Chargers’ offensive line battered, bruised in loss to Seahawks

• October 5, 2026

SEATTLE — Pro Bowl right tackle Joe Alt went down and out first, heading to the locker room because of a neck injury near the end of the first half of the Chargers’ loss Sunday to the Seattle Seahawks. Travis Burke, a rookie, replaced Alt at one key spot on the offensive line.

Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater went out next, leaving for the locker room in the fourth quarter because of an ankle injury that required him to wear a protective walking boot and to use a cane by day’s end. In between the two, left guard Trevor Penning was forced out with a head injury.

By game’s end, the Chargers surrounded veteran right guard Cole Strange with four rookies. In addition to Burke, they also had starting center Jake Slaughter shifting to left guard to replace Penning, Jacob Spomer replacing Slaughter and Logan Taylor replacing Slater to protect Justin Herbert.

“Those four, very pleased with how they played,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said of the rookies, including Spomer, who made his NFL debut.

Harbaugh said he did not have updates on the severity of the injuries suffered by Alt, Slater and Penning. The Chargers must provide an injury report Wednesday after practice, so it might be a few days before their conditions are revealed, per the NFL’s rules governing injuries.

It could leave the Chargers shorthanded at vital positions going into next Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. They were already without left guard Kayode Awosika, who had a hamstring injury, and center Tyler Biadasz, who sustained a season-ending knee injury during training camp.

Plus, backup offensive lineman Trey Pipkins III was placed on injured reserve because of a knee injury, leading to Penning moving into the starting left guard spot for the past two games. Playing four rookies in front of Herbert next week and perhaps beyond would likely be suboptimal.

“I thought they stepped up huge today,” Herbert said of the rookies. “Obviously, it’s really tough when you lose a few guys like (Alt, Slater and Penning), but a lot of those guys playing in their first games, they stepped up, made some big plays and held their own out there.”

INJURIES (CONT’D)

In addition to their battered offensive line, the Chargers also lost the services of top receiver Ladd McConkey, who had been dealing with a foot injury during practice week and was forced from the game in the third quarter. McConkey did not catch a pass before departing the game.

Harbaugh said last week he didn’t know when McConkey was injured.

Derwin James Jr. was inactive because of a hamstring injury, just as fellow safety Elijah Molden returned to the active roster from a hamstring injury he suffered during the Chargers’ season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals. It was not immediately clear how or when James was hurt.

​ Orange County Register 

Joshua Conger’s giving mission gets boost from Ducks honor

• October 5, 2026

ANAHEIM — Dealt a tough genetic hand with epilepsy, autism and neurological pain syndrome, it would have been perfectly understandable if Joshua Conger focused on his own well-being exclusively.

But this year’s 21st Duck has found satisfaction in serving and providing solace to others through his program, Joshua’s Joyful Giving.

Based in Chino, the nonprofit organization provides toys, stuffed animals, blankets, sensory-friendly backpacks and more to children facing challenges from pediatric cancer to natural disasters.

Conger was first prompted to action at age 9, when his child life specialist Shana Roenicke, who had a surprise for him at the end of each doctor’s visit, was staring at a bare cupboard of toys. Initially forgoing his own treat so others could have one, he began conjuring up ways to collect toys from donors in the community.

“Delivering the toys is a lot of fun, especially seeing the kids’ faces light up when I give it to them,” Conger said.

Now 15, Conger’s efforts have grown and his initiative has distributed more than 10,000 toys. Roughly a quarter of those were delivered in 2025, when despite being bedridden for most of the year, Conger and his team were more active than ever. Not only did they serve youngsters at local hospitals, including Children’s Hospital of Orange County, but they brought mirth to many impacted by the Palisades fires.

“It was a challenging year last year, but we still got a lot of donations and we still surpassed our goal of 2,000 toys,” Conger said. “I’ve been feeling a lot better. I went to therapy and I’m getting a lot better with my pain.

Conger’s mother, Michelle Scalise, was moved by her son’s desire to help others.

“When he came to me at 9 and said the toy cupboard’s empty and I want to give toys back to the other kids, it was just such a humbling experience to have my son that was dealing with illness and so many medical issues, realize that that’s a need and that’s what he wants to do,” said Scalise, who said the experience of giving has been therapeutic for her son. “Of course we want to support him as much as we can and grow this as big as we can.”

The 21st Duck honor has already begun to bring more attention to Conger’s mission, and Conger has gotten a little more joy of his own, too.

On Sunday, he walked the orange carpet at the home opener and took in the game. His favorite player, Cutter Gauthier, signed autographs alongside him and then scored two power-play goals.

Before that, he was invited to a Ducks practice where he met the players and coaches. His roster spot came, naturally, with his own jersey, equipment and locker-room stall.

“It was really cool. I didn’t know what was really going on until I got into the locker room,” Conger said. “Right now, it’s really helping me reach out more with my toy drive, because people who follow the Ducks are seeing me now and it’s helping my toy drive get bigger.”

Minty fresh

The second-highest game score, per Hockey Stat Cards, among defensemen in the Ducks’ season opener belonged to Pavel Mintyukov. He showed signs of putting together the rangy but risky game he played in his rookie year, 2023-24, with the improved defensive presence he provided as the campaign progressed in 2025-26.

Mintyukov, a 2022 lottery pick, had a year filled with twists and turns. A series of scratches reportedly led to a trade request, but soon after Mintyukov became a more stable and consistent contributor.

Over the offseason, he navigated the Wild West that was the new economic climate of the NHL, ultimately eschewing offer sheets to sign a competitive deal with the Ducks worth $7.2 million annually for the next five seasons. Mintyukov said that across last season, more pieces clicked into place for him.

“I really understood what the coaches wanted for me, and I figured out my role more,” Mintyukov said.

New ‘D,’ new swagger

The highest game score not just of any defenseman or of any Duck but of any player in that game was Tristan Luneau. He’ll make a salary commensurate to Mintyukov’s for the next six seasons after this one, despite the home opener being just his 16th NHL game

Luneau wasn’t the only young stallion in the Ducks’ stable to impress.

They dressed four defensemen in Vegas that spent most or all of last year in the minors: Luneau, Noah Warren, Tyson Hinds and Travis Mitchell. They all returned to the ice for Sunday’s Game No. 2.

Luneau had a +3 rating in a 4-3 victory, as well as an assist. Warren was a +1 and earned the primary assist on Alex Killorn’s tally. Despite massive losses of experience, the young blue-liners showed that they might be more athletic and maybe even more effective than the outgoing veterans on the blue line.

“It’s the speed,” said 20-year-old winger Beckett Sennecke. “That’s what you get with the new ‘D’ corps, or the different ‘D’ corps. It’s a lot of speed and a lot of skill.”

​ Orange County Register 

Ducks edge Panthers in overtime behind Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson

• October 5, 2026

ANAHEIM — When Cutter Gauthier scores for the Ducks, his goal song blares and rapper O.T. Genasis shouts “your price is way too high, you need to cut it!”

But in Sunday evening’s 3-2 overtime victory over the Florida Panthers in their home opener at Honda Center, the nouveau riche Gauthier and Leo Carlsson looked to be worth every penny.

Gauthier, who signed a contract worth $13.5 million per year this offseason, scored two power-play goals and was centimeters from his second career hat trick – his first came against Florida last November. Carlsson, who cashed in to the tune of $18 million annually, assisted on those two goals. Both players helped set up captain Mikael Granlund’s overtime winner, which also came with the extra man. Lukáš Dostál manned the net expertly, making 29 saves, and Beckett Sennecke contributed two helpers.

Carter Verhaeghe tallied for Florida before Brad Marchand, making his season debut after offseason surgery, tied the game late. Jacob Markström halted 18 shots.

