Samwise MLB Newsletter
Monday, October 19, 2026
Rasmussen Leads Rays Past Guardians 3-1 in Game 5, One Win From the World Series
Drew Rasmussen allowed one run over seven innings as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 on Sunday at Progressive Field, taking a 3-2 lead in the American League Championship Series. Rasmussen gave up four hits, walked one and struck out six on 95 pitches for his second postseason win. The Rays chased Cleveland rookie starter Parker Messick after two innings, in which he allowed two runs, five hits and three walks. Liam Hicks blooped an RBI single to shallow center in the third for a 3-0 lead, scoring Chandler Simpson, who had led off the inning with a double. Cleveland used six pitchers.
Sources: ABC News (AP) · CBS Sports · ESPN
Rays Start Freddy Peralta, Guardians Plan Bullpen Game for Must-Win ALCS Game 6
The Rays will start right-hander Freddy Peralta in Game 6 of the ALCS on Monday night at Tropicana Field, with a trip to the World Series on the line for Tampa Bay. Peralta tossed six shutout innings as the Game 2 starter, allowing four hits and striking out six, and the two-time All-Star has a 0.79 ERA through three playoff appearances this fall. Cleveland, facing elimination, will most likely use a bullpen game, with right-hander Slade Cecconi potentially starting. Manager Stephen Vogt said Gavin Williams, the team’s best starter this postseason, is “not an option” on short rest. Williams lines up as the likely Game 7 starter.
Sources: Sports Illustrated · NBC Sports · MLB.com
Petey Halpin’s Two-Run Homer Lifts Guardians Past Rays 3-2 in ALCS Game 3
Petey Halpin hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the fifth inning Thursday as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 at Progressive Field to take a 2-1 lead in the American League Championship Series. Halpin, a defense-first rookie outfielder, connected on an elevated 95.9 mph sinker on a 2-2 count and drove it 385 feet into the stands in right-center field. He followed the swing with a bat flip. Halpin called the home run “for sure the biggest moment of my career.” The afternoon game had been moved up from its evening start to beat incoming rain in Cleveland.
Sources: CBS Sports · NBC Sports · Sports Illustrated
Brewers Rally to Sweep Dodgers, Reach First World Series Since 1982
Garrett Mitchell hit a go-ahead homer in the sixth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 on Thursday, completing a four-game NLCS sweep of the two-time defending World Series champions. Shohei Ohtani’s first home run of the postseason helped put Los Angeles ahead 4-0 in the second inning. With the score tied 4-all, Mitchell fell behind 0-2 against Tanner Scott before hitting a 409-foot leadoff drive to center. David Hamilton added a two-out solo shot in the ninth. Milwaukee, which topped the majors with 103 wins, will host Cleveland or Tampa Bay in the World Series opener on Oct. 23.
Sources: NBC Sports · ABC News (AP) · MLB.com
Ohtani Says Offseason Surgery Is ‘Hard to Tell’ but Plans to Pitch Next Season
Shohei Ohtani said it is “hard to tell” whether he will need knee or biceps surgery this offseason, but confirmed he plans to pitch next season after the Los Angeles Dodgers were swept by Milwaukee in the NLCS. A left knee injury kept him from pitching since early July, and right biceps inflammation later forced him to the 15-day injured list in September. “It’s something that’s going to be analyzed, discussed over the offseason,” Ohtani said. The Dodgers hit .257 during the regular season but .188 in the postseason. Los Angeles had baseball’s oldest collection of position players this season, weighted by playing time.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors · CBS Sports · NBC News (AP)
Phillies Hire Carlos Mendoza as Third Base Coach, Re-Sign Reliever Tim Mayza
The Philadelphia Phillies named former New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza their third base and infield coach and re-signed reliever Tim Mayza to a one-year contract, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced. Mendoza, 46, had been without a job since the Mets fired him amid a 34-47 start on June 26. He replaces Anthony Contreras at third base and Bobby Dickerson as infield coach. Mayza, 34, will earn $2.75 million after posting a 3.48 ERA in 60 appearances in 2026. Dombrowski also said Trea Turner will open next season at shortstop but must improve his play at the position.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors · CBS Sports · NBC Sports
Orioles’ Cade Povich Undergoes Elbow Surgery, Expected Ready for Spring Training
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Cade Povich underwent surgery Wednesday to remove loose bodies from his elbow after pitching through significant pain down the stretch of the 2026 season. He is expected to be ready for spring training. Povich, who divided the season between Baltimore and Triple-A Norfolk, went on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation on May 8 and did not return until June 27, his lone injured list stint of the year. The operation is relatively minor as far as elbow surgeries go, and Povich has a shot at earning a spot in the Orioles’ starting rotation.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors · CBS Sports · NBC Sports
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