Tarik Skubal will be the top free agent on the market when it opens five days after the conclusion of the World Series. Count Mets left-hander Zac Thornton among those hoping Skubal lands in Queens.
"I talk to [Nolan McLean] all the time about it, and he had some good talks with Skubal when they were in the WBC together," Thornton told Mike Puma of The New York Post. "It would be awesome to bounce ideas, especially coming from another left-handed pitcher. Sean [Manaea] and I talk a lot, just about being lefties — there are not many around here, so it would be awesome to have another powerhouse left-handed pitcher around here."
The Mets' starting pitching group includes McLean, Christian Scott, Manaea, and Thornton.
Kodai Senga's role in 2027 is to-be-determined after he finished this season in a late-inning relief role, but a return to the rotation would be curious considering how he performed as a starter in 2026.
Meanwhile, the Mets have tasked Jonah Tong with forcing himself into the conversation.
"I do think it is necessary for us to add to our rotation," Stearns said. "We can do that in a variety of different ways. We've talked about this plenty before -- you'd always love to add to the top of your rotation, any team would love to do that -- over the long term, what we need to do is develop pitchers at the top of our rotation, and I think we are proving we can do that, and we'll continue to do that."
It's possible Skubal receives the largest contract ever for a starting pitcher in terms of both average annual value and total value. If so, a deal for him could conceivably land around $350 million for eight years.
One plus for any team that signs Skubal is that he won't be attached to a qualifying offer since he was traded from the Tigers to the Dodgers midseason, making him ineligible for one.
It has never been Stearns' modus operandi to strongly pursue starting pitchers who receive megadeals.
An exception was New York's serious push to ink Yoshinobu Yamamoto, when the Mets extended a 12-year offer for $325 million before the Dodgers matched it. But Yamamoto was about to begin his age-25 season, making his free agency unique. Skubal will be entering his age-30 season in 2027.
While Skubal is significantly older than Yamamoto was at the time of his free agency, he is coming off back-to-back Cy Young awards and has some of the filthiest stuff in baseball.
On October 3, my hometown of Lincoln, Kansas, hosted what they called a Vintage Baseball Game. The game took place at the West Diamond and featured the Wichita Cowtown Team against the Lincoln County Sod Busters.
The game was played under 1860s rules, with the pitcher throwing underhand. The uniforms were vintage 1800s wool, which was hot and scratchy on a warm October afternoon. There was a large crowd in attendance, and the game was interrupted twice by women, dressed in period clothing, protesting voting rights. Each player was given an 1800s-era nickname, which added to the cool factor.
The game was notable because two of my former classmates and teammates played for the local squad. Max “Wimpy” Wallace was a terrific high school athlete, a state-caliber sprinter, and good enough on the gridiron to garner a scholarship, yet he went to Kansas State to play baseball. Max, hardly a wimp, still looks like he’s about 25.
The other classmate was my good bud Dennis Luck, who went by the nickname Lucky.
The obvious nickname, Cool Hand, went to his younger brother Alan. Alan’s two boys also played: Braden “Big Country” and Austin “Loco.” Braden, living up to his nickname, knocked a couple of balls off the left-center fence.
Dennis was my batterymate during our Midget League years. Yes, that’s what our baseball league was called. Even in these politically correct times, it’s still called the Midget League, and I hope they never change it.
I got thrown into pitching duties when our star pitcher’s mother packed up and left town. Dennis, by default, was the catcher because he was the husky kid. Think Ham Porter from The Sandlot. That would have been Dennis. I struck out 50 batters in 50 innings. I would have had 15–20 more except my wildness had Dennis running to the backstop on many third strikes.
When my arm tired, Dennis pitched, and I moved to catcher. That’s how Dennis went about throwing a meatball to another classmate, Steve Heiser, who hit it out of sight into the rodeo grounds that bordered right field. I walked to the mound and said, “Holy crap, that went a long way.” Borrowing a line from Bull Durham, I remind Dennis every year that the last time I saw something flying that far, it had a meal and a stewardess on it. He replied, “That was a moment in my life that never seems to disappear.” Like that baseball did.
Our Cookie League coach, Lovie Holl, saw Dennis for what he was, nimble of foot with a sure glove, and moved him to the middle infield, where he excelled. Lovie was a helluva coach and a Lincoln institution.
At age 13, I blew out my elbow throwing sliders, which necessitated a move to right field. Every ball I threw back to the infield bounced at least once. Two summers later, my elbow magically healed, and I went back to the mound, several miles per hour slower, and started delivering long home runs of my own.
Our school was pretty much horrible in every men’s sport except track and baseball.
The final score of the Vintage game was 19–18, with the Sod Busters pulling out the victory thanks to Dennis’ two-RBI single in the bottom of the ninth, which drove home the winning runs. In his self-deprecating manner, Dennis said he stretched a couple of doubles into singles. Not bad, since he and Max are both 66, and many of their teammates and opponents were several decades younger.
For one hot Kansas afternoon, it was fun to see two friends turn back the clock. Who says you can’t teach an old ballplayer new tricks? The game was a smashing success, and there is talk about a rematch next fall. Here’s hoping it becomes an annual event.
Speaking of traditional baseball, I found myself praying to the baseball gods that a San Diego pitcher would man up, channel his inner Bob Gibson, and put a fastball into the ribs of the Brewers’ William Contreras after his Game 3 home run dance-a-thon. My inner Crash Davis was screaming, “Move it, dummy,” while Contreras admired his shot. It took him 30 seconds to make his way around the bases, stopping a couple of times to flex. Contreras is a heck of a player, but I’d enjoy him a lot more without the theatrics.
When it comes to over-the-top crap like this, I love the advice Henry Aaron gave a young Dusty Baker about Bob Gibson.
“Don’t dig in against Bob Gibson, he’ll knock you down. He’d knock down his own grandmother if she dared to challenge him. Don’t stare at him, don’t smile at him, don’t talk to him. He doesn’t like it. If you happen to hit a home run, don’t run too slow, don’t run too fast. If you happen to want to celebrate, get in the tunnel first. And if he hits you, don’t charge the mound, because he’s a Gold Glove boxer.”
Man, I miss those days. I understand this is how the young guys do it nowadays, styling it, representing, whatever the hell they call it. Doesn’t mean I have to like it. You kids get the hell off my lawn.
In a similar vein, I had to grimace while watching Cody Bellinger of the Yankees draw a walk. It took him at least 30 seconds to peel off all his protective armor and batting gloves, then put on his fancy oven mitt, then walk to first base.
Okay, Mommy, I’m ready to go to first base now.
I mean, the guy doesn’t have to be Pete Rose going to first (if you watched Pete, you know), but good lord, pick it up a little. I’d be in favor of a rule change that says a baserunner must wear all the armor he wore to the plate.
Aside from that, the Padres-Brewers series was a classic. Too bad one of them had to go home.
It’s also been fun to see some former Royals in the playoffs. Samad Taylor had a moment with the Padres, collecting a single, then stealing second and eventually scoring on a groundout. That was cool to see.
A guy I thought the Royals gave up on too early, Foster Griffin, pitched well for Cleveland in Game 3 against the White Sox, striking out seven of the 10 batters he faced in a Guardians win.
Chris Getz had his White Sox on the verge of advancing before their epic three-game collapse. Former friends Randall Grichuk, Tommy Pham, and Andrew Benintendi all picked up at-bats for the Sox.
Mike Yastrzemski, Lane Thomas, and even Brewer Hicklen got some airtime for Atlanta.
John Schreiber pitched an inning for New York, and Kris Bubic made an appearance for Los Angeles. I must admit it was weird seeing those guys in different uniforms. I wouldn’t be brokenhearted if J.J. Picollo brought Bubic back, assuming he’s healthy.
Either way, the playoffs are always great to watch, especially now that the Damn Yankees have been sent to bed.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 30: Manager Joe Espada #21 of the Houston Astros looks on prior to game two of the American League Wild Card Series against the Chicago White Sox at Daikin Park on September 30, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning everyone!
It’s Wednesday and we’ve got some news to report on from around baseball.
MLB Postseason scores…
The Rays took advantage of an untimely defensive blunder by José Ramírez to secure a 3-1 win, pulling the series even at a game apiece.
Many Cubs fans were happy when the team acquired Clay Holmes (and Tyrone Taylor) from the Mets for Jefferson Rojas. Even though Rojas was a top Cubs prospect, Holmes seemed a really good fit for the Cubs as a ground-ball pitcher coming to a team with elite infield defense.
It didn’t work, obviously. Holmes did make several good starts, but got hit hard in others and overall, his 4.25 ERA and 1.295 WHIP in nine starts didn’t come close to what he had done with the Mets, either last year or this year.
Earlier this month, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic took a look at what happened. He quoted Cubs manager Craig Counsell:
Leading into the playoffs, Cubs manager Craig Counsell framed Holmes’ performance this way: “The walks are what we got to limit.”
“It’s a different at-bat against left-handed hitters,” Counsell said. “That’s where the walks are going, left-handed hitters. That’s important, something we got to keep an eye on. He can get himself out of stuff with the sinker. We see that for sure. But the free passes, we got to lower that.”
Holmes’ walk rate was up significantly with the Cubs. It was 8.4 percent in the nine starts he made with the Mets before an injury put him out for almost three months. With the Cubs, Holmes’ walk rate was 11.8 percent. Even getting himself “out of stuff with his sinker” isn’t going to help when you’re putting so many runners on base. Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer was also quoted in Mooney’s article:
“How much of that was because he came back from injury?” Hoyer said. “How much of that was just the length of the season? Obviously, he wasn’t pitching his best baseball towards the end. Not just with Clay, I think that’s one of the biggest challenges in these jobs, getting everything synced up right to go into the postseason.”
So, there are a lot of unknowns about Holmes as player and team turn the page to 2027. Holmes has a $12 million player option for next year. He made $13 million in 2026. It’s entirely possible that Holmes exercises that option, coming off a not-great year in which he was injured (though the injury was not arm-related).
Holmes turns 34 in March. For $12 million, he might not be a bad fourth or fifth starter. If Holmes declines the option, though, would you be willing to sign him for around that amount? Or less? Or just let him walk?
Aug 2, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Seats in the stands are mostly empty as fans seek shelter from the heat in the shade as Detroit Tigers designated hitter Dillon Dingler (13) prepares to bat against the Athletics during the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Welcome to Wednesday A’s fans.
Two games have taken place in both the American League (AL) and National League (NL) best-of-seven Championship Series. The winners of these will face each other for the national title.
In the NL, the league-best Milwaukee Brewers won the first two games against the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Following an off day, the NLCS shifts to Los Angeles tonight for the first of three games at Dodger Stadium.
Two wins away from their second World Series appearance in franchise history, the Brewers can clinch a berth on the road. However, the Dodgers will look to keep their season alive and send the series back to Milwaukee for Games 6 and, if necessary, 7.
On the other side of the bracket, the Tampa Bay Rays won Game 2 against the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 to send the ALCS back to Cleveland knotted at one game apiece.
Meanwhile, there has not been any news about the Sacramento/Las Vegas Athletics general manager search since ESPN MLB reporter Jeff Passan’s tweets from this past Saturday. The longer that Athletics owner John Fisher and president Marc Badain drag this search out, the slimmer the options will become, especially given that the A’s are not the only team in this situation. The Houston Astros also are looking for a new general manager.
The AL West is wide open next season, if the lockout does not result in a cancellation of some or all of the games. Entering the offseason, the A’s roster needs are evident. What moves should the new general manager make to bolster the Athletics’ pitching staff?
In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the playoffs. Out of the final four, which team do you want to win and why?
What do you think of this opinion on the Athletics’ search for a new general manager?
Once Fuld turned #athletics down, that gives leverage to everyone who interviewed who was passed over. A's aren't necessarily starting from square one, but not far from it! https://t.co/0olJ5wnFCc
Twenty-five years ago yesterday, New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter made this incredible play against the A’s in the playoffs.
“ONE OF THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE PLAYS YOU WILL EVER SEE BY A SHORTSTOP!”
OTD 25 years ago, Derek Jeter came out of nowhere to cut off a throw from the outfield and nail the runner trying to score. The @Yankees, who were facing elimination, held on to win the game 1-0, then won the… pic.twitter.com/dHDw9NEFz9
The A’s failed to sell-out their Triple-A stadium in Sacramento. Will attendance improve in Las Vegas, or will the team remain near the bottom of the league?
The A's drew right around 10,000 fans a game in Sacramento this year, and the math isn't as bad as it sounds. Sutter Health Park only has 13,416 seats, so they filled roughly three quarters of a Triple A ballpark while they wait on Las Vegas.
— Baseball’s Greatest Moments (@BBGreatMoments) October 10, 2026
Say the Brewers or Rays win the World Series this year. Do you think that will impact team owners and league executives push for a salary cap?
Major League Baseball has launched a dedicated page on its website to make the case for a salary cap. @LevelThePlField
The “Level the Playing Field” campaign is now more than ads during games. The league is building a centralized platform to shape the conversation around…
Cpt. Jax on duty, now in Tampa Bay. | Ellen Schmidt / Getty Images
While the Twins tumbled out of playoff contention over the last two months of the season, three of their former players are still in range of a title, a trophy, and a ring. So for fans looking for a team to root for and discouraged by the choice between a heavy spender, a geographical rival, a division rival, and the Rays, you can always choose to root for these players:
Griffin Jax, RP current team: Tampa Bay Rays Twins tenure: 2021-25
Minnesota’s third-round pick in 2016, Jax worked his way up through the minors and debuted on June 8, 2021, pitching the final inning and giving up three runs in a loss to the Yankees. He spent most of his rookie season as an unsuccessful starter, but a transition to the bullpen turned him into a key high-leverage reliever. After peaking in 2024 (2.03 ERA and 95 strikeouts across 71 innings with 10 saves), he struggled some during the first half of 2025 and was one of many traded at the deadline; the Twins sent him to Tampa Bay and got Taj Bradley, who has developed into a top-of-the-rotation starter, in return. The Rays moved Jax back into the rotation in May, but he has served exclusively as a reliever in the postseason.
