Here are three things to keep an eye on as we head into the weekend…
1. Division Series begin in both leagues:
MLB’s Wild Card round capped off yesterday when the Tigers toppled the Guardians on the strength of some late offense, while the Cubs edged past the Padres — but not before some ninth-inning drama put everyone on the edge of their seats. In the nightcap, Yankees rookie Cam Schlittler delivered a historic performance when he held the Red Sox scoreless and punched out 12 hitters over eight innings as New York advanced.
There are no games today, but the NLDS and ALDS are both slated to kick off tomorrow. Action begins when the Cubs head to Milwaukee, where they’ll be greeted by Brewers ace Freddy Peralta. Chicago has yet to formally name a Game 1 starter. Javier Assad would be on full rest, or they could turn to Colin Rea, who tossed 1 2/3 innings in relief on Wednesday and would presumably be able to go multiple innings to open a de facto bullpen game.
The Yankees will be in Toronto for Game 1 of the ALDS later on Saturday. Neither club has announced a Game 1 starter. New York is deciding between Luis Gil and Will Warren, per SNY’s Andy Martino, with a current lean toward the former. The Blue Jays will go with Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber in Games 1 and 2 but haven’t yet tipped their hand on which order they’ll be deployed.
The Dodgers will be at Citizen’s Bank Park on Saturday in the only of the four matchups where both starting pitchers have been publicly revealed. Shohei Ohtani (2.87 ERA, 33 K%, 4.8 BB% in 47 regular season innings) will be on the bump for Los Angeles opposite Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sanchez (2.50 ERA, 26.3 K%, 5.5 BB%, 202 innings).
The final game on Saturday’s slate will see the Tigers head to Seattle. If Detroit wants to avoid using ace Tarik Skubal on short rest, they’ll likely need to go with Keider Montero or Chris Paddack to open the series. The Mariners are hoping that Bryan Woo will be ready to go after being down nearly three weeks due to a pectoral injury. He threw a bullpen session yesterday and will be further evaluated today. If not Woo, the Mariners can choose among Logan Gilbert, George Kirby and Luis Castillo to kick things off at home.
2. Rangers press conference today:
The Rangers announced yesterday that president of baseball operations Chris Young and general manager Ross Fenstermaker will address the media this morning at 10am CT for their end-of-season press conference. The team’s two top baseball ops executives will surely take questions on Bruce Bochy’s departure from the organization, the subsequent managerial vacancy created by his exit, the 2025 season and where it went wrong, and the direction for the team moving forward. End-of-season pressers like this typically offer vital insight into what shape the offseason could take — particularly for hopeful contenders that miss the playoffs.
3. All quiet in Anaheim:
It’s another story entirely in Anaheim, where the Angels missed the playoffs for an 11th straight season and have not yet held any media availability. As Sam Blum of The Athletic points out, general manager Perry Minasian had previously indicated that he would address the media this week, but those plans seem to have changed. Blum adds that team sources confirmed to him Minasian is still employed at this time — there’s been speculation about his job status after the club announced a managerial change — but it’s unclear when or whether anyone from the team will take questions about the 2025 season or the upcoming offseason. Press conferences of this nature on a just-wrapped season are standard practice for all teams in MLB, and the fact that Minasian had broadcast a forthcoming media session only to pull back is rather strange.
No one from the Angels has publicly commented on whether Minasian will be back for the 2026 season. He signed a two-year extension covering the 2025-26 seasons (with a 2027 option) in Aug. 2024. Minasian conducted an end-of-season press conference following each of his first four seasons as the team’s GM — including a post-2024 session that was conducted exactly one year ago yesterday.
As much as this pains me.. I have to give Cam his due… nicely done youngster… Can’t lead majors in errors and pretend sooner or later it won’t matter… Still the future looks brighter, Go Red Sox!! And “OH CANADA “🎶🎶
Not sure defense is a huge factor when you can’t put the ball in play vs a rookie pitcher
Yeah, the Red Sox just looked lost at the plate.
Hard to be mad about it when Schlittler put up an all-time performance like that. That’s the power of growing up a Red Sox fan, I suppose ;3
Meow – I give lots of credit to Shitler for the performance, but we can’t deny the Red Sox offense has been lacking much of the year especially without Roman.
