MLB Baseball 24-Hour Briefing

Last updated: October 14, 2026, 11:42 PM ET

Postseason Managers and Front Offices

Don Mattingly stays on as Phillies manager after agreeing to a two-year deal, having guided Philadelphia to the playoffs after taking over as interim skipper. In Houston, Joe Espada will not return as Astros manager despite winning two American League West titles, and a source says the Mariners have received permission to interview him for their managerial opening.

Labor and the Game's Future

Dissecting this year's final four, Passan examines what the remaining teams reveal about MLB's ongoing labor fight, noting that the sport's No. 1 payroll sits with the Dodgers while three other finalists barely add up to Los Angeles's total.

Championship Series

The NLCS and ALCS lines and series favorites have been set, with the Dodgers and Guardians favored in their respective Game 3 matchups. Milwaukee, meanwhile, insists it can beat anyone, including the Dodgers in their NLCS rematch.

Dodgers and Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani's status remains uncertain, as Los Angeles weighs whether his lingering injuries warrant him starting Game. Ohtani will remain in the lineup for now, but the Dodgers need him to break out of a slump before it is too late.

ALCS Game 2

The Guardians dropped their Game 1 opener to Tampa Bay after two costly fourth-inning miscues, with Jose Ramirez shouldering the blame. Cleveland will counter with Tampa Bay area native Parker Messick, who takes the mound to start Game, and fans can follow the live updates from the lineups.

Postseason Umpiring

Robot umpire challenges are favoring hitters in the playoffs, with batters winning challenges more often than they did during the regular season.