MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 03: William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after drawing a walk against the San Diego Padres during the third 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 National League Championship Series kicks-off tonight with the Los Angeles Dodgers taking on the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 tonight. The game is available on FOX and starts at 8PM Eastern. Both teams won 100 or more games during the 2026 regular season with Milwaukee leading all of MLB with 103 wins. The Dodgers disposed of the Atlanta Braves (again) in the NLDS while the Brewers made light work of the San Diego Padres.
There are some notable former Braves playing in this series, headlined by Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman and Brewers catcher William Contreras.
Chances are this chat might be a pro-Brew Crew bunch given the less-than-warm-and-fuzzy feelings most Braves fans have toward the Dodgers.
The starting line-ups for both teams are below.
See you in the comments or in the chat of the SB Nation app (which you should download, if you haven’t already).
Cole Beaudoin skated in his third professional hockey game in three days against the Canucks on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.
Amid Igor Shesterkin’s season-ending injury, the Rangers sent Beaudoin to Hartford and recalled Juuso Parssinen on Saturday to maximize their long-term injured reserve pool. Assigning Parssinen to the Rangers roster over Beaudoin added $308,000 to their cap and brought the organization closer to its optimal LTIR capture.
Cole Beaudoin warms up at Capital One Arena on October 09, 2026 in Washington, DC. NHLI via Getty Images
The new paper transactions rule in the collective bargaining agreement requires players sent down to appear in one game before they are eligible for a recall.
Beaudoin only took one shift for Hartford on Saturday night, but evidently it was part of the game plan.
“He played very little,” head coach Mike Sullivan said of Beaudoin before the Rangers beat the Canucks 6-2 at Madison Square Garden. “He’s a young guy. He has tons of energy. He didn’t play very much [Saturday] night, so that was by design. Cole’s a good player. He’s played very well for Hartford to this point. He’s deserving of the opportunity he has with us. We like his potential and where it could go.
“He’s a young guy; he’s going to make mistakes along the way, but we’ll help him through that process. Overall, we really like his game.”
The 20-year-old Beaudoin appeared unfazed by his fluctuation between the AHL and NHL.
Describing the back-and-forth as “crazy,” Beaudoin said he was happy to be back with the varsity group and that he is trying to enjoy the process of it all. He once again centered the Rangers fourth line between Jaroslav Chmelar and Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Cole Beaudoin skates in his first NHL game against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden on October 06, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images
In his second NHL game Friday in Washington, the Ottawa native had a “Welcome to the NHL” moment.
Beaudoin committed the turnover along the wall in the defensive zone that led to Boone Jenner’s game-winning goal in a 3-1 Capitals victory.
“It’s obviously tough,” he said of the sequence. “You never want to do that, obviously. Coming in your second NHL game, and then you do that, you feel bad for the group and [I] felt really bad, but going out in the third, just kind of trying to wash it down and still have confidence in myself to make plays.
“Obviously, it’s an unfortunate bounce there, but I have confidence in myself to make plays and know that I’m capable of playing at this level.”
The six goals the Rangers scored Sunday night marked a season high.
Registering his 287th career power-play point — and his 250th as a Ranger — with an assist on Alexis Lafrenière’s second-period score, Mika Zibanejad became the third Rangers skater in franchise history to do so.
The Rangers are scheduled for a day off Monday before returning to game action Tuesday against the Lightning at home.
It's a rematch of last year's NLCS, in which the Brewers suffered an embarrassing sweep as the NL's top seed. But this Brewers team won 103 games and is primed to reach the World Series for just the second time in franchise history.
Sunday's game will air on Fox and can be streamed with Fubo.
What channel is Dodgers vs Brewers game? How to watch
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 24: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles down the court during the second half against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena on March 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have their second and final home preseason matchup against the Orlando Magic. This is one of two meetings against the Magic during the exhibition season.
Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!
Oct 11, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; General view before game one of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs between Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The NLCS begins tonight with the Dodgers going to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers.
Let’s talk about it (or about how the Eagles should fire Nick Sirianni).
Kessler progressed to participating during the live action portion of Sunday’s practice after doing everything else but live drills during Saturday’s session.
Lakers center Walker Kessler provided reporters with an update on his left pinky finger injury after Sunday’s practice. Khobi Price
The 7-foot-2 big man sat out of the Lakers’ first three preseason games, and didn’t fully participate in the first couple of weeks of practice, after jamming his left pinky finger on a backboard during a training camp session.
