Stay or Go: Should Yankees re-sign Cody Bellinger?

The Yankees surprised the baseball world last offseason when they made a trade with the Chicago Cubs for former MVP Cody Bellinger.

Bellinger was a part of GM Brian Cashman and his front office's Plan B after Juan Soto signed with the Mets in free agency. Did they expect Bellinger, who rehabilitated his career in Chicago, to replace the offensive production Soto gave them in their World Series run a year ago? Of course not, but after a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Dodgers, run prevention and defense were the mantra and Bellinger provided that with his elite defense. 

It was a risky move. Bellinger's end in Los Angeles was not great, and after a very good first season on the North Side, he had a down 2024. But once Bellinger donned the pinstripes, he was a revelation, complementing Aaron Judge in the outfield perfectly and providing the defense the team lacked a season ago.

With Bellinger likely to opt out of his player option this offseason -- and no one would blame him -- should the Yankees pursue a reunion with the 30-year-old?

Aug 28, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates with designated hitter Aaron Judge (99) after they score on Bellinger’s two run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Rate Field.
Aug 28, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates with designated hitter Aaron Judge (99) after they score on Bellinger’s two run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Rate Field. / Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Why Yankees should re-sign Cody Bellinger

Bellinger had one of the best seasons of his career in 2025.

He batted .272 (third-best in his career), had an OBP of .334 (fourth-best), slugged .480 (third-best) and had an OPS of .813 (fifth-best). His 29 home runs were the third-most of his career and his 98 RBI were the second-most. He was also the Yankees' most clutch hitter, batting .348 with runners in scoring position. Next season, Bellinger will enter his age-31 year, so it's not like he's aging and the production should not be expected to dip. Similar production in 2026 is not far-fetched.

On the defensive end, Bellinger made a number of game-saving plays this season. The catch and throw double play to salvage a game against the Mets this summer and his sliding grabs in the postseason are notable, and the Yankees haven't had an elite defender in left field in years. 

According to Baseball Savant, Bellinger was in the 93rd percentile in outs above average (OAA) this season and still has a solid arm -- ranking in the 83rd percentile. Runners were also only 31 percent successful in advancing to the next base against him. 

Depending on how Judge recovers from his ailing elbow this offseason -- or if he needs surgery -- and Trent Grisham testing free agency, the Yankees need all the defense they can get.

Oct 1, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) reacts after flying out during the third inning against the Boston Red Sox during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Oct 1, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) reacts after flying out during the third inning against the Boston Red Sox during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / © Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Why Yankees should not re-sign Cody Bellinger

The argument for letting Bellinger walk is two-fold. The first is tied to money.

Bellinger is walking away from a player option that would have paid him $25 million. With the very good season he had, Bellinger will look to get $30 million a year with a team. And while he's expressed that he's open to returning to the Yankees, the team will have to look long and hard to see if they are willing to give Bellinger the contract he's looking for.

The other side is the young outfielders the Yankees currently have. Jasson Dominguez is still looked at as a potential everyday outfielder. However, the youngster's inconsistent production, and Bellinger and Grisham's play in 2025 prevented Dominguez from seeing a lot of playing time. How the Yankees handle Bellinger and Grisham (who is also a free agent) in the offseason could keep Dominguez out of the loop. 

There's also prospect Spencer Jones, who seemingly out of nowhere began to be very productive in Double-A before his promotion to Triple-A. With the young slugger on the cusp of a call-up, the number of outfield spots on the Yankees is limited, especially if you bring back Bellinger.

Bellinger is a solid postseason hitter, but it's nothing to write home about. In his seven trips to the postseason, Bellinger has 10 home runs and driven in 37 RBI. He was the NLCS MVP back in 2018 with the Dodgers and was a powerhouse in Los Angeles' World Series run back in 2020 when he launched four bombs. 

But lately, he hasn't gotten the job done. This postseason, Bellinger was 6-for-31 with just one home run and four RBI. At times, it looked like he was incapable of lifting the ball. Whether that had to do with his foot injury is unknown, but he couldn't deliver for the Yankees behind Judge this time around.

 

Oct 1, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) speaks to New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) after the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium.
Oct 1, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) speaks to New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) after the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Verdict

With the Yankees' perpetual win-now mentality, they need to bring in at least one veteran outfielder to pair with Judge. Bellinger's production made him a great No. 2 to the captain, especially when Giancarlo Stanton was on the injured list. His defense saved games and if New York is looking to give Dominguez a real shot, they'll need it to cover up the youngster's deficiencies.

Bellinger also gives the Yankees versatility, being able to play first base when needed. If the Yankees want to bring up Jones to get some time in the big leagues, Bellinger could slide over to first base to allow for that to happen in the outfield.

