The Los Angeles Dodgers are fighting to keep their World Series ambitions alive, but outfielder Alex Call has found himself at the center of a different debate after publicly challenging the advertising being shown during baseball's biggest games.
The 32-year-old criticized a series of commercials featuring actress Sydney Sweeney, whose revealing campaign for sports prediction platform Novig has attracted widespread attention throughout the MLB postseason.
Sydney Sweeney reveals she restores vintage cars in her spare time
Call questioned why the advertisements were being broadcast during games watched by families, arguing that parents shouldn't have to worry about sexually suggestive content appearing unexpectedly on their televisions.
His comments, posted on X early Wednesday, came ahead of Los Angeles' National League Championship Series Game 3 against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Dodgers outfielder directly addressed MLB and several major television networks, calling for the commercials to be removed from postseason coverage.
"Can we please get the soft porn ads off playoff broadcasts, TBS, Fox, NBC, @MLB?" Call wrote.
"My son wants to watch baseball with Dada, but how do I justify that when a half-naked women could come on screen anytime?? This is America's Pastime. Parents shouldn't have to worry about this."
Call's objection centers on the audience watching the games rather than Sweeney's involvement in advertising itself.
The campaign features the 29-year-old actress in revealing imagery promoting Novig, a sports prediction market platform that has pursued an attention-grabbing marketing strategy.
Commercials from the company's Just Sports campaign have appeared during postseason coverage, including Tuesday's American League Championship Series broadcast between the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays.
Sweeney commercials spark wider criticism
The controversy has extended beyond the Dodgers, with other figures connected to professional sports expressing concerns about the campaign.
Genevieve Albernaz, wife of Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz, also criticized the advertisements on social media while watching the American League Championship Series.
British sprinter Amy Hunt has raised objections to the campaign's portrayal of women, while Australian Olympic water polo silver medalist Tilly Kearns has similarly questioned its message.
Their concerns differ somewhat from Call's, focusing on how women are represented in sports marketing rather than solely whether the commercials are appropriate for younger audiences.
The criticism has nevertheless placed additional attention on Novig's decision to use provocative imagery during broadcasts that attract viewers across different age groups.
Dodgers face crucial playoff challenge
Call's comments arrived during a difficult postseason for Los Angeles, which entered Wednesday's Game 3 trailing Milwaukee 2-0 in the NLCS.
The veteran outfielder played 88 regular-season games for the Dodgers in 2026, recording a .233 batting average and .349 on-base percentage.
However, Call wasn't included on the team's 26-man roster for either the National League Division Series or the NLCS, limiting his involvement in the current postseason.
He previously appeared in seven playoff games during Los Angeles' 2025 World Series-winning campaign and has accumulated 403 MLB appearances across five seasons.
Although Call isn't currently contributing on the field, his public criticism has brought renewed attention to the debate surrounding advertising standards during major sporting events.
Whether broadcasters respond to those complaints remains unclear, with no announced changes to the campaign's postseason television placements.