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Cam Schlittler forever etched his name in New York Yankees’ lore on Thursday night, pitching eight scoreless innings while striking out 12 en route to a 4-0 win over the Boston Red Sox in Game 3 of the Wild Card Round matchup.

It was Schlittler’s first career postseason appearance, and the fact that he eliminated the Yankees’ most hated rival in the process was peak cinema.

So, what do you need to know about the Big Apple’s newest hero?

You’ll Never Guess Where He’s From

Well close to Boston, at least. Schlittler grew up in Walpole, MA and went to college at Northeastern.

“Growing up in Boston, I take pride in being from Boston,” he told reporters ahead of Game 3. “When it comes to my career and where I wanted to be, this is where I wanted to be. [My family], they are full Yankee guys now. They don’t wear [Yankees gear] around as much in Boston just because. But when they are here, they are very prideful about it.”

So you know he has plenty of friends and family back home who were feeling just a touch bittersweet about Thursday’s performance.

Schlittler was 14-9 in 31 career appearances (30 starts) for Northeastern across three seasons, posting a 2.62 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 180 strikeouts in 182 innings.

The Yankees selected him in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB draft and he moved his way through the minor leagues fairly quickly, earning the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year award in 2024 (High-A).

In total, he was 15-16 in 54 appearances (50 starts) at the minor league level, posting a 3.33 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 303 strikeouts in 243.1 innings. He did not rank in MLB.com’s top-30 prospects in the Yankees’ farm system in 2024, though he jumped to No. 12 in the 2025 preseason rankings.

He made his impact felt immediately when he was called up in July to replace the injured Clarke Schmidt in the rotation, however. Schlittler finished the regular season 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 84 strikeouts in 73 innings, and manager Aaron Boone trusted him enough to hand him the ball for a postseason elimination game. That proved a wise decision.

Everybody Knows Schlittler’s Name Now

Here was just some of the reaction to his performance:

And now you know a little bit more about him too.

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The New York Yankees are heading to the American League Divisional Series for the third time in the last four seasons following a decisive Game 3 victory over Boston in the Wild Card round Thursday.

Rookie pitcher Cam Schlittler pitched eight innings of shutout baseball, striking out 12 in just his 15th start. He was brilliant and the Red Sox had no answer for him as he sat them down one-by-one, setting up David Bednar to tally three strikes and send the home team to the next round.

Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton, Amed Rosario, and Jazz Chisolm Jr. all scored on a night where the outcome was never in doubt after the fourth.

Up next for the Bronx Bombers is a best-of-five series against the Toronto Blue Jays, a team it knows all too well and who could very well spoil the Pinstripes’ hopes of a 28th World Series title.

New York Yankees (-101; bet $100, win $199)

Toronto Blue Jays (-120; bet $100, win 183.33)

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

The Blue Jays won eight of the 13 meetings with the Yankees this season. In those wins, Toronto outscored its rivals 59-31. New York scored the most runs in baseball in 2025, with 849, but in their matchups against the electric Jays hitters, they found it difficult to keep pace.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer, and Bo Bichette were outstanding, though the latter remains sidelined due to injury, with no clear return date.

Toronto led the big leagues in 1461 hits. They were fueled by their offense and its ability to put up runs against all opposition. They had to be, thanks in large part to a starting rotation that entered the postseason as one of the worst among playoff squads. Even with the potential return of Chris Bassitt.

A shaky bullpen does not do much to inspire confidence, either, placing the championship aspirations of the league’s top-seeded team on the shoulders of the offense.

That could be problematic if the Yankees’ rotation shows up.

Max Fried will have to be better than he was in the regular season against Toronto, when he gave up 11 earned runs in four starts. Carlos Rodón was 2-3 with a 4.72 ERA against the division champs. Schlittler, the star of Thursday’s series-deciding win, gave up six earned runs to the team in his two appearances.

If they can muster dominant performances and halt the Blue Jays’ offense, there is potential for the Yankees to beat up on a shaky rotation and bullpen and advance to their second consecutive ALCS.

Aaron Judge is the best hitter in baseball. Stanton can mash, Bellinger has excelled on the grandest stage in baseball, and Chisolm Jr. recorded a 30-30 season. They have the tools to put up crooked numbers. The question is whether they can keep pace and if they have the pitching to hold the opposition.

If Toronto continues to score, seemingly at will, New York’s dominant Game 3 performance is for not and Yankees fans will continue to cling to the successes of dynasties long gone.

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2025 season: 89-73, third in AL East, eliminated in wild card

With the Red Sox eliminated by the Yankees in the 2025 postseason, let’s take a look at the season that was in Boston, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.

