CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 17: Nick Martinez #28 of the Tampa Bay Rays throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians in game four of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 17, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last offseason, Nick Martinez was seeking an opportunity with a team that would allow him be a starting pitcher. Now, he is starting the first game of the World Series for the Tampa Bay Rays as they take on the Milwaukee Brewers.
Tampa Bay signed Martinez just prior to Spring Training, Martinez was excited by the prospect of getting the chance to showcase himself as a full-time starting pitcher, “I’ve always believed that I can be a starter from beginning to end.”
Over the course of the regular season, the now 36-year old Martinez more than proved himself as he delivered an All-Star season for Tampa Bay. Over the course of 31 starts, Martinez compiled a 3.10 ERA | 3.96 FIP with a 15.1 K% and league leading 3.6 BB% over a career high 180 innings pitched. Thus far in the postseason, Martinez has only appeared in two games, allowing three runs on seven hits over 9 IP.
First pitch is slated a little after 8:00pm Friday night
After a year of being bombarded with information about the lack of competitive balance in baseball, the 2026 World Series will feature the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers. It’s quite the twist from a sport that has made a relentless case that only big market teams can win in the Postseason, but baseball will always baseball and this year’s curveball is the first World Series since 1980 where a team who has never won before is guaranteed to hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy at the end of the day.
It does seem worth clarifying the terms of what we mean by a “small market.” After all, according to the Sports Business Journal the Tampa-St. Petersburg media market is the 11th largest media market in the country despite the Rays fielding a team with the 28th largest payroll in baseball according to Spotrac. Meanwhile, Milwaukee boasts the 19th ranked payroll in MLB in the smallest media market in MLB. It’s all rather complicated as you can see here:
Team
Payroll
Payroll Rk
Media Market Rk
Postseason 2026?
# of Postseason Appearances since 2017
World Series Wins since 2017
New York Mets
$346,736,805
1
1
N
2
0
Los Angeles Dodgers
$339,319,244
2
2
Y
10
3
New York Yankees
$308,336,780
3
1
Y
9
0
4th Tier Luxury Tax
$304,000,000
n/a
Philadelphia Phillies
$291,951,676
4
5
Y
5
0
3rd Tier Luxury Tax
$284,000,000
n/a
Toronto Blue Jays
$276,130,679
5
N
4
0
2nd Tier Luxury Tax
$264,000,000
n/a
Atlanta Braves
$262,962,842
6
7
Y
8
1
Chicago Cubs
$249,319,956
7
3
Y
5
0
1st Tier Luxury Tax
$244,000,000
n/a
Houston Astros
$239,763,783
8
6
Y
9
2
San Diego Padres
$218,252,715
9
30
Y
5
0
Boston Red Sox
$207,988,016
10
10
Y
5
1
Detroit Tigers
$202,081,991
11
14
N
2
0
Arizona Diamondbacks
$192,670,027
12
12
N
2
0
Texas Rangers
$191,262,798
13
4
N
1
1
San Francisco Giants
$190,174,131
14
9
N
1
1
Los Angeles Angels
$182,509,023
15
2
N
0
0
Seattle Mariners
$169,556,014
16
13
N
2
0
Baltimore Orioles
$167,039,211
17
29
N
2
0
Kansas City Royals
$150,429,892
18
35
N
1
0
Milwaukee Brewers
$146,206,320
19
39
Y
8
0
Cincinnati Reds
$128,223,748
20
38
N
2
0
Colorado Rockies
$121,526,751
21
17
N
2
0
Minnesota Twins
$115,748,036
22
16
N
4
0
Pittsburgh Pirates
$106,728,501
23
28
N
0
0
Chicago White Sox
$103,330,141
24
3
Y
3
0
Washington Nationals
$101,639,888
25
8
N
2
1
Athletics
$98,948,812
26
20
N
3
0
St. Louis Cardinals
$96,396,498
27
24
N
4
0
Tampa Bay Rays
$95,615,469
28
11
Y
6
0
Miami Marlins
$83,298,123
29
18
N
2
0
Cleveland Guardians
$74,459,014
30
19
Y
7
0
Or maybe it isn’t all that complicated. There has been Postseason success at the top of this table (the Dodgers) in the middle of this table (the Astros, Red Sox, Rangers and, begrudgingly, the Brewers) and towards the bottom of this table (the Nationals, Rays, Guardians and, as much as it pains me, the Cardinals). There are small market teams spending a lot of money relative to their actual, literal, media market size and teams spending a fraction of what you’d expect relative to their market. Some of those teams are winning. Some of those teams are losing.
Perhaps it’s more about how effectively teams use the resources they have than a total amount of spending by any individual team. To that end, a number of front office watchers have been compiling data about the size of R&D departments and/or scouting departments across the league that have led to a number of interesting conversations on social media:
Took a stab at this. See thread for sourcing & explanation of discrepancies.
I think only the tails matter: ATH, ARI, ATL, COL are low (not good!). TBR, NYY, NYM, DET, CLE are high (good!).
As Lance Brozdowski notes in the above thread, it’s a little complicated to just pull these results. Some teams have better visibility into the size and roles in their departments than others, including the Cubs, who were one of the big movers as people honed in on this particular metric.
But again, this doesn’t overlay with MLB Postseason success or failure either. Yes, the perennially successful (although still zero rings to show for it) Rays are at or near the top of both lists, but the Braves and Astros are near the bottom.
It’s enough to make you wonder if success in the October is just a crapshoot in baseball. Admittedly, a crapshoot you have a much better chance of being a part of if you’re deploying resources wisely, but a crapshoot nonetheless.
One thing that hasn’t changed this Postseason: ticket prices to the Fall Classic are outrageous, especially in Milwaukee where they’ve been waiting 44 years for a chance to play in the World Series. Getting into a World Series game in Tampa Bay or Milwaukee is going to set you back some cash, regardless of the spending habits of the team you’re cheering for:
Has there ever been a greater disparity between regular-season and World Series ticket prices?
The Brewers' World Series get-in price is now 125x their typical regular-season get-in.
When the MLB season began in February, few predicted the final two teams standing in October would be the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers. While many will frame this as an old-school Fall Classic matchup, these clubs are both powered by two of the largest scouting and analytics departments in baseball. Though they emphasize contact and speed on the field, the Rays and Brewers have long been at the forefront of pitch design, tech integration and data-driven strategies.
Follow along with all our team’s bets in the Bet Tracker.
