Category: MLB

The Automated Ball Strike (ABS) Challenge System was newly implemented in the majors this season and changed the game for the better.

José Caballero made MLB history on Opening Night, tapping his helmet after a questionable strike call to trigger the very first ABS challenge during the Yankees’ season opener against the Giants. Although the challenge was unsuccessful—as was a bit of a trend with Caballero in particular—the ball landed in the top right corner of the zone to uphold the call, it catalyzed a pivotal improvement to the game for the better. Cementing the historic moment in baseball history, Caballero’s helmet is set to be displayed at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Tested for much of the decade at various levels of the minor leagues, the system tracks the specific location of each pitch, relative to the batter’s zone, which is calibrated to his height and measured to the fraction of an inch. Not meant to replace human umpires entirely, it’s meant to primarily correct human error in obvious misses. However, in cases where the call is challenged and upheld, it puts teams in difficult situations as they lose a challenge opportunity for the remainder of the game.

The Yankees consistently used their allotted two challenges per game to their advantage and ended the regular season with a 54.7-percent total success rate, with Austin Wells proving to be especially adept at it behind the plate. Experimenting with the system early in the season, the Yankees were more aggressive with challenges and quickly accumulated a high success rate, overturning 10 of 11 calls in their first four games of the season. They were more successful on pitcher/catcher challenges, and Wells finished the regular season with the fourth-highest win percentage from the field.

The days of adhering to calls from pitcher-friendly and hitter-friendly umpires, and even from some with personal animosities, will soon be behind us as we expect more modifications to the system. The Pinstripe Alley community shared their thoughts on the topic, and it appears that the majority have more positive feedback on the challenge system and engaged in discussions on how it can improve going forward.

Some envision the league allowing three challenges per game, giving teams more opportunities to overturn questionable calls, and others support having at least one challenge available per inning. It will be very interesting to see the evolution of this challenge system within the majors, and it’s already made a lasting impact on the league.

The Colorado Rockies need pitching. Lots of it.

Finding it won’t be easy. Established free agents can be expensive, assuming the Rockies can convince them to pitch at Coors Field. The draft offers another avenue, but even successful picks typically need years of development. Trades, meanwhile, offer an opportunity to acquire pitchers who could contribute sooner.

Paul DePodesta’s early pitching acquisitions offer some encouragement. Brennan Bernardino has emerged as a legitimate bullpen contributor, while Mason Adams and Mark Manfredi are intriguing additions from the Brenton Doyle and Antonio Senzatela trades, respectively.

Of course, acquiring talent means giving something up. Colorado has a crowded outfield, while former top prospect Adael Amador showed encouraging signs down the stretch and is one of several young hitters at the major-league level or in the upper minors who could be moved. Hunter Goodman, coming off a 41-homer season as a catcher, would represent a significant trade chip. There’s even the nuclear option of dealing top prospect Ethan Holliday, although that would require an extraordinary return.

The Rockies have options, but deciding which players to part with, and for what kind of pitching, is another matter entirely.

So, what’s realistic?

Inspired by a Baseball America article, I went searching for overlooked pitchers in other organizations. I focused primarily on arms outside their organization’s top 10 prospects and the national top 100, using strikeout rates, walk rates and fielding-independent pitching as starting points. I also included pitchers with interesting scouting profiles whose results haven’t necessarily matched their potential.

The goal is to identify possible contributors between 2027 and 2029, not predict the next Cy Young winner. I don’t know whether any of these pitchers are available or what their teams might want in return. But because they generally fall outside the highest prospect rankings, some could represent more realistic trade targets for the Rockies.

The numbers jump off the page

Strong minor-league numbers don’t guarantee major-league success, but these pitchers have produced strikeout rates worth investigating.

(All statistics are combined 2026 minor-league totals; levels indicate each pitcher’s highest level reached. FIP- measures fielding-independent pitching performance adjusted for league and park (100 is average; lower is better). GB% is groundball percentage. Competition varies considerably between levels.)

Player	Age	Org.	Level	IP	K%	BB%	FIP-	GB%
Jacob Kisting	23	MIA	AA	110.0	29.1%	5.7%	59	38.7%
Cody Bowker	22	PHI	AA	95.1	32.3%	7.6%	76	34.2%
Cedric De Grandpré	24	ATL	AAA	129.2	29.0%	10.8%	88	46.2%

Miami’s Jacob Kisting has already changed organizations twice since November 2025. His 59 FIP- was exceptional, and his strikeout rate improved to 31.3% after reaching Double-A. Maintaining that production against more advanced hitters will be his next challenge.

Philadelphia’s Cody Bowker offers a particularly interesting fastball. His low release point and unusual carry help the pitch play above its velocity, contributing to impressive strikeout totals.

Bowker’s walk rate also improved from 11.8% at Single-A to 4.8% at High-A and 3.7% at Double-A. The final figure came over just 20.0 innings, but the progression is encouraging. Developing his secondary pitches will be important as hitters adjust.

Atlanta’s Cedric De Grandpré has reached Triple-A and maintained strong strikeout production, although his double-digit walk rate remains a concern.

Throw strikes and keep the ball on the ground

These pitchers offer a different combination of skills, pairing manageable walk rates with a greater tendency to generate groundballs. While that doesn’t automatically make them better fits for Coors Field, it’s another pitching profile worth exploring.

Player	Age	Org.	Level	IP	K%	BB%	FIP-	GB%
Gage Ziehl	23	BOS	AAA	122.0	24.7%	4.8%	90	52.1%
Ethan Bagwell	20	ATL	A+	108.0	24.4%	7.4%	75	48.9%
James Hicks	25	HOU	AA	119.0	20.6%	6.7%	91	49.6%

Boston’s Gage Ziehl combines above-average projected command with an encouraging groundball rate. His strikeout rate declined from 27.1% at Double-A to 19.6% at Triple-A, however, making his ability to generate outs against advanced hitters worth watching.

Atlanta’s Ethan Bagwell is only 20. His FIP- rose from 65 at Single-A to 91 at High-A, but he continued limiting walks and generating groundballs after his promotion.

Houston’s James Hicks also limits walks and generates groundballs, although his lower strikeout rate leaves less room for mistakes.

Close enough to help soon

Colorado needs pitchers throughout its system, but these four have already reached Triple-A and could offer more immediate help in 2027.

Player	Age	Org.	Level	IP	K%	BB%	FIP-	GB%
Blake Wehunt	25	BOS	AAA	100.1	24.8%	8.6%	89	48.7%
Connor Wietgrefe	24	PIT	AAA	151.1	21.3%	8.3%	82	41.2%
Lucas Braun	24	KC	AAA	132.0	21.3%	7.1%	92	39.7%
Jackson Nezuh	24	HOU	AAA	103.1	28.1%	11.3%	89	32.6%

Boston’s Blake Wehunt experienced a dramatic change between levels. At Double-A, he struck out 33.0% of hitters with a 3.62 FIP. At Triple-A, his strikeout rate dropped to 15.9% and his FIP climbed to 4.92. The question is whether Wehunt can rediscover that effectiveness against Triple-A hitters.

