Meet the Mets
The Mets announced a partial shakeup of their coaching staff yesterday. Director of Major League hitting Jeff Albert, quality assurance coach Danny Barnes, and bullpen pitcher Kevin Mahoney will not return to the coaching staff next season. They could end up remaining in the organization, but have been given freedom to speak with other clubs. The rest of the coaching staff will return in 2027. According to reporting by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the Mets intend to interview multiple hitting instructors
with various levels of experience and one of them may take the role vacated by Barnes or it is possible a new hire could slot below hitting coach Troy Snitker in the club’s hitting hierarchy.
Bruin Agbayani—son of Benny Agbayani acquired for AJ Minter at the trade deadline—was assigned to the Arizona Fall League and will be the second-youngest player on the roster.
SNY continued their Stay or Go series by evaluating whether the Mets should bring Mark Vientos back in 2027.
Around the National League East
Yoshinobu Yamamoto outdueled Chris Sale in Game 3 of the NLDS, striking out ten batters as the Dodgers defeated the Braves 3-1 to go up two games to one in the series.
A sore right knee limited Ronald Acuña Jr. to DH duties in yesterday’s game and it is unclear whether the knee will continue to hinder his ability to play in the field in the postseason.
Kenny Albert called the game between the Dodgers and Braves yesterday in place of Joe Davis, who is sick and had lost his voice.
Alex Cora has once again rejected the Phillies as they tried to pursue him for their managerial vacancy. This now forces the Phillies to either conduct a wider search for their next manager, retain Don Mattingly, or consider another internal candidate.
Around Major League Baseball
The Padres hung on to beat the Brewers 4-3 in Game 3 of the NLDS and stave off elimination to force a Game 4. Two days after he pitched five innings in Game 2, Michael King recorded the final six outs of the game for the Padres in a gutty relief effort.
The Padres deny Mason Miller was tipping his pitches in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the NLDS. As he breezed through his first inning of work, they are considering a strategy of limiting him to one inning per appearance. However, he was not available for yesterday’s game, as he was placed on the paternity list.
Amidst the postseason fanfare, the Dodgers mourned Fred Claire—the former Dodgers GM who oversaw the 1988 World Series Championship team—who passed away on Monday at the age of 91.
Similarly, as the Guardians continue their series against the White Sox, they mourn the loss of Sam McDowell—six-time All Star whose post-career sobriety served as the inspiration for the Sam Malone character in “Cheers.” McDowell passed away on Monday at the age of 84.
There was some uncertainty surrounding Max Fried’s ability to start for the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALDS today, as his girlfriend is due to give birth. But he confirmed that he will pitch. “I’ve got a really supportive family that that understands that this is my job, and it’s not going to affect what happens tomorrow,” he said.
Matthew Leach of MLB.com reviewed five reasons why the Yankees could pull off a comeback in the ALDS. They are currently behind two games to none in the series against the Rays.
All four division series games feature a matchup between one team trying to advance to the Championship Series and the other team facing elimination. MLB.com runs down one storyline from each game.
The Orioles have laid off more than two dozen people in roles ranging from ticket sales to graphic design, per reporting by Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic. The employee that serves as the Oriole Bird mascot and popular in-game entertainer Mr. Splash were among those let go.
Major League Baseball is piloting experimental outfield positioning rules in the Arizona Fall League that limit where outfielders are permitted to stand, per Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
In a new episode of A Pod of Their Own, we announce a new date for our annual Dollars for Dingers fundraiser (October 17!), chat about the playoffs, and do an extra long Mensch of the Week segment.
Steve Sypa continued his series reviewing the 2026 season for all of the Mets’ minor league affiliates with the St. Lucie Mets.
This Date in Mets History
The Mets swept the Dodgers in the NLDS on this date in 2006.
