Australia may have the ascendancy after two days of rain-affected play at St George’s Park, but South Africa still have hope they can salvage a result in the second Test.
Emerging star squanders golden maiden ton chance as forgotten opener sends message — Wrap
Ollie Peake’s reaction said it all.
'Everything changed' for Freddy Peralta with Rays. His old Brewers mates will find out.
Freddy Peralta was raised as a pro in Milwaukee, got lost in New York, found the greatest version of himself in Tampa Bay and now returns where it all began.
Only this time, he'll be climbing the biggest stage in baseball: Freddy Peralta and the Tampa Bay Rays vs. the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2026 World Series.
Peralta willed that scenario into reality Monday, Oct. 20, when he stretched his American League Championship Series shutout streak to 11 ⅔ innings and won Game 6 of this battle against the Cleveland Guardians, a 7-3 triumph that sent Tampa Bay to its third World Series in franchise history.
Peralta walked off with ALCS MVP honors, as he won Game 2, picked up two huge outs in relief in Game 4 and then won the clinching Game 6. It's just what he's been doing of late.
Since Aug. 26, Peralta has gone 7-0 with a 0.89 ERA in 10 games, including playoffs.
The Rays have won all 10 games.
"He's kind of put us on our back," Rays manager Kevin Cash acknowledged.
And who could have imagined that at the end of July, when Peralta was marooned in Queens with a 4.99 ERA after he was perhaps the most significant disappontment on a highly disappointing New York Mets team that thought acquiring him from Milwaukee was the last piece of a championship offseason.
They gave him a lifeline, though, dealing him out of last place in the NL East and into the penthouse of the AL East, acquiring three Rays minor leaguers in the deal. Suddenly, Peralta had new life, and no ill will toward his old employers.
"I’m very grateful for the Mets organization. They traded for me because they trusted my talent, trusted my career, and they support me," Peralta said in a postgame interview with TBS. "They were always taking care of me, trying to make me get my confidence back. They were really good about it.
"For some reason, it wasn’t able to click. But when I got here, everything changed."
Oh, did it.
Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder has nearly an entire pitching staff of reclamation projects and optimized arms. Yet he had barely two months to work with Peralta before the playoffs.
No matter. Snyder gradually got Peralta to improve his extension down the mound and get his vaunted fastball up in the zone. Gradually, it kicked in and for the past nearly two months, Peralta has been unbeatable.
"You know, it feels so good," Peralta said in his MVP press conference, "because of the way that we've been working on the little things - not only the pitching coach and all that, I mean everybody, from the trainers, people that helped me to feel better with the massage and all that, it's been amazing, great communication.
"They've been awesome with me. They've been giving the best of themselves to make me feel good on the field every day."
This will likely be a short-hop stay in Tampa Bay. Peralta is a free agent at year's end, one reason why Milwaukee traded him with a year of control left. With this World Series matching lower-revenue clubs, it's likely Peralta will find his way to a club more willing to pay a premium.
But there's a World Series to play in the meantime. Peralta admits it will be a little emotional facing old mates, seeing familiar faces, his life as a two-time Milwaukee All-Star and a Tampa Bay ALCS MVP colliding.
"I think that they are great," says Peralta of the Brewers. "They are amazing and we are very similar teams. I don’t know how the people, the fans are going to take it. But I’m happy to go over there. I have a lot of people I love over there, people who care about me, who happen to be there.
"To be able to compete and...take a lot of pictures and videos. Because it’s something that probably won’t happen again."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Everything changed' for Freddy Peralta with Rays. His old Brewers mates will find out.
Bucks sign Pete Nance to (another) two-way deal
After a nervous few days in which the Bucks waived Pete Nance from the non-guaranteed deal they signed him to in July to cut their official roster to 16—and then waived Kevin Porter Jr. yesterday to bring it to 15—the team announced that Nance has indeed signed another two-way contract to return to Milwaukee for a third season. This will be the 26-year-old’s final season of two-way eligibility.
Why was it a nervous few days? Well, as we wrote in the latest edition of Heard ‘em Say, by waiving Nance, the Bucks reportedly risked the very real possibility of another team snapping him up on a standard contract—something Milwaukee couldn’t realistically offer without taking a significant financial hit. Remember, the Bucks were already going to have to eat one standard contract—which ended up being KPJ’s $5.39m deal—and it seems clear they didn’t want to eat two. Cutting Nance was always going to be the “easy way out” because, as I mentioned, his standard contract was non-guaranteed; however, doing so carried risk, as Nance’s ability has clearly broken into the mainstream.
Make no mistake: while Nance will be on a two-way deal with the Bucks, Jenkins won’t treat him like a two-way player. I doubt he’ll even play much with the Wisconsin Herd this year; instead, I’d wager guys like Bogoljub Markovic and Nate Ament will spend more time in Oshkosh. Clearly, Horst and his team were shrewd enough to convince Nance to allow them to take advantage of the fact that he had a year of two-way eligibility remaining—which saves them having to sign him to a standard deal to keep him—but conversations were surely had about how that contract does not reflect the plans Horst and Co. have for him, both for this season and in the future. Just don’t be putting anything in writing, eh, Jon?
Nance is coming off his best season as a pro, averaging 5.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG, and 1.0 APG, shooting 42.0% from three, in a career-high 15.7 minutes per contest. All three of Milwaukee’s two-way contracts are now occupied.
In surprise, Joshua Jefferson will be ready Wednesday
Joshua Jefferson, the 6’9” 23-year-old point forward taken at No. 28 in the Draft, has been the forgotten man this summer. Because of NBA regs, he couldn’t join the Nets Summer League team until the first game in Las Vegas. No practice, just a review of the playbook and the results were as expected: some smart plays but with the caveat that things will take time. He also was recovering from an ankle injury sustained in his final days at Iowa State. In three games, he averaged 7.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
Then, he couldn’t practice in training camp, couldn’t play in any of the four preseason games because of back stiffness. Just three days ago, he was seen running wind sprints, seemingly not near activation…
So it was a surprise when the head coach announced Monday that Jefferson had participated in practice and would be ready for Wednesday’s game vs. the Charlotte Hornets.
“[Joshua] will be available, yeah. He just practiced, contact practice, and did a great job. I’m happy to see him back. He’s had a buildup and today he played with the rest of the group,” Fernandez said. Whether he makes his debut in the opener remains Fernandez decision.
Jefferson has the Nets excited despite the long road and injuries. He fits the Nets requirements of positional size, versatility and quick thinking. He can play next to Egor Demin or step in for him.
