Category: Baseball

The season is over and I can’t quite let go of my beloved Guardians yet, so let’s take a super early look at the 2027 roster.

If the grief of the season being over is too near, save this article to read for a later day.

First, it’s important to remember that we are unlikely to see baseball games until about Memorial Day. The owners seem set on trying to get a salary cap, the players will never allow that, and owners won’t start to see pain from TV deal issues unless the season starts after June 1st. So, I’d predict labor strife goes until around April 25th, a deal is struck and in place by May 1st, spring training for a month, and then a 100-game season starting somewhere around May 31st. You heard it here first, so don’t stress about the lockout. I plan not to.

When the Guardians take the field, whom do I expect to see there?

Hitters:

Catcher: Patrick Bailey and Austin Hedges
Comments: If Hedges moves on, I’ll believe it when I see it. After a 100 wRC+ season, I suspect he returns for one more run, this time with Bailey taking more of a full-time role. I expect Kody Huff to see plenty of time on the roster as a third catcher and backup first baseman, also.
First Baseman: Ralphy Velazquez and [Outside Addition]
Comments: I know there are folks who will object to this, but the Guardians have another Chase DeLauter-type hitter in Ralphy. Hand him the keys to first base on opening day and don’t look back.
The number one spot where the Guardians need to upgrade offensively is in finding a right-handed hitter who can fill in at first base and DH to upgrade over David Fry. Fry is simply a C-grade option there, and we need a B to A- option. The Guardians tried to upgrade last offseason with Rhys Hoskins. Fail. This year there are three primary options… but are any of them likely to be better than Fry? Ty France (the most expensive of these options), Alec Bohm and Ryan Mountcastle are the free agent names, or they can try to shake someone like a Spencer Steer free in a trade. From August 1st to September 28th, Fry put up a 113 wRC+ vs. LHP but Vogt seemed to have almost no confidence in him to deliver in that role in the playoffs, and that’s certainly understandable. Are any of the four names above especially likely to improve from what Fry can offer? I don’t know, but I think they have to try letting Fry go and trying a different option.
Second Baseman: Travis Bazzana
Comments: Props to Bazzana who has made himself an acceptable defensive option at second base and, with an offseason of prep, should be ready to make the necessary adjustments at the plate to become a consistent threat offensively, while improving defensively as well. I wouldn’t entirely rule out moving him to the outfield with Welbyn Francisca ending the 2026 season on a huge heater.
Shortstop: Brayan Rocchio and Angel Genao
Comments: I’d like to see Genao get a genuine opportunity to win the shortstop job in Spring Training. Rocchio is a good player to have, but I’d really like to see if the Guardians can manage to get more from the position on the offensive side of things given that Rocchio is not a game-changer defensively. I know we are all ready to cut him after this playoffs, but he is a valuable player. Just not an ideal first division shortstop.
Third Baseman: Jose Ramirez
Comments: Reports of his demise were greatly exaggerated. He will be good again. Mark my words.
Left Field: Angel Martinez and Cooper Ingle
Comments: Martinez had a good 2026, but, we are seeing in the playoffs why it is unwise to plan on him being a reliable piece in a major league lineup. If Angel is going to continue to run a first percentile chase rate, he will not produce as a bat in the long term. Pitchers will simply stop throwing him meaningful strikes, just as they did with Oscar Gonzalez, Jhonkensy Noel and Franmil Reyes before him. Personally, I’d like to see the team commit to an offseason plan for Ingle to play left field full-time and let him have the position to start the season.
Center Field: Steven Kwan and Petey Halpin.
Comments: Do not trade Kwan. Try to extend him. But, if you can’t extend him, hold him for the season, let him go for a comp pick and hope Aaron Walton or Jaison Chourio is ready to take this spot in 2028. Halpin is an adequate 13th man on the roster and should not be seen as more than that.
Right Field: Jo Adell and Chase DeLauter
Comments: So, Adell, currently, would be set to rotate at right field and DH with DeLauter. And, we can all see that Adell is best used as a platoon bat against LHP. Will the Guardians for once in their life be in play for a big time free agent like Seiya Suzuki, Randy Arozarena? I HIGHLY doubt it. Do they have plans to bring Kyle Manzardo back into the fold as a DH? It doesn’t seem like it, nor is that some kind of sure thing. Can they pull off a huge blockbuster trade for Yordan Alvarez or Bryce Harper? In my wildest dreams, yes. In the real world, no. How about a more reasonable trade for an Alec Burleson (PLEASE), Bryan Reynolds, Kyle Stowers, Tyler Soderstrom, or Coby Mayo? Well… I can at least imagine that one of these deals could come together in November without laughing at myself terribly hard. It’s certain that even one of those names would make me feel 100% better about the lineup entering the 2026 season. Otherwise, it’s back to hoping Martinez finds some plate discipline, that Manzardo rediscovers his 2024 form, that Ryan Cesarini continues to tear through the minors, or maybe that George Valera’s late season surge was a meaningful event (the last possibility being, admittedly, wildly unlikely). It would be so nice to put a fairly sure thing like Burleson or Stowers where only wishful thinking currently resides.

