Sports
Week 8 SNF: Cowboys-49ers Preview, Props & Prediction
Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) walks towards the line of scrimmage against the Kansas City Chiefs in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images The Dallas Cowboys come off their bye week desperately in need of a victory while traveling to face a San Francisco 49ers team dealing with a litany of injuries to their skill position personnel.
One of the NFC’s oldest rivalries closes out Sunday’s action in Week 8 of the NFL’s regular season.
ODDS AND TRENDS
The 49ers (3-4) are consensus 5.0-point favorites at home. That includes at BetRivers, where the 49ers have drawn 64 percent of the spread-line money, while the Cowboys (3-3) have been backed by 53 percent of the total bets.
Dallas’ +180 moneyline has been popular, attracting 61 percent of the money, although the 49ers have garnered 46 percent of the total bets at -225.
The Over/Under total points line has hovered around 47.5 and 48.0 at most books. At BetRivers, the Under has been backed by big wagers with 82 percent of the total money, although 70 percent of the total bets have supported to Over.
SERIES HISTORY
San Francisco has won the past three meetings, including playoff victories to end Dallas’ 2021 and 2022 seasons. Last season’s meeting was one-sided as the 49ers clobbered the Cowboys 42-10 behind four touchdown passes from Brock Purdy, three to George Kittle.
That beatdown might not have been as bad as the one Dallas (3-3) just experienced — a 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions before the team’s much-needed bye.
THE NEWS
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had a message for his teammates before they all took time off for last week’s bye.
“Look in the mirror. Go watch these six games over the bye week. Take a few days off. Reset. And be ready when we get back in that building to refocus and do every single thing that you can to help this team,” Prescott told reporters. “And everybody has a role, whatever that role may be. Make sure you understand what it is, and if it’s bigger than what it was a few weeks ago, if it’s smaller, whatever it may be, figure out a way to be the absolute best in it.
“Eleven games left. We’re going to take it one at a time. San Fran’s next, so as we watch these six games, go ahead and get a jumpstart on a couple of their games and be ready, as I said, to refocus after this reset.”
Prescott has passed for 1,602 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions entering the latest showdown with the 49ers.
Jordan Mason (shoulder) has been superb while replacing injured Christian McCaffrey and ranks second in the NFL with 667 rushing yards.
Purdy has passed for 1,841 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions for the 49ers.
San Francisco star linebacker Fred Warner has heard the critiques of the 49ers being a team in trouble and he isn’t interested in the rhetoric.
“You can listen to what people say about you in the outside world,” Warner said. “All the stories can be written that we’re not good enough and all these sorts of things. For us, it’s about just continuing to focus on what we do.”
INJURY REPORT
What the Cowboys could really use is seeing star linebacker Micah Parsons (ankle) and cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) on the field. But they’re both out again Sunday night, and Bland’s replacement in the starting lineup in 2024, Caelen Carson, is questionable with a shoulder injury.
Parsons will miss his third straight game. Bland has yet to play this season.
Cowboys starting linebacker Eric Kendricks (shoulder) is also listed as questionable.
The 49ers are battling a slew of injuries and lost star wideout Brandon Aiyuk to a season-ending right knee injury during last Sunday’s 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Wideout Deebo Samuel (pneumonia/wrist) played just a few snaps and was later hospitalized and released on Tuesday. Though he sat out Wednesday’s practice, San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said Samuel might play, but he’s listed as questionable, the same designated the 49ers gave Kittle (foot).
Receiver Jauan Jennings (hip/groin) missed the Kansas City game, was unable to practice all week and is out along with kicker Jake Moody (ankle).
Of course, McCaffrey (Achilles) remains on injured reserve and hasn’t played a down this season.
