Category: MLB

Los Angeles has been the centre of the baseball world over the past few years.

The LA Dodgers have built a star-studded roster in Major League Baseball, winning back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025.

Celebrities and royalty have flocked to Dodger Stadium, which will also host the Olympic tournament as baseball returns to the Games for Los Angeles 2028.

And you can get a glimpse of the Hollywood vibe as the Dodgers continue their quest for a World Series three-peat in the MLB play-offs this weekend.

After earning a bye for the first round last week, it is time for the Dodgers to join the post-season party and they will be part of an MLB double-header live on the BBC.

Saturday's coverage begins with the Chicago White Sox visiting the Cleveland Guardians for the start of their American League Division Series (18:00 BST).

You can then experience all the sights and sounds from Dodger Stadium, one of MLB's most iconic venues, as the defending champions begin their National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves (21:00 BST).

Who has been watching the Dodgers?

Opened in 1962, Dodger Stadium is the biggest MLB arena with a capacity of 56,000, and this year 'Dodger baseball' has been one of the hottest tickets in town.

For the past two years the team's total home attendance has passed four million. This year they set a franchise record of 4,034,219 - an average of 49,805 fans per game.

The signings of two-way star Shohei Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto in 2024 helped boost the team's Asian fanbase, increasing Japanese tourism to LA and supplementing the loyal local support.

Actors Brad Pitt, Will Ferrell, Bryan Cranston, Jason Bateman and Rob Lowe are all regulars at Dodger Stadium, while Justin and Hailey Bieber have been spotted at multiple games.

NBA star LeBron James and NFL quarterback Justin Herbert both attended last year's World Series, along with Sydney Sweeney, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Who will show up this weekend as LA hosts games one and two of the best-of-five series against Atlanta?

Having briefly been based in LA, Pierre Ducrey - sports director for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) - has also watched numerous games at Dodger Stadium and is "quite familiar with the atmosphere it can deliver".

"There's so many Dodger fans and they're very passionate about the team," he told BBC Sport. "They have an incredible venue and one thing I do know about baseball is this is the perfect home for a baseball tournament."

• Ohtani rewrites history to send Dodgers to World Series
• Why 'face of baseball' is on cusp of global stardom

Who are the World Series favourites?

The Dodgers aren't the only show in town. The LA Lakers are one of the biggest franchises in basketball's NBA, as are the LA Rams in American football's NFL.

The Rams won the Super Bowl in their own stadium in 2022 and are favourites to win the NFL's championship game when it returns to SoFi Stadium next February.

The stadium hosted eight World Cup games last summer and anticipation is growing that LA is set for a third straight World Series later this month.

"This is a city that lives and breathes sport and the Dodgers are a perfect example of that," said Ducrey. "The popularity of the franchise in LA cannot be underestimated."

The Dodgers secured the second seed in the National League after finishing the regular season with 100 wins and 62 losses.

The Milwaukee Brewers were the only MLB team with a better record (103-59) yet the Dodgers are favourites to win the World Series, ahead of the Brewers and New York Yankees.

The Dodgers have continued to make big-name signings, with pitcher Tarik Skubal the latest in a mid-season trade, and their recent success has got fans dreaming of the franchise's first-ever three-peat.

"The Dodgers are in a very good period," Ducrey added. "There is a big momentum for them, but the team would still be immensely followed whether they're successful or not.

"There's a very long history behind it, and a very big tradition for baseball in Los Angeles."

How do the MLB play-offs work?

Although Ohtani is a rare two-way player, the Dodgers' leading home-run hitter will not pitch again this year because of injuries.

Skubal is expected to start on Saturday and face Matt Olson, who led Atlanta with 41 home runs in the regular season and added another in Thursday's series-clinching win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Either the Dodgers or the Braves will face Milwaukee or the San Diego Padres in the National League Championship Series (NLCS) - one step from the World Series.

Sixth seed Chicago have already upset the Houston Astros in the other half of the play-offs and either the White Sox or Cleveland will face the Tampa Bay Rays or Yankees in the American League Championship Series (ALCS).

The winners of the ALCS and NLCS will meet in the World Series, which is scheduled to begin on Friday, 23 October.

• The 'greatest in the world' with an Olympic dream for Team GB

The Cleveland Guardians host the Chicago White Sox in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday, Oct. 3, the opener in the best-of-five showdown between the AL Central rivals.

"It really has been crazy kind of the back and forth that we've had all year," White Sox manager Will Venable said of the Guardians. "So we're excited about the opportunity to play these guys, but we know full well how challenging it is to beat them."