While this postseason's numbers weren't great, given another shot, Bellinger will likely deliver.

'If You Stick With It, Good Things Will Come': What Easton Cowan Will Remember About His NHL Debut With Maple Leafs

As Easton Cowan skated onto the ice ahead of his NHL debut, the crowd started cheering. Within all the noise, a song blared inside Scotiabank Arena: "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)".

"Yeah, that was definitely special," Cowan smiled. "It was very cool, and I saw all my friends and family, so it meant a lot."

It's been a rather short but quick road to the NHL for Cowan. He was in Junior B with the GOJHL's Komoka Kings in 2021, before joining the OHL's London Knights towards the end of the 2022 season.

Four years later, and after a strong training camp, Cowan skated in his first NHL game, alongside two of Toronto's top players, Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.

"Yeah, it's pretty crazy," Cowan said following Toronto's 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Monday afternoon. "About five years ago, I was playing Junior B, so it just shows if you stick with it and work hard, good things will come. So just going to keep doing that. Felt good today, but back at it tomorrow and hopefully get the two points."

Cowan finished Monday's game with one shot and three hits in 14:05 of ice time. There were plenty of chances created by Cowan, and it seemed like he worked well playing with Knies and Matthews. The rookie even found himself on the ice during a 6-on-5 late in the third period while Toronto was down by a goal.

"I thought he had a great game. He made a lot of good plays with the puck. And he made a good one at six on five, too. So that's why he was out there," said Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube.

"I think it means a lot, the trust he has in me, but I felt good today," added Cowan. "I felt like I created a lot, so it was good to get out there and create a couple more chances there, too, at the end. But those got to go in, and unfortunately, they didn't today."

According to NaturalStatTrick, the Knies, Matthews, and Cowan line had a team-leading 80.33 expected goals-for percentage at five-on-five. Right off the hop, though, Cowan looked like he fit in.

If you didn't know it, you wouldn't think it was his NHL debut.

"I thought he was great. I think he just carries himself with such good confidence in himself in the way he can play and compete," Matthews said. "I thought he played really well tonight. Easy guy to play with. He made plays. Made smart plays with the puck.

"When the simple play was there, to just get the puck deeper or whatnot, I thought he made it, so I thought he was really good tonight."

One moment Cowan will remember most was during warmups when he scanned the crowd and found his old Knights teammates during warmups.

"They had all my old jerseys on, switched around backwards so you could see my name, and just big smiles on their face," Cowan grinned. "It meant a lot that they came all the way here."

Despite not tallying a point in his debut, there's a lot to be excited about with Cowan's game. The fact that he fit seamlessly with Matthews and Knies says what you need to know about the type of player Cowan can be.

This is only the beginning of what's likely a long pro career for the young forward from Strathroy, Ontario.

"I felt good. I felt like a good player. I feel like I generated a lot and didn't give up a lot, so I just keep getting better each and every day. Just keep working on finishing my chances."

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Is Rangers' new head coach 'staring them in the face'?

Danny Rohl and Derek McInnes
[Getty Images]

Rangers' hunt for a new head coach to replace Russell Martin is still ongoing, with more than two candidates on the shortlist after Steven Gerrard withdrew from the process.

But is the solution to their problems "staring them in the face"?

Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl appears to be one of the candidates on the list after he reportedly held talks with the the club's hierarchy last week.

Yet Daily Record sports writer Scott McDermott and former Rangers striker Rory Loy both believe the 36-year-old, who has had spells as an assistant with RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and the German national team, is not the answer for Rangers.

Instead McDermott thinks current Hearts boss Derek McInnes would make a better replacement for the departed Russell Martin, who lasted just 17 games after being appointed in June.

"We know Rangers have spoken to Danny Rohl, they spoke to him before they appointed Russell Martin, so he's obviously been on their radar for a while," McDermott told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Is he the right guy for Rangers? Not for me, not for what Rangers need at the moment.

"He's a very highly rated young coach. Sheffield Wednesday is the only managerial gig so far, but he has worked at a high level with Germany and Bayern Munich.

"In Rangers' situation at the moment, the predicament they find themselves in both in the league but also just historically with lack of success and trophies in the past 10 to 15 years, they need a specific type of manager.

"With all due respect, I'm not sure a 36-year-old coach coming from the English Championship is exactly what they need.

"For me, the answer is staring Rangers in the face. The answer for Rangers is Derek McInnes at the moment."

Loy says there are parallels that can be drawn between Martin and Rohl and feels Rangers fans would want to steer clear of a repeat of the last four months.

But the right person for the job remains unclear to him.

"There are some similarities in that Martin and Rohl have both managed in the English Championship," Loy told the podcast.

"But Barry Bannan saying he's the best coach he's ever worked with, I just don't think Rangers fans want to hear that again.

"It's good for players to be saying that but that's one thing the board said about Russell Martin before appointing him and those words haunted him.

"Rohl and Martins' backgrounds are so similar so you don't need to have experience and understand the club to know that that profile of manager isn't going to work.

"You need a manager that's going to come in, win trophies, have this aura, have this presence first and foremost away from being a coach.

"But who is that? Where do you get him? Can you afford him? And does he want the job?"

Shaikin: Blake Snell replicating what Sandy Koufax achieved for the Dodgers 60 Octobers ago

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13, 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell.
Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell delivers during a 2-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the NLCS at American Family Field on Monday night. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Sixty years ago, the only pitcher with a statue at Dodger Stadium delivered the most dominant postseason performance in franchise history.

Sandy Koufax, meet Blake Snell.

With apologies to Orel Hershiser and his classic run in 1988, the three postseason starts put up by Koufax in 1965 practically mirror the three postseason starts put up by Snell so far in 2025.

Koufax: 24 innings, 13 hits, two runs, five walks, 29 strikeouts.

Snell: 21 innings, six hits, two runs, five walks, 28 strikeouts.

Koufax won the Dodgers a World Series, at a time the World Series was the entire postseason. Hershiser won the Dodgers a World Series at a time the postseason was two rounds.

Read more:Blake Snell gem helps Dodgers overcome double-play chaos in NLCS Game 1 win

For this year’s Dodgers, winning the World Series would require four postseason rounds, which could allow Snell to deliver the most sustained streak of October dominance in the history of a franchise built upon a foundation of pitching.

Snell shut out the Milwaukee Brewers for eight innings on Monday, the undisputed star as the Dodgers opened the National League Championship Series with a 2-1 victory. If the Dodgers win the World Series, Snell figures to have two or three more starts.

If you are a free agent that wants to play in the postseason and measure yourself against the best, as Snell did, you sign with the team that has made the playoffs 13 years running.

“I wanted to be a Dodger and play on that team,” Snell said. “To be here now, it’s a dream come true.

“I couldn’t wish for anything more. I’m just going to do the best I can to help us win a World Series.”

There was only one thing Snell failed to do Monday, and the failure was on the Dodgers, not on him. The failure very nearly cost the Dodgers the game.

Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles Dodgers southpaw pitcher, is seen in action.
Sandy Koufax pitches for the Dodgers in Game 2 of the 1965 World Series against the Minnesota Twins. (Associated Press)

In the 1965 postseason, Koufax pitched two complete games. In 1988, Hershiser pitched three.

Snell could have pitched one Monday. He could have pitched the ninth, he said, but he trusted his manager to make the call.

He is a victim of the modern game. The Dodgers had no complete games this season. In 222 regular season starts, Snell has one — and he had to throw a no-hitter to do it.

On Monday, he faced the minimum 24 batters over eight innings, giving up one hit and then picking off the runner. The last pitcher to face the minimum over eight innings of a postseason game: Don Larsen of the New York Yankees, in his 1956 perfect game.

Pat Murphy, the Brewers’ manager, called Snell’s outing “the most dominant performance against us” in the 10 years he has coached or managed here.

Milwaukee scored more runs than any NL team besides the Dodgers.

The Brewers are terrific at putting the ball in play — only two NL teams struck out fewer times than Milwaukee — and yet Snell struck out 10. His other 23 outs: 11 ground balls, a fly ball, a foul out, and that pickoff.

No other Dodgers pitcher — not Koufax, not Hershiser, not Clayton Kershaw — has pitched at least eight innings and given up one hit or fewer in a postseason game.

“We’ve all known this: Blake, when he’s right, is the best pitcher in the game,” Kershaw said. “It’s pretty fun to watch.”

Snell had made 103 pitches through eight innings. His season high was 112. The Dodgers led, 2-0, with the bottom of the Brewers order coming up.

“Tough one for me,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Snell had not pitched into the ninth inning since that no-hitter 14 months ago. The Dodgers plan to use him on regular rest in Game 5 of this series. Roberts summoned the closer of the moment, Roki Sasaki.

“I thought it was 50-50,” Roberts said. “Roki has been throwing the ball really well.”

Read more:It took some luck, but good things finally happen to Dodgers' Blake Treinen

Sasaki faced five batters, retired two, and gave up one run. Blake Treinen picked up the save, and so Snell recorded the win.

The rap that has dogged Snell throughout his career: peerless stuff with erratic control, leading to him too often making 90 to 100 pitches in five innings rather than seven or eight. In 2023, the season in which he won his second Cy Young award, he led the NL in walks.

In the nine regular-season starts since the Dodgers activated him from the injured list in August, Snell made two starts of five innings and 90 pitches. In the other seven starts, he posted a 1.28 earned-run average.

In his past six starts, postseason included, he has pitched at least six innings each time. His record: 5-0, with a 0.68 ERA.

“My last three years, I’ve been pretty consistent,” Snell said, “and I could throw the ball, do what I want with the ball.

Read more:Hernández: Dodgers' Game 1 NLCS win shows financial might can make things right

“But the narrative has always been, ‘He’s a wild pitcher, he walks a lot of guys.’ I laugh at it because I know it’s not true. I know that because I’m the one throwing the ball.”

He is throwing the ball as well as he ever has, on the biggest stage, where Dodgers legends are made.

“Postseason, if you dominate and you do great,” Snell said, “no one can say anything.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Sporticast 491: Penn State’s Rapid Descent From White Out to Buyout

On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including Penn State’s decision to fire football coach James Franklin after the Nittany Lions lost two games in which they were heavy favorites. Penn State will reportedly owe Franklin a buyout of roughly …

Brandin Podziemski aims to become household name, long-term leader for Warriors

Brandin Podziemski aims to become household name, long-term leader for Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Brandin Podziemski is entering his third NBA season determined to make an even bigger impact for the Warriors.

In an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke on “Dubs Talk,” the 22-year-old guard reflected on his growth and how he is preparing to take another step forward — potentially into a full-time starting role.

“Yeah, I think so,” Podziemski said when asked if he’s making a case to start. “I think selfishly, everybody wants to be a starter, but it comes down to what’s best for the team at that moment and in that game, so I think I work and prepare and do those things in the summer to showcase that I am a starter and that I belong and that I can be a household name for the Warriors, and that’s always my goal and what I look forward to. But like I said, the team comes first. Whatever Steve [Kerr] and the team thinks is best is what we do and that’s what I’ve been ok with.”

Podziemski appeared in 64 regular-season games last season, starting 33 of them, and averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 37.2 percent from 3-point range. He also started 10 of 11 playoff games despite playing through an injury, showing poise well beyond his years.

The 2023 first-round draft pick knows earning that starting spot means complementing the Warriors’ biggest star: Steph Curry. Playing alongside the 16-year veteran requires constant motion and chemistry — two things Podziemski believes he steadily has mastered.

“I think a lot of people make it a lot more complicated than it is,” Podziemski said about learning to play with Curry. “It’s a unique thing, he is a unique player that kind of runs around the floor, so it’s a little bit unique, but once you get the hang of it, like anything, the more you do something the easier it becomes, so I think I’ve developed a great connection with him, with Jimmy [Butler], with Draymond [Green], so I think I fit perfectly for that spot next to him.”

Podziemski spent his first two seasons learning from Curry and Green, players whose leadership defines the franchise. He even hopes to one day help carry that torch when they retire — though for now, he’s content to learn from the ones still holding it.

“Obviously, like I said, it comes down to whatever they think too, so I’m just ready for whatever is presented and given my way,” Podziemski added.

That mindset — trusting the process and staying ready for whatever’s presented — has defined Podziemski’s rise so far, and it might just carry him into a permanent role.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Brandin Podziemski shares crucial lesson learned from Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler

Brandin Podziemski shares crucial lesson learned from Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Brandin Podziemski isn’t wasting his opportunity to pick the brains of a pair of the NBA’s best players of their generation.

With Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler serving as invaluable resources for the 22-year-old guard, Podziemski is seeking to take a leaf from the All-Star duo’s career longevity.

During an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke on “Dubs Talk,” Podziemski explained how much he admires Curry and Butler’s ability to play a high number of games at an elite level despite being in their late 30s.

“I’ve looked at both Steph and Jimmy in particular, and how year after year, they’re able to play 65-plus games being at the age they are, and doing it at the usage and high level they’re doing it at. I’ve definitely asked my fair share of questions to both of things in the offseason, things in-season they do to help them stay healthy.

“I think another goal of mine is just, ‘How can I play 75-plus games?’ Obviously, the first year I think it was 74, this year I think it was in the 60s, so how can I try and get up to that 80-mark this year and be there present for all the games.”

Curry has played at least 70 games in each of the last two seasons, despite turning 35 and 36 in each respective campaign.

Butler appeared in 29 of a possible 30 regular-season games for Golden State after being acquired at the trade deadline, with his availability sparking an incredible run that launched the Warriors into the postseason where they were able to upset the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed Houston Rockets.

Podziemski recently stated his desire to earn the trust of becoming a franchise cornerstone once Golden State’s older core decides to hang it up, and learning how to make himself as available as possible for the marathon that is the NBA season could prove to be invaluable in the pursuit of his lofty goal.

