Samwise MLB Newsletter
Monday, October 12, 2026
Turang Homers, Bullpen Holds as Brewers Edge Dodgers 2-1 in NLCS Opener
Brice Turang homered off Tarik Skubal and four Milwaukee relievers protected a one-run lead as the Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday night in Milwaukee. Turang’s leadoff drive into the home bullpen in the fourth inning tied the game. In the fifth, Garrett Mitchell walked, advanced on Cooper Pratt’s sacrifice bunt and scored on rookie Luis Lara’s single off Skubal. DL Hall, Abner Uribe, Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings, with Megill earning the save. The win ended Milwaukee’s seven-game postseason losing streak against Los Angeles, which included a sweep in last year’s NLCS.
Ramirez, Williams Lead Guardians Past White Sox in Game 5 to Reach ALCS
The Cleveland Guardians completed a comeback from an 0-2 deficit in the American League Division Series, beating the Chicago White Sox 2-0 in Game 5 on Saturday at Progressive Field. Jose Ramirez supplied the only runs with a two-run homer off Sean Burke in the fourth inning on a two-strike curveball. Gavin Williams struck out 12 in 5 2/3 shutout innings, tying Charles Nagy’s franchise record for strikeouts in a postseason game. Erik Sabrowski escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth by striking out Munetaka Murakami. After losing Games 1 and 2 at home, Cleveland scored nine runs in each of Games 3 and 4 in Chicago.
Sources: CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated
Rasmussen and Griffin Open ALCS as Rays Host Guardians at Tropicana Field
Rays manager Kevin Cash confirmed Sunday that Drew Rasmussen will start Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against Cleveland on Monday night at Tropicana Field. Rasmussen took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning of the ALDS opener against the Yankees, striking out 10 in a 1-0 win, and went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA this season. Cleveland will start left-hander Foster Griffin, a deadline acquisition from Washington who posted a 5.19 ERA in nine starts for the Guardians. Tampa Bay won an AL-best 98 games and seeks the third pennant in franchise history. Cleveland won 85 games and had the majors’ lowest payroll.
Sources: AP, NBC Sports, Sports Illustrated
Dodgers’ Bats Stay Quiet in October as Yamamoto Gets the Ball for Game 2
The Los Angeles Dodgers went 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position in their NLCS Game 1 loss, grounding into three double plays and leaving nine runners on base. They have scored 15 runs in five playoff games and are 2 for 22 with runners in scoring position. Will Smith is 1 for 19, Shohei Ohtani is 3 for 16 and Mookie Betts is 4 for 18. Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged a lineup change was possible. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 8-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 11 postseason appearances, starts Game 2 on Monday. Milwaukee counters with Logan Henderson, who is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA against Los Angeles this season.
Rays Rule Shane McClanahan Out for the Rest of the Postseason
Shane McClanahan will not pitch for the Tampa Bay Rays this postseason, manager Kevin Cash said Sunday, and the left-hander will not be added to the AL Championship Series roster. McClanahan missed 2024 and 2025 after Tommy John surgery and a nerve issue, then went 10-7 with a 3.36 ERA in 24 starts this season over 118 innings. He has not pitched since September 3 and went on the injured list with left forearm tightness. Cash called him a healthy pitcher and said he belongs in Comeback Player of the Year consideration. Tampa Bay’s rotation includes Drew Rasmussen, Freddy Peralta and Nick Martinez.
Sources: AP, MLB Trade Rumors
Misiorowski Grinds Into the Fifth Before Brewers Bullpen Takes Over
Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, the front-runner for the NL Cy Young Award, worked into the fifth inning of Sunday’s 2-1 NLCS Game 1 win over the Dodgers. Los Angeles fouled off 21 of his 94 pitches. He allowed one run and five hits, struck out five and walked three, and threw 44 pitches at 100 mph or higher, topping out at 104 mph. Double plays ended the first and second innings, and DL Hall got another from Freddie Freeman after replacing him. “I didn’t think I had my best stuff,” Misiorowski said. Misiorowski went 16-5 with a 1.80 ERA this season.
White Sox Strike Out a Record 21 Times as Season Ends in Cleveland
The Chicago White Sox struck out 21 times and managed three hits in Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Cleveland in Game 5 of the AL Division Series. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the most strikeouts in a game of no more than nine innings. Munetaka Murakami and Andrew Benintendi struck out four times each. Chicago’s 75 strikeouts set a Division Series record, and the White Sox became the fourth team to lose a Division Series after winning the first two games on the road. “We wanted it so bad, it hurts,” catcher Kyle Teel said. Chicago had reached the playoffs after three straight 100-loss seasons.
Sources: AP, CBS Sports
Dodgers Keep Miguel Rojas, Add Justin Wrobleski to NLCS Roster
The Los Angeles Dodgers kept infielder Miguel Rojas on their NLCS roster after he left Game 3 of the Division Series at Atlanta with lower back pain. Imaging mostly showed prior back issues, and he received a cortisone injection. Rojas, 37, is expected to be used mainly off the bench against left-handed pitching and has said he is leaning toward retiring after the postseason. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski, 12-5 with a 3.66 ERA and a first-time All-Star, was added, giving Los Angeles 13 pitchers. Infielder Hyeseong Kim was left off. Milwaukee kept the same 26-man roster it used in its Division Series against San Diego.
Sources: AP, 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 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 79 | 82 | 18.5 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 79 | 83 | 19 |
| AL Central | |||
| Cleveland Guardians | 85 | 77 | — |
| Chicago White Sox | 84 | 78 | 1 |
| Minnesota Twins | 77 | 85 | 8 |
| Detroit Tigers | 76 | 86 | 9 |
| Kansas City Royals | 69 | 93 | 16 |
| AL West | |||
| Houston Astros | 81 | 81 | — |
| Texas Rangers | 80 | 82 | 1 |
| Seattle Mariners | 76 | 86 | 5 |
| Athletics | 64 | 98 | 17 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 62 | 100 | 19 |
National League
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL East | |||
| Atlanta Braves | 94 | 68 | — |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 88 | 74 | 6 |
| Miami Marlins | 80 | 82 | 14 |
| Washington Nationals | 77 | 85 | 17 |
| New York Mets | 74 | 88 | 20 |
| NL Central | |||
| Milwaukee Brewers | 103 | 59 | — |
| Chicago Cubs | 89 | 73 | 14 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 82 | 80 | 21 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 77 | 85 | 26 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 75 | 87 | 28 |
| NL West | |||
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 100 | 62 | — |
| San Diego Padres | 91 | 71 | 9 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 86 | 76 | 14 |
| San Francisco Giants | 65 | 97 | 35 |
| Colorado Rockies | 58 | 104 | 42 |
Every newsletter preserved and searchable
Curated by JD · samwise.agency