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Competition level rises in Dodgers-Brewers NLCS rematch

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) throws a pitch in the ninth inning of the MLB National League Wild Card Game 2 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. The Reds were eliminated from the postseason with an 8-4 loss to the reining World Series Champions La Dodgers. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co

Step one on the path to regaining confidence was figuring out ways of winning no matter what, and that defines the previous series against the Royals—a hard-fought sweep with three close games against one of the worst teams in the sport. Step two is managing to carry on these results against superior opposition such as they’ll face in this four-game set versus the Brewers, owners of the best record in the National League for the second year in a row.

As if turning Kyle Harrison into a dominant starter wasn’t enough, the Brewers have managed to develop Shane Drohan into a solid one. Drohan was acquired alongside Harrison in an offseason trade with the Red Sox that sent Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler to Boston. Coming off his worst outing of the season, in which he allowed six runs in a loss against the Twins, Drohan will be making his third appearance of the year. Drohan twice appeared in relief when the Dodgers visited the Brewers back in May, allowing three runs, two of them earned, in 4.1 innings.

For Roki Sasaki, the Dodgers starter in this series opener, who will only be making his second start at home in the last month, the matchup with the Brewers has its appeal. The starting pitcher with the highest HR/9 currently on the Dodgers staff, Sasaki, will face the team with the lowest number of home runs in all of baseball. Milwaukee enters play today with 111 home runs; for the purposes of comparison, that’s 44 fewer long balls than the Dodgers, who are tied for sixth overall. Keeping the ball in the yard, Sasaki has a chance to improve over .500, currently with a 5-5 record.

Thursday’s game info

  • Teams: Dodgers vs. Brewers
  • Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
  • Start time: 7:10 p.m.
  • TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market)
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
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Yankees leave bats at home, drop drowsy finale to Mariners

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 13: Logan Gilbert #36 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images

I sincerely hope nobody reading this recap took a friend, family member, or romantic partner to this afternoon’s Yankees game, hoping to make a baseball fan for life in the process.

Last night would have been a great game for that sort of thing. The Bombers clawed their way back from an early deficit and beat the brakes off the Mariners in a 10-5 thriller. It’s a fallacy to think in these terms, but it seems as if they expended all the remaining offense they had in their stores for the homestand in that evening tilt. The only scoring either of these two lineups could produce was a home run for Seattle’s Weston Wilson with the bases empty in the second—the rest of the afternoon was dominated by pitching. Logan Gilbert led the charge with a six-inning scoreless performance, outdueling Max Fried as the visitors avoided the sweep and ended their six-game slide with a 1-0 final.

As mentioned, all the offense you would get if you bought a ticket for this getaway day game was a solo home run in the second inning. It was just the second round-tripper allowed by Fried in 2026—and it came against Weston Wilson, a bench bat for Seattle who only had three long balls on the year. Inserted into the lineup over promising regular Cole Young, Wilson fell to two strikes with two outs before a misplaced cutter from Fried gave him a chance to sock one over the left field wall.

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An inning later, it looked as if the Yankees had a splendid scoring opportunity. A single from ninth-place hitter Ali Sánchez was followed by a double by the suddenly scorching Trent Grisham, giving the Yankees two runners in scoring position with just one out for Ben Rice.

Well, until the Mariners challenged, and upon review it was abundantly clear that Grisham had slid too hard into second, bunny-hopping off the base and permitting Leo Rivas to apply the tag on him while he was suspended in midair. Abra-cadabra, the double turned into a big second out for Logan Gilbert, who rolled Rice over to second to neutralize the threat. I gave my fair share of grief to the now-demoted Jasson Domínguez for falling in love with the headfirst slide and subsequently giving away outs, but there’s an art to the footfirst slide too—Grisham did not practice it there. Can we get some drills going?

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Like his last start on Friday, Fried was sharp, but his counterpart was sharper. Max scattered five hits and did some of his best work with two outs to prevent any crooked numbers, but Logan Gilbert mowed his way through the Yankee lineup to make the one misplaced cutter to Wilson stand up.

While Randy Arozarena and Julio Rodríguez failed to combine for a run in the fifth, they collectively saw enough pitches with two out to force Aaron Boone to the bullpen the following frame. Ryan Yarbrough did his best Fried impression with a perfect sixth, striking out a pair.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Yankees’ mission was as follows: get somebody into scoring position for Luis García Jr., who was the only guy in the lineup to solve Gilbert multiple times. He doubled to lead off the second, then singled with one out in the fourth, but the Yankees failed to advance him in either instance. He was due up fourth, so the Bombers needed to get somebody on and ideally somebody over.

Well, the Bombers got a man on, as Ben Rice worked a four-pitch walk. But thanks to the power of ABS challenges, the Bombers failed to get him over; Jhonny Pereda made two successful challenges on outside fastballs with two strikes to give Gilbert a pair of big Ks. García came up and battled Gilbert to the hilt, but ultimately fell on the pitch which gave the home team fits all afternoon: the splitter. The tall Seattle righty finished with six scoreless innings, scattering four hits, the lone walk to Rice, and striking out seven.

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More frustration followed in the seventh, even as the Yankees built a two-out rally from dryer lint and a couple of Cheerios. In other words: Eduard Bazardo issued a pair of two-out walks, permitting a chance for Amed Rosario to tie the game off the bench. But Rosario quickly slipped into an 0-2 hole, then fell victim to yet another successful challenge of a borderline pitch by Pereda, who probably deserved game MVP honors among position players given the triumvirate of punchouts he reclaimed for his pitchers. The Yankees at least managed to get their fans to stand up in considerable number before getting them to sit back down again.

José A. Ferrer made quick work of the Bombers and pinch-hitter Heliot Ramos in the eighth, setting the stage for the ninth. Seattle closer Andrés Muñoz faced all three Juniors in succession—García, Lombard, and Chisholm. García bounced one to second, Lombard struck out on three pitches, and Chisholm swung through a slider to cement a 1-0 dud from a Yankee lineup which sorely missed Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton.