Starting Pitchers:

Three are clear: Parker Messick, Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee. Yes, it was a bad season for Bibee. I expect Bibee to get in a pitching lab and figure his way to some more whiffs and a solid #4 starter role given that trading him now would be selling him at the nadir of his value. I will say that it was a shock not to see him pitch tonight, so I wouldn’t rule out a trade. Joey Cantillo PROBABLY gets a chance to win a starting spot again, which is also fine. The question for me is who could take the #3 spot (as I try not to lament Luis Ortiz’s stupidity).

Braylon Doughty, Justin Campbell and Franklin Gomez are the most exciting options on the farm, but it’s unclear whether Doughty or Gomez will be ready in 2027, and Campbell’s extensive injury issues leave him a question mark. With a strong offseason program and a good start in Columbus (he won’t be able to play until the major league season starts because he is Rule-5 eligible, unfortunately), Campbell could become an option in fairly short order. The usual fifth starter types are around in Austin Peterson, Ben Lively (depending on what his late-season injury was…), and Rorik Maltrud. I’d like to see them move on from Logan Allen and I want Slade Cecconi in the bullpen. I wouldn’t HATE going into the season with Peterson in the number five starter role and trying Bibee and Cantillo as #3 and #4 while looking for upgrades at the deadline. Could you see the Guardians aim for a Patrick Sandoval, Trevor Rogers, Foster Griffin or Shane Bieber-type in free agency? Could they make a large trade for like a George Kirby from Seattle? I get the strange feeling that WERE they to spend some money, this is where it would happen… but probably not until after the lockout to try to snag someone looking for a seat in a wild, last-minute game of musical chairs. For now, I’ll project a rotation of Messick, Williams, Cantillo, Bibee and Peterson, and I feel reluctantly content with that as the likes of Campbell, Doughty and Gomez (and maybe even Liam Peterson?) continue to develop.

Bullpen:

Projected: Cade Smith, Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis, Colin Holderman, Daniel Espino, Shawn Armstrong and Tim Herrin. I suspect the team picks up Shawn Armstrong’s $8 million option (only costing $6.5 million because of a $1.5 million buyout he is already owed), and I like it.
Probably: I would like to see Slade Cecconi make the pen as a full-time reliever. Give him the whole offseason to think about and train for one inning at a time and he can be a high leverage option.
Other Options: Matt Festa, Craig Yoho, Franco Aleman, and Steven Perez.
Comments: I suspect we see the Guardians focus on some waiver wire/minor-league additions as usual, but I definitely wouldn’t oppose seeing them spend a little for a left-handed reliever like Sean Newcomb or Gregory Soto. I don’t find it likely, but a reliable left-handed option in the pen to make Herrin expendable would be a pretty significant upgrade.

As most Guardians fans would have told you prior to games 3-5 of the ALDS and game one of the ALCS, the biggest area the team should improve in the offseason is in hiring a hitting coach/executive from a successful hitting organization. I still strongly believe they should bring someone in to add new insights and life to the current group despite a spark in the playoffs. In fact, bring in more than one someone. This 21st ranked offense since 2019 thing needs a shakeup. The Guardians seem pretty stubborn about believing in their guys at every level, though, so I won’t hold my breath.

The White Sox are not going anywhere and will likely have money to spend. Detroit will likely only take a small step back, and the Twins and Royals are frisky. In a right and just world, the Guardians would make a trade or free agency splash in November to solidify things before the lockout, but I expect them to lean further into development where there are just enough potential pieces of value to make another run at the playoffs a good chance, currently. There are no guarantees, however, and an injury to one of their starting pitchers with the roster as it is currently would be devastating (is Gavin Williams OK?), as would Jose Ramirez not being a 120 wRC+ hitter when he has an offseason to recover.

So, let’s not ponder those possibilities. Let’s celebrate the amazing season that was, grieve what could have been, settle in for a lengthy lockout, and get ready for another year of experience and growth to give us the Guardians’ season we’ve been dreaming of all our lives. Also, I first wrote the first draft of this article after game two of the ALDS and I got to see my team play nine more games after that!

Cleveland had found themselves in another win or go home elimination game. The Tampa Bay Rays threw Freddy Peralta against the Cleveland Guardians with Cleveland going with their go-to postseason line up.

Steven Kwan led the game off with a single after working a 2-2 count. Two quick flyouts and a pop out retired the side quickly, but Shawn Armstrong did it even faster. Armstrong retired the side in seven pitches, catching the final out, a pop out, himself.