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Things that went right

In finishing third in the AL East and earning a wild-card spot, the Red Sox exceeded or met the expectations of most analysts. This was even more true when factoring in the organizationâ€s controversial decision to trade superstar slugger Rafael Devers to the Giants in June.

The offseason signing of Alex Bregman turned out to be a brilliant move. Although the 31-year-old missed roughly six weeks in the first half due to a right quad strain, he was the leader of the lineup and finished with his highest OPS (.821) since 2019. His leadership was especially pivotal for prized prospect Roman Anthony, who debuted June 9 and quickly became the teamâ€s leadoff hitter. Anthony logged a .917 OPS in the second half and was a major reason the offense thrived without Devers. Unfortunately, he missed most of September and the wild-card series due to an oblique injury.

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Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela and catcher Carlos Narváez were underrated contributors. Both were useful offensive players who were among the best defenders in the majors. Given that they play two of the most important positions, their fielding work was especially vital to a pitching staff that lacked stars beyond Garrett Crochet.

And Crochet was everything the organization couldâ€ve hoped for when it acquired him from the White Sox last December. The lefty finished the season third in the majors in ERA (2.59) and first in strikeouts (255). He pitched an 11-strikeout gem in Boston’s only playoff victory. If not for an incredible campaign from Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, Crochet would be a few weeks from winning a Cy Young Award.

In his fourth season, Brayan Bello took a major step forward and became the teamâ€s No. 2 starter. And after missing all of 2024 while recovering from elbow surgery, Lucas Giolito was effective (3.41 ERA) across 26 starts, though an elbow issue prevented him from pitching in the wild-card round.

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A relief corps that lacked many big-name players wound up finishing first in baseball in ERA. The ageless Aroldis Chapman emerged as the teamâ€s closer and logged eye-popping ratios (1.17 ERA, 0.70 WHIP) while finishing fourth in the American League with 32 saves. The setup crew was consistently effective, as Garrett Whitlock, Greg Weissert, Brennan Bernardino and Justin Wilson each logged an ERA below 3.40 while making at least 55 appearances.

Things that went wrong

Although Anthony immediately delivered on his prospect hype, the same couldnâ€t be said for Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer. Campbell broke camp with the team but was optioned to the minors on June 19. He was hitting .223 with a .664 OPS at the time of his demotion. Mayer was promoted May 24 and primarily filled in for Bregman during his IL stint. He hit .228 with a .674 OPS before right wrist surgery caused him to play his final game of 2025 on July 23. Campbell, Mayer and David Hamilton all logged time at second base, but none contributed enough offensively to patch the hole in the lineup.

The team deserves credit for working around the absence of Triston Casas, who was expected to be a lineup centerpiece but suffered a ruptured tendon in his left knee on May 2. Devers†subsequent refusal to cover first base was a major reason he lasted just a few more weeks as a member of the organization.

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The two biggest disappointments on the mound were Tanner Houck and Walker Buehler. Houck was one of the teamâ€s best pitchers in 2024, when he logged a 3.12 ERA across 30 starts. But this year, he produced an 8.04 ERA in nine starts before landing on the IL due to an elbow injury. He eventually underwent Tommy John surgery and will likely miss most of 2026. Buehler arrived in the offseason on a one-year contract but was unable to get his career back on track. He held a 5.45 ERA when he was released in late August.

Put it all together, and the Red Sox were simply overpowered by the Yankees — the deeper, healthier and more talented team — in their three-game wild-card elimination.

Offseason outlook

Looking ahead, the Red Sox are unsettled at most infield positions. That said, catcher is a point of stability, as Narváez and Connor Wong will continue to form a tandem behind the plate. Bregman can opt out of his contract at the end of the season, and the expectation is that he will do so after such a strong campaign. Trevor Story will return as the shortstop, but thereâ€s no clear answer as to who will join him in the middle of the diamond. Campbell is the most likely option, while Hamilton profiles more as a reserve. Casas should return as the first baseman but will need to show that he is healthy after major surgery. Nathaniel Lowe joined the team in August but will likely receive a substantial salary in his final year of arbitration and could be released if the front office receives optimistic reports on Casas†recovery.

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The outfield is in much better shape than the infield. Rafaela is a standout defender in center, and Anthony can play either corner outfield spot. Jarren Duran experienced some regression from his breakout 2024 season, but he is still a key part of the team and will primarily play left field while making some appearances in center. Wilyer Abreu should be the right fielder, and with four players for three outfield spots, each of them will make some appearances at DH as well. There is also Masataka Yoshida, who missed much of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery and will need to figure out where he fits. This group is so deep that the front office could trade someone to fill a void at a different position.

On the mound, Crochet gives the Red Sox an ace who can match up against any pitcher in baseball, and Bello should be reliable as a No. 2 or No. 3. Everything else with this group is unsettled. Giolito and Dustin May are heading to free agency. Hunter Dobbins showed flashes of potential this year but will be a major question, as heâ€s coming off July surgery to repair a torn ACL. Kutter Crawford is more likely than Dobbins to be ready for spring training, but heâ€s a wild card after he didnâ€t pitch this season and underwent wrist surgery in June.

Prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early are strong candidates to earn roles after successful minor-league campaigns and exciting late-season debuts — plus a wild-card Game 3 start for Early. Richard Fitts is also a contender to grab a spot, but he finished this season with a 5.00 ERA across 45 innings. Then thereâ€s Kyle Harrison, who was sent to the minors after arriving in the Devers deal but threw 182 2/3 innings with the Giants. Overall, Boston’s front office needs to add at least one veteran to this crew.

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Chapmanâ€s contract is expiring, which leaves a massive void at the back end of the bullpen. With Whitlock, Weissert, Bernardino and Jordan Hicks set to return, thereâ€s a solid setup crew in place. But there is an obvious need for a new closer, as none of the relievers listed here is a good candidate for that role.

[Get more Boston news: Red Sox team feed]

Prospects on the horizon

Even after Anthony, Campbell and Mayer graduated from the prospect list, the Red Sox still have plenty of talent in the minors. Several of their top prospects will debut in 2027 or beyond, but two notable names provided a glimpse of the future when Tolle and Jhostynxon Garcia arrived in Boston down the stretch.

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A 6-foot-6 lefty with terrific command, Tolle rose through three minor-league levels this season before making his MLB debut on Aug. 29. He was dominant in the minors (3.04 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 13.1 K/9 rate) and could crack Bostonâ€s rotation in spring training. Given the teamâ€s lack of pitching depth, the door will certainly be wide open.

Garcia fared well in Triple-A this year, hitting .271 with an .832 OPS and 18 homers in 81 games. But as an outfielder, the 22-year-old plays the worst position for cracking the Red Soxâ€s roster. Things could change in the offseason, but if not, Garcia will open 2026 in Triple-A and wait for an injury to occur.

Early and David Sandlin are two more pitchers who could provide depth next year. Early reached Triple-A late in the year after having great success (2.51 ERA, 12.1 K/9 rate) in Double-A. He made his major-league debut Sept. 9 and got the ball for Bostonâ€s win-or-go-home wild-card Game 3 vs. New York. After serving as a starter, Sandlin worked primarily in relief in Triple-A down the stretch.

Goals for 2026

After appearing in the postseason for the first time since 2021, the Red Sox have turned a corner in their rebuild. This iconic franchise is ready to shift back into win-now mode, as itâ€s stocked with young players who can form the Red Sox’s core for many years. The bold decision by Craig Breslow to trade Devers now looks like a strong move that has resulted in a more harmonious organization and allowed other players to take on leadership roles.

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Itâ€s worth noting that rising to the top of the AL East is always much easier said than done. This is a loaded division, as the Blue Jays have ascended, the Yankees are always near the top of the standings and the Orioles have the young players to bounce back from a disappointing season. Plus, the Rays always seem to be in the mix. Qualifying for the postseason wonâ€t be a given for Boston, but its odds will be much better if Breslow can add a closer and at least one effective starter this winter. Keeping Bregman will also be essential.

Fantasy focus

Crochet will be the first Boston player drafted in every league, and he could find his way into the first round of some drafts. The next Red Sox to have their names called will be a pair of outfielders, Duran and Anthony. Both will come off the board in the range of Round 4, as Duran attempts to bounce back from a mildly disappointing year and Anthony continues his ascent to major-league stardom.

Bregman will be a popular pick in the area of Rounds 6-7, and Bello should have his name called in Round 10. After that, there will be a wait before the likes of Abreu and Rafaela are selected in the second half of drafts. Campbell and Mayer could become late-round sleepers if they can deliver strong springs.

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The 2025-26 NBA season is here! Over the next few weeks, we’re examining the biggest questions, best- and worst-case scenarios, and win projections for all 30 franchises — from the still-rebuilding teams to the true title contenders.

2024-25 finish

• Record: 40-42 (9th in West, eliminated in play-in tournament)

Offseason moves

• Additions: Dennis Schröder, Nique Clifford, Dario Å arić

• Subtractions: Jonas ValanÄiÅ«nas, Jake LaRavia

Can Zach LaVine help lift the Kings in the loaded West? (Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

The Big Question: Which direction are the Kings headed?

It seems like just yesterday that the Kings were Lighting the Beam, riding good vibes to a 48-34 record and their first playoff appearance since the 2005-06 season. Domantas Sabonis was an All-Star for the first time in the Western Conference, and De’Aaron Fox was an All-Star for the first time ever. They were surrounded by young talent, and their trade of Tyrese Haliburton had not yet come to haunt them.

