ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 07: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting a two-run double in the seventh inning during Game Four of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It took until the seventh inning of the fourth game of the National League Division Series for the Dodgers to get their first hit with a runner in scoring position. But Andy Pages made it count, with a two-run single to break a tie in a 4-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night at Truist Park, clinching the NLCS to send the Dodgers to their third National League Championship Series in a row.
The winning rally started with a single by Teoscar Hernández, just minutes after crashing into the left field wall on a Braves double in the previous half-inning. That ended the night for Tyler Mahle, who continued to have the Dodgers number, once again pitching into the seventh.
In came Game 2 Braves hero Didier Fuentes, whose second batter faced was fellow 21-year-old pinch-hitter Josue De Paula, only 24 days his senior. De Paula, in just his second postseason plate appearance, walked, then was removed for pinch-runner Tommy Edman. Kyle Tucker also walked to load the bases, setting up Pages — the Dodgers RBI leader this season — to single home a pair.
After going hitless in his first two games this series, Pages had two hits in Game 3 and two more in Game 4, equaling his total for the entire postseason in 2025. The hit also snapped an 0-for-14 skid by the Dodgers with runners in scoring position to start this series.
The first of those runs snapped a string of 22 straight innings by Mahle against the Dodgers without allowing an earned run, dating all the way back to 2022.
Edgardo Henriquez, who entered with one out in the sixth inning and stranded a runner on second, followed with a scoreless seventh inning to bookend the Dodgers rally, and earned the win.
Just like in Game 3, Tanner Scott pitched a scoreless eighth and Edwin Díaz closed out the win in the ninth, giving the Dodgers the planned back end of their bullpen that hadn’t really been fully intact since early April.
Dodgers pitchers allowed eight total runs in the four-game series.
Max power
Max Muncy added some insurance with a solo home run in the ninth inning, extending his Dodgers career postseason record with now 19 home runs. Muncy also homered in Games 1 and 2 of this series, matching his most prolific postseason series with the long ball. He also hit three home runs in the 2019 NLDS against the Washington Nationals.
Sloppy start
Both teams exchanged mistakes for each other’s first run, including an errant throw into center field on a stolen base attempt from each side. Michael Harris II got a great jump from third base on a wild pitch by Tyler Glasnow that didn’t get too far from home plate in the first inning, catching the Dodgers flat-footed. In the top of the second, Shohei Ohtani walked, stole second and went to third on the bad throw, then scored when a Max Muncy popup into short left field was biffed by shortstop Mauricio Dubón.
Glasnow improved a bit as the game progressed, and didn’t allow another hit after Harris led off the game with a single. But, like Blake Snell in Game 2, Glasnow on Wednesday walked five batters, including two in the fifth inning — a leadoff free pass to Austin Riley after getting ahead 0-2, and a two-out, four-pitch walk to Ronald Acuña Jr. to end Glasnow’s night early.
The Dodgers right-hander struck out five with those five walks in his 4 2/3 innings, and like Snell limited the damage to only one run. Alex Vesia helped, inducing a groundout to second base to end the fifth inning with those two Glasnow walks left stranded on base, and the game still tied.
Glasnow threw 78 pitches, 44 for strikes.
Not so free passes
None of Glasnow’s five walks in Game 4 scored, and none of the 18 Braves who walked in the NLDS have touched home plate. But there have still been costs to that Dodgers wildness. For one, the Dodgers had to turn to its bullpen much earlier than hoped in two of the four games.
Also, two of Snell’s walks in the first inning of Game 2, pushing Acuña to third base, which allowed him to score on an infield single. In Game 3, the pinch-hit walk by Rowdy Tellez pushed Dubón to third base, which allowed him to score on a groundout. So the walks have been costly, even if not as much as perhaps they should have been.
The Dodgers move on to a third consecutive National League Championship Series, and eighth in the last 11 years, beginning Sunday night (time TBD, Fox Sports) either in Milwaukee against the Brewers or at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles against the Padres.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 13: A detail shot of the 2025 logo on the hat of a Dodgers player during Game One of the National League Championship Series presented by loanDepot between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Monday, October 13, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the NLDS on Wednesday, and are back in the National League Championship Series for a third season in a row and the eighth time in 11 years with manager Dave Roberts at the helm in Los Angeles.
Either the Milwaukee Brewers or San Diego Padres will be the Dodgers’ opponent this time around. Milwaukee leads San Diego two games to one in their NLDS, with Game 4 on Wednesday night at Petco Park in San Diego. If the Dodgers play the Brewers, it’s a rematch of last year’s NLCS (and 2018).
If the Dodgers play the Padres in the NLCS, it would be their fourth postseason matchup in the last seven years — every even year: 2020, 2022, 2024, 2026 — and just the second time two NL West teams battle in the NLCS, along with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies battling during Rocktober in 2007.
The Dodgers in the NLCS would have home-field advantage over the Padres, but would start on the road if they play the Brewers.
The NLCS begins on Sunday night, and will be televised by Fox Sports, with Joe Davis — if his voice allows, after missing Games 3 and 4 of the NLDS — and John Smoltz on the call, plus reporters Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci, and Tom Rinaldi as part of the broadcasts as well.
Start times and Fox Sports telecast plans haven’t yet been revealed.
Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson releases his letter “Dear Ducks Fans.” NHLI via Getty Images
Three days before the Ducks had their season opener against the Vegas Golden Knights, Carlsson released a letter to the Anaheim fans, titled “Dear Ducks Fans,” to let them know why he accepted the offer.
But also informed them that his heart was in Anaheim.
“The contract negotiations over the summer were a lot to deal with for everybody, but when all is said and done, Anaheim is ultimately where I want to be for the rest of my life,” Carlsson wrote in the letter. “That to me was always a no-brainer. This was a unique situation, but I of course always wanted to be here.”
Carlsson went on to say that he loves the restaurants, the people, the weather and the environment that is Orange County.
“I don’t think it’s going to be anything crazy, to be honest. That’s just what I think,” Carlsson said to Stephens. “Obviously, a couple of my chirps here and there probably. And then I just have to show it with my game as well. See how it is.”
While it’s only two games into the season, Carlsson already has five points on the year, and had a goal in their home opener against the Florida Panthers.
Leo Carlsson receives a loud roar of applause from Anaheim Ducks fans during their home opener. AP Photo/Kyusung Gong
Ducks fans have appeared to have put what happened in the summer in the past, as Carlsson received a roaring round of applause from the Anaheim fans when his name was called during pregame introductions.
