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Brewers at Cubs Game 1 prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats for August 18

Its Monday, August 18 and the Brewers (78-45) are in Chicago to take on the Cubs (70-53) in the first of a day / night doubleheader. Sitting eight games behind the Brewers, it is a crucial series for the Cubs' division title hopes...assuming there is still a flicker of hope there.

Freddy Peralta is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Cade Horton for Chicago.

The Cubs won yesterday 4-3 at Wrigley against the Pirates to take two of three in the weekend series. Dansby Swanson drove in the winning run to secure Sunday's win but far more important for Chicago was the weekend for Pete Crow-Armstrong. At one time an MVP candidate, the centerfielder broke out of an extended slump (3-41 previously in August) with five hits in eight official at bats in the three games.

The Brewers saw their 14-game winning streak snapped yesterday by the Reds, 3-2, in ten innings. Cincinnati tied the game at two with a run in the ninth and walked it off at The Great American Ballpark in the tenth on an Austin Hays' single. Jose Quintana allowed a single run over 6.1 innings in another strong start for Milwaukee.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Brewers at Cubs

  • Date: Monday, August 18, 2025
  • Time: 6:20PM EST
  • Site: Wrigley Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, MARQ, MLBN

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

Odds for the Brewers at the Cubs

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (+101), Cubs (-121)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Cubs

  • Pitching matchup for August 18, 2025: Freddy Peralta vs. Cade Horton
    • Brewers: Freddy Peralta, (14-5, 2.90 ERA)
      Last outing: August 12 vs. Pittsburgh - 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Cubs: Cade Horton, (7-3, 3.07 ERA)
      Last outing: August 13 at Toronto - 1.59 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 1 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 8 Strikeouts

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Cubs

  • Christian Yelich was 0-8 in the final 2 games against the Reds but is 21-59 (.356) in August
  • Freddy Peralta has struck out 7 in each of his last 2 starts and at least 6 in 6 of his last 8 starts
  • Kyle Tucker is 2-21 (.095) over his last 6 games
  • Cade Horton struck out 8 hitters in his last start after having struck out even six just three times in his 16 starts this season

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

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Milwaukee Brewers at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Former Canadiens Honoured With A Statue

A few days ago, former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price was honoured when a statue of the netminder in action, carved in wood with a chainsaw, was gifted to the city of Williams Lake by the district of Chetwynd.

The work of art, titled “The Goalie,” depicts the Habs goaltender in action with his glove hand extended. The unveiling took place at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex. While Price himself was unable to attend, his parents, Linda and Jerry Price, were in attendance to speak on his behalf.

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Through his father, the Canadiens’ winningest goaltender said that for someone who doesn’t like to be the center of attention, it feels funny to have a statue of themselves, but also expressed how proud he was to be from the Cariboo Chilcotin and acknowledged the fact that the people helped to shape the man he became.

Chief Kukpi7 Willie Sellers, who was also in attendance, mentioned that watching Price play in the finals when he was in junior hockey was one of his fondest hockey memories. He also credits Price for inspiring him to pick up the pads again, even if it wasn’t at the same level as the Canadiens’ netminder.

Jeffrey Samudsocky of JMS Wood Sculpture is the artist who gave life to the statue, and this is one of the many statues that the District of Chetwynd has donated to other communities as a recognition of their partnership and to encourage collaboration.

There’s no denying that Price has been an inspiration to many First Nation youth during his NHL career, not only because of his performance on the ice but also because of the way he handled adversity. He fought his way through many injuries and setbacks to come back to play and wasn’t afraid to seek help from the NHL and NHLPA Player Assistance program when he felt he needed it because of substance abuse.

Unfortunately, after overcoming all that and winning the Bill Masterton Trophy, the all-star netminder only went on to play five more NHL games, winning the last one of his career, a 10-2 triumph over a watered-down version of the Florida Panthers who were resting some players in the previous game of the regular season.

