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.
If the Rays want to feel hope after falling 2-0 to the Brewers in the World Series, they should read up on the Dodgers-Twins 1965 Fall Classic.
Dodger prospect Luke Fox sparks the Glendale Desert Dogs’ 5‑4 win over the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League on Oct. 24. Fox throws three innings, allowing one run and striking out six on just over 16 pitches per inning, part of a team total of 15 punch‑outs. The offense erupts early as second‑baseman Charles Davalan launches a leadoff homer – his second of the fall – to give Glendale an instant lead. The Desert Dogs close the game with a one‑run margin and will face the Mesa Solar Sox on Monday.
The Milwaukee Brewers, fresh off a 103‑win season, have swept the Padres, swept the Dodgers, and now lead the World Series 2‑0. Despite a modest 5‑1 record in one‑run games, their bullpen boasts an impressive 1.41/2.79/3.62 ERA over 44 2/3 innings, stifling late threats. Yet the Tampa Bay Rays, who hold a slight edge in the next two matchups (53% win chance for Gasser‑Peralta, 52.2% for Drohan‑Jax), could force a historic third loss for Milwaukee—a feat achieved only by the 2005 White Sox and 1999 Yankees. The article weighs the Rays' chances and whether the Brewers can stay unbeaten.
The Dodgers face a roster crossroads as seven of nine regulars are over 30, with veteran outfielder Teoscar Hernández’s future hinging on the emergence of rookie left‑fielder Josue De Paula, who could earn everyday starts in 2027. Meanwhile, owner Mark Walter is under MLB scrutiny amid a federal probe, a situation Baseball Commissioner Manfred says is being monitored. The piece also spotlights pro‑wrestler Arik Cannon’s discovery of a rare Shohei Ohtani "Game for the Ages" card, which he hopes to sell to clear his father’s debts.
The Milwaukee Brewers rallied from a four‑run deficit to edge the Tampa Bay Rays 5‑4 in Game 6 of the World Series, extending their postseason winning streak to seven and improving to 9‑1 overall. Sam Frelick’s sixth‑ inning homer tied the game, and Brice Turang’s double followed by Cooper Pratt’s single gave Milwaukee the lead. The Rays missed key chances, striking out repeatedly and blowing a tying run at third base. Milwaukee now leads the series and could clinch the championship in Tampa Bay next Tuesday.
The Dodgers missed a three‑peat in 2026 but retain a talent‑laden roster for 2027, anchored by massive contracts for Shohei Ohtani ($490 M through 2033) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($248 M through 2035). Other key deals include Mookie Betts, Kyle Tucker, Blake Snell and Will Smith, totaling $362.25 M in 2027 commitments with $142.2 M deferred. Pitching is the biggest question: Ohtani’s half‑season injury leaves his future role uncertain, and free‑agent right‑hander Tarik Skubal may command a long‑term, high‑value extension despite the Dodgers’ usual preference for shorter deals. Arbitration‑eligible players and several non‑tender candidates round out the offseason outlook.
Brewers right‑hander Dustin May says the 2026 World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays means more to him than the 2020 title he won with the Dodgers. After surviving a life‑threatening esophageal tear in 2024 and being traded from Los Angeles to Boston, St. Louis and finally Milwaukee, May reflects that simply being on the Fall Classic stage feels like a miracle. He contributed in the postseason—starting NLDS Game 3, pitching a scoreless inning in the NLCS, and throwing three innings in Game 4 before yielding Shohei Ohtani’s three‑run homer—but the Brewers swept the Dodgers and now lead the World Series. The story highlights May’s resilience and the city’s first World Series appearance since 1982.
Joe Davis, Fox’s lead play‑by‑play voice, admits he hesitated during his first World Series Game 7 call in the 2025 Dodgers‑Blue Jays thriller, where Miguel Rojas tied it in the ninth and Will Smith won it in the eleventh. In a recent interview with Bryan Curtis, Davis says he wants a do‑over, feeling the pressure made him “grip the wheel too tight.” With the 2026 Fall Classic already featuring a potential Game 7 between the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, Davis hopes to prove he’s back at his best.
The Atlanta Braves‘ 2026 season officially came to a disappointing end with a 3-1 National League Division Series loss to the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. After missing the postseason last year and failing to win a playoff series since capturing the 2021 World Series title, simply getting that monkey off their […]
The post Atlanta Braves 2026 Season Report Card appeared first on Just Baseball .
Tarik Skubal, the top free‑agent left‑handed ace, is being linked to the San Diego Padres as new owners Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones pledge to bolster the roster. While Skubal could be the Padres’ Opening Day starter, his projected $400 million-plus contract raises questions for a club that has lost starters like Musgrove, Pivetta, Darvish and Michael King to injuries. The article weighs the allure of a marquee signing against the need to spread money across the rotation and lineup, suggesting a more balanced approach may serve the franchise better.
The True Blue LA roundup highlights three Dodgers‑related figures: executive VP Janet Marie Smith, whose groundbreaking work on Oriole Park at Camden Yards reshaped ballpark design and is praised by Joe Posnanski; former Dodger first baseman Todd Benzinger, who died at 63 after a brief 1992 stint with the club, posting a .239 average in 121 games; and manager Dave Roberts, whose postseason performance receives a fresh review from FanGraphs’ Dan Szymborski. The piece also references a recent Architectural Digest interview with Smith and a 2020 press conference featuring Mookie Betts and David Price.
The joint investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan, the FBI, and the SEC is examining whether Mark Walter and his holding company, TWG Global, committed fraud by funneling roughly $20 billion in undisclosed loans. And amid this, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred reveals that the league is monitoring the ongoing investigations and putting Walter’s […]
The post MLB Turns Its Attention to Dodgers Owner Mark Walter Over Federal Probe appeared first on EssentiallySports .
Shohei Ohtani is baseball’s unicorn. His two-way abilities set him apart from the rest, so much so that MLB introduced a separate rule for him. But great players come with greater challenges to manage, and Ohtani’s desire to play in every game is his Achilles heel. At 32, managing the two-way workload is also not […]
The post “It Could Compromise”: Dodgers Warned Shohei Ohtani’s Obsession With Greatness Could Backfire appeared first on EssentiallySports .