The winless streak of the Detroit Red Wings in pre-season play came to a halt on Tuesday night in the Windy City, and once again, an intriguing young prospect played a key role in the victory.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, who already scored in last week's victory over the Buffalo Sabres at Little Caesars Arena, fired home his second tally of the pre-season on a one-timed shot from the slot that some fans could have some fans reminiscing of the days of Brendan Shanahan and Brett Hull.
Last week, Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan touted Brandsegg-Nygård's release, calling him "a hell of a shooter".
"The information I've received is that he's a hell of a shooter, and I watched the one playoff game in Grand Rapids last year and I thought he set himself up to shoot all the time," McLellan said last week of Brandsegg-Nygård'. "If someone gets him the puck, he's ready to shoot. I think it's a big part of his game, he has that heaviness and all those other things but for me, the shot isn't a surprise. I've been told it and I've witnessed it."
The Red Wings found the back of the net first thanks to Elmer Soderblom stealing the puck from Chicago's Connor Bedard and eventually setting up J.T. Compher, who tallied his first pre-season goal.
Jonatan Berggren, who was inked to a one-year extension during the offseason, helped set up Lucas Raymond's second period goal that extended Detroit's lead to 3-0 by outmuscling Sam Rinzel for a loose puck and feeding a pass to Raymond at the goal mouth.
Goaltender Cam Talbot, who is entering his second season with the Red Wings and will be paired with newcomer John Gibson as a tandem, stopped all but one of the 28 shots that the Blackhawks fired his way.
The Red Wings' win over the Blackhawks was their second win over former head coach Jeff Blashill, who was lured away from his job as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning to take over the head coaching responsibilities in Chicago this offseason. The Red Wings also beat the Blackhawks by a 3-2 final score on Sept. 23 in Detroit.
The pre-season is winding down for the Red Wings, who have only a pair of games remaining - both of them against the Toronto Maple Leafs, before they begin the regular season by hosting the Montreal Canadiens at Little Caesars Arena on Oct. 9.
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Preparing to defend their World Series crown, the Dodgers seemed to awaken from their summer slumber in the final week or two of the regular season winning nine of their last 11 games. They carried that momentum into Game 1 of their Wild Card series last night at Chavez Ravine, jumping out to an 8-0 lead before ultimately winning 10-5. Shohei Ohtani led off the bottom of the first with a home run. He and Teoscar Hernandez each homered twice in the win and Blake Snell was dominant allowing two runs on four hits over seven innings while striking out nine.
LA's bullpen was leaky and that should make Dodger Nation a bit nervous, but seeing Snell control the game and the bats come alive is without question a combination the rest of baseball noticed.
Game 2 is now a must-win for Cincinnati. They will send Zach Littell to the mound while the Dodgers will counter with Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yamamoto made 30 starts this season finishing with 12 wins and the fourth-best ERA in baseball at 2.49. Littell carries a regular season record of 10-8 with a 3.81 ERA into the contest. Cincinnati has won his last four starts.
Lets take a closer look at the number for Game 2 and find a sweat or two.
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Game details & how to watch Reds at Dodgers - Game 2
Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Time: 9:08PM EST
Site: Dodger Stadium
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: ESPN
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Odds for the Reds at the Dodgers - Game 2
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Cincinnati Reds (+223), LA Dodgers (-281)
Spread: Dodgers -1.5 (-132)
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Reds at Dodgers - Game 2
Pitching matchup for October 1, 2025: Zack Littell vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Reds: Zack Littell (10-8, 3.81) Acquired from Tampa Bay at the deadline, Littell closed the season strong allowing 3 runs over his final 2 starts (9.2 IP)
Dodgers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49 ERA) Yamamoto has not allowed a run over his last 2 starts (11.1 IP) and just 3 runs over his last 5 starts (34 IP)
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Reds at Dodgers
In 17 playoff games over the last 2 seasons, Shohei Ohtani now has 5 HRs and 13 RBIs
In his last 3 postseasons (19 games), Teoscar Hernandez is hitting .262 with 7 HRs and 20 RBIs
Yoshinobu Yamamoto started 4 games in last season's title run for LA compiling a 2-0 record with a 3.86 ERA
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 2 between the Reds and the Dodgers
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 Wednesday’s game between the Reds and the Dodgers:
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 Los Angeles Dodgers at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.
