Two National League Division Series games went down to the wire last night, and the headline moment belonged to Jackson Chourio. The Milwaukee Brewers left fielder delivered a two-strike, two-out walk-off single to push Milwaukee to a 2-0 series lead over the San Diego Padres.
Atlanta answered in the other NLDS matchup, using six different pitchers to grind out a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers and square that series at 1-1.
The postseason slate keeps moving this afternoon, with the Chicago White Sox facing the Cleveland Guardians at 2 PM in the first ALDS Game 2, followed by the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays at 5 PM.
There’s also a development worth watching for New York tonight. Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler has added a curveball to go with his fastball-heavy mix, and he intends to use it in his ALDS Game 2 start.
Tampa Bay, meanwhile, has leaned on its defense in a major way. The Rays’ outfield currently owns the highest Outs Above Average in the Statcast era at +37.
One veteran name also surfaced in the league notes: left-hander Taylor Rodgers plans to pitch in 2027 for his age-36 season.
And in Chicago, October may be offering a preview of the future. The White Sox’s current playoff run could help clarify their rotation picture, with two younger arms making noise this month.
Back in Mariners territory, the team will have four top prospects to evaluate in 2027 when it comes to the Opening Day roster.
In Other News...
Mariners Face A Telling Test If Don Mattingly Enters Their Search
Don Mattinglys name is suddenly in the mix as the Mariners continue their managerial search, and it is the kind of possibility that forces a front office to weigh experience against fit. Reportedly expected to part ways with the Phillies, Mattingly would bring a long track record as a skipper and the sort of rsum that usually gets immediate attention when a job like Seattles opens up. He has also indicated he wants to keep managing, which only adds to the intrigue around where his next stop might be.
For Seattle, the question would not just be about familiarity with the dugout but about whether Mattingly matches what the organization wants at this stage. The Mariners have to sort through managerial candidates with a clear sense of what matters most, especially when a veteran name with past performance to examine becomes available. Philadelphia may still have another role in mind for him, but if Seattle goes down this road, it would be a telling test of how the club is defining its next manager. [Read more 🡒]
Former Mariners Arm Just Became An October Force For Atlanta
Ray Kerrs path to this October has been anything but linear, which is part of why his emergence for Atlanta stands out. The 32-year-old left-hander was signed by the Mariners as an undrafted free agent in 2017, then spent years trying to carve out a foothold in the majors while dealing with the kind of setbacks that can derail a pitcher entirely, including Tommy John surgery in 2024.
Now, in the 2026 postseason, Kerr has become a useful arm at exactly the right time, throwing multiple scoreless innings in critical games for the Braves against quality competition. For Seattle, it is another reminder of how unpredictable pitching development can be, with a player who once seemed like a long shot suddenly looking like a trusted October option on a different stage. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Face A Real Roster Squeeze Before Key Contract Decisions
The calendar is turning toward the Mariners next major roster checkpoint, with the club needing to sort through contract decisions on 15 players by Nov. 27. Some calls are straightforward enough, including expected tenders for Logan Gilbert and Bryan Woo, while Patrick Wisdom looks like a likely non-tender as Seattle starts to separate the core pieces from the rest of the winter puzzle.
What makes this stretch tricky is the middle ground, where names such as Luke Raley, Cooper Criswell and Eduard Bazardo sit under a mix of health, performance and salary considerations. The Mariners have options on the table, from offering deals to exploring trades or even moving players through the minor leagues, but for now the picture remains fluid as the front office weighs how much roster room it can afford to keep open. [Read more 🡒]