The top of the second began with a ball and a pitch com issue, but ended with a long fly ball to the warning track from Patrick Bailey. The middle of the order did a great job to work pitch counts and drove Peralta up to 29 pitches finish the second inning.

Shawn Armstrong came on for one more batter, giving up a weak bloop single to Junior Caminero. Stephen Vogt was quick with the hook and brought out Tim Herrin to face Tampa’s 5-6-7 batters. Herrin gave up a fielder’s choice to Chandler Simpson, eliminating the lead runner from scoring position. Unfortunately for Herrin and the Guardians, Simpson immediately stole second base and was called safe after a near perfect throw from Bailey to shortstop Brayan Rocchio. The steal was, essentially, nullified after Victor Mesa Jr. drew a five pitch walk. Jonny DeLuca lined out to centerfielder Petey Halpin for the second out with Richie Palacios up to bat. Herrin fought with a six pitch at bat to the former Guardian Palacios, but Richie came out on top. Palacios swung on a foul ball out of the zone and blooped it perfectly into right center for a two-run double, prompting Vogt to turn to Matt Festa with two outs in the bottom of the second. Festa walked Taylor Walls and hit Yandy Díaz to load the bases for one of Tampa’s best. Festa lucked out with Jonathan Aranda flying out to left.

Peralta saw traffic again despite a quick first out, a strikeout to Petey Halpin. Brayan Rocchio singled on a liner to center, but was called out at second when Steven Kwan grounded into a force out. José Ramírez, representing the tying run with two outs, didn’t see a single pitch resembling a strike. Chase DeLauter was called out on strikes after being shown two strikes high in the zone. The final strike was low and outside, originally called a ball, but overturned to a strikeout.

The hitting ramped up for the Rays in the bottom of the third. Joey Cantillo came on as the bulk relief guy to replace Matt Festa. Cantillo gave up two singles and a walk before the first out was recorded. A forceout at home plate kept the bases loaded, but kept a runner from scoring. The scoreless frame didn’t last. A sac fly to left scored Caminero, giving Tampa a 3-0 lead before the side was retired.

Things continued to look bleak for Cleveland in the top of the fourth. Jo Adell hit a perfect double to left field to start the inning with a bit of forward momentum. Nathaniel Lowe drew a walk, getting two on, but a lineout and a GIDP ended the inning before anyone could think about scoring.

Joey Cantillo did not provide the much needed depth, walking the first batter and hitting the third in the bottom of the fourth. Cantillo went 1.2 innings of work, handing things over to Daniel Espino to face Junior Caminero for the fourth time this series. Caminero hit a long fly ball that looked dangerous, but was caught by Petey Halpin to retire the side. Espino stayed on in the bottom of the fifth, getting three quick outs and pitching the Rays well.

Cleveland finally responded in the top of the sixth. Chase DeLauter hit a long double that bounced off the wall in center to lead off the inning. Nathaniel Lowe, with one out, singled on a grounder to center that scored DeLauter and finally forced Kevin Cash to go to his bullpen. Cam Booser got the next two batters out, but Cleveland got on the board.

Erik Sabrowski came on in the bottom of the sixth. Richie Palacios hit a single to right, but a well played forceout on Taylor Walls got the lead runner out at second. Yandy Díaz grounded out for the second out of the inning in a well played G1-3. Sabrowski sent down Jonathan Aranda with a swinging strikeout to quickly retire the side.

Vogt turned to Cade Smith early in the bottom of the seventh with the goal of keeping it 3-1. Cade gave up a walk to Liam Hick and then gave up a home run to Junior Caminero. Caminero hit the home run on the first pitch, a splitter, that was thrown well inside. It was a rather incredible ball to swing at, let alone hit a homer off it. According to the broadcast, it was the first home run that has been hit off of Cade Smith’s splitter. Cade got the next three outs, but the damage had been done.

Cleveland held on in the top of the eighth. Tyler Wells came on in relief of Cam Booser. Wells gave up two singles and two outs. With DeLauter on second and Lowe on first, Kevin Cash went to Ian Seymour to replace Tyler Wells. Seymour struggled immediately with control, walking Bazzana to load the bases. Patrick Bailey walked in a run and kept the bases loaded for Angel Martínez. Angel was immediately hit by pitch, scoring Lowe. Kevin Kelly came in to replace Seymour and struck out Rocchio to end the Cleveland rally.

The nail in the coffin came in the bottom of the eighth. Hunter Gaddis came on for Cade Smith and got a flyout to start the inning. Taylor Walls drew a walk and Yandy Díaz launched a home run to left to put the Rays up 7-3.

