Amid the Dodgers’ pain, hurt and frustration of their National League Championship Series sweep at the hands of the Brewers on Thursday night, Miguel Rojas added even more emotions to one final postgame clubhouse meeting.
As he had planned –– but not fully committed to –– throughout this season, the 37-year-old veteran told his teammates he was indeed retiring from baseball, making Game 4 of the NLCS the final act in his accomplished 13-year MLB career.
“This is it,” Rojas told reporters afterward. “I’m moving on with the next chapter in my life.”
Miguel Rojas runs out a base hit during the third inning of the Dodgers’ Game 3 loss to the Brewers in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
“The last four years here changed my life,” he added.
Almost as much as Rojas changed the two-time defending champions themselves.
A Venezuelan native who broke into the majors with the Dodgers in 2014, before spending the next eight years of his career as a defensive stalwart with the Marlins, Rojas returned to Los Angeles in a trade ahead of the 2023 season, initially in what was viewed as a marginal addition for a star-studded Dodgers roster trying to climb back to the mountaintop after their 2020 World Series championship.
Right from the start, however, Rojas carved out an important role as a steady, experienced leader.
During his second Dodgers stint, he produced plenty on the field, hitting .260 with 22 home runs, 117 RBIs and versatile infield defense in 446 total games.
He was even more crucial in the postseason, contributing to their 2024 title before saving them in the 2025 Fall Classic with his game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Game 7 against the Blue Jays.
“I’m just proud of being part of this group,” he said. “That we were able to win back-to-back championships.”
Rojas will remain in the Dodgers’ organization moving forward, having agreed to transition into player development after 2026 when he re-signed as a free agent with the club this winter.
Second baseman Miguel Rojas throws to first base for an out during the Dodgers’ Game 3 NLDS win over the Braves on Oct. 6, 2026 at Truist Park in Cumberland, Ga. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I wanna stay here,” he said. “I wanna wear this uniform or this logo in a different capacity.”
Still, he didn’t want to take off his uniform –– or even his cleats –– on Thursday night, remaining dressed in his full game attire as he spoke to reporters after addressing his teammates.
“It’s really hard to take them off right now,” he said. “It was really emotional after the game.”
Freddie Freeman (left) and second baseman Miguel Rojas carry the back-to-back World Series trophies to the field before the Dodgers’ blowout win over the Diamondbacks in their season and home opener on March 26, 2026 in Los Angeles. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
Rojas never went to an All-Star Game or hit more than 11 home runs in a season, and somehow was denied Gold Glove recognition.
But to this Dodgers dynasty, he will go down as a core piece and a beloved veteran leader.
“He built a legacy,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “We’ll be talking about Miguel Rojas for a long time.”
Vegas struck early and capitalized on its special teams opportunities, while the Flames struggled to find consistency defensively. Calgary managed to cut into the deficit in the second period, but the Golden Knights responded almost immediately to take control of the game.
Credit: Christopher Trim-Imagn Images
Brett Howden opened the scoring just 25 seconds into the contest, skating into the Flames zone before firing a shot over Dustin Wolf’s shoulder to give Vegas an early lead.
The Golden Knights doubled their advantage at 9:34 of the first period with a shorthanded goal. Jack Eichel intercepted the puck and broke in alone on Wolf, beating him on the glove side to make it 2-0.
Calgary found a response while shorthanded in the second period, as Jake Middleton scored his first goal as a Flame at 10:15. Joel Farabee set up Middleton in the slot, where the defenceman ripped a wrist shot past Carter Hart to cut the deficit to one.
Credit: Christopher Trim-Imagn Images
However, the momentum didn’t last long. Vegas answered just 48 seconds later, with Braeden Bowman finishing a quick passing play on the power play to restore the Golden Knights’ two-goal lead.
Vegas added another early in the third period. At 1:06, Eichel sent a cross-seam pass to Mark Stone at the side of the net, where the Golden Knights captain redirected the puck past Wolf to make it 4-1.
Stone struck again at 12:10, beating Wolf with a backhand to complete the scoring and completed the natural hat-trick late in the game as Eichel set up the Vegas captain for this third goal of the period.
Matt Coronato scored a late powerplay goal, but it was too little too late as the Flames fell 6-2.
Three Takeaways
1. The Flames need timely saves
The Flames couldn’t afford to give up goals at critical moments, but that’s exactly what happened in Vegas.
Howden scored on the opening shift, putting Calgary behind immediately. Then, after Middleton cut the deficit to one in the second period, the Golden Knights responded less than a minute later.
Those goals made it difficult for the Flames to build any momentum. Wolf and the Calgary defence need to find a way to limit those momentum-killing moments, particularly when the team starts to generate some offence of its own.
2. Special teams made the difference
Both teams found the scoresheet on special teams, but Vegas made better use of its opportunities.
Calgary got a shorthanded goal from Middleton, and a powerplay goal late from Coronato, while the Golden Knights scored once shorthanded and added a power-play marker of their own.
The Flames showed they can create offence on special teams, but they couldn’t build on that success. Vegas, meanwhile, answered Calgary’s shorthanded goal with a power-play marker of its own, quickly restoring its two-goal advantage.
In a game where Calgary needed something to swing its way, the Golden Knights consistently had the answer.
3. Middleton gives the Flames another scoring option
Middleton’s second-period goal was a positive takeaway from another difficult night for Calgary.
