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Basketball fans can get ready for the 2026-27 NBA season with a DraftKings welcome offer that gives three free months of NBA League Pass with $200 in bonus bets after a qualifying $5 wager. 

New users can use the promo to add more NBA action to their viewing lineup while getting extra bonus bets to use across eligible sports markets. The $200 bonus is distributed over 21 days.

How to claim the DraftKings NBA League Pass promo code 

1. Sign up for a new DraftKings Sportsbook account.
2. Create a DraftKings Sportsbook account by entering all required information, including name, email and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
3. Agree to DraftKings’ terms and conditions.
4. Make a deposit and opt in to the NBA League Pass promotion.
5. Spend at least $5.

2026-27 NBA Storylines to Watch

Can the New York Knicks repeat?

The defending champion New York Knicks are looking to win back-to-back titles after capturing their first NBA championship since 1973. Jalen Brunson and the returning core will face the challenge of defending the crown in a competitive league.

Giannis Antetokounmpo joins the Miami Heat

One of the biggest moves of the offseason sent Giannis to Miami, giving the Heat a new superstar centerpiece and reshaping the Eastern Conference race.

A new-look 76ers team

Jaylen Brown and LeBron James joined Philadelphia, creating a revamped contender and adding another major storyline to the upcoming season.

With the NBA season tipping off October 20, the DraftKings offer gives new users a way to pair three months of League Pass with $200 in bonus bets after a qualifying $5 wager.

What is NBA League Pass?

NBA League Pass is the NBA’s streaming subscription service, giving fans access to live out-of-market games, full-game replays and condensed replays. It’s especially useful for fans who want to follow teams outside their local broadcast market or keep up with multiple matchups throughout the season. Blackout restrictions may apply, so availability can vary by game and location.

Full DraftKings NBA League Pass promotion terms

• Get max. $200 in Bonus Bets as 8x $25 in Bonus Bets.
• Reward issued as 2x $25 in Bonus Bets every 7 days via click-to-claim for 21 days.
• Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours) after issuance.
• Get 1 promo code to redeem a 3-month NBA League Pass subscription, complimentary of DraftKings.
• Subscription auto-renews monthly at the then-current price (currently $16.99/mo); cancel anytime.

–> Get more from the Betting Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more [–>

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For Dodgers fans, a familiar voice is back on the radio airwaves in October.

Charley Steiner, the Dodgers’ longtime radio play-by-play man, is calling the team’s home playoff games this postseason on the Dodgers Radio Network, including Tuesday’s Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

His return comes after a long fight with cancer, which Steiner detailed in a feature with FOX Sports’ Tom Rinaldi.

For Steiner, calling Dodgers games was always the goal growing up in New York City.

“When I was seven years old, I wanted to be the announcer for the Brooklyn Dodgers,” Steiner said. “Without any question, that’s what I wanted to be when I grew up.”

Getting there took decades, from radio in the Big Apple to 14 years at ESPN to the Yankees’ radio booth. Then the Dodgers called, and Steiner has spent the last 22 seasons as one of their voices.

“You think about Charley Steiner’s voice; it’s just perfect,” longtime Dodgers executive Lon Rosen said. “He wanted the job, so it was an easy negotiation.”

Los Angeles Dodgers radio broadcaster Charley Steiner, photographed in 2013, is calling the Dodgers’ home playoff games on radio this postseason after a fight with cancer. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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By 2024, Steiner had spent two decades in the Dodgers’ booth, living the dream he’d chased since childhood. Then, in his mid-70s, he received news that put all of it in doubt. 

Steiner was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer.

“That’s not the kind of news you want to hear from anybody,” Steiner said. “How am I going to get through this?”

He fought through fractures in his back and he lost 50 pounds after the diagnosis.

“To wonder if he’s going to get better, how long it’s going to take him to get better,” said Rick Monday, Steiner’s longtime broadcast partner. “He’s gone through hell.”

Steiner kept his illness private until Game 4 of the 2024 World Series. During that game’s Stand Up to Cancer moment, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts honored him by holding up a sign with Steiner’s name written on it.

“I just felt that it was an opportunity for me to tell him I loved him, I’m thinking about him, and I’m praying for him,” Roberts said.

During Game 4 of the 2024 World Series’ Stand Up to Cancer moment, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts honored him by holding up a sign with Steiner’s name written on it. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Late in 2024, Steiner learned his cancer was in remission and from there, he slowly worked his way back into the booth.

“I started doing an inning here, inning there, and it wasn’t great,” Steiner said. “But I also knew if I get better, I can do this again.”

Earlier this season, on Aug. 15, against the Dodgers’ eventual NLCS opponent the Brewers, Steiner called all nine innings for the first time since his return.

“This game was the most meaningful event I had ever been associated with,” he said.

Monday felt it, too. “I turned to him right after it was over to give him a fist pump,” Monday said. “Neither one of us said a word. I knew my buddy was back.”

Steiner went on to call 10 full games over the final six weeks of the regular season. He then returned for Games 1 and 2 of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves.

“I was seven years old when I wanted to be the Dodger announcer. Now I’m 77, and I’m a Dodger announcer, accomplishing a childhood dream.”

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Bookmakers are fairly certain Caleb Williams and Lamar Jackson will be on the field Sunday. NFL Week 6 odds certainly point in that direction.

But there’s a notable difference in value to the spread among those two quarterbacks.

“What we learned the past few weeks was that the Bears don’t necessarily need Caleb out there to perform. He’s worth 3 to 3.5 points to the number,” Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said. “But I still think Lamar is closer to that 6-point value to the line for what the Ravens want to do with their offense.”

Both QBs will be on FOX airwaves Sunday, for Bears-Falcons and Ravens-Browns.

Much more on those matchups and other notable games, with sportsbook insights and a sharper play, as we dive into NFL Week 6 betting nuggets.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

NFL Rocks On FOX

On Wednesday, Williams was a full participant in practice, strengthening the opinion that he’s playing this week at Atlanta.

But interestingly, the Bears dropped from -3 to -2.5, then to -1.5, returning to the opening number. That’s after the line climbed from Bears -1.5 on Sunday to -3 on Monday morning at Caesars Sports.

The reason for the move from Bears -3 to -2.5: Falcons QB Michael Penix (ribs) also practiced Wednesday, though in limited fashion. Penix is expected to start in Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff on FOX.

As for the drop from Chicago -2.5 to -1.5: “Sharp action on the Bears +2.5,” Feazel said.

Can Caleb Williams help lead the Bears to victory in his return to play? (Getty Images)

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But the point spread isn’t really the story of this game. Caesars opened the total at 47.5 and on Wednesday evening, it was up to 51.

“The bigger story is we’ve seen a lot of action on the Over,” Feazel said, adding that sharp action landed on Over 48.5 and 49.5. “Both teams have a lot of good things going on offense, and their defenses haven’t shown up that much.

“The public is expecting a lot of points, taking the Over on straight bets and adding it to all their parlays.”

Chicago is 3-2 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS). Atlanta is 2-3 SU and ATS.

NFL Sharp Side

Professional bettor Randy McKay won on his last two picks in this space. In Week 5, he took the Giants +3.5 on the road vs. the Commanders, and New York covered in a 27-27 tie.

In NFL Week 6 odds, McKay is on Jaguars -2.5 vs. the Texans, with Jacksonville (4-1 SU/3-2 ATS) playing in London for a second straight week.

Trevor Lawrence and the Jags could have an advantage over the Texans since they’re already in London (Getty Images).

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“It’s a better situation for the Jags, staying in London and not having to travel, like Houston has to,” McKay said. “The injury report favors the Jags here, as well. I’m expecting a better effort from the Jags, after a dramatic win last week vs. the Eagles.”

Indeed, Jacksonville barely scratched out a 19-17 victory against shorthanded Philadelphia. The Jags won on Cam Little’s 57-yard field goal as time expired.

On the injury front, Texans running back David Montgomery (groin) is doubtful. Houston (1-4 SU and ATS) finally got its first win of the season last week, routing the host Titans 26-3.

   Throwback Thursday

The Seahawks spent almost half their existence in the AFC West, alongside the Broncos, from 1977-2001.

So the Week 6 Thursday night game is somewhat of a throwback. Seattle (3-2 SU/1-3-1 ATS) opened as a 2.5-point road favorite vs. Denver (3-2 SU and ATS) and moved to -3 on Monday at Caesars.

On Tuesday, the Seahawks nudged to -2.5 (-115), where the line remained Wednesday night, for Thursday’s 8:15 p.m. ET start.

Public perception of Sam Darnold hasn’t been the best lately. (Getty Images)

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“We took some sharp action on Broncos +3,” Feazel said, while noting the public betting masses also aren’t necessarily sold on the Super Bowl champion Seahawks. “Right now, we’re seeing Broncos moneyline action and Seattle spread.

“The public perception is that Sam Darnold has not looked great, and that Seattle is not the same team without Kenneth Walker III. What we’re gonna need is the Seahawks by one or two points, which is kind of a tall ask.”

NFL Rocks On FOX, Part II

In another 1 p.m. ET Sunday kickoff on FOX, it’s Ravens vs. Browns. As noted above, Jackson (ankle) is expected back after sitting out Sunday’s thrilling 30-23 overtime road win vs. the Falcons.

Cleveland (3-2 SU and ATS) went on a semi-surprising three-game win streak. But the Browns then managed just 12 points in a 17-12 road loss to the Jets last weekend.

For Ravens-Browns, Baltimore (4-1 SU/2-3 ATS) opened -3.5 at Caesars and advanced to -4.5 Monday/-5.5 early Wednesday. 

Bettors are backing Baltimore in NFL Week 6 (Getty Images).

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On Wednesday night, it was Ravens -5.

“So far, what we’re seeing is exactly what you’d expect, with Lamar playing this week and the Browns underperforming against the Jets,” Feazel said. “There’s a lot of action on the Ravens. The love affair has faded a bit with the Browns.

“People are seeing the Ravens as a free space on their moneyline parlay cards, too. There’s gonna be a big need for the Browns on Sunday.”

   Public vs. Public?

As Feazel noted last week, the public betting masses can’t get enough of Josh Allen and the Bills (4-1 SU and ATS).

“They’ve been betting Buffalo, no matter what the line is. They don’t think twice about that,” Feazel said.

The Bills’ 37-34 Monday night overtime win vs. the Rams only enhanced the public’s drive. The Bills then stayed out West for their Week 6 road game vs. the Raiders, in a 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday kickoff.

However, over four weeks, the Raiders were the only NFL team that was 4-0 ATS. And Las Vegas was nearly 4-0 SU, too, losing at home to the Chiefs 30-27 in Week 4.

That’s creating regional bias toward the Raiders among Las Vegas bettors. And that’s even after the Silver & Black got whacked 31-7 at New England last week, falling to 3-2 SU/4-1 ATS.

“There’s gonna be a lot of public action on the Bills,” Feazel said. “But one thing we’ve noticed within Nevada is that there’s a lot of public action on the Raiders.

It’s business as usual as bettors keep backing the Bills (Getty Images).

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“So I think we’ll see two-way action. There are a lot of Raiders fans liking what they see.”

Raiders bettors are mostly taking +195 on the moneyline, pulling for an outright upset, while Bills backers are laying the points. Buffalo opened -6 at Caesars, dropped to -5.5 on Tuesday morning and -4.5 on Tuesday afternoon.

“I think we’re gonna need the Bills to win and the Raiders to cover. And we’re probably gonna need the Under,” Feazel said.