World Series Betting Preview
For only the sixth time in the Wild Card era, the top team from each league will clash in the World Series. Even more remarkable, this marks the first time since 1980 that two franchises both chasing their very first World Series title will face off, guaranteeing a milestone moment no matter who emerges victorious in this strength versus strength matchup. It all sets up a truly historic Fall Classic.
Bookmakers opened the Brewers around a -160 favorite, which implies a 61.54% win probability. While I expected Milwaukee to be favored, I figured we’d see an opener closer to -125 (55.56% implied win probability). Not only did bookmakers disagree with me, but the market has as well – we’ve seen the Brewers get bet all the way up to -175/-185. As of now, I haven’t bet a side in this series, and I’m not sure I will. While I’ve fired on a couple of series props that I’ll share, I’ve had much more success betting props game by game this regular season and postseason.
Offensively, these clubs have similar approaches and results. Neither team’s philosophy is to continuously sell out at the dish; instead, they rely on putting the ball in play and utilizing speed on the basepaths. They’re both in the bottom 10 in home runs – Tampa cranked 169 (22nd) and the Brewers launched 152 (29th) – but both rank top five in stolen bases and wRC+. One of the bigger differences in their offense is their strikeout rate: Milwaukee ranked 14th at 22%, while the Rays posted the lowest punchout rate in the majors at 18.8%. Overall, the Brewers averaged the second-most runs per game (5.09) and led the league in scoring at home at 5.49 runs per game, while Tampa averaged 4.51 runs per game, ranking 12th in MLB.
On the pitching side, we’re expecting a lower-scoring series as game one opens with a full-game total of six.
Milwaukee is led by 24-year-old runaway Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski. Misiorowski led the majors in punchouts with 252 and posted a 1.80 ERA while going 16-5 in regular-season starts (where the Brewers went 22-8 overall). Milwaukee is 24-8 in his games if you include the postseason, despite the fact that he hasn’t been asked to pitch deep into outings. While the Rays’ bats boast the lowest strikeout rate in the majors, they’ll be facing a Brewers staff that posted the best K-rate in baseball at 25.8%.
Rosters and rotations haven’t been announced yet, but I’m expecting the Brewers to roll out the following rotation:
1. Jacob Misiorowski
2. Logan Henderson
3. Robert Gasser
4. Some combination of: Dustin May/Shane Drohan/Bullpen
Drew Rasmussen has been the Rays’ ace, posting the seventh-best FIP in the majors at 2.71. Rasmussen went 16-5 for Tampa, and the Rays went 21-9 overall in his starts. Unlike Misiorowski, the Rays have gotten real length out of Rasmussen this postseason. He’s thrown 21.0 innings across three starts with a 1.29 ERA, leading Tampa to two wins in those three outings. One of the biggest surprises of this playoff run has been Kevin Cash’s willingness to push his starters deeper into games. Cash will always be remembered for pulling Blake Snell in the sixth inning of Game 6 during the 2020 World Series while he was shoving, but the Rays manager has largely ignored the third-time-through-the-order penalty so far this October.
It’s safe to expect Tampa to deploy the following starters:
1. Drew Rasmussen
2. Freddy Peralta
3. Nick Martinez
4. Griffin Jax
I’m unsure what order the Rays will use Martinez and Jax, but both will be crucial in a seven-game series. The Rays chose to use Ian Seymour out of the bullpen against the Yankees and Guardians despite him being a rotation staple this season. He could featured in either role, having already logged 7.1 postseason innings – only one fewer than Misiorowski.
Things get a little trickier when looking at the bullpens.
Kevin Cash seems to have a tight circle of trust in the relief corps, relying heavily on four arms: Ian Seymour, Bryan Baker, Tyler Wells and Cam Booser, who have combined for 22.1 innings. I do wonder if we’ll see starting pitchers get game action on their throw days. We saw the Nationals do this during their 2019 title run with a thin bullpen, and Freddy Peralta has already made a relief appearance, throwing nine pitches over two-thirds of an inning in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Guardians.
On the other side, Pat Murphy has leaned heavily on his high-leverage arms because his starters haven’t provided length. He’s already extracted 35 innings from Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe, Trevor Megill, JoJo Romero and DL Hall. Ashby, in particular, has been unhittable, posting a 0.00 ERA while striking out 11 batters over 12.1 postseason innings.
Given variance in sports, it’s not often that we see the clear two best teams throughout the year get to battle it out for a championship. I don’t really have a strong opinion on who will win the series, I’m mostly rooting for maximum baseball with a seven-game series.
Pick: Rays in Six
I mentioned above a couple series props I looked at. I’ll mostly be betting some batters under props and pitching outs props but I did fire on one prop already.
Series Prop
Chandler Simpson 2+ Steals in the World Series (+125, DraftKings)
While the Brewers’ pitching staff and catcher William Contreras excel at controlling the run game, Simpson ranked second in the majors with 46 stolen bases. He should start every game for Tampa, even against a lefty.
"I said the two things I didn't want to hear was, 'We're too small' or 'We can't do this," Attanasio said Thursday, Oct. 22, a day before the club opens World Series Game 1 against the even lower-revenue Tampa Bay Rays.
"I actually kept trying to say we were a mid-market team even though clearly we weren't."
Yet Attanasio's side hustle these days is his ranking on the owners' labor relations committee, as the league prepares to lock out the players in December during collective-bargaining agreements centering on the leagues' desire for a salary cap.
And so even though one of the Rays or Brewers will win a World Series championship without benefit of a salary cap that pervades every other major sports league in the USA, Attanasio does have a party line to toe.
"I think the system that's being proposed, which is similar to other leagues in terms of revenue-sharing system, not only will help us compete but more importantly all of the other teams with lower payrolls too," he said.
"Which is something also I think the fans want."
While nearly two-thirds of the league – 19 of 30 teams – have reached a World Series since 2008, including the three-time AL champion Rays, Attanasio believes the Brewers and others like them need more help.
"I used to use the words punch above our weight, and the payroll and whatnot affects that," says Attanasio. "Still, with some of the metrics you point out, I think we still have among the smallest media revenues, including this year, but we're able to get to a No. 19 or 20 type out of 30-team payroll because of that (fan and community) support that we get.
"We put all of our resources back into the team."
In a sense, Attanasio was giving a how-to for other, smaller markets to follow. The Rays and Brewers are both consistently lauded for getting the most out of players and positive workplace cultures. It seemingly is something almost any team can do.
