But a prayer doesn’t hurt—especially when done with a personalized candle.
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) celebrates after hitting a home run during the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves in game two of the NLDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Oct. 4, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Moments before this home run, the game’s broadcast showed Dodgers rookie outfield Josue De Paula holding what looked to be a candle with Muncy’s image plastered on it.
Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Josue De Paula holding a Max Muncy prayer candle during the NLDS. (YouTube/@MLB).
Dodgers fans have noticed this candle before. Shortstop Alex Freeland has been seen holding it in the dugout in the past, and fans on social media posted videos of him holding it at times during Wednesday night’s game.
A closer look at the candle shows that is has Muncy’s image wearing a white Dodgers jersey, a white clerical stole (a band of cloth worn around the neck) with Muncy’s No. 13 and the Dodgers’ logo on it, and a gold “FUNKY” chain.
The 36-year-old is also holding a baseball in his right hand on the candle.
The Dodgers’ vibes are feeling immaculate right now.
Max Muncy personalized candle, as seen in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ dugout. (X/@DoyersDave).
The Binghamton Rumble Ponies celebrate after a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on May 17, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
First Half Record: 27-42 (6/6 Eastern League Northeast)
Second Half Record: 34-34 (4/6 Eastern League Northeast)
The 2025 Binghamton Rumble Ponies were a dominant team, winning a franchise-record 90 games (45 in the first half and 45 in the second half) during the regular season and capturing their fourth Eastern League championship after beating the Erie SeaWolves two games to one. The 2026 Binghamton Rumble Ponies were much less dominant, as much of the talent that had brought Binghamton’s championship had moved on.
The team ended the first half of the season in last place, winning only 27 games, their worst stretch since the second half of the 2022 season, when the team won only 25 ballgames. Following the trade deadline, things picked up for Binghamton. Promotions and newly acquired talent prompted the Rumble Ponies to go on an incredible run in the second half that included a ten-game winning streak and saw the team set a new franchise high for most runs scored in a single nine-inning game (23).
At the end of August, the Rumble Ponies played a series against the Reading Fightin’ Phils with playoff implications. Coming into the series 2.5 games behind Reading, Binghamton lost the series four games to two, losing ground in the standings. They won their next series against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats to stay on Reading’s tail, but in the last week of the season the margins were simply too thin, and they were eliminated from playoff contention midway through the week.
A Monroe, Connecticut native, Nick Lorusso did not go far after graduating from Masuk High School, where he was a three-sport star in baseball, basketball, and football, attending Villanova University. He had an immediate impact for the Wildcats, becoming school’s first player in 25 years to be named Big East Freshman of the Year after hitting .302/.409/.425 with 8 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 2 stolen and 28 walks to 31 strikeouts while simultaneously posting a 6.05 ERA in 41.2 innings on the mound with 59 hits allowed, 15 walks, and 32 strikeouts. His sophomore year, 2020, was a lost season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Lorusso hurt himself even before the year was cancelled, and as a result, he only appeared in 10 games at the plate and made 3 appearances on the mound.
Fully healed when the 2021 season began, Lorusso continued building on his breakout freshman campaign, hitting .306/.380/.370 in 29 games with 4 doubles, 1 home run, 1 stolen base and 16 walks to 25 strikeouts. After going undrafted, the infielder entered the transfer portal hoping to find a program that could get him drafted by an MLB club. His Villanova career concluded, Lorusso hit a cumulative .294/.392/.392 in 88 games with the Wildcats, with 14 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, 3 stolen bases in as many attempts, and 52 walks to 62 strikeouts.
The infielder transferred to the University of Maryland for the 2022 season and the fourth-year junior ended up having a critical role on a team that scored the second-most runs in college baseball that year. Appearing in 62 games, the 21-year-old hit .322/.409/.562 with 17 doubles, 15 home runs, and 37 walks to 55 strikeouts, setting career highs in virtually every offensive category. He also contributed on the mound when called upon once again, posting a 6.52 ERA in 9.2 innings, allowing 11 hits, walking 4, and striking out 8. He played for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League that summer and then returned to Maryland. He had an equally impressive 2023, appearing in 61 games for the Terrapins, hitting .379/.446/.765 with 20 doubles, 2 triples, 26 home runs, 3 stolen bases, and 34 walks to 46 strikeouts. His 105 RBI led the NCAA, and in just two seasons, he became the Maryland RBI career leader, driving in 175.
The Mets drafted Lorusso with their 9th round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, coming to terms with him for $50,000, well below the MLB-assigned slot value for the 276th overall pick, $175,100. The organization assigned him to Low-A St. Lucie and he appeared in 26 games for them, hitting .169 /.250/.270 with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 2 stolen bases in 3 attempts, and drawing 9 walks to 27 strikeouts. He was promoted to High-A Brooklyn to start the 2024 season and spent the first few months of the season there, hitting .267/.365/.469 in 70 games with 14 doubles, 3 triples, 11 home runs, 8 stolen bases, and 40 walks to 61 strikeouts. He was promoted to Double-A Binghamton in mid-July, but his season came to an abrupt halt a few days later after he was hit by a fastball in the hand during an at-bat, breaking it. The 24-year-old remained in Binghamton when the 2025 season began and spent the entire year there. It was a down year for the infielder, as he hit .241/.312/.368 in 112 games with 29 doubles, 7 home runs, 8 stolen bases, and 41 walks to 108 strikeouts.
The organization had Lorusso remain in Binghamton to start the 2026 season and he had a better time adapting to Double-A pitching, appearing in 84 games for the Rumble Ponies and hitting .243/.319/.495 with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 19 home runs, 9 stolen bases, and 32 walks to 88 strikeouts. He was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse at the beginning of August and ended the season there, appearing in 29 games and hitting .217/.314/.337 with 2 doubles, 3 home runs, 5 stolen bases, and 11 walks to 24 strikeouts.
