Samwise MLB Newsletter
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Dodgers Tab Tarik Skubal for NLDS Game 1 Against Braves
The Los Angeles Dodgers made it official Friday: left-hander Tarik Skubal will start Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday. The decision means Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the reigning World Series MVP, will not open the series. Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award winner acquired from the Detroit Tigers before the trade deadline, went 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA and 70 strikeouts over 62 innings in 10 starts for Los Angeles. He owns a 2.04 career postseason ERA. “It’s an honor and a privilege to start Game 1,” Skubal said. Yamamoto may be pushed back to Tuesday’s Game 3 in Atlanta.
Sources: Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports
Yankees Choose Gerrit Cole Over Carlos Rodon for ALDS Opener in Tampa
The New York Yankees announced Friday morning that Gerrit Cole will start Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, with first pitch set for Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET in Tampa. Cole, 36, will face Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen. New York picked Cole over left-hander Carlos Rodon, who went 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA across four September starts. Cole allowed nine home runs in September, but he posted a 2.50 ERA in three starts against the Rays this season and owns a career 2.93 ERA in 12 postseason starts with the Yankees. Rodon has a 6.92 postseason ERA with New York.
Sources: Sports Illustrated, MLB.com
Yankees Undecided on Aaron Judge for ALDS Roster as Calf Recovery Continues
The New York Yankees had not decided Friday whether Aaron Judge will be on their American League Division Series roster against the Tampa Bay Rays, manager Aaron Boone said. Judge has not played since straining his right calf, specifically the soleus muscle, on Sept. 16. He faced live pitching at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, worked out at the organization’s minor league complex in Tampa early Friday and took batting practice at Tropicana Field. “We’ll see,” Boone said. Boone said the Tropicana Field turf would factor into the decision “a little bit” and hinted Judge could be carried but limited early. The roster is due Saturday morning.
Sources: ESPN, NBC Sports
Padres Pick Robbie Ray to Face Jacob Misiorowski in NLDS Game 1
The San Diego Padres announced Friday that left-hander Robbie Ray will start Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night. The choice of Ray over right-hander Walker Buehler was a surprise. Ray, 35, went 13-8 with a 3.59 ERA over 165 2/3 innings between the Giants and Padres. He will face Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, who went 16-5 with a 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts over 174 2/3 innings and is the heavy favorite for the NL Cy Young Award. Milwaukee finished 103-59, but San Diego won the regular-season series 4-2. First pitch is 8:30 p.m. ET.
Sources: Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports
White Sox Start Rookie Hagen Smith in ALDS Game 1 at Cleveland
Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable named rookie left-hander Hagen Smith the starter for Saturday’s American League Division Series Game 1 against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Smith, 23, went 3-3 with a 1.29 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 28 innings over 18 appearances this season. He pitched three scoreless innings in the Wild Card Series opener at Houston. The Guardians will counter with rookie left-hander Parker Messick, who went 12-9 in 32 starts, including a 2.81 ERA in five starts against Chicago. Venable cited the built-in off-days of a five-game series, which allow heavier bullpen use. Game 1 begins at 1 p.m. ET.
Jed Hoyer Says Cubs Will Focus Offseason on Pitching After Wild Card Sweep
Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Friday that pitching will be the team’s main focus this winter after the San Diego Padres swept Chicago out of the Wild Card Series. The Cubs gave up the most home runs in the National League during the regular season and allowed 12 runs in the two playoff losses. “The great majority of our focus [this winter] is going to be on pitching acquisition,” Hoyer said at his end-of-year news conference. He took the blame for the bullpen: “I did a poor job in the bullpen this year, full stop.” Hoyer called the position-player group “remarkably healthy.”
Sources: ESPN, MLB Trade Rumors
Mariners Claim First Baseman Michael Toglia Off Waivers From Reds
The Seattle Mariners claimed first baseman Michael Toglia off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds, according to a team announcement. Toglia had been on the 60-day injured list since early September after dislocating his shoulder, an injury that required season-ending surgery. The switch-hitting former first-round pick slashed .273/.373/.547 with 22 home runs at Louisville this year before his selection to the big league roster in mid-August, then appeared in only 10 games. Toglia hit 25 home runs in 116 games for Colorado in 2024, when his barrel rate ranked in the 98th percentile, but he has never made enough contact to hold a major league role.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors, Sports Illustrated
Final 2026 regular-season standings
American League
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL East | |||
| Tampa Bay Rays | 98 | 64 | — |
| New York Yankees | 93 | 68 | 4.5 |
| Boston Red Sox | 87 | 75 | 11.0 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 79 | 82 | 18.5 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 79 | 83 | 19.0 |
| AL Central | |||
| Cleveland Guardians | 85 | 77 | — |
| Chicago White Sox | 84 | 78 | 1.0 |
| Minnesota Twins | 77 | 85 | 8.0 |
| Detroit Tigers | 76 | 86 | 9.0 |
| Kansas City Royals | 69 | 93 | 16.0 |
| AL West | |||
| Houston Astros | 81 | 81 | — |
| Texas Rangers | 80 | 82 | 1.0 |
| Seattle Mariners | 76 | 86 | 5.0 |
| Athletics | 64 | 98 | 17.0 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 62 | 100 | 19.0 |
National League
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL East | |||
| Atlanta Braves | 94 | 68 | — |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 88 | 74 | 6.0 |
| Miami Marlins | 80 | 82 | 14.0 |
| Washington Nationals | 77 | 85 | 17.0 |
| New York Mets | 74 | 88 | 20.0 |
| NL Central | |||
| Milwaukee Brewers | 103 | 59 | — |
| Chicago Cubs | 89 | 73 | 14.0 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 82 | 80 | 21.0 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 77 | 85 | 26.0 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 75 | 87 | 28.0 |
| NL West | |||
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 100 | 62 | — |
| San Diego Padres | 91 | 71 | 9.0 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 86 | 76 | 14.0 |
| San Francisco Giants | 65 | 97 | 35.0 |
| Colorado Rockies | 58 | 104 | 42.0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency