As the 2025 MLB postseason proceeds on Wednesday evening, there’s a potential for three teams to clinch spots in the League Championship Series. The Milwaukee Brewers have an opportunity to wrap up their best-of-five series with a clean sweep as they visit the Chicago Cubs for Game 3 of their National League Division Series. Similarly, the defending World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, will be aiming for a sweep as they host the Philadelphia Phillies. Concurrently, the New York Yankees will be striving to level their American League Division Series at two wins apiece when they face the Toronto Blue Jays at home; a victory for the Blue Jays would secure their advancement to the ALCS.
Milwaukee, the NL’s top seed, has encountered relatively little resistance from Chicago thus far, securing victories of 9-3 and 7-3 on their home turf. Los Angeles’ journey to a 2-0 series advantage was more challenging, with 5-3 and 4-3 triumphs over the Phillies in Philadelphia. The Blue Jays, the AL’s top seed, dominated the Yankees with a 23-8 aggregate score in the first two games of their series at home. However, they relinquished a five-run lead in Game 3 in New York, ultimately losing by a score of 9-6.
The Phoenix Mercury are aiming to rejuvenate their series performance as they host the Las Vegas Aces in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday. Following three consecutive victories to overcome the league-leading Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals, Phoenix now trails 0-2 as they return home after suffering defeats of 89-86 and 91-78 in Las Vegas.
Following the commencement of the 2025-26 NHL season with three games on the previous day, Wednesday features a schedule of four contests. Seven teams are set to begin their campaigns, while the Los Angeles Kings seek to recover from a 4-1 home defeat against the Colorado Avalanche as they visit the Vegas Golden Knights.
Week 7 of the 2025 college football season commences with a pair of games, including a Conference USA showdown between Liberty and UTEP at the Sun Bowl in El Paso.
In the latest MLB betting odds for Brewers vs. Cubs, the Cubs are favored at -114 (bet $114 to win $100), while the Brewers are listed at -105 (bet $105 to win $100). Los Angeles is a -185 favorite, with Philadelphia at +153, while New York is favored at -177, and Toronto is priced at +147.
Phoenix is favored by 4.5 points against Las Vegas in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals, the Golden Knights are favored at -204 versus the Kings, and Liberty is favored by 1.5 points in their game against UTEP.
Here’s an outline of what to observe and wager on for Wednesday, Oct. 8. All times Eastern
MLB game previews
Brewers vs Cubs
Time: 5:08 p.m. | Location: Chicago | TV: TBS | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine picks — Model: Over 6.5 (-120) | Expert: Cubs -115
Milwaukee requires one more victory to reach the NLCS for the first time since 2018, when they were defeated by Los Angeles in seven games. Quinn Priester (13-3, 3.32 ERA) will pitch for the Brewers, while Jameson Taillon (11-7, 3.68) will pitch for the Cubs; he delivered four scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres in Game 3 of their NL Wild Card Series. The teams collectively scored double-digit runs in each of the first two games of this series, and the SportsLine Projection Model projects that this trend will continue, with the Over occurring in 72% of simulations. SportsLine expert Bruce Marshall, who is +3061 on his last 332 MLB picks, anticipates that the Cubs will extend the series and believes that Priester has not been particularly dominant recently.
Blue Jays vs Yankees
Time: 7:08 p.m. | Location: Bronx, N.Y. | TV: FS1 | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine pick — Model: Blue Jays +1.5 (-144)
The Yankees appeared to be in a dire situation in the Bronx on Tuesday, trailing 6-1 in the third inning of Game 3, after suffering significant losses in the first two games of the series. However, they managed to score twice in the bottom of the frame, and Aaron Judge, the reigning AL MVP, hit a game-tying three-run home run in the fourth. Jazz Chisholm Jr. then hit a solo home run in the following inning, giving New York their first lead in the series, which they maintained. New York is aiming to send the ALDS back to Toronto for a decisive Game 5 with rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler (4-3, 2.96) on the mound, who struck out 12 and conceded five hits over eight scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox in Game 3 of their AL Wild Card Series. The Blue Jays will counter with Louis Varland (4-3, 2.97), who conceded the home runs to Judge and Chisholm less than 24 hours prior. According to the SportsLine Projection Model, the game is expected to be closely contested, with simulations indicating that the Blue Jays cover the run line 62% of the time.
Phillies vs Dodgers
Time: 9:08 p.m. | Location: Los Angeles | TV: TBS | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine picks — Model: Phillies +1.5 (-135) | Expert: Aaron Nola Over 8.5 outs recorded (-122)
The Dodgers will strive to extend their winning streak, dating back to the regular season, to 10 games and secure their seventh NLCS appearance in 10 years, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49) pitching. Meanwhile, Philadelphia, having lost nine of their last 11 playoff games, places their hopes on Aaron Nola (5-10, 6.01). According to the SportsLine Projection Model, the Phillies are expected to keep the game close, covering the run line in 66% of simulations. SportsLine expert Matt Severance has confidence in Nola, believing that the veteran right-hander will pitch at least three innings.
WNBA game previews
Aces vs Mercury
Time: 8 p.m. | Location: Phoenix | TV: ESPN | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine pick — Experts: Mercury -2.5 first half
The Mercury were defeated in the opening game of each of their first two series this postseason before securing victories against the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty in three games and against Minnesota in four. While Phoenix also lost Game 1 of the Finals, they were unable to recover immediately and now face a critical situation on their home court in this best-of-seven series. SportsLine WNBA experts Calvin Wetzel and Aaron Barzilai predict that the Mercury will improve upon their poor 3-point shooting performance in Game 2 and perform well in the first half on Wednesday.
NHL game previews
Bruins vs Capitals
Time: 7:30 p.m. | Location: Washington, DC | TV: TNT | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine picks — Model: Capitals -190 | Expert: Capitals -1 (-120)
The Bruins, after missing the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016, will look to start this campaign strongly. Washington prevailed over Boston in 2024-25, winning two of their three encounters, including the only one held at Capital One Arena. The SportsLine Projection Model projects that the Capitals will begin the season with a home victory in 70% of its simulations, and Matt Severance anticipates that Washington will cover the spread, considering Boston to be a diminished version of its former self.
Kings vs Golden Knights
Time: 10 p.m. | Location: Paradise, Nev. | TV: TNT | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine picks — Model: Kings +1.5 (-144) | Expert: Golden Knights -1 (-128)
Anze Kopitar’s final NHL season did not start well, as the Kings lost their home opener against the Avalanche on Tuesday. The Golden Knights will be seeking to inflict a second consecutive loss on Los Angeles after the Kings won three of the four games between the two teams last season. The SportsLine Projection Model’s simulations suggest that the Kings will cover the spread 64% of the time, but Severance favors Vegas to cover in Mitch Marner’s debut with the team.
CFB game previews
Liberty vs UTEP
Time: 8 p.m. | Location: El Paso, Tex. | TV: CBS Sports Network | Stream: Fubo (try for free)
SportsLine pick — Model: Liberty -120
Both teams enter this game with overall records of 1-4 and conference records of 0-1. The Flames commenced the season with a 28-7 victory over Maine but have since suffered four consecutive defeats, including a 21-7 loss to Old Dominion in their most recent game. The Miners have now lost three consecutive games after a 30-11 home defeat on Sept. 27 by Louisiana Tech. The SportsLine Projection Model suggests that Liberty will improve to 3-0 in the all-time series, with the Flames winning in 72% of simulations.