The 6’1”, 215-pound infielder stands square at the plate, crouching slightly and leaning out over the plate with his upper half, holding his hands high at the eyes and wrapping his bat behind his head angled at 1:30. He swings with a slight leg lift and very little load and weight transfer. Lorusso has “slider bat speed”, consistently performing well against breaking balls over the course of his career while enjoying less success against fastballs; he is able to fully extend and turn on slower pitches and tap into his power, but has less time to react and barrel fastballs. While he does strike out at an elevated rate, it is mostly due to his propensity to swing-and-miss at pitches outside of the zone; against pitches in the zone, Lorusso has shown the ability to make an exceptional amount of contact, though this includes a lot of poor in-zone contact, reflecting a low SEAGER score.
Defensively, Lorusso has spent most of his time on the field at third base, though he has also seen a significant amount of action at first base, and has even played a bit of second base this past season. A former pitcher whose arm can reach 90 MPH, he has the arm strength, accuracy, range and instincts to man the hot corner, but may eventually be forced off the position as he further matures with age loses some of that youthful athleticism.
TEAM CY YOUNG
Jonathan Santucci:19 G (19 GS), 68 H, 42 R, 36 ER (3.57 ERA), 45 BB, 120 K, .314 BABIP
(Runner Up: Carlos Guzman)
Left-hander Jonathan Santucci was ranked 12th on the Amazin’ Avenue 2026 Mets Top 25 Prospects list this past off-season on the strength of a 2025 season that saw him post a 3.06 ERA in 117.2 cumulative innings with the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones and the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies. The former Duke standout, who was drafted by the Mets in the 2nd round of the 2024 MLB Draft, had enjoyed a decent amount of success in the ACC, but professional baseball is a different beast from collegiate baseball, and Santucci transitioning so seamlessly was an exciting prospect.
The left-hander began the season with the Rumble Ponies, hoping to build on the successful 58.0 innings that he spent there in 2025, and certainly did. Appearing in 19 games, Santucci posted a 3.57 ERA in 90.2 innings, allowing 68 hits, walking 45, and striking out 120. Combined with his 2025 stats, the southpaw had a cumulative 3.20 ERA in 140.2 innings with Binghamton, allowing 101 hits, walking 63, and striking out 183.
At the beginning of August, the left-hander was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse and finished the season there. He struggled in his first few starts before settling in, and ended up posting a 5.24 ERA in 34.1 innings over 8 starts, allowing 34 hits, walking 21, and striking out 43.
With so many successful innings in Double-A under his belt and already pitching in Triple-A, it is only a matter of time before Santucci makes his MLB debut. The left-hander has the stuff to succeed in the majors, with an MLB-caliber fastball and an MLB-caliber slider, but the rest of his repertoire and his ability to command his pitches leaves a bit to desire. He complements his fastball-slider combination with a curveball and a changeup, and while neither are bad pitches, neither are particularly good either. Combined with the fact that the southpaw is likely going to need to refine his command in order to better match up against MLB bitters, and while Santucci’s call-up is not in doubt, his ultimate as a major leaguer role may be.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 06: Enrique Hernandez #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two-run home run during the fourth inning of Game Three of the Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on October 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Shohei Ohtani, Ronald Acuña Jr., Mookie Betts, and Matt Olson; the list of quote-unquote star players who weren’t able to impact the NLDS in the way we’ve grown to expect from them is long. With these ultratalented hitters held quiet, the chances of a high-scoring series were slim, and in the end, the team with the better complementary group got the last laugh.
The series-clinching win in Game 4 followed the pattern of the Dodgers’ previous two victories in this series, perhaps even more aggressively given just who had to step up to carry this team forward in Andy Pages. As it was the case throughout the series, the top of the order was nowhere to be found, with the first four hitters reaching base only once via walk, finishing the game 0 for 15.
A few defensive errors on both sides made this a 1-1 game, as neither offense could muster up any action. Sure, Tyler Glasnow had command problems that let five Braves earn a free base via walk, but Michael Harris Jr.’s leadoff hit was the only base hit he allowed the whole game. Tyler Mahle was even more impressive, keeping his pitch count in check to work into the seventh inning without suffering the walk problems that plagued Glasnow.
Max Muncy and Kiké Hernández had their moments earlier in the series; it was now up to a complementary piece that grew into a more important role this season, only to see—at least prior to this game—his postseason issues resurface, keeping him down in the order.
Pages, who, at the start of this game, had a batting average below .100 across the last two postseasons, faced a difficult challenge against Robert Suárez with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning of a tied game. The center fielder prevailed with a go-ahead two-run single to make it 3-1. After recording just one RBI in 62 postseason at-bats, the Dodgers’ All-Star center fielder helped this team avoid a winner-take-all Game 5 by securing a series win on the road.
It is not about revisionist history to claim we all knew Pages would eventually rise to the occasion. Everything about his postseason record points to that not being the case. It is about acknowledging that in the crapshoot that the baseball postseason can be, it’s comforting; it makes sense that the team whose depth is one of its biggest strengths can count on it to outproduce the opposition, as star hitters on either side aren’t able to get the job done.
Pages’ hit will take the headlines, but he only had that opportunity due to the positive impact of another young outfielder. Whether it’d be to try to take advantage of a potential eagerness to prove himself or because he lacked the ideal command—still tired from that Game 2 outing—Didier Fuentes fed Josue De Paula only one strike in a five-pitch at-bat with two outs and a runner in scoring position. De Paula flashed his terrific eye, worked a walk, and passed the baton to Tucker, who would also be walked, bringing in the bases loaded and the favorable matchup for the Braves of Suárez versus Pages.
De Paula was up in that situation against a tough righty, pinch-hitting for one of this team’s postseason heroes, Kiké Hernández, because for a while now, Roberts is pushing all of the right buttons—the Dodgers manager seems to be honing in on an uncanny ability to know when to go with the numbers but also when to trust his instinct. It helps, though, when you have a hitter as talented as De Paula who’s able to come off the bench for just one at-bat. A move you can make because Tommy Edman’s flexibility off the bench as the defensive replacement allows you to prioritize offense late in games.
The Braves held the Dodgers stars quiet, and the same was true on the opposite end. And with it, the Dodgers group, with the likes of Hernández, De Paula, Muncy, and Pages, had more to give, helping the reigning champs take the series in four.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 07: Jose Ramirez #11, Brayan Rocchio #4, Angel Genao #17 and Nathaniel Lowe #46 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrate after defeating the Chicago White Sox in game three of the American League Division Series at Rate Field on October 07, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a resounding 9-3 victory to avoid a sweep in the ALDS, the Guards have forced a game 4 and have their most consistent starting pitcher lined up to pitch on regular rest. Today we’re going to look at the keys to the game for the Guards to force a winner take all game 5 Saturday in Cleveland.
MVP Messick and the Closing Crew
The first key is Parker Messick needs to be his best self. His fastball in 2026 was one of the best pitches in all of MLB going by run value, and he was the Guardians’ most valuable player by fWAR in 2026. He threw 4.2 innings in game 1 and really only threw 1 bad pitch. Unfortunately it ended up being sent 440 ft by Murakami. If you can get a similar outing from Messick of 5 innings and 1-2 runs, that’s going to put you in a good position with the bullpen to finish out the game.
Cade Smith only needed 19 pitches to get 6 outs in game 3. He should be available again tomorrow. Erik Sabrowski did not pitch in game 3 so he also should be well rested for game 4. We know Daniel Espino can pitch on back to back days, and given he didn’t pitch game 2, he should be available as well. Tanner Bibee can be a useful new(ish) look for an inning or so against the bottom part of the White Sox lineup. Tim Herrin has shown so far that he can be a weapon too, along with Shawn Armstrong (who only threw 5 pitches in game 3). I wouldn’t be afraid to go to any of them to help bridge the way to Smith.
If Parker can at least get through 5, you only need those pitchers to get you 12 outs combined, and any extra outs beyond that from Parker just ease the burden.
Give Gaddis a Breather
I wouldn’t pitch Hunter Gaddis in a high leverage spot again in game 4. He’s had too many blow ups recently, and the performance in game 3 almost ended the season. He needs a break.
I also would consider starting someone other than Angel Martínez. His ABs have been quite poor, and his inability to take a walk looks especially exploitable in postseason games. Both Daniel Schneemann and Petey Halpin give you better defensive options, but you could also move Adell back into the outfield, have Travis Bazzana as DH, and put Angel Genao at second base.
I’m less tied to the benching Martínez option because he has been very good as a hail mary chance at a homer or other key hit near the bottom of the lineup, but right now I’d seriously consider giving someone else a look. Putting another LHH in the lineup given how many LHP the White Sox like to use is risky, but I think at this point it’s a risk worth considering.
Keep the Defense Locked In
So far in this series, the Guardians have played a very clean game defensively every time they’ve taken the field. Travis Bazzana has looked as competent as ever as a second baseman, and José has made some dynamite plays out there so far as well.
One thing we know about postseason baseball is every extra out and every extra base runner is just one more chance to lose hold of a game. Continuing to minimize those opportunities for the other team reduces the burden on the offense as well.
Patient Opposite Field Approach
The offense broke out today by staying patient and not being afraid to take a base hit the opposite way. In game 3, the Guardians drew 10 walks and had RBI opposite field hits by Steven Kwan, Jo Adell, José Ramírez, Angel Genao, and Bryaan Rocchio (who had 2 different opposite field hits in game 3). Chase DeLauter and Patrick Bailey also had opposite field singles, and even Nathaniel Lowe hit two well struck line outs to Miguel Vargas at 3rd.
Staying patient, waiting for their pitches, and not being afraid to just take that single up the middle or the opposite way are the things this offense does when they’re at their absolute best, and it’s an approach that will annoy and wear down opposing pitchers. An already taxed Chicago bullpen can’t afford to be overworked too much more.
That being said, it also wouldn’t hurt to get a ball or two out into the cheap seats.
These are your strengths if you’re the Guardians. Parker Messick has been your guy all season long. It’s time to lean on him and trust him to be Parker Messick. Play solid fundamental defense, and use those 4-5 hitters playing every day with great eyes at the plate to make their pitchers throw as many pitches as possible. If you can do all these things, you have as good of a chance as possible to play at least one more game at home this season.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Andrew Painter #24 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves in game two of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on September 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phillies feel like they’re stuck. They’ve got an old, expensive roster that could very well make the playoffs again in 2027, but it would be tough to consider them actual World Series contenders.
The main problem is that the team had three good hitters in the lineup all season: Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and first half Brandon Marsh/second half Alec Bohm. Even if the team wants to assume that Trea Turner can bounce back – and they really have no choice but to hope that – they’re still at least one good hitter short.
It doesn’t look like much help is coming from the minor leagues any time soon. It would be nice to think Aidan Miller can be a contributor at some point next season, but coming off what was essentially a lost season due to a back injury, anything they get from him should be considered a bonus.
Free agency doesn’t look to offer many solutions. Randy Arozarena will likely be tied to the Phillies, but he’s coming off a career best season at age 31, and there’s a decent likelihood that whoever signs him will regret it a few years into the deal. Their best hope of improving the lineup might be if they can land a Japanese player who could bolster the lineup the way Kaz Okamoto and Munetaka Murakami did for the Blue Jays and White Sox this year. But considering how badly they’ve struck out with past Japanese imports, its hard to have much optimism on that front.
