WICHITA, KS - JULY 01: Christian Zazueta #26 of the Tulsa Drillers pitches during the game between the Tulsa Drillers and the Wichita Wind Surge at Equity Bank Park on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Lathe Cobb/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES — Josue De Paula will be on the field at Dodger Stadium on Sunday whether or not he plays in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. That’s because he and Christian Zazueta will be honored on the field as the Branch Rickey Award winners as the Dodgers 2026 minor league player and pitcher of the year.
De Paula is the Dodgers’ best prospect — in MLB Pipeline rankings updated just this week, De Paula is the fourth-best prospect in the sport, to name one outlet. He hit .303/.401/.547 with a 145 wRC+ 37 doubles, 27 home runs, 31 steals, 106 runs scored, 104 RBI, and nearly as many walks (81) as strikeouts (87) for Double-A Tulsa to win Texas League MVP, more than doubling his career highs in home runs and extra-base hits.
Then De Paula made his major league debut in September, hitting a robust .323/.500/.581 with three home runs, a triple, and a double in 11 games when Shohei Ohtani was on the injured list, with 11 walks against only five strikeouts. There’s an excellent chance the 21-year-old will be active on the Dodgers’ roster for the NLDS against the Braves, and in between he reached base five times in three postseason games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, helping the Comets win the Pacific Coast League title and the Triple-A national championship game.
Zazueta didn’t win any particular league awards, but only because he split his time nearly evenly between High-A Great Lakes and Double-A Tulsa, posting a 3.65 ERA in 23 games, including 22 starts, with 144 strikeouts against only 20 walks in 103 2/3 innings. Among the 264 pitchers with at least 100 minor league innings in 2026, Zazueta’s 30.4-percent strikeout-minus-walk rate was the best.
This is the second straight Branch Rickey Award for Zazueta, who was also the Dodgers minor league pitcher of the year in 2025 as well. He’s the fourth Dodger to win multiple minor league pitcher of the year awards since the honor began in 1989, joining Chad Billingsley (2004-05), James McDonald (2007-08), and Zach Lee (2013, 2015).
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 2: Robbie Ray #38 of the San Diego Padres speaks to the media before the National League Division Series workouts at American Family Field on October 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Heading into the National League Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs the belief was that Michael King would start Game 1, Nick Pivetta would start Game 2 and Walker Buehler would start Game 3 if he was needed. The San Diego Padres ensured he would not be needed with a two-game sweep of the Cubs, which earned them the opportunity to face the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series.
As a result of San Diego’s quick work of Chicago, the Padres had two days off to rest and prepare for their NLDS matchup with the Brewers. That also allowed time for San Diego manager Craig Stammen and his staff to look at the rotation and the best way to get the most out of that group to give them a chance to win and advance to the National League Championship Series against the winner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves.
The prevailing thought, at least among much of the Friar Faithful, was that Buehler would take the mound in Game 1 and depending on how the game went, Stammen and the Padres would lineup their starters for the remainder of the series accordingly. That thought was put to rest on Friday when it was announced that trade deadline acquisition Robbie Ray would get the ball in Game 1. The left-hander has had an up-and-down tenure in San Diego since being acquired from the San Francisco Giants, but he is an established veteran with many years of experience and an American League Cy Young Award (2021) on his resume.
Ray had a season record of 10-6 with a 3.08 ERA in 22 games with the Giants, making him one of the top trade candidates at the deadline this year. The addition of the left-hander and former Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize was considered one of Padres general manager A.J. Preller’s most successful deadlines in his tenure in San Diego. Since being acquired, Ray has a record of 3-2 with a 5.02 ERA in nine games. He also had 57 walks and 107 strikeouts with San Francisco and has 27 and 33 in the same categories with San Diego.
It is surprising to see Stammen going with Ray against Misiorowski who is the clear favorite to win the Nationals League Cy Young Award for the 2026 season, but it is understandable when you consider the Padres bullpen. All that Ray has to do is get through four innings, at worst three, and San Diego can lean on the bullpen to cover the rest of the game. The roster for the NLDS has not yet been announced but the names that will surely be there like David Morgan, Yuki Matsui, Bradgley Rodriguez, Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller would be enough to cover five innings if Ray can get through four. Any additional arm like Wandy Peralta, Randy Vasquez, Kyle Hart or even Joe Musgrove would simply allow for matchup flexibility and would serve as “break glass in case of emergency” arms in the series opener.
