Ozzie Albies lined a fastball from Alex Vesia and pulled it deep to left field, where Teoscar Hernández attempted to jump for it at the wall, only to miss the ball and crash hard into the padding as Albies cruised to a leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth.
Ozzie Albies has leadoff double for the Braves in the 6th đź‘€
Hernández stayed down on the ground, taking a few extra moments to gather himself. Andy Pages came over to check on his teammate, and a Dodgers trainer followed soon after as Hernández stayed on the grass and grabbed at the left side of his head.
Teoscar Hernández is slow to get up after running into the wall trying to make a catch. pic.twitter.com/zo3dCsfi9d
He stayed in the game, at least for now, however, and was able to make the catch on a Drake Baldwin liner in the next at-bat. Albies was ultimately stranded on second after Lane Thomas grounded out to first and Mauricio Dubón lined out to Kyle Tucker in right field to keep it a 1-1 game heading into the seventh inning. Hernández made his next plate appearance and singled in the next frame.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 07: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians steals third base against the Chicago White Sox during the fifth inning 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
Just like we drew it up!
Ok, deep exhale Guardian fans! After an extremely disappointing first two games of the series, the Guardians go to Chicago, facing elimination, and take Game 3 over the White Sox by a score of 9-3. Cleveland would have more hits in game 3 (11) than they did the first two games combined (7), and the run total was more than three times as much (9-3). In this offensive explosion, Cleveland walloped 4(!) hits with runners in scoring position, their first 4 of the series. It wasn’t all easy today, as the White Sox were on Cleveland’s heels for 7 innings before the Guards pulled away late, but we saw the team that ran down the division, fighting and clawing and using their heads to scrape across everything they could rather than the team who looked like they never played baseball before, let alone any business winning the division.
There are a lot of Heroes of today’s game, and I’d like to highlight all of them considering it was their first playoff win (and a tough one at that, facing elimination) AND since this could be my last game recap for the year, and, maybe ever(?). Thanks to the impending lockout and the unfair governing fist that rules Covering The Corner, always trying to silence me and your favorite writers alike, to keep this town in the past where no one writes with flare or pizzaz and dancing is outlawed, well guess what Dad I just want to DANCE and I’m going to DANCE!!!… Ok that second one was just Footloose, I am actually quite fond of our CTC OverLords.
Anyway. The 5 Heroes that kept the Guardians alive for at least one more day…
5- Foster Griffin
Coming into the ALDS, we knew the Guardians would have one major pitching decision; Game 3. Because of all the days off, Cleveland would be able to pitch Messick and Williams, or Williams and Messick, in games 1 & 2 and then again in games 4 & 5 without having to battle short rest. So for the past month or so, the question was simple: who would pitch Game 3? The choice to many was clear: Joey Cantillo had been outstanding in his new found bulk Reliever role, throwing 15 scoreless innings in a row coming into the Playoffs. Now, to open the game, was a bit more of a mystery, as our darling Daniel Espino had been up and down in that role. But I saw the vision. Get 1-2 good innings from Espino, then roll with JC.
Well, Espino was all over the place. While he did have 2 strikeouts, he also had a 5 pitch walk and gave up 2 hits, allowing a run before being pulled for… Foster Griffin?
And Griffin was NASTY. Without the help of a high decibel level giving away his pitches, Foster was able to strikeout 7(!) in just 2.2 IP. We were desperate for a stabilizing presence to get us a few innings and he absolutely answered the bell.
4- Jo Adell
Speaking of Trade Deadline Acquisitions who would save our butts in the Playoffs, how about The Jo Show?! Jo would provide the only highlight from our lineup thru the first 2 games with a 108 MPH Rocket, 413 foot dead centerfield Triple (which on any summer night is out of the ballpark), and he continued that today with a Walk and 2 hits including a series rejuvenating bases clearing Triple to help Cleveland take an early 4-1 lead in the 3rd inning.
Obviously 3 runs on one swing is going to hype up any team, but boy did these guys need that. A huge sigh of relief came over the team even if there were 6+ innings to go.
3- Tim Herrin
OH HOW ABOUT BIG TIME TIMMY JIM?!
I have not been the biggest Herrin fan over the past few seasons, but he absolutely delivered today. After a very subpar Gaddis outing to finish the 6th, Cleveland only lead 5-3 going into the 7th. Herrin would come on and we needed a clean outing, knowing that we already burned most of the bullpen.
And Herrin delivered one of his best outings of the season, striking out the side on 18 pitches. He was absolutely nasty and made Murakami, Teel and Meidrith look like the White Sox of old and not the White Sox looking to go to the ALCS.
Of all the things that has hurt this team this season, one has been missing that has been undeniable. And that’s classic Jose.
His struggles this year have been well documented. Slow start, hammate bone broken, comes back struggling, playing thru an injury like a Warrior. I especially loved hearing Talking Heads who never talk baseball finally give this team some attention by saying he shouldn’t be playing. But guess what- sitting him isn’t the answer, because it’s admitting our Leader can’t cut it. We have to ride it out with him and give him the chance to rally the troops.
Today, he did just that.
Jose put together 3 huge highlights today, showing all the facets of his game. The first was in the 5th inning with a sharp double he ripped down the line, following it up by stealing 3rd and then somehow, someway, with the infield in and a hot hard-hit groundball right to the defender and a decent throw home, he STILL scores. I know Jo Adell brought in 3 runs, but Jose showing the team he alone can add insurance runs with hustle and determination? THAT is what kept this team alive.
His second highlight came from his defense, when in the bottom of the 6th and Hunter Gaddis unraveling, he dove to his left and caught/dropped a liner, spun around and threw out Miguel Vargas with the bases loaded and no one out, keeping the lead.
And then finally, with the game still up in the air and two outs in the 8th, he tripled in 2 runs and gave us some very necessary and anxiety inducing breathing room.
