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Griffin Jax to Start Game 4 of World Series
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax will make the start for Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night as the Rays try to avoid being swept in four games in the best-of-seven series, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The 31-year-old veteran will have a tall task against a Brewers team that banged out 16 hits in their 10-1 win over Tampa in Game 3 of the series at Tropicana Field on Monday night. On top of that, Jax has not been very effective in two postseason appearances (one start) this year, allowing four earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out six in six innings pitched against the division-rival New York Yankees in the American League Division Series and the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Championship Series. Jax faced the Brewers twice in a relief role at the beginning of the 2026 season and was hit around, allowing five runs (three earned) on three hits while walking one and striking out one in just one inning pitched out of the bullpen. It goes without saying that Jax will be on a short leash early in Game 4 in a must-win game if he is not effective.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
MLB Testing Out Restricted Outfield Shifts
Major League Baseball is experimenting with restricting the positioning of outfielders on every at-bat in the Arizona Fall League, according to ESPN.com. The goal is to boost the game's sluggish offense by making outfielders play straight up, instead of adjusting for individual hitters' tendencies, which will in theory lead to more doubles and triples. Outfielders will look up at a small video board that can tell a player where they are in the field and will either generate an "X" if he is incorrectly positioned or an "O" if he is in a defensively acceptable spot. "The hardest part is cutting off doubles in the gap, and they're even turning into triples," Minnesota Twins prospect Kyle DeBarge said. "That's what they told us they wanted in the beginning. So it works." A recent game saw Scottsdale beat Salt River 15-8 in a game that featured five triples, which was an AFL record.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Mike Rizzo Interviewing For Astros General Manager Job
Former Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo is interviewing for the vacant Houston Astros general manager role, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. As general manager of the Nationals, Rizzo built up the franchise and led Washington to its first-ever World Series title in 2019, defeating the Houston Astros. Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez were fired in 2025, ending Rizzo's 19-year tenure with the franchise. Rizzo was considered for the Athletics job in a similar role this offseason, but withdrew his name from consideration to focus on the Astros position, according to Nightengale.
Source: Bob Nightengale, USA Today
Source: Bob Nightengale, USA Today
Rocco Baldelli Withdraws From Mariners' Managerial Search
Los Angeles Dodgers special assistant Rocco Baldelli has withdrawn from the search for a new Seattle Mariners manager, according to a report from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. Rosenthal reports that Baldelli has cited "family considerations" in withdrawing his name from consideration for the Mariners' open position. Baldelli currently serves as a special assistant to the president of baseball operations with the Dodgers. He was previously the manager of the Minnesota Twins from 2019 to 2025 and was the American League Manager of the Year in 2019 and won three AL Central division titles.
Source: The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal
Source: The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal
Quinn Priester Expected to Be Ready for 2027 Spring Training
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester (rib/shoulder) is progressing well in his recovery from thoracic outlet surgery, per Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Priester was given a recovery timeline of eight to 10 months after undergoing the surgery in June, but Rosiak reports that he is on track to be ready for 2027 Spring Training. Priester did not pitch at all in the big leagues in 2026 after first batting symptoms of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome this past spring. However, the 26-year-old had a breakout season in 2025 with Milwaukee, recording a 13-3 record with a 3.32 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts across 157 1/3 innings. If Priester can indeed make it back for the start of 2027, he could re-emerge as a quality starting pitcher option for fantasy managers.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
Drew Rasmussen Stumbles for First Time This Postseason
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen went into Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night against the hosting Milwaukee Brewers, having allowed only three earned runs with 23 strikeouts and only three walks in his first three starts of the postseason against the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians (twice). Rasmussen was unable to slow down the red-hot Brewers, allowing three earned runs on six hits while walking two and striking out four in just 3 2/3 innings pitched for a no-decision. It was even more disappointing for the 31-year-old veteran after the Rays gave him a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Rasmussen gave two of those runs back immediately in the bottom of the first inning and was yanked with two outs in the fourth inning. He will be hoping to put this outing behind him if the World Series makes it to a Game 6, which would be back in Milwaukee. Rasmussen made his second straight All-Star squad in 2026 and was excellent during the regular season as well, going 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA, a league-best 0.91 WHIP, and a 174:32 K:BB in 172 innings in 30 starts. His 174 strikeouts were a new career high.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Pablo Lopez Could Be Ready for the Start of the 2027 Season
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez (elbow) is targeting a Spring Training return to the mound, per Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune. Lopez missed the entire 2026 season after undergoing an internal brace procedure on his right elbow in February. The 30-year-old was a productive pitcher in 2025, recording a 5-4 record with a 2.74 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 73 strikeouts across 75 2/3 innings (14 starts). However, Lopez also has a lengthy track record of health problems. He's undergone two major surgeries on his elbow and has also missed time in his career with shoulder issues. Still, if Lopez can put together a fully healthy season in 2027, he could be an impact pitcher for fantasy managers.
Source: Minnesota Star Tribune - Bobby Nightengale
Source: Minnesota Star Tribune - Bobby Nightengale
Jacob Misiorowski Picks Up Win in Game 1 of World Series
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski picked up the victory in Game 1 of the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night, allowing only one earned run on four hits while walking one and striking out three in five innings of work. The Miz helped his team get off to a great start in the Fall Classic, but he struck out a season-low three hitters and did not have his typical swing-and-miss stuff going, which has been a theme so far for the flamethrower in the postseason. The good news is that he was still effective while making his longest start of the playoffs. The 24-year-old former second-rounder now has allowed four earned runs on 13 hits with five walks and 14 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings pitched in his three starts this postseason against the Rays, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Dodgers. If the Brewers do not sweep the series from the Rays in four games, Misiorowski will be lined up to start Game 5 of the World Series in Tampa.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jameson Taillon Set to Undergo Elbow Surgery
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jameson Taillon (elbow) will undergo a flexor repair surgery that could involve an internal brace procedure on Monday, per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Taillon suffered a season-ending elbow injury in early September and could now be in line to miss a significant chunk of 2027 as well. The 34-year-old struggled in 2026, recording a 2-6 record with a 5.65 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 76 strikeouts across 86 innings (18 starts) split between Toronto and the Chicago Cubs. Taillon is set to hit free agency this winter, so he may have trouble landing a contract until he can show he is fully healthy. Still, Davidi notes that the veteran right-hander intends to continue pitching once he recovers from his current injury.
Source: Sportsnet - Shi Davidi
Source: Sportsnet - Shi Davidi
Jeffrey Springs Likely to Hit the Open Market This Winter
MLB.com's Mark Feinsand thinks that Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs is likely to receive a buyout from the A's this offseason and hit the open market looking for a one-year deal to re-establish his value. The A's hold a one-year, $15 million club option ($750,000 buyout) on Springs for next season, but after a dreadful 2026 campaign, the 34-year-old southpaw is likely to become a free agent. Springs went 4-14 with a 6.18 ERA in 29 starts this year and gave up an American League-leading 98 earned runs and 35 home runs. In his first year in Sacramento in 2025, Springs went 11-11 with a 4.11 ERA (4.65 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 138 strikeouts and 54 walks in 171 innings across 32 appearances (30 starts). It was even more disappointing that Springs' strikeout rate fell to a career-low 17.8% in 2026, while his walk rate ballooned to 9.0%, his highest since he walked 14.8% of the batters he faced in 2019 with the Texas Rangers in just his second year in the big leagues. Getting away from hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park will be a good thing as Springs looks to bounce back in 2027 on a prove-it deal.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
Source: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
Brandon Woodruff Included on World Series Roster
The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Friday that veteran right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) is on the roster for the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, which starts Friday night in Milwaukee. Woodruff has not pitched in a game since July 4 due to ongoing issues with his right shoulder, so it is a bit of a surprise that he was included for the Fall Classic against Tampa. He must have convinced the coaching staff during his simulated game on Tuesday. The 33-year-old former two-time All-Star saw a sharp drop in velocity earlier this year, and at one point it looked like he was on the verge of undergoing season-ending surgery. However, Woodruff turned a corner and began ramping back up for a potential late-season return. He went 2-2 during his nine regular-season starts while posting a 2.98 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with 47 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings, so he was not bad at all despite dealing with a drop in velocity. It is a cool story to see Woodruff included on the roster for the organization's second trip to the World Series (first since 1982), but because of his long layoff and injury concerns, he will probably only be available out of Milwaukee's bullpen in lower-leverage spots during the Fall Classic.