The Brewers and Rays got here without any help. Come December, and into February when CBA negotiations get even more contentious, Attanasio, at least publicly, seems poised to offer that helping hand to larger-market teams like Pittsburgh who have come nowhere near the Brewers' track record of eight playoff berths in nine seasons.
"I think the fact hat two teams like the Brewers and Rays - we hear all the time we play baseball the right way - I think that's good for baseball," he says.
"So whatever that means relative to revenue systems or otherwise, I think if you have a more competitive set, you can have more exciting baseball."
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 01: The Washington Nationals formally introduce their new Washington Nationals President of Baseball Operations, Paul Toboni at Nationals Park in Washington, DC on October 01, 2025. (Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The looming lockout hangs over baseball like a dark cloud at the moment. All indications point to no CBA agreement being reached by the December 2nd deadline. Once the sport is locked out, no moves can be made. That means there could be a flurry of activity before December 2nd.
According to industry insiders, that seems to be a likely outcome. There is precedent for this as well. Back in the winter of 2021, both Corey Seager and Marcus Semien signed with the Rangers right at the lockout buzzer. Super agent Scott Boras also hinted at this taking place.
From @ByMcCullough: MLB’s lockout is coming. Before it arrives, baseball insiders expect a free-agent frenzy. Unlocked and free to read. https://t.co/MJdFIEQii9
With this in mind, could the Nationals make an early strike on the market. It is certainly possible. If this is the year that the Nats want to spend, getting it done early would be a wise move. You do not want to get beaten to the bunch in a fast moving market. The lockout creates a soft deadline of sorts.
The Nats can take advantage of that soft deadline in a number of ways. This market could create a sense of desperation on the trade block as well. As we all know, CJ Abrams’ name has been on the trade block for about a year now. If the Nats want to move Abrams, getting it done before the lockout would be smart business. Insider Robert Murray listed Abrams as a player who could get moved before the lockout.
The best MLB trade candidates before the lockout, per @ByRobertMurray
– William Contreras – Jeremy Pena – Steven Kwan – CJ Abrams – Zach Neto – Reid Detmers
Paul Toboni has proven to be an aggressive deal maker early in his tenure with the Nats. This market place could be frenzied, and I think Toboni will be involved. I am not sure what moves he will make, but I would bet that the Nats do something big before December 2nd.
Everyone knows a lockout is coming, so front offices will be well prepared for this. Based on what I know about Toboni, he probably has a model for about 50 different scenarios. The Nats have been preparing for the time between the end of the World Series and the start of the lockout for months now.
Making the team better before there could be totally different rules to the game is something I think Toboni will aggressively pursue. So buckle up, because I think the Nats could be active in these next six weeks.
This lockout truly could be a game changer. Jeff Passan has been saying that there is a real possibility that games are missed. If I had to make a prediction, I think we will have a 100 game season next year. Once games are lost, the two sides will need each other in the end.
Jeff Passan on the upcoming CBA negotiations, via @FOS:
"It’s what makes this so scary, I think, for baseball long-term. It’s a possibility that they are going to remain in their corners and no one’s going to want to come meet in the middle. And when that happens, the… pic.twitter.com/LsA7dR7JTz
The looming lockout sets the stage for a drama filled start to the offseason. Some fans complain about the slow pace of MLB free agency, but I think names could be flying off the board quickly this offseason. We will see how active the Nats end up being, but I would be surprised if they did not make at least one major move before the lockout freezes the sport.
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 21: Marcus Sasser #8 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets on October 21, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks got blown out 128-110 against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in their season opener. The game was actually quite competitive for three of the four quarters, but an abysmal second quarter saw the Mavs largely get dismantled. Only able to muster a paltry 12 points while yielding 38, Dallas couldn’t overcome the second quarter swoon despite outscoring Houston by 14 points in the second half.
Cooper Flagg looked amazing in a 32-point effort and his pairing with Kyrie Irving – who dropped 15 points of his own on 6-of-9 shooting – made for some enjoyable basketball. Aside from Flagg and Irving, Naji Marshall put together a solid game off the bench (16 points, 6 assists and 2 rebounds), but the performances largely fell off from there. Then there was Marcus Sasser.
Sasser was acquired in the large six-team deal that also netted Dallas Santi Aldama and Tarik Biberovic back in July. He was well-regarded when he entered the league during the 2023-2024 season with the Detroit Pistons, but saw his role progressively dwindle as his tenure in Detroit went on. His minutes per game dropped year-over-year, and along with that, his points, assists and rebounds per game decreased year-over-year as well. The emergence of Cade Cunningham certainly didn’t help Sasser’s cause, but what he would bring to the Mavericks remained a question mark.
A Red Oak, TX native, Sasser played college ball at the University of Houston, so even though the season opener was a road game, Sasser surely felt right at home. It’s reasonable to believe the venue contributed to his comfort level, but after missing the first three preseason games, his performance on Wednesday night was more than impressive.
First Quarter
With 6:50 remaining in the first quarter, Sasser checked in for Max Christie. Just over a minute later, he dished his first assist to P.J. Washington. 30 seconds after that, he canned his first shot; a three-pointer. He then checked out at the 3:37 mark.
Second Quarter
Sasser got about five minutes of burn and managed to get a steal in what proved to be a nightmare quarter for the Mavs. Even with little statistical output, he looked poised on the floor and showed he could orchestrate a bit.
Third Quarter
Sasser checked in, again for Christie, with 6:48 remaining in the frame and played out the quarter. He committed a foul, then drilled a three and showed off his midrange game with a made floater from 14 feet out.
Fourth Quarter
Coach May must have liked what he was seeing as the Mavs chipped away, because Sasser opened the fourth quarter. He missed his first shot from 19 feet, then canned another three. He then hit another floater from 12 feet, got fouled and hit the free throw for a personal six-point run. He had a heat check with a missed three on the next possession, but that was the last time he would miss a shot. He checked out, then returned with four minutes left in the game. From there, he committed a turnover, then grabbed a rebound which he turned into another three-pointer five seconds later.
On the night, Sasser dropped in 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting (4-of-5 from deep), and had a single rebound, assist and steal. All this in just under 24 minutes of play. Is it reasonable to expect this type of performance every night, or was this a byproduct of playing back in his old college town? We have 81 games left to find out, but what we saw Wednesday night was very promising. The Mavericks are somewhat guard-light and we should expect Irving to have his fair share of rest games throughout the season. They are going to need a true guard who can both fill that gap and otherwise come off the bench as a viable sixth man. After the small sample size of Wednesday, it’s not difficult to imagine Sasser bringing the heat in the second unit, and it’s especially intriguing to think of what he may be able to do alongside Marshall if the latter continues to come off the bench.
