Samwise MLB Newsletter
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Rays Exploit Four Yankees Errors for 2-0 ALDS Lead
Richie Palacios hit a two-run single in a four-run fifth inning Monday night as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 5-2 to take a 2-0 lead in their AL Division Series. New York committed four errors, including three in the first inning, and starter Cam Schlittler was charged with four runs, two earned, over 4 1/3 innings. Ben Rice hit two solo homers for the Yankees. Freddy Peralta allowed one run over 4 2/3 innings for Tampa Bay, which is one win from the ALCS. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Max Fried will likely start Game 3 on Wednesday.
Sources: NBC Sports · CBS Sports · NBC Sports Game 3 note
White Sox Rally Past Guardians, Move One Win From ALCS
Braden Montgomery lined a two-run double in the sixth inning and Sean Burke allowed one hit over 5 1/3 innings of relief as the Chicago White Sox rallied past the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 on Monday for a 2-0 lead in their AL Division Series. Chicago improved to 4-0 in these playoffs, all on the road, and is one win from its first ALCS since winning the 2005 World Series. Cleveland starter Gavin Williams struck out 11, but the Guardians’ offense failed to produce for the second straight game. Grant Taylor earned his second straight save. Game 3 is Wednesday afternoon in Chicago.
Sources: ESPN · CBS Sports
Braves Turn to Rested Sale Against Yamamoto in Game 3
Chris Sale starts Game 3 of the NL Division Series for the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, with the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers tied 1-1. Atlanta used opener Ray Kerr in Sunday’s 3-2 Game 2 win, keeping Sale off the mound. Sale posted a 2.16 ERA in the regular season and threw a shutout against the Dodgers on Aug. 27. Los Angeles counters with right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. It marks his first postseason appearance since he was named the World Series MVP last November. All seven Dodgers runs in the series have come on five homers, and Los Angeles is 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Sources: CBS Sports · NBC Sports
Padres Activate Buehler as Brewers Hold 2-0 NLDS Lead
The San Diego Padres reinstated right-hander Walker Buehler from the paternity list during Monday’s off day and removed Randy Vásquez from their NL Division Series roster. Vásquez had been on the roster as a long man for the first two games in Milwaukee but did not pitch. The Padres trail the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0 after Jackson Chourio’s two-run walk-off single against Mason Miller in Game 2. San Diego has tabbed Nick Pivetta to start Game 3, with the Brewers countering with Dustin May. Manager Craig Stammen said Buehler is an option to start Game 4 and will be available in relief.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors · MLB.com
Red Sox Leaders Push Back on Analytics Criticism
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and manager Chad Tracy said Monday there is no franchise-wide directive on how analytics are used, after several players questioned in-game decisions following Boston’s Wild Card Series loss to the New York Yankees. First baseman Willson Contreras was one of the loudest voices. “Those decisions, they’re mine,” Tracy said, adding that nobody has scripted a game for him since he arrived. Tracy met for multiple hours with Contreras after his comments. Breslow also said surgery does not appear necessary for Roman Anthony, who left Game 1 with a new right hand injury, and that rest is likely the best path to recovery.
Sources: ESPN · NBC Sports
Mariners’ Cal Raleigh and Josh Naylor Undergo Surgery
The Seattle Mariners announced that catcher Cal Raleigh and Josh Naylor underwent surgical procedures on Oct. 3, and both players are expected to be recovered before the start of spring training. Raleigh had a left shoulder acromioclavicular debridement procedure, while Naylor had triangular fibrocartilage complex repair surgery on his right wrist. Both players are coming off down years. Raleigh hit 23 home runs in 2026, well shy of the 60 he hit the year before, and finished with a .182/.296/.368 line. He battled an early-season oblique injury before landing on the injured list in May. The shoulder injury had not previously been reported.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors · MLB.com
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 |
Final 2026 regular-season standings. Source: MLB.com
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency