CLEVELAND — Gavin Williams had 12 of a record 21 strikeouts by Cleveland pitchers, José Ramírez hit a go-ahead home run on a pitch just above home plate and the Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox 2-0 Saturday night to complete a comeback from an 0-2 deficit in their best-of-five AL Division Series.
Cleveland opens the AL Championship Series at Tampa Bay on Monday night, seeking its first World Series trip since 2016. The Guardians/Indians franchise hasn’t won the title since 1948, the longest drought among MLB teams.
Guardians pitchers set a record for strikeouts in a nine-inning postseason game and the most in any regular or postseason game since at least 1900. The White Sox got just three hits, put only nine balls in play and finished the series with 75 strikeouts and a .185 batting average.
“It was less about chase and more about being attacked in the zone and swing and miss in the zone,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “Just didn’t have what it would have took to move some balls forward there.”
Cleveland became just the 11th team to win a best-of-five series among the 96 that fell behind 0-2, the first since the 2017 New York Yankees against the Indians and only the fourth to achieve the feat after losing the first two games at home.
Two days after saving Game 4, Williams became just the third pitcher in postseason history to get the last out of a game and start the following game when his team faced elimination in both.
He didn’t allow a hit until Kyle Teel looped a knuckle-curve into right field with two outs in the sixth, two innings after Ramírez homered for the second straight game, a two-run drive off Sean Burke.
After a walk loaded the bases, Erik Sabrowski relieved and struck out Munetaka Murakami on a foul tip, the pitcher letting out a yell.
Williams’ 12 strikeouts tied Cleveland’s record for a postseason game. He got 22 swings and misses, and his 24 strikeouts over three games were one shy of the mark for best-of-five postseason series.
“That was big-boy stuff today,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “We’ve seen other performances like that in the postseason, but to do it in this stage and these types of games facing three straight elimination and you have one of your starters say I will pitch whenever you need me to, super impressive.”
Hunter Gaddis followed Sabrowski and got four outs, and Cade Smith finished for his first career five-out save, striking out the side in the ninth. He blew a fastball by Tristan Peters for the final out, setting off a celebration at Progressive Field.
Chicago, the first team to reach the playoffs after three straight 100-loss seasons, has not won the World Series since 2005.
Ramírez homered on a knuckle-curve 0.74 feet above ground, the lowest pitch hit for a postseason home run since tracking started in 2008, according to MLB Statcast, and the lowest hit by Ramirez in his 14-year big league career.
Steven Kwan had singled leading off the fourth ahead of Ramírez’s sixth postseason homer, which went just over the wall near the right-field line.
Murakami and Andrew Benintendi struck out four times each, and Teel and Chase Meidroth three times apiece.
Up next
Tampa Bay went 5-1 against the Guardians, including three shutouts. It will be the third postseason meeting of the teams following the Rays’ win in the 2013 wild card game and the Guardians’ sweep in the 2022 Wild Card Series.
It's not clear where receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will be playing as of next week. It's becoming more and more clear he won't be playing for the Cardinals.
Via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN, Harrison was not present for team meetings on Saturday night.
Harrison reportedly has been told he won't be active for Sunday's game against the Lions, as a trade is finalized.
Some in league circles believe he'll be traded to the Texans. Some think the Raiders could be lurking. Sunday's games could shake things up, based on injuries that could happen in the various games.
Regardless, it's hard to imagine Harrison staying with the Cardinals given these developments. At this point, it's just a matter of the Cardinals getting the best return they can for the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 08: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates hitting a home run during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox in game four of the American League Division Series at Rate Field on October 08, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nah nah nah nah
Nah nah nah nah
Hey hey hey
GOOD BYEEEE…
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
ITS ALL OVER
GO HOME NOW
AND CRYYYYY
Alright- got that out of my system.
Well it was a thrilling night down at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario (thrilling? That’s what you call when your heart is beating out your butt?). After 2 games it looked like we probably wouldn’t get another home crowd until next season, but the Road Guardians were able to come alive thanks to some Heroics from several of our guys. A new brand new life appeared in their eyes when Jose started to turn his series around, and after two 9 run outbursts, the Guardians and their fans were believing again. The teams would be given about 44 hours to rest up and get to Cleveland before we do this one last time, the 18th between the two teams this year. Would the White Sox continue their dream season? Would the Guardians finish off the comeback? Would Jake stress eat half a rotisserie chicken through it all? Let’s see!
Through 2 innings both pitchers looked SHARP. Gavin was up to his typical routine of gassing 99 past hitters and locating in the zone. He had 4 strikeouts through 2 innings allowing only a Walk to reach. It was only 24 pitches but he looked in command early, and the crowd was loving it…. But not to be outdone, Sean Burke was matching Gavin stride for stride, getting 5 easy outs and ending the 2nd with his 1st K on Travis Bazzana. And then, the worst thing a Cleveland fan can hear when facing Chicago in the Playoffs… Rain.
The rain picked up at the end of the 2nd and you could feel the crowd lighten up, knowing the history here. Fortunately Gavin didn’t seem to mind, adding another 2 quick strikeouts and getting a groundout to make it 3 complete innings, a first for any Cleveland pitcher since Game 2.
And UNfortuantely, Sean Burke continued to match Gavin out there. He wouldn’t rack up the K’s, but he was extremely efficient. He would retire the first 7 batters in just 20 pitches. Petey Halpin, making his first start of the postseason (in for the struggling Angel Martinez) was the first to make Burke work, getting a 7 pitch groundout and making Burke cover the bag as well. Even just making him run for 5 seconds felt like a Win, as Burke would get Rocchio to check swing Strikeout, finishing the 3rd inning on 34 pitches and putting the Guardians on Perfect Game Watch.
0-0 thru 3.
Back out there for the 4th and Gavin was absolutely dialed in. With the heart of the White Sox order (Teel/Vargas/Murakami), Gavin would throw a 13 pitch masterpiece, striking out the side, reaching 101 and using that 2 seamer to perfection. Thru 4 innings Gavin was everything you could ever want in a Game 5 Starter, striking out 9 allowing just one base runner to reach.
In the bottom half of the inning, Kwan would record the first hit of the game, a single to CF, and we would finally get to see how Sean Burke would react out of the stretch.
The GOAT doing GOAT things. Outside of a few inconsequential solo homers in the regular season, Sean Burke was the one pitcher we haven’t been able to figure out. So leave it to Jose to golf one out that was an inch off the plate. A Homer that only he could hit, sending the crowd into a brief frenzy before they chanted his name.
Add in a hustle infield single, and Burke’s pitch count started to climb and Venable’s leash on him begun to shorten. Sean Newcomb would start to warm in the bullpen as we headed to the 5th inning, the Guardians holding a small 2-0 lead.
But all series long, and honestly, all season long, the White Sox had this innate ability to answer right away. And coming to the plate were some very familiar faces, one who drove Gavin out of a gem with an 18 pitch at bat just a month ago (a detail the announcers just couldn’t keep out of their mouths). But the Big Rig was more like an unstoppable train tonight, and that continued in the 5th with a strikeout, a rare groundout and another swinging strikeout. His masterpiece would continue for at least one more inning- with a line of 5IP, 1 BB, 11 K on 72 pitches. A long way to go but just an incredible line through 5 innings of an elimination game.
To the bottom of the 5th and we got some fireworks again- but not the good kind. With 1 out Greedy Petey Halpin lined one into the RF corner and seeing it slow down, Petey decided to try for 3. Well, he ain’t Greedy Petey for nothin, and was thrown out taking 3rd. In the moment, I didn’t hate it. He’s probably the fastest guy on the team and was daring the White Sox to make 3 great throws. If they don’t, he’s a Sac Fly from Rocchtober away from expanding the lead. But they did make two great throws, and our first runner in scoring position was out before we could even get a bat. After thinking about it more, and who was coming up, I don’t love the aggressiveness there. Trust one of Rocchio or Kwan to get a hit, or at least a walk to get Jose up. Gotta know who is behind you and the situation here. Don’t hate it, don’t love it, it is what it is and we are still 2-0 headed to the 6th inning.
To start the 6th DOES ANYONE GET HBP AS MUCH AS THESE GUYS? I’m sure they aren’t even that high up there, but man it feels like we’ve hit far too many of them this series. Well, from cruise control to alarms blaring in every Cleveland fan’s heart, the Sox get their leadoff man on with the top of the lineup incoming. On an 0-2 pitch nonetheless. Woof!
So Gav. You’ve thrown a gem. You have a 2 run lead. But the tying run is at the plate, how do you respond?… Quick strikeout, flyout, but then a 2 out single (the first hit for the White Sox all game) and we ask again Gav, this time in the voice of Carl Willis coming out for a meeting on the mound… You’ve thrown a gem, you’ve got the tying run on base, and the most dangerous batter Chicago has is at the plate. How, do you, respond?
He would walk Vargas on 5 non-competitive pitches, loading the bases for Munetaki Murakami and ending his day at 5.2 IP.
As I type this, I know his line isn’t final. There’s a chance that 5.2 IP has 3 ER attached to it. Hopefully Sabrowski does his job and there are no runs attached to it. But all I gotta say is Gavin spun an absolute gem. So no matter what happens, that needs to be the AND SRIK SABROWSKI STRIKES OUT MUNETAKI MURAKAMI!!! KICKSTART MY HEART AND LET OUT THAT PRIMAL ROAR YOU BEAUTIFUL CANADIAN HOSER!!!!! (I do assume Hoser is a term of endearment in Canada? Or at the very least a regular of fun name-calling banter. I apologize if it is a slur or offensive in anyway).
Whoa BABY that 6th was a ride! Now can we please add some insurance here? Because I’m counting the outs we have left and I would REALLY like a 3rd and 4th run here.
Oh no that wouldn’t happen here. Sean Newcomb put his big boy pants on tonight and would strikeout Kwany and Jose before Chase “handsomest man in the world” DeLauter squeaked one by Chase “most White Sox looking White Sox ever even more than Aaron Rowand/Paul Konerko/Joe Crede” Meidroth, but Jo Adell could not play hero and we go to the 7th, still 2-0.
Vogt would surprisingly pull Sabrowski after the one batter, putting Hunter Gaddis directly into the fire against the White Sox for what might have actually been the 18th time this season (I think it’s actually 12 which is insane anyway). Interesting decision, knowing you likely don’t want to go 2 Cade innings again, AND, it’s Hunter Gaddis…
But the Big Hairy Georgian was AWESOME, striking out 3 while allowing just one flare off the end of the bat. Another great call by Vogt, and we are 6 outs away from the ALCS. Big question now becomes, do you stuck with Gaddis for Doyle? Herrin for Antonacci/Teel/Vargas? Does Shawn Armstrong come into play? How many outs are we asking of Cade? All nerve wracking questions that would matter a whole lot less if you could just ADD A DAMN INSURANCE RUN!!!
Nope. Again, why would we do that? What’s the fun in winning easy? Why not enter every inning with a solid chance at colossal heart break? What’s the saying? It’s better to have loved and lost rather than to win by 5 or 6? Something like that?
Onto the 8th inning, and Hunter Gaddis comes back out after a 14 pitch, BEAUTIFUL 7th, ready to throw pitch 15 and possibly more for the 9th hitter and beyond. Randall Grichuk, he of Guardian faithful Free Agency dreams (and then again of the Waiver Wire), would pinch-strikeout for Doyle before the lineup would turn over. Gaddis stayed on; so of course Antonacci would get the Sox 3rd hit of the night (all were flares off the end of the bat), which would be all that Vogt needed to go to the ‘pen, hopefully one last time (in a good way), where he’d be calling on Cade Smith to get 5 outs.
Look, I trust Cade Smith more than any pitcher we’ve maybe ever had. But Thursday’s appearance, as well as the fact that he’s thrown in every game this series, has me more nervous than I’ve ever been with him taking the mound. Usually, I’m as steady as a rock. Tonight, I’m a shaky wet puddle on the floor.
Oh Jaker, ye of little faith. Cade would scare me for two pitches way out of the zone before coming back to strike out Teel and then getting Vargas to pop up to Bailey. Cade Smith. K’d. The Cade Crusader. Gettin the job done like he has 200 times before.
3 outs away
So please, one final time, can I get an insurance run???
Well, we’d get our chance. Halpin would lead the inning off with a double off the top of the wall, but Grant Taylor would come in and somehow get the job done by getting Rocchio to ground out, walking Kwan and then Jose (intentionally), then two sharp groundouts from Chase and Jo. 0-3 with RISP on the night. Would it bite us one final time in a year where it seemingly did once every series? Would 2 runs be enough for the extremely overused Cade Smith?
Unbelievable. The Cleveland Guardians come back from down 2 games to none to advance to the American League Championship Series for the 2nd time in 3 seasons under Steven Vogt! Incredible pitching to set strikeout records in both game 4 with 19 in 9 innings and then again in game 5 with 21 strikeouts.
Gavin Williams. Jose Ramirez. Cade Smith. THAT IS GUARDSBALL BABY.
——
Let me just say, major shout out to the Chicago White Sox. What they overcame this year was remarkable. I mean, this was their second best season in the last 100 years, and they almost beat us! It was close. Now, we might take our seasons for granted here, ya know, we just wake up and win the division so the ALCS is way more in our wheelhouse. But in Chicago it’s basically a pipe dream. So for them to come so close to it, is truly remarkable. They deserve a lot of credit for putting together such an incredible Wild Card round Win for one of their greatest moments in franchise history. And they almost won the division too. Great stuff guys really!
No, no trolling. In all seriousness the White Sox and Guardians were neck and neck all year and it made plenty of sense that this came down to a Winner-Take-All Game 5. They were a formidable opponent that I would’ve hated to lose to because, well, I just don’t like them. But damn it did I respect their game all season long. They got the better of us just as often as we did them (literally, the regular and post season series came out to 9-9).
What a year, and we ain’t done. ALCS starts Monday night in Tampa. I have no idea who’s pitching and I do not care. Let’s enjoy this ride Cleveland! See you Monday!!!
It's a battle of NL heavyweights as a pair of 100-win teams stage a rematch of last year's NLCS with the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers looking to avenge their loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers will have to break through on the road once again if they hope to make it three titles in a row.
Meanwhile, the AL matchup offers the complete opposite, with the top-seeded Rays looking to get back to the World Series for the first time since the COVID-shortened 2020 season – and hoping to win it for the first time in franchise history.
