The Rays are one win from the World Series after knocking off the Guardians 3-1 in Cleveland in Game 5 of the ALCS, moving ahead in the series three games to two.
Drew Rasmussen set the tone for Tampa Bay’s biggest win of the series so far. The Rays ace worked seven innings and gave up just one run on four hits, with the defense behind him helping keep Cleveland in check. Now the pressure shifts to Game 6, where Freddy Peralta will get the ball for Tampa Bay with a chance to send the Rays to the Fall Classic.
Yandy Díaz didn’t leave much room for doubt after the game. The leadoff hitter, who had three hits in support of the win, said, “We’re going to win tomorrow,”
If the Rays close this out, they’ll meet the Brewers in the World Series, which would guarantee the champion is a first-time title winner. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said he wants it very badly for a fanbase and a community that has been waiting a long time.
Around the National League East, the Nationals are losing several front-office pieces. Washington Nationals CFO Ted Towne is leaving the organization to become CFO of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, according to a report from the Washington Business Journal. Chief Revenue Office Chris Zaber and vice president of events at Nationals Park Jonathan Stahl are also departing the Nationals’ front office.
And in the Mets’ orbit, relief prospect Ryan Lambert is getting off to a strong start in the Arizona Fall League. Elsewhere, Lukas Vlahos looked back at Brooks Raley’s 2026 season, when he was part of a bullpen that stood out as one of the few bright spots for the 2026 Mets. Raley then struggled after being traded to the Phillies, despite being the same pitcher, suggesting regression the Mets may have already seen coming.
In Other News...
Mets Could Keep Winning From The Brooks Raley Trade
Brooks Raley was one of those useful bullpen arms the Mets leaned on before the front office decided to move him to Philadelphia, and the first stretch after the trade has only sharpened the question of whether New York may have squeezed more value out of the deal than it first seemed. Raley had been effective in Queens, but his results with the Phillies have taken a noticeable step back, which only adds context to why the return mattered so much for a club trying to keep restocking without losing sight of the present.
In exchange, the Mets came away with prospects John Spikerman and Luke Gabrysh, and Gabrysh in particular has drawn attention for strong pitching metrics. For a team that has had to balance immediate bullpen needs against long-term depth, this is the kind of transaction that can look different a few months later than it did on the day it was made. The real payoff may still be ahead, but the early signs suggest New York could keep winning even after Raley moved on. [Read more 🡒]
Mets May Have To Cash In Prospects To Fix Costly Holes
The Mets are heading into an offseason that could force them to make uncomfortable choices, and the path forward may run straight through their farm system. After a deadline spent leaning more toward sellers, the club is now being viewed as a cautious buyer, with the weight of its big contracts and the possibility of a changing MLB financial landscape both shaping how aggressive it can be.
That reality has made some of the organizations better prospects part of the conversation, including Jacob Reimer, Sammy Stafura and Jack Wenninger. None of them are considered untouchable by the front office, which says plenty about how the Mets might try to patch their roster holes if the right deal comes along, even if it means parting with young talent that still carries some long-term value. [Read more 🡒]
Mets May Need To Act Fast On A Breakout Building Block
Carson Benge has already given the Mets a compelling reason to think bigger about their young core. After a strong rookie season, the outfielder has quickly gone from promising piece to the kind of player a front office starts trying to secure before the price tag rises further. For a team still trying to build a more complete roster, locking in a homegrown bat early would fit neatly into a longer-term plan, especially with the franchise looking for more impact beyond the usual power profile.
The appeal is obvious because the Mets could use more speed as much as they need more upside, and Benge fits the conversation about where the roster needs to improve. The Braves have long shown the value of getting ahead of the market with extensions for young talent like Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies, and that model lingers for clubs trying to balance contention now with cost control later. Jefferson Rojas and Nick Morabito add to the wave of prospects worth watching, but Benge is the name that could force the Mets to move before the market makes the decision for them. [Read more 🡒]