Boston Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray (54) is pulled from the game in the fifth inning during Game 2 of the Wild Card game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at Yankee Stadium.
Sports talk host Craig Carton first reported on WFAN on Thursday that the league had looked into it.
While the Yankees walloped the Red Sox to complete the sweep, plenty of baseball fans noticed what appeared to be a strange substance on Gray’s neck when he was on the mound, raising plenty of questions.
Gray appeared to touch it at various times while on the mound, and baseball fans were quick to point out the discoloration on the right side of his neck.
Carton said on air that he was told by Major League Baseball that it was on top of the situation and that the umpires had checked his hat, glove and hands after every inning he pitched.
“He was checked after every inning. The spin rate was not up at all compared to his starts throughout the regular season,” Carton said. “They did a full check because, obviously, if you’re watching the game, like we all are, you saw the right side of his neck was discolored.”
Gray pitched 4 ⅔ innings and allowed only a solo home run to Luis Garcia Jr. before he was pulled from the game at 70 pitches.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray (54) is pulled from the game in the fifth inning during Game 2 of the Wild Card game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at Yankee Stadium. Robert Sabo for New York Post
The veteran right-hander seemed to question the decision to pull him from the game.
“I think I’m the best pitcher in the American League going through the order the third time. I think that’s a fact. I would have liked to live or die with me in that moment, but that’s the competitor I am,” he told reporters. “You can probably ask the guys and they felt the same way. I felt strong. I felt confident.
Boston finished 26th in the majors in home runs. The Cubs built a rotation with the idea the lineup would cover up the warts. Houston needed a club-record 19 starting pitches to get through 162 games.
The postseason found the fatal flaws.
Here's what sank each team and what it will take for them to get back stronger next fall.
The Cubs lineup was supposed to carry them. For six months, it did.
Chicago led the majors in runs and hit 220 home runs. Pete Crow-Armstrong joined the 40-40 club. Most nights, the lineup covered up the Cubs fatal flaw: pitching.
The rotation was flawed from the start. Shota Imanaga allowed 34 home runs, the most in the majors. They tried to fix it by acquiring Kevin Gausman, who posted a 5.04 ERA after the trade, and Clay Holmes, who had never started a postseason game.
The plan was to outscore everybody and it lasted for one inning. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado homered off Matthew Boyd in the first inning of Game 1. Michael King took it from there.
The Cubs went 8-for-62, a .129 batting average over the two games.
The fix starts on the mound. Imanaga, Gausman, Boyd and Holmes are all headed to free agency, so Chicago is rebuilding the rotation. Help is coming, just not soon. Cade Horton, who finished second in 2025 Rookie of the Year voting, had Tommy John surgery in April. Justin Steele, a 2023 All-Star and under contract through 2027, will be back from his second elbow surgery. Jaxon Wiggins, the Cubs' top prospect, can hit 100 mph, but also had a 7.83 ERA in Triple-A.
The Cubs have to spend on a stopper, one starter they can rely on and give the ball to for Game 1. They need to go all in on a pitcher, so why not go for broke with Tarik Skubal, the two-time American League Cy Young winner. He is going to be expensive, but he turns them into a contender.
Why Boston Red Sox lost to New York Yankees
Willson Contreras' solo homer in the sixth inning of Game 2 ended a streak of 26 2/3 innings without a run for the Red Sox.
Boston scored two runs in two games.
The offense looked a lot like the one Boston had all season. The Red Sox finished 23rd in the majors in runs and 26th in home runs. Against the Yankees, they managed seven hits in 18 innings.
The lack of runs shaped everything else.
First-year manager Chad Tracy pulled both his starters, Payton Tolle and Sonny Gray, with two outs in the fifth inning and Boston trailing 1-0. He said he felt he had to be aggressive because the team could not score.
He managed like one run would beat him and with the lineup he had, it could.
The fix is getting what general manager Craig Breslow dealt away in 2025 and hasn't replaced: a middle-of-the-order power hitter - or two.
Brandon Lowe, who hit 35 homers for Pittsburgh, is a free agent they could probably get at a bargain. Boston also needs more from players already on the roster. Jarren Duran's production has dropped two years running, and Roman Anthony needs to stay healthy.
He had a 2.68 ERA over an eight-start stretch late in the season, the closest thing Houston had to a sure thing. The White Sox scored four runs on him and chased him in the first inning. The offense rallied to within a run, but the bullpen couldn't hold it and the season was over.
Houston's rotation spent most of 2026 on the injured list. Brown strained his shoulder in April. Tatsuya Imai and Cristian Javier went down within weeks. The Astros were 20-31 by mid-May and used a franchise-record 19 starting pitchers. Their starters carried a 4.97 ERA, 28th in the majors, into September. The staff walked 628 batters, the most in the American League.
Yordan Alvarez is the only reason the Astros were able to pull out the American League West title with an 81-81 record. He won the AL batting title at .316, hit 42 homers and led the majors in on-base and slugging percentage. He is under contract through 2028. Since he signed a six-year extension in 2022, the Astros have won one playoff series. They are wasting his prime without pitching.
The fix is two dependable starters to slot in behind Brown. Imai can opt out of his three-year, $54 million deal. Mike Burrows had a 5.99 ERA before he went on the injured list. Javier has been up and down when healthy. None of them is a sure thing for 2027.
Michael King has an opt-out after this season. Though he missed chunks of time with a thoracic-outlet nerve issue and a knee inflammation, he just threw a gem in the wild card round.
We’re getting the AL playoff matchup we deserve with Yankees-Rays, the league’s two top teams, though it’d be cooler if it were one round later than this best-of-five AL Division Series.
Oh, well. Maybe the shorter dose will jolt the intensity even higher because this will be intense. Even if Yanks-Rays doesn’t have the dates-back-to-Babe Ruth lore of Yanks-Red Sox, it still has the right kind of heat to make this a compelling October.
The Rays are a pesky lot who seem to have it coded into their DNA to annoy the Yankees. What fun! They pitch, run, bunt and, oh, have a guy who smashed the second-most home runs in the AL -- Junior Caminero, one of the great young hitters in the game.
Tampa Bay won the season series, 7-6, and even got to clinch and celebrate their AL East Division title at Yankee Stadium. The only previous time the Yanks and Rays met in the playoffs was in the five-game 2020 ALDS won by Tampa Bay.
This year’s models are well matched -- they scored at nearly the same rate this season (the Yanks, at 4.59 runs per game, were 0.05 better), even if their offenses hum differently. The clubs, led by the Rays, were 1-2 in the AL in steals. Tampa Bay (.728) had a better team OPS by eight points. The Yanks’ 3.24 ERA topped the Rays’ 3.70.
There’s even pre-series intrigue -- will Aaron Judge be healthy enough to make the Yanks’ roster? We’ll know by the time the series begins Saturday night at the Rays’ home, Tropicana Field.
WHAT THE YANKEES HAVE GOING FOR THEM
If you watched the dismissal of the Red Sox, it looks like every dang thing, right?
