Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels are nearly assured of a spot in the College Football Playoff field.
Oklahoma, which lost to Ole Miss on Saturday, Oct. 25, faces an uphill battle to make the College Football Playoff.
Utah faces Cincinnati in Week 10 in a huge game in the Big 12 Conference race.

It’s the eve of November, and we can already write one team into the College Football Playoff with a pen.

Lane Kiffin’s team has benefited from two significant breaks – an easier-than-expected schedule with the LSU, South Carolina and Florida slumping and an injury to Austn Simmons that allowed Trinidad Chambliss to become the team’s starting quarterback.

That’s in no way a criticism of Mississippi’s success. You play the hand you are dealt. And Lane Kiffin is holding all the cards at this point. Even a surprise loss wouldn’t likely knock the Rebels from the field given the warts on all the other contenders.

The loser in this week’s bowl projections is the team the Rebels beat on Saturday. Oklahoma is now fighting uphill to make the field given games at Tennessee and Alabama are effectively must-wins.

Week 10 presents more opportunities to step forward or fall out. The Sooners have that aforementioned trip to Rocky Top that could boost them or the Volunteers. Vanderbilt or Texas are going to get a huge win when the teams meet. Utah and Cincinnati have a huge game with big stakes in the Big 12 that precedes a dangerous trip for Texas Tech to Kansas State. We’ll reconvene next week to make sense of it.

Note: Legacy Pac-12 schools in other conferences will fulfill existing Pac-12 bowl agreements through the 2025 season.

LOS ANGELES — It’s getting a little absurd, isn’t it?

This shouldn’t be humanly possible.

It’s like watching Barry Bonds in his prime, Reggie Jackson in October and Albert Pujols in a St. Louis Cardinals uniform.

Shohei Ohtani is taking this World Series into his own hands, putting on a show that will never be forgotten.

Ohtani had the greatest World Series performance in Los Angeles Dodgers history Monday, hitting two home runs and two doubles, driving in three runs, scoring another three, reaching base a record nine times with four intentional walks, and then watching first baseman Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off homer in the 18th inning of the Dodgers’ 6-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of the World Series.

It was an instant classic, tied for longest game in World Series history at 18 innings.

Ohtani’s surreal performance has the Dodgers halfway to their second consecutive World Series championship.

They lead the Blue Jays 2 games to 1, with Ohtani on the mound for Game 4, playing the next two games at home, where they will attempt to clinch their first championship at Dodger Stadium since 1963.

The painful defeat taught the Blue Jays two lessons:

1. Do Not Pitch to Shohei Ohtani: And if you do, don’t throw meatballs down the middle of the plate like Blue Jays reliever Seranthony Dominguez did in the seventh inning.

2. Do Not Taunt Shohei Ohtani: If you do, well, you are going to pay the price.

It was the taunt that was heard ‘round the world on Friday night.

“We don’t need you! We don’t need you!’’

Ohtani’s wife thought it was hysterical. Blue Jays veteran pitcher Chris Bassitt was worried. Ohtani simply shrugged it off.

Maybe, next time, the Blue Jays’ fans will listen to Bassitt, who warned them:

“Don’t poke the bear.’

The Blue Jays fans, remember, were the ones laughing at Ohtani’s expense in Game 1 when they were routing the Dodgers 11-4, chanting to Ohtani in his last plate appearance:

“We don’t need you! We don’t need you!’

While Dodgers manager Dave Roberts claimed Ohtani didn’t understand the chant, his superstar acknowledged that he indeed heard it.

“I thought it was great,” Ohtani said. “My wife loves that chant so she teased me a little about it.”

Ohtani laughed, saying he hopes his wife doesn’t start saying the same chant at home.

Still, if the Blue Jays faithful though they were getting under Ohtani, guess again?

“I’m focused during my at-bats,’ Ohtani said, “so it doesn’t really bother me or anything like that.’

Apparently not.

Ohtani, who was hitting .224 this postseason in the Dodgers’ first 12 games (11-for-49) tormented the Blue Jays early and often, and was the only reason the Blue Jays didn’t win the game in regulation.

He hit a ground-rule double in his first at-bat.

He homered in the third inning.

He hit a run-scoring double off the center-field fence in the fifth inning.

He tied the game in the seventh inning with a homer.

He was intentionally walked in the eighth inning.

He was intentionally walked in the 11th inning.

He was intentionally walked in the 13th.

He was intentionally walked in the 15th.

He was walked on four pitches in the 17th.

He became the first player in World Series history to reach base nine times, and joined Frank Isbell of the 1906 Chicago White Sox as the only players in history to produce four extra-base hits in a World Series game.

Ohtani also became the first player in modern-day baseball history to produce 12 total bases in consecutive home games, with his three-homer performance in the Dodgers’ pennant-clincher against the Milwaukee Brewers.

“I do feel better at the plate recently, so in that sense, it’s been good overall,” Ohtani said Sunday. “I do everything in my power to make sure that I’m prepared as much as possible and being at the plate with the right mentality. But you have to give some credit to the other side as well.”

Well, on this night, he flipped the script, and the Blue Jays had no choice but to give him credit, intentionally walking him three times.

It set the stage for the fourth walk-off homer in Dodgers’ World Series history, and a night no Dodger fan will ever forget.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Washington Commanders 28-7 for their third consecutive win.
Patrick Mahomes threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns, joining an exclusive club with Peyton Manning.
Travis Kelce tied the Chiefs’ franchise record for career touchdowns with his 83rd score.

The Kansas City Chiefs are starting to resemble the team that’s been to five Super Bowls over the past six seasons.

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs won their third straight game, routing the Washington Commanders 28-7 on Monday night. The Chiefs scored 21 unanswered points in the second half against a Jayden Daniels-less Commanders team.

Mahomes finished the win with 299 passing yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He continued to produce on the ground, adding 30 rushing yards on four attempts.

The Chiefs improve to 5-3 and keep pace with the Chargers and Broncos in a competitive AFC West. Washington drops to 3-5 after the loss and is now 1-2 without Daniels this season.

Winners from Chiefs vs. Commanders

Patrick Mahomes joins exclusive club

Mahomes joined Hall of Famer Peyton Manning as the only players in NFL history with at least 40,000 passing yards in their first nine seasons, including playoffs.

Mahomes threw an interception on each of Kansas City’s first two drives, but the second INT wasn’t his fault.

The Chiefs’ star QB responded after the early turnovers with a touchdown drive on the team’s third possession.

Mahomes led Kansas City to three straight touchdown drives in the second half to break the game open. He went 25-of-34 passing for 299 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Finishing with a 104.9 passer rating.

Mahomes’ ability to buy extra time and extend plays with his legs was a theme throughout the win.

Rashee Rice is undoubtedly Kansas City’s No. 1 wide receiver

Three touchdowns in two weeks for Rashee Rice.

Rice found the end zone again in just his second game back from a six-game suspension. He had a team-high nine catches for 93 yards and a touchdown.

The wideout has 16 receptions, 135 receiving yards and three touchdowns in two weeks since making his 2025 debut.

Travis Kelce ties Chiefs TD record

Kareem Hunt

Chiefs offensive line

Kansas City’s O-line had a nice night without one of the best guards in the league in Trey Smith (back) and rookie left tackle Josh Simmons (personal).

Patrick Mahomes had ample time to throw and was rarely pressured. The Chiefs came into Week 8 with the ninth-best pass block win rate in the NFL, per ESPN.

Zach Ertz enters the 800 club

The Commanders’ veteran tight end joined Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, Travis Kelce, Antonio Gates and Shannon Sharpe as the only tight ends in NFL history with 800 career receptions.

Losers from Chiefs vs. Commanders

Dreadful second half for Commanders

Commanders had only two first downs in the third quarter. The fourth quarter wasn’t any better, as they moved the chains only twice in the final period. Washington was held scoreless in the second half after the game was tied 7-7 at halftime. The offense gained just 67 yards after halftime.

The Commanders’ defense did give up 21 points after halftime, but it was hard to fault the defense because their offensive teammates provided no help.

Commanders fourth-down efficiency

The Commanders went 0-2 on fourth downs. One of Washington’s failed attempts came on a virtual measurement.

Deebo Samuel

The turnover squandered what was a promising opening drive for the Commanders that would’ve given them early momentum.

However, Patrick Mahomes threw an interception on the Chiefs’ ensuing possession.

Samuel wasn’t effective. He had three catches for 11 yards and one rush for one yard in the loss.

Commanders drop third straight

The Commanders (3-5) have lost three straight games. They host the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9.

AFC West

After a 0-2 start, the Chiefs have won five of their last six games.

Kansas City has the same record as the (5-3) Los Angeles Chargers and they are one game behind the (6-2) Denver Broncos in the loss column.

The Chiefs have a 10th straight AFC West title well within their grasp.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

LOS ANGELES – The best player perhaps in the history of the game had his latest Greatest Game Ever in Game 3 of the World Series.

A Dodger legend from a different time, who reached the heights of his profession but also plumbed the depths of playoff misery, saved them in the most gut-wrenching, close-your-eyes, no-not-him fashion imaginable.

The last men on the Toronto Blue Jays’ and Dodgers’ pitching staffs were charged with pitching until tomorrow – or at least long enough for their team to score – and one of them pulled it off.

Gather all those elements, mix them in a diabolical stew only baseball could concoct and the Dodgers and Blue Jays played to a standoff into the 18th inning, until finally, Freddie Freeman saved the Dodgers, with a walk-off home run to dead center field, sending Dodger Stadium into exhausted relief and ending a 6-5 L.A. victory that equaled the longest World Series clash by inning, and second-longest by time.

This epic lasted 6 hours, 39 minutes, long enough to contain several games within the game.

Consider this one: After Shohei Ohtani’s game-tying home run in the seventh inning, the teams played more than an entire scoreless game – 10 innings of spotless relief work from both pitching staffs.

The only other World Series game longer than this came on these same grounds, same circumstances, nearly seven years to the day: World Series Game 3, lasting 7 hours, 20 minutes until Max Muncy ended it with an 18th-inning solo home run off the Boston Red Sox’s Nathan Eovaldi.

Muncy is still a Dodger, and he nearly did it again, crushing a 14th-inning pitch from Blue Jays reliever Eric Lauer just wide of the foul pole in right field. That merely delayed the Blue Jays’ execution and allowed a window for Freeman’s heroics. 

And the walk-off histrionics that followed were as much relief as release.

Sure, there’s plenty of time left in this best-of-seven donnybrook. Yet in taking a 2-1 Series lead, the Dodgers tipped the scales significantly by claiming this 50-50 game in which both teams exhausted significant pitching equity to stay in this fight.

Beyond starting pitchers Ohtani and Shane Bieber, who will be available for Game 4 some 19 hours later? Don’t ask that just yet.

No, when pitching staffs have to cover 18 innings in one game, all bets are off for the remainder of the series. Need visual proof? Yes, that was Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who threw every pitch for the Dodgers in Game 2 just two days ago, getting loose in the 17th and 18th innings. And yes, that was Shane Bieber, slated to start Game 4 later Oct. 28, doing the same for the Blue Jays.

In this stemwinder of a game, both teams took leads of multiple runs but also forged game-tying rallies in regulation, the last coming on Ohtani’s game-tying, seventh-inning home run.

His blast to left center field induced the forever baseball that followed, but it was a greater pivot point for the entire series: Ohtani may never get another pitch to hit.

The first half of Ohtani’s night: Double, home run, double, home run. That second home run came after Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker came to the mound in the seventh and held a lengthy conversation with reliever Seranthony Dominguez, likely imparting sage advice such as ‘be careful.’

And then Dominguez piped a first-pitch fastball that Ohtani destroyed for his second homer, bringing us to the second half of Ohtani’s night:

Walk, intentional walk, intentional walk, intentional walk, intentional walk, walk – the four free passes a postseason record. 

Yep, Ohtani reached base nine times in nine plate appearances, but the Dodgers could not cash him in once Toronto manager John Schneider decided to take the bat out of his hand, perhaps for good.

‘Again, man, the guy’s a great player,’ Schneider said, maintaining his upbeat mien in his postgame press conference. ‘There’s certain times where I feel like you feel like, you feel better about someone else beating you.

‘If that someone else is Mookie Betts or Freddie Freeman it still stings.’

Meanwhile, Blue Jays lefty reliever Lauer and Dodgers right-hander Will Klein — the latter most certainly the last man on the Dodgers’ playoff roster — pitched 4 ⅔ and four innings, respectively, of scoreless relief.

Incredibly, they weren’t the game’s most unlikely pitching hero. No, that honor went to a slam-dunk Hall of Famer.

Clayton Kershaw, expected to fulfill a role as long man in the bullpen and hoping perhaps for a final courtesy appearance before the home crowd at Dodger Stadium, entered the game in the gnarliest possible position: Top of the 12th, two outs, bases loaded and the Blue Jays 90 feet away from taking the lead.

Facing Nathan Lukes in a left-on-left situation, the man whose fastball once crackled in the upper 90s and whose curveball Vin Scully once dubbed “Public Enemy No. 1,” decided if he’d go down, it would be almost exclusively with the last functioning tool in his kit.

So, he threw Lukes eight sliders in nine pitches, the last inducing a soft groundball to second base, to end the inning and keep the Dodgers level.

That was just one of the Blue Jays’ points of extreme frustration in the late innings.

In the eighth, ninth, 10th, 12th and 18th innings they put the tying run in scoring position but failed to bring him home. Most aggravating: Pinch-runner Davis Schneider was thrown out at the plate after Lukes’ double in the 10th, a moment that may be rued even more once the very long winter arrives in Ontario.

Oh, we mentioned the greatest player in the game, right?

Yeah, several innings before the extra-innings drama, Ohtani set a Dodgers World Series record with 12 total bases. He’d never swing the bat again on this night, perhaps not in the final few games of this series.

But the patience was worth it. The Dodgers are halfway to a second consecutive World Series title, even if they had to work double time to get there.

Freeman won Game 1 here last year with a walk-off 10th-inning grand slam, against the New York Yankees. The Dodgers never looked back.

This smash, off Blue Jays lefty Brendon Little, may have the same effect. 

Here’s how Game 3 unfolded in Los Angeles:

Longest World Series game ever: Dodgers-Blue Jays ties the record

Brendon Little got Mookie Betts to pop out with runners on first and second to end the bottom of the 17th and send this to the 18th inning, tying the record for longest game in World Series history.

17 innings! World Series getting weirder

World Series Game 3 is going to the 17th inning at Dodger Stadium after Teoscar Hernandez brought the crowd to its feet with a long fly ball that died just short of the center field wall. Eric Lauer has now tossed 4 ⅔ scoreless innings in relief for the Blue Jays.

To the 16th: Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 5

Blue Jays lefty Eric Lauer has completed 3.2 scoreless innings, retiring Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman to end the bottom of the 15th.

Shohei Ohtani sets record with fourth intentional walk

Shohei Ohtani has set another record with four intentional walks in the game after getting a free pass from Lauer in the bottom of the 15th.

Dodgers vs Blue Jays among longest World Series games in history

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays are making history in Game 3 of the World Series, just the second time that a Fall Classic game has gone to 15 innings.

The longest game in World Series history took place in 2018, when the Dodgers beat the Boston Red Sox on Max Muncy’s home run in the 18th inning of Game 3 right here at Dodger Stadium. Prior to the 2018 record-setting affair, the longest World Series game was 14 innings, happening in 1916, 2005 and 2015.

18 innings: 2018 World Series, Game 3
15 innings: 2025 World Series, Game 3
14 innings: 2015 World Series, Game 1
14 innings: 2005 World Series, Game 3
14 innings: 1916 World Series, Game 2

Dodgers fail to win it in the 13th inning

Tommy Edman led off the bottom of the 13th with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, but the Dodgers were unable to plate the winning run, with Freddie Freeman ultimately flying out to the warning track in center field with the bases loaded.

The Dodgers are 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position tonight.

Clayton Kershaw escapes bases-loaded jam in 12th

Emmet Sheehan loaded the bases in the top of the 12th and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts brought in Clayton Kershaw to face left-hander Nathan Lukes. On the eighth pitch of the at-bat, Kershaw got Lukes to hit a soft grounder to second baseman Tommy Edman, who had to make a glove flip to Freddie Freeman for the final out.

Shohei Ohtani intentionally walked again

Braydon Fisher intentionally walked Shohei Ohtani with two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the 11th and then Mookie Betts singled, but Freddie Freeman flew out to left to strand the winning run on second.

Emmet Sheehan scoreless in the 11th

Emmet Sheehan retired the Blue Jays in order in the top of the 11th to finish off his second scoreless innings and send the game to the bottom of the frame still tied 5-5.

To the 11th: Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 5

Jeff Hoffman worked out of a jam in the bottom of the 10th, getting Tommy Edman to pop out with runners on second and third. Hoffman had hit Will Smith and gave up a single to Teoscar Hernandez

Longest MLB playoff games

Game 3, 2022 ALDS (18 innings): Astros 1, Mariners 0
Game 3, 2018 World Series (18 innings): Dodgers 3, Red Sox 2
Game 2, 2014 NLDS (18 innings): Giants 2, Nationals 1
Game 4, 2005 NLDS (18 innings): Astros 7, Braves 6
Game 6, 1986 NLCS (16 innings): Mets 7, Astros 6
Game 5, 2025 ALDS (15 innings): Mariners 3, Tigers 2
Game 2, 2022 ALWC (15 innings): Guardians 1, Rays 0
Game 5, 1999 NLCS (15 innings): Mets 4, Braves 3
Game 2, 1995 ALDS (15 innings): Yankees 7, Mariners 5
Game 1, 2015 World Series (14 innings): Royals 5, Mets 4
Game 2, 2015 ALDS (14 innings): Rangers 6, Blue Jays 4
Game 3, 2005 World Series (14 innings): White Sox 7, Astros 5
Game 5, 2004 ALCS (14 innings): Red Sox 5, Yankees 4
Game 2, 1916 World Series (14 innings): Red Sox 2, Robins (Dodgers) 1

Dodgers cut down go-ahead run in the 10tth

Davis Schneider was thrown out at the plate to the end the top of the 10th trying to score from first on Nathan Lukes’ double into the right field corner. Teoscar Hernandez got the ball to Tommy Edman, who delivered a picture-perfect relay throw to Will Smith to get Schneider.

Could not draw that up any better defensively.

What’s the most innings in a World Series game?

The Dodgers and Red Sox played an 18-inning game in the 2018 World Series, the longest in Fall Classic history.

Extra innings in World Series Game 3!

Jeff Hoffman intentionally walked Shohei Ohtani with the bases empty and one out in the bottom of the ninth, but the MVP-to-be was caught stealing second, unable to stay on the base after initially getting in ahead of the tag.

Roki Sasaki escapes top of the ninth

To the ninth: Blue Jays 5, Dodgers 5

With runners on second and third in the top of the eighth, Roki Sasaki came in to get the final out will come back on to start the top of the ninth, his first appearance in this World Series. Chris Bassitt pitched a scoreless eighth for the Blue Jays and now if the Dodgers are to notch a Game 3 win, it will be of the walk-off variety.

Shohei Ohtani home run ties Game 3 in the seventh

LOS ANGELES – Shohei Ohtani is almost singlehandedly keeping the Dodgers afloat in World Series Game 3 as it heads toward a scintillating conclusion. 

Ohtani’s second home run of the night off Blue Jays reliever Seranthony Dominguez tied the score 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium. 

It came with one out and the bases empty and trustworthy right-hander Dominguez on the mound. Just to make sure, pitching coach Pete Walker came out to consult with Dominguez and catcher Alejandro Kirk. 

The meeting had scarcely broken up when Ohtani jumped on Dominguez’s first pitch, a poorly located fastball, and directed it into the stands in left center field. 

Ohtani’s night? Double, homer, RBI double, game-tying homer. All he needs is another blast to straightaway center to baptize every corner of the Dodger Stadium outfield. 

Don’t put it past him. 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sneaks in to put Blue Jays in front

LOS ANGELES – A dribbler down the first base line, a fortuitous bounce and one of the most unlikely trips around the bases pushed the Blue Jays into the lead heading to the bottom of the seventh inning of World Series Game 3. 

Bo Bichette knocked a two-out single off Blake Treinen into foul ground, where it kicked up off the oddly-angled side wall, nearly struck a Fox Sports sound man and dribbled back toward the infield. 

And Vladimir Guerrero, the Blue Jays’ franchise player, picked up his pace and chugged home ahead of Teoscar Hernández’s throw, sliding in awkwardly just ahead of the tag to give Toronto a 5-4 lead. 

George Springer comes out with injury

George Springer, Toronto’s designated hitter and leadoff man, winced and immediately walked toward the dugout after a seventh-inning swing as he faced Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski. 

Springer, who has been playing through significant knee pain, clutched his left lower back after his swing, consulted briefly with manager John Schneider and a trainer and walked to the dugout. 

He was replaced by pinch-hitter Ty France, who struck out. 

Ohtani and Freeman tie it up for Dodgers: 4-4 through five

LOS ANGELES – This time, there were no protestations from Max Scherzer. 

No ‘No!’ screamed at his manager, John Schneider. Just vigorous head nods, a look of capitulation and a seamless handing over of the baseball as Shohei Ohtani loomed at the plate, representing the tying run.

Yet the maniacally competitive Scherzer’s bullpen could not bail him out. 

Reliever Mason Fluharty hung a two-strike sweeper that Ohtani belted into the left field corner, trimming Toronto’s lead to one run. And then Freddie Freeman hooked a single inside the first base line, sending Ohtani home clapping his hands in joy as the Dodgers tied Game 3 of the World Series 4-4 after five innings.

As crisp as Scherzer often looked during much of his outing, the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer lost any chance at staying in the game when he gave up a leadoff single to No. 8 hitter Kiké Hernández. Going to the lefty Fluharty with one out and Ohtani up made total sense. 

Yet in a game in which both clubs have held the lead, it is now knotted up as the Dodgers reach into the nether reaches of their leaky bullpen and hope to live to tell about it. 

Alejandro Kirk home run ambushes Tyler Glasnow

LOS ANGELES – The Blue Jays ambushed Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow, and perhaps changed the complexion of this entire World Series in a four-batter span. 

Alejandro Kirk spanked a Glasnow first-pitch curveball over the wall in left center field for a three-run home run, erasing a two-run deficit as the Blue Jays took a 4-2 in the fourth inning of Game 3 of the World Series. 

Kirk, their typical clean-up hitter, was moved to the No. 6 hole with the return of Bo Bichette from injury. And after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked and Bichette reached on an error from second baseman Tommy Edman, Kirk sent the next pitch over the head of a leaping Andy Pages to take the lead. 

Toronto was not done peppering Glasnow, as Addison Barger and Ernie Clement contributed consecutive singles to set up a sacrifice fly from No. 9 hitter Andrés Giménez. With Glasnow’s pitch count drifting north of 60, it also enhanced the chances the Blue Jays get a crack at the Dodgers’ struggling bullpen. 

Shohei Ohtani home run makes it 2-0 in the third

LOS ANGELES – WIth a vicious uppercut swing, Shohei Ohtani registered another body blow for the Dodgers in World Series Game 3. 

Ohtani ripped a Max Scherzer fastball skyward and into the Dodges’ bullpen in right field, their second home run in as many innings as they took a 2-0 lead after three innings of Game 3. 

While Ohtani is just 11-for-48 in these playoffs, he’s now homered in consecutive games. Despite his longball and Teoscar Hernández’s shot into the left field bullpen the previous inning, Scherzer, 41, has looked generally sharp, striking out three in three innings.

He was bailed out by right fielder Addison Barger, who threw out Freddie Freeman trying to score from second on Will Smith’s single to end the inning. 

Teoscar Hernández home run puts Dodgers in front

LOS ANGELES – For the third time in as many games of this World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers struck first. 

Teoscar Hernández ripped a Max Scherzer pitch into the Dodgers’ left field bullpen to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead after two innings. 

Hernández’s homer was his eighth over the past two postseasons for the Dodgers, who dodged a second-inning threat but have also struck out three times against Scherzer.

Max Scherzer works around Shohei Ohtani leadoff double

LOS ANGELES – Brad Paisley and Hideo Nomo exited stage right, and the Hall of Famers came out to play. 

A star-studded Game 3 of the World Series began with ear-splitting boos for Dodger nemesis George Springer, and the first inning ended with Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer stranding Shohei Ohtani on second base by striking out Will Sith on a full-count curveball. 

That rendered Ohtani’s leadoff double moot, as Mookie Betts flew out to right field, Freddie Freeman popped to third base and Scherzer, the 41-year-old who will enter Cooperstown five years after he decides to stomp around major league mounds, winning a seven-pitch battle with Smith. 

Max Scherzer makes World Series history

Across his Hall of Fame career, Max Scherzer has been part of numerous pieces of MLB history.

That laundry list will continue when he takes the bump in the bottom of the first inning at Dodger Stadium in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Los Angeles Dodgers: first pitcher in MLB history to pitch in the Fall Classic for four different franchises.

Blue Jays’ George Springer booed to start Game 3

LOS ANGELES – George Springer has spent the past six seasons enduring a cacophony of boos whenever he plays a road game, lingering fallout from his role in the 2017 Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, uncovered publicly in 2019.

Yet time, and place, and context matter so much and that’s why it hit very different – and a lot louder – Oct. 27 as Springer led off Game 3 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium.

Blue Jays lineup today

George Springer (R) DH
Nathan Lukes (L) LF
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
Bo Bichette (R) 2B
Daulton Varsho (L) CF
Alejandro Kirk (R) C
Addison Barger (L) RF
Ernie Clement (R) 3B
Andrés Giménez (L) SS

Dodgers lineup today

Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Mookie Betts (R) SS
Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
Will Smith (R) C
Max Muncy (L) 3B
Teoscar Hernández (R) RF
Tommy Edman (S) 2B
Enrique Hernández (R) LF
Andy Pages (R) CF

Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw, one last time

LOS ANGELES — “Max and I are definitely linked. We got to play together. And now I get to do this again,” says Clayton Kershaw, who was joined in the rotation by Scherzer at the 2021 trade deadline after a deal with Washington as the Dodgers won 106 games, but bowed out in the National League Championship Series.

“I think I’m too old, now. But Scherz can keep going. He’s doing great stuff, obviously. It’s fun to see us coming up together, being able to do this. It’s a lot of fun.”

For the better part of two decades, Kershaw and Scherzer were the ultimate alphas, Kershaw quietly doing a very good Sandy Koufax emulation over 18 seasons, Scherzer crafting a Mad Max persona that was backed up by utter dominance in every town he invaded. — Gabe Lacques

World Series schedule 2025

Game 1: Blue Jays 11, Dodgers 4
Game 2: Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 1
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 27 in Los Angeles – 8 p.m. ET, FOX
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 28 in Los Angeles – 8 p.m. ET, FOX
*Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 29 in Los Angeles – 8 p.m. ET, FOX
*Game 6: Friday, Oct. 31 in Toronto – 8 p.m. ET, FOX
*Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 1 in Toronto – 8 p.m. ET, FOX

Los Angeles Dodgers World Series roster

Pitchers (12): LHP Anthony Banda, LHP Jack Dreyer, RHP Tyler Glasnow, RHP Edgardo Henriquez, LHP Clayton Kershaw, RHP Will Klein, RHP Roki Sasaki, RHP Emmet Sheehan, LHP Blake Snell, RHP Blake Treinen, LHP Justin Wrobleski, RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Position, two-way players (14): SS Mookie Betts, OF Alex Call, OF Justin Dean, INF/OF Tommy Edman, 1B Freddie Freeman, INF/OF Kiké Hernández, OF Teoscar Hernández, INF/OF Hyeseong Kim, 3B Max Muncy, DH/P Shohei Ohtani, OF Andy Pages, INF Miguel Rojas, C Ben Rortvedt, C Will Smith.

Toronto Blue Jays World Series roster

Pitchers (12): RHP Chris Bassitt, RHP Shane Bieber, RHP Seranthony Dominguez, RHP Braydon Fisher, LHP Mason Fluharty, RHP Kevin Gausman, RHP Jeff Hoffman, LHP Eric Lauer, LHP Brendon Little, RHP Max Scherzer, RHP Louis Varland, RHP Trey Yesavage.

Position players (14): C Tyler Heineman, C Alejandro Kirk, INF/OF Addison Barger, INF Bo Bichette, INF Ernie Clement, INF Ty France, INF Andrés Giménez, INF Vladimir Guerrero Jr., INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa, OF Nathan Lukes, OF Davis Schneider, OF George Springer, OF Myles Straw, OF Daulton Varsho.

World Series umpires for Game 3

Home plate: Mark Wegner (crew chief)
First base: Alan Porter
Second base: Adam Hamari
Third base: Jordan Baker
Left field: Will Little
Right field: Adrian Johnson
Reserve: John Tumpane

World Series national anthem for Game 3

On Oct. 27, country singer Brad Paisley will perform the national anthem at the 2025 World Series.

The Nashville star will hit the field before Game 3 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles between the Toronto Blue Jays And Dodgers. The two teams split the first two games in Toronto. — Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean

World Series announcers on Fox

Joe Davis, play-by-play
John Smoltz, color commentary
Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci, dugout reporters

World Series winners by year

2024: Dodgers
2023: Rangers
2022: Astros
2021: Braves
2020: Dodgers
2019: Nationals
2018: Red Sox
2017: Astros
2016: Cubs
2015: Royals
2014: Giants
2013: Red Sox
2012: Giants
2011: Cardinals
2010: Giants

How many times have the Dodgers won the World Series?

The Dodgers have won eight World Series titles in franchise history – one in Brooklyn and seven in Los Angeles

1955 vs. Yankees
1959 vs. White Sox
1963 vs. Yankees
1965 vs. Twins
1981 vs. Yankees
1988 vs. Athletics
2020 vs. Rays
2024 vs. Yankees

What time is the Dodgers game today Pacific Time?

Game 3 of the World Series begins at 5 p.m. Pacific Time.

Blue Jays World Series appearances

Toronto won back-to-back World Series championships in 1992 (vs. Braves) and 1993 (vs. Phillies), the only times in franchise history the club has reached the Fall Classic since coming into existence in 1977.

When did the Dodgers move to LA?

The Dodgers left Brooklyn after the 1957 season, playing their first game in Los Angeles in 1958.

The New York Giants departed for San Francisco at the same time, bringing the NYC rivalry to the West Coast.

Did Vladimir Guerrero win a World Series?

Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero never won a World Series title, making his only Fall Classic appearance for the Texas Rangers in 2010, the penultimate of his 16-year MLB career.

How tall is Alejandro Kirk?

Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk is 5-foot-8.

What time is World Series? Dodgers vs Blue Jays Game 3 today

Monday’s game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium.

Now that the season is nearly halfway through, there are only two ways to improve your rosters — waiver wire and trades.

Evaluating a fantasy trade can be a daunting task. Most managers value their players more than they’re actually worth. That’s where the fantasy football trade value charts come in. You can also check out our Week 9 fantasy rankings to help with lineup and waiver decisions this week.

The charts can be used as your very own fantasy football trade analyzer in standard, half-PPR (point per reception) and full PPR leagues. Someone sends you an offer? Simply pull out a calculator (on your phone, you don’t need an actual calculator) and plug in the values for each player. Don’t worry, six-points-per-passing-touchdown and superflex leagues are covered as well.

Important note: If you’re offered an uneven trade (i.e., a 2-for-1 or 3-for-1), include the values for the players you’d be moving to the bench or dropping within your calculation. Example: If someone in your half-PPR league offers you Tyrone Tracy, Troy Franklin, and Romeo Doubs (combined value of 78) for Rashee Rice (65), it might look like you’re getting the better end of it. However, if you’re bumping down, say, Josh Downs and Ollie Gordon (combined value of 36) in the process, it’s a net negative deal for you.

The rankings are based on how players should be valued in 12-team leagues. Players are sorted in order of their half-PPR values.

Week 9 quarterback trade value chart

(Note: ‘6/TD’ is for leagues that award six points for passing touchdowns and ‘SFLEX’ stands for superflex.)

Week 9 running back trade value chart

Week 9 wide receiver trade value chart

Week 9 tight end trade value chart

Overall Week 9 fantasy football rest-of-season rankings

Note: These values are for 12-team, one-QB leagues with half-PPR scoring.

Every July, NBA teams wait with bated breath for the next crop of free agents to hit the open market and hopefully change their franchise in an instant.

It can be worth the crap shoot for middling or fringe playoff teams to make a gamble in signing a player to a big-money contract as they seek to boost their title hopes.

These days, any signing of significance has a “championship or bust” attachment to it, and with it, a change in the mindset of players who not only want to secure generational wealth but burnish their legacies as ring-finger envy has permeated the league.

But over the summer, some of the league’s stars, such as reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, three-time MVP Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr., Mikal Bridges, and De’Aaron Fox, have been locked up with big deals, especially in the Western Conference. With some of the biggest names off the board, the likelihood of one player going to another team and completely shifting the balance of power in the league has diminished.

Several players who are still on their rookie deals also came off the market, such as Paolo Banchero (Orlando), Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City), and Jabari Smith Jr. (Houston).

Still, there remains some notable players who can become unrestricted free agents as their contracts end or who can exercise their player option:

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

Unrestricted free agent

James remains the biggest name in the NBA, but he will be 42 years old next summer and has missed the start of this season with sciatica, a painful nerve injury. Infer whatever you want with that information.

Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Player option

Young, who led the NBA in assists, is eligible to sign a four-year, $229 million extension up until June 30 or a five-year, $345 million supermax extension if he is named to an All-NBA team this season. If an extension is not reached, Young could become a free agent next summer – but only if he declines his $49 million player option for 2026-27. Whether he re-signs with Atlanta or goes somewhere else, they will be paying strictly for his offense – he’s averaged 25.3 points and 9.8 assists in his career – as he can be a liability on defense.

Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers

Player option

At this point in his career, the 32-year-old Beal is strictly looking for a championship, which is why he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers for two years and just under $11 million after being bought out by the Phoenix Suns. Beal, whose scoring average has decreased in each of the past four years, can still score at an efficient level. The Clippers are starting him at shooting guard despite a knee issue that hindered him in the preseason.

James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers

Player option

Harden is still looking for championship glory, and he will begin his third season in Los Angeles as part of the oldest team in league history. The Clippers also have to deal with the ongoing distraction featuring his teammate Kawhi Leonard, which could derail any title hopes. Still, while Harden’s usage rate has gone down considerably since his days in Houston, he is still playing at an All-Star level.

Kristaps Porzingis, Atlanta Hawks

Unrestricted free agent

Porzingis is playing on the last year of a two-year, $60 million veteran contract extension he signed when he was with the Boston Celtics. It will be interesting to see how Porzingis meshes with Young in Atlanta, which will ultimately determine his future moving forward in that city. There is no doubt that Porzingis can help any team with his ability to score and his defensive presence – but only if he can stay healthy. He hasn’t played more than 70 games in a season since his rookie year in 2015.

Zach LaVine, Sacramento Kings

Player option

Perhaps the most interesting player facing a decision will be LaVine, who will make close to $49 million if he selects his player option. He can wait to see if Sacramento is anywhere close to contenders or bet on himself to see if he can secure one last big-money contract, as he will be 31 by next summer.

Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder

Club option

The dreaded second apron to avoid massive salary cap penalties could be the reason for Hartenstein’s possible last season in a Thunder uniform. His $28.5 million club option for the 2026-27 season might be too much for the NBA champions. They aren’t paying him to stuff the box score, but he brings an invaluable energy and rebounding skills that can’t be found on most rosters.

Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

Club option

Kuminga might be the future in Golden State, whenever Stephen Curry decides to retire, or he might burn the few bridges he has left on his way out of town. For now, the 23-year-old Kuminga will be making $22.5 this season after a prolonged contract standoff and is expected to be a vital piece of the Warriors push toward another championship. If things go south, expect a lot of chatter around the Feb. 5 trading deadline.

Other players to watch

Andrew Wiggins, Miami Heat (player option); CJ McCollum and Kris Middleton, Washington Wizards (both unrestricted).

2026 rookie extensions

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Wembanyama, the top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, is eligible for a big rookie extension worth five years and $271 million at season’s end. Expect Wembanyama, who just named Western Conference Player of the Week for the opening week of the 2025-26 season, to contend for multiple league awards, if he stays healthy. He was limited to 46 games last season due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.