The Cubs and Brewers take the field in Milwaukee tonight for Game 5 of their National League Division series with the winner earning the right to play for the National League pennant against the Dodgers.
Neither manager has released information as to who will start the pivotal Game 5 but lets review options and take an educated guess for each side.
Chicago's options are Shota Imanaga, a bullpen game, or Cade Horton. All things being equal, the obvious choice would be Horton, but he has thrown only a handful of pitches since fracturing a rib. He is not ready to face live bats. If they choose the bullpen, all arms other than Horton and Matthew Boyd are available. If Craig Counsell is thinking of using Imanaga at all, it will more than likely be to start the game. No doubt Iamanaga's issues this postseason - an 8.10 ERA with three homers allowed in 6.2 innings - are a cause for concern.
In the other dugout, Pat Murphy, has options but each also comes with question marks. The obvious choices are Jose Quintana, Quinn Priester, or a bullpen game. Priester was rocked earlier in the series lasting just two outs in the first inning. It would be a bold choice to give him the ball. The bullpen is always a possibility and like the Cubs almost every arm is available. The logical choice, though, is Quintana. The veteran has pitched in big games throughout his 14-year career including nine postseason games. Most recently, Quintana pitched five scoreless innings last year for the Mets in their winner-take-all Wild Card series Game 3 against the Brewers.
If Pat Murphy takes a detour away from these options, he could go with his flamethrower, Jacob Misiorowski. While the manager may feel taking the mound at the start may be too big for the rookie. That said, the manager without question will go to the rookie if need be out of the bullpen.
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game details & how to watch Cubs at Brewers - NLDS Game 5
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 8:08PM EST
Site: American Family Field
City: Milwaukee, WI
Network/Streaming: TBS
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Odds for the Cubs at the Brewers - NLDS Game 5
The latest odds as of Saturday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Cubs (+119), Brewers (-145)
Spread: Brewers -1.5 (+142)
Total: 7.5 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Brewers
Pitching matchup for October 11, 2025: Shota Imanaga vs. Jose Quintana
Brewers: Jose Quintana (Reg. Season: 11-7, 3.96 ERA) Last outing: 10/8 at Cubs - 3IP, 0ER, 2H, 1 BB, 2Ks
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Cubs at Brewers - NLDS Game 5
William Contreras is 5-12 (.417) with 3 HRs against Shota Imanaga in his career
Jackson Chourio is 1-7 (.143) in his career against Imanaga
Christian Yelich is 5-12 (.417) with 1 HR in his career against Imanaga
Imanaga has allowed 12 HRs in his last 6 starts (34.2 innings).
Dansby Swanson is 4-13 (.308) with 1 HR in his career against Jose Quintana
Kyle Tucker is 2-8 (.250) with 1 HR in his career against Quintana
Justin Turner is 7-25 (.280) with 5 RBIs in his career against Quintana
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s NLDS Game 5 between the Cubs and the Brewers
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Saturday's game between the Cubs and the Brewers:
Moneyline: Rotoworld is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago Cubs at +1.5.
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October disappointment equals pointed winter evaluations and, perhaps, nowhere is that baseball equation truer than the Bronx, USA. The Yankees fell well short of their playoff goals again and now they have much to do before the optimism of spring blooms anew.
So, what are the five biggest questions facing them as they push for a World Series title in Aaron Judge’s prime?
1. Elbow Judge-ment
Anything to do with Judge’s health has outsized implications in Yankeeland, so we must start with the flexor strain in his right elbow.
It briefly put him on the injured list over the summer, though he played in 152 games.
He returned, at first as a designated hitter, and then back to right field. And he was amazing, as usual. His arm strength got better along the way, but there was trepidation about his throwing, too.
So what now?
In the clubhouse after the Yankees were eliminated, Judge was asked about his elbow and he said, “We’ll definitely do some work on it. We’ll do some work on it and get it right.”
Pressed if that meant surgery, Judge replied, “I’m not a doctor. I don’t know.”
Will this become something that significantly impacts Judge’s 2026?
2. Lineup re-up?
The Yankees were the most prolific offense in baseball over the course of 162 games, averaging 5.24 runs and blasting 274 home runs. They had enough variety that they recorded a .405 winning percentage in games they were homer-less, the third-best mark in MLB, though chasing homers is certainly a big part of their approach.
But the Blue Jays’ contact-heavy attack overwhelmed Bronx lightning in the four-game ALDS, outscoring the Yankees, 34-19. Toronto led MLB in hits and had the lowest strikeout percentage. The Yanks were 12th in hits and had the third-most strikeouts. Hmmm.
Hitting home runs is a great way to win in October -- over the 2024-25 postseasons, teams outhomering their opponents are 38-12, according to MLB researcher Sarah Langs. That’s a .760 winning percentage.
But you have to hit the home runs. That was the Yankees’ great skill and yet they were outhomered in the playoffs, 10-6, while also hitting less and striking out more than their opponents. They must address that discrepancy to cover themselves in the October tournament, when top teams’ top pitchers can suppress their slugging.
Calling all free-agent contact hitters.
Sep 9, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) walks back to the dugout after failing to lay down a sacrifice bunt during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
3. We need to talk about Anthony
Do the Yanks have a shortstop problem? Maybe.
Anthony Volpe regressed defensively and morphed into a dominant season storyline, whether it was his struggles on offense, playing through a small labrum tear in his left shoulder or the repeated votes of confidence he got from Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman.
Now that the season is over, they have to figure out the position.
Is Volpe, as the bigwigs insist, the solution? He did have an impressive 55 extra-base hits and got himself together defensively later in the season. He’s also under team control for three more years.
But he batted .212 with a .663 OPS and made 19 errors. He was also dreadful against Toronto, going 1-for-15 with 11 strikeouts.
4. Go Back-to-Back with Belli?
Cody Bellinger has a $25-million opt-out and seems destined for free agency after a tremendous first season in pinstripes. He can do it all -- hit, base-running, defense -- and can play all three outfield positions plus a nifty first base. The Yanks must retain him.
Problem is, all those great qualities should make him a popular target across MLB, maybe the contract gets kooky.
There’s a lot going on in the Yankee outfield -- Judge’s elbow and the potential departures of both Bellinger and Trent Grisham, also a free agent.
Does Spencer Jones, the touted prospect who slugged 35 homers in the minors, fit in? What’s Jasson Domínguez’s role?
5. Who’s on first?
Ben Rice emerged in a big way this season, but is he the everyday first baseman going forward?
He certainly hits enough (26 homers, ridiculous hard-hit metrics, 19th-best slugging percentage in MLB). He needs to improve on defense, however.
