Oct 7, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages (44) hits a single against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning in game four of the NLDS...
As the Dodgers are set to advance to the NLCS for the third year in a row from a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves, Andy Pages did something that the Dodgers haven’t done in a long time.
Bring home runners in scoring position.
Pages’ two-RBI go-ahead single in the seventh inning was the first time in the series they had a hit with runners on base.
Andy Pages snaps the Dodgers’ 0-14 drought with runners in scoring position. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Coming into Wednesday, the Dodgers were 0-14 with runners in scoring position, as they’ve relied heavily on the long ball.
Through the first two games of the series, Pages was hitless and was enduring an 0-7 cold streak. In Game 3, he had two hits, then had another two-hit performance in Game 4, putting his series average up to .286.
The Dodgers’ first run in Wednesday night’s victory came after Shohei Ohtani scored on an error by Mauricio Dubon, when the ball bounced off his glove.
After Pages gave them the lead, the Dodgers added an insurance run when Max Muncy hit a solo home run over the right field fence.
Starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up only one hit, while striking out five batters.
Los Angeles Dodgers snap a 0-14 drought for runners in scoring position. AP Photo/Colin HubbardDodgers snap a 0-14 drought for runners in scoring position. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
The Braves threatened in the sixth inning, when Ozzie Albies hit a leadoff double off of Alex Vesia. Manager Dave Roberts brought in Edgardo Henriquez to retire the next three batters he faced and pitched two more outs in the seventh.
Edwin Diaz came out to close the ninth and needed only eight pitches to pick up his second save of the series, as he had one strikeout and ended the game by getting Austin Riley to fly out towards right.
San Diego, California - September 26: Walker Buehler #10 of the San Diego Padres reacts after Gabriel Moreno's #14 of the Arizona Diamondbacks single during the third inning at Petco Park on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
It’s game 4 of the NL Division Series as the Padres will try to force a game 5. Walker Buehler will get the start for the Padres while the Brewers will depend on LHP Robert Gasser. First pitch at Petco Park is scheduled for 9pm central time and the game broadcast is available via Fox/FS1.
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox were never going to roll through the postseason unscathed.
Oh, it was tempting to imagine it, what with the sweep of the Houston Astros in the wild-card round and opening the ALDS by taking two games off the Cleveland Guardians at their ballpark. The hitters were providing timely offense, the pitchers were stifling opponents, and no stage is proving too big for a team as chill as it is young.
It all seemed to be setting up perfectly for the White Sox to come back to Rate Field and clinch their first postseason series at home since 1906.
Baseball is rarely that tidy, however. After a 9-3 loss to the Guardians in Game 3 of the ALDS on Wednesday, Oct. 7 — a game that wasn’t even as close as the score indicated, to be honest — the White Sox have to find a way to channel that enthusiastic oblivion that’s served them so well in this historic season.
Game 4 is Thursday, Oct. 8.
“It’s baseball. You’re not going to win every game. That’s the reality of it,” second baseman Chase Meidroth said. “But you know, tomorrow is a new day.”
And a loss like this is likely going to be easier to put behind them than a white knuckler that came down to the last few at-bats.
Almost everything went wrong for White Sox
It’s not as if they played well and still lost. Little, if anything, went right for the White Sox. They were outhit for the first time this postseason. Their 19 strikeouts — yes, 19 — was an MLB record for a nine-inning postseason game. They were 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position. They stranded eight.
The nine runs the White Sox gave up were three times what they allowed in the first two games of the series. They walked 10. Jo Adell and Jose Ramirez both hit triples, the first time Cleveland has had multiple triples in a postseason game.
The White Sox got on the board first with Kyle Teel’s RBI double in the first inning. But the Guardians took control of the game with a four-run third inning. Steven Kwan tied it up with an RBI single. Three batters later, Adell’s triple made it 4-1.
The White Sox would chip away at Cleveland’s lead, getting an RBI double from Tristan Peters in the fourth and scoring another after Hunter Gaddis plunked Colson Montgomery and Sam Antonacci in consecutive at-bats. But their momentum was never sustainable.
“We’ve just got to be able to execute a little bit better, get outs,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “And, again, we’ve talked about this the whole series, that these guys are going to make you pay for walks. First couple games they didn't. But today, they did.”
White Sox have been resilient all year
While the White Sox clubhouse was silent after the game, this is not a team that’s going to wallow and get in its own head. They don’t know to get stage fright or overthink. They’ve spent the entire season merrily defying expectations — the first team in Major League Baseball to make the playoffs after losing 100 or more games in consecutive seasons — and having a blast doing it.
They were counted out before the season even began. And after they lost 13 of their first 19 games. And after they lost four in a row at the beginning of August. And after they lost eight of 11 in early September. And after … well, you get the idea. Every time, the White Sox have been able to put their woes behind them.
They don’t see why it should be any different now.
“Just everybody in the clubhouse,” lefty Hagen Smith said. “Everybody believes in each other and plays super hard and plays until the last out. So I’m super confident for tomorrow.”