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Plaschke: Sweep Diego! Dodgers dominate stumbling Padres and prove they're better

Los Angeles, CA - August 17: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia (51) celebrates.
Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia celebrates after the final out of the Dodgers' 5-4 series-sweeping win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Slammed Diego.

Those pesky rivals from down south staggered away from their weekend stay at Dodger Stadium Sunday with spirits bruised, egos bloodied and Manny Machado flattened.

Canned Diego.

Arriving here shortly after stealing first place, little brother spent the next three days giving it back to a Dodger team that met the moment while the Padres recoiled from it.

Fanned Diego.

It was a sweeping sweep of a sweep, the Dodgers winning their third consecutive game from the Padres Sunday by a 5-4 margin that does not begin to elucidate the difference between these two teams.

The Dodgers now lead the National League West by two games, but it feels like 20. Both teams have 38 games remaining in the season, including three next weekend in San Diego, but any sort of real challenge by the Padres feels fabricated.

The Dodgers are the deeper team. The Dodgers are the more focused team. The Dodgers are the better team.

Read more:Amid a season of struggle, Mookie Betts delivers in Dodgers' sweep of Padres

The final weekend blow was an eighth-inning, game-winning drive into the left-field pavilion by Mookie Betts, but this series wasn’t nearly that close.

The Dodgers did everything right, and the Padres did everything dumb.

The Dodgers charged, and the Padres choked.

“Didn't play as well as we'd like to have, and the series didn't go like we wanted it to,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “But ... this team is more than in a great place.”

That would nonetheless currently be second place, which, after this weekend, seems like an appropriate spot.

Meanwhile, for one of the few stretches in this curious summer, the Dodgers behaved like the first-place tenants they are.

“I don’t think anyone in that clubhouse doubted our abilities and how good we can be,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Honestly, it was just good to play a really good series, start to finish.”

Truly, from start to finish. The injury-prone Dodgers starters allowed just three runs in 17 innings, the much-maligned Dodger bullpen finished with just three allowed runs in 10 innings, and the Padres were bad enough that nothing else mattered.

Read more:Plaschke: The 'legend' Clayton Kershaw is legendary again for Dodgers

On Friday, Machado gave the Dodgers a run when he botched a bunt, and later hastily popped out on the first pitch in the eighth inning with two out and the tying and go-ahead runs on base.

On Saturday, the Padres were thrown out attempting to steal three times in the first two innings while center fielder Jackson Merrill added to the madness by dropping a fly ball that cost them two runs.

Then on Sunday, the Padres outhit the Dodgers 10-6 but couldn’t get out of their own way long enough to ever pose a real threat.

In the third inning, Freddy Fermín ran into an out on a single to right-center, Andy Pages nailing him by a mile. Then, with a runner on third and two out, Machado swung at the second pitch and grounded out to first.

Two innings later, Machado stranded two more runners with a groundout, but his humiliation was just beginning. In the seventh, Machado threw his bat and walked toward first on a strike call. After sheepishly returning to home plate amid a taunting roar from the hostile Dodger Stadium crowd, he flied out with a runner on second.

San Diego's Manny Machado reacts to a called strike in the seventh inning Sunday against the Dodgers.
San Diego's Manny Machado reacts to a called strike in the seventh inning Sunday against the Dodgers. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Machado wasn’t done yet. Appropriately, he was the final out of the game, swinging wildly at an Alex Vesia fastball for a strikeout on a foul tip that left the former Dodger one for 12 for the weekend.

“We can blink, and I'm pretty confident within a week or so, we'll be talking and be like, 'Man, Manny's got eight RBIs in the last five days,' so we're not concerned about it,” said Shildt, who claimed his star was stung by bad calls by home plate umpire Jeremie Rehak. “Unfortunately, some pitches that are outside the strike zone got called on him. Which, again, is unfortunate when they're not trying to throw strikes all the time to him. They're taking their chances and to get rewarded on balls that are outside the zone is a little frustrating.”