If you thought, boy, the Yankees sure played like they had a flight to catch…well, they did. Get ready to learn Toronto dialect, buddy. That’s where the Bombers are headed: north of the border to Rogers Centre to kick off a road trip. The Blue Jays did the Yankees a massive favor by taking at least three games from the Red Sox earlier in the week—now New York will try to communicate their gratitude by defeating them. Isn’t that nice? Gerrit Cole will take on Shane Bieber in the series opener tomorrow night at 7:15 PM on Apple TV+.

Box Score

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Warriors not trading Stephen Curry, tried to find trade co-owner Joe Lacob says

Stephen Curry has said he wants to play his entire career with one team. Golden State — from ownership through the entire front office — has said it wants Curry to retire a Warrior.

However, when the Warriors struck out on landing LeBron James this summer, or making any other significant roster upgrades, speculation started. Curry is entering the final year of his contract and hasn't signed an extension, could the Warriors trade him? Could Curry chase a ring elsewhere?

Warriors Governor Joe Lacob shot that down, or that Curry wanted out, in an appearance on “The TK Show” podcast (Tim Kawakami's show) as detailed by Dylan Grausz and Kevin Topley at NBC Sports Bay Area.

"No, no, no. I don't think that is even a thing. This is just a clickbait thing from all these people that do this kind of thing these days, and there seem to be a lot of them. I don't believe any of that is true. I'm very close with Steph -- he lives right near me, he's incredibly happy with the organization, with his life… I've never heard a word about that, and I can't imagine it. We certainly don't want him to go anywhere. I just think people are completely making a bunch of crap up."

The Warriors have tried to make big moves, including chasing Giannis Antetokounmpo and having talks with the Clippers about a Kawhi Leonard trade at the deadline last February. This summer they tried to chase LeBron. None of that came together, something Lacob discussed.

"We have to make a good trade, we have to make a trade that makes sense. If we thought we had a great trade in front of us, and by the way, without talking a little bit too much more than I should about secret dealings that went on in the offseason, we made at least two very big offers in the last six months, let's put it that way. Between the trade deadline and the summer, at least two... They didn't work out, the cost was too high to be justifiable or we weren't selected. These things happen. I've told all of our fans from day one, we're going to go after pretty much anybody who is a good player and check it out."

Lacob also doesn't get the pessimism around this team. Once Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody return from injury during the season, Lacob believes the Warriors will be a threat.

"I'm actually excited about our team. I don't understand what all the negativity is about. There are those out there that are very critical, of course, about everything. Everyone has an opinion. They have the right to their opinion — at least we're being talked about."

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Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani allowed to opt out of contract if team is sold

While the Los Angeles Dodgers say Mark Walter's sale of the Lakers will have no impact on the baseball club and there are no plans to sell the back-to-back World Series winners, their best player's record-setting contract is tied to the current owner's presence in the organization.

As part of Shohei Ohtani's 10-year, $700 million contract deal for the 2024 season (with $680 million deferred), the four-time MVP has the ability to opt out of the contract if Walter or Dodgers president Andrew Friedman leaves the organization.

Ohtani's contract states that if there is "specific change in Dodger personnel, player may opt out of contract at end of season the change occurs," USA TODAY Sports reported in 2023.

It was believed to be the first time such a "key man" provision had been included in a player contract.

“When you sit down with people and you form a bond and a partnership," Ohtani's agent Nez Balelo told USA TODAY, “it’s important that you keep the band together.

"If the band falls apart, at least you have options. We felt like it was important to say that as long as everyone stays together, we’re all in."

The news that Walter was selling the Lakers a year after buying the team came as a shock on Wednesday, Aug. 12 and immediately led to speculation that it was a harbinger of something to come with the Dodgers.

But CEO Stan Kasten insisted that the Lakers transaction was "not really a Dodgers story" and said "they're completely separate. There are no changes here or contemplated here."

Walter and his company are currently facing a federal probe by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for alleged loan fraud using insurance money from policy holders to pay loans to undisclosed outside business ventures.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani allowed to opt out of contract if team is sold

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Rangers vs Angels Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's MLB Game

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The Texas Rangers travel to take on the Los Angeles Angels as -148 favorites at Polymarket.

With Jacob deGrom on the mound, we're backing Texas in our Rangers vs. Angels predictions — let's see them exact some revenge after losing a full game in the Wild Card race last night.

Let’s dive into my MLB picks for Thursday, Aug. 13.

Who will win Rangers vs Angels tonight: Rangers (-148)

After getting nickel-and-dimed to death last night, Jacob deGrom will be looking to get the Texas Rangers back in the win column — and he's the right man for the job.

The Rangers ace has notoriously owned this Los Angeles Angels team over the course of his career, striking this lineup out at a 32% clip across 72 at-bats.

With the Angels among the bottom-five teams for wRC+ in all of baseball, I expect the Rangers to squeeze this one out in a low-scoring game.

I'd price this closer to -155.

Covers COVERS INTEL: How bad is it in Los Angeles? The Angels rank in the bottom 10 not only in wRC+, but home runs, OPS, hits, and strikeouts. Runs will be tough to come by against the Texas veteran.

Rangers vs Angels Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-116)

We know what deGrom brings to this matchup against the putrid Angels offense, but what about Los Angeles starter Walbert Urena?

Well, his numbers against the Rangers are pretty damn good: Texas has managed just two hits and owns a sub-.100 xBA against Urena over 30 plate appearances.

Prior to his last start against the Miami Marlins, Urena had allowed just two earned runs across his last 22 innings pitched. This should be a strong pitching matchup tonight, so let's ride the under.

I'm playing this up to -130.

Rangers vs Angels home run prediction: Zach Neto (+414)

Zach Neto has dialed in his timing against deGrom, boasting two home runs (two doubles and five hits overall, .595 xSLG) in just 12 career at-bats off him.

With deGrom elevating his four-seamer early in counts, Neto's pull-side swing path gives him our edge to clear the wall.

More home run predictions for Thursday can be found with our resident expert Josh Inglis.