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It took some luck, but good things finally happen to Dodgers' Blake Treinen

Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen reacts after striking out Brice Turang for the final out of the Dodgers' 2-1 win.
Blake Treinen reacts after striking out Brice Turang for the final out of the Dodgers' 2-1 win. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Blake Treinen’s first save of the postseason was hardly a memorable performance.

He threw more balls than strikes. He walked the first batter he faced and nearly hit the second. And he got the final out on a pitch that was well out of the strike zone.

But he did get the final out, preserving the Dodgers' 2-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the opening game of the National League Championship Series on Monday.

And for Treinen and the bullpen he’s supposed to be anchoring, that counts as major progress.

“We've been putting in a lot of work to try to get some things in a better place with myself,” Treinen said. “Today, I thought I executed almost every pitch.”

The fixes, he said, were simple mechanical tweaks that helped set up his pitches.

“Sometimes through catch-play and touching the mound a little bit, things start to click. And you’re kind of shocked at how a subtle tweak can change everything,” he said.

Read more:Blake Snell gem helps Dodgers overcome double-play chaos in NLCS Game 1 win

In the Dodgers’ World Series run last season, Treinen was as vicious as an ill-tempered Doberman, going 2-0 with three saves, a 2.19 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings.

This year, not so much. In his first four playoff appearances more batters got a hit than struck out and five of the 12 men he faced reached base. That followed a disastrous September in which he went 1-5 with a 9.64 ERA.

He wasn’t so much putting out fires as he was starting them. The poor performances began to build on one another.

“At times this year, when it hasn't gone well, th[ings] can speed up a little bit in your mind,” he said. “That's the hard part, to carry the thoughts and focus on what you're good at.”

But manager Dave Roberts, who has had Treinen for the last five seasons, kept giving him chances to turn things around.

“I think the best way to for me to kind of view it is whether you're a position player slumping or a pitcher maybe not getting the outs at the clip that you want, we all know what our abilities are,” Treinen said. “Dave’s seen me at my best and at my worst, and so when he calls my name, I'm grateful that he has confidence in me.

“And I have confidence that he's putting me in situations for the team to win. So there's a lot of peace in that.”

Treinen may have been at peace but he didn’t have much wiggle room when he replaced Roki Sasaki on the mound Monday with two out in the ninth and the Dodgers clinging to a one-run lead.

Sasaki, the team’s surprise playoff closer, had been lights out in the postseason, with just one of the 17 hitters he faced reaching base. Against the Brewers, he gave up two walks, a ground-rule double and a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the span of two outs. When Treinen entered, Milwaukee had the tying run on first and the winning run on third — and the right-hander immediately made things worse by walking William Contreras on six pitches to load the bases.

Treinen quickly got ahead of Brice Turang, the Brewers’ left-handed cleanup hitter, but courted disaster again when he sailed a 1-2 sweeper that nearly hit Turang. That would have forced in the tying run had Turang not instinctively danced out of the way, eliciting a groan from the sold-out crowd.

“It’s a natural reaction,” Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said. “When the ball is coming towards you, it’s a breaking ball, your natural reaction is to do that.

Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki delivers in the ninth inning against the Brewers in NLCS Game 1 on Monday.
Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki delivers in the ninth inning against the Brewers in NLCS Game 1 on Monday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

“It happens. He’ll learn from that situation. But it’s hard.”

For Treinen, whose only luck lately has been bad luck, the break was one he quickly cashed by getting Turang to chase the next pitch, which was head high, to end the game.

That swing brought equal measures of joy and relief for Treinen, who has supplied little of either for the Dodgers this postseason. This time, he said it felt good to finally be able to contribute.

“Our guys have been playing great baseball,” he said. “Our bats are doing a great job. Our starters have been amazing. So [I’m] just doing my job to finish the game.”

He also did his job in picking up Sasaki, the hero of the NL Division Series win over the Phillies, who stood to be the goat if the Dodgers lost Monday.

Read more:Hernández: Dodgers' Game 1 NLCS win shows financial might can make things right

“Any time as a professional, when you have the ability to pick up your teammates, there's a lot of pride in it,” Treinen said. “You just want to do your part because it's a team game.

“I've certainly had guys pick me up this year. To have the opportunity to pick someone else up, it feels good.”

And it’s been a long time since Treinen has felt that.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Snell spectacular and Dodgers barely hold on in 9th to beat Brewers 2-1 in NLCS opener

MILWAUKEE — Blake Snell allowed one baserunner in eight shutout innings before Los Angeles' bullpen barely held on in the ninth as the Dodgers opened the National League Championship Series with a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night.

Blake Treinen struck out Brice Turang with the bases loaded to end the game.

The Dodgers led 2-0 when they handed the ball to Roki Sasaki in the ninth after Snell had thrown 103 pitches. Sasaki had worked 5 1/3 scoreless innings while adjusting to a bullpen role in the NL Division Series against Philadelphia, but he wasn't nearly as sharp Monday.

