Jamey Wright is only one who played for MLB’s final four, fittingly

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 22: Jamey Wright #28 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the game against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium on Friday, August 22, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers won the game 6-2. (Photo by Paul Spinelli/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Major League Baseball’s final four is set, after the Cleveland Guardians dispatched the Chicago White Sox to end their American League Division Series on Saturday night. Cleveland will play the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS beginning Monday while Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers start their National League Championship Series on Sunday night.

Only one player has played for all four of these franchises — pitcher Jamey Wright, who pitched for 19 major league seasons, first as a starter before moving to relief. Wright, who pitched for 10 different teams, famously made eight straight teams as a non-roster invitee, including in 2012 with the Dodgers.

His second go-around with the Dodgers was on a guaranteed contract in 2014, snapping his string of minor league deals.

Wright for several years worked out in a gray Oklahoma Sooners T-shirt, which he used every day until the stitching simply gave out.

“It’s kind of a proud thing. For so many years, I put it on right when I got to the ballpark every day. That was my workout shirt, and there was a lot of pregame workouts,” Wright recalled in 2021. “It’s been washed thousands of times. It’s not too much to look at, but it’s got some serious sentimental value to me.”

jamey-wright-oklahoma-shirt

After not pitching in 2015, Wright attempted a comeback with the Dodgers in 2016, back to his familiar non-roster invitee role. Wright, then 41 years old, did not make the team and chose to retire on the final day of spring camp in Arizona. That was Dave Roberts’ first spring training as Dodgers manager, and Wright on the day he retired proved quite prescient.

“I’ll be sad that I don’t get to play for him this year, because he is a class act,” Wright said of Roberts in March 2016. “I’ve known since the first day he addressed this team they’ve got something to look forward to this summer in LA because he’s as good as they get.”

Roberts is in his 11th season as Dodgers manager, having already won five pennants and three World Series, and is second all-time in MLB history with 72 postseason wins.

Five years later, when Wright was pitching coach for Triple-A Oklahoma City, he shared that when Roberts told him he didn’t make the team in 2016, he offered to fly Wright and his family out to the Freeway Series for one last hurrah in a major league ballpark, but he declined.

I reminded Roberts in 2021 of Wright’s comments from 2016:

“That means a lot. That’s as good a compliment as you can get from somebody I really respect,” Roberts said this week when reminded of Wright’s words from five years ago. “I felt a little slighted because I didn’t get a chance to spend more time with him. I wish we had a chance to play together. We competed against each other many times.

“I remember a front-door cutter that he threw, and it hit me right in the knee one time. I haven’t forgotten that one. I guess with the compliment, we’re even.”

Dodgers make one change to NLCS roster, get good injury news on World Series hero

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Dodgers' Miguel Rojas works out on the field, Image 2 shows Hyeseong Kim of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up before game three of the National League Division Series

MILWAUKEE –– The Dodgers made one change to their playoff roster for their National League Championship Series against the Brewers, adding pitcher Justin Wrobleski and dropping speedster Hyeseong Kim.

Veteran infielder Miguel Rojas was also included in the group, confirming he will be available for the series despite battling a back injury in recent days.

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas works out ahead of Game 1 of baseball’s National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Milwaukee. AP Photo/Kyla Wolf

Ahead of Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday, the Dodgers announced their 26-man squad for the series –– which, unlike in the NL Division Series, was equally balanced with 13 pitchers and 13 position players.

Wrobleski was the extra arm added, coming off an All-Star season in which he went 12-5 with a 3.66 ERA, but also struggled with home run problems down the stretch.

The 26-year-old will likely provide insurance in a long-relief role. He also gives the Dodgers another left-hander out of the bullpen.

Hyeseong Kim (6) of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up prior to game three of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. Getty Images

Kim’s removal was no surprise, after he spent much of the season in triple-A and was only called back up to be a base-running and defensive specialist in the NLDS.

The only way he might have survived would have been if Rojas was unable to go because of his back problem, which he suffered in Game 3 of the NLDS and left him unavailable for Game 4.

However, Rojas came through a couple workouts this week feeling good, ensuring he will remain in the Dodgers’ plans.

Everything about the team’s playoff roster also remained unchanged, as they enter a marquee pitching matchup Sunday night that will see Tarik Skubal face off with Jacob Misiorowski.

Is famous Milwaukee hotel haunted? MLB players have been spooked for decades

The Pfister Hotel is one of Milwaukee's signature spots for out-of-towners, if not the No. 1 landing spot. Dignitaries (including Donald Trump) stayed there during the 2024 Republican National Convention, leading to a major blockade around the building.

Most Major League Baseball teams in town to play the Milwaukee Brewers take up temporary residence at the downtown hotel, though sometimes, they're not alone.

The hotel has become famous for freaking out a number of MLB players with its eerie incidents. Numerous players have confessed they don't sleep well in the hotel, which opened in 1893.

Mookie Betts, who has famously rented an Airbnb when the Los Angeles Dodgers play in Milwaukee, is among those who will presumably seek alternate accommodations with the Dodgers in town for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, beginning Oct. 11.

Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy, meanwhile? He ain't afraid of no ghost.

"If there's a ghost in there, come on in," Muncy said Oct. 10, one day before the start of the NLCS. "If the TV turns on, I know he's friendly. Hopefully he's just not there to disturb me. I welcome them. If there's a ghost, let's have a good time with it, come on in. It is what it is."

Here's a look at the track record of the haunted hotel and the baseball players who won't be booking a vacation there anytime soon:

2001: Adrián Beltré

The Dodgers star said he heard knocking at his door while staying at the Pfister, even with the TV and air conditioner turned off.

2008: Carlos Gómez

It's a good thing that Gomez ultimately joined the Brewers and didn't have to stay overnight in a hotel. In 2008 as a member of the Minnesota Twins, he was quoted as saying, "Everything's scary. Everything in the hotel — the paintings and pictures, it's a lot of old, crazy stuff. No good, man. No good."

2009: Mike Cameron

The Brewers outfielder didn't actually have a story since he could live locally, but he said he'd never stay in the Pfister after hearing other players' stories.

2009: Brendan Ryan 

"It was more like a moving light that kind of passed through the room," the St. Louis Cardinals infielder told a local TV station. "The room got a little bit chillier."