So the Yankees should bring in a right-handed hitting complement who can provide the glove-work.
Rice can also catch and be a lefty DH, which might open more opportunities at first for a free agent, or even Bellinger, depending on how the outfield evolves.
There will be a new free agent joining the market this offseason.
Japanese infielder Munetaka Murakami will be posted by the Yakult Swallows this winter, officially making him available to all 30 MLB teams, according to MLB’s Mark Feinsand.
Numerous teams are expected to be in the running for the lefty sluggers talents, and according to Nikkan Sports, both New York clubs are among them.
Murakami has been a star for the Swallows over the past eight seasons, taking home a pair of MVP awards while popping a combined 246 home runs, 165 doubles, and 681 RBI.
22 of those long balls came in an injury-riddled campaign this past season.
His biggest power display came in 2022, when he popped 56 homers and drove in 134 runs.
The 25-year-old mainly plays the hot corner, but he’s also spent time at first and DH.
For the Mets, Murakami presents an intriguing option for David Stearns to consider if slugger Pete Alonso were to leave in free agency after opting out of his deal with the club.
The Yankees, on the other hand, aren’t exactly a smooth fit at the moment but his powerful swing from the left-side certainly would be well suited for the short porch in the Bronx.
The Dodgers, Mariners, Phillies, Red Sox, and Giants are also expected to be in the mix.
Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering (center) hangs his head as Dodgers players rush onto the field to celebrate their Game 4 win. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
"All's well that ends well" as they say, but during the entire Game 4 on Thursday night it felt to me like a game the Dodgers would lose as soon as the bullpen got to the mound, because they were not hitting worth a darn. L.A. scored because of an unforgiveable bases-loaded walk to tie and a throwing error for the ages by the Phillies pitcher for them to win. Losing last night would've sent them back to Philly with their heads way down to play in cold weather, with rainstorms brewing. Yes, their season could've easily been over by Saturday night.
So I don't yet see them as a "dominating team" and am holding my breath while waiting for their luck to maybe run out. That said, I've really enjoyed their 2025 season … so far.
Doug Weiskopf Burbank
Andy Pages hits a broken bat comebacker to the Phillies pitcher and that play turns into the winning run. With that the Dodgers advance in the playoffs. Yet, one of the first thoughts that came to my mind had to do with Kirk Gibson hitting his walk-off home run against the Oakland A's in the 1988 World Series and two Hall of Fame announcers with their calls. Vin Scully saying "In the year of the improbable, the impossible has happened!" And Jack Buck saying, "I can't believe what I just saw!" Either call would have fit Thursday night at Chavez Ravine. What an ending!!
Chris Sorce Fountain Valley
I am happy for the Dodgers. I have been a fan since I was 11 (1955 World Series vs. Yankees). I just wish that Game 4 would have ended differently. It could have ended with Andy Pages getting a base hit, or either Trea Turner or Bryce Harper making an error. I feel badly for relief pitcher Orion Kerkering. This will possibly scar him for his entire career. Certainly the Phillies fans will never forgive him (see Bill Buckner and the Red Sox fans — it was Bill’s manager who put him at first base, but the fans never saw it that way). I hope Orion gets traded by the Phillies and has a nice career.
John Vitz Manhattan Beach
Anyone still believing the Dodgers don’t have a decent bullpen, please call Roki Sasaki. My only question is what took us so long to realize it!
Marty Zweben Palos Verdes Estates
Best headline of the year: A Game of Thrown.
Keep up the great work!
Billy Groak Fullerton
Momentous moment
Replays and close-ups that watching on TV provides can’t compare with the excitement of being present. But once in a while there is a moment that only TV captures. Jerry Neuheisel was experiencing such a moment in UCLA's upset of Penn State and his father Rick’s exhilaration over the joyful moment.
Richard Agay Los Angeles
According to the headlines, photos and first 12 paragraphs of Ben Bolch's story, playcaller Jerry Neuheisel nearly single-handedly masterminded the Bruins upset win over the Nittany Lions. The interim head coach, Tim Skipper, was eventually mentioned merely as an afterthought. This is akin to attributing a ship's safe passage through rough seas to the first mate, not the captain. Let's hope that Coach Skipper is not relegated to attention only after a UCLA defeat.
Dave Sanderson La Cañada
Championship coaching
So Lakers coach JJ Redick keeps harping on championship habits, championship communication and championship shape, even making a veiled swipe at Luka Doncic at the end of last season saying not everyone was in “championship shape.” Can someone tell me, what does Redick know about being in championship shape? He never won an NBA championship. He ought to get himself in championship coaching shape so he doesn’t make the same rookie mistakes he made against the Timberwolves in last season's playoffs.
Danny Balber Jr. Pasadena
Charge it
Any offensive coordinator who has the ball on the one-yard line and throws a pass should be fired on the spot. Any team, no matter whether it's Pop Warner, high school, college or pro, that can't score from the one with four downs doesn't deserve a touchdown. Somebody wrote last week that the Chargers were the Clippers of football. They weren't lying.
Luis Cruz La Mirada
Time for change
Is anybody else watching the WNBA finals between the Las Vegas Aces and Mercury Phoenix? The arena seats are not full and ticket prices seemed to have dropped. Could it be because of the lack of action from WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, or maybe due to inconsistent officiating, or perhaps many star players injured, or being fined for speaking out about these issues all season? Sure, players are asking for more pay, but what they are really asking for is fairness and a change in the system at the top.
Joan C. Fingon Ventura
The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.
SEATTLE — Jorge Polanco hit a game-ending single in the 15th inning, and the Seattle Mariners advanced to the AL Championship Series by outlasting the Detroit Tigers for a 3-2 victory Friday night in the longest winner-take-all postseason game in baseball history.
With one out and the bases loaded, Polanco drove in J.P. Crawford with a liner to right off Tommy Kahnle. Crawford hit a leadoff single, Randy Arozarena was hit by a pitch and Julio Rodríguez was intentionally walked before Polanco’s big swing on the 472nd pitch of an epic Game 5 in a tightly contested Division Series.
The Mariners left 12 runners on base and still managed to advance to the ALCS for the first time since 2001. Next up is a matchup with the AL East champion Blue Jays, beginning on Sunday night at Toronto.
“We never give up. We just keep fighting. It doesn’t matter how many innings we play,” Polanco said. “We just stay ready and wait for the moment. It’s going to come. It was my time.”
Luis Castillo pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win in his first major league relief appearance. Logan Gilbert, another member of Seattle’s rotation, worked two scoreless innings in his first relief outing since his college days at Stetson University in 2017.