He might not be 100% healthy, but the GOAT was back tonight and it may just be enough to give this team the wake up call they need.
1- Cade Smith
I mean, do I really have to say it? Facing elimination we all knew he was throwing AT LEAST the 8th and 9th innings and possibly more. After a clean 7th from Herrin and some insurance runs from Jose in the Top half of the 8th, Cade stepped in with an 8 pitch 8th, striking out 2, and then striking out the side in the 9th, putting this game on ice and taking Game 3.
Game 4 will be Thursday with the Time still TBD based on Rays/Yankees Game 3. Parker Messick will start for Cleveland and I’m sure Chicago will be throwing the kitchen sink yet again. Buckle up Guards fans, it’s gonna be another stressful commute home!!!
While Edwin Diaz’s debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t get off to the start that both sides would have liked, getting the save on Tuesday night had to have felt good.
“I haven’t had the chance to play with too many Puerto Rican guys… there’s so few of us in the league. I’ve known Sugar since before he got drafted.”
“This year, it was a very difficult year,” Hernández said. “It’s very easy to put the year aside, and he worked his a— off to get to this point.”
His save came after Los Angeles only had one inning of run support when Hernández and his regular postseason hero teammate, Freddie Freeman, both homered in the third.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Edwin Diaz collects his first save since August in Game 3 of the NLDS. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
Los Angeles held on to the lead for the rest of the night, and Diaz was assigned to closing duties.
At first, things didn’t get off to a great start, as he gave up a leadoff double to Ozzie Albies. But then, he settled in and got the next three batters to hit out.
For Diaz, it was his first save since August.
During the offseason, Diaz signed a three-year $69 million deal with the Dodgers to become the anchor of the bullpen.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman and Edwin Diaz walking off the field following Game 3 of the NLDS. Getty Images
Since then, it hasn’t gone as they had both hoped, as Diaz has struggled to stay healthy and finished the regular season with an 8.68 ERA, converting seven of eleven save opportunities.
After his most recent injury stint concluded between August and September, Diaz adjusted his pitching mechanics — resulting in him making five appearances out of the bullpen, giving up only one hit, zero runs, and striking out nine batters.
“For him, it was one slight mechanical adjustment that he needed to do, that he didn’t realize,” Hernández said.
Top Prospect Kayson Cunningham was the best shortstop in the Dbacks farm system in 2026
Introduction
In my last article, we took a look through the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system to find the starting pitcher, catcher, first, and third basemen with the best season in 2026. Since there was a little confusion, I thought i’d provide some clarification about the qualifications. All we’re looking at is who had the most productive seasons, using wRC+, as it’s one of the few adjusted stats for minor league hitters. If you’d like to take a look yourself at the Minor League Leaderboards, you can find a link here, which I have set to show only players in the Diamondbacks organization.
Shortstop
Kayson Cunningham, the D-backs top pick and #18th overall in the 2025 draft, had a disappointing 11 game cup of coffee, but he had a much better 2026 starting with monstrous first half for the Visalia Rawhide. In 43 games for the Low-A affiliate, he hit .381/.471/.506 with a .451 wOBA and 156 wRC+. While he wasn’t quite as good after his promotion to High-A Hillsboro, he made enough adjustments to be a league average, while also stealing twice as many bases in just 20 more games. In 63 games, he’d hit .252/.360/.391 with a .347 wOBA and a 100 wRC+. In the 106 games games Cunningham played in overall between Visalia and Hillsboro, he put up a triple slash line of .307/.407/.440 with .391 wOBA 124 wRC+ with 30 SB (while only getting caught stealing 6 times). I would expect the Diamondbacks to start Cunningham in AA if they’re going to be aggressive with his development. Alternatively, I could see him repeating High-A and spending the first month or two Hillsboro before being moved up to AA. Most of the players mentioned here could be starters at second except Cunningham, who for some reason is listed as a second baseman on Fangraphs despite having NEVER played there as a pro.
There are a few other players that are honorable mentions. Carson Kerce had a solid debut after being drafted earlier this summer, albeit just a very small sample size. In 25 games in Low-A Visalia Kerce hit .295/.417/.421 with a .396 wOBA and a 124 wRC+. As an 18 year old in the Dominican Summer League, Alam Bruno gets an hononorable mention, despite hitting .270/.430/.409 with a 110 WRC+ in 35 games split between the two DSL teams. Leonardo Sevilla is another teenage prospect in the DSL who had a promising 2026 season. The 18 year old switching middle infielder hit .293/.435/395 with a 106 wRC+ in 51 games in his debut season.
Second base
As I pointed out in the first article in this series, one could easily have Danny Serretti as the starting second baseman, but instead I put him at third base. He was very good at both second and third base, but his likely future is as an utility player/emergency call up, at best. Instead we have a couple different options at second.
Native Arizonan Demetrio Crisantes started the year on the IL and only made his season debut with Amarillo at the end of May after making a rehab assignment with the ACL Dbacks and then the Hillsboro Hops. In Amarillo he’d play 35 games, putting up 130 wRC+ with a triple slash line of 319/.413/.548 and a .422 wOBA. He showed strong bat to ball skills and even hit for the cycle. His promotion to Reno showed the first real challenge of his professional career, leading to him hitting just .278 .343 .412 .with 343 wOBA and an 82 wRC+. He was especially bad immediately after the promotion, I’d guess his even worse .284 xwOBA is a reflection of that. Given the injury shortened season, it’s no surprise the Diamondbacks sent Crisantes to the Arizona Fall League. He’s currently playing for the Salt River Rafters, where he has an OPS over 1.200 at the time of writing, although with a caveat of being a tiny sample size. With a continued strong showing in the Fall League, I suspect rumors will ensue, considering past drama surrounding the man currently manning the second base position, Ketel Marte. Sidenote: Both Cunningham and Crisantes were born in Tucson, so there’s a possible future with both middle infielders being born in Southern Arizona.