Source: Milwaukee Brewers
Source: Milwaukee Brewers
Stephen Vogt Says He's Staying With Guardians
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said that he will return to the team next season after losing to the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series this year, according to The Associated Press. "I'm here," Vogt said at a news conference Thursday. "I'm coming back." There were rumblings that Vogt could leave Cleveland for the Seattle Mariners' managerial opening so that he could be closer to his family's home in Washington. The former big-league catcher has led the Guardians to a division crown in each of his three seasons at the helm and has been named American League Manager of the Year twice. The 41-year-old said he has not been contacted by the Mariners, who fired Dan Wilson last month following the disappointing year after Seattle made it to the AL Championship Series in 2025. Although the M's have not reached out to Vogt, it is possible that they contact Cleveland with a trade proposal.
Source: The Associated Press
Source: The Associated Press
Nick Martinez to Start Game 1 of World Series Against Brewers
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Nick Martinez will make the start in Game 1 of the World Series on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Starting Martinez in Game 1 of the World Series will allow Tampa to push back their top two starters, Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta. It will be Martinez's third road outing this postseason. In starts against the division-rival New York Yankees in the American League Division Series and against the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Championship Series, Martinez allowed three earned runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out six in nine innings pitched. The 36-year-old veteran was better on the road during the regular season, too, posting a 2.38 ERA with 55 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 94 2/3 innings. Martinez faced the Brewers on the road in his first start of the season on March 30, allowing two earned runs on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts in six innings for a no-decision. The veteran hurler has been solid in 20 1/3 career playoff innings, going 1-1 with a 3.10 ERA, 17 strikeouts, five walks, and three holds.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Seth Hernandez 100% Recovered From his Oblique Injury
Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitching prospect Seth Hernandez (oblique) said that he is feeling 100% healthy now and has been since about the first or second week of September, according to Aiden Stepansky of MLB.com. "Finally back home now, getting after it for the offseason. So everything's good on that half," Hernandez said. Per MLB Pipeline, Hernandez is the Pirates' top overall prospect. The 20-year-old former sixth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft was shut down for the season after he suffered a strained left oblique in late July while playing for High-A Greensboro. With Greensboro and Single-A Bradenton in 2026, Hernandez pitched very well, going 6-1 with a 2.43 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 118:31 K:BB in 74 innings across his 18 starts. Not only is Hernandez the Pirates' top pitching prospect, but he is considered the top overall right-handed pitching prospect in baseball this offseason. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder is a must-stash in dynasty/keeper leagues, even though it could be a long shot for him to reach the big leagues as early as 2027.
Source: MLB.com - Aiden Stepansky
Source: MLB.com - Aiden Stepansky
Managerial Candidates Emerging For Mariners Job
According to The Athletic's Chandler Rome, two former members of the Houston Astros staff -- Joe Espada and Jason Kanzler -- have emerged as serious candidates in the search for a new Seattle Mariners manager. Kanzler was on the Astros' 2022 staff and is now the Cubs farm director. And The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal added that Rocco Baldelli, the Dodgers' special assistant, is also in the mix for the Mariners job. The Mariners finished 76-86 overall and in third place in the AL West behind the Houston Astros, who finished with an 81-81 record to win the division. The Astros parted ways with Espada this offseason after the team lost to the Chicago White Sox in the postseason.
Source: Chandler Rome, The Athletic
Source: Chandler Rome, The Athletic
