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Defensive Woes Set Stage for High-Scoring Oilers-Blues Clash

Monday’s NHL slate may be compact, but it is packed with marquee matchups that promise high-energy action, dramatic finishes, and highlight-reel moments. One of the night’s most compelling games features Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers taking on the struggling St. Louis Blues.

This matchup offers plenty of betting intrigue and the potential for league-wide fireworks. We aim to carry over our early-season momentum and build on last year’s success with player props, which included hits on stars such as Mitch Marner, Mark Scheifele, Wyatt Johnston, Rasmus Dahlin, Teuvo Teravainen and Connor Hellebuyck.  

All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM.

Bank On Offensive Outburst in Leafs-Penguins ClashBank On Offensive Outburst in Leafs-Penguins ClashCan Toronto's resurgence overcome Pittsburgh's veteran surge? Bet on explosive offense as these high-scoring rivals clash.

Edmonton Oilers vs St. Louis Blues Best Bets:

Over 6.5 Goals (+100)

Andrew Mangiapane Over 0.5 Points (+150)

Connor McDavid Over 1.5 Points (-115)

Jordan Kyrou Over 0.5 Points (-133)

The Oilers have dominated recent matchups against the Blues, winning four of their last five meetings. These games have typically been high-scoring affairs, with seven goals needed to hit the over, which was exactly the total in their last matchup in early April. Both teams have been consistent in generating offense, recording five or more goals in seven straight meetings. If the first period starts slowly, there could be value in waiting for a favorable live line to catch five or more goals later in the game.

Defensively, the Blues are struggling severely, ranking last in the NHL with a 4.17 goals against per game average. Their poor defensive play has contributed to a 3-7-2 record with their recent play showing little signs of improvement as they've allowed 30 goals in their last six games, seven more than any other team. 

The Oilers have started to regain their offensive firepower, scoring 26 goals over their last seven games, tied for fifth-most in the NHL during that span and could take advantage. However, Edmonton’s defense has been inconsistent as well, allowing 36 goals over their last ten games, which is tied for second-worst in the league.

Edmonton's attack will likely be led by captain Connor McDavid, who has two goals and four assists for six points over his last four games. McDavid has historically dominated the Blues, recording ten goals and 27 assists for 37 points in his last 25 games against St. Louis, including four three-point games in their last six meetings. His hot streak should also help others around him like winger Andrew Mangiapane, who we expected to break out of a ten-game point drought after starting the season with a three-game streak.

St. Louis can respond with offensive firepower of their own. Jordan Kyrou, the Blues’ top scorer this season, has four goals and four assists in 12 games. He has a strong track record against Edmonton, with six goals and nine assists in his last 11 games versus the Oilers. Kyrou’s performance could be pivotal in keeping the Blues competitive.

Are The Pittsburgh Penguins For Real?Are The Pittsburgh Penguins For Real?Crosby and Malkin are revitalized, leading league-leading Penguins. Can this aging core sustain a Stanley Cup push with solid goaltending and surprisingly deep support?Image

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McCain probable to make return for Sixers in Chicago

McCain probable to make return for Sixers in Chicago  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Another guard should be coming soon.

Going into a Tuesday night meeting with the Bulls, the guard-centric Sixers listed Jared McCain as probable to make his season debut.

The second-year sharpshooter hasn’t played since December of 2024. He’s been eager to grind through one more injury rehab — a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee last year, a torn UCL in his right thumb this year — and get the green light to play.

Ahead of the Sixers’ win Sunday night over the Nets, McCain went through a workout with assistant coaches on the Barclays Center floor. He didn’t appear to have limitations in terms of speed or contact. 

The 5-1 Sixers listed both Paul George (left knee surgery recovery) and Dominick Barlow (right elbow laceration) as out against the 5-1 Bulls. 

Barring any setbacks, George has seemed to be closing in on a return. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said that George had a “good workout” Saturday with McCain.

Nurse noted that Barlow’s laceration has taken longer to heal than the Sixers first expected and described the healing process as “kind of difficult,” though he still called the injury “nothing super major.” 