Indeed, the total opened at 51.5 and is already up to 53.5, matching the highest total in NFL Week 6 odds, with the Cowboys-Packers game also at 53.5.

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Wednesday in the NFL brought updates on two quarterbacks working their way back from injury.

The Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears provided updates on their situations ahead of the weekend. Lamar Jackson is inching closer to a return for the Ravens, while Caleb Williams took a real step forward in Chicago.

Jackson was absent again from the portion of Ravens practice open to reporters, but there’s a “realistic chance” he plays Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Meanwhile, Williams was a full participant in the Bears’ Wednesday walkthrough, the clearest sign yet that he could be back under center against the Atlanta Falcons.

Here’s the latest from around the NFL on Wednesday.

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams took a real step toward returning for Sunday’s game against the Falcons, serving as a full participant in Chicago’s Wednesday walkthrough after missing the past three weeks with a hamstring injury. 

It’s a positive sign that Williams could be back on the field soon, but head coach Ben Johnson didn’t rush to say his return would come against Atlanta when asked who would start under center this week.

“It’s still fluid,” Johnson told reporters, “but I feel good about the plan that we have in place at this point.”

Williams showed progress last week, logging a limited practice and working through pregame warm-ups as he inches closer to a return.

The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner was initially expected to miss three to four games after injuring his hamstring in Week 2, and the Bears went 2-1 without him, with backups Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent each starting and picking up a win, though Bagent struggled in last week’s 31-7 loss to the Packers.

Johnson also acknowledged the tight turnaround before Chicago’s Thursday night game against the Falcons could factor into how the team handles the quarterback’s workload regardless of who starts.

“I don’t know that any of them are exactly 100% at this point of the season, so that’s something that we certainly look at,” Johnson said.

Barkley, DeVonta Smith Still Out As Offense Struggles

 

Running back Saquon Barkley and Wide Receiver DeVonta Smith both sat out again Wednesday as the Eagles opened their practice week ahead of Sunday’s game against the Panthers, both still nursing hamstring injuries. 

Barkley missed last week’s game in London after playing just four snaps against the Rams the week prior, and Smith has now missed the last two games.

Philadelphia’s offense has cratered without its two biggest weapons as the Eagles have managed just 404 total yards over those two losses.

Earlier in the week, head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters he was “hopeful” one or both could return this week. 

The need is especially urgent at running back, where backup Tank Bigsby is on injured reserve and third-stringer Will Shipley is now expected to miss multiple weeks with a foot injury suffered against the Jaguars. 

That left Philadelphia finishing that game with two practice-squad call-ups, Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele, and just 22 rushing yards on 18 carries — the team’s lowest rushing output in a game since 2015.

Barkley and Smith are far from the only Eagles players dealing with injuries as six players sat out Wednesday’s practice in total, while 11 other players were limited participants. Seven more Eagles players were listed as full participants on Wednesday’s injury report, including quarterback Jalen Hurts (calf). 

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was missing again from the open portion of Ravens’ practice Wednesday as he continues working back from the ankle injury that’s already cost him one game. 

Ravens Head Coach Jesse Minter said Wednesday that Jackson was “definitely day-to-day” adding, “To Lamar’s credit, he’s working his butt off and he’s doing everything he can to be out here.” ESPN reported Wednesday that Jackson has a “realistic chance” to play Sunday.

Jackson went down two weeks ago in a win over the Titans, sacked on the final play of the first half with a sprained left ankle. He completed 15 of 20 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns before having to leave the game. 

Tyler Huntley has stepped in his place after filling in for Jackson nearly half of last season, throwing for 201 yards and two scores and rushing for the winning touchdown in overtime of last week’s win over the Falcons. 

At 4-1, Baltimore has some margin to be careful with Jackson’s return, especially after last season’s hamstring injury lingered well past his initial comeback.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. isn’t expected to be sidelined long after exiting late against the Baltimore Ravens with a rib injury.

Since suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 1, wide receiver A.J. Brown has been on injured reserve, but his return could take place as early as Sunday. Head coach Mike Vrabel announced Wednesday that Brown has been designated to return to practice.

Brown returned to practice on Wednesday in a limited capacity as he works his way back to full strength. 

The Patriots acquired Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason for a 2028 first-round pick. The offense has had plenty of ups and downs since his injury, but both Romeo Doubs and Efton Chism III have seen steady improvements in production since.

Getting Brown back into an improving offense will be huge for Drake Maye as the Patriots push to stay competitive in the AFC playoff picture.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters on Wednesday that Michael Penix Jr. is expected to start against the Chicago Bears, barring any setbacks. Since entering the league, he has struggled to stay healthy, so avoiding missed time is a positive sign for both Penix and the Falcons.

Following Penix’s exit against the Ravens, backup quarterback Tua Tagovailoa came in and threw a game-ending interception in overtime. Before his injury, Penix was having a strong outing, throwing for 240 yards and a touchdown.

Through his first three starts this season, Penix is off to the best stretch of his career, especially impressive considering he’s returning from a season-ending knee injury. He’s completed 67.5% of his passes for 719 yards, three touchdowns, and just one interception.

Keeping Penix on the field is massive for a Falcons team competing in a wide-open NFC South. With both Atlanta and Chicago sitting at 3-2, Caleb Williams and Penix are set to face off in a must-win game for both sides.

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With FIFA’s extended 16-day international break over, club soccer roared back to the forefront over the weekend. The action didn’t disappoint, especially in Europe, where some of the game’s biggest teams and players wowed fans before the spotlight shifts to a full slate of UEFA Champions League matches midweek. 

Before those matches kick off, here’s where the world’s best clubs rank seven weeks into the 2026-27 season:

20. Bayer Leverkusen

Record: 3-1-1

Now 3-1-1 after Saturday’s stirring 4-3 triumph away to Mainz, Leverkusen is all alone in 4th in the Bundesliga.

Key Player:

(Photo by Pau Barrena/Getty Images)

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19. Lazio

Record: 5-1-0

Life is good on the blue side of Rome, with Lazio still unbeaten (4-0-1) and even on points with Serie A leaders and Scudetto holders Inter.

Key Player: 

18. Brentford

Record: 2-4-0

Like Brighton, Brentford is what the standings say they are: a Champions League qualifier on goal difference if the Premier League season ended today.

Key Player:

17. Porto

Record: 8-0-0

It’s hard to argue with an 8-0 record, which is what Porto has in Liga Portugal so far. They’ll go for a first Champions League win on Wednesday, across the Spanish border against Betis.

Key Player: 

16. Liverpool

(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

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Record: 2-3-1

The Reds’ reputation precedes them, which is why the 2025 Premier League champs are here despite a slow start to life under new Spanish boss Andoni Iraola. With just two wins from six played following Sunday’s lopsided loss to City, Liverpool is ninth in the Prem. They’ll need to rebound next weekend at fourth-place Brentford, but first must travel to Austria for a midweek Champions League date with LASK.

Key Player: 

15. Monaco

Record: 4-2-0

Monaco has rebounded from finishing seventh in France’s top flight last season to leading Ligue 1 six games into 2026-27. And they’ve done it mostly without U.S. World Cup star Folarin Balogun, who has logged just 46 minutes since missing four matches immediately before and after his transfer deadline day move to Everton collapsed at the 11th hour.

Key Player: 

14. Roma

Record: 4-2-0

Last season, Roma finished in Italy’s Top 3 for the first time in seven years. The Giallorossi occupy the same spot more than six weeks into the new Serie A campaign. Yet maintaining that position will depend on how well Paulo Dybala and his teammates manage fighting on multiple fronts; Roma hosts Real Mardid in Champions League action on Wednesday.

Key Player: 

13. Chelsea

(Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

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Record: 3-1-2

The Blues look good under first-year manager Xabi Alonso, who oversaw Chelsea’s biggest win of the season on Saturday, a 5-1 smackdown of usually plucky Bournemouth. Led by English playmakers Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers and Brazilian striker João Pedro, the London club is well-positioned to compete for a top 3 finish for the first time since 2021-22.

Key Player: 

12. Freiburg

Record: 4-1-0

In fairness, Freiburg probably could be even higher on this list. It’s no accident that they’re leading the Bundesliga ahead of both Dortmund and Bayern five matches in. The “Breisgau Brazilians” stayed unbeaten on Sunday despite playing the final 26 minutes of their 2-1 win over Schalke with 10 men.

Key Player: 

11. Real Betis

Record: 6-1-1

Real Betis is even on points in La Liga with second-place Atleti and one clear of Real Madrid in fourth, with a 6-1-1 record so far. They trounced Osasuna 5-2 on Sunday. Is Betis the real deal? We’ll find out as soon as Saturday, when the Heliopolitanos welcome table-topping Barcelona to Estadio La Cartuja in Seville.

Key Player: 

10. Brighton & Hove Albion

Record: 4-1-1

Given the hardware-laden history of some of the names on this list, Brighton looks like an outlier. But there’s no arguing with the Seagulls’ results in the notoriously unforgiving Premier League. With four wins and a tie in its first six outings, including that eyebrow-raising demolition of Arsenal, BHA is deservedly all alone in third place — ahead of regular top-six contenders like Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham.

Key Player: 

9. Real Madrid

(Photo by Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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Record: 6-0-2

With 15 European titles, global soccer’s most decorated club team has more than twice as many as any of its competitors. It’s therefore jarring to see Real clinging to the final Champions League berth in Spain, or way back in 13th place in the current league phase standings. At least the latter is deceptive: José Mourinho’s side opened this season’s European slate with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Inter. They’ll visit Roma on Wednesday, but Los Blancos’ biggest test this month is its six-pointer with La Liga-leading Barcelona on Oct. 25.

Key Player: 

8. Borussia Dortmund

Record: 4-1-0

Despite reaching the Champions League final in 2024, the Black & Yellow’s most famous achievement over the last few years has been producing global superstars Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland before selling them to Real Madrid and Manchester City, respectively. But BVB is currently tied with Freiburg for the most points in the Bundesliga — Dortmund last won the German title in 2012 — and two points clear of mighty Bayern, which they’ll visit on Halloween.

Key Player: 

 

7. Atlético Madrid

(Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

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Record: 6-1-1

Spain’s second-place team is a point clear of its cross-capital rivals Real Madrid — which it beat 2-1 on Sept. 20 — after eight La Liga games. Diego Simeone has just two losses across all competitions so far, one in its Champions League opener in Liverpool. Atléti hosts Manchester United on Tuesday in its second match of the league phase.

Key Player: 

6. Inter Milan

Record: 5-1-0

With three Serie A titles in the last six seasons, Inter has been Italy’s most dominant squad this decade. Led by Argentine striker Lauturo Martinez, the European silver medalists in 2023 and 2025 are again leading the race for the Scudetto six games into the current term. The host start could continue. The Nerazzurri play three of their next four games at the San Siro, including winnable Champions League matches this month against Belgium’s Club Brugge and Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk.

Key Player: 

5. Paris Saint-Germain

(Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images)

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Record: 3-2-1

The championship hangover has been real the second time around for the Parisians, who sit sixth in Ligue 1 after six games and wouldn’t even qualify for Europe’s top club competition if the French season ended today. They’ve still lost just once, narrowly, to league-leading Monaco early last month. Upcoming tests against Man City (on Wednesday) and Barcelona (Oct. 20) will reveal plenty about how seriously PSG will contend for a third consecutive Champions League crown.

Key Player: 

4. Bayern Munich

Record: 3-2-0

Although Harry Kane & Co. sit atop the respected Elo club rankings ahead of Arsenal and City, they’re languishing in third in Germany after five games played Bundesliga. The standings are disorienting for a club that has hoisted the silverware in 13 of the last 14 seasons, including 2025-26. Bayern has scored four or more goals in four of its last seven matches. Shooting for its first Champions League title since 2020, “FC Hollywood” next heads to the Norwegian city of Stavanger to take on Viking on Tuesday.

Key Player: 

3. Arsenal

Record: 5-0-1

Despite a shocking 3-0 loss to Brighton just before the international break began, last year’s Premier League winners and European runners-up remain near the very top of the club game. The Gunners have won the other six matches they’ve played, including Saturday’s gritty, 2-1, come-from-behind victory over Leeds in North London. They topped Napoli in Italy last month, keeping a clean sheet, and should contend for both the English and Champions League honors again in 2026-27. After losing the final to PSG on penalties last term, Arsenal’s Oct. 21 trip to German titans Bayern will be telling.

Key Player: 

2. FC Barcelona

Record: 8-0-0

Led by newly minted teenage World Cup winners Pau Cubarsí and Lamine Yamal and 30-year-old Golden Ball recipient Rodri — whom Barça signed from Manchester City following Spain’s mid-July triumph in New Jersey — the Blaugrana have started their La Liga title defense 8-0. Only goal difference separates them from PSG and Bayern Munich atop the Champions League table; Barcelona, which travels to Turkey to face Galatasaray on Tuesday, thumped Dutch power Feyenoord 5-1 in its opener.

Key Player: 

1. Manchester City

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

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Record: 6-0-0

It feels wrong to have Man City atop this list given the financial scandal that has engulfed the Abu Dhabi-backed club in recent weeks. But hey, (alleged) cheating works. While it remains to be seen if the Sky Blues will even remain in the Premier League if they lose the case again on appeal, Sunday’s 3-0 demolition of Liverpool at Anfield confirmed that City, now a perfect 6-0 to start the new Prem season, is the best team in the best domestic circuit in the world. 

Key Player: 

Enzo Maresca’s side also opened their UEFA Champions League campaign last month with a 2-0 victory away to Porto. The Cityzens host two-time defending European titlists Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday in one of the marquee contests of the first round.

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DODGER STADIUM (Los Angeles) — Milwaukee is on the verge of abolishing baseball’s Evil Empire. The Brewers are one win away from a trip to the World Series for the first time since 1982 after taking a 3-0 series lead over the Dodgers in the NLCS.

The Dodgers, backed into the smallest of corners, now face an uphill battle against a well-rounded and red-hot Brewers team that has found its rhythm and is showing no signs of slowing down. 

The Brew Crew’s season-long combination of timely hitting, strong pitching, power from unexpected places, and a merciless energy has applied pressure on the defending-champion powerhouse, leaving the Dodgers with more questions than answers. 

Milwaukee, meanwhile, looks determined to finish the job this year after coming up short against Los Angeles in last year’s NLCS. 

Here are our takeaways from the Brewers’ 6-2 win over the Dodgers in Game 3:

1. Back-To-Back HRs Did Dodgers In

(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) –>

Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers did it again. Two days after an epic 12-pitch battle against Yoshinobu Yamamoto that resulted in a walk, Bauers applied the same irritating and relentless pressure to Dodgers southpaw Blake Snell in the seventh inning of Game 3, with Milwaukee trailing Los Angeles, 2-1. 

No matter what Snell threw at the plate, Bauers wasn’t biting. He fouled off five different pitches — really, Snell’s entire arsenal — in an 11-pitch battle that finally got the best of the left-hander. Snell’s 11th pitch of the at-bat was another meatball, nearly identical to the 97 mph fastball he threw over the heart of the zone to Jackson Chourio on his first pitch of the night. 

Bauers was all over it. He launched it to right field for a go-ahead, two-run home run that gave the Brewers a 3-2 lead. The entire Brewers dugout spilled onto the field in celebration of Bauers’ first home run of the postseason, knowing it was the advantage they were hunting for against Snell all night.

But they weren’t done yet. 

Batting sixth in the order right after Bauers, Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell joined the home-run party with a solo shot to right field off Snell, padding Milwaukee’s lead to 4-2 in the seventh inning. Snell, who had not allowed a single home run across nine starts in the regular season this year, looked exasperated.

Milwaukee knew it had Snell on the ropes. Even though Snell tried to get ahead of Milwaukee’s dogged style of play by watching some of the Brewers’ press conferences leading up to his Game 3 start, the extracurricular homework served no purpose between the lines. The Brewers’ back-to-back homers deflated Dodger Stadium, and perhaps even Los Angeles’ dreams of a three-peat. — Thosar

2. Chourio Set Tone With Ambush

(Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) –>

Dodgers right-hander Blake Snell threw his first pitch in 10 days over the middle of the plate. It was a 97.6 mph meatball, begging to be crushed. Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio didn’t miss. 

The ball left Chourio’s bat at 106.1 mph and sailed toward the right-field seats, catching everyone off guard. Before fans even settled into their seats with their beverages and snacks, getting ready for a fun night at the ballpark, Chourio slugged his second home run of this postseason and gave the Brewers an instant 1-0 lead.

On the road, in a hostile Dodger Stadium environment, the young Brewers star delivered exactly the kind of statement swing Milwaukee needed to keep the pressure on the Dodgers from the jump. It was a reminder that even elite postseason pitchers — Snell entered Game 3 with a 3.23 ERA in 19 career playoff games (16 starts) — cannot afford to make mistakes in the strike zone. 

Plus, this wasn’t Chourio’s first time. 

In Game 2 of last year’s NLCS against the Dodgers, Chourio jumped on the first pitch from right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto and sent it to deep right field for yet another ambush of a home run. Chourio now owns the most postseason RBI (18) before turning 23 years old. He achieved that mark in just 19 playoff games. Andruw Jones previously held that record with 17 RBI in 45 playoff games. 

The first-pitch homer completely changed the complexion of the game. The blast Snell gave up to Chourio was the first home run he allowed all season. Snell entered his Game 3 start with the reputation of overpowering hitters. Once he gets going, he’s typically in complete control. We saw that unfold after Chourio’s solo shot. When he got into a groove in the middle innings, Snell retired 14 batters in a row at one point. 

But once again, the Brewers were just better. — Thosar

3. Will Smith, Nearly The Hero

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) –>

Before Game 3, Brewers manager Pat Murphy mentioned that he thought Dodgers catcher Will Smith had been swinging better than the statistics had shown.

The numbers were not pretty.

And Smith’s spot in the batting order reflected that.

The scuffling Dodgers catcher began the postseason 1-for-23 with a single, a walk and eight strikeouts through his first six games. He was dropped from third in the lineup in Game 1 of the NLCS to fifth in Game 2 and then down to seventh in Game 3, right behind Shohei Ohtani, whose recent struggles also saw the designated hitter sliding down the order.

“I know the numbers aren’t there,” Murphy said. “But if you do what I do, you watch the swing and you watch his approach, I think he’s looked good.”

Before the Brewers’ seventh-inning onslaught, in what could have been the swing everyone remembered from Game 3, Smith backed up what his opposing manager saw.

The Milwaukee bullpen was virtually unhittable all postseason, entering Wednesday night with a 0.31 ERA this October. But after five scoreless innings from starter Robert Gasser, Murphy’s first reliever of the night didn’t have it in Game 3.

Abner Uribe walked Teoscar Hernández and Kyle Tucker to start the sixth inning. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts then pinch-hit Max Muncy for Andy Pages, a surprising decision that reflected the urgency of the moment.

The Dodgers entered the night just 2-for-26 with runners in scoring position this postseason. Each of those two hits belonged to Pages. But Uribe appeared to be on the ropes and needed to face the three-batter minimum, so Roberts turned to the platoon advantage with a chance to strike. Instead, Muncy struck out.

But Ohtani followed with another walk to load the bases, and Smith finally came through with the hit that had eluded the Dodgers all series, electrifying the 50,708 fans in attendance with a go-ahead, two-run double.

The glee, of course, was short-lived.

Roberts sent pinch-hitter Josue De Paula to the plate for Miguel Rojas. Murphy countered with lefty DL Hall. Roberts then brought up another pinch-hitter, KIké Hernández, who struck out. Another strikeout followed from Tommy Edman, as the Dodgers’ struggles with runners in scoring position persisted.

They failed to build their lead and had emptied their bench, save for backup catcher Hunter Feduccia, to try to go all in with their chance. One inning later, their lead was gone against a relentless Brewers lineup that has countered every punch all postseason. — Kavner

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A year ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Milwaukee Brewers out of the National League Championship Series. Now the Brewers are one win away from returning the favor.

Milwaukee beat the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 3 on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium to take a 3-0 series lead.

The MLB on FOX postgame crew could hardly believe what it was watching.

“It’s hard to watch,” Alex Rodriguez said. “It reminds me of the first time I saw Mike Tyson get knocked out. You can’t believe what you’re seeing. We were in awe in the green room watching, our mouths open.”

Rodriguez turned to David Ortiz: “Papi, the Brewers, they simply melt your soul away, and they did that again tonight.”

The latest blow came from Brewers left-hander Robert Gasser, who who held the Dodgers scoreless for five innings. He allowed three hits and a walk and struck out three before DL Hall threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the win, and Trevor Megill got the final four outs for his fourth save of the postseason.

“Robert Gasser looked like he didn’t drop a sweat while he was out there facing these Dodgers,” Ortiz said. “He was locating his pitches in an incredible type of way, and he just kept coming at them, kept keeping that offense down. He did an incredible job.”

For Ortiz, Game 3 encapsulated what Milwaukee has done all season.

“This is the result of what they did all year long,” Ortiz said. “They know how to shut down an offense.”

Ortiz also singled out Jake Bauers, who has made a habit of wearing down the Dodgers’ best arms. 

In Game 2, Bauers worked a 12-pitch, bases-loaded walk against Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Then in the seventh inning on Wednesday, with Milwaukee trailing 2-1, he fouled off pitch after pitch from Blake Snell before hitting the 11th one for a go-ahead, two-run homer.

“You don’t get to watch many games of the Brewers on TV, but once you are following their steps during this playoff, you get to know how good they are,” Ortiz said. “They are deep in every category of the game: pitching, defense, speed. They battle in the at-bat.

“Those two at-bats against Yamamoto, and tonight against Snell, those are the most impressive two at-bats that I have seen probably in my whole life.”

Derek Jeter agreed, saying the most impressive part is who the Brewers are doing it against.

“They’ve been doing it all year,” Jeter said. “I think the impressive thing is, as was mentioned, they’re doing it against the Dodgers, who swept them last year. It tells a lot about the mentality they have, the resilience they have to come back and face the two-time defending world champion, disregard what happened just 12 months ago, and now you’re up 3-0.”

David Ortiz celebrates after his walk-off single in the 14th inning of Game 5 of the 2004 ALCS. His Red Sox remain the only team in MLB history to rally from a 3-0 series deficit. (Photo by Damian Strohmeyer /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

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Still, Jeter cautioned that the series isn’t over. 

Nobody knows that better than this crew. In the 2004 American League Championship Series, Ortiz’s Boston Red Sox became the only team in MLB history to come back from a 3-0 series deficit. They did it against Jeter and Rodriguez’s New York Yankees.

The Dodgers will try to start their own comeback in Game 4 on Thursday at Dodger Stadium.

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Max Muncy isn’t looking for complicated explanations.

The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday to take a 3-0 series lead. Afterward, the Dodgers third baseman gave a blunt assessment of his team’s offensive struggles to reporters.

“It’s a pretty simple answer,” Muncy said. “We’re playing like s—, they’re playing great … don’t need to overcomplicate it.”

The numbers back him up. The two-time defending World Series champions have scored seven runs in three games. They managed one run in a 2-1 loss in Game 1. In Game 2, they scored four runs in a 7-4 loss, and none of those runs came on a base hit. 

On Wednesday, the Dodgers had just five hits against four Brewers pitchers.

Milwaukee left-hander Robert Gasser held the Dodgers scoreless for five innings. Los Angeles finally broke through for two runs against reliever Abner Uribe to take a 2-1 lead, but the lead didn’t last long. 

In the seventh, Jake Bauers worked an 11-pitch at-bat against Blake Snell, who had retired 14 straight batters, and hit a go-ahead, two-run homer. Garrett Mitchell followed with a solo shot. 

The pattern has repeated all series: every time the Dodgers have scored in the last two games, the Brewers have answered in the very next inning.

DL Hall and Trevor Megill closed it out from there, combining for 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

It’s a complete 180-degree turn from a year ago, when the Dodgers swept the Brewers in the NLCS on their way to a second straight title. 

Now Los Angeles is one loss from elimination, and history is not on its side. Only one team has come back from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series: the 2004 Boston Red Sox.

The Dodgers will try to avoid getting swept at home in Game 4 on Thursday at 8:00 p.m. ET.

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If the Dodgers want to make it three straight World Series titles, they must now win four straight games against the Brewers in the NL Championship Series. 

Improbable? Yes. Impossible? No. 

Just ask someone who was an integral figure in one of MLB’s most historic comebacks.

MLB on FOX analyst David “Big Papi” Ortiz, who helped the Boston Red Sox overcome a three-game ALCS deficit in 2004 against the New York Yankees, said it’s time for the Dodgers to play like there is nothing to lose.

“It’s funny how that works, because you feel more pressure at the beginning of the series than when you are 0-and-3 because once you get there, when you hit bottom like that, it feels like you have got nothing to lose,” Ortiz said after the Brewers’ 6-2 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday night in Game 3. 

History is certainly not on the Dodgers’ side. In all best-of-seven postseason series, teams with a 3-0 lead have gone on to win the series 41 of 42 times, with 32 of those series being sweeps. Only two teams have forced a Game 7 after trailing 3-0 – and only that 2004 Red Sox squad have come all the way back to win.

So what would Ortiz tell the Dodgers about taking that first step?

“There’s no more room to go back. All you gotta do is just move forward. You hit bottom already. Let’s just let things happen. Let’s not try to get three hits in one at-bat. Let’s not try to get three outs in one pitch. Let’s go to the flow.” 

The 2004 Red Sox made history by overcoming a three-game deficit. (Photo by Damian Strohmeyer /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

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On the losing side of that 2004 clash were fellow MLB on FOX analysts Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, who added their perspectives on how the Dodgers should approach Game 4. 

“The pressure is almost off them right now. Now, they just go out and win a game,” Rodriguez said. “And how many times have the Dodgers, over the last five years, won four in a row?… But you got to start with one pitch. You got [Tyler Glasnow] now on the mound tomorrow. If you win tomorrow, you got [Tarik Skubal] in Game 5 and then you never know. 

“But it starts with the first pitch of the game, and you’re playing for your life, and you do not want the Brewers to celebrate on your field.” 

Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter after losing Game 7 in the 2004 ALCS. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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Added Jeter: “Coming into this series, no one thought Milwaukee was going to win three games in a row. But no one expected [the Yankees] to win the first three games in a row against the [Red Sox]. We thought it was going to be evenly matched. If going into that series they said ‘we’re going to go to seven games’, everyone would have believed it.

“It’s the same thing here. If you’re the Los Angeles Dodgers, you cannot take the field thinking that you’re down three games. All you have to do is win one game.”

The Dodgers actually have someone in their dugout who also played in that 2004 series. Manager Dave Roberts was Ortiz’s teammate on that 2004 Red Sox team and alluded to that comeback when asked about the Dodgers’ chances, starting with Game 4 on Thursday. 

“It’s certainly possible [to overcome a 0-3 deficit]. I’ve lived it. I think the thing is that our guys have been battle tested, as was that team I was a part of,” Roberts said after the Game 3 loss. “They know what’s at stake and, you know, we’ve won four in a row, a number of times this year …. But again, we got to win tomorrow. So that’s, that’s our only focus.”

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DODGER STADIUM (Los Angeles) — Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers stood off to the side of a frenzied Brewers clubhouse that had, as right-hander Trevor Megill said, “more reporters than players in here.” 

The small-market Brewers are not used to all this attention on them. Neither is Bauers.

With his back against a wall, wearing a cream-colored zip-up and a hunter green hat with the words “Needed This” across the front, Bauers blended into the background of the busy locker room. He wasn’t hiding from the cameras, but he also didn’t garner the kind of flashy attention that, for example, young star Jackson Chourio and team captain Christian Yelich were both dealing with at their lockers. Bauers, humble and selfless by nature, didn’t mind blending in.

Meanwhile, the entire room was talking about Bauers’ standout performance throughout the NLCS, culminating with his clutch go-ahead two-run home run off Dodgers southpaw Blake Snell in the seventh inning of the Brewers’ 6-2 win in Game 3 on Thursday night. 

From nearly walking away from baseball to becoming one of the most important players on a championship-caliber Brewers team that’s one win away from a trip to the World Series, Bauers has emerged as a leader, an inspiration and the heartbeat of Milwaukee’s clubhouse. 

“He’s always someone you can lean on and talk to,” Brewers second baseman Brice Turang told me after their win. “You look up to guys who play the game well, and play the game hard, and he always does. And even off the field, the way he treats other people is really cool. We appreciate him very much, and we let him know. He’s definitely a big part of why we’re winning games.”

Two days ago, it was difficult to imagine Bauers could top his epic 12-pitch at-bat against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2 of the NLCS. The grueling at-bat lasted seven minutes and four seconds as Bauers hung in there and battled, fouling pitch after pitch until he finally drew a walk, loaded the bases, and set up a huge inning for the Brewers. The marathon at-bat drained Yamamoto’s pitch count and helped Milwaukee knock the Dodgers ace out of the game after just 2 ⅔ innings.

“I didn’t think he could have a better at-bat than the one he had against Yamamoto,” Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick said. “And he did, somehow.”

In the seventh inning of Game 3, with the Brewers trailing the Dodgers 2-1, Bauers was back in the thick of it. He battled against Snell, fouled off his entire arsenal, and tried to exhaust him into throwing a mistake. 

“There was for sure a moment where I thought to myself like, ‘Oh, you’re in it again,'” Bauers said. “As far as the approach for the at-bat, I was looking for a fastball, and I didn’t want to miss it. I said, I’ll adjust to anything else, but get a heater, don’t miss it.”

On the 11th pitch of the at-bat, Bauers got his fastball. Snell threw it straight down the middle of the plate, over the heart of the strike zone, and Bauers got every inch of it. He launched it to right field, watched it fly, dropped his bat, and looked at his teammates in the dugout, who were losing their minds as they spilled onto the field in celebration. Bauers’ two-run home run completed Milwaukee’s comeback and gave the team a 3-2 lead. 

The 11 pitches he saw also helped Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell, who was in the on-deck circle, get an excellent read on all of Snell’s pitches. Mitchell, on the second pitch of his at-bat against Snell, slugged a solo shot to right field, demoralizing the Dodgers with back-to-back home runs in front of a hostile road environment, no less. 

“We play for each other,” Bauers said. “It’s as simple as that. Any time there’s a mistake, an error, a walk, pitchers give up runs, hitters strike out in a big spot, the only thing anybody’s thinking about is, how can I help pick that guy up and do my part to win this game? When you have 26 guys that are bought into that and believe that and show up every day, completely selfless, playing for each other, it’s a special thing to be a part of.”

Added Mitchell: “What more can you say about JB, man? He did it the day before in Game 2, and he did it again tonight. I think that just goes to show the type of player he is. It’s a selfless at-bat. He’s just trying to put the ball in play. He’s trying to move the guy over and put an incredible swing on that. For me, being able to watch that on deck was awesome. I got to go up there and put together another quality at-bat, like him.”

ALL YEAR, WHEN the Brewers needed someone to step up, Bauers became one of the first players they looked toward. But it wasn’t always this way. 

At the end of the 2024 season, after Bauers’ recorded his fifth-consecutive season as a below-league average hitter at the plate, he seriously considered retiring from baseball. Following several years of moving between organizations — Milwaukee is the fifth MLB team that Bauers has played for — and struggling to find consistency or results at the plate, the game had taken a toll on him. He started thinking about life after baseball, including spending more time at home with his family.  

Ultimately, his decision to continue playing led him back to Milwaukee, where he received another opportunity to prove himself. Finally, Bauers found some magic at the plate. Last year, he posted a 111 OPS+ in 85 games and raised his on-base percentage from .301 in 2024 to .353 in 2025. This season, he completely took off. Bauers’ career year featured a 140 OPS+ to go along with a .389 on-base percentage, 26 home runs, 86 RBI, 22 doubles, 93 runs scored and 94 walks. Those are all career highs for the 30-year-old journeyman. His turnaround is remarkable.

“I think what changed for me this year was I stopped caring about results,” Bauers said. “I started caring about competing. I started caring about being in the moment and getting out of my own way. I came into this year feeling like there was really only one person holding me back, and that was myself. So I think I just gave myself the space to believe that I could play in this league.”

Jake Bauers nearly retired two years ago. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Not only is Bauers “playing in this league,” but he’s shaping up to win the NLCS MVP. 

“I’ve grown so close with him personally and learned about his journey, and it’s just inspiring,” Frelick said. “You look at a guy who was close to retiring, or thinking about it. Now he’s leading us against a really good baseball team. It’s just a testament to his mindset, how he goes about his business. He’s a pro. 

“He understands the game more as a veteran. He helps the younger guys learn through it. You can really relate with a guy like that who’s struggled in his career, and when guys struggle here, they want to turn to a guy like that. It might be easier to turn to someone like him, versus Yeli, who’s a three-time MVP.”

Coming up clutch at Dodger Stadium is a full-circle moment for Bauers. He grew up in Southern California. As a kid, he went to his first major-league game at Dodger Stadium. He played his high school state championship game at Dodger Stadium – and his team lost. 

“Obviously, we got swept last year out at Dodger Stadium,” Bauers said earlier this week. “So not a whole lot of positive memories out at Dodger Stadium, but hoping to make some for sure.”

Jake Bauers, staying focused. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Bauers knows from experience what it’s like to fail and keep going anyway. His go-ahead two-run home run that has brought the Brewers one win away from eliminating the back-to-back defending champions can replace the old Dodger Stadium memories that have haunted him throughout his baseball journey. 

This is more than Bauers’ talent and the belief he kept that he would find it again. Without his patience, composure, confidence, production and leadership, it’s fair to question whether the Brewers would be here today: 27 outs from their first World Series appearance in 44 years. 

Sometimes, the most important players on championship teams are the ones who have had to fight the hardest to stay. 

“He’s the man,” Brewers rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt told me. “He’s gonna do all that, he’s gonna win the game for us, and it’s just another Wednesday for him. He’s a dog.”

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