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The Opener: NLCS, ALCS, Hamilton

By Nick Deeds | October 18, 2024 at 8:10am CDT

With one team now on the verge of a trip to the World Series, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world headed into the weekend:

1. Dodgers one away:

A 10-2 drubbing of the Mets in New York last night in Game 4 of the NLCS leaves the Dodgers just one win away from the World Series. They’ll attempt to wrap the series up in New York at 5:08pm local time this evening with right-hander Jack Flaherty (3.17 ERA in 28 starts) on the mound. Flaherty was roughed up by the Padres in his first start of the postseason but bounced back in a big way during his start against the Mets earlier in this series when he threw seven scoreless frames and struck out six. The Mets will attempt to counter Flaherty with lefty David Peterson, who enjoyed something of a breakout season this year with a 2.90 ERA in 21 starts. He’s worked out of the bullpen to this point in the postseason but has mostly done well for himself with a 2.08 ERA in 8 2/3 frames, though four walks against just five strikeouts is somewhat concerning.

2. Guardians fighting back in ALCS:

The Guardians headed back to Cleveland down 2-0 in the ALCS yesterday but did not disappoint in front of their home crowd, prevailing in a back-and-forth extra innings affair 7-5 on the back of a home run by David Fry that followed a homer by Jhonkensy Noel that tied the game in the bottom of the ninth to keep the club alive. Now, the Guardians will have the opportunity to even the series against their home crowd when they face right-hander Luis Gil (3.50 ERA in 29 starts) in what will be the first postseason outing of Gil’s career at 8:08pm local time this evening. Cleveland will counter with right-hander Gavin Williams, who followed up a strong rookie campaign in 2023 with a lackluster 4.86 ERA in 16 starts this year in what will also be the first postseason appearance of his young career.

3. Hamilton to undergo MRI:

Before tonight’s game in Cleveland, the Yankees will have a decision to make regarding right-hander Ian Hamilton. Hamilton exited last night’s game against the Guardians due to what the team described as tightness in his left calf and is now headed for imaging. Hamilton posted a solid 3.82 ERA with a 3.03 FIP in 37 2/3 innings of work in the regular season but hasn’t seen much action in the postseason. The righty threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings during the ALDS against the Royals, but his lone appearance in the ALCS was last night’s injury-shortened outing where he surrendered a run and recorded just one out. Right-handers Mark Leiter Jr. and Clayton Beeter are among the hurlers who have been floated as possible injury replacements for Hamilton should he go on the IL, which would bar him from participating in the World Series in the event that the Yankees advance.

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Offseason Outlook: San Diego Padres
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View Comments (56)
Post a Comment

56 Comments

  1. MPrck

    11 months ago

    Are high priced free agents really needed ? If Cleveland wins it all by taking down N.Y, and L.A, it’ll be talked about all winter long. Go Cleveland.

    11
    Reply
    • Shrutefarm

      11 months ago

      That was an epic comeback yesterday. If they pull out this series, that game will be talked about for ages.

      10
      Reply
      • Fever Pitch Guy

        11 months ago

        Shrute – And it’s so nice to watch real baseball in the postseason (no Ghost Runner in extra innings).

        20
        Reply
        • ChuckyNJ

          11 months ago

          Not when baseball has turned the pitch clock off. ALCS Game 3 took nearly 4 hours while NLCS Game 4 went 3:39.

          1
          Reply
        • Doral Silverthorn

          11 months ago

          OMG!!! I was at a baseball game and it took too long!!!

          Said no baseball fan ever.

          20
          Reply
        • YankeesBleacherCreature

          11 months ago

          @FPG 10000% Yes

          2
          Reply
        • Joe says...

          11 months ago

          OMG!!! I watched the game on tv and it took too long!!!

          Said baseball fans who had to get up early the next day to go to work.

          4
          Reply
        • Old York

          11 months ago

          @ChuckyNJ

          Oh, no! A baseball game too too long. Maybe tiddlywinks is more your game.

          2
          Reply
        • dkhits20

          11 months ago

          You’re prioritizing wrong.

          Reply
    • swagsuperawesomeepiccoolman123

      11 months ago

      go yankees

      5
      Reply
    • This one belongs to the Reds

      11 months ago

      Are we seeing a real life Major League movie? lol

      4
      Reply
      • Fever Pitch Guy

        11 months ago

        This – Well the article does say “Now, the Guardians will have the opportunity to even the series against their home crowd” ….. so it is similar to the Major League movie. LOL!!

        7
        Reply
    • scarfish

      11 months ago

      I’m already mourning the Yankees’ defeat. I’ve been a fan of them long enough to know collapse from a mile away

      1
      Reply
      • JRamHOF

        11 months ago

        As a Cleveland fan, I wouldn’t be too worried about the Yankees collapsing

        3
        Reply
    • Slider_withcheese

      11 months ago

      @ mprck
      Having a top ten payroll doesn’t guarantee anything but every WS winner since 2017 has had one. I don’t know if it’s needed perse, but the odds are certainly better.

      9
      Reply
      • myaccount2

        11 months ago

        @slider- That’s a good note. Interesting, though… the Cubs didn’t have a top 10 payroll in 2016 with Heyward, Fowler, and the rotation of Lester, Arrieta, Lackey, Hammel, and Hendricks? Baez, Bryant, Schwarber, Contreras, and Russell must have all been pre-arb to balance it out.

        2
        Reply
        • Blackpink in the area

          11 months ago

          The Cubs traded away the number 1 overall prospect in baseball at the deadline for a 3 month rental of Chapman. I am sure they don’t regret it but that’s not a blueprint all teams would want to follow.

          Reply
        • myaccount2

          11 months ago

          I agree, teams don’t want to do that too often. They were as all-in as could be, though. Luckily for them, Gleyber ended up being average instead of a star.

          Reply
        • Gwynning

          11 months ago

          Are you kidding me Bita? I would trade Salas to your beloved Cards right now for (insert your least favorite Cardinal here) if it meant we would inevitably win a chip! Flags fly forever, and that’s what we’re all playin’ for, right???

          Reply
        • Blackpink in the area

          11 months ago

          Sure if you knew for sure you would win a championship. But that of course is not how it works. Heck the Padres traded away a LOT of young talent to get Cease, Arraez, Adam and Scott. I was rooting for them I always root for teams that have never won a championship before but unfortunately it didn’t work out.

          1
          Reply
  2. Shrutefarm

    11 months ago

    Despite being down 3-1, the Mets still have a lane to make this interesting. If they can win today and get it back to LA, they’ve got their top 2 starters going. After stifling the Dodgers in game 2, you gotta like their chances of him getting it to game 7…..where anything can happen.

    1
    Reply
    • Skyrider123

      11 months ago

      Mets are simply out of gas. Going into this series, the Mets were on fire both with pitching and hitting. It’s LA all of a sudden with the hot pitching and hitting. I dont think the Mets have anything left.

      13
      Reply
      • Shrutefarm

        11 months ago

        As a Dodger fan, I hope you’re right.

        1
        Reply
      • raisinsss

        11 months ago

        This is my read too.

        Jd Martinez looks cooked. Nimmo is broken. Iglesias seems tired.

        I’m not writing them off because I’ve already done that probably more than 10 times this year and been wrong every time, but it’s uphill.

        If peterson can beat Flaherty, they’ll have Manaea going, who should be favored in a rematch with the dodgers bullpen. If the Mets win this next one, i think they’ll get to 7.

        2
        Reply
      • raisinsss

        11 months ago

        I agreed with this when you wrote it but I’m happy we were both wrong.

        Absolutely thumped Flaherty and bled the bullpen. I’ll take the Mets and Manaea on Sunday vs the dodgers bullpen; game 7 should be fun.

        Reply
    • Jerry Hairston Jr's Toupee

      11 months ago

      I too am not counting chickens before they hatch….

      Reply
      • BlueSkies_LA

        11 months ago

        But watch that stitch in time. It saves nine — at least so I hear.

        Reply
  3. Butter Biscuits

    11 months ago

    The series ends today

    3
    Reply
  4. getrealgone2

    11 months ago

    Mets’ magic has run out I believe.

    I’m just glad they embarrassed the Phillies.

    1
    Reply
  5. B-rocker

    11 months ago

    So much fun. Surprisingly few Dodger fans at the last two games at Citi Field. Looking forward to game 5 today.

    Reply
  6. Acoss1331

    11 months ago

    Mets were on fire but that’s run out now it seems.

    I think the Yankees win today, the starter is not a left-handed pitcher, that automatically increases their odds of winning.

    Reply
    • marcfrombrooklyn

      11 months ago

      Even on fire, they’ve been having stretches of a dozen or more innings with few to to no runs. Winning streaks involved winning on a few big innings or a big hit, usually a homer, an silent bars otherwise. In other words a lot of games that could have gone either way. Good teams win those. Great teams don’t need to rely on those. Not sure any of the playoff teams are great–no 100 win teams let alone 105, so anything could happen. It’s exciting but I’d rather know the best teams are the ones that have the most success, not the ones that get lucky by getting hot at high right time. But that’s baseball in the 21 century.

      1
      Reply
      • B-rocker

        11 months ago

        @marc
        Lack of a 100 win team can indicate the level of talent spread among several teams not necessarily that none of them are great. I’d argue the 2024 Dodgers and Padres are both great teams and the strength of that division, including the Dbacks speaks more to the tough competition than it does to a lack of greatness. Pads and LAD won consistently all year, especially in the second half. In fact one could say the same of the Guards and Yanks.

        2
        Reply
  7. mad1

    11 months ago

    Mets going home soon! I guess 306 million doesn’t guarantee a ring

    1
    Reply
    • User 2770661946

      11 months ago

      Losing to those thrifty, small market, cheap Dodgers has to be humiliating.
      Dumb take dude.

      6
      Reply
  8. fred-3

    11 months ago

    I honestly believe the Dodgers, Padres, and D’Backs were the 3 best NL teams. The D’Backs would be in the playoffs if their bullpen didn’t implode the last 2 weeks of the season.

    3
    Reply
    • User 2770661946

      11 months ago

      Oh well. Cry more. They had a shot, just like everyone.

      Reply
      • RussianFemboy

        11 months ago

        how is he crying lmao? he just explained that the d backs would have made it without bullpen woes, are you just looking to fight people?

        5
        Reply
        • User 2770661946

          11 months ago

          A lot of teams would have made it if this happened or that happened. Don’t be dumb cause I’m off the meds today

          Reply
        • RussianFemboy

          11 months ago

          Explain how its “crying” though, you’re just trying to rage bait to gain attention.

          3
          Reply
        • User 2770661946

          11 months ago

          I said what I said. End of

          Reply
        • raisinsss

          11 months ago

          The thing about baseball is that every team would have made the playoffs if fewer bad things happened and more good things happened.

          It’s the most room temperature take in sports.

          2
          Reply
        • brocnessmonster

          11 months ago

          that wasn’t the point– the point was he thinks the three best teams in the NL were in the west. whether things went well or not wasn’t his point. I don’t know that I agree but all these “well duh if less bad things happen to my team, they would have made it” comments are obtuse.

          1
          Reply
        • raisinsss

          11 months ago

          The D’Backs would be in the playoffs if their bullpen didn’t implode the last 2 weeks of the season.

          Did you miss that?

          Reply
      • fred-3

        11 months ago

        I’m not a D’Backs fan lol

        3
        Reply
  9. Troy Percival's iPad

    11 months ago

    Is Flaherty winning 2 games in the Series over the Yankees as the Dodgers win it all enough to get Cashman fired for balking at the deadline? It would be wild to see

    3
    Reply
    • Acoss1331

      11 months ago

      Cashman isn’t getting fired, Hal treats him like family. Boone is staying as well, he’s the perfect manager for Cashman.

      1
      Reply
    • Old York

      11 months ago

      @Troy Percival’s iPad

      Pitcher wins are pretty meaningless. It’s like the happy meal you buy for your kid. Sure, makes them happy for 10 minutes but ultimately, that junk gets thrown in the trash after.

      1
      Reply
  10. olmtiant

    11 months ago

    First let me tip my hat to the Yankees… as much as I would rather walk on crushed fluorescent light bulbs, Judge and GCS had epic at bats.. the ball hit at Rizzo , he makes that play 95% of the time… to be one strike away from a decisive 3-0 lead I can’t imagine (wait yes I can I’m a Redsox fan see 1986) I believe Mariano is 83 , I would still have more faith in him than anyone in mlb today… So while I hope this leads to something for Cleveland I’ll give solis ( can’t believe I’m doing this) to NY… it only will matter if they lose the series…

    1
    Reply
    • B-rocker

      11 months ago

      You’re joking right? Mariano Rivera is 64.

      1
      Reply
      • olmtiant

        11 months ago

        B… tongue in cheek… he was 64 when he came up in late 90’s

        1
        Reply
        • B-rocker

          11 months ago

          🙂

          1
          Reply
    • JRamHOF

      11 months ago

      Rizzo making that play would have prevented Naylor from predictably grounding into a double play

      2
      Reply
      • kodion

        11 months ago

        And JRam himself botching the rundown allowed the rest of the script to unfold as it did!
        My hat tip goes to Thomas: 0-2 count, 2 out, bottom 9th. Could have been done any number of ways but that double was a key play. Set up Noel for his

        3
        Reply
  11. Hammerin' Hank

    11 months ago

    Hope the Dodgers win it all so the ones who were crying about Ohtani’s deferred money can keep crying all winter long.

    3
    Reply
  12. YellowCleats

    11 months ago

    Buehler had something on his fingers last game. He would lick it off immediately after the last pitch of the inning. Check the tapes. Next time check his fingers more closely

    Reply

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