THEY SAID IT
–“I think we’ve gotta go into these games and say, ‘We’ve gotta step on somebody’s neck. It’s just the simple things: being disciplined, can’t kill each other on red-zone trips. Can’t kill each other on third downs.” –Parsons
–“The guys in the building are really talented, so we have to figure that out. It’s on our vets to pull them along, whether they’re ready or not. … (The injuries) impact you to an extent but you have to have the three-foot mindset and just attack what’s in front of you.” –Kittle
PREDICTION
The Cowboys’ three wins have all come on the road, although the first two came against Cleveland and the New York Giants. Dallas did also secure a solid win at Pittsburgh before getting blown out at home by Detroit. The 49ers due enter the game with a concerning amount of injuries to key personnel, but this is an equally critical game for San Francisco and Dallas simply hasn’t played well against quality teams. –49ers 26, Cowboys 23
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dodgers aim for rare season sweep of Mets
Jul 24, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) celebrates his two run home run against the New York Mets with first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) during the eighth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images When the Los Angeles Dodgers wrap up their three-game series at the New York Mets on Sunday afternoon, they will have a chance to do something they have only accomplished once in 65 seasons.
A win in the finale, which also doubles as the conclusion of their nine-game road trip, would give them a sweep of the weekend series. It also would mean the Dodgers won all six games against the Mets this season.
According to MCubed.net, the only season that Los Angeles accomplished this unblemished run was in 2017 (7-0) since the Mets’ inaugural season in 1962.
Emmet Sheehan (4-7, 5.13 ERA) will start for the Dodgers and face the Mets for the first time in his career. The right-hander has been tagged with the loss in six of his last eight starts, including last Monday in Philadelphia. He gave up six runs on eight hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings as the Phillies won 10-7.
Similarly, Mets starter Freddy Peralta (5-9, 5.01) also has struggled of late, posting an 0-4 record with an 8.44 ERA in 26 2/3 innings over his last six starts.
The 30-year-old righty, though, has pitched well against the Dodgers. In eight career starts, he’s gone 4-2 with a 3.29 ERA.
As a member of the Milwaukee Brewers last season who led the National League with 17 wins, Peralta beat Los Angeles twice in less than two weeks. He allowed a combined four runs across 11 innings on 10 hits and four walks. In the first game, on July 7, he blanked them over six innings, yielding just five hits and a walk with seven strikeouts.
Since the Dodgers’ road trip started right after the All-Star break, at least some of the players have been away from Southern California for nearly two weeks. Before venturing to Queens and facing the Mets, Los Angeles took two of three from both the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, two teams that hold wild-card spots in their leagues with two months left in the regular season.
“It seems like we’ve been on the road a long time, but the travel has been nice as far as staying in this time zone,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told the Los Angeles Daily News. “We’re finding ways to win. So that’s the main thing. That’s the object of the game.”
Freddie Freeman is one of the Dodgers who has been out on the East Coast for two weeks. The National League All-Star first baseman has not shown any road wear. He went 3-for-4 in Saturday’s win. It was his third straight game with three or more hits. That’s the fifth time Freeman, 36, has done that in his 17-year career.
His last such streak happened nearly three years ago.
The Mets, losers of three straight and five of their last seven, have struggled against Dodger pitching in the series, getting just 10 total hits while striking out 22 times.
Rookie outfielder A.J. Ewing went 0-for-5 and struck out twice batting leadoff for the Mets on Saturday. Since play resumed from the break, he’s hitting just .194 (7-for-36) with 13 strikeouts. Interim manager Andy Green told reporters that the 21-year-old is experiencing what most others face during their big-league careers.
“I see him as plenty capable, and he’s going to respond,” Green said. “But at this moment, it’s time to punch back.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rockies face tall task vs. Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski in finale
Jul 10, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) throws in the outfield before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The Colorado Rockies have the worst record in the National League, but it is a big improvement over last season.
Colorado didn’t win its 43rd game until Sept. 21 and finished with 119 losses.
On Sunday afternoon, the Rockies will have a chance to record their 43rd win of the 2026 season when they wrap up a three-game series against the host Milwaukee Brewers.
Colorado left-hander Kyle Freeland (2-9, 7.28 ERA) will oppose right-hander Jacob Misiorowski (10-4, 1.57) in the decisive contest of the series.
Misiorowski leads the majors with 173 strikeouts and in ERA. He consistently hits 100 mph or more on the radar gun, as the Rockies experienced in Denver on June 6 when he held them to one unearned run over seven innings in a 7-1 Milwaukee victory.
It was the first time he has faced Colorado in his career.
Freeland, meanwhile, has lost his last two decisions, allowing four runs over six innings in both outings. He also added a little drama when he faced Washington on Monday.
