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After throwing 95 pitches over six and a third in the series opener against the Phillies, Chris Sail came out of the pen throwing 21 pitches, getting the final four outs two days later as Atlanta beat Philadelphia in three. The reward is a match up with the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Walt Weiss chose Sale to close out a game his team was four runs up in. and the Braves manager on sale as a potential option for game two against LA, which would again be on today's rep. That's on the table. That's one of the topics of discussion this morning before we leave. A lot of it's going to depend on how Chris feels. Um certainly don't don't want to jeopardize him and his health. Um he just happened to feel
great yesterday when he got to the park and that's why he was in play. But, you know, it's uh he's had to grind here recently. So, we're we're going to air on the side of giving him more rest if it's even close, but um yeah, just an amazing performance in this round for sure. Yeah, no doubt about that. His status up in the air as to when he will pitch the division round, get started. Braves Dodgers Saturday in Los Angeles 4 Eastern. TK school going in the opener for Los Angeles. So, Braves did win five of six in the regular season against LA head-to-head in the postseason. Atlanta winning the 2021 NLCS. The Dodgers got them in the 2020 NLCS.
All right, let's bring in HQ MLB analyst, former Marlins president, and 2003 World Series champ David Samson. David, curious your take on Sale. Walt Weiss said he came to him and he said he feels great. Right. Sale hasn't started a game on fewer than five days rest since April. From a front office standpoint, knowing you're up four with two outs in the eighth inning and balancing the need for sale against LA, how would you handle that situation if you're in the Braves front office? Well, I'm not balancing the Dodger series at all because there is no Dodger series if you don't beat the Phillies. And a four-run lead, it might as well be a one-run lead. So having Chris Sale, it's his regular side day having started
a few days earlier and I absolutely am going to use him and I know that's my plan. And as soon as he comes to the park, I am telling him along with all my starters, we don't do bullpens during the playoffs. During the regular season, we'll do bullpens side sessions in between starts, but never during the playoffs because everyone's got to be ready to do their side day actually during a game. And in terms of getting four outs, Jim, I'm all in. You got to get to LA. Does it change that series? Of course it does. They can't start him in game two, even though doing that would enable him to start game five.
What you do is you start him in game three and then he's available out of the bullpen in game five. And I think that's the plan that the Braves are going to go with. All right, let's keep the thought on the mound men for LA between School, Yamamoto, Snell, and Glass. Now, we know that they have track records. When we look at the two staffs as a whole, as far as the starters, how would you characterize the apparent advantage the two-time defending champs have? It's a dream. I'm thinking about rotations. And God, do I want to be the Dodgers? What Andrew Friedman does during the regular season, he practices load management in order to get as many
starters healthy for the playoffs. Think about the names you just said. Should you go with Scubble or Yamamoto? Oh my god, they're both number ones. And then you still have Snell, you still have Glaz now. I just can't believe how fortunate they are. And they'll need them all. So it doesn't matter who goes one or two because they've got that depth. It is a huge advantage. Absolutely advantage Dodgers rotation. Frankly, Jim, it's advantage Dodgers over every other rotation that's left in the playoffs. I mentioned the Braves won five of six during the regular season, but we know the Dodgers are a different
team on this stage. LA going for three straight titles. Who wins this series and why? I have the Dodgers winning for the very reason that we're talking about they simply have more depth at starting rotation. But let's talk about offense and the significance. You remember when the Dodgers got eliminated by the Diamondbacks, you had Bettson Freeman in the short series. They got cold going whatever it was 1 for22. You saw what happened to the Cubs this week when PCA and Bregman got cold. It can happen. For the Dodgers to advance past the Braves, they can't have a complete offensive meltdown. And offense has been problematic for them, but I think they're able to get through the Braves.
