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Pat Murphy embracing Brewers’ underdog status before NLCS matchup with Dodgers

MILWAUKEE — Pat Murphy and his Milwaukee Brewers adopted an underdog mentality even as they produced the best regular-season record in the major leagues this year.

Their NL Championship Series matchup with the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers enables them to embrace that approach even more. The series starts with Game 1 in Milwaukee.

The Dodgers are seeking their third World Series title in six years, boast the game’s biggest star in three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani and have a record spend of payroll and luxury tax totaling $509.5 million. The Brewers play in the smallest market in the major leagues, have never won a title and made their lone World Series appearance in 1982.

One more indication of the contrast between these teams: The Dodgers’ projected luxury tax bill of nearly $168 million exceeds Milwaukee’s entire payroll of $124.8 million.

“The Dodgers are a powerhouse. What can you say?” Murphy said.

BetMGM has established the Dodgers as minus-220 favorites, meaning it gives the Dodgers a 68.8% chance of winning the series. Someone would have to bet $220 on the Dodgers to win $100 if they take the series.

“It doesn’t matter what people say,” Brewers second baseman Brice Turang explained. “It matters what we believe in here.”

There’s one problem with the Brewers’ underdog narrative. They won all six of their regular-season meetings with the Dodgers.

No wonder Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts takes umbrage with the notion that this is a David vs. Goliath matchup.

“They’re just gritty,” Roberts said. “They’re tough. And they take on Murph’s personality. They’ve got some guys that can slug. They’ve got some athleticism. They really defend well. They can pitch well. So it’s like they’re going to be in every game. They’ve got complete buy-in, and so they’re hungry. So those things are components that are scary.”

When teams meet in postseason after sweep

The 2003 New York Yankees went 7-0 against Minnesota in the regular season and 3-1 against the Twins in the ALDS. Six years later, the Yankees went 7-0 against the Twins again in the regular season and swept them in the ALDS.

But the New York Mets swept the Chicago Cubs 4-0 in the 2015 NLCS despite going 0-7 against them during the regular season. And the 2007 Yankees went 6-0 in the regular season against Cleveland, which won their ALDS matchup 3-1.

San Francisco beat Kansas City in a seven-game 2014 World Series after going 0-3 again the Royals in the regular season. Detroit swept St. Louis in the 2006 regular season before getting swept by the Cardinals in the World Series.

Who’s pitching?

Roberts said the Dodgers plan to start Blake Snell in the opener. Murphy didn’t announce a Game 1 starter but mentioned the possibility of using an opener.

Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta and Los Angeles’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 2.

Ohtani’s hitting slump

Ohtani is expected to win his fourth MVP award after batting .282 with 55 homers and 102 RBIs in the regular season, but he went 1 for 18 with nine strikeouts in the Dodgers’ NL Division Series win over Philadelphia.

He homered three times in the Dodgers’ six meetings with the Brewers.

Roberts said he plans to have Ohtani pitch in one game this series. He added that Ohtani’s hitting slump isn’t the reason the Dodgers opted against having him pitch Game 1.

“I expect a different output from Shohei on the offensive side this series,” Roberts said. “But, yeah, pushing him back was no bearing on the offensive performance.”

Sasaki’s surge

The Brewers will be getting their first look at Dodgers rookie pitcher Roki Sasaki, who was injured for both of Los Angeles’ regular-season series with Milwaukee.

Sasaki has been spectacular in a bullpen role during the postseason. He has struck out five while allowing one hit and no walks in 5 1/3 shutout innings.

Brewers’ shot at revenge

Milwaukee was a win from a World Series appearance in 2018 before losing 5-1 at home to the Dodgers in Game 7 of the 2018 NLCS. This marks Milwaukee’s first NLCS berth since.

Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich was the NL MVP during that 2018 season. The only other Brewers remaining from 2018 are pitchers Brandon Woodruff and Peralta. Woodruff isn’t expected to pitch in the NLCS as he deals with a right lat strain.

Who’s hot, who’s not

Jackson Chourio batted .389 with six RBIs in Milwaukee’s NLDS win over the Cubs, though he did much of his damage early in that series. Andrew Vaughn and William Contreras homered twice in the NLDS. Chad Patrick threw 4 2/3 shutout innings, while Jacob Misiorowski allowed one run over seven innings.

Milwaukee’s Joey Ortiz batted .154. Turang homered in Game 5 but went 3 of 20 in the series.

Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández has hit .308 with three homers and nine RBIs in six playoff games. Mookie Betts is hitting .385 during the postseason. Snell is 2-0 and has allowed just two runs over 13 postseason innings. Tyler Glasnow threw 7 2/3 shutout innings in the NLDS.

