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Game 1 of the National League Divisional Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers is here and it’s already looking like the bullpen is going to play a major role in any success that the Braves may have. Dylan Dodd has been announced as the starter for Game 1 and when it comes to expectations, manager Walt Weiss appears confident that the 28-year-old lefty will be able to pick up where Ray Kerr and the rest of this pitching staff left off in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series.

“He’s been a starter and he can go multiple innings. I like having that option and we had the same option with Ray Kerr,” stated Weiss. “Similar with Dodd, he can go multiple innings if things are going well and it’s a nice option to have instead of having a guy to go just one inning.”

While Brent Suter himself has yet to make an appearance in the Postseason, he definitely knows what it’s like to open. In fact, it wasn’t all that long ago when Suter himself pitched three shutout innings and struck out three batters as an opener against the Marlins. While the Postseason is a totally different animal, Suter should know what it’s like to be in Dylan Dodd’s shoes today.

When Suter was asked about the experience of coming in as an opener, Suter assured everybody listening that Dodd would be prepared for this moment like any other.

“He’s ready. We’re all ready. It’s kind of ‘all hands on deck’ mentality today for sure,“ stated Suter. ”Yeah, we definitely all want the ball. We all want to be able to help our team win and go out there against a very good lineup and attack really is the main thing, just attack.“

“He knows. He’s a pro,” continued Suter. “He’s been doing it for a while now, and he’s really good at his job. He’s a very well-prepared pitcher, just a great, great kid too. Great makeup, great kid. Super excited for him.”

Lane Thomas also spoke with the media ahead of Game 1 following his activation to the NLDS roster and it’s clear that he’s been excited to finally get going again.

“I feel good, I feel as prepared as I can be in that short time on the IL, and I’m just glad that they were able to help me get back in time,” said Lane Thomas as he talked about how he felt coming into this game. He was also asked about what it feels like to come into this game from a long layoff straight into the Postseason and while he stated that it was a tough transition, he’s also prepared to seize the moment if it comes.

“These games are tough. You expect to go out and have success but you’re facing the best teams in the league. It’s freeing a little bit — you’re not playing for stats and the season’s over so you can just go out and do your best,” stated Thomas. “It feels like Summer baseball as a kid again. It was pretty cool the last time I got to play in the playoffs — it’s freeing. The one goal is winning and it takes the pressure off trying to perform, yourself, and doing just whatever you can to get the team over the hump.”

Thomas won’t be starting today’s game but that was because Walt Weiss decided to ease Thomas into the intensity that is the Postseason. Weiss was asked about his absence from the lineup and stated that “With Lane, it was more about how he hasn’t been playing…I wanted to give him a day to run around out there. We’re going to face another lefty tomorrow and there’s a good chance he’ll be in there tomorrow.”

“We wanted to give him a day to get acclimated instead of throwing him right into Game 1 the first day he’s available. I talked to him. I let him know before I put the lineup out. That’s really what was the deciding factor with Lane.”

Another big topic of discussion is the weather. It’s one thing for it to still be warm this time of year — it is Los Angeles, after all. It’s another for the temperature to be pushing triple-digits on the thermometer, which is the case for the series-opener today. Weiss, Thomas and Suter were all asked about it but as you can imagine for a team that plays 81 games a year in Atlanta, it’s tough but it’s something that they’re used to.

“You gotta remember, we’re from Atlanta,” joked Weiss when he was asked about the temperature. “It’s not that big of a factor. With your pitching, you watch guys so there may be an effect there. If he’s in there and grinding, it could be a factor. Other than that, I wouldn’t overthink it.”

“I feel like just staying hydrated is the most important part,” said Thomas when it was his turn to talk about the weather. “I feel like this is a little cooler 98 than [what it would be in] Atlanta. So I think our guys will be prepared for it.”

With Suter being a Harvard-educated environmental science major and all that, he was asked about the environmental implications of the heat wave currently hitting Los Angeles and as you can imagine, the response was very well thought-out for it being on the spot.

