Browsing: expert

Oct 21, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

The NBA season is back! We made it!

The Oklahoma City Thunder begin their quest to repeat Tuesday night (7:30 p.m., Peacock) against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets after an offseason in which they re-signed 2025 MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-Star Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren to deals worth nearly $800 million.

Elsewhere in the loaded Western Conference, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors begin their first full campaign with Jimmy Butler, with their eyes on a final run to cap a decade of near-dominance, as they face off (10 p.m. ET) against Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

In the injury-ravaged East, the Cleveland Cavaliers return a core — Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen — that led them to 64 wins and a No. 1 seed last season. They face off Wednesday night against a Knicks team with Finals-or-bust expectations (7 p.m. ET on ESPN).

Then, the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama, after a serious health scare last season and a transformational offseason, play Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis and the Dallas Mavericks, in a game featuring two of the most tantalizing teams in the West.

Will SGA and the Thunder repeat to begin a dynasty? Or can three-time MVP Nikola Jokic return the Nuggets to the Western Conference elite? Will the Knicks reach their first Finals since 1999 in the wide-open East? Our experts have cast their votes. Here’s who they think will win the East, West and the 2026 NBA Finals.

MORE: 30-team preview | NBA Rank 100-51 | 50-11 | 10-1

Eastern Conference finals picks

Tim Bontemps:Cavaliers over Knicks in 7

Jamal Collier: Knicks over Cavaliers in 7

Vincent Goodwill: Knicks over Cavaliers in 7

Baxter Holmes:Knicks over Magic in 6

Zach Kram:Knicks over Hawks in 6

Tim MacMahon: Cavaliers over Knicks in 7

Bobby Marks:Knicks over Cavaliers in 6

Dave McMenamin: Cavaliers over Knicks in 7

Kevin Pelton:Knicks over Cavaliers in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Cavaliers over Knicks in 7

Anthony Slater: Knicks over Cavaliers in 6

Marc Spears: Cavaliers over Knicks in 7

Michael Wright: Cavaliers over Knicks in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk:Knicks over Magic in 6

Final tally (East champs):Knicks 8, Cavaliers 6

Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Western Conference finals picks

Bontemps: Thunder over Nuggets in 5

Collier: Thunder over Timberwolves in 6

Goodwill:Thunder over Nuggets in 7

Holmes:Thunder over Warriors in 6

Kram:Thunder over Nuggets in 7

MacMahon:Thunder over Rockets in 6

Marks:Nuggets over Thunder in 6

McMenamin:Mavericks over Thunder in 7

Pelton:Thunder over Warriors in 6

Shelburne:Rockets over Thunder in 7

Slater:Thunder over Rockets in 6

Spears:Nuggets over Thunder in 7

Wright: Thunder over Nuggets in 7

Youngmisuk:Nuggets over Thunder in 7

Final tally (West champs):Thunder 9, Nuggets 3, Mavericks 1, Rockets 1

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NBA Finals picks

Bontemps: Thunder over Cavaliers in 5

Collier: Thunder over Knicks in 6

Goodwill:Thunder over Knicks in 5

Holmes: Thunder over Knicks in 5

Kram: Thunder over Knicks in 6

MacMahon: Thunder over Cavaliers in 6

Marks: Nuggets over Knicks in 6

McMenamin: Mavericks over Cavaliers in 6

Pelton:Thunder over Knicks in 6

Shelburne: Rockets over Cavaliers in 6

Slater: Thunder over Knicks in 5

Spears: Cavaliers over Nuggets in 6

Wright:Thunder over Cavaliers in 7

Youngmisuk: Nuggets over Knicks in 6

Final tally (NBA champs):Thunder 9, Nuggets 2, Cavaliers 1, Mavericks 1, Rockets 1

Tom O’Connor/NBAE via Getty Images

Bonus! Who wins the 2025-2026 MVP Award?

Bontemps: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Collier: Anthony Edwards

Goodwill: Nikola Jokic

Holmes: Jalen Brunson

Kram: Nikola Jokic

MacMahon: Luka Doncic

Marks: Nikola Jokic

McMenamin: Luka Doncic

Pelton: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shelburne: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Slater: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Spears: Nikola Jokic

Wright: Nikola Jokic

Youngmisuk: Nikola Jokic

Final tally:Nikola Jokic 6,Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 4, Luka Doncic 2, Jalen Brunson 1, Anthony Edwards 1

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Oct 21, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

The NBA season is back! We made it!

The Oklahoma City Thunder begin their quest to repeat Tuesday night (7:30 p.m., Peacock) against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets after an offseason in which they re-signed 2025 MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-Star Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren to deals worth nearly $800 million.

Elsewhere in the loaded Western Conference, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors begin their first full campaign with Jimmy Butler, with their eyes on a final run to cap a decade of near-dominance, as they face off (10 p.m. ET) against Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

In the injury-ravaged East, the Cleveland Cavaliers return a core — Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen — that led them to 64 wins and a No. 1 seed last season. They face off Wednesday night against a Knicks team with Finals-or-bust expectations (7 p.m. ET on ESPN).

Then, the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama, after a serious health scare last season and a transformational offseason, play Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis and the Dallas Mavericks, in a game featuring two of the most tantalizing teams in the West.

Will SGA and the Thunder repeat to begin a dynasty? Or can three-time MVP Nikola Jokic return the Nuggets to the Western Conference elite? Will the Knicks reach their first Finals since 1999 in the wide-open East? Our experts have cast their votes. Here’s who they think will win the East, West and the 2026 NBA Finals.

MORE: 30-team preview | NBA Rank 100-51 | 50-11 | 10-1

Eastern Conference finals picks

Tim Bontemps:Cavaliers over Knicks in 7

Jamal Collier: Knicks over Cavaliers in 7

Vincent Goodwill: Knicks over Cavaliers in 7

Baxter Holmes:Knicks over Magic in 6

Zach Kram:Knicks over Hawks in 6

Tim MacMahon: Cavaliers over Knicks in 7

2025-26 NBA season preview

What lies ahead for all 30 NBA teams in 2025-26? Here are the stars, stats and bets you need to know to get ready for the season.

• Rankings, predictions, odds and more

Bobby Marks:Knicks over Cavaliers in 6

Dave McMenamin: Cavaliers over Knicks in 7

Kevin Pelton:Knicks over Cavaliers in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Cavaliers over Knicks in 7

Anthony Slater: Knicks over Cavaliers in 6

Marc Spears: Cavaliers over Knicks in 7

Michael Wright: Cavaliers over Knicks in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk:Knicks over Magic in 6

Final tally (East champs):Knicks 8, Cavaliers 6

Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Western Conference finals picks

Bontemps: Thunder over Nuggets in 5

Collier: Thunder over Timberwolves in 6

Goodwill:Thunder over Nuggets in 7

Holmes:Thunder over Warriors in 6

Kram:Thunder over Nuggets in 7

MacMahon:Thunder over Rockets in 6

Marks:Nuggets over Thunder in 6

McMenamin:Mavericks over Thunder in 7

Pelton:Thunder over Warriors in 6

Shelburne:Rockets over Thunder in 7

Slater:Thunder over Rockets in 6

Spears:Nuggets over Thunder in 7

Wright: Thunder over Nuggets in 7

Youngmisuk:Nuggets over Thunder in 7

Final tally (West champs):Thunder 9, Nuggets 3, Mavericks 1, Rockets 1

NBA Finals picks

Bontemps: Thunder over Knicks in 5

Collier: Thunder over Knicks in 6

Goodwill:Thunder over Knicks in 5

Holmes: Thunder over Knicks in 5

Kram: Thunder over Knicks in 6

MacMahon: Thunder over Cavaliers in 6

Marks: Nuggets over Knicks in 6

McMenamin: Mavericks over Cavaliers in 6

Pelton:Thunder over Knicks in 6

Shelburne: Rockets over Cavaliers in 6

Slater: Thunder over Knicks in 5

Spears: Cavaliers over Nuggets in 6

Wright:Thunder over Cavaliers in 7

Youngmisuk: Nuggets over Knicks in 6

Final tally (NBA champs):Thunder 9, Nuggets 2, Cavaliers 1, Mavericks 1, Rockets 1

Tom O’Connor/NBAE via Getty Images

Bonus! Who wins the 2025-2026 MVP Award?

Bontemps: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Collier: Anthony Edwards

Goodwill: Nikola Jokic

Holmes: Jalen Brunson

Kram: Nikola Jokic

MacMahon: Luka Doncic

Marks: Nikola Jokic

McMenamin: Luka Doncic

Pelton: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shelburne: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Slater: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Spears: Nikola Jokic

Wright: Nikola Jokic

Youngmisuk: Nikola Jokic

Final tally:Nikola Jokic 6,Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 4, Luka Doncic 2, Jalen Brunson 1, Anthony Edwards 1

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Max Scherzer was exceptional and the Blue Jays†offense exploded for the second straight game as Toronto won 8-3 last night and evened the Best of 7 American League Championship series against the Seattle Mariners at two games apiece.

The veteran Scherzer allowed two runs over 5.2 innings in his first appearance in almost a month. The Jays†bats hit Luis Castillo and the Mariners†bullpen hard, racking up 11 hits. After driving in a couple runs in Game 3, Andres Gimenez drove in four more last night to pace the Toronto attack that has now accounted for 29 hits and 21 runs the last two games.

Seattle turns to Bryce Miller today to try and turn the series back around while the Jays counter with Kevin Gausman.

Lets dive into the numbers and try to find an advantage or two.

Weâ€ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Blue Jays at Mariners – ALCS Game 5

• Date: Friday, October 17, 2025
• Time: 6:08PM EST
• Site: T-Mobile Park
• City: Seattle, WA
• Network/Streaming: FS1

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Blue Jays at the Mariners – ALCS Game 5

The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:

• Moneyline: Toronto Blue Jays (-115), Seattle Mariners (-105)
• Spread: Blue Jays -1.5 (+152)
• Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Blue Jays at Mariners – ALCS Game 5

• Pitching matchup for October 17, 2025: Kevin Gausman vs. Bryce Miller
  • Blue Jays: Kevin Gausman (10-11, 3.59 ERA)
    Last outing: 10/12 vs. Seattle – 5.2IP, 2ER, 3H, 1 BB, 5Ks
    Gausman has struck out 5 or more in 8 of his last 9 starts
  • Mariners: Bryce Miller (4-6, 5.68 ERA)
    Last outing: 10/12 at Toronto – 6IP, 1ER, 2H, 3BB, 3Ks
    Miller has not struck out more than 4 in any of his last 5 starts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Blue Jays at Mariners

• Cal Raleigh is 8-17 (.471) with 4 HRs against Kevin Gausman in his career
• Eugenio Suarez has struck out 8 times in 24 career ABs against Gausman
• Toronto as a team is hitting .204 against Bryce Miller
• George Springer is 2-9 (.222) with both hits being HRs in his career against Miller

If youâ€re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonightâ€s Game 5 between the Blue Jays and the Mariners

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Fridayâ€s game between the Blue Jays and the Mariners:

• Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
• Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Seattle Mariners at +1.5.
• Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC Sports.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

• Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
• Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
• Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
• Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

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Colt Knost, the former PGA Tour pro turned CBS Golf analyst and radio/podcast host, turned heads earlier this week when he revealed that, after 18 years as a professional golfer, he had applied to regain his amateur status from the United States Golf Association.

Two decades ago, Knost was an elite amateur; in 2007, he joined Bobby Jones and Jay Sigel as the only players to win three USGA titles in the same year. (In Knost’s case, those wins came at the U.S. Amateur Public Links, the U.S. Amateur and, as part of a team effort, the Walker Cup.) For five weeks that year, Knost held the top spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking before making his first start as a professional at the Valero Texas Open.

Knost joined the PGA Tour in 2009 and went on to notch nine top-10 finishes in his career and more than $4 million in earnings. He played his last full-schedule season in 2015-16 and retired from competitive golf following a missed cut at the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open. Two years later, he joined CBS as a full-time analyst.

When Knost, who now is 40, announced his desire to regain his amateur status, he said his decision was partly motivated by wanting to qualify for the U.S. Mid-Amateur, but that no one should be under the illusion that his game still packs the punch that it did when he was in peak form. On Wednesday, on Knost’s Sirius XM show, Knost added that he also has dreams of one day captaining a U.S. Walker Cup team, and that being an amateur “would probably help” his chances. None of that rationale, however, is likely to assuage critics of Knost’s (or, for that matter, any other longtime pro’s) move back to amateurism, some of whom have been popping off on social media.

“Total bullsh-t,” John Ziegler, a two-time U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifier who hosts The Death of Journalism podcast, wrote on X. “You were a pga tour pro. Now, on a lark you want to take a coveted spot away in a USGA championship from an actual amateur. … You should know better and should be ashamed.”

Should he, though?

The rules permit changes of heart, and Knost is far from the first high-level pro to return to his amateur roots. Gary Nicklaus, Jack’s son, did it in 2007. Dillard Pruitt was another; after a decade-long PGA Tour run in the 1980s and 90s, Pruitt was granted reinstatement and promptly won the Sunnehanna Amateur and Canadian Amateur. John Peterson, a former pro who finished 4th at the 2013 U.S. Open, also has returned to paycheck-less golf. At this year’s U.S. Mid-Am, six of the eight quarterfinalists — including eventual winner Brandon Holtz — were former pros, indicating the top shelf of amateur golf is littered with players who once played for cash.

“We’re seeing more and more kids turn professional and give it a go,” Thomas Pagel, the USGA’s chief governance officer, said on Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio this week. “Therefore we’re seeing more and more applications coming back to us. Once you have success and once you get one of those cards, man, it’s really, really hard to keep it.”

According to the USGA, roughly 800 U.S.-based pros — including not only tour professionals but also the club and teaching variety — annually apply for reinstatement, and virtually all are approved. Which isn’t to say every candidate zooms back to the amateur ranks. Far from it. On Thursday, I spoke with Craig Winter, the USGA’s senior director, Rules of Golf and amateur status, to better understand how the process works.

How do pros apply for amateur reinstatement?

Pros who want their amateur status back need only answer a couple of dozen questions on an application available on the USGA’s website; the application fee is $200.

Among the information candidates must supply are the names of any tours on which they have competed, their results, cuts made and prize money won. The app also asks for “two people who can attest to the accuracy of the information provided.”

“The more somebody puts into an application, the less we have to do research ourselves,” Winter said. “And frankly, the less back and forth there is when the application matches what we see in public records. It’s a simpler process for us.”

Winter said the review process for a player of Knost’s pedigree is more rigorous.

“We’re trying to make sure that our decisions, especially with that type of a player, is as like as it can be to others,” he said. “And so we’re trying to get a full understanding of what the playing record was.”

Who makes up the applicant pool?

Applicants run the gamut from established tour pros to dreamers who never made it to teachers who ply their trade at clubs and driving ranges. Few applicants have had sustained success at a high level, Winter said, but those who have should expect a longer waiting period before they are granted reinstatement.

There’s no precise formula, because how could there be?

“We try to look at players that have that have had success and try to put them kind of in similar buckets,” Winter said. “Like being treated alike is probably the best way to put it.”

Tell us more about these waiting periods!

The minimum waiting period for a pro seeking reinstatement is six months from their last “professional action,” meaning, for example, a tournament start or a paid lesson. But for more decorated tour pros, the “cooling-off” period, as Winter phrased it, can take years.

“The more success you have, the more that you would be asked to wait from whenever your last breach was,” Winter said, referring to breaches of the rules of amateur status (i.e, competing as a pro, accepting a prize that is not permitted or holding a teaching job). “And the weight that we put on that is — it’s hard to just kind of put into words, specifically, but if you’ve played on a major tour and had membership, you’re going to wait quite a bit longer than someone who played mini-tour golf and won cash prizes or prizes above a thousand dollars, the limit in the current rules.

Phil Mickelson calls this golf-etiquette breach a ‘huge problem.’ Is it?

By:

Josh Sens

“We’ve had players that have waited eight years before, and that’s, again, from the date of the last breach. I think what often is a lightning rod for the public out there is when they hear somebody applied and they got reinstated right away. That kind of misses the facts of, well, when was the last time they breached the rules? And it may have been quite some time ago. I think in Colt’s case it’s been quite a while.”

It has, indeed — more than five years since his last start as a pro, meaning when the USGA rules on Knost’s reinstatement, he’s unlikely to have more than another year or two tacked on to his waiting period.

Has a pro ever been denied reinstatement?

No!

At least not as far as Winter can tell.

“We’ve done some looking and never seen anything to that effect in in our museum archives,” he said.

If everyone gets approved, why bother with the review process at all?

Take it away, Mr. Winter!

“Well, we want to have a process by which we can look, compare and ultimately have some system in place [by which], as I mentioned before, like situations are treated alike; we feel there’s value in that. The player coming off the PGA Tour and jumping right back into amateur golf, we don’t feel like that’s the right thing for the amateur game. So there is a waiting period that acts as a cooling off of sorts for players of that caliber, and it does help in in a way protect the amateurs that have been lifelong amateurs.

“And to say that we’ll let everybody in isn’t quite accurate. There would be a lot of players that could apply that would be told no. Those that are close to that edge, they are waiting a long time. Eight years is a long time to not be able to play an amateur golf competition after you ultimately hang up the professional golfing life.”

What would happen if, say, Scottie Scheffler, wanted his amateur status back?

Scheffler falls into what the USGA calls its “national prominence category” — in other words, players of repute. For pros in this class, the governing body’s decision is easy.

“I am very confident that Scottie, should he choose to apply or someone in his situation, he would receive a phone call that would say, ‘Scottie, unfortunately you do fit the national prominence category,’” Winter said. “‘And that means you’re not eligible to get your reinstatement back.’”

Finally..something most golfers can do that Scheffler can’t!

A dominant effort from yet another Dodgers†starting pitcher and just enough timely hitting has the Dodgers on the brink of a return trip to the World Series.

Tyler Glasnow allowed one run and just three hits over 5.2 innings as the Dodgers won Game 3 against the Brewers, 3-1. Tommy Edman and Mookie Betts each drove in a run but the story as it was in Games 1 and 2 was about the Dodgers†hurlers. This was more of a collaborative effort than the previous two games, but it was again dominant, nonetheless. Glasnow and four relievers allowed four hits while striking out 12 in putting the Dodgers on the brink of a sweep of the team with the best regular season record in the National League.

The freight train that is the Los Angeles Dodgers is now 8-1 this postseason (13-1 dating back into the regular season). Milwaukee has yet to announce who will start Game 4 for them. Los Angeles will send Shohei Ohtani to the bump with an eye on punching their ticket to the World Series.

Lets dive into the matchup and the numbers and perhaps find a sweat or two.

Weâ€ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Brewers at Dodgers – NLCS Game 4

• Date: Friday, October 17, 2025
• Time: 8:38PM EST
• Site: Dodger Stadium
• City: Los Angeles, CA
• Network/Streaming: TBS

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Brewers at the Dodgers – NLCS Game 4

The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:

• Moneyline: Milwaukee Brewers (+162), Los Angeles Dodgers (-200)
• Spread: Dodgers -1.5 (+109)
• Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Dodgers – NLCS Game 4

• Pitching matchup for October 17, 2025: TBD vs. Shohei Ohtani
  • Brewers: TBD
    Last outing: Its not like Milwaukee pitchers have struggled in this series. LA is hitting just .267 through three games.
  • Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani
    Last outing: 10/4 at Philadelphia – 6IP, 3ER, 3H, 1BB, 9Ks
    Ohtani got knocked around in Philadelphia after not allowing a run in the previous 14.2 innings

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Dodgers – NLCS Game 4

• Mookie Betts is 11-37 (.297) this postseason
• Enrique Hernandez is 11-32 (.344) this postseason
• Teoscar Hernandez leads the Dodgers with 23 Total Bases this postseason
• Brice Turang is 1-12 this series
• Christian Yelich is 1-11 this series
• Andrew Vaughn is 0-10 this series
• Jackson Chourio is 1-11 this series

If youâ€re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonightâ€s NLCS Game 4 between the Brewers and the Dodgers

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Fridayâ€s game between the Brewers and the Dodgers:

• Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
• Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Milwaukee Brewers at +1.5.
• Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC Sports.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

• Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
• Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
• Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
• Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

Source link

After dominating performances from Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the first two games of the National League Championship series, the Dodgers and the Brewers have flown west for at least Games 3 and 4 at Chavez Ravine with Los Angeles in control of the series leading two games to none.

Pat Murphy is undecided or at least has yet to announce who his starting pitcher will be tonight. The Dodgers will send Tyler Glasnow to the bump.

Snell and Yamamoto combined in Games 1 and 2 to pitch 17 innings, giving up just one run, four hits, and one home run while striking out 17 Milwaukee Brewers. The consecutive starts of at least eight innings in a postseason series by Snell and Yamamoto were the first since Madison Bumgarner and Tim Lincecum did it for the San Francisco Giants in the 2010 World Series.

Obviously, the Brewers need to find a way to get their offense on track if they are to climb back into this series. They have just five hits and have scored just two runs through two games. Jackson Chourio is the sparkplug for the Brewers†offense. He did go yard against Yamamoto to lead off Game 2, but he is just 1-7 in the series after going 8-18 against the Cubs in the Division series. The obvious statement is Milwaukee needs Chourio and his mates to reach base early and often tonight before Glasnow can gain his footing.

Lets dive into Game 3 of the NLCS matchup between the Brewers and the Dodgers and find a sweat or two.

Weâ€ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Brewers at Dodgers – NLCS Game 3

• Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025
• Time: 6:08PM EST
• Site: Dodger Stadium
• City: Los Angeles, CA
• Network/Streaming: TBS

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Brewers at the Dodgers – NLCS Game 3

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

• Moneyline: Brewers (+163), Dodgers (-201)
• Spread: Dodgers -1.5 (+104)
• Total: 7.5 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Dodgers – NLCS Game 3

• Pitching matchup for October 16, 2025: TBD vs. Tyler Glasnow
  • Brewers: TBD
    Pitching has not been the issue for the Brewers as Milwaukee hurlers have allowed seven runs over the first two games of the NLCS
  • Dodgers: Tyler Glasnow (4-3, 3.19 ERA)
    Last outing: 10/9 vs. Philadelphia – 6IP, 0ER, 2H, 3BB, 8Ks
    Glasnow has yet to allow a run in 7.2 innings of work in his first two postseason appearances this season

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Dodgers – NLCS Game 3

• Christian Yelich is 0-13 over the last 4 games of the playoffs
• William Contreras is 0-7 in this series and 1-16 over the last 4 games of the playoffs
• Shohei Ohtani is 1-16 over his last 4 games and 2-25 over his last 6
• Teoscar Hernandez is 10-34 in the playoffs this season including 4 HRs
• Freddie Freeman is 3-10 in this series

If youâ€re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonightâ€s Game 3 between the Brewers and the Dodgers

Rotoworld Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursdayâ€s game between the Brewers and the Dodgers:

• Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
• Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Milwaukee Brewers at +1.5.
• Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page fromNBC

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While some of the panelists will give Tennessee an interim head coaching bump, let’s remember rookie quarterback Cam Ward may not have his top wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who’s battling a hamstring injury.Â

Don’t fall for the boost of a new coach in this spot. In an effort to get Mike Vrabel a win over the team he led for six seasons, the Patriots will likely play spirited ball as well. They cover back-to-back road spreads.

Take the points—particularly in games that you’re getting between a touchdown (+6) to 8.5 points—at least once a week. In a season filled with the parity the NFL has been longing for, one touchdown-ish favorites aren’t just failing to cover but they’re also losing outright since Week 2 (see: PHI in Week 6, LAR and ARI in Week 5, LAC in Week 4 and GB in Week 3).Â

The Patriots are on a winning streak. Three straight victories and three straight ATS over the last three weeks. But this is Super-Maye and the Pats’ third straight road game and, in case you missed it, the Titans are the first NFL team to fire its head coach this season.

Give me that fired-up, new-coach boost over Vrabel’s former team narrative. Don’t be surprised if the Titans pull an outright upset—the Pats aren’t fullythere yet—and even if they don’t, this number at home bodes well for Tennessee. NFL teams are 6-3 ATS the week after a coach firing since 2022.

Patriots:Davenport, Moton

Titans:Gagnon, Hanford, Knox, O’Donnell, Sobleski

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Weâ€re less than a week away from regular season NBA basketball!

The 2025-26 NBA season tips off on NBC and Peacock with a doubleheader on October 21, as the Lakers face the Warriors and the Rockets face the Thunder.

As we navigate the final week of the preseason, the Rotoworld crew got together to host a 12-team, 9-category mock draft with some of the best and brightest minds in the fantasy basketball industry.

Your one-stop-shop for Rotoworldâ€s fantasy basketball draft coverage.

Here are the analysts who participated and the Draft Order:

1. Zak Hanshew – Rotoworld

2. Nick Shlain – Rotoworld

3. Josh Lloyd – Basketball Monster

4. Eric Samulski – Rotoworld

5. Dan Besbris – Old Man Squad Sports Network

6. Raphiell Johnson – Rotoworld

7. George Bissell – Rotoworld

8. Alex Barutha – Rotowire

9. Dan Titus – Yahoo! Sports

10. Noah Rubin – Rotoworld

11. Adam King – Fantasy Basketball International

12. Papi Roi – Fantasy Basketball Philippines Podcast

Below are the results of our draft with some thoughts and analysis. Why did I take Wemby over Jokic? Which picks were surprising in each round? How early did Cooper Flagg get selected? And which late-round pick did I make to prompt Raphielle Johnson to tell me he hated me?

If you want to watch the entire draft shake out, you can check it out here.

Round 1

1. Victor Wembanyama (SAS – C)

2. Nikola Jokić (DEN – C)

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC – PG)

4. Luka DonÄić (LAL – PG,SG)

5. Anthony Edwards (MIN – PG,SG)

6. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL – PF,C)

7. Anthony Davis (DAL – PF,C)

8. Cade Cunningham (DET – PG,SG)

9. Devin Booker (PHX – PG,SG)

10. James Harden (LAC – PG,SG)

11. Trae Young (ATL – PG)

12. Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK – PF,C)

Thereâ€s a two or three-man debate for the top overall pick in fantasy hoops this season. Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama are the clear top options, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander working his way into the mix.

I went Wemby here, banking on upside rather than consistency and floor with Jokic. Wembanyama has yet to stay healthy for a full season, and heâ€s not as effective as Jokic as a facilitator. Weâ€ve probably seen the best of Joker after last seasonâ€s triple-double average, but the best is yet to come for Wembanyama.

There were a couple of surprises in the first round, as Ant-Man went right after SGA and Luka. Cade Cunningham was a big riser after a breakout 2024-25 campaign, and James Hardenâ€s inclusion in the top-10 highlights his lasting impact on the game so late into his career.

As Raphielle mentioned during the draft, picking in the 5-7 range is particularly difficult, but he was able to get a steal with Giannis at No. 6 after Edwards surprisingly went one pick before that.

Round 2

1. Amen Thompson (HOU – PG,SG,SF)

2. Tyrese Maxey (PHI – PG)

3. Stephen Curry (GSW – PG)

4. Donovan Mitchell (CLE – PG,SG)

5. Kevin Durant (HOU – SF,PF)

6. Jalen Johnson (ATL – SF,PF)

7. Evan Mobley (CLE – PF,C)

8. Domantas Sabonis (SAC – C)

9. Josh Giddey (CHI – PG,SG)

10. Alperen Sengun (HOU – C)

11. Jalen Brunson (NYK – PG)

12. Jalen Williams (OKC – SF,PF)

Thompson is perhaps the biggest riser in 2025-26 fantasy drafts compared to where he was selected in 2024-25. Last season, Thompson was an afterthought in the realm of fantasy hoops, but heâ€s now a consensus first or second-rounder.

Jalen Johnson is another guy fantasy managers hope can replicate his breakout success from a season ago. Ditto Josh Giddey, who was written off after his final season in OKC but found new life with the Bulls.

Is Alperen Sengun ready to take a leap in 2025-26? He was tremendous a season ago, and he looked even better at EuroBasket. Grabbing him at the end of the second round could prove to be a big-time value if he continues to ascend.

Round 3

1. Paolo Banchero (ORL – PF,C)

2. Scottie Barnes (TOR – SG,SF,PF)

3. LaMelo Ball (CHA – PG,SG)

4. Pascal Siakam (IND – PF,C)

5. Derrick White (BOS – PG,SG)

6. Jamal Murray (DEN – PG,SG)

7. Dyson Daniels (ATL – PG,SG,SF)

8. Chet Holmgren (OKC – PF,C)

9. Bam Adebayo (MIA – PF,C)

10. Cooper Flagg (DAL – SF)

11. Kristaps Porziņģis (ATL – PF,C)

12. Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM – PF,C)

I grabbed Jalen Williams at the end of the second round and paired him with Paolo Banchero at the turn. As Noah pointed out in the draft, Bancheroâ€s lack of defensive stats will be offset by Williams and Wemby. Iâ€m a big fan of Bancheroâ€s, and he could be in for a monster season. He was trending up in a big way before getting hurt last season, and a fully healthy campaign could be monstrous. I love his dual eligibility as a PF and C.

The third round is where things started to get pretty interesting. No surprises in Scottie Barnes and LaMelo Ball. Raphielle played it safe with Jamal Murray, whoâ€s been a steady, yet unremarkable contributor throughout his career. Dyson Daniels and Derrick White have rocketed up draft boards thanks to elite production (Daniels) and increased opportunity (White). Porzingis here is a dice roll given his health, but heâ€s been a great per-game contributor when available.

The first rookie came off the board as Noah got his guy in Cooper Flagg. How high can Flagg rise in fantasy hoops this season? He should see a ton of playing time, and he offers elite production on both ends of the floor.

Round 4

1. Deâ€Aaron Fox (SAS – PG,SG)

2. Austin Reaves (LAL – PG,SG)

3. Franz Wagner (ORL – SF,PF)

4. Ja Morant (MEM – PG)

5. Deni Avdija (POR – SF,PF)

6. Jaylen Brown (BOS – SG,SF)

7. Trey Murphy III (NOP – SF,PF)

8. Kawhi Leonard (LAC – SF,PF)

9. LeBron James (LAL – SF,PF)

10. Coby White (CHI – PG,SG)

11. Ivica Zubac (LAC – C)

12. Joel Embiid (PHI – C)

Deâ€Aaron Fox is certainly a gamble here, as heâ€ll be sidelined to open up the season due to a hamstring injury.

LeBron James will miss the first season-opener of his career, so Austin Reaves could be in line for a massive bump in usage. Reaves went seven picks before James in this draft, which is the most fascinating tidbit of the fourth round. Is James†sciatica going to limit him in Year 23?

Coby White this early is too rich for my blood, especially with Josh Giddey running point guard. Ivica Zubac is another guy I wouldnâ€t be comfortable taking in this range due to LAâ€s offseason roster moves.

I rolled the dice once again with the final pick of this round …

Round 5

1. Zion Williamson (NOP – SF,PF)

2. Desmond Bane (ORL – SG,SF)

3. Myles Turner (MIL – C)

4. Jalen Duren (DET – C)

5. Jimmy Butler III (GSW – SF,PF)

6. Darius Garland (CLE – PG)

7. Nikola VuÄević (CHI – C)

8. Brandon Miller (CHA – SF,PF)

9. Jarrett Allen (CLE – C)

10. Lauri Markkanen (UTA – SF,PF)

11. OG Anunoby (NYK – SF,PF)

12. Payton Pritchard (BOS – PG)

Iâ€m usually opposed to drafting Joel Embiid at all, but getting him at Pick 48 was just way too good to pass up. He missed a ton of time last season and struggled to post elite numbers when on the court. Heâ€s been ramping up activity recently and could be available for the season-opener. When at his best, Embiid is a 30/10/5 guy who can shoot threes and block shots. Thatâ€s incredible value with a huge question mark.

Next up is another injury-prone player, Zion Williamson. Williamson has gotten in better shape during the offseason, and his elite skillset could make him another incredible value. I could have a league-winning pair in Rounds 4-5, or I could have my IL spots filled up quickly. Go big, or go home!

Myles Turner feels like a great value here, but taking Jalen Duren is a bit risky given Detroitâ€s depth. The round wrapped up without too many surprises. Payton Pritchard is a huge riser given Bostonâ€s shallow depth at multiple positions. Will he be a starter or push for 30 minutes off the bench?

Round 6

1. Immanuel Quickley (TOR – PG,SG)

2. Jordan Poole (NOP – PG,SG)

3. Brandon Ingram (TOR – SG,SF,PF)

4. Miles Bridges (CHA – SF,PF)

5. Zach LaVine (SAC – PG,SG)

6. Walker Kessler (UTA – C)

7. Michael Porter Jr. (BKN – SF,PF)

8. Deandre Ayton (LAL – C)

9. DeMar DeRozan (SAC – SF)

10. Jakob Poeltl (TOR – C)

11. Josh Hart (NYK – SG,SF,PF)

12. Cam Thomas (BKN – SG,SF)

A pair of Raptors went off the board here, as Immanuel Quickley will look to put together a fully-healthy season and stuff the stat sheet on a nightly basis. Brandon Ingram could return to form, especially if Toronto utilizes him more as an outside threat.

Several centers went in this round, and Jakob Poeltl is one of my favorite later-round options at the position.

A pair of Nets also came off the board, as Michael Porter Jr. went at Pick 7, and I grabbed my man Cam Thomas at Pick 12. He should be playing for pride and his next contract, giving an added boost to an already promising outlook. Assuming he can stay healthy in 2025-26, Iâ€m counting on Thomas to build on the breakout he had at the end of the 2023-24 season and into the 2024-25 campaign.

Round 7

1. Shaedon Sharpe (POR – SG,SF)

2. Julius Randle (MIN – PF,C)

3. Ausar Thompson (DET – SF,PF)

4. Christian Braun (DEN – SG,SF)

5. Andrew Nembhard (IND – PG,SG)

6. Paul George (PHI – SG,SF,PF)

7. Jalen Green (PHX – PG,SG)

8. Alex Sarr (WAS – C)

9. Rudy Gobert (MIN – C)

10. Donovan Clingan (POR – C)

11. Norman Powell (MIA – SG,SF)

12. Mikal Bridges (NYK – SF,PF)

I was short on guards, so I nabbed Shaedon Sharpe with the first pick of Round 7. Heâ€s been getting a ton of praise from coaches and teammates, and a breakout season could be on tap.

Not too many surprises in this round, other than Alex Sarr. He had a strong rookie campaign, and Washingtonâ€s center depth is thinner than it was a season ago. Is he ready for a breakout, or is a sophomore slump going to disappoint fantasy managers?

Paul George wasnâ€t great last season when on the court, but thereâ€s only one way to go from here, right? Getting him so late in a draft should offset the injury risk.

Ausar Thompson was selected with the third pick. Like his twin Amen (drafted in the second round), heâ€s a player pegged for a potential breakout.

Round 8

1. Matas Buzelis (CHI – SF,PF)

2. Kevin Porter Jr. (MIL – PG,SG)

3. Onyeka Okongwu (ATL – C)

4. Cameron Johnson (DEN – SF,PF)

5. Mark Williams (PHX – C)

6. Kelâ€el Ware (MIA – PF,C)

7. Bennedict Mathurin (IND – SG,SF)

8. John Collins (LAC – PF,C)

9. Santi Aldama (MEM – PF,C)

10. Tyler Herro (MIA – PG,SG)

11. Anfernee Simons (BOS – PG,SG)

12. CJ McCollum (WAS – PG,SG)

Hereâ€s where we started seeing some swings, but there was a ton of potential value in Round 8. Matas Buzelis is a risk/reward option who has become an analyst favorite in the offseason.

Mark Williams and Tyler Herro could be excellent values, but availability is a major concern, given their current injuries and Williams†extensive history of missing time.

Kelâ€el Ware has had a phenomenal preseason, but can he parlay that success into an elite regular season run? Benedict Mathurin should see a ton of playing time in 2025-26, but can he provide more than just points?

Round 9

1. Jalen Suggs (ORL – PG)

2. RJ Barrett (TOR – SF,PF)

3. Toumani Camara (POR – SF,PF)

4. Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC – C)

5. Devin Vassell (SAS – SG,SF)

6. Draymond Green (GSW – PF,C)

7. Jaden Ivey (DET – PG,SG)

8. Reed Sheppard (HOU – PG,SG)

9. Tari Eason (HOU – SF,PF)

10. Zach Edey (MEM – C)

11. Bradley Beal (LAC – SG,SF)

12. Nic Claxton (BKN – C)

I needed a player with PG eligibility, so I took McCollum in Round 8 and Suggs in Round 9. Iâ€m not thrilled with either selection, but both should see enough usage to provide value in this range.

Draymond Green, Jaden Ivey, Reed Sheppard, and RJ Barrett are some of the least exciting selections here. You know what youâ€re getting with Green, but itâ€s not a ton at this point in his career. Still, you canâ€t find a triple-double threat this late in drafts anywhere else. Ivey, Sheppard and Barrett are big risks given uncertain roles for the first two and questions about Barrettâ€s production outside of scoring.

Round 10

1. Dereck Lively II (DAL – C)

2. Cason Wallace (OKC – PG,SG)

3. Brandin Podziemski (GSW – PG,SG)

4. Naz Reid (MIN – PF,C)

5. Keyonte George (UTA – PG,SG)

6. Jaden McDaniels (MIN – SF,PF)

7. Keegan Murray (SAC – SF,PF)

8. Andrew Wiggins (MIA – SG,SF)

9. Dâ€Angelo Russell (DAL – PG)

10. Tobias Harris (DET – PF)

11. Jrue Holiday (POR – PG,SG)

12. Kyshawn George (WAS – SG,SF)

Weâ€re really into big swing territory here. Dâ€Angelo Russell could be a huge value as Dallas†de facto starting PG until Kyrie Irving returns. Tobias Harris and Jrue Holiday have offered elite production over the years, and even in the autumn of their careers, they should certainly offer enough here to be worth a late-round selection.

Round 11

1. Ace Bailey (UTA – SF)

2. Aaron Gordon (DEN – PF,C)

3. Herbert Jones (NOP – SF,PF)

4. Bobby Portis (MIL – PF,C)

5. Donte DiVincenzo (MIN – PG,SG)

6. Jaylen Wells (MEM – SG,SF)

7. Jayson Tatum (BOS – SF,PF)

8. Stephon Castle (SAS – PG,SG)

9. Aaron Nesmith (IND – SF)

10. Isaiah Jackson (IND – C)

11. Scoot Henderson (POR – PG)

12. Jabari Smith Jr. (HOU – PF,C)

I selected Kyshawn George at the end of Round 10. Heâ€s one of my guys for the 2025-26 season, and Iâ€m expecting strong, two-way production. Ace Bailey is another guy who has impressed in the preseason. Strong play and plenty of opportunities for the rebuilding Jazz give him tremendous upside.

The most notable pick of this round is Jayson Tatum, who has said that he wants to try playing this season. Even if heâ€s able to take the court for a few games, heâ€ll be sitting in one of your IL spots all season until he maybe returns.

Round 12

1. Davion Mitchell (MIA – PG)

2. Khris Middleton (WAS – SF,PF)

3. Kyrie Irving (DAL – PG)

4. Nikola Jović (MIA – PF)

5. Collin Sexton (CHA – PG,SG)

6. Yves Missi (NOP – C)

7. VJ Edgecombe (PHI – SG)

8. Neemias Queta (BOS – PF,C)

9. Cam Whitmore (WAS – SF,PF)

10. Deâ€Andre Hunter (CLE – SF,PF)

11. Klay Thompson (DAL – SG,SF)

12. Ryan Kalkbrenner (CHA – C)

Kyrie Irving will presumably be out until at least the All-Star break. How much can he offer when he returns?

Two more rookies came off the board as VJ Edgecombe went to Raphielle, and I selected Ryan Kalkbrenner. Raphielle is high on Kalkbrenner too, and my selection here caused him to tell me he hated me. Strong words, but hey, I got my guy.

Round 13

1. Jonathan Kuminga (GSW – SF,PF)

2. Malik Monk (SAC – SG)

3. Chris Boucher (BOS – PF,C)

4. Adem Bona (PHI – C)

5. Kelly Oubre Jr. (PHI – SF,PF)

6. Ayo Dosunmu (CHI – SG,SF)

7. Sam Hauser (BOS – SF,PF)

8. Mitchell Robinson (NYK – C)

9. Brice Sensabaugh (UTA – SF,PF)

10. Keon Ellis (SAC – PG,SG) – Rubin

11. Dennis Schr̦der (SAC РPG,SG)

12. Dejounte Murray (NOP – PG,SG)

The final round is all about upside, and thatâ€s what I expect with Kuminga. If the Warriors are truly intent on trading him during the season, theyâ€ll have to showcase him, which means a consistent role and strong production.

Chris Boucher could end up the starting center for Boston, making him a nice pick here. Adem Bona could do the same for the 76ers if (who are we kidding – when) Embiid is forced to miss time.

Sam Hauser should see an increased role for the shorthanded Celtics, and someoneâ€s got to step up for Sacramento. Three – yes three – Kings guards went off the board here. Someoneâ€s got a reliable fantasy option, right?

Could the Knicks utilize a jumbo lineup with Karl-Anthony Towns playing alongside Mitchell Robinson? Even if Robinson comes off the bench, he should see enough playing time to be a viable option, and getting him in the final round is a tremendous value.

The draft closed out with another injured player. Dejounte Murray is an elite, multi-cat contributor, but heâ€ll have to sit in an IL spot until at least January.

My team

1. (1) Victor Wembanyama (SAS – C)

2. (24) Jalen Williams (OKC – SF,PF)

3. (25) Paolo Banchero (ORL – PF,C)

4. (48) Joel Embiid (PHI – C)

5. (49) Zion Williamson (NOP – SF,PF)

6. (72) Cam Thomas (BKN – SG,SF)

7. (73) Shaedon Sharpe (POR – SG,SF)

8. (96) CJ McCollum (WAS – PG,SG)

9. (97) Jalen Suggs (ORL – PG)

10. (120) Kyshawn George (WAS – SG,SF)

11. (121) Ace Bailey (UTA – SF)

12. (144) Ryan Kalkbrenner (CHA – C)

13. (145) Jonathan Kuminga (GSW – SF,PF)

Strengths: Defense, rebounding, FG%

Weaknesses: Three-pointers, assists, availability

I rolled the dice many times in this draft, but this team is on-brand. I love drafting for upside rather than security, and typically, Iâ€m inclined to draft younger players over veterans. There are breakout options all across my final roster, and if guys like Embiid, Williamson, Thomas and Sharpe can stay mostly healthy, this team could win many, many weeks.

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Tiger Woods had his seventh back surgery on Friday. A day later, the 15-time major champion said that he underwent a lumbar disc replacement and was already feeling the positive effects of the procedure.

“After experiencing pain and lack of mobility in my back, I consulted doctors and surgeons to have tests taken,” Woods said in a statement. “The scans determined that I had a collapsed disc in L4/L5, disc fragments and a compromised spinal canal. I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday and already know I made a good decision for my health and back.”

Woods didn’t compete on the PGA Tour this past season after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon in March. No timetable was provided for Woods’ potential return to competitive golf after his lumbar disc replacement, and several questions naturally come with Woods’ decision to have another back surgery.

Sports injury analyst and physical therapist Marty Jaramillo answered some of those questions about the procedure, the recovery and Woods’ potential return to competitive golf.

WATCH JARAMILLO’S EXPLAINER HERE:

What surgery did Tiger Woods have on his back, and why?

“Why did Tiger Woods opt for an artificial disc replacement?” Jaramillo said. “Let’s talk a little about the history and what led to that decision. Tiger suffered from multiple back injuries, multiple disc herniations, and all the subsequent surgeries to repair those disc herniations.

“He really suffered at the level of L5, S1, the lowest level, where in 2017 he opted for spinal fusion at that level, with the implant hardware on both sides to decompress the nerves, add stability and support, but there is a trade-off with the hardware. Yes, you get a decrease in pain, but you lose a little bit of mobility, specifically in rotation, sometimes up to 20 percent. It was extremely successful, and in 2019, Tiger won his fifth green jacket at the Masters.

“But like I said, the trade-off is fusion. Below it puts undue stress at the disc levels above. Now L4, L5 is in play and suffered a tremendous amount of stress and overload in subsequent years, and in 2021, he had yet his fourth microdiscectomy to help repair L4 right here now. Between the fourth microdiscectomy, then his horrific car accident and then this year with the Achilles and still trying to compete and play at a high level, that disc at L4, L5 essentially started to degenerate, develop bone spurs, start to compress the nerve endings yet again.

“Now, if he opted for a fusion which was successful, he would lose even more mobility and golf would not be even a question because he wouldn’t be able to compete and play at a high level. So, fast forward, we have this great new technology called an artificial disc. It is still hardware where they removed the old disk. And implant an artificial one. It still provides a tremendous amount of support, stability and decompresses the nerves. But the hardware does not limit motion and you need that rotation to swing a golf club at a very high level and compete at a high level. So in Tiger’s case he just didn’t have a choice and the procedure’s perfected, and he had that procedure performed this past Friday at the hospital for special surgery in New York.”

What will Tiger Woods’ recovery be?

“So for the next two weeks, Tiger will be under strict orders to do a lot of resting and strict limitations on movements like twisting and bending,” Jaramillo said. “But he’s also able to walk as much as he can tolerate. By weeks two to four, he’s implementing a very progressive lumbar stabilization program and some mobility, keeping in mind that the disc replacement surgery does have to heal. The hardware still has to fuse to the overlying and underlying bone, just like a fracture, and has to heal. But by week six to eight, he has progressed to aggressive strengthening in all planes of the golf swing and perfecting sports-specific motions.

Tiger Woods makes ‘good decision’ to have another back surgery, return is unclear

By:

Josh Schrock

“Now long term, well, any aging athlete has to have a strict regimen and be very disciplined with both maintenance and recovery of therapies. Tiger has been great at that over the years, just like LeBron, just like Tom Brady, but Tiger’s had so many surgeries, so he’s had to kinda keep resetting those recovery and maintenance protocols, but still disciplined, nevertheless. He also has to have load management. It has to be in full effect here. He’s gonna probably have to limit his total tournaments but also make smart decisions on both the climate and terrain of those tournaments.”

When will Tiger Woods be able to play competitive golf again?

While no timetable was given for Woods’ return to the PGA Tour, Jaramillo is optimistic that Woods can return soon, given how long it has been since his Achilles procedure and the expected healing time for the lumbar disc replacement.

“Tiger Woods has the potential to play in his own Hero World Challenge and the PNC Championship, both tournaments that take place in December,” Jaramillo said. “By December, he would have over eight months having recovered from his Achilles repair and close to six to eight weeks for his artificial disc replacement, both within good healing time frames, and be ready to go and also be competitive for both tournaments.”

Tiger Woods’ long-term health concern

To Jaramillo, it is not Tiger Woods’ back that is the biggest concern for prolonging his competitive career. It’s the ankle issues that have been prevalent since his car accident in 2021.

“I’m not so concerned about his back and this artificial disc,” he said. “I think it’s gonna do really great. He’s going to compete at a high level.

“My biggest concern for Tiger is his ankle following his horrific car accident,” Jaramillo said. “A couple of years after the accident, he had to have his ankle fused to help limit the pain and minimize the pain. But what does it do? With the fusion, just like in his lower back from 2017, it limits movement, and in his case, his ankle. He’s lost some rotation, which prevents him from adjusting to uneven terrains on the golf course, and it’s really plagued him. You’ve seen it in years past. Over the course of a four-day tournament he’s the limping gets worse and worse. So I really think it’s his ankle that’s gonna be the speed bump that curtails his career.”

Oct 12, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

The 2025 MLB playoffs are down to the final four teams after an action-packed division series round that saw the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners move on in thrilling Game 5s.

Now that the matchups are set — Los Angeles Dodgers-Brewers and Mariners-Toronto Blue Jays — it’s time for some (more) predictions! We asked our MLB experts to weigh in on who will reach the World Series, which players will earn league championship series MVP honors and the themes that will rule the week to come. We also had our experts explain why their initial Fall Classic picks are still in play — or where they went very wrong.

LCS previews: Blue Jays-Mariners, Dodgers-Brewers | Bracket

Jump to:ALCS | NLCS | Predictions we got right | … and wrong

ALCS

Seattle Mariners (8 votes)

In how many games:seven games (5 votes), six games (3)

MVP if Mariners win: Cal Raleigh (4), Randy Arozarena (2), Josh Naylor (1), Julio Rodriguez (1)

Who picked Seattle: Jorge Castillo, Alden Gonzalez, Paul Hembekides, Eric Karabell, Tim Keown, Kiley McDaniel, Jeff Passan, David Schoenfield

Toronto Blue Jays (6 votes)

In how many games:seven games (2 votes), six games (3), five games (1)

MVP if Blue Jays win: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (3), George Springer (1), Kevin Gausman (1), Daulton Varsho (1)

Who picked Toronto: Tristan Cockcroft, Bradford Doolittle, Tim Kurkjian, Dan Mullen, Buster Olney, Jesse Rogers

The one thing we’ll all be talking about:

How a perpetually tormented franchise is going to represent the American League in the World Series. The Mariners have played 49 seasons. They’re the only team in MLB never to make the World Series. And to advance to the American League Championship Series in such dramatic fashion only supercharges the stakes for them.

The Blue Jays, meanwhile, spend year after year in the AL East meat grinder, haven’t been to the World Series since winning it in 1993 and returned much of the roster from a team that went 74-88 last year. They’re a delightful team to watch, though, putting the ball in play, vacuuming balls on the defensive side like Pac-Man, running the bases with purpose and throwing tons of filthy splitters.

Destiny calls one of these snakebit organizations. It’s a fight decades in the making. — Jeff Passan

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

The stars in both lineups. On one side you have George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who torched the Yankees in the American League Division Series. On the other, it’s Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh. Complementary players matter in October, but stars fuel deep October runs. — Jorge Castillo

There’s so much to like about the Mariners — the powerful lineup led by Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez, good starting pitching and an effective closer, and they’re good at home — but they will start this series at such a disadvantage because of how their series played out against the Tigers. Whether Dan Wilson chooses an opener or goes with a starting pitcher on short rest or leans into Bryan Woo for his first appearance in a month, the dominoes from the ALDS Game 5 will affect the choices Seattle will have to make in this round. Meanwhile, the Jays will be relatively well-rested. — Buster Olney

It rarely comes down to one thing in baseball, but as I like the way the Blue Jays’ hitters match up against the Seattle staff, I think we’ll be harping on the importance of making contact as a standout trait for an offense in this era of strikeout hyper-inflation. This will especially be the case if the Blue Jays end up playing the Brewers in the World Series. Batting average is alive and well! — Bradford Doolittle

NLCS

Los Angeles Dodgers (9 votes)

In how many games:Seven games (1 vote), six games (4), five games (3), four games (1)

MVP if Dodgers win: Shohei Ohtani (5), Blake Snell (2), Teoscar Hernandez (1), Freddie Freeman (1)

Who picked Los Angeles: Jorge Castillo, Alden Gonzalez, Paul Hembekides, Matt Marrone, Kiley McDaniel, Buster Olney, Jeff Passan, Jesse Rogers, David Schoenfield

Milwaukee Brewers (5 votes)

In how many games:seven games (3 votes), six games (2)

MVP if Brewers win:Jackson Chourio (4), Andrew Vaughn (1)

Who picked Milwaukee: Tristan Cockcroft, Bradford Doolittle, Eric Karabell, Tim Keown, Dan Mullen

The one thing we’ll all be talking about:

How the Dodgers’ rotation doesn’t just have them on the brink of becoming the first repeat champion in a quarter century, but might make a case for the best a team has ever fielded this time of year. The foursome of Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow will continue to dominate. — Alden Gonzalez

How the big market Dodgers have tipped the economic scales in baseball will be the talk during the World Series, but for the LCS, the conversation will be about Shohei Ohtani. He’s going to get hot. Hitting .148 in the postseason so far — with 12 strikeouts to just three walks — is an outlier. That will reverse itself very soon as his struggles this postseason come to an end starting on Monday. He’s your NLCS MVP. — Jesse Rogers

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Can anyone stop the Dodgers? It’s the same question that was asked last year. The answer was no. And now Los Angeles is coming off a series in which it beat a very game Philadelphia team while posting a .557 OPS and hitting two home runs, the fewest of any division series team. The prospect of the Dodgers’ bats staying cold for an extended period of time is unlikely, regardless of what’s thrown at them.

After two rounds, the Dodgers have solved their closer issue — Roki Sasaki is the guy — but their lack of bullpen depth has been exacerbated. For a seven-game series, manager Dave Roberts needs to find at least one more reliever he can trust, or the Dodgers could find themselves in the sort of late-inning trouble that has yet to derail them. If that and the paltry offense couldn’t do the job, perhaps nothing can. — Passan

The talk of the NLCS will be the same story as in the Dodgers’ NLDS win over the Phillies: the starting pitching and their new closer.

Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow are peaking at the right time, the main reason — along with Roki Sasaki — why the Dodgers held the Phillies to a .212 average in their series (and under .200 if you ignore the Clayton Kershaw disastrous relief outing). Of course, the related talk, if they do dominate, is that this is the ultimate store-bought staff of high-end pitchers, with four free agents and Glasnow (acquired in a trade, signed to a big extension). Not a single homegrown starter. — David Schoenfield

World Series predictions we’re right about — so far

I rarely go chalk when filling out a bracket, but this year I did exactly that by seed line — picking both the Brewers and Blue Jays. Of course, those No. 1 seeds were also far less popular choices going into the postseason than the Yankees and Phillies, among others, but a second straight World Series between top seeds is still in play. — Dan Mullen

The Blue Jays easily handled the Yankees, especially at Rogers Centre. They’re rightfully the slight Vegas favorite to win this series with home-field advantage. But I picked the Mariners to win the World Series before the regular season started and again before the postseason, so I’m sticking with them. — Castillo

How the Dodgers fixed Roki Sasaki

After a disastrous MLB debut, L.A.’s new ninth-inning man has unleashed jaw-dropping stuff in October.
Jeff Passan »

The Dodgers were one bad Orion Kerkering decision away from potentially having to go back to Philadelphia and win a do-or-die game — and now, they should be everyone’s favorites. The Yankees just got beaten by a better team. — Passan

Well, obviously the Phillies found a way to “Phillies” again, so they won’t be winning, but I had the Mariners representing the AL, and they have the pitching to hold the Blue Jays relatively in check. In the NL, it’s Milwaukee’s best chance in such a long time. It may be unconventional against the behemoth Dodgers, but the Brewers have the pitching and depth. We’ll have a first-time WS champion, the Brewers. — Eric Karabell

World Series predictions gone wrong

My World Series pick (Phillies-Yankees): If I had it to do all over again, I would have picked two teams that did not lose in the LDS. Thinking back to my late-September self, I’m sure I was entranced by the veteran presence and long ball power on both the Phillies and Yankees. It did not work out. — Doolittle

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I also predicted Yankees-Phillies, a 2009 World Series rematch that failed to materialize thanks to a scorching Blue Jays lineup and a dominant showing from the Dodgers’ starting rotation. — Paul Hembekides

Before the playoffs, I predicted the Phillies would beat the Dodgers in the NLDS and go on to win the World Series. The home-field advantage wasn’t what I thought it would be for Philly, though the starters and Jhoan Duran were as good as expected: 30.1 innings, 6 earned runs for a 1.78 ERA in the series. I’ll shift my World Series winner prediction over to the Dodgers, as they were my second option from before the playoffs. — Kiley McDaniel

I had the Phillies winning the World Series, which says a lot about what it meant for the defending-champion Dodgers to get past them in the division series. They might have been the most talented in this field. — Gonzalez

Since my original pick, the Phillies, decided to play the Dodgers just as Roki Sasaki and Emmet Sheehan transformed the Dodgers’ bullpen into a formidable unit, Los Angeles seems like the obvious pick here now — and why not a West Coast World Series against the Mariners, with the shadows creeping from the mound to home plate in the late afternoon sun, and every game ending 2-1? — Tim Keown

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