaltender the cover of Time magazine. Dan Vladar had 24 saves on 26 shots to earn his first win with the Flyers and become the first player to wear the mask.

Vladar helped hand the Panthers their first loss in four games — which included a win in Florida over the Flyers last week.

“Every single guy had goosebumps during the ceremony,” Vladar said. “It was a sad thing but what a hell of a player and a hell of a person he was.”

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PHILADELPHIA — Sean Couturierâ€s second goal of the game with 4:10 remaining snapped a tie and sent Philadelphia to a win over Florida in Rick Tocchetâ€s home coaching debut.

Bobby Brink and Christian Dvorak added late empty-netters for the Flyers.

The Flyers captain, Couturier, became the longest-tenured athlete in Philadelphia sports once Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham retired at the end of last season.

The Flyers lost their first two games of the season on the road but got a needed lift on a throwback night at home. Tyson Forrester scored in the first period and Couturier followed with his first of the season in the second for a 2-0 lead.

Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett rallied the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers with goals but they lost for the first time in four games.

RED WINGS 3, MAPLE LEAFS 2

TORONTO — Mason Appleton scored the winner with 44.1 seconds left in regulation and Cam Talbot made 38 saves as the Detroit Red Wings survived a blown two-goal lead in the third period to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Monday.

Dylan Larkin and James van Riemsdyk had the other goals for Detroit, which picked up back-to-back victories over last seasonâ€s Atlantic Division champion.

Matthew Knies, with a goal and an assist, and Calle Jarnkrok replied for Toronto. Anthony Stolarz stopped 12 shots.

Detroit opened the scoring late in a sloppy first period when Larkin dug the puck out of a crowd and roofed a backhand on Stolarz just as a 5-on-3 power play expired. Van Riemsdyk then made it 2-0 early in the third on a partial breakaway, but Knies and Jarnkrok got Toronto back even before Appletonâ€s late heroics.

Fans at Scotiabank Arena were encouraged to stick around after the final buzzer to watch Game 2 of the American League Championship Series — happening just down the street at Rogers Centre — between the Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners on the videoboard above center ice.

Easton Cowan, selected 28th overall at the 2023 draft, made his NHL debut. He is viewed as the Leafs†top prospect.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Nathan MacKinnon scored twice, and celebrated his second goal with a stick twirl and fist pump, in the Colorado’s victory over winless Buffalo.

Cale Makar had a goal and assist, Martin Necas set up both of MacKinnonâ€s goals and the Avalanche improved to 3-0-1. Scott Wedgewood made 28 saves in his fourth start.

MacKinnon now has points in each of Coloradoâ€s four games, and four goals in his past three. And he continued his domination of the nonconference Sabres by increasing his total to 13 goals and 31 points in 19 career games.

Tage Thompson scored for the Sabres, who have combined for just two goals this season. Buffalo is off to its second straight 0-3 start under coach Lindy Ruff. Alex Lyon finished with 34 saves.

MacKinnon opened the scoring 3:14 in by cutting across the middle and beating Lyon with a backhander.

Colorado went up 2-1 when Valeri Nichushkin intercepted Rasmus Dahlinâ€s pass in Buffaloâ€s own zone to set up Makar 4:32 into the second period. And MacKinnon scored 8 1/2 minutes later by working his way to the middle from the left circle and snapping a shot that beat Lyon just inside the left post.

The Sabres successfully challenged Necas†goal 7:26 into the third period, with replays showing Necas being offside.

BOSTON — Pontus Holmberg put Tampa Bay up by three goals late in the second period and the Lightning held on to beat Boston.

Holmberg scored with a wrist shot 3:37 into the second to give the Lightning a 4-1 lead. Max Crozier and Oliver Bjorkstrand each got an assist.

Anthony Cirelli scored twice and Yanni Gourde added another for the Lightning.

Jordan Harris, Morgan Geekie and Casey Mittelstadt scored for the Bruins.

Jonas Johansson made 30 saves for the Lightning, while Joonas Korpisalo made 19 saves for the Bruins.

The Bruins went scoreless on the power play in five chances.