Alternatively, we have JD Dix. Dix wasn’t quite as good as Crisantes in the first half, but the drop off in the second half wasn’t nearly as severe. In 48 games with the Low-A level Visalia Rawhide, Dix hit .253/378/468 with a .382 wOBA and a 115 wRC+, while showcasing his interesting power/speed combo by swatting nine homers and a pair of triples, while swiping 19 bases in 20 attempts. Dix played in 57 games with the High-A Hillsboro Hops, putting up a .251/.331/.372 with a .324 wOBA and an 85 wRC+. His power dipped, with only three homers leaving the yard, though he managed to triple three more times. He wasn’t quite the burner on the base paths, stealing 17 bases successfully in 21 attempts.
Outfield
This is going to be a tough nut to crack, as the D-backs are largely devoid of outfield depth at the moment. It would be a little easier if Ryan Waldschmidt and Tommy Troy hadn’t made their MLB debuts in 2026, as both had above-average outputs while in AAA.
Troy did put up a .312/412/.466 triple slash with a .401 wOBA and 118 wRC+ in 38 games, while Waldschmidt put up just as respectable .288/.405/.492 triple slash, with a .404 wOBA and a 120 wRC+ in 51 games. Since this series of article is deliberately excluding any players with ANY MLB service time accrued, they didn’t make that cut, but I thought their 2026 seasons were promising and worth a mention, even if the results were frustrating at times when they were at the MLB level.
Two out of three of the best outfield seasons were in the Dominican Summer League, and only one qualified hitter in the upper levels of the minor leagues with a positive wRC+. Before I get into those players, there is an honorable mention.
Avery Owusu-Asiedu had an awful run in High-A Hillsboro, but completely turned his season around once he was promoted to Double-A Amarillo. In 92 games with the Hillsboro Hops, Owusu-Asiedu hit just .202/.289/.369 with an anemic .298 wOBA and a 69 wRC+. If we were just looking at his time in the Northwestern League, he might actually be dishonorable mention, but that’s not the case. In 30 games in Amarillo, Owusu-Asiedu hit 14 homers compared to the 13 he hit in a third of the plate appearances. That surge in power gave him a triple slash line of .328/.423/.776 with a .488 wOBA and a 171 wRC+. This wasn’t just a park factor based breakout as Owusu-Asiedu looked completely different at the plate. His numbers combined on the season are almost respectable as a result, .236/.327/.479 with a .352 wOBA and a 98 wRC+, which is massive turnaround considering how bad he’d been in Hillsboro. Owusu-Asiedu is an above average fielder with a cannon for an arm. If he can hit like he has down the stretch, the D-backs might have an actual prospect here.
Our first real All-Star outfielder is 17 year old Joscar Hernandez, who in 49 games in the Dominican Summer League hit 283/465/449 with a .465 wOBA and a 137 wRC+. Hernandez was an absolute burner on the bases, swiping 31 bases successfully in 37 attempts. He also showed solid plate disciple, striking out 18.8% of the time while walking 17% of the time.
Our second outfielder, Jeremy Suriel, was also a 17 year old in the DSL. In 54 games he hit .277/.402/.474 with a .423 wOBA with a 104 wRC+. Suriel was just as much of a burner on the basepaths, swiping 26 bases successfully in 28 attempts, in addition to swatting four triples. That’s a full season pace of 12 triples, borderline Corbin Carroll-esque. While he didn’t walk quite as much Hernandez, Surriel did walk (14.7%) more than he struck out (13.3%)
Our final outfielder is 24 year old and Trent Youngblood, the Dbacks’ 10th rounder in the 2024 draft. Youngblood started his season in High A Hillsboro, playing in 72 games and putting up .289/.408/.397 with a .378 wOBA and a 120 wRC+. Youngblood hit only a meager five homeruns in the pitching friendly NWL, but he was another burner on the bases, swiping 24 bases in 32 attempts. He showed solid plate discipline as well, walking in 14.2% of plate appearances, while striking out only 16.9%, in addition to getting plunked at a decent rate that further boosted his OBP. Youngblood was then promoted to Double-A Amarillo for 43 games, where he hit .290/.410/.463 with a .398 wOBA and a 115 wRC+. To no one’s surprise, his power surged while in Amarillo, as he swatted the same amount of home runs (5) in 29 fewer games, but he also tripled his triples total (3 vs 1), while swapping five more bases without getting caught. Youngblood finished his regular season with a six game cup of coffee with the Triple A level Reno Aces, which did not go particularly well (4 for 23 with a double & a triple). For his season total, in 121 games, Youngblood put up a triple slash of .285/.402/.419 with a .381 wOBA and a 114 wRC+. After finishing the regular season, Youngblood rejoined his Sod Poodles teammate Owusu-Asiedu for the postseason, and both contributed to Amarillo’s Texas League championship run.
Conclusion
Next week we’re going to look at the best relief pitchers, the best designated hitter in the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system, and we’ll discuss some players who didn’t make the cut. That’s it for today! Do you disagree with my choices? Should Waldy and Tommy Troy have been starters? Do you think some other prospects I didn’t talk about are more deserving? Let me know in the comments!
Providing a spark: Tristan Peters hit a clutch RBI double in the fourth inning to claw into Cleveland’s lead. | Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Sooner or later, one of these kinds of games was bound to happen. Things had been going very smoothly for the White Sox (84-78), who had only allowed nine runs in four games this postseason. However, the Guardians (85-77) remained alive in the ALDS, winning by a score of 9-3. The White Sox still lead the best-of-five series, but the lead is less secure at 2-1.
