While the 2026 Yankees season has come to a frustratingly early end, it’s hard to blame much of that on the starting pitching. By several measures, the Yankees had one of the best rotations in all of baseball this year, and they have the favorite for the AL Cy Young Award in Cam Schlittler.
As part of our season in review, let’s take a look back at some of the rotation’s best efforts of the year. To do that, we’re going to rank them according to the Game Score statistic. Game Score takes a variety of stats from an outing and combines them to try and determine how dominant a pitcher’s outing. Fifty is generally about average, and if a pitcher nears 100, they’re probably putting up an all-time great outing. While we didn’t get any no-hitters or perfect games this year, the Yankees’ rotation still had its fair share of excellent outings, let’s look back at the best of them.
This is a post of the top five, but there was a three-way tie for fifth, so it’ll actually include two bonus games too.
One could hope that Schlittler’s Game 2 start in the ALDS against the Rays harkened back to a regular season outing he had against Tampa Bay. Facing the Rays on July 6th, Schlittler allowed one run on four hits, while striking out eight in eight innings. None of the hits he allowed were more than a single, it’s just that one of them was to the speedy Chandler Simpson, which led to him scoring on another single.
Sneaking onto the list as part of that three-way tie for fifth is, surprise, another Schlittler start. This is the only game on the list that the Yankees ended up losing, but you can hardly blame that on the Yankees’ Cy Young candidate. In his seven frames, he held Atlanta to one run on three hits while striking out 11. Thankfully the Yankees scored a run in the eighth and the loss came in extra innings, so Schlittler didn’t get dinged with a loss for that gem.
While it wasn’t as statistically dominant as his start against the Red Sox in the 2025 AL Wild Card Series, Schlittler’s 2026 outing was still plenty good enough to crack this list. He only went 6.1 innings this time around, but held the Red Sox to just two hits, while striking out 10. The Yankees’ lineup poured it on late on route to a win and an eventual dominant sweep of Boston. If only the rest of the postseason went that well…
Someone else has finally made an appearance on the list. Injuries limited Fried to just 112.2 innings this season, but statistically he was still very good. This performance against the Red Sox was part of that. Having been given a 3-0 lead to work with after the top of the first, Fried proceeded to go eight scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and two walks, striking out nine Boston batters.
Normal service has resumed as Schlittler matched Fried to tie for third place. However, this was another game where he ended up with a no decision thanks to the offense. In eight innings, Schlittler held the Angels to one run on two hits, striking out nine. The only issue was that one of those hits was a Vaughn Grissom homer that tied the game at one in the seventh inning. The Yankees eventually broke through with five runs in the top of the 10th inning to seal the win, although they deprived their ace of the victory.
As it turned out, there was also a tie for first and, yes, Schlittler was involved. In July, he held a potentially very powerful Phillies’ lineup to no runs in 7.1 innings, surrendering just three hits all game. He struck out 12 batters, including Trea Turner and Bryce Harper twice each.
Tying Schlittler for the top spot is a Rodón start that had people wondering what order the playoff rotation should go in. Against the Rays in late September, Rodón threw eight shutout frames, allowing just three hits in arguably his best ever start as a Yankee. He also reached a milestone in getting to the 1500 strikeout mark during the outing.
The start — and his stretch run in general — was good enough that it led to people suggesting that Rodón should get the ball for one of the AL Wild Card Series games. In the end, they went with Schlittler, Fried, and Gerrit Cole had their been a Game 3. As it worked out, Rodón didn’t end up pitching at all in the playoffs. You can debate whether that should’ve been the case, but it’s hard to blame any of the starting pitchers for their ALDS losses.
Those are the best starts of the year according to Game Score, but which ones were the most memorably good to you?
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 16: A general view of a tarp covering the field prior to game four of the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on October 16, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
David Stearns’ current team may not be in the World Series, but Greg Joyce analyzed how he helped build the foundation for the Brewers’ run.
Steve Cohen’s influence could be the X-Factor in the offseason chase for Tarik Skubal.
Should the Mets give up on Ronny Mauricio? Logan VanDine believes it may be too early to give up on him.
Around the National League East
Dave Dombrowski put Trea Turner on blast, challenging him to either become a better shortstop or find a new position.
Around Major League Baseball
Game 4 of the American League Championship Series was postponed due to inclement weather. Game 4 will now be played tonight at 8pm ET. Game 5 will now take place on Sunday, October 18 at 5pm ET. Games 6 and 7, if necessary, will remain scheduled for Monday and Tuesday at Tropicana Field.
Jayson Stark said the Brewers’ sweep of the Dodgers is one for the books, because the gamers beat the Hall of Famers.
In addition to having gamers, Mike Petriello argued that the Brewers also have some potential Hall of Famers.
Milwaukee has already punched a ticket to the Fall Classic, but Zach Sweet wondered who they should want as their opponent.
Buster Olney recapped how the Dodgers’ bid for a three-peat went up in flames in this year’s NLCS.
Ken Rosenthal commented on the uncertain reality facing the Dodgers, who spent big to build their MLB power.
Los Angeles is left to ponder their core as cracks emerged during the NLCS sweep.
Andy McCullough isn’t ready to call this the end of the Dodgers’ dynasty, but admits that Los Angeles has some hard questions to address during the offseason.
Bryan Hoch looked at five burning questions surrounding the Yankees entering the offseason.
Orioles’ owner David Rubinstein admitted that MLB owners are making a ton of money, saying they made more than he was making in private equity.
Martín Maldonado is joining the Tigers’ coaching staff.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 25: Alec Burleson #41 of the St. Louis Cardinals is congratulated by Leo Bernal #13 after hitting a two run homer in the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on September 25, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The last two weeks I have gone position by position comparing the Cardinals roster and prospect pipeline to the Brewers for both hitters and pitchers. My assessment was that the current and future position-player talent on both teams is relatively close and that the gap on the pitching side is quite substantial. As I looked at both teams, I considered the talent at both the major and minor league levels. Even accounting for the Cardinals’ exceptionally deep farm system, I still think the Brewers have more talent in their organization. Point being, there is still a lot of ground for the Cardinals to make up. They aren’t going to make up this ground without taking risks, so today I am going to outline the approach I would like to see this offseason and heading into 2027.
Side note: As a fan, I would certainly be in favor of adding $80+ million to the payroll and wiping out much of the talent gap, but alas, that does not seem to be in the cards. Since the future payroll level seems to be quite ambiguous, I am going to focus on trades and extensions.
Starting Rotation
Current state: The Brewers hold a huge current advantage with Misiorowski and Henderson at the top of their rotation. The Cardinals have a clearly superior pitching pipeline.
Offseason action: Trade the depth and aggressively promote prospects
To match the Brewers’ rotation, the Cardinals need to find two top-of-the-rotation arms. Quinn Mathews is the only starting pitcher prospect likely to start the year in St. Louis, but there is a bevy of pitchers knocking on the door. Players who will need 40-man roster spots by the end of the year included Jurrangelo Cijntje, Brandon Clarke, Daniel Eagen, Mason Molina, and Braden Davis. Cooper Hjerpe and Tekoah Roby are already on the 40-man and could both start games, albeit with inning restrictions. Liam Doyle and Tanner Franklin do not have 40-man roster pressure, but both could be ready at some point during the season. If none of these nine prospects are ready next season, you might as well start the rebuild over anyway, so get them up as soon as they are ready.
Pallante and McGreevy are the perfect trade candidates. They have solid value with two and five years of team control, respectively, but neither is terribly likely to turn into a No. 2 starter. They give the team a higher floor, but they do not do much for the ceiling. Is turning over the rotation to the prospects a guaranteed path to catching the Brewers? Of course not. But hoarding fourth and fifth starters is not either.
Bullpen
Current state: Big advantage Brewers with their three-headed bullpen monster.
Offseason action: Take fliers on high-upside guys
If the Cardinals aren’t putting chips on the table for 2027, bullpen improvements will need to come internally or through under-the-radar acquisitions. The Cardinals already started this by claiming Chase Hampton off waivers from the Nationals. This is the exact type of move you like to see. Hampton has battled injuries the last three seasons, but he has flashed a plus fastball and multiple plus breaking balls at various times. There might be a 40-man roster crunch a year from now, but the Cardinals have a ton of roster flexibility to bring in lottery-ticket arms now.
If you can find a couple of interesting pieces outside the organization and get a few mini breakouts internally (looking at you, Gastelum and Santana), the Cardinals could make up a ton of ground as early as next season.
Catcher
Current state: The Brewers have William Contreras for another year, if they don’t trade him, but cannot match the Cardinals’ depth.
Offseason action: Clear the logjam
I haven’t had a problem with how the Cardinals have managed the catcher situation to date, but it is time to clear the decks. You have to bet on players at some point, and Leo Bernal looks like a good bet. Jimmy Crooks hit for a 160 wRC+ as a 24-year-old in Triple-A. Unless another team values him in a trade as an impact prospect, he needs an extended run as well.
Ivan Herrera is awesome and I will miss him, but he is expendable for the right return. The Cardinals have huge holes in center field and at third base. Herrera would be one of the best bats on the market, if made available, and should fetch a huge return.
Even with Herrera out of the picture, the Cardinals are in a much stronger position than the Brewers at catcher looking ahead.
First Base
Current state: Alec Burleson gives the Cardinals the upper hand against a (potentially) Jake Bauers-less Brewers.
Offseason action: Extend Burleson
Let’s lock in Burleson to a long-term extension. This will solidify first base as a positional advantage for the Cardinals for the foreseeable future. Burleson is growing into a leadership role and seems to be loved by the front office and coaching staff. Even if he never learns how to hit lefties, he should be a middle-of-the-order bat against righties for years to come.
Second Base
Current state: Both teams have studs in place, but Wetherholt is locked in for five years more than Turang.
Offseason action: Do nothing
This is self-explanatory. With JJ extended for eight seasons, the Brewers will have a tough time matching the Cardinals’ second-base production long-term.
Third Base
Current state: The Brewers have solid major league options in place and prospects on the way while the Cardinals are still searching.
Offseason action: Acquire a major-league-ready prospect
I am quite bullish on Blaze Jordan and wouldn’t mind giving him an extended run at third base. But if he ends up hitting, he could also help out at DH and first base. I would like to see the Cardinals add some upside from outside the organization by building a trade package around Michael McGreevy and/or Andre Pallante. The top of this market would be someone like Jefferson Rojas, the top-100 infield prospect the Mets acquired from the Cubs at the trade deadline. Sure, Jesus Baez might be the answer, but having multiple starting-caliber players would be a great problem to have.
Shortstop
Current state: Cardinals slight edge now, but the Brewers have a superprospect coming.
Offseason action: Extend Winn
Let’s not overthink this. If Winn is open to it, lock in a five- or six-year contract. More control would only make Winn more valuable as a potential trade chip if a player from the system emerges as a better option. The most exciting shortstop prospects are in the low minors (Sebastian Dos Santos, Miguel Hernandez, Yairo Padilla, and Rocco Maniscalco), so getting Winn locked in long-term gives the Cardinals some certainty.
The Brewers have the game’s top prospect in Jesus Made on the way, but it is not a foregone conclusion he will be able to match Winn’s overall production.
Left Field
Current state: Brewers have a star in Chourio and the Cardinals hope to have one in Joshua Baez.