Meanwhile, the Padres's outscored the aforementioned Cubs 12-1 in their wild card sweep. Their pen was lights out and the clincher their stars stored and they've won 19 of 22 overall. Plenty of Friars momentum heading into Milwaukee against 103 win team. They do face Jacob Misarowski in that opener. San Diego's been hot for weeks. David, how much carryover can it have against a team with the majors best record? If there really were ever a way to talk about what it is to have a buy versus being a hot team and having to play through, this is the series because Misarowski is going to win the Sai Young. Good pitching beats good hitting every day of the week. And the Padres's play a short
game because of what they have at the back of the bullpen. When you've got Mason Miller, you know, as an offense, you've got eight innings to win that game. Whereas for the Brewers, it's the opposite. The Padres's know they're not going to score early, so they've got to be ready to score against the Brewers bullpen. So, when you look at this matchup, it's really an outstanding series. But the reason I give the edge to the Brewers is when you've got Mizowski going in game one, you're going to get him again in game four, and it's not out of the question that he could be out of the bullpen on a different day. I just think that is going to be hard for the Padres's hitters who love to sit
fast ball, but it's hard to sit when you're getting 103, you know, under your chin and then a little bit of spin. It just makes it really hard for everyone in the league as evidenced by the fact that no one can score against Miserowski. Padres's won four of six against the Brewers in the regular season. There was a sweep in San Diego. I might add, David, that with the Rays, these are two of the five franchises that have never won a World Series. San Diego the oldest having entered the league in 1969. Milwaukee a franchise record for wins as we mentioned. They've never met in the playoffs. Who ultimately prevails in this series and why? I think the Brewers win and it's a fascinating playoffs.
There's a bunch of teams there, Brewers, Padres's, Rays, who have never won a World Series. The Guardians haven't won in 77 years. So, there's really quite a bit of excitement going on, but I think the Brewers, if they're going to run into problems, it's going to be in the NLCS, like happened last year when they got swept by the Dodgers. I think they get past the Padres's and then let's wait to see what we think about the uh NLCS. That's former Marlins President David Samson. David, always appreciate the insight. He mentioned the Dodgers. Well, they are the odds on favorite that to win the World Series a plus 120. Here's it in the National League. Dodgers, Brewers, Braves, Padres's. That's your
odds in a order. Kind of surprising. The Padres's are at a plus 550. LA looking to become the first team since the Yankees from 98 to 2000 to three. Pete Gun, you got to tell me what are YOU FEELING RIGHT NOW? 100. 100. NOT A THOUSAND THIS TIME. YEAH. 100. I am Japanese. NO. Coming up, we turn our attention to the American League offering division rivals in both. Munitaki Makami having fun. And why not? White Sox fresh off their first playoff series win since ' 05. Yankees fresh off a dominant sweep with the Red Sox yet another division foe. That's next. This is HQ.
Back on HQ. Saturday brings a pair of American League Division Series openers, offering a pair of division rivals, no less. The White Sox won the season series from the Guardians 76. Cleveland, though, has home field. They outscored Chicago by 1-1 in their 13 games. Rays won the season series from the Yankees 76. They also have home field where they were 55 and 26. Let's welcome back HQ MLB analyst, former Marlins president and 2003 World Series champion David Samson. And David, still uncertain about Aaron Judge's status as far as being on that New York roster. You figure the Yankees get
another arm in there to 11 pitchers, but if you are in that Yankee front office, what are the factors that you would consider regarding Aaron Judge playing versus sitting this round out? Well, he's just not going to be ready. So, I you know, we say that we haven't heard because rosters aren't due until day of game one, which is on Saturday morning. But they know they're not going to bed tonight saying, "Hey, let's see how Aaron wakes up tomorrow. Maybe in their dreams they're saying that, but they have an idea of what they're going to do." And it's not as though that Jones and Ramos are, you know, peddlers at right field. And the reality is that