The White Sox still only have to win one game while the Guardians have to win two. Even if they lose Game 4, the White Sox would keep playing. If Cleveland loses Game 4, its season is over.
A loss, even one as bad as this, doesn't change anything for the White Sox. They can't make the mistake of thinking it does.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
ATLANTA — Andy Pages drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single in the seventh inning to give Los Angeles the lead, and the Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Wednesday night to clinch their NL Division Series.
The Dodgers won back-to-back games in Atlanta to take the best-of-five matchup 3-1 and advance to the National League Championship Series as they seek to become the first NL team to win three straight World Series.
Pages lined a 3-2 pitch from Robert Suarez up the middle to drive in Teoscar Hernández, who singled off starter Tyler Mahle, and pinch-runner Tommy Edman for a 3-1 lead. Didier Fuentes walked pinch-hitter Josue De Paula and Kyle Tucker to load the bases. Edman ran for De Paula.
Max Muncy’s solo shot off Raisel Iglesias in the ninth padded the lead and gave the slugger 19 postseason homers with the Dodgers, extending his franchise record.
Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow, making his first start since Sept. 24, allowed only one hit but walked five batters in 4 2/3 innings. After he issued two walks in the fifth, left-hander Alex Vesia ended the inning on Matt Olson’s groundout to second base.
The missed opportunity left the Braves with 18 walks in the series, and none scored.
Glasnow and four relievers combined to give up just three hits. Tanner Scott pitched a perfect eighth before Edwin Díaz got three quick outs for the save.
Mahle, a native of Newport Beach, California, who grew up a Dodgers fan, allowed two runs — one earned — in 6 1/3 innings.
Michael Harris II hit Glasnow’s first pitch for a single before stealing second and eventually scoring from third on a wild pitch that bounced off catcher Will Smith’s chest protector.
The Dodgers pulled even in the second with the help of two Atlanta errors. Shohei Ohtani walked, stole second and advanced to third on catcher Sean Murphy’s errant throw into center field. Muncy’s pop fly into shallow left field was dropped by shortstop Mauricio Dubón for another error, allowing Ohtani to score.
Hernández crashed into the wall while attempting to catch Ozzie Albies’ double off Vesia leading off the sixth. Hernández pointed to his head and neck when talking to an athletic trainer but remained in the game.
Edgardo Henriquez stranded Albies at second. Henriquez allowed one hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the win.
Injury report
Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas was held out after leaving Tuesday night’s 3-1 win during an at-bat in the eighth inning with lower back soreness. Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said Rojas would not be available off the bench.
Ronald Acuña Jr. started in right field for Atlanta one day after being moved to designated hitter in a late lineup change due to right knee soreness.
Up next
The Dodgers will face Milwaukee or San Diego in Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday.
Cameras caught the couple seated during a tense (on-field) moment in the first inning with two strikes and two outs. Their neighbors recommended they stand up to watch the pitch as another fan was standing in front of them.
Yankees starter Max Fried struck out the Tampa Bay Rays hitter for the third out, and the pair high-fived nearby fans to celebrate.
The Dodgers' Andy Pages reacts after hitting a tiebreaking, two-run single against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning Wednesday. (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
The Dodgers punched their ticket to the National League Championship Series with a 4-1 win in Game 4 of the division series on Wednesday at Truist Park.
The Dodgers got a tiebreaking, two-run single from Andy Pages in the seventh, Max Muncy’s third homer in four games and a shutdown effort by the bullpen.
It’s the ninth time in the last 14 seasons that the Dodgers advanced to the NLCS, and they will be seeking their sixth World Series in 10 seasons starting Sunday against either the Milwaukee Brewers or San Diego Padres.
Dodger right-hander Tyler Glasnow limited the Braves to one hit and one run in 4-2/3 innings. But walks prevented him from pitching deeper into the game.
His five walks were tied for the second-most he’s given up in a postseason game. The only time he topped that was in Game 1 of the 2020 World Series, when he pitched for Tampa Bay and issued six walks to the Dodgers.
The lone run he gave up was made possible by Braves leadoff hitter Michael Harris II’s speed. He got on top of Glasnow’s first pitch, a fastball up and out of the strike zone, to shoot a single through the right side.
Harris then stole second and failed to capitalize on catcher Will Smith’s off-target throw, which got past second baseman Kiké Hernández and bounced into the outfield. But no matter. Harris advanced to third on Matt Olson’s groundout.
Then, in an 0-and-2 count to Ozzie Albies, Glasnow spiked a curveball in front of the plate. Smith managed to block the ball, despite the high bounce, but it rolled back toward the mound, giving Harris time to dash home.
Glasnow didn’t have another runner get past first until the fifth when, when he issued his second walk of the inning with two outs. That spelled the end of his start.
The Dodgers’ offense followed up their two-homer performance against Braves ace Chris Sale the night before with an anticlimactic effort against Braves right-hander Tyler Mahle.
They hadn’t faced Mahle since April, when he was with the San Francisco Giants and racking up a 5.13 ERA. But he’d been lights out since the Braves acquired him, authoring a 1.99 ERA. In his postseason debut, he limited the Philadelphia Phillies to one run in seven innings.
The Dodgers faced that new and improved version of Mahle on Wednesday.
“He’s on a nice run here,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “We’re certainly not going to take him lightly. We’ve got our work cut out.”
The one run the Dodgers scored against Mahle was something of a fluke.
In the second inning, Shohei Ohtani, who moved up to the cleanup spot after hitting fifth the day before, drew a five-pitch walk without taking a swing. He then stole second base, drawing an errant throw that allowed him to advance to third. So, he was in position to score the tying run when Braves shortstop Mauricio Dubón, who robbed Freddie Freeman of a home run as the left fielder the day before, dropped a popup in shallow left.
The Dodgers recorded only three hits against Mahle in 6 ⅓ innings. So, the game would come down to the bullpens.
Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández had a scary moment in the sixth inning. He crashed into the wall in an all-out effort to nab Albies’ double off left-hander Alex Vesia. Hernández was slow to get up and put his hand on his head as he talked to an athletic trainer but stayed the game.
Then in the top of the seventh inning, the Dodgers loaded the bases with a single from Teoscar Hernández, a walk from pinch-hitting rookie Josue De Paula, and a five-pitch walk from Kyle Tucker.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 07: Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after a strike out against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Truist Park on October 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A strong bullpen and stellar defense have been calling cards for the Atlanta Braves all year. But slip ups on both fronts, combined with the consistently-inconsistent offense, doomed the Braves in Game 4 of the NLDS. By a final score of 4-1, the Los Angeles Dodgers eliminated the Braves at home and will advance to the NLCS.
As the only Braves player with an offensive pulse this entire postseason, Michael Harris II was already doing more than his fair share. But he was determined to put this team on his back once more. After Tyler Mahle set down the Dodgers in a 1-2-3 top of the first, Harris single-handedly created a run. He laced the first pitch he saw for a single, stole second base, moved over to third base on a Matt Olson groundout, and scored on a wild pitch to get the Braves on the board 1-0. Mahle and Michael set the tone for a promising start.
Unfortunately, a leadoff walk to Shohei Ohtani to start the second immediately became consequential. An attempted strike’em out, throw ‘em out was botched on the back half, allowing Ohtani to get to third and giving Sean Murphy a throwing error. Mauricio Dubón earned an error of his own when he was unable to catch a pop up, allowing LA to tie it 1-1 and allowing Max Muncy to get to first. A double play erased both runners, but that was a blow to the burgeoning Atlanta momentum.
The Tyler-off then began in earnest. They traded off scoreless innings until their departures, and a batter never got further than first base until Glasnow walked two batters in the bottom of the fifth. Mahle only allowed singles to Andy Pages, Kyle Tucker, and Teoscar Hernández the rest of his outing.
Glasnow issued five free passes, and the Braves couldn’t cash in any of them for runs. The biggest opportunity was the aforementioned fifth, where Austin Riley led off with a walk before a Murphy lineout and Harris strikeout looking. Ronald Acuña Jr. worked a four-pitch walk, which prompted Dave Roberts to take Glasnow out of the game at 73 pitches. He summoned the lefty Alex Vesia to face Olson. Tension built… and immediately dissipated when Olson hit the first pitch he saw hard (107.8 miles per hour), but into the ground to end the frame.
Ozzie Albies hit a double off Vesia to start the home half of the sixth that would’ve been a home run in 29/30 ballparks. Yes, that’s correct, the only place it would not have been a homer is home sweet home, Truist Park. Baldwin lined out before Walt Weiss deployed Lane Thomas in Mike Yastrzemski’s spot. To counter, the Dodgers put in reliever Edgardo Henriquez, who got Thomas to ground out and Dubón to line out to strand Ozzie at second.
Mahle came back out for the top of the seventh and retired Ohtani. But a single by Teoscar Hernández would end his evening. Didier Fuentes entered with a runner on first and got Muncy to ground out. Struggling to find the zone, he issued walks to rookie Josue De Paula (pinch-hitting in place of Kiké Hernández) and Kyle Tucker to load the bases. Robert Suarez entered in a tough spot and on a 3-2 count, allowed a two-run single to nine-hole hitter Andy Pages. He got Mookie Betts to ground out on two pitches after, but the deadlock was broken and damage was done to make it 3-1 Los Angeles.
Harris, again, doing everything he can, hit a two-out double off Henriquez in the bottom of the seventh. But another first-pitch groundout, this one off the bat of Acuña Jr., quickly sent us to the eighth. Frustrated Braves Country fans at the park erupted in rare boos.
The Pages single was ballgame, but we played out the rest anyway. Max Muncy had a ninth-inning homer off Raisel Iglesias to get us to the final score. Rowdy Tellez got an AB in the bottom of the ninth and struck out. Dubón added to the tally of first-pitch outs. And finally, Austin Riley’s fly out was gloved by Kyle Tucker to seal this for the Dodgers. They will now celebrate that they have more baseball to play in our visiting clubhouse while we face an uncertain 2027. At least there will be plenty of time to reflect on what went wrong.
It’s been a pleasure and an honor, Braves Country. Back to being NL East champions, but of course we wanted more. We hope to see you in the spring.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 07: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting a two-run double in the seventh inning during Game Four of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It took until the seventh inning of the fourth game of the National League Division Series for the Dodgers to get their first hit with a runner in scoring position. But Andy Pages made it count, with a two-run single to break a tie in a 4-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night at Truist Park, clinching the NLCS to send the Dodgers to their third National League Championship Series in a row.
The winning rally started with a single by Teoscar Hernández, just minutes after crashing into the left field wall on a Braves double in the previous half-inning. That ended the night for Tyler Mahle, who continued to have the Dodgers number, once again pitching into the seventh.
In came Game 2 Braves hero Didier Fuentes, whose second batter faced was fellow 21-year-old pinch-hitter Josue De Paula, only 24 days his senior. De Paula, in just his second postseason plate appearance, walked, then was removed for pinch-runner Tommy Edman. Kyle Tucker also walked to load the bases, setting up Pages — the Dodgers RBI leader this season — to single home a pair.
After going hitless in his first two games this series, Pages had two hits in Game 3 and two more in Game 4, equaling his total for the entire postseason in 2025. The hit also snapped an 0-for-14 skid by the Dodgers with runners in scoring position to start this series.
The first of those runs snapped a string of 22 straight innings by Mahle against the Dodgers without allowing an earned run, dating all the way back to 2022.
Edgardo Henriquez, who entered with one out in the sixth inning and stranded a runner on second, followed with a scoreless seventh inning to bookend the Dodgers rally, and earned the win.
Just like in Game 3, Tanner Scott pitched a scoreless eighth and Edwin Díaz closed out the win in the ninth, giving the Dodgers the planned back end of their bullpen that hadn’t really been fully intact since early April.
Dodgers pitchers allowed eight total runs in the four-game series.
Max power
Max Muncy added some insurance with a solo home run in the ninth inning, extending his Dodgers career postseason record with now 19 home runs. Muncy also homered in Games 1 and 2 of this series, matching his most prolific postseason series with the long ball. He also hit three home runs in the 2019 NLDS against the Washington Nationals.
Sloppy start
Both teams exchanged mistakes for each other’s first run, including an errant throw into center field on a stolen base attempt from each side. Michael Harris II got a great jump from third base on a wild pitch by Tyler Glasnow that didn’t get too far from home plate in the first inning, catching the Dodgers flat-footed. In the top of the second, Shohei Ohtani walked, stole second and went to third on the bad throw, then scored when a Max Muncy popup into short left field was biffed by shortstop Mauricio Dubón.
Glasnow improved a bit as the game progressed, and didn’t allow another hit after Harris led off the game with a single. But, like Blake Snell in Game 2, Glasnow on Wednesday walked five batters, including two in the fifth inning — a leadoff free pass to Austin Riley after getting ahead 0-2, and a two-out, four-pitch walk to Ronald Acuña Jr. to end Glasnow’s night early.
The Dodgers right-hander struck out five with those five walks in his 4 2/3 innings, and like Snell limited the damage to only one run. Alex Vesia helped, inducing a groundout to second base to end the fifth inning with those two Glasnow walks left stranded on base, and the game still tied.
Glasnow threw 78 pitches, 44 for strikes.
Not so free passes
None of Glasnow’s five walks in Game 4 scored, and none of the 18 Braves who walked in the NLDS have touched home plate. But there have still been costs to that Dodgers wildness. For one, the Dodgers had to turn to its bullpen much earlier than hoped in two of the four games.
Also, two of Snell’s walks in the first inning of Game 2, pushing Acuña to third base, which allowed him to score on an infield single. In Game 3, the pinch-hit walk by Rowdy Tellez pushed Dubón to third base, which allowed him to score on a groundout. So the walks have been costly, even if not as much as perhaps they should have been.
The Dodgers move on to a third consecutive National League Championship Series, and eighth in the last 11 years, beginning Sunday night (time TBD, Fox Sports) either in Milwaukee against the Brewers or at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles against the Padres.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 13: A detail shot of the 2025 logo on the hat of a Dodgers player during Game One of the National League Championship Series presented by loanDepot between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Monday, October 13, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the NLDS on Wednesday, and are back in the National League Championship Series for a third season in a row and the eighth time in 11 years with manager Dave Roberts at the helm in Los Angeles.
Either the Milwaukee Brewers or San Diego Padres will be the Dodgers’ opponent this time around. Milwaukee leads San Diego two games to one in their NLDS, with Game 4 on Wednesday night at Petco Park in San Diego. If the Dodgers play the Brewers, it’s a rematch of last year’s NLCS (and 2018).
If the Dodgers play the Padres in the NLCS, it would be their fourth postseason matchup in the last seven years — every even year: 2020, 2022, 2024, 2026 — and just the second time two NL West teams battle in the NLCS, along with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies battling during Rocktober in 2007.
The Dodgers in the NLCS would have home-field advantage over the Padres, but would start on the road if they play the Brewers.
The NLCS begins on Sunday night, and will be televised by Fox Sports, with Joe Davis — if his voice allows, after missing Games 3 and 4 of the NLDS — and John Smoltz on the call, plus reporters Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci, and Tom Rinaldi as part of the broadcasts as well.
Start times and Fox Sports telecast plans haven’t yet been revealed.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: Xander Bogaerts #2 and Samad Taylor #0 of the San Diego Padres celebrate after Bogaerts scored a run in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game three of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on October 06, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Milwaukee Brewers (2-1) at San Diego Padres (1-2), October 7, 2026, 7:00 p.m. PST
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Kenny Albert already has the next chapter for his memoirs.
The NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA broadcaster found himself in a fluid situation this week when Fox Sports had to put Albert on standby with Joe Davis, who was scheduled to call Game 3 of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Braves, under the weather and having lost his voice.
The problem? When Fox asked Albert to be on standby, he was in the middle of prepping for a colonoscopy, he revealed to Front Office Sports.
As part of preparation for the procedure, an individual has to take several doses of medication to clean out their colon.
Fox Sports announcer Kenny Albert is seen before a college basketball game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the UConn Huskies at Madison Square Garden in New York, Nov. 28, 2025. Getty Images
Fox Sports reached out to the TV voice of the Rangers at 6 p.m. on Monday to put him on standby, and when he hadn’t heard any update by 9 p.m., Albert went ahead and took his first dose of the medication and simultaneously started baseball preparation just in case.
It was roughly midnight, he told FOS, when Fox told him it wanted Albert to get to Atlanta in case he was needed.
Albert skipped the second dose of the medicine in the morning and hopped on a flight to Atlanta on Tuesday morning, and he did, in fact, call the game between the Braves and Dodgers.
“The colonoscopy wrinkle? That’s certainly another chapter for my next book,” Albert joked.
Albert also said that it was “baseball prep instead of the other kind of prep” that he ended up having to do.
Joe Davis and John Smoltz are seen during the 2026 MLB All-Star Game broadcast at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026, in Philadelphia. FOX Sports via Getty Images
He also praised the help that he received from the Fox Sports broadcast team.
“So basically, the whole morning, the whole flight, the whole afternoon, I crammed. I hadn’t seen either of the first two games because it was a football weekend,” he said. “I was in Dallas. So I had to catch up. Do a lot of reading. Luckily, I had the same exact matchup, same teams, same pitchers, in a regular season game on Aug. 27. So I was able to pull out my stuff for that game. That saved a lot of time. It was very helpful. Everyone on the crew, and John [Smoltz] and Joe, couldn’t have been more helpful as far as sharing information and just making sure I got down there.”
Ozzie Albies lined a fastball from Alex Vesia and pulled it deep to left field, where Teoscar Hernández attempted to jump for it at the wall, only to miss the ball and crash hard into the padding as Albies cruised to a leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth.
Ozzie Albies has leadoff double for the Braves in the 6th 👀
Hernández stayed down on the ground, taking a few extra moments to gather himself. Andy Pages came over to check on his teammate, and a Dodgers trainer followed soon after as Hernández stayed on the grass and grabbed at the left side of his head.
Teoscar Hernández is slow to get up after running into the wall trying to make a catch. pic.twitter.com/zo3dCsfi9d
He stayed in the game, at least for now, however, and was able to make the catch on a Drake Baldwin liner in the next at-bat. Albies was ultimately stranded on second after Lane Thomas grounded out to first and Mauricio Dubón lined out to Kyle Tucker in right field to keep it a 1-1 game heading into the seventh inning. Hernández made his next plate appearance and singled in the next frame.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 07: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians steals third base against the Chicago White Sox during the fifth inning in game three of the American League Division Series at Rate Field on October 07, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just like we drew it up!
Ok, deep exhale Guardian fans! After an extremely disappointing first two games of the series, the Guardians go to Chicago, facing elimination, and take Game 3 over the White Sox by a score of 9-3. Cleveland would have more hits in game 3 (11) than they did the first two games combined (7), and the run total was more than three times as much (9-3). In this offensive explosion, Cleveland walloped 4(!) hits with runners in scoring position, their first 4 of the series. It wasn’t all easy today, as the White Sox were on Cleveland’s heels for 7 innings before the Guards pulled away late, but we saw the team that ran down the division, fighting and clawing and using their heads to scrape across everything they could rather than the team who looked like they never played baseball before, let alone any business winning the division.
There are a lot of Heroes of today’s game, and I’d like to highlight all of them considering it was their first playoff win (and a tough one at that, facing elimination) AND since this could be my last game recap for the year, and, maybe ever(?). Thanks to the impending lockout and the unfair governing fist that rules Covering The Corner, always trying to silence me and your favorite writers alike, to keep this town in the past where no one writes with flare or pizzaz and dancing is outlawed, well guess what Dad I just want to DANCE and I’m going to DANCE!!!… Ok that second one was just Footloose, I am actually quite fond of our CTC OverLords.