“Definitely in the back of my mind, I’m like 100 degrees in October in L.A., that’s definitely not normal,” said Suter. “Obviously Super El Niño is a big thing to do with that. It’s going to be a challenge for both sides to stay hydrated, especially the position players. I don’t know how they do it day in and day out with some of this heat. Yeah, just making sure everyone is hydrated and staying loose and getting electrolytes in us for sure. It’s definitely in the back of my mind environmentally for sure.”

Personally, I’m just glad that all three of these guys knew better than to call it “Hotlanta,” so I tip my hat to them on a personal level. It’ll certainly be a scorcher in Dodger Stadium this afternoon but ultimately, it’s all about simply performing. The Braves are used to the heat and they’re used to the intensity of the Postseason — it’s all about executing and making plays now. We’ll see what happens!

Junior Caminero had been a big leaguer for 10 days the last time the Tampa Bay Rays played a postseason game. He was 20. He batted twice against the Texas Rangers in the 2023 AL wild card series, went 0-for-2 and watched his team get swept.The Rays scored one run in that series.They scored one the October before, too, when Cleveland swept them.Now Caminero is 23 and just hit 42 home runs, making him the first player in franchise history with two 40-homer seasons. When the AL East champion Rays host the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the AL Division Series on Saturday at Tropicana Field (6:30 p.m. ET, TBS), the kid who went hitless in 2023 will likely bat third.He's heard about the drought."It's baseball. It's baseball," Caminero told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday in an interview arranged by Mountain Dew Baja Blast. The brand named him its 2026 MLB Baja Blast Champion for hitting 21 home runs of 420-plus feet, the most in the majors this season, according to the company.The Rays haven't won a playoff game since Oct. 7, 2021, a 5-0 win over Boston in Game 1 of the ALDS. They've lost seven straight since.

The offense isn't the only reason, but it's a pretty big part of the Rays postseason struggles.

In their last four playoff games, against Cleveland in 2022 and Texas in 2023, the Rays went 23-for-143. That's hitting .161 in the most important games of the year. They scored two runs, hit one home run and struck out 37 times in the two 2023 games and the 15-inning loss to Cleveland alone. At one point they went 33 straight innings without scoring, the second-longest drought in postseason history.

Just one homer in four games.

Caminero hit 42 by himself this season he is a big reason there is confidence in St. Petersburg this October.

Caminero's fix isn't complicated. Play good baseball. Control what they can control. If they win, perfect. If they lose, he said, "another day is coming, so we gotta always lock in."Asked how the offense gets ready for the other team's best arms, he didn't bring up a scouting report."We don't have day off," he said. "We go to the stadium every single day."

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Gerrit Cole can tell you exactly what his fastball is going to do. Seventeen inches of rise. Ten inches of run. 96 mph.

That's the problem.

"You can count on seeing 17 inches of jump at 96 with 10 inches of run, and you're going to be in this strike zone 75% of the time," Cole told USA TODAY Sports on July 7 at Tropicana Field. "It can become a disadvantage, because it's so predictable."

He said his fastball has looked the same for 15 years. AL East teams have seen enough of it to know.

On Saturday night, the Tampa Bay Rays get another look at the New York Yankees ace. Cole starts Game 1 of the American League Division Series at a sold-out Trop against a lineup that struck out fewer times than any team in baseball.

He's 36 and pitching his first season after Tommy John surgery in March 2025. He went 10-9 with a 3.61 ERA in 22 starts. In back-to-back September starts against the Padres and Mets, he gave up seven home runs. The first three Padres he faced on Sept. 6 all homered.

Six days later, the Mets hit 14 balls hard off him, a career high. He got three swings and misses on 40 swings. Afterward he partly blamed baseball's new automated ball-strike challenge system, saying "chase and swing-and-miss across the board is down."

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers for Game 1 of the National League Division Series will have their planned nine starting position players together in the lineup for only the second time in 2026, a product of the timing of a few overlapping injured list stints throughout the season.

But that doesn’t mean all is necessarily well with a few key cogs in the Dodgers batting order.

Shohei Ohtani battled left knee inflammation since June, which was a key reason he didn’t pitch in a game after July 3, coupled with a right biceps injury that lingered in the second half and ultimately landed Ohtani on the injured list for the first time since joining the Dodgers, in September.