2009: Pablo Sandoval

The San Francisco Giants infielder told ESPN in 2013 about an experience he had in 2009. "I went to take a shower, and I remember putting my iPod next to a speaker. When I came out, it was playing music, and I have no idea why." Sandoval and teammate Edgar Renteria refused to stay with the rest of the team at the Pfister in 2010.

2011: Michael Young

Also speaking in 2013, the former Texas Rangers player said: "A couple of years ago, I was lying in bed after a night game, and I was out. My room was locked, but I heard these footsteps inside my room, stomping around."

2012: Bryce Harper

The Philadelphia Phillies star, then with the Washington Nationals, said one year after his experience: "I laid a pair of jeans and a shirt on that table at the foot of the bed. When I woke up in the morning — I swear on everything — the clothes were on the floor and the table was on the opposite side of the room."

2013: Brandon Phillips 

In a lengthy ESPN article detailing other athletes' experiences, Phillips said he was in his room when the radio turned on. "So I turned it off, and got in the shower," he said. When he came back out, it was on again.

2013: C.J. Wilson

The article also details a creepy undated experience by Los Angeles Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson, who made his one start at Miller Park in 2013.

"I was on the computer one night, doing my typical shtick — surfing the web, sending an email, editing a photo — and then, all of a sudden, the lights started flickering," Wilson said. "I'm thinking to myself, 'I'm going to be so pissed if my computer dies.' Then the light just shuts off. And then the TV shuts off. And then the light turns back on, but the light at the front door turns off. I just yelled out, 'Really?'

"So after that, I went back to whatever I was doing on the computer, but then 30 minutes later, there's scratching in the walls. Now I'm thinking, 'OK, it's the Midwest. There could be a possum or something in the wall, right? That's possible, isn't it?' All I knew was that there were definitely noises coming from the wall."

Wilson said everyone on his team had a story. "One dude got locked in his bathroom and he had to get the hotel to get him out. Another guy had the lights turn off when he was in the shower. Another guy saw something.

"I don't get terribly concerned unless things start shattering in the room, so it was fine. I don't get that much sleep anyway. But you just get a vibe when you walk in. It almost feels like you're in Prague or something: very Gothic, lots of gold enamel, crosswalks and atriums everywhere. Being on the road so much, we're used to a standard cookie-cutter place. But this hotel totally stands alone."

2015: Shelby Miller

In 2023, former Brewers infielder Jace Peterson told a story of how he and Atlanta Braves teammate Jonny Gomes conspired to frighten Shelby Miller by stealing the all-star pitcher's key and altering his room.

2016: Ji-Man Choi

Another future Brewers player, Choi was a Los Angeles Angels first baseman at the time when he reported feeling the presence of a spirit in his bed.

2016: Pedro Álvarez

Then-Brewers manager Craig Counsell said he heard former Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Pedro Álvarez had experienced weirdness at the hotel, which matches up with a story told in 2016 by Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. Hurdle didn't name names but said one of his players became spooked when a TV in his room turned on twice in one night. 

2016: Jon Gray

Colorado Rockies pitcher Jon Gray, who has a passion for ghost hunting, got a chance to tackle the Pfister in 2016.

2018: Carlos Martinez and Marcell Ozuna

St. Louis Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez expressed that he had seen some sort of floating ghost on Instagram in June, and teammate Marcell Ozuna believed he had seen something similar, so the two elected to room together.

The sound crew at Miller Park got in on the fun by playing the "Ghostbusters" theme during a meeting on the mound mid-game.

2022: The Atlanta Braves

OK, so we can't technically blame the spectral plane for a power outage in downtown Milwaukee, but when the Atlanta Braves were left without power and (in some cases) running water, we figured we could add it to the list.

“By mid-morning, I was thinking if I don’t hurry up and get in the shower, all the hot water’s going to be gone, and it was," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "I took a cold shower. But I had water. In other parts of the place, the water went out when the power did.”

Snitker joked about a possible solution to the shower issue situated a few blocks away from the Pfister Hotel:

“There’s a big lake there,” he said, referring to nearby Lake Michigan.

2023-24: Mookie Betts

Dodgers star Mookie Betts said he doesn't believe in ghosts, but just in case, he first elected to stay at an Airbnb in Milwaukee with friends while the rest of the team stayed at the Pfister in 2023.

He repeated that ritual in 2024 and 2025, staying separate from the team to avoid the Pfister.

Betts told Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register on May 9, and Plunkett tweeted out the humorous anecdote.

"Has stayed at Pfister before (and the Vinoy in St. Pete, another allegedly haunted hotel) and has no stories to tell," Plunkett wrote. "'But I couldn't sleep. Every noise, I'd be like, 'Is that something?!?'"

It seams teammate Teoscar Hernández is also not a huge fan of the spectral.

2023: Vinnie Pasquantino

Again, no specific sightings this time, but there was a fun anecdote that the Kansas City Royals first baseman brought his mother on the trip to Milwaukee given that she loves all things "spooky" (and the Pfister certainly qualifies) while Pasquantino doesn't have the same affinity.

2023: Brent Rooker

The Oakland Athletics standout said something kept changing the channel in his room.

“I’ll have it on like Golf Channel and I’ll be on my laptop looking down. I look back up and it’s on QVC or some other channel that definitely is not Golf Channel,” Rooker said to MLB.com writer Martín Gallegos. “That’s happened a few times. I fell asleep with it on one night and woke up at like 4 a.m. and it was off, which I figured was just like a sleep timer. I woke back up at 7:30 or 8 and it was back on, and on a different channel than I had fallen asleep with it on. It’s just kind of small stuff like that.”

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Is famous Milwaukee hotel haunted? MLB players have been spooked for decades

Dodgers add All-Star pitcher to MLB playoff roster vs Brewers

The Los Angeles Dodgers made one change to their roster for the National League Championship Series, bringing pitcher Justin Wrobleski back into the 26-man squad for infielder Hyeseong Kim.

Los Angeles will now be carrying 13 pitchers for this best-of-seven series that gets underway in Milwaukee on Sunday, Oct. 11.

"Having a guy that can go two or three, is something where you essentially protect downside on the pitching," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said a day before Game 1. "I think for us it's more of who can take down a couple innings if something in a medium to lower leverage situation."