“It was such a tough night,” Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh said. “Everyone put their other stuff side and did everything for the team, including Logan and Luis.”
Detroit wasted a stellar performance by Tarik Skubal, who struck out 13 while pitching six innings of one-run ball. The Tigers went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.
“We had an incredible game today that — unfortunately, somebody had to lose, and that somebody was us, and it hurts,” manager A.J. Hinch said.
Kerry Carpenter put Detroit in front when he hit a two-run homer off Gabe Speier in the sixth inning. Carpenter had four hits and walked twice, becoming the first player to reach five times and hit a home run in a winner-take-all postseason game since Babe Ruth in 1926.
The Mariners tied it at 2 on Leo Rivas’ pinch-hit single off Tyler Holton in the seventh. Rivas celebrated his 28th birthday with his first postseason hit.
“He was up to the task tonight,” Seattle manager Dan Wilson said. “It was a huge hit.”
Up next
Seattle dropped four of its six games against Toronto this season. The Mariners won two of three in an April series in Toronto, but they were swept by the Blue Jays at home from May 9-11.
Philadelphia Phillies players look on from the dugout during the 11th inning against the Dodgers on Thursday at Dodger Stadium. Their moods did not improve. (Harry How / Getty Images)
Philadelphia sports fans have a bit of a reputation for not always being the most upstanding of citizens.
Then over in the NFL, the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles were dominated by NFC West rival New York Giants 34-17 on "Thursday Night Football." And in the NHL, the Flyers lost their season opener 2-1 to the Florida Panthers.
For any other city's fan base, that might be considered the worst day ever. But believe it or not, Philly fans had to endure a similarly disheartening day nearly 42 years ago, according to sports statistician Greg Harvey.
Cities in history to have their NHL team lose, NFL team lose & MLB team lose in the playoffs & be eliminated all on the same day:
Harvey pointed out on X that Oct. 16, 1983, was the only other time in history that one city's MLB team team suffered a season-ending loss in the postseason while its NFL and NHL teams lost as well. And that unlucky city was Philadelphia.
That was the day that the Phillies, nicknamed the "Wheeze Kids" that season for all the veteran players on the roster, fell 5-0 to the Baltimore Orioles to lose the World Series four games to one.
Meanwhile, the Eagles were off to a 4-2 start to their season before losing that day to the Dallas Cowboys 37-7. It was the start of a seven-game losing streak for the Eagles, who wound up finishing the season 5-11.
The Flyers suffered their first loss of that season — 5-4 to the New York Rangers — after starting the year with five straight wins. Months later, they ended up finishing third in the Patrick Division before being swept out of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Washington Capitals.
So maybe, just maybe, you might want to take it easy on the Philadelphia sports fans in your life — at least until the next time one or more them does something that makes the rest of us cringe.
And hopefully those fans extend the same courtesy to Kerkering. Maybe he'll end up being the one person who can tell Santa Claus and the others that Philly fans aren't all that bad after all.
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers are on track to be the first repeat World Series champions in a quarter century, helped along by superb starting pitching, a flame-throwing rookie in the bullpen and strong defense.
They were swigging and spraying from bottles with — oops — NLCS on the labels while partying in the team’s batting cage after a wild 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in 11 innings.
“We’re going to find a way to win a ballgame even when things aren’t going our way,” utility player Kiké Hernández said.
NL West champion Los Angeles took the best-of-five NL Division Series 3-1 and will play either the NL Central-winning Milwaukee Brewers or runner-up Chicago Cubs in the best-of-seven NL Championship Series. Those teams play a decisive Game 5 in Milwaukee.
The Dodgers dropped four of seven to the Cubs during the regular season. The Brewers swept their six games with the Dodgers, outscoring them 31-16 while holding Los Angeles to two or fewer runs in four of those games.
No matter who’s up next, the Dodgers are rolling at the right time, winning five of their first six postseason games. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow lead a stellar rotation. Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is a candidate to start on the mound in Game 1 of the NLCS.
“The whole pitching staff, we don’t win this series if it wasn’t for them,” Hernández said.
The defense is helping, too.
The Dodgers made a couple of clutch defensive plays during a 4-3 win in Game 2 against the Phillies.
Freddie Freeman had a game-saving pick at first base and they successfully executed a defensive wheel play with the Phillies threatening.
With Nick Castellanos on second, third baseman Max Muncy rushed home plate to field a bunt by Bryson Stott, turned and perfectly threw to shortstop Mookie Betts, who was covering third. Betts got the out while being upended by a sliding Castellanos.
Rookie Roki Sasaki delivered three perfect innings of relief in the finale. The right-hander has allowed just one baserunner over 5 1/3 scoreless playoff innings after returning late last month from a long-term shoulder injury.
“It’s a massive weapon for us this whole postseason now,” Freeman said.
Ohtani and Freeman have not been so great at the plate. They’ll need to jump-start their offense in the next round.
Ohtani had a franchise-record 55 homers — second-best in the NL — in the regular season. He homered twice in the wild-card round against Cincinnati, but has gone silent since. He was 1 for 18 with nine strikeouts in the NLDS, going 0 for 5 in Game 3.
Freeman hit .295 during the season — third-best in the NL — and had 39 doubles and 24 homers. He was 1 for 5, extending his postseason on-base streak to 11 games with a single.
Bellinger, who had a $25 million player option for 2026, said after New York's season ended on Wednesday night that he would welcome a return to the Bronx if he opted out.
Bellinger, 30, slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI in 152 regular season games this year, helping the Yankees make it back to the postseason. While there, the former NL MVP performed well, despite his less-than-stellar numbers. In the seven playoff games this year, Bellinger slashed .214/.258/.393 with an OPS of .651. He hit one home run, two doubles and drove in four runs while playing very good defense.
In Game 4 of the ALDS against the Blue Jays, while Bellinger made a terrific sliding catch to prevent runs from scoring in the first inning, he went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts, including striking out swinging in the ninth inning to end the game.
While the season didn't end the way Bellinger and the Yankees wanted, the 30-year-old looked fondly on his time in the Bronx and with his teammates.
"I had an unbelievable time putting on this uniform. Yankee Stadium, the fans, the organization, the culture that these guys have created in this locker room," he said. "It really is special. It's such a fun group, a fun group to be a part of. We came up short and that part stinks for sure because we had a really really good group here."
Manager Aaron Boone was asked about Bellinger and Trent Grisham -- who is set to be a free agent this offseason -- and whether he hopes they return to the Yankees in 2026.