Pittsburgh’s Connor Wietgrefe handled 151.1 innings while maintaining respectable results. His strikeout rate declined at Triple-A, but that workload is appealing for an organization needing more starting pitching depth.

Lucas Braun also provided substantial innings, although his Triple-A results were less encouraging. Houston’s Jackson Nezuh offers greater strikeout potential but needs to improve his control.

Something to fix, something to dream on

Acquiring one of these pitchers would mean betting on further development rather than established performance.

Player	Age	Org.	Level	IP	K%	BB%	FIP-	GB%
Julio Mendez	21	MIA	A+	110.0	32.3%	11.8%	78	44.5%
Mason Morris	23	CIN	A+	103.1	20.8%	12.8%	108	52.9%
Rafe Schlesinger	23	CLE	AA	117.1	24.9%	9.9%	93	46.9%

Miami’s Julio Mendez generates plenty of strikeouts, but his control needs work. The left-hander continued striking out more than 30% of hitters at High-A while walking 12.0%.

Cincinnati’s Mason Morris is particularly intriguing. FanGraphs assigns 60 grades to both his fastball and slider, but his statistical performance hasn’t matched the appeal of his arsenal.

FanGraphs projects Morris as a multi-inning reliever while also recommending continued development as a starter. MLB Pipeline sees starting potential, too, provided his command and changeup improve. Both paths remain interesting.

Cleveland’s Rafe Schlesinger reached Double-A with respectable results, but reducing his walk rate could make his profile considerably stronger.

Roster opportunities and second chances

Not every pitching acquisition requires a conventional prospect-for-prospect trade. Roster crunches, changing organizational priorities and pitchers who haven’t secured permanent major-league roles can create opportunities. That doesn’t mean either of these pitchers is available, but their paths illustrate how circumstances can change.

Player	Age	Org.	Level	IP	K%	BB%	FIP-	GB%
Jedixson Páez	22	BOS	AAA	70.2	29.9%	2.9%	78	47.8%
Blake Burkhalter	26	ATL	AAA	41.0	29.8%	8.3%	65	38.2%

Chicago selected Jedixson Páez from Boston in the December 2025 Rule 5 Draft, designated him for assignment April 1 and returned him April 4.

Back in Boston’s system, Páez walked just 2.9% of opposing hitters across 70.2 innings while maintaining impressive strikeout production, earning another major-league opportunity in September.

His low-90s fastball and vulnerability to home runs remain concerns, but that level of control, combined with his varied secondary offerings, makes him worth watching.

Atlanta’s Blake Burkhalter reached the majors in September after spending his MiLB career as both a starter and a reliever. His strikeout production in 41.0 minor-league innings in 2026 was encouraging, though the small sample size warrants caution. His arsenal could provide value in long relief.

Raising the floor

Not every name here is a realistic trade target. Some may be too valuable to their organizations, while others could cost more than Colorado is willing to offer.

Some pitchers offer impressive numbers, others have intriguing arsenals, and a few might be closer to contributing than their prospect rankings suggest. The Rockies need pitching at nearly every level, and finding it will require looking beyond the obvious names.

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Diamondbacks News

Mike Hazen Speaks on Offseason Priorities
It appears the Diamondbacks will continue to hunt for a left-handed impact bat.

I need an offseason project considering the offseason is going to last a year or two. So here's my crack at a top 40, individual write-ups to follow. pic.twitter.com/GUpvpwxtuN

— DBacks Factoids (@DbacksFactoids) October 16, 2026

Other Baseball News

Rain Postpones ALCS Game 4 Amid Controversy Regarding Timing of Decision
Game 4 of the ALCS will now be played today, instead of last night. MLB knew this to be the likely outcome long before they finally announced it. Do better MLB. Game 5 will now be played on Sunday, wiping out the day off for travel.

Tonight's game has been postponed.#GuardsBall | #StandGuardpic.twitter.com/KCM1Zg5H5o

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 17, 2026

Fans Les Than Thrilled After Cold, Wet Night
Seriously, MLB. Just do better.

Five More Players Elect Free Agency
Five more players who played in MLB this year have elected minor league free agency, according to the transaction tracker at MiLB.com. These players were all outrighted off teams’ 40-man rosters and have played seven-plus seasons in the minors, so the elections are mostly formalities.

Digging Through a Weak Free Agent Market
Between the impending lockout and this particularly dismal free agent market, Mike Hazen is going to have his work cut out for him.

“They talk about all the other fellas on that team, but I notice the man who hurts us when it counts is that third baseman. There is a real ballplayer.”

The Athletics entered the 1930s as the class of the American League, winning their second straight World Series title in ‘30 and taking the pennant again in ‘31. But the decade would belong to another team, one that rebuild itself after the departure of the game’s brightest star. Led by Lou Gehrig and Bill Dickey and, later, Joe DiMaggio and Joe Gordon, with Red Ruffing and Lefty Gomez in the rotation, that incarnation of the Bronx Bombers won four straight championships to close out the decade. But, when asked to identify the most dangerous player on the club, legendary A’s manager and owner Connie Mack named none of those Hall of Famers. Instead, it was the team’s cerebral, ultra-consistent third baseman who Mack feared most.

Robert Abial “Red” Rolfe
Born: October 17, 1908 (Penacook, NH)
Died: July 8, 1969 (Gilford, NH)
Yankees Tenure: 1931, 1934-42

Growing up in New Hampshire, Red Rolfe quickly distinguished himself in both academics and athletics. He earned acceptance to Dartmouth, where he performed well enough to draw the attention of several big-league teams. Mack offered the youngster a tryout, but he ended up signing with the Yankees, who pitched him on the potential to play alongside Gehrig and Babe Ruth.

Rolfe would get his chance before long, appearing in a single game as a defensive replacement a few months after his signing in 1931. He’d spend the next two years with the Double-A Newark Bears, consistently hitting for average while continuing to hone his defensive skills on the left side of the infield. He wouldn’t return to the Show until ‘34, when he broke camp with the Yankees. Rolfe’s first year in pinstripes was a mixed bag, as he dealt with maladies and a position switch from shortstop to third due to a lack of arm strength. Still, he immediately impressed some of his more seasoned teammates. “I never saw a kid with so much spirit and desire to learn as Rolfe has shown me,” said Gehrig. “When you start to discuss things, this Rolfe sticks his ear right into your tonsils. He wants to know everything. I think he’s a natural.” The two Ivy League men would become close friends, bonding over a shared appreciation for cribbage and literature.