Before the series, in the wake of four consecutive dispiriting losses, Roberts called on his team to show more focus and urgency. Their final answer, on a day they could have easily shrugged off after winning the first two games of the series, came quickly and dramatically.

Tyler Glasnow, pitching in his biggest game as a Dodger, struck out three in the top of the first en route to eight strikeouts in five innings.

Freddie Freeman, right, celebrates with Shohei Ohtani after hitting a three-run home run.
Freddie Freeman, right, celebrates with Shohei Ohtani after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning Sunday against the Padres. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Then, in the bottom of the first against the Padres’ Yu Darvish, Shohei Ohtani singled, Betts walked and Freddie Freeman blasted a home run over the right-center field fence. One out later, Pages homered to left and the tone had been set.

“I think we all know who we are in here, in this team and how good we can be,” said Freeman. “We just gotta play good baseball like we did this weekend ... we know who we are inside. And gotta keep it going.”

Roberts was as good as any of them, doing a masterful job all weekend handling his outmanned bullpen, succeeding again Sunday by listening to his most reliable reliever.

After finishing up an eighth inning during which the Padres tied the game on a Jose Iglesias grounder, Vesia was promptly told he was done for the day, as Justin Wrobleski was scheduled to pitch the ninth.

Read more:Dodgers capitalize on Padres' sloppiness to retake sole possession of first place

But Vesia had a better idea. He told Roberts he wanted the ball if the Dodgers took the lead in the eighth, and when Betts homered, Vesia was ready.

“So I told Doc, I walked up to him and said, 'Hey, like, if we're up, I want it.'" Vesia recalled. “He was like, 'OK, you got it.' Sure enough, Mook, bang, homers. Sweet, let's go.”

Sweet indeed. Vesia’s hitless ninth was symbolic of a bullpen that spent the weekend making every big pitch ... while the Padres missed every big pitch.

“It's the dawg, right?” said Vesia. “We still have that. That doesn't just go away. Every single one of us, we're leaning on each other. And we know as a group how good we are.”

So, too, do the Padres.

Done Diego.

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

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Alperen Şengün claims Warriors ‘fouled a lot' in NBA playoffs despite ‘crying'

Alperen Şengün claims Warriors ‘fouled a lot' in NBA playoffs despite ‘crying' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Sometimes it’s hard to let go of the past.

Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün, in an appearance on the “Socrates Dergi” podcast, didn’t mince words when looking back at last year’s postseason matchup with the Warriors.

“They’re a very experienced team,” Şengün explained. “They fouled a lot. In the playoffs, they don’t call it. But they were the ones crying all series about fouls not being called.”

Physicality was at an extreme all series, but the foul differential actually was in favor of the Rockets. The Warriors had 150 fouls throughout the series, while the Rockets were called for only 124.

The Turkish All-Star also praised his head coach for the discipline he instills in his players.

“When it comes to us, we’re not really allowed to complain,” Şengün added. “It’s more of an internal thing. Ime Udoka doesn’t allow it. He loses his mind if we complain.”

The series was decided in a pivotal Game 7, in which Golden State blew out Houston 103-89. Buddy Hield had his best game as a Warrior, scoring 33 points along with nine 3-pointers.

Both teams ended that game with 14 personal fouls. Şengün went on to mention how the two teams matched up.

“The Warriors were probably the one team that would have gave us the most trouble, and we drew them,” Şengün stated.

Houston revamped this offseason by trading for Kevin Durant, which makes for an even more entertaining matchup next season, where the physical play will remain a constant.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Red Sox to sign first baseman Nathaniel Lowe after Nationals DFA: Report

Red Sox to sign first baseman Nathaniel Lowe after Nationals DFA: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

A late-season reinforcement is coming to Fenway Park.

The Boston Red Sox reportedly will sign first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for the remainder of 2025, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported late Sunday night.

Lowe, 30, was designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals earlier this month and went unclaimed on waivers.

