MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 24: Yandy Diaz #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays strikes out for the final out against the Milwaukee Brewers to end the ninth inning in game two of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field on October 24, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In case you haven’t been paying much attention to the World Series, Game 2 on Saturday night ended with a little bit of controversy. Yandy Diaz of the Rays was up with two outs in the ninth inning with the tying run on third base. Diaz worked the count full before Brewers’ pitcher Aaron Ashby threw a curveball in the dirt that Diaz checked his swing on. Home plate umpire Jim Wolf ruled it a ball, but Milwaukee catcher William Contreras called for a review from first base umpire James Hoye who determined that Diaz did indeed go around for the strike out, ending the game with Tampa Bay going down 0-2 in the series.
The MLB rulebook does not officially define what a swing is, rather leaving it up to the judgement of the umpires to rule on whether a hitter offered at a pitch. Because of this, any two people can look at this Diaz incident and have differing opinions on whether it was a swing or not. In a world where many parts of the game are now reviewable with the help of technology, check swing incidents stand out as something that is still entirely reliant upon the umpires on the field.
That may not be the case much longer though. Earlier this year, MLB began testing check swing challenges in the minor leagues two years after doing so in the Arizona Fall League. This process follows the one that the new automated balls and strikes system underwent before it was officially brought to the major leagues. Therefore, it’s not hard to see that the check swing challenge is likely going to be coming to the majors soon as well.
If the aforementioned Diaz play was able to be challenged, it would not have been ruled a swing under the system currently in use in the minor leagues.
No replay system is perfect, but so far, it’s hard to argue against the efficiency of the ABS now that it’s been implemented in MLB. Would the automated check swing system bring similar results or would it cause unintended consequences?
So, should check swing calls be reviewable? What is your judgment on the Diaz play? What do you think about the system being tested in the minor leagues?
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 23: Anthony Nunez #66 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 23, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fifteen months ago, with the 2025 Orioles in the midst of a lost season, Mike Elias put a metaphorical Clearance Sale sign on the O’s roster. Everything that wasn’t nailed down was up for grabs, and in the span of a week, Elias made seven trades that jettisoned eight players from the major league squad, including Cedric Mullins, Ryan O’Hearn, and nearly half the bullpen. In return, 14 newcomers joined the Orioles’ organization.
One notable fact about those 14: not a single one of them was a major league player. Even with the trades creating a litany of holes in the Orioles’ active roster, the O’s didn’t acquire anyone who would immediately fill those slots. For Birds fans anxious to get their first look at the return haul from the fire sale, they’d have to wait a while longer.
Enter Anthony Nunez. The rookie right-hander, acquired from the Mets in the Mullins deal, was the first of that 2025 prospect bonanza to arrive in the bigs after earning a surprise inclusion on this year’s Opening Day roster. And by the time the season ended, he’d become one of the Orioles’ most-used arms out of the bullpen, with his 52 appearances ranking fifth on the team.
Nunez’s path to the majors was circuitous, to say the least. A standout shortstop at Miami Springs HS, Nunez was drafted by the Padres in the 29th round in 2019, but was released two years later after topping out in Low-A. He took advantage of an NCAA rule that allowed former high school signees to return to college as long as it wasn’t with a Division I school, joining Division II University of Tampa in 2022.
With the Spartans, Nunez became a two-way player, taking the mound for the first time in 2024 and striking out 20 batters in 11.2 innings. With his arm clearly much more intriguing than his bat, Nunez landed a minor league deal with the Mets as a full-time pitcher, where he flew through the minors and reached Double-A Binghamton in 2025.
At the time the O’s acquired him for Mullins — along with fellow righties Raimon Gomez and Chandler Marsh — Nunez was laying waste to minor league hitters. He had a 0.80 WHIP, a 40% strikeout rate, and batters were hitting just .119 against him. The O’s immediately promoted him to Triple-A Norfolk, where Nunez had a bit of a ruder greeting, posting a 4.85 ERA and allowing 18 baserunners in 13 innings. He still racked up 21 strikeouts.
FanGraphs in particular loved Nunez, ranking him as the Orioles’ sixth-best prospect in May, ahead of Ike Irish, Nate George, and Joseph Dzierwa, among others. Eric Longenhagen and Brendan Gawlowski pegged him as “a premium reliever with three plus or better pitches and uncommon strike-throwing consistency,” and also suggested that he could eventually be stretched out as a starter. They praised Nunez’s fastball, changeup, and a slider that they called “an elite swing-and-miss pitch.”
It seemed certain that Nunez would make his MLB debut this season, but it happened sooner than most expected. His impressive spring training — five scoreless innings, with no walks and six strikeouts — earned him an Opening Day roster spot, even though he’d been optioned to minor league camp weeks earlier.
