MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 22: Drew Rasmussen #57 of the Tampa Bay Rays speaks to the media during the 2026 World Series workout day and media availability at American Family Field on Thursday, October 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Is there going to be any meat left in the Great Lakes region when Payton Tolle leaves? After tailgating with Brewers fans yesterday, Tolle joined Miguel Rojas in eating what appears to be a giant beef short rib. The Midwest, ladies and gentlemen.
In on-field news, the Rays will attempt to even the series behind Drew Rasmussen, who has basically been an automatic win for Tampa for the past few months. But Logan Henderson and his sub-3 2026 ERA will be leading the Brew Crew.
Coverage begins at 8 PM on FOX, with first pitch shortly thereafter.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 23: A general view of American Family Field prior to Game One of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Game one of the World Series was fun to watch (though I watched at a bar, so anything would have been fun). Close games are more fun.
Todayâs Lineups
RAYS
BREWERS
Yandy Diaz â DH
Jackson Chourio â LF
Jonathan Aranda â 1B
Jake Bauers â 1B
Chandler Simpson â LF
Christian Yelich â DH
Junior Caminero â 3B
William Contreras â C
Liam Hicks â C
Brice Turang â 2B
Richie Palacios â 2B
Garrett Mitchell â CF
Jonny DeLuca â CF
Cooper Pratt â SS
Victor Mesa â RF
Sal Frelick â RF
Taylor Walls â SS
David Hamilton â 3B
Drew Rasmussen â RHP
Logan Henderson â RHP
Iâm out most of the night, so Iâm missing this one.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 18: Drew Rasmussen #57 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts to a double play during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians in game five of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) at Milwaukee Brewers (1-0)
Time/Place: 8:00 p.m. ET, American Family Field, Milwaukee WI
Pitching Matchup: RHP Drew Rasmussen vs. RHP Logan Henderson
Losing the Nick Martinez vs. Jacob Misiorowski matchup in Game 1 isnât the end of the world for the Rays. With their ace on the mound, Game 2 is a lot closer to a crucial game to win, but Logan Henderson is a tough opponent. The difference in Game 1 was partly the Rays running into several outs on the basepaths with runners in scoring position. This still feels like a very evenly matched series. Weâll see if the Rays can get back into to even in the series before it moves to Tampa Bay for games 3-5.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 23: Trevor Megill #29 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in game one of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field on October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game one of the 2026 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers was great baseball. Aside from the fact that it features new blood with two teams searching for their first title, the first showdown was neck and neck.
Milwaukee jumped out to an early two-run lead in the first, but the Rays wouldnât back down, cutting into the lead in the fourth inning. The Brewers added an insurance run in the seventh and needed to withstand a ninth inning rally attempt to secure the first win.
On paper, tonightâs matchup should be a great one, too. Itâs shaping up to be another close, low-scoring battle behind a stellar pitching matchup.
Tampa Bay will look to even the series behind Drew Rasmussen. The pitcher carries a perfect 2-0 record across three starts this Fall. He posted a masterclass against the New York Yankees in the ALDS, going eight scoreless innings with just one hit surrendered, alongside 10 strikeouts. He looked sharp in his two ALCS outings against the Cleveland Guardians, as well, giving up three total runs across two games, with plenty of strikeouts in each.
Taking the mound for Milwaukee is righty Logan Henderson. Henderson posted a very strong regular season, going 11-3 in 18 starts with a 2.47 ERA and a 0.844 WHIP, tossing 110 strikeouts in 98.1 innings. He hasnât logged a win yet this postseason, but posted two solid games nonetheless. He held the San Diego Padres offense to just two hits and two runs in five innings of work in the NLDS and allowed the Los Angeles Dodgers three hits and four runs (only two earned) in the NLCS.
The Rays are making a few tweaks to the lineup today, swapping out Ben Williamson for Richie Palacios at second base and shuffling around the bottom of the batting order. The Brewers are rolling out the same batting order they used in game one. Despite a low-scoring affair, the team logged eight hits with strong performances from Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, and Christian Yelich.
Weâve got all the makings of another classic in the Fall Classic. Enjoy!
Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) at Milwaukee Brewers (1-0) â 6:00 PM MDT
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 24: A general view outside of the stadium prior to game two of the 2026 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on October 24, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last night, the Milwaukee Brewers began their first World Series appearance in 44 years with a highly-dramatic 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the best-of-seven championship series.
Trailing by two runs entering the top of the ninth inning, the Rays pulled within a run against Brewers closer Trevor Megill after Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt failed to keep his foot on second base on what would have been a game-ending double play. Megill rebounded to strike out the next hitter with the tying run 90 feet away.
These two small-market powerhouses will meet again tonight in Game 2 of the Fall Classic. The Brewers will look to take a 2-0 series lead, while the Rays aim to even the series before heading home.
Rays at Brewers (5:00 PST)
After their late-game rally fell just short yesterday, the Rays will turn to their ace to start Game 2. 31-year-old right-hander Drew Rasmussen (16-5, 2.67 ERA) will face the team that drafted him and gave him his major league debut.
Rasmussen spent 2020 and the beginning of 2021 with Milwaukee before being traded to Tampa Bay in exchange for shortstop Willy Adames. Facing his former team, Rasmussen could have extra motivation this evening. The right-hander enters his fourth start of the postseason with a 2-0 record, a 1.29 ERA, a 0.76 WHIP and 23 strikeouts in 21 innings. He will look to deliver another quality start in a game where runs could be at a premium.
Right-hander Logan Henderson (11-3, 2.47 ERA) will start for the Brew Crew. The 24-year-oldâs excellent first full major league season largely flew under the radar due to fellow starter Jacob Misiorowskiâs stellar campaign.
Pitching in his first postseason, Henderson has handled the bright lights and national spotlight well. However, in his lone NLCS start, he struggled to make accurate throws to first base, giving the Rays an incentive to lay down some bunts to test his fielding ability. The Brewers have won every game heâs started at American Family Field. Will that streak continue tonight, or will he falter in the biggest start of his young career?
The Brewers put their ace on the mound to start Game 1 and still had to survive a replay review in the ninth inning going against them to hold on to a one-run win.
I still look for this to be a competitive series, especially with the Rays throwing their ace this evening.
7 p.m. CT: Rays at Brewers (Brewers lead series 1-0)
TV: Fox-TV, Fox One (streaming). Announcers: Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 21: Mascot Bernie Brewer of the Milwaukee Brewers poses for a photo during the 2026 World Series photoshoot at American Family Field on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tonight is Game 2 of the World Series.
It will be played in Milwaukee. The Brewers won the first game.
Drew Rasmussen of the Rays goes up against Logan Henderson of the Brew Crew.
It is a 7:00 p.m. Central start time on Fox. Talk about it here.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 23: (L-R) Cooper Pratt #12 and Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in game one of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field on October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Martinez turned in an excellent outing for the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night at American Family Field against the juggernaut Milwaukee Brewers and fireballer Jacob Misiorowski. Itâs just that the Brewers got to him a little too much right off the bat and the rest of the elite Brewers relief corps was good enough to hold on for a 3-2 win in a Game 1 that had everyone on the edge of their seats.
On Saturday night, the Beers will roll out righty Logan Henderson in an attempt at seizing a commanding 2-0 lead while Tampa will counter with veteran righty Drew Rasmussen, who has been virtually unhittable so far in the postseason (21.0 IP, 1.76 ERA, 0.76 WHIP).
Gametime is slated for just after 8:00 PM ET once again in the confines formerly known as Miller Park, and FOX once again has their C- broadcast crew on-scene.
Hereâs how both clubs will line up to begin things:
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 22: Drew Rasmussen of the Tampa Bay Rays poses for a photo during the 2026 World Series photoshoot at American Family Field on Thursday, October 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Brewers managed to hang on for a thrilling Game 1 victory, but now they will ask Logan Henderson to match up with the Raysâ ace, Drew Rasmussen. The Brewers havenât lost a home start with Henderson on the mound in a long while, but the Rays have got to be heavily incentivized to make sure theyâre not heading back to St. Petersburg with a 2-0 deficit to overcome.
Five years ago, Logan Henderson was pitching at McLennan Community College in Texas. Now, he's starting Game 2 of the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at American Family Field.
The Milwaukee Brewers' right-hander has earned the start. He went 11-3 this season with a 2.47 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 98 1/3 innings. Hitters managed just 0.84 walks and hits per inning against him.
Even better for Milwaukee fans, Henderson has never lost a start at American Family Field and the Brewers have never lost a game he has started there. He is 8-0 in 10 starts at home. The Brewers are 10-0 in his starts there in the regular season and 2-0 in the postseason.
Henderson, 24, has battled injuries through his short career. He had right elbow inflammation that shut him down in August of last season. A strained lower back cost him most of June this season.
The Brewers have been careful with him in October. He threw 72 pitches over five innings against San Diego in the National League Division Series and 64 pitches over four against the Dodgers in the NL Championship Series. Milwaukee won both games.
Now he gets the Rays, who are down 1-0 in the best-of-seven-games series. Drew Rasmussen starts for Tampa Bay.
Logan Henderson stats
2026 regular season stats: 18 games (18 starts), 11â3 , 2.47 ERA, 98.1 IP, 110 SO, 0.84 WHIP.
2026 postseason stats: 2 games (2 starts), 0â0, 3.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 6 SO, 1.11 WHIP.
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MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 23: Logan Henderson #43 of the Milwaukee Brewers takes the field prior to Game One of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Friday, October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The World Series started with a bang last night, as the Brewers escaped with a close victory despite a ninth-inning rally (and some favorable umpiring) that led to the first run allowed in Trevor Megillâs postseason. See postgame comments from both managers and several of the key players in our Brewers Notes, here.
Donât expect things to get any easier today. After the somewhat controversial decision to go with number-three starter Nick Martinez in Game 1, the Rays will send ace Drew Rasmussen, who has been the best starting pitcher in these playoffs, to the mound in Game 2 with an extra day of rest. Milwaukee will counter with Logan Henderson.
Rasmussen, the 31-year-old right-hander, has made three starts this postseason. In the first, he dominated the Yankees: eight innings, 10 strikeouts, one hit, two walks, no runs in a 1-0 victory. He pitched twice in the ALCS, first in a game in which he allowed just two runs (both solo homers) in six innings but lost, and a win in Game 5 when he went seven innings, struck out six, and allowed one run. Overall this postseason heâs averaging seven innings per start, has 23 strikeouts to just three walks, and has a 1.29 ERA and 2.58 FIP.
That postseason success follows a season that could see him finish in the top five in AL Cy Young voting. Rasmussen went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA, 2.82 FIP, and league-leading marks in WHIP (0.913) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.44). Like Martinez, Rasmussen is one of the best pitchers in the league at limiting walks (just 1.7 per nine), so itâs a bit of an âunstoppable force, immovable objectâ situation with Milwaukeeâs ultra patient lineup.
Folks will also remember that Rasmussen was, briefly, a Brewer. Milwaukee drafted him in the sixth round of the 2018 draft, and he debuted with the team in 2020. On May 21st, 2021, Rasmussen was the key piece going back to Tampa in one of the more consequential trades of the Brewersâ recent past, the swap that brought Willy Adames to Milwaukee. Rasmussen emerging into an ace over the last couple of years makes that sting a bit. But Adames is very popular franchise figure who gave the Brewers three-and-a-half very good seasons, and the Brewers were also compensated with the draft pick that turned into Brady Ebel, so it seems to be one of those trades that worked out for both sides.
For the Brewers, Henderson makes his third start of the postseason. Things havenât been quite as easy for him in the playoffs as they were during the regular season, but his teammates (and his own defense) havenât exactly picked him up; Henderson has allowed six runs over two postseason starts, but only three were earned. In five innings against the Padres, Henderson allowed just two hits but uncharacteristically walked three en route to two runs, one earned in a game that the Brewers won 4-3. In Game 2 of the NLCS against Los Angeles, Henderson went four innings, walked two, allowed three hits, and gave up four runs, though only two were earned. Milwaukee was resilient in that game and won 7-4.
Weâre still waiting to see the best version of Henderson, the one who went 11-3 with a 2.47 ERA during the regular season. That pitcher matched Rasmussenâs sparkling 1.7 BB/9 and struck out batters at a higher rate, giving him a K:BB ratio (5.79) that bested even the Tampa aceâs American-League-leading mark. Brewers fans will also be hoping that Henderson didnât get into his own head after two bad throws to first handed the Dodgers a pair of runs in the NLCS; I wouldnât be surprised if Chandler Simpson checked on Hendersonâs confidence in his throwing arm during his first at-bat tonight.