The defenceman jumped into the rush, found space in the slot and finished Farabee’s pass with a quick wrist shot. It was his first goal since joining the Flames and his first career shorthanded marker.
The Flames need more contributions throughout the lineup. With the team searching for answers early in the season, goals from unexpected sources can help, but Calgary needs to turn those moments into more complete efforts.
Kiwis fullback sustained injury in second half in defeat to Kangaroos
Ponga was a standout in his first Test since a switch of allegiance
Kalyn Ponga will undergo surgery on his broken arm but will remain in camp with New Zealand not giving up on the superstar fullback playing again in the Rugby League World Cup.
Ponga failed to finish his long-awaited Test debut for the Kiwis, departing in the 70th minute of the 24-22 loss after suffering the injury earlier in the second half.
For the first time in a long time, Dave Roberts had to give a consolation speech in the Dodgers clubhouse.
The Brewers completed a four-game sweep of the back-to-back World Series champions in the National League Championship Series Thursday night, ending the Dodgers’ historic run to complete the three-peat.
Manager Dave Roberts had nothing but praise for Milwaukee following a crushing 6-4 defeat in NLCS Game 4.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts speaks to the media ahead of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
“I can’t give enough praise to the Brewers organization and the baseball office of Matt Arnold and his staff and Pat Murphy and his staff. And how they got those guys to play,” Roberts said.
“They played flawless, they really did,” he added.
The Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Murphy wasn’t so kind in his parting message to the Dodgers as the Brewers were crowned National League champions at Dodger Stadium Thursday night. For all the excitement and hype surrounding the Dodgers in 2026, the juggernaut miserably failed to live up to expectations in October.
Across eight postseason games, the Dodgers were 5-for-43 with runners in scoring position and stranded 50 runners on base. Their performance was not up to snuff to beat Milwaukee or even get a game over the Brewers in the Championship Series.
Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell celebrates his solo home run with Cooper Pratt during the sixth inning of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Ashley Landis
The Dodgers may have assembled one of the best rosters in baseball, but the 2026 group will have nothing to show for it. There are several question marks regarding the future of the franchise as the front office will have to navigate the direction of the Dodgers in 2027 and beyond.
But Roberts took the crushing sweep on the chin and mustered a heartfelt message for the Brewers, a team that will be remembered for dominating the juggernaut Dodgers.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
The Knicks’ regular-season roster is taking shape. The only remaining question is: will there be room for Bruce Brown?
Brown and James Wiseman have made it through preseason cuts. The Knicks clearly like both players. But New York only has room under the second apron in team salary to keep one player. In order to keep both Brown and Wiseman, the Knicks would need to trade a player on a standard contract without taking back salary.
My read heading into the weekend: Wiseman is a lock to make the roster. There is strong support to add Brown as well. The Knicks would need to make a trade by Monday afternoon if they want to keep Brown. I think they will explore all avenues to make that happen.
It's logical to assume that the Knicks will move third-year wing Pacome Dadiet. But I believe New York will explore other deals — including trades involving third-year guard Tyler Kolek — this weekend and Monday.
The Knicks will be asking teams to take on a player without sending back salary. To get a deal done, New York may need to attach its own second-round picks (New York will have at least 11 second-round picks in the next seven drafts).
Something worth noting here: multiple teams (Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers and others) are trying to attach second-round picks to work through a roster crunch. So the Knicks have competition in that regard. But given their plethora of second-rounders, they have the draft capital to get a deal done.
Here's what Knicks head coach Mike Brown likes about the veteran combo guard:
“Bruce has been through a lot with a lot of different teams at a pretty high level,” Brown said of the NBA champion with the Denver Nuggets. “His toughness, his experience, his feel, all those things — he's a winner. It seems like every place he's gone, he's won, but all those things can add a lot to the program, and then he's versatile both ends of the floor. He could play a few different positions offensively; he can guard a few different positions defensively. So a guy like that, especially a veteran winner, can be helpful to any team.”
Here’s what Brown likes about Wiseman:
“He's young, he's talented, you know, he's raw, still. I think he's still trying to establish a foothold in this league,” Brown said of the former No. 2 overall pick. “But with the God-given attributes he has, in terms of athleticism and length and quickness, [they] can bode well for him on both ends of the floor. And at 25 years old, he hasn't even reached his prime, especially knowing he hadn't played a ton of basketball; having a vertical threat at the rim will help [the Knicks], or could help everybody else play the game a little bit easier, whether it's driving the basketball or playing pick and roll.”
There will be no World Series three-peat for the Dodgers this season. No downtown parade to celebrate the continuation of their modern-day dynasty. Not even a return trip to the Fall Classic to try and defend their back-to-back titles.
Instead, despite a 100-win regular season and league-record $432 million payroll, the two-time defending champions were eliminated in the National League Championship Series by the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, ending their bid for history and sending them into an uncertain offseason –– one that could include an extended lockout, notable changes to the roster, and existential questions about how to retool around their aging veteran core.
Many unknowns remain about what the sport at large will look like in 2027 –– and when next season, amid what figures to be a protracted labor battle, will even begin.
But for now, the focus will be on why a team with the most talent in the sport, the most October experience on their roster, and the best statistical odds of winning the World Series couldn’t even get back to it.
As a long winter begins, here are the five biggest reasons the 2026 Dodgers came up short.
No-Sho’ Ohtani
On paper, no team in the majors has a better-looking lineup than the Dodgers.
In reality, however, cracks in their offensive production have grown increasingly evident in recent postseasons.
Dating back to the 2024 World Series, the club has batted .219 in postseason play. In five of their seven playoff series in that span, their team average has been .206 or worse.
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani strikes out during the first inning of NLCS Game 4 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
Even in regular-season play, they have endured extended lulls and repeated second-half slumps. They’re a supremely talented unit, to be sure. But, despite all the big names they boast, they haven’t performed all that different from most other playoff teams, either.
Really, only Shohei Ohtani has been a true separator for them at the plate.
And this October, he was in no condition to help the club compensate for its other shortcomings offensively.
That’s why the team’s mismanagement of Ohtani’s injury saga this year proved so costly. For all his talent on the mound, his greatest importance to the Dodgers has long been as a hitter. And this season, the toll of his attempted return to full-time two-way duties rendered that all-important skill set void.
After all, it was no real surprise that some of the team’s other aging star hitters suffered inconsistent postseason campaigns. That was the case last year. Ohtani’s eight playoff home runs and 1.096 OPS helped them overcome it.
But this fall, the four-time MVP’s right arm and left knee injuries limited his capabilities in the box. Where the Dodgers needed a superstar to spearhead their offense, all they had for most of the month was a physically diminished slap hitter who struggled to even reach base consistently instead.
And even when the old Ohtani finally re-emerged in Game 4 on Thursday, hitting a mammoth home run that gave the Dodgers an early 4-0 lead, it was too little, too late, with Ohtani later coming up short again on a three-pitch strikeout with the tying runner at third and one out in the seventh.
That Ohtani and the team couldn’t better manage his health this season will be the biggest regret from this failed three-peat pursuit.
While he was far from the only slumping bat in their lineup, he was the one who, if fully healthy, could have made the biggest impact.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow throws against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning of Game 4 of the NLCS. Wally Skalij for the CA Post
A mortal rotation
The other way the Dodgers overcame their offensive inconsistencies last year, of course, was through superhuman starting pitching.
In the 2025 playoffs, their rotation posted a 2.68 ERA and while averaging more than six innings per start.
Replicating that kind of production again always felt like an unlikely challenge.
Indeed, this October, even an equally star-studded staff encountered inevitable struggles.
Outside of Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s seven-inning, one-run gem in Game 3 of the NL Division Series, the Dodgers only had one other pitcher get past the sixth inning. And that, of course, was in Game 3 of the NLCS, when Blake Snell gave up back-to-back seventh-inning home runs in a gut-wrenching loss that all but ended the Dodgers’ season.
That didn’t mean the Dodgers’ rotation pitched terribly this postseason. They still finished the playoffs with a 3.89 combined ERA from their starters.
Given the fine margins that came with their lackluster offense, however, that wasn’t nearly good enough.
In the NLCS, the Brewers got to each of their big arms, chasing Tarik Skubal after five innings of two-run ball, knocking out Yamamoto in less than three innings the following day, ambushing Snell for three home runs in Game 3, then erasing their four-run deficit against Glasnow in Game 4.
In the same way Ohtani couldn’t put the team on his shoulders, neither could the rotation.
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman lines out to left at the bottom of the third inning during NLCS Game 4 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
RISPy business
After every loss this postseason, the Dodgers’ explanations boiled down to the same futile failure.
They generated plenty of chances for themselves. But, as manager Dave Roberts said for the umpteenth time after Game 3, “we’re just not getting those timely hits.”
No stat better epitomized that than the Dodgers’ 5-for-43 mark in these playoffs with runners in scoring position.
Such challenges, of course, aren’t unique to their offense. Entering Thursday, the league-wide batting average with runners in scoring position was .221.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Tommy Edman reacts after striking out against the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth inning of Game 3 of the NLCS. Wally Skalij for the CA Post
Still, the Dodgers’ output fell far below that mark.
For a team that prided itself on “winning the big moments” each of the past two Octobers, they were repeatedly unable to do so en route to this year’s early exit.
“It’s just one of those points in time where it seems to go that way,” utilityman Kiké Hernández said of the Dodgers’ RISP struggles. “And it just happened to be at the worst time of the season.”
While that might be true — there is an inherent randomness to situational hitting — the issue has also been a recurring problem for the Dodgers recently.
Last postseason, the team hit .204 with runners in scoring position. This year, they ranked seventh in the majors in that category with a .262 but also experienced long stretches in which big hits felt impossible to consistently produce.
Questions about why that was the case will reverberate long into the offseason.
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts throws out Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras on a ground out during the sixth inning of Game 3. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
Dino Dodgers
All season, the Dodgers downplayed concerns about having the majors’ oldest lineup. Throughout the playoffs, they embraced their “Dinosaur Dodgers” nickname.
But in the end, it was hard not to feel like the club’s age eventually caught up to it.
Exhibit A: They didn’t hit a home run in the NLCS until Ohtani’s blast in Game 4, lacking the kind of consistent pop that has helped carry them through offensive lulls in previous postseasons.
“I don’t know what you can really say to that,” Freddie Freeman, the second eldest of the bunch at 37 years old, said before Game 4. “That’s just people’s opinions of what that is. We do know we have an older team. That doesn’t mean we’re old and we’re playing bad because we’re old. We’re just not playing that great, in my mind.”