The Guardians offense was at the top of their order and as out of gas as the pitching staff has been. Steven Kwan and José Ramírez hit into back-to-back ground outs, leaving Chase DeLauter with the final at bat for the Cleveland Guardians 2026 season. A pop up in foul territory was the final out, stamping the Rays’ ticket to the World Series.

Very few thought this Guardians team would make it this far. Many national media experts had the White Sox going the whole way. The highs were mountains and the lows, deep valleys, but across the landscape that made up this season, this team rallied together and put together a playoff run that many would have never predicted even into August. All of the season’s weaknesses were exposed in the ALCS by a team that was, in short, better. Regardless of that, the Guardians held their own against the best team in the American League.

The World Series is set. One team will win it all for the first time ever. Tampa Bay Rays vs. Milwaukee Brewers.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Freddy Peralta threw 5 ¹/₃ gritty innings, Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz each hit a two-run homer and the Rays beat the Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night to advance to the World Series for the third time in the franchise’s 29 seasons. 

The Rays will face the Brewers in the first matchup in which both teams are seeking their first World Series title since 1980, when the Phillies beat the Royals. 

Game 1 is Friday night in Milwaukee. 

“We got one more bite!” Rays manager Kevin Cash told his team as the clubhouse celebration started. 

The loss extended Cleveland’s World Series championship drought to 78 years. 

“I couldn’t be more proud of our group,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “It just hurts. It stings. Really felt like we had a team to go and just weren’t able to get there.” 

On the 18-year anniversary of their first AL pennant in 2008, the Rays jumped ahead 2-0 in the second inning on Richie Palacios’ two-run double and clinched it with closer Bryan Baker on the mound. 

The Guardians wouldn’t give up and had the go-ahead run at first base in the eighth when Kevin Kelly struck out Brayan Rocchio to leave the bases loaded after two runs scored. 

Peralta, the ALCS MVP, allowed one run and five hits to earn his second win of the series in his third appearance. He pitched six scoreless innings to win Game 2 and got two outs in relief in Game 4. 

A sellout crowd of 40,230 fans waved yellow-and-blue rally towels, rang cowbells and chanted “Let’s go Rays!” throughout the night at Tropicana Field, which needed major renovations after Hurricane Milton shredded the roof two years ago and caused extensive damage throughout the stadium. 

The Rays played their 2025 home games across the bay in Tampa at the Yankees’ spring training complex, got new ownership before this season and secured a new stadium deal to be ready in 2029 near the NFL’s Buccaneers. They returned to the Trop to win 55 games in the regular season. Only the Brewers had that many home wins this year. 

“This is for you!” Caminero yelled to the crowd from a microphone on the field after the game. “Let’s go! I can’t hear you!” 

After sweeping the Yankees in the Division Series, the Rays fell behind the Guardians 0-1 and 1-2 in this series before taking three straight games. 

Caminero gave Tampa Bay a cushion with his first career postseason homer in the seventh inning. The two-time All-Star sent a drive off the left-field foul pole to give the Rays a 5-1 lead, becoming the first player to go deep on a splitter by All-Star closer Cade Smith. 

Caminero turned around before reaching first base, looked toward his dugout and pounded his chest with both arms, cupped his ear rounding second to hear more cheers, stopped before reaching the plate, pointed into the stands and crossed his arms before crossing home. 

Caminero hit 42 homers in the regular season but needed 33 at-bats to get his first in October. 

The Guardians answered against Tyler Wells and Ian Seymour by loading the bases on two singles and a walk with two outs. Seymour walked Patrick Bailey to force in one run and hit Angel Martínez with a pitch to force in another. Kelly entered and fanned Rocchio on three changeups. 

“Credit to our guys. It’s a gut punch there in the seventh. And our guys came right back,” Vogt said. “Our guys never quit. They never stopped fighting. That’s who they are.” 

Díaz, who guaranteed a Game 6 victory through an interpreter on Sunday, gave the Rays another four-run lead with a two-run shot off Hunter Gaddis in the bottom of the eighth. 

Caminero led off the Tampa Bay second with single off opener Shawn Armstrong, who took the loss in his second start in three games. Left-hander Tim Herrin replaced Armstrong. Chandler Simpson reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second before Victor Mesa Jr. walked. Simpson advanced to third on Jonny DeLuca’s flyout to center. After Mesa stole second, Palacios looped a double to right-center for a 2-0 lead. 

Armstrong, who was the opener in Game 4, faced the first four batters, becoming the first pitcher in postseason history to start a game after pitching both of the previous two days. 

DeLuca’s sacrifice fly off Joey Cantillo made it 3-0 in the third but the Rays missed an opportunity to break it open with more runs after they loaded the bases with no outs. 

Nathaniel Lowe’s RBI single in the sixth drove in Cleveland’s first run.