Trevor Megill, RP current team: Milwaukee Brewers Twins tenure: 2022
Megill was a bad Cub in 2021 and a mediocre Twin in 2022, and after that season, the Twins traded him across the border to Milwaukee for minor league reliever Taylor Floyd. Floyd has bounced around various minor league systems, not yet making it past AA ball, but Megill has become a bullpen mainstay as a Brewer: he’s posted a sub-3.00 ERA in each of the past three seasons and was named an All-Star in 2025.
Gary Sánchez, C current team: Milwaukee Brewers Twins tenure: 2022
Having traded Mitch Garver to Texas the day before and with Ryan Jeffers not yet ready to take over top catching duties, the Twins acquired Sánchez (along with Gio Urshela) from the Yankees in the Josh Donaldson salary dump trade that later allowed them to sign Carlos Correa. A formerly hyped prospect, Rookie of the Year runner-up, and two-time All-Star, Sánchez had seen a drop in his offense, and that drop continued even as he served as Minnesota’s primary catcher all season: he hit just 16 home runs and ended the season with a .659 OPS. After a rebound with the Padres the following season (.792 OPS and 19 homers in 72 games), he’s settled in as Milwaukee’s backup, serving in that role in 2024 and (after an interruption in Baltimore) this season.
So if you haven’t yet picked a team to root for and want to pull for a former Twin, these are your options: two on the Brewers and one on the Rays. Of course, we hope that next season sees the active Twins roster make a deep push into October, but next year is next year; for now, we enjoy the baseball we have.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 04: Blake Snell #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts as he walks off the mound during the second inning against the Atlanta Braves in game two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 04, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the first time in five years, the Dodgers find themselves down two games to begin the National League Championship Series with the series headed back to Los Angeles.
The Dodgers offense has shown little to no fight in the series, with Game 2’s back-and-forth clash being the most exhilarating matchup so far. Their duo of bona fide aces, Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, have combined for just 7 2/3 innings on the mound while surrendering five earned runs.
Now the Dodgers will rely on both Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow to try and keep the chances at a three peat alive. Snell was shaky at best in his most recent outing against the Atlanta Braves, tossing 90 pitches over just 3 2/3 innings. Snell may have the pedigree from previous performances in the postseason, but his sole focus is the here and now in trying to lift the Dodgers from a two-game deficit, per Christina De Nicola of MLB.com.
“I don’t think about last year because it has nothing to do with this year,” Snell said. “It’s a completely different team. … This game and what it means to me, it hasn’t changed — 0-2, 2-0, it wouldn’t matter. I know what I need to do. I know what I need to do to win and dominate. I’m going to just focus on that.”
In preparation for his start on Wednesday, Snell has noticed the small details that occur within and outside the Brewers’ dugout, per Thomas L. Murray of the California Post.
“I noticed how they talk, a lot of one-on-one competition is a key for them. The way Pat Murphy talks to the team is way different than last year,” Snell said. “So I understand that.”
Shohei Ohtani has endured in a nightmare of a postseason so far, going as far down as fifth in the lineup while struggling to the tune of a .150/.261/.150 slash line over six games. This slump has warranted Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times to suggest that Ohtani be removed from the lineup completely, as he demands in his latest column.
Every time the offseason rolls around, the San Diego Padres seem to be in desperate need of starting pitching. Most of that is due to A.J. Preller’s inability to sign a starter to a long-term contract. That should change this year, with San Diego only having three certain starters returning (Joe Musgrove, JP Sears and Randy Vásquez). For the sake of this exercise, I won’t be including potential returners like Michael King ($28 million player option) or Nick Pivetta ($14 million club option).
The Wish List
Tarik Skubal
Despite faltering from his 2024-25 Cy Young form, Skubal was still phenomenal in 2026. The southpaw dominated, posting a 2.72 ERA and 0.96 WHIP across 158 2/3 innings of work. Skubal will be the most sought after free agent on the market, pitcher or otherwise. Despite plenty of questions surrounding how the offseason may progress, Skubal is still set up for a big payday.
That’s the big problem for San Diego signing him. Their coffers haven’t been particualry deep in years past, but new ownership may change that. The question is whether it’s worth it to make one big signing or several smaller ones. Skubal would implode any other potential to sign other marquee free agents. It might be better for the Friars to pursue two mid-tier options instead.
Trevor Rogers
Rogers had an otherworldly 2025 campaign before majorly regressing this season. The southpaw posted a 1.81 ERA in ‘25 despite struggling to return from a right knee injury. Because of that, Rogers made just 18 starts (109.2 IP). He took a step back in ‘26 with a 4.03 ERA across 169 2/3 innings.