In a game where fans were consternated by the officiating, the Ducks got the biggest call of the evening when Sennecke drew a penalty with just over three minutes left in overtime. He’d later key the connection between Gauthier, Carlsson and Granlund, who redirected the winner past Markström with 46 seconds remaining.

The Ducks stayed ahead in a structured, heavy game against a seasoned opponent, but gave up the tying goal with 1:50 to play in regulation.

With the goalie pulled, Lars Eller flicked a shot on net that generated a rebound for Marchand to pop in, his first goal in his first game action since undergoing surgery in August.

Sennecke’s mesmerizing shot fake and drop pass fooled everyone in white and left Gauthier with a wide-open net in the final minute of the second period, but his shot rang loudly off the inside of the left post.

Gauthier had already scored a pair of go-ahead goals on the power play.

Just 47 seconds into the middle frame, he finished a tic-tac-toe play from between the hash marks, with the primary assist going to Sennecke.

Verhaeghe’s persistence swiping near the net had knotted the contest with 2:51 to play in the opening stanza. Tim Washe’s blind backhand pass was intercepted by Matthew Tkachuk, who initiated the scoring sequence from below the goal line.

Gauthier had gotten the puck rolling less than a minute earlier. He found quiet ice on the weak side, drifting above the left circle to receive a puck reversal and snap home his first goal of the young season.

More to come on this story.

​ Orange County Register 

NLDS: Brewers’ Chourio bests Padres’ Miller for walk-off win, 2-0 series lead

• October 5, 2026

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer

MILWAUKEE — Jackson Chourio hit a two-run single off hard-throwing Mason Miller with two outs in the ninth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied past the San Diego Padres for the straight day, a 4-3 victory on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five National League Division Series.

Miller entered with San Diego ahead 3-2, trying for his first six-out save since 2024. He retired the side in order in the eighth and, after a leadoff groundout in the ninth, issued his first career postseason walks to Christian Yelich and Sal Frelick.

Andrew Vaughn flied out and pinch hitter Gary Sánchez walked on a full count.

A night after sparking Milwaukee’s comeback with a tying, two-run homer in the third inning, the 22-year-old Chourio lined a 101.3 mph fastball up the middle and past second baseman Jake Cronenworth’s attempt for a diving backhand stop.

The ball bounced into center field as Yelich ran across the plate. Frelick slid in head first, easily beating center fielder Jackson Merrill’s throw.

San Diego, which entered the postseason with 20 wins in its last 23 games, has back-to-back losses for the first time since Sept. 1-2. The Padres will try to keep their season alive Tuesday when the best-of-five series resumes at Petco Park in San Diego.

Milwaukee is a win from a second straight NL Championship Series appearance as it chases its first World Series title.

Chourio also made a key defensive play in the opener when France hit a potential go-ahead homer in the ninth inning only for the ball to strike a cable on the roof of American Family Field and land in Chourio’s glove at the left-field warning track.

Miller, baseball’s top closer, threw 40 pitches – his most since 2023. He topped 100 mph with 18 pitches, the fastest a 103.5 mph offering that Chourio fouled.

Milwaukee didn’t have a baserunner against Padres starter Michael King until the fifth inning and matched a season high with three errors as San Diego scored a pair of unearned runs.

With the roof open Sunday, France hit an RBI single in the first and another a run-scoring single for a 3-1 lead in the seventh after third baseman David Hamilton bobbled Fernando Tatis Jr.’s grounder for an error.

Frelick had an RBI single in the fifth after Christian Yelich doubled.

Milwaukee closed to 3-2 in the seventh when Garrett Mitchell scored from third as Cronenworth bobbled Hamilton’s grounder and then threw past first for a double error.

More to come on this story.

​ Orange County Register 

Cam Schlittler takes center stage for Yankees in ALDS Game 2

• October 5, 2026

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Cam Schlittler is likely to win the AL Cy Young Award and became an even bigger fan favorite in New York after saying he wants to be a “Yankee forever.”

All that matters right now is beating the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.

The Yankees are down 1-0 in the best-of-five AL Division Series after Drew Rasmussen dominated a lineup missing Aaron Judge in a 1-0 win on Saturday night. New York didn’t get a hit until Austin Wells lined a double with two outs in the eighth and was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple.

So, pressure is on the 25-year-old Schlittler to deliver in Game 2 for a young batting order that includes Ben Rice, Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr.

“Ben contributing a lot last year, me just kind of learning the ropes, and Spencer comes up and George, as well, they’ve taken advantage of their opportunity and they’ve been amazing since they’ve gotten up here,” Schlittler said. “So, it’s exciting to watch.

“I think the ability to adapt, play under the pressure, work hard. Those guys work hard. I would say I work hard. So the goal is to be a Yankee forever when you get drafted by them. So I know the guys are determined to meet that end goal, and they take it day by day and are going to put the work in to have the success out on the field.”

Schlittler was 14-6 with an AL best 1.95 ERA, striking out 239 in 193⅔ innings over 33 starts. He threw 6⅓ scoreless innings, allowing two hits and fanning 10 in a 9-0 win against Boston in Game 1 of the Wild Card series. Schlittler underestimated Rays fans at quirky Tropicana Field.

“I wouldn’t say there’s really too much of an away crowd here,” he said hours before the series opener. “I expect there to be a lot of Yankees fans. In some ways, you are, to an extent, kind of playing at home. I feel like the guys are excited to have that atmosphere here.”

Instead, a sellout crowd of 40,542 electrified the Trop, ringing cowbells, drowning out the Yankees fans and booing the opponent. Rays manager Kevin Cash called it the best ballpark noise he’s ever witnessed.

Tampa Bay will send Freddy Peralta to the mound against the Yankees, aiming to take a 2-0 series lead. Peralta was 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts for Tampa Bay after being acquired from the Mets before the trade deadline. He struggled in his first season in New York, going 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts.

“Obviously, I wasn’t in the spot I wanted to be when I talk about, like, how my numbers were over there,” Peralta said. “But this is baseball. Everything changed when I got traded. I said it before that I’ve been treated here as a king, and I feel really good about it. They’re working me really well here.”

Peralta credited pitching coach Kyle Snyder for his turnaround.

“The information and the way he communicated to me, it was the right way to do it,” Peralta said.

Rodón or Fried in Game 3?Max Fried threw six innings of three-hit, one-run ball in Game 2 vs. the Red Sox and lines up to start Game 3 at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night. Carlos Rodón tossed eight scoreless innings, allowing just three hits in his last outing against the Rays on Sept. 22.

“It will be one or the other. We’re still working through that,” Boone said Sunday. “Kind of depends maybe a little bit how these games unfold and how we want to make guys available.”

All-Star right-hander Nick Martinez (15-6, 3.10 ERA) likely will start Game 3 for the Rays.

Judge update

Judge, who was left off the roster while he tries to work his way back from a calf injury that has sidelined him since Sept. 16, resumed running on Sunday when the Yankees worked out at their spring training home – George Steinbrenner Field –- across the bay in Tampa.

“He didn’t run yesterday. He was off from running, so I know he’s running again today,” Boone said. “I think we’ll get some live in. So just another work day, trying to stack another good day and, obviously, continue to heal up.”

The three-time AL MVP was limited to 66 games this season after missing a few months with a fractured rib.

Rested relievers

Rasmussen’s impressive performance gave the Rays’ bullpen even more rest.

Cash only used closer Bryan Baker, who finished the masterpiece with a 1-2-3 ninth. Tampa Bay’s relievers have been off for a week because the 98-win Rays earned the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye.

“We’re in a pretty good spot,” Cash said. “Everybody is fresh, and I think probably that much more as the bullpen now kind of chomping at the bit to get in there and contribute.”

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers rookie Josue De Paula ‘shocked’ but excited to be part of postseason run

• October 5, 2026

LOS ANGELES — A year ago, Josue De Paula was part of the TV audience for the Dodgers’ postseason run.