Dustin Saracini's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 3-5, -2.26 units
  • Over/Under bets: 4-4, -0.80 units

Rangers vs Angels weather

It's a perfect night for baseball at Angel Stadium, with clear skies and temperatures expected to sit at 69F.

Rangers vs Angels odds

  • Moneyline: Rangers (-148) | Angels (+138)
  • Run line: Rangers -1.5 (+122) | Angels (-127)
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+108) | Under 7.5 (-116)

Rangers vs Angels trend

The Under is 6-0 in deGrom's last six starts with four days of rest. Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Angels.

How to watch Rangers vs Angels and game info

LocationAngel Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
DateThursday, August 13, 2026
First pitch10:07 p.m. ET
TVRSN, ABTV
Rangers starting pitcherJacob deGrom
(8-7, 3.87 ERA)
Angels starting pitcherWalbert Urena
(7-8, 2.83 ERA)

Rangers vs Angels latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Phillies vs Twins Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's Field of Dreams Game

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The Field of Dreams Game is tonight, with the Minnesota Twins taking on the Philadelphia Phillies in Dyersville, Iowa. Minnesota is currently listed at -103 odds via Polymarket.

I have you covered for my Phillies vs. Twins predictions and MLB picks for Thursday, Aug. 13, spearheaded by Minnesota closing the gap in the AL Central race.

First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from the Field of Dreams, with the game airing LIVE on Netflix. 

Who will win Phillies vs Twins today: Twins (-103)

The Field of Dreams Game has arrived as Aaron Nola of the Philadelphia Phillies and Taj Bradley of the Minnesota Twins are set to take the mound this evening. 

Mr. Bradley could be in the better spot, as he’s quietly put together a very underrated season, sporting a 3.76 ERA, 3.55 xERA, and 1.25 WHIP. Nola, on the other hand, has struggled, allowing plenty of hard-hit balls while posting a 1.45 WHIP this season.

Both teams enter pretty hot, with both offenses sporting wRC+ marks above 115 and a wOBA above .337. This is going to be an all-out brawl from start to finish, but I like the Twins in this spot.

If Bradley can find his rhythm and hit his spots, expect the right-hander to have a fairly solid outing against the Phillies.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, Minnesota infielder Royce Lewis is batting .357 with a .571 SLG and .971 OPS, while generating a 50% hard-hit rate and 15% barrel rate.

Phillies vs Twins Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-107)

Both offenses have started to heat up over their last six games.

The Twins own a 119 wRC+, .340 wOBA, .756 OPS and 10.7% walk rate over that span, while the Phillies have posted a 115 wRC+, .344 wOBA, .761 OPS and a shockingly low 15.9% strikeout rate during that stretch.

With humidity sitting above 90%, conditions should be favorable for hitters, so I’m expecting a higher-scoring affair.

Phillies vs Twins home run prediction: Kyle Schwarber (+276)

The one guy that stood out the most in this matchup is easily Kyle Schwarber, who has been heating up over his last 10 games.

During that stretch, the slugger owns a .500 SLG and .235 ISO while generating a 47.6% hard-hit rate and 14.3% barrel rate.

The Phillies slugger enters Thursday with the No. 1 matchup rating on Batters-Box. On top of that, he is covering more than 90% of Bradley’s entire pitch mix. Over the last three seasons, in 283 elite-rated games, the big fella has hit a home run 26.5% of the time.

Bradley has looked a lot better since joining the Twins. However, he has struggled against left-handed hitters. Overall this season, he has allowed a 45.2% hard-hit rate, 13.7% barrel rate, and 33% ground-ball rate.

Playable to +250.

Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
  • Full Season: 392-760, -14.8 units
  • Home Run Record: 98-349, +10.10

Why the Field of Dreams Game is special 🌽

There’s nothing quite like watching baseball in the middle of an Iowa cornfield, brought to life by the iconic film Field of Dreams.

Released in 1989, the movie stars Kevin Costner as Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella and is based on W.P. Kinsella’s 1982 novel Shoeless Joe.

With the Phillies and Twins squaring off on Netflix tonight, this year’s matchup marks the event’s return for the first time since 2022.

The recently retired Tim Anderson owns the most memorable Field of Dreams moment, walking off the Yankees in a high-scoring thriller back in 2021.

Phillies vs Twins weather

Temperatures in Dyersville should hover in the mid-70s, with humidity around 90%.

Phillies vs Twins odds

  • Moneyline: Phillies -107 | Twins -103
  • Run line: Phillies -1.5 (+158) | Twins +1.5 (-175)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-107) | Under 8.5 (-103)

Phillies vs Twins trend

Philadelphia has hit the game total Over in eight of its last 14 games (+4.75 Units / 31% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Twins.

How to watch Phillies vs Twins and game info

LocationField of Dreams, Dyersville, IA
DateThursday, August 13, 2026
First pitch7:30 p.m. ET
TVNetflix
Phillies starting pitcherAaron Nola
(3-9, 5.47 ERA)
Twins starting pitcherTaj Bradley
(9-4, 3.76 ERA)

Phillies vs Twins latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Fantasy takeaways from 2026-27 NBA regular-season schedule release

After three days of gradual releases, the entire 2026-27 NBA regular season schedule was released on Thursday. That offers another resource for fantasy managers to consider when crafting their draft strategies for the fall. Below are a few takeaways from the schedule, beginning with the reigning Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs.

NBA: Los Angeles Clippers at New Orleans Pelicans
What Are the Best Games of the 2026-27 NBA Season? Top Matchups, Finals Previews, LeBron’s season with 76ers
Everything starts Oct. 20 on NBC and Peacock — and there are a lot of must-watch games to follow.

The Spurs are tied for most rest days with 94.

Of course, it isn't just about how many rest days a team gets, but also about where they land on the calendar. The Spurs, who improved their depth this offseason with the signing of Tobias Harris and selection of Tarris Reed Jr. (Jayden Quaintance is coming off another knee surgery), will have 94 rest days during the 2026-27 regular season. That should help keep Victor Wembanyama relatively fresh after he needed a waiver to be eligible for postseason awards in 2025-26.