ELMONT, N.Y. — Jonathan Toews recorded his first point in nearly 2 1/2 years on an assist, and Winnipeg had five different players score goals in a win over New York.

Logan Stanley, Mark Scheifele, Nino Niederreiter, Morgan Barron and Tanner Pearson scored for the Jets.

Gustav Nyquist and Toews, who missed the past two seasons because of the effects of chronic immune response syndrome and long COVID, assisted Niederreiterâ€s power-play goal about halfway through the first period.

Emil Heineman and Jean-Gabriel Pageau each scored for the Islanders.

Eric Comrie stopped 33 shots for the Jets. Ilya Sorokin had 21 saves for the Islanders, who went scoreless on five power plays.

The Islanders remain winless at 0-3-0, having allowed 13 goals to start the season. The Jets are 2-1-0.

OTTAWA — Juuse Saros made 31 saves to lead Nashville to a win over Ottawa.

Ryan Oâ€Reillyâ€s third-period goal held up as the winner.

Oâ€Reilly made it 2-0 with 5:22 remaining in regulation. Steven Stamkos had his shot attempt blocked and the puck bounced right to Oâ€Reilly for his second of the season.

Ridly Greig scored a power-play goal with 2:03 remaining to cut the lead in half, but Jonathan Marchessault and Cole Smith each added empty-net goals in the final minute to secure the win.

Marchessault opened the scoring at 12:11 of the second period tucking the puck five-hole on Linus Ullmark, who stopped 22 shots, to capitalize on a turnover inside the blue line.

Jake Sanderson appeared to open the scoring for the Senators at the six-minute mark of the second, but the goal was overturned after a lengthy review due to goaltender interference from Tim Stutzle.

Seven minor penalties in the first period made it difficult for either team to get in a rhythm.

After giving up five power-play goals through their first two games, the Senators were fortunate the Predators power play was ineffective going 0 for 6.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer each scored in the final seconds of power plays to lift New Jersey over Columbus, securing their second straight road win.

Mercer added an empty-netter with 56 seconds left. Jake Allen stopped 23 shots over two periods in his season debut. He was replaced by Jacob Markstrom, who stopped eight shots, to start the third period. The team announced that Allen had cramping and would not return.

Kirill Marchenko tallied his fourth goal in three games for Columbus, and Dmitri Voronkov also scored. Jet Greaves made 25 saves and the Blue Jackets lost for the second time in three games.

Meier opened the scoring with one second left on a first-period power play, despite Columbus outshooting the Devils 16-8 in the frame.

Marchenko knotted the score with a breakaway at 8:49 of the second period before Mercer restored the Devils†lead at 11:09 with four seconds left in their second power-play of the game.

After Mercerâ€s empty-net goal gave New Jersey a two-goal cushion, Voronkov pulled Columbus within one with 20 seconds left in regulation, but the Blue Jackets could not complete the comeback.

VANCOUVER — Jimmy Snuggerud scored twice and St. Louis beat Vancouver.

Brayden Schenn had a goal and an assist, and Nick Bjugstad and Jake Neighbours also scored for the Blues. Jordan Binnington stopped 29 shots as St. Louis won its second game in a row.

Kiefer Sherwood scored two goals for Vancouver, including a short-handed tally on a breakaway midway through the second period. Kevin Lankinen had 30 saves in his first start of the season.

Blues center Pius Suter made his return to Vancouver, where he playenud the last two seasons before signing with St. Louis as a free agent on July 2.

Snuggerud got the Blues on the scoreboard at 8:48 of the first period, and Schenn made it 2-0 at 2:10 of the second. Sherwood got the Canucks within one at 5:33.

Snuggerud scored a power-play goal 8:13 into the second period for the first score Vancouver has allowed on the penalty-kill this season. The Canucks were 9 for 9 over the first two games and went 2 for 3 against the Blues.

Sherwood scored short-handed with 7:48 remaining in the middle period for his second of the night and third of the season.

Bjugstad restored the Blues†two-goal lead 1:33 later with shot from inside the top of the faceoff circle.