Column for @NBCSPhilly: If the Phillies want a new identity, they need to finally break into a Japanese market that has long been out of reach.https://t.co/TjFdqzzm3p
Desperate times call for desperate measures. So here’s an outside the box potential solution: Trade Andrew Painter (and likely others) for a good hitter.
I want to make it clear that I am not endorsing this plan of action, only pointing out creative ways for the Phillies to improve their offense. Will that stop people from becoming outraged? Of course not!
The Phillies’ rotation is clearly their biggest strength. They have three pitchers in Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez, and Jesus Luzardo who would be the ace on a lot of staffs. Aaron Nola is not going anywhere for a while, and the Phillies have to hope that he can replicate his second half performance next year. Assuming Painter can build off his rookie season, that shapes up to be one of the best rotations in baseball next year.
But with the lineup desperately needing help, it might be wise to deal from that position of strength.
After his late season improvement and strong showing in the playoffs, Painter’s value is as high as its been since he injured his elbow in spring of 2023. If a team was inclined to trade away a star hitter, it’s very likely they would want a package centered around a young, cost-controlled pitcher with front-of-the-rotation potential who could contribute immediately. Painter would certainly seem to fit that bill.
With the caveat that I don’t know what else the Phillies would have to include in a deal for any of them, here are some of the players who might be available on the trade market:
If the Phillies want to move Turner to the outfield, there are multiple good shortstops who will be the subject of trade rumors: Elly De La Cruz, Zack Neto, Jeremy Pena, and CJ Abrams (although Abrams’ future is likely also in the outfield). As for outfielders, Jarren Duran, Steven Kwan, and Denzel Clarke are possibilities. Or, if the Phillies are okay with J.T. Realmuto being an expensive backup for a couple of years, William Contreras and Hunter Goodman might be options to get some actual offensive out of the catcher position.
If Painter was to be traded, the Phillies would then need to sign a fifth starter in free agency. Fortunately, unlike the hitter market, there should be plenty of good options available. They also might find it easier to sign a sixth starter who would find the Phillies’ situation more palatable if the starting rotation didn’t appear to be set in stone.
And hey, if John Middleton really wants another trophy and isn’t worried about spending “stupid money,” they could always go after Tarik Skubal and try to recreate the Four Aces rotation!
Is any of this likely to happen? No. Teams generally don’t trade away young pitchers that they think have All-Star potential. But if the Phillies want to get out of the edge of contention box they currently find themselves in, it might be time to try some outside of the box thinking.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 26: Cody Freeman #39 and Jake Burger #21 of the Texas Rangers celebrate the win against the Minnesota Twins after the game at Target Field on September 26, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Rangers defeated the Twins 6-2. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Morning, all!
The Rangers are facing some pretty big questions this offseason, like what are they going to do with their aging, expensive superstars? Are the young guys going to take a step forward? What about the bullpen?
It will leave fans clamoring for change this offseason, but will Hal Steinbrenner pull the trigger?
You can share your opinion on whether the Yankees should keep GM Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone and a host of players whose futures will be decided in the coming days, weeks and months.
Just vote “Bronx” (to stay) or “Boot” (to go) in the polls below to let Hal Steinbrenner know how you feel — and don’t hesitate to vent in the comments section.
SAN DIEGO — Although outfielder Garrett Mitchell gracefully accepted congratulations for robbing Manny Machado of a tying home run late in the Milwaukee Brewers’ Division Series-clinching victory, he clearly wasn’t all that impressed with himself.
To Mitchell, that dramatic play was just the predictable result of the same daily preparation and meticulous execution that made Milwaukee the majors’ best team throughout the regular season — and which has now sent the Brewers roaring back to the National League Championship Series.
Mitchell tripled and scored the tiebreaking run in the fifth inning before making a pivotal catch on Machado’s drive to the wall in the eighth, and the Brewers finished off the San Diego Padres with a 3-1 victory Wednesday night, winning their best-of-five series in four games.
When Machado stepped to the plate, Mitchell was already shaded to right-center, thanks to the Brewers’ scouting report. He coolly tracked the 406-foot fly off the bat, and he already knew the wall was quite short in that part of Petco Park, so he realized he would only need to reach up to catch the ball.
“I think we have a different type of confidence and belief in ourselves together as a team,” Mitchell said. “It’s just like a quiet, subtle confidence. It’s not showboaty. It’s just that everyone believes.”
The Brewers pride themselves on being ready to handle anything — even something wild enough to silence a roaring sellout crowd in San Diego during the heat of October.
“Just got a good jump off the bat,” Mitchell said amid the Brewers’ beer-drenched postgame celebration in the visitors’ clubhouse. “When I got to the wall, I just had to stay composed and make the catch. I didn’t really have to jump. I knew the wall isn’t as high as at other fields.”
Mitchell also drove in Sal Frelick with Milwaukee’s first run as the Brewers snapped their 12-game postseason road losing streak since 2018 and reached the team’s fifth League Championship Series.
“Just so proud of these guys,” Frelick said. “After the first (loss in Game 3), it really starts to creep in that you don’t want to go back for a Game 5. Really proud of these guys for stepping up today and getting the job done.”
After fending off the surging Padres in four tight games decided by a combined five runs, the 103-win Brewers will get an NLCS rematch with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who eliminated Atlanta on Wednesday.
“Why wouldn’t you want another chance to go at it (with the Dodgers) after the way it happened last year?” asked Mitchell, an Orange County native and UCLA product. “I don’t think that’s any more pressure on us. It’s just ... let’s see what we can do.”
