William Contreras made up for the Brewers' defensive mishaps in the top of the fifth inning on Monday with one swing of the bat. Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Kris Bubic left a 94.8 mph fastball down the middle on the second pitch of the at bat, and Contreras put his barrel on it, driving the ball so deep to center field that all Andy Pages could do was turn and watch as it bounced off the bottom of the scoreboard.
It was Contreras' third home run of the postseason, and arguably his most important one so far as the Brewers try to take a 2-0 lead in the National League Championship Series before it shifts to Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the defending champions and are one of the winningest franchises in all of baseball with nine World Series titles.
The Dodgers are taking on the Milwaukee Brewers, a mid-size market team that doesn't have quite a storied history. The Brewers' biggest claim to fame is baseball trail blazer and former home run king Hank Aaron. Other star players like CC Sabathia, Rollie Fingers, Don Sutton, Robin Yount and Paul Molitor have helped bring the club success and accolades.
After winning the first game of the NLCS, the Brewers are three victories away from reaching the World Series. They got here as the No. 1 seed in the National League with a 103-59 record. Milwaukee earned a bye in the wild card round and then beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 in the National League Division Series.
Have the Brewers won the World Series?
No, the Brewers have not won the World Series in their 57-year history. The club was established in 1969 as the Seattle Pilots, but moved to Milwaukee and rebranded as the Brewers the following year after the Milwaukee Braves relocated to Atlanta.
The Brewers have reached the postseason 12 times, including this year. Their first playoff appearance was in 1981 when they made it to the American League Division Series. They had a postseason drought from 1983 to 2008 when they reached the National League Division Series.
They switched from the American League to National League in 1998.
Baseball icon Hank Aaron played for the club in 1975 and 1976 before they reached the postseason.
How many times have the Brewers reached the World Series?
Milwaukee has played in the World Series one time. The Brewers faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1982 World Series, which went to seven games.
That 1982 Brewers team featured x players who would eventually be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame: Rollie Fingers, Don Sutton, Robin Yount, Paul Molitor and Ted Simmons.
With Simmons batting cleanup and five hits from Molitor, the Brewers started the series strong and won the first game 10-0. The Cardinals responded by winning the next two games to go up in the series. The Brewers took the next two matchups, but the Cardinals won the sixth game 13-1 before winning the championship 6-3 in the final game.
Catcher Darrell Porter was named the World Series MVP in his second season with the Cardinals after he replaced Simmons as the backstop in St. Louis.
The Brewers reached the World Series by beating the then-California Angels in the American League Championship Series 3-2.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who’s been a force to be reckoned with in the postseason just had the shortest playoff outing in his career.
Yamamoto went 2 ⅔ innings while throwing 75 pitches, and gave up three runs, four hits, two walks, and had one strikeout in Game 2 of the NLCS on Monday night.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto fails to finish the third inning against the Brewers. AP Photo/Abbie Parr
Before Monday, Yamamoto’s shortest outing happened in his playoffs debut against the San Diego Padres in 2024.
In the third inning of a tied 1-1 ballgame, the Brewers figured out the reigning World Series MVP as they were heavily working the count against him.
Before facing Christian Yelich as his final batter, Yamamoto had a 12-pitch battle against Jake Bauers.
Jake Bauers' 12-pitch walk against Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the most pitches any batter has seen in a plate appearance against Yamamoto in his career pic.twitter.com/rDCD0IWS9I
Facing a 3-2 count, Bauers fouled off six pitches in a row until a ball was thrown in the dirt, which resulted in him being walked and loading the bases. According to the FOX broadcast, it was longest at-bat of Bauers’ career.
The war with Bauers came before he threw a combined 22 pitches to David Hamilton, Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, and William Contreras during the inning.
With Hamilton, Turang, and Bauers still on the basepaths, Yamamoto gave up a two-RBI single to Yelich, giving the Brewers an early 3-2 lead.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts then came out and pulled Yamamoto from the game. Afterward, Roberts was asked why he pulled his postseason legend so early.
“For me, I felt we had to stop the damage right there.”
