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As the World Series shifts to Florida for Game 3, all eyes will be on the pivotal pitching matchup and the energy in Tropicana Field. The Milwaukee Brewers, up 2-0 on the Tampa Bay Rays, will send rookie Robert Gasser to the mound on Monday, facing former Brewer and current Rays ace Freddy Peralta.

In the latest episode of Yahoo Sports’ "Bar-B-Cast," podcast hosts Jordan Shusterman and Jake Mintz highlighted the contrasting approaches: Peralta's experience and emotional stakes for the Rays vs. the Brewers' confident reliance on another rookie arm in a high-pressure situation.

“I have watched Freddy already a couple times in this postseason … and he’s just looked incredible,” Shusterman said. “He was not as sharp in his final start in [ALCS] Game 6 … but the velocity was still there. He was still pumping 99.”

When he takes the mound for Game 3, Peralta is not only pitching against his former team but also weeks away from free agency — he ranks No. 2 on Yahoo Sports’ list of this winter’s top free agents — making him a major storyline regardless of the series outcome. Shusterman notes Peralta's impressive velocity and dominance in this postseason, emphasizing that he has thrived indoors and the added intrigue of him facing the Brewers.

“We are going to continue to be talking about Freddy Peralta from now until first pitch, during the game, after the game and then for weeks to come,” Shusterman said.

Mintz focused on Gasser, aka “Bobby Diesel,” who pitched five shutout innings in the NLCS at Dodger Stadium. Mintz noted how Gasser is another example of the Brewers' organizational philosophy: They trade away high-profile pitchers such as Peralta because they trust their pipeline, illustrated by Gasser's rapid rise.

"But the reason that the Brewers trade Freddy Peralta, they trade the Freddy Peraltas of the world, is because one day they will have the Robert Gassers of the world. Right?" Mintz said. "Robert Gasser, whom they got in the Josh Hader trade, right? Like, it is the perfect balance here."

Shusterman and Mintz are also curious about the crowd dynamic for Game 3. With the Brewers' passionate fan base traveling well — Mintz mentioned a “Let’s go, Brewers!” chant breaking out on his flight — the atmosphere at the Trop will be a story in itself.

"I think they're going to be well represented at Tropicana Field," Shusterman said of Brewers fans. "I'm looking on our beloved GameTime app right now. And there are many tickets that I imagine are much more affordable than they would have been for Games 1 and 2 [in Milwaukee]. And it would not surprise me if the cost to go in Milwaukee is pretty similar to the cost it would take to fly to … St. Pete's and see the game at the Trop."

That said, Shusterman noted the electric atmosphere at the Trop for ALCS Game 6 after the Rays took the lead in that series before returning to Florida.

“When they come back up 3-2, it was packed,” he said. “It was awesome. It was 98% Rays fans. It was terrific.”

However the crowd breaks down, Game 3 presents a crossroads: Can Peralta pitch the Rays back into this series, or will the Brewers' unflappable offense and shutdown bullpen put them on the doorstep of a title?

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out all episodes of Baseball Bar-B-Cast and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv.

The D-backs and the Rays both entered the major leagues in 1998. Arizona has the only World Series win, but Tampa Bay have been more successful in reaching the post-season, with ten playoff appearances to the D-backs’ seven. Overall, the win percentages of the teams are very similar. The D-backs are two points higher, at .495 against the Rays’ .493. But of late, our East coast siblings have definitely had the edge. In the past eight seasons, they have six trips to the post-season, to Arizona’s one. Over the same time-span, since the start of 2019, they have averaged 92 wins, a whopping fourteen victories per season more than the Diamondbacks.

That’s despite Tampa Bay having significantly less resources. From 2019-26 (and excluding 2020, for obvious reasons), Arizona had an average end of year payroll, per Spotrac, of $138 million. Tampa Bay’s mean salary bill was just $93 million. Here’s how the two teams have compared, year-by-year, in terms of salary, where that ranks in the majors, and their W-L record.