Cleveland won the division, finally chasing down Chicago in the final weeks of the season after the White Sox had led most of the way. The White Sox won the season series 7-6 but wound up finishing one game behind the Guardians and had to settle for a wild card spot, sweeping the Houston Astros to get to the ALDS.

Prior to the wild card series, the White Sox received a letter from noted fan Pope Leo XIV that invoked the "Almighty’s abundant blessings" upon the club that last won the World Series in 2005.

Where to watch White Sox vs Guardians: TV channel, live stream

• Time: 1 p.m. ET
• TV channel: TBS
• Live stream: Sling, HBO Max

Watch MLB playoffs on Sling

LOS ANGELES — The two-time World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are rolling out their new toy Saturday afternoon in two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.

Their opponent, Atlanta, has no idea who it will even start Saturday (4 p.m. ET) at Dodger Stadium with a fatigued pitching staff.

The Dodgers are tanned, fresh and rested, home since Sunday evening. They haven't left California for the past 2½ weeks.

Atlanta, on the other hand, just came off a grueling three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies where ace Chris Sale not only started Game 1, but came on in relief for a four-out save in the deciding game.

The Dodgers will have a well-rested Skubal, two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell in Game 2 and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 3.

Atlanta may not have Sale or even No. 2 starter Tyler Mahle available until the series returns to Atlanta.

The Dodgers have won back-to-back World Series championships, and three in the last six years.

Atlanta has won just two World Series titles in 60 years since it moved from Milwaukee.

So, yes, you can certainly understand why Atlanta manager Walt Weiss wasted no time pulling out the David versus Goliath narrative before boarding a five-hour flight to Los Angeles.

“You call David and Goliath and all that stuff,’’ Weiss said, “but you've got to go through the Dodgers if you want to get to the top of the mountain. You've got to go through them at some point. So it's going to be a great challenge for us. …

“Everyone knows the Dodgers have a juggernaut, but we played well against them this year. I know that doesn't carry a whole lot of stock. Once the playoffs begin, like I say, everybody starts at zero.’’

Here we go again. After besting the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series, the Yankees begin a Division Series matchup against the AL East champions for the second straight year in a row, this time drawing the Rays as opposed to last year’s Blue Jays. The tale of the tape is close between these two teams, the Rays narrowly winning the season series 7-6 after winning the second game of a doubleheader in their four-game series last week. The difference has been where the games have been played, as the Yankees were 2-5 in the Trop but 4-2 against them at Yankee Stadium. Overall the Rays have been the best home team in the league with a 55-26 record, but the Yankees are sending them a challenge as they get to start Gerrit Cole in Game 1 tonight despite having to run out two other aces in the Wild Card, and Cam Schlittler will start Game 2 having pitched to a sterling 1.16 ERA on the road this year. This could easily become a five-game heavyweight bout if the Yankees manage to steal one of these first two games before shifting back to the Bronx, and there’s some revenge on the line for Cole as well after the Rays spoiled his debut season in New York beating them in the 2020 ALDS.

We’ve got a lot to get through before gametime, starting with previews abound. Nick and Peter will both dive into the pitchers and hitters respectively that the Yankees have to worry about from Tampa Bay, and Estevao will preview Game 1 specifically as Cole lines up against Drew Rasmussen. The Arizona Fall League gets underway over the weekend as well, and Michael is on hand to go over the Yankees prospects participating. Kento looks back on the saga of Dave Winfield’s career as we celebrate his 75th birthday, and then we’ll be looking ahead to first pitch.

Today’s Matchup:

American League Division Series Game 1

New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays

Time: 6:30 p.m. EST

TV: TBS/HBO Max, TruTV, Univision

Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL

Questions/Prompts:

1. What are you expecting from Gerrit Cole tonight, and will we see Carlos Rodon used in relief of him?

2. Get your picks in for the other Division Series matchups: who wins between the White Sox/Guardians, Braves/Dodgers, and Padres/Brewers?

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: After much deliberation, the Yankees are going with Gerrit Cole to start Game 1 of the ALDS. It’s a reasonable choice, even with how great Carlos Rodón was down the stretch, and a meaningful one to the erstwhile ace of the Yankees. It wasn’t long ago that Cole couldn’t even grip a baseball, in the midst of the long road to recovery from Tommy John surgery. To come back full circle, back to pitching for the Yankees to lead off a playoff series, is special for the right-hander. “It’s incredibly special,” Cole said. “Considering coming back from surgery, there’s not much more I could ask for. I feel tremendously blessed.”