Isaac Collins drew a one-out walk and Jake Bauers hit a ground-rule double that bounced over the center-field wall. Jackson Chourio hit a sacrifice fly that scored Collins and advanced pinch-runner Brandon Lockridge to third. Christian Yelich walked on a 3-2 pitch low and outside.

That's when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts removed Sasaki and brought in Treinen.

Yelich stole second to move the potential winning run into scoring position before William Contreras walked on a 3-2 pitch low and outside. After Treinen nearly hit Turang with a pitch - which would have tied the game - Turang struck out swinging at a neck-high 2-2 fastball.

Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Tuesday night, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitching for Los Angeles and Freddy Peralta starting for Milwaukee in a matchup of All-Stars.

This NLCS is a study in contrasts, with the Brewers playing in MLB’s smallest market while the defending World Series champion Dodgers have the most expensive roster in the game.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy referenced the difference in star power between the two teams by joking during his pregame news conference that “I’m sure that most Dodger players can’t name eight guys on our roster.”

Even so, the Brewers had swept their six regular-season matchups with the Dodgers. All those games came in July, while Snell was on the injured list with shoulder inflammation.

Snell showed Monday how much of a difference he can make. The two-time Cy Young Award winner struck out 10 while walking nobody and allowing only one hit - a leadoff single by Caleb Durbin in the third.

Freddie Freeman broke a scoreless tie with a solo homer in the sixth. Freeman's drive came after the Brewers thwarted a couple of Los Angeles opportunities, most notably on a bizarre 8-6-2 double play that was inches away from becoming a Max Muncy grand slam.

Freeman connected on a 3-2 pitch from Chad Patrick and delivered a shot so high that it got tantalizingly close to the American Family Field roof before barely clearing the right-field wall for his first homer of this postseason.

Patrick was coming off an outstanding NL Division Series in which he struck out six and allowed no baserunners over 4 2/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs.

The Dodgers added what ended up being an essential insurance run in the ninth when Mookie Betts drew a bases-loaded walk from Abner Uribe on a 3-2 pitch outside.

Milwaukee stayed close because of Los Angeles' missed opportunities. The most obvious example came in the fourth, when the Brewers produced one of the strangest double plays in postseason history.

The bases were loaded when Muncy sent a drive off Quinn Priester that was headed out of the ballpark before Milwaukee’s Sal Frelick reached his glove over the center-field wall. The ball popped out of Frelick’s glove and hit the top of the fence before he caught it in the air.

Los Angeles' runners had headed back to their original bases, believing Frelick had made the catch cleanly. Frelick threw to shortstop Joey Ortiz, who threw to catcher William Contreras to force Teoscar Hernández out at home. Contreras then jogged to third to force out Will Smith, too.

Los Angeles also had runners on first and second with one out in the fifth before Betts grounded into a double play. The Dodgers left runners on first and second after Freeman’s homer in the sixth. Freeman hit a one-out double in the eighth but was stranded at third when Tommy Edman struck out swinging against Trevor Megill.

4 Early Trade Candidates For The Penguins

With a few players on injured reserve and some young prospects making some pretty solid cases to stick around for good, the Pittsburgh Penguins will have some tough roster decisions to make in the coming days and weeks.

GM and POHO Kyle Dubas made it clear before the start of training camp that the team would deal with the "ripple effects" with veterans if youth made a true push for the NHL roster. Now that it's happening in real time, what can the organization do about it?

Of course, waivers are an option, and the Penguins were already unafraid to explore that option when they waived veteran defenseman Ryan Graves. But another viable option could be an early-season trade market for some of their role players.

It's unlikely that one of their "big three" trade candidates - Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and Erik Karlsson - will be shipped out early one in hopes of better return packages at the trade deadline for their best assets. But that doesn't mean a smaller trade cannot occur early, as it did last season when Lars Eller was traded to the Washington Capitals in November.

With that in mind, here are some players folks can, maybe, keep an eye on.


Blake Lizotte

Lizotte, 27, has proven to be a perfectly serviceable - and effective - fourth-line center for the Penguins since the beginning of the 2024-25 season. He signed a two-year deal last summer, and he registered 11 goals and 20 points in 59 games last season, which was a career-best pace.

The 5-foot-9, 176-pound forward may be a bit undersized, but he hardly plays like it. He is relentless on the forecheck, uses his speed, drives the net, and doesn't shy away from contact. Lizotte would be a perfectly solid addition to any contending team's bottom-six, even just to shore up some depth. 

And - in case anyone forgot - there was a brief period last season when he saw a stint as the team's third-line center, and he registered five goals and nine points in nine games. Lizotte is capable of elevating the offensive side of his game in the right environment, which is a valuable trait when considering his defensive contributions.