Right-handed pitcher Daniel Espino opened the game for the Guardians, and the White Sox did not make it easy on him. Sam Antonacci led off the bottom of the first with a walk, and after a sharp liner by Miguel Vargas that landed in left for a single, the White Sox were in business. Munetaka Murakami struck out swinging, but Kyle Teel had no intention of letting the White Sox walk away empty-handed. Teel crushed a liner down the right field line, allowing Antonacci to score the game’s first run. Vargas advanced to third, and the White Sox still only had one out with a pair in scoring position. Espino calmed down and struck out Chase Meidroth swinging for an impactful out No. 2. After that strikeout, left-handed pitcher Foster Griffin took over on the mound for an early pitching change, as the Guardians wanted a lefty to face Tristan Peters. That move paid off, as Peters struck out swinging, and the score remained 1-0.
In the second inning, Jo Adell led off with a slow roller between first and second. Adell used his speed to leg out an infield single. That set the stage for Nathaniel Lowe, who hit a sharp liner to third. That line drive had a 104.6 mph exit velocity and a .640 xBA, but it did not matter. Vargas made the catch, and he quickly fired over to first to double off Adell, who had ventured too far off the bag.
After the White Sox went down quietly in the bottom of the second, Bryan Hudson took over after two excellent innings from opener Sean Newcomb. Hudson’s outing did not go as smoothly, issuing a leadoff walk to the speedy Travis Bazzana, and on top of that, Kyle Teel made an unsuccessful ABS challenge. Next up was Patrick Bailey, who hit a liner toward shortstop that would often find grass for a single. This time, however, Colson Montgomery made a leaping catch, timing his jump nicely for the inning’s first out. However, once again, Teel blew a challenge, as he came down to earth after a great start challenging pitches this postseason. Suddenly, the White Sox were out of ABS challenges in the third. In addition, Brayan Rocchio singled to right, putting runners on first and second with one out. From there, Kwan picked up Cleveland’s first hit of the series with runners in scoring position. Bazzana scored the tying run, and that single prompted a pitching change, as Hagen Smith took over with one out and runners on first and second.
The batter was RamĂrez, and Smith missed the zone with four of his first five pitches to load the bases. Smith recovered and forced a soft grounder to first that Murakami threw home to get the force out. Just like that, there were two outs, and although the bases were still loaded, the end of the long inning was near. If Smith could retire Adell, the White Sox would salvage the inning and preserve the tie. However, although White Sox pitchers have been terrific in high-leverage situations this postseason, this time, it was not meant to be. Adell hit a sharp grounder to the opposite field that was away from the White Sox defense. Adell’s grounder was just fair down the right field line, and it cleared the bases for a three-run triple. Just like that, Cleveland had a 4-1 lead.
Chase Meidroth led off with a double down the left field line, just past the outstretched glove of RamĂrez, who nearly got there. That set the table for Tristan Peters, who had an interesting at-bat. At first, it seemed he was hit by a pitch, but upon review, the call was correctly overturned to a foul ball after a Cleveland challenge. At that point, the White Sox made a questionable decision to challenge, claiming it was catcher’s interference (it most certainly was not). Despite the unsuccessful challenge, Peters delivered with a double of his own to cut the deficit to two. With the score then 4-2, the White Sox still had a runner on second with no outs. However, they were unable to cut further into the deficit that inning.
The Guardians went back to work in the top of the fifth against Noah Schultz. With one out, RamĂrez sliced a double down the left field line. RamĂrez proceeded to use his wheels to swipe third, so the Guardians had a runner on third with one out. DeLauter stepped up to the plate, and he hit a grounder that appeared to be favorable to the White Sox. Meidroth gathered it quickly and threw home, trying to retire RamĂrez, who was dashing for the plate. However, RamĂrez made an excellent jump that allowed him to beat the throw, and Cleveland was back ahead by three.
The White Sox got off to a good start in the bottom of the fifth against reliever Joey Cantillo. With the top of the order due up, Antonacci singled, and Vargas drew a four-pitch walk to put two on with no outs. Murakami, representing the game’s potential tying run, hit a soft grounder to second. Bazzana’s only play was to first, and Murakami was retired, but the White Sox had two in scoring position with only one out. That brought up Teel, who was looking to add to his RBI total. For a split second, it appeared he would do just that, as he hit a sharp liner. However, Teel was unlucky, as Bazzana was in the right place at the right time. Bazzana made the catch, and Vargas wandered too far from second base, so he was doubled off to end the scoring threat. What a missed opportunity.
With the score still 5-2, the Guardians had a runner on second with two outs against Schultz, and Kwan was at the plate. Kwan hit a grounder that Murakami fielded, and a footrace between Schultz and Kwan was underway. Schultz won that race by a small fraction of a second, which appeared to save a run, as Bailey was flying down the third base line on his way home.
After Cantillo retired the first two batters in the bottom of the sixth, it appeared to be a quiet inning for the South Siders. However, Cantillo issued a walk to Braden Montgomery, and that free pass resulted in a pitching change. Right-handed reliever Hunter Gaddis took over to face Grichuk, but that move did not pay off, as Grichuk hit a sharp liner for a single. That base hit kept the inning alive for Colson Montgomery, who was hit by a pitch in the foot to load the bases. Next up to the plate was Antonacci, who was also remarkably hit in the foot for his second HBP of the night. This one forced in a run to trim the deficit to two.
Suddenly, after the White Sox had nobody on base with two outs, Vargas stepped up to the plate in a high-leverage spot against Gaddis. Vargas hit a liner that appeared to be trouble, but RamĂrez was there to make a play. At first, RamĂrez appeared to make a sliding catch to end the inning, so Vargas briefly relaxed until he saw the ball squirt loose. RamĂrez made the throw to first in time to retire Vargas and end the inning. It is unclear whether Vargas would have legged out an infield single if not for the brief slowdown, but regardless, the inning was over, and the score was 5-3, Cleveland.
