Samwise MLB Newsletter
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Guardians Blank White Sox 2-0 to Complete ALDS Comeback
Gavin Williams struck out 12 over 5 2/3 innings and José Ramírez hit a two-run homer as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox 2-0 on Saturday night to win their AL Division Series 3-2. Cleveland became the 11th team to win a best-of-five series after losing the first two games, and the first since the 2017 Yankees. Cleveland’s staff struck out 21, an MLB record for any nine-inning game. Williams, pitching two days after saving Game 4, allowed one hit. Ramírez’s homer came on the lowest pitch hit for a postseason home run since tracking began in 2008. Cleveland opens the ALCS at Tampa Bay on Monday.
Sources: CBS Sports · ESPN · NBC Sports (AP)
Skubal and Misiorowski Open Dodgers-Brewers NLCS Rematch Sunday
Tarik Skubal starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Jacob Misiorowski for the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series on Sunday night in Milwaukee. Misiorowski went 16-5 and led the majors with a 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts. Skubal, acquired from Detroit at the trade deadline, went 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts with Los Angeles. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is set to start Game 2 on Monday against Logan Henderson, and Milwaukee plans to start Robert Gasser in Game 3. The Dodgers swept the Brewers in last year’s NLCS. Milwaukee won a major league-best 103 games this season, while Los Angeles went 100-62.
Sources: NBC Sports (AP) · MLB.com · NBC Sports
Rays Line Up Rasmussen as Guardians Weigh Options for ALCS Opener
The top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays are likely to start Drew Rasmussen in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night at Tropicana Field. Rasmussen carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Yankees in Game 1 of the ALDS. Cleveland had not named a starter after its five-game series. Asked who would pitch, manager Stephen Vogt said, “I’ll let you know when I wake up tomorrow.” Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo, Daniel Espino and Foster Griffin are the options. The Rays won the season series 5-1 and have a well-rested bullpen. ESPN’s projections give Tampa Bay a 57% chance to advance.
White Sox Season Ends After Blowing 2-0 ALDS Lead
The Chicago White Sox’s season ended Saturday with a 2-0 loss, as the Guardians won three straight games after Chicago took a 2-0 series lead. The White Sox managed three hits in Game 5, put only nine balls in play and finished the series with 75 strikeouts and a .185 batting average. Munetaka Murakami and Andrew Benintendi struck out four times each, and Murakami fanned with the bases loaded in the sixth. Chicago, the first team to reach the playoffs after three straight 100-loss seasons, is now 0-2 in winner-take-all postseason games. “Just didn’t have what it would have took to move some balls forward,” manager Will Venable said.
Sources: NBC Sports (AP) · CBS Sports
Ohtani Enters NLCS Searching for His Swing
Shohei Ohtani went 2 for 13 with four strikeouts in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ four-game NL Division Series win over Atlanta, and he will not pitch in the NL Championship Series against Milwaukee because of injuries. A year ago, Ohtani hit three home runs and struck out 10 over six scoreless innings in Game 4 to clinch the Dodgers’ NLCS sweep of the Brewers. CBS Sports’ Dayn Perry called Ohtani “a major unknown right now because of his knee issues.” ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez wrote that Ohtani “is going to have to come alive” for the Dodgers to make it back to the World Series.
Sources: NBC Sports (AP) · ESPN · CBS Sports
Experts Split on NLCS as Projections Call Dodgers-Brewers Nearly Even
CBS Sports’ five baseball experts split 3-2 in favor of the Los Angeles Dodgers in their NL Championship Series predictions against the Milwaukee Brewers. Mike Axisa, Kate Feldman and Julian McWilliams picked the Dodgers, each pointing to their power, while Dayn Perry and Matt Snyder took the Brewers. Perry picked Milwaukee in seven games, citing its bullpen edge and home-field advantage. ESPN’s projections give the Dodgers a 51% chance to advance. Los Angeles is trying to become the first team to win three straight World Series titles since the 1998-2000 Yankees. The Brewers are seeking their first World Series appearance since 1982.
Sources: CBS Sports · ESPN
Rojas Expected on Dodgers’ NLCS Roster After Cortisone Shot
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas is expected to be on the NL Championship Series roster after receiving a cortisone injection for a back injury, manager Dave Roberts told reporters. Rojas left Game 3 of the NL Division Series against Atlanta after hurting his lower back on a swing and was unavailable in Game 4. He worked out with the team in Milwaukee on Saturday. The Dodgers leaned on Rojas against left-handed pitching, and he hit .293 with four homers against lefties this season. Had Rojas been unable to play, Kiké Hernández and Tommy Edman would have been the primary beneficiaries at second base.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors · Sports Illustrated · NBC Sports (AP)
Phillies’ Sam Fuld Turns Down Athletics’ Top Baseball Operations Job
Sam Fuld declined the Athletics’ offer to become their president of baseball operations and has withdrawn from consideration, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Saturday. Fuld, a former Phillies general manager, will remain Philadelphia’s president of business operations. Red Sox assistant general manager Taylor Smith remains a top candidate for the A’s job, while Cardinals assistant general manager Rob Cerfolio, another finalist, is expected to stay in St. Louis. The A’s finished 64-98 this season. General manager David Forst was fired in August, and Dan Feinstein served as interim GM through season’s end. Fuld played his final major league season with the Athletics in 2015.
Sources: ESPN · MLB Trade Rumors
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