MLB Baseball 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 7, 2026, 2:05 PM ET
Division Series Roundup
The Dodgers took a 2-1 NLDS lead over the Braves with a 3-1 win, as Yoshinobu Yamamoto espn.com outdueled Atlanta ace Chris Sale in the marquee pitching matchup. Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts moved a struggling Shohei Ohtani espn.com to the No. 5 spot in the lineup for the contest, a notable shakeup for the slumping superstar.
The Padres kept their season alive with a 4-3 victory over the Brewers, as Michael King delivered in relief espn.com after declaring himself "the beast" — the Game 1 starter came in to pitch the decisive frames. San Diego's Jake Cronenworth espn.com found the sweet spot with a solo homer to help the Padres hold the edge. The team will be without closer Mason Miller espn.com, who landed on the paternity list ahead of the pivotal contest, though manager Craig Sammen dismissed pitch-tipping concerns espn.com and suggested Miller might be limited to one inning The White Sox remained perfect in the postseason, beating the Guardians 4-3 to take a 2-0 ALDS lead, and now look to clinch at home espn.com for the first time in 126 years. Chicago and Cleveland will both start openers espn.com in Game, a strategic choice that could define the series.
ALDS & NLDS Elimination Watch
The Yankees face a must-win after a 4-error Game 2 loss to the Rays espn.com, with three miscues coming in the first inning alone in what Aaron Boone called a "really rough night." Across the league, eight teams face pivotal matchups espn.com as the Guardians, Yankees, Braves, and Padres all fight to stay alive.
Labor & Front Office
The postseason could have major implications for baseball's next collective bargaining agreement, and players and executives weighed in espn.com on whether a Dodgers three-peat would trigger a salary cap push or whether a Rays or Brewers title would shift the labor battle entirely. Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and manager Chad Tracy pushed back espn.com on the notion that Boston is overly reliant on analytics, defending their data-driven approach.
Around the League
Fred Claire, the former Dodgers GM who oversaw the 1988 World Series championship team, died at age 91 espn.com. Claire parlayed early jobs as a sportswriter and editor into a 30-year career in baseball operations. Sam McDowell, the four-time AL strikeout king who later became a counselor, also passed away at 84 espn.com.
Alex Cora has declined the Phillies' managerial job espn.com once again, informing the club he plans to take 2027 off entirely.
Injury & Home-Field Notes
The Giants led MLB with 2,379 days on the injured list espn.com and 44 IL stints, ending the Dodgers' three-year streak of leading the league in that dubious category. As the playoffs roll on, our experts ranked home-field advantage espn.com for all eight remaining teams, from Petco Park's raucous atmosphere to Yankee Stadium's aura to the unique challenges of Tropicana Field.
Hot Takes &
One week into October, our experts have hot takes on everything espn.com from slugging stars to the pitch that will decide the playoffs, including whether a no-hitter is brewing and which teams have realistic comeback chances. With a loaded slate of eight teams in action, the next 24 hours could reshape the entire postseason picture.