MIL 5, TB 4

Another close one; another one you couldn't really step away from without missing something; and another outcome that's...about right, for lack of a better term. The Crew isn't drop-kicking the Rays by any means, but they have more means. (And make fewer mistakes. Whole lotta Metsy "I got it I got it I got it oh shit where'd it go" out there with Tampa last night.)

I'd like the Rays to take enough games at home to send it back to Milwaukee next weekend, I'd like a seven-game WS (I always want that), but even if it's a sweep, it's going to have been a lot closer than it looked in the Macmillan, so to say.

"Only if you picked Frelick." Someone did, last year! Totally get the Met-killer pick logic.

Let's see how the points actually looked.

Caminero 1
Diaz 0

Bauers 1
Chourio 2
Contreras 2
Mitchell 1
Turang 2
Yelich 1

The difference-makers continue to be various combinations of Chourio, Diaz, and mid-lineup Brewers. Y'know, except when they're not. 

Here's the money:

78 Bauer
69 (nice) SDB
68 MArbour

64 Wonsetler Head
62 LoPorto 2
60 Green

The complete slates in the lead pulling ever so slightly away from the others near the top, plus one more complete slate looking ever so slightly larger in the rearview; that's after the jump!

MIL 3, TB 2

About what I expected from last night's game in terms of match-up and fun levels (and tiresome Smoltzing in the booth, most of which I avoided by going to the local and watching on mute). What I think is going to make Misiorowski an all-timer -- if he doesn't blow out an elbow -- is that he can keep it frosty if there's traffic on the bases. He seems to get that he can't "just" throw 103, he has to pitch as well.

To the points!

Caminero 2
Diaz 0

Bauers 1
Chourio 2
Contreras 2
Mitchell Turang LLP 0
Capt. Yeli 3

And the money:

74 Bauer
65 SDB
61 MArbour and Wonsetler Head

60 LoPorto 2

58 Green
56 Reid Smart
55 O'Reilly

Everyone else after the jump!

TB 7, CLE 3; Devil Rays move on

...Yes, "Devil Rays" -- let's embrace it, why not. 

A very entertaining series overall, and hat tip to a Guardians team I thought might get swept without much pushback. And to Freddy Peralta; I guess I'm supposed to be bitter about his success in Tampa, but sometimes you know a Met is going to be better off literally anywhere else, and this was one of those times. Now, of course, I'm obliged to root for his old old team in the Classic, but we can get back to that conversation on Friday.

For now, the last points for Cleveland...and the last points for anyone until the weekend:

Mr. DeLauter 3
Kwan 1

Caminero 5
Diaz 4

The italicized picks depart from the updates, as you know; no slates knocked out here, since Cleveland was was lightly picked. 

MVP of this series for the pool is close, but has to go to Diaz, who takes the pool's TB lead over from Rice and Contreras as of tonight. Honorable mention to Mr. DeLauter. Aranda in the running as a Victorino candidate.

LVP is Kwan, I guess. I'm always intrigued by the choice to pick him; he'll rack those couple points at a time as long as he's in, but if he doesn't stay in for the duration? ...Then again, fully a third of Caminero's points came tonight. These things can break a lot of ways, many of them bad.

Here's the money as we prepare emotionally for a baseball-free rest of the week:

69 Bauer
60 SDB
58 LoPorto 2

Realistically, it's down to the complete slates now -- and I'm not excluding JArbour here, since that slate has a "solo," Yelich. You really can't tell until it's said and done, but unless Contreras falls down a literal manhole...

Just off the pace,

57 MArbour and Wonsetler Head
55 Green
54 Reid Smart
53 O'Reilly

And everyone else after the jump:

TB 3, CLE 1

Surprised this wasn't more lopsided a score than it was, although sometimes that's how it goes in the postseason -- a regular-season game would allow for a meltdown where an LCS game wouldn't.

A compelling one (albeit not as compelling as the booth sometimes seemed to think), and some points for everyone...

Mr. DeLauter 1
Kwan 2

Caminero 1
Diaz 4

Also compelling is a different look for the money:

60 Bauer
57 MArbour
54 LoPorto 2

53 O'Reilly
52 Wonsetler Head
51 SDB
50 Green

A quick-and-dirty on everyone else after the jump!

TB 7, CLE 3

A fun one to watch in company (I think? I was just off a tasting tour so my memory of the game is pretty much vibes, heh). But did it make up for lost time in points? Let's have a look:

Mr. DeLauter 1
Kwan 1

Caminero 2
Diaz 6

Boom goes the etc.! That finishes off the zombie slates from our last update, and here's the money going into Game 5:

57 MArbour
55 Bauer
53 O'Reilly

Just off the pace, it's

51 Wonsetler Head
50 LoPorto 2

Everyone else -- including the Framptons that have come alive in the last week -- after the jump!

TB @ CLE postponed

As you've no doubt seen, ALCS Game 4 got punted to tomorrow night same time, 8 ET. That's going to mean a 5 PM ET Game 5 on Sunday so that theoretical Game 6 can still happen Monday night, with no off day.

One thing at a time; we'll be back here tomorrow night for updates. Good luck!

MIL 6, LAD 4; Brewers move on

I am weirdly relieved for Ohtani that he got to do A Thing for the Dodgers tonight. I am also relieved, sort of, that the Dodgers are out and we don't have to keep watching...whatever they were in the '26 post. Regular L.A. commentators/fans will have more informed takes here that you may feel free to post in the comments, but my sense generally is that this team was built with dynastic intent, but some age-30s seasons didn't go as hoped. ("Relatable." - Mets fans)

And also that this Brewers team is the shit, so take a big whiff. I hope Ueck is enjoying this from his front-row seat beyond the veil. 

This is the baseball fan speaking. The pool-chief take is that this is not good for us...but not as catastrophically not-good as it would have been in years previous, if only because the Dodger picks were not performing the way they were in years previous. 

"Your ambassadorship is approved; get to the point(s)." Fair enough; let's do that.

No shortage of them tonight, either. 

Betts 0
Freeman 0
Hernandez, K 0
Hernandez, T 1
Muncy 1
Ohtani 4
Pages 3
Smith 2
Tucker 3

Italics = they're out, I'm sorry to say.

NLCS MVP Jack Bauer 2
Chourio 0
Contreras 2
Mitchell 4
Turang 0
Yelich 0

Our MVP here is not Bauers, but Contreras, strictly speaking -- Bauers and several others notched 8 TB; Contreras had 9. The LVP, to my shock, is Kiké, although he had competition (Freddie; Bax Buncy) and Captain Yeli did not exactly distinguish himself.

But that's a lot of points to wrap up the series...and to hold a bunch of slates for a week. The ones that didn't get busted, that is, and there were a bunch.

The money/standings as of tonight: 

57 MArbour 2
53 O'Reilly
51 Bauer 2

50 Yuhan 2

A reminder: italicized slates also are out. If you're in the money, you'll be in the updates going forward; if you're not, your slate will fall out. 

49 Wonsetler Head
47 Bauer 2 and Green

Everyone else after the jump...