Reliever Tyler Davis took over for the White Sox in the top of the seventh and delivered a scoreless inning. At the seventh inning stretch, the White Sox trailed by two, still needing some offense. The South Siders were unable to get anything going against Indiana Hoosier Tim Herrin, who struck out the side in order in the bottom of the seventh.
Reliever David Sandlin took over for the White Sox in the eighth, and in that inning, the Guardians managed to take firm control. After a leadoff walk by Bazzana and a single by Bailey, Rocchio laid down a sacrifice bunt to put two in scoring position with one out. Sandlin got Kwan to fly out harmlessly to shallow left, but RamĂrez hit a fly ball to medium-deep left. Grichuk started quite far from the left field line, which made a catch very difficult. Grichuk made a good attempt, but ultimately, the fly ball by RamĂrez was just too far for Grichuk to track down. That ball only had an 82.8 mph exit velocity and a 37-degree launch angle for a .010 xBA, but it was placed in a very tough spot for Grichuk, and RamĂrez ended up at third with a two-run triple.
The Guardians picked up two in garbage time against Davis Martin in the ninth to pull away. Meanwhile, Cleveland reliever Cade Smith locked down the game by retiring all six batters he faced to seal the deal.
The White Sox will be back in action on Thursday. Once again, they will be at home, and they will have another chance to finish off the Guardians. If the Rays finish a sweep of the Yankees tonight, Game 4 in Chicago will push back to 7 p.m. CT. Once again, TBS/HBO Max and TruTV will televise that matchup, and WMVP 1000 AM will have the radio coverage. We will see you then.
Victor Mesa Jr. hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer off Max Fried in the sixth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 4-3 on Wednesday night with the help of a fan interference call for a three-game sweep of their AL Division Series.
Ryan Vilade also homered for the Rays, who reached the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2020 and host the Chicago White Sox or Cleveland Guardians in the opener on Monday.
“You always want to play well on the biggest stage, right? And you’re not going to get a bigger stage than playing against the Yankees in Yankee Stadium,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “I don’t think we’re out to prove anybody wrong. We’re out to just continue doing what we’ve done well.”
After Mesa’s homer gave the Rays a 4-2 lead, Anthony Volpe appeared to hit a two-run shot against Griffin Jax with two outs in the bottom half as a fan reached over the left-field wall and caught the ball over the glove of a leaping Mesa.
A video review determined the ball would not have been over the wall and would not have been caught by Mesa. Volpe was awarded an RBI double and George Lombard Jr. was allowed to score from first base. Jax recovered to strike out Spencer Jones.
“I might have even been able to get to that ball,” Mesa said in Spanish. “I think they could have even called an out.”
Baseball’s embrace of video technology was key to the inning.
Lombard reached with a one-out walk when a 3-1 pitch called a strike by plate umpire Dan Bellino was ruled inside on an ABS challenge. Austin Wells then walked on full-count changeup but an ABS challenge by Rays catcher Liam Hicks ruled the pitch caught the inside corner for a strikeout, bringing up Volpe.
Quite a change from 1996, when umpires did not have replays to assist and Derek Jeter’s homer for the Yankees helped turn around the ALCS opener despite young fan Jeffrey Meier reaching over the right-field wall where Baltimore’s Tony Tarasco was set to catch the ball. MLB began using video for home run calls in 2008 and allowed challenges to ball/strike decisions starting this year.
Ian Seymour pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, Kevin Kelly struck out pinch-hitter Giancarlo Stanton to strand a runner in the eighth and Bryan Baker pitched the ninth for his third save of the series.
Seeking its first World Series title, Tampa Bay celebrated on the field of the big-spending Yankees for the second time in two weeks after clinching the AL East on Sept. 22. New York opened the season with MLB’s third-highest payroll at $303 million while the Rays were 26th at $91 million.
Swept in a best-of-five postseason matchup for the first time since the 1980 ALCS against Kansas City, the Yankees ended their 17th straight season without a World Series crown. That equaled their longest drought since winning their first championship in 1923, a gap between titles in 1978 and ’96.
“The ending is terrible,” manager Aaron Boone said. “It’s a broken clubhouse.”
Yankees captain Aaron Judge missed the postseason after straining a calf on Sept. 16. The three-time AL MVP played just seven games after May 31 because of a fractured rib and the leg injury, an absence the team couldn’t overcome.
New York batted .130 in the series and was outscored 10-5.
After sweeping Boston in the Wild Card Series, New York never led against the Rays and has not advanced past a higher-seeded team in the postseason since 2020.
Jonathan Aranda put the Rays ahead with an RBI single in the third and Ben Rice tied the score against Nick Martinez with a single in the bottom half, his eighth RBI of the postseason.
Vilade, a 27-year-old getting extensive big league playing time this year with his sixth major league organization, hit an opposite-field, 340-foot drive into the right-field short porch in the fourth. The ball, just over the glove of a jumping Jones, would not have been out of any other big league ballpark.
Volpe, starting at second base in place of Jazz Chisholm Jr., hit a 96.6 mph liner off Martinez’s back with two outs in the fourth for an infield single, and Seymour relieved. Jones’ opposite-field double landed beyond Mesa, driving in Volpe.
Junior Caminero singled in the sixth and Mesa sent a sweeper deep into the right-field seats to chase Fried.
It was the first home run he allowed to a left-handed hitter since August 2025.
Up next
Tampa Bay gets four days off and will have played just three games in 14 days before starting the ALCS.
Victor Mesa Jr. hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer off Max Fried in the sixth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 4-3 on Wednesday night with the help of a fan interference call for a three-game sweep of their AL Division Series.
Ryan Vilade also homered for the Rays, who reached the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2020 and host the Chicago White Sox or Cleveland Guardians in the opener on Monday.
“You always want to play well on the biggest stage, right? And you’re not going to get a bigger stage than playing against the Yankees in Yankee Stadium,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “I don’t think we’re out to prove anybody wrong. We’re out to just continue doing what we’ve done well.”