They'll be heavy favorites over the Cleveland Guardians, who had to survive a grueling five-game division series just to get here.
Printable MLB playoff bracket: 2026 League Championship Series update
MLB playoff bracket, schedule
* - if necessary
ALCS: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cleveland Guardians/Chicago White Sox
All times Eastern
Game 1: Monday, Oct. 12. Guardians/White Sox at Rays, 8 p.m. – TBS / truTV / HBO Max
Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 13. Guardians/White Sox at Rays, 8 p.m. – TBS / truTV / HBO Max
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 15. Rays at Guardians/White Sox 6 p.m. – TBS / truTV / HBO Max
Game 4: Friday, Oct. 16. Rays at Guardians/White Sox 6 p.m. – TBS / truTV / HBO Max
*Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 17. Rays at Guardians/White Sox 8 p.m. – TBS / truTV / HBO Max
*Game 6: Monday, Oct. 19. Guardians/White Sox at Rays, 5 p.m. – TBS / truTV / HBO Max
*Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 20. Guardians/White Sox at Rays, 8 p.m. – TBS / truTV / HBO Max
NLCS: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
All times Eastern
Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 11. Dodgers at Brewers, 5 p.m. – FOX / FS1 / FOX Deportes / FOX One
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 12. Dodgers at Brewers, 5 p.m. – FOX / FS1 / FOX Deportes / FOX One
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 14. Brewers at Dodgers, 8 p.m. – FOX / FS1 / FOX Deportes / FOX One
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 15. Brewers at Dodgers, 9 p.m. – FOX / FS1 / FOX Deportes / FOX One
*Game 5: Friday, Oct. 16. Brewers at Dodgers, 9 p.m. – FOX / FS1 / FOX Deportes / FOX One
*Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 18. Dodgers at Brewers, 8 p.m. – FOX / FS1 / FOX Deportes / FOX One
*Game 7: Monday, Oct. 19. Dodgers at Brewers, 8 p.m. – FOX / FS1 / FOX Deportes / FOX One
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 10: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates after hitting a two run home run during the fourth inning in game five of the American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on October 10, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LETS GOOOOOOOOOO!!! YOUR CLEVELAND GUARDIANS ARE GOING TO THE ALCS!!! WHAT A GAME!!! WHAT A SERIES!!!
Where do we start? That was one of the most enjoyable games I’ve ever watched. Gavin Williams, after closing Game 4 out less than 48 hours ago, had maybe the best start of his career in the most important game of his career. THAT is what an ace does.
How about our goat??? After one of his toughest seasons(due to injury), Jose Ramirez had maybe his best playoff series ever. He absolutely put the offense on his back in every win.
Gavin Williams was unbelievable tonight, but this entire pitching staff deserves their flowers. They were all incredible tonight after some not so great performances earlier in this series. Erik Sabrowski, NAILS, and Hunter Gaddis, for all of his playoff mishaps, was absolutely crucial in this game. They don’t win this game without his 5 out performance. And then of course, the best reliever in all of baseball did what the best reliever in all of baseball does. DOMINANCE.
I know it’s just the ALDS, but this was a series and specifically a game that I will never forget. Seeing all of our stars deliver at the highest level and in the most high leverage situations is truly what being a baseball fan is all about. You can not ask for anything more than what the Guardians gave us tonight. Emjoy it y’all, we’re on to the Rays.
Major League Baseball is officially on to its semifinals with the matchups set for the best-of-seven American and National League Championship Series that begin on Sunday, Oct 11.
The NLCS features a Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewersrematch from a year ago, with the Dodgers sweeping aside the Brewers – who like this season, were the NL's top seed. But this Milwaukee team won 103 games and features one of the game's best pitching staffs, led by likely NL Cy Young winner Jacob Misiorowski.
The Brewers and Rays are among the five MLB teams that have never won a World Series title, joined by the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies. The World Series is scheduled to begin on Friday, Oct. 23 in Milwaukee or Los Angeles, as both NL finalists have better records than their AL counterparts.
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani works out Saturday at American Family Field ahead of Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against Milwaukee Brewers. (Kyla Wolf / Associated Press)
Shohei Ohtani blistered a ball into the second deck in right-center field. Then he launched another, this time a little closer to the imposing video board looming over American Family Field that bore the massive “2026 NLCS” logo.
“Good day of work for him,” hitting coach Aaron Bates said after the Dodgers’ workout Saturday. “Him and Bookie [Mookie Betts] had been talking hitting the last few days. His idea to hit on the field. New field, new backdrop, that sort of thing.”
Ohtani has only hit in batting practice on a field a handful of times this season. But ahead of Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, he had an extended session off the machine.
“Just trying not to flip the barrel so soon,” Bates said of what Ohtani has focused on mechanically. “Get comfortable in the setup so he feels like he’s in a good position to swing the bat, but mostly just not have his top hand roll over too soon. Then just sticking his finish, and that helps him reverse engineer, keeps the effort level low and obviously just on the ball longer.”
