Happy Wednesday everyone.
Last night, the National League (NL) Division Series continued with two Game 3s. The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves 3-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the series, while the San Diego Padres staved off elimination with a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
This afternoon, there is a full slate of playoff action. In the American League, the Chicago White Sox will attempt to sweep the Cleveland Guardians, while the New York Yankees will look to prolong their season
as they welcome the Tampa Bay Rays to the Bronx.
On the other side of the bracket, the Dodgers and Braves will play Game 4 in Atlanta, with the Braves hoping to force a decisive fifth game. Across the country, the Padres will look to win a second consecutive game in front of their home fans and send the series back to Milwaukee for a winner-take-all Game 5.
With the Athletics not in the playoffs, the organization’s focus has turned to its first true search for a new general manager in nearly three decades. Aside from a few rumored candidates, there has not been much buzz about who will succeed longtime executive David Forst, a role the team hopes to fill by the start of the World Series.
While most A’s players are spending these days resting and preparing for next season, a handful of the team’s minor leaguers are playing in the Arizona Fall League (AFL), an annual showcase for some of baseball’s top prospects. Many youngsters use the opportunity to expand their skillsets or get crucial at-bats or innings they missed this season because of injuries.
Among the A’s contingent, catching prospects Davis Diaz and Cole Conn are two players to keep an eye on. Both versatile players advanced to Triple-A this season and could compete for the major league backup catcher spot next season.
Of the pitchers, only right-hander Kenya Huggins is currently ranked on MLB Pipeline’s list of the A’s top 30 prospects. Right-hander Jay Dill and left-handers Tucker Novotny and Grant Richardson could crack the list if they pitch well in the AFL.
Which A’s minor leaguer will perform the best in the AFL? What are your predictions for how the rest of the playoffs will unfold?
A’s Coverage:
- ’Be a sponge’: No. 19 prospect leads A’s Fall League group with do-it-all mentality
- Zack Of All Trades Tries To Get One More Win: In Court
- A’s mulling a few names to fill David Forst’s vacancy as GM
- Important Dates For The Athletics This Offseason
- 12 A’s Players Out of Options Heading Into 2027
- A’s part ways with assistant hitting, quality control coaches
- After an outfield collision left him paralyzed, every gain in rehab is a big win for A’s Ryan Lasko
- Athletics’ Zack Gelof sues Tigers after hitting metal fence
- Why 2027 Athletics Will Be Completely Different Team
- A’s Las Vegas ballpark cost rises to $2.1B, public funding delayed
- A’s say Las Vegas hospitality club memberships already sold out
- 2026: Year Of The “Didn’t See That Coming!”
- A’s Hoping Luis Severino Chooses to Stay
- Where the A’s Plan to Use Zack Gelof in 2027
- Last MLB game in West Sacramento? Why A’s 2026 season deserves a eulogy
- ‘Road Trip Mike’ on the move to wherever his beloved A’s go
- Wheat/Chaff Updates As Season Winds Down
- Devin Taylor: Athletics 2026 Minor League Player Of The Year
- Henry Bolte Is the A’s Next Budding Star
- Determining Athletics’ Offensive MVP for the 2026 Season
- Notes From Star-Studded Rockies-A’s Instructional League
- 2027 Infield Landscape Ever Changing
- “Fast Movers” Might Be Key To Contention
- Billy Beane comments on the job Mark Kotsay has done this season.
- Should Mark Kotsay return in 2027? A’s Players Weigh In
- What the A’s Hiring Mike Rizzo would Signal and the Questions it Would Raise
- Athletics Considering James Click For GM Vacancy
- Get the best of Athletics Nation on the new SB Nation app
MLB News & Interest:
- Yamamoto (10 K’s) dazzles, putting Dodgers 1 win from return to NLCS
- Here is MLB Pipeline’s 2026 All-Rookie Team
- How do broadcasters handle accusations of bias in the playoffs? ‘You really can’t win’
- Less than 2 years later, Crochet trade return trio paying huge dividends for Chicago
- Padres Activate Walker Buehler Onto NLDS Roster
- Was Miller tipping pitches? Closer — and Brewers’ skipper — both say no
- Mariners Announce Surgeries For Cal Raleigh, Josh Naylor
- These 5 MLB teams missed the playoffs. Why they could break through in 2027
- First home playoff clincher in 120 years? White Sox on cusp of making it happen
- Breslow, Tracy: Red Sox not overly reliant on analytics
- Roman Anthony Expected To Avoid Offseason Surgery
- Red Sox View Curtis Mead As Early Favorite For Second Base Job
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
This thread breaks down how the A’s can make right-hander Jack Perkins more reliable.
What steps can the A’s take this offseason to improve their pitching staff and defense for 2027?
Yesterday marked the birthday of legendary former A’s and Raiders announcer Bill King.
A’s in AFL update.