Will Smith has gone 2 for 13 and Andy Pages is 1 of 24 in the playoffs.

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Five Rookies Who Scored Their First NHL Goal On The Weekend

This season, there has been a notable number of young, talented players who are entering their rookie season.

Some are fresh from the 2025 draft, which took place in late June, or had a small taste of what the NHL experience is like, making a handful of appearances last year.

This past weekend, the NHL had all 32 NHL teams play on Saturday. It would be very challenging for fans to catch every game or moment, including several rookies who scored their first NHL goals.

Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders

The first overall pick from the 2025 draft, Matthew Schaefer, wasted no time getting his first career goal on the board. Schaefer’s first NHL goal was a power-play marker that came against the Washington Capitals, in unusual fashion.

The 18-year-old defenseman was standing near the offensive blueline when there was a pileup in front of goaltender Logan Thompson. Bodies were lying down everywhere as Capitals defensemen and New York Islanders forwards scrambled for the puck.

Eventually, the puck skewed free of the pile of players, and Schaefer charged from the blueline before diving and poking the puck in the net.

Schaefer spoke about his mom, who passed away in February 2024 following a battle with breast cancer.

“She’s up there with the hockey gods,” Schaefer said after the game. “Maybe (she) slipped them a little 20 (dollar bill) to get that goal. She’s definitely there to help.”

Matthew Schaefer (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)

Zeev Buium, D, Minnesota Wild

Zeev Buium of the Minnesota Wild is another defenseman who scored their first NHL goal this past weekend. Buium’s was also on the power play, a little more traditional than Schaefer’s, though. 

The 19-year-old blueliner scored his goal in the third period against the Columbus Blue Jackets, cutting their lead to 5-3. 

Buium started the play when he received the puck at the point and rapidly inched closer to the slot before firing a wrist shot that went wide of the goal. However, Minnesota center Joel Eriksson Ek picked up the puck from behind the net and found Buium in the slot, who one-timed it home.

Buium also recorded another power-play point in that period, a secondary assist on a Kirill Kaprizov goal. The young D-man now has two points in two games this season.

Gavin Brindley, C, Colorado Avalanche

Gavin Brindley scored a big goal for the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. His first-career marker came against the mighty Dallas Stars. The Stars have seen the Western Conference final for three straight seasons and eliminated the Avalanche in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs last year.

At any rate, Brindley’s goal put Colorado up 2-1 over Dallas at this moment. The play started as a 2-on-2 opportunity with Brindley pushing toward the slot and left winger Victor Olofsson carrying the puck on the left flank.

Olofsson made a good move in an effort to get past Stars defenseman Thomas Harley. In the process, he created a passing lane to the front of the net for Brindley, who shoved the puck through goaltender Jake Oettinger.

Sam Rinzel, D, Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Sam Rinzel secured his first goal of the season against the Montreal Canadiens. His goal was the equalizer after Canadiens right winger Cole Caufield opened the scoring less than two minutes before Rinzel’s tally.

Rinzel’s goal came off a faceoff, won by center Frank Nazar. Nazar’s draw was directed toward left winger Teuvo Teravainen, who made a drop pass to Rinzel standing at the right point. 

The 21-year-old blueliner galloped into the faceoff circle, where Nazar’s faceoff was won, and Rinzel whipped it past Habs goaltender Sam Montembeault for the first of his career.

Outside of this season, Rinzel played nine games with Chicago last season, recording five assists in that span. With this goal in the Blackhawks’ third game of the season, Rinzel has six points in 12 career NHL contests.

Ben Kindel, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

Ben Kindel has looked like a regular NHL pro in his first three career games this season. To back that up, he’s another player who bagged his first NHL goal on Saturday for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

His goal came off the rush in a solo fashion against the New York Rangers. The 18-year-old center picked up the puck neutral zone and carried it over the blueline on the right-hand side.

As he entered the right-sided faceoff circle in the Penguins’ offensive zone, he fired the puck on the short side of goaltender Igor Shesterkin, tying the game for Pittsburgh in the second period.

Like Schaefer, Kindel is one of the few players from the 2025 draft to play this season. Only Brady Martin of the Nashville Predators and Braeden Cootes of the Vancouver Canucks join them in that category.

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Dodgers add pitcher Ben Casparius to NLCS roster, drop catcher Dalton Rushing

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts watches his team work out.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts watches his team work out at American Family Field in Milwaukee on Sunday ahead of the NLCS against the Brewers. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The Dodgers made only one small tweak to their roster for the National League Championship Series, announcing a 26-man group before Game 1 on Monday that included an extra pitcher, Ben Casparius, in place of a third catcher, Dalton Rushing.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had indicated the Dodgers would likely add a pitcher for the NLCS, which is a best-of-seven round with only two off days.