The idea is for the Padres to split the two games in Milwaukee to give them a chance to clinch the NLDS and move onto the NLCS in front of the 47,000-plus fans who packed Petco Park in the Wild Card Series. San Diego has a clear home field advantage and the only drawback from the series against Chicago is that is no longer a secret. The Brewers know they HAVE to get two at home or they run the risk of their 103 win season coming to an abrupt end in America’s Finest City.
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 24: Angel Martínez #1 and Brayan Rocchio #4 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrate with teammates in the clubhouse after clinching a playoff berth by defeating the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Thursday, September 24, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Natalie Reid/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
(For the maximum Pump Up experience, start playing RIGHT NOW by Van Halen, right now)
Ahhh, so, here we are again. Back in October, as usual. Right at home. Another year of walk offs, of comebacks, of a race to the finish won. Of a homegrown rotation, of an underrated bullpen, of some hot bats at the right time! Some familiar faces, and hey, some brand new (this is where the cut up shows Bailey and Adell). Another division title, another season to remember. Because this is our month. Other cities may think of football and pumpkin patches for their weekends in October- but in Cleveland, it’s about the Playoffs.
(This is where it beat turns up)
It’s about the staff bulldog who chews up the innings and puts it all out there to give us a fightin’ chance. It’s about the unlikely heroes who go from the fringe of the roster, to immortality with one swing of the bat. Or the young Superstar who’s gonna take us home on the Country Roads. It’s about that fearless reliever with the right arm of God, who says anytime, any place, any one, I’ll take them out. Yeah, those guys.
And yeah, sure, Chicago thinks they’ve got them too. And don’t get me wrong, they had a good year. But now they’re the Freshmen at the Senior party, and it’s time to show them the door.
And maybe they do get a moment or two. But I didn’t come here for a moment. No, our goal is much shinier than just another soul crushing homer off an AL Central Runner-Up.
No because none of us came here for another October exit. One where we leave that empty gross taste in our mouth? No no not this year. Not another year of the Yankees and Dodgers fans getting fat and happy off a meaningless & heartless run.
Not this year. I didn’t come THIS FAR just to come THIS FAR!
No, this year something’s different. Sure, we might still have “one of the youngest rosters in the league”, but there’s something about THIS group. Throw those stat books away because in October, you know it’s about the Dudes that can have that one hot week, or hell, maybe just that one big at bat, that can make a difference. And ya know what, I know we have them…
Is this the month where Bazz reminds us why he went #1? Or where K’d says he’s everything you could have ever asked of that last Closer or Miller Time. And I KNOW Jose isn’t gonna let his 2026 be remembered for being a let down! No way-
So why not us? Why not us, right here, right now?!
(Hey, look how that worked out!)
Inspired by dozens of movies, high school coaches and promos
Things are heating up in this MLB postseason, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are back at it, with a chance to win the World Series.
If the Dodgers are successful, it will complete a three-peat, which hasn't been done since the New York Yankees from 1998-2000.
The Braves will be the first team with an opportunity to spoil that possibility in the National League Division Series.
Atlanta won the regular-season series, having won five out of the six games played while outscoring Los Angeles 26-15. The Dodgers won the first meeting before dropping the last six to the Braves.
Left-handed pitcher Tarik Skubal will be the Los Angeles Dodgers' Game 1 starter against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, Oct. 3
The Dodgers will host the first game of the series at Dodger Stadium, though the California sun is expected to play a factor.
Here's what you need to know about the forecast heading into Game 1:
Los Angeles forecast for Saturday, Oct. 3
The temperature is expected to reach 105 degrees on Saturday. The temperature will approach the record-high 108-degree day set in 1987. AccuWeather notes that the "extreme heat can be dangerous for outdoor activities."
Los Angeles, CA - October 02, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts speaks during a press conference before a team practice ahead of Game 1 of the NLDS at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES — Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium starts the 29th postseason series for the Dodgers during their record-tying 14 consecutive seasons making the playoffs. It’s the 23rd postseason series for manager Dave Roberts, who is in his 11th season at the helm in Los Angeles.
“It’s important. Just to hold serve at home I think is important. To take on a team that’s coming out of a series with momentum and then to kind of gain the momentum by winning Game 1, very important,” Roberts said Friday. “Maybe not as important as a three-game series, like we’ve been in before, but Game 1 is important. I think it just certainly sets the tone and gives you a lot of momentum.”
