DETROIT (AP) — Jack Hughes scored on a breakaway off a slick pass from Jesper Bratt early in overtime, lifting the New Jersey Devils to a 5-4 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.
New Jersey’s Evan Rodrigues, Nico Hischier and Bratt scored tiebreaking goals and Anthony Mantha had a tying goal. Jake Allen stopped 22 shots for the Devils.
Alex DeBrincat had a pair of tying goals after Emmitt Finne and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard scored to give the Red Wings a 2-1 lead.
Detroit’s John Gibson made 32 saves, including a kick save that denied Arseny Gritsyuk on an odd-man rush late in regulation to send the game to overtime.
The Red Wings got off to a rough start, getting outshot 16-0 midway through the first period. New Jersey, though, didn’t take full advantage as Rodrigues scored its only goal in the opening period.
Finne scored on Detroit’s third shot with 1:25 left in the first period and Brandsegg-Nygard scored on the team’s next shot early in the second period.
The Devils, hoping to get back to the playoffs after finishing seventh in the division last year, acquired Rodrigues in a trade and signed Mantha — a former Red Wing — in free agency to boost their third line.
Detroit, meanwhile, had a shaky offseason.
Dylan Larkin asked to be traded and the former captain is still on the team. Simon Edvinsson, a standout defenseman, remains unsigned as a restricted free agent.
Devils forward Luke Evangelista was out with an illness after feeling worse throughout the game Monday night against Ottawa and was replaced by Stefan Noesen. New Jersey defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic made his season debut after missing all of training camp recovering from knee surgery this past spring.
Up next
Devils: Host the New York Rangers on Thursday night.
The Buffalo Sabres had one of their best games of the season Monday, beating the Florida Panthers 5-3. Buffalo had offensive contributions up and down the lineup – something that hasn’t happened with enough regularity - but we have to be honest when we say the Sabres have a problem area, and that’s in net.
Before you do a spit-take, let’s look at the two Sabres goalies coach Lindy Ruff has used this season, starting with veteran Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. In four games this season, Luukkonen has posted a .812 save percentage and a 3.67 GAA. He helped Buffalo to a win Monday night, but his save percentage has been an accurate depiction of the Sabres’ season. He didn’t get much help from his Buffalo teammates many nights, but his job is to give his team a chance to win, and more often than not, Luukkonen hasn’t got the job done.
Then there’s Colten Ellis, who was yanked from Monday’s game after allowing two goals on nine shots. The 26-year-old posted some strong numbers in limited action last season, putting up a .903 SP and 2.90 GAA in 14 appearances. But in three games this season, Ellis has not impressed, posting a .900 SP once, and an .867 SP or worse in the other two games. And getting the hook Monday should send a shot across Ellis’ bow. Ellis has an .864 SP and 3.19 GAA, and those numbers will enrage fans if Buffalo continues to get sub-par results from him.
This is why there were rumors the Sabres were interested in acquiring star netminder Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets. Buffalo GM Jarmo Kekalainen may have found the price-tag for Hellebuyck too rich for his liking, but if Luukkonen and Ellis continue to struggle, it may be a must-do move for the Sabres to outbid every other team and acquire a legitimate needle-mover.
As we know, without adequate goaltending, you have nothing. And seeing his goalies fail to deliver what they’ve been asked to do must give Kekalainen the inclination to shake the trees and see what’s out there. But there are very few teams with the goalie depth to give up a goalie-of-consequence to the Sabres.
That’s why a deal for a goalie of Hellebuyck’s stature is so important for Buffalo. If goaltending is what sinks the Sabres’ season, people will be calling for Kekalainen’s head. So he must be pro-active and he must be aggressive. Because if Hellebuyck is traded to a Buffalo rival, it will kill Sabres fans.
This is the case for the Sabres to push for Hellebuyck. Maybe Kekalainen finds a reclamation project that gives Buffalo a fresh look between the pipes. Stranger things have happened. But the better route is picking up a proven, known quantity like Hellebuyck. He could be one of the final pieces of Buffalo’s puzzle. They just need to convince Hellebuyck that the Sabres have all the other puzzle pieces needed to win a Stanley Cup championship.