The 7-foot-4 phenom played in 64 regular-season games for the Spurs, finishing third in MVP voting and winning Defensive Player of the Year. Wembanyama is in the conversation to go first overall in fantasy drafts, along with Denver's Nikola Jokić, and those rest days may lead some to go with the younger talent when crafting their rosters. However, it's important to note that San Antonio will play two back-to-backs in its first five games of the season. Given the timing, that should not be a significant issue, but you never know.

The Knicks are tied for the fewest road back-to-back games with five.

Having to play the second game of a back-to-back on the road is never great, but it's a reality for all teams. New York will only have to do this five times, which should be good news for their key fantasy options. Head coach Mike Brown took the necessary steps to reduce the workload of his key players last season, and that approach contributed to the Knicks winning their first title in 53 years.

All five Knicks starters appeared in at least 66 regular-season games, and three (Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges) appeared in 74 or more. Those road back-to-backs may be most impactful for streaming options, whether it's guards Miles McBride or Jose Alvarado or second-year wing Mohamed Diawara. But it should not change anything regarding the Knicks who qualify as must-draft players.

The 76ers have the fewest stretches of three games in four nights.

Given the addition of LeBron James and Joel Embiid's injury history, this is good fortune for the 76ers and fantasy managers who wind up rostering their key players. While he has played 23 NBA regular seasons, James appeared in 60 or fewer games in five of his eight seasons with the Lakers. He played in 60 games last season, which made him ineligible for postseason awards. The good news for fantasy managers was that he missed just four games in March and April, the playoff time for most fantasy leagues.

Embiid's situation is more suspect, as he's appeared in 39, 19 and 38 games his last three seasons. He appeared in a total of five games in March and April last season, including Philadelphia's final three games of March. Having the fewest sets of three games in four nights could bode well for Embiid, and the 76ers need it to be, given the options currently behind him on the depth chart (Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti).

Denver won’t have its first back-to-back until November 29-30

The Nuggets were done a favor on two fronts regarding back-to-backs. First, they'll only have to navigate 12, which is tied for the fewest in the NBA. Also, the Nuggets won't play their first back-to-back until November 29-30. Jamal Murray (75 games) and Nikola Jokić (65) played enough to qualify for postseason honors in 2025-26, but there are other Nuggets who may benefit from the 2026-27 schedule.

Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, Christian Braun and Peyton Watson (who remains a restricted free agent) all played 54 games or fewer last season, negatively affecting the season-long fantasy values of each. If a lighter back-to-back workload can benefit them, that would be good news for fantasy managers.

The Lakers are one of three teams with three sets of five games in seven nights.

Those congested schedules in which teams are required to play four games in five nights or five in seven can be very demanding, and not just on the players. For some, that may require finding a capable streamer to cover for a player sitting out due to injury management. The Lakers are one of three teams that will have to play five games in seven days on three separate occasions this season.

Luka Dončić (64 games in 2025-26) and Austin Reaves (51) are coming off a season in which they missed extended periods due to injury, and offseason acquisition Walker Kessler only played five games before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. While there may not be much margin for error in the middle of the Western Conference, there may be times when a Lakers star gets a night off, opening the door for someone else to step up as a potential streamer.

The Pelicans have two back-to-backs in their first five games.

The Spurs aren't the only team that will have to play two back-to-backs in its first five games. New Orleans is also on that list, and there may be greater concern for them given their injury history. Zion Williamson appeared in 62 games last season, a step in the right direction, but there will always be concerns about his availability. Trey Murphy and Herb Jones have dealt with injuries in the past, but the former did appear in 66 games in 2025-26. And Dejounte Murray did not return from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in January 2025 until after the All-Star break, appearing in 14 games before being shut down in early April.

In addition to those two back-to-backs to begin the season, New Orleans will play nine before the calendar flips to 2027, and they have the most instances of three games in four nights (27). Figuring out the direction the Pelicans are headed can be tricky, especially with the need to further incorporate Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. Beyond the back-to-backs, this may be a team to keep an eye on at the trade deadline, given its mix of veterans and young players.

Boston, Dallas and New Orleans lead the league with 16 back-to-backs.

In recent years, the NBA has made strides in limiting the number of back-to-backs teams are asked to play. All 30 will play between 12 and 16 in 2026-27, with the Celtics, Mavericks and Pelicans leading the way. Dallas is a team to watch here due to Kyrie Irving missing all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL, and centers Daniel Gafford (55 games played) and Dereck Lively II (seven games played) missing extended time due to ankle and foot injuries, respectively. Those back-to-backs may not give Irving much room for error regarding postseason honors, while the availability of the post players will impact rookie Morez Johnson Jr.'s fantasy ceiling.

As for the Celtics, Jayson Tatum appeared in 16 regular-season games upon returning from a ruptured Achilles, and Paul George totaled 78 games in two seasons with the 76ers. Of the two, Tatum is the one who will merit first-round consideration in drafts, especially with Jaylen Brown in Philadelphia. As for George, while the Celtics' offensive system could benefit him, the availability concerns may still knock him down most draft boards.

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Yankees' bats quieted in 1-0 loss to Mariners

The Yankees couldn't complete the series sweep, falling to the Seattle Mariners by a score of 1-0 on Thursday afternoon in the Bronx.

Here are the key takeaways...

--Max Fried, who has been terrific since coming off of the IL, pitched 5.0 innings of one-run ball, but he didn't have his sharpest stuff. He only allowed five hits, one of which was a Weston Wilson solo home run in the top of the second inning, and struck out four while walking two. But he threw 88 pitches (55 of which were strikes), and he seemed to have a lot of trouble locating his breaking ball. 

--After breaking out for 10 runs on Wednesday night, the Yankees bats couldn't do much of anything against Mariners starter Logan Gilbert. The righty went 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while striking out seven and walking only one. 

