The Toronto Blue Jays remain hopeful that ailing DH George Springer will be able to play tonight in Game 5 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium.

Springer, who left Game 3 early two nights ago with pain in his side, did not play in Game 4 as the Jays evened the series at two games apiece.

An MRI on Springer’s right side after Game 3 was negative and Jays manager John Schneider characterized Springer’s status as ‘hour-to-hour’ before leaving him off the Game 4 lineup card. Bo Bichette took over the DH slot for Toronto, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa getting the start at second base.

The Jays could certainly use Springer’s bat in the lineup as they face Dodger ace Blake Snell in Game 5. He was the team’s best overall hitter during the regular season, posting a .309/.399/.560 slash line in 586 plate appearances and a team-leading 4.8 Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball-Reference.com.

He also has one of the best postseason résumés in baseball history, with 23 home runs and an .877 OPS in 81 career playoff games.

Springer has four home runs this postseason, including a three-run blast that pushed the Blue Jays past the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series. He was also named the World Series MVP in 2017 in leading the Houston Astros past the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 2025-26 NHL season is underway, which means trades, signings and other moves are taking place.

Already this season, last year’s rookie of the year, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, received a lucrative eight-year extension. The Los Angeles Kings traded for a goalie and the Vegas Golden Knights brought another one into their organization.

In the latest news, the Utah Mammoth’s Logan Cooley and Dallas Stars’ Thomas Harley received eight-year extensions.

Follow this tracker for the latest moves from the 2025-26 NHL season.

Oct. 29: Mammoth’s Logan Cooley gets 8-year extension

Cooley, 21, will average $10 million in the extension, making him the team’s highest-paid player next season. He has a base salary of $950,000 in the final year of his entry-level contract. The third-year forward has a team-best eight goals for the Central Division-leading Mammoth. He scored 65 points last season. The Mammoth, in their second year in Salt Lake City, have Cooley, Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther, Jack McBain, Mikhail Sergachev, Sean Durzi, Karel Vejmelka and others locked in long term. Nick Schmaltz, who will be a coveted unrestricted free agent, will be another priority to re-sign. He’s tied for second in league scoring.

Oct. 28: Stars’ Thomas Harley gets 8-year extension

Harley, 24, will average $10.587 million in the deal, which kicks in next season. That puts him behind only Mikko Rantanen ($12 million). The extension, which will make Harley the NHL’s fourth highest paid defenseman next season, is a recognition of his rapid ascension. He had a career-best 50 points last season and joined Canada’s victorious 4 Nations Face-Off team as an injury replacement. He is off to another strong start this season with eight points in 10 games.

Harley is signed through 2034. Fellow defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell are signed through 2029 and 2030, respectively.

Oct. 25: Canucks acquire Lukas Reichel from Blackhawks

The Blackhawks get back a fourth-round 2027 pick. The Canucks had been dealing with injuries, particularly to Filip Chytil. Reichel, named to Germany’s Olympic team, had four points in five games with Chicago this season.

Oct. 16: Carter Hart joins Golden Knights roster

Goalie Carter Hart, one of five players acquitted in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial, is joining the Vegas Golden Knights organization. He won’t be able to play in the NHL until Dec. 1. Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were found not guilty by a judge on July 24. Justice Maria Carroccia ruled she didn’t find the accuser’s testimony about what allegedly happened in a London, Ontario hotel room in June 2018 to be ‘credible or reliable.’ Hart hasn’t played since going on leave in January 2024 to address the charges.

Also: The Sharks claimed defenseman Vincent Iorio off waivers from the Capitals.

Oct. 15: Kings bring back Pheonix Copley in trade

Pheonix Copley is returning to the Kings organization in a trade with the Lightning, who had claimed the goalie earlier on waivers. The Kings made the move with Darcy Kuemper day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The Lightning get future considerations in the deal.

Oct. 15: Blackhawks’ Nick Foligno goes on leave

The team and their captain announced that Nick Foligno will take a brief leave of absence as his daughter ‘undergoes follow-up surgery related to her congenital heart disease.’ Milana, 12, had her first heart procedure when she was three weeks old, per NHL.com.

Oct. 13: Canadiens’ Lane Hutson gets 8-year extension

Montreal’s Lane Hutson is the latest young NHL defenseman to cash in with a major contract extension.

The Canadiens announced that Hutson, 21, will average $8.85 million in the eight-year deal. The $70.8 million contract will start next season and run through 2033-34.

Hutson won rookie of the year in 2024-25 after recording six goals and 60 assists. He tied the all-time NHL record for assists by a rookie defenseman (Larry Murphy in 1980-81), and his 66 points set a record for a Canadiens rookie defenseman.

Devils defenseman Luke Hughes reset the market with a seven-year, $63 million contract on Oct. 1. Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe matched his $9 million cap hit in an eight-year extension the following day.

Giannis Antetokounmpo caught the ball just inside the halfcourt line at Fiserv Forum, and then took seven steps to just one dribble before scoring a basket over New York Knicks forward Karl-Anthony Towns.

Nobody noticed what the Milwaukee Bucks superstar had pulled off live during the national NBC broadcast on Tuesday, Oct. 28, as the Bucks played host to the Knicks in an early-season NBA matchup. But a slow-motion replay revealed a sequence that would quickly inspire the latest social media debate about whether the best basketball league in the world actually calls traveling anymore.

‘We could have played til we were 50, if we get that runway,’ Reggie Miller said to fellow NBC analyst and former NBA player Jamal Crawford as they laughed and counted the steps on air.

But Antetokounmpo did not get called for traveling and NBC’s Mike Tirico explained on the broadcast to an incredulous Miller the non-call might have been the correct call given the way the NBA’s ‘gather rule’ is written. It became the highlight shared around the internet on a night when the Bucks secured a 121-111 win behind 37 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists from Antetokounmpo against the team that had trade talks about him this past offseason.

Here’s a breakdown of the gather rule, how it applies to Antetokounmpo’s travel/non-travel against the Knicks and some of the best reactions to Antetokounmpo’s one-dribble foray to the basket:

What is the NBA’s gather rule?

The actual act of ‘the gather,’ is defined in two ways by the NBA in Section II of its official rules. For a player who receives the ball via a pass or gains possession of a loose ball, the gather is defined as ‘the point where the player gains enough control of the ball to hold it, change hands, pass, shoot, or the player cradles the ball against his body.’

For a player who is in control of the ball while dribbling, the gather is defined as the point where a player does any one of the following:

Puts two hands on the ball, or otherwise permits the ball to come to rest, while he is in control of it.
Puts a hand under the ball and brings it to a pause;
Otherwise gains enough control of the ball to hold it, change hands, pass, shoot, or the player cradles the ball against his body.

In Antetokounmpo’s case, latter definition of ‘the gather’ applies because it occurred while he was in control of the ball and dribbling, even if just one time. Furthermore, Section XIII of the NBA rules state ‘a player who gathers the ball while progressing may take two steps in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball.’

How NBA gather rule applies to Giannis Antetokounmpo play

Though Antetokounmpo took five steps after his lone dribble on the play, the non-travel argument would be that his ‘gather’ didn’t technically start until he put his left hand on the ball. He only took two steps after that.

‘The counting starts when he can’t dribble anymore, so that ball is laying on his hand, he can put it down one more time,’ Tirico said on the broadcast to an unconvinced Miller. ‘Alright look, Reg, don’t look at me. I don’t write the rules. I just read them to you, pal. I didn’t say that that wasn’t (traveling). I’m just saying that’s what it is.’

Best Giannis Antetokounmpo reactions

Miller was among those to make light of the situation, and crack jokes playing off the ambiguity of the rule. ‘There’s going to be some kid in Oshkosh, Wisconsin now going to their local gym yelling, I’m doing the gather,’ Miller said.

Here are some more of the compelling reactions around social media after the highlight of Antetokounmpo’s non-travel went viral:

Crosby appeared to suffer an injury to his head and/or neck area while trying to make a tackle in the third quarter of the Bobcats’ matchup against James Madison. Crosby ran into a teammate’s backside and fell to the turf, where he lay motionless for several moments.

Trainers ran to the field to look at Crosby, with both teams kneeling in front of a silent crowd at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Texas. Crosby was eventually placed on a stretcher to be taken off the field. He gave a thumbs up as he exited the field.

Crosby was taken to Seton Medical Center for further evaluation, according to the ESPN2 broadcast. Following the Texas State 52-20 loss to James Madison, Bobcats coach GJ Kinne did not have any immediate updates.

‘I know the team is really worried about him,’ Kinne said. ‘Prayed for him afterward in the locker room, just praying that he’s OK.’

Here’s the latest on Crosby’s injury:

Bobby Crosby injury updates

A representative from Texas State told USA TODAY Sports that Crosby was released from the hospital early on Wednesday, Oct. 29.

Crosby began his collegiate career at the junior college level at Cisco College (Cisco, Texas) before transferring to Texas State in 2023. He played a reserve role the last two seasons for the Bobcats but took on a larger role this season.

He has 39 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and two pass deflections this season for Texas State across eight games.

We’re nearly ready to use that college football ‘D’ word again. This time, for Ohio State. Dynasty.
Ryan Day recruits, and he develops. He also pumps out great quarterbacks.
Buckeyes blessed with enviable resources, and Ryan Day delivers ROI.

