Baseball – Page 21 – Worldwide Sports News

October 3, 2025

“The best lineup and bullpen we've had”: Phillies ready for Dodgers in NLDS

“The best lineup and bullpen we've had”: Phillies ready for Dodgers in NLDS originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies know the challenge in front of them. The defending-champion Dodgers arrive with aspirations of repeating last year’s tune, but the Phils believe they’re just as battle-tested.

“This is probably the best lineup and bullpen we’ve had since I’ve been here,” J.T. Realmuto said. “Obviously it’s tough losing Wheeler, you can’t replace a guy like that, but our starting pitching is still very deep. We’ve got guys that have had success at this stage. I do feel like this is probably the best team we’ve had.”

Sánchez draws the spotlight

Cristopher Sánchez will get the ball in Game 1, facing Shohei Ohtani in a marquee pitching matchup. For Realmuto, the lefty’s rise has been about more than just pure stuff.

“His confidence has just grown and grown,” Realmuto said. “He’s always had really good stuff, but his command has gotten better, and that in turn has given him more confidence. He’s able to throw all three pitches where he wants, and that’s made him take another step.”

Sánchez admitted he’s leaned on Wheeler, calling him his favorite pitcher. With Wheeler sidelined, the veteran’s support hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“He was here yesterday,” Sánchez said. “He was really excited for me and everything that’s been going on with my career recently. … As far as myself, I just have to go out there and compete.”

Asked about facing Ohtani again after a rough matchup in Los Angeles, Sánchez kept it simple: “I’m focusing on controlling my emotions and performing out there.”

Ohtani and the Dodgers’ test

The Phillies already saw Ohtani dominate them in September, tossing five no-hit innings at Dodger Stadium. Realmuto didn’t play in that game, but he’s heard the reviews.

“Obviously his stuff is really good,” Realmuto said. “He mixed really well and kept guys off balance. The fastball plays up, the breaking balls are sharp. It’s obviously going to be a challenge, but hopefully seeing him a second time will help our guys.”

Alec Bohm echoed that it can’t just be about waiting for the long ball. “Especially when the playoffs roll around, every arm you’re facing is the best of the best,” Bohm said. “Guys can kind of lose themselves trying to be the hero, but it’s the little things — moving the ball around, limiting strikeouts, manufacturing runs — that wins in the end.”

Thomson on adjustments and rest

Manager Rob Thomson, who will announce his Game 2 starter on Saturday, said the key is adapting quickly.

“When you see an opponent a second time, whether it’s a pitcher seeing another lineup or an offense seeing another pitcher, it helps,” he said. “That’s when you have to make adjustments.”

He expressed that both clubs enter evenly matched. “Good starting pitching, a lot of thump in both lineups, and really good bullpens. Both teams are very evenly matched.”

Thomson isn’t concerned about rust a number of days off. “The guys are highly motivated, so I’m not worried about the mindset,” he said. “We did more velocity training, more breaking ball training, really focusing on strike-zone control. And the intrasquad game the other night did a lot for us.”

The gameplan

The Dodgers bring one of the deepest lineups in baseball, and Thomson knows it’s not just about Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Ohtani.

“They proved in the Wild Card round they can win without slugging,” he said. “They’ve got veteran hitters that grind at-bats, know the strike zone, don’t chase. You have to pitch them very, very well.”

For the Phillies, the offensive approach will be about balance.

“Our goal, no matter who we’re facing, is to get the starter out as soon as we can,” Thomson said. “But we can’t be too passive. We’ve got to keep the ball in the strike zone. That’s how you build pitch counts.”

Max Kepler said the team is ready after a long week of prep. “I feel great,” he said. “Everything we did was essential and necessary to what we have to do tomorrow. Having fans in here for the scrimmage made it feel more real. We’re ready to go.”

Urgency and unfinished business

Realmuto brushed off any suggestion that expiring contracts might alter the urgency in the clubhouse.

“We’ve always had a sense of urgency here,” he said. “Every year the ultimate goal is to win the World Series, and at the end of the day that’s all that matters.”

Bohm added that experience will matter most. “Everybody knows the games are big, but the first time around it can be a little overwhelming,” he said. “Now we’ve been through it, and I think that familiarity helps.”

October 3, 2025

'Write Rangers off at your peril' – McGlynn

Falkirk manager John McGlynn remains "wary" of struggling Rangers as he expressed sympathy for under-pressure counterpart Russell Martin.

The second-bottom Bairns trail Rangers - who have one league win in six games - by just two points before Sunday's meeting at the Falkirk Stadium.

"You can't hide from the fact that Rangers are not in a place that they want to be, but put them down at your peril," McGlynn said.

"There's no way we'll be taking it lightly at all. I'm looking for a response to the game last week.

"It wouldn't have mattered if it was Rangers or whoever we're going to be playing tomorrow. On Sunday, we'd be looking for a response from the players. That's my main theme here."

Falkirk have impressed at times in their return to the top flight, but they were well beaten 3-0 by Hearts last weekend at Tynecastle.

"It's probably the first time we've let ourselves down," the Bairns manager said. "However, I do understand that we wouldn't have been the only one that day [to get well beaten], Hearts were in a particularly good place, they were ready for whoever on that day.

"They'd just been to Ibrox and won for the first time in 14 years, sitting proudly on top of the league. They'd had a lot of time to prepare for the game, and we had a short time to prepare, and we were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were good, we were a little off it."

Rangers were beaten 2-1 by Sturm Graz in the Europa League on Thursday, a sixth defeat in 16 games for boss Martin, who continues to face abuse from his own supporters.

"Of course you [feel sympathy for him], because you're a human being," McGlynn said.

"You do feel for him. There's abuse and there's going too far. I've seen with another manager [Stuart Kettlewell at Motherwell] last season, he came away from it because of that.

"Sometimes you get guys saying to you, 'I don't know how you do it'. But we love the game. It's a huge part of it. I have a lot of sympathy because sometimes it's going too far. You can't be doing that type of thing. You shouldn't be [having to get] escorted to training and such."

October 3, 2025

'Better late than never.' How Mookie Betts salvaged the worst season of his career

Los Angeles, CA,Tuesday, September 30, 2025 - Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts connects on a pitch against the Cincinnati Reds in game 1 of the National League Wild Card series at Dodger Stadium. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) — Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts connects on a pitch against the Cincinnati Reds in game 1 of the National League Wild Card series at Dodger Stadium. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

In hindsight, Mookie Betts made the mystery of his worst career season sound rather simple.

Looking back on it now, the reasons were right there all along.

There was the stomach virus at the start of the year, which caused him to lose 20 pounds and develop bad swing habits while overcompensating for a decline in physical strength. There was the defensive switch to shortstop, which occupied much of his focus as he learned a new position on the go.

There was also an unfamiliar mental strain, as the former MVP slumped like he never had before.

There was a newfound process of having to flush such frustrations, forcing the 12-year veteran to accept failure, concede to a lost season, and reframe his mindset as the Dodgers approached the fall.

“I just accepted failing, so my thought process on failing changed,” Betts said in an introspective news conference on the eve of the playoffs.

“Instead of sulking on, ‘Well, I tried this and it failed, now I don't know where to go,’ I just used it as positive things, and eventually turned.”

Betts' full season, of course, will remain a disappointment. He posted personal low-marks in batting average (.258) and OPS (.732). He spent most of the summer with his confidence seemingly shot.

But from those depths has come a well-timed rebirth.

Amid a year of continuous turmoil, Betts finally found a way to mentally move on.

Over his final 47 games of the regular season, he batted .317 and nearly doubled his home run total, jumping from 11 on Aug. 4 to 20 by the end of the term.

During the Dodgers’ 15-5 finish to the schedule, he was one of the lineup’s hottest hitters, posting a .901 OPS that was second on the team only to Shohei Ohtani.

In the club’s wild-card-round sweep of the Cincinnati Reds, Betts’ production was even more prolific. He had six hits in the two games, including three doubles and three RBIs in the series clincher Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.