"The thing I'll say about them is they're a big reason why I was so excited about this club down the stretch and at this point. Just really proud of who those guys were and are and what they became as players, as driving forces for our team," Boone said. "But in those two cases, the two people those guys are in the room every single day and what they brought to the table as teammates every single day, I appreciate that. And I'm grateful to get to have managed those two guys. Who knows? Hopefully, in both cases, I get to keep doing it."
New York acquired Bellinger and $5 million in cash considerations last December through a trade with the Chicago Cubs for right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet.
He originally signed with the Cubs on a one-year contract entering 2023, including a mutual option for 2024, which saw him slash .307/.356/.525 while hitting 26 home runs and 97 RBI over 130 games. It was his best season since 2019. That year, his age-23 season, Bellinger's career-best campaign included a .305/.406/.629 slash line with 47 home runs and 115 RBI in 162 regular season games.
After the 2023 season, Bellinger declined his mutual option and became a free agent. He re-signed with the Cubs in February 2024 on a three-year, $80 million contract that included opt-out clauses after the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Bellinger slashed .266/.325/.426 with 18 home runs and 78 RBI over 130 regular-season games in 2024 for the Cubs.
"I get business," Bellinger said last December while discussing Chicago's decision to trade him after he opted into his clause for 2025. "Very good at separating the business and the baseball, and I'm the baseball player and there's business in this game, so I just want to prepare and play the best baseball that I can play."
Cody Bellinger says he'd welcome a return to the Yankees if he opts out of his contract:
"I had an unbelievable time putting on this uniform. Yankee Stadium, the fans, the organization, the culture that these guys have created in this locker room. It's special." pic.twitter.com/Ov93n3eGjF
CHICAGO — With one big swing, Ian Happ sent a charge through an electric crowd of 41,770 at Wrigley Field.
After a rough start to the playoffs, it was a pretty sweet moment for the longest-tenured player with the Chicago Cubs.
Happ connected for a three-run homer in the first inning, sending Chicago to a 6-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that pushed their NL Division Series to a decisive Game 5.
“I’m just so happy for Ian,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “I think it was great for Ian to have the playoff moment that he deserved. It was a huge swing.”
Nico Hoerner singled and Kyle Tucker walked ahead of Happ’s two-out drive to right on a 1-1 fastball from Freddy Peralta. Chicago became the first team in major league history with a first-inning homer in four straight games during one postseason.
The switch-hitting Happ also connected against Peralta in Game 1, but he is 2 for 32 with 14 strikeouts against the right-hander in the regular season.
“I’ve had a ton of at-bats against him,” Happ said. “He’s had my number quite a bit. But I got him in Milwaukee on a fastball so I knew he was going to go changeup, changeup to start the at-bat and it was probably going to be a lot more soft stuff. I was able to get a fastball in that at-bat to hit.”
Happ was selected by Chicago with the No. 9 pick in the 2015 amateur draft out of the University of Cincinnati. He made his big league debut in 2017, batting .253 with 24 homers and 68 RBIs for a Cubs team that won the NL Central and made it to the NL Championship Series.
He played in his 1,000th game with the team on April 5, but struggled for much of the year. He hit .243 with 23 homers and 79 RBIs in 150 games.
“He’s been around for a while, and he’s kind of the leader of this group,” teammate Michael Busch said. “Just the way he goes about his business each and every day. No matter if it’s a spring training game, postseason game, he’s always going to give you a good at-bat, and he had quite a few of them tonight.”
Happ went 2 for 21 with 11 strikeouts in Chicago’s first six postseason games this year. After going deep in the first, he flied out to the warning track in the third and again in the seventh.
“It felt great,” Happ said of the first-inning homer. “The guys have been carrying me all postseason so to contribute in that moment and give us the lead was awesome for me. It was a really cool moment at Wrigley.”
The Seattle Mariners had an opportunity to close out their Division Series against the Detroit Tigers Wednesday in Motown...and lost. Their reward? They now must defeat Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal tonight in Seattle in order to earn the right to play for the American League pennant against the Toronto Blue Jays. George Kirby gets the ball for the Mariners.
With Skubal taking the mound, there is no doubt the Tigers are confident heading into Game 5. Skubal has given up three earned runs or more in just two of his last ten starts. He has lasted an average of 6.2 innings and struck out an average of 7.7 hitters in each of those ten starts.
Add to it the fact that Detroit rolled Seattle in Game 4 and that confidence meter ticks up yet another notch or two for the Tigers. Javier Baez and Gleyber Torres each went yard to lead the Tigers to a 9-3 win in Game 4. Detroit pounded out 13 hits in the game. The nine runs were the most they had scored since plating 11 at Yankee Stadium on September 10.
George Kirby has been special this season for Seattle, but Tarik Skubal is why Detroit is suddenly favored to move on to the American League Championship series following tonight's game.
Lets dive deeper into the matchup and numbers and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Tigers at Mariners
Date: Friday, October 10, 2025
Time: 8:08PM EST
Site: T-Mobile Park
City: Seattle, WA
Network/Streaming: FOX
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Tigers at the Mariners
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Detroit Tigers (-131), Seattle Mariners (+107)
Spread: Tigers -1.5 (+149)
Total: 6.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Tigers at Mariners - ALDS Game 5
Pitching matchup for October 10, 2025: Tarik Skubal vs. George Kirby
Tigers: Tarik Skubal (Reg. Season: 13-6, 2.21 ERA Last outing: Gm. 2 at Seattle (10/5) - 7IP, 2ER, 5H, 1 BB, 9Ks Skubal has struck out at least 8 in each of his last 4 starts with each lasting at least 6 innings
Mariners: George Kirby (Reg. Season: 10-8, 4.21 ERA) Last outing: Gm. 1 vs. Detroit (10/4) - 5IP, 2ER, 6H, 1BB, 8Ks Kirby has struck out at least 7 in each of his last 4 starts and has done so without pitching more than 6.1 innings in any of the four starts
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Tigers at Mariners - ALDS Game 5
Javier Baez is 1-13 (.077) in his career against George Kirby
Kerry Carpenter is 5-11 (.455) with 5 HRs in his career against Kirby
Gleyber Torres is 5-12 (.417) in his career against Kirby
J.P. Crawford is hitting .625 (5-8) in his career against Tarik Skubal
Jorge Polanco has homered 3 times in 29 career ABs against Skubal
Julio Roriguez is 2-11 (.182) against Skubal in his career
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The thud of another October disappointment will certainly linger in Yankeeland and obscure a fine renaissance by a talented team over the course of what was a trying, topsy-turvy season.