The Rays have spent one season outside the bottom quartile (25%) of team payrolls. The D-backs have been outside that six of the eight season, including a payroll in the top half, the past three years. Now, in 2024 and 2025, this did lead to the team winning nine and three more games than their siblings. But that run ended this year, with a vengeance. The Rays are in the World Series, while the Diamondbacks fell short of making the playoffs. Admittedly, had Arizona been in the American League, their 86 wins would have got them into the third wild-card. But that’s still a dozen games fewer than Tampa Bay.

So, what can the D-backs learn from the Rays? To try and get some idea, I want to start of by looking at the 26-man World Series roster for the Rays, and see how the team came to acquire each player. Below is the information on that, along with how valuable the player was for the Rays this year.

Pitchers

• Bryan Baker (2.9 bWAR) – Traded by the Orioles for pick #37 in the 2025 draft.
• Cam Booser (1.1) – Signed as a Free Agent.
• Garrett Cleavinger (-0.3) – Traded by the Dodgers for German Tapia.
• Griffin Jax (0.7) – Traded by the Twins for Taj Bradley.
• Kevin Kelly (1.9) – Purchased from the Rockies.
• Nick Martinez (3.9) – Signed as a Free Agent.
• Steven Matz (-0.7) – Signed as a Free Agent.
• Freddy Peralta (1.2) – Traded by the Mets for Gary Gill Hill, Émilien Pitre and Aidan Smith.
• Drew Rasmussen (4.7) – Traded by the Brewers with J.P. Feyereisen for Willy Adames and Trevor Richards.
• Ian Seymour (0.7) – Picked in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft.
• Cole Sulser (-0.3) – Purchased from the Mets.
• Tyler Wells (0.9) – Traded by the Orioles for Michael Forret.

The narrative would have you believe that the Rays’ success is due to strong drafting and a good farm system. But the above suggests otherwise – at least, directly (we’ll get into that eventually). Only one of the dozen pitchers on Tampa Bay’s roster for the World Series was drafted by them. Six were trades, with another two purchased, and three signed with the Rays as a free agent. But looking at the trades, it’s startling how little they generally had to give up. Willy Adames is easily the biggest name, and he was good for Milwaukee, putting up 14 bWAR over four seasons. But you think the Brewers wouldn’t rather have Drew Rasmussen, right now?

The Sulser thing is worth noting, because it was the third time the Rays had acquired him. He’s like their version of Ildemaro Vargas. They first did so in 2018, as part of a three-team trade which netted them Yandy Diaz. But they lost him on waivers the following October. Sulser was actually a Diamondback for a while, having been picked off waivers from the Marlins in November 2022. He played four games with Arizona, but was DFA’d in August 2023 and went back to Tampa, because we needed the roster spot for… Jace Peterson. Yeah. About that. Sulser hit free agency that winter, signed with the Mets but returned again to Tampa Bay the next July.

Catchers

• Nick Fortes (0.8) – Traded by the Marlins for Matthew Etzel
• Liam Hicks (0.7) – Traded by the Marlins for Jacob Kisting, Adrian Santana and Brayden Taylor.

I think it’s interesting that both Rays’ catchers came intrastate, by trades from their Florida neighbors. Fortes arrived at the trade deadline last year, and Hicks at the same point this season. Obviously, it’s impossible to judge these trades yet, since none of the four players sent to Miami have yet appeared in the majors. However, none of them were ranked higher than #16 in the Rays’ farm system at the time of the trade.

Infielders

• Jonathan Aranda (2.2) – Signed as an international Free Agent
• Junior Caminero (5.7) – Traded by the Indians for Tobias Myers.
• Yandy Díaz (2.4) – Traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Indians with Cole Sulser to the Rays. The Indians sent Edwin Encarnación and a 2019 competitive balance pick to the Mariners. The Mariners sent Carlos Santana and cash to the Indians. Rays sent cash to the Mariners and Jake Bauers to the Indians.
• Jorge Mateo (-1.0) – Signed as a Free Agent.
• Richie Palacios (1.8) – Traded by the Cardinals for Andrew Kittredge.
• Taylor Walls (3.5) – Picked in the 3rd round of the 2017 draft
• Ben Williamson (0.8) – Traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Mariners to the Rays. The Mariners sent Jurrangelo Cijntje, Tai Peete and a draft pick to the Cardinals. The Cardinals sent Brendan Donovan to the Mariners. The Rays sent Colton Ledbetter and a draft pick to the Cardinals.