Since 2013, the Dodgers have played in two best-of-3 wild card series (I did not count their 2021 National League wild card game win over St. Louis as a Game 1), 13 best-of-5 NL Division Series, and 13 best-of-7 series (eight NLCS trips, five World Series). That’s 28 total series for the Dodgers in 13 years, and those series saw the Game 1 winner also capture the series 21 times, or 75 percent of the time.
Winning the first game of a postseason series doesn’t guarantee anything, nor does losing Game 1. After all, the Dodgers under Roberts are 15-7 (.682) when facing elimination in the postseason since 2016, while the rest of MLB is 80-100 (.444) in such games.
But it certainly helps getting a leg up by winning Game 1.
“Setting the tone, getting the win in that first game is very important. I think one thing we do very special here is we play today, we’re not worried about tomorrow or what we did yesterday.” said Alex Vesia, who is in his sixth postseason in his six years in Los Angeles. “Taking it one game at a time, we just want to win today. That’s something you hear, and then actually going through it, there’s a difference.”
Here’s how the numbers look over the previous 13 postseasons, in all series best-of-five or longer.
Total DS
G1 winner in series
Total CS
G1 winner in series
Total WS
G1 winner in series
MLB-wide
52
42-10 (.808)
26
19-7 (.731)
13
9-4 (.692)
Dodgers
13
10-3 (.769)
8
6-2 (.750)
5
3-2 (.600)
The Dodgers’ series since 2013 in which the Game 1 winner did not win the series were the 2017 World Series, 2018 NLCS, 2019 NLDS, 2020 NLCS, 2021 NLDS, 2022 NLDS, and the 2025 World Series.
In this particular NLDS against a Braves team that is running a bullpen game on Saturday after a taxing three-game wild card series, a Dodgers win in Game 1 (and perhaps Game 2) has a particular chance in potential reverberating throughout the Division Series.
“The advantage for us is we have an opportunity to not let their pitching staff come up for air, and how do you do that? You have to exhaust the starter,” Roberts said Friday. “You have to get in their pen, and you have to have them deploy arms as soon as possible and get that carousel going and continue to beat starters. Then you can suffocate them.
“But if you sit back and let that starter go six or seven innings, that now resets pen, and it changes the dynamic of a series. So yeah, we have an opportunity to really expose them if we take the right at-bats and the right approach.”
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Zach Ehrhard #4 of the Oklahoma City Comets bats during the second inning against the Sacramento River Cats at Sutter Health Park on July 24, 2026 in Sacramento, California (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s the start of the Dodgers postseason on Saturday, but here are some related and adjacent stories that aren’t necessarily about the National League Division Series.
Andy McCullough at The Athletic wrote about the Dodgers’ place in baseball heading into the postseason, and their role as the main antagonist for many about two months before Major League Baseball will lockout its players once the collective bargaining agreement expires. But he also wrote about the attention to detail the Dodgers have, that hasn’t gone unnoticed by players old and new to the organization. From McCullough:
“We’ve done all the little things that we’ve needed to do, and we don’t get the credit for that,” Muncy said. “We just get the credit that we’re all big names on big contracts, and that’s why we won. And that’s not really the case.”
And the organization does the little things to enhance their performance, something Skubal had understood from afar. The Dodgers made headlines when the club purchased a second plane in 2025 so the players could fly separately. After the Tigers drafted Skubal in 2018, he played in the Class A Midwest League, where the Dodgers also had an affiliate.”They had two buses in Low A,” Skubal said. “That sounds like nothing. But having your own seat on a five-hour bus ride or a six-hour bus ride, instead of having to double up or lay on the floor, it matters.”
Former Dodgers catcher Russell Martin this week was elected to the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame. The Montreal native was a two-time All-Star in Los Angeles and was a Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Award winner in 2007 with the Dodgers. Martin played for four teams in his 14 major league seasons and made the postseason at least twice with all four teams. Kevin Glew at Cooperstowners in Canada has more on Martin’s latest honor.
Zach Ehrhard rounded out a very nice season for Triple-A Oklahoma City with four multi-hit games during the postseason, helping the Comets to a Pacific Coast League title and a win in the Triple-A championship game. In those four games, Ehrhard had nine hits in 17 at-bats, including a home run and three doubles, plus three walks and a hit by pitch, for tidy .529/.619/.882.
“Ehrhard doesn’t have the upside of some of the other prospects on this list, but he’s a high-probability big leaguer,” wrote Ian Cundall at BA. “He ranks among the Top 30 prospects in the Dodgers’ system and could carve out a solid career as a backup outfielder.”
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JULY 06: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays warms up prior to the game between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday, July 6, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Alex Zadorozny/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
No, the Phillies aren’t playing today in the NLDS in Los Angeles, but baseball rolls on. All four series begin today with Chicago going to Cleveland for the first game, Atlanta taking on Los Angeles after that, New York going to Tampa Bay and San Diego headed to Milwaukee for the nightcap. All four series are interesting in their own right, so let’s see what you’re thinking.
Who is taking each series?
Nevermind today’s game, who will be moving on to the NLCS and ALCS once it’s all said and done is the question we’re trying to answer.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Gunnar Henderson #2 of the Baltimore Orioles takes a swing during game one of a baseball doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 23, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
There was no major baseball news on Friday, a planned day off for the playoff schedule. But that gets turned on its head today as all four Division Series will get underway.
The day starts at 1 p.m. with White Sox at Guardians on TBS. Braves at Dodgers follows on FOX at 4 p.m. Then it’s Yankees at Rays back on TBS at 6:30. And finally, Padres at Brewers will wrap up the day with first pitch at 8:30 on FOX.
This could be the last day of the year with more than two games on one day. Another day full of baseball is planned on Wednesday, but these are best-of-five series. The NL side of this schedule could be all wrapped up by the end of the day on Tuesday. So let’s enjoy this while we can.
Non-playoff teams have already turned their eyes towards the uncertain offseason ahead. One of the first major steps there will be arbitration decisions.
These all seem pretty straightforward. Henderson, Westburg, Cowser, and Bautista are going to be offered arbitration. Taveras, Heuer, and Suarez probably will not be.
Usually the Orioles try to avoid arbitration altogether and just get these guys signed to contracts for the upcoming season. That could even be true for the players that they do not want to offer arbitration. Albert Suárez feels like a good example there. Clearly, the organization likes having him around. They DFA’ed and re-signed him about 100 times this season. But maybe they don’t want to lock themselves into a $1.1 million salary for him. They could instead seek a standalone deal.
Arbitration time can also be an opportunity for bigger contract extensions too. Could this be the time that Henderson finally gets his massive deal? Unlikely, particularly coming off of this most recent season. Maybe someone like Cowser would be more open to it, but even that probably won’t happen.
It should be noted that this could all be impacted by the ongoing CBA negotiation. The current CBA expires on December 1 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The non-tender deadline typically falls in late November, so we should know who gets non-tendered before the CBA expires. But then the arbitration process tends to play out in January and February. So, there is plenty of uncertainty here.
Links
Early look at arbitration-eligible Orioles | Roch Kubatko Roch digs a bit deeper into the Orioles-specific arbitration considerations, including a look back at last year’s decisions. Things have changed quite a bit in the last 365 days.
The final Top 100 Prospects list of the year has a new look | MLB.com In times of big league disappointment, prospect list like this can be a security blanket for us Orioles fans. You will be pleased to know that there are now six baby Birds on Pipeline’s “Top 100” list. Three of them are in the 92-99 range, including newbie Enddy Azocar. Joseph Dzierwa was one of the biggest risers, he is up to 69 (nice) overall.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Adam Plutko turns 35 today. He worked out of the Orioles bullpen for part of the 2021 season, when he had a 6.71 ERA over 56.1 innings.
Mike Belfiore is 38 years old. The lefty played in one career MLB game, and it came with the Orioles in 2013.
Mike Johnson celebrates his 51st. The Canadian hurler began his big league career with a 14-game stint on the 1997 Orioles before he was dealt to the Expos midway through his debut season.
This day in O’s history
1970 – Mike Cuellar becomes the first pitcher to hit a home run in the LCS. His grand slam accounts for four of the seven runs the Orioles score in the fourth inning. Cuellar himself doesn’t pitch particularly well, and is yanked before the end of the fifth inning. The Orioles win anyway, beating the Twins 10-6 in Game 1 of the ALCS.
1971 – Dave McNally tosses seven innings, and the Orioles score four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning off of Athletics starter Vida Blue to win 5-3 in Game 1 of the ALCS
1986 – An Orioles loss to the Tigers assures them of their first last-place finish since the franchise moved from St. Louis in 1954.
2014 – An instant classic in Baltimore! The Orioles rough up the Tigers bullpen in the eighth inning of a 7-6 win in Game 2 of the ALDS. The four runs they score in the inning are capped off by a Delmon Young bases loaded double off of Joakim Soria.
2018 – The Orioles dismiss longtime manager Buck Showalter following a disastrous 47-win campaign.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 25: Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero #13 reacts during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays on September 25th, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This is where things get down to the brass tacks. The Yankees swept the Red Sox aside in the AL Wild Card Series, boat racing Boston by a combined score of 18-2, to fly into the ALDS with belief and positive momentum. It’s a whole other beast they’ll face in the Rays, their offense rolling into the postseason in far better shape than the Red Sox.
The Rays raced out to an AL-best 98 wins, significantly outperforming their Pythagorean win-loss thanks to one of the most well-rounded approaches in baseball. Despite sitting middle of the pack in runs per game (4.54) and slugging (.402), Tampa Bay’s offense still finished with the fifth-best wRC+ (104). Their offense has a clear identity built around power at the top, speed, and bat-to-ball prowess. They struck out the least (18.8-percent) of any team in MLB, which helps explain how they tied with the Brewers for the league lead in batting average (.258), and when paired with their AL-leading 164 stolen bases allows them to get the most out of the traffic they generate.
The ever consistent Yandy Díaz leads things off, coming off his fifth-straight season with at least a 120 wRC+. He played 154 games, slashing .293/.359/.446 with 22 home runs, 85 RBI, 93 runs scored, and a 125 wRC+ while continuing to be almost impossible to whiff and strike out. He has hurt the Yankees his whole career and that was especially true in 2026, when he batted .362 with a .944 OPS and 154 wRC+ in 51 plate appearances. The lone holes in his swing are against high-spin four-seamers from right handers up and in or middle-away, a pitch which Games 1 & 2 starters Gerrit Cole and Cam Schlittler specialize in.
Jonathan Aranda bats second coming off a season in which he batted .274/.358/.434 with 22 home runs, 92 RBI, 73 runs scored, and a 123 wRC+. However, the Yankees had his number all season, holding him to a paltry .427 OPS and 15 wRC+ in 47 plate appearances as they were able to strike him out 34-percent of the time. He has shown a willingness to chase the fastball above the zone, which happens to be a weapon pitch for all four of the starters the Yankees plan to roll out.
Those two set the table for the scariest threat in the Rays lineup: Junior Caminero. The third baseman became just the second player in MLB history after Eddie Matthews to post consecutive 40 home run seasons before turning 23. He added patience to his game in 2026, almost doubling his career walk rate to finish with a .276/.360/.524 triple slash line, 42 homers, 101 RBI, 100 runs scored, a 142 wRC+ and 5.3 fWAR while posting the highest average bat speed in the league. He holds his own against almost every pitch but does most of his damage against the heater and breaking ball. Just three of his home runs have come against the off-speed so I expect the likes of Max Fried and Carlos Rodón to feed him a steady diet of changeups down and away. Encouragingly, the Yankees were one of the few teams that managed to rein him in — in 54 plate appearances he managed just a .565 OPS and 51 wRC+ with Yankees pitchers getting him to pop it up on over 30-percent of his batted balls.
MLB stolen base leader Chandler Simpson figures to bat in the middle of the order. He was the only qualified hitter in 2026 to not hit a homer, but was also one of just seven qualified hitters to bat above .300, his 7.8-percent strikeout rate second-lowest in baseball. He’s joined in the middle of the order by Victor Mesa Jr., the rookie acquired from the Marlins over the winter and promoted mid-season to hit 14 home runs with a 128 wRC+ and 2.6 fWAR in just 79 games. Generally batting ninth is shortstop Taylor Walls, whose 74 wRC+ at first glance wouldn’t scare you yet he has managed to be a thorn in the Yankees’ side with a 120 wRC+ in 111 plate appearances over the last four years.
For the rest of the spots in the lineup, the Rays tend to go with a strict platoon. Liam Hicks usually bats cleanup against righties, the catcher posting a 130 wRC+ with as many walks as strikeouts since joining the Rays from the Marlins at the deadline, while Nick Fortes tends to start against southpaws. At second base, Richie Palacios owns a 113 wRC+ against righties while Ryan Vilade owns a 126 wRC+ against lefties. In center, Cedric Mullins is probably the one guaranteed soft landing spot against righties with his 80 wRC+, while Jonny DeLuca is a far more potent weapon when a lefty is on the mound (114 wRC+).
Put together, Kevin Cash can rely on guaranteed production at the top of the lineup while a deep bench gives him the opportunity to mix and match depending on the matchup. He has shown all season that he remains one of the best managers at putting his players in the best positions to succeed thus squeezing every drop out of the true talent level of the roster. You know the Rays are going to do all the little things right — taking the extra base, moving the runner over, getting the run in from home with less than two outs — which makes the three-headed monster atop the lineup their X-factor in this series.
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 25: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves and Mookie Betts #50 0f the Los Angeles Dodgers high five in the fourth inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park on August 25, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I have to tell you that I don’t feel great about about tonight. The starting pitching is in disarray for today. Chris Sale or Tyler Mahle won’t be able to help out. There’s Didier Fuentes, Brent Suter, Dylan Dodd and Robert Suarez as multi-inning options. JR Ritchie and AJ Smith-Shawver are also available. It will be a problem if the Braves start this series 0-1. I had the Dodgers in 4 in our preview. I would say either Braves or Dodgers in 5 if it weren’t for the quick turnaround for today. It’s not fatalism. But that’s just like, you know, my opinion, man.
So what is your prediction for Braves versus Dodgers? I want to be moved toward supporting a Braves series win. The easiest route to a win is if the Dodgers don’t hit homers. Teams that outhomered their opponents typically win 70-80% of the time. It’s more like 80-90% in the playoffs. If you consider all active roster pitchers, the Braves have the second lowest HR/FB ratio. So that’s removing the “contributions” of say, Danny Young and Aaron Bummer. After that’s done, you have a decent route to victory. The Dodgers are eighth in this statistic, so it will be tough sledding.
Of course, that’s just one factor of several to consider. And you all may have a better gut feeling than I. So let’s hear your predictions.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 02: Members of the Detroit Tigers celebrate in the clubhouse after the Tigers defeated the Cleveland Guardians in Game Three of the American League Wild Card Series at Progressive Field to advance to the American League Division Series on Thursday, October 2, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Today will be the opening of the American League Division Series between the White Sox and Guardians at 1PM ET.
Colin Holderman will not be pitching further this season. He is getting wrist surgery.
Cooper Ingle and Kahlil Watson are active in “stay hot” camp. Ralphy Velazquez is not. We will know the Guardians 26-man roster by 10AM ET.
With the Wild Card round of the 2026 MLB Playoffs behind us, it's time for the Division Series to get underway. It all starts on Saturday with all four Division Series matchups.
With that in mind, we polled the Rotoworld Baseball staff for their thoughts on how the rest of the postseason will play out. Check out our picks and analysis for the Division Series, Championship Series, and World Series.
Crawford: I don't think there's much of a difference between the White Sox and the Guardians. I think the fact that the White Sox already won a pair of postseason games on the road, both relatively convincingly, is something working in their favor. I can't quite go team of destiny or any of that stuff, but there does seem to be something about this White Sox team. I realize that's not exactly the most scientific answer, but my heart believes in the Chicago Popes.
Yankees vs. Rays
Short: The Rays and Yankees are set to meet in the postseason for the second time ever, and the first with actual fans in the building. While the Rays were the better regular season team this year, I think the Yankees are better built for the postseason. It starts with the rotation, which was the best in the majors with a 3.30 ERA, but their bullpen was even better with a 3.15 ERA. Drew Rasmussen has dominated the Yankees in his career, but New York has a level of rotation depth the Rays simply can’t match.
Aaron Judge’s status for the ALDS remains uncertain because of his calf injury, but even without him, one could argue that the Yankees have the more dangerous lineup. Their ability to change the game with one swing is something I think will win out over Tampa Bay’s small-ball style in a short series.
Braves vs. Dodgers
Pouliot: Atlanta’s pitching staff received 7 2/3 innings from Chris Sale and seven from Tyler Mahle and still seemed hard-pressed to get through the three-game Wild Card series against the Phillies. How are they going to hold up without those two to start the series against the Dodgers? Even without the relief appearance Thursday, starting Sale in Game 2 would have required pitching him on four days’ rest, which he hasn’t done since early April. As is, it looks like Sale in Game 3 and Mahle in Game 4. Maybe the Dodgers’ bats start off cold and the Braves can steal a game in Los Angeles, but as shorthanded as they are in terms of pitching depth, not having their rotation lined puts them at a major disadvantage.
Padres vs. Brewers
Samulski: The Padres have been red hot and dominated the Cubs, but I published an article before the postseason with research from the last 10 years that showed teams coming into the playoffs with tons of momentum don't meaningfully perform better than teams who struggle coming into the postseason. I might as well trust my own research. The Brewers have been arguably the best team in baseball all season. Their lineup is incredibly tough to get out, and they have possibly the deepest overall pitching staff in the postseason.
Full MLB Postseason Predictions
Writer
ALCS Winner
NLCS Winner
World Series Champion
Eric Samulski
New York Yankees
Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
Matthew Pouliot
New York Yankees
Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
David Shovein
Tampa Bay Rays
Milwaukee Brewers
Tampa Bay Rays
Christopher Crawford
New York Yankees
San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
D.J. Short
New York Yankees
San Diego Padres
New York Yankees
Samulski: I will admit my bias again when talking about why I picked against the Yankees. I just think this Brewers team is finally going to break through. The Yankees were lights out against the Red Sox, but they have been prone to strikeouts throughout the season. That can make them a volatile offense, and I think the consistency of the Brewers will win the day here.
Pouliot: A few weeks ago, I might have picked another champ, but with the Dodgers’ bullpen rounding into form, their biggest potential weakness seems gone. Edwin Díaz still isn’t a sure thing, but he was much improved after coming off the IL, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out nine in his final five innings. Roki Sasaki and Evan Phillips both hit 100 mph last week, and Kris Bubic, if he’s even needed, could prove to be a secret weapon. Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman might not be able to carry the offense at this point, but even if the Dodgers are lacking their usual firepower, they should be able to win some low-scoring games.
Crawford: I don't think the Padres are the best team in baseball. I don't think they're even the best team in their division. But I love the way they're playing now, and that bullpen, quality starters at the top of the rotation and just enough star power makes me believe they're built for the postseason, and their first-ever World Series championship.
Short: I love the Yankees’ pitching and Aaron Judge should be back eventually in some capacity, which only improves the team’s outlook for a potential World Series matchup. As opposed to their meeting in 1998, I would expect the Padres to make this one much more competitive. San Diego’s offense has been great in the second half and their bullpen is positively scary. Still, the Yankees would hold the major edge in starting pitching, and that would ultimately make the difference in my hypothetical World Series matchup.
Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado have led the San Diego Padres back to the postseason.
The duo helped push San Diego into the National League Division Series against the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers after they swept the Chicago Cubs in a best-of-3 wild card series.
The Padres will start the NLDS on the road, with the first two games at Milwaukee.
Robbie Ray has been tabbed as the Game 1 starter for the Padres. Ray has started seven games against the Brewers in his career, posting a 3-1 record with a 2.82 ERA and 46 strikeouts.
The Padres managed to win the regular-season series against Milwaukee this year, 4-2.
Here's what you need to know about the best-of-five NL Division Series, which begins on Saturday, Oct. 3:
NLDS Game 1: San Diego Padres at Milwaukee Brewers
Date: Oct. 3
Game Site: American Family Field (Milwaukee)
Start time: 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. CT/5:30 p.m. PT)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 01: Manager Walt Weiss #22 of the Atlanta Braves speaks to the media after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in game three of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on October 01, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
During Friday’s discussion with the media, Atlanta Braves skipper Walt Weiss provided plenty of updates on injured players ahead of the NLDS beginning in Los Angeles. From Martín Pérez to Bryce Elder and Tyler Mahle, Weiss provided some updates without explicitly announcing the pitching plans for the series.
The series gets underway this afternoon at 4:00 ET.
The Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees square off in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday at Tropicana Field, the opener of the best-of-five clash between AL East foes.
It's the second time the two clubs have met the postseason, the other occasion in the 2020 ALDS, a five-game Rays win as Tampa Bay went on to reach the World Series. The Rays won the division this season, outlasting the Yankees to earn a first-round bye with the best record in the AL.
"They haven't had many lulls in the season, and those handful of weeks where they've struggled a little bit, they've answered it really well," Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters. "So it's a confident group, an athletic group, and one we obviously have to be at our best to have a chance to win."
The Yankees swept the Red Sox in the AL wild card series, outscoring Boston 18-2 in the two-game series in the Bronx. Gerrit Cole takes the mound for the Yankees in the opener on Saturday while Drew Rasmussen gets the nod for the Rays.
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