In a bit of a surprise (only because they almost never did this during the regular season), the Brewers are rolling out the same lineup tonight against Rasmussen as they did yesterday versus Nick Martinez, with Jackson Chourio leading off, followed by Jake Bauers, Christian yelich, William Contreras, Brice Turang, Garrett Mitchell, Cooper Pratt, Sal Frelick, and David Hamilton. The Rays made a change at second base, where Richie Palacios, who is batting .364 in the postseason, enters the lineup in place of Ben Williamson.
First pitch is around 7:15pm on Fox, with pregame coverage starting at 6pm. Of course, you can always find the game on the Brewers Radio Network.
Jun 12, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez (1) gestures after he is called out at first base during the sixth inning against against the Chicago Cubs at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Luis ArrĂĄez was arguably the best thing about the San Francisco Giants 2026 season. The best because it was so unexpected. The best because there are so few good options to choose from.
Luis ArrĂĄezâs freakish bat-to-ball skills in an era of swing-and-miss offense has set him apart from his peers, giving him a certain sheen that some teams canât resist. Weâve known his name since he emerged his rookie year in 2019 because heâs different. Heâs been elected to four All-Star teams in the past five years because isnât that how you treat players who hit pitches without fail?
The point of baseball is to hit the baseball. As much as that essential truth has been flat-out refuted and refused by slug-hungry analysts, itâs hard to get around the fact that hitters need to hit. Itâs right there in the name. ArrĂĄez is a hitter. Thanks to this unique skillset became a continent-traversing hired gun. An outsider. A man from a different era, maintaining his relevancy because a high-average, zero-power hitter has always been relevant. The Twins traded him to Miami in January of 2023. The Marlins traded him to San Diego in May of 2024. Two leagues, three coasts (if we count lakes), three different time-zones, and three batting titles. Each move heâs flown first class with his bat swaddled in the seat next to him. But tossed unceremoniously in with the other luggage, stuffed in the planeâs cargo hold like a dark secret â ArrĂĄezâs glove.
Going into the 2026 season, ArrĂĄez had a career -54 Fielding Run Value. His best defensive season according to that metric (excluding the shortened 2020 season) was the 2021 season with the Twins when he logged more innings at third than second and patrolled left field for more than 100 innings. Across those three positions he accrued a -4 Run Value. The year he won his first batting title in 2022 his FRV dropped to -5.
In Miami, primarily at second base, his FRV fell to an untenable -11. He only hit 10 homers. Two numbers that arenât directly related, but illustrative. Generally if you allow runs because of your glove, itâs nice to balance things out by scoring runs with your bat. Thatâs not ArrĂĄez. 2024 was split between Miami and San Diego, second base and first, and again he posted a dismal -11 FRV. He knocked just four dingers.
San Diego kept ArrĂĄez tethered to first base in 2025 and even with him tucked in the corner, he once again accrued a -11 FRV while hitting just 8 homers. He also fell off the batting average pedestal for the first time since 2021. The fall wasnât far. His .292 average ranked fourth in the league, but slipping below .300 number is never a good look for a supposed batting champion. His 104 wRC+ in 2025, essentially league average, was the lowest of his career, as was his 0.9 fWAR.
The timing was awful considering the well-traveled ArrĂĄez was entering into free agency for the first time. He had just posted a -33 FRV in three years. He couldnât play the field. He couldnât hit for power. He was too good at making contact to walk. On top of that his bat appeared to be splintering. No wonder he sat on the shelf for most of the winter. Even Buster Posey, with his old-school love of batting average and low-K rates, seemed reluctant to dig this can of lima beans from the pantry. But by the end of January, options for filling the perceived hole at second base were limited. ArrĂĄez was certainly not the second base solution fans envisioned. Brady put words to what many of us were feeling when the news broke of the one-year, $12 million deal.
Posey took a swing. A swing he really didnât have to make. A swing better described as a lunge, a reflexive hack at a pitch in the dirt â but not only did he make contact, the baseball found a hole.
Luis ArrĂĄez was unexpectedly good in 2026. Good measured against himself, and good measured against his adjacent peers. While the rest of the Giantsâ lineup taxied on the runway at the start of the season, ArrĂĄez took off. His monthly splits climbed from .324 in April, to .340 in May, to .354 in June. Similarly his slugging skipped skyward as well, from .394 to .490 to .536.
By the end of June, Luis ArrĂĄez led the team with a .331 batting average, 15 points above Jung Hoo Lee. His .836 OPS was second to Bryce Eldridgeâs .841, and 30 points above breakout star Casey Schmitt, as well as 75 points, 100 points higher than club core of Rafael Devers, Willy Adames and Heliot Ramos and Matt Chapman.
His plate appearances became a drink of cool water for parched fans. Posey was right â it was fun to see basehits. But it wasnât just the dinks and doinks, it was the expressiveness of his at-bats. An ArrĂĄez plate appearance was a sensory experience from start to finish. Hitting was a dance with the pitcher, the opposite of Buster ball with his khaki stoicism. Heâd often take a first pitch without breaking eye-contact with the pitcher. Sometimes heâd taunt a ball he knew was off the plate, guiding it into the catcherâs glove before doing a little tango step and shoulder-shimmy in the box. His bat was a conductorâs baton, a shovel, a rapier. He parried away pitches, yipped at foul balls, bat-flipped singles. He invited two-strike counts, batting a MLB-leading .299 with his back against the wall while striking out just 8.8% of the time. The next lowest K-percentage in two-strike counts was Nico Hoernerâs 18.5%. Willy Adames saw a third strike nearly 50% of the time. 2026 was the fifth time in his career that his walk rate was higher than his strikeout rate. His 20 at-bats-per-strikeout was the third highest rate for a Giant in the San Francisco era (min. 300 PA).
That 3.8 mark is the best of his career because this season was by far his best all-around year. The aforementioned offensive numbers werenât surprising. His bat improved from 2025, but it didnât come out of the blue. What did feel like it was conjured up from nothing was his performance on defense.
ArrĂĄez completely transformed himself as a member of the Giantsâ infield. His -11 Fielding Run Value in 2025 was nearly flipped perfectly on its head to +10 FRV. A 21 run swing that put him in the 91st percentile of the league. His 12 outs above average was fifth most among all second basemen.
These results border on the miraculous. Water into wine type stuff, and watching ArrĂĄez out at second base felt a bit like a party. He didnât play like a reprogrammed fielding robot. He played with flair and lightness, born again. He picked short hops with attitude and exaggerated underhand feeds with a whole-body lunge. He relished throwing off one foot, on the run, contorting his body to look like a Baroque sculpture as he discovered new ways to deliver the ball to first. Fielding coach Ron Washington, hired a couple months prior to ArrĂĄez, was the miracle worker, the one to touch the infielders clumsy oven-mitt hands and make them soft. But it wasnât just a physical change, but a mental and spiritual one as well. Washington had ArrĂĄez out on the field in Scottsdale, morning dew still clinging to the grass, peppering him with grounders, and he had him laid out on the couch as well, delving into his subconscious, his anxieties and fears in order to reclaim second base as a field to roam, to frolic, to literally play in. Matisse said he spent his entire career trying to relearn how to draw like a child. Maybe thatâs what ArrĂĄez did in the 2026 season. He rediscovered the joy.
Though he fell short of a fourth batting title (.310, 2nd in NL to Gabriel Morenoâs .311) and a career first Gold Glove nomination, ArrĂĄezâs 2026 was one to remember. A year to hang a bat, hat, and glove on. He played so well that he played himself out of the orange-and-black uniform, which is maybe not the ideal situation, but a pretty good one considering the initial risk taken.
So letâs give credit where credit is due. Posey got this one right. The problem became that a lot of the other things went wrong. Adames never figured out his offense or defense. Chapman hobbled around the diamond for a little bit before going completely AWOL. Devers launched into the stratosphere pretty much the moment ArrĂĄez shipped off to Philadelphia. The four of them seemed to enjoy making faces across the infield while whipping the baseball at each other, but they never could coordinate how to turn their wheels in the same direction at the same time. A shame, for a number of reasons â one of them being that we didnât get to watch Luis ArrĂĄez play baseball the last two months of the season.
A little over two weeks ago, the New York Yankees were eliminated from World Series contention in the American League Division Series for the second consecutive campaign. At times, they didnât even put up a fight, being swept by the Tampa Bay Rays 3-0 in the best-of-five series. Prior to that, they won 93 games and finished 4.5 behind the Rays in the race for the AL East. Thatâs a solid season for virtually any other team, but losing the division and experiencing such an early postseason exit is often associated with frustration and disappointment in the Bronx.
This week, chairman and managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner faced the media and didnât even hesitate for a second to put it all on the players, particularly the offense.
âI donât think you can pin the season and the unacceptable end to it on Aaron [Boone],â Steinbrenner said on a Zoom call. âI donât think you can pin it on [Brian Cashman], based on the roster he put together.
âIn the end, the majority of the responsibility â Iâll say it for the fifth time, in my mind, my opinion â lies with the position players and the inability to score on a consistent basis throughout the course of the entire season, for the most part,â Steinbrenner said. âNot on the shoulders of Aaron Boone does the blame lie.â
Usually, in these cases, those who make the decisions and have to face the press either take the responsibility themselves or adopt a shared blame approach. Throwing the players under the bus like this doesnât seem like a particularly good idea, especially when Steinbrenner decides to employ Cashman as his GM and Boone as his manager â these two are the ones actually choosing the players who step into the box and onto the mound.
One has to think that the Steinbrenner conference didnât sit well with Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton, and other veterans on the roster. No one knows what is said behind closed doors, but itâs hard to envision the players loving the Zoom conference.
Now, nobody is saying that the players should be on the clear. On the contrary: they deserve a sizable portion of the blame. They were, after all, the ones competing on the field and failing to execute when it mattered against the Rays and, for stretches, during the regular season.
Austin Wells had one of the worst halves in Yankees history for a regular and even after rebounding, he committed a game-changing baserunning mistake in Game 1 of the ALDS. Jazz Chisholm Jr. was inconsistent and error-prone, Ryan McMahon was an offensive liability all year, and Anthony Volpe had another uneven season, just to name a few other disappointments. Trent Grisham had a .613 OPS in the second and then hit .133 in five October games with an awful AB to end the season. Who insisted on using Grisham in both center and then the leadoff spot in the finale, though? And who was responsible for the offense not having any contingency plans at catcher and third base? Yes, the men at the top. Surely they deserve at least some slice on the Blame Game pie chart and not total absolution.
Regarding Grisham at the leadoff spot, no other circumstance, stat, or situation other than âgut feelingâ was behind the decision to use him at the top. He had been bad up there all year, and the numbers back it up:
During 2026 regular season, 28 batters got 225+ PA batting leadoff.
Once Boone and Cashman make a decision, they tend to stick with it even if the house of cards is falling. The ability to adapt and adjust is just not there, nor is the willingness.
The Yankees have issues in roster and lineup construction, scouting, player development (hitting-wise, at least), and several other departments. Unless they improve some of their resources and practices, they are doomed to keep striking out in October, literally and figuratively.
Although one of the best clutch teams in the game, the Tampa Bay Rays failed with runners in scoring position on Friday night, going 0-for-6 vs. the Brewers. | (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
As the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays battle for a World Series title, Chicagoâs struggles with runners in scoring position reveal an offensive weakness the White Sox must address.
The Rays spent six months making runners in scoring position (RISP) a strength. On Friday night, six missed opportunities helped turn their 2026 World Series opener into a loss.
Tampa Bay went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position against the Brewers, falling 3-2 despite advancing the tying run 90 feet from home in the ninth inning. A team that led Major League Baseball with a .283 batting average in those situations suddenly found itself searching for one more productive swing.
âWe had traffic on the bases pretty much all night,â Rays shortstop Taylor Walls told MLB.com. âBut [we] werenât able to get that big hit, that timely hit, the double with a runner on first or a single with runners in scoring position.â
More than 1,200 miles away, the White Sox could recognize the frustration.
Chicagoâs postseason ended against Cleveland with a different statistical problem but a similar consequence: Runners never reached home plate.
The White Sox hit .243 with RISP during the regular season, ranking 22nd in the majors. They struck out 397 times in 1,361 official at-bats in those situations, a 29.2% K-rate.