After Mesa’s homer gave the Rays a 4-2 lead, Anthony Volpe appeared to hit a two-run shot against Griffin Jax with two outs in the bottom half as a fan reached over the left-field wall and caught the ball over the glove of a leaping Mesa.
A video review determined the ball would not have been over the wall and would not have been caught by Mesa. Volpe was awarded an RBI double and George Lombard Jr. was allowed to score from first base. Jax recovered to strike out Spencer Jones.
“I might have even been able to get to that ball,” Mesa said in Spanish. “I think they could have even called an out.”
Baseball’s embrace of video technology was key to the inning.
Lombard reached with a one-out walk when a 3-1 pitch called a strike by plate umpire Dan Bellino was ruled inside on an ABS challenge. Austin Wells then walked on full-count changeup but an ABS challenge by Rays catcher Liam Hicks ruled the pitch caught the inside corner for a strikeout, bringing up Volpe.
Quite a change from 1996, when umpires did not have replays to assist and Derek Jeter’s homer for the Yankees helped turn around the ALCS opener despite young fan Jeffrey Meier reaching over the right-field wall where Baltimore’s Tony Tarasco was set to catch the ball. MLB began using video for home run calls in 2008 and allowed challenges to ball/strike decisions starting this year.
Ian Seymour pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, Kevin Kelly struck out pinch-hitter Giancarlo Stanton to strand a runner in the eighth and Bryan Baker pitched the ninth for his third save of the series.
Seeking its first World Series title, Tampa Bay celebrated on the field of the big-spending Yankees for the second time in two weeks after clinching the AL East on Sept. 22. New York opened the season with MLB’s third-highest payroll at $303 million while the Rays were 26th at $91 million.
Swept in a best-of-five postseason matchup for the first time since the 1980 ALCS against Kansas City, the Yankees ended their 17th straight season without a World Series crown. That equaled their longest drought since winning their first championship in 1923, a gap between titles in 1978 and ’96.
“The ending is terrible,” manager Aaron Boone said. “It’s a broken clubhouse.”
Yankees captain Aaron Judge missed the postseason after straining a calf on Sept. 16. The three-time AL MVP played just seven games after May 31 because of a fractured rib and the leg injury, an absence the team couldn’t overcome.
New York batted .130 in the series and was outscored 10-5.
After sweeping Boston in the Wild Card Series, New York never led against the Rays and has not advanced past a higher-seeded team in the postseason since 2020.
Jonathan Aranda put the Rays ahead with an RBI single in the third and Ben Rice tied the score against Nick Martinez with a single in the bottom half, his eighth RBI of the postseason.
Vilade, a 27-year-old getting extensive big league playing time this year with his sixth major league organization, hit an opposite-field, 340-foot drive into the right-field short porch in the fourth. The ball, just over the glove of a jumping Jones, would not have been out of any other big league ballpark.
Volpe, starting at second base in place of Jazz Chisholm Jr., hit a 96.6 mph liner off Martinez’s back with two outs in the fourth for an infield single, and Seymour relieved. Jones’ opposite-field double landed beyond Mesa, driving in Volpe.
Junior Caminero singled in the sixth and Mesa sent a sweeper deep into the right-field seats to chase Fried.
It was the first home run he allowed to a left-handed hitter since August 2025.
Up next
Tampa Bay gets four days off and will have played just three games in 14 days before starting the ALCS.
With the Yankees down 0-2 to the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS, and as the series shifts to The Bronx, manager Aaron Boone made some changes to the lineup ahead of Wednesday’s Game 3 as he and the Yanks look to stave off elimination.
Facing RHP Nick Martinez, righty Anthony Volpe (batting seventh) is getting the start at second base over lefty Jazz Chisholm Jr., while righty Jose Caballero (batting ninth) is at third base over lefty Ryan McMahon.
For what it’s worth, Martinez does have reverse splits this year as right-handed hitters are hitting .261 against him compared to .236 versus left-handed hitters. However, other than Volpe and Caballero, George Lombard Jr. is the only other right-handed hitter in the lineup.
“Two guys that have been an important part of our team this year that have played important roles, that have played a lot for us and [I have] a lot of confidence in what they bring to the table,” Boone said about Volpe and Caballero. “Just kinda felt like, thinking about it on the plane ride home, made my decision there and then just stewed through the lineup yesterday and ultimately excited to get those guys in and hopefully be a little spark for us.”
New York’s offense struggled mightily in two games at Tropicana Field, scoring just two total runs on five hits. In fact, aside from Ben Rice, who had two solo shots in Game 2, the Yankees’ offense has been a disaster after they scored 18 runs in two games against the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card Series. Both of those games came at Yankee Stadium.
Back at home again, New York is hoping that being in front of its fans and the tweaks to the starting nine can be enough to keep its season alive. Either way, Boone believes in his offense, which finished the regular season tied for second in the American League in runs scored with 739.
“It’s two games. Obviously we’re gonna have to swing the bat better if we’re gonna keep this series going, but I feel like [Cody Bellinger] has had some good at-bats and I feel like there’s a number of guys more than capable of getting it going and certainly we gotta do some of that tonight,” the skipper said.
And while Chisholm and McMahon aren’t in the starting lineup, Boone said that doesn’t preclude them from potentially having an impact on the game. The skipper also added that Chisholm, who had 19 home runs this season, is “ready to go” off the bench.
“As I talked to these guys before the series, it’s gonna take all of us and Jazz might be the most important guy on the field tonight,” Boone said. “Just because you’re not in the starting lineup doesn’t mean you’re not gonna be the central figure.”
As for Volpe, this will be his second start of the postseason after going 1-for-3 in Game 1 against the Red Sox. In 78 career at-bats in the playoffs, Volpe is hitting .256 and after a whirlwind of a regular season, he finished it strong by hitting .265 in 49 at-bats in September.