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On Saturday, Mason McTavish and the Anaheim Ducks ended their elongated contract dispute and agreed on a six-year contract that carries an AAV of $7 million.
McTavish (22) missed the first nine days of the Ducks' 2025-26 training camp, and as he reported on Monday, he will have had 11 days of camp by the start of the regular season.
The Ducks have a brand new coaching staff behind their bench, led by Joel Quenneville, who, to this point in camp, has run high-intensity skating-based on-ice sessions. Missing nine days of a camp like that under a new coach is anything but ideal, and the Ducks will have to monitor how hard they push McTavish to integrate him without risking injury.
We’ll soon find out if missing that much time will hinder McTavish out of the gates, a slow starter as it is to this point in his career, and if extending negotiations into camp will be worth the headache.
The Ducks spent their highest draft pick in eight years when they selected McTavish (3rd overall in 2021) in the NHL Draft four years ago. Playing for two coaches who are no longer coaching in the NHL and in less-than-ideal environments, McTavish, with a substantial amount of runway left, has already evolved into a quality second-line center in the NHL.
He has one of the highest motors in the league, never giving up on battles and frequently extending or killing plays with extra efforts. He utilizes his 6-foot-1, 218-pound frame to protect pucks below the faceoff dots and along the boards, drawing defenders toward him and finding teammates in dangerous spots on the ice.
He has some wrinkles in his game to iron out, like defensive zone coverage, where he’d already improved in 2024-25, but will now be in a system more catered to his strengths. His skating and transition offense could use a boost as well, but to a lesser extent.
When comparing McTavish’s contract to similar ones (signed by players in similar circumstances), league-wide, it’s hard to argue the Ducks didn’t get tremendous value for their current and future second-line center.
$7 million represents 7.3% of the current $95.5 million NHL salary cap ceiling. McTavish has played 229 career games and tallied 140 points (60-80=140), a .61 points-per-game pace. He scored 52 points (22-30=52) in 76 games in 2024-25 (.68 ppg) and 2.16 points per 60 minutes at 5v5.
With his six-year term, the Ducks bought two yers of McTavish’s UFA status.
To put his numbers into perspective, a glance at similar deals would be beneficial:
Frank Nazar-Seven Years, $6.6 Million AAV(6.3% of cap)
Nazar just wrapped up his first full professional season, playing 21 games in the AHL with the Rockford Ice Hogs and 53 for the Chicago Blackhawks, where he notched 26 points (12-14=26).
Nazar has played only 56 career games and has scored at a .48 PPG pace, including .49 PPG and 1.36 P/60 at 5v5 in the 2024-25 season.
The Hawks are betting that Nazar will continue to improve, as he did in the latter stretch of the 2024-25 season. Though Nazar is signed for a year longer and will make $600k per year less than McTavish, McTavish’s greater production over a larger sample size might make his contract look more desirable as of now.
Matthew Knies-Six Years, $7.75 Million AAV(8.1% of cap)
Knies had a spectacular breakout season for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2024-25, where, mostly on a line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, he tallied 58 points (29-29=58) in 78 games. The Leafs will be relying on him more heavily, considering his raise and the departure of Marner this offseason.
Through 161 career games, Knies has scored at a .58 PPG pace. In 2024-25, he scored at a .74 PPG pace and 1.93 P/60 at 5v5.
Despite Knies scoring seven more goals last season, McTavish tallied points at a higher rate, in a less ideal environment, and at a more premium position (center v wing), again perhaps rendering McTavish’s contract more favorable.
Quenton Byfield-Five Years, $6.25 Million AAV(7.1% of cap)
Byfield is potentially the most similar to McTavish of this group in terms of contract, production, and draft pedigree. The 2020 second-overall pick scored 54 points (23-31=54) in 81 games last season and, with his skating and tenacity, was a 200-foot menace.
Byfield is 260 games into his NHL career and has scored at a .55 PPG clip. Last season, he scored .67 PPG and 2.00 P/60 at 5v5.
Byfield will likely always have a greater defensive impact than McTavish and will hope to take his production to an even higher level as soon as this season. With a five-year term, the Los Angeles Kings only bought one year of Byfield’s UFA status, but they’re saving $750k more per year than the Ducks are with McTavish.
Which contract is preferable between the two is in the eye of the beholder, but it will be very enjoyable to all to watch these two battle for the foreseeable future in Southern California.
Other Comparables: Logan Stankoven (Eight Years, $6 million AAV), Matt Coronato (Seven Years, $6.5 million AAV), Wyatt Johnston (Five Years, $8.4 million AAV), Alexis Lafreniere (Seven Years, $7.45 million AAV), Matty Beniers (Seven Years, $7.14 million AAV).
A year afterPete Alonsohit free agency for the first time -- resulting in an incredibly long negotiation process that included some late Blue Jays buzz, pointed words toward Scott Boras from Mets owner Steve Cohen, and an eventual compromise on a two-year deal with an opt-out to return to New York -- the first baseman is about to test the market again.
In the clubhouse this past Sunday after the Mets' season ended in abject failure, Alonso confirmed what was already known -- he would be opting out of his deal.
This time, Alonso will be coming off a much stronger season than the one he had in 2024.
While playing all 162 games in 2025, Alonso slashed .272/.347/.524 with 38 home runs, a career-best 41 doubles, and 126 RBI. He was an All-Star for the fifth time, had the second-best OPS of his career, and was a force with runners in scoring position -- hitting .309/.401/.634 in 217 plate appearances.
Along the way, Alonso broke the Mets' all-time record for home runs. He now stands alone atop the leaderboard, having smacked 264 homers over his seven seasons in New York.
Speaking on Monday, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns made similar comments about Alonso's future to the ones he made last year around this time.
"Pete is a great Met," Stearns said. "He had a fantastic year. I said this last year and it worked out – I’d love to have Pete back and we’ll see where the offseason goes."
Stearns added:
"Whenever we’re talking about departing free agents or players who were with us who are then free agents, it’s always the holistic package of what that player brings to an organization. It’s what he means to the team on the field, it’s what that player means to the community, what that player means to the fanbase. That is always part of the decision-making process, and I imagine it will be again this offseason."
Should the Mets re-sign Alonso, paving the way for him to spend his entire career in Queens? Or is it time to move on?
Aug 12, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) runs after hitting a two run home run to become the all time Mets franchise home run leader in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. / Wendell Cruz - Imagn Images
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO LET ALONSO GO
Alonso will be entering his age-31 season in 2026, meaning he's getting to the point where some regression can be expected.
He's also likely going to be looking for a massive payday. However -- as was the case last offseason -- it's fair to wonder how many teams will have a need for a power-hitting first baseman whose defense is suspect and be able to afford to pay him.
About that defense...
Alonso was near the very bottom of the league in 2025 when it came to range/Outs Above Average, ranking in the second percentile. His arm also graded out as very poor (fifth percentile), and he had issues with throws all season. It was Alonso's high throw to first base to a covering Kodai Senga that led to Senga's hamstring injury in June.
Then there's Stearns' comments about needing to improve the team's run prevention and the possibility of shaking up the offensive core.
"I come at this like we need to create a better roster that fits together better," Stearns said the day after the season ended. "I think our players worked their tails off. I think they came to the park with the right attitude every single day, and it didn’t work. So I need to take a long, hard look at our roster."
Of the Mets' core, Juan Soto is obviously going nowhere (as should be the case), Francisco Lindor is a perennial MVP candidate who plays plus defense at shortstop, and Brandon Nimmo has a full no-trade clause (and likely not a ton of value on the market given his age and contract situation). That means letting Alonso go could perhaps be the easiest way to shake things up.