The cherry on top? Sasser had this to say about his highly efficient performance: “I feel like I could have played better defensively, especially impacting the ball a little more.”
Sasser has an insane 6’7” wingspan relative to his 6’1” height. The physical tools are there for a rangy defender, and the fact that his focus was on what he could have done better, as opposed to what he did well, also bodes well. Dallas may have unearthed a hidden gem from the team’s own backyard in Sasser.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 20: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 20, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs are tied for last place with a bunch of bad teams. Other winless teams the Spurs are tied with include the Bulls, Bucks, Nets, Pelicans, Suns and Kings. Not a group to be associated with. The Spurs are also tied with the “world champion New York Knicks”. Feels odd to write those words after 53 years. And because of Tuesday’s night’s game, the Spurs main rival is undefeated on the season.
And yes, the Spurs’ best player had a dreadful offensive game against the Thunder. Near the end of the second quarter, I asked my friend who was watching the game with me, “Does Victor have a basket yet?” The answer was “no”. And he didn’t actually make a “shot” all night – his one basket came in the second half on a dunk off a lob pass.
And yes, the Spurs second-longest tenured player, Devin Vassell, scored only 7 points in 31 minutes, on 25% shooting. Perhaps being forced to defend OKC bigs like Holmgren on the other end was a bit draining?
And yes, the Thunder’s best player had a great offensive game. I was surprised to see that the box score had SGA at only 13 for 27 from the floor. It felt like he didn’t miss any. It also felt like a bunch of shots were punctuated with “and one!” Which always sucks.
And yes, the Thunder’s bigs looked pretty good. Punching bag Chet Holmgren outscored Victor Wembanyama 14-12 and blocked his shot at least once, looking not at all like the cowering Chet from last season’s WC Finals. And the Thunder new kid, Aday Mara, played a very effective 12 minutes, making three times as many shots as Victor, and doing something never before seen: blocking a lob-dunk by our Frenchman. The Spanish dude might be a problem going forward.
And the Thunder defense looked very strong, not missing Lu Dort at all. Alex Caruso was his usual pesky self on D and also nailed both of this three-pointers. SGA was also great on D, getting three steals and three blocks – he is clearly ahead in the MVP race thus far in the season. (Though Anthony Edwards may want a word.)
Based on all of that, the consensus among the media, and presumably everyone who watched the game, is that the Thunder dominated the Spurs, “They just wanted it more”. An understandable conclusion, especially because of how the Thunder ended last season, having to watch the young Spurs emotionally celebrate after Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals on their own floor. And then hearing about it all summer.
I agreed with the consensus until I calmed down and looked at the box score, as coaches (and former coaches) like to do.
When I look at the box score, I first look at extra possessions by each team – turnovers and offensive rebounds. The Spurs had two more turnovers (13-11) and the same number of offensive rebounds (10). OKC took two more shots from the field, but the Spurs shot five more free throws. The Spurs also shot a bit better on those free throws – 88% t0 80%. On two-point shots, the Spurs shot better – 26-56 as opposed the Thunder’s 27-64. The Spurs also took more threes, 37-31. You can see where this is going. OKC won the game by 12 points because they shot significantly better on threes. They made four more threes than the Spurs on six less attempts. I checked my math with AI, and confirmed that four more three pointers equals 12 more points – the margin of victory in the game.
OKC outshot the Spurs from three largely because Jared McCain came off the bench to go 6-8 from three, with Caruso chipping in his two. If McCain shoots his career average, he only makes three three-pointers, not six. If Caruso misses one of his two, he is still at 50%. And if both of those things happen, OKC has 12 less points, the margin of victory in Game One of Eighty-Two. Not coincidentally, McCain was a game-high plus 20 in his 22 minutes, Caruso plus 16 in his 25 minutes.
All in all, despite the final score, with everything that went wrong for the Spurs and everything that went right for the Thunder, the game was actually quite even. So after carefully analyzing the box score, I felt a bit better about Tuesday night.
And then I looked at the Knicks-76ers box score, and felt worse again. Jalen Brunson shot 6-19 from the floor after seemingly making all his shots against the Spurs in the Finals. OG Anunoby went 1-10 from three, after shooting a bazillion percent from three (actually 50%) in the Finals. Now I am unhappy again. Stupid box scores.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 02: Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves tosses the ball to first base against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 02, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves, who won the NL East and defeated the Phillies in the Wild Card Round this season, had one of the their players honored today.
Matt Olson won Fielding Bible award today. Olson, who is a National League Gold Glove finalist with two others at first base, is number one in both leagues for this award. The Fielding Bible is voted on by a panel of experts and presented by Sports Info Solutions.
First base: Matt Olson, Braves In a very tight race with the Padres’ Ty France, Olson wins his sixth Fielding Bible Award at first base, surpassing Albert Pujols for the most won at the position. He’s now tied for second most all-time (Yadier Molina, Andrelton Simmons), trailing only Mookie Betts’ seven.
Matt Olson has been saving the Braves from poor throws since he started. But where he has really excelled this season are plays away from the first base bag. Matt Olson ranks number one by Fangraphs’ defensive adjustments to WAR. He’s also number one at first base with 12 outs above average.
In addition to the sixth Fielding Bibles, he owns three Gold Gloves. He looks to be the overwhelming favorite for a fourth one. Congratulations, Matt.
OAKLAND, CA - 1990: Todd Benzinger of the Cincinnati Reds during the 1990 World Series against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images
Sad news in the world of the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday as former 1B and 1990 World Series hero Todd Benzinger has died at age 63. The Reds helped relay the sad news earlier in the day, and tributes to him and his contributions for one of the greatest seasons in team history began pouring in.
The Cincinnati Reds are saddened by the passing of former first baseman and 1990 World Series champion Todd Benzinger.
Todd will be remembered with great affection and gratitude for his place in one of the most memorable chapters in Reds history. Our deepest condolences go out… pic.twitter.com/h3P6UWTNn1
Benzinger was Reds Country through and through, a native of nearby Dayton, Kentucky and a product of New Richmond (OH) High School eighteen years down the line. Originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox, he was shipped back to Cincinnati during the offseason before the 1989 season in a deal that sent Nick Esasky and Rob Murphy, among others, the other way. He popped 17 homers in his first year with the Reds as their primary 1B, though by the end of the 1990 season rookie standout Hal Morris had cut into his regular playing time.