“We have great fans here,” Carlsson said to Stephens. “It feels great every time that happens. You know, you feel like you’re doing something good. I love the fans. Hopefully they love me as well, so it’s fun.”
Anaheim Ducks’ center Leo Carlsson calls out any doubters he has after signing extension to make him the highest paid player in the NHL. NHLI via Getty Images
With Carlsson and the Ducks getting his lengthy stall of contract negotiations behind them, he currently has the highest cap hit of any player in the NHL ($18 million), as Macklin Celebrini (18.8 million AAV) and Cale Makar ($20.4 million AAV), who both signed contract extensions, will surpass Carlsson starting next season.
“[It’s] the organization and me having the idea to just really show everybody that I really want to be here if there’s still any doubters out there,” Carlsson said to Stephens. “Got a great response from it as well. Happy I did it.”
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: Xander Bogaerts #2 and Samad Taylor #0 of the San Diego Padres celebrate after Bogaerts scored a run in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game three of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on October 06, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Milwaukee Brewers (2-1) at San Diego Padres (1-2), October 7, 2026, 7:00 p.m. PST
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The trio was playing a game called “Wildcard,” in which the person holding a card to their forehead has to guess whose name is on it. That’s when Hathaway pulled Anunoby’s name.
Dakota Johnson didn’t know who OG Anunoby was — or that he was even a real person. TikTok/@batghouls
Not Dakota Johnson thinking OG Anunoby wasn’t a real person I love Anne Hathaway pic.twitter.com/q2sThEHX1A
Both Hartnett and Johnson were dumbfounded by the name when Johnson blurted out, “That’s not real,” in a hilarious moment before jokingly accusing the crew of putting in a fake name to stump them.
Hartnett was able to give Hathaway a clue, and she figured out it was the Knicks star before explaining to the pair who Anunoby is.
“That’s a real person?” Johnson then asked the people off camera, to the shock of her co-star.
After the shock left Hathaway, she launched right into an excited explanation of Anunoby.
“Game 4 of the NBA championship, one of the greatest baskets ever scored by a player is OG Anunoby, and you just have to watch it,” she said, explaining his heroic tip-in basket that helped the Knicks win that game.
OG Anunoby’s tip-in leads the Knicks in a Game 4 comeback of the NBA Finals. ESPNNew York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) makes a game-winning tip shot against San Antonio Spurs guards Dylan Harper (2) and Devin Vassell (24) during Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“It’s poetry in motion. It’s divine.”
Hathaway, “The Odyssey” star, is a New York native and a lifelong Knicks fan, and has talked about her fandom on numerous occasions.
She was recently gifted a signed jersey from Anunoby, she revealed while on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Hathaway said she would rather have a second Knicks title over a second Oscar.
Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor, and OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks are seen on a float during the New York Knicks Championship ticker tape parade. Getty Images
During the “First We Feast” episode, Hathaway said she always asks for courtside seats to a Knicks game for her birthday.
“It’s like one of those things where when I was a kid, I would go to games, I would be in the nosebleeds, and I would always wonder who was lucky enough to sit courtside,” she said before retelling the story of when Anunoby spilled her son’s popcorn during a game in 2024.
Kenny Albert already has the next chapter for his memoirs.
The NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA broadcaster found himself in a fluid situation this week when Fox Sports had to put Albert on standby with Joe Davis, who was scheduled to call Game 3 of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Braves, under the weather and having lost his voice.
The problem? When Fox asked Albert to be on standby, he was in the middle of prepping for a colonoscopy, he revealed to Front Office Sports.
As part of preparation for the procedure, an individual has to take several doses of medication to clean out their colon.
Fox Sports announcer Kenny Albert is seen before a college basketball game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the UConn Huskies at Madison Square Garden in New York, Nov. 28, 2025. Getty Images
Fox Sports reached out to the TV voice of the Rangers at 6 p.m. on Monday to put him on standby, and when he hadn’t heard any update by 9 p.m., Albert went ahead and took his first dose of the medication and simultaneously started baseball preparation just in case.
It was roughly midnight, he told FOS, when Fox told him it wanted Albert to get to Atlanta in case he was needed.
Albert skipped the second dose of the medicine in the morning and hopped on a flight to Atlanta on Tuesday morning, and he did, in fact, call the game between the Braves and Dodgers.
“The colonoscopy wrinkle? That’s certainly another chapter for my next book,” Albert joked.
Albert also said that it was “baseball prep instead of the other kind of prep” that he ended up having to do.
Joe Davis and John Smoltz are seen during the 2026 MLB All-Star Game broadcast at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026, in Philadelphia. FOX Sports via Getty Images
He also praised the help that he received from the Fox Sports broadcast team.
“So basically, the whole morning, the whole flight, the whole afternoon, I crammed. I hadn’t seen either of the first two games because it was a football weekend,” he said. “I was in Dallas. So I had to catch up. Do a lot of reading. Luckily, I had the same exact matchup, same teams, same pitchers, in a regular season game on Aug. 27. So I was able to pull out my stuff for that game. That saved a lot of time. It was very helpful. Everyone on the crew, and John [Smoltz] and Joe, couldn’t have been more helpful as far as sharing information and just making sure I got down there.”
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 6 : Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket under pressure from Jamal Marray #27 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half of their preseason game at the Delta Center on October 6, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) | Getty Images
Granny always cautioned me: if you go on enough rides with the devil, eventually he’s going to drive. That’s what happened the second time Denver took Utah’s hand and led her to the dance floor.
The final leg of Utah’s double-date with the Denver Nuggets was much less friendly as the Western Conference contenders wrestled away the series lead in the Delta Center from the rising Jazz. Yes, Utah’s starters took an early lead once again in the rematch — even without the services of Lauri Markkanen or Jusuf Nurkic — but a dominant second quarter gave way to a double-digit lead Denver maintained through each layer of the depth chart.
But this is still the preseason. Win or lose, we really shouldn’t take too much stock of what we see on the court before the results matter.
Unless, of course, what we see on the court makes us clasp our hands together and shout: “Let ‘em know, DP!” without a living soul in earshot. In that case, shout your observations from the rooftops.
Here I sit upon my digital shingles. Notebook in hand, illegible scribbles lining the pages, I’ve got some takeaways from Utah’s first two preseason appearances. For once and only once, I’m sharing a private diary entry for anyone with internet access to read.