Once he’s back in action, McCain should lighten the load on the Sixers’ other main perimeter players. As of Monday night, reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week Tyrese Maxey ranked first in the NBA at 42.4 minutes per game. VJ Edgecombe was second at 38.9, Kelly Oubre Jr. fourth at 38.1.

Quentin Grimes has also played a major early-season role off the bench for the Sixers. Maxey, Edgecombe, Oubre and Grimes have combined to average 91.7 points and 18.7 assists so far. 

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Pittsburgh Penguins At Toronto Maple Leafs Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To Watch

The Pittsburgh Penguins will finish their four-game road trip on Monday night in Toronto against the Maple Leafs.

The Penguins are coming off a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday and will try to end the trip on a high note. They enter Monday's game with an 8-3-2 record, which is good for 18 points. They are tied for first in the Metropolitan Division with the New Jersey Devils. 

Tristan Jarry is set to start in goal for the Penguins after having the day off on Saturday. He's off to a strong start this season, compiling a 5-1-0 record, a 2.35 goals-against average, and a .923 save percentage. 

Harrison Brunicke is slated to be in his ninth NHL game after he was paired with Owen Pickering again during the morning skate. Brunicke played in his eighth game on Saturday and struggled, so he'll try to bounce back on Monday.

Here were the rest of the lines: 

Forwards:

Hallander-Crosby-Rust

Mantha-Malkin-Tomasino

Novak-Kindel-Koivunen

Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari

Defense

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Pickering-Brunicke

Dumba-Clifton

Anthony Stolarz will start in net for the Maple Leafs, and they will also be getting back William Nylander. Nylander has been one of their best players this year, compiling three goals and 15 points in nine games. 

The Maple Leafs come into this game with a 6-5-1 record and recently beat the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

Puck drop for Monday's game will be at 7:30 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh and NHL Network. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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

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Frank calls for better support from Spurs crowd after Van de Ven and Spence apologise

  • Defenders fail to acknowledge fans after Chelsea defeat

  • Frank: ‘During the game, we need a little bit of help’

Thomas Frank has called for better support from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium crowd after revealing that Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence had apologised to him for their reaction to the 1-0 home defeat against Chelsea on Saturday.

Van de Ven and Spence were incensed when the full-time whistle sounded and the Spurs fans booed, as they had done at half-time with their team trailing to João Pedro’s 34th‑minute goal. The defenders stormed past Frank towards the tunnel, ignoring their manager’s attempts to get them to acknowledge the supporters in the South Stand – a bad look at the end of another bad Premier League day at the stadium.

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Is Alex Ovechkin Still A Top-Line NHL Winger? It's No Longer Looking Like It

The greatest goal-scorer in NHL history has two goals in 12 games. He has no points in his past four games. And on Saturday, he was demoted to the third line.

Which raises the question: has Father Time finally come for Alex Ovechkin?

If so, it was bound to happen, especially a year after the 40-year-old broke Wayne Gretzky's record for the most regular-season goals of all-time.

That record-breaking year, which saw Ovechkin finish the season with 44 goals and lead the Washington Capitals to the best record in the Eastern Conference, was emotional. But it was also probably emotionally draining.

It's not unusual that Ovechkin, who has accomplished everything he sought out to accomplish in his Hall of Fame-worthy NHL career, would take a step back this season. That being said, the drop in his production has been swift and significant.

Ovechkin, who is one goal away from 900 career goals, has gone four games without scoring. This season, he is averaging 2.25 shots per game — down from 3.65 in 2024-25. His shooting percentage is a career-low 7.4 percent — down from 18.6 percent in 2024-25.

Three times already, he's seen his ice time cut back to less than 17 minutes per game. In a game against the Rangers last month, he spent just 14:47 on the ice.

That's not the Ovechkin that Capitals fans have come to know. That's not the guy who you couldn't drag off the ice and who built a career on one-timing pucks past helpless goalies.

