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The following article " Brewers-Rays World Series audience opens not far off Dodgers-Jays " originally appeared on Sports Media Watch . Considering the matchup, viewership for Games 1 and 2 of the World Series held up about as well as Fox Sports could have possibly hoped. Visit Sports Media Watch for more sports media news and information.
As the 2026 World Series approaches a first‑time champion, MLB’s postseason bonus pool—funded by 60% of ticket sales from the early rounds—will likely hit the $120‑$130 million range. The winning club claims 36% of that pool, translating to $40‑$48 million, similar to the 2025 Dodgers who earned $484,748 per full player share. The article also breaks down the CBA‑mandated distribution (24% runner‑up, 12% each LCS loser, etc.) and highlights other MLB payouts such as MVP, Cy Young, and All‑Star bonuses.
The Dodgers’ 2026 postseason ends in a crushing blowout – a 31‑point ‘skunk’ loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the NLDS. After a strong 2025 run, the club’s offense slumped to a .195/.267/.323 line over eight playoff games, with only three hitters posting a .750 OPS (Kyle Tucker, Miguel Rojas, Max Muncy). Teoscar Hernández appears in the series, but the team’s fatigue and questionable managerial moves left them vulnerable. Writer Jon Anderson speculates that even a healthy Shohei Ohtani wouldn’t have changed the outcome and warns that trying to repeat in 2027 may be futile, hinting at upcoming front‑office shifts under Andrew Friedman.
After the Dodgers’ NLCS sweep by the Brewers, attention shifts to ownership rumors. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reports that owner Mark Walter has rebuffed all inquiries about selling the Dodgers, even as he recently sold the Lakers and is eyeing a $700 million deal for the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks. Despite an FBI probe into his business dealings, Walter’s willingness to outspend rivals suggests the baseball club remains stable. Fans can also look ahead to a healthier roster, hoping star Shohei Ohtani returns to form next season.
True Blue LA reviews the Dodgers' 2026 broadcast season, noting 17 nationally‑televised games (NBC, Fox, ESPN, Apple TV) with a 9‑8 record and 145 local games on SportsNet LA. Veteran play‑by‑play Joe Davis called 88 SportsNet LA games, five for Fox, and six postseason contests, while also featuring historical player profiles like 1930s outfielder Goody Rosen. Stephen Nelson handled the remaining 57 TV games and 59 AM 570 radio shows, including the March Freeway Series. Analyst Orel Hershiser appeared in 85 games, with the top TV pairings being Davis/Hershiser (58 games) and Nelson/Hershiser (27). Additional contributors included Eric Karros, Jessica Mendoza, and Dontrelle Willis, who returned for a September road trip and called all Apple TV games.
After being swept out of the playoffs in the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Los Angeles Dodgers are now facing questions about the missteps that hindered them from completing a World Series title three-peat.
The Dodgers announce a quirky two‑game spring series with the Savannah Bananas, set for April 23‑24 at Uniqlo Field during the Dodgers’ road trip to Washington. Fans can enter a ticket drawing at bananaball.com/tickets by Oct. 31. The post also notes Andy McCullough’s warning that the Brewers may trade key players despite their recent NLCS run, contrasting with the Dodgers’ reliance on their farm system. columnist Dylan Hernandez suggests the Dodgers missed out on a player like Miguel Vargas this season as they look to refresh the roster.
A recent ESPN survey of 27 MLB insiders pinpoints seven possible destinations for free‑agent right‑hander Tarik Skubal. The Dodgers, Mets and Tigers top the list, with the Yankees close behind, while the Angels, White Sox and Padres are viewed as sleepers. Skubal posted a 12‑7 record, 2.72 ERA and 186 strikeouts in 158.2 innings this season. Insiders project contracts averaging eight years and $355 million (about $44.6 M annually), with most deals falling between $325‑$400 million. The start of free agency is five days after the World Series, but a CBA‑driven lockout looms after Dec. 1.