Wrobleski was an All-Star starting pitcher this season, but transitioned into bulk work – mostly out of the bullpen – in September to prepare for the postseason. The left-hander made four scoreless appearances in the 2025 World Series, including in the Game 6 and 7 wins in Toronto that secured the Dodgers' second consecutive title.

The speedy Kim, 27, is in his second season with the Dodgers after coming over from Korea and made one appearance in LA's NLDS win over Atlanta as a defensive replacement.

Infielder Miguel Rojas, who left Game 4 of the NLDS due to tightness in his lower back, is on the roster as expected.

Dodgers NLCS roster

Pitchers

  • Kris Bubic (LHP)
  • Edwin Díaz (RHP)
  • Tyler Glasnow (RHP)
  • Edgardo Henriquez (RHP)
  • Evan Phillips (RHP)
  • Roki Sasaki (RHP)
  • Tanner Scott (LHP)
  • Tarik Skubal (LHP)
  • Blake Snell (LHP)
  • Brock Stewart (RHP)
  • Alex Vesia (LHP)
  • Justin Wrobleski (LHP)
  • Yoshinobu Yamamoto (RHP)

Hitters

  • Mookie Betts (INF)
  • Josue De Paula (OF)
  • Tommy Edman (UTL)
  • Hunter Feduccia (C)
  • Freddie Freeman (1B)
  • Kiké Hernández (UTL)
  • Teoscar Hernández (OF)
  • Max Muncy (INF)
  • Shohei Ohtani (DH)
  • Andy Pages (OF)
  • Miguel Rojas (INF)
  • Will Smith (C)
  • Kyle Tucker (OF)

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers add All-Star pitcher to MLB playoff roster vs Brewers

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Dodgers add Justin Wrobleski to NLCS roster, keep Miguel Rojas and drop Hyeseong Kim

Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski pitches against the San Diego Padres last month at Dodger Stadium.
Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski pitches against the San Diego Padres last month at Dodger Stadium. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

The Dodgers added left-handed reliever Justin Wrobleski to the National League Championship Series roster on Sunday, bolstering their bullpen with a pitcher who can cover multiple innings, as they take on the Milwaukee Brewers, the best team in the regular season.

In the Dodgers’ first best-of-seven series of the postseason, they will carry 13 pitchers and 13 position players — one more pitcher and one fewer position player than the previous round.

To even the balance, they left pinch-runner/defensive replacement Hyeseong Kim off the NLCS roster. Kim appeared in just one game in the NLDS, on defense in the ninth inning of Game 4.

Read more:Dodgers confident Shohei Ohtani will break out of his slump against Brewers

Wrobleski was an All-Star for his first-half performance (2.69 ERA). But an up and down second half included a short stint in the injured list, as the team kept an eye on his workload, and a move to the bullpen. He finished the season strong, allowing just one run in his last eight appearances (8 ⅔ innings).

“Length, having a guy that can go two or three, is something where you essentially protect downside on the pitching,” manager Dave Roberts said Saturday when asked what traits the Dodgers would prioritize when considering which pitcher to add. “As far as handedness, they’re pretty balanced, so that really doesn’t come into play. For us, it’s more of who can take down a couple innings.”

Here’s the Dodgers’ full NLCS roster:

Infielders (6)

1B Freddie Freeman

3B Max Muncy

SS Mookie Betts

IF Miguel Rojas

UTL Kiké Hernández

UTL Tommy Edman

Outfielders (3)

LF Teoscar Hernández

CF Andy Pages

RF Kyle Tucker

Designated hitters (2)

DH Shohei Ohtani

PH Josue De Paula

Catchers (2)

C Will Smith

C Hunter Feduccia

Starting pitchers (4)

LHP Tarik Skubal

LHP Blake Snell

RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto

RHP Tyler Glasnow

Relief pitchers (9)

RHP Roki Sasaki

RHP Edwin Díaz

RHP Edgardo Henriquez

RHP Evan Phillips

RHP Brock Stewart

LHP Tanner Scott

LHP Alex Vesia

LHP Kris Bubic

LHP Justin Wrobleski

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Brewers, Dodgers announce NLCS rosters

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 13: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers laughs with Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Brewers have announced their roster for the National League Championship Series, and it’s the same as the Division Series roster, which should surprise no one. The likelihood that the Brewers were going to make any changes was always low. We’ll still do a quick rundown.

Catchers (2): William Contreras, Gary Sánchez

Infielders (6): Jake Bauers, David Hamilton, Joey Ortiz, Cooper Pratt, Brice Turang, Andrew Vaughn

Outfielders/DH (5): Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Luis Lara, Garrett Mitchell, Christian Yelich

Pitchers (13): Aaron Ashby (L), Shane Drohan (L), Robert Gasser (L), DL Hall (L), Kyle Harrison (L), Logan Henderson (R), Dustin May (R), Trevor Megill (R), Jacob Misiorowski (R), Chad Patrick (R), JoJo Romero (L), Antonio Senzatela (R), Abner Uribe (R)

None of Drohan, Harrison, nor Patrick pitched in the Division Series against the Padres, but the Padres’ lineup was heavy on right-handers, while four of the Dodgers’ regular starters (Shohei Ohtani, Max Muncy, Freddie Freeman, and Kyle Tucker) are lefties. Combined with the longer series, one would expect that the extra lefties in the lineup would create more opportunities for Drohan and Harrison. Patrick did not have a role against the Padres; it seems his control issues in September have left him on the outside looking in for now.

As for lineup questions on the Brewers, it remains to be seen exactly how they handle left/right platoons. Sal Frelick started all three games in which right-handed pitchers started for the Padres, with Lara’s only playing time in the series coming in game one, when lefty Robbie Ray started. I’d expect this to continue, and given how well Frelick played in the DS, it will be interesting to see if he manages a start against one of the Dodgers lefties, Blake Snell and Tarik Skubal.

The bigger questions, though, center around Andrew Vaughn. Vaughn got only two plate appearances in the Padres series, as Pat Murphy opted to go with Jake Bauers at first base and a better defensive option in right field rather than start both Vaughn and Bauers. He also kept Christian Yelich in the lineup even against the left-handed Ray, and given Yelich’s leadership position and his strong showing against the Padres, it doesn’t seem likely that he’s going to start on the bench, even with the tough Skubl and Snell matchups. Would the Brewers sacrifice some defense by starting Bauers in right field and Vaughn at first base against those lefties? Is Vaughn too valuable as a high-leverage pinch-hitter? Vaughn was also recovering from what sounds like a pretty nasty illness, so his diminished playing time may not have been solely related to strategy.

The bigger roster questions came from the other side. The Dodgers carried only 12 pitchers in the Division Series, a number that was expected to get bumped up for the Championship Series. There were also some health questions around Miguel Rojas, but reports on Saturday suggested that he’d be ready. The expected move did end up happening: utility infielder Hyeseong Kim was taken off the roster, while lefty Justin Wrobleski—who started 22 games and made the All-Star team this season—was added for what will presumably be a long relief role.

Here’s the full Dodgers roster:

Catchers (2): Hunter Feduccia, Will Smith

Infielders (6): Mookie Betts, Tommy Edman, Freddie Freeman, Kiké Hernández, Max Muncy, Miguel Rojas

Outfielders (4): Josue De Paula, Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages, Kyle Tucker

Designated Hitter (1): Shohei Ohtani

Pitchers (13): Kris Bubic (L), Edwin Díaz (R), Tyler Glasnow (R), Edgardo Henriquez (R), Evan Phillips (R), Roki Sasaki (R), Tanner Scott (L), Tarik Skubal (L), Blake Snell (L), Brock Stewart (R), Justin Wrobleski (L), Alex Vesia (L), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (R)

Fuld Rejection Offers Possible Clues To GM Search

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 22: General Manager Sam Fuld of the Philadelphia Phillies smiles prior to the game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on September 22, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves 1-0. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sam Fuld, former A’s outfielder and current Phillies President of Business Operations, became the first candidate offered the role of General Manager for the A’s — and then became the first candidate to say “No.” The search continues.

However, even though the A’s have not yet settled on their new GM, news of the offer to Fuld does offer some potential intel on what direction the A’s are going with regard to their search and the remaining candidates.

First off, much has been made of Fuld’s rejection of the A’s offer as if it suggests that the gig of “A’s General Manager” is unappealing and that the team will be forced to settle for its 6th choice after the first 5 turn their nose up and tell John Fisher to pound sand.

I think it’s worth noting that Fuld’s role with the Phillies is not President of Baseball Operations, the “PBO” with which A’s fans are most familiar. Rather Fuld has transitioned into the title of a different “PBO”: President of Business Operations, consistent with his 2026 MBA degree at Wharton that suggests he has settled on where his primary interests lie.

So Fuld may have preferred, ultimately, to stay in Philadelphia where his family is settled. He may have preferred, ultimately, to stay with the Phillies organization where he has continued to grow and establish his position according to his career ambitions. He may have used the A’s offer to gain leverage for a raise or extension at his current job. We really don’t know.

What we do know is that the list of candidates grew to double digits at one point and there is no indication it is an unwanted gig. It just turned out not to be a fit for Fuld and the A’s for whatever reason, but the fact that the A’s chose Fuld — even if he didn’t choose them back — tells us a few things. Maybe.

1. One indicator is that the A’s made their first offer to a relatively young candidate, Fuld being 44, suggesting that the A’s might be more interested in a younger, hipper mindset than an “old guard” grizzled veteran of the industry. This would point the compass away from a candidate such as Mike Rizzo, the 65 year old former Washington Nationals GM with a 20 year career in the front office.

2. Another indicator is that the A’s made their first offer to a candidate regarded as more “analytics based” on the pedagogical spectrum. Once the Moneyball darlings of analytics, the A’s have fallen woefully behind the competition in recent years and may be looking to boost this side of their organizational toolkit.

3. Another indicator is that the A’s made their first offer to a candidate outside the organization. You would think that if after interviewing outside candidates the A’s felt the best choice was right under their nose the whole time, they would make the offer to their own employee first. This would point the compass away from Billy Owens or interim GM Dan Feinstein.

All this is consistent with the perceived “top choice now” being Red Sox Assistant General Manager Taylor Smith. Smith is on the young side of young, by baseball front office standards, barely 30. He headed Boston’s analytics department after being poached from Tampa Bay where he was a member of their research and development team. He not comes from outside the A’s organization but has a history with the small market/big success Rays, a team whose practices the A’s would be wise to emulate.

In many ways, Smith seems like a far more natural choice than Fuld in that Smith is on the GM track whereas Fuld seems to be cementing himself more narrowly in a business pathway and Smith has more background with a smaller market franchise.

This is not to say the A’s couldn’t announce tomorrow that they have hired Rizzo, or Owens, or the 21 year front office veteran James Click. But the initial attempt to select Fuld may offer some clues as to where the search is heading — and perhaps ending in the coming days or hours…

Where to watch Dodgers vs Brewers today: Game time, NLCS prediction and more

The 2026 National League Championship Series gets underway on Sunday, Oct. 11 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers squaring off in the best-of-seven set that will determine which team advances to the World Series.

After finishing with an MLB-best 103 wins, the Brewers have home-field advantage against the Dodgers, who swept Milwaukee at this stage last season en route to a second consecutive World Series title.

"You're playing for a chance to go to a World Series. You don't need much more motivation than that regardless of who you're playing," Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich said.

"Obviously we respect them. We respect everything they've done in the game, how they go about the game. You can't say enough great things about them, but at the same time, we're ready to compete with them."

Likely NL Cy Young winner Jacob Misiorowski (16-5, 1.80 ERA) takes the mound for the Brewers while trade deadline acquisition – and back-to-back Cy Young winner – Tarik Skubal (12-7, 2.73 ERA) starts for the Dodgers at American Family Field.

Where to watch Dodgers vs Brewers: TV channel, streaming

  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: Fox
  • Live stream: Fubo and Fox One

Watch NLCS on Fubo

Dodgers vs Brewers NLCS schedule

  • Game 1: Sunday, Oct 11 – Dodgers at Brewers – 8 p.m. ET
  • Game 2: Monday, Oct. 12 – Dodgers at Brewers – 5 p.m. ET
  • Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 14 – Brewers at Dodgers – 8 p.m. ET
  • Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 15 – Brewers at Dodgers – 9 p.m. ET
  • Game 5*: Friday, Oct. 16 – Brewers at Dodgers – 9 p.m. ET
  • Game 6*: Sunday, Oct. 18 – Dodgers at Brewers – 8 p.m. ET
  • Game 7*: Monday, Oct. 19 – Dodgers at Brewers – 8 p.m. ET

Dodgers vs Brewers NLCS tickets

10:59 AM ET, October 11 2026, Jesse Yomtov

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where to watch Dodgers vs Brewers today: Game time, NLCS prediction and more

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Dodgers NLCS roster: Justin Wrobleski added as 13th pitcher

Milwaukee, WI - October 10, 2026: Rookie Josue DePaula lines up at shortstop for infield drills as the LA Dodgers conduct an off day workout before game one of the National League Championship Series against the Brewers at American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The Dodgers announced their roster for the National League Championship Series, which will include 13 pitchers and 13 position players against the Milwaukee Brewers. Justin Wrobleski is the extra bulk pitcher for this round, after the Dodgers carried 12 pitchers during the Division Series against the Atlanta Braves.

“I think that length, having a guy that can go two or three, is something where you essentially protect downside on the pitching. As far as handedness, they’re pretty balanced. So that really doesn’t come into play,” manager Dave Roberts said during Saturday’s workout at American Family Field in Milwaukee. “I think for us it’s more of who can take down a couple innings if something in a medium to lower leverage situation.”

Wrobleski was an All-Star starting pitcher this season, but pitched in shorter, bulk outings during September as preparation for his likely October role.

Hyeseong Kim is the roster casualty, not active for the NLCS after playing one game in the NLDS. Kim pinch-ran in Game 4 and played the final two innings at second base.

Miguel Rojas, who left Game 3 of the NLDS in Atlanta with back and hip soreness, got several days of treatment and is active for the NLCS against the Brewers.

Dodgers NLCS roster

  • Starting pitchers (4): Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow
  • Right-handed relievers (5): Roki Sasaki, Edgardo Henriquez, Edwin Díaz, Evan Phillips, Brock Stewart
  • Left-handed relievers (4): Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Kris Bubic, Justin Wrobleski
  • Designated hitter (1): Shohei Ohtani
  • Catchers (2): Will Smith, Hunter Feduccia
  • Infielders (4): Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Miguel Rojas
  • Outfielders (4): Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages, Kyle Tucker, Josue De Paula
  • Infielder/outfielders (2): Tommy Edman, Kiké Hernández

Yankees Birthday of the Day: Orlando Hernández, ‘El Duque’

New York Yankees starting pitcher Orlando Hernandez winds up in the first inning of the first game of the American League Division Series 05 October, 1999, at Yankee Stadium in New York. The New York Yankees face the Texas Rangers in the best-of-five series. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/Don EMMERT (Photo by Don EMMERT / AFP) (Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

Over 40 years after fans of the “Boys of Summer” Brooklyn Dodgers sung the praises of Edwin Snider, another Duke took center stage in New York. This time, it was in the Bronx as one of the most celebrated Cuban players to take the field for his home country set his eyes on Yankee Stadium. A mysterious maestro on the mound, the man known as Orlando “El Duque” Hernández could seemingly do it all, quickly winning adoration for his poise in high-pressure moments while the Yankees won a trifecta of championships.

Orlando “El Duque” Hernández Pedroso
Born: October 11, 1965 (Villa Clara, Cuba)
Yankees Tenure: 1998-2002, 2004

For quite awhile, El Duque’s actual birth year was not actually known for certain. When he first joined the Yankees, he said he was born in 1969, but later it became evident that he was, in fact, born in 1965 and thus didn’t become a Yankee until he turned 32. Regardless, he was born on October 11, 1965 to Cuban pitcher Arnaldo Hernandez and Maria Cruz. Although well known throughout the country, his dad (also nicknamed “El Duque”) did not play much of a role in El Duque’s upbringing. He did however, father another son a little over nine years later with another woman, Miriam Carreras. That son’s name was Livan Hernández, and El Duque would have a close relationship with his half-brother, who of course also became a pitching phenom.

Growing up with his older brother Arnaldo Jr. in a small home was not ideal for the future pitching great. There wasn’t much schooling in his childhood, but El Duque certainly learned the game of baseball. He was clearly an intelligent kid, as he developed and perfected a complex pitching motion while also adding a potent arsenal of pitches. Once his reputation spread, it did not take too long for El Duque to be added to the perennial powerhouse Cuban national baseball team.

El Duque won his first gold medal at age 22 with the victorious 1988 Baseball World Cup squad and gradually added several more golds in numerous competitions over the next seven years, highlighted by the Cuban national team winning the gold medal in baseball at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. As if that weren’t enough, El Duque was also prominent on the most successful Cuban league baseball team, the Havana Industriales. He was a star there too, as he was the team’s ace while also getting to play with his brothers Arnaldo and Livan.

Tragically, Orlando only had one season with Arnaldo, who passed away suddenly in 1994 as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage. El Duque’s life was further complicated when Livan defected from the Cuban national team late in 1995. As a result of his association with Livan, El Duque was suspended from Cuban ball, left off the ’96 Olympic roster, and eventually banned entirely from the Cuban National Series. With nowhere to play, El Duque now basically had just one choice–defect himself or never play organized ball again. After watching Livan triumph in 1997 with the Marlins while winning both the NLCS and World Series MVP, it removed any doubt as to El Duque’s future plans.

Through the assistance of some shady dealings with his agent, Joe Cubas, El Duque defected from Cuba two months after the World Series and eventually was granted residency in Costa Rica. Now free to negotiate with any team, the Yankees and newly-christened general manager Brian Cashman came calling. Following negotiations, El Duque and the Yankees agreed on a four-year, $6.6 million contract, one of the best free agent contracts of all-time. The Yankees sure received some incredible value from that deal.

On a pure value basis, few contracts have been better than the comparatively measly $6.6 million invested in El Duque back in 1998. Minor leaguers could do nothing with the 32-year-old rookie’s repertoire, and when David Cone had to miss a start due to a bite on the finger from his mother’s Jack Russell terrier, he got his shot. El Duque pitched so effectively that the Yankees couldn’t remove him from the rotation, and he recorded a 3.13 ERA, 3.53 FIP, and 131 strikeouts in 21 starts during his first season.