Rafaela went 0-for-10
Narvaez went 0-for-8
Abreu went 0-for-5
Duran went 1-for-11
Romy went 1-for-9
Lowe went 1-for-7
Ref went 0-for-5
That didn’t all happen just against Shitler.
Let’s not forget the Sox had one of the greatest Yankee-killers in history …. until they traded him in June.
The Sox left their bats in Toronto and its probably fitting their season ended due to another lineup-wide cold streak
Rsox – The Sox scored 4 against a finished Scherzer and 3 against an injured Berrios. Otherwise they were pretty much shut down in Toronto, except for Yoshida and Story who both continued to hit in the postseason.
Fever are you talking about Rafael Devers? Give it a rest. That was months ago. He’s not on the team anymore.
Heck if we hadn’t traded Babe Ruth, we’d have six more rings.
We should’ve traded Jaren Duran !! He swings at pitches way outside the strike zone, jogs in the outfield for fly balls and lets them drop for doubles, can’t catch balls that land in his mitt, and that’s nothing to say of him turning 30 very soon and his speed game eventually declining.
But Red Sox fans want to keep him, are willing to pay him the going rate in 2 years, and make him a fixture in Fenway because he’s electric.
Well, he’s electric, but no one turned on the switch this year.
“no one turned on the switch this year”
Duran, who will be 29 next year, had 41 doubles, 13 triples, an OPS+ of 114, and stole 24 bases. Perhaps a bit…haphazard in the field, but hardly a “switch off” season.
Don’t forget the redsox wouldn’t have made the playoffs with that ego maniac
Gary – I try not to mention his name, but you did. LOL
Sorry but you (and I don’t mean you personally) can’t take away one of the greatest Yankee killers in history, do nothing to replace him, and then complain about a lack of power and offense. Breslow was a moron to say the team will be better off without him.
Babe was sold, not traded. LOL
With Roman and Abreu hurt, who would have played LF without Duran? Do you really want Yoshida patrolling the outfield?
I don’t think anyone is saying already to extend him at market rate. It’s wait and see with him, but as they say “speed never slumps” which is completely true – look at Story!
The good news, I think Yoshida performed well enough the past month to make him tradeable.
Yoshida !! my goodness talk about coming alive. He was on fire as we watched him with a lot of key hits. Outstanding for sure.
Well Gomez, somebody needed to turn on the switch in this series that mattered.
I thought they got Walker more for the post season. That is where he really could have shined. Sigh….
Babe Ruth was traded for money. Thanks for the correction.
Schittler looked like he was dialed in before he ever through a pitch. I’d never watched him before, but the dude appears to have the talent and right mentality to be a longtime mainstay in the league.
Yep, an all-time performance from another one of those PROSPECTS that so many people in here love to see languish in the minors.
olm – It’s painful to talk about Cam, considering he pitched in college right down the street from Fenway ….. and yet Bloom decided to draft Caleb Bolden right before Cam.
Yes the future for Red Sox fans is bright, as long as management delivers on their promise to begin trying to win in 2026.
Most of those WC series were well played and interesting baseball with only Dodgers -Reds being one sided. Most of the games were well pitched and close in other words typical Playoff baseball. The Cubs who played for the big inning to a fault all year even played small ball when they needed to which was interesting. Hopefully it even gets better from here out. If they have so many days off to play 5 games why aren’t they playing 7? Go figure.
I dont hate the 3 days per say except mlb has it backwards as they usually do..wild card teams come off a tough series with one day rest to face a team that hasnt played in a week huge pitching advantage..it should be couple days off before the series starts…so both teams are fresh and can put their best team on full display..but at least after game one you should get a more even match up..and i have always been in favor of 5 game wild card and 7 game divisonal and league championship round..look at at how much more money mlb could make by adding the extra games.
You are not wrong about longer series..thats me being a fan i love playoff baseball..but i still stand by the 3 game before the series..i wanna see the best from both teams..and i dont think its a disadvantage because the bye team still gets homefield advantage
The same year Bloom drafted Roman Anthony
brinx – Yeah don’t remind me, Bloom drafted Mikey Romero in the first round that year ….. awful. Summation: Potential bat-first utility player.
To be fair, and probably somewhat due to being drafted in round 7, Schlitty was never very highly regarded until this year in the Yanks system.
But NY does seem good at developing pitchers, particularly mid-round guys, by working with them to enhance pitch mix and velo. Cam’s velo exploded over the last 2 years, likely also due to a physical maturation. Also good at catcher development as the Sox capitalized on this year.
Perry Minasian is one of the worst general managers in the history of baseball. All these signs are players from the Braves middle relievers with high ERA and back ups they can’t hit he’s rebuilt the bullpen four times and has gone through three managers in his tenure how this man still has a job I have no idea
I’d love to continually blame Arte Moreno (which I do) but I realize even Donald Sterlings Clippers found a way to win at the latter years of his ownership.
Everyone currently employed in that organization should feel embarrassed and ashamed for what has happened to that once successful franchise.
Yeah that pretty much sums up the Angels in most of my lifetime. Mass confusion. My question is why would Pujols want ANY part of that?
Uncle – Remorse about how much Moreno overpaid him?
Albert was the only reason most people went to see the Angels. He paid for himself in Beer and Hot Dog sales alone. Throw in Trout( When he actually played) and Ohtani and they should have at least won something.
Amen to that.
Who says he does? He’s still owed 7 years and $7 million on his personal services clause and since he’s already getting paid maybe Arte is trying to save some money on Managers since he paid Joe Madden and Brad Ausmus not to manage the team
Albert sold beer and hot dogs alone? Which stsnd was he at? Hopefully a good view eith lots of traffic. Cudos to him on running a good shop. Anything he does as a baseball player then is just pure grwvy
Lmao paid for himself in hot dogs and beer lmao yeah ok.
Rex- That just means PT Barnum was right.
Whereas Babe Ruth nearly gave away most of his WAR value with the hot dogs he consumed. Good thing he could pitch too
Saving money could also be the reason Minasian keeps his job. They’re not competing in 2026, so why pay two GMs? But I think that’s shortsighted. 2027 is a big year for the Angels. Some of the ridiculous contracts come off the books — Rendon, Soler, Stephenson, d’Arnaud (d’Arnaud contract wasn’t bad per se, it’s just that you don’t spend that much on a backup catcher for a second division team). That’s $71 million. Trout contract isn’t going away, and if he has another season like this one (32% K rate) next year they’re going to have to think about eating the rest. The Angels should be putting in place the GM who will take them forward. Also, it’s going to be harder to get a GM next season if Pujols is the manager. Who wants to be the GM when a legend, who you haven’t chosen, is running the club? Someone will take Moreno’s money, but it won’t be his first choice. As usual, it doesn’t seem like the team has a plan.
Bronx – Why on Earth would the Angels eat the remainder of Trout’s contract if he puts up another .797 OPS season?
He was among the Top 40 OPS of all MLB hitters (min 550 PA’s)
Name one player in MLB history with at least that high an OPS in at least that many PA’s to have at least one season eaten.
Most of your post I agree with, but zeroing in on K% especially in this 3-true-outcome era we are in is ridiculous. It’s like wanting to get rid of an under-3 ERA pitcher because his K% is too low. Who the hell cares, results is all that matters.
James Wood had a higher K% than Trout, you want to release him too?
I mean sure. Right after the Rockies GMs of the past decade. LAA ownership deserves more blame for that shipwreck than almost any other club’s owners
Some interesting series on the horizon here for the divisional series. Tip my cap to Schlittler for that performance last night. With that said, I want nothing more than 5 15+ inning games between New York & Toronto
I’d like to see Gil and Warren combine for 7-8 innings in game 1 to help give the bullpen more rest. If they do the job and the Yankees secure game 1, they’ll win the series comfortably
Only Bednar needs the rest but yes that would be nice for Game 1.
True but I’d still rather the bullpen not go more than 2 innings in game 1 if possible
The Tigers are poised to be in the playoff’s for years to come. Their farm system is winning in their leagues, They can draft the best H.S kids, and offer them big money to sign. Its exciting times to be a Tigers fan. GO TIGERS !
Let’s go, Motor City Kitties!
My 1945 World Series redo is still alive! Cubs -Tigers Round 2. Bring it!
@Unclemike1526
That would be a nice world series. Let’s hope it happens.
Mmmmkay
….but it’s Mr. Mackey’s opinion,mmmkay!!
Detroit’s late season struggles notwithstanding, it appears we actually have the eight teams that proved to the best through the season still standing.
National League series schedules are a joke. Three off days for five games is a travesty. The should make them ride bicycles on 94 between Chicago and Milwaukee to justify travel and off days.
As a Cub fan, it’s a huge break—will allow Boyd to pitch Monday and Saturday, if necessary. If they had the American League schedule it wouldn’t be possible.
If the Brewers had a lights out #2 they could go Peralta Saturday and Thursday and that #2 on Monday and Saturday.
No need to have a real pitching staff with three off days in five days—relievers can pitch every game with rest or only one potential back to back. That NEVER happens during the regular seasons.
All I know is that Rea, with 18 Ks and one earned run in his final 2 starts should’ve have Imanaga’s spot in game 2 against the Padres. And to start Shota at all is a huge blunder. He’s completely lost and is a HR waiting to happen.
Angels are the worst run organization in baseball. Arte is Not good for the sport or Orange County.
Don’t forget the Rockies
Or the Pirates, or the White Sox…
Balk – What moves the Angels past the Rockies for worst run team is the fact that we have had Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, and Shohei Ohtani along with having a payroll in the top 10 and we have suffered through eleven sub .500 seasons in a row. Moreno refused to build a pitching staff around those guys so here we are…the worst run team in baseball.
Okay, I agree with this. Only LAA can have a star studded roster and lose lose lose
Or the A’s
The As are among the better run teams in BB.
JoeBrady is an infamous John Fisher fan lol
How so, JoeBrady?
I feel like the Tigers & Jays are going to advance. I’m liking the Phillies this year but it’ll be a tough series and until the Brew Crew can show me they can win in October, I’m picking the Cubs.
I have a feeling you’re going to be 0-4 in your predictions
@Ronk325
Why do you say that?
I have the Yankees, Mariners, Dodgers, and Brewers advancing. The Dodgers/Phillies series is a bit of a toss up but I’m confident on the other 3
@Ronk325
I’m not convinced about the Yankees. They struggled to score runs at home against the Red Sox, who essentially had 1 ace and then a bunch of okay pitchers after that. They could only score 4 runs against a rookie who’s only pitched in 4 games during the regular season; 3 of 4 against non-playoff teams like the A’s and Rays.
Crochet is far better than anyone the Blue Jays have. How is scoring 4 runs in 4 innings a bad thing? The Yankees beat the Blue Jays in 4 or less as long as they don’t burn the bullpen in game 1
@Ronk325
Jays are a lot more patient than Boston showed this series. Boston handed the wins to my by being impatient and not getting the starter out early. Yankees pen is terrible and Toronto knows it.
You speak as if the Yankees pitching wasn’t a big reason why the Red Sox offense was held quiet. The Blue Jays bullpen is also terrible and the Yankees have a clear offensive advantage
7 of those games were played while the Yankees couldn’t beat a tee ball team. Yankees won 2 of 3 last time they met and have more momentum
You picked the Padres to win the West. So these picks ought to do very well.
@Bivouac-Sal
I didn’t pick them to win, I was jumping on the bandwagon at the time. Nothing wrong with some anti-Dodger posts. Is that now against the law?
No. Just wrong. And you did pick the Friars to win the division.
@Bivouac-Sal
When?
Old York 8-12-25
Yes, Padres will catch the Dodgers and win the NL West.
OLD YORK 8-19
Dodgers are shaking in their boots now. They might not even make it out of the first round.
@Bivouac-Sal
Yes, in August, they did catch them. I’m not sure what your point is, though.
Your second quote is starting this weekend. We’ll see if they can get out of the first round.
Dodgers already won the first round. Or didn’t you notice?
As to August, how exactly is there any room for interpretation with “Padres will win the NL West”?
@Bivouac-Sal
Which round did they play? You’re delusional.
Sigh. Well you decide which postseason games count and which don’t. The Reds will be thrilled to learn their “round” sweep did not exist.
The padres won August! World Series is every year, but that month will live forever.
@Bivouac-Sal
Oh, I see. I understand now. I personally don’t view the WC as some first round. It’s just a play-in to get to the actual playoffs but I’ll give you that.
You Win!
Now, who are your picks?
Semantics. I don’t make picks. But I do root for certain outcomes. I fully admit the Phils look like the team to beat in the NL. But you know I’m rooting for the Dodgers to pull off that upset. In the other bracket I like the Cubs. In the AL I am prejudiced since I live near da Bronx and would love to see the Dodgers repeat against the Bombers, in person. But Seattle looks like the class of the AL Would not be surprised by an LA-SEA series.
@Bivouac-Sal
So, you’re trolling me for making picks but won’t make actual picks yourself. You’re a clown…
Did you read what I wrote? Instead of throwing childish insults pay frigging attention.
Yeah you do.
“Just in time for the Giants to get fourth place”
Biggest childish hypocrite on here.
B-S TKO’S OY
Well, Giants made 3rd so rejoice.
Self awareness of a spoilt child.
All the best to you.
Yeah, Old York doesn’t realize that stuff posted on the internet lasts for eternity….
Well, you can still revel in a decade ago….
Any year the Yankees don’t have to play the Astros in the playoffs, they have a chance to advance
@Footjoyboi
Any year they can play the ALC teams in the playoffs, they have a chance to win. Aside from that, though, they generally can’t win.
Some bad, but consistent, home plate umpiring in the Padres/Cubs game.
Agreed. I can definitely see why Xander was livid at that called third strike, but my response was to shrug my shoulders and say, sorry buddy but you should’ve been protecting that spot, because the ump had been making that bad call on the outside corner all game long. Happ was victimized by it earlier in the game and there was at least one other instance (I want to say Suzuki, but it could’ve been Swanson)- and with runners in scoring position- where the Cubs were on the wrong side of that outside corner.
Angels need to rebuild the organization from the ground up and that won’t happen until Arte sells the team. It doesn’t matter who’s GM or manager, they’re only allowed to tinker around the periphery. Arte, you’re to be commended for accumulating generational wealth for your family, now please sell the team and let Angels fans enjoy baseball once again.
A&NLW – I think the rebuild needs to happen from the top down, not the bottom up. Miserable owner.
Rex – Agreed. The issue, as always, is Moreno needs to stay in his lane and let the baseball people do their jobs. I don’t think it matters who he brings in if that doesn’t happen.
For the next few years, the Angels will continue to suffer from the terrible decision to go all-in chasing a wild card spot in 2023. No doubt that the decision to hold Ohtani was made by Moreno.
I am sure there were strong financial reasons to hold him but the aftermath is devastating.
I really like how the playoff matchups have had some divisional teams face each other so far. With the balanced schedule to see more rivalries in the division series and wildcards made it more interesting. Now Cubs Brewers and Yanks Blue Jays should be good
The brilliance of Dr. Boonedoggle on full didplay:
Rookie pitcher, never thrown over 100 pitches, throwing 100mph fastballs goes 8 innings and throws 107 pitches.
Next stop, Tommy John waiting room. Burn em up toss em out. Anything to win one game.
You’re joking, right?? Boone is ripped constantly for being Mr analytics, pulling guys early, trusting Weaver and Williams to get lit up. He ffinally grows a pair in a do or die game, and you’re upset?? It’s the playoffs. He left it all on the field. If there’s ever a time to not baby pitchers it’s now.
That’s why the baby them all season so they have something left come October.
You can baby them or you can let them go 8. Most are going to end up having TJS at some point regardless. Unless you’re Framber Valdez or Logan Webb or someone like that.
Pretty much I’ve said that for years use and abuse them. Most of these guys barely pitch 100 IP in the minors and then they come up and run into innings limits. The sport needs to start training these guys in the minors how to pitch more innings.
Great performance by the old last night.
Great performance by Crochet in game 1.
Respect to both managers for sticking with those guys until late in the game.
Has a GM, Perry, ever had a manager, Albert, working with/under him that he released as a player? I doubt Perry is chomping at the bit to have Albert as his next manager. Maybe there have been others, but nothing comes to mind.
Let’s bring Dino ebel as our new manager.
Sept wasn’t impressive for DET, going 7-17.
Although DET won in CLE, it took Tank Skubals 14Ks with little run support and finally turning the carousel on in the 7th yesterday.
Before the late innings rally, DET only managed 4 runs through 2.5 games and were 3-for-28 with RISP.
With those kind of numbers, it looks like their Sept woes are bleeding into Oct.
On the other hand, SEA going 17-8 in Sept is a great way to start Oct baseball but a layoff could kill any momentum created.
M’s went 4-6, including a sweep, over the Tigers but that was in the 1st half, both teams were different then.
Looking at standard batting/pitching/fielding stats, the two are very close number wise so it will come down to the (rested) hot team, as it normally does.
Many teams with the best records have been eliminated after a bye so hopefully the rest Naylz the Sept momentum to the wall and not in The Big Dumper..