In Casparius, they did so with a right-hander capable of pitching multiple innings at a time (he bounced between the rotation and bullpen earlier this year) and being used as an option against right-handed-heavy parts of an opposing lineup.

Casparius, a 26-year-old rookie who played a minor role in last year's postseason’s run to a World Series, became one of the Dodgers’ biggest success stories during the first half of the season. Over his first 20 appearances (all but one of which came in relief, and included 14 that went beyond one inning), he had a 2.54 ERA, a .194 batting average against, and 44 strikeouts to only seven walks.

Read more:Shaikin: Why 'Average Joe' Brewers beating big-market Dodgers would be good for baseball

His production was so impressive, the Dodgers eventually moved him into the rotation in early June.

From then on, however, his season started to turn.

In his five outings as a starter or bulk-man following an opener, Casparius had an 8.24 ERA and gave up six home runs 19 ⅔ innings; all while at times, the Dodgers believed, potentially tipping his pitches on the mound.

Eventually, he returned to a strictly relief role, but appeared to run out gas down the stretch, posing a 4.50 ERA from July 9 to Sept. 5 before being demoted to triple-A.

Although Casparius has not been back in the majors since then, his time in the minors seemed to help. He got back to dominating right-handed hitters. He gave just two runs in five outings. And he has been back around the Dodgers during each of the first two rounds of the playoffs, when the team carried only 11 pitchers (not including two-way player Shohei Ohtani) because of the shorter series.

Adding Casparius meant the Dodgers had to trim someone from their position player group. They did that by taking Rushing off the roster, with the team no longer needing three catchers in the NLCS thanks to Will Smith’s recovery from a fractured hand.

Rushing, a former top prospect who had a difficult rookie season, was largely a non-factor in the first two rounds of the playoffs, getting just one pinch-hit at-bat at the end of a Game 3 blowout against the Philadelphia Phillies last week.

Removing Rushing does leave the Dodgers with one less left-handed bat on the bench, especially after they elected to keep Justin Dean and Hyeseong Kim (who are defensive and base-running specialists) on the roster over outfielder Michael Conforto (who would have been a more legitimate candidate for the NLCS given the Milwaukee Brewers’ more right-handed-heavy pitching staff).

But the Dodgers decided to largely stick with the group that has gotten them this far, adding an extra arm ahead of a best-of-seven showdown that represents the next step in their World Series title defense.

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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GAME PREVIEW: Avalanche Head Out East to Take On the Buffalo Sabres

Well, it's our first matinee game of the Colorado Avalanche regular season, folks!

We've got a bunch more of these morning/early afternoon games ahead of us, but let's focus on the now. The Avalanche are headed into this game in Buffalo coming off a devastating shootout loss to the Dallas Stars. Why is it devastating? Because it was easily their best game of the season, by far.

The third line continued to do good things, the first line finally got going on a higher level - heck, we even saw the best version of the power play so far.

The Buffalo Sabres have not gotten their first win of the season, and if last season's matchups between these two teams are any indication, they're gonna make the Avalanche work to get back into the win column.

What happened last time these two teams met?

Let's first go back to December, 3rd 2024. This current version of the Avalanche looked a lot different, namely due to the presence of Alexandar Georgiev. He started this game, the first of two during the 2024-25 season, and let in four goals in the span of 11 minutes and 49 seconds.

Enter new trade acquisition Scott Wedgewood, who the Avalanche traded for just two days before this game. Georgiev gets pulled and Wedgewood stands on his head to pave the way for Colorado's 5-goal comeback win.

Fast forward just about a month later to January 2nd, the Avalanche host the Sabres and history repeats itself. Buffalo gets off to an early 3-0 start, snapped by a Cale Makar goal. Scott Wedgewood starts this game only to get hurt early in the third period, except the officials don't blow the play dead and Colorado goes down another goal. Mackenzie Blackwood comes in as relief and the Avalanche put on a stunning performance to force overtime, and Devon Toews eventually goes on to win the game.

Now, as much as you might love a good rollercoaster, the Avalanche could do with a straightforward game to carry on the good things they did in Saturday's game against the Stars.

When/Where/How to Find the Game

Puck Drop: 7:08 pm Mountain Time

Avalanche T.V. Broadcast: Altitude Sports Network

Avalanche Radio Broadcast: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM

Buffalo T.V. Broadcast: MSG Network

Buffalo Radio Broadcast: WGR 550 AM

Bookmark THN's Colorado Avalanche site so you never miss the latest news surrounding the burgundy and blue!

Make sure you also bookmark The Hockey News to keep up on all things hockey, from NHL to AHL to PWHL and so much more!

Follow Bailey Curtis on X and stay up to date on live news stories following all things Colorado hockey!