Red Rolfe & Lou Gehrig at Fenway Park in the 1930s. #Yankeespic.twitter.com/txYcVSakup

— Stirrups Now! (@uniformcritic) November 8, 2014

If ‘34 was a step forward, ‘35 would be Rolfe’s breakout. He hit .300 and, while he was yet to show much power, he made up for it with his acumen. He was a progenitor of the shift, keeping detailed notes on opposing hitters’ tendencies and implementing his findings on the field. The following season went even better, as the third baseman hit .319 with an MLB-best 15 triples while settling into the two-hole. He also got his first October action and made the most of it, hitting .400 in a six-game victory over the rival Giants.

The Yankees settled into a familiar rhythm through the rest of the decade, winning four straight titles. And, while not able to compete with the fame of some of his teammates, Rolfe became a bone fide star, earning four straight All-Star berths and twice receiving down-ballot MVP votes. His career year came in ‘39, as he slashed .329/.404/.495 while leading the league in hits (213), doubles (46), and runs scored (139).

Red Rolfe, 10 year career with Yankees, retired in 1942. Big member of 1939 Bronx Bombers hitting .329 w/ 46 doubles pic.twitter.com/LLp8ME4x3u

— Stirrups Now! (@uniformcritic) October 30, 2017

Rolfe’s performance took a downturn after that stellar campaign. A series of health issues, including a tonsil condition, a vision issue, and intestinal colitis, sapped him of much of his strength. Rolfe hit just .250 with little pop over the next three seasons as he saw his playing time decline. He had one more shot at playoff glory in ‘42, his final season, and made the most of it, hitting .353 in an eventual loss to the Cardinals.

Rolfe retired after that season to take a coaching job at Yale. In ‘46 he returned to the Yankees as a coach, and his longtime manager Joe McCarthy began grooming Rolfe to succeed him at the helm. But McCarthy found himself out of a job after the Yankees were sold to a new owner. Rolfe was forced to leave the only pro team he’d ever known, joining the Tigers first as farm director and then as manager. He took home Manager of the Year honors in 1950 as a previously moribund Detroit squad ended the season just three games back of the pennant.

That success proved unsustainable, though, and Rolfe was out by ‘52. He returned to his alma mater, Dartmouth, where he served as athletic director until health issues forced him to resign in 1967. Two years later, the man who had struggled with his health throughout his playing career died at the age of 60 from kidney failure.

Red Rolfe’s statistical impact is clear and impressive. But his impact on the Yankees and the game of baseball extend far beyond that. “Red was often sought out by teammates for help with income tax filings, advice on investments, counsel on their bridge game, and even their domestic difficulties,” said the Sporting Newsupon Rolfe’s retirement of his role as the consummate teammate. McCarthy, who managed for 24 years and won seven championships, called his protégé “one of the greatest third basemen of all time.” And he accomplished it all while dealing with health issues that would have led many others to walk away from the game. All this paints a clear picture of a player who, if you’d had the chance to watch him play day in and day out, would have been a beloved favorite, the kind of player who transcends on-field performance through strength of character. Or, in the words of the great Connie Mack, a real ballplayer.

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See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

At the start of every season, we do a ‘Bold Predictions’ piece here on Amazin’ Avenue. Last year, my bold prediction was a sub-2.50 ERA for Kodai Senga. My thought process, at the time, seemed sound:

With stronger up the middle defense, a potential six-man rotation, and a coaching staff more aligned with the front office, things seem like they may be working in Senga’s favor. Already this spring, Senga’s velocity is back up to the high 90s, and his ghost fork is diving out of the strike zone like it did in ‘23. If he can stay healthy, Senga is poised to have a monster season.

Welp.

Senga’s actual 2026 ERA was nearly three times the ceiling I set for it, finishing the year with a 7.34 mark. To say that everything went wrong for Senga is somewhat underselling just how terrible of a year he had, almost from the very beginning.

After two fine starts, in which he allowed two earned runs apiece over six and five and two-thirds innings, respectively, Senga’s season hit the skids in spectacular fashion. We all know that early season rate stats are never reliable, but let’s keep using ERA as the benchmark. After his second start, his ERA was 3.09. After his third, it was 7.07 and it never went south of that number again all season.

That is especially remarkable because, . But after his last start, his ERA was at a season high 10.08.

Senga spent six weeks or so on the Injured List with both spine inflammation and ulnar nerve irritation. When he came back, things didn’t exactly get better. He made three more starts before being demoted to the bullpen, and gave up thirteen earned runs, five home runs, and ten walks in those 12 and two-third innings.

So what happened? Well, the short answer is that his stuff somewhat disappeared and his walk rate ballooned. He was still getting strikeouts, and at a fairly similar rate, but what was gone was the weak contact that made him such a valuable member of the rotation. When Senga was getting hit this season, he was getting hit hard. He was bottom 5% in the all of baseball in wOBA against and walk rate.

The good news for the Mets was that once he moved into the bullpen, and especially since he was made the de facto closer with Devin Williams on the shelf, his performance not just leveled out, but he showed real skill at the role. He had just two truly bad outings as closer, while racking up eight saves. Simply put, in short bursts, Senga was good.

It is hard to lower your ERA out of the bullpen due to the natural innings limits that exist, but Senga dropped his ERA nearly three runs in his three months out of the bullpen. Once he made the switch to the bullpen, he gave up just nine runs in 30 and a third innings pitched, lowering his ERA from its season high 10.08 after his last start.

If Senga is comfortable with a bullpen role, this appears to be the way that the Mets can salvage the final year of his contract and give the team some more stability from the starting rotation. If not, it’s going to be another rollercoaster of a year for Senga and the Metropolitans.

In my defense, Senga’s ERA once he made the switch to the bullpen was 2.05. So, from a certain point of view, I nailed by bold prediction.

You’re welcome.

Friday’s postponement of Game 4 of the ALDS between the Rays and Guardians in Cleveland was the first postseason game postponed since Game 4 of the Cubs/Nationals NLDS at Wrigley Field in 2017. More on that below.

MLB handled tickets for the postponed game in an odd fashion. Here’s what they said in a press release about the postponement:

Fans with tickets to the original ALCS Game Four on Friday, October 15th may use those same tickets for ALCS Game Five on Sunday, October 17th at 5:08 p.m. (ET). Gates will open at 2:30 p.m. (ET).

Fans with tickets for the originally scheduled ALCS Game Five on Saturday, October 16th do not need to take any action. That game will now be played as ALCS Game Four. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. (ET) for the 8:08 p.m. (ET) first pitch. 

