NEW YORK - It seemed like a good idea at the time, rostering the 2025 AL Cy Young Award runner-up even though he hadn't pitched in a game since April 25.
Like many of Tracy's decisions in this two-game set, inserting Crochet in a two-run game in the sixth backfired - and effectively ended their season.
Crochet struck out the first batter he faced, but a wild pitch enabled Spencer Jones to reach first base. Then, a stolen base, a throwing error, a solid George Lombard Jr. single, a seeing-eye hit from Jazz Chisholm Jr. and a bunt single by Trent Grisham and, well, game over?
Tracy saw enough by the time Grisham's single loaded the bases, lifting Crochet with the Yankees trailing 3-1. Two more runs scored when set-up man Garrett Whitlock gave up a sacrifice fly to Austin Wells and RBI groundout to Ryan McMahon.
For good measure, Tracy ordered an intentional walk of Ben Rice - and Cody Bellinger blasted a three-run homer off Whitlock.
A 2-1 game became 8-1. Four runs, all earned, were charged to Crochet, who did not record an out.
That put them in a four-run hole with nine outs to go. And what looked like a creative use of resources turned out to be a debacle to likely end Boston's season.
New York Yankees third base coach Luis Rojas entered the MLB playoff conversation in the fifth inning of Game 2 in the AL wild card series, waving in Ben Rice to ultimately get thrown out at the plate.
The Yankees had just extended their lead to 2-0 on Cody Bellinger's RBI single and had runners on first and second when Luis Garcia Jr. followed with a single of his own. Rice was on second base and Rojas waved him home on the chopper hit through the hole into left field.
Nate Eaton threw home from the outfield and the ball easily beat Rice, with Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman applying the tag for the third out.
Rojas, who managed the New York Mets in 2020 and 2021, immediately started trending on social media for his decision to send Rice on the play.
In the next inning, Boston's Willson Contreras homered to half the Yankees' lead.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: San Diego Padres fans react after Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of the Chicago Cubs strikes out during the eighth inning in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Petco Park on September 29, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It could be the end of the Chicago Cubs season Wednesday night as the San Diego Padres will try to eliminate them at Petco Park. The Cubs will turn to RHP Kevin Gausman while the Padres will start Nick Pivetta. First pitch is scheduled for 9pm central time and the game broadcast is available via NBC/Peacock.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Petco Park on September 29, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Chicago Cubs (0-1) at San Diego Padres (1-0), September 30, 2026, 7:00 p.m. PST
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Joe Musgrove #44 of the San Diego Padres reacts after striking out Michael Conforto #20 of the Chicago Cubs in ninth inning to end game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Petco Park on September 29, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres released their Wild Card playoff roster the morning of the first Wild Card game against the Chicago Cubs.
There were surprises.
Deciding to go with 15 position players and 11 pitchers was the first choice that raised eyebrows. The second was putting Miguel Andujar and Joe Musgrove on that list.
Both Musgrove and Andujar were on the injured list prior to the end of the season. Andujar had rehab appearances with Triple-A El Paso before the end of their season. He continued working in Arizona with the developmental and instructional games at the Peoria Sports Complex.
Andujar joined Musgrove in their pursuit of returning to the team. After an unsuccessful attempt to rehab as a starting pitcher, Musgrove and the Padres’ decisionmakers opted to have him work in shorter spurts, pitching as a reliever instead of a starter.
That choice proved to be the difference maker for Musgrove. President of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller discussed Musgrove’s inclusion on the roster in his interview with the morning show of the Padres flagship station, 97.3 The Fan.
Preller reported that shorter appearances pitched by Musgrove resulted in a normal bounce-back for his arm. The soreness he reported after his longer appearances went away, and he was able to pitch on a normal schedule. That breakthrough allowed him to prove he was able to contribute to the team during the playoffs. Musgrove had no issues with his stuff during this lengthy ordeal. His fastball velocity topped out at 97 mph and his repertoire showed his normal spin. His issue was recovery.
The organization kept this information on the down-low over the past couple of weeks. The last time fans and the media heard from Musgrove, he was discouraged and at wit’s end about his next move. While the Padres went through their last two series of the season, clinching home-field advantage for the first round, Musgrove was in Arizona. The hard work he put in to get himself ready for the postseason was shielded from everyone outside the organization.