Ohtani went two for 13 in the NLDS, recording two singles in the first two games. The four-time MVP will try to overcome his recent struggles when he faces Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski in Game 1.
Misiorowski raised his own bar in his second major-league season. But Ohtani’s struggles bumped him down to the No. 5 and 4 spots in the Dodgers’ lineup for games 3 and 4, respectively, against the Atlanta Braves.
Ohtani’s recent slump, however, isn’t going to change how Misiorowski pitches to him.
“It’s still October,” the Brewers ace said. “You’ve got to still pitch like he’s the best in the world and trust your stuff and go beat him at his game, and do your job.”
That track record is what Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is leaning on, too, as he continues to predict that Ohtani will bust out of his funk.
“There’s nothing right now I’m going to hang my hat on outside of, I just believe in the person and the talent,” Roberts said in a conference call Friday. “I do think that getting a couple days out of a game environment to kind of work on his swing, rest the body, rest the mind is a benefit. I’m just never going to count Shohei out.”
Ohtani’s biggest contribution in the NLDS didn’t involve a swing. In his first at-bat of Game 4, he took advantage of Tyler Mahle taking a careful approach with him, drawing a five-pitch walk. Then he stole second base and capitalized on a pair of Braves errors to score.
“Outside of [Chris] Sale, I thought he did a good job of controlling the zone,” Roberts said. “I saw some better swings.”
Dodgers players work out at American Family Field on Saturday ahead of Game 1 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Dodgers players take part in an off-day workout on Saturday ahead of Game 1 of the NLCS.
Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal walks on the field during practice.
Dodgers rookie Josue DePaula kneels on the field during practice.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
But the Dodgers also expressed optimism while Ohtani was on the injured list, and again after he had the bye week to work on his swing.
“It feels really good overall,” Ohtani said last Oct. 2, the last time he addressed the media. “I do feel like my swing is in a better place, feels smooth, and just a little tweak here and there, and I’ll be ready.”
Ohtani didn’t will a hot streak into existence then. But the Dodgers keep preaching optimism.
“If he’s in the batter’s box, he’s still a threat,” Roberts said Saturday. “He swung the bat well against these guys last postseason. Their memories — those pitchers, their memories are long. Now it’s just up to Shohei to understand that and control the strike zone. They’re just not going to give in to him regardless of how he might be swinging the bat over the last couple months, in my opinion.”
Roberts said he expects infielder Miguel Rojas to be on the Dodgers’ NLCS roster despite sustaining a back injury in Game 3 of the NLDS.
The Dodgers also plan to add a pitcher and remove a position player, to balance the roster at 13 pitchers and 13 position players.
“Length, having a guy that can go two or three, is something where you essentially protect downside on the pitching,” Roberts said when asked what the Dodgers would prioritize. “As far as handedness, they’re pretty balanced. So that really doesn’t come into play. I think for us, it’s more of, who can take down a couple innings if something in a medium- to lower-leverage situation?”
The Arizona Fall League (AFL) kicked off on Oct. 3, featuring six teams comprising prospects from all 30 MLB organizations.
* Salt River Rafters include D-backs, Rockies, Twins, Yankees, Nationals.
* Mesa Solar Sox include Athletics, Red Sox, Cubs, Angels, Blue Jays.
* Glendale Desert Dogs include Braves, White Sox, Dodgers, Marlins, Pirates.
* Scottsdale Scorpions include Tigers, Astros, Brewers, Giants, Rays.
* Surprise Saguaros include Guardians, Royals, Mets, Phillies, Rangers.
* Peoria Javelinas include Orioles, Reds, Padres, Mariners, Cardinals.
The teams play for six weeks from Oct. 3 to Nov. 14. There is a round-robin playoff with all six teams participating. The Fall Stars Game is on Nov. 8. A Home Run Derby takes place before the playoffs on Nov. 7.
The Quarterfinals begin Nov. 12 with the top two-seeded teams having a bye in the first round and playing the winners of that round in the semifinals beginning Nov. 13.
The championship game will be carried on MLB Network, MLB.com, and the MLB app (Nov. 14).
Each organization sends at least seven players to its team, and they name the participating players in August.
Padres prospects
The San Diego Padres sent five pitchers and three position players to the Peoria Javelinas of the Fall League. After finishing their minor league seasons, each player will continue developing with more competition in the desert. Some are replacing lost time due to injury, or they need further development beyond their normal seasons.
RHP Winyer Chourio, LHP Igor Gil, RHP Francis Peña, RHP Kannon Kemp, and RHP Jordan Valenzuela are the chosen pitchers. Chourio and Kemp are starters.
Catcher Ty Harvey, outfielder Alex McCoy, and infielder Justin DeCriscio are the three position players.
Danny Worth, Padres minor league infield coordinator, is the manager for the Javelinas. He just completed his second season in the Padres organization.
A split week
For their first week of competition, the Javelinas split their six games while playing two games versus Mesa, one game versus Salt River, one game versus Scottsdale, one game versus Surprise, and one game versus Glendale.
They sit in third place behind Salt River and Scottsdale, two games back of the lead.
The Javelinas are hitting just .219 so far but have healthy on-base and slugging numbers that give them a team .743 OPS. They are second in RBI with 32, while Salt River leads with 42.
Winyer Chourio has one start and three innings pitched without allowing a run on two hits. He walked none and had one strikeout.
Kannon Kemp started one game and allowed four hits and a run in 1 ⅔ innings pitched with a walk and three strikeouts.
Francis Peña has made two appearances and two innings pitched with two hits and no runs.
Jordan Valenzuela has made two appearances and pitched two innings, with three hits and two runs, a walk, and two strikeouts.
Igor Gil allowed two hits and two runs with a walk and a strikeout in his 1 ⅔ innings over two games, giving him a 10.80 ERA.
McCoy keeps hitting
Outfielder Alex McCoy, 6-foot-7 and 24 years old, missed much of 2025 with an injury. The gap doesn’t seem to have slowed his development much. Starting 2026 in Single-A Fort Wayne, McCoy was promoted to Double-A San Antonio for the last 25 games of the season. Over the two levels, McCoy hit .278/.355/.467 with 19 home runs and 71 RBI. His 26% strikeout rate was a bit high, while posting a 9% walk rate.
In the five games he has played with Peoria, McCoy has been in left field and hitting .250 with an .881 OPS while slugging a double and a homer for five RBI. He has four stolen bases in five attempts.
It could be debated whether he has earned a Spring Training invite to play left field and try hitting against more elevated pitching to see what he can do.
Infielder Justin DeCriscio has played in four games and has two hits with three RBI, hitting a double to drive in runs.
Catcher Ty Harvey missed much of 2026 due to injury and needs at-bats for development to catch up with his contemporaries. In four games as catcher and DH, Harvey has one hit and one RBI with five walks and seven strikeouts. He also has four stolen bases in four attempts.
Infielder Brandon Butterworth, traded by the Padres in 2025 to the Orioles (Ryan O’Hearn, Ramon Laureano), is also on the Javelinas playing alongside some former teammates.
MILWAUKEE — All along, Christian Yelich felt this was going to be part of the road for the Milwaukee Brewers.
It was always going to be the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers — with their consecutive World Series titles and a payroll that casts a long shadow over Yelich and the small-market Brewers.
“We’ve been expecting having to play them in this round since spring training, in the regular season,” Yelich said Saturday. “You kind of just know that’s what’s going to happen.”
The 2026 NL Championship Series is a sequel, with Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers taking on Jackson Chourio and the Brewers. Los Angeles swept Milwaukee in last year’s NLCS on the way to the franchise’s 26th NL pennant and ninth World Series championship. The Dodgers also eliminated the Brewers in the NLCS in 2018 and the wild-card round in 2020.
Game 1 on Sunday night features a pair of stingy aces. Tarik Skubal goes for Los Angeles after the two-time Cy Young Award winner was acquired in an Aug. 1 trade with Detroit, and Jacob Misiorowski — the front-runner for the NL Cy Young Award — starts for Milwaukee.
“They’re a really good ballclub,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Similar guys that we’re used to seeing, very similar to what we’re used to seeing. There’s going to be no secrets. They play a very good brand of baseball.”
Milwaukee was believed to be interested in pairing Skubal with Misiorowski at the trade deadline, but the Tigers ended up going with the Dodgers’ offer.
“When you’re talking about a seven-game series, to see Tarik on the other side would certainly — the series would look a lot different,” Roberts said.
The return engagement for the NLCS also shines a light on the competing arguments at the center of MLB’s collective bargaining negotiations. Baseball’s five-year labor contract expires Dec. 1, and management is expected to lock out players in a confrontation that could affect the 2027 season.
The Dodgers went 100-62 this season and won the NL West for the fifth straight year after they had an opening-day payroll of $323.6 million, second only to the New York Mets. Milwaukee’s opening-day payroll of $125.9 million ranked 20th, and the Brewers set a franchise record with a major league-best 103 wins on the way to their fourth consecutive Central title.
“We’re focused on trying to win, and I think we have for a while,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said. “Regardless of what the economics look like, the guys in there believe, and so do I.”
Milwaukee was shut down by Los Angeles in last year’s playoffs, hitting .118 while managing just one run in each game in the sweep. Ohtani punctuated the series by swatting three solo homers and striking out 10 over six shutout innings in Game 4.
Ohtani won’t pitch this time around because of injuries, and the Japanese slugger went 2 for 13 with four strikeouts in the four-game NL Division Series against Atlanta. But the Dodgers still have a formidable rotation, fronted by Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
“Every night when you play these guys, you know you’re going to face a great pitcher, a Cy Young-caliber pitcher,” Yelich said.
Milwaukee has its own Cy Young-caliber pitcher in the 24-year-old Misiorowski, who went 16-5 with a major league-low 1.80 ERA in 30 starts this season while averaging 100.6 mph with his four-seam fastball. The 6-foot-7 right-hander also led the majors with 252 strikeouts in 174 2/3 innings.
Misiorowski was a heralded rookie during last year’s NLCS run. He pitched 12 innings of three-run ball, including five effective innings in Game 3. The big difference this year, he said, is confidence.
“Going into last year’s postseason, I didn’t know if I was going to be on the roster,” said Misiorowski, who hasn’t pitched since Milwaukee’s NL Division Series opener against San Diego last weekend. “I didn’t know if I was going to make it and help the team. This year they trust me a little bit more. So it’s a little easier to get behind yourself.”
Misiorowski pitched six sparking innings in a 4-1 victory at Los Angeles on Aug. 15, but Dodgers slugger Max Muncy downplayed the significance of their previous experience with “a guy that throws 105” miles per hour.
“It’s very fast. Everything is coming at you very fast,” Muncy said. “It’s big-time extension, big guy on the mound, and you have to be ready to go in the box.”
The 29-year-old Skubal went 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts with Los Angeles down the stretch. The left-hander, eligible for free agency after the World Series, tossed six innings of one-run ball in a 5-3 win over the Braves in Game 1 of the NLDS.
“I think the pressure around — surrounding the Dodgers, it’s all a privilege,” Skubal said. “I think as an athlete this is what you want to be and you want to have (the) expectation to win. I have those same expectations as a player.”
Miguel Rojas worked out with Los Angeles at American Family Field. The utility player departed Game 3 against the Braves with lower back pain, but Roberts said he was doing well and he likely would be part of the team’s NLCS roster.
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 15: A general view of Jacobs Field as Roy Halladay #32 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch during MLB game action against the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field on May 15, 2005 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We have one game today, Game Five of the Guardians/White Sox series. Winner moves on. If the White Sox lose, they will have to ask for forgiveness from the Pope. Historically, Popes were much for forgiveness.
The starters are:
White Sox: Sean Burke (3.34, 11-7)
Guardians: Gavin Williams (14-8, 3.76).
Lineups:
Today’s Lineups
WHITE SOX
GUARDIANS
Sam Antonacci – LF
Steven Kwan – LF
Kyle Teel – C
Jose Ramirez – 3B
Miguel Vargas – 3B
Chase DeLauter – RF
Munetaka Murakami – 1B
Jo Adell – DH
Andrew Benintendi – DH
Nathaniel Lowe – 1B
Tristan Peters – RF
Travis Bazzana – 2B
Chase Meidroth – 2B
Patrick Bailey – C
Colson Montgomery – SS
Petey Halpin – CF
Brenton Doyle – CF
Brayan Rocchio – SS
Sean Burke – RHP
Gavin Williams – RHP
I was sort of cheering for the White Sox, but I don’t really care. I don’t like or dislike either team.
Tomorrow we have game one between the Dodgers and the Brewers. Tarik Skubal starts for the Dodgers, Jacob Misiorowski Brewers. Go Brewers Go.
That’s when, from the corner of the room, Hernández chimed in with one more observation.
“And we’re dinosaurs!” he shouted.
Cretaceous creatures, who have once again found the fountain of October youth.
Los Angeles Dodgers players celebrate winning Game 4 of baseball’s National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Mike StewartThe Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after winning Game 4 of baseball’s National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
Their grizzled veteran core has played more games (and traveled more miles, including two season-opening Asia trips) than any other club in baseball the past two years.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
To the two-time defending champions, it still qualified as a perceived slight.
“We’ve heard it,” 36-year-old third baseman Max Muncy said. “But you can’t focus on the outside stuff for us.
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, left, and third baseman Max Muncy celebrate after winning Game 4 of baseball’s National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Colin Hubbard
“You worry about yourself,” Muncy said. “You worry about how you’re getting ready for the game, how you’re preparing for the series.”
But talk about their age has nonetheless added some fuel to their competitive fire.
“Los Viejitos!!!” Kiké Hernández captioned on an Instagram photo of him, Muncy, Miguel Rojas, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman earlier this week –– playfully using the Spanish term for “old folks” to describe the club’s five eldest statesmen.
That was not always the case during the second half of this year’s regular season, when the Dodgers’ offense slipped into such a glaring funk –– highlighted by an inability to consistently slug the ball –– that one rival scout remarked in late August: “This is the oldest they’ve ever looked.”
Since then, however, they have rediscovered a jolt. They scored the fourth-most runs in the majors in September. They outslugged the Braves in the NLDS by belting eight home runs, all but one of which came from players age 33 or older.