Lizotte is - likely - one of the easiest players for the Penguins to trade, and it might just make some sense for them to both get a passable return and make way for a younger prospect.

'The Young Guys Are Coming': 3 Observations From Dubas's Pre-Season Press Conference'The Young Guys Are Coming': 3 Observations From Dubas's Pre-Season Press ConferenceOn Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins opened their 2025 training camp with a few words from general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas. 

Ryan Shea

To some degree, an argument could be made here for Connor Clifton or Caleb Jones, too. However, Jones's two-year contract may make it a bit more difficult to deal him, and Clifton's $3.3 million contract may hinder any trade without retention.

On the surface, dealing Shea may not make too much sense. If he is dealt, the Penguins would only have two actual left-side defensemen on their roster in Parker Wotherspoon and Jones. Although it's not an ideal situation, both Clifton and Matt Dumba have experience playing the off-side, and they could also recall prospect Owen Pickering

Even if Shea, 28, may only be a seventh defenseman on other NHL teams, he is still a solid depth piece at a low cap hit of $900,000 for just this season. He should be able to be part of a player-for-player swap relatively easily, should the Penguins entertain it.

WBS Penguins Start Strong, Take Both Games Of Weekend SwingWBS Penguins Start Strong, Take Both Games Of Weekend SwingThe Pittsburgh Penguins are off to a 2-1 start this season, and they have played a bit better than most had expected up to this point. 

Connor Dewar

Dewar was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs - along with blueliner Conor Timmins, who was dealt to the Buffalo Sabres this summer - just prior to the 2025 trade deadline. And, since his acquisition, he has been a really solid fourth-line player for the Penguins.

He had four goals and seven points in just 17 games with the Penguins last season after putting up just three points in 31 games with the Leafs prior to the deadline. He had a great pre-season and has already registered a point in the first three games, and his defensive conscience as well as the energy he brings could probably help fill out another roster's depth.

Dewar - like Lizotte - is a perfectly fine player to keep around, should the Penguins choose. He has been a good player for the Penguins in his tenure. But he's also the exact kind of player who is blocking a younger, higher-upside prospect from the roster.

Two Injured Penguins Players Going On California TripTwo Injured Penguins Players Going On California TripThe Pittsburgh Penguins will have a couple of their injured players with them this week in California.

Tommy Novak

Up to this point, Novak has only played in five games for the Penguins, as he was injured after playing just two games for Pittsburgh following his acquisition from the Nashville Predators at the deadline. 

As is the case with the other players on this list, Novak has been serviceable in those five games. Sure, he plays a bit on the perimeter, and yes, he could be less shy about taking contact. But the 6-foot-1 center has barely had any runway to develop chemistry with any of his new teammates, and he has a track record of being a solid bottom-six player in Nashville with 49 goals and 117 points in 201 games there. He has also displayed some chemistry with youngster Ben Kindel.

But, again, should his roster spot be filled by someone like Tristan Broz or Avery Hayes, who are six years younger and may be part of the Penguins' future plans? The argument can be made that the Penguins should hold off a bit on Novak to see if he can build some trade value.

But, once again, if the Penguins are serious about a youth movement, they need to consider all options for helping that come to fruition for deserving players, even if that means shipping off someone like Novak a tad bit prematurely.

It's Only Been Three Games. But Kindel And Brunicke Should Be In Pittsburgh To Stay.It's Only Been Three Games. But Kindel And Brunicke Should Be In Pittsburgh To Stay.Going into Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp this season, it's safe to say that most folks did not have 2025 11th overall pick Ben Kindel making the NHL roster out of the gate.

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Observations From Blues' 5-2 Win Vs. Canucks To Sweep Pair On Road

It was a clean sweep of a brief Western Canada road trip for the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues followed up a second win in as many games after opening at home last Thursday with a solid 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on Monday.

Jimmy Snuggerud scored his first two goals of the season and first multigoal game in the NHL; Brayden Schenn had a goal and an assist; Nick Bjugstad scored his first goal as a Blue; Jake Neighbours scored his team-leading third this season and Jordan Binnington rebounded from allowing five goals on 21 shots in the opener against the Minnesota Wild to finish with 27 saves for his first win.

Let's break down the observations and key points to this victory that sends the Blues to 2-1-0 on the season:

* Snuggerud has arrived -- You've just kind of been waiting for Snuggerud to crack the net at some point and he did so in a big way in this game.

In the first two games, the rookie started on a line with Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich before getting flipped with Neighbours, but this time, coach Jim Montgomery started Snuggerud on a line with Pius Suter, playing against the Canucks for the first time since signing with the Blues on July 2, and with Mathieu Joseph and I thought that trio played fantastic in this game.