Nunez dazzled in his major league debut March 28, throwing two perfect innings in mop-up work against the Twins, and soon he worked his way into high-leverage roles, earning holds in three consecutive appearances in early April. After his first dozen games, Nunez was rocking a 1.35 ERA and 16 strikeouts, looking like a great find for the Birds’ bullpen.
But baseball is a game of adjustments, and hitters adjusted to Nunez. Just one month later, at the end of May, Nunez’s ERA had ballooned to 5.67. He suffered six outings in which he allowed multiple runs, including a four-run blowup in Tampa Bay on May 20 when he turned a 3-1 Orioles eighth-inning lead into a discouraging 5-3 loss.
In June, when closer Ryan Helsley returned from the injured list, Nunez lost his roster spot. The O’s optioned him to the minors, and he spent most of the rest of the year riding the shuttle between Norfolk and Baltimore. He spent the majority of September in the Orioles’ bullpen, and ultimately finished the season with a 4.07 ERA (and an exactly league-average 100 ERA+) in 52 games. He struck out 10 batters per nine innings, and he did a good job of keeping the ball in the park, with a 0.8 HR/9 rate. His walk rate was a bit high (3.9 BB/9) but not disastrously so.
The results may not have been overly impressive, but there was a lot to like about Nunez’s repertoire. His offspeed arsenal was especially sharp. The slider that the FanGraphs duo crowed about (which is classified in Baseball Savant as a sweeper) was Nunez’s most-used pitch. He generated a 45.8 whiff percentage with it, holding batters to a paltry .147 average and .200 SLG. His changeup was also elite (.102 AVG, .163 SLG), as was a cutter that he threw only 6% of the time (.125 AVG, .313 SLG).
Where Nunez struggled was with his fastball, which averaged a strong 96.1 mph but didn’t have enough movement to keep hitters off balance. Batters pounded his four-seamer for a .316 average and .561 slugging, and his sinker was simply non-competitive, surrendering a .458 AVG and .667 SLG. He’ll need to do some work on his heater this offseason so that opponents can’t just start sitting on his offspeed stuff.
Nunez’s 2026 performance had its ups and downs, but he showed promise as a 25-year-old getting his first introduction to the majors. It’s not out of the question that the Orioles could try to convert him into a starter, though as yet they haven’t announced any such plans. Even if not, Nunez should have a leg up for a spot in next year’s bullpen.
Not too shabby for a guy who was an infielder two years ago.
The Boston Red Sox are stuck. If you’re the type of person who is content finishing third within the division and being bounced by your arch rivals in just a handful of games in back-to-back seasons, you might disagree. If you’re not an idiot, you know difficult decisions need to be made and that things need to change.
I’ve decided to task myself with analyzing which players can be part of the turnaround and which should be shown the door, all as a way to take the heat off chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. If you’re not down with that, I’ve got two words for ya: Problem or Solution?
I genuinely have no idea what the plan is…
Kristian Campbell was supposed to be part of the future, but the same guy who signed an eight-year contract extension before making his big league debut just spent the entire season in the minor leagues and has been surpassed by several replacement-level players and new acquisitions on the depth chart.
I’d love to blame the organization for all that, but they’ve tried him at multiple positions and have given him plenty of time to fix the issues that started to plague him at the plate after his torrid start to professional baseball. If you look at his numbers and positions played the last two seasons, you can see that there has been plenty of time and energy placed into making this whole thing work.
ONCE AGAIN… I genuinely have no idea what the plan is.
WHAT WE KNOW The Red Sox are stuck trying to figure out what to do with this guy — for better or worse.
Campbell spent last season rebuilding his swing, which seemed to be an edict from the organization as it looked to help get him back to being the guy it dished out that contract to. I don’t necessarily know if they got him there, but improvements were made and he definitely seemed to find his footing defensively as an outfielder/designated hitter.
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW I don’t know if he’s good enough to play over the likes of Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, or Curtis Mead.
Boston currently plans to fill all three outfield spots and second base with those four players, while it has also made it known that designated hitter is reserved for players who need a day off from playing the field or veterans who suck doing anything else. I can’t see them making that plan work, though, which is both good and bad news for the positionless guy with a big fat contract that needs to be paid out.
There’s still a ways to go, but Kristian Campbell looks like a different player than earlier in the season. Here’s an open-side look at his swing from April and then from tonight. pic.twitter.com/T2dgzRntGV
The Red Sox are able to turn him into the platoon outfielder that they’ve needed since losing Rob Refsnyder. If you can get him into the lineup consistently against left-handers, you can get that outfield trio off its feet and try to keep it healthy while also lengthening the lineup.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO It’s a lost cause…
$80 million has been poorly spent and will now sit on the books long enough to make it a consistent issue we have to hear about when discussing why they refuse to spend money year after year.
CONCLUSION I can’t give up on the guy, and neither will the organization. Campbell will be a positive contributor next season.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 14: Jack Leiter #22 of the Texas Rangers looks on between innings of a baseball game against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on August 14, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning.
Kennedi Landry writes about Jack Leiter hoping to bounce back from a flukish injury that started what became a lost season for the young righty.
In today’s Sebastian Walcott update, FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen checks out the prospects at the Arizona Fall League where Walcott has looked like the cream of the crop in the desert.
And, after a victory last night to go up 3-0, Thad Levine’s Brewers will have four shots at winning one more game against Jon Daniels’ Rays to join most recently the Rangers in winning the first World Series in franchise history.
When ranking the Mets' offseason needs, finding an ace to front a promising young rotation is right at the top. Beyond that, New York still has a glaring hole at first base, which they should aim to fill with a legitimate offensive upgrade to their in-house options.
But while the rotation and first base might be 1A and 1B on the Mets' checklist, rebuilding the bullpen isn't far behind.
The Mets' relief corps was a strength in 2026, both before and after the trade deadline sell-off that saw four late-inning arms (two pending free agents, two players under team control beyond 2026) shipped off.
Overall in 2026, New York's bullpen ERA was 3.76, which ranked 10th in MLB and was just a tick below the Dodgers (3.74 ERA).
Of the nine teams who finished with a better bullpen ERA than the Mets, eight of them reached the postseason, with the Brewers (No. 3) making it all the way to the World Series.
So New York clearly has something to build on. And for all of David Stearns' missteps in 2026, he deserves credit for building a strong bullpen ahead of the season and pressing the right buttons to keep it humming even after so many key members were traded.
Still, there are big questions when it comes to who will be closing games in 2027, whether Kodai Senga will be a factor in relief, and which relievers who shined down the stretch can be counted on.
Who are the Mets' bullpen options for 2027, and how should they proceed? Let's break it down...
The Internal Options
If you had to list pitchers who are guaranteed to be in the bullpen -- assuming everyone is healthy -- on Opening Day of 2027, there would probably just be one name on the list: Devin Williams.
There are other likely members, including Daniel Duarte and Austin Warren (who are both out of minor league options).
Left-hander Nate Lavender, who excelled down the stretch this season in what was his first taste of the majors, also feels like close to a lock.
Senga acclimated well when he was shifted to a late-inning relief role this past season, and his fastball/forkball combination played up. But his preference is to start. Beyond that, it is fair to wonder whether his health would hold up over a full season of short-relief usage, and whether he's suited for the role given his meticulous routines.
Reed Garrett could be a key cog if he's back healthy, which is the expectation after he spent the last year-plus recovering from Tommy John surgery. But he hasn't pitched in a big league game since September of 2025.
Dedniel Núñez, who emerged as a late-game arm in 2024 and missed 2025 after having TJS, rounded into form after returning last season and was very impressive -- posting a 3.32 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 19 innings. While he figures to be a key part of the bullpen next season, he has minor league options remaining, meaning New York could possibly start him in the minors if there's a roster crunch.
Lefty Cionel Perez is an interesting case, since he's arbitration-eligible and out of minor league options. During a nine-year career with the Orioles, Astros, Reds, Nationals, and Mets, Perez has shown enough to keep getting chances. He had a terrific season for Baltimore in 2022 (1.40 ERA in 57.2 innings) and was also good for the O's in 2023 (3.54 ERA in 53.1 innings), but it's been tough sledding since then. Over the last three years, Perez has a 5.30 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 120.2 innings.
However, Perez was solid for the Mets in 24 appearances over 29.1 innings in 2026, with a 3.99 ERA (3.75 FIP) and 1.33 WHIP while walking just 2.5 per nine and striking out 10.7 per nine.
Perez also has a fastball that can touch close to 99 mph, so perhaps the Mets roll the dice and see if they can unlock what made him a key cog for the Orioles a few years ago.
Then there's Tobias Myers, who had an up-and-down season in 2026, but could be an option as a long reliever.
Elsewhere on the 40-man roster are depth options such as Jonathan Pintaro, Justin Hagenman, and Jefry Yan -- a hard-throwing lefty whom Stearns spoke highly of after the season.
Minor leaguers who could possibly contribute in 2027 include hard throwers Dylan Ross and Ryan Lambert.
Adrian Morejon / Imagn Images via Reuters Connect/Envato Elements/SNY Treated Image
The External Options
The Mets have enough intriguing bullpen depth on the roster that wholesale changes aren't needed. But it can be argued that they should be targeting a closer.
That's because as dominant as Williams can be at times, he is coming off back-to-back subpar seasons.
Spanning 2025 (with the Yankees) and 2026, Williams has posted a 4.65 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 102.2 innings. In 2026, Williams' WHIP was an unsightly 1.57 as his hits per nine (9.5) and walks per nine (4.6) shot up, while his strikeout rate (11.4 per nine) dropped to its lowest level since his rookie season.
That Williams' FIP over the last two seasons is 2.83 suggests he has also been unlucky. But even with that being the case, he is about to be four years removed from his last full season of dominance, which came with the Brewers in 2023.
Over the last three years, Morejon has a 2.58 ERA (2.46 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP in 223.1 innings while striking out 248 (a rate of 10.0 per nine). A glance at Morejon's advanced stats via Baseball Savant suggests that his dominance should be sustainable. Meanwhile, his stuff -- primarily a two-seam fastball and four-seamer that both average a tick under 100 mph, and a changeup -- graded out near the top of the league.
If the Padres place the qualifying offer on Morejon, however, things could get complicated.
If New York turns to the free agent market for a reliever who profiles in the late innings but might not unseat Williams as the closer, Jonathan Loaisiga and Bryan Abreu stand out.
The Mets should also be on the lookout for an established left-hander, with Alex Vesia being among the best options.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 26: Francisco Lindor and Katia Reguero Lindor pose for a photo during the Roberto Clemente Award presentation prior to game three of the 2026 World Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on October 26, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
Francisco Lindor was named the recipient of the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award, “the annual recognition of a Major League player who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field” according to Major League Baseball. It is considered to be the league’s “most prestigious individual player honor.”
This was Lindor’s fourth time being nominated for the honor, and he becomes the fifth Met since 1971 to be recognized for the honor, and the first since Curtis Granderson in 2016.
Lindor reflected on what it meant to receive the Roberto Clemente Award.
Anthony DiComo looked at some Mets players who made their case for individual awards this season.
In their hunt to improve the team, the Mets should target pitching depth, argued Chelsea Janes.
In her piece, Janes revealed that Clay Holmes is open to a return to the Mets if the contract is right.
Kevin Long spoke to the Mets about a role on the coaching staff but is no longer being considered, as there was not a match between the two sides.
Cubs’ hitting coach John Mallee has also withdrawn his name from consideration for a role in New York, opting instead to stay in the Windy City.
The Mets did reportedly hire Mariano Duncan to the newly-created role of “Major League Coach”, which will Duncan most recently served as the Binghamton Rumble Ponies’ bench coach.
The Mets are holding their annual MetsGiving Food Drive on Thursday, November 12. Swing by Citi Field and donate 10+ non-perishable items to receive your voucher for two tickets to select 2027 home games.
Around the National League East
The Phillies have hired Peter Fatse as their hitting coach.
Spencer Nusbaum analyzed a pivotal offseason for the Nationals and what levers they may pull to boost their offense.
Around Major League Baseball
The Brewers blitzed the Rays 10-1 and now sit one win away from their first ever World Series title.
Milwaukee’s “drag ‘em” approach was on full display in a fifth inning in which they scored eight runs with two outs.
That unprecedent fifth inning was one of many ways the Brew Crew were rewriting the Fall Classic record books.
Jackson Churio became the youngest player to pick up four hits in a World Series game in at least 80 years.
Freddy Peralta made it clear that, while he enjoyed his time as a fan favorite in Milwaukee over the eight seasons, he still sees every opponent on competition.
The Rays are looking to Junior Caminero’s bat and leadership as they try to climb out of their World Series hole.
Joe Maddon took the hill before Game 3, and he called down to James Shields in the bullpen to throw out the first pitch.
Even though the Brewers may win the World Series, their formula may still lead them to trading away the players that helped get them there.
Despite turning down the Phillies’ job, Alex Cora did not rule out managing in 2027.
Micah Noe reviewed Hayden Senger’s 2026 season for the Mets.
This Date in Mets History
On this date in 1986, my parents celebrated their first wedding anniversary by watching (on TV) the Mets beat the Red Sox 8-5 to win the second World Series in franchise history.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 01: A view of a Atlanta Braves baseball cap in the dugout before the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today could potentially the last day of the 2026 season, which will be the case for each remaining game of the World Series after the Brewers dominated the Rays in Game 3. The Brewers are arguably on the verge of completing one of the most dominant postseason runs in recent memory, as they have only lost one game the entire postseason. The Rays will try to keep their season alive tonight in Tampa.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 31: A general view of the Savannah Bananas Show on Arthur Ashe Kids Day during the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sunday, August 23, 2026 in Flushing, NY. (Photo by Brad Penner/USTA via Getty Images) | USTA via Getty Images
The Savannah Bananas have taken the baseball world by storm with their wacky version of the game. On Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that the Bananas will have a two-game series next spring when the Dodgers are away in Washington to play the Nationals.
Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium will host the Bananas and the Firefighters for games on April 23-24. Enter into a drawing at bananaball.com/tickets by Oct 31 2026 by 8:59pm PST.
Additional details regarding game times and event information will be announced soon.
In other news in the baseball world, Andy McCullough of The Athletic says that for the Milwaukee Brewers to keep winning, they may trade away many of the players that got them there. That is the antithesis of what the Dodgers have been doing. The Brewers are close to winning their first World Series ever after making the NLCS last year.
In other roster news, the normally cranky Dylan Hernandez of the California Post says that the Dodgers could’ve used a player like Miguel Vargas on their team this year, and maybe going forward as the team needs to turn from it’s ‘old’ roster into using their deep farm system.
ST. LOUIS - OCTOBER 27: The Boston Red Sox celebrate after winning game four of the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on October 27, 2004 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Red Sox defeated the Cardinals 3-0 to win their first World Series in 86 years. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Hello and happy Tuesday everybody. Hope you’re doing well. Happy 22nd anniversary of Game 4 of the 2004 World Series: the night where the curse was officially reversed!
Who needs to talk about the Brewers being on the brink of a title when we already did that 22 years ago and when we can take a trip down memory lane?!
Where were you on this day in 2004?
Little 8-year-old me was at my home in Quincy with my mom. My dad was not at home; he was at Busch Stadium, the lucky jerk. I napped before the game to make sure I didn’t miss anything if that night was the night. When Foulke stabbed that ball before tossing it to Mientkiewicz, I was picked up and swung around living room like I was a goddamn ceiling fan. I remember waiting by the house phone waiting for a call from my old man—he said he would call if they won—for what felt like an eternity. It finally rang, and all I could hear was screaming for about two minutes before I could make out his voice (also screaming, of course). I can still remember it clearly.
Share how you celebrated 86 years of hurt being washed away in the comments below.
Colby Shelton brought the boom against Mesa, crushing his second AFL homer and driving in four. | (Arizona Fall League/Instagram)
The Arizona Fall League is underway, and Chicago has eight prospects in the Grand Canyon State, headlined by Caleb Bonemer, 3B/SS/OF (No. 2/MLB No. 27). Rounding out the crew are Mathias LaCombe, RHP (No. 17); Colby Shelton, INF (No. 23); Nick Altermatt, RHP; Jonathan Clark, RHP; Grant Magill, C; Tommy Vail, LHP and Garrett Wright, RHP.
The team added Vail after Pierce George, RHP (No. 18), suffered an olecranon fracture in his pitching elbow. While it sounds like an awful injury, he is expected to participate in 2027 Spring Training. Anthony DePino, INF (No. 21), was also originally on the Dogs roster, but instead underwent shoulder surgery. He should also be ready for spring.
The White Sox prospects are suiting up for the Glendale Desert Dogs (5-13), sharing the dugout with hopefuls from the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Chicago ties Los Angeles for sending the most Top 30 prospects (five) to the AFL.
Peoria Javelinas 3, Glendale Desert Dogs 0 (10/21/26 — 6 innings) The rain put an early end to this one, but the Dogs’ bats never really got started in a 3-0 loss to Peoria. Both teams managed four hits before the game was called after the sixth, but Glendale’s were all singles, with three coming in the second inning and nothing to show for them. Shelton had one of those knocks, finishing 1-for-2 with a strikeout. After a red-hot start to the fall, Bonemer cooled off just a bit, going 0-for-3 with two Ks, while Magill went 0-for-2 with a punchout.
Glendale Desert Dogs 10, Mesa Solar Sox 0 (10/22/26) For once, the Desert Dogs were doing the trampling, piling up 10 runs on 14 hits in a shutout of Mesa. Apparently, Bonemer heard me talking about his bat cooling off and took it personally, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and finishing a double shy of the cycle. His triple to center came off the bat at 106.9 mph.
Magill added a 1-for-4 night, while Shelton went 0-for-3 with a walk and a sacrifice fly. Chicago’s pitching prospects kept up their fall dominance, with Altermatt, Clark and LaCombe each tossing a hitless, scoreless frame. Altermatt and Clark supplied the punchout party, fanning two and three, respectively.
Glendale Desert Dogs 5, Scottsdale Scorpions 4 (10/24/26 — 8 innings) Bonemer’s AFL farewell was quiet at the plate, but his final numbers should make Sox fans feel pretty good about their No. 2 overall prospect. The 21-year-old went 0-for-2 with two free passes and a K in the Dog’s 5-4 win. He wrapped up 13 games with a .286/.364/.633 slash line, a .996 OPS and three homers over 55 plate appearances, and finished tied for the league lead in extra-base hits (nine) and second in total bases (31). The assignment’s main mission was outfield work, and he got it: eight games in center, three in left, and one in right. There were a couple of adventures along the way, including his lone error in the opener and a fly lost in the sun later on, but the reps were the point. Bonemer was the only Chicago hitter to see action in the win.
On the mound, Wright put his spotless ERA through a stress test. A leadoff single in the seventh was erased by a catcher pickoff, but a walk, single and another walk loaded the bases. Wright punched out the next batter before handing the mess to Cristhian Tortosa, who struck out the final hitter to keep Wright’s 0.00 AFL ERA intact. Vail also joined the fall fun, working a hitless, scoreless inning with one walk and three Ks in his debut.
Mesa Solar Sox 13, Glendale Desert Dogs 12 (10/26/26) Shelton kept his strong fall rolling, but the Dogs came up just short in a 13-12 slugfest. The 23-year-old went 3-for-4 with a walk, four RBIs and two runs scored, including his second AFL blast. His three-run round-tripper gave Glendale a 4-3 lead in the first, and his RBI single in the seventh pulled the Dogs within one. That was as close as they would get, though, as Mesa held on for the win.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 06: A young fan of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on as a cownose stingray swims in the outfield Tampa Bay Rays Touch Experience prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday, April 6, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good Tuesday morning, Purple Row!
Colorado Rockies fans probably associate “Fishin’ in the Dark” with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and TJ Rumfield, the Gold Glove finalist who has selected the classic hit for his walk-up music.
But with the World Series headed to Game 4 down in Tampa Bay, which has actual fish onsite, it seems appropriate to turn our attention there. And in this scenario, the Milwaukee Brewers, with a 3-0 lead, are definitely doing the fishing.
It probably comes as no surprise to learn that Kristie Ackert ranks the Rockies last. She notes improvement since 2025, but until the Rockies are able to address their issues with the rotation, their World Series odds are slim.
Ryan Spilborghs goes solo in this episode, and it’s worth your time. Seriously, if you don’t click on any other link, click on this one. In it, he views the proposed salary cap from the owners’ perspective and argues that it does not work; rather, a cap would shuffle money around. Spilborghs is clear, though: He’s on the side of neither the owners nor the players. Rather, he’s advocating for baseball.
The Penner Sports Group has expanded its portfolio to include a minority investment in Valencia CF. Worth noting, this is one of Spain’s most historic soccer clubs. And, apparently, some Denver Broncos fans aren’t happy about it.
One of the highlights of this year’s World Series coverage has been reading Michael Baumann for FanGraphs. In this article, Baumann examines why these two teams have been successful with a focus on player development.
Yesterday, MLB announced that Francisco Lindor has won this year’s Clemente Award. He is the fifth Puerto Rican player to receive this honor, and his list of initiatives is extensive.
This is a topic Jared Thomas mentioned in yesterday’s Rockpile. MLB is exploring the placement of outfielders in an attempt to increase the number of hits that drop during a game. Given that the Arizona Fall League has traditionally been one of MLB’s testing labs, it’s worth following this story.
If there’s a team that needs to be looking in the mirror this offseason, it’s the Philadelphia Phillies. One of their first moves is to hire the former Red Sox hitting coach, Peter Fatse.
Musical outro
And with that, I’ll turn it over to the Dirt Band.
Myself, I prefer “You Ain’t Going Nowhere,” but that’s probably a bad choice for walk-up music, so I’ll defer to TJ on this one.
Game 3 was an example of how the Brewers take one tiny advantage and turn it into victory. Seven straight hits in the fifth inning gave them an eight-run inning on their way to a 10-1 win. The World Series could end tonight.
I appreciate your reading.
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Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): How About Sonny Gray as a Veteran Rotation Option for the Cubs? “Fast-forward to October, and we’re on the cusp of free agency. There, Sonny Gray should be freely available, and the Cubs will have a chance to pursue the long-appreciated veteran righty.”
Brock Beauchamp (Diamond Centric): DiamondCentric’s 2026-2027 Top Free Agents, Ranked. “We offer the top 50 free agents, but over the coming weeks, that list will continue to grow until it’s well over 100 names.”
Thomas Domol (North Side Baseball): It Might Not Feel Like It, But the 2026 Cubs Had a Good Season. “Perception became the North Siders’ reality this year. Expectations drove a narrative that flipped the Cubs’ 2026 campaign into a failure in the minds of many fans. A closer look reveals it wasn’t one.”