They outscored Boston, 18-2, and outhit the Sox, 26-7. They raked with RISP (.450 average). Their lefties mauled Boston’s left-handed pitchers (an absurd .429 average and 1.002 OPS over the two games). The Red Sox batted .117 in the series and did not score for the first 14 innings. The Yanks even stole four bases.
“We played great baseball in a lot of ways,” Aaron Boone said after the series.
Things figure to be much more difficult against Tampa -- in plain language, the Yanks ain't going to be scoring nine runs per game in this dogfight.
Still, they should generate offense, especially since they’re blazing hot -- Boston manager Chad Tracy said some form of “they swung the bats great” five different times in his postgame press conference after Game 2.
New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice (22) celebrates with outfielder Cody Bellinger (35) after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Ben Rice was a one-man game wrecker in the opener, and Luis García Jr. and Cody Bellinger smacked homers in Game 2. Even Austin Wells, a frustrating null set at the bottom of the order most of the regular season, was tremendous against Boston, batting .500 with four RBI.
And Judge could really impact the series if his calf is healed enough.
Then there’s the rotation, a pinstriped behemoth all year and into the postseason. Gerrit Cole or Carlos Rodón (1.42 ERA in September) figure to start Game 1. Cam Schlittler, the best pitcher in the AL all year, is lined up for Game 2 and Game 5, a nice slot for the Yankees.
“That has been the biggest strength for us throughout the year,” Boone said of the rotation, a constant when Judge missed time. “It sustained us. It got us through some difficult times.”
Schlittler and Max Fried ate up 12.1 innings against Boston, meaning the Yanks’ bullpen had a mostly light load.
WHAT THE RAYS HAVE GOING FOR THEM
Only Kyle Schwarber (101) has more home runs than the 87 Caminero has over the last two seasons. Caminero, just 23 years old, slugged 42 home runs this year and showed evidence of evolving into an even tougher out -- his on-base percentage soared 49 points to .360.
As a team, the Rays thrive when they put the ball in play. They struck out the fewest times in baseball. They tied Milwaukee for the highest batting average (.258) and led everyone in batting with runners in scoring position (.283), despite producing some of the lowest hard-hit numbers in the sport.
Speaking of hard contact, outfielder Chandler Simpson doesn’t really make any. That’s OK -- it’s not his game. He batted .306, second in the AL, and frustrates opponents with speed and slap. He led the AL with 46 stolen bases.
The Rays will run some quality pitching at the Yankees, including presumptive Game 1 starter Drew Rasmussen, who led the AL in WHIP and K/BB ratio and relies on three fastballs with differing movement, a la Schlittler. Fordham product Nick Martinez (15-6, 3.10 ERA) was perhaps the most savvy free agent signing last winter, and ex-Met Freddy Peralta had a 0.79 ERA over his final six starts and was the AL Pitcher of the Month for September.
The last time Rasmussen pitched against the Yanks, he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning the day the Rays clinched the division. In his career, he’s 5-2 with a 1.81 ERA against the Yanks.
/ IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Rays tied for the best home record in baseball (55-26) and, even if the Yanks are a good road team, it’s a big advantage playing three games in a best-of-five at the Trop. It’s a gray, sterile atmosphere and experience tracking fly balls with the roof as a backdrop can be important. Dome, sweet dome, indeed.
THE YANKEES WILL WIN THE SERIES IF…
The starters are the thing. Again. Schlittler is authoring a postseason resume that ultimately will be like few others if he keeps adding October gems. It’d be fascinating if Game 5 comes down to his start. Fried might not have had his best stuff in Game 2, but he also didn’t have any trouble with the Red Sox and now Cole and Rodón await their turns.
The above mentioned “difficult times” Boone talked about were those vexing days when the Yankee offense would vanish. It’s happened in previous Octobers to the Yankees, which perhaps is why the flashes they got from the running game against Boston seem so promising. If their lineup flags, perhaps they can force offense – like the Rays do – with speed.
Rice has hit free and easy for weeks now after seeing his numbers tumble when Judge first went out during the regular season. He’ll be a constant threat.
And if Judge does make it back and can give them a lightning bolt or two, watch out.
THE RAYS WILL WIN THE SERIES IF…
Caminero puts on a show and the rest of the Rays continue their frenetic baseball stylings.
Annually, there is a ton of hand-wringing over home runs and October baseball. Detractors whine: “You can’t rely on the long ball.” Maybe. But hitting home runs is an extremely effective way to win playoff games.
Already this year, teams that out-homer their opponent are 5-1, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com. Last October, teams that did it were 30-5.
Yeah, it’s nice to find other ways to score and the Rays will. But if Caminero parks a few, Tampa Bay is all the more dangerous. He was one of baseball’s best against fastballs, in terms of slugging and OPS. But there’s pressure on him, too, because the Yanks, who out-homered the Rays, 223-169, during the season, seem much more likely to go deep as a team.
If Caminero has a power outage, perhaps the Rays will discombobulate the Yanks by flooding the basepaths and putting runners in motion.
PREDICTION
Yanks in five.
Maybe there’s some recency bias involved, but it’s hard to pick against the Yankees after watching them annihilate Boston, especially knowing their rotation is healthy.
And it wasn’t just stars that fueled two routs -- hitters up and down the lineup, even as young as 21 (George Lombard Jr.), made huge contributions. A repeat might be enough to get the Yanks all the way to the ALCS.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning in game two of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on September 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It even includes a mother, father and plenty of other relatives the Chicago White Sox pitcher made sure to shout out after his AL Wild Card Game 2 performance lifted the recently woebegone franchise to its first playoff series victory since winning the 2005 World Series.
"I don't have family," Burke quipped. "No girl, no kids. This is all I do."
He still does not have any children, Burke confirmed – so far as he knows, his teammates joked.
For a franchise whose last three seasons were defined by lowlights and humiliation, Burke’s comments typified the turnaround not just of his ballclub, but the wider perception of the White Sox. The quote took off online. Memes were spawned, and those who'd never paid Burke any mind suddenly had reason to lock in for his next appearance.
"Yeah our Ace answered the question, 'how do you feel for tomorrow's start' with basically 'if I died nobody will mourn me', he might throw a perfect game." A Sox fan posted in response.
Burke had to settle for four innings of four-hit ball with eight strikeouts. He gave up three solo home runs, but sat down AL MVP favorite Yordan Alvarez twice with a fastball-knuckle curve combo the slugger couldn't catch up to.
After Chicago’s lack of rotation depth forced manager Will Venable to throw a bullpen game for Game 1, Burke's 72-pitch outing was exactly what the ballclub required to avoid taxing its relievers even further. It also sparked a new rallying cry of sorts in the clubhouse: "Celibate for Sean" echoed across the clubhouse amid the raucous celebrations in Houston, and his teammates tried their best to get the phrase trending on social media not long after.
For those who have followed Chicago's magical run all season, these shenanigans are nothing new. The pregame dugout dance party that's since gone viral was a staple of the summer. Before Pope Leo XIV invoked "abundant blessings" on his beloved Southsiders, rehabbing pitcher Mike Vasil was casting spells across the diamond with a $20 wand purchased off Amazon in April.
The White Sox later gave out replica wands in a rare impromptu promo night for a player who hasn't even appeared in a game this season. When Vasil finally threw his first pitch off flat ground since Tommy John surgery in the spring, the whole team came out to cheer him on.