So if you held a “Home Game 2” ticket for Guardians/Rays Friday, you’re now going to be able to go to “Home Game 3” on Sunday — and now those who thought they were going to Game 5 on Saturday are now going to Game 4.

Before Friday, the most recent postseason postponement was Game 3 of the 2022 World Series between the Astros and Phillies in Philadelphia. That year’s WS schedule was pushed back a day as a result. Here are some other significant postseason postponements over the last few deecades.

1962: World Series Game 6

Look at the playing dates for the entire 1962 World Series. There’s a four-day gap between Game 5 and Game 6, and even in 1962 it didn’t take that long to get from New York to San Francisco. Three days of rain in the Bay Area pushed Game 6 back, and that was after Game 5 in New York had been postponed by rain there. That meant just two Yankees starters, Ralph Terry and Whitey Ford, threw games 4 through 7. Terry wound up throwing a 1-0 shutout in Game 7 to win the series for the Yankees.

1975: World Series Game 6

This is, of course, one of the most famous games in baseball history, won by Carlton Fisk with a 12th-inning home run. But rain in Boston had postponed this game three times, giving the teams four days in between Games 5 and 6. Luis Tiant, who started Games 1 and 4, thus came back for Game 6, though he was long gone from the game by the time Fisk won it with his homer.

1986: World Series Game 7

The Mets, as you know, won Game 6 with a miracle 10th-inning rally. They didn’t get the chance to win the World Series the next day, though, as rain in New York postponed Game 7 for a day. The Red Sox took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but back-to-back three-run innings won the game, and the Series, for the Mets.

1989: World Series Game 3

Just as Game 3 was about to begin at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, the Bay Area was hit by a major earthquake. Here is ABC-TV’s pregame show. At about 4:35 into this video, you can see the feed simply drop out and be replaced by a still frame, with Al Michaels speaking by phone:

The 1989 World Series was delayed by 10 days, and then the Athletics completed a four-game sweep by defeating the Giants in Games 3 and 4 at Candlestick Park.

2008: World Series Game 5

This wasn’t a postponement, but rather a game suspended due to torrential rain and wind in Philadelphia. Since the suspended-game rules of the time did not permit for a game to be suspended if it wasn’t tied, the teams played until Melvin Upton (then known as B.J. Upton) scored to tie the game 2-2.

Check out some of the commentary in the Retrosheet boxscore of this game:

RAYS 5TH: Baldelli reached on an error by Rollins; Jimmy Rollins fought with the rain and gusting wind trying to catch the ball; Bartlett grounded into a double play (second to first) [Baldelli out at second]; Kazmir struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 1 E, 0 LOB. Rays 1, Phillies 2.

RAYS 6TH: Iwamura was called out on strikes; Crawford grounded out (first unassisted); Upton singled to shortstop; Upton stole second; Pena singled to left [Upton scored]; Ruiz allowed a passed ball [Pena to second]; Longoria flied to center; game suspended due to heavy rain and winds at 10:39 PM; resumed at 8:40 on 10/29; the first suspension in World Series history; temperature at the time of the resumption was 44 but it was dry; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Rays 2, Phillies 2.

This led to the rule change providing that every postseason game must go at least nine innings and if any such game is interrupted by weather and cannot be completed on the day it’s started, it will be suspended, no matter what the inning or game situation.

Joe Maddon was the manager of that Rays team. In 2018, when the Cubs and Braves played through a cold, wet, windy rain and the Cubs came back from an eight-run deficit to win 14-10, Maddon called that weather worse than the 2008 World Series game:

“I thought the 2008 World Series game I participated in was the worst. It just got surpassed,” Maddon said. “This is not baseball weather. The elements were horrific to play baseball in. That is the worst elements I ever participated in in a baseball game. Ever.”

2017: NLDS Game 4

The postponement of NLDS Game 4 between the Cubs and Nationals was the first postseason postponement for the Cubs in the divisional play era.

It was played the next day and the Cubs lost 5-0, with Stephen Strasburg striking out 12. The teams then traveled to Washington for Game 5, a wild contest won by the Cubs 9-8. But the rainout had cost the teams an off day for travel, and then the Cubs had to travel to Los Angeles to begin the NLCS two days later — a trip interrupted by an unscheduled stop in Albuquerque because of a “health issue,” later determined to be José Quintana’s wife falling ill on the flight.

Would the 2017 NLCS have gone differently for the Cubs if not for the rainout and that diverted flight? Obviously, we’ll never know.

In recent years, the Phillies have expressed a desire to sign a player coming to Major League Baseball from Japan. It makes sense considering the many Japanese imports who have succeeded recently. Just last season, Munetaka Murakami provided the White Sox a huge boost, while Kazuma Okamoto was a strong contributor for the Blue Jays.

Munetaka Murakami hit 35 home runs in his first MLB season.

No Japanese-born hitter had ever hit more than 22 as a rookie. That was Shohei Ohtani in 2018. Kazuma Okamoto also passed it this year with 33.#WhiteSox#MLB#PostSeasonpic.twitter.com/HKHhG84tIu

— George C | x9Lab (@x9LabHQ) October 10, 2026

Despite the Phillies’ efforts – most notably, making a strong at pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto – they have been unable to convince any Japanese player to choose Philadelphia as their American baseball city.

The Phillies have made an offer to the top free agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto according to @MattGelb

I’m told the Phillies believe they are in the running along with Yankees, Mets, and Dodgers https://t.co/Ne5ZDgmqpG

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) December 21, 2023

There is already talk that the Phillies will be one of the teams pursuing Teruaki Sato, who is expected to be posted this offseason.

NEWS: Preston Mattingly and four others from the Phillies are currently in Japan scouting Hanshin Tigers 3B Teruaki Sato.

Sato’s stats this season:
138 AB | 51 H | 15 2B | 10 HR | 30 RBI |
23 BB | 41 K | .370/.453/.739 pic.twitter.com/pIwsucUx4P

— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) May 16, 2026

They may run into the same problems they have in the past: There is a natural bias by Japanese players towards western teams. There is also a sentiment that because the Phillies don’t have much of a tradition with Japanese players, players are wary of how they would be received.

The Phillies know what they’re up against when trying to sign Japanese talent: no direct flight between Tokyo and Philadelphia, a lack of a legacy in the country.

But they’ve revamped their scouting operation in Japan. Now, can they break through?https://t.co/ZVXvMwCjAj

— Charlotte Varnes (@charlottevarnes) December 5, 2025

The Phillies can’t do much to change the location of the city. But as for the lack of tradition… I will try to aid them in their recruiting efforts by highlighting some of the Japanese players who have played for the team in the past.

