Three Hall‑of‑Fame legends celebrate Oct. 3. Dennis Eckersley turns 72, Dave Winfield 75, and Fred Clarke—born in 1872 and deceased in 1960—each once wore a World Series champion’s jersey.
At noon CT the ALDS opens with Cleveland hosting Chicago in their first playoff clash. The Guardians clinched the AL Central by a single game and earned a bye, while the Sox would have tied for the division thanks to a 7‑6 head‑to‑head edge. Parker Messick starts for Cleveland; Hagen Smith takes the ball for Chicago in another bullpen‑style effort.
Meanwhile the Yankees meet the Rays at 5:30 pm CT, with Gerrit Cole opposing Drew Rasmussen in Game 1. Tampa Bay finished 4.5 games ahead and edged New York 7‑6 in the season series. The clubs previously faced off in 2020, when the Rays swept the Bronx Bombers. Aaron Judge’s calf strain still clouds New York’s lineup, as he’s missed action since Sept. 16.
2. Braves/Dodgers and Padres/Brewers begin
The NLDS tips off at 3 pm CT as Los Angeles travels to Atlanta. The Dodgers chase a three‑peat while the Braves, fresh from a three‑game win over Philadelphia, hold a 5‑1 regular‑season advantage. Tarik Skubal will open for L.A.; Atlanta likely opts for a bullpen start. For my money, the Dodgers possess the deeper rotation. Historically the series is tied 3‑3, with each club winning a recent NLCS.
Milwaukee enjoys home‑field advantage after a 103‑win season, beginning at 7:30 pm CT against San Diego in their inaugural postseason meeting. The Padres have a 13‑6 edge over the Brewers in the past three years, including a 4‑2 edge in 2026. Robbie Ray will start for a hot Padres squad that’s 43‑18 in its last 61 games and just swept the Cubs. Jacob Misiorowski makes his postseason debut for the Brewers after posting a 1.50 ERA in 12 relief innings last fall.
For the 16th year in a row, Matt Swartz and MLB Trade Rumors release arbitration salary projections. Yesterday’s 2026‑27 list covers 196 eligible players, though the total could shift if the Super Two cutoff changes. Will the numbers hold up once the Super Two line moves?