"It's like a fraternity," Chase Meidroth said hours after his three-run homer on Tuesday slammed the door on Houston’s comeback. "It's like a college team."
Vasil has served as the team's Minister of Vibes since getting hurt, keeping the energy up, making sure his teammates are partying hard and conducting impromptu interviews, like the one that allowed Burke to clear the air after his comments went viral.
That family was with Burke on the field in Houston after Game 2. They’ll be locked in when he makes his next start against the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS. And even if Burke were living that loner life, he'd still have 40,000 fans dressed in all black waiting for him back on the South Side when the White Sox play their first postseason game at Rate Field since 2021.
Whether the team stays "celibate for Sean," the brotherly love in the dugout that's taken Chicago this far will remain ineffable.
The Padres did the opposite of what they did last year in the postseason: They overcame the Cubs.
Now they have a date with the Brewers on the horizon, but even then, they still have bigger fish to fry.
Harold Reynolds, a former Mariners star and baseball analyst, appeared on “The Dan Patrick Show” on Thursday and said the biggest National League threat isn’t the Padres — it’s the Dodgers.
“They won 100 games and it’s, ‘Oh, bad year.’” — Harold Reynolds thinks people don’t understand how dangerous the Dodgers are. pic.twitter.com/UrGWAp5Bg5
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani celebrating getting on base against the San Diego Padres. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
“They’re really dangerous. The problem is, they gotta face the Dodgers,” Reynolds said of San Diego. “I don’t think people realize how good the Dodgers are. They won a hundred games and it’s ‘Oh, bad year.’ They lived through and now they’re healthy, and they’ve got pitching and depth.”
Reynolds said the Dodgers are “loaded” and said he believes they will win the World Series. He compared the Dodgers-Padres rivalry to Michael Jordan and Karl Malone.
“Karl Malone was great. But he didn’t win because Jordan won MVPs. That’s kind of what we’re seeing right now,” Reynolds said.
Since 2020, the Dodgers and Padres have blossomed into one of MLB’s best rivalries, especially during the postseason.
Before Wednesday night’s 4-1 victory over the Cubs, new Padres owner Jose E. Feliciano took a jab at the Dodgers by saying, “The owner of the Dodgers owns a lot of dinosaurs.”
The Dodgers have had the edge over the Padres, going 7-5 against them in the playoffs over the last six years.
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy celebrating getting on base. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Padres have taken one playoff series against the Dodgers, during the 2022 season, but failed to capitalize on it as they ended up losing in five games against the Phillies in the NLCS.
The Dodgers have been the polar opposite, eliminating the Padres from the 2020 NLDS and going on to win the World Series.
In 2024, the teams met again in the NLDS. Los Angeles got the last laugh, overcoming a 2-1 deficit, forcing a fifth game and winning the series.
Since then, LA has won back-to-back World Series, while San Diego has struggled to find its footing.
Padres pitcher Mason Miller celebrating after they eliminated the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
The Padres were impressive in Tuesday and Wednesday night’s games, but they still have a long road to go to win their first World Series in franchise history.
If the two meet in the postseason this year, it would be during the NLCS.
“Do you want to go to the #Padres / Cubs playoff game on Wednesday night with me? This is me. I sit here….dugout club section 4. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I no longer have a date for the game and want to fix that,” his initial X post wrote.
“Are you: 1) Female / 2) Single / 3) Age 30-55 / 4) A Padres fanatic / If so, you qualify!,” the post continued. “If you’re interested, send me a DM.”
X user @Eggorian posting a selfie while trying to find a date to the San Diego Padres game.
The fan got flamed for using social media to find a date.
However, a recent update revealed that he had no shortage of interest, even if the interest didn’t suite his taste.
“It’s been an interesting couple of days. 100s of DMs received…Most of them from men and large women under 30. I did not have a date when I hopped in my car at 4pm yesterday. While driving I received a DM from a friend of @julie_at_law saying that I should ask her 41 year old friend to go. So I did,” the X user wrote on Thursday morning.
Fans cheer before the start of the game between the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectManny Machado of the San Diego Padres reacts at the end of the third inning against the Chicago Cubs in game two of the National League Wild Card Series at Petco Park in San Diego, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. Getty Images
“She accepted and we went. By all accounts, we had a great time. Healthy conversations about a variety of topics. Our opinions didn’t always align and believe it or not…that’s OK. Most importantly, the Pads closed out the Cubs and are moving on,” he added.
MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 26: Dominic Smith #8 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on Saturday, September 26, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Brandon Pratt/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves, after failing to secure the Wild Card series sweep yesterday afternoon to eliminate their division rival Philadelphia Phillies, are looking to save their season and advance.
With the shift to 8 PM ET for tonight’s game time, Walt Weiss had a few more hours to game plan to face a potential “Oops, All Starters” pitching plan from the Phillies. Aaron Nola is tabbed to take the ball first, but Zack Wheeler is expected to jog out of the pen to follow. As noted in the preview, everything is on the table.
Walt Weiss has penciled in yet another novel lineup.
Drake Baldwin will catch for opener Ray Kerr and bat leadoff. We could very much use a big game at the plate from Ronald Acuña Jr., who currently has more stolen bases (2) than hits (0). He’ll hit second and play right field. Matt Olson is in his typical spot in the three-hole and at first base. Captain of the outfield Michael Harris II will hit cleanup. Next will be Mauricio Dubón, who gets the start at shortstop after Ha-Seong Kim got two straight starts. Mike Yastrzemski completes the outfield in left and will hit sixth. Austin Riley, the team leader in home runs against Nola and author of Game 1’s biggest moment, will bat seventh. Ozzie Albies drops down to eighth, and Dominic Smith will bat ninth as the designated hitter.
The lineup for Don Mattingly’s club is as follows:
The Phillies have the same top three that we’ve been seeing: shortstop Trea Turner, DH Kyle Schwarber, and RF Bryce Harper. After yesterday’s game-winning homer, first baseman Alec Bohm gets to move up one to the cleanup spot. Bryson Stott will play second base and hit fifth. Bryan De La Cruz gets the start today in left field. Edmundo Sosa is in the lineup after exiting Game 2 with injury – he’ll hit seventh and be at third base. Catcher JT Realmuto moves up to eighth and center fielder Justin Crawford rounds out the batting order for Philadelphia.
I don’t know about you, but I want to see a Blooper flag run more than anything in the world right now. Let it fly, Braves.
It is already being called one of the most momentous home runs in White Sox postseason history, and now BreakingT has commemorated Chase Meidroth’s three-run blast in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card series in T-shirt form:
What a moment! And the definitive image to mark the first White Sox postseason series victory in 21 seasons.
BreakingT offered two more shirts today, listed here but without a separate post.
As always, anything else you buy with our link, whether a Mets mug or Sabres sweatshirt, gives South Side Sox a commission and helps us continue to provide the best coverage we can for you.
So go ahead and express yourself, courtesy of South Side Sox and BreakingT!