Although the ’98 Yankees romped to 114 victories, they trailed the ALCS two games to one to the defending AL champs, and they were forced to ask El Duque to come up big for them in Game 4 at Jacobs Field in Cleveland. He did just that, twirling seven innings of shutout ball, the first of seven consecutive victories that the Yankees notched against Cleveland and San Diego, never losing another game en route to the World Series title.

El Duque was a fascinating addition to the rotation, dazzling hitters but also mystifying his manager and his teammates. On the day of that fateful Game 4, Joe Torre thought that he might be nervous, but in fact, El Duque was not at all afraid of the spotlight. Torre found him at a local Cleveland restaurant, pretending to serve dishes and humoring the patrons. On many occasions though, he bickered with his catcher, Jorge Posada, on his pitch selection, and once even cursed at Luis Sojo when Sojo asked him to stand during the National Anthem. Then, there were the times when he would absolutely baffle his teammates, like when he called all his infielders into the mound and said nothing, unless one counts stomping on the mound a few times as saying something.

Despite El Duque’s idiosyncrasies, he remained a steady presence in their rotation throughout the three-peat from 1998 through 2000. He was a fine pitcher in the regular season, but he seemed to be even better when the spotlight of the playoffs was on. The big start in Cleveland was just the beginning of his postseason excellence. The Padres had no answer for him in the World Series that year, nor did the Rangers in his Division Series start the next season. He dominated the Red Sox in the ’99 taking home ALCS MVP honors with 15 innings of 1.80 ERA ball, then outpitched Hall of Famer Greg Maddux in his World Series opener start against the Braves.

El Duque wasn’t quite as overpowering in the 2000 playoffs, but the Yankees still won in four of the five games he made an appearance. Those three years cemented El Duque as a Yankees cult hero.

The ’01 campaign was a rockier one for El Duque, as a bad toe sprain kept him off the mound for several months and he struggled when he actually did make starts. He shook it off to pitch well in two of his three starts that postseason, most notably when he kept the Yankees in the game against Curt Schilling in Game 4 of the World Series, a contest they famously won thanks to late homer heroics from Tino Martinez and Derek Jeter.

Alas, that year didn’t end in a parade, and injuries limited him again in 2002. He was far more effective that year than in ’01, but a nightmare relief outing in the playoffs against the Angels haunted him as the Yankees fell in the first round. At first, it seemed that it would be his last start as a Yankee, as they sent him away to the Expos in a three-team deal during the 2002-03 offseason. A rotator cuff injury led to surgery, and he never threw a pitch for Montreal.

However, El Duque’s career was not at an end. He surprisingly returned to the Yankees in 2004 and after successfully rehabbing in the minors from his surgery, he re-joined the pitching staff in mid-July. He provided a boost to the rotation and the Yankees won their seventh consecutive AL East title. This time, a five-inning, three-run start in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Red Sox would be the last start he would make in pinstripes, as the Yankees blew the series and El Duque departed in free agency.

Having rejuvenated his career with a successful ’04 season, El Duque signed with the White Sox for the 2005 campaign. While Chicago got off to a fantastic start that they never looked back from, it wasn’t as good for El Duque. He had a 5.12 ERA in 24 games (22 starts) and was more hittable than ever, with a career-worst 9.6 H/9. The White Sox won the AL Central, but they left him out of the playoff rotation, one that featured another Cuban star who was previously a Yankee, José Contreras. Considering how dangerous the rotation of Contreras, Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia, and Jon Garland proved to be that postseason, it’s hard to blame the White Sox for slighting El Duque. It didn’t prevent him from coming up huge on the big stage one more time.

The White Sox were up two games to none on the defending champion Red Sox in the Division Series, and they led them 4-3 in the sixth inning of Game 3 at Fenway Park. However, the dangerous Boston lineup had knocked Garcia out and loaded the bases against reliever Damaso Marte. Chicago manager Ozzie Guillén called on El Duque to bail them out and stop the Red Sox from seizing any momentum to get back into the series. What followed was amazing and vintage El Duque: a Jason Varitek foul out, a Tony Graffanino pop-up, and a swing and a miss from Johnny Damon.

No runs scored, Chicago held the lead, and they went on to win the World Series.

El Duque hovered around the game for a few more years and even spent about two months with his brother Livan again pitching in the Diamondbacks rotation. However, despite some relatively effective pitching, it was clear that he was wearing down–hardly surprising for someone who pitched past age 40. After a year and a half with the Mets, El Duque’s career ended in 2007. He tried to recover from ’08 foot surgery to pitch again in the majors, but a couple minor league stints with various teams went in vain.

El Duque officially retired in 2011, and he’s since returned to Yankee Stadium for multiple Old-Timers’ Days and dynasty reunion events. He’ll always be welcomed back to the Bronx by the home crowd; El Duque was just one of those special pitchers and fan favorites who comes around every once in a while. Keep on doing the El Duque.


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

A few thoughts about the White Sox/Guardians division series

I can imagine some Guardians fans might have had a feeling of déjà vu Saturday night in Cleveland.

It’s the deciding game of a postseason series. The visiting team is from Chicago. And… it’s raining.

Well. It’s not the World Series and it’s not the Cubs in Cleveland, instead it’s an upstart White Sox team that had won the first two games of this Division Series at Progressive Field.

By the time the Guardians had dispatched the White Sox 2-0 in Game 5 and moved on to the ALCS, it was clear which was the better team. I’ve thought for a number of recent years that the Guardians always seem to find a way. They did it last year when they overcame a 12.5 game deficit to the Tigers and won the AL Central, although Detroit got revenge by defeating the Guards in a Wild Card Series. This year Cleveland trailed the White Sox by 4.5 games on Aug. 30, then finished the season on a 17-9 run to take the division title — which ultimately might have been the difference in this series.

Cleveland’s offense was missing in the first two games, in which they scored a total of two runs. A lot of that was on third baseman José Ramírez, who went 0-for-6 over those games. Ramírez had a rough year after breaking a hamate bone in his wrist in June. He missed a month and had one of the worst years of his career. Hamate injuries are known for long recovery times and Ramírez might not be 100 percent until next year.