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Two seasons have past since, and though they have made the play-in tournament each time, they do not have another playoff appearance to show for it. Gone is Fox, who they traded for Zach LaVine, someone who has played four playoff games in 11 seasons. Following that midseason deal in February, Sacramento finished the season with a 15-18 record — owners of a bottom-10 defense — and lost its play-in opener.

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Then, the Kings watched as Haliburton made a miraculous run to the NBA Finals for the Indiana Pacers.

Sabonis, the prize in return for Haliburton, is still there. He is still a great offensive player, capable of posting a triple-double on any given night, and he is still a detriment to fielding a title-caliber defense.

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Likewise, LaVine is an incredible individual scorer, but he offers little in the way of defensive resistance. The same could be said of a 36-year-old DeMar DeRozan, another great individual scorer. Problem is, when last LaVine and DeRozan shared the wings together on the Chicago Bulls, they won only 39 games.

In Fox’s stead there is newcomer Dennis Schröder, the EuroBasket MVP. His performance as the point guard for Germany this summer was the latest reason to believe in his ability to make a similar impact on the NBA level, but we have 12 seasons of evidence that suggests otherwise, and he is no defensive savior.

This team is not without talent. Everyone mentioned above is a good player — three All-Stars and the best player in Europe this summer, to be fair. There are also recent first-round picks Keegan Murray, Devin Carter and Nique Clifford, all of whom carry with them considerable promise. Keon Ellis is a 25-year-old member of their core. (It seems they are looking to trade Malik Monk, though he is there, too.)

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[Get more Kings news: Sacramento team feed]

And together this group could generate a top-10 offense, but, man, that defense is going to be hard to overcome, especially in this West. They currently have the 11th-highest projected win total in the West, according to BetMGM, which would put them outside the play-in picture for the first time in four years.

So, which direction are they headed?

Best-case scenario

Everyone jells and plays to the best of his ability, and the Kings are a surprisingly exciting offense — one that moves the ball and scores from all three levels, including the midrange, where DeRozan is still king. They remain committed to defense, even if they are not that talented on that end, and they squeeze out another play-in tournament bid, with a real chance to emerge for a first playoff appearance since 2023.

If everything falls apart

The defense is so bad that the Kings stop playing the sort of offense that can win games and start playing hero ball. Everyone is vying for his next contract, only we can all see that, and none of their top pieces — Sabonis, LaVine or DeRozan — holds any trade value. They hinder the development of Sacramento’s recent draft picks, and there is little hope next season will be any different, save for another lottery pick.

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2025-26 schedule

• Season opener: Oct. 22 at Phoenix

The Kings, I fear, are the same old Kings again. Take the under. Pray for pingpong balls.

More season previews

East: Atlanta Hawks • Boston Celtics • Brooklyn Nets • Charlotte Hornets • Chicago Bulls • Cleveland Cavaliers • Detroit Pistons • Indiana Pacers • Miami Heat • Milwaukee Bucks • New York Knicks • Orlando Magic • Philadelphia 76ers • Toronto Raptors • Washington Wizards

West: Dallas Mavericks • Denver Nuggets • Golden State Warriors • Houston Rockets • Los Angeles Clippers • Los Angeles Lakers • Memphis Grizzlies • Minnesota Timberwolves • New Orleans Pelicans • Oklahoma City Thunder • Phoenix Suns • Portland Trail Blazers • Sacramento Kings • San Antonio Spurs • Utah Jazz

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The Los Angeles Dodgers set up what could be an epic NLDS matchup with the Philadelphia Phillies with their wild-card round sweep of the Cincinnati Reds.

The Dodgers and Phillies have represented the National League in three of the last five World Series. They’ve been two of the most consistent franchises in that span, and in 2025, they possess some of the biggest superstars in the sport.

For as often as both teams have been in the postseason lately, the NLDS meeting is the first time the Dodgers and Phillies square off in the playoffs since the 2009 NLCS.

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Los Angeles Dodgers (-130; bet $130 to win $100)

Philadelphia (+110; bet $100 to win $110)

The Dodgers enter the NLDS off a two-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds.

Los Angeles scored 18 runs in the series, and most importantly, it saved Shohei Ohtani’s arm for the series opener in Philadelphia. Roberts confirmed after Wednesday’s game that Ohtani would start Game 1.

The Dodgers threw Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Games 1 and 2, but with how the NLDS schedule breaks, both hurlers can pitch on regular rest early in the series.

Ohtani was a huge part of the Dodgers’ wild-card success at the plate. He had two home runs, as did Teoscar Hernandez, in the opener against the Reds. Mookie Betts had four hits in the series-clinching Game 2.

The Phillies won the NL East with the second-best record in the majors. They were incredibly successful at Citizens Bank Park, where they posted a 55-26 record.

The best home record in the majors should translate to the postseason, which is one of the many reasons why the Phillies are projected by many to make a deep run in October.

Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Trea Turner can match what the Dodgers’ big bats produce at the top of the order. Schwarber is coming off an incredible power season, but Harper is the player to watch in the Phillies order.

Harper owns a .280 postseason average and hit six playoff home runs in the last two seasons.

Philadelphia’s pitching staff may not have the stars, like the Dodgers, but Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez have been as effective as any starters in 2025.

Sanchez, the Game 1 starter, owns a 1.94 ERA at home. He should be a tone-setter for the Phillies in Saturday’s opener.

The Dodgers have all the star power in the lineup and rotation, but their bullpen comes into the NLDS as the unit with the most concerns.

Los Angeles gave up seven runs in the final three innings against the Reds. It still won those games, but the mid-to-late innings might be rough for the Dodgers.

In a series where the margins could be extremely thin, the Dodgers’ relievers might be the reason they lose.

Conversely, Philadelphia has a strong bullpen, led by close Jhoan Duran, that can do the exact opposite of what the Dodgers did over the last two nights.

The Dodgers certainly have the bats to make up for any pitching deficiencies, but going into the series, the Phillies own the overall edge in pitching in a matchup where the lineups are even.

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CLEVELAND — The Detroit Tigers kept coming to bat with runners in scoring position in Game 2 of their AL Wild Card Series against the Cleveland Guardians.

With one exception, they failed to come through, paving the way for Cleveland’s 6-1 victory that evened the best-of-3 series Wednesday.

The Tigers had a franchise postseason-record 15 men left on base, going 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position. Javier Baez accounted for the lone hit in the fourth, singling off Guardians starter Tanner Bibee to score All-Star outfielder Riley Greene.

“We were one swing away, one mistake from blowing that thing open,” Greene said. “It was that close. That’s baseball. You need to hit pitches. You need to find the barrel. It’s all of us.”

Detroit’s Jahmai Jones grimaces as he strikes out with runners on first and third in the seventh inning. The Tigers left 15 men on base in the game, going 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position. AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Instead, the Guardians scored five runs in the eighth inning off relievers Troy Melton and Brant Hurter to break it open.

Detroit became the first team to strand 15 runners in the playoffs since the Los Angeles Angels had 16 in Game 2 of the 2009 AL Championship Series at the New York Yankees. Its former high was 14 in Game 3 of the 1984 World Series against San Diego.

The most recent ballclub to go 1 for 15 or worse with RISP in a postseason game was the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies, who matched those numbers in Game 2 of the World Series at Tampa Bay.

Playoff Game vs. CLEH-AB2025 ALWCS Game 21-152024 ALDS Game 51-122024 ALDS Game 41-11– 3-38 (.079) with RISP combined

“Obviously, they made the most of their opportunities and we left 15 guys on,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “It was a hard-fought game, and the score doesn’t really indicate how close the game was. But we kept giving ourselves a chance.”

Casey Mize, Tyler Holton and Kyle Finnegan didn’t allow Cleveland to advance anyone past first base in the first seven innings, but the Guardians went 2 for 3 in the eighth against Melton and Hurter.

Melton gave up a go-ahead solo homer to Brayan Rocchio and back-to-back doubles to Steven Kwan and Daniel Schneemann in addition to intentionally walking Jose Ramirez. Hurter entered and retired Kyle Manzardo before allowing Bo Naylor’s three-run shot.

“There are not too many positives now,” Melton said. “It sucks, but if I wake up tomorrow, that will be a positive. I guess.”

Báez initially was credited with a two-run single as Dillon Dingler also raced home, but a video review ruled that Zach McKinstry was tagged out at third base before Dingler touched the plate. McKinstry had been called safe by umpire Stu Scheurwater.

Instead of a 2-1 lead in the fourth, the score remained tied until the eighth.

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“It was like a four-minute delay, like that tells you exactly how close that play is,” Hinch said. “I don’t mind that at all. It’s just McKinstry is faster than Dingler in going two bases.”

Greene, who led the Tigers with 36 homers and 111 RBIs in the regular season, supported McKinstry’s decision to try and grab an extra base.

“We all thought he was safe,” Greene said. “We’ve been going from first to third all year, and we’re not going to change now. That’s the way we play.”

Greene also expressed no issues with Hinch’s decision to pinch hit for him in the seventh with two on and one out. Greene was 1 for 3, but Jahmai Jones took his spot and struck out against left-hander Tim Herrin.

Jones batted .212 (7 of 33) as a pinch hitter in the regular season and had a .288 average with seven homers and 17 RBIs in 104 at-bats against lefties.

“A.J. thought that was the right call and we’re not going to think twice about it,” Greene said. “I didn’t think anything. I trust him and I trust his judgment. We call Jahmai the ‘lefty killer’ and he’s incredible.”

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Move over, Aroldis Chapman. Mason Miller is the new No. 1 flamethrower in recorded postseason history.

That marked the fastest pitch thrown in the postseason since pitch tracking began in 2008.

Millerâ€s 104.5 mph heater passed Chapmanâ€s previous mark, which was a 104.2 mph fastball during Game 3 of the 2010 NL Division Series when he was a rookie on the Reds.

But Miller didn’t just top Chapman, he did it on a strikeout. Miller’s 104.5 mph K is the first 104-plus mph postseason strikeout of the pitch-tracking era.

Including the strikeout of Kelly, Miller whiffed the first eight batters he faced in the 2025 postseason. And if you go back to the end of the regular season? Miller struck out 11 batters in a row before hitting Michael Busch on the lower leg with two outs in the eighth, ending the streak.

Miller’s streak of eight straight postseason K’s tied Josh Hader in 2022 for the most consecutive strikeouts in the playoffs at any point, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. And it’s the longest streak to start a player’s postseason career.

The previous fastest postseason K on record was a 103.7 mph strikeout by Chapman against Jorge Polanco in the 2017 American League Wild Card Game, when he was with the Yankees.

Fastest postseason K’s
Pitch-tracking era (since 2008)

1. Mason Miller: 104.5 mph, Game 2 of 2025 NL Wild Card Series
2. Aroldis Chapman: 103.7 mph, 2017 AL Wild Card Game
3. Mason Miller: 103.3 mph, Game 2 of 2025 NL Wild Card Series
4. (tied) Aroldis Chapman: 103.2 mph, Game 1 of 2016 NLCS
4. (tied) Aroldis Chapman: 103.2 mph, Game 2 of 2016 NLDS
6. Aroldis Chapman: 103.1 mph, Game 4 of 2016 NLDS
7. Aroldis Chapman: 103.0 mph, 2017 AL Wild Card Game
8. Mason Miller: 102.9 mph, Game 1 of 2025 NL Wild Card Series

Miller then added a 103.3 mph strikeout of Dansby Swanson an inning later, giving him two of the top five fastest postseason K’s since at least 2008.

This also came a day after Miller reached 102.9 mph on a strikeout of Seiya Suzuki in Tuesday’s Game 1 of the Wild Card Series. That was already the fastest postseason strikeout by anyone other than Chapman.

If anyone was going to break Chapman’s postseason velo record, it was going to be Miller. Miller led the Majors in average fastball velocity this season at 101.2 mph, and he’d already broken the 104 mph threshold five times in the regular season before Wednesday’s game — including a 104.1 mph strikeout of the Braves’ Sean Murphy on July 10.

But his 104.5 mph strikeout of Kelly was the fastest pitch of Miller’s MLB career.

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Good morning! Clinch your series today.

Pulse Power Rankings: Multiple WNBA dramas highlight frenzied day

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There are not many days in which we start this newsletter by saying, “I have to just tell you everything that happened yesterday.†Yesterday, however, was so good that weâ€re going to do exactly that.

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Consider this a power ranking of Mondayâ€s incredible playoff action, starting with the WNBA stealing the spotlight:

1. The Aces are back in the WNBA Finals, barely

For the third time in four seasons, the Las Vegas Aces will play in the finals. Itâ€s an expected outcome after a most unexpected, bonkers game last night.

The Aces and Fever played to overtime in a Game 5 classic, with Vegas only separating after Indiana lost Kelsey Mitchell to injury and Aliyah Boston to foul trouble. The Aces were clearly the better team, but anyone watching last nightâ€s game came away equally impressed with a Fever team thatâ€s been through a lot this year. To come five minutes from reaching the finals after all that is almost unbelievable.

The W also soaked up an entire news cycleâ€s worth of headlines yesterday outside of the exquisite game:

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Minnesota Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier said the league has the “worst leadership in the world†in a prepared statement during a news conference. Collier was largely referencing some pain points with game officials, who became a focal point after Collier suffered an ankle injury in Game 3 of Minnesotaâ€s semifinal loss to Phoenix. Collier and Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve were furious with the lack of a foul call. Read Collierâ€s full statement here.

Collier also referenced ongoing negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, which seem like a mess at this point. Kelsey Plum said yesterday the league is stalling. Plum and others agreed with Collier that the league needs new leadership, too. Tough day for commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

Oh, and the finals begin Friday. I asked Ben Pickman for his early read on the matchup:

“This series has a fascinating frontcourt matchup as the Mercury have reached the WNBA Finals in large part because of their star bigs, Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally, while the Aces are led by four-time WNBA MVP Aâ€ja Wilson. How the two coaches try to defend each teamâ€s frontcourt will go a long way in determining who takes home the title. Bonus interesting question: Can the Aces re-ignite any dynasty talk by winning a third title in four years?â€

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2. Shohei Ohtani went nuclear

In baseballâ€s nightcap, the Dodgers took a 1-0 series lead over the Reds with a 10-5 win, fueled by Shohei Ohtaniâ€s two home runs. L.A. hit five dingers in the game, and this one felt over quickly. Look how quickly his leadoff homer got out:

Dude might be pretty good. Letâ€s take a quick news break before returning to the rankings:

News to Know

Wild sign Kaprizov after all

The Minnesota Wild agreed to a record eight-year, $136 million extension with superstar Kirill Kaprizov, the richest in NHL history by both total salary and average annual value ($17 million). It comes three weeks after the 28-year-old Kaprizov declined to sign an eight-year deal worth $128 million, which many thought could lead to Kaprizov hitting free agency next summer. Instead, Minnesota secured its future.

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Eagles coach Nick Sirianni insists A.J. Brown wants to be in Philadelphia despite some cryptic social posts yesterday.

The Jonathan Kuminga saga is over in Golden State. The 22-year-old agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million contract yesterday. Full details here.

Golf legend Tom Watson was “ashamed†of the American Ryder Cup crowds. See his comments.

The Angels will also be searching for a new manager after announcing yesterday that Ron Washington will not return.

Chris Koras, head of baseball for the Klutch Sports agency, abruptly resigned last week.

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A warning given to Daniil Medvedev at the China Open about his effort level was an error, according to the ATP. Strange story.

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Pulse Power Rankings, Cont.: Shout-out to pitchers

Back to the power rankings:

3. Bostonâ€s steely swipe

The Yankees entered these playoffs as arguably the hottest team in the bracket. A loaded roster and a great September made them a trendy World Series pick.

The division-rival Red Sox instead went to Yankee Stadium last night and exited with a thrilling 3-1 win. Garrett Crochet was spectacular over 7 2/3 innings, giving up just the one run. And Aroldis Chapman, who has reinvented himself in Boston, got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth to win the game.

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Sox can clinch tonight. Wild.

4. Tarik Skubal course-corrected

For now, the story of Detroitâ€s season is its historic collapse down the stretch. The thing the Tigers needed most, after letting the AL Central slip to the Guardians, was a Game 1 win, on the road in Cleveland, in the AL Wild Card Series.

Staff ace Skubal delivered just that in 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball, as Detroit eked out a 2-1 road win. The margins are so small in this round. This was a massive, massive win.

5. The Cubs found a buzz

Chicago finished the season 92-70, which in a normal year wouldâ€ve been plenty good to win a division title. But this is a wild-card team, and the emotions are more tenuous in this fan base.

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The Cubbies used back-to-back home runs yesterday to beat the Padres, 3-1, the franchiseâ€s first postseason win since 2017. There was pent-up energy at Wrigley Field, as Patrick Mooney wrote, and a Game 1 win was cathartic.

What a day all around. Letâ€s do it again in a few hours.

What to Watch

📺 MLB: Tigers at Guardians

1 p.m. ET on ESPN

We have the same run of schedule today as we did yesterday. The Tigers, Cubs, Red Sox and Dodgers can all advance. See all the games here.

📺 Soccer: PSG at FC Barcelona

3 p.m. ET on Paramount+

The Champions League also continues today with a full slate. This is probably the juiciest matchup, but decide for yourself.

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Get tickets to games like these here.

Pulse Picks

The college QB class has been … surprising this year. Itâ€s still “special,†as Bruce Feldman reports, but itâ€s different than we expected. Hereâ€s what scouts have gotten right and wrong about the top signal callers.

Want a preview of the future of college sports? Read Ralph Russoâ€s breakdown of the SCORE Act and the SAFE Act.

Jurgen Klopp is one of the best managers in the modern era of European soccer. In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, he said he never wants to coach again.

I really enjoyed Dan Woikeâ€s story from earlier in the week on Austin Reaves, whoâ€s at an inflection point with the ever-interesting Lakers. Reaves wants to stay in L.A. — but just made a huge bet on himself.

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Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: NFL Power Rankings, of course.