The Milwaukee formula
One night after the Padres avoided elimination in Game 3, Milwaukee claimed its first road playoff win since the 2018 NLCS by sticking to its season-long formula for success.
While four Brewers pitchers combined on a three-hitter and the defense made nearly every big play, Milwaukee’s lineup calmly worked counts, pounded 10 hits through the Padres’ defense and manufactured enough runs to head home smiling.
“After yesterday, the energy in the clubhouse was still good,” Mitchell said. “Nobody was pressing. We were just treating it like another day, treating it like we have nothing to lose. We just had to go out there and play our brand of baseball, and that starts with quality at-bats, getting on base, putting pressure on teams, and we did that today.”
Game 2 hero Jackson Chourio capped his high-impact series by driving in Mitchell to become the Brewers’ career leader in postseason RBIs at just 22 years old. Chourio has 17 RBIs, including six in this series, in 16 playoff games.
Padres’ offense struggles
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a 429-foot homer on an otherwise tepid offensive night for the Padres, who repeatedly tested the majors’ best regular-season team before falling short of only the fourth NLCS appearance in team history.
“It was unfortunate, man,” Machado said of his long flyout. “He made a nice play. I should have hit it harder. Two more inches, that ball may have been a homer.”
After sitting below .500 and in 11th place in the NL in late July, San Diego roared into the first wild-card spot and then swept the Cubs in the Wild Card Series last week. The Padres had won 19 of 22 before losing three of four to Milwaukee.
Starters gone early
Brewers starter and former Padres draft pick Robert Gasser threw four innings of three-hit ball, but Tatis ended his 1-for-19 skid since San Diego’s playoff opener with a long shot to center in the third. It was the longest homer ever hit in the postseason at Petco Park by a San Diego player.
Padres starter Walker Buehler yielded just three hits and a run, but manager Craig Stammen replaced him with Game 1 starter Robbie Ray after William Contreras’ leadoff single in the fourth.
Mitchell then stroked a mild liner perfectly over first base and into the right-field corner leading off the fifth, and he scored on Chourio’s single through the drawn-in infield. Chourio surpassed Ryan Braun for the most postseason RBIs in Brewers history.
Jake Bauers singled leading off the sixth and went to third on Cooper Pratt’s ground-rule double before scoring on Frelick’s sacrifice fly.
After Mitchell’s catch on Machado’s fly, second baseman Brice Turang ended the eighth with an acrobatic catch of Ty France’s tailing popup in foul ground.
After defeating the Chargers to open the 2026 season, the Cardinals have dropped three straight to the Seahawks, 49ers, and Giants.
But the results haven’t made things dire inside Arizona’s building, according to quarterback Jacoby Brissett — just upped the urgency a bit.
“I think the sense of urgency needs to be there no matter what the record is,” Brissett said in his Wednesday press conference. “Each week is a 1-0 league. I think the way the last three weeks have ended has definitely created another sense of urgency, but obviously not a sense of panic.
“You can’t panic. The urgency can be there and it’s like how can we steady the ship without everybody trying to jump off the ship or pick up the ship and run? It’s just more so just doing the right things right every day and Sunday will take care of itself.”
Following two games on the road, the Cardinals will be back at home to face the Lions on Sunday afternoon.
In the Lone Star State, former MLB pitcher Roger Clemens is as close as it gets to royalty.
The former University of Texas star, who went on to win 354 games and strike out 4,672 batters in his 24 major league seasons, was featured guest Wednesday night as President Donald Trump presided over a political rally in San Antonio.
In addition, Clemens was an 11-time All-Star, a two-time World Series champion and the 1986 AL MVP.
Why isn't Roger Clemens in the Hall of Fame?
Following his retirement after the 2007 season, Clemens was on the ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame for 10 years, from 2013 to 2022. His percentage of votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America gradually increased over that span, but he never reached the 75% needed for induction. He came closest in his last year of eligibility, gaining 65.2% support in 2022.
Clemens was also on the Veterans Committee ballot in 2023 and 2026, but failed to get the 75% support each time.
The main stumbling block for Clemens' Hall of Fame candidacy was his alleged use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). His name appeared prominently in the 2007 Mitchell Report, which contained claims from Clemens' former personal trainer that he injected the star pitcher with anabolic steroids and human growth hormone. Clemens claimed he only received lidocaine and Vitamin B-12 shots.
Clemens was also accused of having an affair with country music singer Mindy McCready that allegedly began when she was 15 years old. Clemens was married at the time. Although he denied any affair and described her as a "longtime family friend," Clemens did broadly apologize for "mistakes" he made in his personal life.
Roger Clemens' relationship with President Trump
At the Oct. 7 rally, Clemens introduced Trump, then returned to the stage after the president's speech to shake hands and express his appreciation for the Medal of Freedom.
"There isn't another president I'd want to get it from, and to announce it here in my home state, from this man, you're talking about winner, that's a winner right there," Clemens told the cheering crowd.
Clemens and Trump do have a history together. The two have often played golf, with Trump calling for Clemens to be inducted into Cooperstown shortly after they played a round at Trump National Golf Club outside Washington, D.C., in August 2025.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 04: Starting pitcher Noah Cameron #65 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the first inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium on September 04, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What a wild season Noah Cameron had. He went from fifth starter to team ace to nearly demoted and back to team ace. While last year saw him be incredibly consistent, this year was a year of very high highs and very low lows. The end result was a significantly higher ERA than his rookie campaign, but significant improvements in several other major statistical categories.