But after those first two games, Ramírez put the Guardians on his back, going 5-for-12 with a double, triple, home run and seven RBI over the three games Cleveland won. That included this impossible home run Saturday [VIDEO].

Look where that pitch was! How on Earth do you hit a home run off this pitch?

But he did. One more thing about that home run:

Guardians pitchers struck out 21 White Sox to preserve that two-run homer as the only runs Cleveland would need. The 21 K’s are a record for any MLB nine-inning game, regular season or postseason. (The previous postseason record of 19 in a nine-inning game had been set by the Sox… on Wednesday.) The White Sox struck out 75 times in the five games, a 40.5 percent K rate. That’s just not going to get it done.

Congratulations to the White Sox on their fine season, though it didn’t end the way they’d have wanted it to. To win 84 games and make the postseason after three straight 100+ loss seasons (and one of those a record-setting 121 defeats) is quite the accomplishment. They have some very good young players, particularly Miguel Vargas, Chase Meidroth and Colson Montgomery, and Munetaka Murakami brought intangibles along with a big bat from Japan. They’re fun to watch. They’ll also need to do something about that pitching staff if they want to move forward and improve on this next year.

Congratulations to the Guardians for winning this series, the 11th team to overcome a 2-0 deficit in a postseason series. That team is also fun to watch and, while it doesn’t have the talent level of the Rays, they also seem to have intangibles that help them win. Ramírez might be the most underappreciated superstar in baseball today. He’s eventually going to be elected to the Hall of Fame, and hardly anyone outside Cleveland even knows who he is. And if he continues hitting the way he did in the Guardians’ three wins over the White Sox, the Rays will have their hands full in the ALCS.

I’ll be rooting for the Guardians as long as they’re in it this October. Their championship drought stands at 77 years. Consider this: When the Cubs’ World Series drought was at 77 years, it was… 1985. The Cubs had to wait 31 more years! All of us as Cubs fans know how this feels. I’d like to see a World Series title go to Cleveland this year.

This postseason has already created some great stories and had some compelling games. Let’s hope that continues through the next two rounds. We’ll have a game thread here for tonight’s NLCS Game 1 between the Brewers and Dodgers, game time 7 p.m. CT, thread posting time 6 p.m. CT.

Mets Arizona Fall League Review: Week One

SURPRISE, AZ - OCTOBER 04: Boston Baro #3 of the Surprise Saguaros bats during the game between the Salt River Rafters and the Surprise Saguaros at Surprise Stadium on Sunday, October 4, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 (1-0)

SURPRISE 9, SCOTTSDALE 3 (BOX)

  • 1B COLE MATHIS: 1-4, RBI, BB
  • 2B BRUIN AGBAYANI: 0-4, R, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 E (1, 2)
  • RHP PEYTON PRESCOTT: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, W (1-0)
  • RHP IRVING COTA: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
  • RHP BRENDAN GIRTON: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, H (1)
  • RHP RYAN LAMBERT: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, WP

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 (2-0)

SURPRISE 4, SALT RIVER 4 (BOX)

  • 3B BOSTON BARO: 1-3, RBI, K
  • RHP CALVIN ZIEGLER: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5 (3-0)

SURPRISE 8, GLENDALE 7 (BOX)

  • 1B COLE MATHIS: 0-4, R, 2 BB, 3 K
  • 2B BRUIN AGBAYANI: 0-5, RBI, K, E (3)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6 (3-1)

SALT RIVER 7, SURPRISE 2 (BOX)

  • 2B BOSTON BARO: 0-2, BB, K
  • PH-2B BRUIN AGBAYANI: 0-1, K

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7 (3-1)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 (3-2)

SCOTTSDALE 4, SURPRISE 1 (BOX)

  • 1B COLE MATHIS: 0-3, BB
  • DH BOSTON BARO: 0-3, 2 K
  • 2B BRUIN AGBAYANI: 1-3, 2 K, E (4)
  • RHP BRENDAN GIRTON: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 (3-3)

PEORIA 10, SURPRISE 4 (BOX)

RHP PEYTON PRESCOTT: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HBP

RHP IRVING COTA: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, WP

RHP CALVIN ZIEGLER: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 2 WP, L (0-1)

RHP RYAN LAMBERT: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 (3-3)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE SEASON TO DATE

BRUIN AGBAYANI: 4 G, 13 AB, . .077/.143/.154, 1 H, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 BB, 6 K, 0/0 SB, .143 BABIP

BOSTON BARO: 3 G, 8 AB, .125/.222/.125, 1 H, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 BB, 4 K, 0/0 SB, .250 BABIP

COLE MATHIS: 3 G, 11 AB, .091/.333/.091, 1 H, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 4 BB, 3 K, 0/0 SB, .125 BABIP

IRVING COTA: 2 G (0 GS), 4.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 2 ER (3.86 ERA), 3 BB, 7 K, 0 HBP, 1 WP, 0 BLK, .100 BABIP

BRENDAN GIRTON: 2 G (0 GS), 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER (0.00 ERA), 1 BB, 0 K, 0 HBP, 0 WP, 0 BLK, .333 BABIP

RYAN LAMBERT: 2 G (0 GS), 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER (0.00 ERA), 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HBP, 1 WP, 0 BLK, .000 BABIP

PEYTON PRESCOTT: 2 G (2 GS), 3.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER (9.00 ERA), 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 0 BLK, .500 BABIP

CALVIN ZIEGLER: 2 G (0 GS), 1.0 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 2 ER (36.00 ERA), 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HBP, 2 WP, 0 BLK,

.000 BABIP

Looking back at the Dodgers’ first NLCS

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 6, 1974: Ron Cey #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers slides into second base against the Pittsburgh Pirates during Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on October 6, 1974 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Herb Scharfman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dodgers on Sunday begin playing in their 18th National League Championship Series, a round that first began in 1969. The first NLCS for the Dodgers was in 1974, when Walt Alston’s Dodgers made their first postseason appearance since 1966.

This was the first full season of The Infield for the Dodgers, with National League MVP Steve Garvey at first base, Davey Lopes at second base, Bill Russell at shortstop, and Ron Cey at third base. They won 102 games, which stood as the best record by a Los Angeles Dodgers team for 43 years, but even then it took until the penultimate day to finally clinch the NL West over the Cincinnati Reds.

