Today.
Jaylon Thompson writes why the Royals are giving Cole Ragans the Game 1 start today.
The organization trusts Ragans in the key role. And Ragans is prepared to take the baseball in perhaps the biggest game of the season.
“It makes you feel good that they have that faith in you,” Ragans said. “It’s just, build off of it. They trust me, so it’s (putting) in the work behind the scenes. Prepare the best I can prepare and give our team the best chance to win a ball game.”
Anne Rogers writes the Royals will make a decision on whether to activate Vinnie Pasquantino today.
“We were hoping to get a live BP in with him today, but we’re not going to be able to do that,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “So we’re going to simulate it the best we can — not off live pitching, but in the cage machine. And we’ll see how he comes out of that in the morning before we make our decision. He came out of the live BP on Saturday really well, so we were encouraged by that. But this will be another big day to test it.”
Pete Grathoff writes why the Orioles are vulnerable.
The Orioles’ bullpen wobbled down the stretch, as it had the worst ERA in the American League after Sept. 1 (5.31). Their left-on-base percentage (63.3%) was the third-worst in baseball, per FanGraphs.
Over the last 28 days, left-hander Cionel Pérez has a 9.00 ERA and opponents had a .325 average against him.
Baltimore designated closer Craig Kimbrel for assignment in the middle of September. Seranthony Domínguez has three saves this month in four opportunities, but he also has a 5.87 ERA in that time and has given up six home runs in 22 2/3 innings since being acquired in a trade.
David Lesky considers the post-season roster.
Nobody wants to see Hampson on this roster, but the reality is that the Orioles have four lefty relievers who could make their roster and Isbel has a good shot to be pinch hit for against one of them. When he is, they don’t trust Blanco defensively, and I think they’ve been proven right in that. Hampson is going to be on this roster to play center field after Isbel has been hit for earlier in the game. I would imagine they start all righties, so Isbel will start all the games, but they might need someone to come in to play defense.
And you might be surprised to not see MJ Melendez, but the way he finished the year (.152/.273/.227 since August 28), I just don’t see a spot.
Craig Brown marvels at Bobby Witt Jr’s. season.
I don’t think I ever imagined this for Witt, a batting crown. I figured he would develop into a fine hitter. I hoped he would be an All-Star caliber of player. I never would’ve guessed him for batting champion. He finishes the year at .332/.389/.588. Those are straight-up superstar numbers.
In addition, he’s a member of the 30/30 club for the second year in a row. That’s 32 home runs and 31 steals. He scored 124 runs. He drove in 109. He hit 45 doubles. Eleven triples. And he only grounded into four double plays. Four!
Royals legendary broadcaster Denny Matthews will travel to Baltimore to call this series.
Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter writes the Royals delivered on their promise in 2024.
Royals wives and girlfriends celebrated their clinching of a playoff spot with the team.
Legendary and infamous “hit king” Pete Rose dies at the age of 83.
The Mets and Braves split their doubleheader, both clinching a post-season spot and leaving the Diamondbacks out.
The Giants fire Farhan Zaidi and name Buster Posey president of baseball operations.
Shohei Ohtani was the top-selling jersey in baseball for the second straight season.
Next year’s All-Star Game will feature primary team jerseys again.
Can data sharing solve the pitching injury epidemic?
The White Sox aren’t likely to be active in free agency.
The Twins claim they’re done cutting payroll.
The Cardinals will bring back manager Oli Marmol, and executive John Mozeliak will stay one more season.
The final Oakland A’s post-game show was pre-recorded due to “studio conflicts.”
The winners and losers of the Karl-Anthony Townes trade.
Arsenal has embraced winning ugly, but is it enough to win a title?
Astronauts train in some of the most extreme locales on Earth.
DirecTV agrees to buy Dish for $1.
An 81-year-old South Korean model falls short in her bid to become the oldest Miss Universe contestant.
Your song of the day is The Chambers Brothers with Time Has Come Today.