Freeland took exception to Andres Chaparro running over the mound following a flyout, leading to the pitcher having words with Chaparro and the benches clearing. Despite his record and ERA, Freeland has maintained his intensity, and he will carry that into his 12th career start against the Brewers.
He is 5-4 with a 3.55 ERA in the previous 11 outings.
Freeland credits the offense for the team’s improvement from last year and acknowledged the pitching staff has been a weak point.
“They’re doing a good job of putting runs on the board, but the big thing is pitching,” Freeland said. “It’s been the trend the whole season. We’re not throwing the ball especially well. We’re making our offense fight and claw at the end of games to come back.”
Milwaukee, conversely, has been one of the better teams offensively and on the mound. The Brewers lead the National League in ERA (3.44) and saves (33) while being fifth in the majors in runs (524) and ranking tied for fourth in stolen bases (103).
The offense has gotten a boost from a pair of rookies, who were instrumental in Saturday night’s 8-5 Milwaukee win. Cooper Pratt hit his second career home run and drove in three runs, while Luis Lara reached base four times and had three RBIs.
Lara’s sacrifice fly and Pratt’s home run in the second inning got the Brewers off to a fast start.
“I knew that one was gone, not like the first one,” Pratt said of his homer after the game. “It felt good, and we won, too. Definitely starting to slow down, starting to breathe, starting to relax and just play baseball.”
Pratt said he isn’t surprised by Lara’s early success.
“He’s a dog. I was with him in Triple-A, and he was doing the same thing,” Pratt said. “He’s starting to heat up and he’s a dude, for sure. That’s every day for him.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Against White Sox, Ronel Blanco looks to lead ascending Astros to sixth consecutive win
Jul 20, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco (56) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images Ronel Blanco will have a tough act to follow when he makes his second start in more than a year on Sunday for the Houston Astros against the host Chicago White Sox.
Fellow right-hander Hunter Brown stymied the White Sox on Saturday over seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits, in a 4-1 victory that saw that Astros move into second place in the American League West, two games behind the Texas Rangers.
Blanco (0-0, 7.71) had not pitched since May 2025 when he took the mound on Monday against the Miami Marlins. He didn’t get a decision in the 8-5 win after allowing four earned runs on two hits — both home runs — in 4 2/3 innings with three walks and eight strikeouts.
Of his 86 pitches, 55 were strikes.
“Just focused on throwing a lot of strikes and attacking the zone because they’re a team that doesn’t go out of the zone too often,” Blanco said after the game. “So that was the main focus.”
In his most recent full season, 2024, Blanco was 13-6 with a 2.80 ERA with 166 strikeouts in 167 1/3 innings.
Blanco has only faced the White Sox once in his career in a two-inning relief stint in which he did not allow a run, walked a batter and struck out four. That was in 8-4 victory on April 1, 2023, in which Blanco left without a decision.
The Astros have won five consecutive games. On Saturday, Brown got help from Isaac Paredes, who drove in three runs on two hits, and Jeremy Pena, who finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Josh Hader got the final two outs for his 12th save.
On Sunday, right-hander Erick Fedde (5-6, 4.16) will start for the White Sox, trying to avoid a series sweep after a 9-5 loss in the series opener on Friday. He has made two career starts against the Astros and is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA.
His most recent start was a no-decision in a 10-3 win over the host Texas Rangers on Monday. Fedde gave up two runs and four hits in four innings, did not walk a batter and struck out six.
Chicago could be without shortstop Colson Montgomery on Sunday.
Before hitting a single that drove in Chicago’s only run of the game in the ninth inning on Saturday, Montgomery fouled a pitch off the same spot on his shin/calf area as he had in a game during the team’s previous series in Texas.
Even though he was wearing a shin guard, Montgomery immediately fell, and the team’s trainer came out to tend to him. He stayed in the game, then lined a pitch into the right-field corner that usually would have been an easy double. But Montgomery held at first for a single.
“It was just above where it got him the other day, so pretty sore,” manager Will Venable said. “Obviously was able to finish that at-bat. He’ll get treatment and see where we’re at tomorrow.”
The White Sox are 6-4 in their past 10 games but have lost two in a row. With Cleveland’s 3-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, Chicago stayed 1 1/2 games ahead of the Guardians in the American League Central.
–Field Level Media