The Story Of The Ovechkin-Crosby Rivalry And His Quest To His First Stanley CupThe Story Of The Ovechkin-Crosby Rivalry And His Quest To His First Stanley CupA former VP of communications for the Washington Capitals discusses Alex Ovechkin entering the NHL as an "infectious, lovable character" whose rivalry with Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby evolved in three stages.

At one point in his career, Ovechkin was an ice hog who seemed to have one leg permanently hanging over the bench waiting for his next shift and was averaging more than 23 minutes of ice time. But those days are long gone. On a team that is transitioning to its youth, Ovechkin is no longer playing top-line minutes. He's not even a top-six forward right now, having lost his spot on a line with either Dylan Strome or Connor McMichael to rookie Ryan Leonard. 

Instead, Ovechkin joined Hendrix Lapierre and Sonny Milano on what appeared to be the Washington Capitals' third line in a 4-3 shootout loss against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. It was the Capitals' fourth straight loss, with the team having managed just five goals in that span.

As some have noted, this isn't the first time that Ovechkin has started the season out slowly. Two years ago, he also had just two goals in October — although, he only played in eight games. But after scoring nine goals in the first four months, he exploded with 22 goals in the next three months and finished the season with 31 goals. 

Still, it was one of Ovechkin's second-lowest goal totals of his career. The only one worse was in 2020-21, when he scored 24 goals in a 45-game season.

This year looks like it will be more of the same. Maybe that's why the Capitals are already running the team with one eye on the future. That means giving minutes to Leonard and Aliaksei Protas and depending less and less on Ovechkin.

After all, no one knows how much longer he'll be playing at a high level — much less playing altogether.

Ovechkin is in the final year of his contract. And now that he's won a Stanley Cup and beaten Gretzky's all-time goals record, there isn't much else for him to achieve besides padding his stats and perhaps making one more championship run.

When asked about his retirement plans, Ovechkin told ESPN's Emily Kaplan that health will be a determining factor.

"I still love (the) game. I still have passion," he said. "You just enjoy it because you never know when you’re going to get hurt or when you’re going to be retired… I don’t want to play hockey and then (can't) play soccer with my kids or I can skate with them.

"Right now, I’m just– I want to take as much energy from a crowd. You have to enjoy the moment."

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Cody Bellinger opts out of Yankees contract, becomes free agent

As expected, Yankees outfielder/first basemanCody Bellinger has opted out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent.

Bellinger, who will be entering his age-30 season, had a $25 million player option for 2026.

Acquired by the Yankees from the Cubs last December, Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, 25 doubles, five triples, 98 RBI, and 89 runs scored in 656 plate appearances over 152 games in 2025 for New York.

He played all three outfield positions, getting the most time in left field, and also made a handful of appearances at first base.

In addition to Bellinger, the Yankees' other high profile free agents are Trent Grisham, Devin Williams, Paul Goldschmidt, and Luke Weaver.

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WTA Finals: Rybakina downs Swiatek, Anisimova fights back to beat Keys – as it happened

Elena Rybakina qualified for the semi-finals after she came from behind to beat Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova came from behind to see off Madison Keys – who is out

Rybakina again finds herself behind on serve and, down 15-30, hits a decent forehand. But forced to come in and volley, she’s tentative, dumping into the net, and must now face two further break points. This time, though, she finds the booming deliveries she needs to make deuce, and from there she closes out for 3-1 Swiatek.

Swiatek consolidates easily, sealing the deal with an ace, and you can feel her intensity assaulting you through the screen. She leads 3-0, and Rybakina needs to keep the head while finding some first serves.

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A.J. Minter exercises player option, returns to Mets for 2026 season

As expected, Mets left-handed relieverA.J. Minter has exercised his player option for the 2026 season.

The option is worth $11 million.

Minter, who signed a two-year deal with the Mets last offseason that contained an opt-out after the first year of the deal, missed most of the 2025 season due to a torn lat muscle that required surgery.

Before getting hurt, Minter was stellar, posting a 1.64 ERA and 1.00 WHIP while striking out 14 in 11.0 innings spanning 13 appearances.