Munetaka Murakami has been a bit of a viral sensation from the start of his career in the United States, from the installation of bidets in the White Sox clubhouse to the on-base gestures of his teammates, and on from there. His latest bit of endearing hilarity came during the White Sox clubhouse celebration in Kansas City on Thursday, when his tribute to countryman Munenori Kawasaki became a viral moment:
If there’s any T-shirt offered this season that better encapsulates the joy of the 2026 White Sox, you’ve found it here!
And remember, anything else you buy with our link, whether a Mariners mug or Spurs sweatshirt, gives South Side Sox a commission and helps us continue to provide the best coverage we can for you.
So go ahead and express yourself, courtesy of South Side Sox and BreakingT!
With the remarkable achievement of the 2026 Chicago White Sox — making the postseason after three straight 100-loss seasons, something that’s not been accomplished even after “just” two straight 100-loss seasons — BreakingT has gear for you that breaks down the math!
There is even a nod to Mike Vasil’s magic wand. If there’s any T-shirt offered this season that better encapsulates all that these 2026 White Sox are, you’ve found it here!
And remember, anything else you buy with our link, whether a Brewers mug or Dolphins sweatshirt, gives South Side Sox a commission and helps us continue to provide the best coverage we can for you.
So go ahead and crunch the numbers, courtesy of South Side Sox and BreakingT!
You gotta admit, it’s a pretty impossibly clever design, with the moon “O” and a bit of a nod to silent film Le Voyage dans la Lune. No doubt it will make a snappy addition to your closet.
And remember, anything else you buy with our link, whether a Pirates mug or Yankees sweatshirt, gives South Side Sox a commission and helps us continue to provide the best coverage we can for you.
So go ahead a book your trip to the Mune, from South Side Sox and BreakingT!
(Every purchase you make with our link drops a few pennies in the jar here at South Side Sox, so a list of all our prior BreakingT collaborations follow, below. Yes, some of the designs are now hilariously outdated collector’s items. But most, if not all of these, should still be available, so click a link and see!)
This link takes you to this newest T-shirt, plus our entire line of White Sox wear!
While several members of the Chicago White Sox will need your votes for the July All-Star Game, fans are encouraged to punch the Robert/Jiménez ticket for a dominant South Side outfield all season long!
Whether you’re voting offense (what say, 70 homers among them?) or defense (Luis already has a Gold Glove, Eloy is … still alive), there’s no better campaign to get behind.
With everyone now aware that on his 23rd try, Minnie Miñoso was elected to the Hall of Fame. And Breaking T has commemorated the nickname that manager Paul Richards bestowed on Minnie almost immediately after his arrival on the South Side:
Celebrate the White Sox moments of your life with the entire Chicago W Collection at Breaking T, where you can peruse everything available. Or, if you want to read all my terrific catalog copy for each item, just scroll down and enjoy!
The White Sox indeed did make a free agent acquisition or two before the lockout, so it’s well past time to raise our glasses to the Legend himself: Leury Legend, that is.
He’s the longest-tenured current White Sox player, and when he’s done, he could well crack the list of all-time White Sox. Can you believe it? Welcome back, Leury!
To celebrate the division title for 2021, Breaking T offers two new T-shirt designs commemorating the feat:
Certainly, we hope there will be more than just a division title to enjoy over the next month or so, but we have to start somewhere!
Contrary to the cynics among you, we haven’t featured every Breaking T White Sox design here at South Side Sox, for various reasons. But I’ve never seen one more confounding than the José Abreu and Eloy Jiménez Sugar Skulls designs.
If you scroll down far enough, I think you can see the original Yasmani Grandal Breaking T piece, Yaz We Can, which I think was pretty clever and should have pulled a lot of fans in with purchases. It was definitely different, as far as Breaking T fare.
But I don’t remember it doing all that well, which was a shame. Maybe Yaz isn’t sexy. Walks aren’t, as someone on Twitter wants to tell you every day.
Yasmani really is the bad boy of the White Sox. He’ll snark you. He’ll roll his eyes. He’s not out to please anyone. He’s just gonna be a badass catcher who drops the bat after clocking one a mile, thank you very much.
In just his second game back after a season-long stint on the IL, Eloy Jiménez announced his presence in the White Sox lineup with authority, hitting a home run and providing whirling dervish defense in Tuesday’s win at K.C.
It’s great to have Eloy back with the club in any capacity, and him starring in just his second game back is extra sweet. Now you can wear that sweetness!
It was a quite a moment on Monday, seizing a win from the jaws of a doubleheader sweep. When you’re running away with a division, tension can seem manufactured, but Len Kasper gave us a classic moment that our own Joe Resis likened to A.J. Pierzynski’s walk-off against the Dodgers during the 2005 season. Listen to Len last night:
Here it is! @cleansheets24 hits a walk-off HR and @LenKasper loses his mind!
The White Sox just keep humming along, with great pick-me-ups from the most unlikely of places. Waiver-wire pickup Billy Hamilton has managed to become a core bench and spot-start piece for the club as it ascending in the AL Central, and the veteran made his defensive presence known, with authority, in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s win at Minnesota:
You don’t usually expect to have to persuade your manager to defend his own player, but here we are. And in the Tony La Russa-Yermín Mercedes kerfuffle, we (and all of the White Sox players) are Team Yermín.
So is Breaking T, who’s issuing this “I’m Yermín” wear in solidarity with the rookie sensation:
Well, perhaps you’ve been waiting for a more “authentic” Yerminator T-Shirt, something more “as seen on TV.” Well, here you have it!
Terminator vibe? Check. Super cool uniform easter egg in the shades? Check. Money actually going to the players association to benefit minimum-salaried players like Yermín himself? Check.
It’s a sharp piece, with the clever use of accent mark, complete with high socks! (If only it was a warmer night, we’d have Rodón dressed in his full Grant Park 16´´softballer mode … #JulyGoalsForLos.)
As you well know, you don’t have to go 5-for-5 in your first MLB start or start a season 8-for-8 to merit a cool Breaking T shirt. But it doesn’t hurt!
Celebrate our Yermín Spring with The Yerminator, a delightful play off of everyone’s favorite killer robot-turned-sweet hero. Hoodies, Ts, we’ve got the gear.
Perhaps because he was injured for half of his first season, or he doesn’t have a snappy nickname yet, or he’s such a grinder he doesn’t lend himself to chest-emblazoned graphics, Nick Madrigal has to date missed the cut as a T-shirt subject.
To welcome our new, colorful closer, Liam Hendriks, Breaking T has gone positively Greek with the Australian, with Hercu-Liam!
Breaking T put together four great purchase options for Hercu-Liam, from petite to husky, winter bundling to summer sunning.
And click here to view everything in Breaking T’s White Sox collection in one spot.
Individual links below should get you to other White Sox products on site, including the Classic Collection that features the Ed Farmer and Mark Buehrle T-shirts.
To welcome our newest (and top WAR) starter into the rotation, Breaking T has drawn up some Lance Lynn-wear sure to please the bearded fan on your holiday shopping list, with Lynnsanity!
The big man is in town and ready to push the rotation toward a World Series!
I first got word of this shirt just as José Abreu was homering and singling in runs during the 2020 season.