Hellebuyck ultimately has the final say about where he will play next. His no-trade clause allows for that. But the Sabres’ struggles could see them stepping up to shake things up and bring in a true difference-maker like Hellebuuyck. And if Kekalainen can do that, Buffalo fans and Sabres players are going to be thrilled
ankees manager Aaron Boone #17 reacts as he walks back to the dugout after a pitching change.
Aaron Boone has the support of one former Yankees manager to keep his job after another failed season ended in the ALDS.
Former skipper Joe Girardi, the last Yanks manager to lead the team to a World Series title, went to bat for Boone during an appearance on “The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman” released Tuesday.
Indications are Boone will return to The Bronx next season, but calls for his job have come since the Yankees were swept out of the playoffs by the Rays last week. A poll conducted by The Post showed that more than 10,000 out of 12,507 voters wanted to see Boone given the boot.
Aaron Boone reacts as he walks back to the dugout after a pitching change during the Yankees’ Game 3 season-ending loss to the Rays. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
But when asked if Boone had a shelf life, Girardi said he didn’t think so.
“I think you could argue this was his best year of managing,” Girardi said on the show. “I think he got the most out of this team during the course of the season with all they had to deal with. And the way they won games, he had to flip the way they won games. They had to win them from a pitching standpoint, different from some of the years past where they would win by just outslugging people. He couldn’t do that this year. And I think he ran the bullpen extremely well and got the most out of those guys.”
When it came to one major issue during the 2026 season for the Yankees, Girardi felt it was the lineup but argued that its struggles shouldn’t lie at the feet of Boone.
“Can you say that that’s his fault? I don’t think so,” Girardi said. “To me, that’s not his fault. I just don’t think the guys had the years that they projected them to have, or some of the guys just aren’t as good as they thought they would be.”
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 12: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on prior to Game Two of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Monday, October 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani has done very little at the plate for his last 24 games, is dealing with injuries to his left knee and right biceps, and has looked lost at times at the plate during the postseason. Yet the Dodgers are still sticking by their injured super star, with Ohtani set to start yet again in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday night.
“He’s adamant he feels good enough to be in there. He’s close to finding something with his swing. I feel great about it,” manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday just before the Dodgers workout at Dodger Stadium. “He was very convicted that he is onto something mechanically. He was adamant that he can help us. He’s well enough to help us win a baseball game. So that’s all I needed to hear.”
Reports after Game 2 in Milwaukee said the Dodgers were considering sitting Ohtani amid his struggles, which include three singles and three walks in 24 plate appearances thus far in October. Roberts on Wednesday made clear if Ohtani sits it wouldn’t be a benching, but rather a reset or recovery day.
“It’s kind of what we did with Freddie [Freeman] in 2024. He was ailing, wasn’t feeling great, give him a couple days potentially to then reset, and he ends up winning the MVP in the World Series,” Roberts said. “It’s more of, ‘Hey man, if you’re not feeling good enough that you feel like you can perform up to your ability, then we’ll pivot, give you a couple days.’”
“It’s everything. It’s the upper body, it’s the knee, and he’s just not perfect. He’s not,” Roberts said. “But in his words, he’s ready to go.”
Since returning from the injured list, Ohtani has eight hits in 37 at-bats (.216) with one extra-base hit, a double.
“The symptoms have subdued a lot, especially when I was on the IL, spending that time just being able to reduce the symptoms,” Ohtani said Tuesday, through interpreter Will Ireton. “As of now with the swing, it’s a daily process of trying different things, different feel on a daily basis.”
Ohtani hit his last home run on August 18, with 110 plate appearances since and just one run batted in.
“The symptoms shouldn’t be the reason why I can’t hit, and even if the injuries happen by accident, I take full responsibility,” Ohtani said, through Ireton. “I take that as an opportunity for me to just take full responsibility for it. Today it’s going to be another process for me to tinker and try new things.”
After batting second in the Dodgers’ first two playoff games, Ohtani batted fifth in Game 3 of the National League Division Series in Atlanta, and has batted fourth in the three games since. Roberts didn’t say exactly where Ohtani might bat in the lineup in Game 3, but said likely somewhere between second and sixth.
“No one knows what’s going to happen tomorrow and the ensuing days,” Roberts said. “At the end of the day in this big moment, we’re listening to Shohei, and we’re going to support the crap out of him and believe in him, and that’s it.”
Shohei Ohtani walks to the dugout after striking out during Game 1 of the NLCS. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Shohei Ohtani emerged from the visiting dugout at American Family Field with a bat in his hand, and the mass of media members scattered in foul territory up the third-base line shifted his way, pulled by the magnetic force that is Ohtani’s stardom.
Monday marked the third straight day Ohtani had hit on the field, after a multi-round session off the pitching machine on the workout day and batting practice before each of the first two games of the National League Championship series against the Milwaukee Brewers. But the novelty of the move — Ohtani only took batting practice on the field a few times during the regular season, always in the midst of a slump — had yet to fully wear off.
“The results, take full responsibility,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton on Tuesday. “That’s all I can really say, why the results haven’t been where I wanted it to be. But I think there’s different approaches to this, whether that be focusing on reducing the symptoms and getting rid of the pain and/or just making sure that I’m moving well in the swing.”
That break of routine for the start of the NLCS did not pay off in terms of results. But after a conversation with Ohtani, manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that he felt “great” about playing Ohtani in Game 3 of the NLCS, even though Ohtani is still physically compromised by nagging right biceps and left knee problems.
“He’s adamant he feels good enough to be in there,” Roberts said. “He’s close to finding something with his swing. … Yeah, he wants to be in there and help us win a ballgame and win a championship. Great conversation, and I’m excited about having him in there.”
Roberts made clear that he wasn’t ever considering “benching” Ohtani, but rather weighing whether it would make sense to give him a couple days to “reset,” similar to how they approached Freddie Freeman’s ankle injury in 2024, giving him two days off during that postseason run.
“The symptoms have subdued a lot, especially when I was on the IL, spending that time just being able to reduce the symptoms,” Ohtani said. “As of now with the swing, it’s a daily process of trying different things, different feel on a daily basis.”
Though Ohtani’s arrival kicked off the Dodgers’ back-to-back championships, this isn’t his first time slumping in the postseason. His bat went quiet in the 2024 World Series (two for 19). And between his two-homer game to open last year’s wild-card round, and Game 4 of the NLCS when the two-way star authored the best individual game ever played, he went four for 33.
The difference this time is Ohtani, who has hit three singles in 20 postseason at-bats, isn’t fully healthy. But he was adamant that he would still be able to find a way to produce regardless.
“Over the course of this long season, there’s only really a short period of time when my mechanics is completely in sync,” he said. “So it’s just really kind of just going back and forth, finding the right parts of the swing and managing just the different parts of the swing. So it’s a constant, ongoing process that’s headed in the right direction.”
When healthy, Ohtani has the ability to break out of even the most dire of slumps with an otherworldly performance, like that three-homer (as a hitter), 10-strikeout (as a pitcher) all-timer. Opposing pitchers still have taken a cautious approach to facing him.
This version of Ohtani, however, hasn’t hit a home run since Aug. 18, a little over three weeks before he landed on the injured list. He’d played through nagging knee and biceps injuries for most of the season. But by the first week of September, the Dodgers could no longer argue that his poor performance wasn’t necessarily connected to his ailments.
Shohei Ohtani strikes out during the sixth inning of Game 2. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Now, the stakes are as high as ever. Trailing the Brewers 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, the Dodgers desperately need to put themselves in the best possible position to win Game 3 and avoid four straight win-or-go-home contests. And to do so, they need to know what kind of production Ohtani is physically capable of.
“I’ve never wavered in my belief in him,” Roberts said. “The work that he’s putting in — shoot, he squared the bunt in Game 2 to potentially get on base. That just speaks to whatever it takes to help the team win. He’s always been about the team, whether it’s hitting first, second, fourth, or wherever, right? So for me, just hearing his conviction, that’s what I wanted to hear.”
The communication between Ohtani and the team on injuries has been a work in progress in his third year with the Dodgers.
“We certainly had a lot of communication with him throughout the year, and worked together really well in terms of how to go about this,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said in late September.
“And I think in his mind, he just thought that what he was dealing with was more minor, because it wasn’t like he would see a doctor and go, ‘Oh my God, you have this ailment.’ There were just a number of different things that were bothering him. And I think in his mind, he thought the best way to help the team was to go out and play, which I respect. But us staying really connected and sharing that information, I think, will be really important going forward.
“And again, the communication back and forth has been awesome. The fully sharing exactly how he’s feeling, maybe not as awesome. But again, I would rather [have] that with a guy than the other side of that.”
So, Ohtani kept trying to work his way back to the mound for weeks after receiving a lubricating Orthovisc injection in his knee at the beginning of the All-Star break. And when his biceps injury flared again, and the discomfort extended up through his neck, the Dodgers put off an IL move as long as possible.
Roberts said Ohtani’s conviction lined up with what the manager was hearing from the Dodgers hitting coaches and medical staff.
“No one knows what’s going to happen tomorrow and the ensuing days,” Roberts said. “At the end of the day in this big moment, we’re listening to Shohei, and we’re going to support the crap out of him and believe in him, and that’s it.”
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 05: Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns plays against the Detroit Pistons during a pre season game at Little Caesars Arena on October 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Suns fans and fans across the country.
The battle for the starting center position in Phoenix has been one of the key storylines to follow throughout the preseason. Through three games, we’ve seen Oso Ighodaro start twice and Khaman Maluach get the nod once. We’ve had an opportunity to see how both players operate alongside the starting unit, although when Maluach started, the Suns were without Devin Booker and Miles Bridges.
From a statistical perspective, Ighodaro has combined for 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in his two starts. Meanwhile, Maluach made his lone start count, recording 10 points, 15 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. Who has the edge? Perhaps it’s too close to call.
Both possess distinctly different skill sets, with Ighodaro serving as an offensive connector and Maluach providing a more productive defensive presence and rebounding ability. Oso gets the nod for his perimeter defense and rim running, while Maluach offers greater size and the potential to space the floor. Decisions, decisions!
It’s still too early to cast judgment on who should ultimately occupy the starting center position when the regular season begins. There are compelling arguments for both candidates, and each brings a distinct skill set to the table. But that’s exactly the subject of this week’s Bright Side Reacts survey. We’re asking you to put yourself in head coach Jordan Ott’s shoes and decide who you believe should be the starting center for the Phoenix Suns.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 12: José Ramírez #11 and Chase DeLauter #24 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrate after scoring runs during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game one of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field on October 12, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Where to watch: TBS/HBO MAX, TruTV, Univision/ TUDN
The Guardians come into tonight’s Game 2 of the ALCS looking to take control of the series, while the Rays hope to even the series before heading up to Cleveland.
Tampa Bay and Cleveland came into Game 1 of the ALCS off of very different ALDS performances. The Rays breezed through a sweep of the Yankees, having only allowed five runs across the three games. Cleveland, on the other hand, came back from a 0-2 deficit to win three in a row and send the Chicago White Sox home in the most dramatic of this year’s Division Series. And so, as we’ve seen many times in baseball before, Game 1 saw the hot team beat the rested team, with the Guardians stealing a game in Tropicana Field.
Game 1 was won largely off the brilliance of José Ramírez and rookie Chase DeLauter. The Maryland-born DeLauter got Cleveland on the board with a solo HR in the 6th, setting the stage for Cleveland’s comeback. After Patrick Bailey homer tied it at 2 in the 7th, before Ramírez and DeLauter sparked the winning rally in the 8th.
J-Ram started the inning with a single and move to third on DeLauter’s double. Nathaniel Lowe then singled up the middle off Tyler Wells to give the Guardians a 4-2 and put them up for good. Cedric Mullins hit a solo homer in the bottom of the 8th to cut the deficit in half, but Ramírez and DeLauter would spark a three-run rally in the 9th to seal Cleveland’s victory.
Game 2 now sees a matchup of All-Stars Freddy Peralta and Parker Messick. Peralta continued his resurgence with the Rays in Game 2 of the ALDS, putting up a line of 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB and 3 Ks in a 5-2 win over the Yankees. That start lowered Peralta’s ERA to 3.15 since joining the Rays at the trade deadline, and 1.10 since the beginning of September.
The rookie southpaw Messick was brilliant in the regular season, but only so-so in two games against the White Sox. He took the loss in Game 1 against Chicago after allowing 2 runs across 4.2 IP while striking out six. In Game 4, he exited early due to a lack of control, walking 4 and allowing 2 runs in only 2.1 innings. Messick had a 1.35 ERA across 13.1 innings with 15 Ks against the Rays in the regular season. Peralta did not face the Guardians this year, last pitching against Cleveland in a 5-0 loss last year with Milwaukee.
Oct 3, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; A general view of the MLB postseason logo prior to game one of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs between New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Perhaps unexpected results in both games yesterday, though the Brewers won more games in the regular season than the Dodgers. Still, you’d probably have got long odds against Milwaukee winning the games started by both Skubal and Yamamoto. Still, they go to Los Angeles, knowing that they cannot be eliminated there. The Brewers either win the series there, or it’ll be returning to Milwaukee. Certainly, the Dodgers have not looked great this postseason especially on offense. They currently have a playoff OPS of just .591, which is the worst of the eight teams to get past the wild-card round. And that’s despite leading the post-season in HR, with eight.
Mind you, the overall OPS across all the playoffs is just .633, which is the lowest for a season since 1983. Pitching usually does tighten up in the post-season: the OPS there has been below .700 four of the past five years. But this year, it’s been a spectacular drop-off in offense. Anyway, just the one game today, the Rays seeking to even their series after an unexpected meltdown by their bullpen yesterday.
Cleveland Guardians @ Tampa Bay Rays (1-0): 5 pm, TBS/HBO Max
The Convention Center in the waterfront area and skyline landscape of buildings in Tampa Florida USA. (Photo by: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Game two of the ALCS, the Guardians won game one.
The starters tonight are Parker Messick (12-9, 2.56) for the Guardians and Freddy Peralta (10-11, 4.42) for the Rays. I picked up Parker in trade in OOTP Baseball, and he’s been pretty good for me.
I’m not cheering for either team. I figured that, while watching yesterdays game that I would figure out who I was cheering for, but I just enjoyed watching, without picking a team.
Now the Brewers Dodgers series, I know who I’m cheering for.
Shohei Ohtani, physically diminished and mired in one of the worst slumps of his major league career, will remain in the lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Ohtani, 32, has just three singles in 20 at-bats this postseason, with seven strikeouts and three walks. He has not hit a home run since Aug. 18, and finished the regular season batting .160 with a .284 on-base percentage over his final 88 plate appearances. The Dodgers finally put him on the injured list in early September, a concession to left knee and right biceps injuries that hampered him much of this season and reduced him to a one-way player.
It's a significant contrast from last postseason, when Ohtani hit eight home runs in 84 plate appearances, posted a .405 OBP and 1.096 OPS, while pitching at least once every series. The Dodgers won their second consecutive World Series, in seven games over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Facing a 2-0 deficit in this NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, Roberts held a long conversation with Ohtani in the off day before Game 3 and emerged confident Ohtani will begin producing.
"The word I would use is conviction: He was very convicted that he's on to something mechanically," Roberts told reporters in Los Angeles. "He was adamant that he can help us, he's well enough to help us win a baseball game. That's all we needed to hear."
The Dodgers and Ohtani have both kept the extent of his injuries vague, and Ohtani's performance since returning from the IL − a combined 8-for-41 including the postseason, with just one double and 15 strikeouts − have hardly tamped down concerns about his health.
Ohtani said Tuesday he believes the IL stint helped and that his health has improved.
"The symptoms have subdued a lot, especially when I was on the IL, spending that time just being able to reduce the symptoms," Ohtani told reporters in Los Angeles, via interpreter Will Ireton. "As of now with the swing, it's a daily process of trying different things, different feel on a daily basis."
Says Roberts: "It’s everything. It’s the upper body. It’s the knee. He’s just not perfect. But in his words, he’s ready to go."
In a sense, the fear of the Dodgers pulling the plug on Ohtani before he breaks out seems to exceed the concerns over continuing to run him out there. For now, the potential outweighs the empty plate appearances the Dodgers have received from their superstar through two NLCS games.
"We can all kind of analyze this. But no one knows what’s going to happen tomorrow or ensuing days," says Roberts. "But in this big moment, we’re listening to Shohei and we’re going to support the crap out of him and believe in him."
Ohtani refused to blame injuries for his poor performance, even as he's had to mitigate them for several weeks − and into the most scrutinized portion of the season.
"The symptoms shouldn't be the reason why I can't hit, and even if the injuries happen by accident, I take full responsibility," Ohtani told reporters. "I take that as an opportunity for me to just take full responsibility for it. Today it's going to be another process for me to tinker and try new things."
Two Sharks hit milestones Tuesday night. The Boston Bruins still skated out of SAP Center with a 6-3 win.
Jacob Trouba got San Jose on the board first, scoring his first goal as a Shark late in the first period as a San Jose power play was expiring. His shot from the top of the zone beat Jeremy Swayman and tied the game 1-1 after Fraser Minten gave Boston the early lead, with Kiefer Sherwood and Dmitry Orlov assisting. Charlie McAvoy put Boston back in front 2-1 before the period ended.
Ivar Stenberg followed with the highlight of his young NHL career. On a second-period power play that Macklin Celebrini drew when Nikita Zadorov was penalized, the rookie redirected a shot-pass from Celebrini past Swayman for his first NHL goal, tying the game 2-2.
Boston answered with a goal from Matthew Poitras, then took a 4-2 lead into the third period when Pavel Zacha scored on a 2-on-1 with three seconds left in the second. The Sharks had outshot the Bruins 25-17 through two periods.
San Jose found another power play in the third when the Bruins were whistled for too many men, and Celebrini made them pay. Will Smith worked the puck from the right point to Stenberg on the left flank, and Stenberg’s cross-ice pass set up Celebrini, who beat Swayman from the dot for his second goal of the season.
The goal gave Stenberg his first multi-point game, a goal and an assist, while Celebrini also finished with a goal and an assist. Celebrini, the Sharks’ new captain, also drew multiple penalties, including a first-period high-sticking minor on David Pastrnak and Zadorov’s second-period penalty.
Boston restored its two-goal lead when Minten scored his second goal of the night on a 3-on-2 rush. Also in the third period, Darnell Nurse dropped the gloves with Zadorov. Zadorov landed several punches and took Nurse down, while Nurse appeared to hit his head on the ice. He left the game and headed to the locker room.
The biggest question in baseball has finally been answered.
Shohei Ohtani will remain in the Dodgers’ starting lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday night.
Manager Dave Roberts announced that decision during an off-day workout on Tuesday, confirming that Ohtani will continue as the Dodgers’ designated hitter despite an ongoing slump at the plate amid injuries to his left knee and right arm.
“He’s adamant he feels good enough to be in there,” Roberts said. “He’s close to finding something with his swing. I feel great about it.”
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani runs out his ground out during the third inning of Game 2 of baseball’s National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, in Milwaukee. AP Photo/Ashley Landis
Ohtani took the podium at Dodger Stadium after Roberts’ address, speaking to reporters for the first time since the start of the playoffs, and shared similar confidence in his ability to turn things around.
“The symptoms shouldn’t be the reason why I can’t hit,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton, adding that he takes “full responsibility” for his lack of results so far this October.
“The No. 1 priority is for the team to win,” he added. “So whether that be for me to contribute on the offensive side, I do want to feel confident in the approach that I’m taking on that day, whether that be mechanical or anything else. So that’s really just been my focus overall.”
However, a source with knowledge of the situation later said the decision would come down to whether Ohtani still felt healthy enough to continue in his role as the two-time defending champion’s DH.
And, in a meeting with Roberts, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Brandon Gomes in the manager’s office earlier Thursday afternoon, Ohtani strongly expressed that he did.
“He was very convicted that he is onto something mechanically,” Roberts said. “He was adamant that he can help us, he’s well enough to help us win a baseball game. So that’s all I needed to hear.”
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after striking out against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning in game two of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Entering October, the Dodgers knew Ohtani’s injury issues would be difficult to manage. The two-way star had been at less than 100% since June, when he first developed a left knee problem that ultimately sidelined him as a pitcher. His right arm ailment had also become increasingly problematic down the stretch of the regular season, forcing him to spend two weeks on the injured list in September and contributing to a home run drought that dates back to Aug. 18.
“It’s everything,” Roberts said when asked specifically what is ailing Ohtani most right now. “It’s the upper body, it’s the knee. He’s just not perfect. He’s not.” But in his words, he’s ready to go.”
“We’re better with him in the lineup,” he said. “Everyone knows that.”
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) and pitching coach Mark Prior (99) look on against the Milwaukee Brewers during the third inning in Game 2 of the NLCS at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Granted, that wasn’t the case on Monday, when Ohtani had his worst postseason performance yet. He struck out twice, failed to reach base safely for the first time in this year’s playoffs and looked glaringly out of sync with a number of awkward, uncomfortable swings.
But, Roberts said his confidence in the slugger has “never wavered” and clarified that his Monday night comments were not intended to be taken as a potential “benching.”
“It’s more of [asking him], ‘Hey, man, if you’re not feeling good enough that you feel like you can perform up to your ability, then we’ll pivot, give you a couple days,'” Roberts said, comparing Ohtani’s situation to that of Freddie Freeman’s in the 2024 playoffs, when the first baseman was given several off days in the early rounds of the postseason before going on to win MVP honors in the World Series.
“Talking to [Ohtani], he feels like he’s close to finding something and was close yesterday in finding something mechanically,” Roberts added. “With that, I’m excited. I’m all about it. So he’ll be in there.”
Roberts’ hope is that Ohtani will take all the renewed questions about his performance as a “personal challenge.”
“All great players have that in the biggest moments,” he said. “They expect to perform more than anyone.”
Whether Ohtani can do that in his current condition remains to be seen.
But for now, he will at least continue to get the opportunity, with the club deciding against the drastic move of dropping him to the bench.
“At the end of the day, in this big moment, we’re listening to Shohei,” Roberts said. “We’re going to support the crap out of him and believe in him, and that’s it.”
Oct 12, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt (middle) in the dug out against the Cleveland Guardians in game one of the ALCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Los Angeles Dodgers are down 0-2 in their series agaisnt the Milwaukee Brewers after dropping both games road games. The two squads now get a day off to travel to Los Angeles where the series will continue, and possibly end if the Dodgers aren’t able to wake up. The reigning champions are more vulnerable than ever over the past three years and it’s almost like the entire baseball world is rooting for anyone other than LA. If they can’t win tomorrow that might be it for the defending champs.
We do have baseball today though as we shift our full attention to the American League. The Cleveland Guardians were able to snatch the first game yesterday evening, using some late offense to steal Game 1 in Tampa Bay and putting themselves in a great early position against the AL’s #1 seed. Led by manager and former Athletic Stephen Vogt, the Guardians are looking to break the second-longest championship drought across the four major American sports, bested only by the NFL’s Cardinals. After 78 years, I think Cleveland is ready to experience a parade.
Guardians at Rays (8:00 PM EDT)
Tampa Bay is the league’s #1 seed and looked like it for the first half in last night’s series opener. The final frames however were ugly for the Rays as their bullpen imploded and cost them the game. They might not have hit the panic button just yet but if they drop both of their home games, they’re in serious trouble.
For tonight they’ll have right-hander Freddy Peralta (5-2, 3.25 ERA*) taking the ball for this critical contest. The veteran has looked much better since his mid-season trade to Florida, helping to stabilize a Rays rotation that has plenty of upside but lots of health questions as well. Peralta has plenty of experience pitching in playoff games and tonight’s could be the biggest of his career. The Rays can not afford to go down 0-2 in this series before heading to Cleveland. They might not make it back to The Trop if they can’t secure the W tonight.
While the Rays have a grizzled veteran going for them tonight, Cleveland have rookie right-hander Parker Messick (12-9, 2.56 ERA) on the mound in this one. The righty is wrapping up his first full season as a big league pitcher and his 2026 couldn’t have gone much better. The 25-year-old made all 32 of his scheduled starts after claiming a spot in the season-opening rotation. Outside of a tough June Messick was pitching like an ace all season long and his 2.56 ERA ranks sixth in the entire sport. The Guardians got to like their chances with him on the mound, though they’ve been careful with him in his two postseason starts so far.
And here’s how the Guardians will line up this evening:
Who you guys got taking tonight’s game? Do the Rays find themselves in an 0-2 hole heading back to Cleveland or will they be able to snag their second home game from the Guardians. We’re about to find out!
*Statistics are with Rays only after his acquisition from the Mets at this summer’s trade deadline
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 08: Gabe McGlothan #41 of the Boston Celtics guards Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter of the preseason game at Rocket Arena on October 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 124-113. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cavaliers fans and fans across the country.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had a busy offseason. To simplify things, they exchanged Max Strus, Dean Wade, Dennis Schroder, and Keon Ellis for Peyton Watson, Mario Hezonja, and Meleek Thomas.
Watson, Hezonja, and Thomas enter the year with very different expectations, and have each shown something different during these exhibition games.
Watson has the potential to be a breakout player. The 24-year-old, 6’8” wing has shown flashes of being a two-way impact player during the first four years of his career with the Denver Nuggets. The Cavs are giving him more opportunities to help him develop. And they gave him a four-year, $88 million deal, believing that he will be a consistent, high-level two-way player.
Hezonja isn’t joining the Cavs with those expectations. Cleveland is hoping that the once top-five pick can be a versatile, do-everything backup four that is on a veteran minimum deal. Not nearly as much is invested in this low-risk, high-reward gamble.
The Cavs are high on Thomas. The 20-year-old second-round pick has shown glimpses of being an efficient, score-first guard during Summer League and at times in the preseason. Thomas probably won’t be a high-impact player right away. It’s rare that a rookie taken in the second round makes a meaningful contribution on a contending team, but maybe Thomas can be the exception.
So, which one of these three players has impressed you the most in preseason based on your expectations coming into this preseason?
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 04: Dallas Stars center Justin Hryckowian (49) and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) wait for the puck to drop during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche on April 4, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It’s Frozen Frenzy day, with all 32 NHL teams playing in 16 games starting at 4 p.m. MT, and the Avalanche will meet the Dallas Stars in Texas for the first of a home-and-home series at 6:30 p.m. MT!
The Stars are fresh off a 2-1 SO loss in Pittsburgh, and the Avalanche arrive in Dallas on the heels of their worst loss of the short season against Toronto on home ice. Which Central Division powerhouse will prevail in ‘Big D’?
Colorado Avalanche: 3-2-0
The Opponent: Dallas Stars (2-2-1)
Time: 6:30 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN, ESPN+
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche are likely pining to hit the ice again after their performance against the Maple Leafs this past Saturday. The days since have been filled with talk of potential goalie concerns, defensive lapses, and, of course, more on Avalanche power-play production.
I find myself dancing between seeing genuinely concerning things and knowing it’s far too early in the season to draw many conclusions about this Colorado club. Many of my fears about this team have surfaced in their two losses, but even more about why they should be a legitimate threat to win it all bubble up in their victories.
I’d love to see the Avalanche win a defensively structured, playoff-like game in this home-and-home against Dallas, as I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect at least a split series. That said, they are far more likely to secure the sweep if they tighten up their defense and stop playing like a team still in summer shinny mode. Colorado needs to raise their grown-up game against their fiercest rival.
Speaking of raising the level, Mackenzie Blackwood will get the net tonight, so he’ll have a chance to sway some detractors and show resolve after a tough 17-save, 23-shot evening in his last start. If that doesn’t happen, former Star Scott Wedgewood will get a crack at planting the seeds of a goalie controversy tomorrow night.
The Stars have gotten off to a slower start than I think most fans and pundits expected, but it’s not because of a lack of production from former Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen, who has 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists). Scoring, however, has been the issue for the group as a whole. Dallas has scored 1 or fewer goals in each of its three defeats, including a shutout by the St. Louis Blues in their home opener.
Goaltender Jake Oettinger has looked excellent in his four starts, posting a 0.74 goals-against average and a .963 shot percentage, with two shutouts already on the books. Historically, Oettinger has been just okay against the Colorado Avalanche in the regular season, with a career regular-season 7-3-3 record, a .911 sv%, and a 3.05 GAA. Colorado’s 40 regular-season goals against Oettinger are the most he’s allowed to any one team in his career.
Dallas Stars netminder Jake Oettinger has let in more regular-season goals (40) when facing the Avalanche than he has against any other team in the NHL.#GoAvsGo | @MileHighHockey
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