Ohtani, who bats second in Game 1, last homered on August 18 at Coors Field in Denver, 46 days ago. Since then, he has 11 hits in 74 at-bats (.157/.289/.214) with 11 walks, 29 strikeouts, and 18 full games without a home run. He says the time off helped him recover.

“It feels really good overall,” Ohtani said Friday, through interpreter Will Ireton. “I do feel like my swing is in a better place, feels smooth, and just a little tweaks here and there, and I’ll be ready for tomorrow.”

“I know that once the lights turn on, the postseason starts, the focus will be heightened. I expect good things. I really do,” manager Dave Roberts said on Friday. “We just haven’t seen it enough to really — for me to forecast it. I’m expecting him to play well.”

Freddie Freeman struggled down the stretch, with just one home run and five doubles over the final third of the season, while dealing with a right knee injury. Unlike Ohtani, there’s more confidence that Freeman’s injury is behind him, and that most of his last few weeks have been trying to find his swing, something the first baseman is very methodical about.

“There were times over the last couple months where the knee was a problem and I couldn’t get to the front side, so maybe I created bad habits,” Freeman explained on Tuesday. “I won’t blame it on that, I just played bad. My knee’s in a good spot now. That’s why I think the bye week is huge, personally for me I get five days to really work on my mechanics of my swing, and my knee’s in a good spot where I feel like I’ll be able to do that.”

Freeman doubled and singled off Tyler Glasnow in a scrimmage at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, and the Dodgers seemed pleased with his swing during Friday’s workout.

“[Thursday] was a big step for Freddie, in my opinion, just seeing the at-bats that he took against our guys and swung the bat really well,” Roberts said. “So that was encouraging.”

The Dodgers’ other game with these nine players are starting together was September 23 against the San Diego Padres, in the team’s 158th game of the season.

Facing a mountain to climb in a bullpen game against Tarik Skubal and the Death Star Dodgers, the Braves opted to keep Lane Thomas on the bench, despite the platoon split advantage facing the Dodgers’ lefty ace. Walt Weiss says they wanted to rest Thomas and he will be expected to start tomorrow against another left in Snell. Sean Murphy catches, leaving the DH spot for Baldwin, who is leading off. Albies bats third, getting to bat righty, with Olson and Harris stacked at 4 and 5.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers are lining up as follows:

Game Info

Game Time: Saturday, October 3, 4:00 pm EDT

Location: UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

Watch: FOX

Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM, ESPN Radio

MLB Trade Rumors has released their annual list of projections for arbitration-eligible players, and the Brewers feature a whopping 16 players on the list, led by catcher William Contreras, second baseman Brice Turang, and first baseman Andrew Vaughn.

As with everything else this offseason, the arbitration process would be frozen in the event of a lockout, which certainly appears to be the most likely scenario. Either way, the arbitration system itself could change under a new collective bargaining agreement, so these numbers may not hold even if the offseason proceeds normally.

As things stand now, here’s what MLB Trade Rumors projects:

• William Contreras (5.112 years of service): $14.6MM (Brewers hold $14.5MM club option)

Contreras and the Brewers avoided an arbitration hearing last winter, agreeing to a $9.4 million salary for 2026 with a $14.5 million club option for 2027. That $9.4 million was a new record for a second-year arb-eligible catcher. This time, the option is actually slightly below his $14.6 million projection, the reverse of last year, when the Brewers declined a $12 million option that came in above his projection.

The Brewers control Contreras through the 2027 season no matter what, so they could theoretically decline his option and try to save some money in arbitration. That’s probably not worth it, for a couple of reasons: one, Contreras is one of the best catchers in baseball, and there’s no guarantee he’d get less in arbitration; and two, they’d risk alienating their starting catcher over what could end up being a negligible amount of money. Not only would that look bad, but there are other ways the Brewers could trim payroll if they choose to. Unless the Brewers decide to trade him, it’d be a surprise if they didn’t pick up the option.

Contreras put together a season pretty similar to last year’s, hitting .270/.341/.417 (108 OPS+) with 18 homers and 94 RBIs across 147 games and making the All-Star team. However, his 2.9 bWAR was nearly a full win less than his 2025 season (3.8). He’ll be a free agent after 2027.