This had better not come back to haunt me.
4 notes from the Utah Jazz’s first 2 preseason games
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – OCTOBER 6: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz works the ball against Cam Johnson #23 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half of their preseason game at the Delta Center on October 6, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) | Getty Images
Peterson is assembling the shelf
We’ve all been there. Handiwork to complete, grown adult human in the home, just finished googling the difference between a socket and an Allen wrench. Before you sits the box of disassembled parts that Ikea sold to you at a premium. Free labor; free money. Now the onus is on you; you possess the wherewithal to construct your home’s furniture. You, the competent human person who can read and understand an instruction manual and does not need to pester the YouTube search bar to complete this elementary task.
Before assembling an Ikea shelf, you’ve got to take a second to assess the situation — take a quick scan, gather your temporary tools, and focus on getting the simple steps completed first. Just like when you built the 9,000-piece LEGO Death Star, you’ve got to start brick by brick.
Darryn Peterson spent his first preseason game reading the room. Scanning, deliberating, he wasn’t especially aggressive in his first 19 minutes, scoring 3 points on 5 shots, but that was the recon mission — game 2 was the real deal. For Peterson, assembling the shelf begins via searching for rhythm in the midrange first, and letting the ink bleed into the corners of his stat sheet.
And there ain’t nothing broken about his midrange jumper, that’s for certain. The midrange is making a comeback despite the 3-point revolution’s bloodlust to demolish an institution in the game of basketball. Though these player comparisons are still very premature, Peterson hunts midrange jumpers much like the great shooting guards of old (MJ, Kobe, etc.), and he had his way with the Denver defense there.
He still needs to see more three-pointers fall through the cylinder (he’s 1-8 from 3 through two preseason games), but Darryn Peterson is already acclimating to the cadence of the NBA game. And while his rim pressure leaves some room for improvement, Peterson’s shot-making gift is translating gloriously to the Utah Jazz. He finds and reaches his spots with ease, gingerly flicking his wrist and floating the ball through the nylon irrespective of any contesting hands in the vicinity.
23 points on 10-for-18 shooting is stunning for a player with Peterson’s shot diet, and even more so when considering he was just 1-for-6 from distance. His three-point shooting will recover — most misses seem to be more of a mental block, as he’s still visibly thinking about each attempt as he loads up — I’m confident he’ll recapture his mojo from beyond the arc. He appeared very comfortable knocking through his first successful attempt behind the arc after opening the game 0-5 from distance.
Keep it clean, Key
Keyonte George has gotten even better over the offseason, which is a massive development for those keeping stock in his All-Star candidacy. Confident, steady, mature, Keyonte didn’t force the issue in either of his first two games against Denver and shot the ball with trademark confidence, hitting 3 of his 5 looks from beyond the arc.
Keyonte’s extension was a sign of confidence that the Jazz believed their young point guard would be a foundational piece of their future, and he’s reaffirming their belief. It’s a beautiful thing.
And he’s clearly putting much more attention into evolving as a defender. He addressed his own shortcomings during Media Day, and it’s obvious that he values being an asset, not a liability.
But more effort on the defensive end has created a new problem: foul magnetism.
George collected 4 fouls in 21 minutes in Boulder.
Then 5 fouls in just 13 minutes in the Delta Center.
Utah’s budding star is no good to the team if he’s bound to the bench with foul trouble, and I’m certain Utah’s staff is addressing this issue as we speak.
Ace to the hole
Ace Bailey is primed to make a leap in his second season, thanks in no small part to his effort as a defender. The intangibles and non-stat-stuffing aspects of his game drew immense praise from Will Hardy, who insisted that the first game against Denver was Bailey’s best in a Jazz uniform.
Will Hardy said Sundays preseason game against the Nuggets was Ace Bailey’s best game as a member of the Jazz.#TakeNote | @kslsports
Agree to disagree, with his 37-point eruption in mind, but I understand what his coach is getting at. Praise players for doing the little things, because they pay hefty dividends.
Bailey put on some muscle over the offseason and is playing with immense confidence as the team’s 6th man.
Have we ever seen a player so poorly evaluated in the pre-draft period as Ace Bailey? He dropped from the projected 2nd pick and was projected to plummet even further than 5, where the Jazz picked him up. The reasons for his fall? Selfishness, ego, stubbornness, poor shot selection, and that’s just scratching the surface. Misled media cycles perpetuated the notion that Bailey did not want to play in Utah, and the narrative quickly became that he could never be happy with the Jazz.
They couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Blame his representation, which he’s since severed ties with, because the Jazz and Ace have been a match made in heaven, and I’m very optimistic about his developmental trajectory.
Hayes fever
Jaxson Hayes has been more than serviceable at the center spot. As a rim protector, he’s been exceptional.
He’s blocked four shots through two games — a big need for this team in the vacuum left by Kessler — and has been poised and confident in his role with a new team. Some chemistry wrinkles still need to be ironed out when it comes to timing in the pick-and-roll with his guards, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see how well he’s played through two games.
And he’ll see plenty more minutes in the early season.
Will Hardy has made it fairly clear through his lineup constructions that he views JJJ as a power forward, not a center. Now with Jusuf Nurkic out with a toe injury for the next month or so, that means Hayes will see plenty of reps as the starting 5, with apologies to my Mo Bamba truthers out there (Mo Bamba, no problems).
NEWS: Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkić will be sidelined for at least 4 weeks after suffering a partial plantar plate tear of second toe in right foot, league sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/4OGln9UHfl
Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently lives in Japan and has covered the NBA and college athletics since 2024.
Ozzie Albies lined a fastball from Alex Vesia and pulled it deep to left field, where Teoscar Hernández attempted to jump for it at the wall, only to miss the ball and crash hard into the padding as Albies cruised to a leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth.
Ozzie Albies has leadoff double for the Braves in the 6th 👀
Hernández stayed down on the ground, taking a few extra moments to gather himself. Andy Pages came over to check on his teammate, and a Dodgers trainer followed soon after as Hernández stayed on the grass and grabbed at the left side of his head.