And afterward, having helped the team book a spot in the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, he reflected on his turbulent campaign again — attributing his recent success to the grind that came before it.

“I went through arguably one of the worst years of my career,” Betts said. “But I think it really made me mentally tough.”

All year, speculation swirled about the root causes of Betts’ struggles, which saw him miss the All-Star Game for the first time in a decade and bat as low as .231 through the first week of August.

His shortstop play was the most commonly blamed public culprit. The correlation, to many, seemed too obvious to ignore.

At the time, Betts pushed back against that narrative. He noted the MVP-caliber numbers he posted during his three-month stint at the position in 2024.

But this week, he finally granted some credence to the dynamic, putting the difficulties of the transition in a different, but connected, context.

“It's hard to go back and forth,” he said of the balance between learning the fundamentals of shortstop while also trying to work through his offensive scuffles. “It's a learned behavior going back [and forth] between offense and defense.”

This wasn’t a problem for Betts when he played right field, where he has six career Gold Glove awards.

“When I was in right, I didn't have to do that,” Betts said. “I was just playing right. I didn't have to think about it.”

At shortstop, on the other hand, he “had to think about everything,” from how to attack ground balls, to how to remake his throwing motion, to where to position himself for cutoff throws and relay plays.

“I was making errors I never made before,” Betts said. “I had never been in these situations.”

The Cincinnati Reds' Spencer Steer is forced out at second base by Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts on a ground ball from Gavin Lux during the first inning of Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series on Wednesday. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

It hearkened back to something teammate Freddie Freeman said about Betts early in the season.

“It’s a lot to take on, to be a shortstop in the big leagues,” Freeman said in late May. “But once he gets everything under control, I think that’s when the hitting will pick right back up.”

Eventually, that prediction came true.

By the second half of the season, Betts finally stopped thinking his way through the shortstop position, and developed a comfort level that allowed him to simply play it.

“Now when I go out and play shortstop, it's like I'm going out to right field,” Betts said. “I don't even think about it. My training is good. I believe in myself. I believe in what I can do. And now it's just like, go have fun.”

“Once short became where I didn't have to think about it anymore,” he added, “I could really think about offense.”

Shortstop, of course, failed to explain the full extent of Betts’ hitting problems. Those started with the stomach virus he suffered at the beginning of the season, which wreaked havoc on his swing as much as his body.

Even after Betts regained the weight he lost, his strength remained diminished. It left his already underwhelming bat speed a tick lower than normal. It rendered his usual swing fixes ineffective as he battled mechanical flaws to which he struggled to find answers.

“It's just hard to gain your weight and sustain strength in the middle of a season, when you've been traveling and doing all these things,” he said.

It felt like one domino kept bumping into the next. To the point where everything was on the verge of falling apart.

“My season's kind of over,” Betts ultimately declared in early August. “We're going to have to chalk [this] up for not a great season.”

That, though, is precisely when everything started to turn.

Moving forward, the 32-year-old decided then, he would commit himself to a new mindset: “I can go out and help the boys win every night,” he said. “Get an RBI, make a play, do something. I'm going to have to shift my focus there.”

Suddenly, where there was once only frustration, Betts started stacking one little victory after another. He would fist-pump sacrifice flies and ground balls that moved baserunners. He turned acrobatic plays on defense that refueled his once-dwindling confidence.

“When he kind of said that the year was lost, when he made that admission, that's when I think it sort of flipped for him,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Just freeing his mind up.”

It helped that, down the stretch, Roberts committed to keeping Betts at shortstop; last year, the Dodgers shifted Betts to the outfield when he came back from injury in August.

“I take a lot of pride in it,” said Betts, who wound up leading all MLB shortstops in defensive runs saved this year. “At the start of the season, I wasn't sure I would end the season there. I thought there may have to be an adjustment at some point, from lack of trust or whatever. I just didn't know. So I'm just proud of myself for making it all the way through the year, and actually achieving a goal that I kind of set out to do: Being a major league shortstop, and say I did it and I'm good at it.”

His bat also started to gradually come around. Part of the reason was simple. “I was just able to finally get my strength back,” he said. But much of it was the result of hard work, with Betts spending long hours in the cage with not only the Dodgers’ hitting coaches, but former teammate and longtime swing confidant J.D. Martinez as well (who worked with Betts during both an August trip to Florida and a visit to Los Angeles for Betts’ charity pickleball tournament a few weeks later).

“I didn't really have to try and add on power anymore,” Betts said. “I could just swing and let it do its thing.”

All of it amounted to one long process of Betts learning to move on. From his early physical ailments. From his persistent mental anguish. From a set of season-long challenges unlike any he’d previously endured.

“Slowly but surely,” Betts said, “started to get better and better.”

And now, entering Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday, it has him back in a leading role for the Dodgers’ pursuit of a second straight World Series title: Starting at shortstop, swinging a hot bat, and having solved the mystery of a season that once looked lost.

“Better late than never,” he quipped Wednesday night. “It's just one of those things where, you've just gotta keep going, man … So now, there's just a different level of focus."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

October 3, 2025

Trade Duran? Re-sign Schwarber? Exploring bold Red Sox offseason moves

Trade Duran? Re-sign Schwarber? Exploring bold Red Sox offseason moves originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox are a good baseball team … that could be a whole lot better.

That much was evident over the last three days, which saw the Red Sox take Game 1 of their American League Wild Card series vs. New York Yankees thanks to a dominant outing by ace Garrett Crochet, only to falter in Games 2 and 3 due to a combination of subpar defense, a light-hitting lineup and a lack of pitching depth.

The good news is that Boston should get a boost in 2026 from the returns of injured position players Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Triston Casas, as well as pitchers Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford. But if this team is serious about making a deep postseason run, then more investment is needed in a roster that simply had too many holes this season.

So, what moves should chief baseball officer Craig Breslow make this offseason to help Boston take the next step?

MLB reporter Joon Lee joined Boston Sports Tonight from Yankee Stadium after Game 3 on Thursday night to propose two roster-altering decisions for the Red Sox.

Change of scenery for Jarren Duran?

Jarren Duran is one of Boston’s longest-tenured players and can be a tone-setter on offense when he’s at his best. But he’s also prone to offensive cold streaks and defensive lapses. If the Red Sox want to add an impact starting pitcher, perhaps they’d consider trading Duran and rolling with an outfield of Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu in 2026.

“I am curious to see what the future of Jarren Duran on the Red Sox looks like, because that Game 2 mistake is unacceptable,” Lee said, referring to Duran’s costly drop of a fly ball that allowed a Yankees run to score.

“I know that he is a cult hero in Boston at this point, but there’s so many things where there are mistakes on the margins that add up and in big moments really, really expand, and I think that Duran has had so many of those opportunities this season where he has kind of dropped the ball.

“I think it would be good for a change of temperature within the club, given how much weight they’ve put on him and how much I think the team really rides his emotional ups and downs throughout the course of the year.”

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Reunion with Kyle Schwarber?

All Kyle Schwarber has done since the Red Sox let him walk in 2021 free agency is mash 187 home runs (tied for the second-most in baseball behind only Aaron Judge) and drive in 434 runs (fourth-most in baseball).

And while the 32-year-old should command a relatively large contract this winter after a career year with the Phillies — 56 home runs and an MLB-leading 132 RBI — he can probably be had on a short-term deal.

“I think Kyle Schwarber is a guy that they should go out and try to get, because whether it’s at first base or at designated hitter, we’ve seen him play in Boston already,” Lee said. “We know that he steps up in those big moments and he can hit those home runs.

“He’s at a point in his career where the game has changed and his game is actually going to age pretty well, especially if he continues to only play first base and designated hit. He’s got the power-hitter swing. He’s got the bat speed, he’s not relying on his athleticism, and I think he’s relatively going to age well and not cost $50 million a year. Like, this isn’t a Juan Soto contract situation.

“So, if you can keep a lot of that offensive core that I think elevated this team this past offseason and bring in a guy like Kyle Schwarber, I think that’s what will help take the team to the next level.”

Check out the video below for more from Lee and co-hosts Mike Felger and Tom Giles on the Red Sox offseason:

October 3, 2025

Dodgers at Phillies – NLDS Game 1 prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats

The National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies begins Saturday afternoon in the City of the Brotherly Shove. It is truly a must-watch event for all baseball fans.

The series features teams with storied histories and a litany of current day stars. The biggest of those luminaries is Shohei Ohtani who will start Game 1 on the mound for Los Angeles. In doing so, the right hander will become the first player in the history of the playoffs to start one game on the bump and another as a non-pitcher in the same postseason. Shohei enjoyed a 50-50 season with over 50 home runs and over 50 strikeouts. One of Ohtani’s 14 starts this season was against the Phillies back on September 16. The Dodgers’ all-everything threw five hitless innings that day.

Cristopher Sanchez (13-5, 2.49 ERA) will oppose Ohtani. The southpaw has not allowed a run in his last two starts yielding just five hits over 12.2 innings. The Phillies have won five of his last six starts.

The Phillies won 96 games during the regular season playing especially well down the stretch winning 19 of their final 30 games and averaging 5.1 runs per game to close out the regular season and run away with the National League East crown. Kyle Schwarber had a monster season playing all 162 games and clubbing a team-high 56 home runs and driving in 132 runs.

Lets dive deeper into the numbers and trends and see if we can find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Dodgers at Phillies

Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 6:38PM EST
Site: Citizens Bank Park
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: TBS

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Dodgers at the Phillies - Game 1

The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:

Moneyline: Dodgers (+101), Phillies (-123)
Spread: Dodgers -1.5 (+171)
Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Phillies - Game 1

Pitching matchup for October 4, 2025: Shohei Ohtani vs. Cristopher Sánchez
- Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani (1-1, 2.87 ERA)
  Ohtani’s last 2 starts were his longest and best to date as he threw 11 shutout innings allowing just 5 hits while striking out 13
- Phillies: Cristopher Sánchez (13-5, 2.49 ERA)
  Sanchez flirted with contention for the Cy Young this season. He was outstanding in September allowing a total of 6 runs over 5 starts (32.2 innings) with 31 strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Dodgers at Phillies

The Phillies have won 7 of their last 10 games against teams with winning records
The Under has cashed in the Phillies' last 4 games
The Phillies have failed to cover the Run Line in their last 8 games with a rest advantage over their opponents
The Dodgers hit 5 HRs and scored 18 runs in their 2-game sweep of the Reds in the Wild Card round
The Phillies defeated the Dodgers 4 games to 1 in their last postseason meeting (2009)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Phillies

Rotoworld Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Saturday's game between the Dodgers and the Phillies:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Los Angeles Dodgers at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
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Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

October 3, 2025

Brewers’ improved lineup could help them stop their recent history of playoff misfortune

MILWAUKEE — Pitching generally has carried the Milwaukee Brewers as they’ve made their run of seven postseason appearances over the last eight years.

This year, they might have the type of offense that can produce more playoff success.

Milwaukee posted the best record in the major leagues this year while having the second-best earned run average. But the Brewers also scored 806 runs — their most since 1999 — to rank third in the majors.

They’ve done it without hitting many homers and instead relying on plate discipline and speed. They will try to keep that going when they host the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of an NL Division Series.

“You have good swing decisions, you make them throw strikes, you get free bases or you get pitches to hit,” second baseman Brice Turang said.

The Brewers swung at the fewest percentage of pitches outside the strike zone across the majors. Hitting coach Al LeBoeuf says the Brewers can preach that mentality up and down the lineup because 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich believes in it.

“Christian understands the fact that’s the way we have to play,” LeBoeuf said. “He just passes the baton and spreads the message, ‘Hey, here’s the way we’ve got to play.’”

Manager Pat Murphy delivers his own pointed message.

“If you chase, you don’t play,” Murphy said. “The guys with the best ability to control the strike zone are going to play.”

That’s what the Brewers told first baseman Andrew Vaughn when they called him up from the minors after acquiring him from the Chicago White Sox. Vaughn had an .869 OPS in 64 games with Milwaukee, up from .531 in his 48 games with the White Sox.

“The message was control the strike zone, get on base and score runs,” Vaughn said. “Just be stubborn.”

The Brewers’ .332 on-base percentage was the second-highest in MLB.

They also wreak havoc once they reach base. Milwaukee’s 164 steals ranked second in the majors.

That explains how the Brewers scored so many runs despite hitting just 166 homers to rank 22nd. Murphy compares his hitters to woodpeckers because they keep pecking away throughout games.

“These guys are a handful,” Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said. “When you play them, even when you beat them, you’re tired. They have a lot of ways to come at you.”

Outfielder Sal Frelick says he can tell how the Brewers’ speed bothers opposing defenses.

“It’s not even the actual stealing bases part. Just having the threat of it,” Frelick said. “Pitchers maybe have to slide-step, which makes them not throw as many strikes. And with a speedy guy on first, a hitter’s probably going to get more fastballs because (a pitcher) doesn’t want to throw curveballs in the dirt or offspeed pitches that you can steal on.”

Although Milwaukee didn’t have a single All-Star position player, several Brewers outperformed their career norms.

Frelick’s OPS is .756, up from .655 last season. Turang has seen his OPS soar from .585 in his 2023 rookie season to .794 this year.

As a longtime Brewers minor league coach in the majors for the first time this year, LeBoeuf has seen both Frelick and Turang develop. LeBoeuf noted Turang adjusted this swing to turn the barrel out in front, giving him more bat speed. He mentioned Frelick’s “tremendous hands” and improved bat-to-ball skills.

The Brewers got big contributions from a pair of rookies as well.

Caleb Durbin, acquired in the deal that sent two-time All-Star reliever Devin Williams to the New York Yankees, was hitting just .186 on May 23 but batted .277 the rest of the way. Isaac Collins had a .368 on-base percentage in 130 games.

It took a while for this lineup to get going.

When the Brewers were 25-28 on May 24, they were ranked 14th in MLB in total runs, 21st in on-base percentage (.311) and 28th in slugging percentage (.354). Yelich was returning from back surgery, two-time All-Star William Contreras was playing through a broken finger, and both had slow starts.

But the Brewers ranked second in total runs, first in on-base percentage (.343) and eight in slugging percentage (.426) the rest of the way. The lineup surged even after LeBoeuf was away from the team for three weeks in July to undergo surgery for prostate cancer. Leboeuf said last week he feels great and that “winning ballgames has made it a lot easier to digest.”

“I think that just goes back to just having a better idea of who we are as an offense and really shaping that identity throughout the year,” Durbin said. “I think once we hit June, we were really taking off with that approach and being really comfortable with who we are as an offense. We knew all the different ways we could score.”

They haven’t been scoring quite as much lately, creating consternation among Brewers fans bracing for more October disappointment. The Brewers didn’t exceed four runs in any of their last nine regular-season games.

Starting with their Game 7 home loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2018 NL Championship Series, the Brewers have dropped 11 of their last 13 playoff games. They scored over four runs in just one of those 13 games, a 5-3 Game 2 victory over the New York Mets in last year’s NL Wild Card Series.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re the Brewers, Dodgers or whoever,” Yelich said. “Runs are hard to come by in the postseason because you’re facing all the best pitchers, all the leverage arms out of the bullpen.”

Yet the Brewers believe their resourcefulness at the plate and on the basepaths could make their offense particularly well suited for the postseason.

“You look at a lot of offenses with teams that hit a lot of homers,” Frelick said. “When those offenses aren’t hitting homers, you kind of see them not scoring as many runs. I think in our case, that’s not how we play anyway. When we’re not getting 12 hits a game, we’re still able to score runs because that’s how we have to score runs, by playing smallball, moving runners and stuff like that.”

October 3, 2025

Ryan McMahon flips head over heels into Red Sox dugout to make highlight-reel catch for Yankees

NEW YORK — Ryan McMahon looked up and saw Jarren Duran’s foul popup veering toward the Boston bench.