While Alonso's offensive profile remains mostly terrific, he has had more swing and miss in his game over the last two seasons, striking out 162 times in 2025 after fanning a career-high 172 times in 2024. If his bat starts to slow down, those strikeout numbers could spike.
Sep 23, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) hits a RBI single against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field. / David Banks - Imagn Images
He was in the 90th percentile or better this past season in xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel percentage, hard hit percentage, and bat speed.
And while Alonso could perhaps be seeking a deal worth five or six years at roughly $30 million per season, it's not a slam dunk that any team will be prepared to give that to him. Maybe the Rangers could have interest, but they trimmed their payroll ahead of 2025. The Red Sox could be a fit, especially if Alex Bregman walks, but they should have Triston Casas back and healthy in 2026. The Yankees don't make much sense since they already have two right-handed power hitters who strike out a lot (Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton). The Cubs have Michael Busch at first base.
So it's possible Alonso falls back into the Mets' lap, though it will obviously take a bigger deal in terms of length than it did last offseason.
As the Mets weigh whether to reunite with Alonso, it's also worth noting that they don't have anyone ready to step in at first base if he leaves.
Before they re-signed Alonso last offseason, they floated the idea that Mark Vientos could be his replacement. But after Vientos had a down year (.702 OPS), it's impossible to see New York going in that direction for 2026. As far as options in the minors, the power-hitting Ryan Clifford could theoretically become one at some point soon. But he's not ready, and doesn't have the same kind of polished approach at the plate that Carson Benge and Jett Williams possess.
Another thing in Alonso's favor is that he plays nearly every day, and has done so for his entire career.
Out of a possible 1,032 regular season games over seven seasons, Alonso has played in 1,008 of them -- that includes all 162 each of the last two seasons.
New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) rounds the bases after hitting a home run / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
VERDICT
There's the logical side of this -- Alonso, while not a great defender, is a really good hitter at a position of need for the Mets, and has proven he can excel in New York.
Then there's the emotional side of it.
In addition to what he brings at the plate, Alonso has been a terrific Met off the field, is beloved by most of the fanbase, and has repeatedly expressed a desire over the last few seasons to remain in New York.
If Alonso's market doesn't get out of control -- and there's really no reason to expect it will -- it makes all the sense in the world for the Mets to make a strong effort to bring him back.
It will make even more sense for the Mets to reunite with Alonso if he's open to starting to transition to designated hitter in the coming seasons, which would allow the team to place a greater emphasis on defense at first base.
In the meantime, they can seek to improve their team defense by focusing on third base, second base, and center field.
With Boras as Alonso's agent, this will likely not be easy. But as was the case last offseason, the most sensible outcome is Alonso winding up back with the Mets. In that regard, nothing has changed.
The Kings are expecting big things from Keegan Murray as he enters his fourth season in the NBA, and that starts on the offensive side.
For first-year head coach Doug Christie, he understands all that Murray brings to the table, but he wants to see the 25-year-old be more aggressive.
“Part of things I talk to Keegan about is hunting shots. … Keegan has to learn that mentality and it’s a learned thing,” Christie told reporters Tuesday following the team’s first training camp practice. “It’s like whenever you catch it, I want him to catch it — not catch it and then think about shooting as he’s coming there.
“He needs to be already thinking about it. Matter of fact, when he’s in the corner he should be thinking ‘when I get up there, I’m going to shoot the basketball’ and that comes off to your defender and then it sprinkles through their team.”
Christie also said that when Murray doesn’t prove he’s willing to shoot the ball, it makes it easy for a team to take away the key, among other options.
“He needs to hunt shots and … for him, I think the number is around 10,” Christie added. “If he can get up 10 threes, that would be a beautiful, beautiful thing.”
Murray averaged just 5.9 3-point attempts last season after averaging 6.3 and 6.6 attempts in his rookie and sophomore seasons.
Last season, the Kings added DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, which likely had something to do with the limited attempts Murray was able to take.
However, LaVine says he wants to see the Iowa product looking for his shot, as well.
“I told him, ‘Look, when I throw you the ball up, don’t just catch and hold it and turn around and look for somebody. Go get it, this isn’t something that where you have to look over your shoulder or try to find somebody. Go try to find your buckets, go explore and then I’ll always be right here for you,’” LaVine said. “I think it’s an opportunity for him.
“Obviously, we have a lot of guys on the team that shoot the ball and do what they do out there … but you know in spots where he’s out there and he’s the second option or if he has it going we’re going to go to him or at least I am.”
The Kings have asked a lot of Murray since his historic first season, when he set the rookie record in 3-point makes; he also has become the team’s top defender and typically has taken on opposing teams’ star players over the past two seasons.
Now, they’re asking a little more of Murray and are hoping he can deliver.
The connection was easy to make, but there will be no reunion, Buster Posey said Wednesday. At least not when it comes to this search for a new manager
Posey said he spoke with Bochy earlier this week and let him know that he’s looking in a different direction.
Buster Posey doesn't envision the Giants pursuing Bruce Bochy for their managerial opening pic.twitter.com/AtPR7r8afI
“The door is always open here for some sort of role, but the way I think things are coming into picture in my mind with where we want to go next, I don’t see us going that route with Boch,” Posey said. “Obviously, (I have) a tremendous amount of respect (for him).
“It’s interesting, when I was a player, I didn’t consider Boch necessarily a friend. I don’t think that’s a bad thing, because he had this reverence and respect that he demanded from his players, but now post-playing, I consider Boch a friend and somebody that I know I can pick the phone up and call anytime and ask anything from him. That’s where I’m at.”
Bochy spent three seasons in Texas, winning a World Series in his first year back from retirement but then having two years that were similar to the ones that Melvin experienced. Friends of Bochy believe he would go one more year somewhere given the right opportunity, but Posey indicated that he is looking to hire somebody who can be his long-term partner.
On that front, Posey offered few specifics on Wednesday at his end-of-season press conference. He said he has had conversations with a few candidates already and that work will continue this week, but wouldn’t offer any names or rule anyone out.
A couple of potential candidates could quickly become the choices elsewhere. Skip Schumaker was considered the manager-in-waiting in Texas, and that job now is open. The Los Angeles Angels reportedly are interested in hiring former MLB superstar Albert Pujols, who is ready to try his hand at managing.
While Ivan Demidov shone brightly on the Videotron Centre ice last night, Mascouche-based company Memorable Authentic announced that it would be holding a public signing with the Montreal Canadiens rookie on October 19 at its office, located at 3305, local 120 Av. de la Gare, Mascouche.
Even though Demidov is an exclusive AJ Sports athlete, the company was able to strike a deal with them, which will allow the Russian wonder to meet his fans and make their day by signing autographs.
To attend the event, you must purchase tickets in advance. We recommend not delaying, as they are selling quickly. Getting a regular item signed, such as a puck or an 8x10 photo, will cost $99, while a premium item, like a jersey, will cost $199. There are also VIP packages available. For $750, you can receive an autographed Fanatics Premium red jersey, an exclusive 11x14 autographed photo montage (limited to 25 copies), a photo of yourself and Demidov at the event taken by a professional event photographer, a fast track ticket, which will allow you to jump the queue, and a $50 discount coupon on framing.
For the second year in a row, Canadiens fans will be enjoying a fantastic season watching a superstar in the making plying his trade in Montreal. After being dazzled by Lane Hutson’s play last season, the Sainte-Flanelle faithful will be able to watch Demidov learn the NHL ropes. Judging by his play so far in the preseason, the Habs have another Calder Trophy candidate on their hands.
A wind of change is blowing in Montreal for a generation of fans that grew up marvelling at Carey Price’s saves but who were offensively starved. Gone are the days when the team was putting all its eggs in the goaltender’s basket and hoping for the best. The Canadiens are now competing at both ends of the ice, and Demidov will be one of the headliners of this new look Montreal team for years to come.