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Boiler up! Purdue tops preseason AP Top 25 for first time, ahead of Houston, reigning champ Florida

Purdue is No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 college basketball poll for the first time. The Boilermakers earned 35 of 61 first-place votes to top Monday’s poll to begin the 2025-26 season. “We are obviously excited to get the season going and being ranked No. 1 in the preseason is a great indicator of what we feel this team can accomplish," Painter said.

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Jets Aim to End Struggles Against Islanders in Thanksgiving Clash

The Jets look to build on Saturday's victory in tough matchup against Islanders on Canadian Thanksgiving, while preparing to counter the impact of rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer. 

The Winnipeg Jets look to build on their first victory of the season as they visit the New York Islanders for an afternoon matinee matchup at UBS Arena on Canadian Thanksgiving. Winnipeg held off a late push from Los Angeles in Saturday’s 4–2 win, powered by a perfect performance on the penalty kill and a strong defensive stand in the final minutes.

Scheifele Scores Twice as Jets Take Down Kings 3-2Scheifele Scores Twice as Jets Take Down Kings 3-2The Winnipeg Jets are back in the win column. 

The Jets’ penalty kill has been the standout story of their first week. Winnipeg opened the season in impressive fashion, scoring two shorthanded goals against Dallas, then following it up with a flawless 5-for-5 effort on the kill versus Los Angeles.

Offensively, center Mark Scheifele has been the driving force, notching two goals on Saturday and adding three assists for a total of five points in the team’s first two games. His linemate Kyle Connor, fresh off signing the largest contract in franchise history, made an immediate impact with a hat trick in the season opener and an assist on one of Scheifele’s goals against the Kings. With several key players still sidelined by injuries, the Scheifele–Connor duo will aim to carry the load once again as Winnipeg faces an Islanders team showcasing a new wave of emerging talent.

Lineup Storylines 

The Islanders dropped their home opener 4–2 to Washington on Saturday, despite outshooting the Capitals 20–6 in the third period. The biggest headline out of the game was 2025 top pick defenseman Matthew Schaefer, scored his first career goal in the loss. Not something normal for a defenseman, but the Hamilton native has proven to be a difference maker in early action with several stunning defensive efforts like multiple chasedown stops on breakaways. 

The Jets will need to sharpen their focus on figuring out how to break through the 18-year-old sensation, as there’s limited footage or scouting information on his game. The rookie has already led his team in ice time through the first two contests and will look to add to the scoresheet again on Monday. 

Winnipeg's expected starter Connor Hellebuyck will need to elevate their play as the back-to-back Vezina Trophy winner has struggled against the Islanders, holding a 5-7-0 record with a 3.20 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage in 12 appearances, one of his toughest matchups statistically against any team in the league. 

The Jets will need to generate some offense of their own, but that will be a tall order as they’re missing four key players in captain Adam Lowry, top-six winger Cole Perfetti, and defensemen Dylan Samberg and Haydn Fleury. With lineup changes in place, winger Nikita Chibrikov stepping in for Perfetti and veteran defenseman Colin Miller replacing Fleury will both need standout performances if the Jets hope to stay competitive in this matchup. 

Jets Bring Up Kale Clague as Insurance Following Injury to Haydn FleuryJets Bring Up Kale Clague as Insurance Following Injury to Haydn FleuryOn Saturday afternoon, Winnipeg Jets defenceman Haydn Fleury suffered a lower body injury after blocking a shot from Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe.

Player & Betting Trends (Presented By BetMGM)

NYI ML (+105) | WPG ML (-125)

NYI +1.5 (-238) | WPG -1.5 (+190)

O/U 5.5 Goals

While the Jets rarely face the Islanders due to being in separate conferences, New York has consistently had the upper hand in this matchup, boasting a 9-2-0 record over the last 11 meetings since 2019. Despite Winnipeg’s rise to Stanley Cup contender status in recent seasons, the Islanders have continued to be a thorn in their side, winning two of the past three head-to-head games over the last two years.

For the Jets to stand a chance, they'll need the offense to have a big performance and that starts with points coming out of cold sources like veteran center Jonathan Toews. Winnipeg's big free agent add has yet to find the scoresheet and will need to start contributing soon. His history in this matchup is fairly decent with seven goals and ten assists for 17 points over his last 24 matchups against the Islanders. 

Former Jets First-Rounder Signs with Edmonton OilersFormer Jets First-Rounder Signs with Edmonton OilersWinnipeg Jets' 2015 first round pick in Jack Roslovic signed with the Edmonton mid-game on Wednesday as they Oilers were playing in the Battle of Alberta with the Calgary Flames. 