Dust off the ‘D’ word. Give it a shine.

We’re nearly ready to use it again. The beast Ryan Day’s building at Ohio State bears all the markers of a dynasty.

Yep, I said it.

The pundits telling you dynasties are dead in this new age of parity must have forgotten Ohio State, or they simply don’t want to acknowledge what the No. 1 Buckeyes have cooking.

Down in Texas, coach Steve Sarkisian insisted the undefeated teams of yore were the last of their kind.

Speak for yourself, Sark, because Day knows what he’s doing with his five-star quarterback, the one who’s not named Manning. Oh, and that Ohio State defense? It’s what Texas’ was supposed to be.

Dynasties are like thunderstorms. They don’t tend to sneak up on you, so long as you keep an eye out. You can see them rolling in from the horizon.

If you don’t detect the thunderclap building in Ohio, it’s because you wish to ignore it. The Buckeyes are winners of 11 straight, dating to last season. They’re a threat to become college football’s first 16-0 team.

What’s Ohio State’s cumulative scoring margin during this win streak?

Buckeyes 400, opponents 116.

That’s lightning and thunder, a show of force that points to college football’s next dynasty rolling in.

Ohio State has dynasty ingredients with Ryan Day

Here’s what you need to build a dynasty in this era:

1. Money. Ohio State’s got plenty. Investment doesn’t guarantee a championship, but it gives you a chance. No pauper will hoist the big prize in the pay-to-play era. Ohio State’s got the backing to sign premier recruiting classes while also cherry-picking transfers.

2. Recruiting. Championships are won with five-star Jimmies and four-star Joes. NIL didn’t make Day a great recruiter. He’d already established his chops in that arena. He’s never signed a class that ranked outside the top five nationally.

3. Quarterback development. Day really shines here. Urban Meyer brought Day, a former NFL quarterbacks coach, onto his staff for his expertise coaching the game’s most important position. He’s shepherded one superb quarterback after another, from Dwayne Haskins to Justin Fields to C.J. Stroud to Will Howard to now Julian Sayin, who’s completing 80% of his passes as a first-year starter. If you have a quarterback, you have a chance. Day’s always got one.

4. Developing recruits into pros. It’s not enough to sign talented recruits. A coach and his staff must get players to perform to their recruiting billing. Day’s doing fine in this area. Fourteen Buckeyes were selected in this past NFL draft. More first-rounders are on the way.

5. Making good staff hires. Recruiting became Nick Saban’s super skill during his dynasty. He also was a maestro of motivation. Another ace up Saban’s sleeve? He went on a tremendous run of hiring good coordinators. Now, check out Day. He had a great pairing last year with Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles. Lost ’em both. Replaced them by promoting Brian Hartline and hiring Matt Patricia. The Buckeyes haven’t skipped a beat. No coach can build a dynasty if success hinges on the retention of a particular coordinator. If he loses a good one, hire a better one.

Ryan Day delivers return on investment

Two persistent criticisms follow Day, even as his .885 career winning percentage trumps that of Knute Rockne.

No. 1: He can’t beat Michigan. Fair criticism. He’s 1-4 against Michigan, including an inexplicable loss last year. Saban won six national titles during a 12-year stretch from 2009-20. He also went 8-4 during the Iron Bowl in that same span.

No. 2: He benefits from a resource and talent advantage. Yeah, so what? Ohio State’s the revenue king, but it’s not as if it rules in a land of the destitute. Oregon’s got Nike money. Michigan’s got Oracle money. Curt Cignetti’s galvanized Indiana’s huge alumni base, and he’s gotten into Mark Cuban’s wallet.

James Franklin and Brian Kelly went splat despite coaching well-heeled programs. Sarkisian is doing less with more with his 2025 Longhorns. So, I’d call Day’s ability to deliver return on investment a feature, not a bug.

Saban achieved his dynasty by assembling unmatchable talent. Then, Kirby Smart replicated that move. They weren’t winning national titles with a team of three-star Dandy Dans. You build dynasties by signing and developing guys who’ll play on Sundays. Day does that.

The Buckeyes’ robust roster payroll creates the avenue for an advantage. It does not guarantee the type of dominance Ohio State’s achieved lately. Check out Texas using its war chest to build a team that needed overtime to survive Kentucky and Mississippi State.

The luster of this weekend’s Penn State-Ohio State matchup is gone, because only one coach delivered ROI, while the other got swallowed whole by the expectations.

The only silver lining for Penn State fans? They won’t have to watch Franklin wilt against Day for the seventh consecutive season.

“They really have a nothing-to-lose mentality,” Day said of facing four-loss Penn State. “We have to be at high alert.”

When speeding toward a dynasty, it sure helps if you can resist rat poison and navigate past trap games.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.