One thing I think can be very interesting when discussing baseball is figuring out what an “ace” is. Is it simply the best pitcher on each team, or is there some sort of statistical cutoff? If there is a cutoff, where does it lie? The top 50 starters in baseball? The top 10? Or maybe it’s the top 30 so that, theoretically, each team could have an ace, even if some teams often have more than one of them, leaving the others out to dry. This is an important question when discussing Noah Cameron because there has been and will continue to be heavy debate about exactly what kind of pitcher he is.
I think we can easily agree that he is a major-league quality starter. I think we can also agree he’s something more than a back-of-the-rotation starter, despite the seven-game stretch from mid-June to mid-July that saw him put up a 7.94 ERA. But that still leaves us wondering: Is he a very good three starter? A regular two starter? Or is he a borderline ace?
If we go by that 30 best starting pitchers cutoff point, then he might be an ace. He finished the season tied for the 28th-best fWAR in MLB (2.8) and had the 30th-best K-BB% (13.4%) among qualified starters. He does come in at 80th by bWAR (2.0), but I’ve never liked the way it measures pitchers in particular, which is why I only bring it out for special occasions. He was certainly the “ace” of the Royals staff, leading the team quite comfortably in the first two categories, though bWAR has Michael Wacha ahead of him, all the way in 15th place (4.3).
So, yeah, I think you could argue that he’s actually been a borderline ace this season. But, because I know this is what we all want to do, what if we just looked at his numbers since that game in Detroit when he started calling his own pitches? Then he’s tied for 19th in fWAR, he falls to 34th in K-BB%, and he’s up to 11th in ERA (I can’t get bWAR over spans in the same way, unfortunately). So the quick takeaway from all that is, if you think that stretch was good, his overall season was in a similar place.
It’s easy to remember the awful stretch he was having before he started calling his own pitches, but if you followed all the landmarks I laid above, there was a stretch before that that was pretty darn good, too. In fact, it was even better than the stretch that won him Pitcher of the Month for August, but somehow it flew under the radar. From May 10 through June 7, he had 6 starts with a 2.38 ERA, a 22.1 K-BB%, and a total of 35 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched. That ERA ranks 13th, and the K-BB% ranks 16th over that span. He was a bit overshadowed at the time because Jacob Misiorowski and Cristopher Sánchez appeared to be redefining what being a starting pitcher could look like at the same time; they both had sub-0.50 ERAs over that span.
I love the pitching infographics we can get from TJ Stats, so let’s put up Cameron’s for the full season here, just so we can visualize some things:
There is a scary amount of blue on this page, so I can understand if you’re still a bit leery of what Cameron could be next year. I do feel it necessary to highlight that the blue xwOBACons are all at the bottom with pitches he threw less often, so at least he generally knew which pitches he should be throwing more. Let’s take a look at the graphic from the change:
That’s a lot more orange. Smartly, he drastically decreased the four-seam usage, a change I was calling for even as he was struggling. The cutter became his primary fastball without gaining much usage, which is good, because even now while it does get soft contact, he can’t get guys to swing and miss at it. Fascinatingly, the slider usage got increased almost to the same degree the fastball usage dropped, and it started really performing for him instead of being one of his worst pitches. You can see he started throwing it perhaps a bit differently, getting more horizontal break and less vertical break. That makes it act a bit more like a sweeper than it had before.
His changeup still came in at third in usage, but he modified it to make it go more straight down, and that led to significantly more chase and whiffs. The curveball looks impressive when he throws it, but it’s clearly his steal-a-strike pitch, so keeping its usage low makes a lot of sense.
So what are the takeaways here? For the second year in a row, Noah pitched better than his stuff. But this time he did it with improved three-true-outcomes results over last year in the form of a better K-BB% and fewer home runs allowed. And that’s if we just take in the full season numbers!
He also showed us over two different stretches that he can be a truly dominant pitcher. At the end of last year, we could tell he was definitely a back-of-the-rotation guy, maybe more. At the end of this year, we can tell he’s definitely a mid-rotation guy, maybe more. Hopefully by this time next year, we’ll know he’s a bona fide workhorse ace – did I forget to mention he’s the only Royals starting pitcher to miss no more than a single game with an injury over the past two seasons?
He is never going to be a Justin Verlander or a Max Scherzer. But could I interest you in a left-handed Sandy Alcantara? I know you could interest me in that. Noah Cameron gets an A from me. What say you?
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 08: (L-R) General manager Sam Fuld, Trea Turner # 7, and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski of the Philadelphia Phillies speak to the media during their press conference at Citizens Bank Park on December 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning everyone!
The A’s are still on the search for their new GM 10 days into the offseason. We’ve heard of several candidates, mostly outside options but one internal candidate. Based off that alone one would assume that the next voice of the Athletics’ front office will be someone coming from a different organization, new name for fans to get to know.
Well we can add four new names to the list, including a former player that previous suited up in the Green & Gold. Sam Fuld, who played for the A’s from mid-2014 through 2015 to wrap up his playing career, is under consideration and a strong candidate to get the job. He’s been in the Phillies’ front office for most of the past decade. During that time he was the Philadelphia General Manager, although really second-in-command under President Dave Dombrowski. Getting the A’s job would be a lateral move in terms of title, but he’d be in full control of the team instead of reporting to someone higher up on the totem pole than him. Fuld has received interviews for other GM openings around the league before but this could finally be the time he’s offered the chance to lead a team.
Fuld wasn’t the only name reported today. In that same report linking Fuld to the A’s, Cubs assistant GM Jared Banner was also named as a strong contender for the job. Banner has been with Chicago for the past six years after starting his career with the Red Sox with a stop in the Mets’ organization along the way. Banner has experience in the player development department, which is where he spent the early parts of his career. He’s supposedly one of the biggest reasons the Cubs targeted star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong in trade talks with the Mets when they traded Javier Baez to New York. That’d indicate he knows a good ball player when he sees one.