CHICAGO — Andre Burakovsky snapped a third-period tie, and Chicago beat Utah for coach Jeff Blashillâ€s first win with his new team.

Chicago dropped its first three games despite being tied at 2 after the second period in each contest. It was outshot by Utah 23-14, but a wide-open Burakovsky beat Vitek Vanecek low on the stick side for the deciding power-play goal with 11:05 left.

Ilya Mikheyev had two goals for the Blackhawks, including an empty-netter in the final seconds. Spencer Knight made 22 saves.

Blashill, 51, was hired by Chicago in May. Itâ€s his second stint as a head coach in the NHL after he went 204-261-72 in seven seasons with Detroit.

JJ Peterka scored for Utah, which dropped two of three on its season-opening road trip. Vanecek finished with 11 stops.

ST. Paul, Minn. — Marco Rossi scored in the fourth round of the shootout and Minnesota beat Los Angeles after giving up a three-goal lead in the third period.

Power-play goals by Jared Spurgeon, Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy gave Minnesota a 3-0 lead late in the first period.

The score remained until the third period when Kevin Fiala and Quinton Byfield scored early and Adrian Kempe scored late to send the game to overtime.

Fiala banked a rebound off the back of Jesper Wallstedt early in the third and Byfield added a power-play goal less than three minutes later to get the Kings to 3-2.

With an extra attacker, Kempe scored on a rebound with 44.4 seconds left in regulation for Los Angeles.

Darcy Kuemper stopped 23 shots for Los Angeles, which again struggled to stay out of the penalty box. Whistled for six infractions Monday, the Kings have been short-handed 22 times in four games.

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TORONTO (AP) — Bryce Miller overcame a shaky first inning and gave the tired Seattle Mariners the start they needed in the AL Championship Series opener.

Miller pitched six sharp innings, Jorge Polanco hit a go-ahead single in the sixth and the Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 Sunday night as they returned to the ALCS for the first time in 24 years.

“The year, personally, didnâ€t go how I had planned and how I had hoped for but weâ€re in the ALCS and I got to go out there and set the tone,†Miller said. “I felt great.â€

Seattle slugger Cal Raleigh added a tying solo home run, his second homer of the postseason after leading the major leagues with 60 in the regular season.

“That was a big lift,†Mariners manager Dan Wilson said of Raleighâ€s drive in a two-run sixth.

George Springer homered on the first pitch from Miller, who then escaped a two-on jam in a 27-pitch first inning.

Anthony Santander singled in the second for Torontoâ€s only other hit, and Seattle pitchers retired 23 of the Blue Jays†final 24 batters. Miller, Gabe Speier, Matt Brash and Andrés Muñoz combined to throw just 100 pitches less than 48 hours after the Mariners needed 209 pitches to outlast Detroit over 15 innings.

“The job Bryce Miller did tonight was phenomenal,†Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “After that first inning, he went into a different gear. You saw him getting ahead, using all his stuff.â€

Miller, the winner, struck out three and walked three in six innings, throwing 76 pitches. The three relievers each had eight-pitch, 1-2-3 innings, with Muñoz getting the save.

Raleigh tied the score in the sixth with his ninth homer in 14 games at Rogers Centre. Kevin Gausman had held batters to 0 for 16 on splitters in the postseason before Raleighâ€s homer.

“I was trying to get bat on ball, really just trying to put something in play,†Raleigh said, wearing a T-shirt with the words: “JOBâ€S NOT FINISHED.†“I didnâ€t want to punch out again.â€

Polanco hit a go-ahead single later in the inning and added an RBI single in the eighth.

“Heâ€s been huge from both sides of the plate,†Raleigh said .

AL West champion Seattle traveled to AL East winner Toronto on Saturday after a 3-2 home victory over the Tigers on Friday to win the Division Series, the longest winner-take-all game in Major League Baseball history.

Seattle, the only MLB team to never host a World Series game, held Toronto to two hits after the Blue Jays had 50 hits and 34 runs in their four-game Division Series against the New York Yankees.

“Weâ€re a really good offense,†Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “Today it just didnâ€t work out.â€

Torontoâ€s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 9 for 17 with three homers and nine RBIs against the Yankees but finished 0 for 4 Sunday with three groundouts.

