Samwise MLB Newsletter
Saturday, October 10, 2026
Guardians Turn to Gavin Williams, White Sox to Sean Burke for Winner-Take-All ALDS Game 5
The Cleveland Guardians will start right-hander Gavin Williams in Saturday’s decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox. Williams started Cleveland’s 4-3 loss in Game 2, then made his first professional relief appearance Thursday, entering after a walk to Munetaka Murakami, allowing a hit and retiring the next three batters in a 9-5 win. “Gavin wants the ball,” manager Stephen Vogt said Friday. “We want him to have the ball, and it’s his game.” The White Sox named Sean Burke, who allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings in bulk relief in Game 2. The winner opens the ALCS against the Rays on Monday.
Sources: MLB.com · NBC Sports
Dodgers Set Skubal for NLCS Game 1 and Yamamoto for Game 2 Against Brewers
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Friday that Tarik Skubal will start Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto starting Game 2 and Blake Snell expected for Game 3. Skubal struck out seven over six innings of one-run ball against Atlanta in NLDS Game 1. The Brewers are expected to counter with Jacob Misiorowski, who went 16-5 with an MLB-best 1.80 ERA, in Game 1 and rookie Logan Henderson in Game 2. Roberts also said infielder Miguel Rojas, who exited NLDS Game 3 with lower back pain, has improved, but his NLCS status remains in question.
Sources: NBC Sports · Sports Illustrated · NBC Sports (Rojas)
Rangers Shortstop Corey Seager Has Surgery to Remove Elbow Bone Spur
The Texas Rangers announced Friday that shortstop Corey Seager underwent surgery Tuesday to remove a bone spur from his right elbow and is expected to make a full recovery in time to begin his normal offseason work. President of baseball operations Chris Young said Sept. 28 that Seager had dealt with the bone spur “for a few months.” The 32-year-old played in 102 games and set career lows in batting average (.227) and OPS (.736). Catcher Danny Jansen underwent a procedure Wednesday to remove a bone growth in his right hand, while third baseman Josh Jung will not need surgery for a right hand fracture.
Sources: MLB.com · NBC Sports
Red Sox Reliever Garrett Whitlock Pitched Through Undiagnosed Fractured Tibia
Boston Red Sox right-hander Garrett Whitlock had been pitching through a fractured tibia that was not properly diagnosed, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Globe reported, according to NBC Sports. Imaging on Whitlock’s injured leg revealed the fracture after he kept pitching for Boston down the stretch and into the postseason. The 30-year-old is not expected to require surgery, but he will spend the next four to six weeks in a walking boot while the injury heals. NBC Sports reported that Whitlock should still be able to go through his regular offseason routine and should be a full participant at the start of spring training.
Sources: NBC Sports · MLB Trade Rumors
Sonny Gray Plans to Pitch in 2027, Open to Red Sox Return
Sonny Gray plans to keep pitching in 2027, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reported, according to NBC Sports. There had been rumblings that the 37-year-old right-hander was mulling retirement, but Gray ultimately called it an easy decision. “My family and I have talked about it and it’s an easy decision,” Gray said. “I still want to win a World Series, whether that is [with] Boston or with whoever wants me.” NBC Sports reported that Gray is expected to decline his side of a $30 million mutual option with the Red Sox and should be very highly sought after in free agency this winter.
Sources: NBC Sports · MLB Trade Rumors
Left-Hander Rob Zastryzny Elects Free Agency After Brewers Outright
Veteran left-hander Rob Zastryzny has elected free agency, ending his time in the Milwaukee Brewers organization while the club remains alive in the postseason. The 34-year-old was sent outright to Triple-A Nashville by the Brewers near the end of September. Rather than waiting to see whether he could become an option out of Milwaukee’s bullpen at some point during the remainder of the postseason, Zastryzny chose to head to the free agent market. He made 11 appearances at Triple-A this season, posting a 1.93 ERA, a 0.86 WHIP and a 9-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 9 1/3 innings.
Sources: NBC Sports · MLB Trade Rumors
Final 2026 regular-season standings (source: CBS Sports)
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