The Yankees dropped Game 2 Monday largely because of poor defense. They became the first team since 2010 to have more players make an error than get a hit (h/t OptaSTATS on X).
1. Rays beat Schlittler for 2-0 lead
With its patented brand of small ball and contact, Tampa Bay defeated the AL Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler take a dominant direction in the ALDS. Schlittler had just two strikeouts, his fewest to start the season. He wasn’t as sharp as in his Wild Card outing against the Red Sox. The shoddy gloves behind him certainly didn’t help. The Tampa Bay team continues to put pressure on New York. “We want to stifle opposing pitchers and defenses on offense.“, Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson said (with Will Sammon of The Athletic). “Because everyone we have has the ability to get on base, put the ball in play.”
2. White Sox draft Williams
Chicago also hit an ace to take a 2-0 series lead. The White Sox scored two runs against Gavin Williams to erase an early deficit. More importantly, they had him throw 98 pitches in five innings. Williams struck out 11, but was removed after a leadoff single in the sixth inning. This runner would quickly come back to score. Chicago added two more against the bullpen Erik Sabrowskigiving them a margin that the club would not give up. The series now heads to Rate Field. The White Sox are two shots away from winning a home playoff series for the first time since 1906 (with Jon Greenberg of The Athletic).
3. Yamamoto gets the ball for Game 3
Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto is ready for its first postseason appearance since its dazzling performance at the 2025 World Series. Yamamoto beat the Blue Jays in Games 2 and 6 last year. He came back without rest in Game 7 to earn another relief win, making him an easy pick for World Series MVP. Yamamoto had another solid campaign this season. He finished third in ERA in the Netherlands, behind only Jacob Misiorowski And Chris Sale. Yamamoto will face Sale tonight.
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Dyer, Imagn Images
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