Without hesitation, the New York Yankees third baseman raced over. As he made a running catch, McMahon hit the padded railing and flipped head over heels into the Red Sox dugout, crashing to the ground while hanging onto the ball.

Fortunate he didn’t get hurt, McMahon jumped right to his feet and quickly bolted out of enemy territory. He joined his happy teammates on the field as the crowd at Yankee Stadium roared.

“I didn’t feel anything,” McMahon said. “Just kept rolling with the adrenaline, popped back up and I was just excited to make the play.”

McMahon’s courageous catch in the eighth inning helped New York close out a 4-0 win over Boston in the deciding Game 3 of their AL Wild Card Series, advancing the Yankees to a best-of-five Division Series against Toronto.

It was a play that brought back memories of shortstop Derek Jeter’s famous grab for New York when he sprinted to snare Trot Nixon’s popup and crashed into the Yankee Stadium seats along the left-field line in the 12th inning of a game against the Red Sox on July 1, 2004.

McMahon, however, wasn’t about to compare the two web gems.

“We’re not going to do that. Completely different scale,” he said.

OK, perhaps Jeter’s headfirst dive into the stands was more dangerous. But the stakes in this game were significantly higher.

McMahon’s highlight-reel catch secured the second out of the eighth for rookie starter Cam Schlittler, who struck out 12 in a dominant playoff performance.

“I was just chasing it down,” McMahon said. “All of a sudden I was going over the rail. Just glad to get the catch, get the out for Cam. He was rolling, so I just wanted to keep his momentum going.”

McMahon didn’t start for the second time in the series because the Red Sox started a left-hander on the mound. He entered on defense in the sixth for Amed Rosario with the Yankees protecting a lead.

Two innings later, McMahon left his mark on a memorable game.

“Unreal. Glad he’s OK,” teammate Giancarlo Stanton said. “Just shows how good he is, how hard he plays.”

McMahon ran 75 feet to complete the catch — with a hard somersault landing at the end.

“That was amazing,” Schlittler said.

McMahon, an All-Star last year, was acquired in a trade from the last-place Colorado Rockies on July 23 to solidify New York’s defense at third base and provide another left-handed bat.

He hit .208 in 54 regular-season games for the Yankees but had a .971 fielding percentage.

“It’s plays like that in crunch time, that’s why you go out and get a guy like that,” New York captain Aaron Judge said.

October 3, 2025

Cam Schlittler’s playoff gem for Yankees against rival Red Sox prompts Aaron Boone to say `A star is born’

NEW YORK — Cam Schlittler’s key to putting Boston Red Sox bats to sleep was his own slumber.

Making only his 15th major league start, Schlittler struck out 12 in eight dominant innings as the New York Yankees blanked Boston 4-0 to win their AL Wild Card Series in a deciding third game.

Overpowering hitters with 100 mph heat in a winner-take-all elimination game, the 24-year-old rookie became the first pitcher in postseason history to throw at least eight shutout innings with 12 or more strikeouts and no walks.

Against the archrival Red Sox, no less, the team he grew up rooting for in Massachusetts.

“A star is born tonight,” manager Aaron Boone proclaimed after his Yankees advanced to a Division Series matchup with Toronto.

Schlittler prepared for the big moment by speaking with Yankees great Andy Pettitte, a five-time World Series champion and winner of a record 19 postseason games.

“I got really good sleep last night. I wasn’t too worried about it,” Schlittler said. “I woke up and I was locked in, so I knew exactly what I needed to do and go out there, especially against my hometown team. So as I told Andy yesterday, I wasn’t going to let them beat me. So I was just overconfident in that fact, making sure I wasn’t getting too carried away with it.”

The 6-foot-6 Schlittler started the season at Double-A Somerset, was promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 3 and debuted in the majors July 9 after Clarke Schmidt injured his elbow.

Schlittler grew up a Red Sox fan in Walpole, Massachusetts, but has said several times he wanted to play for the Yankees. He had faced Boston only once before, as a freshman at Northeastern in a 2020 spring training exhibition.

He outpitched Connelly Early, a 23-year-old left-hander who debuted on Sept. 9 and became Boston’s youngest postseason starting pitcher since 21-year-old Babe Ruth in 1916. Schlittler threw 11 pitches 100 mph or faster — including six in the first inning, one more than all Yankees pitchers had combined for previously since pitch tracking started in 2008.

“He is not afraid. He expects this,” Boone said.

Schlitter’s strikeouts were two more than any other Yankees pitcher had in his postseason debut. He allowed just five singles and threw 75 of 107 pitches for strikes, starting 22 of 29 batters with strikes and topping out at 100.8 mph.

“Impressive, but he’s been our secret weapon ever since he got called up,” Yankees captain Aaron Judge said. “No moment is too big for him.”

His cap pulled low, just like Pettitte, Schlittler got 18 swings and misses — 11 on fastballs.

“Electric stuff,” said Boston’s Alex Bregman, a two-time World Series champion.

New York took the lead with a four-run fourth set up when Cody Bellinger’s soft fly dropped in front of center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela. Amed Rosario and Anthony Volpe each had an RBI single before Austin Wells hit a potential double-play grounder that glanced off first baseman Nathaniel Lowe’s glove and into shallow right field as two runs scored on the error.

Schlittler kept his head bowed when he walked to the dugout after his final out in the eighth, showing only the slightest emotion with a small fist pump and tip of his cap to the capacity crowd of 48,833 at Yankee Stadium.

“As pressure-packed a game as I have ever been in, as a player, manager, going into the World Series, that’s clinching to go into a World Series, just because the context in my brain of what I think our team is,” Boone said.

Schlittler hadn’t reached double digits in strikeouts since pitching for Northeastern against James Madison on April 17, 2022, three months before the Yankees made him a seventh-round draft pick and signed him for a $205,000 bonus.

“I think it’s a testament to him and his work ethic and his determination and his mindset. He comes from a great background. His family and coaches I think gave him a lot of positive mentorship that allowed him to be the best he could be,” Yankees northeast amateur scout Matt Hyde said. “I kept watching him coming back to the dugout and he was keeping his head down. He was going about his business.”

Schlittler has a WHOOP device affixed to his left shoulder that sends measurements to an app on his phone, tracking heartbeat, strain, levels of sleep and recovery. The company that makes it is based in Kenmore Square, down the block from Fenway Park in Boston.

“I got 96% recovery two nights ago and then I got like 93 last night,” he said. “I was really comfortable, last night going to bed and being confident in myself.”

October 3, 2025

Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler takes down hometown Cleveland Guardians in Wild Card Series clincher

CLEVELAND — Dillon Dingler grew up rooting for the Cleveland Guardians. But in Game 3, he sent them home.

Playing in the ballpark where he attended many games as a youngster, the second-year catcher hit a go-ahead solo homer in the sixth inning to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 6-3 victory over Cleveland in the decisive game of their AL Wild Card Series.

Dingler also threw out José Ramírez trying to steal second at a pivotal juncture, helping the Tigers reach the Division Series for the second consecutive season.

“It’s obviously cool. I was always a longtime Guardians fan growing up,” said Dingler, raised about 55 miles from Cleveland in Massillon, Ohio. “It was special. Every time we come here, a lot of family, a lot of friends cheering on, and it’s kind of cool because all of them are Guardians fans.

“Ultimately, it was very special. Kind of closing the door, winning this series.”

Dingler had 16 family members and friends at a Tigers-Guardians game earlier this season. For Game 3, it was only his parents and wife.

Dingler went 8 for 22 in his last six regular-season games, but he was hitless in nine at-bats in the playoff series before coming to the plate with the score tied 1-all and two outs in the sixth.

He got an elevated changeup on a 1-1 count from left-hander Joey Cantillo and launched it 401 feet into the bleachers in left-center to give the Tigers the lead.

Dingler became the first Detroit batter to homer for his first postseason hit since Nick Castellanos in a 2014 Division Series against Baltimore.

Dingler also joined Parker Meadows (2024 Wild Card Series) and Marty Castillo (1984 World Series) as the only rookies in franchise history to hit go-ahead home runs in the postseason.

“I was scratching and crawling a little bit. I was able to get a pitch to hit and do a little damage,” Dingler said. “The team with the biggest momentum or the most momentum was the one that was going to carry on.”

Dingler went to Ohio State and was a second-round pick in the 2020 amateur draft. He made his major league debut last July and his first opening-day roster this season. He then became Detroit’s everyday catcher when Jake Rogers got hurt early in the year and took advantage of the opportunity.

Dingler, who turned 27 on Sept. 17, had a .278 batting average in 126 games along with 13 home runs and 57 RBIs. He also had nine three-hit games this season, tied for second-most among catchers in the majors.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, a former catcher himself, said Dingler’s stability and presence behind the plate have been huge.

“What he’s given us on the offensive side is exceptional,” Hinch said. “Our pitchers trust him. You have to earn that. You can’t just show up, be a big leaguer, put on a big league uniform and get that. Inevitably, you have to go out and do it.”

Right-hander Kyle Finnegan, who got the win by retiring all four Cleveland batters he faced, also lauded Dingler’s composure.

“He’s a great target to throw to and it gives you a lot of confidence even when things aren’t going your way. He has a way to calm you down and get you back in the strike zone,” Finnegan said. “And I mean, for him to hit a big one over there is amazing.”

The series win over the AL Central champion Guardians gave the wild-card Tigers plenty of satisfaction. Detroit was up 15 1/2 games on Cleveland in early July and 11 games on Sept. 4 before the biggest collapse in division or league play in baseball history.

Detroit lost five of six to Cleveland over the past two weeks as the Guardians won the division for the second straight season.

The victory also avenged last year’s loss to the Guardians in the deciding Game 5 of their Division Series.

“It doesn’t matter how you get (to the postseason). We got here,” Tigers outfielder Riley Greene said. “We’re moving on and we feel great.”

After having one of the AL’s best records through August, the Tigers are hoping they’ve got back their groove when the Division Series begins in Seattle.

“We had our ups and we certainly had our downs. Careful — maybe we’ve woken a sleeping giant with this team,” owner Christopher Ilitch said in the jubilant clubhouse after the game.

October 3, 2025

Dansby Swanson leads stellar defensive performance for Cubs in NL Wild Card Series

CHICAGO — Dansby Swanson just kept making plays for the Chicago Cubs in the NL Wild Card Series. Grounders up the middle and in the hole. Soft liners and popups.

The shortstop, a two-time Gold Glove winner, was in the right place every time — drawing high praise from San Diego manager Mike Shildt in defeat.

“We play great defense, but Dansby Swanson absolutely beat us with his glove this series,” Shildt said.

With Swanson leading the way, Chicago turned in another sharp defensive performance while eliminating San Diego with a clinching 3-1 victory. In a three-game series that only had 11 runs, the Cubs won with their gloves more than their bats.

“When you can limit their chances because you catch the ball, it makes a difference,” Swanson said, “and I think that that was on display the last three days.”

Defense was part of Chicago’s identity all season long, helping the Cubs to a 92-70 record and the top NL wild card.

It starts with Swanson, second baseman Nico Hoerner — a Gold Glove winner in 2023 — and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong up the middle. But left fielder Ian Happ has three Gold Gloves, and right fielder Kyle Tucker — who has been serving as the team’s designated hitter while recovering from a calf injury — is a former Gold Glove winner.

Rookie Matt Shaw has played terrific defense at third, and first baseman Michael Busch and catcher Carson Kelly also are highly regarded for their defense.

“Our defense up the middle, Carson behind the plate, those guys want the plays,” pitcher Jameson Taillon said. “They want to make the plays. They want the ball. That’s what makes great defenders.”

Crow-Armstrong gave Taillon a lift with a sliding catch on Manny Machado’s sinking liner for the final out of the first inning. The 23-year-old Crow-Armstrong should be in the mix for his first Gold Glove this year.

“That’s my job. That’s what I’m out here to do,” he said. “That’s why I’m on this team, is to go play center field. If I hit, then that’s just the added bonus.”

Busch reached over the railing in front of the visiting dugout to retire Machado on a foul popup in the fourth. He also managed to stay on the bag when he reached up to grab Shaw’s high throw on Jake Cronenworth’s grounder for the second out of the ninth.

Swanson made a pair of nice plays on Luis Arraez. First, he knocked down Arraez’s leadoff liner in the fourth before throwing him out. Then he made a slick stop on Arraez’s grounder in the sixth.

Machado walked after the play in the sixth, but he was erased when Swanson started a 6-3 double play on Jackson Merrill’s grounder.

“The defense certainly stands out tonight, especially our middle infielders,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “Pete this series, Matt Shaw this series, like absolutely some huge plays.”

The 31-year-old Swanson, a World Series winner with Atlanta in 2021, also made a big play in Game 1 when he had an over-the-shoulder grab on Ryan O’Hearn’s soft liner at a key moment in the Cubs’ 3-1 victory.

“It’s kind of been a staple of our group all year,” Swanson said. “We have so many talented defenders and guys that can prevent runs being scored. We talk about it all the time. Winning baseball is a race to 27 outs. The quicker you can get there, obviously the more games that you’re going to win.”

October 3, 2025

Stay or Go: Should the Mets re-sign Edwin Diaz?

Right after the Mets' season ended, Edwin Diaz was asked about his opt-out. And he was not ready to declare publicly that he is exercising it.

"Not yet. I was waiting for the season to be over to go home, talk to my family -- always I like to make decisions with my family," Diaz said. "I want my family to feel comfortable, feel like part of my decision. Now I'm going home, I will start thinking about that and see what happens in the future."

Diaz was also asked whether he would want to return to the Mets if he opts out.

"Yeah, of course," he said. "I love this organization. They treat me really, really good. My family, everything. If I decide to opt out I would love to come back."

While Diaz hasn't stated his intentions just yet, it will be shocking if he doesn't opt out of the final two years of the five-year, $102 million contract he signed after the 2022 season -- when the Mets locked him up in November during their exclusive negotiating window.

Diaz, who will be entering his age-32 season in 2026, is coming off a year where he was one of the best and most dominant relievers in baseball. And it's fair to believe that he'll easily be able to exceed what's left on his current deal in terms of both years and dollars.

So Diaz opting out is just a matter of time it seems.

When he does, should the Mets bring him back?

Apr 17, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) enters the field during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. / Vincent Carchietta - Imagn Images

WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO LET DIAZ GO

With Tanner Scott prying a four-year $72 million dollar deal from the Dodgers last offseason and then responding by posting a 4.74 ERA and the worst strikeout rate of his career, those in Diaz's camp can argue that someone of Diaz's caliber deserves a five-or six-year contract worth in excess of $20 million annually.

But it's hard to see Diaz getting that, given his age and the fact that the biggest deal ever given to a reliever in terms of present day value was to Josh Hader -- and it's difficult to envision a 32-year-old eclipsing that. Hader got a five-year, $95 million deal ahead of the 2024 season before his age-30 season. The deal Diaz signed after the 2022 season, while $7 million more than Hader's, had a significant portion deferred.

Another thing to consider is that Diaz's average fastball velocity has been slowly starting to tick down.

He averaged an outrageous 99.1 mph in 2022 in the season before he suffered the knee injury that kept him out for all of 2023.

When Diaz returned in 2024, his average fastball velocity was 97.5 mph. In 2025, it was 97.2 mph.

In a world where Diaz's fastball starts to significantly dip, he could be especially hittable since his only other viable pitch is his slider.

It's also fair to wonder how many lucrative, long-term contracts the Mets are comfortable having on the books.

With Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Brandon Nimmo all under contract through at least 2030, would New York be comfortable adding long deals to Diaz and potentially Pete Alonso to that group?

Sep 25, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz (39) gestures after getting the final out against the Chicago Cubs during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. / David Banks-Imagn Images

WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO KEEP DIAZ

Now that I'm done grasping at straws trying to come up with reasons to let Diaz go...