These Yankees were at first great, then perplexing – and somewhat alarming – before getting themselves together. A strong stretch run led to a Wild Card series victory over the Red Sox and then an ALDS loss to, ultimately, a better Toronto Blue Jays squad.
It wasn’t what the Yanks wanted or what their fans demanded – winning second only to breathing, yada, yada, yada. Still, the Yankees had some excellent individual performances and tied for the AL lead in wins by going 94-68 with MLB’s top offense.
But there were some down years, too. All will be reflected in our Yankees Report Card.
Here are the grades. Yes, this includes the playoffs:
Plan B worked after Juan Soto left for Queens, the organization delivered some high-end young pitching, and Cashman had a strong trade deadline, even if every move wasn’t a home run. There will be the usual carping about how Cashman should pay because fans shouldn’t have to wait so long between World Series titles – the last one, you may have heard, came way back in 2009. Oh, alas!
Who knows what happens to the rotation without Max Fried? Cody Bellinger was a monster addition and in July the GM addressed a sagging bullpen and an open wound at third base. There’s work to be done on this roster – how about some contact hitters? There's also thorny questions looming this winter, but Cashman had a solid year.
The Yankees had a 6.5-game division lead in early June and then stumbled, lurching into a fundamental quagmire. Through it all, Boone remained publicly positive. While that didn’t please fans thirsting for blame-game rants, it seemed to work on the roster – and the Yanks finished with the third-best record in MLB and the seventh postseason berth in Boone’s eight-year tenure.
Maybe, though, he and the organization could have been more proactive when Anthony Volpe was struggling so badly at shortstop. Sometimes, tough love is love, too.
Boone gets heat for game-level moves – what manager doesn’t? But, as only one example, he was huge in Game 3 of the ALDS, using his best hitters instead of overreacting to the reverse-splits of Toronto starter Shane Bieber. Then, when the Yanks fell way behind early, he set a bullpen path that stopped the Jays so his hitters could rally.
Video game numbers again over the full season – his slugging percentage was 66 points higher than the next-best, Shohei Ohtani, he led MLB in average by 20 points and on-base percentage by 58. And hit 53 home runs.
And now the Negative Nellies of the world can’t even ding him for his October performance after he batted .500 and hit that seismic homer off the left-field foul pole in Game 3.
The Yankees captain is a living, breathing cheat code who does everything well. Is there a higher league he can move up to?
GRADE: A+++
Aug 28, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates with designated hitter Aaron Judge (99) after they score on Bellinger’s two run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Rate Field. / Matt Marton-Imagn Images
CODY BELLINGER
Defensive versatility, 29 homers and a strong all-around game added up to a nifty first Bronx season for Bellinger. He also led the Yanks with a .348 average with runners in scoring position, exhibiting a clutch gene. Needed more from him than a .651 OPS in the postseason, though. He’s reportedly opting out of his contract, so we’ll see if he returns, but he’s a strong fit at Yankee Stadium.
GRADE: B+
CARLOS RODÓN
Huge regular season in which he was the hardest pitcher in the AL to get a hit against – his 6.1 hits-per-nine was the lowest in the circuit. He finished with a 3.09 ERA and 203 strikeouts in 33 starts. He had one OK postseason start, delivering six innings against the Red Sox, but was hammered by the Jays for six runs and departed in the third inning of Game 3 of the ALDS. His 9.72 playoff ERA knocks his final grade.
GRADE: B+
MAX FRIED
Assumed the ace mantle after Gerrit Cole got hurt and delivered, big time, in the first year of his big-money contract ($218 million, most ever for a free agent lefty). His 19 wins led all of MLB and his 2.86 ERA was eighth. He was 11-1 after Yankee losses in the regular season, but was not a stopper in the Jays series – Toronto hammered him for seven runs in three innings in Game 2, which mars his final grade. He had started the postseason nicely, too, throwing 6.1 shutout frames against the Red Sox.
GRADE: A-
JAZZ CHISHOLM JR.
Was the third Yankee ever to have a 30-30 season and provides needed energy and swag to the Yanks, who sometimes skew bland. Even volunteered to play third base when needed, even though he’s best at second base where his athleticism can shine. Monster homer in Game 3 against Toronto gave the Yanks the lead for good in a comeback, though his game-changing error in Game 4 hurt chances for another rally.
GRADE B+
Aug 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham (12) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring against the Chicago White Sox during the 11th inning at Rate Field. / Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
TRENT GRISHAM
We all napped on The Big Sleep, didn’t we? Grisham broke out with a career-best 34 homers and an .811 OPS in taking over center field. He provided solid defense, at least via the eye test (defensive metrics are not in love with his play), and should be set up for a nice free agent payday. Struggled in the postseason, though, batting just .138.
GRADE: B
BEN RICE
Another breakout player, Rice smashed 26 home runs and was a Statcast darling, ranking among the sports’ boldface names in hard-hit metrics. Can catch, but could be the everyday first baseman in 2026, too, though he must improve defensively.
GRADE: B
CAM SCHLITTLER
One of the most exciting developments of the year, Schlittler’s emergence as a rotation weapon cannot be overstated, as hard as we might try. The 23-year-old had a 2.96 ERA in 14 starts and then exploded in the postseason with a dominant start against his hometown Red Sox – eight scoreless innings and 12 strikeouts, no walks. Then he delivered the only competent start in the entire series against the Blue Jays. Does anyone throw 100 miles-per-hour as smoothly as this guy?
GRADE: A
GIANCARLO STANTON
He only played 77 games, but was terrific when healthy, bashing 24 homers and notching a .944 OPS. Didn’t deliver the usual October Giancarlo, though, batting .192 with a .536 OPS and no homers.
GRADE: B
New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) hits a solo home run during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
ANTHONY VOLPE
Volpe fell way off after a strong 2024 postseason had fueled high hopes. Had the fourth-most errors (19) in baseball and a career-worst .272 on-base percentage. He looked lost in the ALDS, going 1-for-15 with 11 strikeouts. Still, he got his defense back on track after his midseason woes became a dominant Yankee storyline. Also had 55 extra-base hits, including 19 home runs, and added 72 RBI. Next year could be a crossroads-type season for the 24-year-old, homegrown shortstop.
GRADE: D
PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT
Maybe he didn’t have the big power numbers (10 homers, .403 slugging percentage) that he piled up earlier in his career, but Goldschmidt provided strong defense at first base, was clutch (.312 average with RISP) and hammered lefties. He was fourth in MLB with a .981 OPS against left-handed pitching.
GRADE: B
JOSÉ CABALLERO
A fine, versatile deadline pickup who played second, third, short and the outfield for the Yanks and had an .828 OPS in 40 games. He was 15-for-18 in steals after donning pinstripes and over his time in the Bronx and Tampa Bay he led MLB with 49 thefts. How will he impact the shortstop position next year?
GRADE: B
RYAN MCMAHON
He’s a spectacular defensive player – did you see that tumble and catch into the Red Sox dugout? – who helped solidify the infield after he took over third base and let Chisholm move to third. He’s got potential for some thump, matching Rice’s average exit velocity (93.3 mph), though he only hit four homers in 54 games with the Yankees, 20 overall including his time in Colorado.
GRADE: B-
May 14, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Dominguez (24) hits an RBI doube against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park. / John Froschauer-Imagn Images
JASSON DOMÍNGUEZ
Mega prospect had 10 homers, 23 steals and a .719 OPS in 123 games. He really struggled as a right-handed hitter, batting only .204 against lefties. Only had one postseason at-bat, a pinch-hit double. Next year’s big for him, too.
GRADE: C+
AUSTIN WELLS
Hit 21 homers and drove in 71 runs as a catcher, so there was some offensive contribution from a defensive position, though his OPS-plus of 95 was below MLB average and he hit only .227 with a .488 OPS in the playoffs. Trusted behind the plate, he’s an excellent pitch-framer and caught 25.3 percent of runners trying to steal, well above league average (21.5 percent).
GRADE: B
WILL WARREN
Overall numbers didn’t match his nasty repertoire, but Warren has plenty of promise. The rookie struck out 9.5 per nine innings and had a 4.44 ERA and gave the Yanks needed bulk, tying for the AL lead with 33 starts and throwing 162.1 innings.
GRADE: B-
LUIS GIL
Abbreviated numbers were OK – 3.32 ERA in 11 starts after return from injury. But his underlying metrics were scary as his stuff lost some of his electricity while he tried harder to throw strikes. Another big talent who heads into a big 2026 for his career.
GRADE: C
Aug 5, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams (38) reacts after leaving the game during the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
DEVIN WILLIAMS
Elite reliever whose early struggles fouled his overall numbers (4.76 ERA) and incurred fans’ ire. He was the closer, then wasn’t the closer and ended as a trusted setup man with 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
GRADE: C+
TIM HILL
In 70 outings, the lefty had a 3.09 ERA and was real hell on left-handed hitters, holding them to a .181 average and .444 OPS. Had three scoreless outings in the playoffs, including a key 1.1 innings in the Game 3 comeback in the ALDS.
GRADE: B+
LUKE WEAVER
He retired only one of the seven batters he faced in the playoffs, so he had a 135.00 ERA. Yikes. His season numbers, including a 3.62 ERA, were OK, but this was not a big-time follow-up to his strong 2024.
GRADE: C
FERNANDO CRUZ
The Yanks really missed Cruz and his elite splitter when he was injured. On the split, he held hitters to a .178 average and .280 slugging. Overall, he had a 3.56 ERA and 13.5 K/9 during the regular season and a 2.45 ERA in four postseason outings.
GRADE: B
New York Yankees pitcher Camilo Doval (75) throws in the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game one of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Rogers Centre / Nick Turchiaro - Imagn Images
CAMILO DOVAL
Doval had a rough transition after coming over in a deadline deal, recording a 4.82 ERA and walking 11 in 18.2 innings. But he looked more like himself (2.70 ERA) in the playoffs, which added oomph to the bullpen.
GRADE: C+
DAVID BEDNAR
Bednar, probably the Yankees’ best deadline pickup, stabilized the back end of the bullpen when he arrived, even though he blew his first pinstriped save opportunity. He had a 2.19 ERA and 10 saves in 22 regular season outings and a 1.50 ERA and two more saves in five playoff appearances.
GRADE: B+
AMED ROSARIO
Utility pickup brought in to combat lefties, Rosario had a .788 OPS in 33 at-bats and then went 3-for-10 in the playoffs.
LOS ANGELES — Eyes red, Orion Kerkering received words of support from his Philadelphia Phillies teammates.
“‘Just keep your head up. It’s an honest mistake. Just, it’s baseball,’” he remembered hearing.
“`You’ll be good for a long time to come,’” they added.
“It’s not my fault, then. We had opportunities to score,” was the message he kept getting.
Kerkering made a wild throw past home plate instead of tossing to first after mishandling Andy Pages’ bases-loaded comebacker with two outs in the 11th inning. Pinch-runner Hyeseong Kim scored and the Phillies were eliminated with a 2-1 loss that gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 3-1 NL Division Series victory.
“It means a lot. It shows they care a lot,” Kerkering said of his teammates. “It just means everything, for sure.”
Kerkering won’t forget just the second error that ended a postseason series. Phillies fans won’t, either.
“Test wall, for sure,” the 24-year-old reliever said, managing a small smile. “Just kind of keep going with it. It’s hopefully starting a long career. Just keep in the back of my head ... get over this hump. Keep pushing.”
Nick Castellanos’ RBI double in the seventh off Emmet Sheehan put the Phillies ahead, but Jhoan Duran walked Mookie Betts with the bases loaded in the bottom half, forcing in the tying run.
Tommy Edman singled off Jesús Luzardo with one out in the 11th and went to third on Max Muncy’s two-out single that eluded diving shortstop Trea Turner.
Kerkering walked Kiké Hernández, loading the bases. Pages, in a 1-for-23 postseason slide, hit what appeared to be a harmless grounder, the type every pitcher practices gloving from spring training on.
Kerkering bobbled it, yet still had time to get Pages at first base. That’s where catcher J.T. Realmuto was pointing.
But when Kerkering reached back to his right and picked up the ball, in one motion he made a hurried sidearm toss toward home from 46 feet away. The ball sailed up the third-base line, past Realmuto’s outstretched mitt. After originally running past the plate, Kim returned to touch it.
“I was surprised he threw it home,” Kim said through a translator. “I just ran as hard as I could.”
Kerkering hung his head and put hands on knees.
“Just hit off my foot,” Kerkering said. “Once the pressure got to me, I just thought there’s a little faster throw to J.T., little quicker throw than trying to cross-body it to Bryce (Harper at first base). So just a (terrible) throw.”
Realmuto put a hand on the side of Kerkering’s head and then on a shoulder.
“Twenty-four-year-old kid like that, he’s probably feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders after that play,” Realmuto said. “So I just tried to reassure him that the whole game’s not on him. There was a lot opportunity for us to win that game and we didn’t do what it took.”