“I think Anthony’s played well since coming up at the end of the year – both sides of the ball he’s done a good job,” Boone said. “So it felt like it made some sense to get him in there tonight.”
Meanwhile, Caballero doesn’t have the postseason experience that Volpe and some other Yankees on the roster do (one hit in four career at-bats), but what he lacks in experience, he makes up for in confidence.
“One thing I always say about Jose, he plays the game with a ton of confidence,” Boone said. “… He’s played a big role for us all season – actually going back to when we got him at the deadline last year. He’s an important part of this team, but I know one thing, he’ll walk out there with a lot of confidence tonight and hopefully that serves him and us well in pushing this to tomorrow.”
The last change that Boone made to the lineup was moving Trent Grisham up to the leadoff spot where Rice had been over the last three games (Paul Goldschmidt hit leadoff in Game 1 against Boston).
Grisham, who had been batting seventh in his three prior postseason starts, has hit leadoff for the Yankees in 81 games this season where he slashed .199/.303/.378. Nevertheless, he has the most experience batting first than anywhere else in the lineup throughout his career and it moves the red-hot Rice to second in the order, followed by Luis Garcia Jr. and Bellinger.
“Just the potential of the on-base there and trying to get traffic created for Benny and Garcia and Belly there,” Boone said about his reasoning for the switch. “[I] considered a lot of different ways. When Trent’s at his best, obviously he’s got that ability to get on.”
Game 4 of the NLDS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves is already off to a frantic start, which might be expected when a team is facing elimination. After Michael Harris II did it all in the bottom of the first and scored from third on a heads-up read of a curveball in the dirt from Tyler Glasnow, it was Shohei Ohtani's turn to make his impact in the next frame.
Ohtani, batting fourth after struggling to a 2-for-10 start to the postseason, didn't swing his bat once and worked a leadoff walk on five pitches from Tyler Mahle. He stole second as Teoscar Hernández struck out swinging in the next at-bat and took third after Braves catcher Sean Murphy airmailed the throw into right field.
That was the easy part.
The Dodgers have yet to get a hit with runners in scoring position all series, a trend that continued when Max Muncy got under a splitter away from the plate and popped it up to shallow left field. Braves shortstop Mauricio DubĂłn drifted out to get in position for the catch with left fielder Mike Yastrzemski also in the vicinity, but the utilityman overplayed it and dropped the ball as he tried to shift back towards his left, giving Ohtani enough time to score easily from third to tie the game back up at 1-1 in the top of the second.
Oh my! Mauricio DubĂłn couldn't make the catch and this game is tied!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: Spencer Jones #78 of the New York Yankees runs the bases during the second inning of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on September 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It all comes down to Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium as the Yankees look to avoid a sweep and elimination in Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the Rays.
Despite coming off an electric offensive explosion in the Wild Card Series, the Yankees offense has been unable to produce against Tampa Bay’s pitching staff, putting the Pinstripes in a two-game deficit in the ALDS. However, there is a lot to expect from Ben Rice, who has stepped up as a leader for this team in Aaron Judge’s absence. He’s gone 7-for-15 this postseason and is the first player in franchise history to have more than one multiple-home-run game under his belt in a single playoff year.
Max Fried will look to secure his second win this postseason as he prepares to face a gritty Rays lineup that’s carved through the Yankees’ rotation over the last few days. Rumors were circulating earlier this week that he may not start in Game 3 because his girlfriend is due to give birth any day now, but he met with the media on Tuesday to confirm that he’ll take the ball.
Fried got through six innings against the Red Sox, striking out six with three hits and one run allowed in the Wild Card Series. He’ll look to deny the Rays’ offense any opportunity to gain an edge, with the support of the Bronx crowd, and allow the Yankees offense the chance to explode.
Nick Martinez will make his first career postseason start against the Yankees. His last playoff appearance was with the Reds in Game 2 of the 2025 NL Wild Card Series, where he gave up four runs in the sixth inning to put the Dodgers ahead 7-2. Although his numbers have improved since joining Tampa Bay and he finished the regular season with a 3.10 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, the Yankees will have no trouble giving him a tough battle if he pitches like he did last October.
The Rays’ lineup remains consistent with Yandy DĂaz in the leadoff spot, followed by Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero. Tampa Bay has struggled as a whole against lefties in 2026, so the optimists can turn to that with Fried on the bump.
It’ll surely be a long night of bracing for the worst and hoping for the best as the Yankees strive to keep the chase for 28 ongoing.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: William Contreras #24 and Cooper Pratt #12 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after Contreras scored a run in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres in game three of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on October 06, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Despite playing a close game last night, the Brewers couldn’t finish the sweep and dropped their first game of the NLDS. They still have two chances to close it out, one on the road and one at home. Tonight, the Brewers will send Robert Gasser to the mound as they go for the win to advance to the NLCS, while the Padres will send Walker Buehler to stave off elimination.
It’s been rough on the road for the Brewers in the postseason. Going back to the 2018 NLCS, the Brewers have lost 12 consecutive road games. Here is the full streak:
2018 NL Championship Series @ Dodgers, Games 4 & 5
2019 NL Wild Card Game @ Nationals
2020 NL Wild Card Series @ Dodgers, Games 1 & 2
2021 NL Division Series @ Braves, Games 3 & 4
2025 NL Division Series @ Cubs, Games 3 & 4
2025 NL Championship Series @ Dodgers, Games 3 & 4
2026 NL Division Series @ Padres, Game 3
That’s more a statistical anomaly than a full concern, as most of the current team has only been around for five of those losses. During the regular season, the Brewers were 48-33 in road games. However, in the history of the franchise, they are 6-24 in postseason road games. It can be difficult to win on the road in the postseason, and as long as the Brewers can take care of business at home, they can keep advancing. It still would be good to take some games on the road to ease that burden.
