Postseason baseball is about to be packed with former Oregon State players, and several Beavers are positioned to matter when October arrives.
Cleveland is peaking at the right moment. The Guardians, who were trailing the White Sox by multiple games for the AL Central lead at this point last month, now sit in first place with six regular-season games left.
It would take absolute disaster for them to miss the postseason now. One of the biggest moments in their recent push came in the key series win over the White Sox last week, when Bazzana delivered a two-homer game in the second matchup of the set.
Since then, the Australian has cooled off at the plate, collecting a hit in only one of his last 14 at-bats. There is still plenty on the line, though, with the White Sox just one game back in the division race.
Cleveland opens a major three-game series against the Red Sox this afternoon, and every plate appearance matters as the Guardians chase better playoff positioning. It could be an important stretch for Bazzana to find his timing again.
Kwan has also kept Cleveland moving. The two-time All-Star turned in another strong run during the Guardians’ sweep of the A’s, piling up five hits over the final two games of that series. With the division still in play and a wild card spot nearly locked up, he remains right in the middle of everything Cleveland is trying to do.
Tampa Bay has already secured the AL East, and Rasmussen has been a big reason why. The Rays held off a late push from the Yankees, and Rasmussen’s numbers tell the story of a pitcher who has carried a heavy load all year: a 2.83 ERA and a 16-5 record.
The club also handled him carefully in his most recent start, lifting him after 76 pitches against Oakland to keep his arm fresh for October. Before Tuesday night, Rasmussen had given up just two earned runs across his previous 19 innings.
Boston is also headed back to the postseason, and Rutschman gives the Red Sox a steady presence behind the plate. The former national champion has brought a sense of defensive security, even if his bat has not been as sharp in 2026.
Still, he has hit safely in each of his last three starts. His only previous playoff appearance did not go well, so October should carry extra motivation for him.
Conforto is another Beaver who is rolling into the stretch run with momentum. The veteran has been swinging it well in a starting role for the Cubs, who are close to locking up a postseason berth with a magic number of one.
A few nights ago, Conforto went 3-for-4 against Cincinnati, then followed that up with a homer on Sunday. He has not played in the postseason since 2015 with the Mets, and this gives him a real chance to make an impact again.
In Other News...
Oregon State Found An Unexpected Pass Rush Piece In Jarrel Comer
Jarrel Comer has become one of the more intriguing developments in Oregon States front seven, a player whose path to a starting outside linebacker job took a circuitous route through junior college football in California after his early days on the game had long since faded. Once on campus, the Beavers saw enough athleticism and growth to trust him in a bigger role, and he has rewarded that belief by becoming part of the teams pass rush plan while working alongside Takari Hickle.
What makes Comers rise especially notable is how quickly he has fit into a position that asks for both urgency and discipline. He has put together 10 tackles so far this season, a sign that his impact has gone beyond the occasional pressure package and into every-down responsibility. For Oregon State, finding another dependable edge presence is no small thing, and Comer is suddenly one of the names worth watching whenever the Beavers need to disrupt a quarterback. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Just Added Another High-Upside Piece Fans Will Notice
Oregon States recruiting momentum got another boost with the commitment of Emmanuel Ahamefule, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Great Britain who attends Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco. Justin Joyner and his staff have been pitching a program built around development, and Ahamefule said the plan presented by the Beavers stood out to him as he weighed where to take the next step.
For Oregon State, the appeal is obvious: Ahamefule brings defensive value and the kind of versatility that can travel well as he grows into his game. He is already viewed as a high-upside addition, and his enthusiasm about joining the Beavers gives Joyner another young piece to sell to future recruits looking for a clear path forward in Corvallis. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Fans Have Several Big 12 Games Worth Watching Closely
The Big 12 slate this weekend gives Oregon State fans plenty of games worth monitoring, even if the Beavers are on the outside looking in. The conference schedule is loaded with matchups that could ripple through the rankings and playoff picture, and the league preview points to a full day of television windows, records, and storylines from around the country.
One of the more intriguing spots on the board comes in Morgantown, where an unbeaten West Virginia team will be tested in a late-afternoon national TV window. Elsewhere, a few familiar names will be off the field entirely, with Arizona State, BYU and Kansas all on bye, leaving the standings to be shaped by the teams still playing and the ones trying to keep their momentum alive. [Read more 🡒]