And Breaking T’s hunch became reality, as José Abreu became the first White Sox MVP since Frank Thomas and only the fourth player, after Nellie Fox, Dick Allen and Thomas to win the award.
And peruse the rest of the collection below to add to your order and combine shipping.
Clubbing homers and scoring runs like there’s no tomorrow, the Chicago White Sox Murderer’s Row of Eloy Jiménez, José Abreu, Tim Anderson and Luis Robert is the subject of a new BreakingT shirt:
Some real nice details in this one: Each players’ expression, the gangster pinstripes, and the exotic player numbers among them. Grab one at BreakingT.
With Luis Robert not only staking his claim on AL Rookie of the Year but MVP, it makes sense that BreakingT is working overtime to present the best Panterawear out there.
Dig this supercool 1983 nod, which you can order here.
Looking for Luis Robert to assume his La Pantera form? BreakingT has you covered. Order here and celebrate the future MVP!
I’m digging the silhouette.
The 19th no-hitter in White Sox history is in the books, by none other than ace Lucas Giolito. So it’s time to celebrate the Gio No-No! It’s a quick, and slick, commemoration of an incredible, 101-pitch masterpiece, dated and suitable for a Gio auto!
Snag one here, and take a look at numerous other wonderful Breaking T offerings below.
So, it was bound to happen, but BreakingT is first on the scene to promote the latest dance party sweeping Soxdom: DANCING FOR DUBS
Featuring the boogie-down duo of Zack Collins and Danny Mendick, the T-shirt and/or hoodie is available in all sizes, so take a look now.
Running on speed and power, folded into the Change the Game platform, we’re now making these sweet Ts available so you can elect them to a six-year term lasting until 2026.
He’s only the hottest rookie — nay, the hottest player — in baseball heading into 2020.
So, BreakingT was watching ESPN on Sunday and said, “hey, that’s right, Tim Anderson speaks the truth: the preeminent sports network in America is sleeping on the White Sox again.”
All shapes and sizes are available, in T-shirt or hoodie.
Stay tuned for some excellent new merch dropping on Friday as well.
How about pairing it with the original classic?
Our best seller, the incomparable Tim Anderson neck-bow of STICK TALK!
BreakingT has a bunch of terrific ideas they’ve collaborated with us on for their newest designs in conjunction with the MLB Players Alumni Association. This one is, simply, Mister Perfect, commemorating Mark Buehrle’s perfect game in 2009:
The first White Sox product from BreakingT’s Classic Collection was a beautiful tribute to our Ed Farmer:
Order it here. When you click on our link to buy, we will donate a portion of the proceeds we see from these shirt sales in Farmer’s name to the Polycystic Kidney Disease Research Foundation (support.pkdcure.org).
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 14: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners reacts in the dugout during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 14, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ryan Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s a well-worn business cliche that “hope is not a strategy.” Unfortunately for the 2026 Mariners, there was too much hoping, and not enough strategizing.
In speaking with players and front office members over the last few weeks as the 2026 Mariners season limped to its agonizing, inevitable conclusion, one common theme jumped out: the Mariners were banking on hope for too much of the season: hope that things would turn around, hope that certain players would turn it on, hope that the team as a whole would catch fire.
This theme was first crystallized during a postgame interview with Logan Gilbert back in mid-September, speaking after the Mariners officially clinched a losing season after a particularly lifeless 1-2 loss against the bottom-dwelling Angels.
“We were just waiting for it to turn around, and it never quite did,” said Gilbert.
Waiting and hoping, rather than doing and achieving. It’s a surprisingly passive mindset for a team that made such a deep postseason run last year. In retrospect, though, that might have been part of the problem. Everyone in the clubhouse knew what kind of talent they had on the team – looking at some of the postseason rosters it’s shocking to think a Mariners team composed of multiple All-Stars and award winners couldn’t make it across the finish line, especially in a violently mediocre AL West – but the talent never showed up to the field consistently. By the time they realized no one was coming to save them but themselves, it was too late, the hole dug too deep. Instead of pushing them forward, that talent bred a complacency that things would turn around without the dynamism to make it happen.
“Obviously we were riding high off last year, and somewhere along the way things just didn’t click, didn’t come together, and we were never able to right the ship, and that’s the frustrating part,” said Cal Raleigh. “I thought we would be able to get there, and we just never did. We never got better. We never turned it around, and that’s frustrating.”
In the Mariners’ defense, waiting and then getting hot at the right time had served them well in the past. The drought-breaking 2022 team was ten games under .500 on June 19th before going on a run – beating up on some of the same AL West opponents they couldn’t handle this year – ending July eight games over .500. The 2025 team made up for a sub-.500 May and June by catching fire the rest of the way, playing at a .680 clip over September. By contrast, the 2026 team played just under .500 ball in the first half and was significantly worse in the second half, never catching fire the way they did in previous years. It’s understandable that this team of young Mariners thought their ship would eventually come in.
“It’s tough when you go through those times in the past,” said Bryan Woo. “We’ve always found a way to get high at the right time and find our way in it. So you learn from experiences, and up until that point, that was our experience: stay in it and wait until we play the baseball that we know how to play, get on it at the right time, and find a way in it. Obviously, this year didn’t go that way.”
It didn’t help that this team wasn’t equipped personnel-wise for the second-half push to get them over their traditional slow start. Julio Rodríguez, who has a track record of coming on strong in the second half, never got to that point after going on the concussion IL in July. They lost Emerson Hancock, their second-best pitcher in the rotation by WAR, in September. There was no Jorge Polanco to electrify the lineup as Cole Young, the workhorse of the infield, labored down the stretch, more than doubling his plate appearances from last year.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Jerry Dipoto was both blunt and succinct in addressing the team’s failure.
“What we saw in mid-season was a team playing with limited urgency and and waiting for the water to turn on, and it just didn’t come on. Instead of turning it on ourselves.”
Like Raleigh, Dipoto echoed the frustration of watching it happen, like a slow-motion car crash, while failing to reverse course.
“We saw it unfolding. Our players saw it unfolding. We we talked about it a lot as the season went along. And again, it’s where I would count myself most at fault. You can talk about it or you can just go out and do it. You can lament the fact that there was an injury here or there—we had fewer injuries to deal with than many teams that wound up finishing in a really good spot and are still playing today. So we had a tendency this year to just shrug it off to, ‘we’re more talented than the teams around us. Don’t worry, it’ll happen.’ Instead of going out and making our own thing happen.”
Where the key failure was, according to both Dipoto and Raleigh, was in a lack of accountability once the passivity problem had been identified – not just turning the water on for yourself, but making sure the water got turned on everywhere, even if that results in some momentarily-bruised feelings.
“That’s that’s what accountability looks like,” said Dipoto. “It’s calling that out in the moment. It’s stopping it before it gets rolling any further. It’s being truthful in our discussion with one another. For years our program has always been built on truth. We tell the truth with love, and and sometimes you might get your nose out of joint for a moment, but you wake up the next day and you realize that you’re loved, and you’re just trying to help one another.”
Raleigh, echoing the tone of Dipoto’s comments, suggested the passivity piece might go beyond the play on the field and reach into the clubhouse, the training room, the front office, everywhere.