First up, a member of the 2008 World Series champions: Outfielder So Taguchi

After beginning his baseball career with the Orix Blue Wave of the Japanese Pacific League, in 2002, Taguchi decided to try his luck in America. In 2022, he joined the St. Louis Cardinals. He spent his first couple of years as a bench player, but was given a full-time role from 2004 to 2007 and played acceptably well, including some postseason highlights.

OTD: 10/13/06

So Taguchi begins the 9th inning with a pinch-hit, go-ahead solo home run to put the Cardinals on top in Game 2 pic.twitter.com/AIzfAGO4Y1

— Cardinals Talk (@theredbird_way) October 13, 2024

In December 2007, the Phillies were looking to put the final touches on a roster which they hoped could contend for a World Series. They signed Taguchi to a one-year deal to serve as a reserve outfielder. During the season, Taguchi was mostly used either as a pinch hitter or a defensive replacement for Pat Burrell in left field.

There were a few highlights along the way, such as a game-winning double against the Mets in July, and a 3-5, 3 RBI effort on the final day of the season.

#99 So Taguchi, Phillies OF (2008)

– 2008 Free Agent Signing
– 88 Games, .273 BA, 0 HR, 9 RBI pic.twitter.com/ZWMkKab8fv

— Philly Sports By Number (@philly_number) April 11, 2023

While his postseason accomplishments were minimal, after Brad Lidge secured the 27th out of game five of the World Series, Taguchi could be seen on the field, celebrating with his teammates.

The lesson to be learned is this: If you are a Japanese player who wants to experience the joy of winning a World Series, you should do as So Taguchi did: Choose the Phillies!

Mets relief prospect Ryan Lambert enjoyed another successful outing in the Arizona Fall League on Friday.

Lambert shut the door on a commanding seventh victory of the exhibition season for the Surprise Saguaros, cruising his way through a perfect top-half of the ninth. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out the first batter he faced with a 97 mph fastball on the corner of the zone, then needed just five more pitches to get through the rest of the inning. 

Lambert now has a total of five punchouts and he’s allowed just one baserunner, while not giving up a run across his first three appearances to open Fall League play. Though it’s still an extremely small sample size, it’s certainly the start the 24-year-old was looking for coming off his forgetful season at the Triple-A level.  

After a breakout 2025 minor league campaign Lambert was expected to work his way into the mix as a big-league bullpen arm, however, that did not end up being the case. 

He ended up having to miss some time to injury and battled ineffectiveness throughout the year, pitching to an ugly 7.71 ERA and 9.98 BB/9 across 23 Triple-A appearances. 

So now instead of building off an opportunity to show if he could help the Mets in the midst of a meaningless season, Lambert enters the year as a bit of a question mark for the organization. 

The big right-hander continues to showcase his big-time fastball velocity on the radar gun, but if he can’t consistently keep his stuff in the zone, he'll really limit his success. That's been the case throughout Lambert's minor league career, averaging an impressive 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings, but also walking a ton (6.7).

Continuing this strong start to fall ball and building some confidence would be huge for Lambert heading into what's shaping up to be a big offseason for him. With the Mets' bullpen still having a handful of openings, perhaps he'll be able to work his way into the mix with a strong spring training showing. 

Hello friends, and welcome to the weekend!

The ALCS resumes today after an unplanned day off (more on that below). Let’s explore all of that and more in today’s batch of links.

MLB Postseason scores…

• Game 4 of the ALCS was postponed yesterday due to rain. The Rays and Guardians will now square off during both days this weekend to make up for it.

In Mariners news…

• The Mariners are reportedly interested in former Twins skipper Rocco Baldelli for their managerial opening.
• John Trupin gave the case for and against the Mariners hiring former Astros manager Joe Espada.
• It’s time to start talking payroll. Ryan Blake broke down this year’s arbitration eligible players.

Around the league…

• Veteran catcher Martín Maldonado is joining the Tigers staff as a quality control coach under his former skipper A.J. Hinch.
• Shohei Ohtani is hoping to return to pitching next season but isn’t sure whether he’ll need surgery this offseason on his hurt knee or bicep.
• David Rubenstein said owning the Orioles is, “not as easy as I thought.”

Vahe Gregorian writes that it is okay to be cautious and excited about a downtown ballpark.

Power & Light, in fact, never has generated the revenue to meet debt obligations. As the Kansas City Business Journal put it in April, annual “bond gaps have required about $10.5 million a year from the city’s general fund and $199 million total to date.”

But here’s where the Rorschach test comes into play. Or at least a matter of perspective.

Because there’s a compelling case that Power & Light figuratively paid for itself many times over in how it changed the density and vibe of downtown (from around 5,000 residents to 33,000 over 25 years) — and in no small part the very perception of Kansas City.

That’s a confounding lesson to consider now.

Sam Dykstra at MLB.com reports that Royals pitching prospect Justin Lamkin is working on a curveball in the Arizona Fall League.

“I didn’t have a curveball in college,” the Texas A&M product said. “That was something I took into last offseason, and we had a pitch design group. So I was in that to add a fourth pitch to the arsenal, give a different look to righties at least so it’s not just fastball-slider. But I just stuck with it and trusted in our coaches.”

Lamkin would have continued to work on the deuce all summer long, if not for a left shoulder injury that cut his regular season short after May 25. Now the 22-year-old left-hander’s back in the Grand Canyon State in the Arizona Fall League to not only reestablish his health but pick up where he left off with that curve development.

David Lesky considers candidates to add to the assistant hitting coaching staff.

Cam Seitzer, White Sox

I know a lot of people want Cam’s dad to join the organization, but that’s not happening with the current structure. I do wonder if Cam might be an interesting answer. The White Sox seem to be doing something right with their hitting development, and you’d assume there’s at least some organizational familiarity with Thames from their year together in the organization. I don’t know much about Seitzer’s philosophies, but it might make some sense.

Carter Jensen will be the drum honoree at the Chiefs game on Sunday.

The Savannah Bananas will return to Kauffman Stadium next summer.

Rain postpones Game 4 of the ALCS, pushing back the weekend schedule.

How the altered schedule could change Cleveland’s pitching plans.

The Brewers have “gamers” but do they have potential Hall of Famers?

What’s next for the Dodgers?

Is this the end of their dynasty?

Brandon Woodruff wants to return to pitch in the World Series.

Phillies head Dave Dombrowski tells shortstop Trea Turner to improve defensively.

The Orioles may be looking for a catcher.

Dan Szymborski looks who teams that missed the playoffs could target in a weak upcoming free agent class.

Four Japanese stars that could be coming to MLB.

Baltimore owner David Rubenstein admits that MLB owners make a lot of money.

Caitlin Clark didn’t go deep in the playoffs, but WNBA postseason TV ratings remain strong.

