Pete Fairbanks forced from save chance with injury

If it’s not broke, don’t fix it. The Brewers will roll with exactly the same 26-man roster that they used to get past the Padres in the Division Series. The NLCS gets underway on Saturday evening in Milwaukee with an epic pitching showdown between Brewers’ ace Jacob Misiorowski and Dodgers’ star southpaw Tarik Skubal.

Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts had mentioned that the team would likely add an extra bullpen arm at the expense of a position player, and that’s exactly what they did with Hyeseong Kim being left off of the roster. Everything else is exactly as it was for their Divisional Series against the Braves.

The recovery from the procedure isn’t expected to interfere with Durbin’s regular offseason routine and he should be ready for the start of spring training. The 26-year-old infielder hit .248/.332/.378 with 13 homers, 64 RBI and 20 stolen bases over 586 plate appearances in his first season with the Red Sox.

Rojas exited Game 3 of the NLDS and sat out Game 4 due pain in his lower back, but he’s feeling much improved after a recent cortisone injection. He was able to take ground balls and swing the bat on Saturday without issue and should be good to go barring any setbacks.

Murakami had an awful day at the plate, and that included a strikeout with the bases loaded in one of the very few chances the White Sox created any sort of chaos. The 26-year-old’s swing-and-miss was readily apparent throughout the season — that’s really an understatement — but so was his power with 35 homers in his 127 games. The average will always be an issue, but Murakami’s power, potential to drive in runs and draw walks will make him relevant in leagues for the next few years at least.

Smith, 27, struck out four, as the White Sox whiffed a whopping 21 times in the game. The right-hander allowed one run in his six innings in the series, and this was his first save of the postseason. He’ll get the opportunities — assuming they arise, of course — in the ALCS against the Rays beginning Monday.

Ramírez golfed a pitch well below his ankles out of the park for a two-run shot that gave Cleveland a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning. That pitch was just 0.74 feet off the ground, which is the lowest in the history of the tracking era (2008). That’s the second homer of the postseason for Ramírez, and it’s a great reminder of how incredible the 34-year-old has been after his worst regular season due to injuries and lackluster — comparatively, in particular — results when on the field. He’ll now have a chance to reach the World Series for a second time if they can get pat the Rays in the ALCS, with that series beginning Monday.

Burke blanked the Guardians over the first three innings, but after a base hit by Steven Kwan, José Ramírez was able to almost literally golf out a two-run homer near his feet to give Cleveland the 2-0 cushion. It’s a disappointing end — even if it’s mostly not his fault — to a breakout season for the White Sox, and Burke was a large part of that with a 3.34 ERA and 185 strikeouts as a 26-year-old in 2026. He’ll pitch near the top of the Chicago rotation to open 2027, assuming unforeseeable changes.

Doyle gets the nod over Braden Montgomery, who has gone just 1-for-19 thus far in his playoff at-bats. The full lineup as the White Sox try not to blow a 2-0 lead and advance to the ALCS against the Rays: 1. Sam Antonacci LF, 2. Kyle Teel C, 3. Miguel Vargas 3B, 4. Munetaka Murakami 1B, 5. Andrew Benintendi DH, 6. Tristan Peters RF, 7. Chase Meidroth 2B, 8. Colson Montgomery SS and Doyle in center behind Sean Burke on the mound.

Halpin will get his first start of the postseason as the Guardians look to complete the 2-0 comeback. Angel Martinez will begin Saturday’s win-or-go-home contest on the bench, but seems likely to be involved at some point. The full lineup against Sean Burke in Game 5: 1. LF Steven Kwan 2. 3B José Ramírez 3. RF Chase DeLauter 4. DH Jo Adell 5. 1B Nathaniel Lowe 6. 2B Travis Bazzana 7. C Patrick Bailey 8. CF Halpin and Brayan Rocchio at shortstop with Gavin Williams on the mound.