Along with Fuld and Banner, there were two more names linked to the Athletics’ GM opening today. St. Louis assistant GM Rob Cerfolio has reportedly already interviewed for the job. Cerfolio spent the better part of a decade working in the Cleveland front office before joining the Cardinals as AGM in 2024, so he’s been with them during the entirety of their current rebuild. While he’d be an interesting candidate, he’s also a candidate to remain in place and get the GM gig for St. Louis, reporting only to President Chaim Bloom. That’s the expectation.
The fourth name added to the list of potential GM’s for the A’s was Brewers AGM Matt Klein. He’s been with the Brewers for his entire career, starting in 2007. He steadily rose the ranks from the scouting department to the AGM position in 2023, being Brewers President Matt Arnold’s #2 guy. Klein is a popular name for GM openings and he’s also reportedly under consideration for the Astros’ GM opening.
Fuld, Banner, Cerfolio and Klein join a list that already includes Billy Owens, Mike Rizzo, James Click, Mike Groopman and Taylor Smith. There’s likely at least one name, likely more, that hasn’t been reported yet but if one had to guess it’s likely going to be one of these guys to be the next leader of the Athletics as they head into their new home in Las Vegas.
It seems that the search is drawing to a close. Ken Rosenthal and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic report that the team is close to picking their guy, with the decision apparently coming before the end of the week. That’d give the new guy a chance to settle in and get to fill out the rest of his staff before the end of the playoffs and start of the offseason. There’ll be some major decisions the new GM will have to make, including whether or not he wants to retain manager Mark Kotsay. For what it’s worth Kotsay is signed through 2028 so financial obligations shouldn’t have a huge impact on that choice.
So who do you guys want the A’s to pick? Do you want the new GM to keep Kotsay? Discuss below!
Sam Fuld reminds me a lot of Craig Breslow. Some might hate that comp, some might like it. I’m somewhere in the middle. As long as it’s not an internal hire or Mike Rizzo I’ll be at least somewhat optimistic https://t.co/HFm5Ck0eeJ
The A’s would go on to finish the sweep in that series:
Milton Bradley launches a deep shot to center field for a 2 run home run to give the A’s a 4-0 lead in the 3rd inning as they look to sweep the Twins today! pic.twitter.com/bPO6AbffBA
The Cubs’ Opening Day starter this year was Matthew Boyd.
The rotation at that time consisted of Boyd, Cade Horton, Shōta Imanaga, Edward Cabrera and Jameson Taillon.
Those five pitchers combined for 86 starts. Only Boyd and Imanaga finished the season in the Cubs rotation and only Imanaga was not injured at some point during the season, making 32 starts and throwing 174.1 innings.
In those 86 starts, those five pitchers combined for a 4.46 ERA and 1.223 WHIP in 460.1 innings and allowed 91 home runs. Those numbers are bad, no question about it.
Oh, but wait, it gets worse. The other 74 starts for the Cubs this year were made by Colin Rea (19), David Peterson (15), Javier Assad (11), Kevin Gausman (9), Clay Holmes (9), Ben Brown (8), Ryan Rolison (2), Jordan Wicks (2) and Riley Martin (1). (The starts by Wicks were intended to be actual starts; the three by Rolison and Martin were as openers.)
In those 74 starts, those nine starters combined for a 4.06 ERA and 1.037 WHIP, with 51 home runs in 388.1 innings. That’s slightly better, but it’s still not good. Ben Brown’s eight very good starts are responsible for a lot of that.
And I haven’t even gotten to the relief pitchers yet, and they were almost as bad. Daniel Palencia, anointed closer in Spring Training, was injured and missed most of the year and posted only three saves. Jacob Webb, forced into a role he wasn’t used to, did well at it … until he didn’t and blew multiple saves by allowing walk-off home runs. He had only nine saves. That makes 2026 the first year since 1971 that the Cubs did not have a single pitcher with double digits in saves since the save rule became official in 1969. Phil Regan led the Cubs with six saves that year and the team had just 13, fewest in the major leagues.
All told, the Cubs pitching staff ranked 14th in team ERA, 18th in starter ERA, 23rd in saves (and had 28 blown saves), and second in home runs allowed with 231. Only the A’s, playing in a minor league park, allowed more (247). By comparison, the NL Central champion Brewers allowed 171 homers, 10th-fewest in MLB.
But this article isn’t about pitching.
It’s about Cubs manager Craig Counsell, as the headline states.
Counsell somehow managed that pitching staff into 89 wins and a wild card spot.
Yes, a large part of that was due to the Cubs offense, which produced one of the best hitting seasons in franchise history with 850 runs scored, a team-record 674 walks, 220 home runs (third-most in MLB) and scoring in double digits 21 times.
But it’s not all that. The Washington Nationals scored 821 runs, finishing third in MLB. Their pitching staff was a lot worse, allowing 815 runs, compared to the Cubs’ 703. In fact, the Cubs’ record based on runs scored and allowed was 95-67, six games better than they actually finished.
I give a great deal of credit here to Counsell, who was given the following relievers at various points of the season: Corbin Martin, Drew Pomeranz, Bryse Wilson, Vince Velasquez, Jayden Murray, Jake Woodford, Ty Blach, Charlie Barnes, Andrew Wantz, Yacksel Rios, Antoine Kelly and Luke Little.
Yikes. If anything screams out “waiver wire acquisitions,” that list does. We know that Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer took responsibility for that in his season-ending presser:
About the Cubs bullpen, Hoyer said: “I did a poor job on the bullpen this year, full stop.”
Counsell, meanwhile, I believe did a masterful job of mixing and matching while those sorts of people inhabited the Cubs bullpen. Without his leadership, maybe this team winds up near .500 and misses the postseason.
So that’s my position. I think Counsell has done an outstanding job managing the Cubs over the past three seasons and the failures this year aren’t his fault. If Hoyer does his job this offseason, I believe Counsell is the right manager to guide the Cubs for the next two seasons — the years left on his contract — and perhaps beyond.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 06: Enrique Hernández #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with Mookie Betts #50 after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning during Game Three of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
I don’t have a pithy Yankee-related preamble and you can’t make me have one. I hate baseball. But anyway, on to the rest of Wednesday’s playoff slate.
Thanos. Tom Brady’s Patriots (unless they were playing our savior Eli Manning). The Los Angeles Dodgers. Inevitable, all of them. Wednesday, the Dodgers took another step toward becoming the first MLB team to win three consecutive World Series since the Yankees did it from 1998-2000. The Braves won Game 1 in Los Angeles, stealing home field advantage. It availed them naught, as the Dodgers stormed back to win three in a row even with Shohei Ohtani hitting like an actual pitcher. Infuriating.
Elsewhere, Cleveland avoided elimination and prevented the White Sox from clinching a playoff series at home for the first time in well over a century. The Pope is probably not overly happy right now. And in San Diego, the Brewers vanquished the Padres to set up a heavyweight matchup between the NL’s preeminent titans. It feels like we’re all Brewers fans now.
Cleveland Guardians 9, Chicago White Sox 3 (Chicago leads the ALDS 2-1)
Cleveland acquired Jo Adell from the Angels on August 3rd for catching prospect Jacob Cozart. Down the stretch, Adell gave the Guards some thump at the dish, with a 108 OPS+ after the trade. Wednesday, he saved their season. Adell stepped to the plate in the top of the third in a 1-1 game with the bases loaded. His second triple in as many games cleared the bases and gave the Guardians a 4-1 lead.
Chicago had their chances to come back and clinch the series. In the home fifth, the Pale Hose put runners on second and third with one out, brining the tying run to the plate in what was a 5-2 game. Kyle Teel turned on a middle-middle fastball and hammered it back up the middle at 98-mph… right into the glove of Cleveland second baseman Travis Bazzana.
Chicago did manage to get within two, closing the gap to 5-3. But from there, Cleveland did what you are supposed to do with a lead late in the game — tack on. The Guards put up twin runs in the eighth and ninth innings, turning what was a close game into a comfortable win that pushes this series to a Game 4. The Guards have to feel pretty good about that considering they’re sending Parker Messick to the mound, with Gavin Williams looming for a potential Game 5.
Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Atlanta Braves 1 (Los Angeles wins the NLDS 3-1)
Tyler Mahle deserved better. Acquired from the Giants on August 2nd, Mahle was nails for Atlanta down the stretch. In nine starts, Mahle gave the Braves a 1.99 ERA while averaging six innings per outing and allowing less than a baserunner per inning (0.957 WHIP). Wednesday was more of the same. An unearned run marred his ledger in the second, but from there he valiantly stymied the Dodgers. Until the seventh inning.
It seems like it’s always bloody someone new with the Dodgers. This time, Andy Pages was the hero (culprit, bane of our existence, whatever you want to call him). With the bases loaded and two out, facing a full count, Pages drove a single back up the middle. Two runs scored. Suddenly, the Dodgers were counting outs.
Edwin Díaz, who was slightly more successful than I would be getting out major league hitters during the regular season, came in for the ninth after the Dodgers bullpen had delivered 3.1 scoreless innings in relief of Tyler Glasnow. Díaz effortlessly retired the Braves in order, notching his third scoreless outing of the series. If he’s on, it makes the Dodgers even more formidable. Not that they needed it.
Milwaukee Brewers 3, San Diego Padres 1 (Milwaukee wins the NLDS 3-1)
After the two clubs traded runs in the third inning, with the Brew Crew needing one win to advance to the NLCS, Milwaukee did work in the middle innings. First, Jackson Chourio added to his posteason legend in the fifth with a tie-breaking single to put the Brewers up 2-1. In the sixth, Sal Frelick tacked on a sacrifice fly to double the Brewers’ lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, San Diego (and everyone else) thought they’d tied the game. Future Hall of Famer Manny Machado came to the plate as the tying run, facing Abner Uribe. Machado turned around Uribe’s sinker, driving it to center field at 106.7-mph. But he didn’t quite drive it high enough. Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell elevated, and robbed Machado of a game-tying two-run home run. Playoff baseball, folks. There’s nothing like it.
Milwaukee wasn’t [redacted] around when crunch time hit, either. With Trevor Megill on the mound looking to close out the series, presumptive NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob Misiorowski warmed up in the bullpen just in case. The Miz was never needed, however. Megill shut the Dads down in order to lock down an NLCS rematch with the Dodgers. This series also gave us a bit of baseball history.
This Brewers/Padres NLDS is the second series of at least 3 games in postseason history where neither team led by more than 2 runs at any point, joining:
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 05: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout out before game two of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on October 05, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning friends! Three of the four Championship Series spots are filled following yesterday’s action. Let’s get you caught up on all of that and more on this Thursday.
Another year and another early playoff exit for the Yankees, who might have had a shot in yesterday’s 4-3 loss to the Rays if not for a critical fan interference call.
Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell earned his status as a playoff hero when he robbed Manny Machado of a game-tying homer, securing the 3-1 Milwaukee win to push them to the NLCS.
With their backs against the wall, the Guardians found their offensive rhythm to win 9-3 in Game 3 against the White Sox. Chicago still leads the series 2-1 as they head into a pivotal Game 4 tonight.
Former Mariner Jake Bauers strongly considered retiring before his breakout 2026 season. Curt Hogg at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the story on why he stayed and how he found the next gear.