if you're not healthy, Ben Rice is going to DH, so Aaron can't DH. He hasn't run the bases yet. I loved Aaron Boon's comment. I'm not sure whether he's run the bases yet. Of course he's sure. It's the first thing the training staff does is talk to the manager, the GM, and the president about everything that Aaron Judge is doing to get ready. But it's simply not worth the roster spot because I guess they could put him on the roster and then replace him if he can't go, but then he's out for the LCS by rule. So, it's smarter just to keep him off the division series roster and re-evaluate come LCS time. David, as I mentioned, Rays were nearly 30 games above 500 at home during the regular
season. That is a clear home field advantage. And judge aside, the Yankees have quality arms in that starting rotation. It's Garrett Cole vers Drew Rasmusen in the opener. How do you see this series playing out as to who wins and why? Yeah, the Yankees have expensive starters other than Schlitler who's going to win the Sai Young. But don't sleep on the Rays rotation. Rasmusen, they get Peralta, Nick Martinez, one of the great signings of last off season, getting 13 million for one year. He's been phenomenal. And you combine that with what the Rays do at home. And the fact that the Yankees haven't won a playoff series where they don't have homefield advantage in quite a long time. And by the way, the Rays
lineup is better than the Yankees lineup. While people may not realize that, it's not a fluke that they won their division. I think that this series is clearly an advantage for the Rays. It's going to be a fun series that I think will go the distance, but at the end, the Rays have depth in their bullpen, depth in the rotation as much as the Yankees do, and a lot of hitters who Yankees pitchers just don't want to see. Yeah, Peralta had a sub one RA in the final month of the season. Uh David, the White Socks off the sweep of the Astros, first playoff series win for them since ' 05. They are a rare team in that they had the least amount of
innings from their starters in the regular season with 674 and the most innings from their relievers with 766. That said, when you look at a key matchup being the Guardians lineup verse that White Sox pen, where do you see an edge? So, I'm going to actually tell you, Jim, that what I think about this series is not just about the White Socks bullpen because for them, you're right. You know, they go with bullpen games all the time. And the reason they've been able to do it is because of their offense. They've got mashers. Three hitters who had 30 home runs. They do strike out a lot. Miraami, Montgomery. There are a lot of KS in that lineup. So, what I'm looking for is can the Guardians
rotation keep the White Socks in the ballpark? I think that's the key to the series. When you out homer your opponent, you're going to win an overwhelming majority of the time. And the White Socks hit home runs. But if they can be held in the park gym, it is a clear advantage to the Guardians. Again, Cleveland one run better during the regular season. Chicago one more win in those head-to-heads. The Guards have home field. So, who wins this series between these central rivals and why? I'm going with the Guardians, but I've got to tell you, I'm hedging, which you should never do. No, I'm not going to hedge. It's the Guardians, but boy is it fun to watch the White Socks. And I can't go against the Pope. I mean, I'm
Jewish, so I guess I could, but I really don't want to because when the Pope is supporting the team and they've got the leadership, the stoic, phenomenal leadership of Will Venibal, who's just done a great job with that team, you would think that they've got it, but no, we're going to stick with Guardians. Yeah, they won 60 games last year, the Chicago White Socks. All right, David, you have the Dodgers Brewers in the NLCS, the Rays Guardians in the ALCS. This is twofold. Who's in the World Series and who wins? So, before the season started, I had the Dodgers beating the Blue Jays in the World Series. So, I'm going to stick with the Dodgers because if I had it before the season, now I've got a real
chance to look smart. And I do think that the Dodgers for them, they don't have title fatigue. They want very badly to catch the Yankees having won three in a row. No team's done it since 98 to 2000, winning three in a row. So, this is incredibly meaningful for them. They've got the depth and they've got the drive and they've got the desire. I think the Rays get there and make it a fun series with labor and small revenue, small market, low payroll against the big bad Dodgers. But I think at the end, Jim, the Dodgers are gonna uh lift that commissioner's trophy yet again. Yeah, that would be fascinating, right?
The Rays and the Dodgers with regards to the payroll disparity in the Fall Classic. He's World Series champ, former Marlins president at HQ, MLB analyst David Samson. David, always appreciate the insight. All right, here's a look at Saturday's schedule. Starts with the White Socks and Guardians at 1 Eastern, capped by the Padres's and Brewers from Milwaukee at 8 Eastern. All day baseball in the divisional series openers coming Saturday.