Phillies manager Rob Thomson wrapped an arm around Kerkering when the reliever reached the dugout.
“He just got caught up in the moment a little bit,” Thomson said. “I feel for him because he’s putting it all on his shoulders.”
Teammates did their best with soothing words.
“I feel bad. Not just for him. I don’t want to feel like — put pity on him, but it could have been any one of us,” Turner said. “It’s a team effort.”
Philadelphia, second in the major leagues with 96 wins this season, was held to four hits and went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
“That’s a really good team over there,” said Harper, who was 0 for 4 with a walk. “We went toe-to-toe today. Pretty (good) heavyweight fight back and forth. Really good pitching, obviously, and they came out on top.”
Kyle Schwarber, who hit an NL-best 56 home runs, hit two more in a Game 3 win but was 1 for 12 with seven strikeouts in the three series losses.
Schwarber, Realmuto, left-hander Ranger Suárez and outfielder Max Kepler are eligible for free agency. Center fielder Harrison Bader has a mutual contract option, and left-hander José Alvarado has a club option.
“You make so many personal relationships with guys throughout the course of the year,” Schwarber said. “They become family. You never know how (free agency) will go. But these guys know how I feel about them. I have a lot of respect for the guys in here, our organization, our coaching staff, everybody top to bottom.”
After losing to Houston in the 2022 World Series, the Phillies were knocked out in the 2023 National League Championship Series and now in consecutive Division Series.
“You’ve got a lot of talent in this room,” Kerkering said. “I know a couple guys are leaving, but the guys that we know are going to be here next year are guys that always are going to compete every single day. Just keep grabbing for it. The goal is a championship, no matter what, no matter what group of guys.”
As the 2025 Mets devolved from a team with World Series hopes to one that missed the playoffs, the main culprit behind their fall was the pitching -- the starting rotation specifically.
Among the issues?
The season-ending injuries suffered by Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill in June, the summer struggles of David Peterson and Sean Manaea, and the transition from reliever to starter that led to truncated starts by Clay Holmes.
But the most puzzling thing that impacted New York's 2025 rotation was the Jekyll and Hyde performance of Kodai Senga.
Over his first 13 starts from April 1 to June 12 -- spanning 73.2 innings -- Senga posted a 1.47 ERA (3.24 FIP) while allowing just 51 hits.
During his start on June 12, Senga injured his hamstring while receiving a high throw from Pete Alonso as he covered first base. That injury kept him out for roughly a month, and there are many who draw a throughline right there when trying to assess why it all went wrong.
But Senga was strong in his first start back from the IL, tossing 4.0 scoreless innings on July 11 while allowing four hits, walking two, and striking out four.
After that, it was a nightmare for the 32-year-old, who had a 6.56 ERA (6.11 FIP) in 35.2 innings over eight starts from July 21 through Aug. 31. After his start on Aug. 31, Senga accepted an assignment to the minors, where he was unable to get his mechanics straight or find his stuff.
Aug 31, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Citi Field. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO TRADE SENGA
More than anything, it is Senga's ongoing struggle to get his mechanics right -- and the massive issues that often pop up when he doesn't feel they're 100 percent in place -- that has been the most frustrating aspect of Senga's tenure in New York.
The hope when Senga went to the minors was that it was a largely stress-free spot where he could get right. That he couldn't reach a point where he was able to return and pitch in the majors should have alarm bells going off.
Looking at Senga's pitch mix, his forkball remained elite in 2025 -- hitters slugged a minuscule .188 against it -- but he had serious difficulties with consistency when it came to the offering.
Meanwhile, Senga's two other most used pitches (his four-seam fastball and cutter) were crushed.
Opposing hitters slugged .543 against the four-seamer while slugging .483 against the cutter.
Beyond Senga's battle to get his mechanics in order and find the correct pitch mix is his growing injury history.
Since the start of the 2024 season, Senga has missed time due to injuries to his shoulder, calf, and hamstring. Those issues limited him to just 5.1 regular season innings in 2024 and 113.1 innings in 2025.
New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. / Rick Scuteri - Imagn Images
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO KEEP SENGA
Senga's rookie campaign in 2023 and his first few months in 2025 are proof that he can pitch near the top of the rotation when he's at his best.
His advanced numbers from April through June in 2025 show that he was perhaps due for a bit of a regression, but his 2023 was utterly dominant.
In 166.1 innings over 29 starts, Senga had a 2.98 ERA and 1.22 WHIP while allowing just 126 hits and striking out 202 batters -- a rate of 10.9 per nine innings.
Senga's four-seamer (grading out in the 98th percentile) and forkball (93rd percentile) were also elite in 2023, as was his whiff percentage, barrel percentage, strikeout rate, and xBA. Meanwhile, his ground ball rate and xERA were above average.
Senga might not profile as a true ace in the event he gets it together, but he possesses high upside.
He's also relatively affordable -- set to make $15 million each of the next two seasons. The Mets have a conditional club option for 2028 worth $15 million that will kick in if Senga has Tommy John surgery or a right elbow injury that keeps him on the IL for 130 or more days.
There's also the rest of the rotation to consider when weighing Senga's future. In other words, while there are concerns about Senga, there are questions surrounding most other potential members of the rotation, too.
May 13, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) waves to the crowd after getting taken out in the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field. / Wendell Cruz - Imagn Images
VERDICT
Using logic and deductive reasoning, it's fair to believe that three pitchers might be penciled in right now as members of the Mets' 2026 rotation: Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, and Nolan McLean.
Manaea did not perform well in 2025, but he was also pitching with loose bodies in his elbow. Additionally, his salary ($22 million annual luxury tax hit through 2027) could be prohibitive when it comes to finding a potential trade partner.
It's also likely that Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong will both play a big role in 2026, though that might not come from the jump.
SAN FRANCISCO — During the final homestand at Oracle Park, the lower deck was dotted with No. 78 jerseys, which will become a throwback next spring when Bryce Eldridge is given a much lower number. But those weren’t the only souvenirs from the 20-year-old’s two-week cameo in the big leagues.
Eldridge picked up his first big league hit, and his mom even managed to snag a Matt Chapman foul ball while watching a game at Dodger Stadium. There were a lot of lessons that the organization’s top prospect will take away from September, too.
“You’ve got to make adjustments at this level,” he said on the final day of the season. “I’m just excited that I got the opportunity. I love the fact that I got that out of the way going into next year. I know the things I’ve got to work on. I’m just excited and looking forward to next year and continuing to have a bigger role on this team.”