“The waiting on it part is…maybe that was the wrong thing to do. You shouldn’t wait on something, or you shouldn’t hold back on something that may need to be said or may need to be done. It’s doing it there and now, and and making sure that you’re not holding back. And like I said, I look at myself and could I’ve done more? Yes, I should have done more. But I think again, it’s not just me. I think it’s a lot of guys. I think it’s I think it’s staff. I think it’s front office. I think it’s players. I think it’s from top to bottom. I think we could have been a little more aggressive, a little more—you know, we’re grown men here, and we’re trying to get to the same goal. And you know, if it hurts somebody’s feelings, then it hurts somebody’s feelings for a day. But at least it got taken care of, whatever the situation may be. But that’s something that’s that will get addressed and be better next year for sure.”
There’s a quote often attributed to baseball player Vernon Wells that experience is a cruel teacher because it gives the test first and the lessons later. The 2026 Mariners had the experience; now they’re learning the lessons.
“It’s a learning point that we’re all going to have to take accountability for and understand,” said Raleigh, before slipping into coach-speak. “If it happens once, that’s one too many times, and if it happens again, it becomes a habit, so it’s about changing that and turning things around.”
“You learn that it’s not just going to change on its own,” said Woo. “You have to do something about it, better sooner rather than later. It’s a really, really tough lesson that you can only really learn by going through it.”
Another lesson the 2026 Mariners have learned: don’t let a focus on the bigger picture take away from the immediacy of the game in front of you. Julio Rodríguez spoke about the team’s inability to string together consistent wins, suggesting that maybe that expectation of catching fire caused a lack of focus on the day-to-day, and says he’s looking forward to bringing a “fresher mentality” into 2027.
“You have to focus on one day at a time,” said Julio. “A streak is just a combination of single games. So I think that was a situation where in the past we would always get hot. But I do believe that that approach needs to be just one day at a time and just let everything take care of itself. If we play our game clean, we do what we need to do to win that day without expectation, I think I think we’re gonna be in a good spot.”
Josh Naylor is also matter-of-fact about the team’s struggles, but optimistic that they can turn things around.
“Yeah, we waited for that for that moment, I think, and it didn’t come. But that doesn’t say it won’t come next year. This season – it is what it is. We didn’t perform, and kind of have to leave it at that. You could beat yourself up all day, but at what point is enough?…Some years are awesome, some years aren’t. That’s just the name of the game. I didn’t think I did as well as I could have, and it sucks. I have to wear that. I have to sit with that for the off-season. Then it’s time to grow, time to re-evaluate, go back to the drawing board, think about what I did right, what I did wrong, and how I can fix it. And then just try to evolve my game like I try to do with every obstacle I face.”
The 2026 Mariners failed the test. They were too passive, too complacent, and unwilling to have the hard conversations they needed to have to turn the season around, hoping someone would switch it on for them. Now they have learned some hard lessons – about failure, yes, but also hopefully about being brave enough to dole out tough love, about not resting on talent alone, and about making things happen rather than having them happen to you. Hopefully most of all, they have learned hope is not a strategy, and will come into 2027 with some more concrete ones to ensure this miserable year doesn’t repeat itself.
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: A general view of the scoreboard displaying a Washington Nationals ABS challenge during the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park on August 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The game of baseball is always changing and evolving. This season we got a big rule change in the form of the ABS challenge system. Giving players the ability to challenge the umpire’s ruling is a game changer. This season, 5,686 calls were overturned around the league.
I wanted to take a look at how successful the Nats were when it came to using the challenge system. In the first year of ABS, there is no true guide on how to effectively use it. That means different teams will take different approaches. With a year of data, I think teams will have a better idea of how to use the system most effectively.
On the season, the Nats were mediocre at best when it came to challenging. Nats hitters were 45% on challenges this season, which ranked 23rd in baseball. Meanwhile, Nationals were 54%, which ranks 22nd in the league. Overall, the Nats were not horrible at using the ABS challenge system, but left plenty to be desired.
In the beginning of the season, the Nats struggled to adjust to the new system. For the first month of play, the Nats were the worst challenging team in baseball. I remember one game against the Phillies during the first week of the season where the Nats ran out of challenges in the second inning.
Hitters were having a hard time picking the right spots to challenge. Keibert Ruiz and Drew Millas were also struggling behind the plate. Millas continued to struggle, with a 43% win rate on the season. That was actually the worst mark of any catcher with at least 50 challenges.
After a tough start, Keibert Ruiz turned into a decent challenger. On the season, Ruiz went 56% on ABS challenges. That is slightly below the 58% average for catchers. Harry Ford was actually the best Nats catcher at using the ABS system, with a 60% win rate.
Ford being the best at using ABS actually makes sense. The ABS challenge system has been in place at the AAA level for a little while now, which makes Ford the most familiar with the procedure. With his experience, Ford had a better feel for when to tap the helmet.
On the hitting side, CJ Abrams was actually one of the game’s best challengers. He challenged 14 times and won 12 of them. Abrams was actually the best hitter in baseball in terms of overturns vs expected, a stat on Baseball Savant. However, it was a mixed bag at best for the rest of the team.
🚨 C.J. Abrams is seeing the game on another level.
Abrams leads all of Major League Baseball with an 86% ABS Challenge success rate among players with at least 10 attempts, going an incredible 12-for-14 this season.
Jorbit Vivas and Nasim Nunez were the worst challengers on the team, going 3 for 11 and 3 for 12 respectively. Maybe they should not have challenging privileges going into next season. James Wood also struggled, going 8 for 23 on the year.
Overall, I thought the Nats got better at challenging as the year went on but still have plenty of room to improve. It was very interesting to watch this new system for the first time. ABS provides a new element when it comes to accuracy and strategy. I am excited to see how the Nats adapt to the system as the years go on. It is a fun subplot to follow around the game.
Game 1 of the National League Division Series is slated to be a hot one, literally.
First pitch between the Dodgers and Phillies or Braves (depending on who wins Game 3 of the wild-card series Thursday) is set for 1 p.m. Saturday. Temperatures at Dodger Stadium are expected to reach upward of 98 degrees.
Dodger fans watch batting practice before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants. Wally Skalij for CA Post
While there certainly won’t be an autumn breeze for October baseball in Los Angeles, Dodgers fans can purchase tickets at a reasonable price for Game 1 of the NLDS.
Tickets have gone lower than $100, meaning fans can watch the back-to-back World Series champions for a price that likely matches the 90-degree weather.
Tickets are still fairly reasonable for the 1pm game on Saturday, but if you use “LADM” on SeatGeek at checkout. You can save yourself some extra dollars.pic.twitter.com/DeXqubEJHc
For those wondering about the early start time for a Dodgers playoff game, the wild-card series between the Padres and Cubs determined whether LA would get the 1 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. slot.
Since the Padres beat Chicago, the Dodgers were pushed to the 1 p.m. start time and San Diego received the evening slot to avoid any overlap between the two NLDS matchups.
While the Padres already know their NLDS opponent in the Brewers, the Dodgers still are waiting.
Regardless of who they face, the Dodgers are set for a heated Game 1.