CBS Sports: Speaking of Rodón, Aaron Boone did note that the left-hander would factor in more heavily in the ALDS than the quick Wild Card sweep of the Red Sox, telling reporters the plan was for Rodon to start Game 3 or Game 4 of this series. That Rodón could be held back until Game 4 very much keeps alive the possibility of Rodón also pitching out of the bullpen in the beginning of the ALDS. Rodón is more than fully rested now, and would have four days rest before Game 4 if he pitched in relief in Game 1.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Just as crucial a decision as who starts Game 1 against the Rays is whether Aaron Judge appears at all in the ALDS. Judge has made his stance clear, stating his willingness and desire to play as soon as possible. Boone said Judge has progressed from running on an anti-gravity treadmill to running in the outfield, but has yet to run the bases. Ultimately, it’s a complicated, high-stakes matrix. It’s impossible to know if Judge is at grave risk of re-injury if he plays, and how effective he’ll be if he takes the field. Whether he’s on the roster also impacts how many pitchers the Yankees can carry, affects their decision-making regarding Giancarlo Stanton’s inclusion on the roster, and on down.

ESPN: ESPN’s team of MLB writers runs down the League Division Series, forecasting how each one could play out. They actually tab the Yankees as slight favorites over the Rays, regardless of whether Aaron Judge is able to suit up. However you splice it though, one thing is clear: this is the premier matchup on the American League side of the bracket. Bradford Doolittle goes as far as to call this the “Real ALCS,” a designation I will not quibble with one bit.

The Seattle Mariners have made use of the waiver wire to start October, claiming 1B/OF Michael Toglia from the Cincinnati Reds. The 28 year old switch-hitter missed much of the 2026 season with a dislocated right shoulder suffered while making a diving catch. The preparation for the surgery revealed a torn labrum as well, which led to season-ending surgery after just 10 games in Ohio.

Toglia was well-regarded by many (this author included) out of Gig Harbor High School in 2016 and particularly again after a strong career at UCLA. The Colorado Rockies made Toglia their first round pick in 2019, selecting him 23rd overall on the heels of a .307/.410/.573 line and top-notch glovework at the cold corner. A standout, 6’5 athlete, Toglia received some of the descriptors Evan White received as a prospect, noting his excellent athleticism was almost wasted at first base, anticipating at least nominal utilization in the outfield to expand his utility.

While that is what occurred in his progression through Colorado’s system, some of the similar issues White encountered arose as well. Toglia’s strikeout rates ballooned in pro ball, averaging around a 30% punchout rate despite clubbing prodigious home run totals before his big league debut in 2022. That debut was difficult for the then-23 year old, and he’s found little consistency subsequently. A .198/.275/.384 career line with 42 home runs in 1095 plate appearances is good for a .286 wOBA, troubling enough on its own. But Toglia’s home park his entire career has been Coors Field, save the 10 games mostly at home in Great American Ballpark with Cincinnati, meaning the most hitter-friendly parks in MLB have not been enough to foster quality numbers for him. The difficult nature of it is that Toglia’s 69 wRC+, combined with the challenging task of roaming the outfield of Coors and some poor ratings at first base to boot has meant Toglia’s fWAR of -3.5 ranks as worst in MLB since 2020.

So why the claim?

Toglia has a profile somewhat similar to fellow former Rockies OF/1B Nolan Jones, whom the M’s took on in the Luis Castillo trade with the White Sox. In a sense, both players have overlapping talents to Luke Raley and Lazaro Montes, both of whom have demonstrated more potent big league success thus far in their careers. Moreover, Toglia’s tools and adjustments after a midseason demotion in 2024 popped significantly, a season where his Baseball Savant profile looked exceptionally promising.

Toglia has immense raw power, and has shortened his swing in the past couple seasons to attempt to reflect that he does not need massive hacks to deliver ample damage. His swing length in the past two seasons has been in line with league average, while his bat speed and hard hit rates have been near the top of the league. Add that Toglia doesn’t chase excessively, and most of his strikeouts stem from that overswinging and a patient approach that boosts his strikeout rate in kind naturally, and there is a ton of Luke Raley to be seen from the left hand side, while a great deal of Mitch Garver from the right.

And yet, Toglia has been incapable of compiling all these characteristics into a capable big leaguer thus far. His best year, that alteration-including 2024, still topped out at a 99 wRC+ with 25 homers and 10 steals in 116 games and 458 plate appearances. Seattle can likely see the outline of a big leaguer still with Toglia, and few love to give a former top 100 prospect a look as much as Jerry Dipoto, but for the local kid to make good he’ll need to find a way to make much more in-zone contact in the bigs, no longer with the benefit of the sport’s best ballparks to bash.

The California Post’s experts make their predictions on the Dodgers-Braves and Padres-Brewers NLDS matchups, which are scheduled to begin Saturday:

DODGERS-BRAVES

Rich Barak

Dodgers rotation (and restocked bullpen) will prove to be the difference.

Dodgers in 5

Kendall Capps

Starting pitching. Starting pitching. Starting pitching.

Dodgers in 4

Michael J. Duarte

Atlanta spent six regular-season games proving it can bloody the two-time champs, but October has handed the Dodgers a rested four-headed rotation while the Braves arrive at Dodger Stadium with their pitching staff held together by tape, adrenaline and Chris Sale’s overworked left arm. I think Atlanta steals a game at home, but the Dodgers’ pursuit of a three-peat will survive its first series punch, facing either a rematch with Milwaukee or a heated rivalry with their neighbors to the South.

Dodgers in 4

Jack Harris

The Braves can be dangerous, but their pitching (Chris Sale, especially) has already been worn down. If the Dodgers look anything like they did in September, they’ll be on to the NLCS.

Dodgers in 4

Dylan Hernandez

The Braves are spent after surviving the Phillies in the wild-card round.

Dodgers in 3

Christian Orozco

The Dodgers will look to make a statement in their opening round on the road to their three-peat. Even if their bats struggle, I trust their starting rotation.

Dodgers in 4

PADRES-BREWERS

Rich Barak

The Mizard of Oz will propel Brew Crew on path to NLCS.

Brewers in 5

Kendall Capps

Compelling series pitting the hottest team against the best team. I always prefer momentum and the Padres have something special going on.

Padres in 5

Michael J. Duarte

The Padres have enough star power and late-inning gasoline to make this series a five-game fistfight, but Milwaukee earned home-field advantage for precisely this kind of October moment. If it comes down to one night in Wisconsin with Jacob Misiorowski holding the baseball and American Family Field shaking around him, I’ll take the Brewers to survive.

Brewers in 5

Jack Harris

The Padres’ biggest strength is their bullpen. Never is that more important than in a shorter five-game series. Once they take a lead, they don’t give it up.

Padres in 4

Dylan Hernandez

Padres are dangerous whenever they’re riding an emotional high.

Padres in 5

Christian Orozco

Jacob Misiorowski will bring the Padres back down to earth after their hot wild-card round. The Brewers find a way to finish the series through their bullpen.

Brewers in 4

The past seven days have been highly successful for the San Diego Padres organization.

After giving starter Casey Mize a chance to show he was healthy enough to participate in the postseason, the Padres placed the right-hander on the injured list after he surrendered seven hits and seven runs in four innings in the 11-4 loss on Sept. 25, to the Diamondbacks.

Walker Buehler started Game 2, which the Padres won 10-7 to clinch home-field advantage for the Wild Card round of the NL playoffs. Buehler was not particularly sharp, but the Padres eeked out the win despite a rare hiccup by Mason Miller, pitching in a non-save situation to finish the game.

In a game that meant nothing in the playoff picture, Rándy Vásquez went six strong innings to lead the Friars to another win. He combined with Griffin Canning to finish off the D-backs and give the bullpen two full days of rest before their homestand against the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card series.

A fairytale series

It couldn’t have gone any better for the Padres against the Cubs. Rookie manager Craig Stammen had the least stress-inducing playoff series any manager could have. 

After naming a playoff roster that surprised many by including both Joe Musgrove and Gavin Sheets, Stammen used both of those Padres in two dominant performances versus Chicago. 

Musgrove, who had spent almost two years on the IL, pitched in the ninth inning of the first game, finishing off the Cubs for the first win.

Stammen was given the softest landing ever imaginable for both himself and Musgrove. 

Sheets, who spent most of the past month in a boot for a plantar fascia tear in his left foot, was activated at the end of the season and played in two games versus the D-backs. After showing he was able to perform in those games, Sheets provided the pitching staff with some breathing room in the second game, blasting a 101 mph fastball 394 feet into the right-field stands. 

The Padres pitching staff held the best offense in the National League to one run on eight hits in the two games. The two best hitters on their roster, NL MVP-to-be Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman, went 0-for-15 with eight strikeouts against the Padres dominant pitching staff.