The Red Sox have been searching for first base help since losing Triston Casas to a season-ending knee injury in May. Abraham Toro and Romy González have mostly split the role — Toro facing right-handers and González facing left-handers. Lowe could conceivably fill Toro’s spot with his recent struggles at the plate (.163 batting average in August).

The lefty-hitting Lowe has the credentials to make him an appealing flyer — Silver Slugger in 2022, Gold Glove and World Series champion with the Texas Rangers in 2023. But he showed serious regression in D.C. this season, posting career lows in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Lowe hit .216 with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs in 119 games.

Before 2025, Lowe played for the Tampa Bay Rays (2019-2020) and Rangers (2021-2024). He was traded to Washington last December.

The Nationals will pay Lowe most of the remainder of his $10.3-million salary this season, with the Red Sox picking up the prorated portion of the league minimum. Lowe is arbitration-eligible this winter, so Boston can either bring him back in 2026 for more than his 2025 salary or non-tender him to free agency.

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Who Are the Shanghai Dragons and Which Devils Will Be Represented?

The newest team in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) is the Shanghai Dragons.

The franchise is entering its first season under the Dragons name, but the club itself isn’t brand new. Previously known as Kunlun Red Star, the team spent eight seasons in the KHL before announcing a rebrand.

During their time as Kunlun, the club reached the postseason only once, in their inaugural 2016-17 season, where they lost in the Conference Quarterfinals. They have not returned to the playoffs since.

The Dragons plan to move their home games back to China in the future, but for now, they are building their roster and will play out of St. Petersburg, Russia.

Their roster features one former New Jersey Devil, one Devils draft pick who never signed, and several other players with NHL ties.

  • Nikita Popugaev: Drafted 98th overall by the Devils in 2017, Popugaev never signed with the team and has spent most of his career overseas. Now 26, he announced he will be suiting up for the Dragons this season.
  • Nick Merkley: Selected 30th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, Merkley played four games with the Devils in 2019-20 and 27 games in 2020-21. He registered two points in his first season and 10 points in his second. The 27-year-old now joins the Dragons as another Devils connection.
  • Austin Wong: Drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in 2018, Wong was never signed but will be making history as part of the Dragons’ inaugural roster. The 24-year-old forward brings additional North American experience.

In addition to players, the Dragons hired a familiar NHL face behind the bench: Gerard Gallant, former head coach of the New York Rangers. Gallant, who has also coached the Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, and Vegas Golden Knights, will lead the Dragons as their first-ever head coach.

As of now, the roster includes:

  • 5 Canadian players
  • 4 American players
  • 4 Russian players
  • 1 Slovakian player

Collectively, the roster of 14 skaters brings 387 NHL games of experience.

The Shanghai Dragons will look to end the franchise’s playoff drought and make their first postseason appearance since 2016, this time under a new name, new leadership, and a roster built on international and NHL experience.

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‘I want to keep this club in the promised land’: Farke’s mission to keep Leeds up

Manager insists club ‘belongs in the Premier League’ and has been building a taller, tougher side to keep them there

The trampoline man. It sounds like a promising title for a novel, film or even a song but it is a label Daniel Farke remains desperate to avoid. To the Leeds head coach, the term “trampoline manager” carries no hint of glamour, let alone romance.

Farke knows that, after winning three promotions to the Premier League, the first two with Norwich, and enduring two immediate relegations, he could do without his latest bounce into the big time prefacing a swift tumble back to the Championship. No matter that there are persuasive mitigating factors for those two relegations with Norwich – mainly involving a severe shortage of money. Mud sticks.

Continue reading...
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Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action

Kyle Walker has World Cup in his sights, Nottingham Forest remain potent in attack and James Trafford delights the Manchester City fans

It has been a constant in the last two seasons: Manchester United are doing OK in a game, resembling something approaching a football team, then out of nowhere all their good work is ruined by goalkeeping incompetence somehow predictable and unpredictable. And that was exactly what happened against Arsenal, United starting fairly well, only to concede a corner and fall behind in inexcusably soft circumstances. Usually, André Onana is the man responsible, but in his absence, Altay Bayindir seized the mantle with alacrity. We can be absolutely certain that Ruben Amorim has already told his bosses he must have a new keeper and, though they have already spent heavily, the position must be addressed as a matter of urgency because if it is not, this will continue happening and they might soon be facing questions about whether a new manager is necessary. It is pointless building a swish new house only for the owners to knowingly leave the back door open, get burgled and sack the builder. Daniel Harris

Match report: Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal

Match report: Nottingham Forest 3-1 Brentford

Match report: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace

Match report: Brighton 1-1 Fulham

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Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera becomes AFL’s first $2m-a-year man with new St Kilda deal

  • Midfielder rejects interest from both Adelaide clubs to stay with Saints

  • Two-year deal secures 22-year-old’s immediate future at Moorabbin

Breakout star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera will stay at St Kilda on a bumper two-year deal after rejecting huge interest from Adelaide and Port Adelaide. Wanganeen-Milera has become the AFL’s first player to earn $2m per season in signing through to the end of 2027, in a huge boost to the Saints.

The 22-year-old had been cagey on his future, the most hotly-anticipated contract call this year, amid his breakout season, but has ultimately turned his back on monster long-term offers from both Adelaide clubs.

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Reds end Brewers’ franchise-record, 14-game winning streak on Hays’ bases-loaded hit in 10th

CINCINNATI — Austin Hays’ single with the bases loaded in the 10th inning gave the Cincinnati Reds a 3-2 victory over Milwaukee on Sunday, ending the Brewers’ franchise-record winning streak at 14 games.

Milwaukee had barely pulled out the previous two games in Cincinnati for its longest streak ever within one season and the longest in the majors since the St. Louis Cardinals won 17 straight from Sept. 11 to Sept. 28, 2021.

This time, Spencer Steer’s sacrifice bunt in the 10th advanced designated runner TJ Friedl to third. After intentional walks to Elly De La Cruz and Will Benson loaded the bases, Hays laced a single to down the third-base line for his second career walk-off hit.

Milwaukee, which overcame a seven-run deficit on Friday and rallied to win in 14 innings Saturday, nearly came back for another win.

William Contreras hit his 13th home run of the season, a two-run shot off Reds closer Emilio Pagan, to put Milwaukee ahead 2-1 in the ninth. But the Reds tied it when Benson reached on a fielding error by shortstop Joey Ortiz and later scored on Jose Trevino’s single.

The first-place Brewers fell to 53-17 in their last 70 games.

The game was scoreless through six innings with Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott and Brewers lefty Jose Quintana allowing a combined six hits with 11 strikeouts.

Cincinnati scored the game’s first run when Hays led off the seventh with a double and scored on Trevino’s sacrifice fly to the wall in center.

Graham Ashcraft (7-4) earned the win for Cincinnati. Grant Anderson (2-4) took the loss.

Key moment

In the top of the 10th inning, designated runner Andrew Vaughn was thrown out at third base trying to advance on Blake Perkins’ bunt.

Key stat

The Reds are the only team that has not been swept in a series this season. Their 40 series without a sweep is the longest in franchise history, eclipsing the 1970 team which went 32 straight series. It’s the seventh time the Reds have won the final game of a series to avoid being swept.

Up next

Brewers RHP Freddy Peralta (14-5, 2.90) will start Monday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. RHP Brady Singer (10-9, 4.31) will start Monday for the Reds against the Angels in Anaheim.

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Amid ‘ups and downs,’ Mets hope big home run sees Mark Vientos ‘take off’

Mark Vientos came into the year looking to solidify himself as an everyday player for the Mets after having a breakout season, smacking 27 home runs in 111 games before posting a .998 OPS in 13 postseason games.

