Good morning. Today could decide how much October Southern California gets. The Dodgers play Game 3 in Atlanta at 3 on FS1 in a series tied 1-1. At 6:30, the Padres host Milwaukee at Petco Park needing a win to avoid elimination. In between, the Kings open their home schedule against Florida, the Golden Knights are in Seattle and the Lakers play again in San Francisco. This morning we also remember Fred Claire, the former sportswriter who built the 1988 Dodgers. He died Monday on his 91st birthday. Let’s get into it.
🚨 HEADLINES
⚾ Fred Claire, 1935-2026. The Dodgers GM who traded for Kirk Gibson and built the 1988 champions has died at 91 — Arash Markazi in Los Angeles.
⚾ One loss from elimination. The Padres come home down 0-2 after Chourio beat Mason Miller in Game 2 — Eric Evelhoch.
⚾ Game 3 in Atlanta. The Dodgers need runs that don’t come from home runs, Freeman says — Fredo Cervantes.
🏀 “Line of confrontation.” The Lakers forced 27 turnovers in a 127-103 preseason win in Sacramento — Eric Lambkins II at Golden 1 Center.
🏈 Donald trending up. McVay wants cleaner football; Donald could practice this week before Buffalo — The Sporting Tribune.
🏈 Heart, no win. Cousins threw for 365 yards but a kickoff fumble cost the Raiders against the Chiefs — Derek Hegna at Allegiant Stadium.
See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.
📋 SCOREBOARD — MONDAY
🏀 NBA (preseason): Lakers 127, Kings 103
⚾ NLDS: Off day. Dodgers-Braves tied 1-1 · Brewers lead Padres 2-0
⚾ WIN OR GO HOME
The Padres have lost two games in Milwaukee by a combined two runs. In the first, Ty France’s 105.3-mph drive hit the roof and was caught for an out in the ninth. In the second, Mason Miller couldn’t finish a six-out save and Jackson Chourio drove in the winning runs.
Now they’re home, and one more loss ends their season.
Game 3 is at 6:30 tonight on FS1: Nick Pivetta (3-2, 2.86) against Dustin May (7-9, 4.70). Pivetta is the pitcher who threw 4⅔ scoreless innings to clinch a postseason berth at Dodger Stadium two weeks ago. A week ago, Petco Park was loud enough for Michael King to throw seven one-hit innings and for Manny Machado to say “Petco was rocking.” The Padres need that again, and they need a pitching staff that has allowed eight runs in four postseason games to hold up one more time.
That would get them to a Game 4, also at Petco. Two more wins after that, and the Padres would go from down 0-2 to the NLCS.
The Dodgers start first, at 3 p.m. in Atlanta. The series is tied, and Freddie Freeman described the problem plainly after Sunday’s 3-2 loss: six of the Dodgers’ seven runs have come on home runs. Chris Sale starts for Atlanta. Yoshinobu Yamamoto starts for Los Angeles. Game 4 is Wednesday in Atlanta, and a Game 5 would be Friday at Dodger Stadium.
“Gotta find a way to score some runs without hitting a home run,” Freeman said. “That’s our biggest thing right now.”
GO DEEPER
› Eric Evelhoch: San Diego sunk by another Brewers rally, Miller can’t nail down two-inning save (The Sporting Tribune)
› Brady Charette: Ty France’s potential go-ahead blast becomes controversial out in Game 1 loss to Brewers (The Sporting Tribune)
› Fredo Cervantes: Braves take Game 2, even NLDS against Dodgers (The Sporting Tribune)
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⚾ FRED CLAIRE, 1935-2026
Fred Claire was a sportswriter first. In 1969, the Long Beach Press-Telegram sent him to Vero Beach to cover Dodgers spring training. That summer he joined the team’s public relations department. He spent nearly three decades with the Dodgers and was general manager from 1987 to 1998.
He died at home Monday night, the team said, on the day he turned 91.
Claire grew up in Jamestown, Ohio, moved to Torrance at 15, graduated from Torrance High and earned his degree at San Jose State. When Peter O’Malley put him in charge of baseball operations, some people questioned whether a former reporter could do the job.
“I knew some people might say, what does this guy know about baseball, he covered it from behind a typewriter?” O’Malley once told the Los Angeles Times. “But I knew Fred could take it. I knew he could do it. And he did it.”
In his second season as GM, Claire went after veterans, Kirk Gibson most of all, and the Dodgers beat Oakland in the 1988 World Series. That’s still one of the most memorable championships in franchise history.
“Fred brought many victories and Dodger legends to our franchise, as well as a 1988 World Series title, and we are forever grateful for his leadership during such a memorable era,” Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten said.
His death came on an off day in the middle of a Dodgers playoff series. He is survived by his wife, Sheryl, and three children, Jeff, Jennifer and Kim. Funeral services are pending.
GO DEEPER
› Arash Markazi: Fred Claire, Dodgers general manager who helped build 1988 champions, dies at 91 (The Sporting Tribune)
🏀 HANDS AROUND YOUR NECK
It was only a preseason game, but Eric Lambkins II saw a new Lakers identity in Sacramento. The Lakers forced 27 turnovers and beat the Kings 127-103, with JJ Redick’s “line of confrontation” defense pressuring the ball all over the floor. Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Quentin Grimes led it.
Luka Dončić, back from a hamstring injury, scored 21 points in 16 minutes. “Basketball is one of the best things in my life,” he said. “Being back, being competitive, it’s just a lot of fun.” Rookie Cameron Carr, the 24th pick, scored 19 off the bench. Carlos Yakimowich has three takeaways.
The Lakers play the Warriors tonight at 7 on Spectrum SportsNet.
GO DEEPER
› Eric Lambkins II: Lakers new identity arrives with both hands around your neck (The Sporting Tribune)
› Carlos Yakimowich: Three takeaways from Lakers’ preseason-opening win in Sacramento (The Sporting Tribune)
🏟️ FIVE GAMES, ONE TUESDAY
Dodgers at Braves, NLDS Game 3, at 3 on FS1. Tied 1-1.
Brewers at Padres, NLDS Game 3, at 6:30 on FS1. Pivetta vs. May, season on the line.
Panthers at Kings at 7:30 on ESPN, the first of 42 home games at Crypto.com Arena. The Kings are 0-1-1 after an 8-4 loss in Denver and an overtime loss in San Jose in which they came back from two goals down.
Golden Knights at Kraken at 6:40 on ESPN+, the end of the road trip after a 3-2 win in Vancouver, their eighth straight over the Canucks.
Lakers at Warriors at 7 on Spectrum SportsNet.
📌 AROUND THE MARKETS
Cleaner, please. A day after the comeback in Philadelphia, Sean McVay said he’s tired of talking about mistakes. “I want to see us be able to bring it to life on a more consistent basis.” Aaron Donald is trending toward practicing and playing against Buffalo. Terrance Ferguson went on injured reserve with an ankle sprain and will miss at least four games.
Heart, but a loss. Derek Hegna writes that Kirk Cousins threw for 365 yards and two touchdowns and Brock Bowers scored again, but Jeffrey Bassa’s fumble on a kickoff return set up Kenneth Walker III’s 22-yard touchdown run, and the Chiefs left Allegiant Stadium unbeaten. “We gave them too many opportunities tonight,” Klint Kubiak said. New England is next.
GO DEEPER
› McVay wants cleaner football from Rams after comeback win over Eagles (The Sporting Tribune)
› Eric Lambkins II: How the Rams finally found the sun in Philadelphia (The Sporting Tribune)
› Derek Hegna: Raiders show heart, but Chiefs escape Vegas undefeated (The Sporting Tribune)
› Brady Charette: Kings’ comeback falls short as Sharks prevail in overtime (The Sporting Tribune)
› Derek Hegna: Golden Knights hang on to continue dominance over Canucks (The Sporting Tribune)
📺 WATCHLIST — TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6
⚾ NLDS Game 3: Dodgers at Braves — Truist Park — 3:00 p.m. — FS1
⚾ NLDS Game 3: Brewers at Padres — Petco Park — 6:30 p.m. — FS1
🏒 NHL: Golden Knights at Kraken — Climate Pledge Arena — 6:40 p.m. — ESPN+
🏀 NBA (preseason): Lakers at Warriors — Chase Center — 7:00 p.m. — Spectrum SportsNet
🏒 NHL: Panthers at Kings — Crypto.com Arena — 7:30 p.m. — ESPN
🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?
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⚾ Brewers at Padres, NLDS Game 3 — Petco Park — $92
🏒 Panthers at Kings, home opener — Crypto.com Arena — $45
🌴 TST TRIVIA
Before joining the Dodgers in 1969, Fred Claire covered the team’s spring training as a sportswriter. Which newspaper did he work for?
Answer at the bottom.
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Trivia answer: The Long Beach Press-Telegram.
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