-- The Yankees caught a big break in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Jose Caballero was dead to rights trying to steal second base, but Colt Emerson dropped the ball on the tag. The inning stayed alive, but Amed Rosario was called out on strikes with runners on the corners to end the threat.

--The Yankees didn't have a ton of chances to score, but Trent Grisham didn't help matters in the bottom of the third, when what should have been a double was erased because Grisham popped up on the slide and was tagged out. The Yankees should have had runners on second and third with one out, but instead it was the second out of the inning, and the third out came quickly after.

The Yanks struck out 10 times and went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. 

-- The Yankees' bullpen did a good job of keeping the Mariners at bay following Fried's outing. Ryan Yarbrough, Yerry De los Santos, and Fernando Cruz combined for 4.0 scoreless innings.

Game MVP

Gilbert, who put a zero on the board through 6.0 innings.

Highlights

Next Up

The Yankees head to Toronto for a weekend series against the Blue Jays, starting on Friday night at 7:15 p.m.

Gerrit Cole will face Shane Bieber.

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What Are the Best Games of the 2026-27 NBA Season? Top Matchups, Finals Previews, LeBron's season with 76ers

It's like Christmas in August.

The full 2026-27 NBA Season has been released, all 1,230 games. It's a lot, so we've broken out the best games, the can't-miss games, the appointment-viewing games from the full NBA schedule to make it a little easier. Here are the days and games you need to circle on the calendar.

Opening Night, Oct. 20

There are three games, all exclusively on NBC and Peacock — including LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers coming to Madison Square Garden on Ring Night to spoil the party. We also get the first San Antonio vs. Oklahoma City showdown of the season.

• Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons (3 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock)
• Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks (7 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock)
• Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio Spurs (9:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock)

Curry vs. Jokic

The Warriors vs. the Nuggets is the first game of the season exclusively on Peacock and features two of the league's biggest stars, Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic.

• Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets (10 p.m. ET, Peacock)

Jaylen Brown returns to Boston

Jaylen Brown makes his much-anticipated return to Boston to face Jayson Tatum and the only team he had ever known on Jan. 21. Brown's first game against his former team comes on Nov. 10, but in the comfort of home in Philadelphia — and you can see it on NBC and Peacock.

• Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers (Nov. 10, 8 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock)
• Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics (Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
• Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers (Feb. 27, 8 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock)

Antetokounmpo returns to Milwaukee

The biggest game of the season for the Bucks comes on Jan. 28 when Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat come to town — Antetokounmpo's return to Milwaukee. What kind of reception will he get? It should be nothing but love, like he showed the city for so long and in bringing it a championship.

• Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks (Jan. 28, 9:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video).

LaMelo returns to Charlotte

LaMelo Ball returns to Charlotte on Presidents' Day, Feb. 15, 2027, with a game you can watch on NBC and Peacock. Expect him to feel the love from the crowd. Also that day, Victor Wembanyama vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo.

• Minnesota Timberwolves at Charlotte Hornets (12 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock)
• San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat (5 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock)

Ja Morant returns to Memphis

Morant was a fan favorite and will feel the love despite wearing a new uniform.

• Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies (Feb. 6, 5:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video)

Christmas Day

It's the NBA's showcase day, and this is a must-watch lineup of games where you can plop yourself in front of the television and enjoy while wearing that new sweater from your uncle. It starts off with an NBA Finals rematch and is highlighted by LeBron James' return to Los Angeles.

• San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks (12 p.m.m. ET, ABC and ESPN)
• Miami Heat at Boston Celtics (2:30 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN).
• Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers (5 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN)
• Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN)
• Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors (10:30 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN)

Dybantsa vs. Peterson

The first meeting of the No. 1 and No. 2 picks from last June's draft — Washington's A.J. Dybantsa and Utah's Darren Peterson — doesn't come until February, but it should be worth the wait.

• Washington Wizards at Utah Jazz (Feb. 27, 3 p.m. ET, Prime Video)

Sunday Night Basketball

Sunday Night Basketball — the marquee game of the week, highlighted on Sunday night — returns to NBC on Jan. 24 and continues through the rest of the season. That first game is can't-miss.

• Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors (Jan. 24, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock)

2027 NBA All-Star Weekend

The NBA All-Star Game — and the entire weekend of events — descends upon Phoenix this year, from Feb. 19-21 (the All-Star Game is on the 21st). Friday night will feature the Rising Stars Game. Saturday, Feb. 20, will be All-Star Saturday Night with the 3-Point Contest, Dunk Contest, and more. The All-Star Game itself is on Feb. 21. The entire weekend of events will be exclusively broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

NBA Cup title game

A year ago, the New York Knicks won the NBA Cup then went on to win the NBA title. Two years ago, Oklahoma City made the NBA Cup Finals then went on to win the NBA title. Tune in to see which team looks like a champion. This year's title game will be played at Butler University's Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

• NBA Cup championship game, Dec. 11, Prime Video.

Doncic vs. Durant

Luka Doncic vs. Kevin Durant. Two iconic stars. Two teams trying to prove they belong at the top of the West. Watch it on Nov. 30, exclusively on Peacock.

• Los Ángeles Lakers at Houston Rockets (7:30 p.m. ET, Peacock).

Nikola Jokic in Madison Square Garden

Playing in Madison Square Garden brings out the best in players, and when Nikola Jokic is putting on a show there is nothing like it. Tune in Jan. 11, 2027, exclusively on Peacock.

• Denver Nuggets at New York Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET, Peacock)

Wembanyama in Paris

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are playing two international games this season, each against Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. Wemby in Paris is worth tuning in for, and the second game will be the NBA's first-ever game in Manchester, England (a place the league hopes to put an NBA Europe team).

• New Orleans Pelicans at San Antonio Spurs in Paris (Jan. 14, 2 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
• San Antonio Spurs at New Orleans Pelicans in Manchester (Jan. 17, 10:30 a.am. ET, Prime Video)

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

NBC and Peacock will broadcast a four-game slate on Jan. 18, 2027, the day honoring the civil rights leader. It includes the traditional games taking place in Atlanta and Memphis.

• Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers (12 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock)
• Philadelphia 76ers at Atlanta Hawks (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock)
• Minnesota Timberwolves at New York Knicks (5 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock)
• Houston Rockets at Memphis Grizzlies (7:30 p.m. ET, Peacock)

Lakers vs. Celtics

The most historic rivalry in the NBA is renewed, this year between two quality teams.

• Los Ángeles Lakers at Boston Celtics (Feb. 2, 8 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock)

Knicks vs. Thunder Finals preview?

New York and Oklahoma City might have met in last year's NBA Finals if the Thunder had been healthy — and we could well see that matchup this season. Tune in for this potential Finals preview on Sunday Night Basketball.

• New York Knicks at Oklahoma City Thunder (Feb. 7, 9:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock)
Durant vs. Antetokounmpo

Another Sunday Night Basketball gem featuring two of the greatest bucket-getters the game has ever seen, Kevin Durant vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo.

• Miami Heat at Houston Rockets (Feb. 28, p:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock.
Finals Rematch

Getting late into the season, we get a rematch of last season's NBA Finals — and potentially a preview of a repeat. All of it on Sunday Night Basketball. (The teams also meet on Christmas Day.)

• New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs (March 7, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock).

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Done in a weekend – the $12.5bn LA Lakers sale that shocked the NBA

Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a basket
Luka Doncic is a big star at the LA Lakers and has backed the new owners [Getty Images]

It was a move that has left the NBA world in shock. And the deal was done astonishing quickly. The Los Angeles Lakers' record $12.5bn (£9.3bn) sale was agreed in the space of a weekend.

News broke on Wednesday that Josh Kushner, the brother of US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared, and former Disney chief executive Bob Iger were buying the controlling interest in one of the world's most iconic sports teams.

Kushner moved fast to get the deal done.

Only last Friday, he approached Mark Walter over the majority stake he purchased only last year. They got to work instantly to hammer out an agreement.

If approved by the NBA's board of governors, the deal will become the most expensive sports team sale ever reported - and Walter will have made a $2.5bn (£1.9bn) profit on his investment in next to no time.

Walter had not actively been looking to sell his majority stake in the NBA franchise, while Kushner's move was not influenced by the collapse of Fifa's controversial World Cup investment plan.

Thrive Eternal, an American venture capital firm founded by Kushner, had been expected to lead the proposed investor group for the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal before it was abandoned.

The speed of the Lakers agreement has added to the level of surprise surrounding the sale in the United States.

When ESPN broke the story on Wednesday, it sparked a flurry of reaction and comment. NBA executives, insiders and other figures within the sport were all stunned.

The Lakers were valued at $10bn (£7.4bn) in June 2025 - then a record for a sports team.

So where does this deal rank in world sport? And will the deal be a good thing for the Lakers?

A record breaking sports deal

Joshua Kushner (L) and Bob Iger watch tennis
Josh Kushner (left) and Bob Iger will be the new owners [Getty Images]

Walter said after the sale was announced that owning the Lakers had been "one of the great honours" of his life and described it as an "extraordinary investment".

Reasons for the sudden sale are unclear. Walter is facing an ongoing federal investigation into his company Delaware Life - but there is no suggestion that the Lakers sale was prompted by that investigation.

The numbers involved in the Lakers deal underline why it has caused such a stir.

It surpasses not only the Lakers valuation when Walter bought his stake in 2025, but also the $6.1bn (£4.5bn) valuation of the Boston Celtics when their controlling stake changed hands last year.

It is more than three times the value set for the Phoenix Suns when they were sold to Mat Ishbia for $4bn (£3bn) in 2023.

In addition, it beats the $9.6bn (£7.1bn) for which the NFL's Seattle Seahawks was sold last month.

The deal is also worth significantly more than those involving leading Premier League clubs.

Todd Boehly's consortium paid £2.5bn to buy Chelsea in 2022, although the overall deal amounted to£4.25bn ($5.7bn).

Manchester United's Glazer family were reported to want £10bn ($13.5bn) to sell the club, but that was an asking price rather than a completed transaction. Sir Jim Ratcliffe instead bought a 27.7% stake for about £1.3bn in 2024.

Magic Johnson backs the sale

Kushner and Iger are coming in at a time when the Lakers are in transition.

The Lakers have not won an NBA title since 2020, when LeBron James and Anthony Davis led them to their 17th championship.

With James confirming his exit at the end of June and Luka Doncic the team's leading man, the Lakers are facing another fresh start. Doncic is preparing to work under his fifth different owner across just the two NBA teams he has played for.

"I've gotten used to big changes over these last few years," he wrote on social media, before adding that he looked forward to "building something special in LA together".

Kushner and his company have been looking at investing in the NBA for some time, although the sale still brings uncertainty over how the Lakers will be run.

Basketball legend Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, a five-time NBA champion with the Lakers, backed the deal, though.

"Lakers fans, you couldn't have two better owners. I've known Bob personally for over 40 years," he said on social media.

"He has always loved the Lakers and basketball and he will bring championships back to LA."

More on Basketball from BBC Sport

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Lakers again have most nationally televised games on their schedule

The Lakers' 2020 NBA championship banner is unveiled in a ceremoney on May 12, 2021.
The Lakers, with 17 NBA championships, remain a big draw. They hung their last banner after the 2019-20 season. (Harry How / Getty Images)

LeBron James has moved back to the Eastern Conference, but the Lakers remain a major box office draw for the NBA.

With an almost brand new rotation after a busy offseason that elevated Luka Doncic to the team’s unquestioned leader, the Lakers have the maximum amount of nationally televised games in the NBA this season with 34, according to the league schedule released Thursday. The Lakers open the season against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21 on ESPN.

The slate is highlighted by a much-anticipated Christmas Day reunion with James that will be televised at 2 p.m. on ABC. The matchup at Crypto.com Arena will be James’ return to L.A. after the four-time NBA champion signed with the Philadelphia 76ers this summer following eight seasons with the Lakers. James will play on Christmas Day for the 21st time in his 24-season career, and the Lakers will play on the holiday for the 28th consecutive time.

The Lakers don’t meet James in his new home until March 4, when they finish a four-game trip in Philadelphia.

The Lakers have a frantic start to the season, playing 13 games in the first four weeks. They have three back-to-back sets during the busy stretch from the opener to the end of a three-game trip in Milwaukee on Nov. 11.

The traditional Grammys trip begins in Indiana on Jan. 28 followed by a back-to-back set in New York (Jan. 30) and Charlotte (Jan. 31). The Lakers then continue the seven-game trip by circling back north from Charlotte to Boston (Feb. 2) and Brooklyn (Jan. 4), then heading West with stops in San Antonio (Feb. 6) and Phoenix (Feb. 8).

Read more:Bob Iger, Joshua Kushner to buy Lakers from Mark Walter's ownership group for $12.5 billion

The reigning NBA champion New York Knicks, Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs and James’ 76ers each have 34 nationally televised games. The final two games of the 82-game season will be determined in December as the NBA Cup midseason tournament plays out.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Nets' 2026-27 NBA regular season schedule

The Nets will open the 2026-27 NBA regular season by hosting the Charlotte Hornets on Oct. 21, the league announced on Thursday.

Brooklyn, coming off a rough 20-62 season, has just two games on national television for the season: a visit to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 23, in JuliusRandle's first game after arriving in an offseason trade, and when they host the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 20. The Nets will also play 16 back-to-back games.

The Nets will lock horns with their defending champions from across the river four times, playing the first two games at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 2 and Dec. 27. They will host the Knicks on Feb. 1 and April 2. 

In the NBA Cup, New York will face Detroit (Oct. 30) and Orlando (Nov. 20) at home and travel to Milwaukee (Nov. 25) and Toronto (Nov. 27) in group play. The knockout round games will be on Dec. 4, 5, 8, 9, and the title game on 11, if they advance that far.

LeBron James and the new-look 76ers will visit Brooklyn for the first time on Nov. 16 and Feb. 25. The Nets will travel to face the Sixers on Jan. 14 and Feb. 8. 

The Nets will have a tough stretch toward the end of the season when they play just twice at home during an 11-game stretch, which includes five straight on the road from Feb. 27 through March 7 against the Bulls, the Nuggets, the Suns, the Clippers, and the Lakers.

They will have a stretch of seven of eight games at home, including six straight games at Barclays Center starting in mid-December. 

Here's the rest of Brooklyn's 2026-27 schedule:

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Tigers shutout Guardians without a single strikeout

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 13: Javier Báez #28 of the Detroit Tigers tries to turn a double play around Angel Martínez #1 of the Cleveland Guardians in the eighth inning at Comerica Park on August 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Tigers collected a win to edge their way into a Wild Card spot after beating the Guardians 3-0 to win the series two games to one. Next up? The division leading Chicago White Sox come to town on Friday night.

Nothing quite like afternoon baseball on a nice August day in Detroit. The Tigers were hoping to wrap up their series against the Guardians with a win, after dropping the second game on Wednesday night. To get the job done they had the reliable Keider Montero on the mound up against the sometimes scary Parker Messick for Cleveland.

Chase DeLauter got things going for the Guardians with a one-out walk in the first. He then stole second, but thanks to a fielding error from McGonigle, DeLauter ended up at third. I love Kevin but the fielding has been wildly inconsistent the last couple of days. The gaffe didn’t end up costing the Tigers, though, as the next two batters were out. The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the home half.

Montero was in a nice groove in the second, getting the Guardians out in order. In the bottom of the inning, Spencer Torkelson reached on an error by the pitcher, and ultimately wound up at second base. The Tigers weren’t able to take advantage of having a runner in scoring position though and Messick didn’t end up causing his own unearned run.

Brayan Rocchio got a one-out single in the third, but two outs quickly followed to leave the runner stranded. In the home half, Javier Baez got a leadoff double. Ben Malgeri was then hit by a pitch. The bases were soon loaded as Gleyber Torres walked. Not sure if that second inning error shook Messick’s confidence, but this certainly wasn’t the version of the pitcher we were expecting to see today. A Dillon Dingler groundout scored Baez, putting the Tigers on the board first. They had to settle for just the one run, but it was a good start.

The Guardians went 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the inning, the Tigers did much the same.

Another three-up, three-down outing for Montero in the fifth. Nice stuff from him today. And once again, the Tigers went 1-2-3 in the home half.

With two outs in the sixth DeLauter singled. Jose Ramirez then walked, and that was a situation where the Tigers would have loved to not have squandered all their ABS challenges because it shouldn’t have been a walk, but there was nothing to be done. Montero got out of the jam by inducing a flyout to end the inning.

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In the home half with two outs Eduardo Valenica hit a solo home run to left field. The rookie continues to swing an extremely hot bat with five homers and a ludicrous 248 wRC+ in 46 plate appearances. Spencer Torkelson walked and that was it for Messick, who was replaced by Craig Yoho. Yoho got the final out of the inning.

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Jo Adell grounded out to start the inning, but the Guardians challenged, claiming Torkelson came off the bag. It did look like Tork’s foot was off the bag when he caught the ball, but it was hard to say definitively. The Tigers got exceptionally lucky and the call was upheld for the first out of the inning. That was also it for Montero, whose final line for the game was 6.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K on 88 pitches. For a game without a single strikeout, Montero really dominated the Guardians, inducing a lot of weak contact to keep them off the basepaths. A nice outing from him. Tyler Holton came in to replace him. He got the final two outs of the inning. In the bottom of the inning Malgeri got a two-out single but the Tigers weren’t able to bring him home.

Angel Martinez got a leadoff single in the eighth. Steven Kwan then hit into a force out to eliminate Martinez and put Kwan on, but the next batter was an out to leave him stranded. In the bottom of the inning Franco Aleman came in, and man don’t you think the Brewers wish they had a guy named “Aleman” in their bullpen? Yes, I know it’s not pronounced Ale Man, but still…) Kevin McGonigle got a one-out single. McGonigle stole second, then a pinch-hitting Colt Keith took a walk. Torkelson then singled to bring McGonigle home. Tim Herrin was the new pitcher after that. Keith advanced to third on a passed ball, but the Tigers would have to settle for just the one extra run, as Herrin got the two outs to end the inning.

Can the narrative survive this terrible truth?

Up to this point the Tigers had managed to maintain a shutout without striking out a single batter, so it remained to be seen if Kenley Jansen could continue the trend and also keep the Guardians scoreless in the ninth. Malgeri made another nice play on the warning track to retire Jose Ramirez. Sometimes the best thing you can do to improve your high leverage relief is to play better defense. A foul pop-up between third base and home plate should have been an out but McGonigle or Dingler both pulled up just short and it dropped on the ground. That’s not what we were looking for, defensively, but Jansen still managed to get the final outs of the inning on a fly ball to Clark and a line drive straight to McKinstry in left to complete the win without a single strikeout.

That is the first shutout without a strikeout in the major leagues since Rick Porcello’s 95 pitch Maddux back on July 1, 2014. It’s only happened nine times since 1995.

Final: Tigers 3, Guardians 0

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Washington Nationals vs Chicago Cubs Game Thread

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 12: Jackson Kent #25 of the Washington Nationals pitches in his Major League Debut during the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park on August 12, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Nats have had no answers for the Cubs’ fearsome offense so far this series. Alex Bregman, Seiya Suzuki and PCA have overwhelmed the Nats. However, they will get the chance to salvage a contest this afternoon. With their ace on the mound, this is a game the Nats need to have.

With a righty who is actually slightly better against lefties on the mound, Blake Butera has a different looking lineup. CJ Abrams and Abi Ortiz are the top two. However, righties like Dylan Crews, Andres Chaparro, Brady House and Andrew Pinckney are in the lineup. Jorbit Vivas is also in for the struggling Nasim Nunez. As mentioned, ace Cade Cavalli is on the bump.

The Cubs are also making a couple changes. With a righty on the mound, Michael Conforto is at DH. That moves Pedro Ramirez to second base, who gives Nico Hoerner a day off. Miguel Amaya will also do the catching. Deadline addition Kevin Gausman will make his second start for the Cubs.

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Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 4:05 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

Getting swept after finally getting a sweep would be a real bummer. The Nats need to do whatever it takes to avoid that. Limiting this Cubs offense will be tough, but it is necessary. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!

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Beware of the Brewers exciting young starters

Oct 16, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) reacts in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game three of the NLCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The way in which the Los Angeles Dodgers dominated the Milwaukee Brewers—who held home-field advantage in last year’s NLCS—is probably one of the primary factors behind this air of invincibility that they have carried ever since going back-to-back. While we could split hairs about the Dodgers’ offensive production in that series, averaging under four runs per game, they did pitch with such mastery that the series felt well in hand from the start.

One specific aspect of that series felt as though it led to being more closely watched than others. That NLCS provided the public with a rare opportunity of a matchup with a division of strengths that didn’t match the regular-season result. The David versus Goliath narrative was played up, and everyone waited to see if, with home-field advantage, the Brewers could rise to the challenge as they did through 162. The way in which that series unfolded served to justify numerous preconceived notions.

As the Dodgers welcome the Brewers into town for a weekend set, Milwaukee once again finds itself leading the NL Central, while possessing a better record than the Dodgers. And for all we know, these two teams could meet for the second time in a row in the NLCS, although the Braves and other NL playoff contenders might have something to say about that.

While other clubs that gave the Dodgers far bigger issues in last year’s postseason haven’t matched their production this season—Toronto is out of playoff contention and the Phillies are settling for a likely Wild Card spot—the Brewers are firing on all cylinders. The Freddy Peralta trade during the offseason hasn’t slowed them down one bit.

Because of the continued success of the Brewers current approach, it’d be relatively easy to create the expectation that since the Dodgers easily handled this type of team last season, they might do the same this year. While that could happen as Milwaukee still often relies on the sum of its parts over individual dominance, there have been noticeable changes in this team.

Few players in all of baseball have experienced a jump in production quite as high as Jacob Misiorowski, whose Cy Young case is by far the strongest in the NL. Misiorowski is the type of pitcher whose raw ability pops the first time you see him, something that landed him in the All-Star Game last year even though production alone probably didn’t warrant it. Still finding his footing in that first year, Misiorowski has developed into a level of ace that the Brewers haven’t had since Corbin Burnes’ Cy Young season. Peralta left the team, and yet the rotation is stronger, not only for all that Freddy hasn’t done this season but also for what other young pieces have been accomplishing.

Out for a significant period with a back strain, youngster Logan Henderson, who the Dodgers will see in the series finale on Sunday, has been superb when available. You also have a player who is an example of what makes the Brewers organization stand out in Kyle Harrison. Not one, but two teams acquired Harrison for his raw talent and couldn’t figure out a way to develop him; that’s until the Red Sox shipped him off to Milwaukee for Caleb Durbin and pieces, only to see him flourish into one of the more exciting young starters in the NL. A pitcher with a 22.9 K% before this season, Harrison has a 29.7 mark in 2026. More volatile than Henderson, Harrison is yet another starter who can take over a game when things go his way.

The focus on the pitching side for Milwaukee is only natural. If we project a matchup between these two clubs, it’s easier to imagine the Brewers’ staff occasionally dominating a Dodgers offense than to see the Brewers offense overcoming adversity against this staff of aces—particularly after the deadline delivered reinforcements with the addition of Tarik Skubal and the return of Blake Snell with Tyler Glasnow not far off.

Postseason baseball is always unpredictable, and that’s a point to reinforce more and more with the Dodgers coming off back-to-back titles. Even going beyond that, a cold, hard look at Milwaukee’s staff shows it possesses the high-end quality to ask major questions out of this Dodgers lineup, something to keep an eye on for the postseason.