That said, the 29-year-old has his whole career ahead of him and could set up San Diego’s rotation for years to come. The Padres haven’t had a dominant starter from the left side of the mound in quite some time. However, the questions surrounding his health could hurt his case as a reliable pitcher to sign.
Sonny Gray
After being expected to retire for much of this season, Gray announced that he won’t be leaving MLB quite so soon. The veteran right-hander desperately wants to win a World Series and would likely sign with a contending team, even if it was for less guaranteed dollars.
Gray is coming off of an incredible season with the Boston Red Sox (2.72 ERA, 169.0 IP). The question is if that dominance can continue. The 36-year-old hasn’t proven his ability to be consistent in years past. Despite having five sub-3.00 ERA seasons in his career, none have ever been consecutive. Whether Gray can catch lightning in a bottle a second time remains to be seen until a team picks him up.
More Viable Options
Foster Griffin
Griffin has drawn the spotlight lately after his heroics in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Tampa Bay Rays. After a shaky first inning, Griffin quieted the Rays for three more frames. The starter was traded from the Washington Nationals and has been a solid option in the Cleveland Guardians’ rotation.
The 31-year-old finally got a shot in 2026 and ran with it. He pitched to a 3.60 ERA in 172 2/3 innings of work in his rookie season. Griffin was incredible during his earlier stint this year with Washington, but struggled once joining the Guards. If he’s able to return to form in 2027, he could be a great value signing for the Padres.
Shota Imanaga
The Chicago Cubs’ left-hander has yet to replicate the beauty of his 2024 rookie season in MLB (2.91 ERA, 173.1 IP). He’s still posted a sub-4.00 ERA in both 2025 (3.73 ERA) and 2026 (3.77 ERA), but they have certainly been a step back. However, Imanaga is coming off of a career-high innings pitched in 2026. That could be a massive addition for San Diego’s pitching-hungry roster.
Imanaga also won’t have a qualifying offer attached to him after rejecting the QO from Chicago last season. That means the Padres wouldn’t need to give up a draft pick if they signed Imanaga. The Friars have plenty of options to turn to, but Imanaga could be a truly great move for San Diego to bolster their starting group.
Hiromi Itoh
Itoh will be the top free agent starting pitcher coming over from NPB in Japan. Across 1008 2/3 innings in Japanese professional baseball, the righty owns a 2.91 ERA. He’s coming off of a relatively tougher year in 2026 with a 3.18 ERA across 172 2/3 innings pitched. Itoh has posted a sub-3.00 ERA in four of his last six years.
The righty pitched in both the 2023 and ‘26 World Baseball Classic. However, Itoh hasn’t faced many major leaguers apart from his 6 1/3 innings between the two tournaments. That could make it tough for Itoh to adapt to MLB. But, he seems ready to make the transition, and has had proven success in Japan. The 29-year-old could be a huge boost for San Diego if he acclimates well to MLB.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 29: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees looks on during Game One of the American League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
We close a bit of a circle with this post, as I was fortunate to write Cam Schlittler’s season preview post all the way back in March. This was how good(ish) FanGraphs thought he would be:
Of course Cam ended the year with a 1.95 ERA, 2.56 FIP, 31 percent strikeout rate, 6.4 percent walk rate, and 6.2 fWAR. It is hard to think in recent seasons of a player so dramatically outplaying their Depth Chart projections, so much so that said player went from a projected third-ish pitcher in a rotation to the likely Cy Young winner. That was Cam Schlittler’s 2026, and its why he’s not just the Yankees’ MVP, but he’ll likely get his share of AL MVP votes overall.
This is the ninth-most-valuable season, by fWAR, for the Yankees since 1920, along with the third-lowest ERA and fifth-lowest FIP. Perhaps more to the point is the per-inning effectiveness of Cam; nobody throws 270 innings anymore:
When you adjust for the fact that Cam has to play under the constraints of baseball in 2026, you can make a good argument he just put up the second-best pitching season in the history of the organization. Gator in ‘78 has always been the gold standard for pitching in pinstripes, but he has some company atop the best single-seasons we’ve ever seen from a Yankee hurler.
We need to take a moment and acknowledge Ben Rice, who for so many stretches of the season, including the disastrous ALDS loss to the Rays, was the only batter who seemed interested in doing damage. In a year with so little Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, those 41 home runs and a 149 wRC+ proved that Rice isn’t just a Major League regular but a new foundation for the franchise moving forward. He is comfortably the runner up in this race, the Robin to Cam’s Batman as the Massachusetts boys virtually dragged the Yankees themselves into the AL playoff picture.
Ben was of particular import because of how weak the lineup was otherwise, whereas Cam was the first among an excellent group, a starting rotation that was the best in baseball and a bullpen unit that was the second best. Still, having such a good season that you rocket yourself past name brands like Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and Carlos Rodón gets you the hardware.