The Giants never intended to have Eldridge get his feet wet in September, but when Dominic Smith went down with the team still fighting for a Wild Card spot, Buster Posey made the move in hopes that it could provide a jolt down the stretch. Eldridge ended up getting 37 plate appearances over 10 games, showing why he’s potentially a franchise-altering hitter and also what he has to work on.
Eldridge finished with just three hits, but when he made contact, he showed his elite power. He had an average exit velocity of 95.6 mph, a tick above Aaron Judge, who led qualified big leaguers at 95.4 mph. In a small sample, Eldridge also posted what would have been the league’s best hard-hit percentage. He was at 68.8 percent, well ahead of Kyle Schwarber’s 59.6 percent. His expected slugging percentage would have been a top 20 figure in the league over a full season.
That power was there throughout his Triple-A season, too, but Eldridge also had a high strikeout rate, which is one reason the Giants were holding him back all summer. That showed in the big leagues, too. His 35.1 percent strikeout rate would be the highest in the big leagues over a full season. He did, however, counter that with a high walk rate.
Add it up and it’s about exactly what was expected given his age and lack of experience. When Eldridge makes contact, it’s special … but he certainly has work to do in terms of limiting strikeouts.
“I think it’s kind of what we anticipated we might see,” president of baseball operations Buster Posey said on Giants Talk. “You could see some swing and miss, he hit the ball hard. I was impressed at some of his takes. I thought he did a nice job against some really tough pitchers. It’s a big jump. It’s a big jump from Triple-A to the big leagues for a lot of different reasons and one is the quality of arms that you’re seeing every day and every night, starting pitching and relief pitching. There were some takes against (Yoshinobu) Yamamoto that were balls just under the zone that he did a nice job with.
“It’s exciting to have a guy that you know there’s tremendous upside. I know he knows and we all know there’s a lot of room for growth still and we’re excited to keep watching that.”
The call-up put Eldridge on the 40-man roster, eliminating one hurdle to having him on the Opening Day roster next season. But the Giants haven’t committed to anything for 2026, at least publicly.
Eldridge showed he’s more comfortable at first than he was earlier in the year, but if the front office wants him to get a bit more seasoning on that side and continue to work on his approach in Triple-A, there’s an avenue to do that. Rafael Devers likely will be the primary first baseman next year, anyway. There’s some interest in a reunion with Smith, although that’s likely far-fetched given that the roster will at some point have two left-handed first base/DH types in Devers and Eldridge.
Given how much they have to do on the pitching side, the Giants could also go into the offseason with a plan to start Eldridge in the big leagues next year no matter what. A midseason injury limited him a bit in Triple-A, but he got a taste of MLB pitching late in the year and can work on adjustments all spring. That would set him up for an early matchup with Judge, a fellow 6-foot-7 hitter, and give him another chance to get one more milestone out of the way in a big game. The Giants open 2026 on national television against the New York Yankees.
Eldridge came a few feet short of picking up his first homer at Dodger Stadium. He didn’t get that first homer at Oracle Park over the final week, but he said that’s one part of the late-season cameo that wasn’t stressing him out.
“It’ll come when it comes. I’m not worried about it,” he said. “I think there will be plenty of them in my career. I just have to wait a little bit longer, but it’s not a big deal.”
The Dodgers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS despite Shohei Ohtani going one for 18 at the plate with nine strikeouts in the series. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
In those buoyant days of spring, Dodgers fans blithely predicted their star-studded and well-financed team would win, say, 125 games. No major league team had won more than 116 but, if the Dodgers were going to ruin baseball, they would have a damn good time doing it.
Then the season started, and with it the ups and downs, and the injuries and the inconsistencies. The Dodgers won the National League West, of course, but with what they would consider a very modest 93 wins.
Eventually, far later than their fans expected, they roared. They closed the regular season by winning five of their final six series. They swept the Cincinnati Reds in the wild-card round. They dismissed the Philadelphia Phillies in four games in the division series.
The Dodgers have gone 20-6 over these past five weeks. That is a .769 winning percentage, which over a full season would translate into ... 125 victories.
The Dodgers have advanced to baseball’s final four, losing just once in six postseason games. If these are the real Dodgers, the rest of the league appears to be in trouble.
But what if these are not the real Dodgers? The Dodgers are winning but, as the cliche goes, are they hitting on all cylinders?
“Not yet,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said amid the team’s second champagne celebration in nine days.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith smiled at the question of whether the Dodgers have another gear within them.
“I think there’s another gear,” Smith said. “Look at Shohei.”
Ohtani, the defending most valuable player and the presumed repeat winner, had one hit in 18 at-bats in the division series. He struck out nine times.
He scored a franchise-record and league-leading 146 runs this season, just about one every game. In the four games of the division series, he neither hit a home run or scored a run.
“He didn’t do much this series,” Smith said. “I expect next series for him to come out and hit like five homers. That’s just who he is.”
The Dodgers’ starters are healthy and effective at the right time. In six postseason games, the Dodgers have five quality starts. They have deployed another starter as a closer and yet another as a setup man, and the rest of their bullpen might charitably be described as a work in progress.
In the four-game division series, they batted .199 with more errors (three) than home runs (two).
“I think we won this series because we pitched really well,” utility player Kiké Hernández said.
As the players doused one another in celebration, the Dodgers readily gave credit to a Phillies pitching staff that might rate as the best they will face this October. In this series, the Phillies posted a 2.87 earned-run average and the Dodgers posted a 3.32 ERA.
“That’s a great team over there,” Roberts said. “We took every punch that they threw at us.
That said …
“I think that we can be better,” Hernández said. “We didn’t necessarily defend the way we can defend. We didn’t hit the way we can hit. Even though we beat a really, really good team, we can be even better.
“That just speaks volumes about this group. We have gone through so much together. We’re battle-tested, and we’re going to find a way to win a ballgame even when things are not going our way.”
On Thursday, they advanced to their seventh NLCS in 10 seasons by winning a game in which they did not get an extra-base hit, or a hit with a runner in scoring position. In the regular season, they led the NL in runs and home runs.
On Wednesday, before the Dodgers lost their only game this postseason, third baseman Max Muncy scoffed at the notion the team was hitting on all cylinders.
“I still think there's another gear in there,” Muncy said. “I don't think we fully reached where we can be at. And that’s not saying we are, and that’s not saying we aren’t. But I still think there's a whole other level in there we haven’t reached yet.”
What would tell you that you’ve reached it?
“I think you would know,” he smiled to a gathering of reporters. There was laughter in the room, and room for his already accomplished team to grow.