Indeed, according to insiders, the Nets demanded the exchange of picks — the 28th Timberwolves pick for the Nets 33rd — that got him to Brooklyn as part of the multi-team Julius Randle deal. Those same insiders said Jefferson was always an organization target. Scouts believed that if he had been younger, he would have done higher. Jefferson, in fact is the Nets oldest first round pick since Mason Plumlee in 2013. He’s also the ninth oldest player on this year’s roster.
At Media Day, Jefferson talked about his NBA role and how it will likely change from what he played at Iowa State.
“I think [creating with the ball in my hands] is a big part of who I am as a player,” Jefferson said as Erik Slater reported. “Creating for others, making the job easier and getting open shots for my teammates. It’s going to change a little bit with the amount of weapons that we have.
“So just getting it off the glass and then pushing in transition and playing out of closeouts and stuff like that is how I’m going to continue to integrate my game. Just making quick decisions with the ball, given I probably won’t have the ball as much as I did in college. So just understand that I’ve got to be effective in the opportunities that I get.”
As of Monday, only one Nets player — second round pick Tyler Bilodeau — won’t be available. The two-way is out with a shoulder sprain.
- Nets first-round pick cleared for season-opener after missing preseason – Erik Slater – Clutch Points
- Nets’ Joshua Jefferson available for season opener vs. the Hornets – Shareef Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY
Cubs’ Finances Could Be Unsealed in Rooftop Suit Ahead of CBA Fight
As Wrigley View Rooftop appeals a federal judge’s decision granting summary judgment to its neighbor, the Chicago Cubs, and entering a permanent injunction blocking the rooftop owners from selling tickets to watch games, concerts and other events at Wrigley Field, the two sides are waging another battle with implications that could extend far beyond Wrigleyville.
The sides are arguing over whether U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman should unseal the trial court record and all the financial information, contracts and potential trade secrets it contains.
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The timing is especially important given that MLB is expected to institute a lockout after the current collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1.
The labor dispute will concern numerous issues, but at its core will be money, including how MLB revenue is divided between owners and players and the owners’ push for a salary cap. There are fears the lockout could extend well into 2027 and lead to lost games.
In professional sports labor disputes, players’ unions often argue that teams are more profitable than they claim. Unsealed financial records from the Cubs could attract attention well beyond this litigation, including from the MLBPA as it prepares for a potentially contentious labor fight.
Unpacking Wrigley View Rooftop’s arguments
In a memorandum authored by Matthew De Preter and other attorneys from Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa, Wrigley View Rooftop offers several arguments in hopes of persuading U.S Coleman to unseal the record.
Wrigley View Rooftop highlights that the Cubs “chose to bring this case” and thus “chose to put information at issue in the presumptively public forum of the Federal Court system.”
Unlike litigation in federal court, arbitration and mediation are generally conducted outside the public judicial process and often subject to confidentiality arrangements. Wrigley View Rooftop maintains there is a “strong presumption” in favor of public access to judicial records.
Last year, Coleman denied Wrigley View Rooftop’s motion to dismiss on the grounds that an arbitration provision in a prior settlement agreement was an “improper mechanism” for dismissing the Cubs’ lawsuit. In 2004, the Cubs settled litigation with rooftop businesses, including Wrigley View Rooftop, through agreements that allowed the businesses to sell rooftop access in exchange for payments to the Cubs. The team’s agreement with Wrigley View Rooftop expired on Dec. 31, 2023, and while the Cubs struck deals with other rooftop businesses, they didn’t do so with Wrigley View Rooftop.
Wrigley View Rooftop insists that the Cubs should not “hide behind its self-anointed confidentiality designations to shield the public from the full record of the case and prevent” Wrigley View Rooftop from “fully responding.”
To that point, Wrigley View Rooftop objects to some of the media coverage of the litigation. One specific grievance is with the headline for Sportico’s Aug. 17 story, “Cubs Slam Wrigley View Rooftop as ‘Parasitic’ in Legal Battle.”
The story summarizes and analyzes the Cubs’ criticism of Wrigley View Rooftop’s business model of selling seats and concessions to ticket holders to watch events at Wrigley Field, a business model the Cubs portrayed as parasitic. (To be clear, the Cubs used the word “parasitic,” and Sportico wrote about that.) Wrigley View Rooftop also objects to several stories and videos published by other media.
Wrigley View Rooftop maintains that “the bias of this coverage” reflects the Cubs’ redacting information in court filings to present the team in a more favorable light.
The Cubs, Wrigley View Rooftop insists, “pick and choose what information” to reveal in court filings “so as to unfairly frame” the Cubs’ image “while deriding” Wrigley View Rooftop. The company maintains it would be in the “public interest” for the record to be released.
In addition, Wrigley View Rooftop argues the Cubs have violated the terms of a confidentiality order issued by Coleman, who set parameters for the two sides to discuss which materials ought to be designated as confidential and sealed. Wrigley View Rooftop maintains that the Cubs haven’t explained the rationale for opposing the removal of confidentiality designations.
Wrigley View Rooftop also objects to the sealing of information regarding the Cubs’ installation of signage and screens that partially block rooftops’ views into Wrigley Field. These screens and signs “are within the plain view of the public” and ought not to be considered trade secrets, Wrigley View Rooftop charges.
The company also contends that if it is “parasitic,” as the Cubs charge, the Cubs could have stopped any misappropriation “simply by installing opaque screens that fully blocked the view into Wrigley Field.”
Unpacking the Cubs’ counterarguments
The Cubs offer a starkly different perspective on this topic.
Through a brief authored by Martin Roth and other attorneys from Kirkland & Ellis, the Cubs argue that it is unconvincing for Wrigley View Rooftop to ask Coleman to unseal documents both parties agreed to keep sealed—including documents Wrigley View Rooftop wants sealed—on the basis that the sealing “has somehow rendered [Wrigley View Rooftop] unable to speak to the press.”
The Cubs, which say they’re open to unsealing some documents with appropriate redactions, object to unsealing the entire record, particularly given that both sides have “legitimate business needs for confidentiality” that include “privacy required to protect the Cubs’ trade secrets or their customers’ personally identifying information.”
The Cubs also argue there’s no case precedent for the proposition that “an inability to effectively persuade the media of a party’s position requires widespread unsealing of an entire Court record.”
Further, the Cubs insist the media coverage hasn’t favored the team.
To that end, the Cubs note that last week ESPN published a feature based on its interview with Wrigley View Rooftop owner Aidan Dunican, with the headline “Inside a Wrigleyville Rooftop Owner’s Fight with the Cubs.”
The ESPN story, the Cubs highlight, contains “professionally curated photographs of Dunican on his rooftop, interviews with his friends, supporters, and neighbors, and commentary from an attorney who formerly represented the rooftops in previous iterations of this dispute.”