Offseason action: Do nothing
If the Cardinals were in a win-now mode, you would want more depth behind Joshua Baez. But for where they are at, he is the perfect player to pencil into the lineup every day and see what you have.
Center Field
Current state: The Brewers got a great season from Mitchell, but may be vulnerable going forward. The Cardinals should still be searching.
Offseason action: Acquire the center fielder of the future
Apparently the Cardinals are fine starting the season with Nathan Church in center field. This is where I would like to see the Cardinals get aggressive about prioritizing finding an impact talent. Would a package built around Ivan Herrera be enough to bring back one of the blocked Dodgers outfield prospects, Mike Sirota or Eduardo Quintero? The Dodgers have a pretty good DH already, so that scenario would likely require a three-team trade. The Braves look like a more logical fit for Herrera and have one of this year’s breakout prospects in Eric Hartman. Cleveland has a top-100 center fielder in Aaron Walton, who climbed to Double-A in his first professional season.
There really aren’t many upper-minors center field prospects to pick from across baseball, so this route could take some creativity, but if Bloom can turn the catcher surplus into a chance at an impact outfielder, that would be a huge win for the organization.
Right Field
Current state: Jordan Walker outperformed the only black hole in Milwaukee’s lineup.
Offseason action: Do nothing
I do not think this one needs much explanation either. The 2026 Cardinals’ arc mirrored Walker’s last season, and that could very well be the case in 2027. Walker has obviously earned plenty of runway. The general consensus seems to be that a long-term extension does not make sense for either side at this point in time. I tend to agree with that, but if the numbers work out, I would love to see the Cardinals explore this.
Designated Hitter
Current state: Cardinals with the advantage based on Yelich’s contract situation.
Offseason action: Do nothing
In the scenario I have outlined, DH is the one area that potentially becomes problematic with Ivan Herrera traded away. Still, I think you have to roll the dice and try to mix and match. Bernal might be a good enough hitter to warrant DHing on some of his off days from catching. Blaze Jordan could be a good option, especially against lefties. This could also be an excellent way to ease in Rainiel Rodriguez when he makes his debut. I also think Deniel Ortiz is the most underrated prospect in the system. His defense is a question mark, but I think he is going to hit at the major league level and could be in play as early as midseason.
Conclusion
There you have it. Extend Burleson and Winn. Trade McGreevy, Pallante, and Herrera to shore up the remaining holes on the position-player side. Take a few fliers on high-upside relief arms, and buckle up for wave two of the youth movement. Best-case scenario: the young pitchers outperform expectations and push the team to contention ahead of schedule. Worst-case scenario: you get some of the learning curve out of the way and get even more answers on what the future core looks like. Catching the Brewers will require patience and a bit of luck, but some aggression and risk-taking will be required as well.
THE DODGERS LOSE! THE DODGERS LOSE! THEEEEEE DODGERS LOSE! (I know that was John Sterling’s phrase, but I respectfully enjoyed — I mean, borrowed it)
And Cleveland is still up two games to one after Friday’s game was rained out. Game 4 tonight. Things get better and better! (except it doesn’t involve the Cubs)
It’s been a confusing time. After spending season after season getting stabbed in the heart by the Brewers with every great hit and great play, it has been entertaining to sit back, watch and enjoy the team that Milwaukee has built. Sigh. The Cubs’ front office has had the same relaxing opportunity to watch the organization this month and maybe there will be a change in the acquisition and the development process of the Cubs’ players to whatever the Brewers have been able to accomplish. It is getting old feeling like, “Wow, the Cubs have A good pitching prospect,” or “Hey, at least the Cubs have A COUPLE of good hitting prospects.” Nothing against Pedro Ramirez and Matt Shaw, but wouldn’t it be nice to have of a couple of potentially great prospects that are occasionally and successfully battling for a starting spot, than going, “Well, we think XXXXXX might be the better of the two”, and be some level of wrong every time?
Heh. I went to look for Friday’s articles and there was one that heavily covered what I mentioned above, plus added some tidbits in a better way than I did.
Honestly, if I had read these two articles, including this, I wouldn’t have written all that up above! Here’s an excerpt:
“On the whole, using various Statcast measures, you can see how the Cubs rate out as having an almost average collection of pitching prospects, and below average hitting.“
I appreciate your reading.
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The two articles I linked above:
Tony Andracki (CHGO.com): 3 lessons Cubs can learn from MLB playoffs. “As the Brewers continue to make waves in the MLB playoffs, the Cubs can take some lessons from around the league this fall.”
Randy Holt (North Side Baseball): Javier Assad Remains the Cubs’ Ultimate Swiss Army Knife. “Whenever Javier Assad wasn’t on the Cubs’ big league pitching staff in 2026, everybody should have been asking “Where’s Javier Assad?”.”
Sam Caulder (North Side Baseball): Matthew “Nominal Cubs Ace” Boyd’s 2026 Season Was A Tale of Two Halves. “Matthew Boyd finished the season with respectable numbers, but his 2026 campaign was more complicated than the surface stats suggest. Here’s what went right, what went wrong, and what it could mean for his future in Chicago.”
Brett Taylor (North Side Baseball): Good to See Alex Bregman Continuing to Heal, Talking About Hitting. “Come for the look at Bregman’s vastly improved face, stay for his thoughts on how important a pitcher’s vertical attack angle (i.e., how low they can release from) and extension are.”
Jason Ross (North Side Baseball): Could Kaima Taira Be the Next NPB Star in Chicago? “Kaima Taima will probably be posted this winter. Should the Cubs consider the reigning ERA champion of Japan in their search for pitching help?”