The worst teams of the last decade that would have made an expanded 24-team college football playoff.

What you need to know about the Kelly Clarkson beef with a Brooklyn curio shop.

The moon is shrinking.

KFC is switching to Coca-Cola.

Some of the best horror movies you may have overlooked.

Your song of the day is Billy Joel with Vienna.

Another year, another early postseason exit. That's what GM Brian Cashman and the Yankees have to reckon with after the Tampa Bay Rays swept them in the ALDS.

The front office decided to run it back the 2025 team -- yes, that's what they essentially did -- and it left them with the same result: an ALDS ouster. So, where do the Yankees go from here?

Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole aren't getting any younger, and with a weak American League, there are only so many more chances at capturing a World Series before their captain and the veterans age out of the team. Cashman will have to look for ways to get over the hump for the first time since 2009, and that could mean tough decisions regarding the core of the Yankees. 

There are key players who will enter free agency and whether the Yankees bring them back or not will change how the 2027 team looks. And while the trade market is always a way to shift the roster makeup, Cashman has rarely used it during the offseason. But with such an influx of starting pitching, it's not out of the realm of possibility that some major league arms like Will Warren, Clarke Schmidt or Ryan Weathers are moved to open up roster spots and fill needs.

There's also the impending lockout, which could reshape how business is done in baseball. Whether there's a cap or not, the new CBA will create some hurdles the Yankees front office will have to manage.

With all that said, here's how the payroll for the Yankees looks for next season and beyond...

SALARY COMMITTED FOR 2027

When the offseason begins, the Yankees will have approximately $244 million committed (pre-tax) to the 2027 season, according to Cot's Contracts. That includes the nine arbitration-eligible players, zero-to-three players and those in the minors under team control. 

The above number could change if the Yankees non-tender any of the arbitration-eligible players they trade. Weathers and Luis Gil -- yes, even Gil -- are potential trade pieces, while Fernando Cruz, who is looking to rehab and avoid elbow surgery, could be non-tendered if the team doesn't trust what they see medically. 

And then there's the money coming off the books. Jazz Chisholm Jr. ($10.2 M), Trent Grisham ($22 M), Paul Blackburn ($2 M), Paul Goldschmidt ($4 M) and David Bednar ($9 M) are notable free agents. 

Goldschmidt has said he wants to keep playing baseball, while Chisholm has voiced his wish to return to the Yankees, although he also said he wants a lucrative, long-term deal.

With youngsters Anthony Volpe, George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones up with the big league club, it's unlikely Grisham and Chisholm return. That would give the Yankees more than $30 million to play with this offseason.

WHAT WILL THE ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS MAKE?

The Yankees have nine arbitration-eligible players.

Here is the list of players with their projected 2027 salaries:

Luis Garcia Jr. ($10.25 million)

Clarke Schmidt ($5.575 million)

Anthony Volpe ($5 million)

Jose Caballero ($4.25 million)

Ryan Weathers ($3 million)

Austin Wells ($2.5 million)

Fernando Cruz ($2.45 million)

Luis Gil ($2.3 million)

Heliot Ramos ($2.25 million)

If those numbers hold and the Yankees tender them all contracts, that's approximately $37.5 million added, an increase of about $13 million from what those players made in 2026. The $30 million coming off the books from Chisholm and Grisham alone will take care of the added money, and, again, there could be opportunities to trade some of these arbitration players, so that number isn't in stone just yet.

All the above names except for Weathers, Cruz and Gil are important to the 2027 roster. And while it's likely the Yankees tender all of them, if there's an opportunity to move them, they are prime candidates. 

HOW MUCH MONEY IS THERE TO ADD PLAYERS THIS OFFSEASON?

Despite Hal Steinbrenner's wishes, the Yankees continue to exceed $300 million in player salary, and that will likely continue into 2027 -- unless there are major changes in the new CBA. 

They need to rebuild their bullpen after the departures of Bednar, Blackburn and a couple of other mid-level relievers like Ryan Yarbrough and Tim Hill, and they still need to round out the bench after Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario hit free agency.

Already at $244 million committed (pre-tax), Cashman will need to get creative with the additions. The highest-ticket item the Yankees should acquire is re-signing Bednar. He made $9 million in 2026, and after one-and-a-half seasons proving he can play in New York, he'll get a pay raise in any contract he receives. 

The Yankees are expected to issue a qualifying offer to Bednar, which would be around $23.13 million for one year, so if Bednar accepts it, it would essentially replace Grisham's from 2026. 

The same could be said for Blackburn, who revived his career as a high-leverage reliever this past season. He made just $2.1 million in 2026, and he won't cost as much as Bednar, but he should also seek a pay raise. The rest of the bullpen holes could be filled with starters transitioning to the 'pen, like Schmidt and Gil, minor league arms like Carlos Lagrange, or journeyman arms that the Yankees system transforms into a valuable reliever.

The tricky part will be the right-handed hitting catcher the team needs. Free agents like Ryan Jeffers will cost the team a pretty penny, so they'll have to determine whether they want to spend their offseason bucks. Perhaps they could backload the contract to stay under a certain threshold as they wait for contracts like Giancarlo Stanton and Carlos Rodon's to expire.

Or they can look for a cheaper option like Tyler Stephenson. This will be the aspect to watch this offseason as the team looks for more consistent offense in 2027 and beyond.

Those are the two major needs this offseason as the starting lineup and rotation are mostly set. On the lineup front, the Yankees won't have too much wiggle room to make a big splash, so they'll need to rely on Volpe and Caballero being used as a platoon with Ryan McMahon at third base. Unless the Yankees can convince the Rockies for Hunter Goodman or the Nationals for CJ Abrams, they'll need to rely on the young/inexpensive options they have.

WHAT ABOUT EXTENSIONS FOR UNDER-CONTROL PLAYERS?

Looking at the current Yankees roster, there aren't many players who could be good candidates for an extension.

Ben Rice, who looks to be a superstar, won't have his first year of arbitration until 2028 so there isn't a rush. While names like Ramos and Caballero don't feel like players Cashman would look to extend before he has to.

Schmidt will be in his final year of arbitration in 2027, but health concerns could muddy that possibility, while Garcia, a left-handed first baseman, doesn't necessarily have a spot on the Yankees past this upcoming year, with Rice likely to man the position in 2028 and beyond.

That leaves Volpe and Wells.

Volpe has one more year of arbitration after this one, but based on how his 2026 went, the Yankees will likely wait before exploring an extension. But he'd be prime candidate if he takes the second base job and keeps it in 2027.

Wells is the likeliest candidate for an extension. He has two more years of arbitration after 2027, and has done wonders handling one of the best rotations in baseball. Sure, his offense has left a lot to be desired, but if he can capture whatever got into his bat in the last month of the regular season and the playoffs, the Yankees would surely want to keep their backstop for the long term.

THE PAYROLL SITUATION IN 2028 AND BEYOND

Here are the Yankees' projected 40-man roster salary obligations from 2028 to 2030, via Cot's:

2028: $192.6 million

2029: $112.7 million

2030: $89.4 million

The biggest difference between 2027 and 2028 is Stanton's contract. The Yankees have a club option to retain the slugger, but it's tough to imagine the organization exercising it after the last few injury-prone seasons. Even if the Yankees DFA Stanton for the 2027 season, that money will be off the books the following year.

McMahon, Garcia and Schmidt will all be free agents in 2028 as well, freeing up approximately $32 million.

Rodon and Cole's contracts expire after 2028, giving the Yankees even more flexibility for the 2029 season, especially if the young starters they currently have continue to pitch well.

If the Yankees can continue to develop their young players, they could be set up nicely without having to rely on high-priced free agents.

Ty France solidified a position of need for the San Diego Padres in the 2026 season. The right-handed slugger joined the team in the offseason on a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. At the time, there were questions of whether he would even make the team. France competed with Gavin Sheets and Nick Castellanos for regular playing time at first base but eventually made the team and took control of the position and added another Rawlings Gold Glove Award nomination to his resume.

France played at San Diego State University and was drafted by the Padres in 2015. He made his debut with the club in 2019 but eventually was sent to the Seattle Mariners in a trade along with outfielder Taylor Trammell, reliever Andres Munoz and catcher Luis Torrens in exchange for catcher Austin Nola and relievers Dan Altavilla and Austin Adams in 2020. It was a move that never seemed to make sense to the Friar Faithful.

France spent four years with the Mariners then bounced from Seattle to the Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays from 2024 to 2026. France returned to San Diego and took full advantage of his return. The right-handed slugger had 440 at-bats over 133 games and finished with 21 homers and 72 RBI. France ended the 2026 season with a slash line of .295/.363/.502. He solidified the cleanup spot in the Padres lineup and provided protection for Manny Machado in the No. 3 hole.

There is no question that France had a successful season at plate, but what he did in the field may have had an even greater impact. France provided Gold Glove caliber defense, which is supported by his nomination for the National League Gold Glove Award at the position. France allowed the infielders to play and throw free knowing if they short-hopped a throw or were offline to either side or up or down he was going to make a play and likely record the out.

France will be a free agent at the end of the MLB season, but he should be a top target for the Padres. The veteran has made no secret that he enjoys playing in and for the Padres. He stabilizes a position of need and arguably one of the most valuable positions on the field considering most plays end with him catching the ball. The Friar Faithful have seen the inconsistency and the struggles at first base over recent seasons, France provides an inhouse opportunity solidify the position. There are questions as to whether he can replicate his offensive production in future seasons, but if he is successful and comfortable in San Diego, he should be given the chance to prove he can.

Padres News:

• AJ Cassavell of Padres.com says there are four questions the Padres have to answer in the offseason with the top one being what they need to do to get to the World Series.

• You can see where the top Padres prospects rank according to MLB.com.

Baseball News:

• The Milwaukee Brewers are waiting for their World Series opponent after sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. Should they be rooting for the Tampa Bay Rays or the Cleveland Guardians?

• Only a day after their season ended, Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani says he plans to pitch in 2027.

• Top Japanese prospect says he will jump straight to MLB.

• Weather kept the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians off the field for Game 4. The game will be played Saturday and Game 5 will be played Sunday.

Good morning Birdland,

The ALCS is expected to continue tonight in Cleveland after a rainout on Friday. MLB doesn’t do doubleheaders in the postseason, so this reschedule has condensed the calendar a bit. No longer is there an off-day set for Sunday, which could mean that these two teams would play on three straight days from Saturday through Monday, if a Game 6 is needed. That change could force the two managers to play their bullpen cards a bit different than if they had the day off for relievers to recover.

Of course, the Orioles are just spectators to all of this while their manager’s former club is on the brink of a World Series appearance. They have a few things to figure out before they can get back to the point where playoff bullpen management is their top priority.

One of those things might be whether or not their owner actually understands what his role is here.

David Rubenstein just finished his third season as the club’s “control person.” The honeymoon period between him and the Orioles fan base is entirely over as the team has disappointed for 2.5 of the three years that he has been in the mix. But that didn’t stop him from recently writing a book about the experience, which people have started to thumb through during this quiet period before the offseason really gets going. And it has led him to talk a lot more about the experience publicly.

Baltimore Baseball’s Rich Dubroff compiled a few noteworthy quotes from an event on Thursday that featured Rubenstein alongside fellow sports team owners. One in particular spurred a follow-up column from Yahoo! Sports.

“A lot of my friends were buying teams, and I realized they’re making money. They’re making more money than I’m making in private equity,” he said. “I thought I should look at it as a financial thing, but ultimately I bought the Orioles for a philanthropic purpose.

Comments like this are not ideal from MLB’s perspective right now. The league and MLBPA are in the midst of a labor dispute in which many of the owners are crying poor, saying the smaller market teams cannot afford to compete with the clubs in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. To hear Rubenstein tell it, these teams are actually doing just fine.

I’m shocked, I tell you, shocked!

This upcoming World Series matchup won’t do much to help either. Milwaukee is arguably the smallest market in MLB, dwarfed by nearby Chicago, but they have been the best team in the sport all year and just took down the mighty Dodgers. Cleveland and Tampa are also in the bottom half of the league. One of them is going to he the AL champs. The Rays took down the Yankees to get here while the Guardians beat out the White Sox, who may not carry the same cachet as the Cubs in that city, but they are still able to draw from one of the country’s major metropolises.

That all is secondary to me. If you didn’t already know these billionaires weren’t just in this for the love of the game, then you aren’t paying attention. Instead, what I found interesting are the many other quotes that make Rubenstein look like both an out-of-touch rich guy, and maybe even an alien from another planet. For example:

“I couldn’t figure out why it is that people who are fans are so obsessed with the success of their local team,” he said. “They’re not going to make any more money. They’re not going to go to the Super Bowl and get a trophy out of it.

“I guess it’s because people take pride in being successful, and if something that’s connected to their local community is successful, they feel better about themselves. That’s why people love to watch sports, I guess.”

Dave, dude, did you just find out what sports are the week before buying the team? You didn’t understand why people were obsessed with their local team? Well, of course, it is so that predatory wealthy people like you can worm your way into something you don’t understand, and make everything more expensive and complicated. All so you can make even more money that “isn’t going to make a difference in [the owner’s] lifestyle”

Or maybe just keep some thoughts inside your head, and share them with your rich pals somewhere that’s not, I don’t know, a broadly broadcast forum that everyone can hear.

Again, most people understand that these billionaire owners are not doing this for entirely benevolent reasons. They want to make (more) money, and sports is an increasingly popular way to do that. But it would be nice to have an owner that at least gets what they are signing up for at a base level, and maybe even shares some level of passion that the fans have. It doesn’t seem like the Orioles have that.

Links

Holliday looking to build off positives from 2026 during ’27 season | Orioles.com
Jackson Holliday is not turning into the franchise cornerstone that many hoped/expected him to be. That doesn’t mean he is without value, but it also shouldn’t mean the Orioles just keep pinning their hopes on him being a viable everyday second baseman. They should be open-minded to other solutions if they are serious about winning in 2027.

This, that and the other | Roch Kubatko
Roch discusses some of the contract decisions coming for the Orioles. Ryan Helsley gets to decide his own fate, which likely puts him back in Baltimore next year. Zach Eflin doesn’t. He will hit free agency rather than having his $25 million option picked up. Ryan Mountcastle ($7.5 million) and Luis Robert Jr. ($20 million) are tougher calls, but the smart money is probably on their options being declined too. Dietrich Enns probablys hits the market too after a tough season spend mostly in Triple-A.

Orioles owner David Rubenstein says quiet part out loud before lockout: His MLB peers are making a ton of money | Yahoo! Sports
In case you skipped the opening. Here is what Yahoo! had to say on Rubenstein’s comments earlier this week.

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

• Hanser Alberto turns 34 today. The contact-oriented infielder emerged out of nowhere to have an impressive 3.4-bWAR season in 2019 with the Orioles, was a bit less productive in 2020, his final season in Baltimore.
• Ken Dixon is 60 years old. All four seasons he spent in MLB came in Baltimore from 1984-87. Over 482.1 total innings he had a 4.66 ERA and was worth 2.4 bWAR.
• Jim Hutto is 79 today. He played in four games for the 1975 Orioles.
• The late Kelly Paris (b. 1957, d. 2019) was born on this day. He appeared in 10 games with the Orioles as a reserve infielder between 1985 and ‘86.

This day in O’s history

1971 – The Pirates prevail 2-1 over the Orioles in Game 7 of the World Series. Robert Clemente hits a home run off Mike Cuellar as the crowning achievement of his Series MVP performance.

1979 – Willie Stargell hits a two-run homer to lift the Pirates to a 4-1 win in Game 7 of the World Series over our O’s.

While the 2026 Yankees season has come to a frustratingly early end, it’s hard to blame much of that on the starting pitching. By several measures, the Yankees had one of the best rotations in all of baseball this year, and they have the favorite for the AL Cy Young Award in Cam Schlittler.

As part of our season in review, let’s take a look back at some of the rotation’s best efforts of the year. To do that, we’re going to rank them according to the Game Score statistic. Game Score takes a variety of stats from an outing and combines them to try and determine how dominant a pitcher’s outing. Fifty is generally about average, and if a pitcher nears 100, they’re probably putting up an all-time great outing. While we didn’t get any no-hitters or perfect games this year, the Yankees’ rotation still had its fair share of excellent outings, let’s look back at the best of them.

This is a post of the top five, but there was a three-way tie for fifth, so it’ll actually include two bonus games too.

T5. Cam Schlittler 78 vs. Rays – July 6th

One could hope that Schlittler’s Game 2 start in the ALDS against the Rays harkened back to a regular season outing he had against Tampa Bay. Facing the Rays on July 6th, Schlittler allowed one run on four hits, while striking out eight in eight innings. None of the hits he allowed were more than a single, it’s just that one of them was to the speedy Chandler Simpson, which led to him scoring on another single.

T5. Cam Schlittler: 78 vs. Braves – August 9th

Sneaking onto the list as part of that three-way tie for fifth is, surprise, another Schlittler start. This is the only game on the list that the Yankees ended up losing, but you can hardly blame that on the Yankees’ Cy Young candidate. In his seven frames, he held Atlanta to one run on three hits while striking out 11. Thankfully the Yankees scored a run in the eighth and the loss came in extra innings, so Schlittler didn’t get dinged with a loss for that gem.

You’ll never be able to guess who the pitcher who had the other game tied for fifth is…

T5. Cam Schlittler: 78 vs. Red Sox – ALWCS Game 1

While it wasn’t as statistically dominant as his start against the Red Sox in the 2025 AL Wild Card Series, Schlittler’s 2026 outing was still plenty good enough to crack this list. He only went 6.1 innings this time around, but held the Red Sox to just two hits, while striking out 10. The Yankees’ lineup poured it on late on route to a win and an eventual dominant sweep of Boston. If only the rest of the postseason went that well…

T3. Max Fried: 83 vs. Red Sox – April 22nd

Someone else has finally made an appearance on the list. Injuries limited Fried to just 112.2 innings this season, but statistically he was still very good. This performance against the Red Sox was part of that. Having been given a 3-0 lead to work with after the top of the first, Fried proceeded to go eight scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and two walks, striking out nine Boston batters.

T3. Cam Schlittler: 83 vs. Angels – September 2nd

Normal service has resumed as Schlittler matched Fried to tie for third place. However, this was another game where he ended up with a no decision thanks to the offense. In eight innings, Schlittler held the Angels to one run on two hits, striking out nine. The only issue was that one of those hits was a Vaughn Grissom homer that tied the game at one in the seventh inning. The Yankees eventually broke through with five runs in the top of the 10th inning to seal the win, although they deprived their ace of the victory.

T1. Cam Schlittler: 84 vs. Phillies – July 24th

As it turned out, there was also a tie for first and, yes, Schlittler was involved. In July, he held a potentially very powerful Phillies’ lineup to no runs in 7.1 innings, surrendering just three hits all game. He struck out 12 batters, including Trea Turner and Bryce Harper twice each.

T1. Carlos Rodón: 84 vs. Rays – September 22nd

Tying Schlittler for the top spot is a Rodón start that had people wondering what order the playoff rotation should go in. Against the Rays in late September, Rodón threw eight shutout frames, allowing just three hits in arguably his best ever start as a Yankee. He also reached a milestone in getting to the 1500 strikeout mark during the outing.

The start — and his stretch run in general — was good enough that it led to people suggesting that Rodón should get the ball for one of the AL Wild Card Series games. In the end, they went with Schlittler, Fried, and Gerrit Cole had their been a Game 3. As it worked out, Rodón didn’t end up pitching at all in the playoffs. You can debate whether that should’ve been the case, but it’s hard to blame any of the starting pitchers for their ALDS losses.

Those are the best starts of the year according to Game Score, but which ones were the most memorably good to you?