Samwise MLB Newsletter
Sunday, October 4, 2026
Rasmussen Takes No-Hit Bid Into Eighth as Rays Beat Yankees 1-0
Drew Rasmussen did not allow a hit until two outs in the eighth inning, and Jonathan Aranda’s solo homer off Gerrit Cole gave the Tampa Bay Rays a 1-0 win over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of their AL Division Series on Saturday night. Rasmussen allowed one hit and two walks with 10 strikeouts over eight innings, tying Tyler Glasnow for the most strikeouts in a playoff game in franchise history. Austin Wells broke up the no-hit bid with a double, then was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. Bryan Baker pitched a perfect ninth, and Tampa Bay leads the best-of-five series 1-0.
Sources: CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Sports Illustrated
Contreras Homer in Seventh Lifts Brewers Past Padres 3-2 in NLDS Opener
William Contreras hit a go-ahead solo homer off Adrian Morejon in the seventh inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 in Game 1 of their NL Division Series on Saturday night. Contreras, who was 1 for 20 against the Padres this season, drove a 3-2 pitch 406 feet to right-center. Jackson Chourio hit a two-run homer in the third inning, after San Diego scored twice in the second. The Padres loaded the bases in the seventh but did not score. Game 2 is Sunday, with Michael King starting for San Diego against Milwaukee’s Logan Henderson.
Sources: NBC Sports, ESPN
Skubal Pitches Dodgers Past Braves 5-3 in 100-Degree NLDS Opener
Tarik Skubal threw six innings in 100-degree heat at Dodger Stadium, allowing one run on two hits with seven strikeouts, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 in Game 1 of their NL Division Series on Saturday. Teoscar Hernández hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning after Freddie Freeman walked, and in the sixth Kyle Tucker added a two-run shot and Max Muncy a solo homer. Sean Murphy and Ozzie Albies homered for Atlanta. Skubal’s 63 postseason strikeouts are the second most in a pitcher’s first seven postseason appearances, behind Bob Gibson’s 74. Blake Snell starts Game 2 on Sunday.
Sources: NBC Sports, ESPN
Murakami Homer and Bullpen Lift White Sox Past Guardians 3-0 in ALDS Opener
Munetaka Murakami hit a two-run homer on the first pitch he saw from Parker Messick, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-0 in Game 1 of their AL Division Series on Saturday. The 440-foot drive to right field, in the fourth inning, was Murakami’s first postseason home run. Five Chicago pitchers combined on a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts, including Grant Taylor’s four-inning save, in which he allowed two hits and struck out six. Colson Montgomery’s seventh-inning double scored Kyle Teel for the final run. Cleveland loaded the bases with two outs in both the third and fourth innings but did not score. Game 2 is Monday.
Sources: NBC Sports, Sports Illustrated
Roof Ground Rule Turns Ty France Fly Ball Into an Out in Brewers-Padres Opener
Ty France’s ninth-inning fly ball struck the roof at American Family Field and was caught by Milwaukee left fielder Jackson Chourio for an out, preserving the Brewers’ 3-2 lead in Game 1 of the NLDS. Under the ballpark’s ground rules, a ball that hits the roof in fair territory remains live and can be caught. San Diego challenged the call, but the ruling stood. Statcast measured the ball at 105.3 mph off the bat with a 49-degree launch angle. Brewers manager Pat Murphy said, “It was going to be a foul ball,” while France called it a game-changing swing. The next batter, Jackson Merrill, lined out to end the game.
Sources: CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports
Yankees Leave Aaron Judge Off ALDS Roster While Calf Strain Heals
The New York Yankees left Aaron Judge off their roster for the AL Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays as the three-time MVP recovers from a right calf strain. Judge has been out since leaving a September 16 loss to the Twins, and he was placed on the injured list three days later. Manager Aaron Boone said Judge needed another “five, six, seven days” of building up his running before he could return. Left-hander Ryan Weathers, sidelined since August 22 with a flexor strain, replaced Amed Rosario, the only change from the Wild Card Series roster.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors, CBS Sports, NBC Sports
Padres Place Walker Buehler on Paternity List Before NLDS Game 1
The San Diego Padres placed right-hander Walker Buehler on the postseason paternity list on Saturday, hours before Game 1 of their NL Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Buehler is awaiting the birth of his second child and can be away from the team for one to three days. Right-hander Randy Vasquez took his spot on the 26-man roster. Robbie Ray started Game 1 for San Diego against Jacob Misiorowski. Buehler could be an option to start Game 3 or 4 once he returns, and he finished the regular season with a 4.63 ERA over 143 1/3 innings.
Sources: NBC Sports, Sports Illustrated, MLB Trade Rumors
Dodgers Add De Paula and Henriquez to NLDS Roster as Braves Make Three Changes
The Los Angeles Dodgers set their NL Division Series roster with prospect Josue De Paula and Hyeseong Kim in bench roles and reliever Edgardo Henriquez reinstated from the injured list, where he had been with lower back discomfort since September 13. Los Angeles also added Edwin Diaz and Kris Bubic to the bullpen and left off Alex Call and Dalton Rushing. Atlanta changed three spots from its Wild Card roster, adding right-handers AJ Smith-Shawver and JR Ritchie and outfielder Lane Thomas in place of Dominic Smith, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and Luke Williams.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors, Sports Illustrated
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