Browsing: Philadelphia

The New York Yankees announced Sunday that former top prospect Jesús Montero has died at the age of 35 years old.

“The Yankees are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jesús Montero,†read a post on the teamâ€s official X account. “We send our sincerest condolences to his family & loved ones.â€

The Yankees are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jesús Montero. We send our sincerest condolences to his family & loved ones. pic.twitter.com/jlfUpPmgMt

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 19, 2025

The former catcher’s motorcycle reportedly crashed into a truck on Oct. 4 and he had been hospitalized ever since in critical condition. He was unable to recover from multiple injuries, authorities said.

“We join the baseball community in mourning the passing of former Major League player Jesús Montero,” Major League Baseball posted on social media Sunday.

We join the baseball community in mourning the passing of former Major League player Jesús Montero.

As a Minor League prospect, Montero appeared in the All-Star Futures game twice before debuting for the New York Yankees in September 2011. He posted a .996 OPS with 4 home runs… pic.twitter.com/AO6Yrxb5mo

— MLB (@MLB) October 19, 2025

The Venezuela native, a power-hitting catcher in the minors, was ranked one of the sportâ€s top-10 prospects by Baseball America for three consecutive years from 2010 to 2012.

Montero was the No. 1 prospect in the Yankees†organization when he made his major-league debut in 2011 at 21-years-old. He played in 18 games for the Yankees that season, hitting .328 with four homers and 12 RBIs.

The following January, Montero was traded to the Seattle Mariners in a package for starting pitcher Michael Pineda. In his first season with the Mariners, he hit .260 with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs in 135 games. Over the next three seasons, he played in a combined 73 games, making his final MLB appearance in 2015.

He was waived by the Mariners the following offseason and spent stints in the minor league systems of the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles.

In the Venezuelan Winter League, he played six seasons with the Navegantes del Magallanes, Cardenales de Lara, and Ãguilas del Zulia. He retired at age 31 after the 2020-2021 season.

“Venezuelan baseball sadly bids farewell to Jesús Montero … leaving behind a legacy of effort and passion for the game,†the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League said in a statement posted Sunday on X. “Today, baseball mourns his passing. But it also remembers him with gratitude: for every home run that thrilled the fans, for every day in which he proudly defended his countryâ€s colors, and for every young person who saw in him an example that dreams can be achieved.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report

CNBCâ€s Michael Ozanian breaks down the 2025 MLB team valuations from the most valuable New York Yankees to the bottom of the barrel Miami Marlins.

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The Flyers did just enough offensively to rally for a 2-1 overtime win Saturday night over the Wild at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Noah Cates buried the winner in OT.

Owen Tippett tied the game in the final stanza with his third marker of the season. From under the goal line, Tippett banked a low shot off Minnesota netminder Jesper Wallstedt.

“We knew we were in the game all along,” Tippett said. “Low-event game, low-shot game and we were just waiting for one to break through.”

After that goal, Rick Tocchet moved Tippett up to Matvei Michkov’s spot on Sean Couturier’s line. Tippett was rolling and Tocchet shortened his bench a good bit.

“We just needed some energy,” Tocchet said. … “I went with the nine [forwards], I thought we started to come. That’s what happens sometimes.”

The Flyers needed a jolt offensively and Tippett provided it with his powerful skating. Tocchet called Tippett the Flyers’ most dynamic play-driver so far.

“He’s the fastest skater ever,” Trevor Zegras said. “It’s awesome. I’ve never played with a guy that has that much speed. He does some wild stuff sometimes. I think he did like a spin-o-rama in the third period. I was just like, ‘Oh my God.’ Somebody so big that skates that fast. It’s fun to watch.”

Through five games, the Flyers (2-2-1) have scored 13 goals, two of which have come on an empty net. But they’ve defended and have gotten some quality goaltending.

The Wild (2-3-1) didn’t have the benefit of a day off like the Flyers did Friday. Minnesota played last night on the road against the Capitals and lost, 5-1, in a game that it was outshot 45-14.

“We had a day off yesterday, so we were not tired,” Zegras said. “We knew that this was a back-to-back for them, so we tried to stick to the game plan and make it as hard for them as possible.”

Noah Cates scored his first career overtime winner in the Flyers’ 2-1 decision Saturday night over the Wild.

• Everyone knew this opening stretch would be tough for the Flyers when the schedule came out in July.

The Flyers faced the two-time defending champion Panthers twice, a Hurricanes team that has made the playoffs in seven straight seasons, a Jets team that won the Presidents’ Trophy last season and a Wild team that went to the playoffs last season.

Tocchet’s club was able to pick up at least a point in three of those five games.

• Dan Vladar continued his promising start to the season, converting 15 saves on 16 shots.

“I thought tonight we were structurally good and obviously Vladdy was fantastic,” Nick Seeler said. “I think those are things to build on.”

The free-agent addition has denied 71 of 76 shots through three games with the Flyers.

“Just a real confident, solid goalie,” Tocchet said. “He comes by the bench, cheers the guys on. He has really done a nice job for us.”

Vladimir Tarasenko opened the scoring Saturday night by blasting one past Vladar early in the second period. The Flyers used a coach’s challenge on the goal, claiming Minnesota was offside. But Tocchet and his staff came up empty, which put the Flyers at shorthanded.

Thirty-nine seconds after the Flyers killed off the penalty, Tippett was whistled for tripping. The Flyers killed that one off, too, but the penalties really stalled them offensively as they were forced to defend a lot.

“I thought we did a good job, that’s a good hockey team over there,” Seeler said. “It’s nice to hold them to that many shots and play good defensively.”

Wallstedt stopped 19 of the Flyers’ 21 shots.

• Tocchet didn’t like his team’s start two nights ago when the Flyers were flat in a 5-2 loss to the Jets.

“Arriving on time with your identity, which we didn’t,” the head coach said Saturday morning. “So that’s going to be a work in progress.

“We’ve got to get to our game right from after the national anthem; not after 20 minutes.”

The Flyers had a better first period against the Wild. They dictated play more, but didn’t have anything to show for it. However, Minnesota had just three shots.

The Flyers, though, followed it up with a poor second period. They were outshot 8-5 in the middle stanza.

“We fought in the third and fought in OT,” Cates said. “If we just stay consistent and play north, we can take down a lot of good teams.”

• Nicolas Deslauriers and Marcus Foligno dropped the gloves 1:56 minutes into the action.

Two former teammates that can chuck ’em.

Nicolas Deslauriers and Marcus Foligno dropped the gloves in a heavyweight fight during the first period of the Flyers vs. Wild game.

• Tocchet went with a more experienced look up front as Deslauriers and Rodrigo Abols drew into the lineup for Nikita Grebenkin and Jett Luchanko.

On the back end, Egor Zamula played in place of Adam Ginning, who sat for the first time this season.

• The Flyers wrap up their four-game homestand Monday when they welcome the Kraken (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

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The Sixers concluded their 2025 preseason with a win and Joel Embiidâ€s first appearance in many months.

The team closed out a 1-3 preseason Friday night by notching a 126-110 victory over the Timberwolves at Xfinity Mobile Arena.Â

In his first game since late February, Embiid tallied 14 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals.Â

Tyrese Maxey had 27 points and seven assists. VJ Edgecombe added 26 points, six rebounds, three assists and five steals.

The Sixers were still down Paul George (left knee), Jared McCain (right thumb) and Trendon Watford (right hamstring). Veteran Kyle Lowry also sat.

The team’s regular-season opener is next Wednesday against the Celtics. Here are observations on the Sixers’ win over Minnesota:

Embiidâ€s return Â

Seconds after the opening tip, Embiid took a pull-up jumper that grazed the front rim. He got everything properly calibrated soon enough, making his next try from the left elbow.

Outside of scoring, Embiid had several bright moments in the early going. He swiped a steal and then tossed a long-range outlet pass that set Maxey up for an and-one layup.

The Sixers†half-court offense largely revolved around Embiid in the middle of the floor. Embiid facilitated well, initiating two-man games with his guards, spotting open cutters and capitalizing on the Timberwolves’ aggressive double teams.Â

When Embiid rested at the 5:44 mark of the first quarter, the Sixers held a 20-11 lead. His conditioning appeared to be good throughout his 19 minutes on the floor.

In terms of health, Embiid generally did not look bothered by his left knee. The big man did have a somewhat worrisome play in the third quarter when he committed a charge, fell awkwardly and was slow to get up.  He stayed in the game but subbed out about a minute later.

Starting nod for Bona

Embiid started the night with Maxey, Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Adem Bona.Â

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse acknowledged pregame that his current plan is to start the 20-year-old Edgecombe on opening night. All signs have been pointing toward that this preseason.

Bonaâ€s start was less expected, although it wasnâ€t a complete shocker. The Sixers played Bona and Embiid together Sunday in their Blue-White scrimmage and Nurse suggested he wanted to experiment further with the double-big frontcourt.Â

Bona steered clear of foul trouble and had an excellent offensive rebounding game. He posted four points, seven boards and a block in 23 minutes.

Dominick Barlow still seems to be firmly in the rotation picture with George and Watford out. The 22-year-old was the first player off the bench Friday and started the second half in Bonaâ€s place. He played 20 minutes and had six points and five rebounds.Â

As far as rotation projections, itâ€s notable that the Sixers†only four bench players until the fourth quarter were Barlow, Quentin Grimes, Justin Edwards and Jabari Walker. Edwards had the smallest first-half role of that group, playing just three minutes in the second quarter.Â

Edgecombe does it all

Edgecombe brought the ball up often Friday.Â

Nurse wants greater offensive variety and movement this season. One important aspect of that vision is more Maxey off-ball reps and less onus on the sixth-year guard to create offense from thin air. It will be interesting to see how Edgecombe deals with the ball pressure and split-second decision-making that come with NBA point guard work.

Edgecombeâ€s transition talent pops every time he plays. He capped the third quarter with a buzzer-beating fast-break layup. The home crowd encouraged him to sprint ahead of the pack and fly high in the fourth. Edgecombe did so at every possible opportunity. At a bare minimum, the Sixers should have elite speed when Edgecombe shares the floor with Maxey.

The No. 3 overall pick has also continued to look promising in quite a few other departments, including cutting and offensive rebounding. He already has a knack for impacting the game in both eye-popping and subtle ways.

Defensively, Edgecombe got beaten on a couple of occasions by T-Wolves guard Rob Dillingham. However, heâ€s frequently shined on defense. Edgecombe had several rock-solid 1-on-1 sequences and those five steals.Â

As Maxeyâ€s final stat line indicates, he enjoyed playing off the ball and found plenty of shots in his wheelhouse. Not too shabby a preseason finale for the Maxey-Edgecombe duo.

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The Flyers didn’t play a good game against a top team and the result showed it.

They fell to the Jets, 5-2, Thursday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Owen Tippett drew the Flyers within 2-1 in the middle stanza. But Winnipeg responded just 1:21 minutes later with a goal off a whacky bounce to send the Flyers into second intermission trailing by two.

“I thought Tip was probably our only guy that played well tonight,” head coach Rick Tocchet said. “Then we give them that goal, that was a killer.”

About midway through the third period, Mark Scheifele put the next dagger in the Flyers with his second goal of the night, this one on the power play.

“I think it just comes down to execution,” Tippett said. “I don’t think they did anything special. It just comes down to execution and they buried on their chances and we didn’t.”

Matvei Michkov picked up a late goal before the Jets tacked on an empty-netter.

“We made some mistakes, for sure,” Travis Konecny said. “There was definitely opportunity there. I think they came out flat and so did we. It was not how we wanted to start the game. Regroup, put it aside.”

The Flyers (1-2-1) have dropped three of their first four games.

“It’s the fourth game of the year,” Tocchet said. “I know coaches say it all the time, but we can learn from this.”

The schedule hasn’t been easy. The Flyers have faced the two-time defending champion Panthers twice, a Hurricanes team that has made the playoffs in seven straight seasons and a Jets club that won the Presidents’ Trophy last season.

“It’s a tough stretch,” Tocchet said Tuesday. “You’ve got to play them eventually. We’ve got some quality opponents right away. There’s no easy game in the NHL.

“We go from the Stanley Cup champs to the Presidents’ Trophy champs. It is a tall order, but even in practice today, I see guys want these moments. … We’re looking for big moments from players. But in the meantime, you have to have the small moments to add up to the big ones.”

The Flyers don’t see the Jets (3-1-0) again until April 11 when the clubs meet at Canada Life Centre.

• At morning skate, Tocchet said the Flyers would be in trouble if they committed turnovers against a team like Winnipeg.

The Flyers had a bad one lead directly to a Jets goal in the second period. Nikita Grebenkin couldn’t handle a pretty low-key pass from Travis Sanheim. Winnipeg pounced on the mishap as Scheifele blasted a shot past Samuel Ersson to put the Flyers down 2-0.

It was a critical momentum swing because the Flyers had just come up empty on a power play.

“Winnipeg kind of played kitty by the door and they waited for their chances,” Tocchet said.

The Flyers Postgame Live crew broke down the team’s 5-2 loss Thursday night to the Jets.

• Ersson was not particularly sharp and the Flyers weren’t, either.

The netminder surrendered four goals on 14 shots.

The Jets opened the scoring 5:45 minutes into the action when Vladislav Namestnikov buried a rebound at the doorstep. Before Winnipeg got the puck in deep, it looked like Jett Luchanko had an opportunity to clear the defensive zone, but he was quickly pressured and lost the puck.

“They made a good play, I’ve just got to be able to advance the puck,” Luchanko said. “They were able to pounce on us from there.”

In the second period, the Jets countered that Tippett goal when a shot ricocheted off Adam Ginning’s stick and then clanged off Noah Cates’ backside to make it 3-1. On the NBC Sports Philadelphia broadcast, Ginning could be seen saying “no way” after the puck went into the net.

“Ginning makes a good block and then it takes a bad bounce,” Ersson said. “It’s a little sh–ty goal.”

Connor Hellebuyck, last season’s Hart Trophy winner as the league’s MVP, stopped 15 of the Flyers’ 17 shots.

“They played a perfect road game,” Tocchet said. “Plus, they’ve got Hellebuyck in net.”

The Flyers fell to the Jets, last season’s Presidents’ Trophy winner, with a 5-2 decision Thursday night.

• Michkov recorded his first point of the season with his goal late in the third period. That could be a silver lining for the Flyers, who would love to see him get going offensively.

• Cam York made his season debut after missing the first three games with a lower-body injury.

The 24-year-old played on the top defensive pair alongside Sanheim and finished with 22:32 minutes.

With York’s return, Emil Andrae was sent back to AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley.

The Flyers play their third of four straight home games Saturday when they welcome the Wild (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

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Carter Hart has his next NHL opportunity.

He officially joined the Golden Knights organization Thursday, the team announced. According to a report by TSN’s Darren Dreger, Hart has signed a professional tryout offer, which will eventually convert into an NHL deal.

Wednesday was the first day Hart and four other players involved in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial were eligible to sign with an NHL club. The former Flyers goalie will be eligible to play for Vegas on Dec. 1. The Golden Knights are a consensus Stanley Cup contender this season.

Vegas visits the Flyers on Dec. 11 (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP) and then the clubs meet again Jan. 19 on the West Coast (8 p.m. ET/NBCSP+).

Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were found not guilty in July almost a year and a half after being charged with sexual assault, stemming from a June 2018 incident in London, Ontario.

Danny Briere said in September that Hart’s agent contacted the Flyers and pretty much ruled out the possibility of a reunion between the club and goaltender. It’s uncertain if the Flyers had interest in bringing Hart back.

“In light of everything that happened in the last year and a half with Carter, they felt and Carter felt that it was better for them to look for a fresh start,” the Flyers general manager said then. “That’s where it’s at and it’s the only comment I’m going to make on it.”

The Flyers cut ties with Hart in June 2024 when they didn’t issue him a qualifying offer, turning his restricted free-agent status into unrestricted. He had been away from the team since January 2024 after being granted an indefinite leave of absence.

The 27-year-old started in five straight season openers for the Flyers from 2019-20 to 2023-24. He played parts of six seasons for the club.

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In the modern NHL, a playerâ€s career is often defined as much by perception as performance. Egor Zamulaâ€s case may be the perfect storm of both—regarded by some as a talented, technically sound defenseman, but whose overall fit in Philadelphia remains perpetually unresolved.

This week, Zamulaâ€s agent, Shumi Babayev, voiced public frustration over his clientâ€s lack of opportunity. Translated from Russian, Babayevâ€s comments painted a picture of a player being held back rather than outperformed.

“Iâ€m looking forward to Yegor being given the chance to blossom and play at his level, the way heâ€s capable of playing. He canâ€t fully realize his potential because heâ€s not given the opportunity; heâ€s forced into a box,†Babayev said. “We always look forward to that opportunity… Heâ€s quite a good power play player and a good puck handler. Itâ€s tough when heâ€s limited tactically. Weâ€ll see. Heâ€s a team player, so he always does what his coach tells him to do. The main thing is for him to play at a good level.â€

The comments are hardly inflammatory—measured, even—but they reflect a frustration that has quietly simmered for years: Zamula, in his campâ€s view, has been boxed in by deployment and circumstance, never truly allowed to be what he could be.

Itâ€s a fair grievance on one level. But in the ecosystem of a Flyers blue line that is simultaneously young, crowded, and evolving, itâ€s also fair to ask: What, exactly, has he done to demand more?

The Agentâ€s Argument: Untapped Skill Meets Limited Role

Babayevâ€s assessment of Zamula isnâ€t unfounded. At his best, Zamula is smooth, deliberate, and intelligent with the puck. He reads lanes well, has a natural sense of spacing, and can act as a reliable first-pass outlet under pressure. When given time and space—notably at the AHL level or in lower-leverage NHL minutes—heâ€s shown glimpses of that composure translating upward.

Heâ€s not necessarily reckless or unaware; his game is just understated. In a system like Philadelphiaâ€s, where head coach Rick Tocchetâ€s defensive structure prizes accountability, simplicity, and pace, that understated style can get lost in the noise.

Babayevâ€s claim that Zamula has been “forced into a box†might resonate with anyone whoâ€s watched him try to balance his puck-moving instincts with the team’s insistence on defensive structure. But itâ€s also a reflection of a broader truth: players who donâ€t assert their identity tend to get defined by others.

The Counterpoint: The Clock Has Been Ticking

The opposing argument—and one thatâ€s shared widely among fans and media alike—is that Zamula has indeed been given chances. Plenty of them. Heâ€s appeared in over 157 NHL games across six seasons (including 2025-26), often getting looks in the third pair or as a rotating seventh defenseman.

The issue isnâ€t that he hasnâ€t been on the ice—itâ€s that, when he has been, the results have been middling.

Arguably, Zamulaâ€s biggest flaw is pace. Not speed in the traditional sense, but tempo—the instinctive ability to anticipate how a play is unfolding and make a decision a half-second sooner than the opposition. At the NHL level, where time collapses faster than in any other hockey environment on earth, that missing half-second can turn into a turnover, a missed angle, or a scramble back toward your own net.

He has size at 6â€3â€, but little bite. He doesnâ€t leverage his reach to impose himself physically or disrupt plays with authority. Heâ€s not punishing in front of the net, and he doesnâ€t consistently win battles along the boards. Meanwhile, when heâ€s tried to lean into his offensive instincts, heâ€s lacked the creativity or dynamic skating that defines Philadelphiaâ€s higher-upside puck movers, like Cam York and Jamie Drysdale.

That leaves him in an awkward middle ground: not enough offense to be trusted on the power play, and not enough sandpaper or urgency to be trusted in the trenches.

To simply say he’s just a bad defenseman is a bit of a lazy overgeneralization, but there is truth to the fact that his particular toolkit hasnâ€t proven sharp enough to carve a defined niche in a defense corps that already has specialists in every other area.

The Organizational Context: Opportunity Is Earned, Not Inherited

Itâ€s worth remembering that this Flyers regime—from general manager Danny Brière to Tocchetâ€s bench—has been clear about its meritocratic ethos. Every roster spot is earned. Every night. Adam Ginning played his way onto the roster out of camp when few even had him on the radar. Emil Andrae, still on the bubble, keeps knocking on the NHL door through work ethic and growth.

In that context, Zamulaâ€s stagnation reads less like a lack of opportunity and more like a failure to seize it. Tocchet has made no secret of the fact that he wants defenders who dictate pace and take initiative. Zamula, for all his steadiness, remains reactive—and at this level, being reactive is a liability.

Babayev is right to note that Zamula “always does what his coach tells him to do.†The problem may be that, in doing so, heâ€s never quite done what only he can do. The Flyers arenâ€t short on systems players. What they need is difference-makers.

And the thing is, Zamula doesn’t need to all of a sudden turn into some flashy showman to make his mark. Sometimes, not drawing attention to oneself is a good thing. The focus should be on doing the little things right, building confidence in his identity as a player, and not overcompensating his play in order to prove the doubters wrong.

The Fan Perception Problem

Publicly, Zamula has become a lightning rod—one of those players whose every mistake is amplified, whose every shift becomes a referendum on whether he still belongs. Social mediaâ€s quick-draw impatience hasnâ€t done him any favors, and the eye test can be unkind to subtle defensemen.

But thereâ€s also a fatigue factor. Fans have seen him before. They know what he is—and more importantly, what he isnâ€t. For an organization selling a vision of progression, patience runs thin for players who feel like theyâ€re treading water.

That doesnâ€t mean the agentâ€s frustration is misplaced; it means the environment may simply no longer be conducive to redemption. A change of scenery might benefit everyone.

The Bottom Line: Talent, Timing, and the Unforgiving Nature of NHL Development

Egor Zamula isnâ€t done as a player. Heâ€s just at a crossroads. The Flyers have given him looks, but not trust. His agent sees a capable puck mover buried beneath tactical constraints; the organization likely sees a player whoâ€s been given rope and hasnâ€t yet built a bridge out of it.

Both can be true.

Zamulaâ€s skillset isnâ€t obsolete—itâ€s just unanchored in Philadelphiaâ€s current makeup. The Flyers have clearly defined defensive roles, and Zamula hasnâ€t staked a clear claim to any of them. If he finds that role elsewhere—perhaps in a system that allows more free-flowing puck play or pairs him with a more defensive partner—his game might flourish the way Babayev insists it can.

But in Philadelphia, where every minute is a competition and every roster spot a statement, the window is narrowing. And unless he forces the teamâ€s hand soon, the “what if†label might be the last one he wears in orange and black.

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Joel Embiidâ€s in the middle of a new twist to Sixers head coach Nick Nurseâ€s preseason tinkering.

Embiid featured Sunday in the Sixers†annual Blue-White scrimmage at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Delaware. And he shared the floor with another big man in Adem Bona.Â

Nurse confirmed after the scrimmage that heâ€s “trying to look at Bona and Joel together.†With Paul George sidelined as he works back from a left knee injury and Trendon Watford out because of right hamstring tightness, itâ€s not yet clear how the Sixers will divvy up power forward minutes. Two-way contract player Dominick Barlow has played well this preseason and fellow two-way Jabari Walker has also been in the mix.Â

Bona is an unconventional option, although Nurse noted his role may not change much alongside Embiid. The 22-year-old stuck almost exclusively to dunks, layups, put-backs and the occasional post-up his rookie year. In contrast, Embiidâ€s jump shooting and overall array of offensive skills have historically been giant strengths.

“I think thereâ€s kind of an open position at the four, especially right now with Paul not being quite ready yet,†Nurse said. “Thereâ€s a number of guys that weâ€re trying to work into that spot. … (Bona) is probably going to be more of the five. Heâ€s going to play down toward the basket, rim protect and things like that. Thereâ€s certainly some drives and dump-offs to him … that are high-percentage plays. I like that part. Heâ€ll help the rebounding, heâ€ll help the rim protection. Weâ€ll see how it goes.â€â€

Bona brought his typical shot swatting to the scrimmage and stared down Johni Broome after denying the rookie a dunk. Heâ€s pleased at the prospect of playing next to Embiid.Â

“I think it brings another dynamic to the team,†Bona said. “Itâ€s going to bring a huge amount of size and presence in the paint.â€

While Bona measured a tad over 6-foot-8 without shoes at the NBA draft combine, he indeed plays much bigger. The UCLA productâ€s wingspan is a shade under 7-4. He posted a 40-inch maximum vertical leap at the combine and sure seems to have added to that.Â

Of course, most Sixers projections ride on Embiidâ€s health. He scrimmaged Sunday, moved smoothly and scored plenty.

The Sixers have avoided timelines in discussing Embiidâ€s return from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The scrimmage was his first live action in front of a crowd since Feb. 22.

“I knew this would be the first time you guys had seen him for a long time,†Nurse said. “I donâ€t know how many weeks this is now — Iâ€m losing track — but heâ€s been out there playing. Again, just trying to continue to progress.Â

“Today was a good progression day. Lots of running, lots of 5-on-5, lots of early practice stuff, lots of 5-on-0. …  And then he went out there and did his thing. He shot the ball well, he scored well, he orchestrated the offense well. I thought he ran pretty good as well — both directions.â€

Bona would love to see all of that translate to games. When the Sixers drafted him, he envisioned frontcourt minutes with Embiid.

“Iâ€ve been working toward that,†he said, “and Iâ€m really excited to see how thatâ€s going to look.â€

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The Sixers moved a step closer to meaningful basketball Friday night.

They also stayed winless in the preseason, falling to a 128-98 loss to the Magic in their first exhibition game at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

VJ Edgecombe sat because of left hip soreness. He took part in the Sixers†morning shootaround and is considered day-to-day, according to a team official.Â

Other absences included Joel Embiid (left knee), Paul George (left knee), Trendon Watford (right hamstring) and Jared McCain (right thumb). Quentin Grimes was inactive two days after his first practice of the season.

The Sixers will hold their annual Blue-White scrimmage Sunday and finish their four-game preseason next Friday vs. the Timberwolves. Here are observations on the team’s loss to Orlando:

Maxey, Barlow shineÂin 1st quarter

Tyrese Maxey and Dominick Barlow were early standouts.

The Sixers†first basket came on a Maxey transition three-pointer. To no oneâ€s surprise, Maxey came out aggressively. He fired up nine shots in under seven minutes and played with tons of speed and confidence. Maxey poured in 17 first-quarter points and watched the rest of the game.

Barlow scored the Sixers†next bucket on a put-back layup. He did strong work on the offensive boards in his third straight start and had 12 points and nine rebounds over 29 minutes. Barlow has a 7-foot-3 wingspan and good athletic tools, and heâ€s rebounded the way those on-paper traits would suggest.Â

Notably, the Sixers plan to be a guard-heavy team and know they must improve their rebounding. Barlowâ€s boosted his case for minutes with his preseason showing on the glass. Well done for a 22-year-old on a two-way contract.

Pros and cons for Bona

Not for the first time, Adem Bona had a rough start on the foul front. He committed two personals in under two minutes, including on a Wendell Carter Jr. and-one jumper.

Of course, the other side of Bonaâ€s ball-hungry defensive style is that heâ€s often rewarded with rejections. His bounce and rim-protecting instincts popped as usual. Bona swatted Desmond Bane, Paolo Banchero and Anthony Black layup attempts in the first half.

Andre Drummond continued to play behind Bona. The highlights of Drummond’s night were a pair of corner three-pointers. Drummond made three long-range jumpers and missed 17 last season. Heâ€s 18 for 140 (12.9 percent) in his career.Â

Challenges for rookies off the bench

Hunter Sallis received first-quarter minutes and got an and-one runner to drop against fellow rookie guard Jace Richardson. The Wake Forest product tallied seven points and three assists in 34 minutes.

The Sixers used a five-man bench in the first half of Sallis, Drummond, Kennedy Chandler, Jabari Walker and Johni Broome. Emoni Bates and Malcolm Hill checked in after halftime.

Broome (six points, three steals) played at both power forward and center. He had some tough moments defensively against players like Banchero and Carter. Banchero tried to drive baseline past Broome and throw down a powerful slam. Broome stopped him with a clear-cut foul.Â

The 23-year-old lefty’s physicality and shot blocking were strengths in college. Itâ€s an open question how heâ€ll adapt to NBA-level size, quickness and leaping.

Chandler was the Sixers’ lead ball handler for much of the game and had a 16-point, five assist, four-steal night. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse has given him significant minutes in all three of the team’s preseason contests.

“Heâ€s played very well,â€Â Nurse said following the Sixers’ practice Thursday. “Heâ€s got pretty good feel for running and organizing the team. Heâ€s also got some juice to get by people and get to the basket. And heâ€s also a very good shooter.

“He didnâ€t shoot as much from three in those games as heâ€s been doing in practice. Heâ€s a legit threat from three. … Iâ€ve been impressed with his knowledge of the game, the way heâ€s picked things up and the way heâ€s transferred that to keeping the team fairly organized.â€Â

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2025 season: 96-66, first in NL East, eliminated in NLDS

With the Phillies eliminated by the Dodgers in Game 4 of the NLDS, let’s take a look at the season that was in Philadelphia, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.

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Things that went right

After going 12 years without winning the NL East, the Phillies secured a division title for a second straight year. They also recorded their highest win total since 2011, winning 96 games as a balanced, veteran-laden roster made them one of the most consistent teams in baseball.

The rotation was the strength of the team and one of the best starting units in baseball. Cristopher Sánchez emerged as the teamâ€s best pitcher and will draw strong consideration for the NL Cy Young Award. By increasing his strikeout rate while continuing to limit walks and inducing plenty of ground balls, Sánchez became as consistent as any starter in the NL. Zack Wheeler pitched every bit as well as Sánchez for most of the season, before a blood clot in his right shoulder ended his season in the middle of August. Ranger Suárez continued to provide reliable results, and while “reliable†would be the wrong word to describe Jesús Luzardo, he had many dazzling outings that were mixed with the occasional blowup.

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Philadelphia’s offense was led by a memorable season from Kyle Schwarber. The veteran was already one of the most consistent sluggers in baseball, but this year, he took his game to another level, topping the NL with 56 homers and leading the majors with 132 RBI. He figures to have a tight finish with Shohei Ohtani for league MVP honors.

And while Schwarber was stealing the show, Bryce Harper continued to be the metronome of the lineup, with his consistency reaching base and providing power. Trea Turner was another major asset, as he remained one of baseballâ€s most reliable table-setters. Prior to missing most of September due to injury, Turner hit for average (.304), provided a bit of pop (15 homers) and gave pitchers fits while Schwarber and Harper were at the plate, posting his highest steals total (36) since 2018.

Things that went wrong

For a second straight year, the Phillies failed to get past the NLDS. Even worse, they lost their first two playoff games at home — leading to a chorus of boos from the Philly fans — before rallying for a resounding victory in Game 3 that seemed to threaten the Dodgers’ upper hand. But then the Phillies’ season ended in gut-wrenching fashion in Game 4, with a critical error allowing the winning run to score for L.A. in the bottom of the 11th inning of what had been a 1-1 battle to that point. Just like that, a Phillies team that looked like serious World Series contenders on paper was out of the postseason.

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In the regular season, the relief corps stood out as the most disappointing part of the team. Jordan Romano was signed in the offseason with expectations that he would either take over the closerâ€s role or at least be part of a ninth-inning committee. Instead, he owned a 6.81 ERA at the trade deadline, when management relented and traded key prospects for Jhoan Duran. The struggles of Romano were even more noticeable when the team was without José Alvarado for 80 games due to a PED suspension. Alvarado returned in time to cover some key innings down the stretch but was not eligible to pitch in the postseason.

Although the top of the lineup was especially dangerous, there were some letdowns in the bottom half of the order that made this offense good rather than great. Nick Castellanos was disappointing. Not only did he continue a long-term trend of being one of baseballâ€s worst defensive right fielders (-12 Fielding Run Value, per Statcast), but he also logged an unimpressive .694 OPS. Things werenâ€t any better in left field, where offseason signee Max Kepler scuffled throughout the season and finished with a .691 OPS. Thankfully, Harrison Bader arrived at the trade deadline to help the outfield and posted an .824 OPS during his time with the Phillies.

While the rotation was successful overall, Aaron Nola stands out as the one arm who had a miserable season. Nola had been inconsistent in recent years, but he entered 2025 with great optimism after going 14-8 with a 3.57 ERA the previous year. Then he spent three months on the IL due to a sprained ankle and finished the regular season at 5-10 with a 6.01 ERA.

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Offseason plans

Although most of the key Phillies are under contract for 2026, there are some holes to fill. One of those is behind the plate, as J.T. Realmuto will head to free agency after a successful seven-year run with the organization. That said, the front office could bring Realmuto back, as the Phillies donâ€t have an obvious replacement in the organization. The rest of the infield is much more stable, with Harper at first base, Bryson Stott at second, Turner at shortstop and Alec Bohm manning the hot corner. Stott is the most vulnerable member of the group, as heâ€s coming off two consecutive underwhelming seasons. But he has likely played well enough to convince management to direct attention elsewhere.

Two outfield spots are spoken for, which might not be a good thing. Castellanos has one more season on a lucrative contract, which is enough reason to make him the right fielder, though the organization could try to trade him in the offseason. Brandon Marsh is still inexpensive and has played well enough to start against right-handers. He can play center or left field. Kepler was in town on a one-year deal, so the front office will likely go in another direction with his spot.

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The biggest job for the front office will be to retain or replace Schwarber, who is heading to free agency. Schwarber will undoubtedly receive massive contract offers, and the Phillies should be among the bidders. The DH is widely recognized as a difference-maker in the clubhouse as well as at the plate, but there is an obvious downside to signing a long-term deal with a player who rarely plays the field and will be 33 years old on Opening Day.

The Phillies might be in a better place with their rotation than any other team in baseball. Wheeler, Nola, Luzardo, Sánchez and Taijuan Walker are all under contract for next season, with Suárez the lone rotation member who is heading to free agency. If Nola can get his career back on track, the team can open 2026 with five veterans in the rotation and talented prospect Andrew Painter waiting in the wings. That said, it should be noted that Wheeler is facing a six-to-eight-month recovery from September surgery, which could cause him to open 2026 on the IL.

Acquiring Duran not only solved a pressing issue for 2025 but also gave the Phillies an elite closer for the next two seasons. With Duran the anchor and Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm as the setup men, the club is off to a good start in building an effective relief corps. Romano was on a one-year deal and certainly wonâ€t be back, and the front office might walk away from a $9 million club option with Alvarado. Ideally, the front office will find one more hurler for the setup crew and at least one depth arm to cover lower-leverage frames.

Prospects on the horizon

Phillies fans have been patiently waiting for Painter, Philly’s 2021 first-round pick, to make his major-league debut. The right-hander missed all of the 2023 and ‘24 seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery and was expected to reach the majors by the middle of this season. Instead, he posted uneven results in Triple-A, delaying his debut until 2026. Painter is still regarded as one of baseballâ€s best pitching prospects and has ace potential once he finishes shaking the rust off.

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Outfielder Justin Crawford is the other notable prospect on the verge of his debut. A first-round pick in 2022, Crawford is one of the fastest players in the minors and knows how to get on base. He lacks power but can bring an exciting skill set to the bottom half of the Phillies†lineup. Promoting Crawford, who spent all of 2025 in Triple-A, would be an inexpensive way to plug a hole in the outfield, which might allow the front office to spend its money on bringing Schwarber back.

Lastly, Aidan Miller, a first-round pick in 2023, could debut in the second half of 2026. A full-time shortstop in the minors, Miller is blocked by Turner but could emerge as an option at second base. He spent 2025 in Double-A.

Goals for 2026

For the Phillies, the goal every season is to win the World Series, and the stakes only get higher after their stunning October exit this year. But the good news is they have one of the deepest, most balanced rosters in baseball, and Turner, Harper and Wheeler, among others, are under contract for multiple seasons. To finally break through next year, the organization needs Nola to get back on track, but that should be attainable given that his 2025 injury was not related to his arm. It will also be essential that Wheeler moves past the blood clot issue in his shoulder and returns to being a force in the rotation.

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The front office also needs to re-sign Schwarber — that or add a superstar replacement, such as Kyle Tucker. There will undoubtedly be concerns about how well Schwarber will fare in the final seasons of a four- or five-year deal, but for now, he is an essential part of an effective lineup in Philadelphia. With Schwarber back, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski can then tinker with the bench and bullpen, knowing that the heavy lifting is done.

Fantasy focus

Plenty of Phillies will have their names called in the early rounds of 2026 drafts. Turner, Wheeler and Harper will all be selected in the second or third rounds. The same can be said of Schwarber, whether or not he remains in Philadelphia. Sánchez will be drafted as an ace in the range of Round 4. Duran will also be quite appealing and will be valued as a top-10 reliever.

The rest of the Phillies will be selected in the middle or late rounds of drafts. Luzardoâ€s strikeout skills will make him one of the most appealing options in the range of Round 10. Castellanos will be selected in the second half of drafts, as will Nola, as managers bank on bounce-back seasons from both players.

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So many thoughts, second guesses and Monday morning quarterback analysis when it comes to the Phillies’ crushing 5-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday.

This much we do know. The Phillies are in a must-win situation when the two teams reconvene on Monday for Game 2. Left-hander Jesús Luzardo will be looking to even the series when he faces Dodgers lefty Blake Snell. Since July 29, Luzardo has started 11 games and logged 69 2/3 innings and has posted a 2.84 ERA while giving up six home runs. He has struck out 80 during that time and the Phillies have gone 7-4 during those starts.

“Itâ€s just another game, in reality,†said Luzardo, when asked if thereâ€s any added pressure on him. “In the grand scheme of things, thereâ€s been a lot of series this year where we ended up winning after losing game one, that we just bounce back and won two in a row. I think thatâ€s the mentality that we have to take.

“Obviously, you want to get a win, itâ€s important to do that at home. I wouldnâ€t say thereâ€s added pressure or anything. Just go out and play the game the way we know how to play it. Weâ€ve been the best team in baseball at home so thereâ€s a reason for that.â€

Snell pitched the Wild Card Series opener against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday and went seven innings, struck out nine and allowed just four hits and two earned runs in a 10-5 Los Angeles win. In his last three regular season outings, the former Cy Young Award winner allowed one earned run over 19 innings, nine hits and struck out 28 and walked just four. To say he is hot right now would be a huge understatement.

 All the second guessing of using who and when out of the bullpen really doesnâ€t matter if the Phillies donâ€t come up with some timely hitting. The top three in their order – Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper – went 1-for-11 with a walk and six strikeouts in Saturdayâ€s loss. In the fifth inning, with runners on first and second with one out and the Phillies leading 3-0, Turner softly lined out to shortstop and Schwarber struck out swinging on a 3-2 curveball from Shohei Ohtani.

In the seventh against reliever Tyler Glasnow, J.T. Realmuto reached base on an error by third baseman Max Muncy to lead off the inning, only to get stranded on a fly out by Max Kepler and a double play by pinch-hitter Nick Castellanos.

The Phillies loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth off Glasnow, but pinch-hitter Edmundo Sosa flied out to deep center to end that threat. And after Kepler laced a one-out double to right in the ninth, Roki Sasaki was able to retire Castellanos and Bryson Stott to give the Dodgers the lead in the series.

“Yeah, especially the bottom part of the order I thought we really had pretty good at-bats all night long,†said Thomson. “The guys at the top, they pitched them tough, a lot of breaking balls. Ohtani was really tough on them. I thought that the guys at the bottom did a nice job.

“I donâ€t sense any extra pressure. I feel like theyâ€re loose. We made a lot of good plays on defense last night. We pitched well. We just didnâ€t get the big hit when we needed. We had some chances. Thatâ€s the way it is. I think itâ€s just kind of the ebbs and flows of the game. We got to come out here tomorrow night and play well.â€

There were chances, but the Phillies just never seemed to get that back-breaking hit after they scored three runs in the second inning, two on a triple by Realmuto on one more when Harrison Bader knocked him in with a sacrifice fly to left.

But that was it. Ohtani retired 12 of the next 14 Phillies and the momentum they had built in the second disappeared as quickly as a Kyle Schwarber line drive home run. And the Dodgers pounced, winning the game on a three-run home run by three-hole hitter Teoscar Hernandez in the seventh off Matt Strahm.

Up until Hernandez†home run, the top three hitters in the Dodgers order – including Ohtani and Mookie Betts – were

And now Rob Thomson may have to manage his lineup a bit differently, as Bader left the game on Saturday with soreness in his groin after running to second on a single by Stott in the fifth.

“No major tear or strain,†Thomson said of his starting centerfielder. “Heâ€s going to come in this afternoon and get treatment, and weâ€ll know more tomorrow. I think after the game they stretched him out; they got him moving around a little bit and I think he felt a lot better after that. Weâ€ll know whether heâ€s available to start or at least to pinch-hit. Weâ€ll know more tomorrow.â€

While hitters have to hit for the Phillies, especially the ones at the top of the order, the focus, as it always does, will fall on the starting pitcher. Luzardo has the benefit of having faced the Dodgers on September (four runs in seven innings) and watching fellow lefty Cristopher Sánchez attack them last night.

“Iâ€ve been going after him basically all season at this point and I think for the most part I would do a good job of (studying),†Luzardo said. “Weâ€re different pitchers but at the same time lefthanded. They take certain swings or certain approaches against him. That might change a little bit with me. Thereâ€s something to that and understanding how their approach was with him, how they looked on certain pitches. I definitely study the way he pitched them and how they reacted to that.

“It works both ways. They get a little bit on you, understanding how you work and how they see you. But at the same time, you get a little familiarity with them, their swing paths and their approach. It might change a little here and there but for the most part it is what it is. Thereâ€s comfort knowing that you faced them a good amount, especially recently.â€

Comfort wouldnâ€t seem to be a word floating around the Phillies†situation right now, but weâ€ll see starting at 6:08 p.m.

“It is baseball and sometimes you lose games at home,†Thomson said. “Youâ€ve got to play well. Youâ€ve got to pitch, and you have to play defense and swing the bats, play small ball at times. Itâ€s just the way it is. It doesnâ€t mean weâ€re not going to come in here tomorrow night and not play well. I know that weâ€ve played better at home. I feel like weâ€re more comfortable at home, thatâ€s for sure. Theyâ€ll come out here, and theyâ€ll be ready to go tomorrow night.â€

Red October coverage on NBC Sports Philadelphia is sponsored by Toyota.

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