“It hasn’t been easy for him,” manager Calos Mendoza said of the young slugger’ struggles during the 2025 campaign, which saw him post just a .633 OPS amid on-again-off-again playing time entering Sunday night's Little League Classic.

“Lotta ups and downs,” Mendoza said. “Started the year not the way he wanted it or anticipated it or the way we anticipated it, and it hasn’t been easy for him the past couple of weeks with inconsistent playing time. He plays one game and then maybe sits for a few of them. And it’s not an easy role."

But Vientos was in the lineup at third base and delivered two hits in three at-bats and provided the blow that blew the game wide open with a three-run home run off Seattle starter George Kirby in the fifth inning.

“I was just trying to see a fastball up in the zone, middle-middle,” Vientos said after the 7-3 win. “I know he had good two-seam action on his fastball, so I was just trying to see him middle-middle and not try to do too much.”

Vientos got the 97 mph heater at the top of the zone and muscled it 385 feet the other way to give the Mets a five-run cushion. The long ball, Vientos' eighth of the season, gave him four RBI on the night (after a sacrifice fly his first time up) to raise his total to 36 on the season and saw his slashline rise to .232/.276/.372.

For the skipper, it was a sign of how things are supposed to work.

“That’s kinda the messaging with him and some of the other younger players: they gotta stay ready,” Mendoza said. “And to [Vientos’] credit, proud of him, because to have a game like that against a really good arm. It’s pretty impressive.”

Vientos said he has been preparing every day like he is starting and reading himself to come into the game at every opportunity. 

"Whenever the opportunity presents itself – and honestly, whenever I'm out there – I try my best and do what I can, and if not, I'm just cheering on my team for us to win," he said.

For the Mets, who won for the second-straight time and the fourth time in their last 18 games, they'll need everyone, including Vientos, to start clicking. 

“We need him, we need all of those guys,” Mendoza said. “[Vientos] was a big part of this team last year, and he's going to be a big part here moving forward. We saw it tonight, he’s too good of a player. And hopefully he can just take off from today.”

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Examining The Penguins Right Defensive Side For 2025-26

Pittsburgh Penguins training camp is only about a month away from starting, and a lot of eyes will be on the defensemen since the Penguins aren't expected to be a strong defensive team this year. 

There will be some good battles on the left side, but fans shouldn't forget about the right side, either. The Penguins made a couple of moves to try and change things up on that side earlier in the offseason, and could still make another if teams get more aggressive trying to pursue Erik Karlsson. However, as of August 17, he is still a Pittsburgh Penguin. 

Here's a look at the options the Penguins have on the right side going into this upcoming season.

Erik Karlsson

Karlsson is expected to get the top-pairing minutes on the right side for the 2025-26 season, assuming he doesn't get dealt before training camp, and for good reason. Despite his many critics, he can still move the puck up the ice with authority and generate a lot of offense. He was tied for fifth among all defensemen in 5v5 points last season with 33. 

He gives a lot back defensively, which isn't surprising given he hasn't been good defensively in a long time. The Penguins got him to push the pace of play, and that's precisely what he will do this upcoming season.

There's hope that a new coaching staff can get a bit more out of him than Mike Sullivan and Co. did these last two seasons. Karlsson has two years left on his contract and a full no-move clause. 

Apr 6, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) warms up before a game against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

Kris Letang

The 2025-26 season will be Letang's 20th season in the NHL, all with the Penguins. He's the best franchise defenseman in the history of the franchise and still has three years left on his contract at $6.1 million per season. 

Letang had a rough go of things last season. His offense deteriorated, and he wasn't much better in his end. Despite being 38, he still wants to prove he can play at a higher level than he did last year and has been training his butt off all offseason. 

He may have to accept a slightly lesser role for next season since Karlsson can do more offensively. Letang's time on ice per game last season was 23:31, and if the Penguins can shorten it by two or three minutes, it will be mutually beneficial for them and the player. 