That moved Benzinger into the role of pinch-hitter and defensive replacement at 1B, as he was considered by Lou Piniella to have the superior glove to that of Morris at the time. Given that Games 3 and 4 of the 1990 World Series were hosted by Oakland of the American League – at the time the only way an NL club could have usage of the DH spot – that put Morris at DH and Benzinger at 1B for one of the most memorable moments in Reds history.
October 20, 1990: The Reds secure a 4-0 World Series sweep over the favored A's to become the 4th MLB team to ever win a wire-to-wire title! #RedsVaultpic.twitter.com/LJSBBhdu4O
With 2-out in the Bottom of the 9th, Nasty Boy Randy Myers got A’s 3B Carney Lansford to pop a ball into the extensive foul ground at the old Oakland Coliseum, and Benzinger drifted deep into the grass to track a ball that those of us alive at the time would swear stayed in the air for a generation. Yet when it finally returned from the stratosphere, there was no hesitation – no nervousness displayed, no foible – as Benzinger made the generation-altering catch look as routine as if it’d been in spring training down in Plant City.
1990 has felt like a lifetime ago to so many of us who were lucky enough to grow into our Reds fandom with that team, and that weighs even heavier with the news of Benzinger’s passing today. After his playing days ended, he stuck around southern Ohio and even managed the Dayton Dragons for a time in the late aughts. He was known to be a frequent contributor to coaching at the youth level and – when Redsfest was a more regular thing – was almost always around to participate and catch up with fans.
We here at Red Reporter offer our condolences to Todd’s family and all those he touched over his 63 years, including former teammate Rob Dibble.
So sorry to hear of the passing of my teammate and friend Todd Benzinger. We were lucky enough to catch up with him recently. He was a great teammate who tolerated all of our bullshit. RIP Benzo. @Redspic.twitter.com/hohCpwqSTB
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 20: The sneakers worn by Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
TORONTO, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 26: Matt McLain #9 of the Cincinnati Reds takes an at bat in his batting stance against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning in their MLB game at Rogers Centre on September 26, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds have really backed themselves into a hole when it comes to the roster construction on their infield.
You may recall they’ve steadfastly stuck to the idea of continuing to throw millions at a right-handed, glove-first infielder who a) can’t really hit left-handed pitching all that well and b) can’t hit right-handed pitching at all. While you almost assuredly mumbled under your breath ‘yeah, Ke’Bryan Hayes,’ that’s not even who we’re talking about today.
Today, we dive into what’s become of Matt McLain.
The Reds doled out over $4.6 million to sign him after selecting him 17th overall in the 2021 MLB Draft, and he’d accrued enough service time by 2026 – a huge chunk of it while rehabbing various injuries – to earn over $2.3 million in his first trip through the arbitration process. The Reds have given zero indication that they’re going to cut ties with him despite his struggles, so it sure looks like he’ll go through arbitration again this winter and earn a modest raise on that $2.3 million salary for 2027, too.
All that despite – you guessed it – being a guy who’s become a glove-first infielder who hits from the right-handed side but can’t hit righties (and barely hits lefties).
There have been 267 big leaguers who have logged at least 600 PA since the start of the 2025 season, and McLain is one of them. Hayes, as you’d predict, owns the single worst wRC+ of the bunch at just 49, but McLain’s lackluster performance with the bat checks in at 15th worst at just 74. The thing is, though, that McLain has actually accrued 1073 PA since the start of 2025, and that’s hundreds of PA more than every single one of the 14 players who rank below him on this list – that’s because those players hit so poorly that their managers saw fit to keep them out of the lineup more often.
In fact, among the entire first page of that leaderboard (30 names), McLain is one of only two players with more than 1000 PA, the other being one of the best defensive catchers of his generation in JT Realmuto. Up the threshold then to 1000 PA and you’ll see McLain’s 74 wRC+ rank dead last among the 118 MLB players who you’d conceivably be able to call ‘regulars’ over the last two seasons, and Realmuto at 81 is the one ‘closest’ at 7 points clear.
If you aren’t yet a believer in wRC+, rest assured that McLain ranks last among those 118 in batting average (.204) and slugging percentage (.339), his .288 OBP ranking 2nd worst. Just about every way you look at the last two years, he’s been tangibly awful offensively.
To his credit is his work against LHP, which was at least within the realm of being serviceable in 2026. He hit .243/.347/.430 (.777 OPS) against them in 107 PA during the 2026 season, though that’s on the heels of hitting just .228/.328/.351 (.679 OPS) against them in 131 PA the season before. But if you look at his work against RHP over that same time, it begins to get a little ghastly.
154 MLB players logged at least 300 PA against RHP in 2026 alone, and McLain was one of them. He hit just .167/.249/.303 against them in 370 PA, and at this point you’ll be shockingly unsurprised to hear that he ranked dead last among the entire group in average, OBP, and wRC+ (52), his mark in slugging (3rd worst) within earshot of dead last.
His one potential saving grace: his .216 BABIP against RHP last year was far and away the lowest among his peers. That’s despite his soft-hit rate (15.2%) ranking 60th out of those 154 players, his 31.4% hard-hit rate a ‘reasonable’ 122nd (ahead of the likes of Kyle Tucker, Alec Bohm, Nolan Arenado, and even Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez last season). So, there’s at least a chance there was some simply awful bad luck involved here, even if the extremely mediocre .217/.291/.341 (.632) OPS he posted against RHP in 2025 came on a more feasible .284 BABIP.
Not even Statcast offers a potentially hidden solution for McLain’s woes. Everything continues to point towards the obvious, which is that the shoulder and oblique problems that derailed his 2023 and cost him all of 2024 simply handed back a completely different hitter, and that completely different hitter looks woefully overmatched at the plate against big league velocity.
His glovework is good. His baserunning is good. He’s the type of player that – at a certain cost – can still provide enough service to a Major League Baseball team even at this level of production. It’s just that the way the Reds have put together their infield, they haven’t baked in a way to maximize that skillset at all.
At 3B, they have a player in Hayes who should never set foot in a batter’s box and only plays 3B. At 1B, in Sal Stewart, they have the guy that should be their 3B. At SS, they have the best hitting player on their team at the position that, typically, you can get away with a glove-only guy since shortstop is the place where plus defense gets to be played more often, but there’s no way in hell you’re moving Elly De La Cruz off short just to maximize McLain’s glove. So, McLain gets shoved over to 2B where he doesn’t hit nearly enough to warrant playing there each and every inning.