Teoscar Hernández is slow to get up after running into the wall trying to make a catch. pic.twitter.com/zo3dCsfi9d
He stayed in the game, at least for now, however, and was able to make the catch on a Drake Baldwin liner in the next at-bat. Albies was ultimately stranded on second after Lane Thomas grounded out to first and Mauricio Dubón lined out to Kyle Tucker in right field to keep it a 1-1 game heading into the seventh inning. Hernández made his next plate appearance and singled in the next frame.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 07: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians steals third base against the Chicago White Sox during the fifth inning in game three of the American League Division Series at Rate Field on October 07, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just like we drew it up!
Ok, deep exhale Guardian fans! After an extremely disappointing first two games of the series, the Guardians go to Chicago, facing elimination, and take Game 3 over the White Sox by a score of 9-3. Cleveland would have more hits in game 3 (11) than they did the first two games combined (7), and the run total was more than three times as much (9-3). In this offensive explosion, Cleveland walloped 4(!) hits with runners in scoring position, their first 4 of the series. It wasn’t all easy today, as the White Sox were on Cleveland’s heels for 7 innings before the Guards pulled away late, but we saw the team that ran down the division, fighting and clawing and using their heads to scrape across everything they could rather than the team who looked like they never played baseball before, let alone any business winning the division.
There are a lot of Heroes of today’s game, and I’d like to highlight all of them considering it was their first playoff win (and a tough one at that, facing elimination) AND since this could be my last game recap for the year, and, maybe ever(?). Thanks to the impending lockout and the unfair governing fist that rules Covering The Corner, always trying to silence me and your favorite writers alike, to keep this town in the past where no one writes with flare or pizzaz and dancing is outlawed, well guess what Dad I just want to DANCE and I’m going to DANCE!!!… Ok that second one was just Footloose, I am actually quite fond of our CTC OverLords.
Anyway. The 5 Heroes that kept the Guardians alive for at least one more day…
5- Foster Griffin
Coming into the ALDS, we knew the Guardians would have one major pitching decision; Game 3. Because of all the days off, Cleveland would be able to pitch Messick and Williams, or Williams and Messick, in games 1 & 2 and then again in games 4 & 5 without having to battle short rest. So for the past month or so, the question was simple: who would pitch Game 3? The choice to many was clear: Joey Cantillo had been outstanding in his new found bulk Reliever role, throwing 15 scoreless innings in a row coming into the Playoffs. Now, to open the game, was a bit more of a mystery, as our darling Daniel Espino had been up and down in that role. But I saw the vision. Get 1-2 good innings from Espino, then roll with JC.
Well, Espino was all over the place. While he did have 2 strikeouts, he also had a 5 pitch walk and gave up 2 hits, allowing a run before being pulled for… Foster Griffin?
And Griffin was NASTY. Without the help of a high decibel level giving away his pitches, Foster was able to strikeout 7(!) in just 2.2 IP. We were desperate for a stabilizing presence to get us a few innings and he absolutely answered the bell.
4- Jo Adell
Speaking of Trade Deadline Acquisitions who would save our butts in the Playoffs, how about The Jo Show?! Jo would provide the only highlight from our lineup thru the first 2 games with a 108 MPH Rocket, 413 foot dead centerfield Triple (which on any summer night is out of the ballpark), and he continued that today with a Walk and 2 hits including a series rejuvenating bases clearing Triple to help Cleveland take an early 4-1 lead in the 3rd inning.
Obviously 3 runs on one swing is going to hype up any team, but boy did these guys need that. A huge sigh of relief came over the team even if there were 6+ innings to go.
3- Tim Herrin
OH HOW ABOUT BIG TIME TIMMY JIM?!
I have not been the biggest Herrin fan over the past few seasons, but he absolutely delivered today. After a very subpar Gaddis outing to finish the 6th, Cleveland only lead 5-3 going into the 7th. Herrin would come on and we needed a clean outing, knowing that we already burned most of the bullpen.
And Herrin delivered one of his best outings of the season, striking out the side on 18 pitches. He was absolutely nasty and made Murakami, Teel and Meidrith look like the White Sox of old and not the White Sox looking to go to the ALCS.
Of all the things that has hurt this team this season, one has been missing that has been undeniable. And that’s classic Jose.
His struggles this year have been well documented. Slow start, hammate bone broken, comes back struggling, playing thru an injury like a Warrior. I especially loved hearing Talking Heads who never talk baseball finally give this team some attention by saying he shouldn’t be playing. But guess what- sitting him isn’t the answer, because it’s admitting our Leader can’t cut it. We have to ride it out with him and give him the chance to rally the troops.
Today, he did just that.
Jose put together 3 huge highlights today, showing all the facets of his game. The first was in the 5th inning with a sharp double he ripped down the line, following it up by stealing 3rd and then somehow, someway, with the infield in and a hot hard-hit groundball right to the defender and a decent throw home, he STILL scores. I know Jo Adell brought in 3 runs, but Jose showing the team he alone can add insurance runs with hustle and determination? THAT is what kept this team alive.
His second highlight came from his defense, when in the bottom of the 6th and Hunter Gaddis unraveling, he dove to his left and caught/dropped a liner, spun around and threw out Miguel Vargas with the bases loaded and no one out, keeping the lead.
And then finally, with the game still up in the air and two outs in the 8th, he tripled in 2 runs and gave us some very necessary and anxiety inducing breathing room.
He might not be 100% healthy, but the GOAT was back tonight and it may just be enough to give this team the wake up call they need.
1- Cade Smith
I mean, do I really have to say it? Facing elimination we all knew he was throwing AT LEAST the 8th and 9th innings and possibly more. After a clean 7th from Herrin and some insurance runs from Jose in the Top half of the 8th, Cade stepped in with an 8 pitch 8th, striking out 2, and then striking out the side in the 9th, putting this game on ice and taking Game 3.
Game 4 will be Thursday with the Time still TBD based on Rays/Yankees Game 3. Parker Messick will start for Cleveland and I’m sure Chicago will be throwing the kitchen sink yet again. Buckle up Guards fans, it’s gonna be another stressful commute home!!!
Five of the siblings that make up the Buss Family Trust — Johnny (69), Jim (66), Janie (62), Joey (41) and Jesse (37) — are filing a case against their sister, who’s attempting to block her siblings from selling the remainder of the family’s ownership shares of the Lakers.
Jeanie Buss is looking to stop her siblings from selling the family’s ownership shares of the Lakers. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
“Jimmy, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss, the five of six siblings who voted to sell the Trust’s shares in the Lakers, [on Wednesday] filed their formal opposition, demonstrating that Jeanie Buss’s petition is legally and factually baseless,” the siblings said in a statement issued to ESPN. “While discussions among the siblings continue, their focus remains on facilitating the proposed transaction and the [Buss family] trust’s participation in it, while ensuring that all beneficiaries, including Jeanie, are treated equally.