I’ve been following this guy and his hitting demonstration online. His presentation is kind of captivating. He has hit against multiple “HOFers”, RHP and LHP, from different slots. He played small college ball, so it’s not like he’s the next big thing — he just shows how unhittable these guys were. The Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson presentations have been my favorites so far. The funny thing is how the comments blow up because when he’s talking to the camera, his back is to the machine, which is on, and it looks like he’s going to get nailed by half of the pitches. But not yet — at least he hasn’t posted it. 😀
Lizzie Douglas (June 3, 1897 – August 6, 1973), better known as Memphis Minnie, was a blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter whose recording career lasted for over three decades. She recorded around 200 songs, some of the best known being “When the Levee Breaks“, “Me and My Chauffeur Blues“, “Bumble Bee”, and “Nothing in Rambling”. When she was seven years old, she and her family moved to Walls, Mississippi, south of Memphis, Tennessee. The following year, she received her first guitar as a Christmas present. She learned to play the banjo by the age of 10 and the guitar by 11, when she started playing at parties.
In 1910, at the age of 13, she ran away from home to live on Beale Street in Memphis. She played on street corners for most of her teenaged years, occasionally returning to her family’s farm when she ran out of money. Her sidewalk performances led to a tour of the South with the Ringling Brothers Circus from 1916 to 1920. Performers from the Mississippi Delta and other regions combined a mixture of dance rhythms, melodic phrasing, and storytelling of Black rural culture, all of which are elements that are audible in Minnie’s early guitar and vocal work. By adapting and reshaping this style, she became one of the performers who helped define the emerging country blues for later generations. She then went back to Beale Street, with its thriving blues scene, and made her living by playing guitar and singing, supplementing her income with prostitution.
This needs multiple angles!I got “Ghostbusters” vibes!
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 15: A general view of Progressive Field during Game Three of the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, October 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
There is, unfortunately, no baseball to be had today (Saturday). But the 2026 MLB Playoffs will continue on Sunday with Game 5 of the American League Championship series between the visiting Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians.
As usual, I am writing this in the past, which means I do not yet know the outcome of Game 4. And neither team has announced a starting pitcher as of this time. But either way, the game will start at 5:00 p.m. PT on Sunday, airing on TBS/HBO Max, with national radio coverage available on ESPN Radio.
I think we’ve all weighed in on who we want to win this series, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s who we want to win this game. Personally, I hope this series goes a full seven games so the winner is tired going into the World Series, because it’s a rare year that my rooting interests are for the National League team. But after sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers, I think the Milwaukee Brewers have more than earned our support.
But that’s just my opinion. Who are you rooting for in Game 5?
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Aaron Ashby #26 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates after recording the final out of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Aaron Ashby did not have his best season in 2026. He pitched a ton: he tied for sixth in the league in appearances, and only Houston’s AJ Blubaugh surpassed his 87 bullpen innings this season (Ashby added another 2 1/3 innings in one appearance as an opener). Ashby’s 89 1/3 total innings are his most in a season since 2022, when he was primarily a starter; he’d only thrown 95 innings in the big leagues total since a shoulder injury cost him the entire 2023 season. That much action — arguably overuse — sapped Ashby’s effectiveness a little bit from 2025, when he was one of the best relievers in baseball:
Ashby was evolving, though, and underlying metrics suggest he wasn’t actually a lesser pitcher in 2026 despite more walks and a slight downturn in results. His “Stuff+” metrics, which attempt to put a number on how “nasty” a pitcher is, mostly held in 2026; his sinker and slider, two of the best pitches in the majors in 2025, were a little worse, but his curveball and changeup were both a little better. His Statcast profile in 2026 shows just as much red as it did in 2025; in both seasons, Ashby ranked among the elite in ground ball percentage and barrel percentage. In 2026, Ashby was in at least the 88th percentile in all of expected batting average, expected ERA, whiff percentage, and strikeout percentage — all higher than last season. His average fastball velocity was up a tick, from 97.4 to 97.7 mph.
So, while Ashby’s ERA was a run higher and an increase in walks created occasional problems, Ashby’s stuff was just as good as it was the previous season, in about 40% more innings. Watching Ashby was not always a comfortable experience this season — his command would come and go, and his 10.7% walk rate was higher than in any previous season — but his pitches were essentially as hard to hit as ever.
Maybe it should not have been a surprise, then, what we have seen from Ashby in the postseason.
Ashby pitched in three of four games against the Padres in the NLDS. He went multiple innings in two of those three outings, and picked up a win in the Game 4 series clincher when he went three scoreless, hitless innings to bridge the game from starter Robert Gasser to the big guns at the back of the bullpen, Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill. In those three games in total, he pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowed two hits and two walks, didn’t allow a run, and struck out five.
In the sweep of the Dodgers, Ashby also pitched in three of four games. In a tight Game 1, Ashby pitched the seventh and eighth in a one-run game and allowed only a walk. He picked up saves in Games 2 and 4, and his Game 4 performance — he pitched the final three innings, and twice, with the tying run on third with one out, got out of the jam — will go down in Brewers lore. His full numbers against the Dodgers: 6 2/3 innings, two hits, one walk, six strikeouts.
Through two series, Ashby has pitched in six of Milwaukee’s eight games. He has totaled 12 1/3 innings; he has a win, two saves, he’s allowed four hits, three walks, and no runs, and he’s struck out 11.