Holding a 2-1 lead, the Brewers will send Gasser to the mound. He began the season in the minor leagues, but pitched his way into a full-time starting role with the Brewers as the season went on. In his last six starts, he has a 1.67 ERA and 3.29 FIP over 32 1/3 innings, with 31 strikeouts and 12 walks. This will be his first career appearance against the Padres. He was originally drafted by them in 2021, but was traded to the Brewers as part of the Josh Hader trade.
For the Padres, Buehler gets the start. He signed a one-year contract with the Padres this season, and his results have been mixed. Overall this season, he has a 4.63 ERA and 4.51 FIP with 131 strikeouts and 57 walks. Since the All-Star Break, his ERA has dropped a bit to 3.62, but his FIP is also up at 4.72. One of his post-All-Star break starts came against the Brewers, where he allowed one run in six innings. He has a career 2.53 ERA against the Brewers during the regular season, covering four starts over 21 1/3 innings.
Buehler has also faced the Brewers three times in the postseason. The first was in Game 3 of the 2018 NLCS with the Dodgers, and he allowed four runs in seven innings with eight strikeouts as the Brewers won that game (their last road win in the postseason). He started again in Game 7 that year, and allowed just one run in 4 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts as the Dodgers won that one. His other start came in Game 1 of the 2020 NL Wild Card Series, when he allowed two runs in four innings while striking out eight.
In the bullpen, the Brewers should have plenty of rested relievers for this game. Trevor Megill and Aaron Ashby did not pitch in last night’s game, and Abner Uribe only threw seven pitches in his inning of work. Additionally, Chad Patrick, Shane Drohan, and Kyle Harrison have all not pitched in the series yet. All should be available if needed tonight.
For the Padres, the two relievers they did not use yesterday were David Morgan and Joe Musgrove. Bradgley Rodriguez and Yuki Matsui have pitched in all three games so far this series. Adrian Morejon was unavailable in Game 3, and his status for tonight is up in the air. Mason Miller has returned from the paternity list, and he will take the place of Wandy Peralta. Michael King is reportedly also available tonight after throwing 40 pitches in two innings last night and starting in Game 2.
The Brewers are using the same starters as last night, but are switching up the order. Christian Yelich moves up to second in the lineup, and Jake Bauers drops down to fifth. Cooper Pratt and Sal Frelick each move up a spot while Garrett Mitchell drops to eighth. Meanwhile, the top four in the Padres lineup remain the same, but they are switching the middle and bottom of the lineup.
The Dodgers take advantage of a botched routine fly ball attempt by Mauricio DubĂłn.
Sometimes, the simplest of plays don’t work out the way players would like to have hoped.
After a routine pop fly surfaced off the bat of Max Muncy in the second inning of Game 4 of the NLDS, Atlanta Braves shortstop Mauricio DubĂłn completely blundered it.
Mauricio DubĂłn completely botches a routine fly ball in the second inning of Game 4 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Getty ImagesDodgers score after Mauricio DubĂłn botches a routine fly ball off the bat of Max Muncy in the second inning. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
DubĂłn ran deep towards left field and had the ball ready to easily land into his glove until he completely dropped it, resulting in the Dodgers tying the game at 1-1.
The play happened in the second inning just after Shohei Ohtani stole second, then was able to advance to third following an ill-advised throw by Braves catcher Drake Baldwin.
After Dubón’s mistimed catch, Ohtani was able to advance his way to home and tie the game.
At first, everything was looking to go right for the Braves, after they had their share of luck happen in the first inning, when Michael Harris scored on a wild pitch in the first inning.
The shocking miss on a routine play by DubĂłn came a night after he got the start in left field for Game 3 of the series, when he made a sensational play near the left corner of Truist Park, sticking his glove over the fence to rob Freddie Freeman of an opposite, two-run home run.
Major League Baseball's postseason is heating up with the best teams chasing a World Series title in October, a month synonymous with greatness in baseball history.
Where to watch Yankees vs. Rays: Channel, live stream
First pitch between the Yankees and Rays is scheduled for 8 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
Like the Yankees, the Rays are changing up their lineup in an attempt to close out the series and advance to the ALCS, with outfielder Chandler Simpson out of the lineup but saying he could make an appearance in Game 3.
"Look, Fried's numbers against us -- he's pitched very well against us," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Figured a little bit more versatility, a little more balance to the lineup rather than loading up all the lefties. I would imagine it's very safe to say or assume that Chandler will play a very big role in this game."
Boone explains decision to bench Jazz Chisholm
05:26 PM ET, October 7 2026, Scooby Axson
NEW YORK - With their season on the line, Yankees manager Aaron Boone shook up the lineup for Game 3, inserting Anthony Volpe at second base and Jose Caballero at third, benching struggling Jazz Chisholm and adding Trent Grisham.
Grisham will lead off, and Caballero will bat ninth, as Boone said he wanted to try to create some traffic on the bases.
"Two guys that have been an important part of our team this year, that have played important roles, that played a lot for us, and a lot of confidence in what they bring to the table," Boone said.
"So just kind of felt like thinking about it on the plane ride home, kind of made my decision there, and then just stewed through the lineup yesterday. And yeah, hopefully excited to get those guys in and hopefully it will be a little spark for us.
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The Milwaukee Brewers get another chance to close out the San Diego Padres with Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday, holding a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five set.
Milwaukee won the first two games of the series at home but San Diego bounced back in Game 3 on Tuesday at Petco Park to extend their season and force at least one more game. If the Padres emerge victorious tonight, the NLDS will head back to Mllwaukee for a winner-take-all Game 5.
The Brewers have lost 12 consecutive road postseason games, tying an MLB record in the process. Milwaukee and San Diego are two of baseball's five franchises that have not won a World Series title.
The winner of this NLDS will face the Atlanta Braves or Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series, which begins Sunday, Oct. 11.
Where to watch Brewers vs Padres: TV channel, NLDS streaming
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