Meanwhile, Fernando Tatis Jr. put on a show in the first game with a leadoff home run while also scoring from first on a stolen base and a throwing error in his last at-bat.

Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts turned their worst professional seasons around by going 7-for-15 with two homers, two doubles and four RBI combined in the two games.

Second-half momentum carries on

The Friars had a 50-53 record before their second-half surge. After struggling offensively for much of May, June, and July, the Padres went on a 43-18 tear to end the season. They carried that over into the series against the Cubs.

With home-field attendance that topped 47,000 for both games, the Padres had a vocal and raucous crowd behind them that served as their 10th man in snuffing out the Cubs.

The stars were stars

The Padres’ top four earners are Machado, Tatis Jr., Bogaerts and Musgrove. For the first time in two years, all four played for the Friars during the Cubs series. Although limited to one inning of work, Musgrove was able to contribute to a win. All the others played the way we would expect them to play in the postseason.

NBC scores a win

Including Musgrove in their plans for the postseason gave the team and their fans a huge emotional lift. Even the decision-makers at NBC acknowledged the importance of Musgrove’s inclusion. 

Rather than cut away at the end of the eighth inning, NBC bypassed its lucrative commercial break and showed Musgrove’s entrance from the bullpen. As the left-field crowd rose and began cheering, Musgrove stepped through the bullpen gate and set foot on the Petco Park field for the first time since October 2, 2024.

The ensuing spread of cheers through the park and Musgrove’s entrance was covered live for the TV audience. It was a brilliant moment for San Diego.

Postseason ambition

After reaching the postseason for a record third consecutive season, the Padres have also reached at least 90 wins for the third straight season. In an unprecedented era of success for the organization, new Padres owner Jose E. Feliciano paid tribute to late owner Peter Seidler with his attire for the second game versus the Cubs.

With their official ownership of the team now almost two months in, Feliciano and Kwanza Jones are enjoying the first fruits of their investment in the Padres. Attending the season-ending games in San Diego and the playoff games versus the Cubs, Jones and Feliciano have shown their support, and Jones’ dancing skills, on the field and in the locker room.

On to Milwaukee to play the Division Series against the team with the best record in baseball. In a best-of-five series, the Friars take on hard-throwing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski in Game 1. After two in Milwaukee, the Padres return home for Tuesday and Wednesday games at Petco Park. 

There is little doubt that home-field advantage will be in full force at Petco. The magic of the Cubs series could carry over into a series win at home against the Brewers.

The baseball gods could be shining on San Diego.

Why not the Padres? Why not us?

The Post’s staff makes their predictions for the Yankees-Rays ALDS.

Jon Heyman: The Yankees rotation couldn’t be in better shape, and the extra days off don’t hurt, either. They’re also looking better with the bats lately too. YANKEES IN 4. 

Greg Joyce: It won’t be nearly as easy as the wild-card series was, but the Yankees rotation shoulders the load again, allowing them to survive the Rays’ dominance at Tropicana Field. YANKEES IN 5. 

Dan Martin: The Rays have home-field advantage and the Yankees are almost certain to be without Aaron Judge, but the Rays are built for a long season, not a short playoff series. YANKEES IN 5. 

Mark W. Sanchez: The Rays offense will put constant pressure on the Yankees defense, which has not been a great strength of the team. RAYS IN 5. 

Joel Sherman: The Yankees must limit mistakes, especially at The Trop. But their rotation strength and some iffiness with the Rays getting the ball from their starters to terrific closer Bryan Baker opens enough of an offensive avenue for the Yankees to advance. YANKEES IN 5. 

Mike Vaccaro: Unlike the pillow fight they just enjoyed with the Red Sox, the Yankees know well just how good the Rays are. I expect both teams to hold serve. And that bodes well for the team that will host do-or-die Game 5. RAYS IN 5.

There’s an elephant in the Dodgers’ clubhouse, and it’s sitting in Tarik Skubal’s locker.

While the Dodgers are on a quest to capture their third consecutive World Series title in October, everyone knows that starting pitcher Tarik Skubal is set for a massive payday this offseason.

Well, except for maybe Skubal.

According to teammate Max Muncy, Skubal has not peeped a word about his impending free agency to his teammates.

“I’ve never heard him mention one thing about free agency,” Muncy said after the Dodgers’ Tuesday team practice. “All he’s talked about is pitching here or competing with us, making it through this playoff run.”

Muncy said Skubal’s clubhouse demeanor is rare and called it “pretty special.”

“He’s looking at a big payday coming up, for sure,” Muncy said. “For him to not even mention it once. We’ve had a lot of guys come over here, and they’re free agents the next year, and they talk about it, and it’s not a bad thing; you’re supposed to talk about it.”

As Muncy mentioned, Skubal has been focused on what the Dodgers have been building since he was traded to them ahead of the MLB trade deadline.

Skubal has started 10 games with the Dodgers this season and has been as good as advertised, going 5-2 with a 2.36 ERA and punching out 70 batters.

On Friday, the Dodgers tabbed Skubal as their Game 1 starting pitcher of the NLDS against the Braves on Saturday.

Aside from making an impact on the field, he’s also made an impact in the clubhouse.

On Thursday, teammate Tyler Glasnow appeared on “Dodgers Territory” and spoke about how Skubal and Blake Snell have developed a close friendship, calling it “love at first sight.”

“He’s been focused on what we’ve got going on this year. I think that speaks to him, but that also speaks to the culture we’ve got in here,” Muncy said. “…Whatever happens in the future is going to happen. But we can control what we’re doing right now.”

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Another eve of a playoff round, another day spent with all eyes on Aaron Judge. 

The Yankees’ three-time MVP took batting practice at Tropicana Field on Friday after working out on the grass at the club’s spring training home in Tampa earlier in the day, as he once again tries to show that he and his right calf are healthy enough to be added to the roster for the ALDS. 

Judge’s late push was not enough to be included on the AL wild-card series roster against the Red Sox, but after the Yankees took care of business without him, he seems to have a better shot of joining them against the Rays, even if he is not immediately a full player. 

“We’re looking at the days and so it’s more, is he going to be available at some point in this series, potentially, as a player?” manager Aaron Boone said Friday afternoon before the Yankees worked out on the turf. “That’s what we’re kind of weighing and then seeing where he’s at now these last few days having taken live [batting practice].” 

The schedule could play into Judge’s favor. There are off days after Games 1, 2 and 4 in the best-of-five series, giving him more time to recover from the moderate right calf strain that he suffered Sept. 16. And while the Yankees may not want him playing on the turf at Tropicana Field — they do not seem inclined to use him at DH either, which would force Ben Rice to first base and Luis García Jr. to the bench — it is possible he could take on the role of Giancarlo Stanton in the wild-card series as a pinch-hit threat in the first two games and then be ready to play right field by Game 3 back in The Bronx. 

But as was the case for the wild-card series — and Judge’s entire comeback from the calf injury — the Yankees were not offering much insight on how they were leaning. 

“The trainers will obviously play a big part in this,” Boone said. “As the day unfolds, we’ll see where we’re at and what it potentially looks like for the series.” 

Judge took live batting practice for the first time Monday, did some light running in the outfield Tuesday, then took live batting practice on both Wednesday (in Somerset) and Thursday (at Yankee Stadium) before the Yankees flew here. The biggest box left to check appears to be running the bases, but after taking on-field batting practice at Tropicana Field on Friday, he did not do any running or defensive work on the turf. 

“Sometimes running the bases, they replicate things in other ways,” Boone said. “We’ll make those calls probably later [Friday night].” 

The amount of off days in the series could also benefit Judge in that it may allow the Yankees to carry more position players than they might if it was condensed. Boone mentioned deciding between 10-12 pitchers, which means 14-16 position players, after carrying 16 position players and 10 pitchers for the wild-card series. It might be risky to carry someone who is not a full player if they were limited in bench options, but with an extra spot or two, it could be worth taking Judge. He only hit 4-for-23 with one home run, one walk and 13 strikeouts in seven games after returning from a three-month absence for a broken rib. But it is Aaron Judge. 

The Rays, meanwhile, were doing their prep work as if Judge would be in the lineup — if only because doing so was the best defense mechanism. 

“I was thinking that Aaron Judge was going to be there a week ago just so I’m not devastated when he’s on,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “I expect him playing right field, hitting third.” 

“I’ve done my deep dive on Aaron Judge,” Game 1 starter Drew Rasmussen said with a chuckle. “I think we make the assumption he’s in there until he’s not.” 

But Cash offered praise for how the Yankees have played without Judge. They survived his extended absence this summer, going 45-39, but then played their best without him against the Red Sox in the wild-card series, with guys chipping in up and down the lineup. 

“It’s incredibly impressive,” Cash said, “the offensive success that they have had missing the best hitter in our sport.”