Return of the native son
During the pregame introductions for the first Wild Card game, fans gave Musgrove a rousing ovation. The team set the stage with an almost perfect first playoff game, with Michael King throwing seven shutout innings while the offense and its stars went off.
Yuki Matsui threw 11 pitches in the eighth to get the team to the ninth inning with an 8-0 lead.
Even NBC decisionmakers understood the importance of what was happening in San Diego after the eighth inning.
Choosing to stay in the stadium instead of going to a commercial break, the network cameras saw the reaction of the crowd when Musgrove stepped out of the bullpen door and onto the Petco field for the first time in almost two years.
With the first sounds of his walk-out song, Vampire by Tribal Seeds, playing over the park PA system, the entire stadium crowd stood and cheered the return of the hometown player to the Padres.
The cameras then switched to a shot of the Padres dugout as Musgrove jogged to the mound. Everyone stood, and many joined the fans in applauding the return of the native son.
Big-game Joe
Musgrove last threw a pitch in the major leagues on October 2, 2024. He pitched that whole season knowing his elbow was going to go. It was just a question of when.
It turned out the “when” was during the playoffs while Musgrove was pitching in the second game of the Wild Card Series versus the Atlanta Braves. He walked off the mound after 3.2 innings of work while allowing one hit and one run while striking out four Braves.
He had Tommy John and flexor tendon repair surgery on Oct. 11 and began the long process of rehab to return to the team. That process did not go well for Musgrove. He started Spring Training with the hope of returning to the starting rotation by mid-season. After experiencing multiple episodes of arm soreness and poor recovery after pitching, Musgrove missed the entire regular season for the Friars.
The irony of coming full-circle within the Wild Card Series, two years apart, showed the no-quit nature of the Padres’ pitching leader. Musgrove isn’t the ace of the staff, but he is the heart of the staff. He could be the heart of the clubhouse, judging by the reaction of his teammates to his return to the team.
After striking out the first hitter, Musgrove allowed two hits and a walk to load the bases. With closer Mason Miller warming in the bullpen, Musgrove buckled down and struck out Michael Conforto for the final out. His teammates lined up to congratulate him with hugs.
The future is not clear; the present is bright
There is no way to know what the future holds for Musgrove as he continues to come back from his surgery. Being a starter is the goal for a pitcher who has one more year left in his contract with the organization.
That is the long-term concern.
In the short term, Musgrove only cares about one thing — helping his team win. Being a reliever is not a unique experience for him, as Musgrove pitched out of the bullpen when he won his World Series ring with the Houston Astros in 2017.
Based on his recovery from his first major league appearance, Musgrove will make himself available for any situation, any role, and at any time during this postseason. That desire to do whatever he can for his team and his teammates is one of the things that has always set Musgrove apart with the Padres.
Putting it on the board: Chase Meidroth celebrates his crucial three-run homer that put the White Sox ahead, 7-3. | Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images
Good things are happening for the White Sox. Recently, Pope Leo XIV was asked if he had anything to do with the team’s turnaround. The Pope declined to comment before saying, “Good things happen in Chicago,” and he is absolutely correct. The White Sox secured a spot in the ALDS with a 7-3 victory over the Astros.
Astros starter Hunter Brown, 28, was terrific against the White Sox in the regular season. The South Siders could not solve him back then, as they posted a measly .174/.208/.174 in two games against him. However, it was an entirely different story for Brown today.
Sam Antonacci, the game’s first batter, drove a fly ball to deep left. Left fielder Yordan Alvarez appeared to have a play, but he narrowly missed Antonacci’s drive, so Antonacci pulled up at second with a leadoff double. Just like in Game 1, Antonacci’s successful plate appearance to open the game set the tone for a great start for the White Sox. From there, Kyle Teel went after the first pitch he saw from Brown, and he hit a sharp grounder into center field to drive in Antonacci. Five pitches and two batters into the game, the White Sox had a 1-0 lead, and they were not done. Miguel Vargas hit a high chopper to third, but third baseman Nick Allen failed to field the grounder cleanly, allowing Teel to advance to second, and Vargas was safe at first.
Munetaka Murakami struck out, but Andrew Benintendi added some insurance. Benintendi hit a soft liner that landed in front of center fielder Lucas Spence to drive in Teel. In addition, an errant throw by Spence allowed Vargas to score, and Benintendi advanced to second. Following that disaster for Houston, Tristan Peters singled to drive in Benintendi to add an exclamation point to the huge inning. Just like that, the White Sox had an early 4-0 lead.
The nightmarish inning was not quite over just yet for Brown, whose pitch count continued to rise. Chase Meidroth singled, Braden Montgomery struck out, and Colson Montgomery displayed a good batting eye by drawing a six-pitch walk. That walk resulted in the bases being loaded, and Brown’s outing was over after 36 pitches and only retiring two batters.
From there, Astros reliever AJ Blubaugh took over with the bases loaded and two outs, looking to prevent the game from getting completely out of hand, and he did that. Antonacci, who was batting for the second time in the first inning, hit a soft ground out on a sweeper in the middle of the zone. Despite that, the White Sox happily switched sides with a 4-0 lead.
White Sox starter Sean Burke, 26, had a rough start to his outing, as shortstop Jeremy Peña crushed a moonshot to left-center to lead off the bottom of the first. However, Burke did not let Peña’s blast carry over, and he did not allow any further damage that inning.
The Astros went back to work in the second, when Cam Smith got all of a sinker on the inner half and drove it way out to left. Smith’s blast went 440 feet, but fortunately, it only counted for one run, and the White Sox still had a 4-2 lead. Burke got through the third inning cleanly, as he struck out the side in order. That was a particularly difficult task, as Peña, Alvarez, and Paredes are quite tough to strike out consecutively.
Meanwhile, the White Sox offense stalled, as they were retired in order in each of the second, third, and fourth innings. That gap in offense caused some uneasiness for White Sox fans, and that restlessness grew in the bottom of the fourth, when José Altuve led off with Houston’s third solo blast against Burke. Suddenly, the Astros were within a run, and they had all kinds of momentum.
The Astros pitching staff completed its fourth consecutive perfect inning in the fifth, and they appeared to be in business. The Astros built on their momentum in the bottom of the fifth, when interestingly, Huascar Brazobán took over on the mound to begin the frame. Brazobán hit Smith with a fastball to open the inning, but he struck out Allen to cool things down. However, Brazobán allowed a single to Peña, and the Astros had two on with one out, and Alvarez stepped up to the plate. That prompted a pitching change, and Anthony Kay replaced Brazobán. Alvarez hit a sharp liner to left, but he did not get all of it, and Antonacci made the catch in deep left. Kay issued a walk to Paredes to load the bases, so the tying run was at third, and the go-ahead run was at second. In a crucial, high-leverage moment, Kay got Altuve to fly out to right to end the threat and preserve the 4-3 lead.
Entering the sixth, the previous 13 White Sox hitters had been retired. At long last, Andrew Benintendi broke that streak by drawing a leadoff walk against Astros reliever Bryan Abreu. Luisangel Acuña entered the game as a pinch-runner for Benintendi, and he immediately stole second base. From there, Tristan Peters walked, and the White Sox were setting themselves up to do some damage. Chase Meidroth stepped up to the plate and showed bunt. That drew the infield in, and the Astros were caught off-guard as Acuña and Peters executed a double-steal, and the South Siders had a pair in scoring position. Abreu fell behind 3-1 before leaving a slider over the middle of the plate, and Meidroth took full advantage.
Meidroth’s towering blast extended the South Siders’ lead back to four, and the victory was within reach.
Reliever Jordan Hicks was phenomenal, retiring all six batters he faced and striking out three of them. As a result, the score remained 7-3 after seven. From there, Erick Fedde took over on the mound, and he locked it down. Like Hicks, he faced six batters and retired all of them, striking out three. Although Meidroth’s blast allowed the final few innings to be relatively relaxed, Hicks and Fedde deserve plenty of credit for that, too.
With this victory, the White Sox have won their first postseason series since 2005. Back in Spring Training, did any of us imagine we would be in this position at the end of September? I certainly did not, but here we are, and I am incredibly grateful. The White Sox will take on the Guardians (85-77), and that best-of-five series is scheduled to begin on Saturday at noon CT. TBS/HBO Max and TruTV will televise that matchup, and WMVP 1000 AM will have the radio coverage. We will see you then.
HOUSTON (AP) — The Chicago White Sox used a big first inning and a three-run homer from Chase Meidroth to propel them to a 7-3 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday to sweep their AL Wild Card Series.
It’s the first time Chicago has won a playoff series since beating Houston in the World Series in 2005. Under the direction of second-year skipper Will Venable and with a letter of support from Pope Leo, the White Sox advanced to face AL Central champion Cleveland in the AL Division Series beginning Saturday in Cleveland.
The White Sox, who lost 100 games in each of the last three seasons, are the only team in major league history to follow consecutive 100-loss seasons with a playoff berth.
Chicago pounced on the Astros for four runs in the first inning a day after scoring three in the first two innings of a 6-3 win. Houston ace Hunter Brown was lifted after getting just two outs and wasn’t helped by a sloppy defense which committed two first-inning errors.
He was 6-0 with a 2.39 ERA in six career starts against the White Sox before Wednesday’s debacle.
Sep 20, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas (8) walks off the field during the sixth inning against the Miami Marlins at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Denis Poroy/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Ethan Salas is set to become the youngest player to catch in a major league postseason game when he starts for the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of their NL Wild Card Series with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night.
The 20-year-old Salas is catching and batting seventh in the lineup announced by manager Craig Stammen at Petco Park. Salas also will be the youngest player to appear in the postseason for San Diego.
The Padres called up their top prospect on Sept. 1, and he became the youngest player to catch in a major league game since Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez in 1991. Salas, who was born in June 2006, went 10 for 24 to finish the regular season after going hitless in his first 15 big league at-bats.
“One, he’s a very talented player, and then probably two is his character and maturity that go with it,” Stammen said on the Padres’ decision to use Salas in the playoffs. “You add talent, you add character, and it adds up to a pretty nice little combo. Him getting to play this September was good for game experience, and it was also him showing us that he’s capable of handling any and all situations.”
Salas had a series of clutch hits during his late surge, and on Sept. 16 he became the youngest catcher to have a multi-homer game. He also earned praise for his defensive skills from the Padres’ staff, and even his acumen with ABS challenges was excellent.
That was more than enough to earn a spot on the 26-man postseason roster, and now Salas is getting a start for his playoff debut. He will catch veteran Nick Pivetta, who has already worked with the youngster in the regular season and during Pivetta’s injury rehab.
“They have a good relationship,” All-Star Padres closer Mason Miller said of Salas and Pivetta. “I trust him. I know a lot of pitchers feel really good about throwing to him. Then you add in the types of at-bats he takes, working counts, willing to go the other way, put it up in the air and over the fence, too. He’s that full package that I think is only going to get better over time.”
Bob Didier was 20 years and 230 days old when he caught for the Atlanta Braves in the 1969 NL Championship Series.
Salas is a left-handed hitter, while fellow Padres catchers Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano are righties. That makes Salas a natural fit against Kevin Gausman, the Cubs’ right-handed starter in Game 2, after lefty Matthew Boyd started the opener.
San Diego jumped all over Boyd while taking the series opener with an 8-0 victory. The Padres have won 18 of their past 21 games as they enter Game 2 hoping to earn a trip to Milwaukee for the division series this weekend.
The Padres signed Salas, who was born in Florida and raised mostly in Venezuela, as an international free agent in January 2023 with a record $5.6 million bonus.
While general manager AJ Preller traded away nearly all of the top prospects in his fruitful farm system over the past several years in his attempts to win a World Series immediately, he didn’t deal Salas, who is widely considered one of the best catching prospects in recent baseball history.
The Padres haven’t hesitated to allow their top young talents onto the playoff stage during their current franchise-record run of five postseason appearances in seven years. Fernando Tatis Jr. made his playoff debut at 21 years old in 2020, and Jackson Merrill also was 21 for his postseason debut in 2024.
“He’s got enormous amounts of confidence, which is what I love to see out of young kids,” Merrill said of Salas. “He trusts himself, we trust him, and I think that bounces back on each other. We’ve shown we love him and trust him to do what he’s capable of doing, and he’s going to go out there and perform to the best of his abilities.”
"I would prefer to play at night," Roberts said on Monday, Sept. 28. "As far as who we play, I don't think we really care. But I do think that it's going to be a hot weekend, and to play at night would certainly be more beneficial."
That's not entirely in the Dodgers' control. Per the broadcast schedule MLB released on Monday, there are two scenarios facing the Dodgers for Saturday: If the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres in their wild card series, the Dodgers would play at 6:00 p.m. local time. If the Padres win, however, the start time gets moved up to 1:00 pm PT.
That significant jump might be a problem for everybody involved.
Late September/early October is generally considered the hottest time of the year in Los Angeles, as the marine layer that normally protects the region from oppressive heat in the summer months starts to dissipate. Santa Ana winds also factor in, bringing in more heat and adding to the risk during peak wildfire season. Due to El Niño and the effects of climate change, this year is set to be even worse.
Here's what you need to know about the forecast heading into Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday, Oct. 3:
Los Angeles forecast for Saturday, Oct. 3
A week-long heat wave is expected to settle into LA on Friday, with "record breaking temperatures" expected by Saturday, according to AccuWeather. The high at 1000 Vin Scully Avenue is forecasted at 103 degrees with a RealFeel of 106.
"Blazing sunshine and very hot with the temperature approaching the record high of 108 set in 1987," AccuWeather says. "Heat will be dangerous, minimize outdoor activity."
At night, the temperature is predicted to drop to 74 with a slight breeze cooling the RealFeel down by another two degrees.
So yes, the start time can be a significant factor for the Dodgers – and whoever their opponent ends up being – on Saturday.
BLANKETY-BLANK: Last night’s loss was the 12th time the Cubs have been shut out in 132 post-season games. One of them was the final game of a series. They were 7-3 in the next games of the other series, including 5-1 on the road. They won all three next games in which they were blanked on the road, then played the same team on the road in the next game. They beat the Dodgers, 10-2, after losing Game 3 of the 2016 Championship Series, 6-0. They beat the Indians, 5-1, after losing Game 1 of the 2016 World Series. Last year, the Cubs beat the Padres at home, 3-1, after losing Game 2 of the Wild Card Series, 3-0. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
GAME TWO, PART 1: In all post-season series, the Cubs are 10-17 in second games, but just 3-11 on the road. Two of the wins were the ones at St. Louis and Cleveland listed above. The third was in the 1906 World Series vs. the White Sox, 7-1. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
GAME TWO, PART 2: In the regular season this year, the Cubs were 14-12 in second games of series after losing first games. They were 8-6 after first-game losses on the road, including a win at San Diego on April 28.
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Thad Bosley singles in the tying run, then scores the winning run on a throwing error as the Cubs walk off the Cardinals 2-1 in the final regular-season game of the best Cubs season since 1945. It happened 42 years ago today, Sunday, Sept. 30, 1984.
This is exactly why the Cubs traded for Kevin Gausman: His extensive postseason experience, which includes six appearances (five starts) and 30.2 innings in last year’s postseason for the Blue Jays in which he posted a 2.93 ERA. He’ll need to be that guy tonight.
As you know, Gausman has had some good outings as a Cub but overall has been somewhat of a disappointment. He suffered a minor injury to his non-throwing shoulder in his last start, which was a week ago at Wrigley Field against the Marlins.
Gausman threw six innings and allowed three runs, striking out eight, against the Padres July 12 at Petco Park. A repeat of that might be good enough to force a Game 3.
Nick Pivetta missed almost the entire 2026 season with a right flexor strain. He was out from mid-April until early September, when he returned to make four starts in which he posted a 1.45 ERA and 0.911 WHIP, with just two walks in 18.2 innings.
He has not faced the Cubs this year. Current Cubs are batting .252 (27-for-107) against him with seven home runs, among those two each from Dansby Swanson and Michael Conforto.
As has been pointed out elsewhere, he has extreme reverse splits this year: .442 OPS vs. LHB, .704 OPS vs. RHB. Both are fairly small sample sizes (61 PA vs. RHB this year, 79 PA vs. LHB). For his career he’s about equal against both left-handed and right-handed batters.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees fist bumps his teammates prior to game one of the American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the words of a Yankee legend, it was dèja vu all over again in the Bronx last night as Cam Schlittler continued crafting a legend of his own. Just like last season, Schlittler delivered a gem of a performance against the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series, staking New York to a 1-0 series lead and giving them an opportunity to close the affair out early tonight. But unlike last year’s three-game set, in which the Yankee offense never fully erupted, the lineup finally achieved escape velocity. Ben Rice and his four hits, two homers, and six RBI, led the charge — but the bottom of the lineup contributed their fair share as well.
In other words, the Yankees played the perfect ballgame last night. Max Fried will be tasked with carrying the momentum into Game 2. Fried’s second season in pinstripes has been marred by a couple of IL stints limiting him to just 20 starts and 112.2 innings, but when he’s been healthy, he’s been just as good as in 2025. He’ll be pitching on seven days’ rest in Game 2 — his last appearance was an up-and-down start against the Rays, in which Tampa clinched the AL East.
As far as the recent track record against Boston, Fried has been quite effective. He only faced them twice this season: one was a short start from when he was returning from his latest injury, the other an eight-inning masterpiece in April from before the Red Sox got it together under new manager Chad Tracy. In Game 1 of last year’s WCS, he provided 6.1 scoreless innings, scattering four hits three walks while striking out six. The Yankees couldn’t hold onto the narrow 1-0 lead he had defended, and sabotaged their own comeback effort after loading the bases with nobody out in the ninth inning. None of that was Max’s fault, of course. Provided the lineup supports him, an effort like last year’s will be more than enough.
Old friend Sonny Gray never caught on with the Yankees in 2017 and 2018, but he’ll have no choice but to step up under the Yankee Stadium lights with Boston’s season on the line. Over his first season with the Red Sox, the steady veteran turned in yet another outstanding season, leading the AL with 18 wins (don’t think that doesn’t mean anything to him) and pitching to a 2.72 ERA. That’s the thing about the Red Sox’ pitching: they have lots of exciting youngsters like Payton Tolle, who pitched last night, but they also routinely get the most out of their veteran pitchers too. Gray faced New York twice in June and pitched well both times. The latter outing was his best start of the season by game score — one hit, one walk, nine strikeouts over 7.1 scoreless innings.
Unsurprisingly, Aaron Boone’s lineup for Game 2 is nearly unrecognizable when compared with the Game 1 starting nine. It’s a history-making card: according to James Smyth of the YES Network, it’s the first time a team has put eight lefty batters — switch hitters not included — in the same lineup in the postseason. The portside octet includes Trent Grisham, who entered late last night for his first action off the IL. Rice will ascend to the leadoff spot, with Cody Bellinger and Luis Garcia Jr. to follow. Spencer Jones hits cleanup and plays right field ahead of George Lombard Jr., the lone righty to get the start. Jazz Chisholm Jr. draws in at the keystone, Grisham bats in the seven-spot after him, Austin Wells will bat eighth, and Ryan McMahon starts at third and will hit ninth. Naturally, expect plenty of right-handed bats to come off the bench against a lefty-heavy Boston staff once Gray’s start concludes.
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY
First pitch: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV broadcast: NBC
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | WEEI 93.7, WCCM 1490 AM (SP), WESX 1230 AM (SP) (BOS) | ESPN Radio (national)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sat back on the sofa in his office on Monday, looking the most relaxed he has in weeks.
He'll be leading the charge as the Dodgers try for a historic World Series three-peat starting Saturday. If the Dodgers succeed, they would be the first team in National League history to accomplish the feat. But that's not what's on Roberts' mind right now; he knows the danger of looking too far ahead once you're in October.
"It just makes life more difficult when you don't focus on the job," he said over Zoom. "And that's winning this next series."
Max Muncy echoed his skipper, adding that the team doesn't need to add any extra pressure. Instead, the Dodgers are focusing on staying sharp over the week off, coming in to workout at Dodger Stadium, take batting practice, throwing bullpens and watching the wild card games together.
The bye helps the Dodgers get healthier, too; both Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman have been using the time to work on their mechanics at the plate while managing knee ailments (and a right bicep injury for Ohtani).
It also helps the team to lock in by just being around each other.
"Winning the World Series is hard enough as it is," Muncy said. "So for us, we're just trying to focus on what we have ahead of us without the added noise to it."
What lies ahead for the Dodgers in the NLDS is still unknown. As the No. 2 seed in the NL, they'll face either the Atlanta Braves or Philadelphia Phillies, who have battled through two chaotic games so far; the Braves jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Austin Riley's clutch three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth on Monday and led 3-1 late on Wednesday until back-to-back blasts from Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper tied it up. Alec Bohm then went deep on a solo shot in the 10th to force a decisive Game 3 on Thursday.
That means the Dodgers won't know who they play until the last possible minute. Not that they necessarily care who occupies the dugout across from them, anyway.
"Either team, it doesn't really matter," Muncy said. "You're gonna have to play nothing but good teams from here on out. It's the postseason ... any team can go out and beat you. ... Whoever we play is whoever we play."
Here's a look at each of the Dodgers' possible NLDS opponents:
Atlanta Braves
The Dodgers and Braves dueled in both the 2020 and 2021 NLCS, but just four players remain from that 2021 Braves team that won the World Series: Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Dylan Lee and Ronald Acuña Jr. The Dodgers have had plenty of turnover, too.
The biggest knock on this Braves team has been the pitching depth. Chris Sale is continuing to beat Father Time and has a solid argument against Jacob Misiorowski for the Cy Young Award, but there's a dropoff in the rotation after him. Tyler Mahle has pitched well since being acquired at the trade deadline with a 1.99 ERA in nine starts. He threw seven innings of one-run ball in Game 2 against Philadelphia, but he was also the only starting pitcher that president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos traded for this summer when the consensus around league circles was that the Braves needed at least another arm.
Atlanta's battled through injuries for most of the season but much like the Dodgers, the Braves seem to be getting healthy at the right time.
Philadelphia Phillies
This would be a rematch of last year's NLDS, with home field advantage flipped to LA. The Dodgers are fully familiar with how dangerous the Phillies' lineup, headlined by Schwarber and Harper, can be; but they're just as familiar with how vulnerable the Phillies' bullpen is in October.
And the Phillies may have showed that volatility a little early with a 10-14 September record in which they didn't secure their playoff spot until the final game of the season despite their magic number being at one for the seven games before that. They avoided a historic collapse to close out the regular season and came back from what looked like sure elimination late in Game 2 on Wednesday, but how much longer can their bats keep covering for the bullpen? If it's anything like it was in 2025, the answer is not much.
Veteran guard Austin Reaves said Wednesday that he believes the Lakers will be an improved defensive team this upcoming season. (Kenneth Richmond / Getty Images)
Two days into Lakers training camp while integrating nine new players during yet another physical practice session, Austin Reaves has been impressed with just how good this Lakers group can be.
As he stood before the media after practice Wednesday, Reaves was asked if he saw the makings of a championship team.
“I do,” he replied.
Reaves has such high hopes because of the defensive intensity the Lakers have displayed in camp.
It starts with center Walker Kessler, the team’s new rim-protecting 7-foot-2 center.
Then it goes all the way to the group of wing players the Lakers have who have been showing their defensive capabilities.
Reaves was quick to mention newcomers Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams, two wings the Lakers are depending on to be top-notched defenders, and second-year forward Aduo Thiero, who had a strong showing in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and during offseason pick-up games as a defender.
“Let me tell you, trying to score on Matisse and Ziaire, especially with Adou out there too, and then Walker on the back line, is not easy,” Reaves said. “I had to deal with that all day yesterday and today, and it’s not fun. So, defensively, we’re going to be much better. Those guys compete every possession, and then everybody else, you know, fills in their roles and plays the right way. So, yeah, I see how special we can be.”
Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton are two other new players who have been on point on defense.
Jake LaRavia and Jarred Vanderbilt are two returners who are known for their defense.
It gives Lakers coach JJ Redick a solid group of defenders on the wing.
During practice Wednesday, Redick had to make it shorter than anticipated.
“We had to modify the latter third of practice because these guys were just giving great effort and physicality, so we cut a couple things,” Redick said. “But it was wonderful.”
When asked who stood out at practice, Redick didn’t hesitate.
“I would just say all our wings,” Redick said. “We talked about a line of confrontation, so picking the ball up earlier, being disruptive earlier, eating at the shot clock earlier. And I think our physicality off the ball has been really good. We worked on some squared-up reps today. Guys great effort, but it’s the entire group of … of wings. Anybody that’s been out there, it’s been really good.”
Redick mentioned how Lakers assistant coach Greg St. Jean talked about “deploying the soldiers.”
“Like, the guys on the wing that know their assignment, we’re going to deploy them and they’re going to attack and they’re going to be aggressive,” Redick said. “And then we got to have commanders behind them using their voices and that’s the responsibility of Walker and (Kevon) Looney.”
The Lakers’ defensive rating last season in the NBA was 115.5, ranking them 20th in the league.
They gave up 114.6 points per game, ranking them 11th, and they allowed teams to make 48.3% of their shots , ranking the Lakers 24th.
Yet after only two days of practice, Reaves has a stronger belief in this team’s defensive abilities.
And with that, he believes the Lakers can be championship contenders.
“I mean,” Reaves said. “I left here yesterday and headed to the golf course and was very excited on the drive over there with how yesterday went and kind of what I’ve seen this team could be.”
The Thunder and Spurs are considered the best teams in the NBA and both reside in the Western Conference. Last season, the Thunder was ranked first in defensive rating (106.5) and the Spurs were third (112.3).
With that in mind, Grimes was asked if the Lakers are being viewed as an underrated defensive team on the perimeter.
“I don’t think they’re underrating it, but I think it might be getting, like, overlooked a little bit because of the presence that teams like San Antonio and OKC have set the standard for it,” Grimes said. “But I don’t think we are getting … I think it might be overlooked a little bit. So, I feel like that’s kind of cool to fly under the radar, and we’ll surprise people maybe during the season.”
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres reacts after scoring a run on a throwing error by Carson Kelly #15 of the Chicago Cubs during the seventh inning in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Petco Park on September 29, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I don’t know that there was any better way to announce to the world that the San Diego Padres are here to stick around. The Friars took Game 1 of the three-game set against the Chicago Cubs in spectacular fashion, scoring eight runs while limiting the Cubs to zero. It’s the biggest postseason shutout in franchise history. Starter Michael King pitched seven dominant innings, taking a no-hitter into the seventh before it was broken up on a liner to third base.
The offense went off, with Fernando Tatis Jr. homering on the first pitch before captain Manny Machado went yard a moment later. Nothing could have set the stage better for a series sweep than last night’s game. Tonight, San Diego will attempt to reverse their 2025 fates and beat the Cubs to advance to the NLDS. It would be their first appearance in the Division Series since 2022 against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers.
Taking the mound
Kevin Gausman (CHC) v. Nick Pivetta (SD)
To say that Gausman has struggled since being traded to the Cubs would be an understatement. He was already struggling with the Toronto Blue Jays (4.38 ERA) before being traded to the North Siders and authoring a 4.83 ERA across nine starts. He looked good at the beginning of his tenure, but slowly started to struggle. In his final three starts of the season, Gausman surrendered 10 runs (15.1 IP).
The right-hander pitched quite well against San Diego when he last faced them as a Blue Jay. He twirled six innings of three-run ball in a no-decision that eventually became a Padres victory. What bit him were the walks. Gausman has an abnormally high 1.27 WHIP. Despite his fantastic stuff (184 K’s), he’s volatile. If the Friars sit and wait, they’ll get their pitch sooner or later.
Pivetta has been nails since returning from the injured list at the beginning of September. In four starts since then, the righty has authored a 1.45 ERA (18.2 IP). It’s not an abundant amount of work to draw from, but he’s looked dominant since his return. If that can continue against Chicago tonight, it would be a massive advantage for San Diego.
The right-hander is also coming off of a sterling outing against one of baseball’s best offenses in the Dodgers. His final start of the regular season came against the NL West rivals, with Pivetta twirling 4 2/3 scoreless innings. Should he be able to similarly stymie the Cubs, the bullpen won’t have too many outs to cover. That would give the Friars a major leg up in a potential NLDS appearance.
Batter up!
The offense was rocking last night, tagging Chicago starter Matthew Boyd for fours runs in as many innings. Xander Bogaerts, Machado and Tatis all homered off of the lefty. The Cubs’ bullpen was mostly solid, but gave up four more runs to San Diego in the fifth and seventh innings.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Dustin Harris, LF
Manny Machado, 3B
Ty France, 1B
Jackson Merrill, CF
Luis Campusano, DH
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Ethan Salas, C
The Padres’ big four (Bogaerts, Machado, Jackson Merrill and Tatis) combined to go 8-for-14 (.571) last night with two walks, six RBIs and six runs scored. San Diego will likely go as far as their stars can take them. If they continue to get this level of production from them (or even a semblance of it), they’ll be well on their way to where they want to be.
Relief corps
King told reporters on Monday afternoon that he had no interest in turning the ball over to the bullpen. He was almost entirely true to his word. He pitched seven one-hit innings of scoreless ball before Yuki Matsui and Joe Musgrove (yes, you read that right) pitched the final two innings. Matsui pitched a perfect eighth before Musgrove navigated some trouble in his first big-league appearance in almost exactly two years.
That allows the bullpen to be fresh for tonight. Should the wheels fall off with Pivetta, the Friars are equipped with more than enough capable arms to fill out the remaining innings. Jason Adam, Mason Miller, David Morgan, Adrian Morejon, Robbie Ray and Bradgley Rodriguez are available for manager Craig Stammen to turn to. That said, Ray seems unlikely to pitch in relief given his experience as a starter.