Aside from Minter, Brooks Raley is the only 2025 bullpen member who seems like a lock to be back.

Trade deadline acquisitions Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, and Gregory Soto are all free agents.

Members of the Mets' 40-man roster who could be relief options next season include Drew Smith (who should be ready to go after rehabbing from Tommy John surgery), Huascar Brazoban (who is arbitration-eligible), Jonathan Pintaro, and Dylan Ross.

Edwin Diaz is expected to opt out of his contract and become a free agent, though it stands to reason that the Mets will make a strong push to re-sign him.

Reed Garrett, who has been a mainstay the last two seasons, is expected to miss the entire 2026 season due to Tommy John surgery.

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Steward injury could offer Smith the chance to start for England against Fiji

  • Hand injury leaves full-back’s availability in doubt

  • Smith in frame with Furbank and Daly ruled out

A hand injury to the full-back Freddie Steward could present Marcus Smith with a fresh chance to start for England when they face Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday.

Steve Borthwick’s team will meet the Pacific Islanders in the second of four November internationals after a comfortable opening victory against Australia, but the No 15 jersey may become a significant problem for the England head coach.

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Panthers Set To Embark On Four-Game Western Conference Road Trip Without Jonah Gadjovich

The Florida Panthers begin a four-game Western Conference road trip on Tuesday and will do so without winger Jonah Gadjovich.

Gadjovich sustained an upper-body injury on Oct. 25 against the Vegas Golden Knights and hasn't skated since. The initial timeline given by coach Paul Maurice was "at least a week," but now we know that it will exceed two weeks.

Rob Darragh reported that he will not accompany the team on their road trip, and the organization should know more in the next couple of days. 

Noah Gregor stepped into the lineup to replace Gadjovich and will seemingly continue to do so as the Panthers begin their road trip against the Anaheim Ducks.

Jonah Gadjovich Out For At Least A Week; Noah Gregor To Make Panthers DebutJonah Gadjovich Out For At Least A Week; Noah Gregor To Make Panthers DebutCoach Paul Maurice announced that Jonah Gadjovich will be out at least a week with an upper-body injury, which creates space for Noah Gregor to make his Florida Panthers debut.

This is the Panthers' second road trip of the season, and they will be hoping for better results on this one. Their first road trip was a five-game Eastern Conference trip where they finished with a 1-4-0 record, losing the first four games. 

On the trip, the Panthers struggled to score goals, recording just eight goals, four of which came in the final game against the Boston Bruins. The Panthers' goal scoring well has been dry for most of the season, but it has been put on display on the road this season. The Panthers are averaging 2.5 goals per game, which ranks 29th in the NHL. 

On this trip, the Panthers will take on the Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks and the Golden Knights. The Ducks and Golden Knights are currently tied for the Pacific Division lead in points with 15, and the Kings sit a point back with 14.

Picking up wins on this trip won't be easy, but it's necessary if they want to remain in the Atlantic Division hunt. The Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens currently lead the Atlantic Division with 18 points, five more than the Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres, who are all tied in last place. 

Gadjovich's absence affects the Panthers' physical play in the bottom six, but the Panthers need to find a way to maintain their level. 

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'Back-to-back, baby!' Los Angeles Dodgers' victory parade fills downtown with fans

LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA NOVEMBER 3, 2025 -- Fans lined the streets of downtown Los Angeles for the Dodgers World Championship Parade and Celebration. The Dodgers are the first team to win back-to-back World Series titles since the Yankees did it in 1998. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Fans line the streets of downtown Los Angeles for the Dodgers World Championship Parade on Monday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Downtown Los Angeles was transformed into a sea of Dodger blue and white Monday, as thousands of fans from across Southern California filled the streets to get a glimpse of the back-to-back World Series champs.

Crowds at Metro stations and around downtown broke out into spontaneous “Go Dodgers” cheers and chants while fans awaited the team's celebratory parade before a rally at Dodger Stadium, capping off the team's World Series run with a dramatic Game 7 finisher.