Anyway. The 5 Heroes that kept the Guardians alive for at least one more day…
5- Foster Griffin
Coming into the ALDS, we knew the Guardians would have one major pitching decision; Game 3. Because of all the days off, Cleveland would be able to pitch Messick and Williams, or Williams and Messick, in games 1 & 2 and then again in games 4 & 5 without having to battle short rest. So for the past month or so, the question was simple: who would pitch Game 3? The choice to many was clear: Joey Cantillo had been outstanding in his new found bulk Reliever role, throwing 15 scoreless innings in a row coming into the Playoffs. Now, to open the game, was a bit more of a mystery, as our darling Daniel Espino had been up and down in that role. But I saw the vision. Get 1-2 good innings from Espino, then roll with JC.
Well, Espino was all over the place. While he did have 2 strikeouts, he also had a 5 pitch walk and gave up 2 hits, allowing a run before being pulled for… Foster Griffin?
And Griffin was NASTY. Without the help of a high decibel level giving away his pitches, Foster was able to strikeout 7(!) in just 2.2 IP. We were desperate for a stabilizing presence to get us a few innings and he absolutely answered the bell.
4- Jo Adell
Speaking of Trade Deadline Acquisitions who would save our butts in the Playoffs, how about The Jo Show?! Jo would provide the only highlight from our lineup thru the first 2 games with a 108 MPH Rocket, 413 foot dead centerfield Triple (which on any summer night is out of the ballpark), and he continued that today with a Walk and 2 hits including a series rejuvenating bases clearing Triple to help Cleveland take an early 4-1 lead in the 3rd inning.
Obviously 3 runs on one swing is going to hype up any team, but boy did these guys need that. A huge sigh of relief came over the team even if there were 6+ innings to go.
3- Tim Herrin
OH HOW ABOUT BIG TIME TIMMY JIM?!
I have not been the biggest Herrin fan over the past few seasons, but he absolutely delivered today. After a very subpar Gaddis outing to finish the 6th, Cleveland only lead 5-3 going into the 7th. Herrin would come on and we needed a clean outing, knowing that we already burned most of the bullpen.
And Herrin delivered one of his best outings of the season, striking out the side on 18 pitches. He was absolutely nasty and made Murakami, Teel and Meidrith look like the White Sox of old and not the White Sox looking to go to the ALCS.
Of all the things that has hurt this team this season, one has been missing that has been undeniable. And that’s classic Jose.
His struggles this year have been well documented. Slow start, hammate bone broken, comes back struggling, playing thru an injury like a Warrior. I especially loved hearing Talking Heads who never talk baseball finally give this team some attention by saying he shouldn’t be playing. But guess what- sitting him isn’t the answer, because it’s admitting our Leader can’t cut it. We have to ride it out with him and give him the chance to rally the troops.
Today, he did just that.
Jose put together 3 huge highlights today, showing all the facets of his game. The first was in the 5th inning with a sharp double he ripped down the line, following it up by stealing 3rd and then somehow, someway, with the infield in and a hot hard-hit groundball right to the defender and a decent throw home, he STILL scores. I know Jo Adell brought in 3 runs, but Jose showing the team he alone can add insurance runs with hustle and determination? THAT is what kept this team alive.
His second highlight came from his defense, when in the bottom of the 6th and Hunter Gaddis unraveling, he dove to his left and caught/dropped a liner, spun around and threw out Miguel Vargas with the bases loaded and no one out, keeping the lead.
And then finally, with the game still up in the air and two outs in the 8th, he tripled in 2 runs and gave us some very necessary and anxiety inducing breathing room.
He might not be 100% healthy, but the GOAT was back tonight and it may just be enough to give this team the wake up call they need.
1- Cade Smith
I mean, do I really have to say it? Facing elimination we all knew he was throwing AT LEAST the 8th and 9th innings and possibly more. After a clean 7th from Herrin and some insurance runs from Jose in the Top half of the 8th, Cade stepped in with an 8 pitch 8th, striking out 2, and then striking out the side in the 9th, putting this game on ice and taking Game 3.
Game 4 will be Thursday with the Time still TBD based on Rays/Yankees Game 3. Parker Messick will start for Cleveland and I’m sure Chicago will be throwing the kitchen sink yet again. Buckle up Guards fans, it’s gonna be another stressful commute home!!!
While Edwin Diaz’s debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t get off to the start that both sides would have liked, getting the save on Tuesday night had to have felt good.
Diaz’s longtime friend, Kiké Hernández, spoke about his save in Tuesday night’s NLDS Game 3 matchup and how proud he is of him.
Kiké Hernández opens up on his friendship with Edwin Diaz and seeing him get the save for the Dodgers last night:
“I haven’t had the chance to play with too many Puerto Rican guys… there’s so few of us in the league. I’ve known Sugar since before he got drafted.”
Kiké Hernández fields a ground ball hit his way during Game 3 of the NLDS. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“This year, it was a very difficult year,” Hernández said. “It’s very easy to put the year aside, and he worked his a— off to get to this point.”