Tuesday, October 1 was clinching day for the Dodgers, who were in Houston to play the Astros while the Reds were in Atlanta. Cincinnati’s game ended first, and when the Braves prevailed that clinched the division for the Dodgers. It took a few minutes before fans watching Dodgers-Astros on television could see the reaction from the visiting dugout, much to the chagrin of Paul Henninger of the Los Angeles Times:

It’s ironic that the tape-delay, which has plagued baseball fans all season long on Monday nights, had to figure one more time, and on a channel that proclaimed it would bring us LIVE coverage until the Dodgers clinched the division. Everybody could treasure the glorious moment when it happened — LIVE, that is.

Dodger fans were all geared for it last Tuesday night. Channel 11 was telecasting the Dodgers game from the Atrodome. They knew the Reds were trailing. Doggett as on TV when word came. The Reds lost! Quick, cut to the Dodgers’ dugout to see the players’ reactions LIVE when they heard. Hey! They got the news! Davey Lopes was seen leaping for joy and … Vin Scully turns up on the screen frying sausage. What’s happening? Hurry up, Vinnie, flip those (deleted) links over, get on with it.

Then to compound this awful boo-boo, after the taped commercial somehow got in the way, after the initial excitement subsided, KTTV put on a tape-delay of the dugout frolics we missed. It was like reading yesterday’s newspaper. For shame, KTTV.

A different time

In the first 16 years of the League Championship Series (1969-84), the series was best-of-5, and home-field advantage alternated by division each year. It worked out that 1974 was the NL West’s year for home-field advantage, which matched up with the records, as the Dodgers were 102-60 and the Pittsburgh Pirates were 88-74.

But home-field advantage back then meant the team with the supposed advantage would first play two games on the road before coming home to play up to three games. So the Dodgers had to go to Pittsburgh first to open their playoffs.

Night games weren’t as prevalent for the postseason back then, and every game of the NLCS and ALCS were played during the daytime. Also, the schedules weren’t staggered, with both the NL and AL playing games on the same days.

1974 LCS schedules

  • Saturday, October 5: Dodgers at Pirates, 10 a.m. PT; Orioles at A’s, 1 p.m.
  • Sunday, October 6: Dodgers at Pirates, 10 a.m.; Orioles at A’s, 1 p.m.
  • Monday, October 8: A’s at Orioles, 11 a.m. PT; Pirates at Dodgers, 12:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, October 9: A’s at Orioles, 11 a.m. PT; Pirates at Dodgers, 12:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, October 10: A’s at Orioles, 11 a.m. PT; Pirates at Dodgers, 12:30 p.m.

Based on local newspapers at the time — Bob Cox in the San Pedro News-Pilot, Morton Moss in the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, and Henninger of The Times — the television coverage of the postseason was also much different from today. All NLCS games were televised locally in the Los Angeles area by KTTV, with Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett on the call, using the NBC video feed.

The national NBC call of the NLCS, which was also available locally, had Jim Simpson and Maury Wills on the call. NBC also called the ALCS, which made for a baseball doubleheader on the network on Saturday, with the main NBC team of Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek calling the ALCS. But on Sunday, NBC had NFL football with the Oakland Raiders playing the Cleveland Browns in the 10 a.m. PT slot so they didn’t show Game 2 of Dodgers-Pirates.

Games 3-5 of the LCS had the two games closer together, and NBC’s coverage plans were to televise the first game (A’s at Orioles) in full before joining Pirates at Dodgers in progress. But KTTV locally had every NLCS game live.

As it turned out, both the Dodgers and A’s closed out their LCS in four games, not needing to play Wednesday.

1974 NLCS results

There would not be an NLCS MVP award until 1977, but two Dodgers stood out for a potential 1974 NLCS MVP. Don Sutton allowed one run in 17 innings in his two starts, both wins, with 13 strikeouts, and Garvey hit .389/.421/.778 with two home runs, a double, and five RBI in the four games.

Mariners News: José Ramírez, Gavin Williams, and Giancarlo Stanton

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 10: Gavin Williams #32 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches during Game Five of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Saturday, October 10, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

We’re down to four.

The Guardians managed to escape a 2-0 series deficit and will move on to face the Rays starting Monday night. Meanwhile, the NLCS starts tonight with what might be a pitching matchup for the ages at 5:00 pm PST on Fox.

Happy Sunday everybody!

In Mariners news…

  • I like to imagine being the viewer who never saw this story, sees this question, and is left on their couch thinking, “he did WHAT??”

Around the league…

Dodgers vs. Brewers NLCS umpires led by Mark Wegner

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Umpire Mark Wegner looks on during Game Three of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Monday, October 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Major League Baseball on .. announced the umpiring crews for the League Championship Series round. For the NLCS between the Dodgers and Brewers, the umpire crew will be led by crew chief Marg Wegner

This is the 26th career postseason series for Wegner, who is in his 28th year as a major league umpire, and his 15th year as a crew chief. He worked the 2025 World Series plus the Dodgers-Phillies NLDS last season.

There are six umpires instead of four during the postseason, with left field and right field added to the standard four infield positions. In the League Championship Series and World Series, there is a seventh umpire added to the crew, providing a day of rest for one umpire each game.

Here are the umpiring assignments for Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday night at American Family Field in Milwaukee:

Home plate: Edwin Moscoso
First base: Wegner
Second base: Ryan Additon
Third base: Alan Porter
Left field: David Rackley
Right field: John Tumpane
Reserve: Chris Segal

Umpires rotate positions throughout the series, such that seven different umpires will work behind home plate should Dodgers vs. Brewers last the full seven games.

League Championship Series replay officials in New York for the two LCS are Erich Bacchus, Lance Barksdale, and Adam Beck.

PositionGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7
Home plateMoscosoSegalWegnerAdditonPorterRackleyTumpane
First baseWegnerAdditonPorterRackleyTumpaneMoscosoSegal
Second baseAdditonPorterRackleyTumpaneMoscosoSegalWegner
Third basePorterRackleyTumpaneMoscosoSegalWegnerAdditon
Left fieldRackleyTumpaneMoscosoSegalWegnerAdditonPorter
Right fieldTumpaneMoscosoSegalWegnerAdditonPorterRackley
ReserveSegalWegnerAdditonPorterRackleyTumpaneMoscoso