He has a better view this time.

“I believe I was watching it, if I’m not mistaken, probably in Miami,” De Paula said before Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. “I was in Miami watching those games. … To see it in person, I just feel like you can’t replicate it anywhere else. Seeing it on TV and being here is two different worlds.”

As his season with Double-A Tulsa was winding down, De Paula didn’t expect to be seeing postseason baseball up close and in person.

“Take myself home, chill for a little bit. Take probably three weeks off with family and get back to training and stuff,” he said of his October plans before being named to the Dodgers’ NLDS roster.

“I wasn’t expecting myself to be here.”

It only took 11 games in September for the Dodgers to become convinced that he would not only be a valuable addition to the postseason bench but he wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the moment if he had to come in and pinch hit.

“I think what we saw is a really good idea of the strike zone, quality of contact,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think that he’s really unflappable, good heartbeat. I think that translates into the postseason.”

That has always been part of his game, De Paula said.

“I always kind of feel like I was a chill individual,” he said. “I try not to get too rushed in my head, and I just try to make it just be in the present. I feel like it just comes naturally to me. I don’t know why, but it does. God-given, you could say.”

De Paula said Roberts gave him the news early in the bye week – though it was obvious before that to everyone else that he would be included on the NLDS roster.

“I was kind of shocked. Yeah, I was shocked,” De Paula said. “I was happy. There was a lot of emotions going on at the same time. Yeah, a lot of thoughts going into it, like envisioning how this is going to be. I’m just going along for the ride and see how everything comes to me.”

De Paula is a work in progress – to say the least – as a defender in the outfield and will only see action this fall if the Dodgers need a left-handed pinch-hitter. It’s not a role with which he is familiar.

“No,” he said. “I probably did it once or twice my whole minor-league career and stuff like that. But just to be my main role, no, but I feel like I’m getting used to it pretty well.”

De Paula did make one pinch-hit appearance for the Dodgers in September and drew a walk.

“I like the adrenaline of it,” he said. “Yeah, it was good. So it was nothing crazy.”

Some of the veterans on the team are helping with his preparations, said the 21-year-old De Paula, who was honored as the Dodgers’ Branch Rickey Award winner as their Minor League Player of the Year for 2026.

“At the end of the day this is a game, and I just try to make sure everybody’s having fun while we’re doing it,” De Paula said of the youthful energy he has brought to the veteran-laden Dodgers. “Why not kick butt and have fun at the same time, you know what I’m saying? Yeah, just try to make sure everybody is having fun and enjoy themselves.”

ABS BLASTER

Andy Pages’ judgment in using the ABS challenge during the regular season was so poor – he led the team with 14 failed challenges – that he was told he could no longer use them. In the series opener on Saturday afternoon, Pages used one in the second inning on a pitch that was clearly in the strike zone. That left the Dodgers with just one challenge for the rest of the game.

“We talked about obviously a lot this year with Andy’s success rate or lack thereof,” Roberts said. “I didn’t revisit it before Game 1 yesterday, so that’s my fault. I did have a conversation today. So, yeah, we’ve managed that one going forward.”

Does that mean Pages’ ABS privileges have been revoked for the rest of this postseason?

“Yes,” Roberts said.

Pages went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in Game 1 – a rough start to this postseason for a young player who started last postseason 4 for 50 (.080) and was benched during the World Series.

“He’s in a much better spot than he was last year,” Roberts said of Pages, who returned from a broken bone in his hand and went 6 for 18 with two home runs in the final six games of the regular season. “For me, I just think that – I just want to see him check down a little bit more, chase hits instead of slug. I think that the changeup from Suter yesterday was the tell for me as far as trying to do too much. It was a ball out of hand (and Pages swung for one of his strikeouts).

“I just want to see him kind of slow down a little bit because, again, he came into this postseason really good, had a good week. This past week was great work. Just want to make sure he kind of just checks down a little bit.”