Two infielders who should pretty much only be LIDRs and/or pinch-runners, neither of whom has enough experience to warrant being labeled as ‘potential outfielder in a pinch,’ either. Two players on the 26-man roster who you really don’t ever want to hit in any scenario. Two guys to whom the Reds will owe a combined $10 million to in 2027 who Cincinnati’s front office simply just can’t quit.
I wish I could make it make sense. Barring a miraculous turnaround in 2027, I think a third trip through the arbitration process might finally make it stop making sense for the frugal Reds, but that’s still one full year away.
PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 21: Devin Booker #15 of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on October 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The official debut of Devin Booker wearing number 15 is a game I’m sure he’d rather forget. His team lost by 41 points in the season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers, trailing by as many as 52. Hopefully I forget it too.
You can understand why Portland came out and blitzed the Suns. It was an emotional night for the fan base, one they’d been waiting more than a season to experience. After being bought out by Milwaukee in Bradley Beal fashion (the ‘ole 5-year waive and streeeeeetch), Damian Lillard returned to the Trail Blazers in the summer of 2025. But an Achilles injury kept him sidelined for the entirety of last season, leaving all that pent-up excitement surrounding the return of one of the franchise’s most beloved players waiting to be unleashed.
And unleashed it was. The Moda Center was in a frenzy. Add newly acquired Ja Morant making his Portland debut, and the recipe was ripe for an emotional tidal wave that the Suns would have to overcome. Overcome it, they did not.
“Incredibly emotional to start the game before the jump ball was even tipped,” head coach Jordan Ott said after the game. “They did the better job of using that to their advantage.”
Phoenix managed only 12 points in the opening quarter and posted its lowest point total in a season opener since 2017. Coincidentally, that team also lost to the Portland Trail Blazers, surrendering 124 points while scoring only 76. In that game, a third-year Devin Booker managed 12 points on 6-of-17 shooting, including 0-of-3 from beyond the arc.
And I know it probably doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, but at least in that game, Booker attempted three-pointers. In this game? Not one. Zip. Zero. Not a single three-point attempt.
Does anybody else find that strange? Odd? Your team is getting its teeth kicked in, desperate for points, and…nothing? You’re supposed to be the tip of the offensive spear. You’re the $57 million man. And in a game where your team needs the hemorrhaging to be stopped, you don’t attempt a single shot from beyond the arc?
It was only the 17th time in Booker’s 738 career games that he failed to attempt a three-pointer, and the first time he’d done so since November 15, 2024. And wouldn’t you know it? That was another loss in which the Suns scored only 83 points. Fun Fact: That was the night that, following an abysmal performance and the fact that I watched it whilst waiting for the Mariah Carey Christmas Special to start, we introduced Mariah Carey as a Bright Side Baller option.
Perhaps the opportunities never presented themselves. Perhaps the smothering defense of former Suns draft pick Toumani Camara (palm, meet face) was too overwhelming for Booker to get a shot off. Perhaps he’s become trigger-shy after posting the second-worst three-point shooting percentage of his career last season (33.0%), compounded by the fact that he went 2-of-16 from deep during the preseason (12.5%). But when you juxtapose that against what we saw from Damian Lillard, who went 6-of-10 from beyond the arc on his way to 25 points, it only added to the embarrassment and frustration of the night.
I’m not asking Devin Booker to become Damian Lillard. I’m asking him to recognize what the team needs from him, especially when everything around him is falling apart. We know Booker is an elite midrange scorer. We know he’s never been a high-volume three-point shooter. But at what point does that become a limitation rather than an explanation? The NBA has evolved, and the best offensive players have evolved with it. Booker is entering his 12th season, and we’re still discussing his reluctance to consistently threaten defenses from beyond the arc.
“You can always do everything better in a loss like that,” Booker told Duane Rankin of AZ Central in the locker room post-massacre. “Trying to find the flow. We have some work to do and we have some things to learn from.”
There’s a significant difference between going 0-of-8 and never attempting one. One represents a willingness to take shots the offense needs, even if they aren’t falling. The other raises questions about why those shots aren’t being taken in the first place. I’m not advocating for contested 30-footers. I’m asking why a player of his caliber can’t generate or recognize opportunities from three over the course of 29 minutes.
My concern extends beyond a single game or a single statistical category. It’s about whether the version of Devin Booker we’re watching today is capable of being the offensive engine this team needs him to be. And after last night, I think that’s a perfectly reasonable question to ask.
Ultimately, this may have been the result of a bad matchup against a big, long, physical Portland team fueled by the emotional return of one of the franchise’s greatest and most beloved players. But it also brings to the surface some familiar concerns about who Devin Booker is and what he can provide from beyond the arc at this stage of his career.
Perhaps these are merely the ramblings and musings of a frustrated fanalyst who went to open his Christmas present, only to discover that instead of the gift he’d been hoping for, he received the proverbial lump of coal. All that excitement, all that anticipation surrounding the start of a new season, and it was immediately ripped away from the fan base.
Will Devin Booker have great scoring nights this season? Absolutely. Was this a one-game aberration? We certainly hope so. Maybe Wednesday was an aberration. But if the Suns are going to have any chance of making this season meaningful, they need Booker to be more than an elite midrange scorer. They need him to be a complete offensive threat, and that starts with being willing to take the shots the modern NBA demands.
Devin Booker’s debut wearing No. 15 was one to forget.
A 41-point loss. Down by as many as 52. And in a game desperate for offense, the $57 million man didn’t attempt a single three-pointer, just the 17th time in 738 career games he hasn't.#D15APPOINTINGpic.twitter.com/KtJvtCvtYK
Dmitri Simashev always has a smile every time he’s on the ice. Whether he was down in Tucson last season in the AHL or in Salt Lake City with the Utah Mammoth, the defenseman was always in a positive mood and always willing to chat with anyone who came his way.
This season, you could maybe catch him grinning ear to ear. He’s finally accomplished his dream of being a full-time NHLer, as he’s carved out a permanent spot in the Mammoth’s bottom pair alongside Andrew Peeke. Simashev couldn’t help but show his happiness when asked how he’s doing with a full-time job in Utah.
“There are no bad days in the NHL,” Simashev said.
Simashev didn’t get that NHL spot just because of his status as a first-round pick or a highly touted prospect. The defenseman earned that spot through his hard work and his growth over the past year, grinding in the NHL and the AHL.
The defenseman started the season in the NHL last year, and while it wasn’t a horrible start to his North American pro career, it wasn’t one that met his expectations. Simashev found himself playing under 15 minutes a night. He was making errors that needed correcting. Towards December, he found himself being healthy-scratched.
That’s when the Mammoth did the right thing and sent Simashev to the Tucson Roadrunners. It was never a permanent demotion. It was a chance to improve what needed to be improved in top defensive pairing minutes. Given those minutes, it was a big chance to gain more confidence, something that was clearly missing from his game.
“When you play like 26, 27 minutes in a night, and you play on the power play and PK, you see the situations like tough minutes,” Simashev said. “When you play power play, and in the last minutes when you play PK, you're just learning every game. You have confidence. You have the confidence to do something special on the ice, and it helps you in the future because every hockey mistake, you're doing this every game. It happens every day, and when you play a lot, you know what you can do in these situations in the future.”
The move to the AHL worked. Simashev played upwards of 23 minutes per night. He was making plays that no one had ever seen from him before. The defenseman was jumping forward and getting shots on net. He was scoring goals, including an overtime winner against the Bakersfield Condors in his fourth game with the Roadrunners.
At the end of the day, Simashev produced 35 points in 40 games. That was second among all Roadrunners defensemen and rookies. The defenseman also had the longest point streak among all Roadrunners. He ended up being named an AHL All-Star and was named to the AHL All-Rookie team.
“I just tried to help the guys to win the games, and we had a really good group of guys in AHL,” Simashev said. “When I start thinking about the AHL, I enjoyed my time there. It's a nice city. There are nice guys, and the AHL is a really good league.”
Keep in mind that before the 2025-26 season, Simashev had never played full-time in a North American-sized rink. He was also never relied on as an offensive player before, as that’s not a role defensemen typically play in the KHL.
Going into this season, it was obvious the Mammoth expected Simashev to make the roster full-time. They elected to trade Sean Durzi and let Ian Cole walk in order to make room for the young Russian.
Yet, that didn’t prompt Simashev to keep working hard. After being named captain of the Mammoth’s rookie camp team, the defenseman finished the rookie faceoff tournament with an assist in two games and was a key part of quarterbacking the power play and penalty kill.
So far with the Mammoth in the regular season, he’s got two assists across 10 games after only producing one in 28 games the prior season. Simashev’s been more willing to jump into the play and get to the front of the net. Part of the reason is that he knows what to expect after a year within the Mammoth organization. He knows how to handle the everyday life of an NHLer.
That, in turn, has also fed into the other part of the improvement behind Simashev’s game: the big growth in his confidence.
“I feel way more confident, way more,” Simashev said. “I already know what to expect in the games. Whenever you play against Edmonton or Pittsburgh, I know the players, the teams. I’m getting better every day. I'm a young guy. For every young player, you have to get better 1% minimum every day. I just try to play my game. Maybe spend more time with the puck, and coaches will trust me more this year.”
Head coach André Tourigny has seen the difference. It hasn’t been in just one area either. To him, Simashev has improved in a lot of key areas where he did well last season.
“I think Sima, for me, showed a really good thing last year in terms of speed, his ability to close and puck carry, his ability to skate with the puck, his ability to jump into plays,” Tourigny said. “It's the same thing this year. Just everything better, more mature, more in control.”
It’s been a great start for Simashev this season. He’s looked strong defensively, and you can tell the offense will come, especially if he keeps making the confident plays to move the puck up the ice and to the net.
For the defenseman, he’s happy to be with the Mammoth. As he said, there are no bad days in the NHL. This is what he’s always wanted to do, and being able to do it is unfathomable for him.
“I'm living my life and my dream,” Simashev said. “It's actually unbelievable to be around these players, to play against the best players in the world. Play against McDavid, Draisaitl, and Geno. He was my favorite player when I was a kid.”
Every day is a new day of growth for Simashev. He wants to find a way to improve in every game, every day of practice, every day of the NHL. Because while his dream might be accomplished, his goal isn’t. Simashev has his mind set on one thing, and that’s trying to be one of the best players in the league.
“For me, the game for me is slowing down every day, and I think every game I'm getting better because I want to be one of the best players in this league,” Simashev said. “I just want to be a good player here.”
If Simashev can continue working as hard as he’s been over the past couple of months, there’s no telling what his ceiling could end up being. As time goes on, he will climb up the blueline and more than likely be a top-three defenseman at some point.
However, no matter how far he gets, if you ever wonder how he’s doing, he’ll give you the same answer that he gave at the very beginning of his career with a smile; there are no bad days in the NHL.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 01: Garrett Mitchell #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers steals second base as Ben Williamson #15 of the Tampa Bay Rays takes the throw at American Family Field on April 01, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Forget the TV ratings, we’re about to be treated to a World Series between two of the most well-rounded, fundamentally sound teams from the 2026 season. For as much as the Brewers’ and Rays’ small TV markets and low payrolls will dominate narratives during the Fall Classic with the CBA expiration looming, this year’s World Series will feature the team with the best record in the NL taking on the team with the best record in the AL. What that says about the health of the sport overall and the owners’ push to ostensibly and artificially improve competitive balance I will leave for you to draw your own conclusions.
Over the next two days, we will preview the offenses and pitching staffs stacked up against one another. The Brewers and Rays met once in the regular season, way back in the second series of the year in the opening days of April. The Brewers won that three-game series at Miller Park handily, dropping the first game, 3-2, before recording back-to-back victories with score lines of 6-2 and 8-2. If that series is any indication of what we’re in store for, their could be fireworks in the coming days as the two teams combined to hit nine home runs across those three games.
Today, we’ll preview the offenses and tomorrow, we’ll cover the pitch side of things.
Milwaukee Brewers
103-59, 1st NL Central Defeated Padres in NLDS, 3-1 Swept Dodgers in NLCS, 4-0
The Brewers finished the regular season with the third-most position player fWAR in MLB at 26.1. They had a clear identity over the 162, working deep counts, drawing walks, and putting the ball in play. Their .258 team batting average and 10.6-percent walk rate were both tops in the majors while their collective 107 wRC+ placed them third. However, they also finished second-worst in the league with 154 home runs.
Interestingly, they have flipped the script on that narrative in the postseason. Their .250 postseason batting average is still tops among the 12 entrants, but their ten home runs lead all playoff teams as they are the only team to post a wRC+ above 100 in the postseason. Many of those home runs have come in high leverage moments, none bigger than Jake Bauers’ go-ahead two-run homer at Dodger Stadium late in Game 3 of the NLCS. Others have set the tone early, like Jackson Chourio’s homer to lead off that game against Blake Snell to become the franchise leader in postseason leadoff home runs at just 22 years old.
