Rays prospect Hopkins thriving in relief

Both players “politely declined,” and the Phillies went on to hire Don Mattingly to a two-year deal. According to Stark’s sources, “the Phillies’ interest was serious enough that the team’s president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, formally requested permission from the Los Angeles Dodgers to contact Utley and Ibanez, both of whom work for the team.” That makes three known candidates, along with Alex Cora, who turned down the opportunity before the team went back to Mattingly.

Bauers had another long at-bat that saw him foul off several middle-middle pitches before pulverizing a 3-2 cookie from Blake Snell to give the Brewers the 3-2 lead. The 31-year-old veteran has his first homer of the postseason, but he’s been excellent in the playoffs thus far while driving in three runs. Bauers and the Brewers are now one win away from their first trip to the World Series as a National League team, and can reach that accomplishment with a win Thursday in Game 4.

Smith gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead with a bases-loaded double in the sixth inning off Abner Uribe. It’d be the last run of the night for Los Angeles, and the defending champions are now a loss away from their season coming to a close. Smith has been awful in this postseason, and even with the two-run double he’s hitting just .074 over the first seven games.

Pratt singled all three times. The steal was the first of the postseason for the 22-year-old, who has hit .360 with a .400 slugging percentage in his first postseason. He’ll assuredly be in the lineup Thursday wit a chance for the Brewers to clinch a trip to the World Series versus the Rays or Guardians.

Chourio blistered a solo homer the opposite way to give the Brew Crew an early 1-0 lead. The 22-year-old has his second homer of the postseason, and he’s driven in seven runs even while hitting at the top of the lineup for the entirety of the playoffs.

Megill came in and got Will Smith to fly out with a runner on to end the eighth. He was able to retire the side in order in the ninth, and even with a four-run lead, thanks to a run in the ninth, he’s credited with his fourth save of the postseason.

Snell allowed a leadoff homer to Jackson Chourio, and after that, the left-hander was dominant for the next five innings. And then, the seventh happened. He walked Andrew Vaughn, allowed a two-run homer to Jake Bauers and a solo homer to Garrett Mitchell without recording an out to turn what was an outstanding effort into a middling one. Justice for Kevin Cash? Snell would likely get the start in Game 7 if the Dodgers can force one, but there’s a pretty good chance his season is over.

Gasser allowed just three hits and a walk, and he struck out three. He threw 47-of-72 pitches for strikes, and it was a little surprising that the Brewers pulled the southpaw only to see Abner Uribe allow two runs while getting just one out after Gasser left. Milwaukee still was able to get the win, however, and has a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. The 27-year-old could get a start in Game 6 or 7 if necessary, or could be a bullpen option in the coming days.

Long spent five years as the Phillies’ hitting coach after previous tenures with the Yankees, Mets and Nationals. Dickerson had also held his spot the last five years and six years overall; the Phillies made him their infield coach in 2019, lost him to San Diego for two years and then brought him back in 2022.

With a lefty back on the mound in Blake Snell, the Brewers are using the same nine they did in Game 1 versus Tarik Skubal. The lineup: LF Jackson Chourio, 2B Brice Turang, C William Contreras, DH Vaughn, 1B Jake Bauers, CF Garrett Mitchell, SS Cooper Pratt, RF Luis Lara, 3B Joey Ortiz.