This run is getting into historic territory. There’s a whole other series to go, and who knows what will happen, but: there have been only 26 instances in the history of the postseason where a pitcher went at least 12 innings with an ERA below 1.00. If you want to drop the ERA down to zero, where Ashby’s currently sits, there are only six others:
Ken Dayley, who pitched 12 shutout innings in nine appearances for the 1985 Cardinals
Mariano Rivera, twice, in the Yankees’ World Series runs in 1998 and 1999
Another Yankee, Hall of Famer Goose Gossage, in 1981, who had six saves in 14 1/3 innings
Cody Allen, during Cleveland’s run which ended in their Game 7 loss to the Cubs in 2016, had 10 scoreless appearances that totaled 13 2/3 innings and six saves
Finally, a surprising name: John Rocker, who didn’t allow an earned run in 13 innings in the 1999 postseason (but who did allow two unearned runs)
Ashby is already at or near the innings pitched totals of all of these guys. He’s in relief ace territory at this point, and there’s a real argument that he should’ve won NLCS MVP; the cinematic nature of Jake Bauers’ exploits in the series probably clinched it for him, but Ashby was certainly just as deserving.
Ashby’s work in this postseason so far reminds me of two other players from the not-so-distant past. The first was another well-regarded prospect who didn’t work out as a starter but who became, briefly, a shutdown reliever and a major figure of the postseason: Andrew Miller. By the time he was 26, Miller had been a top 10 prospect; he’d already thrown almost 300 big-league innings in a variety of roles, and he’d been traded twice — once as the linchpin of one of the biggest trades of the 2000s, when the Tigers traded him and others for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. Miller struggled as a starter but finally found success in his seventh season when he became a full-time reliever; over the next five years, Miller was as good as any relief pitcher in baseball and played a major role on several postseason teams. The 2016 campaign was the most magical, though: in 19 1/3 innings across 10 appearances for Cleveland, Miller allowed three runs (a 1.40 ERA), struck out 30 batters, and walked only five. For his entire postseason career, Miller allowed just four runs in 38 2/3 innings, giving him a lifetime 0.93 postseason ERA.
The other player I’m reminded of is Wade Davis, yet another big-time prospect who failed as a starter but who finally clicked as a full-time reliever. Davis was drafted by the Rays, but it didn’t work out there; he was traded to Kansas City in the James Shields trade, but had a disastrous 2013 season as a starter. In 2014, the Royals put him in the bullpen… and over the next four seasons, Davis had a 1.45 ERA in almost 250 innings. In the 2014 postseason, Davis allowed one earned run and struck out 20 in 14 1/3 innings across 12 appearances as a setup man, including 10 innings of a 0.00 ERA across the ALCS and World Series. The following season, when Kansas City won it all, Davis did not allow a run in eight appearances; he struck out 18 and walked three in 10 2/3 innings, the Royals won every game he pitched in, and he earned four saves and a win.
From a storyline standpoint, I remember Davis and Miller dominating the postseason discussion for those three years in the mid-2010s. The idea that the role of starting pitchers in the postseason was diminishing was still quite new at the time, so it was a big deal that you had these guys coming in and mowing everybody down. They just felt like the most dangerous weapons in their respective playoff runs. Miller came up a game short (and indeed, two of the three runs that Miller gave up in that 2016 postseason run came in the Cubs’ Game 7 triumph), but Davis is forever etched into the history of Kansas City baseball.
Ashby might already be there for the Brewers; even if things don’t go particularly as planned in the World Series, few will forget his heroics in the first two rounds. But for a guy who, like Miller and Davis, didn’t work out as a starter, and for a guy who had not had a good postseason career before this season (in 10 appearances across three seasons, he had a 7.71 ERA in 9 1/3 innings and as many walks as strikeouts), Ashby has written himself into the Milwaukee record books. If he can keep it going in the World Series, he just might join a truly elite list of postseason relief runs, the likes of which have only been seen a handful of times.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a foul ball against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning in game four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the third consecutive October Friday night, there was no Major League Baseball to be watched on television. While that is not entirely the fault of MLB — last Friday was empty because of the LDS series not going the distance, and last night was due to a rainout — the league could do a much better job with their playoff schedule. Matt Gross has written approximately 38 articles on this topic if you’d like to research further. Without any storylines coming out of Cleveland on Friday, let’s go back to the Dodgers.
After winning 100 games in 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers entered the playoffs as the odds-on favorites (better than 50% chance) to win the NL pennant and were far and away the favorites to win their third consecutive World Series. After a four-game sweep by the Milwaukee Brewers, it’s amazing how quickly the “dynasty is over” narrative has emerged.
At the same time, the Dodgers have myriad star/core players past their prime. As Buster Olney outlined today:
“Freddie Freeman is 37, Muncy is 36, Betts is 34. Ohtani is 32. Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Edwin Diaz, Teoscar Hernandez, Will Smith, Tommy Edman are all in their 30s. Many are on the downslope of accomplished careers.”
Personally, I think they’ll be just fine. The greatest baseball player of this generation, and maybe ever, was a shell of himself due to bicep and knee injuries in these playoffs. Tarik Skubal is a free agent, but the Dodgers barely put a dent in their farm system with who they traded for him. Their prospects are still in the top five in baseball. Josue de Paula has arrived and will be ready to contribute in 2027, with fellow outfielder Mike Sirota right behind him. Whether Andrew Friedman and company choose to move any of these prospects for major league help, or blend the kids with the veterans, will be fascinating to watch. And, of course, if there isn’t a salary cap, they will have plenty of money to throw at their problems.
Is the Dodgers dynasty in the rearview, or will this be a minor blip for the team of the 2020s? Discuss in the comments and be good to each other.
The Atlanta Braves have already made some moves this offseason, according to the transaction log. Most notably, infielder Brett Wisely was selected to the major league roster. Outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett, and infielder Luke Williams elected free agency.
Given his limited big league experience, the decision to add Wisely to the 40-man gives the Braves the option to use him in a later transaction. Atlanta will have plenty of decisions to make as it looks to improve the roster for 2027, and these early moves are a reminder that the team is already working to create flexibility for what comes next.
