The 2026 World Series pits the Milwaukee Brewers against the Tampa Bay Rays—both making their first championship appearance as neither franchise has ever won the title. The Brewers, last in the Fall Classic in 1982, host Game 1 on Friday at American Family Field, while the Rays secured their spot after beating the Cleveland Guardians in Game 6 of the ALCS. This matchup marks the first World Series since 1980 featuring two teams without a championship. Every game airs at 5 p.m. PT on Fox. Who will you root for?
In an October 19 Arizona Fall League showdown at Salt River Fields, the Glendale Desert Dogs fell 7-1 to the Salt River Rafters. Glendale starter Brooks Auger struggled early, surrendering a triple, a single and an inside‑the‑park homer to Twins prospect Kyle DeBarge before settling down to retire nine of the next ten hitters over three innings. Charles Davalan accounted for Glendale’s lone run, walking in the fourth and singling in the eighth, raising his on‑base percentage to .349 over nine games. The Rafters’ offense surged early, and the Desert Dogs look to rebound in their next game Tuesday at Surprise.
After the Dodgers’ 6‑4 NLCS loss to Milwaukee, the focus shifts to Shohei Ohtani’s injury saga. Sonja Chen (MLB.com) outlines his timeline—from a knee tweak to a full IL stint—and argues the club could have intervened earlier, while Ohtani vows to return to the mound in 2027, though surgery remains undecided. Dodgers president Andrew Friedman praises communication but admits gaps in understanding Ohtani’s condition. The piece also hints at broader league concerns, including a looming lockout and the Dodgers’ future as a potential dynasty.
Hanshin Tigers have approved third baseman Teruaki Sato’s posting request, opening negotiations with all 30 MLB clubs. The 27‑year‑old posted a historic NPB Triple Crown in 2026, slashing .306/.383/.609 with 39 homers, 106 RBIs and a .991 OPS in 143 games. Yankees, Mets, Dodgers and Phillies are the primary suitors, each envisioning Sato at either third base or first/corner outfield, while the Blue Jays are also monitoring him. Concerns linger over his 27% strikeout rate, but his power and 201 wRC+ make him a rare free‑agent bat. If no deal is reached within the 45‑day window, he returns to Japan for 2027.
The Milwaukee Brewers sweep the Los Angeles Dodgers in four games to clinch their first World Series berth since 1982, ending the defending champion’s three‑peat hopes. Fox Sports reports the 2026 NLCS averaged 7.533 million viewers— the highest LCS average on any network since 2015—and Game 4 topped 6 million, a record for a fourth‑game LCS matchup since 2018. The viewership surge represents a 77 % jump over the 2025 ALCS and underscores MLB’s growing TV audience, even as the upcoming World Series pits two small‑market teams, the Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays, against each other.
The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 7‑3, clinching a spot in the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, who will host Game 1 on Friday. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles announce a front‑office overhaul: President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias appoints former Cubs assistant GM Jared Banner as the new general manager, adding him to player development and strategic duties after recent staff reshuffles. The move signals Elias’s shift toward outside perspectives, though opinions on its success remain mixed.
The tough thing about dynasties is how much older teams are at the end of them.
The post Requiem for a Team: Los Angeles Dodgers appeared first on Baseball Prospectus .
Alex Vesia has been a dependable arm in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ bullpen for six years, but his future with the team is now uncertain. The left-handed reliever returned to the mound after the heartbreaking loss of his newborn daughter, a personal tragedy that made an already demanding season even harder. With free agency looming, […]
The post “Hardest Year of My Career”: Dodgers’ Star Could Leave Team After 6 Years Amid ‘Personal Battles’ appeared first on EssentiallySports .
In one of the most stunning postseason statements in modern baseball history, the Milwaukee Brewers completed a clean
The post Brewers Sweep Dodgers in NLCS: Stifles L.A.’s Super-Team to Reach First World Series Since 1982 appeared first on We Never Stop .
Will Smith’s six‑year World Series streak ends in 2026 because no player named Will Smith is on the Brewers or Rays. The article recounts the quirky coincidence of two MLB players sharing the name: catcher Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers and left‑handed reliever Will Smith, who together helped win six consecutive championships from 2020‑25. Highlights include the Dodgers’ dramatic NLCS comeback on Oct. 16, 2020, when catcher Smith hit a three‑run homer off his namesake pitcher, and the catcher’s 11th‑inning, game‑winning blast in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series after catching all 73 innings. The piece lists each World Series title linked to the two Smiths.
The following article " Brewers’ sweep of Dodgers finishes at LCS viewership high " originally appeared on Sports Media Watch .
The Brewers and Dodgers produced a second-straight NLCS sweep, but the result was far different on the field -- and in the ratings -- than a year ago.
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Tyler Glasnow struggled to keep the Los Angeles Dodgers’ season alive four days ago. He now just revealed who he’s pulling for between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians during the ALCS. The long-haired former Rays pitcher sat close to the action during Game 6 of the American League Championship Series. And he wasn’t […]
The post Dodgers’ Tyler Glasnow shows up to support Rays in ALCS vs. Guardians appeared first on ClutchPoints .
Los Angeles Dodgers free agent reliever Alex Vesia sent a message to Dodger fans before heading into free agency this offseason. Vesia played all but five games of his MLB career thus far with the Dodgers, spending his last six MLB seasons in Los Angeles. He has a 2.66 ERA through 367 games with the […] The post Dodgers’ Free Agent Sends Heartfelt Message to Fans appeared first on LA Sports Report.
With the Los Angeles Dodgers getting swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS, the team heads into the winter looking to retool to get back to World Series contention. As the Dodgers enter a crucial offseason, this MLB insider would go over what the team needs to improve and a trade that could bring […]
The post Insider reveals how Dodgers must upgrade after disappointing postseason exit appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The Dodgers' 2026 campaign—shorter than their recent title runs—still produced a slew of memorable highlights. The team recorded eight walk‑off wins, including dramatic victories over the Rangers (April 10) and the Cardinals (Sept. 3). Notable feats feature a nine‑run first inning against the Angels, Yoshinobu Yamamoto's lone complete game at Yankee Stadium, Max Muncy's three‑HR blast versus the Rangers and his new record for most home runs at Dodger Stadium, and Freddie Freeman's 2,500th hit on June 9 in Pittsburgh. Rookie Josue De Paula debuted in September and became the youngest Dodgers postseason hitter since 1965, while Andy Pages delivered the Division Series game‑winning two‑run single. The article invites fans to share their favorite moment from the season.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will not win a third straight World Series. The Dodgers were eliminated from the MLB Playoffs after being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS. The Brewers will be heading to the World Series for the first time since 1982. While the series went just four games, it set viewership […]
The post Brewers’ sweeping of Dodgers sets new NLCS viewership record not seen in 11 years appeared first on ClutchPoints .
Fox says the NLCS attracted the highest per-game viewership of an LCS since 2015.
The Milwaukee Brewers have clinched the NL pennant, sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 with wins of 2-1, 7-4 and 6-4, and await the AL champion for the World Series in Milwaukee next week. The ALCS remains undecided as the Cleveland Guardians lead the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1, with Games 6 and 7 scheduled for Oct. 19‑20 in Tampa. The World Series will start a week after the upcoming Friday, with Games 5‑7 slated for Oct. 28, 30 and 31 in Milwaukee. All postseason games are broadcast on Fox, FS1, TBS and DIRECTV.
Dodgers backup catcher Ben Rortvedt becomes a free agent after being outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma City in September. The 27‑year‑old, who filled in for injured starters Will Smith and Dalton Rushing and started four postseason games in 2025, logged 16 games (nine starts) this season with five hits in 27 at‑bats before being DFA’d on Sept. 1. With more than three years of MLB service, he exercised his right to elect free agency on Oct. 19, joining outfielder Alek Thomas, who also opted out after a similar stint. Manager Dave Roberts praised Rortvedt’s contribution to the Dodgers’ recent championship.
Dodgers prospects shine in the Arizona Fall League as Glendale Desert Dogs gear up for a busy week. Midwest League MVP Charles Davalan, who switched to the outfield, hits .333 on-base and belted his first fall home run last Monday. Third baseman Chase Harlan adds two homers and a .269/.444/.538 slash line in eight games. Former Missouri quarterback Sam Horn makes his professional pitching debut, delivering a scoreless inning with 94‑95 mph fastballs and striking out the side in his second outing. Fellow prospect Brooks Auger shows a five‑pitch arsenal, tossing 95‑98 mph fastballs and a plus changeup. Upcoming games run Oct. 13‑19, streamed on MLB.com.
Morning roundup highlights Dodgers news: Brent Maguire notes a statistical symmetry between the 2025 NLCS Dodgers and the 2026 Brewers, while a Shohei Ohtani jersey from the 2025 Tokyo Series auction fetched just over $2 million. The Savannah Bananas have booked a 2027 game at Dodger Stadium on April 24, when L.A. will be on the road versus Washington. Meanwhile, a looming December 1 lockout threatens the 2027 season start and could force Ohtani into solo rehab if a work stoppage occurs.
The ALCS reaches a pivotal moment as the Tampa Bay Rays, buoyed by Drew Rasmussen’s clutch performance in Game 5, close in on a World Series berth against the Brewers. Meanwhile, Detroit celebrates Willie Horton’s 84th birthday and adds former catcher Martín Maldonado to its coaching staff, reuniting with A.J. Hinch. The post also previews Game 6, reviews the Dodgers’ NLCS sweep, and touches on a weak free‑agent pool and offseason moves.
The post celebrates October 19 in baseball lore, kicking off with a birthday shout‑out to Mordecai Brown and highlighting the Cubs’ 2016 NLCS win over the Dodgers (10-2) where rookies Julio Urias and Ross Stripling started and Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo broke long homer droughts. It then flashes back to historic moments: Allie Reynolds joining the Yankees in 1946, Nellie Fox’s 1949 White Sox trade, the Dodgers’ “Blue Monday” NLCS win in 1981, and key World Series games from 1991‑1999. Recent milestones include the Red Sox’s 2004 ALCS comeback, the Rays’ 2008 ALCS win, the Dodgers’ 2017 NLCS clincher, the Astros’ 2019 ALCS walk‑off, and the Yankees’ 2024 ALCS Game 5 victory on Juan Soto’s three‑run homer.
The Brewers upset the Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs, reviving debate over a potential MLB salary‑cap and its impact on upcoming CBA talks. Analysts argue the result will fuel player‑union rhetoric but may not sway negotiations. Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks part ways with pitching coach Brian Kaplan while retaining hitting coach Joe Mather, sparking mixed opinions on the front office’s direction. The post also highlights a July 3, 2021 Banana Ball showdown between the Savannah Bananas and Catawba Valley Stars, illustrating the sport’s off‑beat events.
The Dodgers’ unexpected NLCS exit is already forcing roster moves, starting with backup catcher Ben Rortvedt. Brought in at the trade deadline to shore up the catching depth amid injuries to Will Smith and Dalton Rushing, the 29-year-old was expected to provide valuable cover. However, a .185 batting average in August did little to strengthen […]
The post Dodgers’ 29-YO Pro Makes His Exit as LA Faces Major Shake-Up After Postseason Elimination appeared first on EssentiallySports .