Goalie Matchup

Winnipeg: EricComrie (VS NYI: 2-1-0 record, 1.02 GAA, .963 SV% in Three Games) 

New York: Ilya Sorokin (VS WPG: 3-2-0 record, 2.03 GAA, .932 SV% in Five Games)

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NBA season 2025-26 preview: Which player who changed teams will have the biggest impact?

Champions, like Oklahoma City, preach continuity.

Continuity is boring. At least to many NBA fans it is — player movement is the lifeblood of the sport. The more the better. It's what drives ratings and draws eyeballs. This offseason saw a lot of players switch teams, but which of those moves will matter? Who are the players who changed teams that will have the biggest impact? Here are seven names to watch — and in the case of a few, we have fantasy basketball notes from our Rotoworld crew on how these moves can affect your teams.

Kevin Durant (Houston)

This was obviously the biggest player move of the offseason — 73% of NBA GMs voted Durant as the player acquisition that will make the biggest impact this season. Anyone who watched Houston last season — especially during their first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Warriors — realizes that for all the young athletes on their roster, the Rockets' halfcourt offense needed help.

Enter Kevin Durant. He is a walking halfcourt offense. He's one of the best pure shooters and scorers ever to play the game. As evidence, even in a down year in Phoenix last season, he averaged 26.6 points, shot 43% from 3-point range, plus grabbed six rebounds and dished out 4.2 assists a night. Durant is the guy the Rockets can run off a screen, get him the rock, and watch it rain buckets.

The only question is how much playmaking will fall to Durant with point guard Fred VanVleet out with a torn ACL? While Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard are playing the point and initiating the offense, it seems likely that Durant will handle much more of the shot creation than initially expected. He can handle it, but the Rockets are going to be better in the halfcourt with him off the ball.

Desmond Bane (Orlando)

The only more natural fit than KD in Houston this offseason was Desmond Bane going to Orlando — 17% of NBA GMs thought this was the most impactful offseason move, and it was voted the best under-the-radar acquisition by those same GMs.

The Magic lack shooting and need a bit more shot creation next to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. They get that in Bane — a career 41% shooter from beyond the arc — without giving up defense. Orlando is ready to win now, and spending to get Bane is the best sign that they are looking to take a big step forward in the East.

Myles Turner (Milwaukee)

This was the surprise move of the offseason for a couple of reasons. First, because Turner was a key part of Indiana's run to the Finals, why would ownership try to take a hard line on what they would offer one of the better stretch fives in the league? However, that surprise was nothing compared to the shock of the Bucks waiving and stretching more than $100 million of Damian Lillard's salary, then using that savings to sign Turner.

For the Bucks, at this point in their careers, Turner is an upgrade at center over Brook Lopez — but the pressure will be on him to do more. The entire league is watching Giannis Antetokounmpo and his mood, and if Turner isn't ready to be the No. 2 on this team and have them top five in the East, things get interesting.

Noah Rubin, Rotoworld: Myles Turner left Indiana after a decade with the Pacers to join the Bucks, and he'll fill out the starting center role that Brook Lopez occupied for most of the past seven seasons. During the last few years, Lopez was an elite source of three-pointers and blocks, while playing next to Giannis Antetokounmpo made up for his lack of rebounding prowess. Now insert Turner, who has similar statistical strengths and weaknesses. It's a flawless fit, but the Bucks didn't make many other moves this summer, which means Turner will likely be made more of a priority on offense. The 37-year-old Lopez played 31.8 minutes per game last season, which would be a career-high for Turner. He could easily be in for one of his most productive seasons.

Cameron Johnson (Denver)

For my money, this was one of the best pickups of the offseason. Denver doesn't give up anything on offense — Johnson put up 18.8 points a game last season while shooting 39% from 3, MPJ averaged 18.2 points and hit 39.5% from beyond the arc — but the Nuggets get a better defender and a more consistent player. Johnson is fast going to be a favorite of Nikola Jokic and Nuggets fans.

Kristaps Porzingis (Atlanta)

No team made a bigger bet on a player this offseason than Atlanta on Porzingis (except maybe Turner in Milwaukee). Atlanta needed a better rim protector in the paint and a pick-and-pop partner to pair with Trae Young. Porzingis is that, and he paired with the Hawks' other offseason additions (Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard) and getting Jalen Johnson back healthy, this is a Hawks team dreaming of a top-four seed in the East.

However, that dream hinges on Porzingis being healthy. He played in just 42 games last season, partly due to a mysterious virus (which he is reportedly over), and he has played in 65+ games twice in his 10-year NBA career. Atlanta needs him to do that again and be healthy for the playoffs.

Noah Rubin, Rotoworld: After two seasons in Boston, Kristaps Porzingis was traded to the Hawks for pennies on the dollar. He battled a strange illness during the playoffs last year, and while health is certainly still a concern, Porzingis is an excellent fit next to Trae Young in Atlanta. They'll likely manage his minutes and games played, but he's had plenty of fantasy success without needing to play a heavy role. His floor-spacing ability at his size is going to open up driving lanes for both Trae and Jalen Johnson, and the entire offense will thrive as a result. This team has a chance to be incredibly dangerous in the East, and Porzingis' fit is a big part of that. He's also dynamic enough to share the floor with Onyeka Okongwu at times, which will allow both bigs to enjoy strong seasons.

Deandre Ayton (Los Angeles Lakers)

From the moment they traded for Luka Doncic, the Lakers started looking for a screen-setting, rim-running big man on offense who can also protect the paint on defense. They have signed Ayton, who has been those things in the past — he was the starting center on Phoenix's Finals team in 2021 — but has not always been consistent.

"He is gonna have a lot of responsibility this year for things that we want to do," Austin Reaves said of Ayton. "If we want to be as good as we think we can be, we need him to be at his best, whatever that looks like."

The Lakers have bet big this year that his best looks a lot like it did in Phoenix a few years back — he's averaged 7.3 points and 7.7 rebounds, plus 1.7 blocks a game and seems to be finding his way this preseason — and if it does the Lakers will have found their big man (and Ayton will have set himself up for a nice payday next summer).

Cooper Flagg (Dallas)

It feels like cheating to choose the No. 1 pick for this list (he did technically change teams from Duke to Dallas), but in a season that starts without Kyrie Irving for the Mavs, Flagg could have a massive impact.

Flagg's defense and all-around game can help Dallas not just make the playoffs this season but even make some noise once there. He's not going to be Luka Doncic out of the gate, but he can give Mavericks fans hope they can get back to the heights of this franchise.

Bonus name: Norman Powell (Miami), via Noah Rubin, Rotoworld: To start last season, Norman Powell was incredibly productive as one of the primary sources of offense for the Clippers with Kawhi Leonard sidelined. Now, he enters a similar situation, with Tyler Herro (ankle) out to start the season. Powell should get off to a hot start, and even after Herro returns, the Heat will still need Powell's offense to remain competitive. He was pushing for an All-Star appearance in the West last year, but in the East, he may actually be able to do it this season. Coming off the best season of his career, Powell may be able to replicate that production, and perhaps even improve on it.

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How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Milwaukee Bucks: TV/live stream info, preview, tip off time

As the NBA begins to ramp up in preseason, we have an exciting matchup on tap.

The defending NBA Champions, Oklahoma City Thunder, travel to Fiserv Forum to face the Milwaukee Bucks for a preseason game Tuesday night on Peacock at 7 p.m. ET.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Milwaukee Bucks team news, preview

The Thunder dominated the league all last season, winning 68 games in the regular season en route to an NBA Finals victory over the Indiana Pacers in seven games. Star point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won MVP averaging 32.7 points and 6.4 assists per game. Young stars Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren shined in the postseason and earned big contract extensions this summer. Oklahoma City once again features a deep, versatile rotation with Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein, Luguentz Dort, and Cason Wallace ready to defend their title in 2025-26.

The Bucks for the third straight season got knocked out in the first round of the playoffs a year ago after a 48-34 regular season, losing in five games to the aforementioned Pacers. With the Achilles injury to Damian Lillard forcing him off the floor for the foreseeable future, the Bucks' front office used every trick in the book to maximize this year's roster while still having a top three player across the league in Giannis Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee waived and stretched Lillard's contract, the largest amount of money to stretch in league history, to sign former Pacers center Myles Turner in free agency. Other key players include Kevin Porter Jr., A.J Green, Gary Trent Jr., and Bobby Portis to provide perimeter shooting around Giannis.

How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Milwaukee Bucks - TV/stream info

  • When: Tuesday, Oct. 14
  • Where: Fiserv Forum — Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Time: 8 PM ET
  • TV Channel: Peacock

What NBA games are exclusively on Peacock?

Fans can sign up for a paid Peacock subscription or log into their TV provider on NBC to access 100 regular-season games that will be available to watch on Peacock, NBC, plus NBC playoff games, Conference Finals, and the NBA All-Star game. Fans can also watch Sunday Night Basketball on Peacock and NBC starting in January 2026, exclusive Monday games only on Peacock, and Tuesday night doubleheaders throughout the regular season.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

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Dodgers at Brewers – NLCS Game 1 prediction: Odds, expert picks, pitching matchup, betting trends, and stats

After outlasting the Chicago Cubs in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, the Milwaukee Brewers take on the Dodgers beginning tonight for the National League pennant.