Diaz has shown no real sign of slowing down, fresh off a season where he had a 1.63 ERA (2.28 FIP) and 0.87 WHIP with 98 strikeouts in 66.1 innings.

Since his forgettable 2019 debut season with New York, here's what Diaz has done over his last five seasons:

270.1 innings pitched
2.36 ERA
0.97 WHIP
14.6 strikeouts per nine

The stuff (while the fastball velo is a bit down from its peak) remains filthy.

Diaz ranked in the 99th percentile this past season when it came to xERA, xBA, whiff percentage, and strikeout percentage. He was in the 89th percentile or better in fastball velocity, barrel percentage, and extension. His ground ball rate, chase percentage, and the average exit velocity against him all graded out well above average.

Batters hit .133 with a .200 slugging percentage against Diaz's fastball in 2025, while hitting .179 with a .269 slugging percentage against his slider.

New York Mets pitcher Edwin Daz (39) reacts after the final out of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. / Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

In addition to what Diaz brings on the mound (and he's been incredibly reliable, making 54 or more appearances each of the last four seasons), there are the intangibles.

Diaz has not only embraced New York, but has proved that he can thrive here.

He also has a serious desire to be a Met, which he showed while quickly re-signing following the 2022 campaign and with his comments after this season.

VERDICT

This should be the easiest decision the Mets make all offseason.

Beyond all the arguments in favor of Diaz is the fact that the Mets don't have anyone in line to replace him.

New York's bullpen for 2026 is basically Brooks Raley, A.J. Minter (who should be back healthy after missing most of this season due to a lat injury), and a whole bunch of question marks.

For a team that is going to enter next season with the expectation of contending for a World Series, finding a closer is of huge importance.

And they don't have to go far for him.

October 3, 2025

Fantasy Baseball 2025 Catcher Breakdown: Cal Raleigh’s power surge and 2026 rankings

With the 2025 MLB regular season behind us, it's time to review what we learned from a fantasy perspective and how we can apply it to next year.

In the coming days throughout October, we'll be breaking down the standout seasons, the breakout candidates, the prospects to know, and our early 2026 rankings.

We'll start at the catcher position, where one historic season stood out from the pack.

2026 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft: Nick Kurtz in the first? Where does Gunnar Henderson go?

It’s never too early to look ahead. The Rotoworld Baseball crew and friends conduct an early 2026 mock draft to reflect on the 2025 season, identify risers and fallers, and set the tone for next year.

Eric Samulski,

2025 POSITION BREAKDOWN: CATCHER

️ STATE OF THE POSITION

This probably won’t gain a ton of traction, but 2025 could be described as the Year of the Catcher. Cal Raleigh hit 60 homers and will finish first or second in the AL MVP balloting. Will Smith had a shot at the NL batting crown and finishing in the top five in the circuit in OPS until missing most of September. Salvador Perez and Shea Langeliers became the first catchers since 1999 and just the 11th and 12th all-time to finish with 30 homers and 30 doubles. Drake Baldwin is the favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year, with Agustín Ramírez and Carlos Narváez also posting top-five finishes in their respective leagues.

In all, catchers had an OPS just 19 points lower than the league average of .719. That’s easily the closest mark in the years since the NL adopted the DH and pitchers stopped dragging down the league average. They produced most homers (604) than any position besides DH, first base and right field.

One imagines that OPS gap could narrow even further in future years, what with the ABS challenge system debuting in 2026 and devaluing catcher framing at least a little. It won’t produce a revolution -- the Giants probably won’t be casting Patrick Bailey aside just yet -- but if the number of challenges granted increases from two misses per game in year one to three or more down the line, framing will become less of a priority in selecting backstops.

2025’s Top Five Catchers

1. Cal Raleigh (Mariners)

.247/.359/.589. 60 HR, 110 R, 125 RBI, 14 SB

An outstanding real-world player who received AL MVP votes in both 2023 and ’24, Raleigh used to be held back for fantasy purposes by his struggles to hit for average while playing half of his games in an extreme pitcher’s park. His incredible breakthrough saw him best his previous career highs by 26 homers, 25 RBI, 32 runs scored and 15 points of average. He even stole twice as many bases and he did in his first 3 1/3 seasons combined. He’ll enter 2026 as the highest-drafted catcher this decade.

CAL.
RALEIGH.
60. pic.twitter.com/p8RXormx4q
— MLB (@MLB) September 25, 2025

2. Hunter Goodman (Rockies)

.278/.323/.520, 31 HR, 73 R, 91 RBI, 1 SB

Goodman opened 2025 as a popular sleeper dogged with questions about playing time; just 19 of his 57 starts for the Rockies in 2024 came as a catcher, and he spent the spring battling for a spot to back up Jacob Stallings. Fortunately, the Rockies made the right call for once, turning Goodman into an everyday player between catcher and DH, and he wound up becoming the team’s All-Star rep. Goodman’s plate discipline remains an issue, but with Coors helping him along, he should again put up excellent power numbers, perhaps with a reduction in batting average.

3. Shea Langeliers (Athletics)

.277/.325/.536, 31 HR, 73 R, 72 RBI, 7 SB

It figured that the move from Oakland to Sacramento would give A’s hitters a nice boost, but that wasn’t the driving force here; Langeliers hit .278 with 12 homers at home and .274 with 19 homers in 29 fewer at-bats on the road. The big change was that Langeliers struck out just 20% of the time, down from 29% in 2023 and 27% last year, and he obviously did so without losing any power. Statcast thinks he was rather lucky, particularly in collecting 31 homers with 42 barrels. He also remains subpar defensively, though it’s not going to cost him playing time in the short term.

4. William Contreras (Brewers)

.260/.355/.399, 17 HR, 89 R, 76 RBI, 6 SB

Fantasy baseball’s top catcher in 2023 and ’24, Contreras suffered a finger fracture in May and simply spent the rest of the season playing through it. He was already off to a slow start before the injury and he did little for the two months after getting hurt, but he did pick it up in the end, hitting .293/.380/.510 with 11 homers in his final 51 games. Given that his decline is easily explainable, there’s good reason to think a bounce-back is in store for his age-28 campaign.

5. Salvador Perez (Royals)

.236//284/.446, 30 HR, 54 R, 100 RBI, 0 SB

The .236 average, his second lowest ever barely ahead of a .235 mark in 2019, suggests that Perez was in decline at age 35. Still, it’s really the only thing in his numbers that gives rise to the theory. He had a whopping 70 barrels in 155 games. That’s barely behind his career-best total of 74 from his 48-homer season in 2021. His 46% hard-hit rate was also better than his career average, and his 19.5% strikeout tare was his lowest mark since 2017. Statcast gave him a .365 xwOBA for his high mark since 2021 and third highest in the 11 seasons of Statcast. He’ll be back as an everyday player in 2026, and with Carter Jensen’s emergence in Kansas City, he figures to spend more time at DH, which shouldn’t be a bad thing.

Ben Rice's second home run of the game puts the @Yankees ahead pic.twitter.com/wolMT76XbQ
— MLB (@MLB) September 28, 2025

2026 Breakouts

Ben Rice (Yankees)

If you put stock in Statcast’s expected stats, Rice already busted out; he finished 2025 with a .299 xBA and a .581 xSLG that were far about his perfectly solid actual marks of .255 and .499. He’ll likely be the Yankees’ primary first baseman next year, but hopefully he’ll catch often enough to maintain eligibility going in 2027.

Gabriel Moreno (Diamondbacks)

Moreno has been around long enough that it’s easy to forget he’s just turning 26 in February. His exit velocity numbers have gotten a little better each season, and he managed a .285 average and nine homers in 83 games while healthy this season. Durability is a concern, but a healthy campaign would probably make him a top-12 catcher in 2026.