The Cubs also point out that four of the story’s first five paragraphs mention the screen the Cubs installed, “the only specific issue [Wrigley View Rooftop] claims” it has been “unable to talk about,” the Cubs charge.
In that same vein, the Cubs argue nothing has prevented Wrigley View Rooftop from discussing the case publicly, and the public hasn’t “faced any barriers” to discussing it, either.
The Cubs point out that unsealing the case record would expose customers’ names, contact information and personal credit card numbers.
Further, the Cubs argue that unsealing would reveal “highly sensitive information, such as specific pricing, costs, margins, growth strategy, and financial projections for multiple products (such as game tickets, concessions, apparel, and more),” as well as other materials that are “routinely sealed.”
The Cubs point out that it’s not just the team that has an interest in protecting this information from public review—it’s also other MLB teams. Unsealing, the Cubs say, “would harm the Cubs and potentially other Major League Baseball stakeholders if this information were publicly disclosed.”
To support this point, the Cubs note that Coleman “made no findings” as to precise dollar figures for Cubs expenses and thus didn’t publicly disclose finances. Instead, Coleman offered more generic projections as they were sufficient for purposes of reaching legal conclusions.
“That a baseball team would incur expenses related to ballpark operations, payroll, construction and equipment, and related topics is obvious and comports with the Court’s comment that it also relied on ‘common sense,” the Cubs write.
In addition, the Cubs note that sharing “detailed financial information,” including the Cubs’ contracts with other rooftop businesses, runs counter to the fact that the Cubs, Wrigley View Rooftop and other rooftop businesses are all, to some degree, competitors.
The Cubs’ contracts with other rooftop businesses could contain “highly sensitive competitive information such as audit rights, margins, and payment terms,” the disclosure of which, the Cubs insist, “could harm competition in a competitive market environment.”
In the days ahead, Coleman will issue a ruling on whether to unseal all, some or none of the documents. It’s fair to say that readership of whatever is unsealed would extend well beyond the Cubs and Wrigley View Rooftop.
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Ring Night Preview: Knicks vs. 76ers, October 20, 2026
Waiting for a new season can be excruciating, tiresome, and hard. It can feel like an eternity. As a fan, you are usually left with questions: why did the past season go up in flames, and what needs to happen to finally, please, finally do better in the future? To somehow reach that goal that many franchises chase for decades. Or 53 years, to be exact, as the Knicks had.
Of course, our beloved ‘Bockers ended that wait, and everything felt a lot different this past offseason. It was the dream that we never wanted to stop dreaming, the summer we all never thought was possible. While others lived and died by some unknown rookie’s shooting form in Las Vegas, we were busy scheduling Late Night TV gigs, rewatching YouTube highlights 24/7, and emptying bank accounts for the next very special and definitely not limited championship edition of some sort. The Knicks, and we as fans, deservedly basked in the glory of the franchise’s third title, an event that will never be forgotten and will be cherished forever. And yet a new season is still knocking on the door.
A rarely up and mostly down preseason for the Knicks didn’t exactly worry anybody, but now the time of, “Ahh, we’ll get em next time” is over. The real games begin this week, and if New York is ready for the challenge yet is anybody’s guess. The Knicks have shown their mental fortitude plenty of times, especially during their magical playoff run that led them to the NBA’s promised land last June. But dialing up your focus on a night when a banner goes up in the rafters and the players get their championship rings is something entirely different. Imagine focusing on your daily tasks when your biggest life achievement is seemingly celebrated by everybody? Except, of course, by the guys who flew their helicopters down I-95 to derail the festivities.
Sixers hope to spoil Knicks’ big night
28.3, 26.9, 20.9, 28.7, and a meager 16—those are last year’s point averages for Philadelphia’s projected starters this upcoming season. To say that they got a bit of scoring potential would be an understatement. Somehow the 76ers found a way to turn one of the ugliest roster setups in the Association into a serious, realistic “All In” push for a championship. After the Boston Celtics basically gift-wrapped Jaylen Brown in a trade for them, they also got some good news from LeBron James, who decided that his last basketball stand should be in Philly.
Mike Gansey, Elton Brand and Jameer Nelson, the newly formed braintrust behind the Sixers’ surge, also managed to complement the headline-grabbing moves by making some smart additions along the edges of the roster. Dean Wade and his nagging defense arrived from Cleveland, the lazy but gifted Anfernee Simons signed for little money after an unremarkable stint in Chicago, and former NBA champ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will be counted on to provide veteran leadership. On top of that, the Sixers found Labaron Philon Jr. in the Draft, a lanky, creative combo guard who won’t score the 22 points per contest he put up for Alabama but who will clearly add another dimension off Philly’s bench.
But even if the rest of the roster is more solid than usual for a freshly formed top-heavy superteam, in the end everything will come down to Philly’s big guns next season—for better or worse. Individually, they are maybe the most talented group in the entire league, and all their stars have big-time playmaking potential next to their obvious scoring punch. Nick Nurse will have the mammoth task of somehow cramping all these individuals into a collective game plan and already tried to do so in the preseason. What ultimately transpired, though, was less five guys pulling on one string and more turns of creating advantages in selected two man games. Which could already be quite a lot in Philly’s case.
Massive potential, question marks for 76ers
The new look Sixers have gigantic potential in the pick-and-roll and can utilize all sorts of different weapons. Imagine defending Tyrese Maxey’s drive around a Joel Embiid screen first and then also matching up with a LeBron James-Jaylen Brown two-man game on the weak side. As a cherry on top, you have VJ Edgecombe flying in along the baseline. Yeah, not really fun—at least not for most teams in the league that will already be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of talent Philly can roll out on any given night. How often they roll, of course, is one of the many questions surrounding this group.
Because for all their potential, the 76ers are rail-thin in the frontcourt after former Knick Ariel Hukporti ruptured his Achilles. Fate has it that this is exactly the spot where Philly has to count on Joel Embiid to at least be somewhat healthy, something he isn’t exactly known for, to say the least. The talkative center seemed to have shed a few pounds in the offseason and probably looked healthier than he did in a long time lately. Yet make no mistake, those banged up knees are still there and will be an enormous obstacle for any type of defense the Sixers will try to muster. Especially beside an aging LeBron James who needs his off nights more often these days, too.
Besides the daunting task of managing a roster crying for chemistry and load management, at the same time the new Philadelphia 76ers might present one of the more interesting social studies basketball has seen in years. A self-absorbed, in his eyes always underappreciated, streaming Aficionado mixing with an even more self-absorbed, aging superstar who needs the limelight like flies need you know what – lean back and watch some terror on the squad unfold. It surely can get interesting. For Philly, only as long as the 7-foot-1 floppy disc doesn’t want to be treated like a leftover and joins in on the fun, as well. Their promising young, exciting and likable backcourt, you ask? Well, there’s always the backseat. All jokes, opponent’s wishful thinking, and LeBronisms about happiness aside, this thing could fall apart before Embiid’s first scheduled night off.
A banner going up at the Garden
On Tuesday, you can bet that the Liberty Ballers will try to avenge some of their latest playoff losses at the hands of the Knicks. They have way more to prove than New York, and that motivation alone might be enough to offset some of the obvious Xs and Os challenges Philadelphia faces against Mike Brown’s guys. We all saw what Jalen Brunson and his friends did to Joel Embiid in the pick-and-roll last season, and there is no reason to believe they can’t do it again this year, too.
Opening Night often is about more than Xs and Os, though. It’s about managing emotions, shaking off rust, and getting accustomed to live game action again. It’s about dealing with new teammates, new expectations, and your body feeling different than it did half a year ago. For the Knicks, it will be a tightrope act of celebrating past accomplishments while caring about a contest dwarfed by those deeds. They wouldn’t be the first veteran-led title team that mismanages a night like that.
But even if things don’t go well on the court for the Knicks, do not despair, fans, as hard as it might be to watch LeBron and company prance around MSG like they won something meaningful. They won’t have, unlike what your Knicks did in June, which will be celebrated for one more night and for good reason. Many things (like players’ hairlines) aren’t forever; banners and titles are, though. Enjoy every minute of the celebrations and let the game unfold as it may. Let’s go Knicks!
Game Details
Who: Philadelphia 76ers (0-0) at New York Knicks (0-0)
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC
TV: NBC
Follow: @ptknicksblog
Injury Report
Backup center Adem Bona missed the preseason for Philly with a foot sprain but practiced again on Sunday unlike Domenick Barlow (back) and Dean Wade. Wade is a game time decision due to a bum ankle sustained in the preseason finale. Josh Hart is dealing with his own ankle injury for the Knicks but figures to be available.
Penguins' Rust Exits Game Against Utah With Injury
Going into the 2026-27 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins began with the most players on injured reserve and/or designated non-roster with 10.
They've slowly been crawling back to full health. But they may have been dealt another blow Monday, and it involves one of those players who were injured to start the season.
Forward Bryan Rust, who began 2026-27 on IR with an upper-body injury and missed the opening three games of the season, left the second period of Monday's game against the Utah Mammoth with a lower-body injury and did not return.
Rust, 34, has three goals in six games on the season.
The Penguins have dealt with several injuries to their forward unit so far this season, as Rust, Justin Brazeau, Ben Kindel, Egor Chinakhov have all missed games. In addition to the NHL squad, forwards Tristan Broz, Oliver Okuliar, and Melvin Fernstrom were also on IR to begin the season, although all have since returned.
On the blue line, Sam Girard was injured during Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, and Trevor van Riemsdyk is still on IR with a lower-body injury and rehabbing in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins next play Thursday at home, when they host the Florida Panthers. No further update on Rust has been provided.
Report: Penguins Are Willing To Deal Veterans. What Does That Mean?According to a new report Saturday, the Pittsburgh Penguins and GM Kyle Dubas are ready to open the doors for a youth movement.Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Freddy Peralta named ALCS MVP for the Rays
After Tampa Bay finished off the Cleveland Guardians and punched their ticket to the Fall Classic, the Rays took the stage for the trophy ceremony, and when Kevin Cash announced Freddy Peralta — who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Mets after a rough start to the year, bought into the Rays adjustments, and delivered when it mattered most — as the winner, the look on the Dominican-born former All Star’s face was one of shock and joy, reactions equally perfect for the moment.
This was the ultimate redemption arc.
After posting a near-5.00 ERA in 22 starts with New York, Peralta found new life in St. Petersburg. The Rays made mechanical adjustments (pitching from the stretch, speeding up his delivery, and emphasizing leg drive to improve the direction of his hips) and the results were immediate. He went 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 10 regular-season starts for Tampa Bay, earned AL Pitcher of the Month in September, and then carried that form into October.
The right-hander was credited two wins while allowing just one earned run across the ALCS, logging key innings in three of the Rays’ four victories, including as the starter in the Game 6 clincher.
Throughout the ALCS, he was “Fastball Freddy” at his finest, pumping 98+ mph and elevating the talent and spirit of the clubhouse. As great of a pitcher Freddy is today, he is seemingly an even better person. But this award has an additional bit of magic.
Freddy Peralta spent years as a Milwaukee Brewers mainstay, having led the National League in wins in 2025 for the Brew Crew, and then navigated a turbulent 2026 to reach this moment. Now the Rays head to the World Series to face the Brewers in a matchup of clubs still chasing their first title. And in a fitting twist of fate, it’s former Rays first baseman Jake Bauers who was named MVP for the Brewers to bring these two franchises to this moment. It’s difficult to write a better script than that.
Whatever happens next, Freddy Peralta’s ALCS performance will be remembered as the turning point of Tampa Bay’s run: from trade-deadline project to series MVP in a matter of months.
So tonight, raise a glass (or a fastball) to Fastball Freddy. The American League champion Rays wouldn’t be here without him.
Rays win American League pennant in 7-3 win over Cleveland
The Tampa Bay Rays forced the Cleveland Guardians to win or go home in their home ballpark, and the Rays closed the door on Cleveland’s World Series dreams to advance to the Fall Classic for the third time ever after Monday’s 7-3 win.
It was a bold strategy for the Guardians to decide to roll with a bullpen game in an ALCS elimination game, and unfortunately for Cleveland, the bullpen game giveth, and the bullpen game taketh. The pitching plan certainly did not go as manager Steven Vogt planned, and the AL Central champs ended up needing three arms just to get through the second inning alone. By the time they brought in their eighth pitcher of the game,it felt like everyone in their bullpen made an appearance at some point. As for Tampa Bay, righthander Freddy Peralta held the Guardians to just one run over 5 1/3 innings while manager Kevin Cash was able to rely on his relievers for the last few stanzas to shut Cleveland down and send the Rays to the World Series to face the National League juggernaut in the Milwaukee Brewers.
Both offenses were active throughout the game, tallying seven hits apiece, but the Rays blasted two, two-run bombs to combat their 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and eight left on base, while the Guardians went 1-for-6 and left nine stranded. Tampa Bay even attempted to hand the game over to Cleveland in the eighth after walking and hitting back-to-back batters with the bases loaded and cut their lead down to two, 5-3, but the Rays bullpen prevailed tonight while the bats flourished in big moments to secure the series.
Peralta was excellent regardless of his three walks, and caused Cleveland batters to whiff 14 times (35% whiff rate), with nine of those coming from his fastball. The righty’s fastball was on fire in Game 6, accounting for two of his three strikeouts while averaging at 97.1 mph, nearly 3 mph higher than his 94.3 mph average throughout the season. On top of that, the one run that he surrendered this evening was the lone run allowed in his 12 innings tossed during the series, ending the series with a 2-0 record, 0.75 ERA, and the ALCS MVP award.
It also helped that Tampa Bay provided plenty of run support for their pitchers, which proved to be extremely important after a near-collapse in the top of the eighth inning. Three of Tampa’s seven hits were for extra bases, and all three of them tallied two runs a pop: a double from Richie Palacios in the second, and a bomb each from Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero, while Jonny DeLuca’s sacrifice fly accounted for the seventh run.
After Junior Caminero mashed his two-run shot in the bottom of the seventh, the Rays held a four-run lead, 5-1, with just six outs needed to end the game. Tyler Wells had entered the game for Tampa and though he navigated two outs, both Chase DeLauter and Nathaniel Lowe reached base and caused Cash to bring in Ian Seymour. That choice was almost detrimental to the Rays, as Seymour quite literally handed Cleveland a pair of runs solely because he couldn’t throw a strike, but thankfully Kevin Kelley shut that down by striking out Brayan Rocchio to get out of the inning. Watching Rocchio strike out on a pitch in the dirt rather than take the lead on a grand slam was quite beautiful to witness, because had that been the White Sox you just know that’s what would have happened.
The unsung hero of the game for the Rays was Taylor Walls, who reached base four times including three walks: the perfect output and patience from a nine-hitter. His third walk of the night in the bottom of the eighth was the catalyst of the Yandy Díaz shot heard around the world, which erased the two runs that Cleveland had just earned, and effectively sealed the series.
While I still firmly believe it should have been the White Sox losing to the Rays, it was an exciting series and is almost a relief to know that the Guardians only played four more games than the South Siders did. The Fall Classic will kick off Friday night, October 23, in Milwaukee, in a battle of the small markets right before a lockout. Baseball really can be beautiful.
Devils Hope Their Depth Can Compete Against Top Teams Like The Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils matchup will make a hockey fan from a certain generation nostalgic. For Devils fans, it’s a bit of bitterness from the 2001 Final, where they had a 3-2 series lead and couldn’t seal the deal in the dynasty run. For Avalanche fans and hockey fans at large, it provided one of the most iconic hockey moments of the 2000s, with Ray Bourque hoisting the Cup to put a bow on a Hall of Fame career.
Memories: Bourque wins the Stanley Cup after 22 yearsOn June 9, 2001, Ray Bourque finally lifts the Stanley Cup after 22 years in the League, as the Avalanche beat the Devils in Game 7 of the SCFFast forward 25 years, and the Avalanche and Devils play both of their season series matchups in October. On Tuesday night, both teams are looking for a bounce-back, with the Avalanche eager to rebound from a 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers and the Devils hoping to shrug off the 4-2 defeat to the Washington Capitals.
The Devils don’t have the star power to go up against the Avalanche. Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Hischier are great players, but they aren’t the game-changers that Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are. MacKinnon and Makar have combined for a Hart Trophy, two Norris Trophies, a Conn Smythe Trophy, and two Stanley Cup titles while establishing themselves as two of the top five players in the NHL. That said, the Devils have the depth to beat elite teams like the Avalanche, or at least they should have enough.
The Devils Revamped Their Depth This Summer
All the moves that general manager Sunny Mehta made this offseason give the Devils a complete roster. Specifically, the forward unit has improved, with multiple new faces making an impact, whether it’s Luke Evangelista, Anthony Mantha, or Evan Rodrigues.
Through eight games, it’s clear that the Devils have the depth to go up against the best teams in the league. Sure, the loss to the Capitals showed the gap between a good and great team, but the 7-1 win over the New York Rangers put their ability to come at teams in waves on full display.
This Is The Best Time For The Devils To Have A “West Coast Swing”The Devils' next eight opponents are out of the conference. With the team still searching for an identity, this is a good time to face opponents they won’t see often. Even the defense and goaltending have new faces. Declan Chisholm is the extra piece for the defense, while Rémi Poirier was claimed off waivers to help the goaltending. While they haven’t made much of an impact so far, especially Poirier, who has yet to play for the Devils, both should be valued reinforcements at some point.
Avalanche Are Powered By Stars But Added Depth Of Their Own
The Mikko Rantanen trade halfway through the 2024-25 season was a sliding-doors moment, a defining moment for the Avalanche and how they’d build their roster moving forward. It showed a shift in their team-building process. Yes, they traded away a star, but they focused on depth and now have plenty of it.
The Avalanche also added depth players over the years. Brock Nelson and Nazem Kadri were acquired at the 2025 and 2026 trade deadlines, giving the forward unit two centers who can move up in the lineup. Brent Burns was signed in the 2025 offseason to help the defense.
Devils Notebook: Average Start, Who Is Heating Up, Interesting Data & MoreEvery Sunday of the NHL season, Mike Fink empties out the notebook with some thoughts, quick hits, and anything in between on the New Jersey Devils. Plus, the handful of players the Avalanche have developed in the American Hockey League with the Colorado Eagles have rounded out the roster. TJ Hughes was a pleasant surprise in training camp and is suddenly a bottom-six forward who adds a scoring touch. By all means, this is a different Avalanche team, not the top-heavy group fans got used to over the years.
Some Keys To Watch In Tuesday’s Game
After missing three games, Evangelista was back at practice and is expected to return for Tuesday’s game. The question is how he’ll look after missing a week of action. Ideally, he’s the difference-maker on the wing that he was in the first five games of the season.
The Devils have also battled a handful of injuries to start the season. Johnathan Kovacevic returned to the defense last week, and it forced Sheldon Keefe to leave Brenden Dillon out of the lineup. With the way Chisholm progresses, Dillon has become the seventh defenseman or the odd one out.
Devils Defensive Woes Are Becoming A Red Flag: Should Mehta Address It?The 4-2 loss on Saturday afternoon was another display of the shortcomings on the defensive end. The Devils must find fixes. The question is whether the fix comes from within or if a change is needed. The Avalanche are playing the second of a back-to-back, driving up the New Jersey Turnpike after a 3-2 loss to the Flyers. It helps the Devils, who have three days off and will face a tired Avalanche team. It doesn’t help that they face a team eager to return to the win column.
Speaking of the back-to-back, the Avalanche started MacKenzie Blackwood against the Flyers. So Scott Wedgewood is the expected starter against the Devils. He played three seasons with the Devils, and his .908 save percentage and 2.77 goals-against average were underwhelming, but in hindsight, something this team would love to have. Wedgewood has been a much-improved goaltender since joining the Avalanche, with a .920 SV% and a 2.03 GAA in his three seasons with the team. Sometimes, a great defense in front helps.