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — “The competitor” in Ryan Weathers did not want to throw live batting practice Monday night at Yankee Stadium because he knew it would mean not being on the roster for the AL wild-card series. 

Four days later, though, the left-hander was glad he did, because after with the Yankees advanced to in the ALDS, Weathers has a strong chance not only to join the roster but also to pitch more often now that he is slightly more built up after coming back from a left forearm flexor strain late in the regular season. 

“I needed that second live just to sharpen up a little bit more,” Weathers said Friday at Tropicana Field before the Yankees worked out. “I feel super healthy enough to be on [the roster]. We’ll see where it lands [Saturday].” 

Aaron Boone was not yet ready to commit to Weathers being on the roster — or any roster decisions, for that matter — though the manager said earlier in the week that the lefty could play a “massive role” out of the bullpen moving forward. 

If Weathers had been included on the wild-card roster, he might have been able to throw only one inning the entire series, even if it went to three games.

Now, after getting a second live batting practice (on Monday) and an additional bullpen session (on Wednesday) under his belt, he could be in a position to pitch more often in the ALDS, especially with off days after Games 1, 2 and 4. 

“Hopefully I can be available for a few games of this series,” he said. 

Boone indicated the Yankees were debating carrying 10, 11 or 12 pitchers. That could mean Weathers becoming the 11th pitcher or potentially replacing another lefty in Ryan Yarbrough, though Yarbrough’s length could be valuable, especially with Carlos Rodón no longer expected to be an option out of the bullpen now that he is set to start Game 3 or 4. 

The Yankees had a travel snafu getting here during Thursday’s off day, which Boone categorized as “first-world problems.” 

They were originally scheduled to fly out of Westchester County Airport and arrived there around 2:30 p.m. But because of a hydraulics issue, according to Boone, they were delayed and then had to get off the plane around 8 p.m. to drive to LaGuardia Airport, where they boarded another charter and did not get to their hotel until around 1 a.m. 

“We drove further away from Tampa and then worked our way closer back to Tampa, and then we flew to Tampa,” said Game 1 starter Gerrit Cole, adding that they killed time with “cards, conversations, ribbing each other, video games, doom scrolling.” 

“It was a cluster,” Weathers added with a laugh. “It was a long day.” 

The Rays are declining to reveal their rotation beyond Drew Rasmussen starting Game 1 on Saturday. Their options to follow him include ex-Met Freddy Peralta, Fordham’s Nick Martinez, Griffin Jax and lefty Ian Seymour. 

“I feel like our five starters throughout the course of the year deserve to pitch a really big role in this,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “How we’re going to line them up will be dependent on how we get through Game 1.”

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Yankees’ workout Friday, on the eve of the ALDS, was targeted. 

Several Yankees hovered around home plate as Austin Wells rolled a few balls down both foul lines. Brett Weber, the team’s senior director of advance scouting, studied how and in which direction the balls rolled, along with how they interacted with the lip of the turf.

Afterward, Weber stood at shortstop and infield coach Dan Fiorito at second with bats, taking turns cracking mostly one-or two-hoppers at Wells, mimicking a relay play to help the catcher judge how springy the artificial turf plays. 

The Yankees then rolled a machine out behind the plate to fire high fly balls and pop-ups, giving the club a chance to begin figuring out how best to pick out a white baseball against a white fabric backdrop. 

After dozens of reps, the group shifted to infield and pitcher-fielding practice, simulating game situations and testing how fast the ball would get to fielders on the synthetic turf. 

Yes, the Yankees routinely play at Tropicana Field, the home of a division rival that hosted seven of the head-to-head matchups this season. But only two of those were Yankees victories, and Aaron Boone’s bunch has never played a postseason game at The Trop, whose trap doors and booby traps could help decide which AL East power moves on to the ALCS. 

It is a field that the Rays — baseball’s best team at making contact and most prolific team at bunting, the American League leader in steals and the unofficial regular-season champions in what manager Kevin Cash called “creating some havoc for defenses and pitchers” — clearly have embraced, posting the majors’ best home record at 55-26. 

“I know online I always get to see about someone’s complaining about the catwalk, someone’s complaining about the roof, someone’s complaining about something or another,” Rays Game 1 starter Drew Rasmussen said. “Obviously, we’ve adapted to it very well.” 

“It’s a different field for sure,” José Caballero, a Ray in 2024 and ’25, said with a smile. 

