Don't expect Harrison Bader to be a full-time player anytime soon

Don't expect Harrison Bader to be a full-time player anytime soon originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

LOS ANGELES – So here’s the situation that is facing the Phillies now, some of them known, maybe some not.

They are down two games to none in this best-of-five National League Division series against Los Angeles with Game Three to be played Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.

In order to keep themselves alive in this series, the Phillies will have to start getting some offense from the top of the lineup and receive continued good pitching from their starters. Next up: Aaron Nola.

The part that wasn’t so well known but now has seem to come to light a little bit more is that Harrison Bader probably won’t be a major participant for the rest of this series in now what we know is a hamstring strain.

The frustration in Bader’s voice was as noticeable as the purplish bandana holding back his long locks as he described his injury and the struggle to get himself to be 100 percent. The feeling is, he just isn’t going to get there before this series is over, whether that be on Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday back in Philadelphia. Pinch-hitting appears to be the only chore his body will allow at this time.

Asked how close to normal he felt in Game Two when he hit a pinch-hit single in the ninth before being pinch run for, Bader said, “If normal is not having a hamstring strain, it felt abnormal. You do your best. It’s the playoffs and I’ll just give whatever I can to help the team. In that moment it was just getting off an at-bat. Hopefully I can certainly do more tomorrow because it’s really bothering me not being out there.”

He went on to say what his workout plan was for Tuesday, including some running, fielding and batting practice. But with a long travel day that started early in the morning, the Phillies cut their time on the field very short. Bader was seen doing a couple of 60-foot semi-sprints before leaving the field.

A betting man would certainly take the money that he’s not going to be manning center any time soon. And you can see it’s killing Bader to not be able to be out there.

“Your body has limits to it and trying to take that first step out of the box, even though it wasn’t necessarily a sprinting play, you still feel a little bit limited,” said Bader about his pinch-hitting duty. “But I can swing. It’s better than it was at two days ago. Just assess it realistically and go through whatever we can do today, and I have a full day to recover and come back tomorrow and hopefully it will be better. It’s certainly progressing better. It really is minor. It’s a strain, certainly. It’s affecting me from being 100 percent out there, but I don’t have to be 100 percent to go out there and help this team win. I’m just going to do whatever I can to my limit to just try be effective.”

Effective is not what the Phillies’ offense has been against the Dodgers in this series so far and now they will face Los Angeles starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has given up a total of five earned runs in his last seven starts for a 0.96 ERA in 46.2 innings.

“Pitching’s been good, on both sides of the ball,” said Bryce Harper, who is 1-for-7 in the series with a walk and three strikeouts. “I don’t think, there’s maybe two guys that have kind of played well on both sides. It’s always tough in the post season. You get into it, you’re excited, you’re ready to go and then you run into the juggernaut of pitching. That’s our team and that’s their team as well. I think those are two really good matchups, the first two matchups, two of the better ones in baseball, all through. I expect tomorrow night to be the same thing. Obviously, we need to do a better job of hopefully hitting the long ball or making things happen anywhere, any way we can.”

Particularly at the top of the order. Harper, leadoff hitter Trea Turner and No. 2 Kyle Schwarber have combined to go 2-for-21 with 11 strikeouts and left12 on base so far in this series. But Harper insists it’s nothing you can dwell on.

“I think the postseason you got to flush it as quick as possible because any at-bat can change the course of a game or change the course of a series,” he said. “Any time you go up there if you get out you’ve got to flush is as quick as possible because that at-bat has no merit on what your next one is going to be. You just got to go up there and get the pitches that you can. I don’t let an at-bat like that affect me any way. Especially this time of the year you can’t let that happen. You just have to let the game come to you a little bit and go from there.”

Aaron Nola will be the somewhat surprise starter for the Phillies, coming off a phenomenal outing his last start of the season when he allowed two hits and one earned run in eight innings against the Minnesota Twins. He’ll be followed closely by Ranger Suarez.

“He’s more comfortable starting,” Thomson said of having Nola start. “You’re going to see Ranger tomorrow. I would be shocked if you don’t see Ranger. The numbers on their lefties are very similar, Ranger versus Nola. And the trust factor. I have trust in both of them, don’t get me wrong, but Noles has pitched some really big games for us. I regret having either one of those guys not pitch in this series.”

What Thomson didn’t regret was the bunt he called for Bryson Stott to execute in the ninth on Monday that ultimately got Nick Castellanos thrown out at third for the first out of the inning.

“I just think they made a great play,” Thoms said. “Mookie Betts did a great job by breaking very late so the hitter can’t adjust (to slash at the ball) and it’s tough for Nick to get a proper secondary (lead) or bigger secondary because Betts is sitting right behind him. At the end of the day, they made an aggressive play and they made it work. It was a good play.”

NOTES: The Phillies will wear their powder blue uniforms for both games of the series, something they decided about 10 days ago, according to Thomson. He said the players just like them and wanted to wear them on the road in the playoffs… Harper, who grew up in Las Vegas, professed his early childhood love of the Dodgers, which went directly against his dad who was a Cincinnati Reds fan… The early morning cross-country flight didn’t involve a lot of baseball talk, Harper said. “Played a lot of cards, so that was fun.”

Would Gerrard be good choice for Rangers?

Have your say
[BBC]

Steven Gerrard says he has "unfinished business" in management as Rangers await confirmation over whether he is interested in a return to Ibrox.

The former England skipper was previously in charge at Rangers for three years from 2018, winning the title in his final season.

With Rangers seeking a successor to the sacked Russell Martin, would you welcome Gerrard back for a second spell as manager? Is he the man to revive the club's fortunes?

Tell us your views here.

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Hat trick: The Blue Jays think their 1992 World Series-style caps are a lucky charm

NEW YORK — Wanting to cap Toronto’s season with a title, Jeff Hoffman suggested changing hats.

Six losses in seven games had dropped the Blue Jays into a tie with the New York Yankees for the AL East lead. That prompted the 32-year-old reliever to send Scott Blinn, Toronto’s director of major league clubhouse operations, scrambling to find those retro caps with white panels in the style the Blue Jays wore when they won the 1992 World Series.

Toronto is 5-0 in the historical headgear over the past two weeks as it takes a 2-0 lead into Game 3 of the best-of-five AL Division Series against the Yankees.

“I didn’t pack another hat,” manager John Schneider said with a smile.

Following a 7-1 loss to the Red Sox at Rogers Centre on Sept. 24, Hoffman suggested to Binn a switch to the 1992 headgear, which was used during Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame weekend promotion from July 25-27 — not because he’s superstitious, but because he liked the look. Wearing the white panels, the Blue Jays had taken two of three at Detroit to finish a four-game series.

“`We need a new combo. What should we wear?’” Hoffman said, recounting the player discussion. “And I said, `I know what we should wear. We should wear the blues, the blue jerseys with the white-panel hat.’ And they all kind of like perked up because they didn’t know I knew about them.”