Fans lined staircases, scaled streetlights, packed freeway overpasses and crammed into balconies along the parade route, in hopes of a better view of the dynasty-making Dodgers, who secured baseball's most coveted title with a star-studded lineup that hailed from around the globe — similar to the city of immigrants it represents.

Some said they arrived before sunrise to secure prime parade-route seats. Parents joked about cases of the "Dodger flu" allowing their school-age children to join in the historic day. Angelenos from all walks of life danced and cheered as stereos and car speakers blasted Kendrick Lamar, Ice Cube, Nate Dogg and, of course, Randy Newman's "I Love L.A."

“Back-to-back, baby!” a teenager shouted over the chorus of vuvuzelas and music.

The citywide celebration mostly featured good-natured revelry, but the Los Angeles Police Department reported at least one severe injury as officers attempted to clear downtown streets after the parade. It wasn't immediately clear what happened, but the LAPD issued a dispersal order around 1 p.m., blaming the crowd for blocking officers from reaching the injured person.

The agency reported that some rowdy fans had refused to leave, including a DJ who set up and played music to an estimated 700 people. Several others also set off fireworks.

Police also reported that a California Highway Patrol vehicle was surrounded and vandalized by parade participants.

By 2:30 p.m., however, the LAPD reported that the large crowds had mostly left the area and thanked those who supported the Dodgers "in a respectful and peaceful manner."

Tens of thousands of people could be seen packed between downtown's skyscrapers, but the LAPD did not provide an official estimate on the size of the parade crowd. Dodger Stadium, which has the highest capacity in baseball, was packed.

As the team's open-air, double-decker buses hit Temple Street on Monday morning, fans neared hysteria, shouting their favorite players' names and raising their fists in the air.

From one of the buses, pitcher Blake Snell pointed at the crowd while an armada of buzzing aerial drones dodged blasts from confetti cannons. A “Freddie! Freddie!" chant broke out when fans spotted the Dodgers' first baseman, renowned for his World Series heroics.

"This is insane," Freeman said of the parade crowd. "I feel like it’s almost double from last year."

Further down the route, Jane Lee held up a sign for pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who cemented his World Series MVP status in Game 7 when he took the mound to record the final eight outs after starting Game 6. On top of winning MVP of the series, Lee designated him “best pitcher” on her homemade sign, which ended with a word written in Japanese.

“Arigato!” the Monterey Park resident said. Others echoed her shout, and it soon became a raucous chorus of gleeful thank-yous for the Japan native — fully embraced by the city of Angels.

Ken Suzuki, a college student from Japan, brought similar energy to 2nd Street, where he waved a Japanese flag.

“I’ve followed Yamamoto since he played in Japan. It’s so wild to see him dominate on such a big stage,” Suzuki said.

The parade kicked off at 11 a.m. By noon, the team arrived at their stadium, where players and staff thanked fans and commemorated a historic season — and called for another.

“What’s better than two? Three! Three-peat! Three-peat!” Dave Roberts, the Dodgers' manager, shouted to the roaring crowd.

All day, Dodgers fans couldn't shake off their glee.

In knee-high Dodgers socks along the parade route, Mark Krojansky waxed poetic over the fact that his kids had already experienced three Dodger championships. He'd had to wait three decades between the 1988 win and 2020 — but said it was well worth it.

“This could be the only time for many, many years, you never know,” Krojansky said. “We deserve it.”

The 2025 Dodgers team has been a bright spot during an otherwise tumultuous year for the region, after wind-driven firestorms devastated thousands of homes in January and then widespread immigration sweeps began over the summer by the Trump administration, specifically targeting Los Angeles.

Carlos Soto, a San Bernardino resident, said the parade was a much-needed respite after the challenging year.

"I definitely feel the city needs a lift," Soto said. "It is something that brings the community together across nationalities and political lines and unites everybody — it's something that's very needed."

Chuck Berez, a decades-long Dodgers fan from L.A., was walking toward the parade route Monday morning and said the love from the organization and its fans embodied the city itself.