His save came after Los Angeles only had one inning of run support when Hernández and his regular postseason hero teammate, Freddie Freeman, both homered in the third.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Edwin Diaz collects his first save since August in Game 3 of the NLDS. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
Los Angeles held on to the lead for the rest of the night, and Diaz was assigned to closing duties.
At first, things didn’t get off to a great start, as he gave up a leadoff double to Ozzie Albies. But then, he settled in and got the next three batters to hit out.
For Diaz, it was his first save since August.
During the offseason, Diaz signed a three-year $69 million deal with the Dodgers to become the anchor of the bullpen.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman and Edwin Diaz walking off the field following Game 3 of the NLDS. Getty Images
Since then, it hasn’t gone as they had both hoped, as Diaz has struggled to stay healthy and finished the regular season with an 8.68 ERA, converting seven of eleven save opportunities.
After his most recent injury stint concluded between August and September, Diaz adjusted his pitching mechanics — resulting in him making five appearances out of the bullpen, giving up only one hit, zero runs, and striking out nine batters.
“For him, it was one slight mechanical adjustment that he needed to do, that he didn’t realize,” Hernández said.
Top Prospect Kayson Cunningham was the best shortstop in the Dbacks farm system in 2026
Introduction
In my last article, we took a look through the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system to find the starting pitcher, catcher, first, and third basemen with the best season in 2026. Since there was a little confusion, I thought i’d provide some clarification about the qualifications. All we’re looking at is who had the most productive seasons, using wRC+, as it’s one of the few adjusted stats for minor league hitters. If you’d like to take a look yourself at the Minor League Leaderboards, you can find a link here, which I have set to show only players in the Diamondbacks organization.
Shortstop
Kayson Cunningham, the D-backs top pick and #18th overall in the 2025 draft, had a disappointing 11 game cup of coffee, but he had a much better 2026 starting with monstrous first half for the Visalia Rawhide. In 43 games for the Low-A affiliate, he hit .381/.471/.506 with a .451 wOBA and 156 wRC+. While he wasn’t quite as good after his promotion to High-A Hillsboro, he made enough adjustments to be a league average, while also stealing twice as many bases in just 20 more games. In 63 games, he’d hit .252/.360/.391 with a .347 wOBA and a 100 wRC+. In the 106 games games Cunningham played in overall between Visalia and Hillsboro, he put up a triple slash line of .307/.407/.440 with .391 wOBA 124 wRC+ with 30 SB (while only getting caught stealing 6 times). I would expect the Diamondbacks to start Cunningham in AA if they’re going to be aggressive with his development. Alternatively, I could see him repeating High-A and spending the first month or two Hillsboro before being moved up to AA. Most of the players mentioned here could be starters at second except Cunningham, who for some reason is listed as a second baseman on Fangraphs despite having NEVER played there as a pro.
There are a few other players that are honorable mentions. Carson Kerce had a solid debut after being drafted earlier this summer, albeit just a very small sample size. In 25 games in Low-A Visalia Kerce hit .295/.417/.421 with a .396 wOBA and a 124 wRC+. As an 18 year old in the Dominican Summer League, Alam Bruno gets an hononorable mention, despite hitting .270/.430/.409 with a 110 WRC+ in 35 games split between the two DSL teams. Leonardo Sevilla is another teenage prospect in the DSL who had a promising 2026 season. The 18 year old switching middle infielder hit .293/.435/395 with a 106 wRC+ in 51 games in his debut season.
Second base
As I pointed out in the first article in this series, one could easily have Danny Serretti as the starting second baseman, but instead I put him at third base. He was very good at both second and third base, but his likely future is as an utility player/emergency call up, at best. Instead we have a couple different options at second.
Native Arizonan Demetrio Crisantes started the year on the IL and only made his season debut with Amarillo at the end of May after making a rehab assignment with the ACL Dbacks and then the Hillsboro Hops. In Amarillo he’d play 35 games, putting up 130 wRC+ with a triple slash line of 319/.413/.548 and a .422 wOBA. He showed strong bat to ball skills and even hit for the cycle. His promotion to Reno showed the first real challenge of his professional career, leading to him hitting just .278 .343 .412 .with 343 wOBA and an 82 wRC+. He was especially bad immediately after the promotion, I’d guess his even worse .284 xwOBA is a reflection of that. Given the injury shortened season, it’s no surprise the Diamondbacks sent Crisantes to the Arizona Fall League. He’s currently playing for the Salt River Rafters, where he has an OPS over 1.200 at the time of writing, although with a caveat of being a tiny sample size. With a continued strong showing in the Fall League, I suspect rumors will ensue, considering past drama surrounding the man currently manning the second base position, Ketel Marte. Sidenote: Both Cunningham and Crisantes were born in Tucson, so there’s a possible future with both middle infielders being born in Southern Arizona.
Alternatively, we have JD Dix. Dix wasn’t quite as good as Crisantes in the first half, but the drop off in the second half wasn’t nearly as severe. In 48 games with the Low-A level Visalia Rawhide, Dix hit .253/378/468 with a .382 wOBA and a 115 wRC+, while showcasing his interesting power/speed combo by swatting nine homers and a pair of triples, while swiping 19 bases in 20 attempts. Dix played in 57 games with the High-A Hillsboro Hops, putting up a .251/.331/.372 with a .324 wOBA and an 85 wRC+. His power dipped, with only three homers leaving the yard, though he managed to triple three more times. He wasn’t quite the burner on the base paths, stealing 17 bases successfully in 21 attempts.
Outfield
This is going to be a tough nut to crack, as the D-backs are largely devoid of outfield depth at the moment. It would be a little easier if Ryan Waldschmidt and Tommy Troy hadn’t made their MLB debuts in 2026, as both had above-average outputs while in AAA.
Troy did put up a .312/412/.466 triple slash with a .401 wOBA and 118 wRC+ in 38 games, while Waldschmidt put up just as respectable .288/.405/.492 triple slash, with a .404 wOBA and a 120 wRC+ in 51 games. Since this series of article is deliberately excluding any players with ANY MLB service time accrued, they didn’t make that cut, but I thought their 2026 seasons were promising and worth a mention, even if the results were frustrating at times when they were at the MLB level.
Two out of three of the best outfield seasons were in the Dominican Summer League, and only one qualified hitter in the upper levels of the minor leagues with a positive wRC+. Before I get into those players, there is an honorable mention.
Avery Owusu-Asiedu had an awful run in High-A Hillsboro, but completely turned his season around once he was promoted to Double-A Amarillo. In 92 games with the Hillsboro Hops, Owusu-Asiedu hit just .202/.289/.369 with an anemic .298 wOBA and a 69 wRC+. If we were just looking at his time in the Northwestern League, he might actually be dishonorable mention, but that’s not the case. In 30 games in Amarillo, Owusu-Asiedu hit 14 homers compared to the 13 he hit in a third of the plate appearances. That surge in power gave him a triple slash line of .328/.423/.776 with a .488 wOBA and a 171 wRC+. This wasn’t just a park factor based breakout as Owusu-Asiedu looked completely different at the plate. His numbers combined on the season are almost respectable as a result, .236/.327/.479 with a .352 wOBA and a 98 wRC+, which is massive turnaround considering how bad he’d been in Hillsboro. Owusu-Asiedu is an above average fielder with a cannon for an arm. If he can hit like he has down the stretch, the D-backs might have an actual prospect here.
Our first real All-Star outfielder is 17 year old Joscar Hernandez, who in 49 games in the Dominican Summer League hit 283/465/449 with a .465 wOBA and a 137 wRC+. Hernandez was an absolute burner on the bases, swiping 31 bases successfully in 37 attempts. He also showed solid plate disciple, striking out 18.8% of the time while walking 17% of the time.
Our second outfielder, Jeremy Suriel, was also a 17 year old in the DSL. In 54 games he hit .277/.402/.474 with a .423 wOBA with a 104 wRC+. Suriel was just as much of a burner on the basepaths, swiping 26 bases successfully in 28 attempts, in addition to swatting four triples. That’s a full season pace of 12 triples, borderline Corbin Carroll-esque. While he didn’t walk quite as much Hernandez, Surriel did walk (14.7%) more than he struck out (13.3%)
Our final outfielder is 24 year old and Trent Youngblood, the Dbacks’ 10th rounder in the 2024 draft. Youngblood started his season in High A Hillsboro, playing in 72 games and putting up .289/.408/.397 with a .378 wOBA and a 120 wRC+. Youngblood hit only a meager five homeruns in the pitching friendly NWL, but he was another burner on the bases, swiping 24 bases in 32 attempts. He showed solid plate discipline as well, walking in 14.2% of plate appearances, while striking out only 16.9%, in addition to getting plunked at a decent rate that further boosted his OBP. Youngblood was then promoted to Double-A Amarillo for 43 games, where he hit .290/.410/.463 with a .398 wOBA and a 115 wRC+. To no one’s surprise, his power surged while in Amarillo, as he swatted the same amount of home runs (5) in 29 fewer games, but he also tripled his triples total (3 vs 1), while swapping five more bases without getting caught. Youngblood finished his regular season with a six game cup of coffee with the Triple A level Reno Aces, which did not go particularly well (4 for 23 with a double & a triple). For his season total, in 121 games, Youngblood put up a triple slash of .285/.402/.419 with a .381 wOBA and a 114 wRC+. After finishing the regular season, Youngblood rejoined his Sod Poodles teammate Owusu-Asiedu for the postseason, and both contributed to Amarillo’s Texas League championship run.
Conclusion
Next week we’re going to look at the best relief pitchers, the best designated hitter in the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system, and we’ll discuss some players who didn’t make the cut. That’s it for today! Do you disagree with my choices? Should Waldy and Tommy Troy have been starters? Do you think some other prospects I didn’t talk about are more deserving? Let me know in the comments!