More Braves News:
Tate Southisene reached base four times in the recent Arizona Fall League matchup. More in the minor league recap.
MLB News:
Game 4 of the ALCS has been postponed to tonight due to inclement weather. Game 5 is slated for Sunday evening.
From the Feed:
Braves special assistant Martin Maldonado is headed to the Detroit Tigers as a quality control coach.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman walks to the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning of Game 4 against the Brewers on Thursday night. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)
In the NLCS, the Dodgers faced two HUGE opponents. The Milwaukee Brewers and “Father Time.” The Brewers are an exceptional young team and Father Time is undefeated.
Wayne Kamiya El Segundo
Outpitched. Outhit. Outmanaged. Now OUT!
Richard Jewell Los Feliz
It’s the fall of the Dodgers empire. It was great while it lasted. I suspect the lineup will change dramatically next year. With a pending lockout, expiring player contracts and possible retirements, who knows what the future will hold. Thank you everyone for some memorable baseball.
Cheryl Creek Anaheim
There should be a master class for Dodgers left-handed hitters to learn how to hit opposing team’s left-handed pitchers when they throw sliders and sweepers!
Larry L. Gurewitz Los Angeles
Due to their 2020 championship, 2024’s World Series title earned against their AL rival New York Yankees, and last year’s thrilling seven-game World Series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, irrespective of how this season ended — getting to the NLCS ain’t bad — the Dodgers should continue to be celebrated and the Boys in Blue appreciated.
Ken Feldman Tarzana
The Dodgers don’t suck. This season wasn’t a failure. They got beat by a better team. It’s a simple as that. The playoffs are about which team is playing its best this time of year, and right now it’s the Brewers. They are a complete team. They won 103 games in the regular season, which was more than every other team. They have good discipline at the plate, speed up and down the lineup and a bullpen that was near perfect in this series.
Dave Roberts didn’t get outmanaged. His team lost to a better one.
Ron Epstein Woodland Hills
Good news and bad news. Bad news: The Dodgers were swept by the Brewers. Good news: At least they are no longer ruining baseball!
David Waldowski Laguna Woods
The excuses for the Dodgers collapse flew off the page minutes after the last out of Game 4. Observations: 1) The Brewers were a better team, more prepared and clearly better managed. No excuses, please. 2). Anyone surprised has not been paying attention. During the regular season the Dodgers lost more games than they won against teams with better than a .500 record. 3). I never thought I could write this but has Shohei Ohtani become the LeBron James control freak of the Dodgers? 4) Will the next headline be “Mark Walter puts the Dodgers up for sale?”
David Bialis San Diego
Starting with the Blue Jays last year, and continuing with the Brewers, Rays and Guardians this season, I truly hope MLB teams will return to “anti-analytics “ baseball. Watching games with base runners, tough at-bats and actual strategy by managers is much more enjoyable than strikeouts and home runs with no one on base.
Thanks for bringing back baseball. Keep it going!
Tim Boyd San Juan Capistrano
I’m sure there are Dodgers fans unhappy about losing to the Brewers. But nobody wins all the time and the Dodgers have won a lot.
Another great season. Three World Series titles in six years isn’t too bad. Lots of people would love to see their team win a championship just once. Ask a Padres fan.
Doug Dunlap Valencia
Stumbling finish
“OK Rams fans, don’t change the channel, we promise we’ll do it right this time. Just keep watching as we hold the ball and our kicker will come running up and kick a field goal. OK, here we go. .. Whoops! Ha! Gotcha again, didn’t we?!”
I’m not sure who’s been duped more times; Charlie Brown as Lucy keeps yanking the ball away from him when he’s about to kick it, or Rams fans, when the special teams are sent out to attempt a field goal.
Jerry Leibowitz Culver City
Hey, is George Blanda still alive? Maybe we can sign him to kick for us.
Eric Monson Temecula
If there were a real time machine would Les Snead and Sean McVay go back to the end of the 2023 season and re-sign Matt Gay instead of letting him go in free agency so they could save a few dollars?
Alan Lawler La Verne
Les Snead has built a Rams roster capable of winning championships, but his persistent failure to address the kicking game might have cost the team at least one or two more trips to the Super Bowl. With the departure of Harrison Mevis, the Rams will have used six field goal kickers in five seasons. Until the Rams prioritize the position and stop relying on practice-squad castoffs, they will continue to undermine their own championship hopes.
George Pisano Rancho Palos Verdes
Bumbling start
Thank goodness the Chargers again snapped defeat from the jaws of victory with that pathetic fourth-down try when they were leading 17-10. They increased their chances of the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Russell Hosaka Torrance
To Jim Harbaugh, what are you waiting for?
Cut yourself loose of Mike McDaniel now. It’s past time. McDaniel sold us all on a bill of goods that is now very fraudulent. Be a CEO and cut the guy loose!
Felipe Varela Whittier
The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.
Jul 20, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (7) slides safely into second base with adobe ahead of tag by Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas (72) during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
I don’t know, I’m not all that inspired by Dave Dombrowski’s end of year presser. He sounded like he’s going to try and make changes, but with this roster as it is, how will be actually do that? Some are going to have waive some no-trade clauses for that to actually happen.
Sep 22, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates his two run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays with designated hitter Ben Rice (22) during the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Thanks to an ill-timed storm in Cleveland, we were left without baseball last night. Baseball-less nights will be a fate we’ll soon have to resign ourselves to, once the World Series concludes, and with a lockout on the other side, we have little idea of when the MLB-less stretch of the calendar will end once it starts. Best not to think about that now! If you’re able to stomach watching the ALCS without the Yankees’ participation, they’re gonna give it another go tonight, with the Guardians looking to extend their lead over the Rays.