Brewers-Rays World Series inspires both dreams and nightmares around MLB
It’s a dream World Series matchup for the Major League Baseball Players Association, which has been shouting to the world that baseball’s competitive balance is just fine, and there is absolutely no reason to dramatically change the economic system.
It’s a nightmare World Series matchup for Major League Baseball, which has stressed to everyone who’d listen that that a salary cap is desperately needed, even running advertisements into the the postseason.
It’s a dream World Series for the fans of two small-market franchises whose shrewd front offices continually outsmart their big-spending brethren.
It a nightmare World Series for the TV executives with two small-markets – including one which failed to even sell out several games of the postseason – that could lead to the lowest ratings in World Series history.
It’s a dream World Series matchup if you love the underdog, and learn about players you’ve never heard of in your life. It’s a nightmare if you love star power, with only one MVP, one presumptive Cy Young winner and not a single veteran with a ticket into Cooperstown.
Either way, it’s the Tampa Bays and the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series.
This is the first World Series between two small-market franchises since the Florida Marlins and Cleveland in 1997.
And it’s the first time in 35 years that two World Series teams ranked among the bottom half of spending when the Minnesota Twins (15th out of 26 teams) and Atlanta (19th) met in the 1991 World Series. The Brewers have baseball’s 19th-lowest payroll and the Rays have the 25th-lowest.
No matter who wins, we will have the first small-market World Series champion since the 2015 Kansas City Royals.
While Bruce Meyer, executive director of the players union will be vehemently arguing to the assembled media that there’s no reason for a salary cap (“Don’t believe what you hear from the owner who’s complaining") and commissioner Rob Manfred and MLB executives will be laying out reasons why a cap is essential for baseball’s future (“It defies human experience to ask a fan to think that the bottom end of that gap has the same opportunity to win as the top") two plucky small-market franchises will be fighting on the field for the first World Series championship in their franchise history.
The Brewers, who haven’t been to the World Series in 44 years, and the Rays, who have twice been to the World Series since 2008 but came up empty, are two of baseball’s last five franchises who have never won a title – joining the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Colorado Rockies.
Once we get past the rhetoric whether this matchup is great or god-awful for baseball, we’ve got two teams who have proven all year that they are the best teams in baseball and belong on the big stage.
The Brewers won a franchise-record and MLB-leading 103 games, winning the NL Central in a runaway and cruising though the playoffs, sweeping the two-time World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
The Rays won an American-League leading 98 games, capturing the powerful AL East, and survived a grueling six-game series against the Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS.
Next stop, saving the grand ol’ game of baseball, with these two teams showing that you don’t need $700 million players. They are the antithesis to the three-outcome brand we’ve become accustomed over over the years.
These two teams, who met the first weekend of the season with the Brewers winning two of the three games at American Family Field, are actually mirror images of one another.
Their offenses put relentless pressure on you. They don’t strike out. They put the ball in play. They run. They hit-and-run. They bunt. They steal bases. They have speed. They play exceptional defense.
This will be only the second World Series since 1918 that each team stole at least 162 bases during the season, with the Brewers the first World Series team since the 2014 Royals to have more stolen bases than home runs.
Then, there are intriguing similarities:
The Brewers have The Miz (Jacob Misiorowski). The Rays have The Raz (Drew Ramussen).
The Brewers have 22-year-old Jackson Chourio. The Rays have 23-year-old superstar Junior Caminero.
The Brewers have beloved captain and team leader Christian Yelich. The Rays have beloved unofficial captain and team leader Yandy Diaz.
The Brewers have speedster David Hamilton. The Rays have Chandler Simpson, perhaps the game’s fastest player.
The Brewers have a powerful bullpen led by closer Trevor Megill. The Rays have a powerful bullpen led by closer Bryan Baker.cThe Brewers have NLCS MVP Jake Bauers, a former Ray. The Rays have ALCS MVP Freddy Peralta, a former Brewer.
The Brewers have one of the shortest teams in baseball with three primary players who are 5-foot-10 or shorter: (Luis Lara (5-7), Sal Frelick (5-9) and Williams Contreras (5-10). The Rays have one of the shortest teams with three players who are 5-foot-9 or shorter: Cedric Mullins (5-7), Richie Palacios (5-8) and Taylor Walls (5-9).
The Brewers don’t have a single everyday player who was signed as a free agent. The Rays don’t have a single everyday player who was signed as a free agent.
The Brewers badly wanted two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline, only to be out-bid by the Dodgers. The Rays badly wanted Skubal at the trade deadline and were outbid too.
The Brewers acquired their MVP, Christian Yelich, in a trade. The Brewers acquired their MVP candidate Junior Caminero, in a trade.
Milwaukee prides itself on bratwurst. Tampa Bay prides itself on Cuban sandwiches.
Two brilliant organizations, each finding the edge through analytics and scouting, with the Rays having more pro scouts than any team in baseball, going head-to-head in what looms as a riveting matchup.
This World Series should be an absolute doozy.
No matter who bothers to watch.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brewers-Rays World Series inspires both dreams and nightmares around MLB
How Ben Simmons' Achilles injury derailed his NBA comeback and intriguing documentary
One of the biggest moves the Sacramento Kings made during the offseason was taking a chance on former All-Star Ben Simmons, who missed all of the 2025-26 season to focus on rehabilitation recovering from lingering injuries in his back and knees.
His resurgence was profiled by ESPN in its E60 series "Being Ben," a 60-minute in-depth documentary that goes behind the scenes into Simmons' thoughts and emotions upon his return to the NBA and overcoming past wounds.
The documentary, hosted by ESPN's Andscape senior writer Marc Spears, premiered on ESPN on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 4 p.m. ET. The nonfiction motion picture took a peek into Simmons' life away from the NBA, how he's processed his career up to this point and what he has been up to during his time away.
Simmons was a free agent before choosing to commit to Sacramento, and there was tremendous interest in his comeback story. However, all the excitement for the documentary's release was derailed just hours later when the Kings announced Simmons tore his right Achilles tendon during a live practice drill, likely ending his season before it even began.
Spears told USA TODAY in a phone interview that he spoke to Simmons a day before the documentary aired and that he was excited for the film. Spears said the injury occurred "likely, probably within the hour" before the documentary debuted.
"It's sad because after people watched it, I think it sets in and the resonation with it was extremely strong and people are feeling it and digging it," Spears said. "And then all of a sudden you just get this gut punch after you just watch this documentary of what just happened to Ben."
The Kings will continue to honor his contract, so Simmons' $3.5 million is still guaranteed, which means he won't have to go through rehabilitation alone. He'll have the support of the Kings organization.