Caballero said he has advised some teammates about what to expect. Neither George Lombard Jr. nor Spencer Jones, who both figure to be in Saturday’s Game 1 lineup, has played a game in the majors’ most peculiar domed ballpark. 

The ball moves faster on the ground, Caballero said, which is a difference that fielders can adjust to. The bigger adjustment in The Trop, Caballero added, is finding fly balls and preparing for the unknown that often comes at this ballpark. 

“It’s really tough to see, with the roof being the same color as the ball,” said Caballero, who has told teammates they need to track balls hit high even if they are not in the vicinity. “… It could hit the catwalk and kick any direction. 

“Even if the initial hit was not hit in your direction, you still have to pay attention to the ball.” 

It does not help that the Rays — athletic, fast and experienced on their home turf on defense — are also pests on offense, striking out 18.8 percent of the time to lead the majors. 

They will do whatever they can to pressure the Yankees, who did their best Friday to prepare for whatever Game 1 brings. 

“They put the ball in play. They can run. They push the envelope,” Boone said. “You’ve got to take care of the ball against them.” 

As the Dodgers entered the final portion of the regular season this year, manager Dave Roberts gathered some of his hitters to deliver a late-season reminder.

Nine months earlier, the Dodgers had openly proclaimed their ambitions to complete a World Series three-peat this year, stating the goal clearly (and repeatedly) during a parade to celebrate their second consecutive championship last November.

A few months after that, they reported to spring training and were bombarded with questions about the historical significance of such a quest, reminded time and again of a feat no National League team has ever accomplished, and no club in all of Major League Baseball has pulled off since the New York Yankees from 1998-2000.

Over the course of the year, the narrative only intensified, fueled by another 100-win campaign from the two-time defending champions — and stoked by a brewing labor battle at which, ahead of a likely lockout this offseason, the Dodgers’ dominance wound up being in the middle.

Thus, shortly before the trade deadline, and with October only barely starting to appear on the horizon, Roberts wanted to make sure his veteran core was in the right headspace.

Yes, the chance for history was within their grasp.

But no, they couldn’t afford to become preoccupied with the magnitude of such a task.

“We had a little conversation with Doc the other day, the position player group, and he’s really into winning this year,” veteran infielder Miguel Rojas said at the time. “Obviously he cares about winning the last two [years], and it’s really important for him and for us. But he said he doesn’t really care about what happened the last two years. He wants to win this year. So it’s kind of like a pressed button for us to kind of continue to go and not let the rest of the league catch up to our standards. We just gotta keep it up there.”

Indeed, two months on from that day, that message continues to permeate as the Dodgers enter the playoffs, beginning with Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Braves on Saturday.

Once again, the subject of a third consecutive title has been raised repeatedly this week.

And yet, the Dodgers have brushed it off at every turn, staying hyper-focused on the challenge of simply winning one World Series — and not the larger historical stakes hanging in the balance this October.

“When you talk about three-peating, you’re putting that extra pressure on it that doesn’t need to be there,” third baseman Max Muncy said. “Winning a World Series is already hard enough as it is. So for us, we’re just trying to focus on what we have ahead of us and without the added noise to it.”

“I think if you think big picture in this moment, you’re going to lose sight of some things,” first baseman Freddie Freeman added. “You just got to take each day one day at a time. And we do understand the bigger picture. But if you’re looking at the bigger picture, then you won’t be able to get to that big picture, if you’re not focusing on the now.”

That’s all been music to Roberts’ ears.

Ever since the team set its three-peat aim at last year’s parade, he has been trying to narrow its aperture, emphasizing the need to “put on blinders” and ignore outside noise and be prepared for the adversity the Dodgers will inevitably face during yet another postseason march.

“It’s still a different season. There’s going to be different challenges,” Roberts said. “I understand our guys understand what’s at stake. But I think for me, it’s balancing the importance, the opportunity that we have, versus trying to add more pressure than there is already.”

The Dodgers have plenty of practice, of course, handling such weighty expectations.

Over the last decade, they’ve gone from trying to snap a generational title drought, to trying to validate a shortened-season championship in 2020, to trying to cement a modern-day dynasty with back-to-back World Series triumphs.

Each of those boxes has now been checked.

The one that’s left — attempting to join only the Yankees and Athletics as MLB franchises to win three straight World Series — might be the toughest of all.

That much, they know. But as another October begins, they’re trying not to pay it much mind.

“You can’t get there unless you win the game that’s ahead of you,” Muncy said. “So we’re just focused on the game we got coming up.”