Not so long ago, Ollie Davies was back playing grade cricket for Manly, wondering whether a change of scenery might be the answer to his cricketing woes.
Luke Kennard exits early with apparent left knee injury
The Phoenix Suns took on the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday evening in their fourth of five preseason games. After playing 14 minutes, shooting 2-of-8 from the field and 0-of-2 from beyond the arc, and recording four points and three assists, newly acquired sharpshooter Luke Kennard exited the game with what appeared to be a lower left knee injury.
The injury occurred as Kennard drove to his left. It was difficult to determine whether it happened on his way up or upon landing, but he immediately made his way to the locker room.
The injury didn’t appear particularly drastic, but the fact that it occurred without contact certainly raises some concern. For a Suns team that will be desperate for consistent three-point shooting this upcoming season, any extended absence from one of its perimeter shooters could prove costly, especially when that player is somebody who has previously led the NBA in three-point shooting percentage.
Stay tuned to Bright Side of the Sun as we continue monitoring Kennard’s status in preparation for next Wednesday’s regular season opener.
Freddy Peralta stunned Steve Cohen took in latest sterling Rays ALCS start
Ex-Met Freddy Peralta had an up-and-down 2026 season, but when it’s mattered the most, he’s delivered.
In Game 2 of the ALCS on Tuesday, the Rays pitcher tossed six scoreless innings to help Tampa Bay even up the series with the Guardians at a game apiece.
His former employer, Mets owner Steve Cohen, was in attendance at Tropicana Field to see the former Met take the mound — a fact that surprised Peralta.
“Oh, I had no idea,” Peralta admitted postgame. “I don’t know if he came to watch just the game or maybe me too, but what I can say is that we have a good relationship and when he traded for me [in January] he texted me, we spoke, also when we were in spring training we had really good communication. … I think that he’s awesome. I’m happy that he was here.”
Peralta was sent to the Mets in a trade with the Brewers on Jan 21. In 22 starts in Queens, he went 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA, far from what the Mets had hoped Peralta would bring.
Upon arriving in Tampa via trade deadline deal in August, Peralta found his groove, posting a 5-2 record with a 3.25 ERA during his regular season stint.
Across 10.2 innings of work thus far in the 2026 postseason, Peralta has given up just one run.
The Mets couldn’t get the best out of Peralta, but he’s recorded two solid playoff starts for the Rays, signaling that Peralta could be the newest of the list of success stories for pitchers in Tampa Bay.
Fans react to Blake Snell’s surprising start vs Brewers in NLCS Game 3
Jackson Chourio wasted no time by getting after Blake Snell in Game 3 of the NLCS.
Chourio saw a 97.6 mph four-seam fastball on the first pitch of the game and blasted it 391 feet over the fence in right-center Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.
Chourio’s solo shot gave the Brewers an early lead in the first inning. Snell rebounded immediately, using 12 pitches to strike out the next three batters.
After MLB posted Chourio’s solo shot on X, baseball fans were quick to praise him and troll the Dodgers.
DraftKings Sports posted a photo of the character Aragorn from “Lord of The Rings” drawing his sword as he is set to battle an entire army on his own and captioned the post, “Jackson Chourio taking on the Dodgers.”
Budweiser also commented on the post and wrote, “HE WAS READY TO PLAY TONIGHT.”
Through 10 at-bats in the NLCS, Chourio is batting .300 against the Dodgers.
@totalismlb commented on the post and took a shot at Snell by writing, “106 off the bat on the very first pitch he sees, snell’s night already a mess.”
Snell’s pitch was also being compared to a meatball sub, as @SleeperMLB wrote, “Blake Snell with a meatball sub 
.”
Before Chourio’s statement home run, Snell told Dylan Hernandez of the California Post that Game 3 was going to be a redemption night for him after a disappointing performance in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Braves.
Other fans decided to take a shot at play-by-play broadcaster Joe Davis, who serves as a Dodgers commentator during the regular season.
@dandrige posted a gif of SpongeBob slowly dragging his knees while looking visibly exhausted and commented, “Joe Davis doesn’t even know our players names.”
@TheMes_Age went on to question Davis‘ call on the play as they wrote, “Is Joe Davis OK? Totally missed that 1st pitch HR…!”
Dodgers player says MLB broadcasts are airing 'soft porn ads'
In a social media post, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Alex Call said Major League Baseball playoffs broadcasts have featured "soft porn ads" and that "parents shouldn't have to worry about this."
Call is not on the Dodgers' active roster for the NL Championship Series – but is with the team – and posted on X about how his son wanted to watch a game with him and that the commercials left him trying to "justify ... half-naked women" on his screen.
Advertisements featuring Megan Fox and Sydney Sweeney have been in heavy rotation during this year's playoff broadcasts across multiple platforms.
Call appeared in 88 games for the Dodgers in the 2026 regular season after playing seven postseason games in 2025.
Can we please get the soft porn ads off playoff broadcasts, TBS, Fox, NBC, @MLB? My son wants to watch baseball with Dada, but how do I justify that when a half-naked women could come on screen anytime?? This is America’s Pastime. Parents shouldn’t have to worry about this. https://t.co/7YAWSZgo5d
— Alex Call (@ACAD_27) October 14, 2026
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers player says MLB broadcasts are airing 'soft porn ads'
Jackson Chourio hits leadoff home run to open NLCS Game 3 vs Dodgers
That didn't take long.
Jackson Chourio opened Game 3 of the National League Championship Series with the loudest statement possible, ambushing Los Angeles Dodgers starter Blake Snell on the first pitch of the game. He sent it deep to right field for a no-doubt leadoff home run into the pavilion seats to give the Milwaukee Brewers an early 1-0 lead.
Snell began the game by trying to establish his fastball but left it just over the plate. Chourio, who hit a career-high 25 homers this season, didn't miss it.
Snell bounced back immediately and struck out Brice Turang, William Contreras and Andrew Vaughn to retire the side, but the Dodgers are now immediately playing catch-up in a crucial Game 3.
JACKSON CHOURIO
— MLB (@MLB) October 15, 2026
FIRST PITCH
BREWERS LEAD! pic.twitter.com/m6ndIzWPkK
The Dodgers bats have struggled to produce all series, which brings pressure when the team is down 2-0 in the series.
Chourio just added even more before a single Dodgers batter stepped up to the plate.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jackson Chourio hits leadoff home run to open NLCS Game 3 vs Dodgers
Dodgers turn ‘Ruining Baseball’ outrage into a pricey playoff cocktail
The Dodgers have their backs against the wall after losing two straight games to the Brewers.
But that doesn’t mean Dodgers fans can’t enjoy all the special items on the postseason menu for any remaining home games for LA. At Dodger Stadium, the “Ruining Baseball” margarita is being sold for $25 throughout the NLCS.
The liquid libation features a mango and jalapeño margarita mix with tequila and a chile mango slice. It’s one the many exclusive items being sold this October at Dodger Stadium.
Wednesday’s game featured a quiet crowd at Dodger Stadium and it certainly didn’t look sold out when Blake Snell threw out the first pitch at 5 p.m. PT. The two-time Cy Young winner allowed a leadoff home run to Brewers star Jackson Chourio, which likely put a damper an already lowly home crowd.
While the Dodgers are back-to-back World Series champions, their chances of even reaching the Fall Classic this year are quickly decreasing. If the Dodgers can manage at least two wins in LA, then the series may look different heading back to Milwaukee for Games 6 and 7.
But until then, the Dodgers look down and out.
Who will be the Lakers’ fifth starter this season?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
We are officially a week away from the Los Angeles Lakers opening the season against the Golden State Warriors, and the final spot in the Lakers’ starting lineup still seems to be wide open.
Los Angeles hasn’t had the luxury of a fully healthy squad in its four preseason games, but the results have been impressive nonetheless. After the Lakers traded for Walker Kessler and, soon after, signed Quentin Grimes in free agency, it was clear they’d be starting alongside Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić. But the discussion surrounding who would slot into the fifth spot in the lineup has persisted ever since.
The debate has only picked up steam through the preseason. Players like Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jake LaRavia have each made a strong case to stake their claim.
For our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we ask who you would name the Lakers’ fifth starter between that quartet.
Los Angeles entered the offseason with the intention of getting younger, more athletic players capable of defending and shooting around Luka, Austin and Kessler. Each of the four players vying for the fifth spot, interestingly enough, offers varying and unique skill sets to complement the team’s Big 3.
Based on the way head coach JJ Redick has managed the starters with players in and out of the lineup all preseason, Williams appears to be the favorite. His length, defensive acumen and shooting potential fill the prototypical starting power forward spot in L.A.’s lineup. In his only preseason game, Williams scored 13 points on 3-for-3 shooting from deep. His defensive activity jumped off the screen.
Thybulle has been a sobering presence in the Lakers’ defensive attack. The point-of-attack and off-ball defensive wizardry has been on full display. In the three games he’s played, the Lakers have posted a 97.0 defensive rating while he’s been on the floor.
LaRavia comes into the season with a brand new jump shot, and the results are looking great. He’s now shooting 53.8% from deep on 3.3 attempts per game. Couple that with his natural defensive instinct, and he makes a great case to start. LaRavia played all 82 games for Los Angeles last season; he started in 43 of them.
Lastly, Mamu is perhaps the biggest winner of the preseason. He’s been dubbed ‘The Connector” for his versatile playstyle and ability to share the court with seemingly everyone on the roster. However, with the Lakers’ lack of a serviceable backup center, it’s hard to see Redick doing anything other than a pseudo-stagger between Kessler and Mamu.
What are your thoughts? Who do you think is the best fit to slot into the fifth spot? Vote and share your opinion below!
You can follow Connor on Twitter at @cmorenoNBA.
Dodgers fans inexplicably offered free beer at NLCS as ticket prices hit rock bottom
The Los Angeles Dodgers are about to host Game 3 of the NLCS on Wednesday night, and they are stuck in a 0-2 hole.
After Monday night’s 7-4 loss to the Brewers, ticket prices for Game 3 have plummeted down in price and the team is trying every measure possible to draw fans in.
Including by giving away free adult beverages.
According to Edward Lewis of The Post, Dodgers fans were lining up near a red Budweiser tent that was located in the concourse of Dodger Stadium and were being given free beer.
Along with the free beverage, fans were also receiving free blue Dodgers-Budweiser koozies as part of the marketing promotion.
The line for the free items extended well off into the concourse as more fans were seen patiently lining up as they were discovering what was being given away.
Before the two teams played a single game in the NLCS, the cost for Game 3 was originally listed at $144.
But as Milwaukee has been shocking the world, putting together back-to-back wins, the cost for Game 3 isn’t as high anymore.
On Wednesday, Front Office Sports reported that ticket prices dropped by 47% after Monday’s 7-4 loss and are now costing fans $97 to get into the stadium.
After sweeping the Brewers in the NLCS last year, the Dodgers have their backs against the wall and could find themselves in desperation mode if they fall one game shy of being eliminated.
Left-handed pitcher Blake Snell will get the start for the Dodgers on Wednesday night, and he too is looking for redemption after tossing only 3 ⅔ innings on 90 pitches in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves.
Aside from Snell, four time MVP Shohei Ohtani, who has been struggling throughout the postseason, will hit in the No. 6 spot of the Dodgers lineup after the team was reportedly considering benching him following Monday night’s game.
Flavor Flav and the Lakers have a connection you probably didn’t see coming
LAS VEGAS — Lakers forward Sandro Mamukelashvili has received praise for his play during the preseason.
But it’s one of his friendships off of the court that drew attention during Tuesday’s loss to the Warriors.
As Mamukelashvili caught a pass from Quentin Grimes with just under two minutes left in the second quarter of the exhibition against the Warriors, the Georgian forward drove past Yaxel Lendeborg and flushed down a one-handed dunk over the rookie forward.
Not too far away from courtside at T-Mobile Arena was a man pumping his fast and cheering Mamukelashvili on after the highlight play: Flavor Flav.
Sandro Mamukelashvili‘s biggest fan, Flavor Flav!
— NBA (@NBA) October 14, 2026https://t.co/DBYFPUtmKZpic.twitter.com/WNomTAtrxz
Not random at all.
Flav, whose real name is William Jonathan Drayton Jr., and the 6-foot-9 Lakers forward have a friendship that dates back to when Mamukelashvili was selected in the second round of the 2021 draft.
Mamukelashvili’s financial advisor is friends with the Public Enemy founding member, with Flav going to one of Mamukelashvili’s summer league games after he was selected with the No. 54 pick in the 2021 draft.
They hit it off.
From there, the New York natives went to a Yankees game together and then had dinner, starting the friendship that’s spanned nearly half a decade and led to Flav being in attendance for Tuesday’s game.
“It’s always cool to have him,” Mamukelashvili said. “He’s such a great energy giver. Such a great energy [guy]. He always has this positive impact and always, like [Monday], he was so hyped. We were talking for two hours and he was so hyped and he kind of pumped me up. And I knew he was coming to the game so I was really excited.”
Flav is equally as excited for Mamukelashvili.
“I’m so happy for him,” Flav said. “And I’m happy for the Lakers. I feel the Lakers are lucky to have him.”
Steve Kerr has a starting lineup he’s leaning towards for the Warriors
When the Golden State Warriors converged in Hawaii to kick of training camp, coach Steve Kerr made three things clear: Steph Curry would be in the starting lineup; Draymond Green would be in the starting lineup; and the other three spots were up for grabs.
With an opening day showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers exactly one week away, Kerr still has not finalized a starting lineup, but things are coming into focus. Earlier this week, Kerr said that he was “leaning towards” a starting five of Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, and Yaxel Lendeborg alongside Curry and Green.
In past years, the team has tried to limit how often Green starts at center to help preserve him, as it’s a tougher physical ask. But the Dubs are limited in their options. Kristaps Porziņģis still has not made it onto the practice court, so he’s a long ways away from being a consideration. Al Horford doesn’t play back to backs, meaning that he can’t be a set starter. And Charles Bassey — who started in Green’s absence during Tuesday’s preseason win over the Lakers — is likely not viewed as deserving of a starting role at the moment.
That’s all three of the team’s centers, and leaves Green as the most sensible option. On the one hand, that makes for a small starting five; on the other hand, Lendeborg and Santos are both large enough to play power forward, so Golden State still has a chance to hold their own on the glass and defensively.
As for Podziemski, he always felt like a near-lock to start. The Dubs prefer to have De’Anthony Melton come off the bench, and Brandon Williams works best as a second-unit spark plug rather than a starter. Podziemski is by far the most well-rounded guard option that Golden State has, and his recently-signed five-year, $110 million extension suggests that the team is ready to start giving him a larger role. He’s also had an excellent training camp, and has more than earned his role in the starting five.
Lendeborg, the team’s first-round pick in June’s draft, is arguably the most exciting reveal. The rookie has been very impressive in his debut training camp, and looks like he could be a difference-maker from day one; clearly the Warriors agree.
Golden State has one more preseason game on Friday to finalize their starting five before kicking the season off on Wednesday, October 21.
NLCS Game 3 Open Thread
Technically speaking, this game is not a “must win” for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Down 2-0 in a best-of-seven gives, the back-to-back champs still have a tiny room for error, and they are back in the friendly confines of Chavez Ravine, where they went 51-33 during the regular season. No one is going to be putting them out to pasture just yet.
That said, it is entirely possible that they have simply come up against MLB’s best team in the 2026 Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers led the league in wins, runs scored, and run differential this season. The Dodgers were close behind in each of those metrics, but just like they were chasing the Brewers for the NL’s number one seed during the final two months of the season, they seem to be a beat behind in the first two games of this series.
Shohei Ohtani’s struggles are not a small part of the story here. He’s 1-for-7 with three strikeouts in this series. This follows a nightmarish September for him in which he was injured and then underperforming. He is probably still hurt quite badly. At the same time, the rest of the lineup has also struggled. They have one extra-base hit through two games, and have gone 1-f0r-10 with runners in scoring position.
Brewers at Dodgers, 8:00 p.m., FS1
Brewers lead series 2-0
LHP Robert Gasser (5-5, 3.87 ERA) vs. LHP Blake Snell (4-1, 1.90 ERA)
How long will Snell stick around in this game? As long as he is effective. He last pitched on October 4 against the Braves. That day he worked 3.2 innings and allowed one run while walking five and striking out five. The lefty has never been known for his longevity, so if he gets through the order twice the Dodgers have to consider it a win.
Gasser worked four innings and allowed one run to the Padres in Game 4 of the NLDS, his most recent outing. He ended the regular season on a run of allowing four earned runs over his final four starts (22.2 innings). Similar to Snell, they will hope to get him through an order twice, and then turn to the bullpen.
SnakePit Post-season GDT, #14
Yesterday’s 3-1 win for the Rays, leveled their series at 1-1. It also did not help the offensive slump which has been true for much of the post-season. It chipped another four points off the collective playoff OPS, which is now down to .629. We’re already the lowest since the beginning of the wild-card era in 1995. Fifteen more points and it’ll match the 1983 figure. This has been reflected in a lack of people crossing home-plate. Teams have averaged only 3.47 runs per game. That’s also the lowest in the wild-card era, though we don’t get to go back quite so far: the 1991 post-season managed 3.42, while the previous season was all the way down at 3.18.
Of course, in those days, there was only three series, so outliers were more likely. There were only 14 games in that 1990 post-season, both the ALCS and the World Series finishing in 4-0 sweeps. This year, there have already been more than twice as many. 29 all told, between the four wild-card rounds, the four Division Series, and the four games in the Championship Series. The all-time mark, unsurprisingly, is the 2020 playoffs, when there were 53 games in total needed to determine the champion. If MLB get their way, that record might be challenged under the next CBA, if they shift games from the regular season into the post-season.
Anyway, the NLCS continues, with the Brewers looking to move to the brink of the World Series!
- Milwaukee Brewers @ Los Angeles Dodgers (2-0): 5:00 pm, FS1
Open Thread Brewers @ Dodgers
Only one game today. Two games tomorrow, but the Rays/Guardians game has been moved to 1:00 Eastern to avoid expected bad weather. I don’t know about how it is where you live, but if we expect bad weather tomorrow evening, we could get bad weather anytime between tonight and a week from next Thursday. But perhaps weather comes when predicted in Cleveland.
Anyway, the Brewers are up 2-0. A win tonight would make me very happy.
Today’s lineups, with Ohtani batting 6th:
I won’t be in the thread today. We bowl on Wednesday nights….which I still find hard to say. But my name is on a bowling trophy. Not that I’m any good at it, but because they have a weird way of scoring you against your average, and since I had never bowled, it was easy to improve. Where the ones that have bowled for years have a much harder time beating their average.
Thankfully there are TVs where we bowl. And beer.
Yeah, more than you need to know.
Go Brewers go.
NLCS Game Discussion for Dodgers vs Brewers Wednesday
The Dodgers return home with their collective backs against the wall as the Brewers head west with a 2-0 NLCS lead. Blake Snell gets the start for the Dodgers in game 3 while the Brewers will put their trust in Robert Gasser. First pitch is scheduled for 7pm central time with the game broadcast being handled by Fox/FS1.
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