So far this preseason, the youngster has shown just how shifty he is and how he can fool the best players into thinking he’ll go one way before heading for an entirely different direction. He’s also a playmaking ace who can thread the needle and produce lightning-fast, picture-perfect feeds from one side of the ice to the other. It’s been years since the Tricolore has had that kind of offensive performer in its ranks. The Bell Centre crowd hasn’t responded to a Canadiens’ forward that way since, well, ever. The last time the Montreal crowd had such a talented forward on its hands, the Habs were still playing at the Forum.
Back-to-back home runs from Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly were the difference Tuesday as the Chicago Cubs rallied for a 3-1 win in Game 1 of their Best of 3 Wild Card series against the San Diego Padres.
Matthew Boyd and four relievers combined to allow just the one run on four hits to push San Diego to the brink of elimination this afternoon in the Windy City.
Major League Baseball adopted the best-of-three format in 2022. Since then, the team winning Game 1 has won the series EVERY time. Winning two straight after losing the first would not seem to be so daunting, but it has proved to be just that.
It is an interesting matchup today as the Padres send Dylan Cease to the mound and the Cubs send Andrew Kittredge. Cease has appeared in 4 playoff games and started three in his career. He is 0-1 with a 12.91 ERA. Kittredge is a reliever with a short but solid postseason history with four appearances spanning 5.1 innings without allowing a run. The reliever's fourth appearance was yesterday (1 IP, 0 Hits, 1 K).
Lets dive into the potential elimination game and see what the numbers tell us. Perhaps we will 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.
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Game details & how to watch Padres at Cubs - Game 2
Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Time: 3:08PM EST
Site: Wrigley Field
City: Chicago, IL
Network/Streaming: ABC
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 Game 2 of the Padres and the Cubs
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: San Diego Padres (-102), Chicago Cubs (-119)
Spread: Padres -1.5 (+171)
Total: 6.5 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Cubs - Game 2
Pitching matchup for October 1, 2025: Dylan Cease vs. Andrew Kittredge
Padres: Dylan Cease (8-12, 4.55 ERA) Cease is 0-1 in 4 postseason starts with a 12.91 ERA allowing 11 earned runs over just 7.2 innings
Cubs: Andrew Kittredge (0-0, 3.40 ERA) Kittredge threw a scoreless inning yesterday in Game 1 and will not be expected to go more than an inning or at best 2 innings today
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Cubs
Xander Bogaerts picked up 2 of San Diego's 4 hits in Game 1 and drove in their only run
Despite his postseason struggles, Dylan Cease enters the 2025 postseason pitching well allowing just one run in 3 of his last 4 starts spanning 22 innings
Cease has struck out 32 over 26 innings in September
Nico Hoerner picked up 2 of the Cubs 6 hits and drove in a run in Game 1
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 today’s Game 2 between the Padres 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 today’s Game 2 between the Padres 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 San Diego Padres at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 6.5.
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And to hear assistant coach Sam Cassell tell it, head coach Joe Mazzulla welcomed Boston’s newcomers by putting them to work.
“We want be the hardest-playing team in basketball, and that’s how our camp is going right now,” Cassell told 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak & Bertrand on Wednesday.
“We’re having a hard training camp. I’ve been in this business for 34 years, my 34th training camp, and this is the hardest training camp right now. It’s only one day, but it’s a lot. But our players are embracing it.”
That’s a bold statement from Cassell, who has played with or coached for nine different NBA teams over more than three decades in the league. So, what has made this Celtics training camp harder than the rest?
“We’re going three hours nonstop, and that’s just the practice time,” Cassell explained. “We’re going 30 for 30: 30 minutes of individual work, 30 minutes of just weight room work, then practice.”
That play style should appeal to Mazzulla, who wants Boston’s new group to crank up the effort even more this season, according to Cassell.
“Joe wants to push the envelope,” Cassell said. “He wants to force the issue. He wants to, not break them, but take them to a point where, ‘Man, this is hard,’ you know what I’m saying? And that’s how we’re going to have to play this year.
“We’re going to play this year balls-out. We’re gonna turn our hat backwards and get after it, and that’s Joe Mazzulla. We’re gonna turn our hat backwards and get after it.”