“[Wednesday’s] filing is a necessary step to protect those interests and ensure the transaction proceeds on schedule.”
Jim Buss and four of his siblings are looking to sell the Buss family’s ownership shares of the Lakers. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Jeanie Buss originally filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court in late August to block her siblings’ attempted sale of their minority ownership stake of the franchise.
Jeanie, the third-oldest child of the late Dr. Jerry Buss, first made it clear she opposed her siblings’ vote to sell the family’s share of the Lakers, according to a letter from her lawyer, Adam Streisand, that was obtained by The Post, arguing her siblings can’t legally execute a sale without her approval and that any vote of the Buss family selling would be “void.”
Joey and Jesse Buss (in black hat) have branched out since the Buss family sold the majority ownership of the Lakers to Mark Walter last summer. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
To remain the Lakers governor, Jeanie or the Buss family would need to maintain control of at least 15% of the franchise, per NBA rules.
Jeanie has been the team’s governor since 2013 after Jerry’s death. When Walter purchased the majority ownership of the Lakers from the Buss family, the league announced that Buss would remain the team’s governor for at least five years (through 2030).
Streisand filed a continuation (postponement) in Jeanie’s petition in Los Angeles Superior Court after the hearing was initially scheduled for Nov. 5. The continuation request was granted, with the hearing being rescheduled for Dec. 8.
While Edwin Diaz’s debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t get off to the start that both sides would have liked, getting the save on Tuesday night had to have felt good.
Diaz’s longtime friend, Kiké Hernández, spoke about his save in Tuesday night’s NLDS Game 3 matchup and how proud he is of him.
Kiké Hernández opens up on his friendship with Edwin Diaz and seeing him get the save for the Dodgers last night:
“I haven’t had the chance to play with too many Puerto Rican guys… there’s so few of us in the league. I’ve known Sugar since before he got drafted.”
Kiké Hernández fields a ground ball hit his way during Game 3 of the NLDS. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“This year, it was a very difficult year,” Hernández said. “It’s very easy to put the year aside, and he worked his a— off to get to this point.”
His save came after Los Angeles only had one inning of run support when Hernández and his regular postseason hero teammate, Freddie Freeman, both homered in the third.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Edwin Diaz collects his first save since August in Game 3 of the NLDS. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
Los Angeles held on to the lead for the rest of the night, and Diaz was assigned to closing duties.
At first, things didn’t get off to a great start, as he gave up a leadoff double to Ozzie Albies. But then, he settled in and got the next three batters to hit out.
For Diaz, it was his first save since August.
During the offseason, Diaz signed a three-year $69 million deal with the Dodgers to become the anchor of the bullpen.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman and Edwin Diaz walking off the field following Game 3 of the NLDS. Getty Images
Since then, it hasn’t gone as they had both hoped, as Diaz has struggled to stay healthy and finished the regular season with an 8.68 ERA, converting seven of eleven save opportunities.
After his most recent injury stint concluded between August and September, Diaz adjusted his pitching mechanics — resulting in him making five appearances out of the bullpen, giving up only one hit, zero runs, and striking out nine batters.
“For him, it was one slight mechanical adjustment that he needed to do, that he didn’t realize,” Hernández said.
Top Prospect Kayson Cunningham was the best shortstop in the Dbacks farm system in 2026
Introduction
In my last article, we took a look through the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system to find the starting pitcher, catcher, first, and third basemen with the best season in 2026. Since there was a little confusion, I thought i’d provide some clarification about the qualifications. All we’re looking at is who had the most productive seasons, using wRC+, as it’s one of the few adjusted stats for minor league hitters. If you’d like to take a look yourself at the Minor League Leaderboards, you can find a link here, which I have set to show only players in the Diamondbacks organization.
Shortstop
Kayson Cunningham, the D-backs top pick and #18th overall in the 2025 draft, had a disappointing 11 game cup of coffee, but he had a much better 2026 starting with monstrous first half for the Visalia Rawhide. In 43 games for the Low-A affiliate, he hit .381/.471/.506 with a .451 wOBA and 156 wRC+. While he wasn’t quite as good after his promotion to High-A Hillsboro, he made enough adjustments to be a league average, while also stealing twice as many bases in just 20 more games. In 63 games, he’d hit .252/.360/.391 with a .347 wOBA and a 100 wRC+. In the 106 games games Cunningham played in overall between Visalia and Hillsboro, he put up a triple slash line of .307/.407/.440 with .391 wOBA 124 wRC+ with 30 SB (while only getting caught stealing 6 times). I would expect the Diamondbacks to start Cunningham in AA if they’re going to be aggressive with his development. Alternatively, I could see him repeating High-A and spending the first month or two Hillsboro before being moved up to AA. Most of the players mentioned here could be starters at second except Cunningham, who for some reason is listed as a second baseman on Fangraphs despite having NEVER played there as a pro.
There are a few other players that are honorable mentions. Carson Kerce had a solid debut after being drafted earlier this summer, albeit just a very small sample size. In 25 games in Low-A Visalia Kerce hit .295/.417/.421 with a .396 wOBA and a 124 wRC+. As an 18 year old in the Dominican Summer League, Alam Bruno gets an hononorable mention, despite hitting .270/.430/.409 with a 110 WRC+ in 35 games split between the two DSL teams. Leonardo Sevilla is another teenage prospect in the DSL who had a promising 2026 season. The 18 year old switching middle infielder hit .293/.435/395 with a 106 wRC+ in 51 games in his debut season.
Second base
As I pointed out in the first article in this series, one could easily have Danny Serretti as the starting second baseman, but instead I put him at third base. He was very good at both second and third base, but his likely future is as an utility player/emergency call up, at best. Instead we have a couple different options at second.