So what comes next for the Yankees’ MVP?
There will be the formal stuff, the MLB Awards will be announced and he will likely be consecrated as the deserved Cy Young winner. There was some rumbling down the stretch that Schlittler should get serious MVP consideration, with both Junior Caminero and Yordan Alvarez having holes in their cases, and Bobby Witt Jr. toiling away in personal excellence and seeming anonymity in Kansas City. I think Cam will fall just a bit short in that race, but the fact we can discuss it at all speaks to the quality of his season.
Headed into 2027 Schlittler is the unquestioned ace of the staff, a staff that should once again be a strength of the ball club — his youth also makes me perhaps irrationally optimistic he can “ramp up” in a shortened Spring Training faster than some of the veterans in the rotation. I worry that we’re going to develop a little bit of Aaron Judge-ness with him — we saw such a peak, it is quite unlikely he ever has a sub-2.00 ERA season again. A 2.50 ERA would be a notable step back from what Cam did this year, and yet would have him be fifth in all of baseball this year, he was that good.
The biggest question mark we have is how Cam can adjust with a full offseason. The defining feature of his 2026 was how he was able to adjust from start to start, after that strange four-homer start against Detroit to close June he allowed just six long balls over the remaining 15 outings of the regular season. He walked five Boston batters in August, then seven total in his last five starts. He had those same Red Sox geared up for his fastball-heavy approach to open the Wild Card Series, and then dropped curveballs on Boston’s lineup and watched them flail around.
These kind of adjustments, the education of an ace on the fly, are what makes me so grateful to have had this season from Cam, and so excited to see where he goes. With his combination of age, stuff, approach and attitude, the sky’s the limit for the AL’s best pitcher, and the Yankees’ MVP.
Los Angeles, - August 11: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers along with manger Dave Roberts in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The Dodgers tend to rile up a lot of emotions in almost every baseball fan. But that might apply to Red Sox fans more than most. That’s primarily due to two people, both of whom happen to be two of the most important people in Red Sox history: Mookie Betts and Dave Roberts.
Is Dave Roberts still more famous for the steal in 2004 than for anything he’s done in the LA dugout? That probably depends on who you ask. And while it’s obviously impossible for me to answer that objectively — my perspective of his career and fame is totally colored by my Red Sox fandom — I think the answer is yes. His stolen base in Game 4 is probably the most important steal in baseball history. Your grandkids are going to know about it. If a prominent media outlet put it on a list of the 10 biggest moments in MLB history, I don’t think many people would object. I can’t even really think of any other stolen base that’s anywhere near as famous, with the possible exception of Jackie Robinson’s steal of home in the 1955 World Series, which happened in a game that the Dodgers didn’t even win.
When you’re responsible for one of the biggest moments in baseball history, that’s going to be what you’re remembered for, no matter how successful of a managerial career you subsequently have. And that’s particularly true in baseball, where coaches aren’t as consequential as they are in other sports and don’t build up personality cults.
But it’s quite possible that Roberts is about to do something that may one day come to rival the steal in terms of its historical half-life: He may bench the greatest baseball player of all-time in the playoffs.
It has been a weird year for Shohei Ohtani. 2026 was supposed to be the year he returned to pitching and hitting full-time and, for a while there, things were looking great. He started 14 games over the first three months of the season, posting an outstanding 2.87 ERA and looking poised to compete for his first Cy Young Award. And with 18 homers and an OPS over .900 through the first half of the season, it wasn’t hard to imagine him winning both the MVP and the Cy Young in what would probably be the greatest single season by any professional athlete in world sports history.
Unfortunately, a knee injury cut his pitching season short. A subsequent right biceps strain has put a serious damper on his hitting. Still struggling with both injuries, Ohtani went on the IL in late September amidst one of the worst slumps of his career. There were even doubts about whether he would be able to play in the postseason. Ohtani still ended up being incredibly valuable to the Dodgers, leading the team in bWAR. He also made it back for the playoffs. But it’s been ugly, as he is just 3-20 without a single extrabase hit.
Shohei Ohtani is not currently Shohei Ohtani. The best player in the game is hurting his team. Roberts has already moved him down the order, and now we know that the Dodgers have discussed taking him out of the lineup altogether.
For tonight, anyway, Roberts is not going to push that detonator. “He’s adamant he feels good enough to be in there. He’s close to finding something with his swing. I feel great about it,” Roberts said. “He was very convicted that he is onto something mechanically. He was adamant that he can help us. He’s well enough to help us win a baseball game. So that’s all I needed to hear.”
From the moment he established himself as a star the likes of which the sport has never before seen, it’s been clear that Shohei Ohtani — not Dave Roberts or Joe Madden or Phil Nevin — decides when and where Shohei Ohtani plays. So Roberts’ quote isn’t all that surprising. But if what if the mechanical tweaks don’t work? What if we see another 0-fer tonight filled with noncompetitive at-bats? What if the Dodgers lose, and Dave Roberts is, once again, forced to try to save a team down three games to none in the league championship series?
Tomorrow night, Roberts might face what would be a legacy-defining moment for most managers. Fortunately for him he’s been there before.
Use this space to talk about Roberts, Ohtani, and whatever else you want and, as always, be good to one another.
If you were hoping for dramatic changes with the Phillies for the 2027 season, it looks like it isn’t going to come in the form of a new manager. According to this story by Charlotte Varnes, the Phillies are planning to name Don Mattingly as the full-time manager:
Mattingly drew mixed reviews for his performance after taking over for Rob Thomson in late April. The team was largely successful, going 79-55 after his hire, earning the National League’s final playoff spot before losing in the Wild Card round. But many of Mattingly’s decisions came under scrutiny, particularly his handling of the bullpen. His overuse of key relievers, and his tendency to repeatedly warm up relievers, seemed to leave them badly worn out by the end of the season.
Don Mattingly single handedly ruined this bullpen. He warmed up guys every day to not use them. They were exhausted not just from game use but the absolute egregious warm up patterns
The offense is their own issue that he’s not responsible for but he’s just a bad manager https://t.co/yvbJTa6qlq
This move will not go over well with fans hoping to see dramatic changes after five years of playoff failures, but the looming threat of an extended lockout to start the 2027 season may have influenced the Phillies’ decision. It is no secret they were interested in Alex Cora, but Cora announced his intention to take next year off. The Phillies likely felt that with the 2027 season likely to be delayed or shortened, it would make sense to maintain some sense of continuity and re-assess next year.
The Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves in a difficult position for Game 3 against the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
They must rally from a 0-2 deficit as they chase a World Series three-peat.
Game 1 saw the Dodgers fall 2-1 after Brewers second baseman Brice Turang homered off Tarik Skubal, giving the Milwaukee an early advantage in the best-of-seven series.
In Game 2, William Contreras delivered a standout performance, launching a tying home run in the fifth inning and then driving in David Hamilton with a single to left in the sixth. His heroics powered the Brewers to a 7-4 victory.
Now, the series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3, where the Dodgers must fight to avoid a daunting 3-0 deficit.
The Milwaukee Brewers, who lead the NLCS series 2-0, will face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium. The game will be broadcast on FS1, with streaming options on FOX One.
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 23: Christian Encarnacion-Strand #32 of the Baltimore Orioles is congratulated after scoring a run during game 2 of a doubleheader between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Alyssa Piazza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
If Christian Encarnacion-Strand accomplishes nothing else in his baseball career, he’s already made it into the MLB record books.
At 27 characters (including the hyphen), he has the longest full name of any player in major league history, shattering the previous mark of 22. It’s a moniker that may be a bit too unwieldy to stitch on a jersey, but his abbreviated nickname, CES, is one that makes for a fun chant at the ballpark.
And as it turns out, Orioles fans had a lot more reasons to cheer for CES in 2026 than they ever expected. The 26-year-old third baseman, unceremoniously dumped by the Reds in April, was a revelation at the hot corner and at the dish for the Birds, helping to keep the team afloat when injuries threatened to ruin their season by the All-Star break.
By OPS (.838), Encarnacion-Strand was the Orioles’ best hitter besides Pete Alonso. He bashed 11 homers in 58 games, good for a .513 SLG, again second only to the Polar Bear. And CES had a penchant for delivering in the clutch. With runners in scoring position and two outs, he collected 12 RBIs in 34 PAs. (Compare that to, say, Gunnar Henderson, who had 12 RBIs in 69 PAs in those same situations.)
Encarnacion-Strand also played a capable third base. By FanGraphs’ Defensive Runs Above Average, his 3.2 mark was fifth-best of any O’s fielder, and by far the best of any O’s third baseman. The two other frequent third basemen, Coby Mayo and Blaze Alexander, both have their strengths as players, but neither had the glove of CES.
Encarnacion-Strand’s all-around contributions to the 2026 Orioles are something that few O’s fans could have predicted in spring training — mainly because he wasn’t even in the organization then. He was truly a diamond in the rough, a scrap-heap pickup who turned into a legitimate big league player in his third organization.
A native of Walnut Creek, CA, Encarnacion-Strand was a fourth-round pick by the Twins out of Oklahoma State in 2021. Just over a year later, Minnesota sent him to the Reds as part of a three-player package for starter Tyler Mahle. During that 2022 season, Encarnacion-Strand put up eye-popping numbers in the minors: 32 homers, 114 RBIs, and a .955 OPS in High-A and Double-A. He emerged as one of the Reds’ top prospects, ranking as the team’s #7 on MLB Pipeline in 2023.
After CES laid waste to minor league pitching again in 2023 — to the tune of 20 homers in 67 games at Triple-A — he made his much-anticipated major league debut that July. He acclimated himself well, posting an .805 OPS in 63 games for Cincinnati, and the Reds thought they had a future middle-of-the-lineup slugger on their hands.
But things went south quickly for Encarnacion-Strand, with injuries playing a major role. He slogged through an ineffective 2024 season, playing just 29 games and hitting .190 with a .513 OPS before suffering a season-ending broken wrist. In 2025, it was a back injury that plagued him, and his OPS was a meager .610. One common theme of both those wretched seasons, besides the injuries, was that CES was utterly incapable of getting on base. He managed only seven walks in 260 plate appearances, resulting in an unfathomable .227 OBP.
The Reds finally ran out of patience with their once well-regarded prospect. This April, needing a 40-man roster spot for third catcher P.J. Higgins, they DFA’d CES, ultimately sending him to the Orioles for cash. The seemingly minor trade turned out to be a coup for Mike Elias, and in hindsight it’s hard to believe that no other team was intrigued enough by Encarnacion-Strand’s potential to offer anything more than the Birds’ fistful of dollars.
CES spent his first three months in the O’s organization doing what he always does: tearing up minor league pitching. He mashed 17 homers and slugged .555 for Triple-A Norfolk. He might have stayed there all year if not for a fateful Orioles game against the Royals before the All-Star break when Alexander, the Birds’ erstwhile third baseman, was hit by a pitch and broke his hand.
Needing a replacement at third, the Orioles summoned Encarnacion-Strand with tempered expectations. If nothing else, they figured, he could spell Mayo defensively at third base and possibly provide some pop off the bench. What they probably didn’t anticipate is that CES would seize the everyday 3B job all for himself.
Encarnacion-Strand came out swinging right away, collecting six hits in his first three games with the Orioles, including two home runs at Fenway Park. And he never really stopped. By his ninth game, he was OPS’ing over 1.000. And while he obviously wasn’t going to keep up that pace forever, he didn’t crash back to earth like some feared he might. His OPS never dipped below .730, and he ultimately finished the season more than 100 points above that.
From the time of his call-up, Encarnacion-Strand started 45 of the Orioles’ final 63 games at third base. Craig Albernaz kept penciling his extremely long name into the starting lineup, probably having to write small to fit it on the lineup card, and CES kept producing. He especially torched left-handed pitching, to the tune of a 1.009 OPS and seven homers in 69 PAs, but he more than held his own against righties as well (.743 OPS). And while he still didn’t walk much — 11 free passes in 58 games — his .325 OBP was respectable enough.
In a way, his breakout wasn’t a total surprise. Encarnacion-Strand has always had this kind of slugging potential, and now that he had a full, healthy season for the first time in three years, he finally showed what he’s capable of. Can he sustain it? That’s the million dollar question. But he isn’t the first highly-touted prospect to flame out with his original team and then find success somewhere else. And he won’t be the last.
CES played well enough that he should certainly be in the Orioles’ plans for 2027, but in what role? Jordan Westburg, assuming a return to full health, will be ready to reclaim a starting job, possibly at third base. Coby Mayo should and will be in the starting lineup somewhere. So where does that leave Encarnacion-Strand? These things have a way of sorting themselves out, due to injuries and such, but for now it’s a crowded infield picture. Still, Encarnacion shouldn’t be left Strand-ed.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 13: A Los Angeles Dodgers groundscrew worker paints the postseason logo on the field before the Milwaukee Brewers workout prior to the NLCS at Dodger Stadium on October 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are back home, looking for their first win of the 2026 National League Championship Series, with Game 3 at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.
“No one knows what’s going to happen tomorrow and the ensuing days,” manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday. “At the end of the day in this big moment, we’re listening to Shohei, and we’re going to support the crap out of him and believe in him, and that’s it.”
Much like the Dodgers are trying to turn things around in this series, Snell is trying to turn things around after needing 90 pitches to record only 11 outs in Game 2 of the NL Division Series against the Atlanta Braves on October 4. Snell walked five in that game, though only one run was charged to his ledger in a game the Dodgers eventually lost 3-2.
Left-hander Robert Gasser starts for the Brewers, looking for some redemption of his own. He lost both starts against the Dodgers in the regular season (May 23 and August 14), allowing a total of seven runs in 10 2/3 innings. Gasser started Game 3 of the NLDS for Milwaukee in San Diego, and allowed one run in four innings, with three strikeouts.
Sep 4, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Edmundo Sosa (33) looks on before taking the field for the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Did anyone really think that the Dodgers were going to sit Shohei Ohtani?
Seriously, did you really believe that that was going happen?