• Brice Turang (3.165): $9.5MM

Turang earned $4.15 million in arbitration last season as a Super Two. He followed his 2025 breakout with an even better season, hitting .268/.366/.450 with 21 homers, 100 RBIs, 102 runs, and 19 steals for 7.3 bWAR. He should finish in the top five in NL MVP voting, and his $9.5 million projection, the second-highest on the team, reflects that. Turang remains under club control through 2029.

• Andrew Vaughn (5.142): $8.5MM

Vaughn avoided arbitration with a $7.65 million deal for 2026. He opened the season on the injured list, and by the time he returned, Jake Bauers had turned into one of the Brewers’ best hitters. Still, when he played, Vaughn hit: .306/.390/.444 (130 OPS+) in 104 games, albeit with just six homers.

Next season is Vaughn’s final year of arbitration eligibility, so he and Contreras will hit free agency together after 2027.

• Trevor Megill (5.002): $8MM

Megill avoided arbitration last year by signing a one-year, $4.7 million deal for 2026. While that was more than MLBTR projected ($4.2 million), he earned every penny, posting a 2.63 ERA, 1.85 FIP, 30 saves, and 69 strikeouts over 61 2/3 innings.

Arbitration rewards saves, which is why his projection jumps to $8 million. Like Contreras and Vaughn, Megill will be a free agent after 2027.

• Garrett Mitchell (4.040): $2.7MM

Mitchell finally stayed healthy for a whole season, and the results speak for themselves: .262/.354/.416 with 11 homers, 30 doubles, and 14 steals in 145 games, worth 3.4 bWAR. He earned $950,000 in 2026, and his projection nearly triples that, at $2.7 million. Mitchell is arbitration-eligible through 2028.

• Sal Frelick (3.072): $2.4MM

Frelick is entering arbitration for the first time after the worst season of his career: .230/.295/.319 (70 OPS+) over 111 games, worth -0.5 bWAR. He’s projected at $2.4 million.

• Joey Ortiz (3.030): $2.4MM

The overall body of work isn’t eye-popping, but Ortiz found another level after moving to third base, and his season-long stats show it: .270/.328/.402 over 134 games, worth 2.6 bWAR. He’s projected $2.4 million in his first year of eligibility and might get a bit more.

• David Hamilton (3.011): $1.6MM

Hamilton came over from Boston in the Caleb Durbin trade and played all over the infield, hitting .245/.314/.336 with 30 steals in 121 games. With Pat Murphy at the helm, the fact that Hamilton led the majors with 13 sacrifice bunts means something. He’s at $1.6 million.

• Bo Naylor (3.014): $1.5MM

The Brewers acquired Naylor and reliever Codi Heuer from the Guardians on Aug. 1 for outfielder Blake Perkins and reliever Craig Yoho. Naylor hit .143 over 28 games with Cleveland before being optioned in May but posted a .903 OPS with four homers in 14 games with Nashville after the trade. He appeared in only three games for Milwaukee.

With Gary Sánchez a free agent and Contreras entering his final year of control, Naylor could get a real look in 2027. MLBTR has him at $1.5 million, which is well worth it if Milwaukee sees him as the backup catcher.

• Quinn Priester (2.134): $1.3MM

Priester spent the entire season on the injured list, ultimately undergoing thoracic outlet surgery in June. Because he spent the year on the 60-day IL, he still accrued major league service time and pay. That’s how he reached 2.134 years of service, just above MLBTR’s projected Super Two cutoff of 2.133. His $1.3 million projection is based mostly on his strong 2025.

• Angel Zerpa (4.082): $1.3MM

Zerpa avoided arbitration at $1.095 million in his first year of eligibility. His 2026 was a lost one, though: just 12 2/3 innings with a 6.39 ERA before he suffered a UCL tear that required Tommy John surgery. He’s projected for a modest raise to $1.3 million and has two more arbitration years before free agency after 2028. There’s no guarantee he’ll be ready for the 2027 season, which could make him a non-tender candidate.

• Akil Baddoo (3.082): $1.3MM

Baddoo signed a one-year major league deal with the Brewers in December but suffered a quad strain near the end of spring training and spent the start of the season on the 60-day IL. He was activated and optioned to Nashville on May 24 and never appeared in a big league game for Milwaukee. At $1.3 million, and with the Brewers’ outfield depth, he’s probably a non-tender candidate.