Native Arizonan Demetrio Crisantes started the year on the IL and only made his season debut with Amarillo at the end of May after making a rehab assignment with the ACL Dbacks and then the Hillsboro Hops. In Amarillo he’d play 35 games, putting up 130 wRC+ with a triple slash line of 319/.413/.548 and a .422 wOBA. He showed strong bat to ball skills and even hit for the cycle. His promotion to Reno showed the first real challenge of his professional career, leading to him hitting just .278 .343 .412 .with 343 wOBA and an 82 wRC+. He was especially bad immediately after the promotion, I’d guess his even worse .284 xwOBA is a reflection of that. Given the injury shortened season, it’s no surprise the Diamondbacks sent Crisantes to the Arizona Fall League. He’s currently playing for the Salt River Rafters, where he has an OPS over 1.200 at the time of writing, although with a caveat of being a tiny sample size. With a continued strong showing in the Fall League, I suspect rumors will ensue, considering past drama surrounding the man currently manning the second base position, Ketel Marte. Sidenote: Both Cunningham and Crisantes were born in Tucson, so there’s a possible future with both middle infielders being born in Southern Arizona.
Alternatively, we have JD Dix. Dix wasn’t quite as good as Crisantes in the first half, but the drop off in the second half wasn’t nearly as severe. In 48 games with the Low-A level Visalia Rawhide, Dix hit .253/378/468 with a .382 wOBA and a 115 wRC+, while showcasing his interesting power/speed combo by swatting nine homers and a pair of triples, while swiping 19 bases in 20 attempts. Dix played in 57 games with the High-A Hillsboro Hops, putting up a .251/.331/.372 with a .324 wOBA and an 85 wRC+. His power dipped, with only three homers leaving the yard, though he managed to triple three more times. He wasn’t quite the burner on the base paths, stealing 17 bases successfully in 21 attempts.
Outfield
This is going to be a tough nut to crack, as the D-backs are largely devoid of outfield depth at the moment. It would be a little easier if Ryan Waldschmidt and Tommy Troy hadn’t made their MLB debuts in 2026, as both had above-average outputs while in AAA.
Troy did put up a .312/412/.466 triple slash with a .401 wOBA and 118 wRC+ in 38 games, while Waldschmidt put up just as respectable .288/.405/.492 triple slash, with a .404 wOBA and a 120 wRC+ in 51 games. Since this series of article is deliberately excluding any players with ANY MLB service time accrued, they didn’t make that cut, but I thought their 2026 seasons were promising and worth a mention, even if the results were frustrating at times when they were at the MLB level.
Two out of three of the best outfield seasons were in the Dominican Summer League, and only one qualified hitter in the upper levels of the minor leagues with a positive wRC+. Before I get into those players, there is an honorable mention.
Avery Owusu-Asiedu had an awful run in High-A Hillsboro, but completely turned his season around once he was promoted to Double-A Amarillo. In 92 games with the Hillsboro Hops, Owusu-Asiedu hit just .202/.289/.369 with an anemic .298 wOBA and a 69 wRC+. If we were just looking at his time in the Northwestern League, he might actually be dishonorable mention, but that’s not the case. In 30 games in Amarillo, Owusu-Asiedu hit 14 homers compared to the 13 he hit in a third of the plate appearances. That surge in power gave him a triple slash line of .328/.423/.776 with a .488 wOBA and a 171 wRC+. This wasn’t just a park factor based breakout as Owusu-Asiedu looked completely different at the plate. His numbers combined on the season are almost respectable as a result, .236/.327/.479 with a .352 wOBA and a 98 wRC+, which is massive turnaround considering how bad he’d been in Hillsboro. Owusu-Asiedu is an above average fielder with a cannon for an arm. If he can hit like he has down the stretch, the D-backs might have an actual prospect here.
Our first real All-Star outfielder is 17 year old Joscar Hernandez, who in 49 games in the Dominican Summer League hit 283/465/449 with a .465 wOBA and a 137 wRC+. Hernandez was an absolute burner on the bases, swiping 31 bases successfully in 37 attempts. He also showed solid plate disciple, striking out 18.8% of the time while walking 17% of the time.
Our second outfielder, Jeremy Suriel, was also a 17 year old in the DSL. In 54 games he hit .277/.402/.474 with a .423 wOBA with a 104 wRC+. Suriel was just as much of a burner on the basepaths, swiping 26 bases successfully in 28 attempts, in addition to swatting four triples. That’s a full season pace of 12 triples, borderline Corbin Carroll-esque. While he didn’t walk quite as much Hernandez, Surriel did walk (14.7%) more than he struck out (13.3%)
Our final outfielder is 24 year old and Trent Youngblood, the Dbacks’ 10th rounder in the 2024 draft. Youngblood started his season in High A Hillsboro, playing in 72 games and putting up .289/.408/.397 with a .378 wOBA and a 120 wRC+. Youngblood hit only a meager five homeruns in the pitching friendly NWL, but he was another burner on the bases, swiping 24 bases in 32 attempts. He showed solid plate discipline as well, walking in 14.2% of plate appearances, while striking out only 16.9%, in addition to getting plunked at a decent rate that further boosted his OBP. Youngblood was then promoted to Double-A Amarillo for 43 games, where he hit .290/.410/.463 with a .398 wOBA and a 115 wRC+. To no one’s surprise, his power surged while in Amarillo, as he swatted the same amount of home runs (5) in 29 fewer games, but he also tripled his triples total (3 vs 1), while swapping five more bases without getting caught. Youngblood finished his regular season with a six game cup of coffee with the Triple A level Reno Aces, which did not go particularly well (4 for 23 with a double & a triple). For his season total, in 121 games, Youngblood put up a triple slash of .285/.402/.419 with a .381 wOBA and a 114 wRC+. After finishing the regular season, Youngblood rejoined his Sod Poodles teammate Owusu-Asiedu for the postseason, and both contributed to Amarillo’s Texas League championship run.
Conclusion
Next week we’re going to look at the best relief pitchers, the best designated hitter in the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system, and we’ll discuss some players who didn’t make the cut. That’s it for today! Do you disagree with my choices? Should Waldy and Tommy Troy have been starters? Do you think some other prospects I didn’t talk about are more deserving? Let me know in the comments!
Jake Weatherald’s horror return to Sheffield Shield action has gone from bad to worse, with the discarded Australian opener ruled out of South Australia’s season opener with Victoria due to concussion.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 30: Victor Wembanyama #1 and Head Coach Mitch Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs talking during game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 30, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs’ first preseason game is almost here. What are you looking forward to seeing the most?
Mark Barrington: I’m mostly looking forward to having basketball in my life again. It was a short offseason, but it feels like forever since I’ve been able to watch Spurs basketball. But I want to see if Tarris Reed is going to be able to contribute right away, and I want to see the development of the other young players. Will Dylan Harper take another leap in his skills? [yes!] Will Stephon Castle’s outside shooting improve? [I hope so.] What new unbelievable skills will Victor Wembanyama bring this season? [Prepare to be awed.]