We see the same pattern as with pitchers. Only one of the seven was formally drafted by the Rays. You could perhaps stretch to include Aranda, who was signed out of Mexico as a 17-year-old, and has never played with any other organization. But here, I note the lack of money spent on the free-agent market. Mateo was the only one in that category, and he was signed for a pittance after being cut by the Braves. He’s also basically a pinch-runner who didn’t get a PA in the first two playoff rounds. The only player earning more than seven figures on the Rays this year is Yandy Diaz, at a very reasonable $12 million. The Dodgers have twelve players there, if you include Ohtani. And you should.

The Caminero trade is likely going to go down as one of the greatest thefts in recent history. Caminero has been worth 10 bWAR for the Rays in 2025-26. Myers never appeared for the Ind…er, Guardians, and was last seen as a bad reliever in the Mets bullpen. The Diaz and Williamson deals, meanwhile, are both among those “How the heck did they work that out?“ situations. Bauers never amounted to much in Cleveland, before blossoming this year with Milwaukee, and will face his old team in the World Series. Again, Ledbetter was a prospect outside the top twenty in the Rays organization at the time of his trade.

Outfielders

• Jonny DeLuca (1.7) – Traded by the Dodgers with Ryan Pepiot to the Rays for Tyler Glasnow, Manuel Margot and cash.
• Victor Mesa Jr. (2.9) – Traded by the Marlins to the Rays for Angel Brachi.
• Cedric Mullins (1.0) – Signed as a Free Agent.
• Chandler Simpson (2.5) – Picked by the Rays in the 2nd round of the 2022 draft.
• Ryan Vilade (0.8) – Purchased from the Cincinnati Reds.

The trade which brought DeLuca to the Rays is an example of Tampa Bay selling high. Glasnow has been a bit of glass cannon for LA since: a 120 ERA+, but averaging fewer than 18 appearances per season. Pepiot was almost as good as Glasnow in 2024-25 – certainly more durable – and considerably cheaper. But he missed all of this season with a hip issue. Brachi was unranked by MLB Pipeline when he was dealt: I’m beginning to detect a theme here. But again, we see a limited number of players who were actually drafted by Tampa Bay. They seem keen on, and adept at, plucking players they need away from other teams.

Summary

• Trades: 14 players
• Signed as a free agent: 5 players
• Purchased: 3 players
• Draft pick: 3 players
• International free agent: 1 player

This certainly demonstrates where the strength of the Rays lies. As mentioned, it’s not directly in the draft, with barely ten percent of their World Series roster having been acquired that way. It’s in smart trades, purchases and low-cost free-agent signings – or what’s often derided when Mike Hazen does it, as “dumpster diving.” Of course, that’s the kind of thing that’s easier said than done, though the Arizona bullpen this season shows that it is something Hazen can figure out on occasion. It’s an interesting contrast to the Brewers, who have a much more internal approach to their roster: seven draftees and three international free agents.

But we shouldn’t write off the Tampa Bay farm system entirely. Next time, we’ll take a look at that and see if we can figure out how it plays into the team’s strategy.

Brewers closer Trevor Megill caused a stir over the weekend when he took issue with one aspect of Tropicana Field, the home of the Rays.

As Milwaukee prepared for Game 3 of the World Series on Monday in Tampa, Megill had a colorful complaint about the roof at the Trop.

“Whoever decided to make the roof the same goddamn color as the baseball is a f—ing idiot,” Megill opined while walking past reporters following batting practice Sunday.

WISN 12 News’ Dario Melendez shared that the Brewers had been practicing fly balls and ricochets on the off day, two tasks that become more difficult to handle against the white backdrop of the roof at Tropicana Field.

Megill’s comments are especially interesting considering that this isn’t the first time MLB stadium roofs have been a topic during these playoffs.

Earlier this postseason, the Brewers saw their own stadium’s roof be used to their advantage when the cables at American Family Field potentially robbed the Padres’ Ty France of a potential game-changing home run in Game 1 of the NLDS off of Megill.

Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio caught the ball after it came down, and the play was ruled an out. The Brewers went on to win that game 3-2, and later clinched the series win in four games.

Megill has tossed 6 ⅔ innings this postseason, giving up just one run on three hits with seven strikeouts. That run came in the chaotic ninth inning of Game 1 of the World Series with Megill surviving an overturned double play to close out the nail-biting victory for Milwaukee.

The Trop’s famous catwalk underneath the roof has also seen some action some postseason with the Yankees’ Spencer Jones being retired in Game 2 of the ALDS after his towering fly ball hit off it and into the glove of outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. for an out.

Should they win the next two games in Tampa, the Brewers can clinch the sweep of the Rays on the road for their first-ever World Series title.

The Mets need starting pitching. They've needed it for several years now. 

In 2025, their depth evaporated down the stretch, so they missed the playoffs. In 2026, their depth imploded early, so they never recovered. To make the playoffs in 2027, they will need more of it.

Exactly what they have, and therefore what they need, is in the eye of the beholder. But a few things are indisputable: Nolan McLean looks like a No. 1. Christian Scott and Zac Thornton look like promising middle-of-the-rotation options whose second full seasons should test their stamina and ability to adjust more than their first. The best versions of all three combine to make a promising young core.

Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga are veterans on expensive, though expiring, contracts, meaning jettisoning either will be easier this season should either underperform again. Senga wants to start but could prove more valuable to the 2027 pitching staff out of the bullpen. Andy Green made clear that Manaea cannot lose his velocity again and be an effective member of their rotation going forward. The best versions of both are competitive starting options.

As for depth beyond that, the best version of Tobias Myers could offer starting depth. Tylor Megill is expected to be back from Tommy John surgery and training as a starter entering spring training. He has a 4.46 ERA in 88 career appearances.

Green said Jonah Tong must pitch his way into the rotation next year but did not rule out the possibility that he could do so. Jonathan Santucci will be one step away from his debut. If Jack Wenninger can overcome his tendency to walk batters, he will likely be an emergency start candidate, as well.

Exactly how President of Baseball Operations David Stearns views that depth is a different question. Stearns traded for Freddy Peralta last year when his rotation already included Clay Holmes and McLean as top-end options. He does not seem likely to be satisfied with McLean at the top and his fingers crossed that Scott, Thornton, Manaea or others can lock down the spots behind him. But exactly how many acquisitions they need to make remains unclear.

“I do think it is necessary for us to add to our starting rotation. We can do that in a variety of different ways,” Stearns said at his end-of-season news conference. “You’d always love to add to the top of their rotation. Any team would love to do that. Over the long term, we need to develop pitchers for the top of our rotation and I think we are proving we can do that and will continue to do that. 

"We also need to make sure we have more options, and we need to make sure we have the flexibility that allows us to go and get those options when they’re needed. And we’ll be focused on that aspect of rotation building as well.”

If the Mets decide they need a proven ace (or two) to take the weight off McLean’s shoulders and insulate against injury, they have plenty of options.

Tarik Skubal is a possibility. Unlike other contenders who might chase him, the Mets have plenty of big contracts and financial outlays coming off their ledger after 2027, meaning any salary limitations that result from a new collective bargaining agreement would not necessarily hold them back from making the move.

They need an ace, have Steve Cohen’s money, and can promise commitment to winning — if not the actual winning, so far. Skubal’s preferences will likely become clearer after the World Series, when his free agency officially begins. But as of the last week in October, the Mets should have as good a chance to sign him as anybody, provided Cohen and Stearns decide he is worth an exception to the latter’s rules against long-term deals for starters.

Holmes could also be a candidate for a return. As of this week, he is expected to opt out of his current deal, and people familiar with his thinking say he is open to a return to the Mets if the right deal is offered. He did, after all, thrive in Queens as a starter — so much so that he will likely receive a far bigger contract as a free agent than he probably would have if the Mets had not given him the chance to jump out of the bullpen.

Other veterans available in free agency include Michael King, who can opt out from his current deal with the Padres and has proven himself capable of pitching in New York, and Nick Martinez, who has looked strong this postseason and has a mutual option with the Tampa Bay Rays. Trevor Rogers turned his career around with the Baltimore Orioles, though his track record of starting success is shorter than most top-end free agent types. Casey Mize, Robbie Ray, and Tyler Mahle are all veteran types who could slide into the middle of the rotation and provide experience if young pitchers regress or stumble.

The trade market, too, could offer some high-end options: New front office staffer Derek Falvey’s connection to Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan could make him an enticing trade target, someone who could serve at the top of the Mets rotation and is under contract for $13 million next year before hitting free agency.

Should the Rays somehow decide playoff hero Drew Rasmussen’s $20 million option for next year is too expensive, the Mets could try to pull off a deal for him as well. Maybe the Miami Marlins would finally trade Sandy Alcantara ahead of his option year. Any of them would improve the Mets depth in the short term without handcuffing them financially long-term should a new CBA lead to the phasing in of salary limits.

The Seattle Mariners, who likely need a jolt after a disappointing season, have long seemed on the verge of trading one of their many starting pitchers. George Kirby (under contract through 2028) or Logan Gilbert (under contract through 2027) could help immediately without much long-term risk and could be attainable thanks to the prospect depth the Mets built at this year’s trade deadline.

But Stearns’ mention of “flexibility” suggests his view of pitching depth does not necessarily include more veteran starters on major league contracts who are either expensive to part with, impossible to option out of the rotation if they struggle, or both.

Part of the reason the Mets struggled to find their footing early in 2026, for example, was that both Senga and Manaea were struggling, but neither really fit in the bullpen or comfortably head to the minors. An injury to Senga helped the Mets clear his rotation spot without needing to cut him entirely, but acquiring a full array of veteran starters would leave their ability to make changes somewhat limited again.

As such, it seems Stearns and Co. might also be pursuing younger, more flexible starting options that could provide both major league rotation depth and multi-inning bullpen capabilities — like Myers was trying to last year — as well.

Myers is out of options this year. Megill, importantly, has one remaining. Pitchers who are optionable, can handle starting, but could potentially also serve in the bullpen are not easy to find; any team with young, flexible pitching depth is not exactly rushing to part with it.

So perhaps Stearns simply means the Mets will plan some reclamation projects with minor league free agents and hope they catch lightning in a bottle they can option when times get tough.

But perhaps teams in need of overhaul would be willing to trade players in need of a change of scenery. Could a new Houston Astros GM entertain a trade for Hunter Brown, for example? Could the Cleveland Guardians try to upgrade elsewhere by dealing from the back end of their young rotation depth? The Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds and others have pitching depth from which to deal and payrolls they love to keep down — a promising combination when chasing pitchers who are on the early side of arbitration.

Regardless, that flexibility part of Stearns’ vision will be the most fascinating to watch — particularly in an offseason that could include a lot of free agent shuffling before the lockout and a lot of frenetic maneuvering after it. Stearns said it: The Mets need better starting pitching depth than they had in 2026. That rotation began with two more proven starters (Holmes and Peralta) than it currently has right now. The market will offer plenty of options. Now all they have to do is get it right.

_{Welcome to the latest edition of the Viva El Birdos podcast, where we dive into the journey of baseball’s rising star. This week, we sit down with Jacob Odle, a right-handed pitching prospect with the St. Louis Cardinals who shares his unique experiences leading up to the draft and his current training regimen.}

A Journey Through the MLB Draft League

Jacob Odle’s path to becoming a professional baseball player began unexpectedly in the MLB Draft League. “The draft league kind of happened on a whim,” he recalls. After a few impressive outings in junior college, Jacob was given a chance to showcase his skills. He describes the atmosphere as a stark contrast to junior college baseball, with professional facilities and a strong sense of camaraderie among players.