The Celtics will need more than just extra effort to win games this season, especially with so many unproven players thrust into the rotation. But don’t be surprised if Mazzulla’s club plays with an extra chip on its shoulder that could help this group exceed expectations.
Postseason baseball is underway, but many teams are already preparing for next spring.
With 18 teams not continuing into the playoffs, those clubs have a month to prepare for the offseason before free agency kicks off following the World Series.
A handful of franchises are getting an early start with changes to their coaching staffs, whether that’s firing their old manager or not renewing contracts for 2026.
Here’s a look at the teams with managerial openings and the top candidates available:
Which MLB teams need a new manager in 2026?
As of Oct. 1, eight MLB teams will hire a new full-time manager for the 2026 season. Teams still playing in the postseason could move on from their managers after being eliminated, too.
The Orioles, Rockies, Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates got a head start on the coaching cycle by firing their managers mid-season.
Warren Schaeffer was named Colorado’s interim skipper on May 11 when Bud Black was fired, while Tony Mansolino took over for Brandon Hyde in Batlimore on May 17. The Nationals had Miguel Cairo replace Dave Martinez on July 6, with new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni leading a search for a potential replacement. All three clubs still haven’t announced, as of Oct. 1, if their interim managers will be given the full-time tag for 2026.
The Pittsburgh Pirates fired Derek Shelton on May 8, but interim manager Don Kelly was given the full-time job following the season.
The Giants fired Bob Melvin on Sept. 29 despite picking up his option for the 2026 season in July. Rocco Baldelli had a similar fate in Minnesota, with the Twins firing him the same day after reportedly picking up his 2026 option in June.
Bruce Bochy, three years after leading the Rangers to a World Series title, won’t return to Texas after he and the team mutually agreed to end his tenure on Sept. 29.
The Angels are moving on from the combination of Ron Washington and Ray Montgomery, who led the team to a 72-90 record in 2025. Washington underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery, forcing Montgomery to take over for most of the season. The team announced on Sept. 30 that neither manager would return in 2026.
On Oct. 1, the Braves announced that Brian Snitker will transition to an advisory role within the organization after managing since 2016. The 2021 World Series winner went 811-668 in 10 seasons.
Top MLB managerial candidates for 2026
Many of the managers who were let go could be top candidates to quickly get new gigs, including Melvin, Hyde and Bochy.
Other teams could look to coaches already on their own staff to be promoted, or potential front office voices to move down into the dugout.
Looking beyond the names already mentioned, here are five other potential candidates to keep an eye on during this cycle:
Mark DeRosa
Since retiring in 2013 after 16 MLB seasons, DeRosa has largely made his name as an analyst for MLB Network. But he has some managerial experience, too, leading Team USA at the World Baseball Classic in 2023. He’s never coached on a big league staff, but his time with the nation’s best players could make him a home-run hire. DeRosa played for the Braves (1998-2004), Rangers (2005-06), Giants (2010-11) and Nationals (2012).
Skip Schumaker
The current senior advisor for the Rangers, Schumaker has an obvious tie that makes him a candidate in Texas. He managed the Miami Marlins in 2023 and 2024 — making the postseason in his first year — and he’s still just 45 years old. If he wants to get back in the dugout, Schumaker could be a top option for several clubs.
David Ross
During four seasons as the Chicago Cubs manager, Ross made the playoffs just once. But two seasons on the sidelines should be enough to get him back on the list of viable candidates. The 48-year-old former catcher played for the Braves from 2009-12.
George Lombard Sr.
Lombard is due for his first managerial job after 10 seasons as a first base coach and bench coach. His first five years were with the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning the World Series in 2020 before moving to the Detroit Tigers in 2021. A former outfielder, Lombard played for the Braves (1998-2000) and Nationals (2006).
Ryan Flaherty
The Cubs’ bench coach is a prime candidate for a promotion after Chicago’s turnaround. Flaherty spent most of his playing career with the Orioles (2012-17) before a year with the Braves (2018). If Baltimore doesn’t make Mansolino the full-time manager, the 39-year-old Flaherty is an obvious option.