Members of the organization voice support
The Kings are certainly distressed about Simmons' injury but have pledged their support in his rehab journey.
Kings rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. told reporters that losing Simmons is "bad news" and "changes a lot" but provided words of encouragement and support for him.
"We're all here for him. We his brothers," Acuff said. "We just want to continue this journey for him. He got us with him through everything. He has a family in us. Just really praying for him and hope everything goes well."
Kings head coach Doug Christie was about to make Simmons a captain. He worked his way into the starting lineup during the preseason after he was initially projected as the backup point guard to Acuff.
Christie called the injury a "gut punch" to the team.
"We all love Ben and (we're) going to support Ben," Christie said. "A part of it is this is sports and that's where we have to come in here and be the breath underneath their wings to lift them. We'll be there for him. He'll be there for us as we work our way through it."
Guard Malik Monk summed it up the best, saying the team was obviously upset about the news.
"It definitely wasn't supposed to happen that way with all the work that he put in just to come back," Monk told reporters Monday, Oct. 19. "For him to not even make it to the regular season, we're just bummed out for him. I feel like everybody is."
The Kings have had their injury list grow rapidly before they even could play a regular-season game. Monk has an ankle injury he's slowly coming back from. Maxime Raynaud is recovering from a knee injury he suffered in a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors. Dylan Cardwell had to get a tooth replacement early in training camp.
"The Kings right now, it's one thing that [you] have some injuries through the course of the season, but all these injuries before you even play one game is certainly debilitating to the team, no pun intended," Spears said.
Simmons' doc still offers plenty of intrigue
Simmons' injury could not have come at a worse time. He was just getting into basketball form. Christie was looking at making him a starter, naming him a captain, and it appeared the Simmons' comeback was alive and well.
Now that comeback is delayed for presumably another year.
"He felt like he got his super cape back," Spears said. "He was mentally healthy, physically healthy. And I also think he was much stronger than he's ever been. People, I think, forget that, he's all of 6-foot-10 and I think he probably put on about 20 pounds of muscle at least from the last time he played. So, it was great to see him with his physical and mentals back, like see what he could potentially be."
Spears believed that Simmons was as good as, if not better than, anybody on the Kings during the limited stints he had during preseason. There was "certainly a reason to be excited about him and what he was doing," Spears said.
"I think the city of Sacramento and their fans weren't the only ones that seemed like they were rooting for him," Spears told USA TODAY. "It seemed like NBA fans all over the world were rooting for him. I mean, he's still going to have his haters. You know that that doesn't change, but I think he had a lot more love than he did hate and a lot of people were rooting for him."
Simmons was entering his eighth NBA season and his first season with the Kings. He has career averages of 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.9 blocks per game.
Although his preseason numbers were a shell of that, it was the potential to get back to his previous form that provided excitement in California's capital. Still, despite Simmons' season coming to an abrupt end, Spears says there's still power in the ESPN film documenting Simmons' trials and tribulations.
"I really hope that Ben's injury doesn't dissuade anybody from watching this E60," Spears said. "I'm really, really proud of it. I think it's extremely great and people will learn a lot about him. He's pretty unapologetic and not really trying to like sway how everybody may feel about him. I think he's just being himself. I think what's next for Ben is, it's just not over.
"There is a next for Ben. He's only 30," Spears added. "I think it's important to like check out this documentary to learn more about him and, who knows, maybe we decide to add a chapter, to the next chapter of Ben Simmons. He's gonna stay in Sacramento and rehab with the support of the franchise. So, again, he's not doing [it] alone. But I think it just makes his story, this latest pitfall for him even more intriguing, because before the injury, just looked like the guy that you saw in Philly, but with more confidence with his shot. I'll be really excited to see where he comes from here."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Ben Simmons' Achilles injury derailed his NBA comeback and intriguing documentary
Peralta, Caminero, Díaz lead Rays to 7-3 win over Guardians and a trip to the World Series
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Freddy Peralta threw 5 1/3 gritty innings, Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz each hit a two-run homer and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night to advance to the World Series for the third time in the franchise’s 29 seasons.
The Rays will face the Milwaukee Brewers in the first matchup in which both teams are seeking their first World Series title since 1980, when the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals.
Game 1 is Friday night in Milwaukee.
The loss extended Cleveland’s World Series championship drought to 78 years.
An Early Look at the 2027 Guardians
The season is over and I can’t quite let go of my beloved Guardians yet, so let’s take a super early look at the 2027 roster.
If the grief of the season being over is too near, save this article to read for a later day.
First, it’s important to remember that we are unlikely to see baseball games until about Memorial Day. The owners seem set on trying to get a salary cap, the players will never allow that, and owners won’t start to see pain from TV deal issues unless the season starts after June 1st. So, I’d predict labor strife goes until around April 25th, a deal is struck and in place by May 1st, spring training for a month, and then a 100-game season starting somewhere around May 31st. You heard it here first, so don’t stress about the lockout. I plan not to.
When the Guardians take the field, whom do I expect to see there?
Hitters:
Catcher: Patrick Bailey and Austin Hedges
Comments: If Hedges moves on, I’ll believe it when I see it. After a 100 wRC+ season, I suspect he returns for one more run, this time with Bailey taking more of a full-time role. I expect Kody Huff to see plenty of time on the roster as a third catcher and backup first baseman, also.
First Baseman: Ralphy Velazquez and [Outside Addition]
Comments: I know there are folks who will object to this, but the Guardians have another Chase DeLauter-type hitter in Ralphy. Hand him the keys to first base on opening day and don’t look back.
The number one spot where the Guardians need to upgrade offensively is in finding a right-handed hitter who can fill in at first base and DH to upgrade over David Fry. Fry is simply a C-grade option there, and we need a B to A- option. The Guardians tried to upgrade last offseason with Rhys Hoskins. Fail. This year there are three primary options… but are any of them likely to be better than Fry? Ty France (the most expensive of these options), Alec Bohm and Ryan Mountcastle are the free agent names, or they can try to shake someone like a Spencer Steer free in a trade. From August 1st to September 28th, Fry put up a 113 wRC+ vs. LHP but Vogt seemed to have almost no confidence in him to deliver in that role in the playoffs, and that’s certainly understandable. Are any of the four names above especially likely to improve from what Fry can offer? I don’t know, but I think they have to try letting Fry go and trying a different option.
Second Baseman: Travis Bazzana
Comments: Props to Bazzana who has made himself an acceptable defensive option at second base and, with an offseason of prep, should be ready to make the necessary adjustments at the plate to become a consistent threat offensively, while improving defensively as well. I wouldn’t entirely rule out moving him to the outfield with Welbyn Francisca ending the 2026 season on a huge heater.
