MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games – Page 8

October 6, 2025

Phillies have nothing left to lose going to Los Angeles in NLDS

Phillies have nothing left to lose going to Los Angeles in NLDS originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

A broken bat roller in the seventh inning just to the right of the pitching mound was almost fittingly the biggest batted ball of the evening for the Phillies Monday night. Game 2 of the NLDS was a steamy pitching duel between Jesús Luzardo and Blake Snell.

More hits were to be had by the Dodgers and Phillies, but that broken-bat play broke the seal for the Los Angeles as they went on to a 4-3 win to go up 2-0 in this NLDS. Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers batted around in the seventh inning, after Teoscar Hernandez chased Jesús Luzardo for a single and Freddie Freeman’s double. It was only the second and third hits given up on the night by Luzardo, who certainly deserved a better fate—just like Cristopher Sánchez did in Game 1.

Orion Kerkering replaced Luzardo and, after striking out Tommy Edman, sawed off Kike Hernandez with a 97 MPH sinker. Trea Turner charged and threw home, but the throw was to the first base side and J.T. Realmuto’s tag was late. The Dodgers grabbed a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

At the time, it was just a run. And even when Kerkering walked the bases loaded with two outs, he was about to face the nine-hole hitter and able to see his way out of a big inning. But pinch-hitter Will Smith lined a first-pitch single to left-center for two more runs and Shohei Ohtani singled in another.

The excitement in Citizens Bank Park deflated like a day-old helium balloon.

The Phillies got the thrill in the air again in the ninth inning by scoring a couple of runs on a two-RBI double by Nick Castellanos, but a failed sacrifice bunt, a fielder’s choice and a groundout by Turner ended the game. Another game closer to ending the series. The Phillies are now 3-7 in their last 10 home playoff games.

And that’s been the problem in these first two games of this series, the Phillies just don’t seem to have enough air to breathe some life back into themselves when they get down. The top of the order, or any part of the order for that matter, can’t come up with big hits.

The relievers haven’t come close to being shut down ones and there has been little hope and whole lot of disappointment, like in the sixth inning Monday, when Bryce Harper stepped to the plate with runners on first and second and one out against Blake. It seemed so ripe for it to be a Harper moment, for him to generate some much-needed electricity through his team. Instead, he struck out swinging on a nasty slider from Blake.

“We’d like those guys (at the top of the order) to be swinging the bats, but I do like what we’re doing at the bottom part of the order,” said Rob Thomson. “Snell was good again today. I thought our bats were better against him tonight than they were in L.A. I don’t think we got out of the zone as much as we did in L.A. You have to have confidence that those guys will get it going.

“I think those guys are trying to do a little bit too much right now. Instead of just being themselves and looking for base hits and the power will come.”

The two biggest surprises from the Phillies thus far are these: That without Zack Wheeler their starting pitching is still the biggest strength of this team and that this veteran-laden lineup struggles so mightily of late come playoff time.

“I’ll have a little meeting with them on Wednesday,” said Thomson. “I love the fight in the eighth and ninth inning. We fought like hell and hopefully that carries over into Wednesday. But this is a resilient group, our backs are against the wall. Just got to come out fighting.”

Fighting is a given. They are not going to give up on at-bats, nor fail to hustle after batted balls. They just don’t seem to land the punches enough when there seems to be openings to do so, which granted, have been few and far between. And it certainly doesn’t help that Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Harper are a combined 2-for-21 in this series.

Sure, the Phillies have faced two terrific starters in this series in Ohtani and Snell. But the Dodgers have also faced Sánchez and Luzardo and have figured out answers with timely hitting being chief among them. They also figured out a way to solve their biggest problem, which was their bullpen, by using back-end starters like Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki in Game One and Emmet Sheehan in Game Two. While Thomson flirted with using Ranger Suarez in these games and maybe even Aaron Nola, the proper situation, to him, never came about and now he finds his team in the deepest of holes.

Nola now becomes the Game Three starter, Thomson announced after the game, with Suarez ready to piggy-back if needed. Thomson again professed his trust in Nola, and now he’ll make his biggest start of the season.

“I’m going to compete as best as I can,” Nola said. “Going into L.A, we got to, obviously, got to get a win and take it inning by inning and pitch for pitch. You have to take it one game at a time. You can’t get three wins in game three, right. So, you got to take it one game at a time.

“I’ve been feeling pretty good lately and my body’s all healthy. I think it’s (the ball) coming out pretty well. So, keep that going and hopefully have a good start.”

It’s not time to write the obituary on this season just yet, or maybe even this era. But you also have to wonder how much of this core group is going to be returning as Suarez, Realmuto and Schwarber will all be free agents after the season.

Perhaps it won’t be just an end to a season with their next loss to the Dodgers, it just might be the end of an era. One that certainly doesn’t appear to be going out with a bang, if that is the case.

Not due to any fault of Luzardo, who allowed just three hits during his six innings. Consider that during his time in the game, the Phillies didn’t get their first hit off Snell until he threw his 72nd pitch with two outs in the fifth inning and Edmundo Sosa blooped it to center for a single.

And when a big hit was needed, again, in the ninth, the Phillies just couldn’t find it after Castellanos’ double. That put him on second with nobody out and his team trailing 4-3. He was then thrown out at third when Stott’s bunt was controlled perfectly by the Dodgers on a wheel play. Harrison Bader then singled to put runners at first and second with one out, but neither Max Kepler nor Turner could drive in anything and the Phillies now go to Los Angeles on the thinnest of ice.

October 6, 2025

Luzardo's effort buried by Phillies' silenced bats in Game 2

Luzardo's effort buried by Phillies' silenced bats in Game 2 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Jesús Luzardo gave the Phillies everything he had.

They came into Monday needing nine complete innings on both sides of the baseball. Luzardo did his part.

Making his first start in 12 days, the first-year Phillie looked completely unfazed. The lefty followed up a 32-start, double-digit win regular season with one of the sharpest outings of his 2025 campaign — and easily his best on the postseason stage.

That hadn’t always been the case. As a rookie with the Athletics, Luzardo threw three scoreless innings out of the bullpen in the 2019 AL Wild Card Game against Tampa Bay. But since then, his postseason record had been rough: three starts, 11 ⅔ innings, and 10 earned runs — including a loss at Citizens Bank Park in 2023.

He cleaned that slate almost entirely.

After a 24-pitch first inning, Luzardo locked in. His next five frames were flawless — 48 pitches, no hits, no walks and four strikeouts. He retired 17 straight Dodgers, the second-longest streak in franchise postseason history.

“The first was bumpier than expected,” Luzardo said. “But after we got out of that, it felt pretty smooth. Me and J.T. had a good mix, kept guys off balance, used a good amount of offspeed and fastballs in certain counts. Keeping them off balance was the key.”

The only issue? Blake Snell was just as dominant.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning. By the time his night was over, Snell had tossed six one-hit innings with nine strikeouts, generating 23 whiffs — the second most by a Dodgers left-handed pitcher in a playoff game during the Pitch-Tracking Era (2008).

“I thought our at-bats were better tonight than they were in L.A. [against Snell three weeks ago],” Rob Thomson said. “We didn’t chase as much. But Snell was really good again. We just have to keep grinding — those guys will get it going.”

And it was only a matter of time before Los Angeles’ lineup broke through.

With just 72 pitches, Luzardo returned for the seventh. Teoscar Hernández, who’s been unconscious this postseason, lined a leadoff single. Then Freddie Freeman did what Freddie Freeman does — lacing a double down the right-field line to move Hernández to third.

Rob Thomson made the walk to get his starter.

“I mean, he retired 17 in a row,” Thomson said. “He had 72 pitches and was pitching great. You’d be asking me why I took him out [before the seventh] if I did.”

Orion Kerkering entered in a tough situation — second and third, no outs. He struck out the first batter he faced, but a broken-bat Enrique Hernández grounder brought home a run. Then Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pressed the right button again.

Will Smith came off the bench and delivered a two-run single. Shohei Ohtani followed with an RBI knock off Matt Strahm to make it 4–0 Dodgers.

Two of the runs were charged to Luzardo, who left to a standing ovation from over 45,000 fans. His line — six-plus innings, three hits, five strikeouts — hardly tells the story.

“He was really fantastic,” Thomson said. “He was about 70 percent strikes. The slider was good, the changeup was good, the fastball had life. He battled and then just rolled from there.”

Bryce Harper liked what he saw from the southpaw, as well. “Yeah, I thought he did a good job mixing it up on both sides of the plate,” Harper said. “He’s been like that for us all year long — threw the ball really well tonight. We just didn’t get it done for him.”

In the end, his outing will be remembered only as the one that got away.

The Phillies scraped together a run in the eighth and two in the ninth but couldn’t complete the comeback, falling 4-3 and heading to Los Angeles down 0-2 in the series.

“I thought we fought like hell in the eighth and ninth,” Thomson said. “Hopefully that carries over. Our backs are against the wall, and we’ve got to come out fighting.”

Luzardo expressed that same mindset. “Obviously you never want to go down 0–2,” he said. “But this is a really resilient and scrappy team. We’ve got a lot of faith in everybody in this clubhouse. Wednesday’s a new game, and we just have to go out and take it inning by inning.”

Without run support, even the best pitching performances can vanish. Luzardo deserved better — and now, the Phillies need answers fast.

October 6, 2025

Brett Berard Sent Down To AHL, Noah Laba Likely To Make Rangers' Roster

The New York Rangers have sent Brett Berard down to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.

This means that for all intents and purposes, Noah Laba will make the Rangers’ opening-night roster.

Berard was a standout at training camp for the Rangers last year, and it wasn’t long before he made his way up to the NHL.

The 23-year-old forward played 35 games for the Rangers during the 2024-25 campaign. He recorded six goals, four assists, and ten points while averaging 10:43 minutes.

Similar to last year, Berard was one of the last players sent down by the Rangers before the end of training.

Despite not necessarily playing badly, there simply weren’t an abundance of spots for Berard to grasp onto, and it appears as if the Rangers’ brass felt it was best for him to start the year in the AHL.

Now, Berard will likely play a top-line role in Hartford and will be one of the top offensive threats for the Wolf Pack to open up the 2025-26 season.

You may have been surprised if you heard Laba would have cracked the Rangers’ opening-night roster a few weeks ago, but it’s not a surprise anymore.

Laba’s play was the biggest storyline of training camp and deservingly so as he continued to turn heads around the Rangers organization.

The Rangers selected Laba in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft and he joined the Wolf Pack after signing an entry-level contract with the Blueshirts in March.

Rangers Sign Conor Sheary To A One-Year, Two-Way Contract The New York Rangers have signed Conor Sheary to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal is worth the league minimum.

The 22-year-old forward played three seasons at Colorado College before signing with the Rangers, and the wide expectation is that he would continue his development path in the AHL.

However, Laba exceeded expectations throughout training camp and the preseason until he made it impossible for the Rangers to send him down.

In six preseason games, Laba tallied two goals, four assists, and six points.

He’ll likely play on New York’s third line alongside Conor Sheary and Taylor Raddysh for the Rangers’ opening-night game on Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

October 6, 2025October 7, 2025

McAllister says 'never say never' on Rangers return

Steven Gerrard and Gary McAllister were Liverpool team-mates before joining Rangers [SNS]

Former Rangers assistant manager Gary McAllister has said "never say never" on the possibility of a return to Ibrox with Steven Gerrard.

McAllister assisted manager Gerrard at Ibrox between 2018 and 2021, when they joined Aston Villa. The move south came a few months after Rangers won the Scottish Premiership.

When asked about Gerrard perhaps going back to Rangers, McAllister told Sky Sports: "We had a wonderful time there. We really enjoyed our time there. Steven did an amazing job to get that 55th title.

"He's always going to be linked with Glasgow Rangers, he loved his time up there.

"You never know what can happen."

When pressed on whether he would accept an invitation to return with Gerrard, McAllister replied: "You never say never, do you?"

October 6, 2025

Tigers at Mariners ALDS Game 3 prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats

The scene shifts to Motown Tuesday for Game 3 of the American League Division series between the Seattle Mariners and the Detroit Tigers. With the series tied at one game apiece, Logan Gilbert of Seattle will take the mound opposite Detroit's Jack Flaherty.

Each of the first two games has been decided by a single run. Detroit won the opener 3-2 but Seattle rebounded and took Game 2 by that same score. Tarik Skubal allowed a couple of runs over seven innings and struck out nine, but Seattle got to the Tigers' bullpen for a run in the bottom of the eighth to break a 2-2 tie and even the series at a game apiece. Jorge Polanco went 3-4 and drove in a pair of runs to pace the attack for Seattle.

Jack Flaherty was better than good in his start in Game 3 of the Tigers' Wild Card series against Cleveland. He lasted only 4.2 innings but allowed just one run on three hits. In five September starts, Logan Gilbert never allowed more than two runs and pitched at least five innings in four of those five outings.

Its Game 3 of the ALDS. Lets dive into the matchup between Seattle and Detroit and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Mariners at Tigers - ALDS Game 3

Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Time: 4:08PM EST
Site: Comerica Park
City: Detroit, MI
Network/Streaming: FS1

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for Game 3 of Tigers at Mariners

The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:

Moneyline: Seattle Mariners (-132), Detroit Tigers (+108)
Spread: Mariners -1.5 (+129)
Total: 7.5 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Tigers at Mariners - ALDS Game 3

Pitching matchup for October 5, 2025: Logan Gilbert vs. Jack Flaherty
- Mariners: Logan Gilbert (Regular Season - 6-6, 3.44 ERA)
  Last outing: 9/27 vs. Dodgers - 5IP, 2ER, 4H, 1 BB, 5Ks
- Tigers: Jack Flaherty (Regular Season - 8-15, 4.64 ERA)
  Last outing: 10/2 at Cleveland - 4.2IP, 1ER, 3H, 2 BB, 4Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Tigers at Mariners

Randy Arozarena is 3-8 with 2 HRs in his career against Jack Flaherty
Eugenio Suarez is 6-25 with 3 HRs in his career against Jack Flaherty
Riley Greene is 5-12 against LoganGilbert in his career
Gleyber Torres is 6-16 in his career against Logan Gilbert

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for Tuesday’s ALDS Game 3 between the Tigers and the Mariners

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday's game between the Tigers and the Mariners:

Moneyline: Rotoworld is leaning towards a play on the Seattle Mariners on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld is recommending a play on the Seattle Mariners on the Run Line
Total: Rotoworld is recommending a play on the Game Total OVER 7.5 runs

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

October 6, 2025

Former manager Bob Melvin reveals he has ‘no regrets' over his Giants tenure

Former manager Bob Melvin reveals he has ‘no regrets' over his Giants tenure originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

In his first public comments since his firing last Monday, former Giants manager Bob Melvin said he has “no regrets” over his tenure with the club.

Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Shayna Rubin, Melvin said he relished the chance to manage in the Bay Area for a second time, despite the disappointing results.

“It didn’t end the way I wanted it to, but I have no regrets and I wouldn’t do it any differently,” Melvin told Rubin. “I got to manage the [Oakland] A’s and Giants in one lifetime. Being from where I was, an enormous Bay Area sports fan, this is more than I could even imagine.”

The Giants hired Melvin, who was born in Palo Alto and grew up in Menlo Park, in October of 2023. His two-year run as manager ended with a 161-163 record and no MLB playoff appearances.

For Melvin, the 2025 MLB season was especially difficult to navigate. After a strong start, San Francisco traded for Boston Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers on June 15 but began piling up losses shortly after. The low point came when the Giants dropped 15 of 16 games at Oracle Park in August, and the team finished 81-81.

“The organization, players, fans, were so excited about how [the Devers trade] could take us to the next level, and I was in agreement,” Melvin told Rubin. “Then for us to start losing in the fashion we did, and losing at home, was particularly hard — maybe the hardest stretch I’ve ever gone through managing.”

Melvin also responded to president of baseball operations Buster Posey’s statement in the wake of the firing, which called the Giants’ finish “disappointing and frustrating,” by pointing out the team’s lack of bullpen options after a series of trade-deadline deals.

“It sounds as if the last months were the most indictable, but I don’t necessarily agree with that. Because the last two months started with a sell-off,” Melvin told Rubin, referencing traded relief pitchers Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers. “When you lose your pitching — the bullpen was the strongest variable of the team…you aren’t the pitching and defense team, we needed to slug. And we did for a while the last two months. When that slowed down, the pitching and defense couldn’t support it.”

It all resulted in the Giants’ fourth straight season without a postseason berth, a streak the team is hoping will end with its next managerial hire.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

October 6, 2025

Blue Jays at Yankees – ALDS Game 3 prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats

The scene shifts to the Bronx and Yankee Stadium for Game 3 of the American League Division Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees Tuesday night with the Jays having won each of the first two games of the series in Toronto. Shane Bieber will start for the Jays against Carlos Rodon for the Yanks.

The Blue Jays have scored 23 runs in the first two games of the series. Sunday, they scored in five of the first six innings and built a 12-0 before ultimately winning 13-7. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 3-5 with a grand slam and Daulton Varsho went 4-5 with a couple home runs and also drove in four to pace the Jays' attack. Trey Yesavage was on the bump and was unhittable. The rookie out of Pottstown, PA struck out 11 without allowing a hit over 5.1 innings. The top half of the Yankees' batting order went a combined 8-21 and drove in seven but it was not nearly enough to even the series.

Rodon gave up three runs over six innings in Game 2 of New York's Wild Card series against Boston. He did not factor into the decision of the Yankees' 4-3 win. The left-hander was 18-9 with a 3.09 ERA during the regular season. Bieber arrived in Toronto as the result of a trade from Cleveland on July 31. The former Cy Young winner made seven starts and went 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA after the trade.

Lets dive into Game 3 between the Yankees and the Blue Jays and find a sweat or two.

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Game details & how to watch the Blue Jays at the Yankees - ALDS Game 3

Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Time: 8:08PM EST
Site: Yankee Stadium
City: New York, NY
Network/Streaming: FS1

Odds for the Blue Jays at the Yankees - ALDS Game 3

The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:

Moneyline: Toronto Blue Jays (+123), New York Yankees (-149)
Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+141)
Total: 7.5 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Blue Jays at Yankees - ALDS Game 3

Pitching matchup for October 7, 2025:
- Toronto: Shane Bieber (Regular Season: 4-2, 3.57 ERA)
  Last outing: 9/26 vs. Tampa Bay - 5IP, 2ER, 2H, 2 BB, 3 Ks
- New York: Carlos Rodon (Regular Season: 18-9, 3.09 ERA)
  Last outing: 10/1 vs. Boston - 6IP, 3ER, 4H, 2BB, 6Ks

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Blue Jays at Yankees - ALDS Game 3

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 10-17 with 1 HR in his career against Carlos Rodon
George Springer is 5-26 with 2 HRs in his career against Carlos Rodon
Aaron Judge is 1-13 with 1 HR in his career against Shane Bieber
Giancarlo Stanton is 3-15 with 1 HR in his career against Shane Bieber

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for Tuesday’s Game 3 between the Blue Jays and the Yankees

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Sunday's game between the Yankees and the Blue Jays:

Moneyline: Rotoworld is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline (-149)
Spread: Rotoworld is recommending a play on the Yankees -1.5 (+141)
Total: Rotoworld is recommending a play on the OVER 7.5 runs

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

October 6, 2025

Aaron Boone: Yankees have ‘a ton’ of confidence in Carlos Rodon ahead of ALDS Game 3 start

Following two largely uncompetitive losses to the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series, the Yankees have their backs against the wall.

But with the series turning back to the Bronx for Tuesday’s Game 3, manager Aaron Boone explained that it’s important to take things one game, one inning, one pitch at a time, and he’s confident that lefty Carlos Rodon can help his club stave off elimination.

“A ton,” Boone responded when asked about how much confidence he has in Rodon, who won a career-best 18 games this season. “He’s been obviously one of our horses this year. He’s had a great year, and every time we give him the ball we feel like we have an excellent chance to win, and that will be the same [on Tuesday].

“He’ll be ready to roll and then hopefully get us off to a good start.”

As good as Rodon has been this season, though, October baseball has been a different beast for the 32-year-old. Just as SNY contributor Anthony McCarron pointed out following the Game 2 loss, Rodon owns a career postseason 6.15 ERA, a notable uptick from his 3.09 regular season ERA.

Rodon also has to deal with a red-hot Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has six hits in nine at-bats this series, including Game 2’s backbreaking fourth-inning grand slam.

Guerrero also has great lifetime numbers against Rodon (10 hits in 17 at-bats, four extra-base hits, five RBI).

“Obviously, he’s a guy who hits the ball incredibly hard, has a good idea of the strike zone, has power when he gets into that mode too a little bit,” Boone said. “Obviously, he’s hit a couple of balls out of the ballpark, but also shown his bat-to-ball skills where he can kind of spray it around the yard too. He’s certainly hurt us so far and hopefully we can contain that a little bit [Tuesday].”

The Yankees are no strangers to facing elimination. They trailed Boston by a game in the best-of-three Wild Card Series before winning two straight. The Blue Jays have looked nearly unbeatable, scoring 23 runs on 29 hits while allowed just eight Yankees’ runs over the first two games, but Boone’s message to the team is to take things one pitch at a time, and to collectively do their best to avoid the emotional ebbs and flows of October baseball.

“The challenge is always trying to stay off that roller coaster as best you can, and you’ve got to be able to do that as a player,” Boone said. “We’re human, you feel things, it sucks when you lose and it’s exciting when you win and you try to absorb that, but you’ve got to keep moving.

“That next play, that next pitch, that next game becomes the most important thing, and that’s where you’ve got to keep your focus.”

The skipper added later: “I think one of the learned skills, acquired or born with, whatever, is you’ve got to be able to withstand success and failure over the long haul if you’re going to have a career in this, a sustained career in this. And that’s a challenge and that’s sometimes hard, and that’s what the really good ones are good at.”

October 6, 2025

Thomson: Phillies must ‘command the zone' vs. Snell in Game 2

Thomson: Phillies must ‘command the zone' vs. Snell in Game 2 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Last year, the Phils were in the same spot.

In Game 1 of the 2024 NLDS, they fell to the Mets, 6–2, zapping the energy out of Citizens Bank Park.

And their Game 1 struggles repeated in Saturday’s loss to the Dodgers.

Down 1–0 last postseason, the Phillies clawed back against New York, making lineup changes and stringing together timely at-bats before Nick Castellanos walked them off, 7–6, to even the series.

So how do you bounce back tonight against two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell?

The lineup shakes up

With the lefty on the mound, Rob Thomson’s lineup has a different look:

SS Trea Turner
DH Kyle Schwarber
1B Bryce Harper
3B Alec Bohm
C J.T. Realmuto
RF Nick Castellanos
2B Edmundo Sosa
CF Brandon Marsh
LF Otto Kemp

Naturally, with Harrison Bader out due to a groin injury, the Phillies had to shuffle the outfield. Rookie Otto Kemp makes his postseason debut in left — a spot he played just 63 innings in during his first big league season.

“It’s obviously not Otto’s natural position,” Thomson said pregame. “But he’s really improved. His routes were off a little bit early, but him and Paco [Figueroa] did a lot of work, and he runs better than people think. He’s improved tremendously.”

Defensively, Kemp will be tested. The Dodgers — who have five right-handed hitters in the lineup — enter with one of baseball’s highest pull rates (45.2%), and with no Bader available, Thomson could be quick to turn to Max Kepler late if matchups call for it.

Offensively, the move fits. Kemp slugged .462 against lefties this season and posted a .786 OPS. He did strike out twice in three at-bats against Snell earlier this year, but Thomson liked his swing decisions more than Weston Wilson. “I just like Kemp’s at-bats a little better,” Thomson said.

Brandon Marsh slides over to center, a familiar spot where he’s logged 84 games this season. And Edmundo Sosa, who has feasted on left-handers (.318/.362/.593), gets the start at second. Sosa is 3-for-8 lifetime against Snell and could be an early spark plug for a Phillies lineup searching for a rhythm.

Snell’s recent dominance vs. Phils

Phillies fans remember Snell’s last outing against them — a 12-strikeout, two-hit masterpiece at Dodger Stadium just three weeks ago. It was easily one of the most dominant pitching performances they faced all season long.

He was unpredictable, throwing only 38 percent of his pitches in the strike zone but still generating a 44 percent whiff rate. The fastball appeared sparingly — just 34 percent usage — and when it did show up, hitters rarely squared it up. Instead, his changeup and slider did the heavy lifting, forcing weak contact and chase swings.

Snell got six whiffs on just 10 sliders that night, and his curveball wasn’t far behind, generating a 56 percent whiff rate. But his changeup was his true weapon — the pitch that kept Philadelphia off balance. It induced soft contact with an average exit velocity of just 80.6 mph, and the Phillies chased half of his 22 changeups outside the strike zone.

As Thomson said before the game, “You’ve got to command the strike zone, because he’s going to get you to go out of it and chase. You’ve got to really hone him in and get his pitch count up.”

The approach

To beat Blake Snell, the Phillies have to hunt the fastball. Opponents hit .309 off the pitch this season — a massive jump from last year’s .201 mark. The difference, particularly for right-handed hitters, has been stark as the average jumps to .329 in those matchups.

With a righty-heavy lineup, the Phillies will try to work themselves into fastball counts and capitalize. But they’ll also have to resist expanding.

“Snell likes to induce a lot of chase,” Thomson said. “You’ve got to be aware of what’s going on.”

Finding that balance — being aggressive early without expanding the zone — will be the key. The top of the order needs to set the tone, because once Snell settles in, he rarely gives in.

The Dodgers’ bullpen could also play a pivotal role again. Even with Snell’s recent length, his last outing being seven innings, Dave Roberts showed in Game 1 that he’s willing to use starters like Tyler Glasnow in relief — so Emmett Sheehan and Clayton Kershaw could get their name called.

The bottom line

The Phillies need a win and a strong outing from Jesús Luzardo, but their biggest adjustment must come at the plate.

Last year, they found a way to respond after a Game 1 loss. If they’re going to even the series tonight, they’ll need to make Blake Snell throw strikes — and punish him when he does.

October 6, 2025

Jorge Polanco’s 2 home runs help Mariners take Game 2 of ALDS, even series against Tigers

SEATTLE — Shortly after Jorge Polanco’s second home run of the game off reigning AL Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal, a chant broke out from a smattering of Mariners fans at T-Mobile Park.

It was resemblant of the familiar soccer chant, “Olé, Olé, Olé″, except the Seattle supporters were repeating Polanco’s first name after he put the Mariners up 2-0 en route to a 3-2 win against the Detroit Tigers in Game 2 of their AL Division Series to even the series.

“Jorge, Jorge, Jorge” reverberated throughout the ballpark, which was occupied by a whopping 47,371 patrons that witnessed Seattle’s first home playoff win since Oct. 15, 2001, against Cleveland.

“Well, when we’ve got a crowd like that that’s supporting us,” Polanco said, “it’s easy for us to go out there.”

Despite the magnitude of his performance — Polanco became the fourth Mariners player with a multi-homer game in the postseason, joining Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez and Jay Buhner, who all accomplished the feat in 1995 —- he described an approach in the batter’s box that perfectly encapsulated his calm demeanor.

“I came up there just trying to get a good pitch to hit,” Polanco said. “Just hit to the middle of the field and put it straight on.”

That method worked out in a big way for Polanco, just as it often did throughout a bounce-back season. Nearly a year ago to the date, Polanco underwent surgery to repair his left patellar tendon. And in November, the Mariners declined his $12 million option, only to bring him back for the discounted rate of $7 million for one season.

Last year, Polanco played through injury and put up pedestrian numbers relative to his career averages. In his first season in Seattle, Polanco hit just .213 with a career-low .651 OPS.

“We all knew what he was going through, and we all had his back,” teammate Julio Rodríguez said. “We also knew how much he cared about the team last year. And just to see him, like, kind of going through and showing up every single day, he inspired me a lot, I’ve got to say, just in the way that he went about his business. You could tell how much he actually wanted to play.”

In 2025, though, Polanco hasn’t just been available, but impactful. He mashed 26 home runs this season, the second-most of his career, and started playing the field more frequently in the second half of the season, too.

“That’s why I’m so happy for him this year, that he’s been more healthy, more on the field,” Rodríguez said. “I know he’s put in a lot of work, and I’m so, so happy that he’s having success again and enjoying the game of baseball that he loves.”

Adoration was in the air for Polanco all evening, and especially following each of his home runs off Skubal. The first long ball came on a slider, and the latter off Skubal’s scintillating sinker – not that Polanco was sitting on either pitch.

“I didn’t know what was coming,” Polanco said. “Like I said, I just have a good approach, stay to the middle so I can recognize the second that it starts.”

Polanco’s heroics were critical to the Mariners not completely squandering their home-field advantage, as they will instead head to Detroit needing to take just one of two games to force a winner-take-all Game 5 back in Seattle.

As much as players like Rodríguez, AL MVP candidate Cal Raleigh and other Mariners have drawn ample attention this season, it was Polanco who stood a cut above like only a handful of franchise greats have in postseason play.

“All I can say is I’m really happy that he’s our teammate and he’s playing for us,” Rodríguez said. “He can do what he did tonight for us, and it’s pretty unbelievable.”

October 6, 2025

Yankees head home facing elimination after back-to-back beatdowns in Toronto

TORONTO — After back-to-back beatdowns in Toronto, the New York Yankees don’t have any margin for error as they head home for Game 3 of the ALDS.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone put on a brave face after a 13-7 loss in Game 2 left his team facing elimination.

“Obviously, it feels like the world’s caving in around you, you lose two games like that in their building where it doesn’t go right,” Boone said. “But all of a sudden you go out there and win a ballgame on Tuesday, the needle can change. There’s been a lot of weird things that have happened in baseball this year. This would not be the weirdest, us rallying.”

New York was held hitless through 5 2/3 innings, unable to get anything going against Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage.

The Blue Jays thumped the Yankees 10-1 in Game 1. Toronto’s 23 runs in the ALDS so far are the most by any team in the opening two games of a postseason series. The Yankees scored 22 runs in the first two games of the 2020 Wild Card round against Cleveland.

New York has lost eight of nine in Toronto this season but is 4-2 at home against the Blue Jays.

“We haven’t lost any confidence,” Boone said. “Obviously, they’ve had our number and gotten the better of us so far this year, but I don’t think anyone in our room doesn’t feel like we can’t go out and beat them. We’ve got to play better. We’ve got to pitch and swing it better. But we’re certainly capable of it, and we’ll expect to do that on Tuesday night.”