Lakers center Walker Kessler shot free throws with his left pinky finger wrapped. Khobi Price
“Just jammed it a little bit,” Kessler said. “Just taking precautionary stuff, especially since it’s preseason. But it feels good. Fully went [on Sunday] in practice, felt great. It was good.”
Coach JJ Redick and Kessler didn’t commit to an availability status for Tuesday.
The Lakers’ last preseason game is Friday vs. the Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena.
“A lot can happen in 48 hours,” Redick said. “We’ll be smart with it. See how he feels [on Monday]. But not willing to commit to him playing Tuesday or not. He’ll get some live play at some point this week.”
Walker Kessler is itching to make his preseason debut for the Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images
Walker Kessler getting up free throws after the Lakers' practice.
Kessler said he wants to play “really bad” and is ready to play, but is trusting the Lakers with his return-to-play process.
“It would be a little different if I played last season,” said Kessler, referring to only playing five regular-season games in 2025-26 before having season-ending left shoulder surgery.
He added: “But because I didn’t play last season, I’m like, ‘Ah, I want to play really bad.’ I’m ready to play, but I trust the staff and I trust the trainers, the coaches, and front office, you know? So yeah, just listening to them right now.”
“I just want to step on his throat,” Murphy said of Dodgers starter Tarik Skubal.
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy speaks ahead of Game 1 of baseball’s National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers. AP Photo/Kyla Wolf
The two-time Cy Young winner was highly-coveted at the trade deadline and it was the back-to-back World Series champions who managed to land Skubal in a blockbuster trade with the Tigers. Since his arrival to LA, Skubal is sporting a 2.61 ERA with 70 strikeouts across 61 innings pitched.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts after recording the last out in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves Jim Ruymen/UPI/Shutterstock
Now, the left-hander has been given the honor of starting NLCS Game 1 for the Dodgers.
It won’t be an easy feat as Skubal will have to fend off a Brewers lineup that is one of the best offenses in baseball. As Murphy hopes, Milwaukee looks to suffocate Skubal on the mound with their quality at-bats and small ball fundamentals.
Opposite Skubal is National League Cy Young candidate Jacob Misiorowski, who is bound to give the Dodgers lineup some trouble.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal talks to reporters ahead of Game 1 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Kyla Wolf
The matchup will be the Dodgers’ biggest test of October thus far and the competition will be much, much tougher than it was in 2025, when LA swept the Brewers in four games in the NLCS.
Sunday starts with the Dodgers’ crown jewel of the trade deadline — Skubal.
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Anthopoulos introduces Walt Weiss as the manager of the Atlanta Braves during a press conference at Truist Park on November 4, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Atlanta Braves President of Baseball Operations, Alex Anthopoulos, met with the media earlier today and addressed a handful of issues ahead of the 2027 season.
Among the topics Anthopoulos discussed were that the team plans to give 21-year-old pitcher Didier Fuentes a chance at being in the team’s rotation in 2027, although he may be subjected to an innings limit which could also impact his role as the season progress – assuming, of course, that there is a full 2027 campaign due to the pending lock-out by the owners. Fuentes tossed 97.0 innings between his work with Atlanta and Gwinnett in 2026, when including the post-season.
Any possible 2027 starting rotation construction likely won’t be planned to include neither Spencer Strider nor Spencer Schwellenbach, at least for the whole season, as both are dealing with uncertain futures given their injury issues. Schwellenbach missed all of 2026 and Strider appeared in only eight games.
Anthopoulos provided a few other nuggets, including notes that decisions haven’t yet been made on possible changes to the coaching staff; that the future of two-time PED suspended outfielder Jurickson Profar with the Braves has not yet been decided (the final year of his three-year contract is 2027); and he was glad Austin Riley was healthy all season and complimented his defense while also being optimistic that he offense can regain form.
On the possibility of signing pending free agent pitcher Tyler Mahle, Anthopoulos said they would try to use their exclusive negotiating window to there advantage for Mahle and other of their own free agents. Anthopoulos was also complimentary of utility-man Maurico Dubón’s off-the-field prowess. Dubón, who is also a pending free agent, could be an option at shortstop should he re-sign with Atlanta for the ‘27 season.
The Calgary Flames dropped their fifth straight game to open the season, falling 4-2 to the Anaheim Ducks at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday night.
At 0-5-0, the Flames are still searching for their first win, but there were some encouraging signs offensively. Calgary scored a pair of quality goals to battle back into the game before Anaheim pulled away in the second period.