By comparison, Tampa Bay hit .283 with RISP, while Milwaukee followed at .276. Both clubs combined consistent contact with aggressive baserunning, providing a different offensive model than Chicagoâs power-oriented lineup.
The problem became particularly evident during the American League Division Series.
Although the White Sox hit .275 with runners in scoring position across seven postseason games, they struck out 21 times in 51 at-bats with RISP. Cleveland pitchers struck out 75 Chicago hitters during the five-game ALDS, including an all-time record of 21 in the decisive Game 5.
Manager Will Venable acknowledged that the problem extended beyond chasing pitches outside the strike zone, to misses in the zone, and his assessment revealed a fundamental challenge: Against elite pitching, even hitters making reasonable swing decisions can struggle to produce contact.
That becomes particularly costly with a runner on third and fewer than two outs, as a sacrifice fly or a well-placed ground ball can score a run without a hit. A strikeout, however, leaves the runner exactly where he started.
Modern hitting philosophies emphasize power, patience and avoiding unnecessary outs. Those principles have merit, but postseason baseball frequently demands a more situational approach.
Milwaukee demonstrated that on Friday.
Christian Yelich drove home Jackson Chourio with a first-inning triple, William Contreras followed with an RBI single, and Chourio added a two-out RBI single in the seventh.
The Brewers went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position, but those hits helped secure a one-run victory.
Milwaukee scored 832 runs during the regular season despite hitting only 154 home runs. Chicago hit 211 homers but scored 776 runs. The Brewers also stole 162 bases compared with Chicagoâs 93, demonstrating another way to create offensive pressure.
Those differences suggest the White Sox do not necessarily need to abandon power. They need a more balanced offensive approach.
That balance has been an organizational question throughout the past decade, as Chicago has cycled through rebuilding rosters, veteran lineups and postseason contenders. The 2026 results provide another reason to examine whether the club has consistently struggled to convert scoring opportunities.
For players such as Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Miguel Vargas, improvement must include producing quality plate appearances against elite pitching. Montgomeryâs power remains valuable, but the White Sox need consistent contact throughout the lineup.
Free agency could provide additional options.
Luis ArrĂĄez offers a contact-oriented offensive profile, while potential free agents Bo Bichette, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki represent different combinations of hitting ability and overall production.Simply acquiring a hitter with a high RISP average, however, would not guarantee improvement.Â
Tampa Bayâs World Series opener demonstrated that even baseballâs most productive situational hitters can struggle when opportunities arise.
Rays manager Kevin Cash remained confident despite the loss.
âThis is an extremely confident group,â Cash said. âTheyâre going to be fine.â
Chicagoâs challenge is finding that same confidence while developing the offensive consistency needed to advance deeper into October.
The White Sox proved they could hit enough home runs to reach the postseason. Cleveland demonstrated that power alone was not enough to survive it.
And as Milwaukee showed Friday, sometimes the difference between winning and losing isnât the ball that leaves the park. Itâs the one that brings the runner home.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Payton Tolle #70 of the Boston Red Sox looks on from the dugout prior to Game One of the American League Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees on September 29, 2026 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I think its important when evaluating front office performance to also evaluate the moves the team couldâve made but chose not to just as much as you evaluate the deals they made. Last December, one of the major storylines of the entire MLB offseason was whether or not the Arizona Diamondbacks were going to trade Ketel Marte. Marte was just wrapping up another typical season for himself in which he created a lot of value, but was also a major source of off the field distraction. The narrative at the time was that they were âlisteningâ on Ketel Marte but not actively trying to move him. Even with his pending 10 and 5 rights that were set to vest at the beginning of the 2026 season in April. This led to plenty of speculation by the industry as to whether he might be moved and where he might end up.
The Boston Red Sox seemed to ultimately get the closest and according to Alex Speier at the Boston Globein February of 2026, the Red Sox were heavily interested and had offered a package of Payton Tolle and Franklin Arias for Marte. According to Speier, the Dbacks insisted that Marcelo Mayer be included in the deal and the Red Sox refused. That would effectively seal Marteâs fate with the Dbacks for 2026 and potentially beyond. But what would this team have looked like if Hazen and co hadnât been so insistent on Marcelo Mayer and just said yes to Tolle and Arias for Marte? This article will rewind the clock and examine just that.
In fairness, I need to put the disclaimer here that none of the results are guaranteed on the new teams because there are a ton of factors that dictate player performance. I also donât have a crystal ball, so for the purposes of this exercise lets just assume the players had the same 2026 regardless of what team they were on. Also in fairness to Mike Hazen, it is easy to play captain hindsight. It is much harder to make the moves in the moment. However for entertainment purposes only, lets revisit the trade that almost was and analyze the ripple effects.
Trade: Bos Recieves: Ketel Marte Ari Recieves: Payton Tolle and Franklin Arias.
The Dbacks acquire the fastball heavy prospect Payton Tolle and they finally get the bat missing controllable arm they have coveted. They also would acquire a top middle infield prospect that wouldâve likely started the season in Amarillo and got promoted to Reno and honestly couldâve pushed for some big league time, however for the purposes of this exercise lets assume Arias wouldâve spent the season in the minors and not contributed any major league value.
In a corresponding move, Ari signs 3B Alex Bregman 5yr $175 million
If the Dbacks traded Marte, it is widely speculated that they wouldâve signed Alex Bregman. There was a lot of reporting that Bregman wanted to play for the Dbacks and live where he played year round similar to the Corbin Burnes situation. Especially if the Dbacks had traded Ketel Marte as reported by Ken Rosenthal in The Athletic For the purposes of this exercise lets assume the exact same contract only its entirely likely he wouldve came at a slightly cheaper rate. I also think its not just a coincidence that the day after Arizona acquired Nolan Arenado on 1/12, Bregman signed with the Cubs. In my opinion, he was clearly holding out for a deal with Arizona. So in this world, Dbacks trade Marte and to fill the gap in the middle of their lineup, they sign Alex Bregman.
Moves that then Wouldâve Never Happened: Sign Zac Gallen and trade for Nolan Arenado
By signing Bregman and acquiring Tolle, I think its all but certain the Dbacks dont sign Zac Gallen and it likely they dont trade for Arenado although I suppose there is another world out there where Arenado reportedly was willing to play first base. We wont go there though for the purposes of this. So no Nado and no Gallen.
What Wouldâve Been the Net Effect?
In fairness to Hazen and Co, this is a little hand wavey assuming that the Dbacks are able to get the same breakout out of Tolle that the Red Sox were. However it is also kind of offset by the breakout the Dbacks were able to get out of Arenado. But for the purposes of this exercise, lets assume the same production in 2026. The result? An additional 4.4 wins almost completely from acquiring Tolle and not signing Gallen. This is where it really hurts:
The Money
To add insult to injury, this version of the 2026 Dbacks roster wouldâve likely been about 10-11 million cheaper than they were:
Here is what this wouldâve looked like long term financially:
So essentially, the trade wouldâve saved 10-11 million in 2026 and cost almost that same amount back for 2027.
Franklin Arias
In addition, this organization would also have a clear consensus top 100 prospect in Franklin Arias who is currently MLB Pipelineâs #2 prospect in all of baseball after the 20 year old SS had a steller 2026 batting .323 with 25 HR in 117 games. Arias has posted elite contact rates at all levels of the minor leagueâs to go along with some pop at a premium position. This wouldâve also solved much of the âlack of impact talentâ label this farm system as a whole currently holds and given this team a SS or 2B option of the future with Ketel Marte gone.
Conclusion
I think its fair to assume this is likely a move Mike Hazen and co would want back. Especially considering you add 4 wins to this 2026 club and you likely have a 90 win playoff contender. In addition you also add long term stability to your starting rotation and middle infield at league minimum cost. Had this trade been made, you likely were playing baseball the past couple of weeks, and head into the 2027 season with the rotation anchored by a solid pairing of youth and experience in Burnes and Tolle. You also have Alex Bregman and his leadership coming off of a near 6 WAR season anchoring the middle of the order for years to come and the #2 prospect in all of baseball per MLB Pipeline heading into the offseason.
As I mentioned, there are a ton of variables that couldâve impacted performance one way or the other. Especially when you consider guys playing on different teams and the team dynamics changing. Its not as simple as adding and subtracting WAR in my opinion. We are also basing all of this on reporting from reputable outlets like the Boston Globe and The purposes of this analysis is purely an exercise to further evaluate the decision making of this organization and a fun little âwhat couldâve beenâ experiment.