UP NEXT

The series is off on Monday.

Game 3 – Dodgers (RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 14-9, 2.53 ERA) at Braves (LHP Chris Sale, 14-9, 2.16 ERA), Tuesday, 3 p.m. PT, FS1, 570 AM

​ Orange County Register 

White Sox stick with bullpen plan for ALDS Game 2 against Guardians

• October 5, 2026

CLEVELAND — Will Venable said before the start of the American League Division Series that it was possible the Chicago White Sox could use bullpen games during the first three contests against the Cleveland Guardians.

Venable isn’t deviating from that plan, so far.

Anthony Kay will be the opener for Game 2 on Monday at Progressive Field. It will be the 33rd time this season the White Sox have used an opener, including the third in the postseason.

Sean Burke is expected to throw most of the innings, but Venable said he will have many options available.

“The way it’s set up here with the two off days in between these first three games gives us a chance to go ahead,” Venable said.

Kay made 33 appearances during the regular season, including 31 starts, and went 10-9 with a 4.44 ERA. He was the first White Sox left hander to earn double-digit wins in a season since Carlos Rodón with 13 in 2021. Kay got the win on Wednesday in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series with two-thirds of a scoreless inning.

Kay was also among five Chicago pitchers in Saturday’s 3-0 victory as they allowed only three hits and struck out 12.. He went 1⅓ innings and allowed one hit and one walk.

“It’s been interesting watching him in a different type of role, shorten down. You’ve seen the velo tick up. I think the one thing is he just hasn’t been afforded kind of that length to get comfortable,” Venable said. “He’s made some really big pitches, got us out of some really tough spots. We just haven’t really seen us go beyond that.”

Chicago’s bullpen has a 4.57 ERA with its openers, but Hagen Smith has not allowed an earned run in 5⅔ innings in the postseason. The left-hander worked three scoreless innings in Game 1 of the first round against Houston and then 2⅔ shutout innings on Saturday against the Guardians.

Burke got the start on Wednesday in Houston. The right-hander, who went 11-7 with a 3.34 ERA in the regular season, allowed three runs on four hits and struck out eight in four innings.

“I think just seeing the efforts and everybody kind of doing their own individual role just makes you want to take the ball and just do anything you can to kind of help the team just put up zeros, and passing that baton to the next guy,” Burke said. “And the way we’re doing this is really just like a team effort from the pitching side.”

Gavin Williams will get the call for Cleveland. The right-hander went 14-8 with a 3.76 ERA and was second in the major leagues with 248 strikeouts. He held opposing hitters to a .213 batting average, tied for seventh best in the majors.

Williams isn’t stressing about the start despite the Guardians needing a win to avoid an 0-2 deficit going to Chicago.

“It’s just another game. Just going to go out there and try and do what I know I can do and execute and try to help the team win,” he said.

​ Orange County Register 

Heat wave again breaks records in Los Angeles, Orange counties

• October 5, 2026

For a second straight day, the ongoing heat wave enveloping Southern California broke records in a couple cities on Sunday, Oct. 4.

Temperatures hit a record high of 101 degrees in Burbank on Sunday, dethroning a previous high of 100 degrees in 1964, meteorologist Carol Ciliberti said.

In Orange County, Anaheim saw a record of 101 degrees, replacing a 98-degree high from 2020, according to meteorologist Sebastian Westerink. It was the second straight day Anaheim had seen record heat.

There were no records broken on Sunday in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Ciliberti and Westerink said that relief from the heat wave is not expected to come until Friday, Oct. 9. Ciliberti said temperatures might cool slightly in some Southern California locations on Monday, Oct. 5, but Tuesday was expected to be another sizzling day, especially in inland areas.

“Close to the coast, it will be cooling off a nudge every day,” Westerink said. “Inland, you might not notice much of a difference until Thursday or Friday.”

Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties all saw records broken on Saturday, Oct. 3, with record high temperatures recorded in Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Idyllwild and the Burbank Airport.

​ Orange County Register