Los Angeles Dodgers fans watch the ring ceremony before game two of the series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Carlin Stiehl for CA PostFans arrive prior to the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Getty Images
CINCINNATI, OHIO - OCTOBER 07: Terry Francona ( center), the new Manager of the Cincinnati Reds talks to the media at Great American Ball Park on October 07, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Nick Krall ,President of Baseball Operations sits to his left and Brad Meador , Senior Vice President & General Manager sits to his right. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There were consistent statements made by the Cincinnati Reds ownership group during the collapse in 2026 that the front office and baseball decision-makers were not going to be replaced this offseason. It was telling that despite their precipitous fall down the standings after a surprising (and statistically unsustainable) win streak in March they stuck with Nick Krall and Brad Meador during the MLB Draft process mid-summer.
Letting a front office on the outs make that kind of ten-figure investment in the future of the franchise wouldn’t have made much sense, would it?
So, from a reading the tea leaves perspective today’s news conference featuring Phil Castellini endorsing the current front office for another year should have caused zero surprises; the surprise was months ago when all signs pointed directly to that being the case.
Phil Castellini, Nick Krall and Brad Meador just met with the media.
Phil said he wanted to show that he was 100% behind the front office. He spoke at length about his role and the team moving forward. “We need baseball guys to make baseball decisions.”
“We need baseball guys to make baseball decisions,” said Phil.
What Phil did not say, though, was “we need expert baseball guys to make expert baseball decisions.”
Charlie Goldsmith was on hand to document the presser, and to Krall’s credit he owned a number of his own mistakes. There was genuine lament that they – he – had thrown so many millions of dollars at 3B only to have it blow up in the Reds faces each and every time, and how that was an exhaustive way of using the otherwise limited resources that this team has at its disposal.
It was also made clear that Derek Johnson, who’d been the head of pitching at every single inch of the franchise since 2019, would officially depart from said duties. He’d been on a leave of absence since June anyway, and now the front office will be tasked with regrouping with another voice there – even though it’ll be the very same front office getting to make those personnel decisions despite the foibles they’ve encountered elsewhere.
Beyond that, it’s telling that the front office will remain intact at the same time that so many of their players are entering winters when their trade value could not possibly be any lower. Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott took terrible steps backwards during the 2026 season while also seeing their precious team control dwindle towards empty. Spencer Steer needed wrist surgery, while Matt McLain was one of the single worst hitters against RHP in the sport at the highest level. Even JJ Bleday, who emerged as a legitimate lineup staple against RHP, spent the final four months of the season showing why he’d been non-tendered the year prior. Hunter Greene, of course, just had his elbow replaced.
So, a front office that has hammered home how this will be a slow build and will feature them trusting the process with the guys they’d assembled now a) gets an endorsement from the owners to continue on that path and b) enters the offseason armed with almost zero shiny trade chips from which to make deals.
There will be some money available after the likes of Brady Singer, Eugenio Suarez, TJ Friedl, and Tyler Stephenson came off the books. But that’s precisely the area where this front office has collapsed in delirium for the entirety of its establishment, meaning the guys will once again have to eschew their growing reputation and hit on some gems in a winter where there aren’t a ton of perfect-fit options out there on the open market.
Terrified of what it would actually take to overhaul a franchise that has sputtered for generations, the Reds are going to take the easy route once again. We all know how well those stories usually play out.
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks are bringing back manager Torey Lovullo on a two-year contract, a person with direct knowledge of the deal said.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the new deal hasn’t been announced. The Arizona Republic first reported Lovullo’s new deal.
The 61-year-old’s future with the club was in flux after the D-backs missed the playoffs for a third straight year. Arizona was eliminated from postseason contention on the final day of the regular season for the second time in three seasons when the Phillies beat the Rays 7-4.
The D-backs finished with an 86-76 record — the best in MLB for a team that didn’t qualify for October baseball.
Lovullo is the winningest manager in Diamondbacks history, going 750-768 during a full decade in charge, with the highlight being a surprise World Series appearance in 2023. He is the third-longest tenured manager in the big leagues behind Tampa Bay’s Kevin Cash and Los Angeles Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts.
The affable Lovullo is a popular presence in the organization. He played eight seasons in the big leagues for seven teams in the 1980s and 1990s. He was the bench coach for the Boston Red Sox when they won the World Series in 2013 and played college baseball at UCLA.
All hands will be on deck Thursday night as the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies have the stage to themselves in the final game of MLB's wild card playoff round.
Tied 1-1 in the best-of-three series after a pair of nail-biting finishes, the winner of the third and deciding game in suburban Atlanta will advance to the National League division series against the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Phillies will have right-hander Aaron Nola (7-12, 4.67 ERA) on the mound, while the Braves will counter with an opener in left-handed reliever Ray Kerr (0-0, 1.47 ERA).
USA TODAY Sports will chronicle all the action and provide instant analysis on the game.
Where to watch Braves vs Phillies: Channel, live stream
First pitch between the Braves and Phillies is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 1.
Why the Braves are starting Dominic Smith over Sean Murphy in Game 3
07:34 PM ET, October 1 2026
Dominic Smith has been in the majors for 10 seasons. This week was his first taste of the postseason, and he struck out in both pinch-hit at-bats.
Tonight, he's the Braves designated hitter in an elimination game.
Walt Weiss benched Sean Murphy, who doubled at 111 miles per hour off the bat and walked in Game 2. Drake Baldwin is catching.
Weiss' reason is simple: Aaron Nola.
Smith, a former Met who saw plenty of Nola in the National League East, is 11-for-41 (.268) against the Phillies' Game 3 starter with six doubles and a homer. Murphy is 3-for-17 with eight strikeouts.
The season numbers make it harder to understand, though. Smith hit .345 through his first 45 games, then .187 over his last 63. Murphy hit .182 in 33 games.
Smith does have one more useful split. He hit .355 with runners in scoring position and two outs.
If Zack Wheeler comes out of the Phillies bullpen, Smith is a career .382 hitter against him.
Where is Robert Suarez? Why the Braves haven't used him in the playoffs
07:24 PM ET, October 1 2026
Robert Suarez saved 40 games for San Diego last season. Atlanta gave him $45 million over three years to set up Raisel Iglesias.
He hasn't thrown a pitch in this series.
For three months he was worth the money. Suarez had a 0.56 ERA through his first 31 games with the Braves. Then he went on the injured list June 26 with right elbow inflammation. He missed 78 games, came back Sept. 23 and gave up a run in each of his two outings before the season ended.
So when Atlanta led 3-1 in the eighth inning of Game 2, manager Walt Weiss went to Dylan Lee. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper greeted him with back-to-back 400-plus foot home runs.
Afterward, Weiss said Suarez has pitched two innings in three months and wasn't going to move ahead of the relievers who got the Braves there.
Lee Didier Fuentes and Iglesias have now pitched two nights in a row. Suarez hasn't pitched since Sept. 26.
Will Zack Wheeler pitch in relief tonight? His bullpen history
07:11 PM ET, October 1 2026
Zack Wheeler has come out of the bullpen once in his major league career.
It was Game 7 of the 2023 NLCS. Arizona led 4-2 in the seventh inning when Wheeler entered on short rest. He threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out one. The Phillies lost by that same score, and the Diamondbacks went to the World Series.
Tonight, he's expected to do it again. Aaron Nola starts, and interim manager Don Mattingly has said everyone is available. Wheeler would be on three days' rest after throwing 97 pitches in the regular0season finale. He has never started a game on short rest.
Wheeler has a 2.18 ERA in 12 postseason games. Among pitcher who have faced at least 250 batters in October, his 0.73 WHIP is the best in history. Only Mariano Rivera has held hitters to a lower OPS.
Wheeler,36, came back from thoracic outlet surgery this season.
The risk of a bullpen game in an elimination game
06:59 PM ET, October 1 2026
Ray Kerr missed all of 2025 after Tommy John surgery and didn't return to the majors until Aug. 17.
Tonight he starts a winner-take-all playoff game.
The left-hander is an opener, expected to cover only the first couple of innings before Grant Holmes takes over. Kerr had a 1.47 ERA in nine appearances this season. Against the Phillies in September, he threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings and allowed two hits.
Atlanta tried this exact plan Sept. 25 at Miami. Kerr threw three scoreless innings, Holmes followed and the Braves lost 3-0.
October has been split on the idea of openers. Facing elimination in the 2024 NLDS, the Dodgers started reliever Ryan Brasier, used eight pitchers and shut out the Padres 8-0. They went on to win the World Series. In the 2018 World Card Game, Oakland opened with Liam Hendricks. Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer off him in the first inning, and the Yankees won 7-2.
The Braves bullpen goes into this game having carried a heavy workload the last two games.
Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper match Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig postseason feat
06:38 PM ET, October 1 2026, Kristie Ackert
Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper did something in Game 2 that hadn't happened in October in 98 years.
Their back-to-back homers off Braves left-hander Dylan Lee in the eighth inning marked only the second time in postseason history that two left-handed hitters went back-to-back against a lefty, according to baseball writer Jayson Stark.
The other pair was Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. They did it off St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Bill Sherdel in the seventh inning of Game 4 of the 1928 World Series. Ruth's homer tied the game 2-2, Gehrig's put the Yankees ahead for good, and New York won 7-3 to finish the sweep.
Schwarber and Harper's homers tied Wednesday's game 3-3 with the Phillies six outs from elimination. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was only the second time a team facing elimination hit back-to-back homers in the eighth inning or later to tie or take the lead. The 2019 Washington Nationals were the other, with Juan Soto and Anthony Rendon in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Dodgers.
Who is pitching for Braves?
05:53 PM ET, October 1 2026, Jesse Yomtov
Left-hander Ray Kerr is starting for the Braves in the winner-take-all Game 3. The 32-year-old had a 2.47 ERA in 18.1 regular seasons.
"Obviously pretty tough left-handed top of the order," Braves manager Walt Weiss said of the Phillies lineup. "Ray has thrown the ball well against these guys, and it's been recent. I think two different outings within a week, three, three-plus each time, scoreless, did a nice job.
Keeps a right-handed starter away from that top of the order for a minute. Ray has thrown the ball really well, done a nice job for us.
Could Chris Sale make an appearance out of the bullpen?
"All hands on deck. I don't ever divulge who's available, who's not before a game," Weiss told reporters. "But yeah, it's an elimination game, so we'll see how these guys feel."
Braves amped for Game 3
05:37 PM ET, October 1 2026, Jesse Yomtov
"The vibes are good. It's the only game that's being played today," Braves outfielder Mauricio Dubon said pregame. "Everybody is going to be watching. Phillies and Braves fans hate each other. So it's going to be really fun.
Who is pitching for Phillies?
05:28 PM ET, October 1 2026, Jesse Yomtov
After using lefties Jesus Luzardo in Game 1 and Cristopher Sanchez in Game 2, the Phillies will turn to right-hander Aaron Nola to start Game 3. .
He's been excellent down the stretch, with a 2.93 ERA and 1.16 WHIP during his final 11 starts in the regular season. Plus, he'd make the start on his normal schedule after last taking the mound Saturday, Sept. 26 for one inning against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Wheeler, who delivered six strong innings in the regular-season finale on Sunday, Sept. 27 to get the Phillies into the playoffs, would presumably be available out of the bullpen on three days' rest.
– Steve Gardner
Phillies lineup today
04:53 PM ET, October 1 2026, Jesse Yomtov
Trea Turner (R) SS
Kyle Schwarber (L) DH
Bryce Harper (L) RF
Alec Bohm (R) 1B
Bryson Stott (L) 2B
Bryan De La Cruz (R) LF
Edmundo Sosa (R) 3B
J.T. Realmuto (R) C
Justin Crawford (L) CF
Past World Series winners (2016-2025)
04:30 PM ET, October 1 2026
2025: Los Angeles Dodgers (def. Toronto Blue Jays, 4-3)
2024: Los Angeles Dodgers (def. New York Yankees, 4-1)
2022: Houston Astros (def. Philadelphia Phillies, 4-2)
2021: Atlanta Braves (def. Houston Astros, 4-2)
2020: Los Angeles Dodgers (def. Tampa Bay Rays, 4-2)
2019: Washington Nationals (def. Houston Astros, 4-3)
2018: Boston Red Sox (def. Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-1)
2017: Houston Astros (def. Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3)
2016: Chicago Cubs (def. Cleveland Indians, 4-3)
Braves lineup today
04:24 PM ET, October 1 2026, Jesse Yomtov
Drake Baldwin (L) C
Ronald Acuña Jr. (R) RF
Matt Olson (L) 1B
Michael Harris II (L) CF
Mauricio Dubón (R) SS
Mike Yastrzemski (L) LF
Austin Riley (R) 3B
Ozzie Albies (S) 2B
Dominic Smith (L) DH
Bryce Harper praises Alec Bohm
04:09 PM ET, October 1 2026, Jesse Yomtov
"I'm proud of him. He's been through the wringer this year, on and off the field. No person or player or anybody should have to go through those situations," Bryce Harper said after Game 2 of teammate Alec Bohm, who has been the subject of criticism and incessant trade rumors in recent years.
"This team, we're so close. We're more close throughout the year than we are to our wives and our kids. We travel around, we're with each other more," Harper said. "I played with him for a long time, and for him to have that moment, obviously in that situation, I'm super proud of him, super happy for him.
"It just goes to show, it doesn't matter what happens during the year, what your numbers look like or anything else. It's what have you done for me lately. Today he's one of the best players and probably one of the favorites in Philadelphia right now."
Bob Nightengale: Phillies 5, Atlanta 3 – The stars saved the Phillies’ season in Game 2. They’ll do it again, with Aaron Nola on the mound and Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber providing the fire power.
Gabe Lacques: Braves 7, Phillies 6 – One more bullpen pratfall does in the Phillies for good.
Steve Gardner: Phillies 5, Braves 3 – Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola (or both) keep the Braves bats quiet just long enough for the Phillies to eke out the win.
Jesse Yomtov: Phillies 6, Braves 2 – Phils build a big enough lead early that their bullpen can't blow it and hang on to win their first playoff series since 2023.
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