Feels like we just went through this exercise with Milwaukee and we did prior to Game 5 of the NLDS. Pat Murphy has not yet announced his starter for Game 1. (He has announced Freddy Peralta will take the ball for Game 2 Tuesday.) Murphy's options are the same as they were for Game 5 a handful of days ago: Jose Quintana, Quinn Priester, or an arm out of the bullpen. He chose Door #3 for the Brew Crew's last game. As we noted prior to Game 5 of the NLDS, Quintana offers plenty of postseason experience, Priester offers a rested arm (but one that got rocked against the Cubs), and the bullpen features a variety of arms including the rookie flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski. Stay tuned.

The Dodgers enter the series rested and confident. Blake Snell has started one game in each of LA's first two rounds of the playoffs and won both games. Against the Phillies in the Division Round, the Cy Young winner allowed just one hit and struck out nine over six, shutout innings. On a staff of aces, Snell has been the most reliable pitcher this postseason for the Dodgers.

Lets dive into Game 1 of the NLCS 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 Dodgers at Brewers - NLCS Game 1

  • Date: Monday, October 13, 2025
  • Time: 8:08PM EST
  • Site: American Family Field
  • City: Milwaukee, WI
  • Network/Streaming: TBS

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 Dodgers at the Brewers - NLCS Game 1

The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-157), Milwaukee Brewers (+128)
  • Spread: Dodgers -1.5 (+109)
  • Total: 7.5 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Brewers - NLCS Game 1

  • Pitching matchup for October 13, 2025: Blake Snell vs. TBD
    • Dodgers: Blake Snell (5-4, 2.35 ERA)
      Last outing: 10/6 at Philadelphia - 6IP, 0ER, 1H, 4BB, 9Ks
      Snell has struck out 9 in each of his 2 postseason starts and at least 9 in 4 of his last 5 appearances overall
    • Brewers: TBD

Rotoworld 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 Dodgers at Brewers

  • As a team, the Brewers have 5 hits in 33ABs (.152) against Blake Snell
  • William Contreras and Blake Perkins each have 1 extra base hit against Snell in their careers
  • Christian Yelich is 2-6 (.333) in his career against Snell

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

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s NLCS Game 1 between the Dodgers and the Brewers

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 Dodgers and the Brewers:

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
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Senators Have A Lot On Their Plate For Thanksgiving Home Opener Against Nashville

After a two-game road trip to begin the year, the Senators are back home, just in time for Thanksgiving. They’ll play their 2025-26 home opener on Monday afternoon at 1 pm, facing the Nashville Predators. The Sens have won their last five home openers, including last season's 3-1 win over Florida. Speaking of which...

How’s It Going?

The Senators opened the season with a split of their two games in the state of Florida. Given the perennial strength of the Lightning and Panthers, the Sens can’t be unhappy with that. But the way they were taken apart by the defending champs, 6-2 on Saturday, combined with a very sluggish effort from goalie Linus Ullmark, was a little unsettling for most fans.

The Senators’ penalty kill is more than a little unsettling; it's off to a dreadful start. They’ve allowed 5 goals on 8 penalty-killing attempts, easily the worst in the NHL to open the season. On the plus side, Shane Pinto is off to the best start of his career with 4 goals in the first 2 games. Pinto's line with Claude Giroux has been the top performing line in the first two games, combining for 8 points

The Predators are 1-0-1 to start the year after defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets, 2-1, and falling 3-2 in overtime to the Utah Mammoth. The Preds are trying to shake off a wildly disappointing 2024-25 season.

One of Nashville's new players to watch is No. 44, Brady Martin, the Predators’ fifth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old not only claimed a roster spot out of camp, but he’s been centring Nashville’s top line between veterans Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly.

Sens Lineup Changes

It looks like the Senators may swap out their bottom pairing D for this one. Tyler Kleven is expected to return from injury to take up his usual spot on the left side. That means Donovan Sebrango comes out, while Nikolas Matinpalo might also make way for Jordan Spence’s Senator debut.

Drake Batherson isn’t expected to play, but feels good about making his season debut on Wednesday, so the Sens will probably need to send a player down to Belleville in the next 48 hours.

Thanksgiving History

When you think back to the Thanksgiving Monday afternoon classic at Canadian Tire last year, these two clubs have an impossible act to follow, entertainment-wise. In one of the wildest Senators home games in recent memory, Ottawa defeated Los Angeles 8-7 in overtime.

Though both men play for different teams now, Zack MacEwen and Josh Norris were the heroes that day, each scoring twice for the Sens. Norris ended the emotional back and forth game with the overtime winner. MacEwen was traded to New Jersey earlier this month for Kurtis MacDermid. Norris was dealt to Buffalo in March in a deadline deal that included Dylan Cozens.