Francisco Alvarez (Mets)

Alvarez opened the season on the injured list and probably should have finished it there, given the degree of the injuries he dealt with in September. He also spent a month in the minors due to a combination of subpar offense and defense. Still, when Alvarez was able to strike the ball, he usually crushed it, finishing with a 54% hard-hit rate that ranked 13th of the 309 players with 250 plate appearances. His contract issues haven’t gone anywhere, but he’s a 30-homer threat.

Kyle Teel (White Sox)

Picking up Teel from the Red Sox in the Garrett Crochet trade gave the White Sox two top-flight catching prospects, and Edgar Quero was able to win the race to the majors in 2025, joining the team in mid-April. Still, it was Teel who won out in the end, hitting .273/.375/.411 in 297 plate appearances and also looking more promising defensively, even if he still needs some polish there. That, as a left-handed hitter, he’ll probably sit against most lefties while playing for what still figures to be a rather weak team in 2026 dims his short-term prospects some, but he’s already pretty good and sure to get better.

SAMUEL BASALLO’S FIRST CAMDEN YARDS HOME RUN IS A WALK-OFF pic.twitter.com/AYoEIvgo1e
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 6, 2025

2026 Prospects To Know

Samuel Basallo (Orioles)

Instead of bringing him up when the most needed him with Adley Rutschman and Gary Sánchez down, the Orioles waited until Aug. 17 to promote Basallo from Triple-A, just because they wanted him Rookie of the Year eligible next season. They then signed him to an eight-year, $67 million that took away any incentive for sending him back to the minors. It’s clear they think they can make it work with both Basallo and Rutschman for now (sending Ryan Mountcastle packing will likely be part of the deal), and Basallo could be a top fantasy catcher right away while spending considerable time at DH and maybe first base. In Triple-A last year, he hit 23 homers and posted an outstanding 58% hard-hit rate in 76 games.

Carter Jensen (Royals)

The Royals should have some regrets about not immediately promoting Jensen after trading Freddy Fermin to the Padres at the deadline. Jensen did come up in September and hit .300/.391/.550 in 69 plate appearances. He could have done even better; with his 10 barrels and 28 hard-hit balls in 48 events, Statcast had him with a .355 xBA and a .660 xSLG. Jensen might not play much against lefties as he likely alternates between catcher and DH in tandem with Perez, but he should be quite good while in the lineup, and it adds to his upside that he can run; he had 43 steals in the minors the last three years.

Moisés Ballesteros (Cubs)

Whether Ballesteros has a real future behind the plate remains in question, but there’s little doubt about his bat, which produced a .316/.385/.473 line in 114 games as a 21-year-old in Triple-A this year, He also came in at .298/.394/.474 in 66 plate appearances as a major leaguer. Still, the Cubs never really considered him at catcher while Miguel Amaya missed most of the year; he started 16 games as DH and caught just once during his time in the majors. If the Cubs lose Kyle Tucker and decide to make Ballesteros their primary DH next year, he could eventually be a top-12 catcher. First, though, he’d need eligibility.

Joe Mack (Marlins)

Ramírez should remain very much in the Marlins’ plans going forward, but it probably can’t be as a long-term catcher. Fortunately, the team has a superior defender on the way up, one who has made impressive strides offensively in hitting 45 homers the last two years. Mack, the 31st overall pick in the 2021 draft, has contact issues that aren’t ever likely to go away, but he’ll make up for it with major league power and strong defense, especially in terms of throwing. He might not ever be a No. 1 catcher in fantasy leagues, but he could be a No. 2, especially if he wants to have some fun on the basepaths; he was 9-for-12 stealing bases this season after trying just four and succeeding on three in his first two-plus years as a minor leaguer.

2026 Top 12 Catchers

1. Cal Raleigh: The slam-dunk No. 1, but probably not worth what it’ll take to draft him.
2. William Contreras: Still the closest thing to a five-category catcher in the league.
3. Ben Rice: So much hard contact. Could hit 30 homers and maintain a .270 average.
4. Salvador Perez: He’ll catch less but still play as much as anyone here.
5. Adley Rutschman: The hype is gone, but his EV numbers haven’t changed as his production has waned.
6. Shea Langeliers: A little lucky in 2025, but he could still run it back as a 30-homer guy.
7. Will Smith: Would be higher if someone else wasn’t always hogging the DH spot in L.A.
8. Hunter Goodman: With Coors helping, the likely step back shouldn’t be especially severe.
9. Drake Baldwin: Probably not yet enough power to be elite, but he’s getting there.
10. Samuel Basallo: Some risk if he gets off to a slow start, but the 21-year-old has a top-five ceiling.
11. Agustín Ramírez: Surprised with 16 steals as rookie. Value would jump if moved to first.
12. Yainer Diaz: Down season not backed up by EV numbers. 25 HR, 90 RBI within reach.

October 3, 2025

Buster Posey plans to spend Giants' offseason focused on pitching for 2026

Buster Posey plans to spend Giants' offseason focused on pitching for 2026 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Buster Posey hit .302 in the big leagues and won a batting title in his first full season as the Giants’ catcher. Through one year as an executive, his batting average might be even higher.

It’ll take years to get a full view of how the Willy Adames contract will work out, but the first season was a strong overall one. For all of the grumbling about Justin Verlander early in the season, that one-year deal ended up being a positive, too. There were misses on some moves, and the Giants certainly paid for their inactivity with certain position groups, but they also felt really good about the in-season moves for Rafael Devers and Dominic Smith.

Thus far, the Posey front office has seemed to make pretty solid decisions. But the work this offseason will be a bit trickier.

It is generally easier to hit on veteran position players because there’s less injury risk and the year-over-year swings aren’t as dramatic, but this offseason, Posey will be focusing on the other half of the game. Asked about the team’s biggest needs on Thursday’s “Giants Talk” podcast, he said the goal is clear.

“I think our focus is going to be on pitching, to try to fortify our starting staff,” Posey said. “The same goes with the bullpen. I believe that pitching and defense wins, so that’s where we’ll probably start looking this offseason when free agency does happen.”

The offseason will start with a focus on the rotation, and as the Giants learned this year, that push should never really end. Posey felt great about the organization’s depth going into his first season, saying often that the strength of the franchise was young pitching. By August, it was clear that was no longer the case.

The Giants traded Kyle Harrison and watched Jordan Hicks and Hayden Birdsong pitch their way out of the rotation. Landen Roupp became a reliable piece but got hurt. Other young options were inconsistent, and by the end of the season, the Giants had multiple TBAs in their rotation every time through.

“You always hear it: You can never have enough pitching. I feel like we came into the year thinking that we had a nice amount of depth, and then by the end it didn’t feel like we had a lot of depth,” Posey said. “It was definitely a learning experience for me to learn that that old adage — you never can have enough pitching — is definitely true.”

Posey, general manager Zack Minasian and the rest of the front office will have multiple avenues to building depth this offseason. If the past calendar year is any indication, the initial lean will be to go big. Posey talked often last October and November about his desire to get a shortstop upgrade, and he went to the top of the market with Adames. When the lineup needed a boost, he traded for Devers.

The free agent pitching market includes Dylan Cease, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Framber Valdez and others who have pitched at or near the top of a rotation. There will be the usual array of potential reclamation projects like Walker Buehler, Dustin May and Jon Gray. Other notable names like Shane Bieber and Michael King could be available depending on whether options are picked up this month.

Posey needs two starters, and given that Roupp had an elbow scare during the summer and the Triple-A depth got decimated, he might feel the need to add a third option. When that’s done, he’ll need to rebuild just about an entire bullpen.

Ryan Walker is a good bet to return, although likely not as the closer, and Jose Butto and Spencer Bivens should feel pretty safe, too. Others like Joel Peguero, Tristan Beck and Joey Lucchesi showed flashes. Erik Miller was fully cleared from a health standpoint by the end of September and should be back as the top lefty. But it’s not overstating it to say that the Giants might need about a half-dozen new relief options in camp next spring as they try to sort everything out.

Posey said they first will look internally, and while young starters are never turned into relievers until it’s the last resort, guys like Birdsong, Keaton Winn and Carson Seymour could end up filling out the bullpen. Trevor McDonald could take Roupp’s path, helping out in the bullpen for a year before getting a real shot at the rotation.