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
The Lakers are down to one last preseason game which will be against the Denver Nuggets on Friday. The purple and gold will be back on their home floor for this one.
Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets
When: 7:30 p.m. PT, Oct 16
Where: Crypto.com Arena
Watch: ESPN, Spectrum Sportsnet
Just like that, the Lakers are just one preseason game away from the real thing that is the regular season.
The preseason has provided plenty of early clues about what lies ahead for the Lakers this season. Clues like which lineups work and don’t, what some of the role players can bring to the table alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves and even how the overall Lakers game experience — from the new PA announcer to broadcast — team — will look like this season.
But if there’s one thing that we haven’t seen yet in the last four games, it’s a complete Lakers team on the floor.
We saw perhaps the biggest signing of the offseason, Walker Kessler, finally take the floor in Tuesday’s game against the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas. Kessler, who had 16 minutes of burn, recorded 11 points and nine rebounds.
Besides Kessler’s sensational defense, the highlight was witnessing him already running plays with Reaves, who had himself a night with 28 points and seven assists.
The Lakers may have come up short after resting their key players in the second half but this one was still arguably their most entertaining preseason game yet. Now the question is, will the fun continue in Friday’s dress rehearsal against the Nuggets?
Hopefully we see even just a few minutes of Dončić, Kessler and Reaves together on the floor. If those three indeed suit up, it’ll be interesting to see who takes the last two slots in the starting five as well as head coach JJ Redick’s substitution patterns.
Quentin Grimes when asked if anyone on the Lakers knows who the other two LAL starters will be next to Doncic/Reaves/Kessler: “I don’t know. I guess you’re going to find out next Wednesday!” Grimes said the process to identify the starters created “healthy competition” in camp pic.twitter.com/NlmOyl4hP5
Speaking of Redick, yes, it may be preseason but it’s hard to imagine him not having a game plan against Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets. Note that this will also be the Nuggets’ last preseason game, so it’s fair to assume that they’ll treat this one like a dress rehearsal as well. All of Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon played minimal minutes in their previous game so they could possibly suit up and do the same on Friday.
It may be preseason, but it sure will be nice to see how these two projected playoff teams in the Western Conference match up. Remember, the purple and gold have won four of their last six matches against the Nuggets since Dončić arrived in Los Angeles. Facing a reenergized Nuggets team is a great test for the Lakers ahead of the season opener.
Let’s see if LA can get that win on Friday.
Notes and Updates
Collin Sexton has yet to play in any preseason game as he continues to recover from a lower leg injury. There is optimism that he could play on opening night.
JJ Redick said Collin Sexton is “trending in the right direction” for Opening Night against the Warriors on Oct. 21.
One thing to look at for in Friday’s game is how the Lakers perform in the rebounding department, something they worked on in practice on Thursday.
After getting out rebounded in three out of of four preseason games, JJ Redick said the Lakers did “three different box-out drills” Thursday. How did they go? “They went.” pic.twitter.com/X3qByXC4kY
We have an exciting new feature in our app this season. It’s easier than ever to chat in our game threads. Each game, this post will become a live chat and will be easy to find at the top of the Lakers community page, so be sure to download the app and give it a try this preseason.
After losing four straight games to the Brewers in the National League Championship series, the hopes of a historic three-peat have diminished. As Milwaukee accepted the National League pennant at Dodger Stadium Thursday night, Brewers manager Pat Murphy took a moment to send a somewhat cruel message to the back-to-back World Series champions.
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy celebrates on the podium after defeating the against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“They may have a bunch of Hall of Famers, but we have a bunch of gamers, and the gamers won this week,” Murphy said on the broadcast.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani watches from the dugout during the ninth inning of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Gregory BullThe Milwaukee Brewers celebrate with pitcher Aaron Ashby (26) after the final out of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
The Dodgers starting rotation — filled with Cy Young winners, All-Stars and World Series MVPs — posted a 6.50 ERA in the NLCS. The Dodgers lineup — which featured nine players with at least one All-Star selection to their name — was 4-for-27 with runners in scoring position.
The Dodgers assembled one of the greatest rosters in baseball, but fell short in what is likely to be remembered as one of the worst postseason collapses in MLB history. LA couldn’t muster a single win over the Brewers throughout the NLCS, despite the star-studded team.
Evidently, Milwaukee is reveling in its historic sweep of the Dodgers as Murphy’s comments are sure to sting ahead of a trying offseason for the organization.
The
St. Louis Blues knew the objective would be tough facing the
Minnesota Wild on Thursday despite the home side missing a plethora
of key players due to injury.
Instead
of accounting for who wasn’t in the Blues’ lineup, they needed to
be more mindful of of the ones that were in the game, namely the
Wild’s best players.
Minnesota’s
top line of Matt Boldy, Kirill Kaprizov and Joel
Eriksson Ek combined for nine points, and Quinn Hughes –
Minnesota’s best defenseman – had two assists, and the
turnover-prone Blues, in search of a three-game winning streak, saw
that notion come crashing to a halt despite
making it interesting late in
a 5-4
loss at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minn.
The
Blues (3-3-1) have split their two games of a three-game road trip
after a 7-2 win against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.
Let’s
get to the key moments of the game …
*
Too many turnovers – If there’s one thing the Blues have done a
decent job of in the early going this season is take care of the
puck.
Not
Thursday.
Even
though the Blues were playing not up to par, two costly turnovers led
directly to Wild goals that essentially put the game away.
It
had already been a tough night for the Cam-Fowler-Brandon Carlo
defensive pairing (more below), but the Blues had some positive
momentum going, and when Connor McMichael paid a puck for Fowler to
step into in the offensive zone and the veteran D-man fumbled it, it
led to the Wild transitioning the other way, and Kaprizov would
eventually make it 4-2 at 8:47 of the second period:
Minnesota goal!
Scored by Kirill Kaprizov with 11:13 left in the 2nd. Assisted by Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy.
And
in the simplest of plays, and at the end of his shift, Philip Broberg
had a puck on the left side of the ice, and as partner Colton Parayko
went off for a change, Justin Barron jumped on, took a pass from
Broberg but fumbled it in the neutral zone.
The
puck turned back in the D-zone, Broberg is tired and badly needed a
change, and the line on the ice wasn’t able to win a puck back
before Kaprizov found Boldy for a one-timer in the left circle for
the hat trick goal and a 5-2 lead at 16:47 of the second:
Minnesota goal!
Scored by Matt Boldy with 03:13 left in the 2nd. Assisted by Kirill Kaprizov and Michael McCarron.
The
turnovers were a microcosm of the Blues’ play throughout much of
the game that kept this game closer than the score thanks to some
terrific saves by Joel Hofer.
And then there was that learning moment for Dylan Peterson, playing in just his second NHL game.
Instead of chipping a puck in and going to work on the forecheck, which is his game, the 24-year-old tried to stick-handle along the wall, got stripped and it was off to the races for Minnesota before Danila Yurov made it 2-1 at 11:17 of the first:
Minnesota goal!
Scored by Danila Yurov with 08:43 left in the 1st. Assisted by Maxim Shabanov and Yakov Trenin.
*
Too many odd-man rushes – The Blues, even with the Wild missing a
lot of their veteran players, couldn’t afford to play a track meet
game against this team.
But
tying in with the turnovers, that’s what it turned into, and at
least through two periods, the odd-man chances were 6-1 in favor of
the Wild and scoring chances were 21-11. A lot of those came off the
odd-man rushes, but as mentioned, Hofer was making some really nice
stops.
*
Tough night for the Fowler-Carlo pairing – A veteran pairing that
had been really strong to begin the season, this pairing did not have
a good night.
We
already mentioned the fumbled puck of Fowler that led to Minnesota’s
fourth goal, but it seemed like they were a step slow in reading
coverage and as a result, backing in instead of attacking Minnesota’s
forwards.
Let’s
call it a one-off, or at least Blues fans hope it is, because they
have been steady-solid to begin the season.
Fowler
did end up with three assists in the game after two late third-period
goals, but through 40 minutes, he and Carlo were each a minus-3 and a
three-goal deficit was too much to overcome.
*
Berggren takes advantage – With Pavel Buchnevich (expecting birth
of child) returning to St. Louis and missing the game, the Blues
needed someone to step into the special teams slot vacated by
Buchnevich, and Jonatan Berggren, already getting minutes on the PK,
was inserted onto the power play and it paid immediate dividends with
a beautiful power move to the net and backhand goal that actually
gave the Blues a 1-0 lead 1:45
into the game that gave Berggren a four-game point streak (two goals,
two assists):
Power play goal for St. Louis!
Scored by Jonatan Berggren with 18:15 left in the 1st. Assisted by Cam Fowler and Dalibor Dvorsky.
*
McTavish keeps shining – Hofer
had made a series of really good saves that at the time kept it a
one-goal game at 2-1, and you had a sense that normally when that
happens, teams find a way to score the tying goal, and Mason McTavish
did just that when his breakaway goal, off a clever pass from Pius
Suter to spring him, tied the game 2-2 at 4:57 of the second:
St. Louis goal!
Scored by Mason McTavish with 15:03 left in the 2nd. Assisted by Pius Suter and Colton Parayko.
*
Poor shift after tying goal – The
Wild retook the lead just 27 seconds later when Boldy would get his
second of the game and make it 3-2 and the Blues could never recover.
Blues
coach Jim Montgomery had the Dalibor Dvorsky line on the ice with Jake Neighbours and Pius Suter and the Fowler-Carlo pairing, and what
does a coach always say after scoring: the next shift of always
crucial.
The
Blues actually get the puck into the Minnesota zone, and they’re in
position everywhere on the ice, but when the puck gets whipped along
the right boards to the Blues’ blue line, the puck gets chipped in,
and Fowler had already backed in and was now fending a 2-on-1
forecheck, which he wasn’t able to win, and Jake Neighbours was
caught puck-watching until it was too late to identify where Boldy
was:
Minnesota goal!
Scored by Matt Boldy with 14:36 left in the 2nd. Assisted by Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov.
But
ultimately what was a 3-on-3 from the blue line going in wasn’t
played well at all and cost the Blues big time.
*
Costly penalties against league’s top power play unit hurt – The
strong start on the Berggren goal was wiped out by two costly
penalties that enabled Boldy to get his first of the night and tie
it.
McTavish
was whistled for a high stick 200 feet from his net, then Neighbours
got called for tripping giving Minnesota 28 seconds of a 5-on-3,
which the Wild took advantage of on Boldy’s one-timer
at 7:31 of the first, or with five seconds on the two-man advantage.
And
even though the Blues have been strong out of the gates on the PK,
having to kill five penalties against this team despite going 4-for-5
is asking a lot.
*
Thomas, Holloway finally get on the board; can that get them going?
-- Well,
yoou were just sitting back and wondering when Robert Thomas and/or
Dylan Holloway would get on the board with goals.
Two-thirds
of the Blues’ top line, along with Jimmy Snuggerud, has seen
remnants of looking like they would break out, and they combined for
six points last Saturday in a win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, but
it had been slim pickings for this unit as a whole.
Serving
a penalty when Hofer was nabbed for interfering with Kaprizov behind
the Blues’ net, Thomas would finish off a play and score the Blues’
third shorthanded goal in seven games and second in as many to make
it a 5-3 game with four minutes on the clock, using patience to gain
the zone before feeding Fowler for a good look before
potting home the rebound:
Short-handed goal for St. Louis!
Scored by Robert Thomas with 04:00 left in the 3rd. Assisted by Cam Fowler.
The
goals didn’t help the Blues win, but just getting on the board
could certainly fuel this trio on a run, which they can definitely
benefit from.
*
Need to start winning divisional games – After
beating the Dallas Stars 4-0 in the season-opener, the Blues have now
lost three straight to divisional opponents. This was a sore spot
last season when they went 10-16-0 in that department, and if
they want to be relevant in the playoff chase this season, those are
the teams they’re going to have to be beating, and with another
divisional game on the road – the first five within the division
are on the road – against the Nashville Predators on Saturday,
these are the games they need to start being on the better side of.
“They’re very dangerous and we made it too easy for them.”
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Manager Pat Murphy and the Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the World Series.
The Brewers advanced to Fall Classic after sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday, Oct. 15.
Jake Bauers was named the NLCS MVP after posting an .412 on-base percentage with a home run and six RBIs in four games, including two epic game-changing at-bats.
Milwaukee became the first team in MLB history to sweep a team in the postseason after being swept by the same team the previous year. The Brewers are now just four wins away from winning a title for the franchise.
Here's when the Brewers last appeared in the World Series:
Brewers last World Series appearance
Brewers have not played in the World Series since losing Game 7 to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982.
Then playing in the American League. Brewers dropped the last two games in that series to fall short in the title series.
Did the Brewers ever win a World Series?
The Brewers have not won a World Series in its history. Milwaukee is one of five teams that haven’t won a World Series in MLB history.
Put owner Mark Walter's federal investigations aside; let's ignore the (seemingly) impending lockout as the MLB owners' tense standoff with the players' union over a salary cap doesn't appear to be anywhere close to a resolution. The Dodgers have nine players set to hit free agency this winter and, given that the average age of their lineup is 30.9 years old − the oldest in the big leagues, according to Baseball Reference − the clubhouse might look a bit different come next spring training, whenever that might be.
The Dodgers are old
"When you do think about it, it is special what we have accomplished over the last couple years," Freddie Freeman told reporters before Game 4. "And we still want this to keep going. We know we have a lot left in the tank together. It's a great group of guys, been through a lot, been all over this world together."
Freeman is one of three former MVPs on the Dodgers alongside Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani. He's also 36 years old. Retirement isn't likely this offseason, but he's talked about his baseball mortality before and will enter the final year of the six-year, $162 million contract he signed in 2022. Betts, 33, and Ohtani, 31, are also on the other side of 30. In fact, the only regular fixtures in LA's lineup under 30 years old this season were Kyle Tucker, 29, and Andy Pages, 25.
Free agents
Miguel Rojas' contract expires this winter; he's strongly considering retirement but has definitively said he won't play for any other organization besides the Dodgers at this point in his career. One of the most important figures in the clubhouse, Rojas is a vocal leader and mentor to several of the younger players; when Betts was transitioning to shortstop, it was Rojas who stayed on the field with him every day to take groundballs and give advice to the Gold Glove outfielder. If Rojas does hang up his (often customized) cleats, he'll likely step into some sort of coaching or player development role within the organization.
Kiké Hernández held back tears when addressing reporters after the Dodgers' Game 3 loss on Wednesday.
"We didn’t expect to be in this situation, this position," he said, referring to their 3-0 deficit. "But this one sucks."
Hernández's biggest moments have come in October, but like Rojas, at this point in his career, his biggest contribution is his leadership. He's battled through injuries this year, including offseason elbow surgery that delayed his 2026 debut until May, but this winter Andrew Friedman will need to decide whether Hernández's clubhouse presence justifies his declining bat.
Here's the full list of Dodgers set to be free agents, according to Spotrac:
Tarik Skubal, LHP
Evan Phillips, RHP
Miguel Rojas, IF
Kiké Hernández, UTIL
Alex Vesia, LHP
Kris Bubic, LHP
Blake Treinen, RHP
Brusdar Graterol, RHP
Eric Lauer, LHP
Where does Josue De Paula fit next season?
De Paula was thrust into the big leagues when Ohtani went on the IL in September and was an immediate spark to the Dodgers any time he stepped foot in the batter's box. The 21-year-old's impact popped out on the stat sheet with his 1.081 OPS in a small sample size of 11 games, but it also showed up in the intangibles − his poise, his confidence, and a plate discipline beyond his years.
He made enough of an impression to make the 26-man postseason roster as a lefty bench bat, where he continued to thrive. De Paula didn't register a hit this postseason, but each of his two walks in three plate appearances were in clutch situations that gave the Dodgers a fighting chance late. The moment proved not to be too big for the No. 6-ranked prospect in baseball.
That all begs the question: where does he go next season?
De Paula may have proved that his bat is MLB-ready, but his defense as a corner outfielder is still a work in progress.
"Right now, as we've talked about, we view him as a DH," Friedman said in late September. "I think the improvement that Josue had in the outfield from '24 to '25, to '26 is real and for us, it's about taking another big step going into '27. He's got the tools and the ability to do it."
Every day, both in those two weeks in September and throughout the postseason, De Paula has been spotted working at just that. He's shagging fly balls, taking pointers from manager Dave Roberts, third base coach Dino Ebel, and Betts. He was even spotted taking reps at shortstop at one point during the NLCS. Defense has been De Paula's number one priority, and he's vowed to "shut a lot of people up with my defense."
If he takes that leap by spring, he could potentially force a conversation on where he could fit in on the roster among Tucker and Teoscar Hernández.
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani hits a home run at the bottom of the second inning. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
It was the four-time MVP’s first long ball since Aug. 18, snapping his career-long 25-game homer drought. It was also the Dodgers’ first big fly of this series, representing the first true sign of life all week from their slumping offense.
However, it wouldn’t last.
As the Brewers came storming back, the Dodgers’ bats once again went mysteriously cold.
Ex-Dodger Dustin May gave up the home run to Ohtani, but then responded with a couple of shut-down innings. Left-hander JoJo Romero came out of the Milwaukee bullpen next, and also threw up a couple scoreless frames, stranding the potential tying run in scoring position in the sixth by striking out Max Muncy and sending him spiking his bat into the dirt.
From there, the Brewers only needed one more arm.
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras returns to the dugout as Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) slams his bat after striking out to end the sixth inning. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
Hard-throwing southpaw Aaron Ashby entered for the seventh and gave up a leadoff double to Andy Pages, but stranded him by striking out Ohtani on three pitches and getting Mookie Betts to bounce one to short.
In the eighth, the Dodgers had life again after Will Smith lined a ball into the right-field corner that kicked away from Sal Frelick, allowing him to reach third with one out. But Ashby buckled down once more, getting Kyle Tucker to hit a shallow fly ball and Teoscar Hernández to strike out swinging.
In the ninth, Ashby returned for a third inning of work, and retired the side in order.
Game, set, match. National League pennant to the Brewers.
Hero: Jake Bauers
If you want to know why this year’s Brewers team is different from the one that got swept by the Dodgers in last year’s NLCS, all you have to do is look at the series MVP winner.
Before this season, Jake Bauers was a journeyman slugger who had never hit better than .235 in a season while playing for five different big-league teams.
But this year, he blossomed in Milwaukee’s player development factory, hitting .266 with 26 home runs and 86 RBIs.
Milwaukee Brewers’ Jake Bauers (9) heads to second base after hitting a two-RBI double against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning in Game 4. Caroline Brehman/UPI/Shutterstock
And this week, he inflicted pain on the Dodgers time and again, following up his pivotal 12-pitch walk against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2, and a go-ahead two-run homer in an 11-pitch battle against Blake Snell in Game 3, with a couple more heroic moments that helped the Brewers overcome their four-run deficit.
In the fourth inning, he hit a two-run ground-rule double that cut the Dodgers’ lead in half. In the fifth, he drew a bases-loaded walk that erased it, giving him an NLCS-best six RBIs in this four-game series.
Like the rest of the Brewers’ relentless lineup, he fought off pitches, worked long at-bats, and kept Dodgers pitching under constant stress.
For a small-market franchise that has had to find different ways –– and undervalued players –– to win, he has been the epitome of their success, and the No. 1 reason this week they won their first pennant in almost half-a-century.
Unsung hero: Pat Murphy
Last year, Pat Murphy tried playing the underdog card against the Dodgers.
This year, the Brewers’ manager implored his club to fight.
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy celebrates on the podium after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The shift in mentality worked. The baseball lifer helped inspire Milwaukee’s NLCS upset, setting the tone for a team that –– at the plate, on the mound, in the field, and on the bases –– did every little thing right to flip this year’s script.
The Brewers’ triumph marked only the second time in MLB history a club had been swept by an opponent in the playoffs one year, then come back to eliminate them the next. This was the first time such a reversal happened with a sweep.
Murphy challenged his team. And they responded.
Stat of the game: Six
That’s how many different times the Dodgers held a lead in this series. Once in Game 1. Three times in Game 2. After Will Smith’s go-ahead sixth-inning double in Game 3. And after Thursday’s four-run outburst in the second.
Every time, Milwaukee answered.
Not once did the Dodgers even stay in front for longer than three innings.
The Philadelphia Flyers' comically bad start to the 2026-27 continued in embarrassing fashion on Thursday night, losing 2-1 to a mediocre Detroit Red Wings team mired in turmoil of their own.
With the anemic loss, the Flyers now own an 0-6-3 record on the year and hold the distinction of one of the two winless remaining teams in the NHL beside the 0-3-2 Los Angeles Kings, who have played four fewer games.
Third-year forward Matvei Michkov continues to impress in spurts, tallying his third goal of the season - the Flyers' lone goal - in the loss to Detroit, which makes him the team's leading goal-scorer and tying him for the team lead in points.
The caveat is that only four Flyers played less than Michkov against the Red Wings: linemates Noah Cates and Porter Martone, and fourth-liners Jack Studnicka and Michael Bunting.
In total, Michkov took just 18 shifts, and Martone (17), Bunting (13), and Studnicka (11) were the only Flyers who took fewer.
As has become customary, the Flyers also lost the shot battle once again. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Flyers were out-attempted 52-37 at 5-on-5, while the Red Wings doubled them up on unblocked shot attempts, 34-17.
Even more egregiously, high-danger chances were an astounding 15-4 in Detroit's favor, including a 5-0 third period.
If the Flyers are going to consistently play this poorly without making major personnel or staff changes, the least they can do is lean into developing the youth they already have on the roster. Playing the most sluggish, ineffective, and boring hockey in the NHL is not a suitable alternative.
Instead, Michkov and Martone, the organization's only two long-term building blocks, again barely played for a team devoid of any offense - at forward, at defense, at even strength, and on the power play.
Just over two weeks into the season, Trevor Zegras isn't playing center anymore, and Tyson Foerster has two points since the start of the playoffs last season.
Winger prospect Alex Bump, who started the season with the Flyers before getting replaced by Bunting, has scored in each of his three games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms since being sent down to the AHL, recording 11 shots on goal across those three games.
Jett Luchanko, who has three assists in four AHL games, could conceivably take on a third-line role for the Flyers should the losing continue, with Noah Cates and Sean Couturier the obvious candidates to receive reduced workloads going forward.
With Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York out, the Flyers brought up Oliver Bonk, and that move has paid dividends for them thus far. The 21-year-old should remain with the NHL club for the foreseeable future, even if and when the two injured veterans return.
That's the one silver lining the Flyers can secure for themselves this season, having already lit 10% of the campaign on fire.
The development of young players was the organization's modus operandi until last year, when many players enjoyed career years to spur the team to a somewhat fluky playoff run.
Now, with higher expectations, the Flyers have lost sight of that, and the incorporation of older players like Bunting and Studnicka is a recent example of the philosophical shift.
If the Flyers are going to be this bad for the rest of the season, they should at least have the courtesy to make it fun and interesting for an increasingly impatient, loyal, and passionate fanbase.
The fifth team was the charm for Jake Bauers. Was it ever.
Traded from Tampa Bay, crushed in Cleveland, slugless in Seattle and gone from the Yankees in a New York minute, Bauers loaded up his equipment bag one more time when the Milwaukee Brewers called, a team always seeking improvement on the margins taking a no-risk bet on a player who couldn't stick anywhere.
Yet nearly three years after the Brewers first snagged Bauers from baseball oblivion, they're going to the World Series together - and Bauers is taking the National League Championship Series MVP trophy with him.
Bauers' fantastic postseason did not stop in the decisive Game 4 of the NLCS, as he drove in half the Brewers' runs and got them back in the game with a crucial two-run double in a 6-4 victory at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 15.
The World Series will begin in eight days from American Family Field, the Brewers' first appearance since 1982. It's only slightly more overdue and unlikely than Bauers' journey.
The 31-year-old first baseman has been traded four times, released three times and pondered retirement after his first go-round with the Brewers didn't result in immediate success.
Yet he stuck it out one more year, in part to support his family. And was justly rewarded.
"Somewhere along the way, I chose to be confident," he said in a Fox Sports postgame interview. "I chose to believe in myself."
As did the Brewers. They won a club-record 103 games and Bauers was a big part of it, hitting 26 home runs and also setting career highs in OPS (.889), on-base percentage (.389) and RBIs (86).
He, and they, were just getting started.
Bauers pushed the Brewers toward NLCS victory with an epic 12-pitch at-bat against Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2, resulting in a walk that preceded a Christian Yelich RBI single. More important, it wore down Yamamoto and enabled the Brewers' bullpen to assert its dominance.
He came back with another gem in Game 3 Wednesday, flipping the game - perhaps the series - with a two-run, go-ahead left-on-left homer off Blake Snell, capping an 11-pitch at-bat. And a 2-1 Brewers deficit turned into a 3-2 lead and eventual 4-2 victory.
Now, the World Series, a worthy destination for a slugger whose route was so circuitous. Yet so rewarding.
The Clippers are trying to rebuild its relationship with the fanbase.
The team’s latest announcement allows the first 4,000 fans that attend Opening Night to swap an old Clippers jersey for a new one. The home opener on Oct. 21 will have a special twist for fans as the team kicks off a new era.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Rui Hachimura (28) shoots over Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game. AP Photo/Kyusung GongLos Angeles Clippers guard Keaton Wagler (1) moves the ball as center Isaiah Jackson (23) provides coverage against Denver Nuggets forward Julian Strawther (1) during the second half at Intuit Dome. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Our fans deserve to hear from us before this, and for that we’re sorry,” Redden said Monday. “We’ve been listening to the thoughts, the concerns, and feeling the emotions of our fan base. They mean everything to us. … We hope to fulfill our promises to them, to build their trust and move forward through this time.
“This franchise often has done its best work with its back against the wall … We hope to represent our fans the same way we always have in dark times, by coming out fighting.”
It appears the latest announcement by the time is another effort by the Clippers to regain the trust of its fans. It’ll be interesting to see how many Kawhi Leonard jerseys are swapped for new ones on Opening Night.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