On the site today, Nick will profile Red Rolfe, one of the great supporting players on many of the Yankees’ early championship teams. Later, Matt looks back on the finest pitching performances by the Yankees in 2026, and Michael delivers his weekly Arizona Fall League update. And also, Peter writes why Ryan McMahon was the Yankees’ LVP this year, and Kento analyzes the Yankees’ (lack of) a plan against Drew Rasmussen in the ALDS.
Today’s Playoff Matchups:
American League Championship Series Game 4 (Cleveland leads, 2-1)
Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays (TBD vs. RHP Nick Martinez)
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
TV: TBS/HBO Max/truTV
Venue: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Questions/Prompts:
1. The buzz has it that the Yankees are likely to tender David Bednar a qualifying offer. What are the odds that he accepts?
2. How worried should the Dodgers be that their decline has at last begun? Will they no longer be the juggernaut that paces the NL every year? Or will they bounce back in 2027?
DENVER, CO - JULY: 01: Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy looks on during a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 1, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The post-season is always a blend of exciting and frustrating. Exciting to see games with so much riding on every pitch and to see some of the best teams strut their talent. Frustrating that the A’s are not one of those teams and to reflect on the gap between how the best teams play and how the A’s play.
Here’s what the A’s next GM/PBO ought to be noticing as they put together their first rosters and coaching staffs:
Grinding out at bats You don’t see players compulsively taking first pitches and trolling for walks nor compulsively swinging at whatever slop comes their way. There is discernment in the plate appearances that produces a blend of aggressiveness on strikes with a willingness to wait for a better pitch and draw walks from sufficient patience. The A’s showed this at times in 2026 but it was fleeting — the norm was a lot of hacking and chasing and precious little discipline. The A’s need hitters, and hitting coaches, who are committed to the practice of staying disciplined and discerning in their approach.
Insistence on fundamentals Certainly there have been moments of break down even amongst the teams still standing. But one story really has stayed with me this post-season and it was the benching of Cooper Pratt back on August 25th, 2026, partly for not running hard on a fly ball ball that wound up falling for only a single, partly for not working to get a bunt down, and partly — at least according to teammates — for a culmination of events over time. Most essential is the dedication to a “winning culture” several players cite in backing their manager’s intolerance of a lack of hustle or commitment to fundamentals. The A’s need a manager who will bring “tough love” and a fundamentals rich style of play to offset inherent imitations in talent/payroll.
Emphasis on development and analytics The competition has simply waltzed by the once Moneyball-proud Athletics. The Brewers and Rays, in particular, spend ample resources not on payroll but rather on development and analytics and it shows. Jacob Misiorowski, Drew Rasmussen, and Gavin Williams may be “true aces” but they don’t necessarily have better arms than Luis Morales, Jack Perkins, and Gage Jump, who could be a worthy “Big 3” if stuff alone determined outcomes. The A’s need to invest strongly in the kind of development and analytics the LCS teams boast — teams who, by the way, ranked 20th (MIL), 28th (TB), and 29th (CLE) in Opening Day payroll.
Are there some other categories you can name where the teams still playing stand out, either in the way they are coached/instructed to play on the field or, perhaps more importantly, how they are set up off the field? Soon the A’s will hire a new front office — and then the new front office will begin to reshape how the A’s are run with an eye on being on of the teams still playing when 27 of the teams are watching from home.
CLEVELAND — Game 4 of the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians was postponed because of rain Friday night.
Major League Baseball was hoping there would be a three-hour window of dry weather to get the game in, but the showers never let up.
“It never cleared out the way they were hoping. It started to get later in the hour, and MLB and I think both clubs did everything they could to try to get it in,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Made the most sense, like, at this point and this hour, with no guarantee that there wasn’t another band coming.”
The teams will resume their playoff series Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, with Game 5 also at Progressive Field on Sunday at 5 p.m., and Game 6, if necessary, on Monday at 8 p.m. in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Fans head for the exits after the postponement of game four of the ALCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“We knew how many days ago that today was going to be a challenge. Numerous weather calls, numerous back and forths, and ultimately MLB decided we needed to wait it out,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “Obviously it’s an important game, and we need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to play the games when they’re scheduled. But MLB ultimately decided to wait this one out.”
It is the first time an ALCS game has been postponed since 2019, when the New York Yankees were hosting the Houston Astros.
The Guardians have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series after Petey Halpin’s two-run homer propelled them to a 3-2 victory in Game 3 on Thursday afternoon.
Members of the grounds crew make the field ready for Game 4 of an American League Championship Series baseball game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays in Cleveland, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
Both teams will stick with their scheduled Game 4 starters from Friday. Cleveland will go with a bullpen game, with Shawn Armstrong being the opener. Nick Martinez will pitch for Tampa Bay.
It will be Armstrong’s fifth appearance this postseason. The right-hander has allowed only one hit in 5 1/3 innings with five strikeouts.
Armstrong thought his season was done in late July when he strained a calf muscle, but he returned during the final week of the regular season.
The grounds crew pulls the tarp before game four of the ALCS between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians in the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Armstrong was drafted by Cleveland in the 18th round in 2011 and made his big league debut four years later. He was traded to Seattle in 2017 and spent time with four other organizations, including Tampa Bay, before signing with the Guardians this season.
“I think I said it to (Erik) Sabrowski, whenever we were standing in the outfield in Game 2 in Tampa — obviously I played here, I got drafted here, coming back here and being able to be in this situation is — words can’t describe it,” Armstrong said before Game 3 on Thursday.
Martinez started Game 3 of the Division Series against the New York Yankees. He went 3 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts. The right-hander was 15-6 during the regular season and ranked sixth in the AL with a 3.10 ERA. He was third in the AL with 26 starts in which he allowed three runs or fewer.
Baseball fans watch as heavy rain falls before the start of Game 4 of the MLB American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. The start of the game was delayed due to the weather. Aaron Josefczyk/UPI/Shutterstock
“It’s just like my starts throughout the year; it’s going to be a dogfight going in, just to see how many outs I can get for this team. It’s important,” he said Thursday.
The teams might have to play the final four games of the series without a day off, culminating in a potential Game 7 on Tuesday. That could be welcome news for the Milwaukee Brewers, who have a week off before they open the World Series at home on Oct. 23 against the Cleveland-Tampa Bay winner.
Milwaukee is in the Fall Classic for the first time since 1982 after completing a four-game sweep of the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series on Thursday night.
“We’ve got four games in a row. We have an opportunity to win some games and move on. And that’s all we’re focused on,” Vogt said.
“I intend on doing everything,” he said in Japanese.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
As Ohtani catalogued his frustrations from his injury-plagued season after the Dodgers were swept out of the playoffs by the Brewers on Thursday night, one particular failure seemed to bother him more than the others.
“I wasn’t able to pitch in the postseason,” he said.
This was either the best news the Dodgers could have received or an early death knell for their next season.
Depends on what Ohtani does to improve his chances of pitching next October.
Does he modify his in-season pitching schedule and accept some form of load management?
That would give him a chance, not only to pitch in games that matter most, but also to remain the difference-making hitter the Dodgers need him to be.
Or does he simply change his offseason workout regimen in hopes that he can strengthen his body to where it can withstand pitching and hitting from Opening Day to the last game of the World Series?
Considering how quickly his season was derailed and the effects those injuries had on him as a hitter, that plan would be an invitation for disaster.
Ohtani turns 33 next year.
He didn’t specify what he was thinking, other than that he would start deliberating a course of action now that the Dodgers were in their offseason.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws a pitch against the Colorado Rockies during a baseball game Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Los Angeles. Wally Skalij for CA Post
The ambiguity that was both a source of optimism and concern was the result of how Ohtani addressed reporters.
A horde of journalists from the United States, Japan and who knows where else formed a semicircle around Ohtani, who fielded inquiries in a scattershot question-and-answer session that lasted about seven minutes.
Generally speaking, the questions he was asked were lacking in detail — or, in some cases, the details were lost as they passed through Ohtani’s interpreter. When Ohtani said something noteworthy — the statements quoted above, for example — more pointed questions on the subject couldn’t be asked because another journalist wanted to ask about something entirely different.
For example, when Ohtani acknowledged that he could undergo offseason surgery but didn’t say what body part he might have to repair, there was no follow-up question on the subject. Some bozo Japanese reporter at the front of the mob asked an unnecessarily verbose question about what he, Shohei Ohtani, saw in the Brewers that the Dodgers were lacking.
(Ohtani was known to be dealing with discomfort in his right arm and left knee when he was placed on the injured list in September. That was probably still the case in the playoffs. When manager Dave Roberts was asked what was bothering Ohtani before Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, he replied, “It’s everything. It’s the upper body. It’s the knee.”)
While Ohtani left unanswered questions about his health status, and perhaps deliberately so, he made it a point to expound on his desire to be a two-way player again.
He spoke of his disappointment of not being able to take the mound in the playoffs, as well as at the end of the regular season.
“That’s a point of dissatisfaction,” Ohtani said.
He continued, “Of course, I feel like I want to continue [playing both ways]. Because of that, I want to have a good offseason.”
Right after saying he planned on “doing everything,” Ohtani said, “I want to do my best so that I can have a better season [than this season].”
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani watches from the dugout during the ninth inning of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
Effort alone won’t make that happen, of course, and this is where the Dodgers have to step in. Rather than continue to be his servants, they have to be his partners.
Practicality doesn’t appeal to Ohtani. Dreams do.
So sell him on a dream.
Ohtani on the mound in the World Series, perhaps in a Game 7. But unlike in 2025 when the Dodgers were playing the Blue Jays and Ohtani lasted just 2 ⅓ innings, this time he is the winning pitcher.
The Dodgers can get him there, maybe by giving him more time between starts, maybe by holding him out as a pitcher in the early stages of the season.
Ohtani doesn’t sound as if he has a firm plan in place, which means the Dodgers have an opportunity to shape his thinking. They have to take advantage of it.
Baldelli reunited with president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, who he built a relationship with when his career was cut short with the Rays and became a special assistant to Friedman in Tampa’s front office.
Baldelli hasn’t managed since he was fired by Minnesota in the middle of the 2025 season with a year remaining on his contract. Now, it appears there might be an opportunity for Baldelli to return to MLB as a manager with the Mariners.
Manager Rocco Baldelli #5 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the Chicago White Sox in the eighth inning of the game at Target Field. Getty ImagesAndrew Friedman, President of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, speaks to the media prior to game one of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Getty Images
Seattle currently has a vacant managerial spot after the team forced former skipper Dan Wilson to announce that he and the organization were parting ways.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Baldelli is among one of the many candidates Seattle is evaluating. Joe Espada, Brandon Hyde and former Dodgers catcher David Ross are also potential options to be the next Mariners manager.
In his first season with the Twins, Baldelli led the team to 101 wins in 2019. He also led the franchise to its first postseason series victory in 19 years during the 2023 campaign.
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Manager Rocco Baldelli #5 of the Minnesota Twins looks on as players warm up before the game against the New York Yankees. Getty Images
Baldelli had a 527-505 record (.511 winning percentage) in seven seasons with the Twins, including three American League Central titles. He was named the AL Manager of the Year in 2019.
There’s a chance Baldelli’s first season in the Dodgers front office, might be his only season with LA if the Mariners choose to hire him as their next manager.