“You know, we call him old man Dave because he’s not on the younger side, but he’d be out there every day before us, and he’d take his shirt off and some short shorts and running around the track. And that set the tone for the rest of the team.”

Jacob’s confidence grew as he learned from experienced coaches and played alongside talented teammates. His breakthrough came when he was drafted by the Cardinals, a team that often surprises with late-round picks.

The Draft Day Experience

Jacob’s draft day experience was a rollercoaster of emotions. Initially projected to be picked in the earlier rounds, he found himself waiting longer than expected.

“I was at my old facility, you know, throwing a bullpen just because I was bored and wanted to throw something. And then we turn the draft on. I finished just in time. Then about my agent called me and he was like, ‘The Cardinals are gonna take you.'”

Despite the uncertainty, Jacob’s persistence paid off, landing him a spot in the Cardinals’ organization. He reflects on the whirlwind of conversations and decisions that influenced his draft fate.

Connecting with Fellow Players

Growing up in Southern California, Jacob has maintained connections with fellow players. He shares that several of his high school peers have also made it into the professional ranks, including Ariel Armis with the Cubs and Jacob Christian with the Giants. Their shared experiences provide a strong bond.

“My high school class had three guys that were drafted. I got drafted first, but I got drafted the latest.”

Training and Development

Currently, Jacob is participating in a structured training program in Florida. He describes the regimen as highly individualized, allowing him to focus on his development alongside other prospects. The program includes tailored schedules, workouts, and even a book club that promotes mental skills development through literature.

“We do a chapter a week from a book called ‘Thinking in Bets’ by Annie Duke,” Jacob explains.

The discussions focus on decision-making and processing outcomes, emphasizing that a bad result doesn’t always stem from a poor decision.

Closing Thoughts

Jacob’s journey is just beginning, but his dedication, adaptability, and thoughtful approach to the game set him apart. As he continues to refine his skills, there’s no doubt that his story will inspire many aspiring athletes.

For more insights and the full conversation, be sure to check out the latest episode of the Viva El Birdos podcast!

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-Thanks for reading

It’s Monday, so that means it’s time to check in on the Cubs’ Boys of Autumn playing for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League.

In case you missed the earlier installments, the Solar Sox are a team in the Arizona Fall League, a minor league that plays every October and November in Spring Training stadiums. The Mesa Solar Sox play their home games at Sloan Park, the Cubs’ Spring Training home. This year, their roster is made up of minor leaguers from the Cubs, Athletics, Angels, Blue Jays and Red Sox.

If you need more information, check out our introduction and week one and week two updates.

The Solar Sox played five games this past week and went 2-3, giving them an overall record of 6-9. Here’s how each individual game went with a link to the box score. The home team is listed last.

Monday, October 19: SOLAR SOX 7, Surprise Saguaros 4

Tuesday, October 20: SOLAR SOX 6, Scottsdale Scorpions 9

Wednesday, October 21: Saguaros 9, SOLAR SOX 2

Thursday, October 22: Glendale Desert Dogs 10, SOLAR SOX 0

Saturday, October 23: Peoria Javelinas 3, SOLAR SOX 7

Although the Solar Sox were the home team on Saturday, the game was played in Glendale at Camelback Ranch.

Here’s how each individual Cubs prospect did this past week.

Infielder Juan Cabada: We said that the Arizona Fall League would be challenging to Cabada. At just 18 years old, he had only played 17 games above rookie ball before the AFL season, all of which were in Low-A Myrtle Beach. Cabada is playing against players far older and with much more experience than he has.

So far, we’ve been right. The AFL has been a real challenge for Cabada. This week he played twice, at third base on Tuesday and third base on Thursday. He had a good game on Tuesday, going 1 for 3 with a double, a walk and a run scored. In Thursday shutout loss, Cabada went 0 for 3. He wasn’t the only one.

For the AFL season, Cabada is hitting .167/.286/.2oo over nine games. He has three RBI, three runs scored and one stolen base.