The Giants also plan to be active on the minor league free agency front, which is an area where Minasian and assistant GM Jeremy Shelley have had plenty of success over the years. You don’t want to spend big on relievers in free agency, but that’s an option, too.

The Giants currently have 22 pitchers on their 40-man roster, and the vast majority of them are young, under team control and will be back in some role. The oldest of the group, Verlander, is about to hit free agency for a second straight year, and after a huge second half, he will likely be far more appealing to contenders.

Verlander has been coy about what he’s looking for, and he said after his final start that he hasn’t even given it much thought. He admits, though, that the push for 300 wins is still something he’s thinking about, and in that respect, a season filled with poor run support and bullpen collapses might not have left the best taste in his mouth.

Verlander loved the clubhouse, though, and the Giants loved having him as a leader. Posey said they’re “open” to a reunion with Verlander, who likely will be looking for another one-year deal.

“He’s been great. He was a great teammate,” Posey said. “I personally felt like he pitched — even when he was probably receiving a lot of criticism early in the year — I felt like he was still in a place that was putting us in a spot that we could win games.

“He didn’t get a ton of run support and the bullpen gave it up for him a little bit in some of those stretches, but then he really turned it on towards the end of the season. It was pretty remarkable, for a guy that turns 43 in the spring. To be able to go out and compete against guys that some are half his age, it was pretty impressive.”

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October 3, 2025

The pundits' verdict after Rangers lose to Sturm

Former Scotland forward James McFadden on Sportsound

First half was disappointing, Rangers were the architects of their own downfall going behind.

They were far better in the second half, but why do you wait until it looks like the game is gone to make changes? The players look like the shackles are off when they change formation.

They look a danger to themselves at times when they have the ball. The goals the concede, and have conceded, have been really poor. Every goal is avoidable. It's frustrating to watch.

Ex-Rangers striker Ally McCoist on TNT Sports

There has to be a serious level of criticism at Rangers defensively - as players and as a team.

Former Hearts manager Robbie Neilson on BBC Scottish football podcast

Things start to spiral and we're getting to that point now where the negativity towards the manager is definitely having an effect on the players. There's no doubt about that.

The only way to turn that is to win football matches. I don't know if they've got the squad to win six, seven, eight in a row, but that's the only way they'll turn it.

It looks like Russell Martin has taken as much pressure as he can on himself to try and get it away from the players.

But I think at the moment it's coming back on the players as well now because it's got quite an extreme stage.

Ex-Rangers full-back Alan Hutton on TNT Sports

Rangers can't continue this way, if I'm honest. This is unheard of for a Rangers team. It's the manner of the way they are conceding. And when they go forward, the cohesion isn't quite there.

October 3, 2025

Cam Schlittler, now part of Yankees' terrifying trio of starters, could cause problems for teams this postseason

In the soaking Yankee clubhouse, Cam Schlittler stood talking to reporters, dripping wet -- Champagne was his postgame eau de parfum, considering all the celebrating that was going on around him. The championship wrestling belt given by teammates to the Player of the Game was slung over one shoulder and Schlittler was still wearing the high socks he had pitched with, though he had swapped his spikes for flip-flops.

It was a compelling postgame tableau only minutes after Schlittler’s compelling performance led the Yankees past the Boston Red Sox in their AL Wild Card series. Schlittler, a 24-year-old rookie, threw eight shutout innings in the Yankees’ 4-0 victory Thursday night at Yankee Stadium, sealing the best-of-three affair with the best performance of his life.

So far, anyway. Considering his immense talent, which includes a 100 mile-per-hour fastball, that’s an important disclaimer.

Seeing Schlittler soar in such an enormous win also might serve notice to the rest of baseball -- the Yankees were banking on their starting pitching going into the playoffs and felt they had a powerful 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation with Max Fried and Carlos Rodón. After Schlittler’s outing, perhaps they have a terrifying trio.

Rodón was not great in Game 2 (six innings, three runs), but both Fried and Schlittler delivered gems. Overall, the Yankee rotation threw 20.1 innings against Boston and allowed only the runs Rodón surrendered. That’s a 1.33 ERA, the kind of pitching that can move a team through playoff rounds.

So if you can’t wait to see what Schlittler can do against the Toronto Blue Jays in the next round, who could blame you after what he did to Boston, the team the Walpole, Mass. native grew up adoring. Schlittler struck out 12 and walked none and allowed only five hits. The Red Sox had exactly one at-bat against him with a runner in scoring position and it ended, perhaps predictably, now that you know his final line, with a K.

The 12 strikeouts are the most ever by a Yankee rookie in a postseason game -- he broke Dave Righetti’s 1981 record of 10 -- and he was only the second Yankee ever to throw eight scoreless innings in his postseason debut, joining Waite Hoyt, who did it in the 1921 World Series.

Schlittler is also the first pitcher in MLB history to throw at least eight scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts and no walks in a postseason game.

“I mean,” said Aaron Boone, “what a performance.”

“We needed to be perfect tonight because he was perfect,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “I mean, the stuff is outstanding. It was under control.

“He was electric.”

Perhaps unbelievably, Schlittler had never had a double-digit strikeout game as a pro.

“That’s something I did in college,” said Schlittler, who was a seventh-round pick in 2022 out of Northeastern, which is in, um, Boston. “But my professional career, it’s not something I’ve gotten. I get nine a lot. I didn’t always throw 100, so once I got up here, that’s something that I was able to make an adjustment on…Obviously, (double-digit strikeouts) is not the goal, but that’s a good feeling, being able to go out there and dominate a lot.”

In the first inning, Schlittler got three outs on 14 pitches. Six of those pitches were 100 mph or faster. As the night went on, he worked efficiently. He threw his 100th pitch to finish the seventh inning and thought he was finished -- seven frames was his season-high in his 14 starts during the regular season. But Boone had other ideas.

Usually, the manager goes down the dugout steps with a pitcher nearing the end of his outing to either have a conversation about the upcoming inning or to tell the pitcher his work is done. Instead, Boone just asked, “You good?” Schlittler was. Boone thought he’d go hitter-to-hitter with Schlittler in the eighth, but Schlittler breezed through on seven pitches, allowing himself a low-key fist pump as he came off the mound after retiring Trevor Story on a grounder.

“I trust his ability to go fill up the (strike) zone,” Boone said.

“To be able to go out there and put the team on his back, it’s extremely impressive,” Fried added. “I don’t think anyone’s expecting it, but to say that he wasn’t capable of it definitely would be selling him short. He’s got unbelievable stuff and he’s really put it together.”

Schlittler admitted he probably hadn’t fully grasped what he’d just accomplished. He did seem to enjoy it, though. When he came into the post-game interview room -- toting towels because he was still drenched from the clubhouse celebration -- he brought the wrestling belt and the goggles he had used to protect his eyes as teammates were spraying each other and set them up on the table. He cracked open a Gatorade before addressing questions.

“Sorry,” he said to the room as the can whooshed when he opened it.

Then he started detailing his night. He had felt great all along, he said, because he had gotten great sleep the previous two nights and he quoted some recovery metrics to back up his snooze claim. In his bullpen warmup, his stuff crackled, which made him optimistic about his night. He controlled his breathing well, which is a particular focus because it helps him conserve energy.

When he got to the dugout after the eighth, he knew he was finished and joined raucous teammates in the dugout. “I couldn’t really hear anything going on,” Schlittler said. “But they’re all pumped up and excited for me and that’s just a great feeling.”

This season in the majors, Schlittler got to 100 pitches exactly once. He threw 107 Thursday night and 75 of those were strikes, backing up Boone on his ability to fill up the zone.

“When you throw 100 and command the baseball and land your secondary pitches, you can be a problem for the opposition,” Boone said. “That’s what he’s capable of.”

And if Schlittler can continue this kind of excellence in these playoffs, the Yankees, with their starters, can be a problem for the rest of the teams still playing.