“The toughest part about age is [managing it during the regular] season,” Roberts said. “But once you get through the marathon and you get to the sprint of the postseason, advantage goes to us in the sense of the experience.”
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy, left, talks with manager Dave Roberts during practice ahead of a baseball NL Division Series in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Father Time, of course, will eventually win out at some point.
Even Muncy acknowledged that there has been “some talk” of this being a potential final ride for this version of the roster.
“For us, it’s about playing for each other, and that’s what makes it so special,” Muncy said. “A lot of us have been through a lot of moments together –– good, bad, in the middle –– and I wouldn’t want to share those with anyone else, that’s for sure.”
For now, however, the Dinosaur Dodgers just want to keep on roaring.
Eight wins away from another World Series, age is the least of their concerns.
“I don’t like thinking that this could be towards the end [of our run], because I don’t think it is,” Muncy said. “I think we still have a lot of good baseball left in us. Hopefully we can keep going.”
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 10: The Cleveland Guardians on the field for batting practice prior to the Major League Baseball American League Division Series Game 5 between the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians on October 5, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This is definitely not a pretty playoff series. But I’ll give it this: at least it’s going the distance and providing us with baseball to fill the time between now and the League Championship Series. While the Braves and Padres folded in four to the Dodgers and Brewers, and the Yankees got unceremoniously dusted by the Rays, the Guardians fought back from down 0-2 and going on the road to win two in Chicago and force a decisive fifth game.
If the Guardos pull off the comeback, it’ll be the first in the Division Series since the 2017 Yankees turned the trick at Cleveland’s expense. It’ll also be just the fourth ever in a best-of-five where the team lost the first two games at home, joining the 2001 Yankees, the 2012 Giants, and the 2015 Blue Jays. If the White Sox survive, however, then they’ll play for their first pennant since 2005.
I’ll just repeat what I said the other day about these two likely hapless teams: Yes, I’m hoping for a miracle in the ALCS and that one of these underwhelming AL Central teams can pull off an upset over Tampa Bay. Baseball’s a silly sport. You never know! (I have far more hope in Cleveland making it a series than Chicago since I don’t think the White Sox have any remotely rested pitchers, but we’ll see what happens.
Today’s Matchup:
American League Division Series Game 5
Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago White Sox(winner-take-all)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 08: Gavin Williams #32 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts during the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox in game four of the American League Division Series at Rate Field on October 08, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The White Sox and Guardians are the only teams to take their ALDS all the way to the limit. It’s been a battle of bad offenses to this point, with the Guardians exploding all over White Sox postseason hero Grant Taylor in Game 4 to force the winner-take-all finale.
Gavin Williams, the veteran ace of the Guardians, will take the ball in the top of the first inning. The White Sox, who have mostly leaned on their bullpen through the first six games of their 2026 playoff experience, will turn to the closest thing they have to their own ace in Sean Burke to start things off. This is a series finale, though, so expect all hands on deck and to potentially even see guys who pitched a lot on Thursday night like Parker Messick and Erick Fedde take the ball.
I can’t promise the baseball will be good, but it should at least be fun!
Oct 8, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) and the rest of the Guardians celebrate after beating the Chicago White Sox in game four of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The final spot in the best-of-seven League Championship Series will be decided tonight as the Cleveland Guardians face the Chicago White Sox in Game 5 of their Division Series. The winner will advance to face the Tampa Bay Rays for the American League pennant. In the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers will look to avenge last fall’s loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the same round. That series begins Sunday, with the ALCS starting Monday.
Cleveland Guardians vs Chicago White Sox (8:00 PM EDT)
Tonight, the MLB spotlight will be on Cleveland, where the AL Central rivals will meet in the most important game of their season. The White Sox won the regular-season series against the Guardians 7-6, as the two teams struggled to gain an edge over one another down the stretch.
It is fitting, then, that this series comes down to a winner-take-all Game 5. The road team has won each of the first four games. Will the Guardians buck that trend and win in front of their home fans, or will the White Sox win their third straight playoff game in Cleveland?
Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams, who came out of the bullpen Friday to record the final three outs of Game 4, will make his third appearance and second start of the series. He started Game 2 and received a no-decision after allowing two runs on four hits over five innings while striking out 11.
After failing to clinch a postseason series win at home for the first time since 1906, the White Sox are dropping the opener strategy for the first time this round. Right-hander Sean Burke, who was Chicago’s best starting pitcher this season, will start for the visitors. He outdueled Williams in Game 2, allowing one run on one hit over 5 1/3 innings of bulk relief following the opener.
How deep both starters go into the game will likely depend on their performance and the score. As this series has shown, White Sox manager Will Venable and Guardians manager Stephen Vogt are willing to turn to their bullpens early and often.
Which team will win? Will it be a blowout, or a close, dramatic game?
kilé really said unc still got it 
(@myfriendteo) 
