SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: Trevor Megill #29 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates the 3-1 win after closing the game against the San Diego Padres in game four of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on October 07, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rematch. A chance for redemption. A chance to rewrite the ending from last season. For the second consecutive year, the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers will face off in the National League Championship Series with the right to advance to the World Series on the line.
Each of the last three times the Brewers have made the NLCS, their opponent has been the Dodgers. 2018 and 2025 were both dates with LAD and 2026 is no different. The Brewers have yet to defeat the Dodgers in a postseason series.
This year, the Brewers appear far better positioned than last to take down baseball’s evil empire. They’re coming off only a four-game NLDS series win against a non-division opponent, so they’ve had three full days of rest to recover and prepare for this matchup. They have three fully stretched out starting pitchers that all had strong performances in the NLDS, as opposed to last year where they had largely just one in Freddy Peralta.
The team feels more confident this year that they can take down the Dodgers. That kind of belief is paramount to success.
On the mound, both teams will be throwing their best. Jacob Misiorowski will get the start for the Brewers, while Tarik Skubal is starting for the Dodgers. The Brewers attempted to trade for Skubal at the Deadline this year, but the Tigers opted to send him to Los Angeles. Now, the Brewers get to face the very player they wanted to have and avoid playing against.
Pat Murphy elected not to make any changes to his roster for the NLCS. It’ll be the same group that faced the Padres in the NLDS.
However, the lineup will change a little bit for Game 1. Christian Yelich, after starting each game of the last series, will be sitting on the bench for this first game. Andrew Vaughn will get his first start of the 2026 postseason and is batting 5th in the lineup as the DH.
“It’s about our team and what’s best for our team today, and it might not be the whole game, but it’s what’s best for our team today. You look at matchups, and you look at history, and you look at how the guy pitches a guy potentially, and what it could bring.” Pat Murphy said.
Jackson Chourio will once again be leading off and playing left field. Murphy has been trying to find the right hitter to put behind Chourio to protect him in the order. Brice Turang will get that nod for Game 1. He will be followed by William Contreras and then Jake Bauers is batting cleanup. Garrett Mitchell will bat 6th and play centerfield. Cooper Pratt follows Mitchell, batting 7th. Another change in the lineup is that Luis Lara will get the start in right field and bat 8th. Then Joey Ortiz rounds out the bottom of the order at third base.
Dave Roberts’ difficult lineup decisions are in as well. Mookie Betts will leadoff with Freddie Freeman batting second. Will Smith will catch and bat third, while Shohei Ohtani is batting cleanup. Teoscar Hernandez and Max Muncy will follow Ohtani. Then Andy Pages, Kyle Tucker, and Kike Hernandez will round out the bottom of the lineup for the Dodgers.
MILWAUKEE –– Dave Roberts struggled to explain his belief.
When asked for the umpteenth time this week about any positive signs he saw from slumping and injury-hampered slugger Shohei Ohtani in the opening round of the playoffs, the Dodgers’ manager couldn’t give a clear reason for optimism.
During his 2-for-13 performance in the National League Division Series against the Braves, Roberts thought Ohtani “did a good job of controlling the [strike] zone.” He said he “saw some better swings” for the 32-year-old, and liked that he at least reached base in all four games (with the help of a couple walks).
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani celebrates winning Game 4 of baseball’s National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
Still, Roberts didn’t try to pretend the four-time MVP looked to be on the verge of a breakout.
“There’s nothing right now I’m going to hang my hat on,” he conceded, “outside of, I just believe in the person and the talent … I’m just never going to count Shohei out.”
They know the two-way star is still limited by left knee and right arm injuries. They are well aware he hasn’t hit a home run since Aug. 18, mired in a 22-game slump since then (including the regular season and playoffs) in which he has hit .157 and collected only one RBI.
However, hope continues to abound in what feels like an increasingly unlikely turnaround.
“I still think if he’s in the batter’s box, he’s still a threat,” Roberts said. “He swung the bat well against these guys last postseason. Those pitchers, their memories are long. Now it’s just up to Shohei to understand that and control the strike zone. They’re just not going to give in to him regardless of how he might be swinging the bat over the last couple months, in my opinion.”
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani takes batting practice ahead of Game 1 of baseball’s National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Milwaukee. AP Photo/Kyla WolfLos Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani works out ahead of Game 1 of baseball’s National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Milwaukee. AP Photo/Kyla Wolf
Indeed, it was at this stage of last year’s playoffs that Ohtani emerged from a more routine, non-injury-triggered slump. After going 1-for-18 with nine strikeouts in the NLDS, then just 2-for-11 in the first three games of the NLCS against the Brewers, he exploded for an historic three-homer, 10-strikeout performance in the team’s pennant-clinching Game 4 victory, earning him series MVP honors.
This time, the Dodgers’ expectations are much more tempered.
Roberts only wanted to see Ohtani –– who has not spoken to reporters since before the start of last week’s division series –– find ways to “just get on base [and] take good at-bats,” especially against presumptive Cy Young Award winner Jacob Misiorowski in Game 1 of this year’s rematch.
“Shohei is known for his slug, but when you’re facing Jacob, it’s just you’ve got to take good at-bats,” Roberts said. “If you run into a homer, great. But if you can earn a walk, fantastic.”
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, left, greets designated hitter Shohei Ohtani before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
For Ohtani and the rest of his Dodgers teammates, that process began during a Saturday night workout at American Family Field, when they tried to calibrate themselves for Misiorowski’s MLB-best 105 mph fastball by not only taking pitches off a velocity machine, but doing so from several steps in front of the plate to simulate the speed of his unprecedented heater.
“That’s actually an Albert Pujols drill,” hitting coach Aaron Bates said. “When Albert was with us in ’21, he used to do that every day before he started. So it just gets the transition [of your swing to happen] quicker and just [trains] the overall tempo. Obviously, Misiorowski throws hard, so it’s a good drill for that.”
Shohei Ohtani is taking BP on the field today
And, like other Dodgers hitters, has been (ostensibly) prepping for Jacob Misiorowski’s 105 mph heater by taking some swings from well in front of the plate pic.twitter.com/lfEqPPd6Fq
For Ohtani, in particular, the focus of his rare on-field BP was “just trying not to flip the barrel so soon,” Bates said, theorizing that Ohtani –– likely because of his injuries –– has been overexerting himself on swings to try and create his normal bat speed and power at the plate.
“I think it happens incrementally,” Bates said. “I don’t think that guys necessarily know when they’re swinging harder. It just happens so minute and such in small little samples that eventually adds up to too much effort. So I think that any drills that you can do to control the effort level will always be beneficial.”
The mental cue the hitting staff has given Ohtani: Focus on sticking a controlled finish with his swing, and “reverse engineer” more consistent mechanics from that.
“His work’s been great in the cages, and even into the games too,” Bates said. “I think it was more about just, again, [about finding] the feels that he wants to feel.”
At this point, it’s just the latest reason for cautious optimism that the Dodgers will be clinging to.
They don’t know exactly how, or why, or when it might happen. But eventually, they are still expecting their blind faith in Ohtani to be validated.
The Brewers made a pair of changes to their standard lineup used in beating San Diego in the NL Division Series, opting for righty-swinging Andrew Vaughn at designated hitter in place of Christian Yelich and switch-hitting Luis Lara in right field.
Skubal, the game's most dominant left-handed pitcher, won Game 1 of the Dodgers' NL Division Series against Atlanta. Milwaukee opted for the rookie Lara in right field, though lefty-swinging Sal Frelick will almost certainly be used against a right-hander later in the game.
The Brewers beat Skubal in an Aug. 16 matchup at Dodger Stadium, two weeks after L.A. acquired th two-time Cy Young Award winner from Detroit. Catcher William Contreras batted leadoff that day, while Vaughn and first baseman Jake Bauers combined for six hits in the 6-2 victory.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 03: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after striking out Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres to end the fourth inning in game one of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The mountains that the Cincinnati Reds will need to climb to be relevant again in the National League will be on full display on Sunday night in Milwaukee as the Brewers play host to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. The only question that will be answered is which mountain is tallest.
Milwaukee won 103 games during their brilliant regular season – the most in the sport this year. They’ll also be sending fireballer Jacob Misiorowski to the mound to start Game 1 as the presumptive NL Cy Young Award winner after leading the sport with a 1.89 ERA and 243 strikeouts during the regular season.
Cy Young Awards are nothing new to Tarik Skubal, who’ll get the start for a Dodgers club that tallied the second most wins during the regular season with 100. Skubal, twice a winner of the AL CYA while with the Detroit Tigers prior to his mid-year trade to LA, is searching for his first World Series title as he barrels towards what could be a record trip into free agency this winter.
FOX will carry this game, with first pitch slated for 8:00 PM ET.
Ohtani had just two hits in 13 at-bats (.154) in their National League Division Series victory against Atlanta, a continuation from his struggles beginning in August.
“I still think, if he's in the batter's box, he's still a threat," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He swung the bat well against these guys last postseason. Their memories [against] those pitchers, their memories are long. Now it's just up to Shohei to understand that and control the strike zone.
“They're just not going to give in to him regardless of how he might be swinging the bat over the last couple months, in my opinion."
Ohtani hit .357 with three homers and a 1.143 OPS in the Dodgers’ sweep against Milwaukee in last year’s NLCS, and also pitched six shutout innings with 10 strikeouts.The Dodgers still believe he’s a threat getting on base without the power, particularly against Brewers flame-thrower Jacob Misiorowski.
“It’s just get on base, take good at-bats, and we'll deal with whatever," Roberts said. “Honestly, it's the same message for everyone. Shohei is known for his slug, but when you're facing Jacob, it's just you've got to take good at-bats. If you run into a homer, great. But if you can earn a walk, fantastic."
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MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 14: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits an RBI single in the seventh inning during Game Two of the National League Championship Series presented by loanDepot between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Dodgers for their first game of the National League Championship Series will have Kiké Hernández in the starting lineup for a third straight game. Hernández plays second base and bats ninth on Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Hernández, who homered in Game 3 against Chris Sale of the Braves, usually starts against left-handers, but this is is second straight start against a right-handed starting pitcher.
Shohei Ohtani in Game 1 of the NLCS bats fourth against Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski. For nearly all of Ohtani’s three years with the Dodgers, his placement in the lineup was more rigid, mostly all batting leadoff except when he was hitting second. But with Ohtani’s month-plus slump changed things. He’s batted second, fourth, and fifth so far in the postseason.
“I haven’t settled on that,” manager Dave Roberts said Friday, “But it’s probably somewhere between one and five, I would say, or two and five.”
The last home run for Ohtani was hit on August 18 at Coors Field. Since then he’s gone 101 plate appearances and 22 full games without a long ball, hitting just .151/.277/.198.
During the NLDS against the Braves, Ohtani had two singles and two walks in 16 plate appearances, including a stolen base in Game 4. Ohtani is the only Dodgers hitter who has homered off Misiorowski, doing so on July 8, 2025, the only run allowed by Misiorowski on that day, his fifth major league start. In three games against the Dodgers, including last year’s NLCS, the Brewers ace has a 1.59 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 17 innings.
Not that a home run is necessarily needed to get Ohtani out of his slump.
“It’s one of those things that for tomorrow it’s just get on base, take good at-bats, and we’ll deal with whatever. Honestly it’s the same message for everyone,” Roberts said Saturday night in Milwaukee. “Shohei is known for his slug, but when you’re facing Jacob, it’s just you’ve got to take good at-bats. If you run into a homer, great. But if you can earn a walk, fantastic.
“I think it’s more of — production is just doing anything positive for the club, and we need all guys to do their part.”
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For the second year in a row, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers will face off in the NLCS. The best-of-7 series determines which National League team moves on to the 2026 World Series.
It all gets started tonight, Oct. 11, at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET.
Last year, the Dodgers swept the Brewers in four games on the road to their second consecutive World Series win. This year, they’re trying to make it three in a row. To do that, they’ll have to get past the Brewers, who finished the regular season with the best record in the MLB at 103-59. The Dodgers were the only other 100-win team this season.
In the NLDS, the Dodgers opened with a strong 5-3 victory over the Braves before dropping Game 2. They only needed two more games to advance, holding the Braves to just one run per game.
Milwaukee also opened the NLDS strong against the San Diego Padres, but lost a close Game 3, 4-3. In Game 4, the Brewers punched their ticket to the NLCS with a 3-1 win.
The Dodgers-Brewers NLCS is scheduled to begin with Game 1 today, Oct. 11, at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET.
How to watch Dodgers vs. Brewers NLCS Game 1 for free
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Dodgers vs. Brewers starting pitchers
The NLCS opens with a heavyweight pitching matchup. Midseason acquisition Tarik Skubal (12-7, 2.72 ERA) starts for the Dodgers, while Jacob Misiorowski (16-5, 1.80 ERA) will be on the mound for the Brewers.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
It’s been 10 years, as you know, since the Cubs won the World Series.
On their way to that win, there were some memorable games and over the next few weeks, I’ll post some highlights from those games so we can all remember.
The Division Series against the Giants had gone the Cubs’ way in Chicago. Javier Báez’ solo homer off Johnny Cueto won Game 1, then a raucous Wrigley Field crowd celebrated a Game 2 win that included a home run by Travis Wood.
The series moved west to San Francisco and it looked like the Cubs had Game 3 in hand when Jake Arrieta smashed a three-run homer in the second inning. But the Giants came back and had a 5-3 lead going to the ninth, when a walk by Dexter Fowler was followed by a game-tying homer from Kris Bryant. Unfortunately, the Cubs couldn’t score for four extra innings and the Giants walked things off in the 13th.
Game 4, then, was the Cubs’ second chance to win the series. The Giants took a 1-0 lead off John Lackey in the first, but David Ross tied things up with this solo homer in the third:
The Giants put a pair of runs on the board off John Lackey in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead, but the Cubs got one of those runs back on a sacrifice fly by Ross after Báez had reached third on a rare bad throw by Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford.
The Cubs brought in Justin Grimm and he allowed a pair of one-out hits putting Giants on second and third, and he was replaced by Wood, who gave up RBI hits to Conor Gillaspie and Joe Panik and San Francisco had a three-run lead.
Moore, meanwhile, was slamming the door shut on the Cubs. After the Cubs run in the fifth, Moore retired 10 of the next 11 Cubs, sending the game to the ninth with the Cubs trailing by three. I remember sitting in Oracle Park that night wondering if the Cubs would ever get another hit.
Moore had thrown 120 pitches through eight innings and allowed just one other hit besides Ross’ homer, a single by Anthony Rizzo in the fourth. No modern manager would allow a pitcher to throw that many pitches in a postseason game, showing you how much the game has changed in the last 10 years.
Derek Law entered the game to throw the top of the ninth. Bryant greeted him with a single and Bruce Bochy brought in Javier Lopez, back in the days before the three-batter minimum, and Lopez walked Rizzo. Out came Bochy for another pitching change, this time Sergio Romo.
Ben Zobrist doubled off Romo, scoring Bryant to make it 5-3, with Rizzo stopping at third. Now the tying runs are in scoring position with nobody out and Cubs fans, myself included, were stirring.
Bochy again trudged to the mound and summoned Will Smith to face pinch-hitter Willson Contreras (after Joe Maddon had sent up Chris Coghlan to bat for Addison Russell, which is why Bochy made the change in the first place — with the three-batter minimum, you can’t really do this now). Contreras’ hit tied the game:
Back in the day when sacrifice bunts were still a thing, Joe Maddon had Jason Heyward sacrifice. The bunt was successful, and when Crawford again made a bad throw, Heyward took second. That would turn out to be very, very important.
Báez was the next hitter. If you have ever sat with me at a Cubs game, you know I do not normally get very demonstrative. But when Javy sent a ground ball up the middle, I yelled out, “GET THROUGH!”, as if my words could make that happen.
It happened:
Ross then hit into a double play, ending the inning, but the Cubs had a ninth-inning rally for the ages:
In 1986 LCS: 3 games in which a team rallied from 3 down in 9th to win in a 5-day span
Didn't happen again until 2016! (via @eliassports)
Aroldis Chapman threw the ninth for the Cubs and struck out all three Giants he faced to send the Cubs to the NLCS. Here are all three K’s:
Here is the entire top of the ninth if you want to re-live it as it happened:
It’s one of the greatest games in Cubs franchise history, and one that’s nearly forgotten after the World Series run and what happened in Game 7. But no one connected with the Cubs wanted to see them have to go back to Wrigley Field and face Cueto again in a decisive Game 5, especially after scoring just one run off him in Game 1. This amazing comeback made that unnecessary, and it’s absolutely worth remembering and celebrating. The Cubs defeated the Giants 6-5 in Game 4 of the NLDS 10 years ago today, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 30: An exterior view of Yankee Stadium before the game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 30, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s Sunday once more, and you know what that means — it’s time for our weekly social media roundup! Last week, we had a lot of fun in this space, as the Yankees sent the Boston Red Sox home with two dominant wins that unleashed a fury of social media fun. This week? Well, truly, I really don’t want to do this. But, like Sisyphus and his giant rock, here I am, condemned to scroll through depressing social media feeds to bring this week’s roundup to you. And so, without further ado…let’s get this out of the way.
Congratulations, CC
We’re actually going to begin with something positive this week. This past Monday, Yankees legend CC Sabathia marked 11 years sober. In a Hall of Fame career that featured a Cy Young Award, a World Series championship, 3000 strikeouts, enshrinement in Monument Park, and a retired number, this marks the greatest accomplishment of CC’s career. Congratulations on the milestone, and here’s to many more!
Earlier this year, Luke Pettitte, the son of Yankee legend Andy, began his journey in professional baseball after he was selected in the eighth round of this year’s draft. Well, as it turns out, that was not his only accomplishment in 2026, as this week, he got married!
The Scranton No-Longer-The-RailRiders announced on Instagram that they will announce their new identity on November 7th. Yup, that’s right, we’ve got an announcement of an announcement.
*Sigh.* I’ve put this section off for long enough. Following the Yankees’ loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, a number of members of the Yankees family took to social media to thank the fans for their support this season.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 04: Jackson Chourio #11 of the Milwaukee Brewers is congratulated by his teammates after hitting the game-winning two-run single against Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres during the ninth inning in game two of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 04, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the notable exception of the Dodgers, this has been the October of small market teams so far. Of the four teams remaining, three of them rank in the bottom half in terms of payroll. Remarkably, the two cheapest teams in the American League will battle it out for a spot in the World Series.
Payroll rankings of the 4 Championship Series teams:
While Nats fans have complained a lot about the lack of spending, and rightfully so in my opinion, there are ways to win without spending much money. Paul Toboni should be studying how teams like the Rays, Brewers and Guardians operate. Ideally, the Nats can become another version of that with a bit more spending power.
With how he is operating, I have no doubt that Toboni has learned a lot from the three small market teams that are still alive. There are unique things that each team does well, but there are also aspects of the game that tie all of them together.
These teams have shown the value of pitching. All four teams that are still alive have elite pitching staffs. The Nats are not there yet, but with all the trades he has made, Toboni clearly understands the importance of building a deep and nasty pitching staff.
There is actually a fun video I watched which argued that the Nats are taking a lot of things from the Brewers. From how they develop players to how they build the roster, there are things that the two clubs share. It took the Brewers a little while to become the well oiled machine they are today. Hopefully the Nats can get to that level as an organization.
Despite the fact smaller market teams are thriving, that is not an excuse to not use the free agent market. It should not be how you build the team, but free agency is a great way to augment the roster. In the last great era of Nats baseball, we saw that on full display. Jayson Werth, Max Scherzer, Daniel Murphy, Patrick Corbin and Anibal Sanchez were among the free agents who played big roles in making the team special in the 2010’s.
There should be money to spend this offseason. If that money is spent wisely, this team could take the next step quickly. When I look at some of these offenses in October, I am confident that the Nats are better than many of them. The numbers and the eye test show that. However, the pitching still needs to catch up.
When you watch a team like the Guardians, you can really see the value of an elite bullpen. Cade Smith just locks games down in the 8th and 9th innings. The Nats will either have to develop or acquire a true alpha in the back end.
Each of the teams still in the hunt have elite bullpen arms, but the way they were acquired differs. The Dodgers spent a lot of money to acquire the likes of Tanner Scott and Edwin Diaz. However, they also developed Edgardo Henriquez and picked up Alex Vesia in a minor move. The Rays got Bryan Baker in a medium sized trade and made an already good reliever elite.
There are a lot of ways to build bullpens, but the Nats need to have a good one to reach their potential. In October, you need a lot of solid arms. The teams that can develop the most arms are the ones that tend to have success. This postseason has shown us that you do not have to break the bank to have success. However, you need good pitching and it might take a big move or two for the Nats to have the necessary firepower to compete.
Football: View of Arizona Cardinals fan with paper bag over head in stands during game vs Detroit Lions at University of Phoenix Stadium. Glendale, AZ 12/16/2012 CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X155946 TK1 R3 F161 )
If you’re somebody who invests emotionally in the Phoenix and Arizona sports scene, you woke up yesterday to a notification that probably left you a little stunned. Not necessarily because of the transaction itself, but because of the manner in which the organization handled the situation and a potential trade that now appears imminent. The more I thought about it, the more I found myself arriving at a familiar conclusion: I’m happy with the current state of Phoenix Suns ownership, flaws and all.
Of course, I’m referring to the news that the Arizona Cardinals are reportedly finalizing a trade involving third-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Breaking: the Arizona Cardinals are finalizing a deal to trade WR Marvin Harrison, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
The team informed Harrison this morning that he will be inactive for Sunday’s game vs Detroit as details of the trade are finalized. pic.twitter.com/x6n0Hsfzzj
I’m not overly upset about the transaction itself because, quite frankly, it felt imminent. For two and a half seasons, it felt like we weren’t getting the same player we watched at Ohio State. That dominant, game-changing wide receiver who could dictate how opposing defenses approached the game never really materialized in Arizona.
“Masarati Marv” (who I’ve grown to call “Mazda Marv”) has been underwhelming, to say the least. You can point to scheme, you can point to connectivity with quarterback play, and you can point to any number of circumstances that may have contributed to his struggles. But whatever the reasoning, Harrison has certainly underdelivered relative to expectations.
The frustrating aspect of the potential transaction, however, is the simple fact that a suitor has yet to be named. That’s right. He is being to traded to…um…no one knows quite yet.
The one certainty is that Marvin Harrison’s time in Arizona is done. Arizona feels comfortable enough to know it can and will trade Harrison, which is why he will be inactive Sunday. But no Harrison trade will be completed until after Sunday’s games are played. https://t.co/qEGc9qtht0
Like, what? Ex-squeeze me? Who gets a full-blown Adam Schefter breaking news notification that they’re being traded, yet the trade hasn’t happened, and we don’t even know which teams are involved? “Hey folks, the Suns are trading Jalen Green. Eventually”. Only in Arizona, my friends. Only in the defunct sports orbit knows as Arizona.
This is where, as a fan of Arizona sports, you can’t help but look at the landscape and appreciate what Mat Ishbia and the Phoenix Suns currently represent as an organization. Do they have their flaws? Absolutely. No organization operates perfectly, and considering the microscope professional sports franchises operate under, perfection is an impossible standard. Ishbia has made his mistakes, some of which the Suns will continue paying for into the next decade. But in the same breath, they’ve recognized the need to pivot, reset their approach, and attempt something different.
Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals seemingly have a PhD in mismanaging every aspect of their organization. You know, the team thank earned a D+ grade for the way they treat families, F- for their locker room, and D- in ownership, per the 2025 NFLPA team report cards?
Take the Marvin Harrison Jr. situation, for example. Maybe multiple bidders are involved, and the Cardinals are doing everything they can to drive up the asking price. That’s certainly one possibility. But it feels far more likely that information leaked from somewhere within the organization, national reporters caught wind of it, and now the entire football world knows the Cardinals are looking to move Marvin Harrison Jr. As a result, the perception of his value as a trade asset potentially diminishes. Opposing teams interested in acquiring him now know Arizona wants to move on, which could compromise whatever leverage the Cardinals might have possessed during negotiations.
But like, why not announce a team? Does that mean no deal is in place yet, thus devaluing any leverage the Cards have and ensuring the return is less than optimal? https://t.co/C2nI2LeuZ1
It reminds me of the Eric Bledsoe situation in 2017, when it became abundantly clear that he no longer wanted to be in Phoenix (because he told us so). The Suns ultimately moved him for Greg Monroe and a pair of draft picks, negotiating from a position in which everybody knew a separation was coming.
This isn’t meant to be a puff piece for Ishbia and the Suns. But when you juxtapose how the two organizations operate, you can’t help but notice the stark differences. Ishbia has consistently showcased his desire to be competitive, his willingness to invest financially in the team, and his ability to adjust when a particular strategy isn’t working. He hasn’t always made the right decisions, but he’s demonstrated a willingness to recognize when something needs to change and act accordingly.
Meanwhile, Michael Bidwill operates as both owner and team president of the Arizona Cardinals, overseeing an organization that continues to struggle with its direction. He employs Monti Ossenfort as general manager, somebody who, in my opinion, has repeatedly demonstrated an inability to consistently identify and develop talent. And when you look at the results, it’s difficult to have much confidence in the direction of the franchise.
Monti Ossenfort's resume as the Arizona Cardinals GM:
-Allowed Zach Allen and Byron Murphy to walk -Cut DeAndre Hopkins -Cut Kyler Murray -Traded Marvin Harrison Jr. -ZERO Pro Bowlers acquired -Allowed a Jacoby Brissett public holdout -16 and 39 record
The key to successful leadership is surrounding yourself with people who are experts in their respective fields. And if you have a hankering to be the ultimate decision maker, you can still make those decisions based on the advice and expertise of the people you’ve hired. Trust those around you, empower them to do their jobs, and good things can happen. Ishbia-style.
But in the case of Bidwill and the Arizona Cardinals, that quite simply has never seemed to be the case. He’s an owner who inherited the franchise, operates as though he’s the smartest guy in the room, and continually fails to put anything resembling a contender on the field. If this were any other business outside of the NFL, his track record would be viewed as a failure. The only reason it isn’t is because the NFL is one of the largest and most lucrative businesses in the world. Financially, it’s practically impossible to fail when you’re operating within a league that generates that much revenue.
So year after year, suffering Cardinals fans are left watching an inept organization attempt to fill its stadium while its fan base becomes increasingly despondent. When’s the last time you went to a Cardinals game? Chances are, the stadium was filled with opposing fans. It’s difficult to build loyalty when it feels like the organization itself isn’t making a legitimate effort to reward that loyalty.
That’s where the difference between the Cardinals and the Suns becomes increasingly apparent. The Suns might not be the greatest team in the NBA this season. They might lose more games than we expect them to. But if that happens, it won’t be because of a lack of effort from ownership or a lack of direction at the top. There’s a culture in the process of being established, one built around accountability, competitiveness, and a willingness to evolve. And that stands in stark contrast to what’s happening over in Glendale.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 08: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after a ground out by Michael Conforto #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning at American Family Field on July 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Teams that know each other well—having met in this same stage a year ago—the Dodgers and Brewers open the National League Championship Series with a battle on the mound that’s unparalleled. On one side, one of the more accomplished current stars on the mound in Tarik Skubal for the Dodgers; on the other, the likely future Cy Young winner, Jacob Misiorowski.
Both teams did what was expected of them in advancing in the NLDS, but neither had what you’d describe as an easy time. Heading into such an important moment, these two organizations will feel battle-tested—not only for what they’ve faced in the grand scheme of things over these past two seasons, but in particular for how hard they were pushed by the Braves and Padres.
As far as the Dodgers’ choice to roll with Skubal as their leading starter in this postseason, the benefits of having Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitching second in a seven-game series have been well-documented—integral to this decision. Last time a Cy Young-winner left-handed ace opened a playoff series against the Brewers; things worked out well, as Blake Snell dominated in Milwaukee to kick off last year’s NLCS.
Counting the regular season and playoffs, the Brewers take the field for Game 1 of the NLCS, having won each of Misiorowski’s last 10 starts, including one at Dodger Stadium in which he tossed six innings of one-run ball. Dominant anywhere, The Miz had as many earned runs allowed at home (16) as he had starts (16) in the regular season.
Beyond the imponderable that surrounds any baseball game, especially in the playoffs, anything besides a pitcher’s duel here would be downright shocking. There is really no way to put it. First and foremost, it’ll be about the small victories for these two offenses, forcing an extra pitch or two, and putting a bit of pressure on the basepaths—more so the Brewers. Misiorowski had some issues with his pitch count in Game 1 of the NLDS, exiting after four as he was averaging 22 pitches per inning versus the Friars.
The Arizona Cardinals were one of the charter members of the NFL. And from the Racine Cardinals to the Chicago Cardinals to the St. Louis Cardinals to the Phoenix Cardinals to the Arizona Cardinals, they've never lost nine straight home games.
A loss later today to the Lions will be the first time in franchise history that the Cardinals have lost nine straight home games.
Via NBC Sports research, they've previously lost eight in a row from 1942 through 1945 (at Comiskey Park) from 1958 through 1958 (also at Comiskey Park) and from 2021-22, in their current home venue.
The Cardinals last won at home on September 14, 2025, with a 27-22 victory over the Panthers. The streak began on Thursday, September 25, in a loss to the Seahawks.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 12: Relief pitcher Grant Holman (51) of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitch to a Braves batter during the Saturday evening MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves on September 12, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After pitching in a combined 40 games with the Athletics the past two seasons, Grant Holman spent the spring getting passed from team to team. The A’s placed him on waivers in February, and he was claimed by the Diamondbacks. After failing to make their major league roster to start the season, he was placed on waivers again and claimed by the Dodgers.
He lasted ten days with the Dodgers before returning to the waiver wire where he was claimed by the Tigers. He appeared in three minor league games for them before once again going on waivers. This time, it was the Phillies’ turn to claim him. They sent him to Lehigh Valley where he spent the majority of the season but did manage to make up to the big league team for one appearance.
The stats: 1 game, 0.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 K, 1 BB
What went right
Holman was solid for Lehigh Valley in the second half of the season. Oddly, it seemed to correspond with a downturn in his strikeouts.
Grant Holman (claimed off waivers on May 7) has been one of the best relievers in AAA since the All-Star Break:
13 G | 17.1 IP | 8 H | 2 ER | 2 BB | 10 K 1.04 ERA | 0.57 WHIP | 70% Strike Rate pic.twitter.com/mvlbr0lgM5
When he finally made his Phillies debut late in the season, he didn’t give up any earned runs. Sounds good, right?
What went wrong
Holman was called up to the majors in September. When Jesus Luzardo was scratched from his start, the Phillies had to use a bullpen game, and Holman made his Phillies debut. It didn’t go well.
He faced seven batters. Four of them got hits, one walked and another reached base on an error. He also allowed a stolen base and threw a wild pitch before finally retiring the final batter of the inning. Despite seven runners scoring while he was in the game, none of them were earned runs charged to Holman.
To sum: Holman pitched 0.1 innings for the Phillies, allowed zero earned runs, yet still racked up -0.5 wins above replacement.
Later in the month, it was reported that he had been recalled as an injury replacement, but then the Phillies decided against it.
UPDATE: LHP Kyle Backhus has been recalled from AAA Lehigh Valley instead of RHP Grant Holman. https://t.co/cdWekzl2V2
It seems a given that Holman will be dropped from the 40-man roster and will once again find himself on the waiver wire. He’s only 26 years of age, so it seems likely that some team will offer him a minor league invite to camp. If the Phillies liked what they saw from him in the minors, it’s possible that it could be them.
The story of the weekend continues to be unwritten. But the ending is partially known.
The Cardinals will undoubtedly be trading receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
As one source with knowledge of the dynamics puts it, the situation has moved past the point of no return. He's not playing today, and he wasn’t present for Saturday night's meetings before the Week 5 contest against the Lions.
Harrison has been told he's being traded, we're told. The Cardinals have opted to wait in order to squeeze a little more out of the Texans, or in the hopes some other team will develop an urgency to make a deal, based on a possible injury.
The question becomes whether the Cardinals will finalize things after today's game, or whether they'll wait to see whether a receiver from the Bills or Rams is injured on Monday night.
At this point, there's no reason not to wait until Tuesday morning.
Regardless, it will be impossible for the Cardinals to turn back now and keep Harrison. Unless the Cardinals plan to deactivate him one week at a time, until the trade deadline arrives.
Could the oft-dysfunctional Cardinals decide to do the dysfunctional thing and change their minds about trading him altogether? In theory, yes. In practice, they'd be inviting a potentially ugly reaction from Harrison.
Or from his father, Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison Sr.