The Ducks brought plenty of offensive firepower into Calgary and made the most of their opportunities. Ryan Lacombe opened the scoring on the power play in the first period before Morgan Frost answered with a highlight-reel goal for the Flames.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Matt Coronato set up Frost with a pass that sent the forward in alone on Ville Husso. Frost made a smooth backhand-to-forehand move before tucking the puck into the net to even the score.
However, the Ducks responded with goals from Ryan Poehling and Nikita Nesterenko in the third period. Those two markers proved to be the difference as Anaheim held on for the win.
Dustin Wolf stopped 24 of 28 shots for Calgary, but the young goaltender remains in search of his first victory of the season.
Suniev showed off his shooting ability and offensive awareness on the play, getting the puck away quickly from a tough angle before Husso could react. It was a positive moment for the young forward as he continues to adjust to the NHL level.
2. Matt Coronato Continues to Produce
Coronato was named the game’s second star after recording two assists against Anaheim. He has been one of Calgary’s more consistent offensive threats through the opening five games, finding ways to create chances even when the results have not always followed.
With two assists on Saturday, Coronato now has three points, one goal and two assists, through five games. As the Flames look to turn their season around, his ability to generate offence will remain important.
3. Dustin Wolf Still Searching for First Win
Wolf remains winless through his first three starts of the season after allowing four goals on 28 shots against Anaheim.
The Flames goaltender has now surrendered 16 goals across those three appearances, posting a 5.42 goals-against average and a .816 save percentage over that span.
Those numbers reflect a difficult opening stretch for both Wolf and the Flames. Calgary will need to find more consistency defensively while giving its goaltender better support as it looks to get into the win column.
The Buffalo Sabres made a major move this off-season when they trade defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks in a multi-player deal.
Byram quickly signed a six-year, $75 million contract extension with the Blackhawks after the trade. With this, he will have a massive $12.5 million cap hit starting next season.
Now, after landing his big payday, Byram is having a nightmare start to his tenure with the Blackhawks.
In five games so far this season with Chicago, the former Sabres defenseman has zero points to go along with a minus-8 rating. With this, there is no question that Byram is not leaving a great first impression with his new team.
While Byram has struggled early on with the Blackhawks, he has plenty of time to heat back up. Sometimes it takes players time to adjust to their new teams when traded, and this could very well end up being the case with Byram.
Byram spent three seasons with the Sabres from 2023-24 to 2025-26. In 182 games with the Sabres over that span, he posted 21 goals, 68 assists, 89 points, and a plus-25 rating. This included him scoring 11 goals and recording a career-high 42 points in 82 games last season for Buffalo.
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 10: Zyon Pullin #15 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks to pass the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on October 10, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Fresh off their one-point victory over the Miami Heat in which no starters from either team saw the court, the Minnesota Timberwolves are back in action on Monday. In their most important and telling game of the preseason, the Wolves head to the Big Apple to take on the defending champions
Neither the Wolves nor the Knicks have played their starters past 20 minutes in their preseason contests. Figure for more of the same in this bout. In a recent practice clip, LaMelo Ball told Anthony Edwards to look for the mismatches early.
The Knicks are a team loaded with solid wing defenders in OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart. Expect OG to match up with Ant, Bridges to take the Melo assignment, and Hart to guard Kuminga. If the Wolves are following Melo’s direction, they will hunt Jalen Brunson. As Dane Moore noted on the new Wolves Collectivepodcast, “Three years ago, teams would put their worst defender on Jaden McDaniels… On this team (this iteration of the Wolves), you have to hide your worst defender on Jaden McDaniels.”
This likely means McDaniels gets defended by Brunson. To continue to build chemistry, the Wolves are turning to guard-wing pick-and-rolls on the perimeter. This pulls Brunson into the action and leaves the Knicks with the question of whether to switch the coverage and play at a severe disadvantage.
Wolves fans are well-versed in watching Karl-Anthony Towns try to guard both at the level and in drop coverage, to mixed results filled with whistles. The Knicks no longer have the benefit of defensive stalwart and offensive rebounding savant Mitchell Robinson to back up or play alongside KAT. Should the Big Bodega pick up a few quick fouls, his night likely ends early, and the Knicks become that much easier to defend.
On the other side of the ball, Brunson is one of the craftiest scorers in the league and is unflappable when the game is tightest. Luckily, that won’t really matter in this game. The Knicks know who their core is, so long as owner James Dolan wishes to keep that core together.
They will run through their paces to keep the rust off, using the lethal Brunson/KAT pick-and-roll, spraying the ball out to capable shooters and decision-makers if blunted, all in an effort to put the Wolves’ defense in the blender. What Coach Brown needs to figure out is which of their veteran minimum and training camp invitees can support their title defense. More on that later.
Hustle Factor vs. The Right Play
The play of Joan Beringer in the most recent preseason game was encouraging. Yes, he did pick up his seemingly requisite four fouls, but his normally overflowing youthful energy was tapered. He did a better job waiting for the contact on his screen and giving the ball handler space before rushing to the rim. He held a little block party for himself, notching four of them in his 24 minutes of play, but what impressed me most was how infrequently he left his feet.
Instead, he showed more patience for the play to develop, as well as understanding that getting scored on in the early throws of the game can be preferable to early foul trouble.
While the Wolves starters on Saturday all finished positive in +/-, the bench was woeful save for Norchad Omier, who kept his head above water with a +3 in his nine minutes. Under-contract players like Cody Williams and Isaiah Evans brought a lot of energy, but most of it signified little.
The fringe rotation players and camp invitees are in a tough spot. Their minutes, let alone actual contracts, are on the line. They need to prove something to the Wolves’ coaches and front office or at least present a good enough showing to get a flyer from another team. What this leads to is players who have played little to no NBA minutes struggling to balance their own looks with what is best for the team and playing with reckless hustle detrimental to the right play.
Meanwhile, the Knicks are flush with NBA veterans who know what it means to bring it on any given night, yet are nevertheless fighting for their careers. New to New York are:
NBA champion Bruce Brown
Serviceable backup center Andre Drummond
Former number two overall pick James Wiseman (and technically NBA champion)
Former lottery pick Ochai Agbaji
Eight year veteran center Drew Eubanks
Eight year veteran center Tony Bradley
In the second half, I expect the eager youth to hang with the veterans. That said, unless the Wolves starters build a big lead in the first half, it is not hard to envision the Wolves losing their minutes overall to the more experienced group.
Listen to Your Hart
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 08: AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards looks to pass as Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden on October 08, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This one goes out to Jonathan Kuminga. I am of the belief that for Kuminga to really stick in the league and to earn the riches his agent has promised, he must model his game after Josh Hart. When asked about Hart, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said,
“Josh is just a winner. People ask ‘What position does he play?’ He plays winner. I don’t know what position he plays…At one point Spo turned to me and said ‘Some people get 50-50 balls; he gets the 30-70 balls”
I presume Hart will be guarding Kuminga. Barring any Freaky Friday situation that occurs after they collide going for a loose ball, I need him to be watching Hart’s game. How does Hart guard? How does he position to rebound? How does he use his activity to add that touch of chaos that prevents opposing teams from feeling they have a grip on the game?
In his last six years, Hart has averaged greater than seven rebounds and four assists a game. Being three inches taller and ten pounds heavier with generational athleticism, Kuminga has all the tools to pull in as many rebounds and a team chock-full of talent to kick out to if the easy shot isn’t there for him.
If JK can listen to his heart/Hart in the preseason and carry that through the regular season, the Wolves will not only have a bargain of a deal, but a meaningful shot at winning it all.
Milwaukee has opted for a platoon advantage against Dodgers left-hander Tarik Skubal Sunday. Yelich, Brewers’ designated hitter and newly-named team captain, will be out for Game 1, but could come off the bench as a pinch-hit option.
Milwaukee Brewers’ Christian Yelich singles during the second inning in Game 3 of baseball’s National League Division Series. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
“It’s about our team and what’s best for our team today,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy told reporters about the decision pregame. “It might not be the whole game, but it’s what’s best for our team today. You look at matchups, history, how a guy pitches a guy.”
For Yelich, the Dodgers are a familiar foe.
Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a single against the San Diego Padres. Getty Images
The Brewers and Dodgers have squared off four times in the last nine postseasons, with LA winning every series. Milwaukee believes the tide will turn in their favor this October.
Yelich, a Southern California native, attended Westlake High School in Thousand Oaks and graduated in 2010. He played varsity baseball all fours years in high school.
Yelich batted .451 with 37 hits, 25 RBIs, and nine home runs his senior year. While he originally committed to play college baseball at UCLA, Yelich was selected in the first-round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Florida Marlins.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal celebrates after striking out Atlanta Braves’ Austin Riley. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Yelich has spent he majority of his MLB career with the Brewers, earning all three of his All-Star selections and the 2018 NL MVP award with Milwaukee.
Now, the Brewers veteran is looking to win his first World Series and the Dodgers are the only thing standing in his way.
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.