Game 3 sees the Brewers explode with seven straight hits for an eight‑run fifth inning, clinching a 10‑1 win that could seal the World Series tonight. The post then shifts to Cubs off‑season chatter: Scott Boras warns of a free‑agency frenzy, while analysts tout Sonny Gray as a veteran rotation target and suggest stealing a Dodgers reliever to avoid a risky Ryan Rolison deal. Opinions on manager Craig Counsell’s tenure vary, and a controversy erupts over Fox Sports skipping the World Series Sausage Race in Milwaukee. The article rounds out with brief cultural notes and a disclaimer.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 100‑win season ended in a four‑game NLCS sweep by Milwaukee, sparking worries that their veteran‑heavy roster is aging out. With an average position‑player age of 30.9—the oldest in MLB—stars like Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy are in their late 30s, and recent retirements (Miguel Rojas) and retirement talks (Freeman) underscore the issue. General Manager Andrew Friedman acknowledges the challenge and suggests a gradual infusion of youth, citing prospects such as outfielder Josue De Paula and other minor‑league arms. The offseason will force the Dodgers to decide whether to trim contracts like Teoscar Hernández’s $21 million deal and give younger talent meaningful roles, or risk an “end of an era” for their championship core.
The Milwaukee Brewers are poised to become the first new World Series champion since 2023 after sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2026 NLCS. Despite the loss, Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal—acquired from Detroit in August—refutes claims that the Dodgers’ championship window is closed, citing his 12-7 record and 2.76 ERA and the team’s back‑to‑back titles in 2024 and 2025. Skubal says the roster remains “incredibly talented” and believes another title run is possible in 2027, though his free‑agency status leaves his future uncertain. The article examines the trade, the NLCS sweep, and the Dodgers’ outlook heading into next season.
The post recaps the Brewers' dramatic Game Two win—an error and three unearned runs nearly cost Milwaukee home‑field advantage but sparked a rally that put them up 2‑0 in the World Series, setting the stage for a Tampa showdown. It then shifts to Cubs off‑season chatter: Scott Boras warns of a free‑agency frenzy, Sonny Gray emerges as a veteran rotation target, and the club considers stealing a Dodgers free agent to avoid a risky Ryan Rolison deal. Additional pieces evaluate Craig Counsell’s tenure, argue the 2026 Cubs had a solid season despite fan perception, and protest Fox Sports’ omission of the inaugural World Series Sausage Race in Milwaukee.
The New York Mets will add veteran Mariano Duncan to their major‑league coaching staff, working with position players, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Duncan, 63, brings 20+ years of coaching experience after a 13‑year MLB playing career with teams like the Dodgers and Yankees. Meanwhile, the Mets have ruled out Kevin Long and Cubs assistant hitting coach John Mallee for the vacant hitting role, leaving director of hitting Jeff Albert as the only remaining open spot. The moves signal a reshuffle of New York’s hitting staff ahead of the offseason.
Game 1 of the 2026 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers draws 12.2 million viewers on Fox and Univision, surpassing all non‑Dodgers finals this decade. Though lower than last year’s 13.3 million Dodgers‑Blue Jays opener and the 2024 record 15.2 million Dodgers‑Yankees game, the audience tops the 2023 Rangers‑Diamondbacks (9.4 million) and exceeds 2022 (11.7 million) and 2021 (11.1 million) viewership. Peaks reach just over 13 million, and upcoming Nielsen Big Data figures could push the total higher. The strong Friday start suggests growing interest despite the Rays and Brewers lacking broad national appeal.
Miguel Rojas, the Dodgers' veteran infielder set to retire after the 2026 season, is a finalist for the MLB Players Alumni Association’s Heart & Hustle Award, with fan voting now open. The article highlights his leadership role, praised by Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Andrew Friedman, and recalls his key moments: a ninth‑inning Game 7 home run in the 2025 World Series and back‑to‑back championships in 2024‑25. Rojas also became the first Dodger to win the Roy Campanella Award three straight years. After a NLCS loss to the Brewers on Oct. 15, teammates laud his “heart, hustle, and impact” on the club’s culture, urging fans to vote for him.
Legendary baseball writer Ross Newhan, 89, dies Sunday. Newhan started at the Long Beach Press‑Telegram in 1961, joined the Los Angeles Times in 1968, and covered the Angels, Dodgers and national baseball for 36 years before retiring in 2004. He earned the BBWAA’s J.G. Taylor Spink Award in 2000 and was the league’s longest‑tenured active member at his death. The Dodgers issued a statement honoring the Hall of Fame sportswriter, noting his wife Connie and family. Newhan also reported on horse racing’s Triple Crown, boxing, college football, golf and the Olympics.
The Milwaukee Brewers lead the 2026 World Series 2-0, edging the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 and 5-4 on home turf. Errors and missed opportunities hurt the Rays, while Milwaukee avoids mistakes and delivers clutch hits, including Sal Frelick’s game‑tying homer and Christian Yelich’s RBI triple. Riding a 6‑1 record when conceding the first run and fresh off a NLCS sweep of the Dodgers, the Brewers aim for a four‑game sweep to claim their first championship since 1957.
The Milwaukee Brewers have set an MLB postseason merchandise record, selling 5% more than the 2022 Phillies and topping previous NLCS and Dodgers marks. The surge began after the Brewers swept the Dodgers to win the NL pennant and continued through a 2‑0 lead in the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, highlighted by 3‑2 and 5‑4 victories. Owner Mark Attanasio and league officials confirm the milestone as Milwaukee chases its first championship since 1982, with fans poised to buy even more memorabilia if the team clinches the title.
The 2026‑27 MLB offseason kicks off as soon as the World Series ends, with free‑agency eligibility for players with six or more service years (and some international free agents) beginning at 6 a.m. PT the next day. Dodgers free agents include Tarik Skubal, Eric Lauer, Kris Bubic, Kiké Hernández, Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol and retiring Miguel Rojas. The quiet period ends five days later, opening the signing window and qualifying‑offer deadline (no Dodgers qualify). Key dates follow: Nov 17‑19 owners’ meetings and reserve‑list filings, Nov 20 tender deadline, Dec 1 CBA expiration (triggering a possible lockout), Dec 7‑9 winter meetings (draft lottery & Rule 5 likely postponed), and Jan 8, 2027 arbitration exchange for Dodgers like Andy Pages and Emmet Sheehan.
Rocco Baldelli has withdrawn from the Seattle Mariners' managerial search, citing family considerations. The 45‑year‑old former Twins manager, who led Minnesota to three playoff trips before back‑to‑back fourth‑place finishes in 2024‑25, is currently a special assistant with the Dodgers and is a father of three children under five. Baldelli’s exit leaves the Mariners to consider other candidates as they aim to hire a new manager before month‑end, amid interest from the Astros and Angels. The Astros just added Conner Watson as hitting director from the Guardians.
Rocco Baldelli pulls out of the Seattle Mariners’ manager search, citing family considerations, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. His withdrawal leaves former Astros manager Joe Espada and Cubs player‑development director Jason Kanzler as the only publicly known candidates, though other names remain in the mix. Mariners president Jerry Dipoto prefers an experienced skipper, giving Espada a potential edge. Baldelli, who led the Twins to three AL Central titles and a 2023 Wild Card win before being dismissed after a 70-92 2025 season, had been linked to the Dodgers front office and other clubs. The hunt, now in an advanced stage, may see a delay as Seattle pivots to its next choice.
In Game 2 of the 2026 World Series, the Milwaukee Brewers erased a four‑run first‑inning hole to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5‑4, giving them a 2‑0 series lead and their seventh comeback win of the postseason. Second baseman Brice Turang told FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal that the club’s "never‑say‑die" mindset—playing hard every inning and never accepting defeat—drives their resilience, a mentality that also powered their NLCS sweep of the Dodgers. Turang highlighted Sal Frelick’s sixth‑inning solo homer and his own seventh‑inning double that set up the go‑ahead run, while reliever Trevor Ashby closed the game in the ninth. The Brewers head to Tropicana Field for Game 3, aiming to stretch the lead to 3‑0.
Teoscar Hernández, now a 34‑year‑old Dodger, is listed as a prime trade candidate despite a solid three‑year, $66 million deal that includes club options through 2029. After a breakout 2024 (.272/.339/.501, 33 HR, All‑Star, Silver Slugger, World Series ring) his production dipped to a 105 wRC+ in 2025 and a modest 110 wRC+ in 2026, hampered by a hamstring strain and a post‑injury slump. The Dodgers’ depth—Shohei Ohtani at DH, Kyle Tucker in right, Josué De Paula emerging as a potential left‑field starter, plus entrenched infield talent—makes Hernández expendable, especially with his option unlikely to be exercised. A trade could free cap space and address other roster needs.
The Los Angeles Dodgers face several tough decisions ahead of the MLB lockout after their three-peat bid came up short.
Jacob Misiorowski sparks the Milwaukee Brewers’ historic 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the 2026 World Series, delivering a record‑setting first pitch and earning a spot in franchise lore. After the game, the 32‑year‑old ace bonds with a young fan, swapping Pokémon cards in a moment highlighted by MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. With Logan Henderson slated to start Game 2, Misiorowski rests while Milwaukee chases its first World Series title, buoyed by recent NLCS sweep of the Dodgers and strong fan support at American Family Field.