Lefty specialist Alex Vesia replaced Yamamoto, and did his job admirably, stopping the Dodgers’ bleeding by striking out Garrett Mitchell to end the inning.
Los Angeles quickly responded to the deficit by tacking on two runs following an errored throw by Logan Henderson in the fifth inning.
Unlike Game 1 of this NLCS, this game is going to be a marathon decided by the bullpens.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulls Yoshinobu Yamamoto during the third inning. AP Photo/Abbie ParrYoshinobu Yamamoto walking off the mound after pitching shortest postseason outing in his career. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 03: Drew Rasmussen #57 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on during Game One of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Saturday, October 3, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
One prospect that has been making some noise in the AHL this year is Ty Mueller. Through four games, the 23-year-old has four goals along with an assist. Mueller not only leads the team in points but also plays a role in all situations for the Abbotsford Canucks.
The big question when it comes to prospects like Mueller revolves around their full-time arrival in the NHL. He has played eight games for the Vancouver Canucks so far in his career, but has yet to receive an extended look with the team. With Vancouver currently in a rebuild and Mueller's early production, now could be the perfect time to see what Mueller can do at the NHL level.
There are a few things working in Mueller's favour. One is his familiarity with both Ryan Johnson and Manny Malhotra. It was clear, based on deployment over the last two years, that Malhotra trusts Mueller, which could help the center ease his way into life at the NHL level.
Another revolves around the way Mueller plays. In his limited time at the NHL level, he hasn't been a defensive liability and has shown a willingness to get pucks on net. Mueller was also decent in the NHL when it came to faceoffs last year, as he won 11 of his 21 draws.
As for the call-up itself, a few things need to happen first. Either the Canucks need to trade a few players away and ensure that the piece coming back will not take up an NHL roster spot. There is also a chance the team is hit by the injury bug, but that could lead to only a temporary call-up.
The other issue Mueller may run into is Johnson's plan regarding younger players. Vancouver's GM has made it very clear he does not want younger players bouncing between the NHL and the AHL. This means that if Johnson and his staff aren't fully ready to bring Mueller up full-time, other players could get the call-up first.
Finally, this is a contract year for Mueller. While he will still be a restricted free agent, the organization needs to decide if he is part of the future at the NHL level. While Mueller's play in the AHL has been impressive, the only way to truly find out where he is in his development is by giving him a run of games in the NHL.
Ultimately, Mueller deserves a chance to show what he can do in the NHL. He has developed well in the AHL and, with 14 shots in four games this year, is showing the offensive side of his game. With the Canucks currently in a rebuild, now is the opportunity to see if Mueller can have success at the NHL level.
Apr 7, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Ty Mueller (39) handles the puck in warm up prior to a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 23: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks pushes Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Target Center on December 23, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Knicks 115-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The World Champion Knicks host the Minnesota Timberwolves (2-1) at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. New York is still looking for its first preseason win after two unsuccessful tries (we’re not worried). Minny has swapped out Julius Randle and Naz Reid for LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga, but you might not see them at full strength tonight with their starters possibly sitting for rest. New York’s Mike Brown, meanwhile, continues to sort through his supporting cast, and James Wiseman and Bruce Brown should get extended minutes opportunities tonight.
Tip-off is 7:30 PM ET on MSG. This is your game thread. This is Canis Hoopus. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Mind your manners. And go Knicks!
South African great Shaun Pollock believes cricket needs to embrace the pink ball in matches where light is likely to become a factor given the amount of time that has been lost in the Test behind held in Durban this week.
BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 8: Julius Randle #30 of the Brooklyn Nets smiles during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 8, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Nets are feeling good in the early days of preseason. They defeated the Charlotte Hornets by 34 to kick things off and followed up with a 114-108 victory against LeBron James and the new-look 76ers. Take it for whatever it’s worth at this stage, but Nets fans will take what they can get.
Julius Randle has looked solid and Egor Dëmin looks stronger. Anticipation continues to build for Mikel Brown Jr.’s debut, which could happen on Wednesday. Vibes are good in Brooklyn for the time being. Check in on us in a few months.
In the meantime, they’re up against the new-look Washington Wizards, who boast No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa on their home floor. The Wizards enter the night 2-0 and the push for momentum entering a new era.
Game Info & Broadcast Details
Who: Brooklyn Nets (2-0) at Washington Wizards (2-0)
What: Preseason
Time: 7:00 PM ET
TV/Streaming: DAZN
Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Injury Report: Who’s Out?
Nets:
Joshua Jefferson (back)
Mikel Brown Jr. (ankle)
💬 Discussion
Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.
Tommy Edman led off the frame with a single. Mookie Betts followed with a grounder to short that could've been a double play, but the ball deflected off the heel of Cooper Pratt's glove and found grass in shallow left field to put the first two runners on.
Freddie Freeman came dangerously close to bringing them both home when he barreled a low changeup from Brewers starter Logan Henderson 106.1 mph over Sal Frelick's head in right field for what looked to be a surefire extra base hit, but Frelick – a Gold Glove winner in 2024 – made an incredible catch, leaping up and reaching behind him to pluck the line drive out of the air for an out. Edman was able to tag up and reach third, which proved to be crucial for what came next.
With Betts on first and second base open, he suddenly represented a threat to steal with one out in the inning. Henderson attempted to pick off the eight-time All-Star, but spiked the ball in front of first baseman Jake Bauers. The ball rolled deep into foul territory, giving Edman more than enough space to score the go-ahead run from third.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 10: Anthony Davis #23 and Bub Carrington #7 of the Washington Wizards shake hands during the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 10, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards host the Brooklyn Nets tonight at 7 p.m. ET. Watch on Monumental Sports Network. Renzo has the preview here.
The Montreal Canadiens are giving one of their prospects another chance on their NHL roster.
The Canadiens have announced that they have recalled forward Owen Beck from the AHL's Laval Rocket.
Beck has appeared in four games this season with the Rocket, where he has one assist, two penalty minutes, and a plus-1 rating. This is after he had 13 goals, 33 points, and a plus-6 rating in 58 games with the Rocket during the 2025-26 campaign.
Beck also played in 15 games last season for Montreal, posting one goal, six penalty minutes, 24 hits a plus-4 rating.
Beck will now be aiming to impress after landing this latest opportunity on the Canadiens' roster. While the 22-year-old forward has yet to break out, the potential for him to emerge as a solid defensive forward in the NHL is there.
In 28 career NHL games over three seasons, Beck has recorded one goal, one assist, 47 hits, and a plus-1 rating. It will be intriguing to see what he can do after being called up to Montreal's roster again.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 14: Ryan Howard and Nick Swisher look on prior to the 96th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Now that we’re in the offseason, it’s time to shift our focus to a possible event on the horizon that may be even more daunting than the MLB postseason.
The collective bargaining agreement between the league and the MLB Players Association expires on December 1st, and if the two sides don’t reach an agreement by then, a lockout will ensue. What does this mean? Well, it means that no games will occur until both MLB and MLBPA find a way to make it work. I recently had the opportunity to ask a former ballplayer about the subject, and he was happy to share his take on the situation.
There have been a few lockouts over the course of MLB history, but the longest was in 1994, when a player strike halted regular season and postseason games for 232 days. Ryan Howard, Phillies legend and 2008 World Series Champion, spoke with Pinstripe Alley on the matter and shared his perspective on the impact the lockout could have on the game and league as a whole.
“When it comes to that, you want what’s best for the game,” Howard told Pinstripe Alley. “When you look back at the lockout back in ‘94, I think the game was in such an amazing place. Then once that happened, it hurt the game.”
To Howard’s point, the game is in a similar spot as it was in 1994, where viewership is trending in the right direction. Fox Sports reported that it averaged 3.2 million viewers for the first two games of the NL Division Series involving the Braves and Dodgers, as well as the Padres and Brewers, according to Front Office Sports. Fox Sports also reported that the network set a 10-year viewership high during last year’s AL Division Series between the Yankees and Blue Jays as well as the Tigers and Mariners.
Howard also shared that he doesn’t believe there will be a lockout, and that both sides will have to make concessions to move forward with the 2027 regular season as scheduled.
Despite the Yankees exiting earlier than anticipated, we might as well enjoy this MLB postseason while it lasts. Who knows, but we should all prepare for the possibility of a lockout and seeing silence on the diamond come March 24th.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 24: Ryan Johnson #33 of the Buffalo Sabres plays against the Detroit Red Wings during a pre season game at Little Caesars Arena on September 24, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
An ol’ 2-for-1 trade. The Penguins have sent a pair of minor league defensemen to Buffalo for a former first round pick.
The Penguins have acquired defenseman Ryan Johnson from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch.
Johnson, 25, was taken with the 31st pick back in the 2019 draft. He’s got 47 career NHL games under his belt, though the majority of that was in 2023-24 and he’s been mostly in the AHL ever since, playing only three NHL games in both 2024-25 and 2025-26. So far this season, it’s been all AHL time for Johnson. The 6’1”, 195 left shot defender spent four seasons at the University of Minnesota prior to that. Johnson has a contract through the 2027-28 season.
In exchange, Pittsburgh does a little house cleaning to drop two players and get down to 48 contracts of the 50 they are allotted per year. The Pens traded Caleb Jones, who cleared waivers weeks ago. Jones has played four games with AHL Wilkes-Barre, recording all three of his assists on the season in the same game. The 29-year old played seven NHL games with the Pens last season before a pair of long-term injuries and the rare suspension for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program ended his season last year.
Laatsch was a seventh round draft pick in 2021, the lanky defender spent four seasons in Wisconsin then spent most of his rookie season in 2025-26 with ECHL Wheeling, with 10 games played in the AHL. He’s yet to play this season and was only going to be a swing ECHL/AHL type of depth option in the organization.
Overall, this deal helps right size the numbers for the Pens at the minor league level. The team had all of Ilya Solovyov, Jones, Owen Pickering, Jake Livanavage, Laatsch and AHL contracted Maleek McGowan as left shots fighting for time in Wilkes-Barre. Paring down the numbers should help ease the block in the future for that spot.
Beyond that, time will tell if this deal has any NHL impact. Johnson might draw some intrigue as a former first round pick and member of the US National Development team but his career track has been spinning its wheels for a while. Even if he’s nothing more than deep depth, that’s the only place what Pittsburgh gave up would be this season anyways. Mostly a minor deal, helps restock the numbers a bit but does give the Pens a chance to take a look at a former first round pick to see what might come of playing in a new organization.
The Pittsburgh Penguins returned to practice on Monday after notching a 2-1 shootout win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak that began last Monday against the Winnipeg Jets and lasted for almost a week. The Penguins needed it in the worst way since they weren't defending well and looked lethargic.
They played excellent defense, got great goaltending from Arturs Silovs, and the shooters (Ben Kindel, Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell) finally did well in a shootout.
Monday's practice saw Muse tinker with the third line some more. Ben Kindel has had a rotating cast of wingers to start the season, and that likely won't change when the Penguins head to the "Windy City" to play the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.
Kindel was skating on a line with Ville Koivunen and Andrei Kuzmenko during practice. Koivunen was a healthy scratch on Saturday, while Kuzmenko sat out the last two games since he's obviously going through a lot.
Here were the full practice lines and pairs:
Forwards
Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
Kuzmenko-Kindel-Koivunen
Dewar-Lizotte-Robertson
Defensive pairs
Carlile-Karlsson
Girard-Korczak
Stastney-Letang
Based on these combinations, it appears Hendrix Lapierre and Elmer Soderblom will be the odd ones out at the start of this four-game road trip.
Lapierre's scratch makes sense because, aside from that first game against the Philadelphia Flyers, he's been a bit of a non-factor. It wouldn't hurt to sit him for a game or two so he can work on a few things.
As for Soderblom, this one's a bit more surprising, especially since he played super well against the Stars on Saturday. He was great along the walls and was one of the Penguins' best forecheckers behind the net. He deserves to get more runway on that line, but the staff doesn't see it that way right now.
Spencer Stastney will be in the lineup for a little bit since Trevor van Riemsdyk is not going on the trip. Stastney was solid in his Penguins debut on Saturday and showcased some good speed and defensive ability in his own end.
He was a good fit with Kris Letang, so it'll be interesting to see if that can continue this week.
Puck drop for Tuesday's Penguins-Blackhawks game will be at 8 p.m. ET.
Walker Kessler, the franchise’s marquee free-agency acquisition, could make his preseason debut against the Warriors on Tuesday in Las Vegas after sitting out of the first three games. The 7-foot-2 center made his return to live play in practice on Sunday after dealing with an injury to his left pinky finger.
Walker Kessler could make his highly-anticipated preseason debut for the Lakers on Tuesday against the Warriors. NBAE via Getty Images
Collin Sexton’s status is uncertain for Tuesday against the Warriors and Friday’s preseason finale vs. the Nuggets in Los Angeles, with coach JJ Redick saying the 6-foot-3 guard is “probably a little bit further behind” Kessler when it comes to his return as he deals with a lower leg injury.
And Ziaire Williams, the 6-foot-10 forward who’s in contention for a spot in the starting lineup, is dealing with a foot contusion after having only played in the Lakers’ preseason-opening win over the Kings on Oct. 5.
It’s unclear whether Lakers guard Collin Sexton will play during the preseason as he deals with a right lower leg injury. Khobi Price
But regardless of who is available for their final two preseason games, the Lakers have plenty to clean up before the games start to count in the standings.
Here are non-injury/player availability factors The California Post is keeping an eye on in the last two exhibitions
Ball security
Preseason statistics come with an obvious caveat: It’s just the preseason.
Many teams, like the Lakers, haven’t been able to use all of their rotation players in every game.
And the rotation players who have suited up aren’t playing full games at this point, either playing just the first half or getting minutes in the third quarter before sitting out the entire fourth quarter, which complicates statistical takeaways.
Most teams have yet to crack double-digit practices, and haven’t come close to installing all of their offensive sets or defensive game plans.
Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic both need to turn the ball over less. Getty Images
But one thing is clear from the Lakers’ first three preseason games: They need to take better care of the basketball.
The Lakers’ 22.3% turnover rate entering Monday ranked No. 28 among all teams during the preseason.
Their star ball-handlers in Luka Doncic (5 turnovers per game) and Austin Reaves (3 per game) are the main catalysts of the team’s ball-security woes.
But Jaden Hardy (3 turnovers per game), Quentin Grimes (3), Bronny James (2.7), Dalton Knecht (2) and Sandro Mamukelashvili (2) have also coughed the ball up too much, especially when factoring most players aren’t playing as many minutes.
The turnovers have piled up when unfamiliar lineups are on the floor together and aren’t as organized as they’d like to be – a reality coach JJ Redick has acknowledged.
Quentin Grimes has also been turnover-prone. NBAE via Getty Images
More practice and court time should be a natural remedy.
The Lakers have been generating the types of shots they want, especially when Doncic and/or Reaves are on the floor.
But they need to help themselves by being more careful with the ball.
Defensive rebounding
The Lakers have gotten a good look at what life without Kessler could look like.
And from a rebounding standpoint, it hasn’t been pretty.
The Lakers’ 61.6% defensive rebounding percentage during preseason has ranked No. 27 across the league.
Their struggles on the glass are predictable.
Kessler patrolling the paint will be a significant boost for the Lakers’ rebounding.
But he can’t be on the floor for every minute of every game during the regular season. So the last week has provided the Lakers with insight on what they need to do so they can be better on the glass when their starting center isn’t on the floor.
“It’s important to have two of the bigger wings out there for rebounding purposes,” Redick said. “That was a concern I think coming into the year – trying to be a good defensive rebounding team. What does that look like with Walker not on the court? In film, it’s pretty apparent that we need to do a better job of boxing out. Just like simple stuff and gang rebounding.
“We’ll figure that out. The biggest thing is trying to make sure we have…two bigger wings out there, Luka, Adou [Thiero], whoever that may be, Mamu as a wing with non-Walker minutes.”