Pure soul and blues power: The CD “Soul Serenade” released by the German-born guitarist Gregor Hilden in intense collaboration with the American singer blues and soul singer Johnny Rogers. It represents a captivating, grooving musical travelogue through black soul and R&B. Exciting vocals, guitar played with power and feeling, a diversity of saxophone parts and a strong, yet sensitive band are what make up this group. The arts section of the Frankfurter Rundschau daily and Jazz Podium both declared Hilden to be “probably Europe’s best blues guitarist.”
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.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 26: Garrett Mitchell #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates with William Contreras #24 after scoring in the fifth inning during Game Three of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday, October 26, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
To whoever said that you can’t rely on stringing together multiple hits to win a World Series game, I have a bridge to sell you. All joking aside, the Brewers just authored one of the most comprehensive offensive performances in a Fall Classic in recent memory, all without the ball leaving the yard. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third, but it was their eight-run fifth that represented likely the final nail in the Rays’ World Series coffin. Milwaukee annihilated the Rays at Tropicana Field, 10-1, to put themselves one win away from their first ever title and on the cusp of becoming the first team to sweep a Fall Classic since the Giants steamrolled the Tigers in 2012.
World Series Game 3
Milwaukee Brewers 10, Tampa Bay Rays 1
(Milwaukee leads, 3-0)
There has been something of a false narrative surrounding the Rays’ play in the business end of these playoffs. Many are quick to praise Tampa Bay’s sound fundamentals when that hasn’t exactly been the case against the Guardians nor indeed in the World Series against the Brewers. Case in point in the bottom of the first, Chandler Simpson reached on a fielder’s choice but then was caught stealing when he over-slid the bag at second to end the inning — already the fifth out on the base paths made by the Rays this series in just two games plus one inning.
They have also suffered a handful of game-altering defensive misplays or simply not converted certain difficult outs you’d still expect them make, and there was another impactful miscue in the third today. First, however, was one of the best defensive plays by either team this series. Simpson immediately atoned for getting thrown out by making an astonishing catch in the second. Garrett Mitchell drew a leadoff walk and Sal Frelick lifted a deep fly ball down the left field line for what looked like a certain RBI double, but Simpson covered a ton of ground before securing the catch and crashing full speed into the wall just to the right of the foul pole.
But then in the third, Chourio lined a first pitch curveball for a one-out single to give him a multi-hit effort in all three World Series games so far. Jake Bauers followed with a five pitch walk to put a pair on for Christian Yelich, the Brewers captain muscling a humpback liner the other way to left for an RBI single to open the scoring. William Contreras then lined a first-pitch heater the other way, and a momentary lapse in concentration from right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. saw the ball clang off his glove as he went to gather, allowing Chourio to score from second (though Contreras did get tagged out in no man’s land between first and second.)
Despite retiring the side in order in the fourth, by the fifth it became clear that Peralta’s command was gone, 35 of his eventual 87 pitches on the outing getting called balls. This came to a head in that fifth inning, where the Brewers strung together one of the most impressive rallies in recent World Series memory. He issued a one-out single to Chourio and then loaded the bases with two outs thanks to a walk of Yelich and an infield single by Contreras. That spelled the end of his start, Kevin Cash calling on Cam Booser as the first arm out of the Rays bullpen.
Booser’s is one of the most inspiring comeback stories in MLB today, retiring in his 20s before returning to pitch almost a decade in the minor believing his shot in the Show would come. This made it all the more inspiring that the 34-year-old southpaw entered this game having not allowed a run in seven postseason appearances as the Rays’ main setup man, but it all went sideways in a manner emblematic of the Rays punching above their weight all year long only to come crashing back to Earth this series.
Brice Turang came up with the bases loaded and clubbed a sharp grounder off Taylor Walls’ glove at short — again, a tough play but one you would expect the Rays infielder to make — allowing Chourio and Yelich to score. Garrett Mitchell and Cooper Pratt then both ambushed first-pitch fastballs from Booser, Mitchell’s going for an RBI single and Pratt’s going for a two-run double. Frelick followed with a double of his own to plate Pratt and chase Booser from the game without the reliever having recorded an out. Cole Sulser was the next man out of Tampa’s ‘pen and the hit parade continued. David Hamilton lined a single to center to score Frelick and Chourio doubled his fourth hit in as many ABs to bring the speedster Hamilton home all the way from first. By the time the dust had settled, the Brewers had sent 12 men to the plate and hung an eight-spot on the board (the most two-out runs in an inning in World Series history), all ten of their runs scoring without the aid of the long ball from the team that had hit the most home runs in this postseason.
Much was made of the Rays unlocking Peralta after acquiring him from the Mets at the deadline, particularly the historic 2.5 mph jump in fastball velocity in the playoffs, but all that velocity doesn’t count for much if you can’t throw the ball over the plate. He ended his outing having given up five runs on seven hits and three walks before Booser allowed a hit to all four batters he faced to put four runs on his card.
While all this was going on, the story could not have been more different for the Brewers starter. Robert Gasser amazed with his five scoreless innings against the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLCS to earn the opportunity to make a start in the World Series. The 27-year-old rookie reprised that gem with an even more spectacular performance tonight.
Following a leadoff single by Yandy Díaz in the first, Gasser set down the next 15 batters he faced in order. Unlike the Brewers, the Rays showed zero intention of working deep counts, and Gasser was able to leverage this to his advantage. Many of his first pitches were off-speed or breaking offering just outside of the zone, close enough to tempt the Rays to chase resulting in a lot of harmless contact early in counts. His fastball may only operate in the low-90s, but with more precise command and sequencing than Peralta Gasser kept the Rays lineup completely off balance.
His streak of 15 in a row retired ended with a walk by Mesa to lead off the sixth, but Gasser erased that base runner three pitches later by getting Nick Fortes to ground into a double play. He threw just five pitches in the second, eleven in the third, nine in the fourth, and 13 in the sixth to leave him with plenty of gas left in the tank, but with a ten-run lead there was little incentive to push things further, instead presenting Milwaukee an opportunity to get some game time for relievers who hadn’t pitched much this postseason including the longest-tenured Brewer, Brandon Woodruff. Gasser ended his outing having pitched six scoreless, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out three on 75 pitches.
Mesa would be the Rays’ last base runner until the ninth, Antonio Senzatela pitching a perfect seventh and eighth before Woodruff wrapped up the final frame — a special moment for a veteran pitcher who has missed significant portions of the last four seasons with major arm injuries. He allowed a run on a one-out single from Cedric Mullins and an RBI double from Díaz to put a bow on the Brewers’ comprehensive victory, 10-1.
Milwaukee can complete the sweep tomorrow night at The Trop, which would cap off one of the most one-sided playoff runs in history, the Brewers 10-1 overall this postseason after tonight’s rout in Game 3. First pitch of Game 4 is scheduled for 8:00 pm ET, though neither team has announced a starter at the time of writing.
TALKING STICK, AZ - OCTOBER 06: Justin Lamkin #47 of the Surprise Saguaros pitches during the game between the Surprise Saguaros and the Salt River Rafters at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 in Talking Stick, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Lamkin was nothing short of perfect in his latest gem for Surprise. The 2025 No. 71 overall pick retired 13 consecutive batters before exiting in the fifth. During the start, Lamkin showcased his newly developed curveball, which accounted for three of his four strikeouts and has been a weapon so far in the desert. The 22-year-old had posted a 2.04 ERA and an 0.93 WHIP through seven starts prior to injuring his throwing shoulder in late May. Back on the field this fall, Lamkin has been back to his stingy ways and has allowed just one run on one hit over his past 8 1/3 frames spanning two outings.
I reject all discourse about the Red Hot Chili Peppers. This song is fun and this music video is fun. Your song of the day is RHCP with The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie.
The Milwaukee Brewers are just one win away from clinching their first-ever franchise championship, putting pressure on the Tampa Bay Rays as they head into a do-or-die matchup at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
The Rays, looking to keep their championship hopes alive, are turning to franchise legend Evan Longoria for inspiration, as he is set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The iconic third baseman was selected third overall by the Rays in the 2006 draft. During his decade-long tenure with Tampa Bay from 2008 to 2017, Longoria collected numerous accolades and consistently delivered standout performances both at the plate and in the field.
His impressive resume includes being named the 2008 American League Rookie of the Year, earning three All-Star selections and capturing Gold Glove Awards in 2009, 2010, and 2017 for his impressive defense. Longoria also finished sixth in AL MVP voting in both 2010 and 2013, and he claimed a Silver Slugger Award in 2009.
Longoria’s legacy is also cemented in Rays history. He is honored with a statue outside Gate 4 at Tropicana Field, commemorating his iconic celebration after hitting a walk-off home run in the 12th inning of the final regular-season game in 2011, a moment that propelled Tampa Bay into the postseason.
Now, the Rays find themselves facing an uphill battle, trailing the series 3-0 after the Brewers dominated Game 3 with a commanding 10-1 victory. With their championship hopes hanging by a thread, Tampa Bay will look to rally as they fight to keep their World Series dreams alive.