• Bryse Wilson (5.049): $1.1MM

Wilson’s 2026 was a roller coaster. After brief stints with the Phillies and Cubs, he signed a one-year major league deal with Milwaukee on July 10, was designated for assignment on Aug. 8, elected free agency, and re-signed with the Brewers three days later. He then landed on the injured list with a lower-back strain on Aug. 31.

When he was needed, he was solid: a 3.51 ERA over 25 2/3 innings with 23 strikeouts and just one walk. At 5.049 years of service, 2027 would be his final arbitration year. Wilson is nice to have, but he’s a depth arm; at a projected $1.1 million, he’s an obvious non-tender candidate if the Brewers need the roster spot.

• DL Hall (3.074): $1MM

Hall was one of the Brewers’ best relievers this year. In 47 appearances, he posted a 1.91 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings and finished the season worth 2.0 bWAR. The walks are still a concern (35 in 61 1/3 innings), but a $1 million projection is a bargain for those results. Non-closers tend to be undervalued in arbitration, but I’d still be willing to bet he gets more than that.

• Grant Anderson (3.007): $1MM

Anderson was a key middle-relief piece for most of the year, posting a 3.36 ERA in 59 innings across 52 appearances. He was optioned to Nashville after the Brewers added pitching at the deadline and later landed on the IL with right biceps inflammation. He’s projected at $1 million.

• Jared Koenig (2.158): $900K

Koenig’s season was pretty much the worst-case scenario. The Brewers placed him on the IL in April with a sprained UCL, which Pat Murphy called a “big concern,” and he didn’t return until late June, 81 days later. He spent much of the year in the minors (2.21 ERA) and finished with just seven big league innings and a 9.00 ERA. He’s a Super Two, with MLBTR projecting him at $900,000.

Whoops, didn’t expect today’s games to get under way quite as early as they did. The White Sox vs. Guardians game is already under way in Cleveland, but there’s currently no score at the end of the third inning. So it’s not as if we missed much. A full slate of four Division Series games under way today. I imagine we’ll be cheering on Atlanta as they take on Los Angeles. But I’m less certain about the San Diego vs. Milwaukee contest. I don’t have much love for either team, though the Padres have been more annoying of late. I’ll probably put aside my Braun hatred for the week, and cheer for the Brewers. Here is the full schedule for today, all times Arizona.

• Chicago White Sox @ Cleveland Guardians 10:00 am
• Atlanta Braves @ Los Angeles Dodgers 1:00 pm
• New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays 3:30 pm
• San Diego Padres @ Milwaukee Brewers 5:30 pm

The stage is set for the Postseason, and the Yankees have confirmed their 26-man roster for the American League Division Series.

There isn’t too much of a change from the Wild Card Series roster, but it’s worth noting that Aaron Judge is left out once again, and Ryan Weathers is available to step in as a reliever for the first time since late August. The lefty pitcher was placed on the IL with a left forearm flexor strain. The Yankees also left out third baseman Amed Rosario to make room for Weathers on the roster.

Here’s everything you need to know about each player and how they can propel the Yankees’ postseason run in the ALDS against Tampa Bay.

Position Players

Cody Bellinger: The Yankees will rely on Bellinger to give the offense some momentum, especially without Aaron Judge. He went 3-for-9 in the Wild Card Series with a home run that sealed the victory for the Yankees in Game 2. If he can stay hot in Tampa Bay, it should be enough to keep the Pinstripes on top.

José Caballero: A utilityman most likely to be deployed at third base, Caballero has the potential to be effective defensively and may get the start over Ryan McMahon. He finished September batting .163 with a .260 OBP, but didn’t get any at-bats during the Wild Card Series against Boston.

Jazz Chisholm Jr.: Jazz will likely play second in higher risk scenarios and alternate with Anthony Volpe. He went 2-for-3 with two runs and worked a walk in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series.

Luis García Jr.: After drilling a home run that helped the Yankees dominate Boston in Game 2, García Jr. will look to keep his numbers up against the Rays. He will likely alternate with Paul Goldschmidt, who does well against lefties.