“This is going to be a hard-fought series, man,†Schneider said. “These guys will be ready for it.â€

Springerâ€s 21st postseason home run broke a tie with the Yankees†Derek Jeter, moving him into sole possession of fifth place on the career list.

Raleighâ€s homer was his fourth in 15 at-bats against Gausman, who took the loss.

“Up to that point, Iâ€d been throwing the ball really well and had the game right there,†Gausman said. “This oneâ€s on me.â€

Gausman allowed two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings.

“Great hitters capitalize on mistakes,†Schneider said. “That split from Kev just kind of leaked back over the middle a little bit.â€

Raleigh hit a one-out single off Gausman in the first and advanced to third on Julio Rodríguezâ€s base hit but was thrown out at the plate by third baseman Addison Barger on Polancoâ€s grounder.

Polanco, who had the game-ending single Friday, singled against Brendon Little to drive in Rodríguez, who had chased Gausman with a two-out walk.

Polanco added another RBI single against Seranthony Domínguez.

Eugenio Suárez doubled off the top of the right-field wall against Louis Varland in the seventh. The 395-foot drive would have been a homer in 15 of 30 big league ballparks, including Seattle.

Toronto outfielder Nathan Lukes left in the fourth inning. Lukes bruised his right knee when he fouled a pitch off it in the first inning. Schneider said X-rays were negative and said Lukes might return Monday.

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Blue Jays RHP Trey Yesavage will start Game 2 on Sunday afternoon. In his fourth big league appearance and first postseason start, Yesavage set a Blue Jays postseason record by striking out 11 Yankees in 5 1/3 hitless innings in Division Series Game 2 on Oct. 4. RHP Logan Gilbert will start for the Mariners, two days after throwing 34 pitches over two innings of relief.

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CALGARY — His opening night ovation was loud, and greatly appreciated.Â

The welcome wagon has been circling Zayne Parekh from the day he was drafted, leading up to his Dome debut Saturday.

Whether they gathered for the red carpet players†arrivals, or simply tuned in on TV, Flames fans had been clamouring for a glimpse of the organizationâ€s most exciting prospect since Matthew Tkachuk.

Those who clearly hadnâ€t seen him struggle in the late stages of the pre-season had spent the first two games lighting up social media and the local sports radio station with angry rants about how misguided Ryan Huska was to sit Parekh in Edmonton and Vancouver.

But after he finished his first game of the season Saturday, Parekh himself weighed in on the debate, insisting he wasnâ€t bothered in the least by starting the year in the press box.

“I thought I kind of deserved to be up there, if I’m being honest,†he said, flashing his megawatt grin.

“I mean, I understand it. I didn’t have enough of a good end to pre-season. It was really good to watch that Vancouver game, just to kind of see what (Quinn) Hughes does and how it looks from up top.â€

Sure, itâ€s the savvy thing to say, but it also seemed genuine from a refreshingly candid 19-year-old who has been the first to admit from the day he went ninth overall that his defensive game needed work.

Still does, which is why the coach refused to feed him to the sharks in Edmonton or Vancouver, where a kid playing the toughest skating position in the game could be exposed.

At least at home, with the last change, Huska felt he could shelter Parekh somewhat while he paired up with Brayden Pachal, who was moved to his off side.

If not for a familiar inability to bury Grade-A chances, the Flames might have fared better Saturday against an opportunistic Blues team that turned Joel Hoferâ€s stellar performance into a 4-2 win.

It says plenty about how comfortable Huska was with Parekhâ€s game that he and fellow teen Matvei Gridin were out on the ice in the final minute, trying to close the gap.

When the dust cleared on an outing in which he played four-and-a-half of his 17:21 on the power play, Parekh had two giveaways and two shots on goal, which didnâ€t include a point shot tipped slightly by Morgan Frost off the post.

Many of his breakout passes were crisp, his gap control was noticeably better, and there were no egregious pinches or missed assignments.

“I thought it was a step in the right direction,†said Parekh, who admitted he was more nervous for the home opener than his NHL debut in the final game last season.