Fan Fun

Here’s an outline of the home opener pre-game party the Sens have going on, according to their website: The plaza will open at 10 a.m. with a performance from Ottawa Valley country band Rainwater Whiskey.

There will be $5 beer, soft drinks, hot dogs and sausages. There are inflatables and face painting for kids. Additionally, fans will be able to purchase the Senators third jersey from the Sens Store and online beginning at 10 a.m. Fans are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item, as the Ottawa Food Bank will be on-site collecting donations at Gates 1, 2, and 3.

Upon entry into the building fans will receive a schedule magnet and a flashlight sticker to be used as part of the pre-game ceremony.

Your Handy Lineup Card (from NHL.com)

PREDATORS (1-0-1) at SENATORS (1-1-0)

Faceoff: 1 pm TV: RDS2, TSN5

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Brady Martin -- Ryan O’Reilly
Steven Stamkos -- Fedor Svechkov -- Luke Evangelista
Michael Bunting -- Erik Haula -- Jonathan Marchessault
Cole Smith -- Michael McCarron -- Tyson Jost

Adam Wilsby -- Roman Josi
Brady Skjei -- Nick Perbix
Spencer Stastney -- Justin Barron

Juuse Saros
Justus Annunen

Senators projected lineup

Brady Tkachuk -- Tim Stutzle -- Fabian Zetterlund
Ridly Greig -- Shane Pinto -- Claude Giroux
David Perron -- Dylan Cozens -- Michael Amadio
Nick Cousins -- Lars Eller -- Olle Lycksell

Jake Sanderson -- Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot -- Nick Jensen
Tyler Kleven -- Jordan Spence

Linus Ullmark
Leevi Merilainen

More Sens Headlines From The Hockey News Ottawa:

Another Tough Break For Former Senator Josh Norris
Senators Injuries: Kleven And Batherson Provide Health Updates
Yakemchuk Reflects On Playing First Pro Game Saturday
Senators Mauled By Florida 6-2, Penalty Killing Struggles Continue
Jordan Spence: A Healthy Scratch For Sens Season Opener

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Florida recalls defenseman Tobias Bjornfot from AHL Charlotte in wake of injury to Dmitry Kulikov

The Florida Panthers have made a roster move as they prepare to begin a five-game road trip.

Last Thursday, Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov suffered an upper-body injury during Florida’s 3-2 win over Philadelphia.

Kulikov left the game immediately and did not return, and he has since been placed on Injured Reserve by the team.

Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said on Saturday morning that Kulikov and the team were still considering options on how to handle the injury and that a recovery timeline would be forthcoming.

While that information has yet to be revealed by the team, they did call up defenseman Toby Bjornfot from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers and he will begin the road trip with the Panthers.

Bjornfot was initially claimed off waivers by Florida from the Vegas Golden Knights during March of 2024.

He played 14 games with the Panthers last season and 50 with AHL Charlotte, racking up three goals and 18 points with the Checkers.

Bjornfot, 24, has 134 games of NHL experience under his belt and is well versed in Florida’s defensive systems.

He’ll be with the team Monday night when they begin their five-game, nine-day road trip in Philly against the Flyers.

Perhaps after Florida's morning skate, Maurice will have more of an update on Kulikov. 

Stay tuned. 

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

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Panthers sign forward Jonah Gadjovich to 2-year contract extension

Three Takeaways: Special teams giving Panthers a major boost, as is their depth scoring

Panthers wrap up perfect season-opening homestand with 6-2 victory over Ottawa

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Photo caption: Sep 19, 2025; Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Tobias Bjornfot (22) works during training camp at Baptist Health IcePlex. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

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Former Wild Defenseman Plays In 1,500th Career NHL Game

The former Minnesota Wild defenseman Brent Burns played in his 1,500th career NHL game with the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday against the Dallas Stars.

Burns, 40, became the 23rd player and eighth defenseman in NHL history, as well as the only active player, to reach that milestone on Saturday.

The other seven defensemen are Zdeno Chara (1,680), Chris Chelios (1,651), Scott Stevens (1,635), Larry Murphy (1,615), Ray Bourque (1,612), Nicklas Lidstrom (1,564) and Ryan Suter (1,526).

In his 22 NHL seasons with four different teams, Burns has recorded 261 goals, 650 assists and 911 points. He has won the Norris Trophy which is given to the league's top defenseman during that season. Burns had 29 goals, 47 assists and 76 points during 2016-17 when he won it.

Burns was the 20th overall pick by the Wild in the 2003 NHL Draft. He spent seven seasons with the Wild before he was traded to the San Jose Sharks.

In his seven seasons with Minnesota, Burns recorded 55 goals, 128 assists and 183 points in 453 games.

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