Blinn found the caps in a Rogers Centre storage room. Toronto beat Boston 6-1 on Sept. 25, wearing blue alternate jerseys and the white-panel chapeaus. The next night, a Friday, the Blue Jays were required to wear Nike Connect uniforms topped by pitch-blue caps, suggested by Lake Ontario at night. They beat Tampa Bay 4-2 to remain tied with the Yankees.

On most days, players get to decide which uniforms to wear. Given that option for the final weekend of the regular season, the Jays stuck with the blue jerseys and white-panel hats. They closed with 5-1 and 13-4 wins over the Rays to win the division on a tiebreaker over New York.

Toronto finished the season 58-45 in blue caps, 20-17 in the two-tone hats with powder blue visors and navy crowns that were launched with the return of powder blue alternate jerseys in 2020, 8-3 in Nike Connect games and 5-1 in the white-panel throwbacks. They were also 1-2 in Armed Forces caps with beige camouflage crowns and olive visors from May 16-18, 1-0 in red for Canada Day on July 1 and 1-0 in light blue crowns and red visors for July 4.

The Blue Jays stayed with the white-panel caps and blue jerseys in the first two games of the Division Series, romping over the Yankees 10-1 and 13-7.

“I just wear what’s in my locker. I just will wear what we’re told to wear,” four-time All-Star outfielder George Springer said, spurning superstitions.

Toronto wore caps with white panels for all games from its inception in 1977 through 1990 — with white jerseys at home — then switched to all blue caps for road games in 1991. The Blue Jays dropped the white panel at home on July 6, 1991, in the midst of a five-game losing streak, going with all blue, and beat the visiting Chicago White Sox 5-1 behind six shutout innings from Dave Stewart.

“I’m not sure what the blue caps were all about,” Stewart said after the game, his 150th career victory. “But we won, so maybe we’ll wear them again.”

Blue Jays equipment manager Jeff Ross thought of the change “just to see how it looks with the white uniform.”

“It had nothing to do with the losing streak,” Ross said at the time. “We’d been doing so well at home so I didn’t want to do it while we were going well. This was the time to do it. It looks great after a win.”

Toronto went on to win its second straight World Series title in 1993, and the all-blue caps remained for most games. The Blue Jays brought back the white panels on Aug. 16, 2015, for a “Turn Back the Dial” promotion honoring the 30th anniversary of the team’s first AL East title, and beat the Yankees 3-1. Toronto then used the white panels at least once per season and as many as 27 times in 2018 and 24 the following year, according to uniformlineup.com, but then decreased its frequency.

The team hadn’t worn them since Aug. 27, 2022, before they returned this year for MLB’s Hall of Fame weekend promotion.

“We’ve been playing well since we’ve been wearing them, which is hard for my argument of, hey, it doesn’t matter what hat we’re wearing guys, like, we just need to play good,” Hoffman said.

And even Springer’s disdain for superstition only goes so far. For instance, he won’t think of stepping on a foul line.

“That,” he said, “would be crazy.”

He sat in the nosebleeds for the Cubs’ historic World Series. Now Quinn Priester can end their year

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Quinn Priester has experienced postseason baseball at Wrigley Field before, only from a much different perspective than the one he’s about to have.

Priester grew up in the Chicago area and was in Wrigley Field’s stands for Game 5 of the 2016 World Series. The 25-year-old right-hander will be back at Wrigley for Game 3 as he continues his breakthrough season by trying to pitch the Brewers into the NL Championship Series.

“I was in the last row in the nosebleeds,” Priester said about that 2016 experience. “My mom and I had our backs against the chain-link fence up there drinking hot chocolate because it was late October in Chicago and it was freezing.”

Priester watched the Cubs beat Cleveland 3-2 that night to begin their rally from a 3-1 series deficit that earned them their first World Series title since 1908. Now he wants to make sure the Cubs don’t start a similar comeback.Milwaukee carries a 2-0 lead into Game 3 of this best-of-5 NL Division Series.

This start will mark Priester’s postseason debut. Jameson Taillon is starting for the Cubs.

Priester went 13-3 with a 3.32 ERA during the regular season while winning 12 straight decisions at one point. According to Sportradar, that was the longest streak within a single year by any pitcher since Gerrit Cole won 16 consecutive decisions for Houston in 2019.

Until the Cincinnati Reds beat Priester 3-1 on Sept. 26, the Brewers had won 19 straight games in which Priester had pitched. That stretch included 16 starts and three appearances in which he had followed an opener.

“He’s been sensational for us,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said.

The Brewers needed starting pitching due to multiple injuries on April 7 when they acquired Priester from the Boston Red Sox for minor league outfielder Yophery Rodriguez, the 33rd pick in the 2025 draft and minor league pitcher John Holobetz.

Priester, the 18th overall selection in the 2018 draft, had a 6-9 record and 6.23 ERA in 21 career appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Red Sox at the time of the trade.

“I had followed him for years,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said. “Obviously when guys come up to the big leagues, especially as pitchers, they don’t always have success immediately, but we thought there were some really good ingredients there.”

Priester quickly warmed up to the idea of pitching in Milwaukee.

“I was really surprised,” Priester said. “I felt like I was kind of in the mix for the rotation in Boston. I certainly felt like I had a shot at it. When I did get traded, I was super excited for the opportunity. Being close to home was super exciting for me and my fiancée, being able to see family. And obviously, being in Pittsburgh, every year, you’d see how well the Brewers seemed to play.”

Priester wasn’t as familiar at the time with the Brewers’ reputation for getting the best out of pitchers who hadn’t encountered much success before arriving in Milwaukee. He’d develop into the latest example.

The turning point came against the team he next faces.

Priester gave up seven runs over 4 1/3 innings in a 10-0 loss to the Cubs on May 2, raising his ERA to 5.79. That immediately followed a start in which he allowed five runs over five innings in a 6-5 loss at St. Louis.

“That was the kind of the moment when I felt things needed to change,” Priester said. “What I was doing, it’s not like I wasn’t trying, but what I was trying just wasn’t working. And so I started to write some things down every day, came in with some goals, talked to all of our guys, started to go about the lineups a little bit differently.”

Priester pitched 24 more times the rest of the regular season and allowed more than three runs in just two of those appearances.

“The Cubs blistered this guy, and he wanted to continue pitching and his competitive nature came out, and actually the last couple innings of that outing he was pretty darned effective,” Murphy said. “I think that failure, if you will, for him, like, launched him into open ears, ‘OK, how do I figure this out?’ And we got the best version of him because of his competitive nature, and we got the best version of him going forward, and it’s been miraculous.”

Priester added a cutter this year that he now throws about 20% of the time to complement his sinker and slider, while he abandoned his four-seam fastball. Priester averages less than one strikeout per inning, but he has a knack for inducing ground balls and weak contact while working quickly.

He understands the raucous atmosphere he’s going to encounter. When Priester was in the stands for that 2016 World Series game, Priester recalled how “Kris Bryant hit a homer and I thought the stadium was going to collapse.”

But he also enters this game with the confidence that comes from spending the last few months living up to all the expectations that accompanied his draft selection.

“I think it was just kind of a ticking time bomb waiting for a year like this to happen for him,” Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick said. “I’m super happy we got him when we did because I just kind of knew it was coming for him.”

Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski hits 104.3 mph while throwing 3 innings of shutout relief

MILWAUKEE — Jacob Misiorowski rediscovered the form that earned the flamethrowing rookie so much acclaim in the first few weeks after the Milwaukee Brewers called him up from the minors.

He was throwing heat. More importantly, he was throwing strikes.

Misiorowski fired three innings of scoreless relief while reaching at least 100 mph on 31 of his 57 pitches during the Brewers’ 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of their NL Division Series. He struck out four while allowing one hit and two walks.

It was the type of performance that showcased how much of an impact Misiorowski could make if the Brewers have a long postseason run.

“Miz stepped up,” manager Pat Murphy said. “You guys get all enthralled with MPH. I’m enthralled that he wasn’t giving up free bases, kept his composure with runners and that type of thing.”

Those have been the issues for Misiorowski during his eventful rookie season.

The right-hander garnered so much attention for his overpowering fastball that he was selected an All-Star after making just five starts. In two of them, he won head-to-head pitching matchups with NL Cy Young Award favorite Paul Skenes and three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw.

But he’s dealt with plenty of obstacles ever since.

Misiorowski went on the injured list with a bruised left tibia in early August. He returned later that month but allowed 23 runs (22 earned) over 32 2/3 innings from that point on.

His late slide pretty much assured that Misiorowski wouldn’t be part of the Brewers’ starting rotation for the playoffs, but his pure stuff demanded that he be included in Milwaukee’s postseason plans.

He entered Game 2 with the score tied 3-all in the third inning. Each of his first eight pitches registered at least 102.6, including a top velocity of 104.3.

“I think I was so fired up, adrenaline pumping,” Misiorowski said. “You know, I didn’t really know where my feet were, but we landed, so it was fun. It was a lot of fun.”

When Misiorowski has struggled, he generally has either lost control of the strike zone or struggled to maintain his poise amid adversity. But he managed to balance showing his emotion while also maintaining his focus in Game 2 as he helped the Brewers grab a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Misiorowski issued a one-out walk to Seiya Suzuki in the third inning but struck out Ian Happ and then got Carson Kelly to hit a grounder back to him.

“We needed to get him before he settled in, and he made some pitches to strike out Happ,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “If Ian gets on there, then there’s some pressure on him immediately.”

Misiorowski was so excited after Kelly’s grounder that he ran all the way from the pitcher’s mound to first base himself to retire the batter before pumping his fist repeatedly. Misiorowski said afterward he handled the play unassisted because he was worried about overthrowing first baseman Andrew Vaughn.

Even so, Murphy used the moment to offer a reminder to the 23-year-old.

“You’ve got to let him express himself, but then you’ve got to watch and see if he comes back to where he needs to be,” Murphy said. “It’s hard. He came off the mound in the (third) inning and he was ranting and raving and I gave him a little, like, ‘OK, stay with it.’

“He’s here at the highest level for a reason, and he’s been through some ups and downs. I think he’s pretty aware and pretty on high alert.”

Misiorowski walked Matt Shaw with two outs in the fourth and gave up a leadoff single to Nico Hoerner in the fifth, but didn’t let either runner advance beyond first base and ended up as the winning pitcher.

“I think the whole thing was just staying fired up, staying with that adrenaline pumping, and keep going at what I was doing before in (my) first inning,” Misiorowski said.

Cubs head back home on the brink of elimination after losing 2 straight in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE — The Chicago Cubs’ hitters aren’t putting enough balls in play, and their pitchers aren’t keeping balls in play.

That combination has the Cubs heading back home on the brink of elimination.

Chicago gave up three homers and mustered just one hit after the second inning of a 7-3 loss at Milwaukee that gave the Brewers a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five NL Division Series.

The Cubs must win two straight in Chicago to send the series back to Milwaukee for a deciding Game 5. Teams falling behind 2-0 in a best-of-five postseason series have won just 10 of 90 times.

“It’s simple,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “We’ve got to just win pitches. We’ve got to win moments. You’ve got to stay with your process and your routines. It’s simple as that. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but it’s done by winning one pitch at a time and succeeding one pitch at a time.”

They haven’t won nearly enough pitches thus far.

The Cubs have struck out 23 times in this series — 12 in a 9-3 loss in Game 1 and 11 more in Game 2. Meanwhile, Chicago allowed nine runs in the first three innings in Game 2 and gave up seven runs in the first four frames in Game 1.

“It’s not a surprise that they’re going out there and throwing their best arms and all their guys seem to be locked in,” said Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in Game 2. “It’s our job to execute. I know I haven’t done that. It’s a pretty simple idea here. If you put more balls in play, you’ll probably score more.”

Seiya Suzuki hit a three-run homer off Aaron Ashby to put the Cubs ahead 3-0 in the top of the first inning of Game 2, but Shota Imanaga allowed a three-run homer to Andrew Vaughn in the bottom half. Chicago never led again.

Imanaga also allowed a solo shot to William Contreras in the third, marking the sixth time in his last eight appearances that he’s given up multiple homers.

“I ruined the game, so there’s a lot of frustration within myself,” Imanaga said through an interpreter.

Daniel Palencia took over for Imanaga and gave up a three-run homer to Jackson Chourio in the fourth. Milwaukee ranked just 22nd in the majors in homers during the regular season.

Chicago hasn’t gotten much from either of its starting pitchers so far. Although he didn’t give up any homers, Matthew Boyd yielded six runs — two earned — and got just two outs in Game 1. The Brewers scored all nine of their runs in the first two innings that day.

The Cubs will turn to Jameson Taillon (11-7, 3.68 ERA) in Game 3, while the Brewers plan to start Quinn Priester (13-3, 3.32).

Suzuki’s homer suggested the Cubs would take charge early in Game 2, but their lineup got silenced the rest of the way.

Chicago had runners at first and second in a tie game in the second inning when Nick Mears retired Nico Hoerner on a fly to right. The Cubs didn’t get another runner beyond first base the rest of the night.

“We had two at-bats with runners in scoring position,” Counsell said. “That’s a pretty good sign that we’re not creating enough pressure.”

The Cubs believe they can still turn it around.

They won seven of 13 regular-season meetings with Milwaukee. They already staved off elimination at Wrigley Field just last week when they won a decisive Game 3 in a Wild Card Series matchup with the San Diego Padres.

Now they just need to deliver at home again.

“We’re in the same spot we’ve been in when we’ve had our backs against the wall,” Crow-Armstrong said. “We’re always looking forward to playing more baseball at Wrigley. That’s why you’ve got to win three (games). So we’re definitely looking forward to going home, playing in front of our home crowd, working to win two and bring it back here.”

Brewers’ Jackson Chourio hits 3-run homer in Game 2 of NLDS after hurting his hamstring in series opener

MILWAUKEE — Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio had a simple solution for making sure he didn’t aggravate his hamstring injury.

Trotting around the bases after a home run doesn’t require much exertion.

Chourio returned to the lineup and hit a three-run homer to help Milwaukee beat the Chicago Cubs 7-3 in Game 2 of their NL Division Series after tightness in his right hamstring caused him to exit the opener.

The 21-year-old phenom has three homers in five career postseason games. He has gone 5 for 7 with six RBIs to help the Brewers take a 2-0 lead in this best-of-five series after going 5 of 11 at the plate last year in a Wild Card Series loss to the New York Mets.

“I really just like playing in these moments,” Chourio said through an interpreter. “I think you could say it helps me play at the maximum level that I’m able to do so. And thanks to God that I’ve had the ability to play in these moments that are important and meaningful, and get some of these big hits whenever they’re needed, but also do some of the little things whenever they’re needed.”

Chourio hurt his right hamstring while running to first base on an infield single in the second inning of Game 1. He had missed a month of the regular season after straining the same hamstring this summer.

After undergoing a postgame MRI and doing some light running during a workout, Chourio was back in the leadoff spot and playing left field in Game 2.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy acknowledged before the game that he was sure Chourio wasn’t feeling 100%, but the outfielder showed no signs of discomfort. The game started with Chicago’s Justin Turner hitting a flyball in his direction. He also chased down a flyball in foul territory in the fourth.

“I feel like I’m in a really good position to go out there and compete, so I’m going to go out there and give it the best that I can,” Chourio said. “I felt like I was able to do that today and go out there and make all the plays I needed to make and continue to play the game pretty normal.”

His production at the plate in his brief postseason career has been anything but normal.

Chourio hit two homers in the Brewers’ Game 2 victory over the Mets in last year’s Wild Card Series. He went 3 for 3 with three RBIs in Milwaukee’s 9-3 Game 1 victory, becoming the first player ever to have three hits in the first two innings of a playoff game.

In the fourth inning of Game 2, Chourio connected on an 0-2 pitch from Daniel Palencia and sent a 419-foot shot over the center-field wall. His three-run homer produced the game’s final three runs.

“Unbelievable,” Murphy said. “He’s 21 years old and doing the things he’s doing in the first couple games here, in the environment, just know that’s special. That’s special. We all wish we could have that — have that it factor the way Jack-Jack does.”

Chourio followed that up with an infield single in the sixth inning that improved his career postseason batting average to .556.

“He’s a star,” teammate William Contreras said through an interpreter. “For me, I think he’s the best player that we have here, but I like the way that we go about it. No one feels like they’re better than the other, and everyone is here focused on doing their job. He’s got an incredible future ahead of him and an incredible talent with what he does out on the field, and I love watching him go out there from the very first pitch and give it everything he has.”

Here's what Yankees' arbitration-eligible players are projected to make in 2026

The Yankees are still playing to keep their World Series title hopes alive, but whenever the offseason does officially arrive for Brian Cashman and company, the club will have 14 arbitration-eligible players.

Those players are: INF Jazz Chisholm Jr., RHP David Bednar, RHP Mark Leiter Jr., RHP Clarke Schmidt, RHP Camilo Doval, RHP Jake Cousins, RHP Ian Hamilton, RHP Luis Gil, RHP Scott Effross, RHP Jake Bird, INF/OF Oswaldo Cabrera, RHP Fernando Cruz, SS Anthony Volpe, and INF Jose Caballero.

Once a player is offered arbitration, the team and that player's agent have until a set date -- usually at some point in February -- to come to terms on a new contract. If that doesn't happen, both sides submit salary proposals and the player's salary is determined by independent arbitrators at a hearing.

A team can also offer arbitration to a player and then trade that player.

According to the MLB Trade Rumors algorithm that "looks at the player’s playing time, position, role, and performance statistics while accounting for inflation," here's what the Yankees' arbitration-eligible players are projected to make in 2026...

  • Jazz Chisholm Jr.: $10.2 million
  • David Bednar: $9 million
  • Mark Leiter Jr.: $3 million
  • Clarke Schmidt: $4.9 million
  • Camilo Doval: $6.6 million
  • Jake Cousins: $841,000
  • Ian Hamilton:$941,000
  • Luis Gil: $2.1 million
  • Scott Effross: $800,000
  • Jake Bird: $1 million
  • Oswaldo Cabrera: $1.2 million
  • Fernando Cruz: $1.3 million
  • Anthony Volpe: $3.9 million
  • Jose Caballero: $1.9 million

Tendering contracts to all 14 of those players, based on the projections, would add roughly $47.7 million to the Yankees' 2026 payroll. While players like Chisholm, Bednar, Volpe, and Gil are locks to be offered arbitration, pitchers like Cousins (coming off Tommy John surgery), Hamilton, Effross, and Bird, while relatively inexpensive, could be non-tender candidates.

As of now, the Yankees currently have about $166.2 million on the books for 2026, including Aaron Judge's $40 million and Gerrit Cole's $36 million -- the club's two highest salaries.

Adding the full $47.7 million to that number would put the Yanks' 2026 payroll just under $214 million, but that's without including any potential free agent signings, with the Yankees having internal FAs like Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, Trent Grisham, and Devin Williams, among others. 

The Yanks' 2025 end-of-year payroll was just under $300 million, and it's likely that they'll be right around that number again in 2026.

Here's what Mets' arbitration-eligible players are projected to make in 2026

The Mets have nine players eligible for salary arbitration this offseason.

Those players are David Peterson, Francisco Alvarez, Tyrone Taylor, Tylor Megill, Luis Torrens, Reed Garrett, Huascar Brazoban, Max Kranick, and Nick Madrigal

Once a player is offered arbitration, the team and that player's agent have until a set date -- usually at some point in February -- to come to terms on a new contract. If that doesn't happen, both sides submit salary proposals and the player's salary is determined by independent arbitrators at a hearing.

A team can also offer arbitration to a player and then trade that player. So the Mets can tender contracts to players who might not be in their plans.

According to the MLB Trade Rumors algorithm that "looks at the player’s playing time, position, role, and performance statistics while accounting for inflation," here's what the Mets' arbitration-eligible players are projected to make in 2026...

David Peterson: $7.6 million
Tyrone Taylor: $3.6 million
Tylor Megill: $2.6 million
Francisco Alvarez: $2.4 million
Luis Torrens: $2.2 million
Reed Garrett: $1.4 million
Nick Madrigal: $1.35 million
Huascar Brazoban: $1.3 million
Max Kranick: $1 million

If the Mets tender contracts to all of the above players and they receive salaries similar to the projections, it would add roughly $23.5 million to the payroll.

However, Tylor Megill is in his second-to-last year of arbitration and is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery. So he could be a non-tender candidate. The same can be said for Nick Madrigal, whose 2025 season ended in spring training due to a shoulder injury. Madrigal is entering his final year of arbitration, and might not be a great roster fit given the Mets' plethora of infield options. 

As things currently stand, the Mets -- if Edwin Diaz opts out as expected -- have roughly $206 million committed to the payroll for 2026. That figure will rise a decent amount once arbitration raises and money owed to zero-to-three players who are tendered contracts is added in.

Mets need to add a frontline starter during 2025-26 MLB offseason, but who should they target?

As the Mets embark on an offseason that could include some needed shakeups, it can be argued that the most important thing they have to do is reshape the starting rotation.

It was the rotation more than anything else that resulted in the Mets going from 45-24 in June to out of the playoffs on the final day of the regular season.

Transforming the starting staff will be a bit complicated considering the amount of options already under contract for 2026, but it has to be done.

And the biggest part of that transformation should be adding a legitimate top of the rotation starter to the group.

Who should the main targets be?

The free agent crop

A bunch of pitchers with elite talent will hit the open market in about a month. 

While signing one of them would be the easiest way for the Mets to address their need at the top of the rotation, huge deals in terms of both years and dollars for older pitchers rarely work out.

For an example of that, look at the Diamondbacks' signing of Corbin Burnes last offseason. Ahead of his age-30 season and with warning signs when it came to his declining strikeout rate, they inked Burnes to a six-year deal worth $210 million. He was pitching extremely well until June, when Tommy John surgery ended his season. It's possible Burnes misses the entire 2026 season, too.

There are some long-term signings to older pitchers that have worked, though, including the seven-year deal Max Scherzer inked with the Nationals ahead of his age-30 season in 2015.

But there are no Scherzers out there now. Instead, the top of the free agent market features Framber Valdez, Michael King, and Ranger Suarez.

San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King (34) pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning at Petco Park.
San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King (34) pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning at Petco Park. / Orlando Ramirez - Imagn Images

Valdez, who turns 32 in November, has been a workhorse over the last four seasons, posting a 3.21 ERA across 767.2 innings. While he's never been an advanced stats darling, there is some serious cause for concern there. There was also a troubling moment in September, when Valdez seemingly intentionally crossed up his catcher in order to hit him with a pitch.

King, who will be entering his age-31 season in 2026, was tremendous for the Padres in 2024 as he transitioned from relieving to starting. But he made just 15 starts in 2025 as he dealt with a nerve injury in his throwing shoulder and a knee injury.

Suarez, who turned 30 in August, might be the safest bet -- but he's also the least imposing. He has allowed 8.6 hits per nine during his eight-year career (he gave up 154 in 157.1 innings in 2025), is not a big strikeout guy, and has never thrown 158 innings or more in a season.

Translation? The Mets should look to the trade market, where these pitchers could be available...

Sandy Alcantara

It's true that the Marlins -- who finished 79-83 this past season and have a strong group of starting pitchers -- should be aiming higher than that in 2026.

It's also true that they dangled Alcantara at the trade deadline.

And it's safe to say that he has more value to them via trade this offseason than he does as an expensive member of a starting rotation that has tons of young talent -- including Edward Cabrera, Eury Perez, and Ryan Weathers.

Alcantara is under contract through the 2026 season, when he'll earn $17.3 million. Miami also has a club option for 2027 that's worth $21 million. For reference, the Marlins' entire Opening Day payroll in 2025 was $67.2 million ($86 million when taking CBT purposes into account).

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) pitches against the Colorado Rockies during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) pitches against the Colorado Rockies during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park / Sam Navarro - Imagn Images

So it stands to reason that Alcantara will be available this winter -- and the Mets should have tons of interest.

After shaking off the rust this season following his return from Tommy John surgery, Alcantara had a 3.13 ERA in 77.2 innings over 12 starts from July 23 through the end of the season -- tossing 7.0 innings or more on seven occasions.

Joe Ryan

Ryan had the best season of his career in 2025, posting a 3.42 ERA and 1.03 WHIP while striking out 10.2 batters per nine in a career-high 171.0 innings.

He has always missed lots of bats (his career strikeout rate is 10.1 per nine) and his four-seam fastball (which he uses about half the time) has graded out as one of the best in baseball each of the last four seasons.

The big question here is whether the Twins would trade Ryan, who has two more years of arbitration remaining and will be very inexpensive (he made just $3 million in 2025).

In the midst of an incredibly disappointing 2025 season, Minnesota had a fire sale, trading 10 players from the big league roster. That included Carlos Correa, Griffin Jax, and elite closer Jhoan Duran, who -- like Ryan -- has two more years of arbitration remaining and will be wildly inexpensive in 2026 (he made just $1.3 million this past season).

The Twins can definitely get a haul for Ryan this offseason, and it would behoove them to cash in as they embark on some form of a rebuild.

Tarik Skubal

Skubal is set for free agency after 2026, so the Mets -- and any other team expecting to contend next season -- should be on the Tigers' case about him.

Would it be surprising if Detroit traded the best pitcher in the American League fresh off back-to-back Cy Young seasons? Perhaps.

But what makes this intriguing is that when the Tigers attempted to extend Skubal, it was reportedly a non-competitive offer. And owner Christopher Ilitch gave a bit of a weird answer earlier this month when asked about a possible Skubal extension. The 28-year-old left-hander is repped by Scott Boras.

Even with just one year left on his deal, it would likely take a King's ransom to pry Skubal from Detroit.

Sep 18, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park.
Sep 18, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park. / Rick Osentoski - Imagn Images

And if the Tigers determine that they're all but certain to lose him after 2026, trading him could be in their best interest.

Paul Skenes

This wouldn't just be a moonshot. It would be like attempting to land on Mars.

But until the Pirates show that they're serious about spending enough to build a winning team around Skenes, the idea of them trading him won't end.

Given Skenes' ability, age, and contract situation, the cost would be astronomical.

He has four years of team control remaining, won't be arbitration-eligible until after the 2026 season, and made just $875,000 in 2025.

In a world where Pittsburgh makes Skenes available, the Mets -- with one of the best farm systems in baseball -- would possibly have as good a shot as any team to land him.

'You Take It In From A Different Perspective': Maple Leafs Rave About Atmosphere At Blue Jays' Postseason Game Vs. Yankees

The Toronto Maple Leafs had a lot to talk about on Monday.

Not only is the club now one day away from the start of the regular season, but the team attended Game 2 of the MLB's American League Divisional Series (ALDS) between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees on Sunday afternoon.

Toronto defeated New York almost commandingly and took a 2-0 series lead at home before the series shifts to the Yankees' diamond on Tuesday. The Jays hit five home runs, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sending a grand slam into the bleachers in the bottom of the fourth.

"Yeah, it was an unreal vibe in the city," John Tavares said on Monday. "Obviously, the way the boys played, it was an unbelievable atmosphere. With Trey (Yesavage) doing what he was doing on the mound, and then when Vladdy hit the Grand Slam, it was pretty cool.

"Obviously, it put them in a pretty good spot in the series. So it was a lot of fun to be a part of, go as a group, and get to enjoy it."

The Maple Leafs had their own box for the postseason matchup. It's the perfect team-bonding experience ahead of what's going to be a busy regular season.

"I think that's exactly what you want this time of year, right?" Max Domi said. "Guys are starting to get excited, be together, spend as much time as possible off the ice. We're all champing at the bit to get going here."

Domi posted a photo on his Instagram ahead of the Blue Jays' first game of the postseason. He's pictured alongside his father, Tie, on the field of the Rogers Centre, playing catch with one of the then-Blue Jays.

What does he remember about that moment?

"Sweaty palms. I was so nervous," he smiled. "But I forget who I was playing catch with before. I'll have to ask my pops. But I got a nice little warm-up, got the arm going. It's a good time."

Although Toronto went up for a few days to Muskoka earlier in camp for a team-bonding trip, this outing is a bit different. Going to a game of that magnitude will allow players to connect more, but it also gives the team's newly acquired players (Dakota Joshua, Matias Maccelli, etc) a view of what the city is like during the playoffs.

"You know, you take it in from a different perspective, right? Going in and enjoying the game and being a fan, yeah, it gives you a different perspective," Tavares said.

"I think it's just great to be together as a team, especially when we're at home, which at times — everyone with families and different things going on — can be more challenging when you're on the road. But it's just a great way to kind of finish off training camp and enjoy the playoff baseball.

"So really good to spend some time together. And whether you're younger or you're older, a lot of experience, not much experience, just a great way to come together and to enjoy the city and enjoy how much Torontonians love their teams."

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2025 MLB Playoffs: Full postseason schedule, how to watch ALDS and NLDS, bracket, betting odds, rules

The 2025 MLB postseason is in full swing. After a Wild Card round where three of the four series went to a deciding third game, the road to the 2025 MLB World Series continues. Fans can expect plenty of chaos, drama, and unpredictability during the journey. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Below is everything you need to know about the 2025 MLB postseason schedule and format.

MLB: Washington Nationals at Atlanta Braves
Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani at the top? Our early 2026 Top 300 rankings highlight key fantasy storylines heading into the MLB offseason.

When is the 2025 World Series?

The 2025 World Series is scheduled to begin on Friday October 24, and would go through Saturday November 1 if the series goes seven games.

⚾️ Who is the favorite to win the 2025 World Series?

Per DraftKings (as of Thursday, October 9):

  • Dodgers +130
  • Blue Jays +360
  • Mariners +650
  • Brewers +700
  • Tigers +750
  • Cubs +1100

Who Has Home-Field Advantage For the 2025 World Series?

Home-field advantage goes to the team with the best record. If the teams have the same record, home-field advantage will be determined by tiebreakers.

The Brewers finished the regular season with the best record in baseball at 97-65.

What is the 2025 MLB Postseason Schedule?

Division Series: October 4-11

Is the Division Series still a best-of-five?

Yes. The Division Series is played in a 2-2-1 format, with the highest-seeded team having home-field advantage (Games 1-2 and 5 if necessary)

(ALDS airing on FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes; NLDS airing on TBS/Tru TV/HBO Max: Game times are TBA)

*if necessary

DateMatchup
10/4/25Cubs at Brewers (NLDS Game 1)MIL 9, CHC 3
Yankees at Blue Jays (ALDS Game 1)TOR 10, NYY 1
Dodgers at Phillies (NLDS Game 1)LAD 5, PHI 3
Tigers at Mariners (ALDS Game 1)DET 3, SEA 2
10/5/25Tigers at Mariners (ALDS Game 2)SEA 3, DET 2
Yankees at Blue Jays (ALDS Game 2)TOR 13, NYY 7
10/6/25Dodgers at Phillies (NLDS Game 2)LAD 4, PHI 3
Cubs at Brewers (NLDS Game 2)MIL 7, CHC 3
10/7/25Mariners at Tigers (ALDS Game 3)SEA 8, DET 4
Blue Jays at Yankees (ALDS Game 3)NYY 9, TOR 6
10/8/25Mariners at Tigers (ALDS Game 4)DET 9, SEA 3
Brewers at Cubs (NLDS Game 3)CHC 4, MIL 3
Blue Jays at Yankees (ALDS Game 4)TOR 5, NYY 2
Phillies at Dodgers (NLDS Game 3)PHI 8, LAD 2
10/9/25Phillies at Dodgers (NLDS Game 4)LAD 2, PHI 1
Brewers at Cubs (NLDS Game 4)CHC 6, MIL 0
10/10/25Tigers at Mariners (ALDS Game 5)8:08 p.m. ET
10/11/25Cubs at Brewers (NLDS Game 5)*4:38 p.m. ET
Dodgers at Phillies (NLDS Game 5)*8:08 p.m. ET

Championship Series: October 12-21

(ALCS airing on TBS, truTV and HBO Max; NLCS airing on FOX, FS1, and FOX Deportes: Game times are TBA)

*if necessary

DateSeriesMatchup
10/12/25ALCS, Game 1AL Lower Seed at AL Higher Seed
10/13/25NLCS, Game 1NL Lower Seed at NL Higher Seed
ALCS, Game 2AL Lower Seed at AL Higher Seed
10/14/25NLCS, Game 2NL Lower Seed at NL Higher Seed
10/15/25ALCS, Game 3AL Lower Seed at AL Higher Seed
10/16/25NLCS, Game 3NL Lower Seed at NL Higher Seed
ALCS, Game 4AL Lower Seed at AL Higher Seed
10/17/25NLCS, Game 4NL Lower Seed at NL Higher Seed
ALCS, Game 5 *AL Lower Seed at AL Higher Seed
10/18/25NLCS, Game 5 *NL Lower Seed at NL Higher Seed
10/19/25ALCS, Game 6 *AL Lower Seed at AL Higher Seed
10/20/25NLCS, Game 6 *NL Lower Seed at NL Higher Seed
ALCS, Game 7 *AL Lower Seed at AL Higher Seed
10/21/25NLCS, Game 7 *NL Lower Seed at NL Higher Seed

2025 World Series: October 24-November 1

(World Series airing on FOX: Game times are TBA)

*if necessary

DateSeriesMatchup
10/24/25World Series, Game 1League Champ #2 at League Champ #1
10/25/25World Series, Game 2League Champ #2 at League Champ #1
10/27/25World Series, Game 3League Champ #1 at League Champ #2
10/28/25World Series, Game 4League Champ #1 at League Champ #2
10/29/25World Series, Game 5 *League Champ #1 at League Champ #2
10/31/25World Series, Game 6 *League Champ #2 at League Champ #1
11/1/25World Series, Game 7 *League Champ #2 at League Champ #1

2025 MLB Playoff Rules

What Are The Replay Rules for the 2025 MLB Playoffs?

Managers get just one challenge during the regular season, but they are afforded two challenges in the postseason. If a challenge is successful, the manager keeps their challenge; they lose one of their challenges if the original call is confirmed. From the eighth inning onward, the crew chief can still review certain calls if a team has exhausted their challenges.

Will the Runner-on-Second Rule Apply in Extra Innings During the 2025 MLB Playoffs?

No. As opposed the regular season, the bases will be empty to begin extra innings and the game will be played under those circumstances until completion.

Can MLB Teams Replace Injured Players During the Playoffs?

Yes. Teams can replace an injured player during a series, but that player will be deemed ineligible for the remainder of the series and the following round should the team advance.

Additionally, a pitcher may only be replaced by another pitcher and a position player may only be replaced by another position player.

MLB Postseason Roster Eligibility Rules Explained

Any player on the 40-man roster or injured list as of noon ET on September 1 is eligible for the postseason. Players who were in the organization (and not on the 40-man roster) by that deadline may also replace someone on the 10-day or 60-day injured list, provided the injured player has served the minimum required time (10 days for the 10-day IL, 60 days for the 60-day IL). The substitute must also be added to the 40-man roster before joining the postseason roster.

Why arbitration deadline should be quiet for Buster Posey, Giants' front office

Why arbitration deadline should be quiet for Buster Posey, Giants' front office originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Buster Posey’s second offseason in charge should be a busy one, and not just because it’s starting with a search for a new manager, which in turn will lead to the hiring of several new coaches and possibly other changes. Posey also needs to fill out most of his bullpen and sign multiple starting pitchers while addressing several minor needs on the position player side.

One thing he won’t have to do, however, is worry too much about arbitration. 

The Giants in recent years have had several key players — Mike Yastrzemski, Tyler Rogers, LaMonte Wade Jr. etc. — come up for arbitration every offseason, but this year’s class will be a small one. Camilo Doval was set to be their most expensive player in arbitration for the 2025-26 offseason, but he was traded in July. Patrick Bailey and Ryan Walker had both hoped to qualify for “super two” status, but they likely will just miss. 

That leaves just three players, according to MLB Trade Rumors’ yearly projections, which are generally extremely accurate in terms of salary guesses. Catcher Andrew Knizner and pitchers Joey Lucchesi and JT Brubaker are all arbitration-eligible, and it would be a shock if the Giants brought that whole group back. 

Lucchesi had the best season in San Francisco, taking over as the top lefty in the bullpen after Erik Miller went on the IL. He posted a 3.76 ERA and 3.97 FIP in 38 appearances and at times pitched late in games for Bob Melvin after the trade deadline and injuries decimated the bullpen. 

MLB Trade Rumors projects that Lucchesi will make $2 million in arbitration, and he would certainly fill a need if he’s back. Miller was fully cleared by the end of September, but the only other lefty option this past year was Matt Gage. It’s not an area where the Giants have a lot of depth in Triple-A, either, particularly with Reggie Crawford sidelined by a second shoulder surgery. 

Knizner, projected to make $1.3 million, was Bailey’s backup for the final four months of the season. He hit .221 with a .598 OPS and one homer. The Giants will need better catching depth next spring, but they could have an in-house backup for Bailey already in Jesus Rodriguez, who was acquired at the deadline and spent the final week on the taxi squad so he could learn the big league staff. 

Brubaker made five appearances down the stretch for the Giants, allowing six earned in 12 2/3 innings. He also made 12 appearances for the New York Yankees earlier in the season. He’s projected to make $2.1 million if he goes through arbitration. 

Bailey and Walker would have gotten nice raises had they reached arbitration early. They arrived at Oracle Park on the same day in May of 2023 and haven’t gone down since, but both are expected to miss the “super two” cutoff — which allows a small group of players to reach arbitration before accruing three years of service time — by just a few days when MLB makes the list official.

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Shaikin: Inside the Mookie Betts play call that won NLDS Game 2 for the Dodgers

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Monday, October 6, 2025 - Philadelphia Phillies' Nick Castellanos.
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts tags out Nick Castellanos at third base for the first out of the ninth inning in the Dodgers' 4-3 win in Game 2 of the NLDS on Monday night. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Even Dodgers fans steeped in the lore of Kirk Gibson might not remember the name of Mel Didier.

Didier was the scout who had issued this warning to the 1988 Dodgers: If you’re facing Dennis Eckersley, the mighty closer for the Oakland Athletics, and the count runs full, he’s going to throw a backdoor slider.

Eckersley threw it, Gibson hit it for a home run, and the Dodgers went on to win the World Series.

If these Dodgers go on to win the World Series, no one will struggle to remember the name of Mookie Betts, of course. On Monday, however, Betts pushed the Dodgers to within one win of the National League Championship Series — not with his bat and not with his glove, but with memory and aptitude to rival Didier.

“His mind is so far advanced,” Dodgers coach Dino Ebel said of Betts. “That was the ballgame right there.”

With the tying run at second base and none out in the ninth inning, he was the calm in a screaming madhouse. As the Dodgers infielders gathered at the mound and Alex Vesia entered from the bullpen, Betts thought back to a play he had participated in once, in an August game against the Angels. Miguel Rojas had taught him the so-called "wheel play."

“All he had to do was tell me once,” Betts said. “To me, that was like a do-or-die situation. Them tying the game up turns all the momentum there. If we can find a way to stop it, that would be great.

“I just made a decision and rolled with it.”

On the mound, amid the bedlam, Betts put on the wheel play. It’s a bunt coverage: with a runner on second base, the third baseman and first baseman charge home, with the idea that one would field the bunt and throw out the runner at third.

In any previous decade, the Dodgers would have practiced this play in spring training, repeatedly.

“We don’t really even practice the wheel play, with pitchers not hitting any more,” third baseman Max Muncy said. “There’s very few times where you’re 100% sure that a guy is going to bunt.”

Read more:Hernández: The Phillies are done, and the Dodgers' path to the World Series looks clear

This was the time. The Phillies had opened the ninth with three consecutive hits, including a two-run double from Nick Castellanos.

The Dodgers led, 4-3, with none out and Castellanos on second base. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he wanted to play for the tie and take his chances to match his team’s bullpen against the Dodgers bullpen in extra innings.

And for the “never bunt” crowd: the chance to score one run is slightly higher with a runner on third base with one out than with a runner on second base and none out. The Phillies had the bottom of the order coming up — starting with infielder Bryson Stott, whom the Dodgers had evaluated as a good bunter.

Betts remembered how he had asked Rojas when to run the wheel play.

“In a do-or-die situation,” Rojas had told him.

So Betts took charge and put on the play.

“I don’t know if it was very comfortable, but somebody’s got to do it,” Betts said.

“I figured, if there was ever a good time to make a decision and roll with it, that was the time.”

Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy throws to third after fielding a bunt from Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott.
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy throws to third after fielding a bunt from Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott in the ninth inning in Game 2 of the NLDS on Monday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Muncy would charge and, if the ball was bunted to him, would throw to Betts covering third base. First baseman Freddie Freeman then said he would charge and, if the ball was not bunted to him, would cover second base so Stott could not advance there, since second baseman Tommy Edman would be covering first. Later, on his PItchCom, Vesia said he heard an order to cover second base.

By the time Dodgers manager Dave Roberts got to the mound, the infielders said the play was on.

“When Doc came out and made the pitching change, we talked to him about it and he was all on board,” Muncy said. “I am going to credit Mook. It was his idea.”

Said Betts: “That was one of times where Doc called on us and said, you guys figure it out — in a very positive way. And we did.”

Rojas called Betts “an extension of the manager on the field.”

Said Rojas: “I’m happy that he called it right there on the field. Because it was the right play with the right runner, knowing the guy was going to bunt.”

All of this speaks well of Betts’ intuition and intelligence, but the postseason is not the time for “trust the process” blather. The postseason is the time when the right call is the one that actually works.

For Stott or anyone else, Thomson said, a batter that sees the wheel play in motion should forget about the bunt and swing away, given the holes left by two infielders charging the plate and the other two rushing to cover a base.

Stott bunted.

The first problem for the Phillies was that they had no one available to pinch-run for Castellanos. Aside from a backup catcher, they had two position players left: Harrison Bader, playing with a sore groin, and Weston Wilson, whom the Phillies had to save to run for Bader.

The second problem for the Phillies was that the Dodgers had only run the wheel play once this season, so even the best advance scouts could not have been warning the Phillies to beware.

“It’s something we have under our sleeve,” Rojas said.

The third and most critical problem for the Phillies was that Betts had lingered close to second base, shadowing Castellanos. By the time Stott could have seen Betts take off for third, it was too late.

“Mookie did a great job of disguising the wheel play,” Thomson said.

Muncy fielded the ball cleanly, and Betts beat Castellanos to the bag by so much that Betts had time to drop his knee and block the bag before tagging out Castellanos, holding onto the ball even as Castellanos upended him.

“Those guys executed it to perfection,” Roberts said. “It was a lot tougher — they made it look a lot easier than it was. And for me, that was our only chance, really, to win that game in that moment.”

If Muncy did not field the ball cleanly or did not make a good throw, or if Betts did not beat Castellanos to the bag or tag him out, the Phillies would have had the tying run at third base and the winning run at first base with none out.

But they did not, which meant the ensuing single did not tie the score. Two batters later, the Dodgers had won.

Read more:Dodgers showcase the capabilities of their battle-tested roster in Game 2 win over Phillies

The play would be difficult enough for a lifelong shortstop. Betts is in his first season as a full-time shortstop.

“It shows his intuition in the game,” Muncy said. “It’s second to none out there. It doesn’t matter what position you put that guy at — he knows what’s going on. It’s honestly really impressive.”

Said Ebel: “He’s obsessed with being a great player. And he’s still learning. He’s still going to get better. That’s the scary thing about it.”

As the Dodgers headed for a happy flight back to Los Angeles, Betts offered this game a five-star review.

“I’ll take off my Dodgers hat and just put on a fan hat,” he said. “I think that was a really dope baseball game.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Citizens Bank Park brings out the emotions for Phillies players, both good and bad

Citizens Bank Park brings out the emotions for Phillies players, both good and bad  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Once again, those in attendance were ultra-boisterous, the fireworks blasted during the national anthem, the red towels waved (though the rally part of them didn’t do much) and the chants drowned out everything at Citizens Bank Park during the Phillies’ Game 2 against the Dodgers in this National League Division Series.

It has been the recipe for four years now during Phillies home playoff games, making CBP the toughest place for visitors to compete in a playoff game.

But guess what? It isn’t just tough on the opposition. It can be quite draining on the home team also. And the sellout crowd on Monday had to be wondering that as the Phillies didn’t get their first hit of the game until second baseman Edmundo Sosa’s bloop single to right on the 72nd pitch by Dodger starter Blake Snell.

The Dodgers went on to win the game, 4-3, while holding the Phillies scoreless for the first seven innings. The big bats at the top of the lineup aren’t hitting, Los Angeles is getting the timely hits, and with that loss on Monday, the Phillies are now 3-7 in their last 10 postseason games at CBP.

So, what gives?

No Phillies players, nor the manager, nor those in the front office will ever complain about the atmosphere that CBP provides during playoff time. In fact, the reaction to the bedlam seems to garner more gratitude each time it happens. But still, something is amiss.

How could it be the Phillies lost the final two World Series home games to the Houston Astros back in 2022, including a no-hitter in Game 4? Can you explain losing two in a row to the Arizona Diamondbacks at CBP after coming home with a 3-2 lead in the NLCS in 2023? Then there was Game 1 against the Mets last season in the NLDS when the Phillies gave up five runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to New York in a 6-2 loss.

And now, two straight losses to the Dodgers to begin this year’s NLDS.

This veteran group of Phillies doesn’t make excuses for losses. That really isn’t their nature. And, again, they crave playing in front of this frenzied crowd whenever they can. But the task is harder than any of us can imagine. Because when the good is good, it is a tidal wave of emotion. But so is the bad.

J.T. Realmuto said after Game 1 that he looked up at the scoreboard at one point and couldn’t believe it was only the fourth inning. He said he was exhausted. Simply because the amount of emotion thumping through that stadium can be as draining as exhilarating.

“I think there are some big spots where I think you’re trying so hard that it just gets you,” third baseman Alec Bohm said. “Everything is so heightened and you’re so hyper-focused that you see something, and you don’t even know why you swung. It just happens. That’s the part of the game where you gotta try to slow it down and stay within yourself. Everybody just wants to help the team win.”

The want is there, no doubt. The effort, too. But when things begin to get pressurized, CBP can be a bit of a difficult place to play for the home team.

“I think that the stadium is good on both sides,” Nick Castellanos said. “When the game is going good, it’s wind at our back. When the game is not going good, it’s wind at our face. So, the environment can be with us, and the environment can be against us.”

Don’t sneer at that quote as an excuse. Instead, think about it. As a fan, you feel the anxiety you have with winning runners on base, two outs and your team trying to tie a playoff series. The heart and head pound. Hands clench and emotions run high. Now think about being a player in that spot. He has to perform. He has the same emotions but has to try to contain them while 45,000-plus rain down their feelings on that player.

“I wouldn’t say that it drains but it can definitely take you out of your center,” Castellanos added. “It’s super stimulating and euphoric if everything is going for us. But then it’s a very uphill climb when you can feel that everything is amplified negatively, like if you do something bad, you’re going to get a negative response. So, it makes it harder to play freely. If everything is going good, and we’re rolling, it’s a b—h to play here if you’re an opposing team because the environment is amazing. But if we roll into adversity and the tide shifts, we’re playing more tight because we don’t want to be reprimanded for something bad and playing becomes more difficult.”

Again, not an excuse, just the reality of something we as observers will never feel.

“Everything in an environment like this is amplified,” Castellanos said. “One run could seem like more than it actually is. When it’s going good, you’re on the expressway. When it’s going bad, it just takes something to take the ball rolling.

“Besides (Jesus) Luzardo, because pitching was phenomenal, as far as an offense we had two times that momentum was being built. So, when those dominoes start to fall, that’s important. Just like on the other side here. When good things start to happen, it’s like a snowball effect.”

No one can imagine saying that getting away from Citizens Bank Park may be a good thing for the Phillies in this series. But right now, it just may be. Not because of the fans’ reaction, but because of the reaction the team is causing with their play. The players know that.

So now, the almost unimaginable task of winning two at Dodger Stadium is right in the Phillies’ face.

“Got nothing to lose now,” Trea Turner said. “It’s not over. … It’s not over and we’re not going to quit until they tell us to go home. We got a great team. We’ve won three games in a row before, we’ve swept good teams. We’ve played good baseball. We got to find that. We’ve got to find it quick. I feel like we’ve played pretty decent these last two games, we just haven’t had enough to get the win. I don’t feel like we’re really beating ourselves. We’re playing good defense, we’re getting some hits here and there. It just doesn’t seem like enough each step of the way.”

If they get two wins in Los Angeles, no doubt Citizens Bank Park will be an atmosphere the players will crave.