“I didn’t really have my game, like, all pre-season, and to go in there tonight, I thought I played a pretty good game.

“It kind of brings my confidence back, a lot. It’s a good feeling. I mean, obviously we didn’t win, but I thought it was a good start for me, at least.â€

Working hard to try taking pressure off himself, he tried to put things in perspective.

“There’s bigger things than hockey, so just try to have fun with it,†said Parekh, who will have to navigate this whole season with the Flames as heâ€s too young for the AHL and too talented to go back to junior.

“I just tried to have fun with it, like, the worst thing that could happen is maybe I end up not playing the next game.â€

It certainly felt and looked like he was good enough to earn another start Tuesday when Vegas comes calling.

“I thought Zayne was good, I thought he was fine,†said Huska, whose offensively-challenged club couldâ€ve really used some help with the man advantage Saturday, going one for six.

“You know, there were a few plays in his own zone where I think the more that he gets in, you’ll see a little bit more composure there with the puck. But I thought he had a fine game.â€Â

Buoyed by the fans, supportive teammates who keep things positive, and a coaching staff working hard to help him in his own zone, Parekh is going to get better all season long.

With hands, a stride, and a mind like his, NHL stardom awaits.

But only once he demonstrates a defensive proficiency that the coach can trust will he be an everyday NHLer.

“We’re trying to help him focus on a couple of things that will help more on the defending side than the offensive side,†said Huska.

“Nobody’s talking about the offensive side — (there) he can do his thing.â€

While Huska admits heâ€s willing to have patience with young players like Parekh, Sam Honzek and Matvei Gridin, it comes with a limit. Â

“There’s a fine line, because it’s not a league that you want guys to develop in because it’s gonna cost you points from time to time,†said Huska.

“They’re good players, and we want them to be really great players for us as we move forward. So, I think that’s our job as coaches is to make sure we put these young guys in good positions to succeed, and they each bring something that I feel can help our team win games. So we’ll continue to do that.â€

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A day after making perhaps one of the greatest comebacks in franchise history, the Calgary Flames were humbled 5-1 by the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Thursday night.

Here are my three takeaways for the game:

After outshooting the home team 3-2 for the first 5:41 of the first period, not only did the Canucks restrict the Flames to just two shots on goal, but they put six on them for the rest of the period including a goal off a giveaway.

But Calgary, being a great comeback team it is, rebounded in the second period.

By the second break, the Flames had outshot the Canucks 39-26 in total shots in the game. Even though the stat sheet showed 16-13 shots on goals as favoring Canucks, the scoring opportunities were 17-9 in Calgary’s favor., including seven high-danger scoring opportunities for Flames versus a flat out zero for the hometown Canucks. Yet, Vancouver was still up 1-0 by the second intermission.

Unfortunately, it was the third period, where the Flames crapped the bed. More on that below.

This was probably the most disappointing. A team that has four opportunities at the man-advantage and comes up with zero goals is not going to go very far in the regular season.

During Calgary’s first power play, they were 0-for-3 in faceoffs, which was a big reason why the man-advantage didn’t materialize into anything. So they need to clean up their faceoff act as well.

Yeah, I’m not a pro hockey player, but even I know you don’t stop playing until the ref blows the whistle.

I get how the Calgary players were concerned about their comrade Kevin Bahl getting hit in the head and falling on the ice, but that doesn’t mean you freeze up and leave the goal unguarded.

As a result, Vancouver’s Filip Chytil scored a goal and put the Canucks up 2-0.

How costly was that?

It drained all the life out of the Calgary bench, and until the next Chytil goal 5:59 minutes later, the Canucks outshot the Flames 10-3 in total shots.

After that, Vancouver put on two more goals.

Except for a Morgan Frost goal, the Flames never recovered and frankly never had a chance.

As to things that I did like, going 4-for-4 on the penalty kill is amazing. The Flames did get out of their zone more easily than they did against Edmonton and they did have a lot more scoring opportunities than against the Oilers, but ultimately it was that second goal that just killed any life on the Calgary bench.

The Flames will now host the St. Louis Blues for their home opener on Saturday.

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