New York was pushed to the limit by Boston in the Wild Card round and has seen its bullpen tested in the first two games of the ALDS, with seven relievers combining for 10 1/3 innings of work.

“We know where they’re at in terms of their bullpen and everything,” Toronto’s Ernie Clement said about the Yankees. “They just came off a really tough series. It’s really important for us to work them, just make it as tough as possible on them.”

Yankees left-hander Max Fried, who was chased after three-plus innings, credited the Blue Jays for making it tough on New York’s pitchers.

“They’ve put up good at-bats against us all year,” Fried said. “That’s a good ball club. They don’t strike out and they put the ball in play and they play good defense. They’re playing their game and they’ve had a good series so far.”

October 6, 2025

World Series champion Dodgers take control against Phillies headed into Game 2 of NLDS

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies had Shohei Ohtani on the ropes on the mound and tied up at the plate, the Dodgers’ two-way star seemingly losing the air of invincibility that surrounds him.

Ohtani the ace recovered, and he did it one swing-and-a-miss at a time against a string of All-Stars in the Phillies’ lineup.

Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper all disappeared in the playoffs again in Game 1 of the NL Division Series, a combined 1-for-11 effort with six strikeouts and no RBIs in the 5-3 loss.

Game 2 is at Citizens Bank Park, that boisterous ballpark known for its so-called four hours of hell that is supposed to rattle the nerves of even the most steeled players.

Heck, even a three-time MVP such as Ohtani — who struck out four times — acknowledged ahead of the game that he was a bit anxious to face the fans.

Here’s the headache for the Phillies: They have wasted home-field advantage with four losses in their last five postseason home games. So they enter Game 2 with cold bats, have lost that extra oomph that 45,000 fans usually provide and have to try to regain their playoff mojo against the reigning World Series champions and two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell.

“I don’t sense any extra pressure,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said.

He might not sense it, but the fan base does, especially with little room for error — or Matt Strahm meatballs — in the best-of-five series.

Ohtani retired 15 of the final 17 batters he faced, and Turner, Schwarber and Harper went 0 for 9 with five strikeouts against the right-hander.

From two-way sensation to two-time Cy Young postseason standout, the series won’t necessarily get easier for the Phillies.

Snell, who missed four months of his first season in Los Angeles with shoulder inflammation, struck out a season-high 12 over seven innings in a September start against the Phillies.

Snell got the ball in the Wild Card Series opener and struck out nine over seven strong innings. He retired his initial eight batters in his first playoff start since 2022, when he was with the San Diego Padres. Snell matched his postseason high for strikeouts in the longest postseason start of his career.

He is 5-3 with a 3.23 ERA in 13 career playoff appearances (11 starts).

“I feel good with Snell going tomorrow,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Here’s some more good news for the Dodgers, already the betting favorite to win the game and series, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Harper is 1 for 11 with a home run and two RBIs lifetime against Snell. Schwarber, the NL home run and RBI champion, is 2 for 12 with a homer and three RBIs, and Turner is a moderately better 4 for 17 with three RBIs in 20 plate appearances vs. Snell.

“Just like everything else, we’re going to be attacking it head on and we’re going to be excited to walk into the clubhouse and get back on the field and play another high, meaningful game here,” Schwarber said. “That’s what this is about. This is never going to be easy. You’re facing the best of the best out here. It’s up to us to be able to make the adjustments and go out there and feel like we’re doing everything possible to put ourselves in position to win a baseball game.”

Jesús Luzardo (15-7, 3.92 ERA) starts Game 2 for the Phillies.

Bader is feeling better

Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader could play in Game 2 after leaving the opener with a groin injury.

Thomson said imaging showed no major tear or strain in Bader’s groin. Thomson said the Phillies would have a better idea if Bader, who settled center field and morphed into a fan favorite down the stretch, could start or at least be used as a pinch hitter.

“I think after the game they stretched him out, got him moving around a little bit,” Thomson said. “I think he felt a lot better after that.”

Bader made one of the Game 1 plays of the game when he sprinted to his left on Andy Pages’ tying shot in the fifth inning and made the diving grab for the out. Bader, who added a sacrifice fly, said he felt tightness later in the game running the bases.

“This is kind of the point in the season where you just empty the tank,” Bader said after the game.

Should Bader miss Game 2, Nick Castellanos likely would return to the starting lineup in right field, with Brandon Marsh in center field and Max Kepler in right.

Four hours in Philly of what the hell is this?

Zack Wheeler received a roaring ovation when the ace sidelined because of complications from a blood clot returned in full uniform for the roster introductions. Phillies fans went wild when Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt threw the first pitch and they never stopped booing Ohtani — boos so loud they drowned out the pregame hype video playing on the big screen.

Yet, they lost for the fourth time in the last five home playoff games (they won 12 of 14 before this current stretch) and they lost the opener in a season where they went 55-26 at home.

Could it be the Phillies are feeling the postseason pressure to impress at home?

“I don’t think so. I don’t feel that,” Thomson said. “Our crowds have been outstanding. It was really loud and boisterous and rabid last night, just like our normal playoff fans are.”

Loud crowds are nice. But fans — even if they think they can after completing the 9-9-9 challenge — can’t help the Phillies connect against some of the best pitching in baseball.

“We just didn’t get the big hit when we needed it. We had some chances,” Thomson said. “It’s the way it is. I think it’s just the ebbs and flows of the game, and we’ve got to come out here tomorrow night and play well.”

October 6, 2025

Cubs at Brewers – NLDS Game 2 prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats

Its Monday, October 6 and baseball's playoffs continue as the Cubs (92-70) are in Milwaukee to take on the Brewers (97-65) in Game 2 of their National League Division Series. Shota Imanaga is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Aaron Ashby for Milwaukee.

The Brewers lead the best-of-five series 1-0 following Saturday's series-opening 9-3 win. Jackson Chourio sparked the attack from the leadoff spot with three hits in three at bats and drove in three runs. However, Chourio aggravated his right hamstring over the course of the game, and his availability is a question mark for tonight's game. Freddy Peralta picked up the win in Game 1 allowing two runs over 5.2 innings while striking out nine. Matthew Boyd took the loss giving up six runs (two earned) and did not make it out of the first inning.

Shota Imanaga took the loss in Game 2 of the Wild Card series against the Padres allowing two runs over four innings. Aaron Ashby pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in Game 1. While the Cubs are counting on an extended outing from Imanaga, the Brewers will be content with two innings from Ashby who rarely pitched into a third inning (6 times) over 45 regular season appearances.

Lets dive into Game 2 and find a sweat or two.

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Game details & how to watch Cubs at Brewers

Date: Monday, October 6, 2025
Time: 9:08PM EST
Site: American Family Field
City: Milwaukee, WI
Network/Streaming: TBS, truTV, HBO Max

Odds for the Cubs at the Brewers - NLDS Game 2

The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:

Moneyline: Chicago Cubs (+105), Milwaukee Brewers (-127)
Spread: Brewers -1.5 (+160)
Total: 7.5 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Brewers

Pitching matchup for October 6, 2025: Shota Imanaga vs. Aaron Ashby
- Cubs: Shota Imanaga (Regular Season: 9-8, 3.73 ERA)
  Last outing: 10/1 vs. San Diego - 4IP, 4.50 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, and 3 Ks
- Brewers: Aaron Ashby (Regular Season: (0-0, 2.16 ERA, 3 Saves)
  Last outing: 10/4 vs. Cubs - 1.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 0 Hits, 0 BBs, and 1 K

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Cubs at Brewers - NLDS Game 2

Ian Happ is 3-10 with 1 HR lifetime against Aaron Ashby
Dansby Swanson is 3-7 lifetime against Aaron Ashby
William Contreras is 3-10 with 2 HRs in his career against Shota Imanaga
Christian Yelich is 3-10 with 1 HR in his career against Shota Imanaga

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s Game 2 between the Cubs and the Brewers

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's Game 2 between the Cubs and the Brewers:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago Cubs at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.5.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page fromNBC

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October 6, 2025

Way-Too-Early 2026 Fantasy Baseball Top 300 Rankings

Here's an initial stab at a 2006 fantasy baseball top 300 for 5x5 leagues. I'm just now getting started on my projections, so by the time December rolls around, this list will look much, much different.

Free agents are listed without teams. Those with options whose status is up in the air have asterisks listed along with their teams. That includes someone like Shane Bieber, who is probably going to opt out of a $15 million player option, but not a Pete Alonso, who is certainly opting out, or Luis Robert Jr., whose $20 million option will be picked up by the White Sox.

This will probably be the lone October edition of the list. I'll revisit things in early November. Weekly updates will resume in the spring.

Early 2026 Fantasy Baseball Top 300 overall ranks

**Updated Oct. 6**

Oct. 6	Top 300	Team	Pos	Rank
1	Aaron Judge	Yankees	OF	1
2	Shohei Ohtani	Dodgers	DH	1
3	Bobby Witt Jr.	Royals	SS	1
4	Ronald Acuna Jr.	Braves	OF	2
5	Juan Soto	Mets	OF	3
6	Elly De La Cruz	Reds	SS	2
7	Tarik Skubal	Tigers	SP	1
8	Corbin Carroll	Diamondbacks	OF	4
9	Kyle Tucker		OF	5
10	Julio Rodriguez	Mariners	OF	6
11	Jose Ramirez	Guardians	3B	1
12	Paul Skenes	Pirates	SP	2
13	Fernando Tatis Jr.	Padres	OF	7
14	Gunnar Henderson	Orioles	SS	3
15	Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	Blue Jays	1B	1
16	Yordan Alvarez	Astros	OF	8
17	Jackson Chourio	Brewers	OF	9
18	James Wood	Nationals	OF	10
19	Francisco Lindor	Mets	SS	4
20	Logan Gilbert	Mariners	SP	3
21	Junior Caminero	Rays	3B	2
22	Garrett Crochet	Red Sox	SP	4
23	Nick Kurtz	Athletics	1B	2
24	Wyatt Langford	Rangers	OF	11
25	Trea Turner	Phillies	SS	5
26	Pete Crow-Armstrong	Cubs	OF	12
27	Jarren Duran	Red Sox	OF	13
28	Cal Raleigh	Mariners	C	1
29	Pete Alonso		1B	3
30	Jazz Chisholm Jr.	Yankees	2B	1
31	Matt Olson	Braves	1B	4
32	Kyle Schwarber		DH	2
33	Jackson Merrill	Padres	OF	14
34	Freddie Freeman	Dodgers	1B	5
35	Austin Riley	Braves	3B	3
36	Bryce Harper	Phillies	1B	6
37	Ketel Marte	Diamondbacks	2B	2
38	Manny Machado	Padres	3B	4
39	Zach Neto	Angels	SS	6
40	Blake Snell	Dodgers	SP	5
41	Bo Bichette		SS	7
42	Yoshinobu Yamamoto	Dodgers	SP	6
43	Rafael Devers	Giants	1B	7
44	Mookie Betts	Dodgers	SS	8
45	CJ Abrams	Nationals	SS	9
46	Bryan Woo	Mariners	SP	7
47	Seiya Suzuki	Cubs	OF	15
48	Chris Sale	Braves	SP	8
49	Roman Anthony	Red Sox	OF	16
50	Cristopher Sanchez	Phillies	SP	11
51	Brent Rooker	Athletics	OF	18
52	Corey Seager	Rangers	SS	10
53	Jacob deGrom	Rangers	SP	9
54	George Kirby	Mariners	SP	10
55	Michael Harris II	Braves	OF	19
56	Oneil Cruz	Pirates	OF	17
57	Jeremy Pena	Astros	SS	11
58	Hunter Brown	Astros	SP	12
59	Brice Turang	Brewers	2B	3
60	Joe Ryan	Twins	SP	13
61	Mike Trout	Angels	OF	20
62	Riley Greene	Tigers	OF	21
63	Cody Bellinger		OF	22
64	Logan Webb	Giants	SP	14
65	Teoscar Hernandez	Dodgers	OF	23
66	Max Fried	Yankees	SP	15
67	Jhoan Duran	Phillies	RP	1
68	Hunter Greene	Reds	SP	16
69	Michael Busch	Cubs	1B	8
70	Edwin Diaz	Mets*	RP	2
71	Framber Valdez	Astros	SP	17
72	Dylan Crews	Nationals	OF	24
73	Josh Naylor		1B	9
74	Josh Hader	Astros	RP	3
75	Jose Altuve	Astros	2B	4
76	Ian Happ	Cubs	OF	25
77	Andres Munoz	Mariners	RP	4
78	Luis Robert Jr.	White Sox	OF	26
79	William Contreras	Brewers	C	2
80	Kyle Bradish	Orioles	SP	18
81	Trevor Story	Red Sox*	SS	12
82	Mason Miller	Padres	RP	5
83	Byron Buxton	Twins	OF	27
84	Vinnie Pasquantino	Royals	1B	10
85	Maikel Garcia	Royals	3B	5
86	Anthony Volpe	Yankees	SS	13
87	Devin Williams		RP	6
88	Jacob Wilson	Athletics	SS	14
89	Cole Ragans	Royals	SP	19
90	David Bednar	Yankees	RP	7
91	Christian Yelich	Brewers	OF	28
92	Freddy Peralta	Brewers	SP	20
93	Jordan Westburg	Orioles	3B	6
94	Jasson Dominguez	Yankees	OF	29
95	Isaac Paredes	Astros	3B	7
96	Dylan Cease		SP	21
97	Tyler Soderstrom	Athletics	1B	11
98	Willson Contreras	Cardinals	1B	12
99	Kevin Gausman	Blue Jays	SP	22
100	Robert Suarez	Padres*	RP	8
101	Carlos Rodon	Yankees	SP	23
102	Ben Rice	Yankees	C	3
103	Josh Lowe	Rays	OF	30
104	Alec Bohm	Phillies	3B	8
105	Tanner Bibee	Guardians	SP	24
106	Bryan Reynolds	Pirates	OF	31
107	Ezequiel Tovar	Rockies	SS	15
108	Tyler Glasnow	Dodgers	SP	25
109	Alex Bregman	Red Sox*	3B	9
110	Willy Adames	Giants	SS	16
111	Nolan McLean	Mets	SP	26
112	Jonathan Aranda	Rays	1B	13
113	Spencer Schwellenbach	Braves	SP	27
114	Bryce Miller	Mariners	SP	28
115	Daniel Palencia	Cubs	RP	9
116	Andy Pages	Dodgers	OF	32
117	Brenton Doyle	Rockies	OF	33
118	Jesus Luzardo	Phillies	SP	29
119	Jac Caglianone	Royals	OF	34
120	Marcell Ozuna		DH	3
121	Brandon Woodruff	Brewers*	SP	30
122	Lawrence Butler	Athletics	OF	35
123	Nico Hoerner	Cubs	2B	5
124	Robbie Ray	Giants	SP	31
125	Aroldis Chapman	Red Sox	RP	10
126	Brandon Nimmo	Mets	OF	36
127	Luke Keaschall	Twins	2B	6
128	Carlos Estevez	Royals	RP	11
129	Randy Arozarena	Mariners	OF	37
130	Yandy Diaz	Rays	1B	14
131	Sonny Gray	Cardinals	SP	32
132	Jeff Hoffman	Blue Jays	RP	12
133	Shohei Ohtani	Dodgers	SP	33
134	Matt Chapman	Giants	3B	10
135	Tommy Edman	Dodgers	2B	7
136	Pablo Lopez	Twins	SP	34
137	Jackson Holliday	Orioles	2B	8
138	Nick Pivetta	Padres	SP	35
139	Geraldo Perdomo	Diamondbacks	SS	17
140	Raisel Iglesias		RP	13
141	Shane Bieber	Blue Jays*	SP	36
142	Steven Kwan	Guardians	OF	38
143	Christian Walker	Astros	1B	15
144	Ranger Suarez		SP	37
145	Eugenio Suarez		3B	11
146	Ceddanne Rafaela	Red Sox	2B	9
147	Drew Rasmussen	Rays	SP	38
148	Brandon Lowe	Rays*	2B	10
149	Jo Adell	Angels	OF	39
150	Matthew Boyd	Cubs	SP	39
151	Matt McLain	Reds	2B	11
152	Salvador Perez	Royals	C	4
153	Eury Perez	Marlins	SP	40
154	Kyle Stowers	Marlins	OF	40
155	Trevor Rogers	Orioles	SP	41
156	Noelvi Marte	Reds	3B	12
157	Spencer Strider	Braves	SP	42
158	Tanner Scott	Dodgers	RP	14
159	Gleyber Torres		2B	12
160	Munetaka Murakami		3B	13
161	Michael King		SP	43
162	Pete Fairbanks	Rays	RP	15
163	Adolis Garcia	Rangers	OF	41
164	Shota Imanaga	Cubs*	SP	44
165	Gavin Williams	Guardians	SP	45
166	Cam Schlitter	Yankees	SP	46
167	Spencer Torkelson	Tigers	1B	16
168	Shane McClanahan	Rays	SP	47
169	George Springer	Blue Jays	OF	42
170	Andrew Vaughn	Brewers	1B	17
171	Cade Horton	Cubs	SP	48
172	Mark Vientos	Mets	3B	14
173	MacKenzie Gore	Nationals	SP	49
174	Anthony Santander	Blue Jays	OF	43
175	Trey Yesavage	Blue Jays	SP	56
176	Tyler O’Neill	Orioles	OF	44
177	Joe Musgrove	Padres	SP	51
178	Kodai Senga	Mets	SP	52
179	Adley Rutschman	Orioles	C	5
180	Shane Baz	Rays	SP	53
181	Dylan Beavers	Orioles	OF	45
182	Kenley Jansen		RP	16
183	Jacob Misiorowski	Brewers	SP	54
184	Nick Castellanos	Phillies	OF	46
185	Sal Stewart	Reds	1B	18
186	Shea Langeliers	Athletics	C	6
187	Bubba Chandler	Pirates	SP	55
188	Chase Burns	Reds	SP	50
189	Jordan Lawlar	Diamondbacks	3B	15
190	Dansby Swanson	Cubs	SS	18
191	Wilyer Abreu	Red Sox	OF	47
192	Cade Smith	Guardians	RP	17
193	Clay Holmes	Mets	SP	57
194	Will Smith	Dodgers	C	7
195	Ha-Seong Kim	Braves*	SS	19
196	Addison Barger	Blue Jays	3B	16
197	Ivan Herrera	Cardinals	DH	4
198	Sandy Alcantara	Marlins	SP	58
199	Daulton Varsho	Blue Jays	OF	48
200	Kris Bubic	Royals	SP	59
201	Taylor Ward	Angels	OF	49
202	Colson Montgomery	White Sox	SS	20
203	Giancarlo Stanton	Yankees	OF	56
204	Hunter Goodman	Rockies	C	8
205	Reese Olson	Tigers	SP	60
206	Kyle Manzardo	Guardians	1B	19
207	TJ Friedl	Reds	OF	51
208	Dennis Santana	Pirates	RP	18
209	Royce Lewis	Twins	3B	17
210	Drake Baldwin	Braves	C	9
211	Nick Lodolo	Reds	SP	61
212	Alec Burleson	Cardinals	OF	52
213	Ramon Laureano	Padres	OF	53
214	Ryan Pepiot	Rays	SP	62
215	Heliot Ramos	Giants	OF	54
216	Masyn Winn	Cardinals	SS	21
217	Trevor Megill	Brewers	RP	19
218	Luis Garcia Jr.	Nationals	2B	13
219	Sal Frelick	Brewers	OF	55
220	Ryan Helsley		RP	20
221	Jung Hoo Lee	Giants	OF	50
222	Jesus Sanchez	Astros	OF	57
223	Luis Gil	Yankees	SP	63
224	Ryan Mountcastle	Orioles	1B	20
225	Samuel Basallo	Orioles	C	10
226	Luis Arraez		1B	21
227	Evan Carter	Rangers	OF	58
228	Edward Cabrera	Marlins	SP	64
229	Xavier Edwards	Marlins	SS	22
230	Spencer Steer	Reds	1B	22
231	Kerry Carpenter	Tigers	OF	59
232	Lars Nootbaar	Cardinals	OF	60
233	Roki Sasaki	Dodgers	SP	65
234	Bryce Eldridge	Giants	DH	5
235	Colt Keith	Tigers	2B	14
236	Brendan Donovan	Cardinals	2B	15
237	Sean Manaea	Mets	SP	66
238	Bryson Stott	Phillies	2B	16
239	Jorge Polanco		2B	17
240	Rhys Hoskins		1B	23
241	Ozzie Albies	Braves	2B	18
242	Daylen Lile	Nationals	OF	61
243	Will Vest	Tigers	RP	21
244	Cam Smith	Astros	OF	62
245	Marcus Semien	Rangers	2B	19
246	Zack Wheeler	Phillies	SP	67
247	Nathan Eovaldi	Rangers	SP	68
248	Parker Meadows	Tigers	OF	63
249	Jonah Tong	Mets	SP	69
250	Agustin Ramirez	Marlins	C	11
251	Xander Bogaerts	Padres	SS	23
252	Chris Bassitt		SP	70
253	Jakob Marsee	Marlins	OF	64
254	Brett Baty	Mets	3B	18
255	Abner Uribe	Brewers	RP	22
256	Josh Jung	Rangers	3B	19
257	Max Muncy	Dodgers*	3B	20
258	Grayson Rodriguez	Orioles	SP	71
259	Triston Casas	Red Sox	1B	24
260	Gerrit Cole	Yankees	SP	72
261	Ryan O’Hearn		1B	25
262	Emmet Sheehan	Dodgers	SP	73
263	Matt Shaw	Cubs	3B	21
264	Jurickson Profar	Braves	OF	65
265	Kevin McGonigle	Tigers	SS	24
266	Yainer Diaz	Astros	C	12
267	Joe Boyle	Rays	SP	74
268	Chandler Simpson	Rays	OF	66
269	Nathaniel Lowe	Red Sox	1B	26
270	Coby Mayo	Orioles	1B	27
271	Jordan Beck	Rockies	OF	67
272	Nolan Arenado	Cardinals	3B	22
273	Andrew Painter	Phillies	SP	75
274	Ryan Walker	Giants	RP	23
275	David Peterson	Mets	SP	76
276	Zac Gallen		SP	77
277	Kyle Finnegan		RP	24
278	Carlos Correa	Astros	SS	25
279	Marcelo Meyer	Red Sox	3B	23
280	Jack Flaherty	Tigers*	SP	78
281	Caleb Durbin	Brewers	3B	24
282	Trent Grisham		OF	68
283	Parker Messick	Guardians	SP	79
284	Luis Castillo	Mariners	SP	80
285	JJ Wetherholt	Cardinals	SS	26
286	Connelly Early	Red Sox	SP	81
287	Walker Jenkins	Twins	OF	69
288	Cristian Javier	Astros	SP	82
289	Luke Weaver		RP	25
290	Josh Bell		1B	28
291	Seth Lugo	Royals	SP	83
292	Ryan Weathers	Marlins	SP	84
293	Gabriel Moreno	Diamondbacks	C	13
294	Cade Cavalli	Nationals	SP	85
295	Troy Melton	Tigers	SP	86
296	C.J. Kayfus	Guardians	OF	70
297	Joey Cantillo	Guardians	SP	87
298	Emmanuel Clase	Guardians	RP	26
299	Colton Cowser	Orioles	OF	71
300	Reid Detmers	Angels	SP	88

Oct. 6 Notes

- Just like last year, it's Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and Bobby Witt Jr. at the top, with only the order in question. I went Witt, Ohtani and then Judge last offseason. For now, I'm sticking with the same order that I've had since May, aside from when Judge was on the IL.

