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It’s time for a pair of a Game 4s in the National League Division Series after the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies avoided getting swept out of the MLB playoffs.

Will the Cubs and Phillies on Thursday force decisive Game 5s — or will the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers move on to the NLCS?

We’ve got you covered with pregame lineups and keys along with takeaways after the final out of each game.

Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers (6:08 p.m. ET)

Los Angeles leads series 2-1

Game 4 starters:Cristopher Sanchez vs. Tyler Glasnow

How the Phillies can even the series:The Phillies have the edge in the starting pitcher comparison, with Game 1 starter Sanchez, coming off a regular season in which he was one of the top five starters in baseball and an excellent outing in Game 1, going on four days of rest vs. Glasnow, who hasn’t pitched much the past two-plus weeks and battled some control issues down the stretch (and walked two of the eight batters he faced in a Game 1 relief appearance).

Thanks to Ranger Suarez’s great effort on Wednesday, the bullpen will be in good shape as well, so the path to victory is a shutdown effort from Sanchez and then the high-leverage relievers (with a better performance than they provided in Game 1). No doubt, the offensive game plan will be to get Glasnow to run up his pitch count and then get the soft underbelly of the Dodgers’ bullpen into the game earlier than Dave Roberts would like. Oh, and a Bryce Harper home run mixed in there will help as well. — David Schoenfield

Lineups

Phillies

TBD

Dodgers

TBD

Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs (9:08 p.m. ET)

Milwaukee leads series 2-1

Game 4 starters:TBD vs. TBD

How the Cubs can even the series: With their pitching leaning closer to shambles than full-go, the Cubs’ best bet to even the series is by scoring more runs than they have in any of their first six postseason games. They finally got to four runs for the first time this October — all coming in the first inning of Game 3 — then stopped there. In fact, they haven’t scored a run from the second inning on in either of the last two games. After using all their top relievers on Wednesday, there’s no guarantee they’ll be as sharp on Thursday, so a few innings with crooked numbers on the board offensively could make the difference for Chicago. — Jesse Rogers

Lineups

Brewers

TBD

Cubs

TBD

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NEW YORK — Statistically speaking, Aaron Judge had a nice day.

In Game 4 of the ALDS, he went 2-for-4 with an intentional walk. His two outs were a strikeout and a 112-mph liner smoked right at the second baseman. He made a few nice plays in the field. Judge did not send one flying to the heavens — not every day is Christmas — but it was a productive trip to the office.

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Yet he finished the evening in the same scattered fashion he has finished every year of his career. Disappointed, downtrodden, his eyes puffy and distant with the remnants of tears, his words low and tired. Once more, Judgeâ€s Yankees did not win the World Series. The “October in the Bronx†dream is dead yet again.

[Get more New York news: Yankees team feed]

And as the current face of this institution, as the living emblem of all that Yankeedom represents, as the captain forced to shoulder the 16-year championship drought, Judge was once again left to explain his clubâ€s failures on Wednesday, after a 5-2 loss to the Blue Jays ended the Yankees’ season.

“It’s tough to say right now,†Judge replied when asked whether there’s anything the Yankees were missing to get them over the hump. “I gotta review this season, kind of go through it. I might have a better answer for you.â€

The scene around Judge in the Yankees†locker room featured all the typical sights and sounds of a group understanding it will never be together again. Hugs, thank-yous, handshakes, make-sure-you-text-mes. There were fewer tears than a November goodbye but more than a September goodbye. The weepiest person in the room was Paul Goldschmidtâ€s 10-year-old son, Jake, who received consolations from what seemed like the entire Yankees roster.

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At one point, Andy Pettite strolled in, making him the only one in the room who’d won a World Series in pinstripes. Meanwhile, clubhouse attendants unfolded scores of cardboard boxes, filling them with the various bric-a-brac one finds in a clubhouse. The loud screeches of packing tape being unspooled were often louder than the humbled mumbles of Yankees players conducting postmortems with the media.

“Very disappointed,†second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. said. “Everyone in here believed that we had such a great team, and we were the team to beat. We believe so much in each other. It’s heartbreaking.”

“We didn’t do our job, didn’t finish the goal,†Judge lamented. “Had a special group in here. Lotta special players that made this year fun. But didn’t get the ultimate prize.”

That ultimate prize, a World Series championship, continues to elude and define Judge. Even though he ended all doubts about his postseason fortitude with that unforgettable swing in Game 3, he knows the expectations that come with wearing the pinstripes. He is already, far and away, the greatest Yankee of all time without a ring.

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He did his best Wednesday, delivering a commendable performance that also served to reinforce baseballâ€s limitations in legacy creation. This sport, more than any other, restricts the myth of the lone hero. Itâ€s in the gameâ€s DNA, both frustrating and beautiful. One player can dominate, inspire, ignite, but he cannot do it all alone. Every at-bat is a solitary experience, but the end result is a collaboration.

And while the outcome of Game 4 was compelling, the game itself was not, especially compared to the thrill ride that transpired the night before. This contest was much quieter, a slow burning away of the Yankees†season, a gradual realization in the Jays dugout that the Bronx dragon would be slayed. But while the evening was light on drama, this result will linger sourly in New York and stand the test of time in Toronto.

“The ending’s the worst, right?†Yankees manager Aaron Boone commiserated afterward.

Aaron Judge did his part, but the Yankees came up short in the ALDS against the Blue Jays. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

(Al Bello via Getty Images)

The beginning wasnâ€t so good, either. The game started with the Jays striking quickly against Yankees rookie Cam Schlittler, fresh off that magnificent wild-card performance last week against Boston. Toronto plated a single run in the top of the first courtesy of — who else? — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. With a runner on second, Torontoâ€s top bat sliced a liner over the first-base bag for an RBI knock. New York punched back in the third with a solo home run from nine-hole hitter Ryan McMahon, a glove-first veteran acquired at the deadline from the baseball backwater that is Denver.

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The Jays retook a one-run lead in the fifth on a pair of singles and a sac fly. Meanwhile, a carousel of Toronto relievers continued to silence the Yankees†bats. Then Toronto broke it open in the seventh, the crucial moment a brutal error from Chisholm. A soft one-hopper that wouldâ€ve been a double play caromed off the heel of his glove and trickled into the outfield. A few batters later, outfielder Nathan Lukes shot an elevated Devin Williams fastball into center for a two-RBI single.

That was, effectively, the ballgame. The Jays added a run in the eighth to stretch their lead to four. New York threatened in the bottom of that frame, loading the bases with two outs to bring the tying run to the dish in Austin Wells. He flew out weakly on the first pitch of his at-bat to end the threat. Judge clobbered one off the wall in the ninth, an RBI single that trimmed the lead to three, but the game never seriously felt within reach for the Yankees.

“I’m confident we’ll break through,†Boone asserted afterward. “I have been every year, and I believe in so many of the people in that room. That hasn’t changed. The fire hasn’t changed. It’s hard to win the World Series. Been chasing it all my life.â€

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And as Boone well knows, he canâ€t do it alone. Nobody can, not even the greatest hitter on the planet. Both Aarons are likely to be back next season — Boone, when asked, stated that heâ€s under contract and expects to return as manager — to do it all over again. Theyâ€ll have as good a shot as anybody else. The Yankees wield enormous financial might and boast a formidable pitching rotation. They also have Judge, a player so brilliant he makes anything seem possible.

Even winning a World Series.

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Wednesday’s 5-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 4 of the American League Division Series means the New York Yankees have gone 16 years since winning the World Series, which is quite the drought for a franchise with 27 championship rings.

But manager Aaron Boone believes the next breakthrough is still ahead.

“I’m confident we’ll break through,” he told reporters (5:35 mark). “I have been every year. And I believe in so many of the people in that room. That hasn’t changed. The fire hasn’t changed. It’s hard to win a World Series.”

Boone’s longevity is notable at this point, as the 2025 campaign was eighth as the Yankees manager. It is a span that includes seven playoff appearances and a spot in last year’s World Series, but he is yet to lead the team to a championship.

That raises natural questions about his future given the championship-or-bust nature of the Yankees as a franchise, but he believes he will still be there in 2026.

“No, I’m under contract,” he said when asked if he had reason to think he won’t return next season (6:10 mark). “So, no, I don’t expect anything.”

The Yankees surely had no plans of losing in the American League Division Series, especially after winning 94 games during the regular season. That was the same amount of wins they had in 2024 when they reached the World Series but fell short against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But the future is still bright, especially since their starting rotation next season could feature Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil and Cam Schlittler, among valuable depth options.

That will be difficult to beat if a lineup with Aaron Judge leading the way puts up enough runs.

It’s likely of little solace to Yankees fans following another postseason loss Wednesday, but there is a reason Boone is still confident.

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Roman Reigns is scheduled for a huge matchup at WWE Survivor Series 2025.

Reigns returned last week on WWE RAW, confronting Reed and Breakker. This week, WWE confirmed that he will compete against Bronson Reed at WWE Crown Jewel in Perth.

Following his match at WWE Crown Jewel, recent reports indicate that WWE plans to have the Reigns compete at WWE Survivor Series in a WarGames match in San Diego. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that a potential singles match between Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins is not expected soon.

He said WWE seems to be building toward a match between them, possibly at WWE WrestleMania 42. “Thereâ€s no Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins match before, at the earliest, January, and I doubt January because theyâ€ll both be in the Royal Rumble. I think itâ€s probably WrestleMania, just as a guess.â€

Meltzer confirmed that Roman Reigns is set for WWE Survivor Series 2025 “Heâ€s [Reigns] definitely doing the San Diego show, but heâ€s not in a singles match in San Diego. Heâ€s in the WarGames…you know, unless they change.†[H/T: 411mania]

Mondayâ€s episode of RAW kicked off with Reigns and Reed confronting each other in the ring. After some trash talk to each other, Paul Heyman suggested the pair should face off in an Australian Street Fight. Reigns accepted the stipulation, then said Heyman and Reed were acting like “a couple of bitches.â€

WWE Crown Jewel is set to take place on October 11, 2025, from the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. The card is as follows:

• WWE Crown Jewel Championship: Cody Rhodes (SmackDownâ€s Undisputed WWE Champion) vs. Seth Rollins (Rawâ€s World Heavyweight Champion)
• WWE Womenâ€s Crown Jewel Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (Rawâ€s Womenâ€s World Champion) vs. Tiffany Stratton (SmackDownâ€s WWE Womenâ€s Champion)
• John Cena vs. AJ Styles
• Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY vs. The Kabuki Warriors
• Australian Street Fight: Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Re

Read More: CM Punk References AEW Star During WWE RAW Promo

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TNA Wrestling proved a real point and sent a dangerous message at ShowDown.

WWE NXTâ€s October 7 episode was a special ShowDown event, which was a major crossover between NXT and TNA Wrestling. The night was promoted as a battle of brands, and the event carried the energy of an invasion storyline, even if they had to change that event name.

The main event was a Menâ€s Survivor Series-style match that saw NXTâ€s Ricky Saints, Trick Williams, Jeâ€Von Evans, and Myles Borne take on TNAâ€s Mike Santana, Frankie Kazarian, Moose, and Leon Slater. Joe Hendry served as the special guest referee, adding even more intrigue to the contest.

Frankie Kazarian was able to take out Myles Borne early on, which gave TNA an advantage. Then Jeâ€Von Evans was eliminated by Leon Slater to make it 4 on 2 as they went to another commercial break.

The match continued until Trick Williams walked off on Ricky Saints, leaving him to fend for himself. The former Ricky Starks was alone with the rest of the TNA team, and things didnâ€t look good for him. Suddenly, he was able to get a pin on Frankie Kazarian to take him out of the match.

Leon Slater jumped on Saints after that, but the NXT Champion didnâ€t lay down. Then Saints was able to pin Slater as he turned a splash into a pin while he got his knees up. Moose jumped in next, but Saints fought him off the best he could. Saints kept taking all the abuse he could from Moose as Joe Hendry served as referee. Moose tagged in Mike Santana after that to continue the abuse on Saints. They continued and Moose accidentally speared Santana for a near fall, and then Moose nailed Saints with a powerbomb before Santana hit a Spin The Block to take out Ricky Saints for good and win the match for TNA Wrestling.

We will have to see what is next for TNA Wrestling and NXTâ€s relationship. This ShowDown event was certainly a special night for pro wrestling.

Whatâ€s your take on the ShowDown event, and how it all turned out? Do you think that they should have booked it better? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

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SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

NXT TV RESULTS
OCTOBER 7, 2025
ORLANDO, FLA. AT CAPITOL WRESTLING CENTER
LIVE ON CW NETWORK
REPORT BY KELLY WELLS, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

NXT Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T

Ring Announcer: Mike Rome

Backstage Correspondent(s): Sarah Schreiber

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST

-The show opened with a hype video promising a once-in-a-lifetime showdown. Video clips were shown of the major players in tonight’s matches, with much of the footage coming from last week’s show that set this up. The two men’s teams were shown arriving, and Vic said that would be tonight’s main event. The women’s teams were shown arriving also.

(1) THE HARDY BOYZ (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy) (TNA Tag Team Champions) vs. DARKSTATE (Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin) (w/Cutler James & Saquon Shugars) (NXT Tag Team Champions) – Champions vs. Champions, winner takes all

DarkState tried to swarm, but the Hardy Boyz cleared the ring of them. Referee Adrian Butler sent James & Shugars to the back. The bell sounded and Jeff faced off with Lennox. In the audience, Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley were shown, as members of both companies’ hall of fame. Jeff controlled Lennox and made a couple of early covers, but Lennox made a tag and Griffin grounded Jeff with basic power stuff. Griffin missed a standing leg drop and Matt tagged in. Matt fought off Griffin in a corner, but got caught on a charge. He set up a twist of fate but Lennox had made the blind tag and he grounded Jeff. The match went to commercial with no split-screen. [c]

Lennox was still dominating Jeff upon return. He went with some ground & pound followed by a splash. He tagged Griffin, who kept it up with some kicks, then a choke over the second rope. Lennox tagged in and laid out Jeff with a big DDT for two. The hot audience chanted for the Hardy Boyz. Griffin hit a big elbow for two. Lennox tagged in as the heat sequence reached five minutes. Jeff finally fought free of the would-be double team and hit the whisper in the wind on both men. He leaped for the hot tag. Matt hit a bunch of rights, a side effect on Lennox, and a spike DDT on Griffin. He battered Lennox in a corner, and the Hardyz teamed up for the Plot Twist for two. “This is awesome” chant.

DarkState hit a big spinebuster on Matt, then set up a Doomsday Device. Matt wriggled free in a very awkward spot, but the guys saved it without injury. Matt put down Lennox with a Twist of Fate. Jeff tagged in and immediately hit the Swanton Bomb for the win and the titles.

WINNERS: The Hardy Boyz at 10:43.

(Wells’s Analysis: No real surprise, as this was clearly set up to allow the Hardy Boyz to win another tag title they’ve never won before. DarkState really could have used the win as while they’re champions, the jury is still out on them, but between history – and the fact that TNA had yet to win an NXT Championship while NXT has repeatedly won TNA Championships, this outcome was inevitable. The match was okay, and was set up for the Hardy Boyz to play their greatest hits)

-Vic promoted the women’s Survivor Series match, up next. [c]

-While he didn’t mention their relationship, Vic was clearly jazzed to introduce TNA ring announcer McKenzie Mitchell (his wife, formerly of NXT).

(2) TEAM NXT (Jacy Jayne & Sol Ruca & Lola Vice & Jaida Parker) vs. TEAM TNA (Kelani Jordan & Mara Sade & The Iinspiration (Cassie Lee & Jessie McKay) – Survivor Series Style Match with Jordynne Grace as Special Referee

After Parker was introduced, she and Vice did Parker’s litte entrance dance together, and when Ruca got there, the three did hers, too. They were less excited about joining Jayne, but they did so.

Jayne and Jordan – the captains – started the match and went to quick mat reversals and near-falls. After a few shots neither could land, Vice tagged herself in, to the annoyance of Jayne. Jordan held Vice in an arm wringer and the Iinspiration made two tags, grounded Vice, and did a pose to cheers. Santino Marella and Carlos Silva watched on a monitor in a room somewhere in the CWC. Parker and Sade tagged in. Parker and Vice did a stereo hip attack on Sade. Sade threw some rights, then hit a neckbreaker and covered for two. Parker and Sade got chippy, and Grace tried to get control, but then she told them to just go ahead and fight. It was pier eight for a moment and all women got some shine as action spilled out to the ramp side. Ruca hit a plancha to the outside on all four TNA women, and the NXT team jumped up and down together excitedly, totally giving in to being a team for one week that will likely be ignored soon when it’s time to just be faces and heels again, and the match went to commercial, again with no split-screen. [c]

Cassie Lee had Sol Ruca grounded, and Mara Sade tagged in to keep it up. The audience was doing the wave for some reason. Sade hit a knee drop on Ruca for two, then tagged each member of the Iinspiration, but Ruca hit them with a double suplex as they attempted to suplex her. Jordan and Jayne each tagged in, and Jayne played a babyface house of fire, which was…a strange decision. She hit a cannonball on Jordan in a corner, then a senton from the second buckle for two. Jordan hit a split-legged stunner and both Parker and Sade tagged in. Lee and McKay made tags again and Parker beat them both down and stacked them in the corner for the teardrop. She missed in the corner on Sade, who hit a reverse x-factor. Sade went up and completely missed a moonsault by overshooting Parker. Yikes. Parker hit a falcon arrow and got a near-fall, broken up by Ruca. Yet again, every woman got involved and hit impact moves. Parker laid out a bunch of TNA women, but Sade rolled her up for three. Immediately afterward, Ruca came in and hit the Sol Snatcher to eliminate Sade. I’m guessing the formula of TNA getting some quick rollups and NXT getting pins via finishers will continue. [c]

First elimination: Parker by Sade at 12:37

Second elimination: Sade by Ruca at 13:05

McKay & Jayne were going at it evenly. McKay got dumped but Lee quickly got her back to the ring. Vice made a hot tag and hit impact kicks on all of TNA. Vice hit Jordan and McKay with repeated hips in the corners, and Lee reentered. Vice finished off Lee with a backfist, and then finished McKay with a submission, with Jordan able to break it up but electing not to.

Third and fourth: The Iinspiration by Lola Vice at 19:00 and 19:24

Jordan hit the split-legged moonsault and had the visual pin on Jayne, but Grace was hung up with the Iinspiration and she didn’t get the pin. Jordan did, however, roll up Vice for the pin shortly after. McKenzie Mitchell said “The winners of the match, team – ” but thankfully caught herself at the last moment.

Fifth elimination: Vice by Jordan at 21:19

Fans chanted “traitor” at Jordan. She fought both women, but eventually got hit with a Sol Snatcher. Jayne tagged herself in and stole the pin.

Sixth elimination: Jordan by Jayne at 23:12.

WINNERS: Jacy Jayne & Sol Ruca at 23:12.

(Wells’s Analysis: Jayne continues to be a big priority for whatever reason. Vice got plenty of shine, scoring two eliminations, but didn’t get to survive; however, her elimination came at the hands of someone who’s actually NXT, so it’s not like she took a fall to TNA. The only NXT star to take a fall to TNA was Parker, and it was a flash rollup that did her in. Fun action through most of this, but Mara Sade’s completely missed moonsault and McKenzie Mitchell nearly calling the winner too early might reinforce the stereotypes that some WWE fans feel about most any other company)

-Mustafa Ali and Ethan Page separately walked through the back ahead of their match. [c]

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When “Full Swing” debuted on Netflix in 2023, the series was the first of its kind in pro golf, offering an in-depth, insider look at some of the game’s most famous names and the intricacies of their competitive and personal lives.

The series was released at an opportune time, too — the golf world had recently split into PGA Tour and LIV Golf silos, and tensions were high. Viewership numbers reflected fans’ intense interest in the emerging power struggles between the two tours and their stars.

And according to Sports Business Journal’s Josh Carpenter, there’s more to come, with a fourth season reportedly on the way. “Sources anticipate a six-episode season,” Carpenter said on X. The first two seasons of “Full Swing” had eight episodes, while the third season had six.

Details on what will be covered in Season 4 have yet to be announced, but there’s plenty of fodder to work with, from Rory McIlroy’s redemptive win at the Masters to clinch the career Grand Slam to Scottie Scheffler’s six-win season. Netflix cameras were also rolling at the recent Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where Keegan Bradley captained the U.S. team to a 15-13 loss to the Europeans. Bradley’s storyline is another likely focal point, as his gutted reaction to being left off the 2023 Ryder Cup team in Rome remains one of “Full Swing’s” most memorable moments.

A release date for Season 4 has not yet been announced, but if it follows the cadence of the previous three seasons, viewers can expect the episodes to drop sometime in February or March next year.

In the meantime, you can catch up on some previous season episode recaps here.

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview series, “A Round With,†debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Quinn Priester has experienced postseason baseball at Wrigley Field before, only from a much different perspective than the one heâ€s about to have.

Priester grew up in the Chicago area and was in Wrigley Fieldâ€s stands for Game 5 of the 2016 World Series. The 25-year-old right-hander will be back at Wrigley for Game 3 as he continues his breakthrough season by trying to pitch the Brewers into the NL Championship Series.

“I was in the last row in the nosebleeds,†Priester said about that 2016 experience. “My mom and I had our backs against the chain-link fence up there drinking hot chocolate because it was late October in Chicago and it was freezing.â€

Priester watched the Cubs beat Cleveland 3-2 that night to begin their rally from a 3-1 series deficit that earned them their first World Series title since 1908. Now he wants to make sure the Cubs donâ€t start a similar comeback.Milwaukee carries a 2-0 lead into Game 3 of this best-of-5 NL Division Series.

This start will mark Priesterâ€s postseason debut. Jameson Taillon is starting for the Cubs.

Priester went 13-3 with a 3.32 ERA during the regular season while winning 12 straight decisions at one point. According to Sportradar, that was the longest streak within a single year by any pitcher since Gerrit Cole won 16 consecutive decisions for Houston in 2019.

Until the Cincinnati Reds beat Priester 3-1 on Sept. 26, the Brewers had won 19 straight games in which Priester had pitched. That stretch included 16 starts and three appearances in which he had followed an opener.

“Heâ€s been sensational for us,†Brewers manager Pat Murphy said.

The Brewers needed starting pitching due to multiple injuries on April 7 when they acquired Priester from the Boston Red Sox for minor league outfielder Yophery Rodriguez, the 33rd pick in the 2025 draft and minor league pitcher John Holobetz.

Priester, the 18th overall selection in the 2018 draft, had a 6-9 record and 6.23 ERA in 21 career appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Red Sox at the time of the trade.

“I had followed him for years,†Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said. “Obviously when guys come up to the big leagues, especially as pitchers, they donâ€t always have success immediately, but we thought there were some really good ingredients there.â€

Priester quickly warmed up to the idea of pitching in Milwaukee.

“I was really surprised,†Priester said. “I felt like I was kind of in the mix for the rotation in Boston. I certainly felt like I had a shot at it. When I did get traded, I was super excited for the opportunity. Being close to home was super exciting for me and my fiancée, being able to see family. And obviously, being in Pittsburgh, every year, youâ€d see how well the Brewers seemed to play.â€

Priester wasnâ€t as familiar at the time with the Brewers†reputation for getting the best out of pitchers who hadnâ€t encountered much success before arriving in Milwaukee. Heâ€d develop into the latest example.

The turning point came against the team he next faces.

Priester gave up seven runs over 4 1/3 innings in a 10-0 loss to the Cubs on May 2, raising his ERA to 5.79. That immediately followed a start in which he allowed five runs over five innings in a 6-5 loss at St. Louis.

“That was the kind of the moment when I felt things needed to change,†Priester said. “What I was doing, itâ€s not like I wasnâ€t trying, but what I was trying just wasnâ€t working. And so I started to write some things down every day, came in with some goals, talked to all of our guys, started to go about the lineups a little bit differently.â€

Priester pitched 24 more times the rest of the regular season and allowed more than three runs in just two of those appearances.

“The Cubs blistered this guy, and he wanted to continue pitching and his competitive nature came out, and actually the last couple innings of that outing he was pretty darned effective,†Murphy said. “I think that failure, if you will, for him, like, launched him into open ears, ‘OK, how do I figure this out?†And we got the best version of him because of his competitive nature, and we got the best version of him going forward, and itâ€s been miraculous.â€

Priester added a cutter this year that he now throws about 20% of the time to complement his sinker and slider, while he abandoned his four-seam fastball. Priester averages less than one strikeout per inning, but he has a knack for inducing ground balls and weak contact while working quickly.

He understands the raucous atmosphere heâ€s going to encounter. When Priester was in the stands for that 2016 World Series game, Priester recalled how “Kris Bryant hit a homer and I thought the stadium was going to collapse.â€

But he also enters this game with the confidence that comes from spending the last few months living up to all the expectations that accompanied his draft selection.

“I think it was just kind of a ticking time bomb waiting for a year like this to happen for him,†Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick said. “Iâ€m super happy we got him when we did because I just kind of knew it was coming for him.â€

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IND vs AUS: On Tuesday, Cricket Australia announced the squads that will take on India in the ODI and T20I series later this month. Australia have included several first-choice players, but two key men, Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell, were missing from their ODI and T20I squads, respectively.

India are currently hosting the West Indies in a two-match Test series, which will conclude next week. Soon after, the players will embark on a white-ball tour of Australia, which comprises three ODIs and five T20Is.

When will India vs Australia ODI series start?

The India tour of Australia will begin on October 19 with the ODI series and conclude on November 8 with the T20Is.

For India, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will return to international cricket with the ODIs against Australia, but Hardik Pandya is out of the entire tour due to injury.

Australiaâ€s ODI side is boosted by the return of Mitchell Starc, who was rested from the ODI series against South Africa at home, which Australia lost.

IND vs AUS: Why is Pat Cummins not picked for ODI series against India?

Australiaâ€s ODI squad against India includes both Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, but skipper Pat Cummins is missing because he is recovering from a back injury—a lumbar bone stress in his lower back—that he sustained on the tour of the West Indies.

In Cummins†absence, T20I captain Mitchell Marsh will lead Australia in ODIs as well against India.

Cummins is targeting his international return with the home Ashes series, which commences on November 21.

Chief selector George Bailey said earlier, “He [Cummins] had a little bit of ongoing back soreness as part of that, and [the scan] just identified a little bit of lumbar bone stress. I think the focus for him has and will continue to be just preparation for that [Ashes] Test series.â€

The other major player missing for Australia from the T20I series against India is Maxwell, who is retired from ODIs but is keen to play next yearâ€s T20 World Cup.

IND vs AUS: Why is Glenn Maxwell not picked for T20I series against India?

Glenn Maxwell is ruled out of the T20I series against India due to a fractured right wrist, which he suffered during the nets on the tour of New Zealand last month. Maxwell was hit on his wrist while bowling in the nets by a straight drive from Mitchell Owen in Mount Maunganui.

He is expected to be fit in time for the Big Bash League in December.

Australia are coming off a 2-0 T20I series win in New Zealand, while India won the Asia Cup last month, winning all their matches. Indiaâ€s last ODI series was the ICC Champions Trophy in February-March, which they won in an unbeaten campaign.

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MILWAUKEE — Pete Crow-Armstrong crashing into the center-field wall as Jackson Chourioâ€s three-run homer rattled off the batterâ€s eye in center field felt awfully symbolic. In terms of both the game and the season for the Cubs.

As a roar began to swell from the American Family Field crowd, much like in Game 1 of the NLDS, the Brewers were running away with it. But Chourioâ€s home run on Monday in Game 2 was not only a dagger in the Cubs†7-3 loss to Milwaukee. It also had the feeling of being a dagger in this series and the Cubs†hopes for October, with the Brewers pushing Chicago to the brink of elimination.

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“I ruined the game,†Cubs starter Shota Imanaga said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry after allowing two homers in just 2 2/3 innings as Chicago fell into an 0-2 hole. “Thereâ€s a lot of frustration within myself.â€

The Cubs had every reason to look at Game 2 as a must-win contest. They needed to slow Milwaukeeâ€s momentum in the series and create some of their own going into Game 3 on Wednesday at Wrigley Field. And after they got just two outs from starter Matthew Boyd in Game 1, they needed a strong start from Imanaga to do that.

Handed a three-run lead thanks to a first-inning blast from Seiya Suzuki before he even took the mound, things were set up for the Cubs†southpaw to thrive. Instead, after he struck out the first two Milwaukee batters, things quickly began to unravel. Back-to-back singles from William Contreras and Christian Yelich set the table for Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn, whose towering, three-run blast instantly erased the Cubs†lead.

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“I was just trying to keep the momentum going, have a team at-bat there,†Vaughn said postgame. “I was able to hit a pitch I could drive, and definitely a big moment there, and the momentum swing — that was huge.â€

With the early lead gone, that swing felt like the beginning of the end for the Cubs†lefty.

More bad outcomes for Imanaga came in the third inning, thanks to Brewers catcher William Contreras. The 27-year-old took a 91-mph fastball from Imanaga and deposited it into the second deck to break the tie and give Milwaukee a 4-3 lead it wouldnâ€t relinquish.

The long ball has been the Achilles†heel all year for Imanaga, who finished the regular season with a 3.73 ERA in 144 â…” innings. In fact, Mondayâ€s outing marked the 11th consecutive start in which he has allowed a home run. Across that span, he has surrendered a total of 18 homers, including the pair in Game 2.

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“After each time [Iâ€ve given up a home run], Iâ€ve talked with the pitching coaches, just trying to figure out a way to prevent that,†Imanaga said. “Good pitches, bad pitches — I feel like I need to have confidence to throw strikes in the zone.â€

Imanaga was on the front lines of this losing battle, but the reality of the NLDS thus far is that Chicago has been completely outclassed through the first two games. Simply put, the Brewers look like the better team. Their offense looks better than the Cubs†offense. Their pitching looks better than the Cubs†pitching. Their defense looks better than the Cubs†defense. And their manager looks better than the Cubs†manager.

[Get more Chicago news: Cubs team feed]

That theme isnâ€t new in the postseason.

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Throughout the 2025 regular season, when the Cubs were good, Milwaukee found a way to be great. The Cubs went on a first-half tear, with their offense carrying them to a lead in the NL Central. But Milwaukee didnâ€t flinch, going on a 14-game winning streak in August and flying past the Cubs en route to their second consecutive division title.

And when the Cubs needed to be at their best on Monday to even the NLDS and regain some swagger before going back to Chicago, the Brewers, once again, were better all-around.

“Itâ€s our job to execute,†Crow-Armstrong said. “I know I havenâ€t done that. … I think itâ€s a pretty simple idea here. If we put more balls in play, weâ€ll probably score more runs.â€

Milwaukee isnâ€t a team known for its slugging, ranking just 22nd this season in homers. The Cubs, on the other hand, finished the season sixth in MLB in that category. Yet in the 7-3 Game 2 loss, in which all seven Brewers runs came via the long ball, Milwaukee even found a way to outshine Chicago in that category.

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“We made a couple mistakes with multiple runners on base,†Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “After getting off to a great start, those mistakes with two three-run homers — you’re not going to win playoff games giving up two three-run homers. That was just too much to overcome.â€

Indeed, the Cubs now have their backs completely against the wall as they look to bounce back against their division rivals. It will be an uphill battle. In MLB postseason history, teams that took a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five series have won the series 80 of 90 times.

With the season on the line, Chicago will send right-hander Jameson Taillon to the mound in Game 3. Taillon pitched four scoreless innings in the Cubs†series-clinching victory over San Diego, but since then, the Cubs†starting rotation hasnâ€t done them many favors.

Then again, neither has the offense. Through five postseason games, the Cubs have scored a total of 12 runs. They had four hits Monday. Through two games of the NLDS, theyâ€ve been outscored by Milwaukee 16-6.

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“We had two at-bats with runners in scoring position today,†Counsell conceded postgame. “Thatâ€s a pretty good sign weâ€re not creating enough pressure. We had one hit after the second inning.â€

Despite a somber atmosphere following what felt like a gut punch of a game, the players in the Cubs’ clubhouse still have confidence that their luck can change as the series moves to Wrigley Field.

“Bringing the game home and the fans, players, everybody moving as one unit and playing together, I think we can stack wins,†Suzuki said.

Only time will tell if that belief can turn into anything more than wishful thinking.

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“Iâ€d be a fool to be here and not think [we could come back],†Crow-Armstrong said. “Thatâ€s why weâ€re here.â€

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