Each brings something different and unique to the line and it seemed to blend well together.

All three touched the puck on Snuggerud's first goal to put them ahead 1-0 at 8:48 of the first period that happened after a turnover by the Canucks in the offensive zone and quick transition, started by Cam Fowler cross ice to Snuggerud into the zone on the right. Snuggerud has his head up seeing Suter going to the net and just missed the tip in off the pass, but he never gave up on the play, and when Joseph retrieved the puck and shot it in one quick motion, Suter got a stick on it with a touch pass to Snuggerud, who quickly wired a wrister short side on Kevin Lankinen, who the Blues beat for the first time in regulation in five games (3-1-1):

That line had jump all night with Joseph buzzing around, Suter playing his typical responsible game at both ends of the ice and Snuggerud led all players in this game with six shots on goal. That line combined for 10 shots on goal of the Blues' 35 and had 17 attempts.

This is a line Montgomery is likely to stick with moving forward for the time being and should.

* Transition game was crucial -- Montgomery has not been secretive about wanting the Blues to get up and down the ice in five-man units.

The Snuggerud goal started it, but they also got two other transition goals, one from Schenn at 2:10 of the second period for a 2-0 lead and one from Bjugstad at 13:45 for a 4-2 lead.

On the Schenn goal, it started with Logan Mailloux's check in the D-zone that initially freed up the puck for Philip Broberg's beautiful stretch pass to Jordan Kyrou, who didn't try to force a play and instead was patient in waiting for Schenn to fill the slot. Despite Kyrou's pass getting deflected a bit by Drew O'Connor, but Schenn deposited his first into the top of the net:

But the Blues are getting these pucks and going, just like they did on Bjugstad's goal when the Canucks put the puck into a crowded crease that Bjugstad picked up and was off to the races getting it to Alexander Texier. Texier was also patient despite moving it up ice quick, but the key was Bjugstad's middle lane drive that opened up Nathan Walker coming down the interior of the slot and his one-timer got a piece of Bjugstad on the way in:

* Blues had proper answers -- When the Blues would go up by two goals in this game, the Canucks would cut a 2-0 lead and 3-1 lead down to one on each occasion.

The second could have been deflating when Kiefer Sherwood's second of the game came off a mistake/fumbled puck on the power play that turned into a breakaway goal at 12:12 of the second period.

But on each occasion, Snuggerud's second goal, a power-play goal, being the first at 8:13 of the second, and Bjugstad's goal, the Blues responded quickly. Snuggerud's was 1:40 after Sherwood made it 2-1 and Bjugstad's came 1:33 after the Sherwood shorty.

* Change on D looked noticeable -- To start the season, Broberg was paired with his usual partner, Justin Faulk, and Tyler Tucker had been playing with Mailloux. But Montgomery flipped Broberg and Tucker and gave Faulk someone that's more meat and potatoes, and the Broberg-Mailloux pair has more ability to skate freely, and with Mailloux being the bigger of the two, he looked more in control and not out of sorts in this game.

* Bottom six pulled its weight -- Not only was the Joseph-Suter-Snuggerud line solid, so was the Texier-Bjugstad-Walker like. It played roughly 10 minutes in this game, but the three were out there much more in the third period that they were on Saturday in the 4-2 win against the Calgary Flames. They protected pucks, cycled it and didn't give Vancouver any momentum when on the ice. Their last shift was the perfect example of, despite the game well in hand after Neighbours iced it with an empty-netter at 17:47, strong usage of possession and cycle.

* Thomas, Schenn set up power play goal -- The Canucks had been a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty kill this season, one of five teams entering Monday to not allow a power-play goal. But on Snuggerud's goal that made it 3-1, when Fowler gets the puck in deep, it was Thomas' initial forecheck, then Schenn's that separated Tyler Myers from the puck, and Buchnevichgot it to the net quickly and Snuggerud was there for the finish:

Perfectly executed, something that looks great at 5-on-5, but to see it with the man advantage is going to look great on video for the coaches to show the players.

* Fowler-Parayko shut down Canucks top line -- We focus so much on the offensive side of things, but it has to be noted that when Fowler and Colton Parayko were on the ice, the Vancouver top line of Jake DeBrusk-Elias Pettersson-Brock Boeser was virtually non-existent.

Parayko, who had five shots on goal and three blocks playing 21:21, and Fowler (20:50) with three shots on goal and eight attempts, limited the Canucks top line to four shots on goal, no points and a combined minus-4.

* Binnington bounced back -- I thought Binnington looked sharp in this game. You can tell when he's challenging shooters and at the tops of his crease, he's locked into the game, and as we mentioned for his preseason games, when he makes hard saves look easy, he's in for a good night.

* Hear Montgomery, Snuggerud and Schenn postgame: