CLEVELAND — Game 3 of the AL Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians has been moved up to a 1 p.m. start due to the threat of rain in Cleveland on Thursday night.
Major League Baseball moved the start time up five hours in order for the series to remain on schedule.
The best-of-seven series is even at 1-1 after the Rays’ 3-1 victory. Cleveland took the series opener 7-3.
Tampa Bay will send right-hander Griffin Jax to the mound. Jax (8-10, 3.52 ERA) struck out four and gave up one run in two innings of relief against the New York Yankees in the Division Series.
Cleveland is expected to go with Gavin Williams (14-8, 3.76 ERA), who led the American League in strikeouts. The right-hander started Games 2 and 5 against the White Sox and tossed an inning in relief in Game 4. He had 24 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and six hits.
Game 4 still has a start time of 6 p.m. and Saturday’s first pitch is slated for 8 p.m.
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 17: Evan Carter #32 of the Texas Rangers makes a catch during a game against the Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Field on September 17, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Gunnar Word/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom, outfielders Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter, and infielder/outfielder Ezequiel Duran have been named finalists for the 2027 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. The full list of finalists in both leagues is here.
Along with deGrom, the finalists among the pitchers in the American League are Tanner Bibee of the Guardians and Jose Soriano, now of the Blue Jays. One would not normally expect a 38 year old managing various physical issues to be a Gold Glove finalist, but then, life is full of surprises. deGrom has never won a Gold Glove before.
Langford is a finalist in left field, going up against Cody Bellinger of the Yankees and Chandler Simpson of the Rays. Langford was +5 in Statcast’s Fielding Runs Value in 2026 between left field and center field, and +10 in DRS. compared to Simpson’s +3/+8 and Bellinger’s +8/+20.
Carter is up against Steven Kwan and Ceddanne Rafaela for the center field Gold Glove award. Carter is +9 in FRV and +6 in DRS, while Kwan is +7 and +17 while playing center and left roughly the same amount in 2026. Rafaela is at +16 and +21.
Duran is a finalist for the utility Gold Glove, along with Jose Caballero of the Yankees and Zach McKinstry of the Tigers. Duran played every position except for pitcher and catcher over the course of 153 games in 2026, with the bulk of his playing time coming at third base and shortstop.
HOUSTON — The Houston Astros have parted ways with manager Joe Espada after deciding not to renew his expiring contract.
The team announced the decision while also moving on from several members of his coaching staff. His contract is set to expire at the end of October.
“We are thankful for Joe’s hard work, his passion for the game, and for his commitment to the Houston Astros,” team owner Jim Crane said in a statement. “He represented the Astros and the Houston community in the most positive way. We wish he and his family the best moving forward.”
The move comes after the Astros overcame a plethora of injuries to win the AL West with an 81-81 record and become the first team in Major League Baseball history to reach the postseason without a winning record. They were then swept by the Chicago White Sox in two games at home in a Wild Card Playoff series.
The Astros now will be searching for a new manager and general manager after former GM Dana Brown was fired in August.
The Astros also parted ways with catching instructor Tim Cossins, game planning coach Tommy Kawamura, third base coach Tony Perezchica, assistant hitting coach Anthony Iapoce and assistant pitching coach Ethan Katz.
The team said bench coach Omar Lopez has been offered an opportunity to remain in the Astros organization in a new role.
The Astros are retaining pitching coach Josh Miller, first base coach Dave Clark, major league field coordinator Jason Bell, hitting coach Victor Rodriguez and longtime bullpen catcher Javier Bracamonte.
It was the first managerial job for Espada, who was in his third year after being promoted from bench coach after Dusty Baker retired following the 2023 season.
Houston won the AL West in Espada’s first season in 2024 but was swept by the Detroit Tigers in the wild card playoff round. That series loss ended a streak of seven straight appearances in the AL Championship Series, and that included four World Series trips and titles in 2017 and 2022.
The Astros went 87-75 last season to finish second in the division and miss the playoffs, snapping a streak of eight consecutive appearances.
The 51-year-old Espada went 256-229 as Houston’s manager.
He’s been with the Astros since joining them as the bench coach in 2018. Espada, who was born in Puerto Rico, was the second Latino manager in franchise history, joining Cuban-born Preston Gomez, Houston’s manager from 1974-75.
Espada began his coaching career in the Marlins organization, working in the minors until moving to the big league club as the third base coach in 2010.
He remained with the Marlins through the 2013 season before taking a job as a special assistant to New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. He joined the Yankees coaching staff in 2015 and worked as their infield and third base coach through the 2017 season before coming to Houston.
Espada was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 1996 amateur draft and spent nine seasons in the minors. He advanced to Triple-A as a player, but retired at age 29 after failing to reach the majors before beginning his coaching career.
The Buffalo Sabres, after going 3-2 on a five-game homestand, finish out the month of October with seven of the next eight games on the road, including an odd bit of scheduling that has them playing the archrival Montreal Canadiens twice in the span of five days.
The first match at the Bell Centre on Tuesday was a one-sided affair, where Les Habitants peppered Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with 38 shots, and Buffalo scored three times on 16 shots (including Olen Zellweger’s first two in a Sabres uniform) on Montreal rookie Jacob Fowler in regulation and overtime, but the Canadiens finally solved UPL in the shootout, as Cole Caufield, Alexandre Texier, and Zach Bolduc each scored in a 4-3 victory.
“We lacked a lot of play making and a lot of energy. Our goalie got us a point.” Ruff said after the game. “It was a night we didn’t make a lot of plays. That second period may have been one of our worst periods in a long time……we didn’t generate any chances, we handed them two goals.”
Owen Power has had a strong start for the Sabres this season
Buffalo is 0-1-1 on the road heading to Toronto for their first meeting with the Maple Leafs on Thursday. Head coach Lindy Ruff was interviewed on WGR 550 on Wednesday morning and indicated that it was doubtful that team captain Rasmus Dahlin will join the club after staying back in Buffalo after suffering a lower-body injury in Monday’s win over the Panthers. Dahlin is considered day-to-day, and Ruff did not say that definitively rule him out for the contest on Thursday.
Ruff also indicated that forward Tyson Kozak is dealing with an upper-body injury and is back in Buffalo, and that goalie Alex Lyon had a setback in his rehab of a shoulder injury and will be off the ice for a few days.
Benge will be competing with Corbin Carroll of the Diamondbacks and Seiya Suzuki of the Cubs for the award.
In his rookie season, Benge emerged as a game-changer in the outfield with both his glove and arm.
Benge was above average when it came to OAA (Outs Above Average), grading out in the 70th percentile, via Baseball Savant. He was at the very top of the league in arm value (100th percentile) and arm strength (99th percentile).
He also had 10 outfield assists, which was tops among all NL right fielders and third among all NL outfielders (Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages had 14 and Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill had 11).
Given how poorly Carroll's arm rated (he was in the first percentile in arm value), it's possible the race comes down to Benge and Suzuki, whose advanced numbers were elite across the board.
McLean is battling with Chris Sale of the Braves and Michael McGreevy of the Cardinals for the NL award at pitcher.
Torrens, who is seeking to become the first Mets catcher to ever win a Gold Glove, is up against Freddy Fermin of the Padres and Gabriel Moreno of the Diamondbacks.
Torrens' defense was elite in 2026, with his blocks above average (85th percentile), framing (86th percentile), caught stealing above average (89th percentile), and pop time (95th percentile) all near the top of the league.
The last Met to win a Gold Glove was Juan Lagares, who secured the award for center field in 2014.
Oct 6, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings right wing Alex DeBrincat (93) passes the puck during the first period against the Ottawa Senators at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images
Brian Bradshaw Sevald/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings signed two-time All-Star forward Alex DeBrincat to a seven-year contract worth $13 million per season.
The move provided desperately needed good news for a franchise mired in a decade-long postseason drought with an interim general manager, a former captain in limbo, and an unsigned restricted free agent.
The 28-year-old DeBrincat has established himself as a productive offensive player in the NHL with 298 career goals and 603 points. He led the team and set a career high with 85 points last season and matched his career high with 41 goals, becoming the first player to have at least 40 goals for the Red Wings since Marian Hossa in 2009.
DeBrincat leads the Red Wings with four goals and eight points this season but they have lost five of their first six games. Detroit next hosts Philadelphia.
Chicago selected DeBrincat in the second round of the 2016 draft. He was an All-Star with the Blackhawks during the 2022 season and was traded to Toronto the following offseason, The Red Wings acquired the Farmington Hills, Michigan, native from the Ottawa Senators in 2023 and he was an All-Star in his first season in Detroit.
DeBrincat’s extension is a positive development for a franchise that has had a string of negative news.
Detroit demoted former general manager Steve Yzerman in July, giving him an advisory role to owner and CEO Chris Ilitch, and named Shawn Horcoff interim GM after failing to hire one during a search.
Dylan Larkin asked for a trade during the offseason and after the team did not move the the 30-year-old center, he was stripped of his captaincy. Larkin was booed when he was introduced before the season-opening game while he was not in uniform, recovering from an upper-body injury.
When the Red Wings were preparing to start the season, defenseman Simon Edvinsson was seen training with a team in his native Sweden. The 23-year-old restricted free agent had nine goals and 25 points in 72 games last year, his second full season in the NHL. Detroit drafted him No. 6 overall in 2021 and he has 19 career goals and 60 points in 175 games.
But he has looked exposed without his father so far in the Lakers’ preseason.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) looks on against the Sacramento Kings during a game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The 22-year-old went scoreless on two field-goal attempts, along with one rebound and four turnovers in 11 minutes against the Warriors on Tuesday night.
Through four preseason games, James has averaged 2.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 17.5 minutes per game.
Lakers coach JJ Redick was asked how he assesses James’ “confidence and aggression” throughout this preseason, given how last season ended for him.
“Yeah. I thought he had a really nice September and a good summer. I don’t think he has played well in the four preseason games, but he has had good practices,” Redick said.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick speaks to Bronny James during the second half of a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2026. Getty Images
“Again, some of it is just rhythm; some of it is who he’s playing with. He’s playing a lot of minutes, especially in the second half of games, with our two-way guys. And tonight, he played with Rafael [Castro], who has been with us for three days,” he continued.
“Some of it is the group he’s with; I think that is not necessarily setting him up for success,” Redick added.
JJ Redick on Bronny:
“I don’t think he’s played well in the four preseason games, but he’s had good practices… Some of it is like the group he’s with; I think that is not necessarily setting him up for success.” pic.twitter.com/6jEhPBhsSS
Redick’s answer about James has gotten a lot of attention on social media, as many fans feel like he’s trying to excuse James’ poor play on the teammates he has been playing with.
There might be some truth to James’ supporting cast doing him no favors. But those who are watching the Lakers this preseason can clearly see James is struggling, regardless of who he’s on the court with.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 30: Manager Joe Espada #19 of the Houston Astros looks on in the first inning of game two of the American League Wild Card Series against the Chicago White Sox at Daikin Park on September 30, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I think this was expected, given that the Astros granted the Seattle Mariners permission to interview Espada for Seattle’s vacant managerial job. The interesting thing, though, is that a number of coaches — pitching coach Josh Miller, hitting coach Victor Rodriguez, first base coach Dave Clark, major league field coordinator Jason Bell, and bullpen catcher Javier Bracamonte will reportedly return for the 2027 season.
The Astros are not bringing back assistant hitting caoch Anthony Iapoce, assistant pitching coach Ethan Katz, third base coach Tony Perezchica, game planning coach Tommy Kawamura and catching instructor Tim Cossins. If Iapoce’s name sounds familiar, he was the Rangers’ hitting coach under Jeff Banister from 2016-18.
This is kind of weird. The Astros do not have a manager or general manager at this point, and in the normal course of things, you’d expect the team to hire a general manager, who would hire a manager, who would then assemble a coaching staff. As it is, the incoming general manager and the incoming manager will apparently be inheriting coaches that are already in place and that they will be expected to work with.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 06: Tidjane Salaun #31 of the Charlotte Hornets guards Julius Randle #30 of the Brooklyn Nets in the first half during their preseason game at Spectrum Center on October 06, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In Minneapolis on Monday night, Timberwolves coach Chris Finish made a veiled criticism that seemed to be directed at Julius Randle. He said that Minny had traded “moodiness for giddiness.” Although Finch didn’t name names, the general belief was he was talking about exchanging Randle (moodiness) for LaMelo Ball (giddiness.)
"We've traded moodiness for giddiness."
The Timberwolves come to NYC with their new backcourt of Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball. Wolves coach Chris Finch said Minny checked in with the Hornets on Ball a few times before they actually got him. While Ball and Edwards could be… pic.twitter.com/eOF1u6bUq4
The two were not traded directly for one another. The Nets got Randle along with a late first for Nic Claxton and a high second in what was a salary dump just before the Draft. Then that deal was folded into a previously agreed trade that brought Ball over from Charlotte for Naz Reid and picks.
And as Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reported, two other players Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels were also seen as moody and were also dispatched. Moreover, Finch had noted a week ago that he had mismanaged Randle’s role in the Minnesota offense. “That was on me,” he admitted.
Still the message was clear … and controversial. Finch is happy with the exchange. Randle, who has yet to have an opportunity to respond, is happy too in Brooklyn. He’s said so more than once. Despite what others might think of his personality, Randle is a force to be reckoned with. As we’ve noted, over the past eight seasons, he’s averaged 21.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and played in an average of 68 games, including 79 last season. No NBA player can match that distinction. Moreover, during that span, the 31-year-old was voted Most Improved Player (2021), selected to the All-Star Game three times (2021, 2023, 2024) and was named All-NBA twice (2021 and 2023.)
A big reason for the difference between Minnesota and Brooklyn is that the player and team need each other and his head coach here makes no excuses. Jordi Fernandez likes Julius Randle.
“Yeah, absolutely. It’s incredible, man,” Randle told The Post about his reception in Brooklyn. “Everybody knows it’s a business and things happen. But when you’re somewhere where you’re really wanted, and you have that validation with an organization really appreciating you and what you bring to the table, it’s an incredible feeling.
“It just drops the anxiety and just the worry or the pressure. You just feel like you can be your best self. So, from Day 1, I felt that: the support. I damn near get goose bumps just thinking about it, because the support has been amazing. I’m loving every part of it. I appreciate them just as much as they appreciate me.”
Randle also told Brian Lewis that he believes he is in his prime, capable of a career year like the ones Fernandez has coaxed out of Dennis Schroder, Cam Johnson and of course he current teammate and frontcourt partner, Michael Porter Jr.
“Yeah, I feel like I’m the best I’ve ever been in my career. I’m in a perfect situation to play my best under Jordi,” Randle said. “Accumulation of wisdom and continuing to improve every year, I’m at my best version of myself that I’ve been in my career, and I’m excited to be able to utilize that under Jordi and help this team.”
Fernandez already sees just how he can take advantage of Randle’s game, particularly his passing ability.
“I think that this could be [Julius’] best playmaking year,” Fernandez has said. “He’s proven that he’s a very efficient player at very different levels. Seasons with the Knicks when he shot eight-plus threes, seasons where he’s isolated more, been in the pick-and-roll more, [he’s shown] his ability to playmake. And you put all those things together, for me as a coach, being able to use somebody in many different ways, it makes my life easier. I think that he will make his teammates better.”
Indeed, in the Nets win over the Wizards two nights ago, he racked up nine assists in the first half.
“[Julius’] ability to throw the ball on time and on target to his teammates is unbelievable,” Fernandez said post-game, as Erik Slater wrote Wednesday. “Nine assists in one half of basketball is not something many players can do. I haven’t seen it many times in my life. I think the only one I’ve seen is Nikola [Jokic].”
Fernandez doesn’t seem to be bothered by any perceived moodiness.
The Kentucky product and Plano, Texas native is also just happy to be back in New York City. He didn’t want to be traded after beforc he was traded two years ago for Karl-Anthony Towns, he was a big piece for the Knicks. Prior to his arrival in 2019-20, the Knicks had not made the play-offs since 2012-13. He missed out on a ring but was a big part of the Manhattanites’ return to relevance.
Now, he says, he wants to do it again in the Big Apple, this time across the river.
“Sean [Marks] brought me here because of that, because it was time to win. So, that’s just what it is,” Randle said. “I’m not here to lose. I don’t think anybody’s here to lose this year. So, yeah.
“We definitely want to be a team that goes out there and competes every single night. We’re playing to win. That’s as simple as I can put it. I don’t play to lose. … At this point in my career I’m playing to win and give ourselves a chance to win every single night, take the right steps every single day and see where that takes us.”
And of course his pre-season comment to rookie Mikel Jones Jr. that the Nets will “shock the world” has been adopted as the team mantra.
In his story on Finch’s comments, Kaczynski noted that one big issue for Randle in Minny was the constant rumors that he was on the block, specifically in proposals that would have brought Giannis Antetokounmpo to the T’Wolves. He told Lewis that was not the case. Instead, he said it was more the fatigue of 2,610 minutes —12th in the league — over 79 games and a late hand injury (two broken fingers) that was the big issue.
“The trade stuff is always tough,” Randle said. “But it’s at a point in my career where I’m used to it. You know every year it’s going to be something or some type of rumor, so that really wasn’t it. More than anything for me, I tried to challenge myself last year, playing every game.”
As for moodiness vs. giddiness debate, Randle will get his chance to respond to Finch on the court early in the season. The Nets will travel to Minneapolis on November 23.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 19: Vinnie Pasquantino #9, Bobby Witt Jr. #7 and Michael Massey #19 of the Kansas City Royals celebrate a 7-1 win over the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium on July 19, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While the Royals may have struggled on offense at times this year, defense does not slump. The Royals flashed some leather in the infield this year, and today all four defenders were named finalists for Gold Glove Awards. Vinnie Pasquantino, Michael Massey, and Nick Loftin are all up for the first award, while two-time winner Bobby Witt Jr. has a chance to repeat as top overall defender.
Bobby Witt Jr. won the 2025 American League Platinum Award for top overall defender. He led all American League players at all positions with +25 Outs Above Average. He led all American League shortstops with 71 double plays and Fielding Run Value with +17.
Vinnie Pasquantino was second among American League first baseman in Defensive Runs Saved with 7, behind only Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is also a finalist. Houston’s Christian Walker is the other Gold Glove finalist at first base.
Michael Massey was second among all American League second basemen in Outs Above Average at +11 behind only Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Yankees and was tied for second in Defensive Runs Saved with 5 behind only Cole Young of the Mariners. He tied Young for the highest fielding percentage for anyone with at least 750 innings at .990, and his 68 double plays were second behind only Young. Massey is up against Young and Chase Meidroth of the White Sox, all of whom are seeking their first Gold Glove.
In his first full year in the big leagues, Nick Loftin was tied for fourth among American League third basemen in Outs Above Average with +6 and was third in fielding percentage for third basemen with 500+ innings at .982. Loftin is up against Caleb Durbin of the Red Sox and Brooks Lee of the Twins.
Winners will be announced on November 1 on ESPN. Here is how Gold Glove finalists and winners are determined, according to MLB.com:
To determine the winners at the nine standard positions, the 30 MLB managers and up to six coaches from each team vote from a pool of players in their league, excluding players from their own team. These votes comprise 75% of the selection total, with the SABR Defensive Index counting for the other 25%.
For the utility position, Rawlings collaborated with SABR to create a specialized defensive formula separate from the traditional selection process.
Here is a complete list of finalists:
American League
Pitcher: Tanner Bibee (Guardians), Jacob deGrom (Rangers), José Soriano (Angels/Blue JAayS)
Austin Wells, Cody Bellinger and Jose Caballero are three Yankees named finalists for the Gold Glove Award at their respective positions Wednesday.
Wells, along with Toronto's Brandon Valenzuela and the Tigers' Dillon Dingler are the three American League catchers vying for the top defensive award in MLB.
The Yankees backstop may have struggled offensively, but his defense continued to improve this season. According to Baseball Savant, the 27-year-old is in the 92nd percentile in blocks above average (9) and in the 95th percentile in framing (7). While his caught-stealing average (-3) and pop time (1.97) rank low, his work behind the plate while managing one of the best starting rotations in the majors has earned Wells his first nomination.
For Bellinger, the veteran outfielder is looking for his second Gold Glove after capturing the award in his 2019 MVP year.
Bellinger is joined by the Rangers' Wyatt Langford and the Rays' Chandler Simpson as the three finalists for AL left field. The 31-year-old led all left fielders in DRS (21) and FRV (8) and was second in OAA (6).
Caballero will be up against the Rangers' Ezequiel Duran and the Tigers' Zach McKinstry in the utility category. He'll look to be the second Yankee ever to win the award in that category after DJ LeMahieu was the inaugural AL winner back in 2022.
The Gold Glove Award winners will be announced Nov. 1.
The Cubs are known as an elite defensive unit and today, Rawlings announced the “finalists” for their Gold Glove Awards for this year.
In reality, these aren’t actually “finalists,” which is why that’s in quotes — there isn’t another election. The players named today are simply the top three vote-getters at every position in the voting that was conducted before the end of the regular season.
Five Cubs are listed as finalists: Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field (one previous Gold Glove), Alex Bregman at third base (one previous Gold Glove), Dansby Swanson at shortstop (two previous Gold Gloves), Ian Happ for left field (four previous Gold Gloves) and Seiya Suzuki for right field (this would be his first, though he won five Golden Gloves in Japan, the NPB equivalent).
It’s a bit of a surprise, but not that much, that former Gold Glove winner Nico Hoerner didn’t make it. Hoerner wound up playing at shortstop in Dansby Swanson’s place this year, and while Nico was still an elite fielder, his defensive numbers were down a bit.
Congratulations to all the Cubs named today and I believe there should be several winners here, likely PCA and Happ for sure, and hopefully the other three.
The 2026 Gold Glove winners will be announced in an ESPN broadcast at 8 p.m. CT on Sunday, Nov. 1. Platinum Glove voting will begin immediately after the broadcast on Rawlings.com.
Jim Crane clearly wanted an organization reset in Houston.
The Astros are not renewing manager Joe Espada’s expiring contract, the team announced Wednesday, moving on from the third-year skipper months after dumping general manager Dana Brown.
Houston also announced that five additional coaches will also not be returning for 2027, while bench coach Omar Lopez has been offered a new role within the organization.
Houston Astros manager Joe Espada (21) looks on in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“We are thankful for Joe’s hard work, his passion for the game, and for his commitment to the Houston Astros,” Crane, the owner, said in a statement posted to MLB.com. “He represented the Astros and the Houston community in the most positive way. We wish he and his family the best moving forward.”
The Astros are going through a down period following their seven straight ALCS trips from 2017-23 that resulted in two World Series, having failed to win a playoff series during Espada’s three years.
After serving as the team’s bench coach from 2018-23, the former Yankees assistant took over a team that lost in the Game 7 of the 2023 ALCS and oversaw a wild-card sweep in 2024 by the Tigers, a 2025 campaign without a postseason berth and another wild-card sweep this year by the Guardians.
Houston Astros owner Jim Crane speaks during a news conference before the start of the first official spring training baseball practice for the team Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, in West Palm Beach, Fla. AP
Espada went 256-229 in the regular season and 0-4 in the postseason as the team’s manager, winning a pair of AL West crowns.
This year’s team won the division with an 81-81 record, the worst record for an MLB playoff team in a 162-game season, and that inconsistency cost Brown his job in late August.
There had been rumors of disputing views on a trade involving reliever Bryan Abreu that Crane ultimately nixed.
After the split, which came during the last year of Brown’s contract, the team said in a release at the time that Crane would oversee baseball operations during the “transition period.”
In its announcement Wednesday, the Astros also stated that five coaches will be retained for 2027, including the pitching and hitting coaches.
While Houston has enjoyed grand success over the last 10 years, consistently allowing premium talent like Gerrit Cole, Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker, to exit has left the roster exposed.
On this day 104 years ago, Ray Schalk’s squeeze bunt led to a walk-off win for the White Sox that kept them alive in the City Series. | (Photo by Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images)
1906 The White Sox beat the Cubs, winning the World Series four games to two, behind the pitching of Doc White. The South Siders clinched the title by winning the sixth game, 8-3. The White Sox wasted no time in putting this one out of reach, jumping out to a 7-1 lead after two innings against Cubs ace Mordecai Brown, who was knocked from the box with two outs in the second inning. Jiggs Donohue provided the most potent blow, driving in two runs with a ground-rule double in the bottom of the first, putting the White Sox up for good, 3-1.
The win remains one of the biggest upsets in World Series history. Ironically, the light-hitting White Sox ended up putting up 37 hits in the Series, to the 116-36-3 Cubs’ 36. The “Hitless Wonders” White Sox had a team batting average of only .230 for the season and hit even worse (.198) in the series. But they collected 10 doubles and three triples in the six games — and held the powerful Cubs to a series batting average of only .196.
Best of all, a crowd of 19,249 at South Side Park got to witness the only home win of the entire World Series.
Ed Walsh won two games for the Sox during the Series, with infielder George Rohe batting .333, leading the team with an OPS of better than 1.000, and playing in all six games. Rohe also contributed the key moment of the Series, clearing the bases with a two-out triple to give the White Sox a lead in Game 3 and contributing a Series-high 276.51 championship leverage (cLI) score to the cause.
Based on championship win probability (cWPA), the MVP of the Series would have gone to Nick Altrock, who won Game 1 and lost a heartbreaker in Game 4, with 26.33% cWPA. Others in the running would have included Donohue (18.39%), Rohe (13.55%) and George Davis (17.72%).
Leadoff hitter Ed Hahn smacked four singles in five at-bats, just the second White Sox player to have four hits in one postseason game — answering Frank Isbell’s effort all the way back in … Game 5 of the Series! Only two White Sox have matched that feat since.
Reflective of the time, both the White Sox and Cubs used just four pitchers apiece to span all 54 innings of the Series.
After the win, owner Charles Comiskey handed a $15,000 check to manager Fielder Jones, to be split among the players. The players viewed the check as a bonus for their championship effort. Comiskey, though, considered it as part of their 1907 salary! To put that bonus/advance in perspective, the loser’s share for the Cubs ($439.50) remains the lowest in World Series history.
The 1906 Fall Classic remains the only time in 120 years that the White Sox and Cubs have ever met in the postseason. It also remains the only playoff series the White Sox have ever clinched at home.
1911 Matty McIntyre doubled to tie Game 2 of the City Series, 7-7, in the top of the eighth at Wrigley Field. Later in the frame, McIntyre would score the eventual winning run. The clutch hit was capped quite a season for McIntyre; the White Sox had purchased the veteran left fielder from Detroit before the season, and the 31-year-old delivered in a big way, with 17 steals, 52 RBIs, a .323/.397/.401 slash and 4.2 WAR.
The 8-7 win gave the White Sox a 2-0 lead in the Series, which they would sweep two games later.
That sweep would mark the first-ever City Series win for the White Sox (not counting the World Series win in 1906), making the South Siders’ all-time Series record 1-2-1 at that point. It also was the first of many City Series upsets to come for the White Sox, who came into the clash with the Cubs with 15 fewer wins in the 1911 season.
1922 In front of 14,677 fans, Ray Schalk’s squeeze bunt with one out in the ninth inning scored Earl Sheely for a 1-0, walk-off win at Comiskey Park.
Red Faber was the pitching hero, twirling a three-hitter. However, the Cubs finished off the White Sox the next day, taking the 1922 City Series.
2005 Jon Garland threw the second straight White Sox complete game in the ALCS, going the distance for a 5-2 win that ended up decided with one out in the first. Scott Podsednik singled to lead off, was sacrificed to second by Tadahito Iguchi, scored on a Jermaine Dye double — and the White Sox finished the initial flurry with eventual ALCS MVP Paul Konerko clocking a home run to left-center. Konerko would go 3-for-4 in the game, and those top four batters in the order 8-for-15.
Garland scattered four hits and a walk, striking out seven.
The win gave Chicago a 2-1 advantage in the ALCS, two wins from a pennant.
Jarvis Gomez was hot at the plate all summer in the Dominican Summer League, but right now he’s very cold.
In his defense, the San Isidro native is on US soil for the first time, and while it’s currently 90 degrees and rainy in Boca Chica, where the Mariners Dominican complex is located, it’s a bit more brisk on a late September afternoon in Seattle. Perhaps no one warned the 17-year-old that he might want to bring a jacket.
Gomez was in Seattle last month to accept the award for Mariners MiLB Hitter of the Year, an award he shared with slugger Lazaro Montes, who won the award for the third straight year.
But while Montes has been a prospect sensation since signing out of Cuba in 2022 for a hefty $2.2M bonus, Jarvis (yar-VEES) Gomez isn’t a name even deep-cut prospect aficionados might know.
The 5’11” outfielder signed for a modest $100K, one of the lesser-known names in a draft class where most of the attention was filtered towards outfielder Juan Rijo and infielder Gregory Pio, who signed for a combined $5M, representing about 70% of the Mariners’ total bonus pool in the 2026 signing period. Both Rijo and Pio had solid debut seasons – Pio showcased excellent plate discipline for a 17-year-old, walking more than he struck out, and Rijo hit .310 with 20 extra-base hits. Both were overshadowed, however, by Gomez, who also walked more than he struck out, but hit as many home runs as the other two combined, with six, posting a slash line one might more expect out of a big-bonus signee. His OPS of 1.013 ranked 16th out of over 300 players in the DSL, and he added 17 stolen bases on to that output.
Standing on the big-league field at T-Mobile Park, Gomez didn’t look overwhelmed by the moment, craning his neck around to hopefully catch a glimpse of his favorite player, Julio Rodríguez, and taking in the blue skies – and crisp air – of a picture-perfect fall day in Seattle.
“It’s a dream I had since I was little to be here,” he said. “[Seattle] is a beautiful place with very nice people, everybody’s been very welcoming.”
Gomez will leave the Dominican Republic behind again later this month and make his second trip stateside, heading to the Mariners’ High Performance Camp in Arizona. He says he’s excited to take the next stride in his career, and maybe just a little bit nervous.
“It’s a very big step and a big change,” he said, but says he’s excited for the “more organized” structure of the stateside complex.
But Gomez won’t be making the journey alone; he’ll travel with many of his teammates from the Mariners DSL team, which finished at the top of their division with a 33-23 record, earning a spot in the playoffs. He doesn’t see his trip to the HPC as something he’ll be doing just as part of his personal journey, but rather as a step he’s taking with his teammates from the complex league.
“It was a group effort, a lot of work all between us to achieve what we did.”
Gomez was a steady contributor to one of the better DSL teams the Mariners have put forth in recent years, contributing both at the plate and in the field. His goal at HPC is to focus on strength and conditioning, continuing the work he started in the DSL and adding muscle. Gomez has a level swing that can result in him putting the ball on the ground too often, so it would be nice to see him add in some loft without sacrificing his excellent plate discipline.
Gomez describes himself as an “electrifying” player who doesn’t fear rising to the moment.
“When it’s zero hour, I’m out there and able to show what I can do.”
It’s always a challenge to learn about the prospects in the DSL with the lack of video (other than what the players themselves post), and especially when that player is one who hasn’t been given as much scouting attention as some other players. What does Gomez want Mariners fans to know about him?
“I want them to know that I always give my maximum effort. I always like to support my teammates in difficult moments, and I’m very happy to be playing for the Seattle Mariners.”