Devon Birdsong: Well, I was going to say Tobias Harris, but uh…well, there goes that dream. Outside of that, though, I’m really looking forward to seeing how the young bigs perform. Don’t get me wrong, I’m always jazzed to see what’s going to happen with Dylan Harper, but I already know that he’s great regardless of what lineup he’s in and this backup big-man thing might end up mattering more, especially considering recent big-man injury history. *knocks on wood*
Jeje Gomez: I’m really looking forward to watching how Carter Bryant looks. He played in Summer League but only two games, and he was asked to do more than he’s likely able to right now. I’m interested to see if the shot falls and whether the defense can be less chaotic while keeping the physicality, since those are the two things the 2026/27 Spurs will need from him. There are a lot of interesting storylines to follow, from what happens in the backcourt to how the rookies fare. Wembanyama is always a pleasure to watch, and he’s so spectacular that it’s impossible not to pay attention to him. But in preseason and early in the regular season, I think one of the most interesting arcs to follow will be the battle for power forward minutes and whether Bryant can take advantage of Harris’ absence to carve out a role for himself.
Tobias Harris is expected to miss preseason with a calf injury and might not be ready for opening night. How big of a problem is that for the Spurs?
Barrington: Not a problem at all. He’s there to provide playoff toughness and as long as he’s 100% by midseason, he’ll be there when they need him.
Birdsong: I mean, on-court chemistry-wise it might have some kind of limited and/or brief effect, but it’s so early in the season that I can’t see it being much of a problem. Regular-season matchups will be just fine running Champagnie back out there instead, since that was one of last season’s best lineups in the entire NBA. The Spurs really need Harris for the postseason, so if they take their time bringing him back, it’ll be with that in mind. Bear in mind that even without Harris, this is still a team that won 62 games last year, and there’s still growth worth projecting. The kids will be fine for a bit.
Gomez: It can be seen as a problem or an opportunity. It’s a problem in the sense that the newcomer won’t be able to develop chemistry with his new teammates, which could cause his performance to suffer early in the season. The good news is Harris is a proven commodity, so even if it takes him a while to get going, the Spurs can afford to be patient with him, since they know what he brings to the table and they probably don’t need him to win regular season games.
I’m more interested in the opportunity it presents for the other forwards, as I mentioned before. Minutes will be scarce at the four even with Harris out, and while Julian Champagnie should have a big role locked down, Keldon Johnson, Carter Bryant, and even Harrison Barnes are battling for minutes. Keldon should have the inside track, but Bryant’s defense and Barnes shooting could entice Mitch Johnson if the second-year player and the veteran get playing time to show off their skills. With Harris out, they should get that chance.
What do you want to see change, if anything, from a coaching/system perspective heading into the new season?
Barrington: Billy Donovan will unlock a lot of different offensive sets that the Spurs didn’t have last year. I feel like a lot of the Spurs’ success last year was due to them just out-talenting the opposition. They will still do that against most teams, but in the later rounds of the playoffs when they’re facing elite opposition, they will need a strategic edge, and Donovan can give them that.
Birdsong:Wemby already brought it up this offseason, but the Spurs really need to work on utilizing him as a go-to offensive weapon, especially in isolation. And if they’re going to do that, that means they’ll need to unleash him in the post. The Spurs had their biggest issues in both the regular season and the postseason when Wemby got turned into just a jump-shooter instead of also feasting inside. That’ll be something that both team strategy and Wemby himself will have to emphasise and actively pursue. The game has slowed down for him enough, and the team is deep and talented enough, that Wemby has learned how to let the game come to him. Now they all have to learn how to most effectively impose his will on it as needed, and perhaps, in the process, help Wemby find a go-to move.
Gomez: How the three guard lineups fare will be fascinating, but I think the biggest question mark for the Spurs is their halfcourt offense. There’s so much talent in the roster that they got away with not having a plan or not executing even simple plays quickly and efficiently for long stretches last season, but that needs to change. Whether Donovan or Johnson gets the credit doesn’t really matter as long as the Spurs have an offensive system in place that allows them to create ways to score when games slow down.
Providing a spark: Tristan Peters hit a clutch RBI double in the fourth inning to claw into Cleveland’s lead. | Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Sooner or later, one of these kinds of games was bound to happen. Things had been going very smoothly for the White Sox (84-78), who had only allowed nine runs in four games this postseason. However, the Guardians (85-77) remained alive in the ALDS, winning by a score of 9-3. The White Sox still lead the best-of-five series, but the lead is less secure at 2-1.
Sean Newcomb started on the mound for the South Siders, and the top of the first went quite smoothly. Steven Kwan led off the game with a soft grounder back toward the mound. Newcomb charged it and threw out the speedy outfielder at first, prompting a particularly lively crowd pop for the game’s first out. The crowd was even noisier when José Ramírez hit a liner to left that appeared to be dropping for a hit. However, Randal Grichuk made an impressive diving catch to keep Ramírez off base, and the crowd was hyped up. Newcomb proceeded to retire Chase DeLauter to wrap up a perfect top of the first and cause the third nice crowd pop in as many hitters.
Right-handed pitcher Daniel Espino opened the game for the Guardians, and the White Sox did not make it easy on him. Sam Antonacci led off the bottom of the first with a walk, and after a sharp liner by Miguel Vargas that landed in left for a single, the White Sox were in business. Munetaka Murakami struck out swinging, but Kyle Teel had no intention of letting the White Sox walk away empty-handed. Teel crushed a liner down the right field line, allowing Antonacci to score the game’s first run. Vargas advanced to third, and the White Sox still only had one out with a pair in scoring position. Espino calmed down and struck out Chase Meidroth swinging for an impactful out No. 2. After that strikeout, left-handed pitcher Foster Griffin took over on the mound for an early pitching change, as the Guardians wanted a lefty to face Tristan Peters. That move paid off, as Peters struck out swinging, and the score remained 1-0.
In the second inning, Jo Adell led off with a slow roller between first and second. Adell used his speed to leg out an infield single. That set the stage for Nathaniel Lowe, who hit a sharp liner to third. That line drive had a 104.6 mph exit velocity and a .640 xBA, but it did not matter. Vargas made the catch, and he quickly fired over to first to double off Adell, who had ventured too far off the bag.
After the White Sox went down quietly in the bottom of the second, Bryan Hudson took over after two excellent innings from opener Sean Newcomb. Hudson’s outing did not go as smoothly, issuing a leadoff walk to the speedy Travis Bazzana, and on top of that, Kyle Teel made an unsuccessful ABS challenge. Next up was Patrick Bailey, who hit a liner toward shortstop that would often find grass for a single. This time, however, Colson Montgomery made a leaping catch, timing his jump nicely for the inning’s first out. However, once again, Teel blew a challenge, as he came down to earth after a great start challenging pitches this postseason. Suddenly, the White Sox were out of ABS challenges in the third. In addition, Brayan Rocchio singled to right, putting runners on first and second with one out. From there, Kwan picked up Cleveland’s first hit of the series with runners in scoring position. Bazzana scored the tying run, and that single prompted a pitching change, as Hagen Smith took over with one out and runners on first and second.
The batter was Ramírez, and Smith missed the zone with four of his first five pitches to load the bases. Smith recovered and forced a soft grounder to first that Murakami threw home to get the force out. Just like that, there were two outs, and although the bases were still loaded, the end of the long inning was near. If Smith could retire Adell, the White Sox would salvage the inning and preserve the tie. However, although White Sox pitchers have been terrific in high-leverage situations this postseason, this time, it was not meant to be. Adell hit a sharp grounder to the opposite field that was away from the White Sox defense. Adell’s grounder was just fair down the right field line, and it cleared the bases for a three-run triple. Just like that, Cleveland had a 4-1 lead.
Chase Meidroth led off with a double down the left field line, just past the outstretched glove of Ramírez, who nearly got there. That set the table for Tristan Peters, who had an interesting at-bat. At first, it seemed he was hit by a pitch, but upon review, the call was correctly overturned to a foul ball after a Cleveland challenge. At that point, the White Sox made a questionable decision to challenge, claiming it was catcher’s interference (it most certainly was not). Despite the unsuccessful challenge, Peters delivered with a double of his own to cut the deficit to two. With the score then 4-2, the White Sox still had a runner on second with no outs. However, they were unable to cut further into the deficit that inning.
The Guardians went back to work in the top of the fifth against Noah Schultz. With one out, Ramírez sliced a double down the left field line. Ramírez proceeded to use his wheels to swipe third, so the Guardians had a runner on third with one out. DeLauter stepped up to the plate, and he hit a grounder that appeared to be favorable to the White Sox. Meidroth gathered it quickly and threw home, trying to retire Ramírez, who was dashing for the plate. However, Ramírez made an excellent jump that allowed him to beat the throw, and Cleveland was back ahead by three.
The White Sox got off to a good start in the bottom of the fifth against reliever Joey Cantillo. With the top of the order due up, Antonacci singled, and Vargas drew a four-pitch walk to put two on with no outs. Murakami, representing the game’s potential tying run, hit a soft grounder to second. Bazzana’s only play was to first, and Murakami was retired, but the White Sox had two in scoring position with only one out. That brought up Teel, who was looking to add to his RBI total. For a split second, it appeared he would do just that, as he hit a sharp liner. However, Teel was unlucky, as Bazzana was in the right place at the right time. Bazzana made the catch, and Vargas wandered too far from second base, so he was doubled off to end the scoring threat. What a missed opportunity.
With the score still 5-2, the Guardians had a runner on second with two outs against Schultz, and Kwan was at the plate. Kwan hit a grounder that Murakami fielded, and a footrace between Schultz and Kwan was underway. Schultz won that race by a small fraction of a second, which appeared to save a run, as Bailey was flying down the third base line on his way home.
After Cantillo retired the first two batters in the bottom of the sixth, it appeared to be a quiet inning for the South Siders. However, Cantillo issued a walk to Braden Montgomery, and that free pass resulted in a pitching change. Right-handed reliever Hunter Gaddis took over to face Grichuk, but that move did not pay off, as Grichuk hit a sharp liner for a single. That base hit kept the inning alive for Colson Montgomery, who was hit by a pitch in the foot to load the bases. Next up to the plate was Antonacci, who was also remarkably hit in the foot for his second HBP of the night. This one forced in a run to trim the deficit to two.
Suddenly, after the White Sox had nobody on base with two outs, Vargas stepped up to the plate in a high-leverage spot against Gaddis. Vargas hit a liner that appeared to be trouble, but Ramírez was there to make a play. At first, Ramírez appeared to make a sliding catch to end the inning, so Vargas briefly relaxed until he saw the ball squirt loose. Ramírez made the throw to first in time to retire Vargas and end the inning. It is unclear whether Vargas would have legged out an infield single if not for the brief slowdown, but regardless, the inning was over, and the score was 5-3, Cleveland.
Reliever Tyler Davis took over for the White Sox in the top of the seventh and delivered a scoreless inning. At the seventh inning stretch, the White Sox trailed by two, still needing some offense. The South Siders were unable to get anything going against Indiana Hoosier Tim Herrin, who struck out the side in order in the bottom of the seventh.
Reliever David Sandlin took over for the White Sox in the eighth, and in that inning, the Guardians managed to take firm control. After a leadoff walk by Bazzana and a single by Bailey, Rocchio laid down a sacrifice bunt to put two in scoring position with one out. Sandlin got Kwan to fly out harmlessly to shallow left, but Ramírez hit a fly ball to medium-deep left. Grichuk started quite far from the left field line, which made a catch very difficult. Grichuk made a good attempt, but ultimately, the fly ball by Ramírez was just too far for Grichuk to track down. That ball only had an 82.8 mph exit velocity and a 37-degree launch angle for a .010 xBA, but it was placed in a very tough spot for Grichuk, and Ramírez ended up at third with a two-run triple.
The Guardians picked up two in garbage time against Davis Martin in the ninth to pull away. Meanwhile, Cleveland reliever Cade Smith locked down the game by retiring all six batters he faced to seal the deal.
The White Sox will be back in action on Thursday. Once again, they will be at home, and they will have another chance to finish off the Guardians. If the Rays finish a sweep of the Yankees tonight, Game 4 in Chicago will push back to 7 p.m. CT. Once again, TBS/HBO Max and TruTV will televise that matchup, and WMVP 1000 AM will have the radio coverage. We will see you then.
I love Anne Hathaway 
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