- I assume most will be listing Juan Soto no lower than fourth, but I'm sliding Ronald Acuña Jr. in there ahead of him. Maybe Soto will be inspired to run again, but it's a hard thing to count on, and any sort of injury could shut that down in a hurry. Acuña curbed his basestealing in his return from a torn ACL, but he'll probably be a little busier there next year, and he looked like his usual self offensively in his 95 games this year. I would think the Braves lineup is in line for a nice rebound.

- Mason Miller checks in at No. 82 for now. I’ll be tempted to rank him first among closers if Robert Suarez opts out of his Padres contract and Miller is tabbed for the ninth. If the Padres decide to give Miller a chance as a starter, I’ll move him down some because of the injury risk, though there’s certainly a chance he’d dominate in the rotation.

- It's going to be fascinating to see what happens with the Red Sox lineup this winter. Do they give Alex Bregman, who is set to opt out, the long-term deal they didn't want to last year? Does Trevor Story opt out of the $50 million he's owed the next two years? Do they alleviate the outfield logjam by moving Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu? Do they give Triston Casas another chance at first? What they really need is a superstar for the middle of the order, but there's a very good chance that giving a long-term deal to Kyle Schwarber or Pete Alonso will end badly. It might be worth it anyway.

- Sliding Jasson Domínguez back into the top 100 at No. 94 seems kind of risky, but I have to imagine the Yankees will commit to him with both Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham set to hit free agency. Domínguez wasn't too bad in batting .257/.331/.388 at age 22, and he should be capable of finishing with 20 homers and 30 steals if the playing time is there. Of course, there is a scenario that sees Domínguez get a spot to himself, only to wind up being overtaken by Spencer Jones if he gets off to a slow start.

- Yakult Swallows third baseman Munetaka Murakami, long one of Japan's best players, is slated to be posted this winter and is No. 160 here. He'll probably be a first baseman in MLB, but he should be a pretty good one right away. In spite of Japan's deadened baseball, he hit .273/.382/.672 in 55 games this season. He has 181 homers over the last five seasons, and he's just turning 26 in February.

- Another Japanese corner infielder, Kazuma Okamoto, and right-hander Tatsuya Imai could also show up here later.

- At the moment, there are 26 relievers on the list, six of whom are free agents and two of whom will probably opt out of their contracts (Suarez and Edwin Díaz). There are also two teams, besides the Padres, represented twice in the Brewers and Guardians. Abner Uribe was just too good to leave off, even if he starts off behind Trevor Megill on the depth chart. I also stuck Emmanuel Clase at the bottom of the list in case he's cleared after MLB's investigation.

That leaves 13 teams with no RPs here...

Angels: Too many health questions with Ben Joyce and Robert Stephenson should mean they'll again sign a closer.

Athletics: None of the internal options seems particularly intriguing.

Braves: Reynaldo López might head back to the pen after struggling to stay healthy as a starter. He was in the 300-320 range here.

Cardinals: Riley O'Brien was another guy in the mix for a spot, but even though the Cardinals are shedding payroll, they still might add a stopgap and potential deadline trade candidate.

D-backs: Justin Martinez figures to miss next season after Tommy John, and A.J. Puk is likely out until at least midseason. The Diamondbacks will probably wind up with a modestly priced free agent.

Marlins: Ronny Henríquez was in my first draft at the bottom of the list, but it sounds like the Marlins want to spend on bullpen help this winter.

Nationals: Jose A. Ferrer was considered for a spot, but the Nationals figure to be in the market for a closer, and even if they cheap out, Cole Henry could end up overtaking Ferrer.

Orioles: Félix Bautista is probably out for the year after shoulder surgery, and after emptying out at their pen at the deadline, the Orioles will be in the market for multiple late-game options.

Rangers: The Rangers will probably have to sign someone after potential future closers Emiliano Teodo and Marc Church ended up missing most of 2025. It'll be interesting to see if Kumar Rocker winds up in the pen at some point next year.

Reds: Tony Santillan might be able to do the job, but the Reds will surely bring in some competition.

Rockies: With a 68/25 K/BB in 61 2/3 innings as a rookie, Juan Mejia was the most impressive of the Rockies' young relievers this year, and he'll be a spring sleeper if the team declines to spend.

Twins: The Twins won't want to spend much, but they'll probably sign someone to close. Also, one or two of their younger starters could be tried in the pen. It doesn't seem quite right to give up on Taj Bradley as a starter just yet, but he also probably doesn't belong in the Twins rotation right now.

White Sox: Grant Taylor was considered for a spot, but the White Sox are considering moving him back to the rotation. They might sign a cheap veteran to close anyway.

October 6, 2025

Dodgers at Phillies – NLDS Game 2 prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats

Its Monday, October 6 and the Dodgers (93-69) are in Philadelphia to take on the Phillies (96-66) in Game 2 of their National League Division Series with the Dodgers having won Game 1 a couple days ago. Blake Snell is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Jesús Luzardo for Philadelphia. Snell pitched in the Wild Card round and was victorious while Luzardo has been idle for nearly two weeks (September 24).

Down 3-0 early, the Dodgers rallied for two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh to take the series opener. Teoscar Hernandez' home run in the seventh was the decisive blow. Shohei Ohtani started Game 1 and went six innings allowing the three runs while striking out nine. The Philadelphia bullpen failed after Cristopher Sanchez allowed two runs over 5.2 innings with eight strikeouts.

Lets dive into Game 2 and find a sweat or two.

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Game details & how to watch Dodgers at Phillies - NLDS Game 2

Date: Monday, October 6, 2025
Time: 6:08PM EST
Site: Citizens Bank Park
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: TBS / truTV / HBO Max

Odds for the Dodgers at the Phillies - NLDS Game 2

The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:

Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-132), Philadelphia Phillies (+109)
Spread: Dodgers -1.5 (+129)
Total: 7.5 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Phillies

Pitching matchup for October 6, 2025: Blake Snell vs. Jesús Luzardo
- Dodgers: Blake Snell (Regular Season: 5-4, 2.35 ERA)
  Last outing: 9/30 vs. Cincinnati - 7IP, 2.57 ERA, 2 Earned Runs, 4 Hits, 1 BB, and 9 Ks
- Phillies: Jesús Luzardo (Regular Season: 15-7, 3.92 ERA)
  Last outing: 9/24 vs. Miami - 7IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs, 3 Hits, 0 BBS, and 10 Ks

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Dodgers at Phillies

Mookie Betts is 2-14 lifetime against Jesus Luzardo
Freddie Freeman is 4-11 lifetime against Jesus Luzardo
Shohei Ohtani has just 2 hits in 14 ABs against Luzardo but both hits have been HRs
J.T. Realmuto is 5-21 with 1 HR in his career against Blake Snell
Bryce Harper is 2-13 with 6Ks in his career against Blake Snell

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s NLDS Game 2 between the Dodgers and the Phillies

Rotoworld Best Bet

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Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Dodgers and the Phillies:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Philadelphia Phillies at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.5.

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