Welcome to our new series grading every member of the San Diego Padres’ 40-man roster. The roster being evaluated is current as of Oct. 18, prior to the end of the World Series. Because of that, it will include players who will be free agents once the postseason concludes. Each player will be graded on their performance in the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted based on how much time the player spent with the team (availability is the best ability).

A Premier Setup Man

In two-plus seasons with San Diego, Adam has posted a 2.08 ERA. Prior to 2026, the right-handed reliever posted consecutive sub-2.00 ERA seasons. He was the Padres’ go-to reliever for the eighth inning behind closer Robert Suarez. Southpaw Adrian Morejon has since turned into their setup man for closer Mason Miller following Adam’s subpar 2026 campaign.

Overall Grade: B-

Adam pitched to a 2.62 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and .233 opponent batting average in 2026. Those are phenomenal numbers, but the right-hander pitched just 34 1/3 innings after missing nearly three months down the stretch with a right shoulder strain. The lower grade is mostly due to that missed time. Adam missed the stretch run that saw San Diego go from a .500 ballclub to the top NL Wild Card spot.

Still, what Adam managed to do is impressive. He posted his first season under 2.0 WAR since 2023 due to the missed time. When he was on the mound prior to rehab, his injury was apparent in his performance. Adam simply couldn’t limit hard contact. The right-hander surrendered the same number of home runs (5) that he did in 2024, except in half of the innings (73.2 IP in ‘24 compared to 34.1 in ‘26).

The right-hander is set to be a free agent and should receive a large payday despite his injury-marred 2026 campaign. Adam has set himself up as one of the most consistently dominant relievers in all of baseball. He’s posted a sub-3.00 ERA in five consecutive seasons and a sub-2.00 ERA in three of those years. His game went up a notch after being traded to San Diego. It remains a possibility that he re-signs with the Friars, though Adam seems likely to depart in free agency.

Will Smith won each of the last six World Series, but that streak will end this year, because nobody named Will Smith plays for the Milwaukee Brewers nor Tampa Bay Rays. The Dodgers catcher and the since-retired left-handed relief pitcher of the same name played for teams that won championships every season from 2020-25.

Those two players converged during the 2020 National League Championship Series, a few weeks before the first of those six straight championships.

Down three games to one in the NLCS that year, the Dodgers trailed the Atlanta Braves 2-1 in the sixth inning of Game 5. With Mookie Betts on second base and two outs, the lefty Smith was called in from the bullpen to face Max Muncy, who drew a six-pitch walk.

Will Smith the Dodgers catcher ran the count full himself, before hitting a three-run home run off Will Smith the pitcher to turn the game around, in what would be a 7-3 Dodgers win.

Will Smith vs. Will Smith.

Advantage, Will Smith. 😱 pic.twitter.com/RxjuhY5hek

— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2020

That home run by Smith was the only hit off his pitching namesake in seven tries. In the other matchups — 2019 when the lefty was with the Giants, and 2021-22 with the Braves — the catcher was hitless in six at-bats with three strikeouts against the pitcher.

The Dodgers won that 2020 NLCS over the Braves then snapped a 32-year championship drought by beating the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series. One year later, Smith the reliever was on the Atlanta team that snapped a 26-year title drought.

Will Smiths’ World Series wins

• 2020 Dodgers: catcher
• 2021 Braves: lefty pitcher
• 2022 Astros: lefty pitcher
• 2023 Rangers: lefty pitcher
• 2024 Dodgers: catcher
• 2025 Dodgers: catcher

The Dodgers’ Will Smith punctuated the 2025 championship by hitting the series-winning home run in the 11th inning of Game 7, after setting a record by catching all 73 innings in the World Series.

It was a good run for the Will Smiths.

In 2026, we will have a first-time World Series champion.

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians7-3 on Monday, Oct. 19 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series to punch their ticket to the World Series. They powered their way through the ALCS after going down 2-1 early and persevering after Game 4 was postponed due to rain. They were the top seed in the American League and swept the New York Yankees in the Division Series.

They will face the Milwaukee Brewers, who secured their spot in the Fall Classic by sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. They beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 in the division series after finishing the regular season with a 103-59 record, making them the National League's top seed.

Both teams have appeared in the World Series before, with the Rays having more recent experience, but have yet to hoist the Commissioner's Trophy.

Which teams haven't won a World Series?

There are five teams that have never won a World Series. Two of them are the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, who will face each other in the 2026 World Series. The Seattle Mariners are the only active franchise to have never appear in a World Series.

• Colorado Rockies - established 1993, one World Series appearance in 2007
• Milwaukee Brewers - established 1970, one World Series appearance in 1982
• San Diego Padres- established 1969, two World Series appearances in 1984 and 1998
• Seattle Mariners - established 1977, zero World Series appearances
• Tampa Bay Rays - established 1998, two World Series appearances in 2008 and 2020

When is the last time the Rays and Brewers played in the World Series?

The Rays and Brewers have three previous World Series appearances between them.

Tampa Bay has two of those, playing in the 2008 Fall Classic when they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies, and in the 2020 World Series where they were defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It's been a little bit longer since Milwaukee played in the World Series. They faced the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982 and lost in seven games. That Brewers team featured several players who would eventually be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame: Rollie Fingers, Don Sutton, Robin Yount, Paul Molitor and Ted Simmons.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB teams to never win a World Series: 2026 will have first-time champion

The face of the Los Angeles Angels' youth movement is already showing promising returns in the Arizona Fall League.

Arjun Nimmala, the top prospect in the Angels organization, earned hitter of the week honors after his red-hot start with the Mesa Solar Sox at the plate continued, MLB announced Monday, Oct. 19. The 21-year-old led the league in six different categories including OPS (1.758), slugging percentage (1.091), doubles (2), triples (2), extra-base hits (4) and total bases (12) for the week of Oct. 12-18.

His biggest game came on Oct. 15, when Nimmala finished a home run shy of the cycle and went 4-for-5 with two triples and a double and drove in three RBIs for the third four-hit game of his professional career.

99+ mph? No problem for MLB’s No. 34 prospect. 💥#Angels top prospect Arjun Nimmala drives in two runs on a pair of knocks off Jarlin Susana’s heater in the Arizona Fall League: pic.twitter.com/PfZlAzHlI2

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 16, 2026

Who is Arjun Nimmala?

Nimmala is the Angels' No. 1 prospect and No. 34 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He was drafted at 17 years old in 2023 Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays with the 20th overall pick, which made him the highest first-generation Indian-American ever taken in one of the four major sports, per Pipeline.

The shortstop out of Strawberry Crest High School in Dover, Florida, was the centerpiece of the prospect haul the Angels received from their fire sale at the trade deadline in August, during which they sent star pitcher José Soriano to Toronto in exchange for Nimmala, outfielder Eddie Micheletti and right-handed pitcher Angel Rivero.

Nimmala reported to Double-A Rocket City after the trade and hit eight home runs and nine doubles with 17 RBIs with a .966 OPS in 27 games.

Arjun Nimmala entered tonight slugging .600 across four playoff games. He hit his third home run of the postseason tonight. Fifth extra-base-hit in as many games.

Huge insurance for Rocket City. pic.twitter.com/EkkPGhz9KV

— Tobey Schulman (@tschulmanreport) September 24, 2026

Though he projects plus power and arm strength, he's not considered a strong runner and his defense is a work in progress. Nimmala is expected to be MLB ready in 2028.

What is the Arizona Fall League?

The Arizona Fall League enters its 34th season as the "premier league for baseball's top prospects." Run by MLB, the AFL is based out of Arizona and plays its games at six different Cactus League (MLB spring training) complexes. Each big league club provides seven of their prospects, who are then spread out across six teams of 35-man rosters.

The two keystone events in the league schedule are the Fall Stars Game – an All-Star showcase – on Nov. 8, followed by the Arizona Fall League championship game on Nov. 14.

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Angels prospect Arjun Nimmala named Arizona Fall League hitter of the week

The Rays can win their third pennant in club history if they win at home tonight. The Guardians will need a win to force a Game 7. Rays slugger Yandy Diaz has declared his team will win. Bold prediction? Hubris? More evidence that baseball is rigged?

Reliever Shawn Armstrong (2-1, 4.58 ERA) will start for Cleveland as an opener.

All on the table.#GuardsBall | #StandGuardpic.twitter.com/l5CdO7Ez2R

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 19, 2026

The Rays start Freddy Peralta (10-11, 4.42 ERA), a July pickup from the Brewers.

This feels big

👀: TBS/HBO MAX
👂: 95.7 WDAE pic.twitter.com/OQKFnGZJW4

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 19, 2026

The game airs on TBS at 7 pm CT. Who ya got?

Two ways tonight can go. We either see a Rays victory, and they move on to the World Series, starting on Friday in Milwaukee. We spend the next three days staring out the window, twiddling our thumbs and waiting for that to start. Or the Guardians prevail, and we look forward to a winner-take-all battle tomorrow night at the Trop for the American League pennant. While I’m generally Rays-friendly, I kinda lean towards the latter, simply because I am greedy, and want as many baseball games as possible this postseason. After all, who knows when the next time we will get them? At least at the major league level. Still planning to go to the AFL on November 5!

For now though, we know there will be at least two days without meaningful baseball this week, on Wednesday and Thursday. So you might want to enjoy this while you can!

• Cleveland Guardians @ Tampa Bay Rays (2-3), 5:00 pm, TBS

Rays beat Guardians 7-3 and earn a trip to the World Series originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Freddy Peralta threw 5 1/3 gritty innings, Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz each hit a two-run homer and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night to advance to the World Series for the third time in the franchise’s 29 seasons.

The Rays will face the Milwaukee Brewers in the first matchup in which both teams are seeking their first World Series title since 1980, when the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals.

Game 1 is Friday night in Milwaukee.

“We got one more bite!” Rays manager Kevin Cash told his team as the clubhouse celebration started.

The loss extended Cleveland’s World Series championship drought to 78 years.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our group,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “It just hurts. It stings. Really felt like we had a team to go and just weren’t able to get there.”

On the 18-year anniversary of their first AL pennant in 2008, the Rays jumped ahead 2-0 in the second inning on Richie Palacios’ two-run double and clinched it with closer Bryan Baker on the mound.

The Guardians wouldn’t give up and had the go-ahead run at first base in the eighth when Kevin Kelly struck out Brayan Rocchio to leave the bases loaded after two runs scored.

Peralta, the ALCS MVP, allowed one run and five hits to earn his second win of the series in his third appearance. He pitched six scoreless innings to win Game 2 and got two outs in relief in Game 4.

A sellout crowd of 40,230 fans waved yellow-and-blue rally towels, rang cowbells and chanted “Let’s go Rays!” throughout the night at Tropicana Field, which needed major renovations after Hurricane Milton shredded the roof two years ago and caused extensive damage throughout the stadium.

The Rays played their 2025 home games across the bay in Tampa at the New York Yankees’ spring training complex, got new ownership before this season and secured a new stadium deal to bear ready in 2029 near the NFL’s Buccaneers. They returned to the Trop to win 55 games in the regular season. Only the Brewers had that many home wins this year.

“This is for you!” Caminero yelled to the crowd from a microphone on the field after the game. “Let’s go! I can’t hear you!”

After sweeping the Yankees in the Division Series, the Rays fell behind the Guardians 0-1 and 1-2 in this series before taking three straight games.

Caminero gave Tampa Bay a cushion with his first career postseason homer in the seventh inning. The two-time All-Star sent a drive off the left-field foul pole to give the Rays a 5-1 lead, becoming the first player to go deep on a splitter by All-Star closer Cade Smith.

Caminero turned around before reaching first base, looked toward his dugout and pounded his chest with both arms, cupped his ear rounding second to hear more cheers, stopped before reaching the plate, pointed into the stands and crossed his arms before crossing home.

Caminero hit 42 homers in the regular season but needed 33 at-bats to get his first in October.

The Guardians answered against Tyler Wells and Ian Seymour by loading the bases on two singles and a walk with two outs. Seymour walked Patrick Bailey to force in one run and hit Angel Martínez with a pitch to force in another. Kelly entered and fanned Rocchio on three changeups.

“Credit to our guys. It’s a gut punch there in the seventh. And our guys came right back,” Vogt said. “Our guys never quit. They never stopped fighting. That’s who they are.”

Díaz, who guaranteed a Game 6 victory through an interpreter on Sunday, gave the Rays another four-run lead with a two-run shot off Hunter Gaddis in the bottom of the eighth.

Caminero led off the Tampa Bay second with single off opener Shawn Armstrong, who took the loss in his second start in three games. Left-hander Tim Herrin replaced Armstrong. Chandler Simpson reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second before Victor Mesa Jr. walked. Simpson advanced to third on Jonny DeLuca’s flyout to center. After Mesa stole second, Palacios looped a double to right-center for a 2-0 lead.

Armstrong, who was the opener in Game 4, faced the first four batters, becoming the first pitcher in postseason history to start a game after pitching both of the previous two days.

DeLuca’s sacrifice fly off Joey Cantillo made it 3-0 in the third but the Rays missed an opportunity to break it open with more runs after they loaded the bases with no outs.

Nathaniel Lowe’s RBI single in the sixth drove in Cleveland’s first run.

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See AP’s full MLB coverage here

The NPB’s Hanshin Tigers accepted Teruaki Sato’s posting request, ever-so-slightly increasing the likelihood of giving the third baseman a new home in the Bronx.

The Japanese Triple Crown winner is now officially available to pursue MLB contracts, and the Yankees are one of many teams interested in his talents. Sato finished the regular season batting .306 with a .383 OBP and .991 OPS. The slugger also recorded 39 home runs, just short of his career-high 40 last season, and totaled 106 RBIs. It’s hard not to dream about the lefty hitter’s swing in Yankee Stadium.

Envisioning the Yankees’ lineup for next season, Sato could make a great fit in the middle of the order. Keeping the power hitters at the top, including Aaron Judge, Ben Rice, and Cody Bellinger (in no particular order), it’s easy to visualize Sato batting cleanup or at fifth. His tenacity could be just what the Yankees need to build off the heavy hitters’ momentum and be unstoppable at the plate. Too often last year, New York had to settle for the slumping Jazz Chisholm Jr. or rookies Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. in the five-hole. Even if he’s not chosen to be the primary cleanup hitter, Sato would slot in nicely there as well, easing the pressure on the youngsters and lengthening the lineup.

In addition to adding some power to the Yankees’ offense, Sato could solve the Yankees’ constant frustrations at the hot corner. Ryan McMahon, José Caballero, and Anthony Volpe are the current options. None really emerged as a reliable everyday starter, as Volpe shifted from shortstop to second base (before sampling third very late in the game) and the trio of McMahon, Caballero, and Amed Rosario alternated — often committing costly errors that put the Yankees in tough spots. McMahon’s offense was lackluster at best, finishing the regular season among the top 20 worst hitters in the league, batting .213 with a .279 OBP and 78 wRC+. A career lefty-killer, Rosario too often came up empty against southpaws, and likely won’t be back after becoming a free agent. Caballero occasionally managed to give the Yankees a boost offensively, but his defense gave Boone enough pause to bench him for the majority of the postseason.

It’s worth noting that while Sato won the NPB equivalent of Gold Glove at third in 2025, MLB.com’s Max Ralph noted that “there are some concerns about his long-term fit on the infield.” If Sato can even be acceptable there, that would be enough. His bat alone already makes him a much more enticing possibility than McMahon, Caballero, or Volpe.

The Yankees should try every avenue to bring Sato to New York, as he’d be a great addition to the middle of the order. They will surely need someone like Sato as another offensive weapon to supplement their core, in addition to the kind of defensive skills to keep any opposing teams at bay.

Another brilliant start by Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen carried the Rays to victory in a decisive Game 5 in Cleveland that put the Rays in the driver’s seat as the series comes home to Tampa. The Guardians now face back-to-back elimination games, and while they should have ace Gavin Williams going on short rest on Tuesday, if they get there, the Guardians will be trying to piece together another bullpen game out of depth starters and their heavily taxed relief corps just to survive on Monday.

Tasked with taking them down will be right-hander Freddy Peralta, and it would be pretty fitting if it was Peralta carrying the Rays into a World Series matchup against the club he’s spent most of his career with, the Milwaukee Brewers. Peralta signed a free agent deal with the Mets last offseason, only to be moved to Tampa at the deadline after a rough first half. As they do, the Rays helped him clean up his mechanics and get back to form, producing a pretty strong finish to the season in September. Even so, Peralta is not fully back to being the strikeout artist he’s been his whole career. The Rays are unlikely to get seven innings of zero or one-run ball out of him against a very scrappy and desperate Guardians lineup.

RHP Shawn Armstrong (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Freddy Peralta (1-0, 0.79 ERA) at Tropicana Field, 8:08 p.m. ET on TBS.

Calling on Big Shawn.#GuardsBall | #StandGuardpic.twitter.com/2IxRyK6xO1

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 19, 2026

Freddy coming at you fast 🔥#ForTampaBay | #postseasonpic.twitter.com/hmbwmbqgkP

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 19, 2026

Rays lineup

Yandy Diaz – DH
Jonathan Aranda – 1B
Liam Hicks – C
Junior Caminero – 3B
Chandler Simpson – LF
Victor Mesa – RF
Jonny DeLuca – CF
Richie Palacios – 2B
Taylor Walls – SS

Freddy Peralta – RHP

Guardians lineup

Steven Kwan – LF
Jose Ramirez – 3B
Chase DeLauter – RF
Jo Adell – DH
Nathaniel Lowe – 1B
Travis Bazzana – 2B
Patrick Bailey – C
Petey Halpin – CF
Brayan Rocchio – SS

Tanner Bibee – RHP

Broadcast info

Time: 8:00 PM EDT
TV: TBS/HBO Max

The Mets are scheduled to speak with Kevin Long about a position on the coaching staff, according to a report Monday evening by the New York Post's Mike Puma.

Long, 59, was most recently spent 2022-26 as the Philadelphia Phillies' hitting coach.

His MLB hitting coach stints include the Yankees (2007-14), Mets (2015-17) and Washington Nationals (2018-21).

Among those tenures, he helped the Yankees (2009) and Nationals (2019) win the World Series.

With the Nationals, Long mentored a young Juan Soto, now the Mets' prized slugger, during the first leg of Soto's career in Washington (2018-22).

Long's time as the Mets' hitting coach was under former manager Terry Collins, who led the team from 2011-17.

New manager Andy Green's coaching staff was among David Stearns' talking points during the president of baseball operations' Sept. 28 news conference.

"Andy and I are going to have conversations on that this week, and we'll get to a decision point here over the next week or so," Stearns said last month when asked about building out Green's 2027 coaching staff.