Connor Clifton

The Penguins acquired Clifton during the second day of the 2025 NHL Draft on June 28, along with the No. 39 overall pick, for defenseman Conor Timmins and forward prospect Isaac Belliveau. 

Clifton will try to win that bottom-pairing spot after going through a tough season last year with the Buffalo Sabres. Clifton told reporters after the trade in July that he felt he "lost himself" and is stoked to be a Penguin. 

"I feel like I kind of lost myself. The change of scenery, I got that call that I'm going to be a Pittsburgh Penguin, and I was really excited for the change. I want to get back to my old self, and how I play, and the impact that I have on the game. It was a couple of mental battles… but, you just try to simplify and be who you are, I guess," Clifton told reporters during a media session in July. 

Clifton spent the last two seasons with the Sabres after spending the first five years of his career with the Boston Bruins. He has one year left on his contract.

What Will The Penguins' Left Side Look Like In 2025-26?What Will The Penguins' Left Side Look Like In 2025-26?When training camp opens for the Pittsburgh Penguins one month from now - and with more youth talent in the organization than there has been in a long while - there will be a lot of positional battles on pretty much every front.

Matt Dumba

Dumba got traded to the Penguins along with a 2028 second-round pick on July 10. The Dallas Stars were in salary cap hell, and the Penguins were happy to help out since they're not trying to contend this year. 

Like Clifton, Dumba has a year left on his contract and needs a significant bounce-back after being a healthy scratch throughout the entire playoffs for the Stars. He was limited to 63 games during the regular season, compiling one goal and 10 points. 

Harrison Brunicke (maybe)

Brunicke was very close to making the Penguins' opening night roster last year before he was sent back to the WHL at the end of training camp. He did a lot of good things, but the Penguins believed he was best suited to continue developing at the junior level. 

The Penguins may have a surplus of defensemen on the right side right now, but that's not going to stop Brunicke from going out there and trying to win a full-time roster spot.

It could be similar to what happened in 2019 when John Marino came out of nowhere to win a roster spot after an excellent training camp. It's not a guarantee, but Brunicke may give the Penguins' decision-makers quite a bit to think about again in September.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

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Mark Vientos homers, drives in four as Mets beat Mariners 7-3 in 2025 MLB Little League Classic

Mark Vientos homered and drove in four runs, and Francisco Lindor and Francisco Alvarez notched three hits each as the Mets beat the Seattle Mariners 7-3 on Sunday night in the 2025 MLB Little League Classic in Williamsport, Penn.

Clay Holmes pitched around trouble to give the Mets five innings of one-run ball and the bullpen was effective to shut the door behind him as the Mets grabbed a series win, their first in the month of August.

New York improved to 66-58 on the year and is now 3.0 games behind the San Diego Padres for the second Wild Card spot.

Here are the takeaways...

- The Mets got the game’s first chance when Pete Alonso led off the home half of the second with a single through the left side of the infield and Jeff McNeil chunked a base hit down the line in left. Alvarez, on the fifth straight George Kirby slider, lined one into the left-center gap that just eluded Julio Rodriguez's glove for an RBI double. Brett Baty, against a drawn-in infield with two in scoring position, laced a 3-2 sinker up the middle for a run-scoring single before Vientos plated the Mets’ third run with a sacrifice fly to center.

Kriby gave New York a chance in the third, issuing a leadoff walk to Juan Soto and a one-out free pass to Alonso. But McNeil flied out to right and Alvarez grounded out to short to end the chance. The Mets created another opportunity off Kirby in the fourth as Vientos’ one-out single was followed by a Lindor single and Soto walk (featuring a Soto Shuffle much to the little leaguers' delight) to give Brandon Nimmo a two-out chance with the bases loaded. But he got jammed on a first-pitch 98 mph fastball to line out softly. 

- With two down in the fifth, Vientos came to the plate with runners on first and second thanks to sharply hit one-out singles from McNeil and Alvarez, and Kirby left a 1-1 heater over the heart of the plate and the third baseman didn't miss it, driving it 385 feet the opposite way (103.5 mph off the bat) for a much-needed three-run shot to put the Mets up 6-1.

Cedric Mullins, who was 0-for-2 to that point with two strikeouts, roped a double into the corner in right and Lindor, on the sixth-straight Kirby curveball, golfed a drive into the right-center gap that the Mariners misplayed as Rodriguez called off right fielder Dominic Canzone and the ball fell in for an RBI double, his third hit of the night.

- In the seventh, Alvarez cracked his third hit of the game with a double off the wall in right, just beating the throw with a head-first slide. But the Mets catcher appeared to jam his right thumb into the bag on the slide. He immediately called for time and was examined by the Mets’ training staff. Alvarez remained in the game to run the bases and was eventually stranded at third, but was replaced in the top of the eighth behind the plate by Luis Torrens.

- The Mets got another chance with one out in the eighth when Soto worked his third walk of the night, stole second, and Nimmo singled to cover the corners. But Alonso went down swinging and McNeil tapped out to first.

New York finished the night 5-for-15 with runners in scoring position with 10 runners left on base.

- Holmes’ night got off to an auspicious start: He beaned Randy Arozarena near the head with a 92 mph sinker on the game’s first pitch. But the veteran got Cal Raleigh swinging on a slider below the zone and Rodriguez to ground into a 5-4-3 inning-ender. Holmes worked around a one-out infield single in the second and a leadoff single in the third to keep Seattle off the board through nine outs, needing 46 pitches. 

Rodriguez smacked a 0-2 curveball of the outside corner for a double into the gap in right to start the fourth. Holmes got Josh Naylor looking at a changeup and Eugenio Suarez to ground out to short, but Jorge Polanco’s soft liner up the middle slipped past a leaping Lindor to score the Mariners’ first run. 

It was a play that the shortstop should have made, and Holmes suffered as Canzone singled to right and J.P. Crawford worked a walk to load the bases. After the starter fell behind 3-0 to nine-hole hitter Cole Young, Holmes got an inning-ending pop out to short, but had to throw 16 extra pitches after the missed liner, which likely kept him from going deeper in the game.

After an 11-pitch 1-2-3 fifth inning, Holmes exited having allowed just one run on five hits, one walk, and one HBP with four strikeouts on 88 pitches (58 strikes).

- Needing 12 outs and protecting a six-run lead, Brooks Raley was the first man out of the Mets bullpen and worked around a two-on and two-out jam for a clean frame.

In the seventh, Reed Garrett retired the first man he faced before Arozarena singled to right and Raleigh took a splitter virtually off the ground and just snuck it over the wall down the line in left for a 338-foot two-run shot.

The struggling Ryan Helsley worked around a two-out walk in a clean eighth inning with a pair of strikeouts, sporing an effective cutter that got three whiffs (on five swings) and two called strikes.

Tyler Rogers worked around a pair of two-out singles in the ninth to close the door, stranding runners on the corners. The Mets staff limited their foes to 1-for-6 with RISP and left 10 men on base.

- The miscue in the field wasn’t Lindor’s only mistake of the day. After cracking a single to right to lead off the home half of the first, he was caught dancing off first base as the Mariners put a pickoff play on. It went down as a caught stealing, snapping the Mets’ streak of 39 successful steals.

Game MVP: Mark Vientos

Vientos, who went 2-for-3 with four RBI, had the big hit of the game as his home run helped burst the game open. Honorable mention to Alvarez for going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored and Lindor, who went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a strikeout.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets have Monday off and will head to Washington for a three-game series against the Nationals before heading to Atlanta for a weekend series with the Braves.

Left-hander David Peterson (3.30 ERA, 1.276 WHIP in 136.1 innings over 24 starts) gets the ball for Tuesday night's series opener against right-hander Jake Irvin (5.14 ERA, 1.379 WHIP in 140 innings over 25 starts). First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m. in D.C.