Paul Goldschmidt: Serving as a reliable option at first base, Goldschmidt brings a strong veteran presence that sets the tone for the younger guys on the roster. He worked two walks late in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series that gave Ben Rice the perfect setup for the grand slam.

Trent Grisham: After making his return from the IL in the Wild Card Series, Grisham will likely alternate at center field with Spencer Jones. It’s unclear if the Yankees will use him as a starter against Tampa Bay over Jones, but keeping him available to pinch hit could be the best option.

Spencer Jones: Following his postseason debut, Jones will likely continue to build off his momentum as the Yankees head to Tampa Bay. However, if he ends up struggling to make an impact offensively, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a pinch hitter like Stanton take his place in the order.

George Lombard Jr.: A standout in the Wild Card Series, Lombard Jr. instills confidence defensively while also remaining fearless at the plate. He went 4-for-8 against Boston with three runs, and can give the Yankees support towards the middle of the order.

Ryan McMahon: Alternating with Caballero at third, McMahon is expected to make a start at least once against Tampa to test the options at third base.

Heliot Ramos: Although he didn’t play a huge role in giving the Yankees insurance against Boston, Ramos will likely start at right field if the Rays throw out a left-handed starter and otherwise prepare to get hot off the bench in the ALDS. There’s also a chance that he alternates with Spencer Jones in the field. After a bit of a cold start in Pinstripes, Ramos finished September batting .255 with a .491 slugging percentage.

Ben Rice: What else is there to say about Rice other than that he’s been the most clutch hitter for the Yankees without Aaron Judge? There’s no doubt we’ve seen the last of his electricity at the plate, and it’ll be very exciting to see how he matches up against the Rays.

Ali Sánchez: Available as a backup for Austin Wells behind the plate, it’s unsurprising that Sánchez made the roster and has the chance to appear in a low-risk scenario.

Giancarlo Stanton: Despite not getting the chance to hit in the Wild Card Series, Stanton will likely have a pinch hitting opportunity in the ALDS. One of the Yankees’ all-time leading playoff sluggers, with 18 homers, Big G might have his classic playoff moment that will leave the Rays stunned.

Anthony Volpe: After hitting a sacrifice bunt in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series that helped set the Yankees up to shut down Boston, Volpe has the potential to shine against the Rays. He will alternate with Jazz at second, and we will likely see him get the start at least once in the series.

Austin Wells: After jumpstarting the Yankees offense that totaled 18 runs in the two-game Wild Card Series sweep, Wells will look to bring the same energy against Tampa Bay. It will be fun to see him hopefully win an ABS challenge.

Pitchers

David Bednar: Maintaining his spot on the roster as the Yankees’ closer, Bednar wasn’t needed in the Wild Card Series but got some work to stay fresh in Game 2. He’ll be prepared to earn the save against Tampa Bay should the Yankees enter the ninth with a lead and continue the chase for 28.

Paul Blackburn: After giving up a hit in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series and inducing a double play that ended the seventh, Blackburn is prepared to make an impact in quieting the Tampa Bay offense.

Gerrit Cole: Getting the start for Game 1 of the ALDS, Cole will look to dominate the Rays in his first postseason outing since 2024. If needed, he will also likely be available for the Game 4 start.

Max Fried: Effectively shutting down Boston’s offense in the Wild Card Series, Fried will likely start Game 3 and hopefully keep the Rays’ offense at bay.

Brent Headrick: Maintaining consistency throughout the regular season, Headrick is expected to shine in a relief role throughout the postseason. He finished the regular season with a 2.18 ERA and 98 strikeouts over 78.3 innings. Headrick was used a lot, but did at least get three full days of rest going into today.

Carlos Rodón: If we don’t end up seeing him in a starting role, Rodón is expected to come in as a reliever and shut down the Tampa Bay offense. He didn’t make an appearance against Boston, but if he can keep his numbers from September trending in the right direction, he’ll be lights out.

Cam Schlittler: Dominating Boston in Game 1, and continuing his feud with seemingly the entire state of Massachusetts, Schlittler will surely be one of the Yankees’ most powerful weapons on the bump. The 25-year-old ace is poised to make his second career ALDS appearance as a starter for Game 2 and could be available for a decisive Game 5 should this series go the distance.

John Schreiber: Taking a spot as a relief option if needed, Schreiber may take the mound in a low-risk scenario.

Will Warren: Giving up a run in 1.2 innings of Game 2 in the Wild Card Series, Warren will look to bounce back and silence the bats from Tampa Bay. One of the team’s core starters all year, Warren started transitioning into a role with the bullpen through a couple appearances in September and his presence as a multi-inning option is one of the reasons the Yankees can so confidently field an extended bench.

Ryan Weathers: Positioned to make his first relief appearance since being reinstated from the IL, Weathers will be a crucial addition to this roster in place of third baseman Amed Rosario. He showed promising signs in his bullpen sessions, and we’ll expect him to be an essential factor in shutting down the Rays’ offense. Weathers was another starter alongside Warren making the shift over, though he has some experience relieving as he made 12 appearances out of the ‘pen in his rookie season with the Padres.

Ryan Yarbrough: Securing his spot on the roster over Tim Hill, Yarbrough will be available as a low-risk option, and he could make an appearance on the bump if there’s a scenario where they need to get a reliever out of a jam.

I’m putting this together the night before, because I’m out tomorrow morning. We have four games today.

Game One: 1:00 Eastern:

White Sox @ Guardians: Smith vs. Messick.

Game Two: 4:00 Eastern:

Braves @ Dodgers.

Game Three: 6:30 Eastern:

Yankees @ Rays. Cole vs. Rasmussen.

Game Four: 8:50 Eastern:

Padres @ Brewers. Ray vs. Misiorowski.

Go Baseball Go.

After somewhat intense speculation, the Atlanta Braves have selected a pitcher to start Game 1 of the NLDS.

The Atlanta Braves, who have won the 2026 NL East Division title and brushed aside the Philadelphia Phillies in the Wild Card round, have selected Dylan Dodd to start the playoff game today. As you likely already know Chris Sale and Brent Suter will likely not pitch until Games 2 and 3 respectively, and Grant Holmes pitched nearly one time through the order on Thursday. The Braves have ten other options and have decided on Dylan Dodd.

Dylan Dodd has a 2.54/3.83/3.94 line in 49 and 2/3 innings this season. He hasn’t started a game since 2023, when the Braves considered him a pitching prospect. His numbers in that stretch are horrifying (7.60/6.92/6.50 over 34 and 1/3 innings) but that’s not nearly reflective of the work he has done since. His longest outing since his starting days was 3 and 2/3 innings in Houston on September 13th, 2025. The sinker and cutter have been quite good this season.

I don’t hate this. Dylan Dodd won’t get lost in the moment. Both Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman are big lefties at the top of the lineup. The Braves seem to view the opener role as a reliever who can pitch up to 3 innings. So we may see Dylan for 13 batters today if all goes well. Please, go well.

Game 1 of the National League Division Series will pit a reigning two-time Cy Young Award winner with a fellow who's made just seven career starts. 

That's the Atlanta Braves' reality as they trot out Dylan Dodd against Tarik Skubal in the opener of their best-of-five Saturday, Oct. 3 at Dodger Stadium. 

Skubal, 29, will give up his reign as the AL's top pitcher - his August trade to the Dodgers instead installed him atop the two-time defending champions' pitching pyramid. He unseats World Series hero Yoshinobu Yamamoto as their first ace out of the chute. 

NLDS: It's not David vs. Goliath – Ohtani injuries among Dodgers' problems

Skubal also has a shot to help neutralize Atlanta's lefty hitters, such as leadoff man Drake Baldwin, slugging first baseman Matt Olson and left fielder Mike Yastrzemski. 

Dodd's task is even more focused: Shut down Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in the first couple innings. 

A third-round pick in 2021, Dodd had a pair of three-inning outings in April and May but has been used in much shorter bursts since then. Yet Atlanta comes into this series with its starting pitching compromised, as ace Chris Sale's turn doesn't come up until Sunday - and, he closed out their Game 3 clincher in the wild card series against Philadelphia, recording the final four outs Thursday. 

So the Braves will attempt to patch together nine innings of a bullpen game, with either Sale or No. 2 starter Tyler Mahle ready to roll in Game 2 Sunday.