Shortstop: Brayan Rocchio and Angel Genao
Comments: I’d like to see Genao get a genuine opportunity to win the shortstop job in Spring Training. Rocchio is a good player to have, but I’d really like to see if the Guardians can manage to get more from the position on the offensive side of things given that Rocchio is not a game-changer defensively. I know we are all ready to cut him after this playoffs, but he is a valuable player. Just not an ideal first division shortstop.
Third Baseman: Jose Ramirez
Comments: Reports of his demise were greatly exaggerated. He will be good again. Mark my words.
Left Field: Angel Martinez and Cooper Ingle
Comments: Martinez had a good 2026, but, we are seeing in the playoffs why it is unwise to plan on him being a reliable piece in a major league lineup. If Angel is going to continue to run a first percentile chase rate, he will not produce as a bat in the long term. Pitchers will simply stop throwing him meaningful strikes, just as they did with Oscar Gonzalez, Jhonkensy Noel and Franmil Reyes before him. Personally, I’d like to see the team commit to an offseason plan for Ingle to play left field full-time and let him have the position to start the season.
Center Field: Steven Kwan and Petey Halpin.
Comments: Do not trade Kwan. Try to extend him. But, if you can’t extend him, hold him for the season, let him go for a comp pick and hope Aaron Walton or Jaison Chourio is ready to take this spot in 2028. Halpin is an adequate 13th man on the roster and should not be seen as more than that.
Right Field: Jo Adell and Chase DeLauter
Comments: So, Adell, currently, would be set to rotate at right field and DH with DeLauter. And, we can all see that Adell is best used as a platoon bat against LHP. Will the Guardians for once in their life be in play for a big time free agent like Seiya Suzuki, Randy Arozarena? I HIGHLY doubt it. Do they have plans to bring Kyle Manzardo back into the fold as a DH? It doesn’t seem like it, nor is that some kind of sure thing. Can they pull off a huge blockbuster trade for Yordan Alvarez or Bryce Harper? In my wildest dreams, yes. In the real world, no. How about a more reasonable trade for an Alec Burleson (PLEASE), Bryan Reynolds, Kyle Stowers, Tyler Soderstrom, or Coby Mayo? Well… I can at least imagine that one of these deals could come together in November without laughing at myself terribly hard. It’s certain that even one of those names would make me feel 100% better about the lineup entering the 2026 season. Otherwise, it’s back to hoping Martinez finds some plate discipline, that Manzardo rediscovers his 2024 form, that Ryan Cesarini continues to tear through the minors, or maybe that George Valera’s late season surge was a meaningful event (the last possibility being, admittedly, wildly unlikely). It would be so nice to put a fairly sure thing like Burleson or Stowers where only wishful thinking currently resides.
Starting Pitchers:
Three are clear: Parker Messick, Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee. Yes, it was a bad season for Bibee. I expect Bibee to get in a pitching lab and figure his way to some more whiffs and a solid #4 starter role given that trading him now would be selling him at the nadir of his value. I will say that it was a shock not to see him pitch tonight, so I wouldn’t rule out a trade. Joey Cantillo PROBABLY gets a chance to win a starting spot again, which is also fine. The question for me is who could take the #3 spot (as I try not to lament Luis Ortiz’s stupidity).
Braylon Doughty, Justin Campbell and Franklin Gomez are the most exciting options on the farm, but it’s unclear whether Doughty or Gomez will be ready in 2027, and Campbell’s extensive injury issues leave him a question mark. With a strong offseason program and a good start in Columbus (he won’t be able to play until the major league season starts because he is Rule-5 eligible, unfortunately), Campbell could become an option in fairly short order. The usual fifth starter types are around in Austin Peterson, Ben Lively (depending on what his late-season injury was…), and Rorik Maltrud. I’d like to see them move on from Logan Allen and I want Slade Cecconi in the bullpen. I wouldn’t HATE going into the season with Peterson in the number five starter role and trying Bibee and Cantillo as #3 and #4 while looking for upgrades at the deadline. Could you see the Guardians aim for a Patrick Sandoval, Trevor Rogers, Foster Griffin or Shane Bieber-type in free agency? Could they make a large trade for like a George Kirby from Seattle? I get the strange feeling that WERE they to spend some money, this is where it would happen… but probably not until after the lockout to try to snag someone looking for a seat in a wild, last-minute game of musical chairs. For now, I’ll project a rotation of Messick, Williams, Cantillo, Bibee and Peterson, and I feel reluctantly content with that as the likes of Campbell, Doughty and Gomez (and maybe even Liam Peterson?) continue to develop.
Bullpen:
Projected: Cade Smith, Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis, Colin Holderman, Daniel Espino, Shawn Armstrong and Tim Herrin. I suspect the team picks up Shawn Armstrong’s $8 million option (only costing $6.5 million because of a $1.5 million buyout he is already owed), and I like it.
Probably: I would like to see Slade Cecconi make the pen as a full-time reliever. Give him the whole offseason to think about and train for one inning at a time and he can be a high leverage option.
Other Options: Matt Festa, Craig Yoho, Franco Aleman, and Steven Perez.
Comments: I suspect we see the Guardians focus on some waiver wire/minor-league additions as usual, but I definitely wouldn’t oppose seeing them spend a little for a left-handed reliever like Sean Newcomb or Gregory Soto. I don’t find it likely, but a reliable left-handed option in the pen to make Herrin expendable would be a pretty significant upgrade.
As most Guardians fans would have told you prior to games 3-5 of the ALDS and game one of the ALCS, the biggest area the team should improve in the offseason is in hiring a hitting coach/executive from a successful hitting organization. I still strongly believe they should bring someone in to add new insights and life to the current group despite a spark in the playoffs. In fact, bring in more than one someone. This 21st ranked offense since 2019 thing needs a shakeup. The Guardians seem pretty stubborn about believing in their guys at every level, though, so I won’t hold my breath.
The White Sox are not going anywhere and will likely have money to spend. Detroit will likely only take a small step back, and the Twins and Royals are frisky. In a right and just world, the Guardians would make a trade or free agency splash in November to solidify things before the lockout, but I expect them to lean further into development where there are just enough potential pieces of value to make another run at the playoffs a good chance, currently. There are no guarantees, however, and an injury to one of their starting pitchers with the roster as it is currently would be devastating (is Gavin Williams OK?), as would Jose Ramirez not being a 120 wRC+ hitter when he has an offseason to recover.
So, let’s not ponder those possibilities. Let’s celebrate the amazing season that was, grieve what could have been, settle in for a lengthy lockout, and get ready for another year of experience and growth to give us the Guardians’ season we’ve been dreaming of all our lives. Also, I first wrote the first draft of this article after game two of the ALDS and I got to see my team play nine more games after that!