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
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.
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.
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?
Ego. That’s it.
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.
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!
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.
Travesty. Travesty…
The internet these 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.
Angels are the worst run organization in baseball. Arte is Not good for the sport or Orange County.
Don’t forget the Rockies
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 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.
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.
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.