They have difference makers throughout the lineup, with five of their nine regulars hitting above a 100 wRC+ in the playoffs. Chourio leads the way with his seven RBI, but to my surprise has not done much else otherwise as his 48 wRC+ in 38 plate appearances would suggest — you just wonder how much more explosive the offense would be if he could really get it going. Instead, the burden has fallen on William Contreras and Jake Bauers to consistently shoulder the load. Contreras has the highest postseason wRC+ (212) of any player in the World Series and is the engine of their offense batting .367 with three home runs and five RBI. Bauers has been their most clutch hitter and a threat from the cleanup spot with one home run, six RBI, and a 151 wRC+.
Brice Turang finally got some hits to fall against the Dodgers after an anonymous NLDS against San Diego, but you still expect a lot more out of the player who led the Brewers offense with 5.9 fWAR. Christian Yelich and rookie Cooper Pratt have benefitted from some serious BABIP luck, while Sal Frelick, Luis Lara, and Joey Ortiz have been automatic outs at the bottom of the lineup. However, David Hamilton could be an X-factor, the former Boston speedster getting red hot against LA.
They will likely face the buzzsaw of Drew Rasmussen and ALCS MVP Freddy Peralta in the first two games, but are able to counter by packing their lineup with as many as six lefties against that pair of righties. However, the Rays starters could pose a unique problem to the Brewers lineup. Milwaukee usually grinds pitchers down by drawing walks thanks to the second-lowest chase rate in baseball. However, they tend to struggle against higher velocity fastballs. Rasmussen doesn’t issue walks while the Rays unlocked Peralta by convincing him to throw his fastball harder in the zone — both pitchers thrive pounding the zone with heat and that’s not a pitch the Brewers are best at handling.
Tampa Bay Rays
98-64, 1st AL East Swept Yankees in ALDS, 3-0 Defeated Guardians in ALCS, 4-2
The Rays’ offensive identity is similar in many ways to the Brewers. They tied the Brewers for the major league lead in average (.258), and finished right behind their soon-to-be opponents in fourth with 23.8 position player fWAR and tied for fifth with a team 104 wRC+. They hit 15 more home runs during the regular season but still finished in the bottom-third of the league. The biggest difference saw Tampa favor more of a bat-to-ball approach than a patient one. Whereas the Brewers led the league in walk rate while carrying a league-average strikeout rate, the Rays were bottom-third in walk rate but struck out the least of any team at just 18.8-percent.
As with any Kevin Cash team, this Rays team did their winning on the margins. They squeeze every last drop out of their roster through executing the fundamentals — moving the runner over, taking the extra base, getting the run home from third with less than one out, etc. It is how they were by far the largest over-performers of their Pythagorean expected win-loss of any team in baseball, winning eight more games than their +86 run differential would have suggested.
They faced more determined opposition than the Brewers did in the LCS, the Guardians pushing them to six games. It was a bit feast or famine in that series, the Rays scoring seven runs in two games but three or fewer in the other four. Like every other offense other than the Brewers, they have largely struggled against top-tier postseason pitching, with an 82 wRC+ across their nine games.
Tampa’s offense appears way more top heavy than the Brewers. During the regular season, they were powered by the three-headed monster of Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero, and two of the three have certainly brought it this postseason. Díaz is the unequivocal driving force batting leadoff, slashing .308/.341/.564 with two home runs, four RBI, and a 151 wRC+, his Game 6 home run putting the final nail in the Guardians’ coffin. Caminero hasn’t quite hit the heights of his regular season, when he became the first player since Eddie Matthews to post consecutive seasons of at least 40 home runs before turning 24, but his two-run homer in Game 6 was a dagger to raise his wRC+ to 127 in nine games.
Aranda’s 96 wRC+ might fall well short of his regular season mark of 123, but the Rays have discovered a new hero to take his place as an impact contributor. Richie Palacios has been a league-average role player in his five regular seasons but has exploded these playoffs with a .364 average and 141 wRC+ despite remaining the only Rays starter not to draw a walk yet in the postseason.
Otherwise, at first glance, it appears there are a whole lot more black holes in the Rays lineup than their opponents. Chandler Simpson, Liam Hicks, Jonny DeLuca, Victor Mesa Jr., and Taylor Walls all sit below a 65 wRC+ this postseason, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. While perhaps not productive in the main, the lineup has shown a remarkable knack for getting hits with runners in scoring position — Díaz, Caminero, Palacios, Aranda, Simpson, and Hicks have all driven in at least four runs across the two series they’ve won.
Unlike the Brewers, the Rays absolutely punish the fastball, particularly Díaz and Caminero. That should make for a blockbuster matchup against Jacob Misiorowski in Game 1, the presumptive NL Cy Young’s triple-digits fastball already getting knocked around by the Padres and Dodgers. It should also give them a distinct advantage against Milwaukee’s high octane bullpen, who were able to blow away LA’s aged, slowing bats with sustained gas.
Despite making the NHL roster out of training camp, the St. Louis Blues have placed Zach Dean on waivers for the purpose of being assigned to the Springfield Thunderbirds.
Dean had an impressive pre-season and training camp. He flashed his speed and skill on multiple occasions, earning a roster spot to start the season. He started the season as an extra forward, but due to injuries, found his way into the lineup.
Dean dressed in three NHL games but recorded no points. The 23-year-old averaged 9:58 of ice time, recorded no shots on goal, and won 41.7 percent of his faceoffs.
Dean will return to the Thunderbirds if he clears waivers. The former 2021 first-round pick has played 96 AHL games, scoring 14 goals and 32 points in his career.
Ultimately, Dean wasn't a factor in his limited appearances to warrant staying on the NHL roster. The Blues also likely felt Dean was better off playing in the AHL and continuing to develop, rather than watching games from the press box.
This week, the Blues recalled Aleksanteri Kaskimaki and Otto Stenberg, who are set to play their second consecutive game.
Currently, the Blues have six players on the injured reserve, but Alexey Toropchenko appears close to returning, as he's been skating with the Blues in non-contact. If Toropchenko is near a return, there is no need for Dean to be on the NHL roster.
Placing Dean on waivers carries some risk, but with most NHL rosters either at full capacity or at the salary cap limit, teams are less likely to claim players off waivers at this point in the season.
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