Most-read on the website yesterday: â˜ï¸

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

MLB, WNBA, The Pulse

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Sep 30, 2025, 05:02 PM ET

HOUSTON — Instead of getting ready for a playoff game Tuesday, Houston Astros manager Joe Espada and general manager Dana Brown were fielding questions about their job security and what went wrong this season.

“I am the GM of the Astros,” Brown said in response to a question about his contract status. “And that’s what I would expect to be tomorrow and the next day and the next day.”

Brown was then asked about the future of Espada, who just completed his second season as manager.

“Look, I’ve made it very clear that Joe is the manager,” Brown said. “Joe is under contract.”

Out of the playoffs for the first time since 2016, the Astros already are looking for ways to ensure that their postseason absence is a one-year aberration. Missing out this season ends a remarkable run in which they made seven straight trips to the AL Championship Series from 2017-23, before losing in the AL Wild Card Series last year. During that stretch, they won four pennants and the World Series in 2017 and 2022.

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This season was marred by injuries, most notably to star slugger Yordan Alvarez, who was limited to 48 games because of a broken hand and an ankle injury. Houston’s other significant injury in the lineup was to third baseman Isaac Paredes, who missed about two months with a hamstring problem.

Those injuries were a significant blow to a team that lost two of its top players this offseason when third baseman Alex Bregman signed in free agency with the Boston Red Sox and outfielder Kyle Tucker was traded to the Chicago Cubs.

“Make no mistake, when you take pillars out of your lineup, it’s gonna affect your team, it’s going to affect some of their at-bats,” Brown said. “When Yordan Alvarez is in the lineup, you have to pitch guys around him differently. So, I think the absence of Yordan really affected us big-time.”

Along with missing Alvarez and Paredes, the Astros dealt with injuries to their pitching staff, with Ronel Blanco having Tommy John surgery in May and Spencer Arrighetti missing four months after breaking his thumb in a freak accident. The bullpen was dealt a major blow when six-time All-Star closer Josh Hader sustained a shoulder injury that kept him out the last two months of the season.

Despite this, the Astros were still in position to win the AL West for a fifth straight season and were tied with Seattle for the lead late in the year. A sweep by the Mariners at home from Sept. 19-21 all but ended that chance, but they remained in contention for a wild-card spot. Then they lost three of their next four games to the Athletics and Angels and were eliminated on the second-to-last day of the season.

“This is going to put a chip on our shoulders,” Espada said. “We are a postseason team. We are built to play in October and it was disappointing that we’re not playing today. I’m not happy about it, but also we are learning from things that we could have done better, how can we improve our club and our players are hungry to get back to spring training and playing.”

Espada said he’s in the process of evaluating everything right now, including his staff moving forward. He said that evaluation extends to himself as he looks for ways to do more next season.

“I would not be helping this organization if I’m not holding myself accountable,” he said. “Because at the end of the day I’m the manager of this team and I’m responsible for what goes on in that clubhouse. So, I care about that deeply. I care about the organization and I care about putting the best product on the field, because our fans expect us to win, and I take that very seriously.”

The Astros will look to upgrade their rotation this offseason after focusing on bolstering their offense at the trade deadline by bringing Carlos Correa back and adding Jesus Sanchez and Ramon Urias. Brown said they’ll have talks with right-hander Framber Valdez, who is a free agent after spending his entire eight-year career with the Astros. But regardless of what happens with him, Brown said they plan to be in the market to add guys to their rotation.

Though Brown said he would look at all avenues to try to improve the team, he feels pretty good about the guys who already are here.

“Right now, our roster is put together very well,” he said. “I think we have a really good team. If we stay healthy, we will for sure be back in the dance in October.”

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While the Indiana Fever’s 2025 WNBA playoff run came to an end on Tuesday night, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton was still impressed with the team’s overall performance.

“Ton of injuries, bunch of midseason additions, resilient all year,” Haliburton wrote in a post on X. “Inspiring s–t.”

The Fever suffered a 107-98 overtime defeat at the hands of the Las Vegas Aces in Game 5 of the WNBA semifinals, narrowly losing the best-of-five series.

Indiana’s playoff appearance and subsequent postseason run was particularly impressive considering the numerous season-ending injuries to key players that the team experienced, headlined by star point guard Caitlin Clark appearing in just 13 games.

The Fever also lost four of their first six games to begin their 2025 campaign and struggled with inconsistency throughout the year. They eventually closed out the season on a high note, ranking No. 3 in the league in net rating over the final 10 games of the regular season (via WNBA.com).

Indiana quickly faced elimination to open its first-round playoff matchup with the Atlanta Dream by losing Game 1, but went on to emerge victorious in the next two contests against the Dream to win its first playoff series since 2015.

Haliburton, who has made appearances at several Fever games throughout the year, applauded the team’s final effort.

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