“They stick together. … You got to weather the storm and look at the big picture,” Berez said. “The way they came through in the clutch, you know, just showing you their resilience and their experience.”

Los Angeles transplant Aaron Wole, a hospital worker originally from Florida, felt that spirit these last few weeks. Despite being a lifelong Rays fan, he donned an Ohtani jersey Monday morning at the parade.

“When in Rome, you got to do as the Romans.… This doesn’t happen much in Florida,” Wole said. “In moments like these, you feel included in the community. It really feels like a great atmosphere with all these fans.”

Times staff writer Jack Harris contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Winnipeg's AHL Moose Rollercoaster Start Continues with Another Heartbreaking Loss

The Manitoba Moose fell 2-1 in overtime to the Texas Stars on Sunday afternoon, handing Texas its first win of the season and extending Manitoba’s inconsistent start. The loss drops the Moose to 3-4-2-0, just one point ahead of the Iowa Wild for the final playoff spot in the Central Division.

Sunday’s game started slowly, with neither team able to find the back of the net in the first period. Four minutes into the second, Texas winger Samu Tuomaala opened the scoring after a pass intended for a teammate deflected off a Moose defender and slid past goaltender Thomas Milic. Texas netminder Remi Poirier turned aside every shot he faced through two periods, while Milic kept the Moose close with a strong performance of his own.

Manitoba finally broke through five minutes into the third period when defenseman Kale Clague fired a point shot that beat Poirier to tie the game at 1-1. The equalizer was all the offense the Moose could muster in regulation, setting up overtime. Just 30 seconds into the extra frame, Texas forward Artem Shlaine capitalized on a loose puck in a net-front scramble to give the Stars their first victory of the year.

Jets' Mark Scheifele Named NHL's Second Star of the MonthJets' Mark Scheifele Named NHL's Second Star of the MonthScheifele's scorching October, leading the league in points, fuels the Jets' top spot and reignites Olympic hopes.

The Moose have now recorded points in four straight games, but their offensive woes remain a major concern. Manitoba has scored just 20 goals through nine games, ranking among the bottom seven teams in the AHL. Their defense has held up reasonably well, allowing 28 goals, but the lack of scoring support has cost them valuable points.

Former NHL forward David Gustafsson leads the team with six points in eight games, followed by Phillip Di Giuseppe and Mason Shaw with five apiece. Prospects Brayden Yager and Colby Barlow, both first-round picks expected to become key pieces of the Winnipeg Jets’ future, are adjusting to the pro game. Yager has four points in nine games, while Barlow has just one.

Between the pipes, the Moose have relied on a solid tandem. Domenic DiVincentiis owns a 2-3-0 record with a 3.45 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage, while Milic has bounced back from a rough rookie campaign with a 1-1-2 record, a 2.27 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage, and one shutout. Special teams have been another area of concern with Manitoba’s power play sits near the bottom of the league at just 15.4 per cent, while their penalty kill operates at 77.8 per cent.

With only five teams from the Central Division qualifying for the Calder Cup Playoffs, the Moose will need to find their scoring touch soon if they hope to stay in the postseason hunt. The American Hockey League’s playoff field includes 23 teams: six from the Atlantic Division, five each from the North and Central Divisions, and seven from the Pacific Division.

Manitoba will have a chance to bounce back in the second leg of their back-to-back against the Texas Stars on captain Mason Shaw's birthday Monday night at 7:00 p.m. CST. Fans can catch the action live on AHL.TV via FloHockey.tv or listen in on 680 CJOB. 

Jets Rookie Brad Lambert Delivers First NHL Goal in Crucial Spot Versus PenguinsJets Rookie Brad Lambert Delivers First NHL Goal in Crucial Spot Versus PenguinsInjuries tested the Jets, but rookie Brad Lambert answered, igniting offense with his first NHL goal against the formidable Penguins.Image

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After the $500 million Dodgers' title repeat, what's next for MLB?

After the $500 million Dodgers' title repeat, what's next for MLB? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The $500 million Los Angeles Dodgers‘ thrilling World Series win over the Toronto Blue Jays attracted record international attention for Major League Baseball, affirmed LA’s status as the sport’s best team and drew more attention to baseball’s payroll disparity heading into what is likely to be contentious labor negotiations.

Los Angeles’ 5-4, 11-inning win over Toronto in Game 7 on Saturday night capped a postseason with seven winner-take-all games, two more than any previous year.

Shohei Ohtani is building a case as the sport’s best player ever with his unprecedented two-way performances, captivating audiences outside the U.S. unlike any previous player.

“It just absolutely been the greatest benefit to the game that you can imagine throughout the year,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.

Toronto’s success this year sparked interest throughout Canada, which gave the Blue Jays nationwide support.

Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Paul Skenes and Cal Raleigh already have committed to play for the United States in next year’s World Baseball Classic, which is gaining increased interest with each addition.

And MLB is negotiating to send big league players to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics during an extended All-Star break.

“Players are interested in playing, whether it’s for the Team USA or any number of other teams around the world,” union head Tony Clark said.

The Dodgers are already talking about a three-peat

Minutes after the Dodgers became the first repeat champion since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees, Dodgers star Freddie Freeman said matching that pinstriped power was the next goal.

“The Yankees are three-time back-to-back,” he said, “so we get to use that same narrative next year.”

Those Yankees are among just four instances of teams winning three or more consecutive championships alongside five by the 1949-53 Yankees, four by the 1936-39 Yankees and three by the 1972-74 Oakland Athletics.

Big market spending sparks talk of salary-cap proposal

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts attracted attention after the National League Championship Series sweep of Milwaukee when he yelled to Los Angeles fans: “They said the Dodgers are ruining baseball. Let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball!”

Los Angeles entered the World Series having spent $509.5 million in major league payroll and projected luxury tax, plus another $6.5 million for pitcher Roki Sasaki’s minor league signing bonus.

Including Sasaki’s bonus, the Dodgers spending for its two World Series title teams totaled at least $890 million. The New York Mets, who failed to reach the playoffs this year after getting knocked out in last year’s NLCS, have spent about $860 million in 2024 and ’25.

In a sign of how much payroll disparity has increased, the Athletics spent less than $150 million over the same period.

Manfred repeatedly has said owners haven’t settled on their labor proposals, but the players’ association is bracing to resist a push for a salary cap. Demand for a cap from owners is what led to a 7 1/2-month strike in 1994-95 and the first cancellation of the World Series in 90 years.

The labor contract expires on Dec. 2, 2026, and bargaining is likely to start this winter or spring.

More Japanese players likely headed to MLB

Following the success of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, more Japanese players may sign with MLB teams.

Munetaka Murakami, a third baseman and first baseman who turns 26 in February, is expected to be posted by the Yakult Swallows. He hit .273 with 22 homers and 47 RBIs this year, limited to 56 games by an oblique injury. A two-time Central League MVP, in 2022 he hit 56 homers to break Sadaharu Oh’s record for a Japanese-born player while becoming the youngest player to earn Japan’s Triple Crown.

Kazuma Okamoto, a 29-year-old third baseman and first baseman. will be posted by the Yomiuri Giants. He has 248 homers in 11 Central League seasons, hitting 30 or more from 2018-23.

Tatsuya Imai, a 27-year-old right-hander, could be posted by the Seibu Lions. He struck out 17 against Yokohama on June 17, breaking Daisuke Matsuzaka’s prior team record of 16 from 2004.

Here come the robots

Game 7 of the World Series was MLB’s last with human umpires making all ball/strike calls.

Starting next season, the Automated Ball/Strike System will be installed in all big league ballparks and batters, catchers and pitchers will be able to appeal decisions to a high-tech system of cameras tracking each pitch and judging whether it crossed home plate within the strike zone.

Each team has the ability to challenge two calls per game and a team retains its challenge if successful, similar to the regulations for video review, which has been in place for many calls since 2014. Teams that exhaust their challenges get one additional challenge in each extra inning.