Outfielder Harrison Feinberg: Feinberg only played on Monday. He played right field and he went 1 for 5 with an RBI single.

Over five games with the Solar Sox, Feinberg is hitting .333/.455/.333 with two RBI and two runs scored. He’s also two for three in base stealing.

Outfielder Kade Snell: Snell played in four of the five Solar Sox games this past week. Snell got his first AFL action in center field on Monday, while playing right field on Wednesday and Thursday. He shifted over to left field on Saturday.

For the week, Snell went 2-13 with an RBI triple on Saturday. He also walked three times, with two of those walks coming with the bases loaded. That gave Snell three RBI for the week.

Here’s a ground view shot of that triple.

For the season, Snell is hitting .244/.426/.317 with seven RBI, six runs scored and two steals.

Catcher Miguel Useche: I have to apologize for missing that Useche was added to the Solar Sox roster midway through last week. This week, Useche got into all five games for the Solar Sox. He pinch-hit on Monday (going 0 for 1) and then finished the game at first base. He was the first baseman on Tuesday, going 1 for 3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI. He caught on Wednesday and once again went 1 for 3 with a walk.

Useche was the designated hitter on Thursday and was 1 for 4. He served as the first baseman on Saturday and was o for 4.

Since joining the Solar Sox, Useche is hitting .217/.308/.304 in seven games. He has scored four times, driven three and has stolen two bases.

Right hander Jhon Cabral: Cabral was a busy bullpen arm this week, pitching in three of the five games. On Monday, Cabral got the final two outs in the ninth, striking out both batters he faced.

On Wednesday, Cabral had more trouble with control. He walked the first batter he faced with two outs in the fourth. That baserunner then stole second and went to third on a wild pitch on the play. Next, Cabral threw another wild pitch to score the run. He then walked the next batter again but got a strikeout to end the threat.

Cabral entered the game on Saturday with a man on first and no outs in the third inning. After getting the next batter to ground out and then a strikeout for the second out, Cabral proceeded to walked the next three batters, forcing in an inherited run. But then Cabral got a strikeout to end the inning and his outing.

For the season, Cabral has now pitched 4.1 innings over six outings. He sports a 2.08 ERA and has yet to give up a hit. However, he’s walked eight while striking out seven.

Right-hander Anhuar Garcia: Garcia pitched three innings in Thursday’s 10-0 loss. The first two innings he threw were very good, giving up just one hit but facing the minimum thanks to a double play. But the third inning was bad as Garcia allowed two two-run home runs. So his final line for the week for four runs on five hits over three innings. He struck out one and walked nobody.

For the season, Garcia has pitched 9.2 innings over four appearances and sports an ERA of 8.38. He’s also allowed five unearned runs, so that’s not great. Garcia has walked eight and struck out seven.

Right-hander Yoendris Gonzalez: Gonzalez is having a rough AFL season. This week he entered Tuesday’s game to start the sixth inning and only managed to retire one batter. Before he left, he allowed two runs on three hits and a walk. He struck out one.

For the AFL season, Gonzalez has pitched three times and managed to collect just 1.2 innings. He’s allowed eight runs on five hits, giving him an ERA of 43.20. Gonzalez has walked six and struck out three.

Right-hander Dominick Reid: Reid has undoubtedly been the Cubs biggest bright spot in the AFL this year. He made hit third start on Monday and got the win after four scoreless innings, giving up just one hit. He struck out five and walked just one.

Here are Reid’s five strikeouts [VIDEO].

For the season, Reid is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA over twelve innings and three starts. Reid has struck out 14 and walked five while allowing just six hits.

Right-hander Luis Rujano: Rujano had just one appearance this past week, but it was a really good one. Rujano entered Wednesday’s game in the top of the ninth and, yeah, the Solar Sox were already trailing 9-2. But the bases were loaded and there were no outs. Rujano managed to keep the Saguaro’s lead to “just” seven by getting a strikeout and then following it up with a 4-3 double play.

Rujano has pitched four times this AFL campaign, totalling five innings. He has an ERA of 1.80. Rujano has given up three hits, walked four and struck out five.