Gavin Sheets homers as Padres eliminate Cubs

Montgomery put Chicago ahead for good by slicing an opposite-field double down the right-field line against Cleveland reliever Erik Sabrowski in the sixth inning. It was his lone hit in four at-bats, but it came at an opportune moment in the low-scoring affair at Progressive Field. The 23-year-old former first-round pick is just 3-for-15 to open the postseason. With the victory, the White Sox have a chance to punch their ticket to the ALCS when they host the Guardians for Game 3 at Rate Field on Wednesday night.

Ramírez, who did manage to walk and score a run in this one, has gone 0-for-6 with three strikeouts during the first two contests of the best-of-five series. The Guardians have mustered just three runs on seven hits combined during that span. They’ll attempt to stave off elimination when the series shifts to Chicago for Game 3 on Wednesday evening.

After tossing four shutout frames to close out Game 1 over the weekend, Taylor was summoned to protect a two-run lead with two outs in the eighth inning after Sean Burke gave up a two-out single to Chase DeLauter. He immediately surrendered an RBI triple to Jo Adell, but managed to retire Nathaniel Lowe to keep the lead intact heading to the ninth. He needed just five pitches to set down Angel Martínez, Travis Bazzana and Patrick Bailey in the final frame to give Chicago a commanding 2-0 advantage in the best-of-five series. The hard-throwing 24-year-old reliever has yet to allow a run while striking out 11 batters over seven innings of work this postseason. He’s arguably been the difference in the series through two games. Unreal.

Burke took over after Anthony Kay and Sean Newcomb allowed two runs and recorded seven outs to open the contest and didn’t allow a hit until Chase DeLauter singled with two outs in the eighth inning. The 26-year-old righty, who was arguably Chicago’s best starter during the regular season, has allowed four runs with a 14/1 K/BB ratio across 9 1/3 innings of work in a pair of postseason outings.

Williams led the majors with 11 double-digit strikeout performances during the regular season and became the first Cleveland starter to accomplish the feat in a playoff setting since Bartolo Colon back in 2001. His 11 punchouts were one shy of the franchise record set by Charles Nagy back in 1996. He piled up 22 swinging strikes on 98 pitches, allowing just seven baserunners over five impressive frames. He looked like he was going to get in trouble when White Sox rookie sensation Munetaka Murakami smacked an RBI single in the fourth inning. However, he managed to get out of the frame without any further damage. He was charged with an additional run when Cleveland’s bullpen allowed an inherited runner to cross the plate in the sixth. He figures to get the ball for a decisive Game 5 matchup, if the series gets to that point.

Yamamoto said through an interpreter that he’s willing to pitch on short rest, or in relief, if needed, this postseason. That doesn’t come as a surprise after witnessing his herculean effort during last year’s World Series title run. He’ll get the ball for a pivotal showdown at Truist Park in Atlanta with the best-of-five series tied after a pair of games in Los Angeles.

Ramírez hasn’t pitched in the majors since making two relief appearances from the Cardinals from 2020-2021. The 31-year-old journeyman hasn’t pitched in affiliated ball since the 2023 campaign. He posted a spectacular 1.76 ERA with a 63/9 K/BB ratio across 46 innings for Tijuana in the independent Mexican League this past season.

Boone seemingly left the door ajar for New York to pivot, adding that Carlos Rodón is in line to start a potential Game 4 matchup. All signs point to Fried toeing the rubber when the series heads back to New York later this week. The 32-year-old southpaw allowed one run over six innings against the Red Sox to close out the AL Wild Card Series last Wednesday. It’ll be Fried’s 16th career postseason start and 24th appearance overall since 2018.

Martinez will be making his first career postseason start in Yankee Stadium after making eight relief appearances since 2022. The 36-year-old veteran was a bit of an unexpected revelation in his Rays debut, posting a career-best 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 109/26 K/BB ratio across 180 innings over 31 regular-season starts.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone is sticking with the same lineup that was shutout by Rays ace Drew Rasmussen, who carried a no-hit bid into the eighth inning, and closer Bryan Baker in a Game 1 defeat. It’ll be eight left-handed batters getting a look at Freddy Peralta as he makes his Tampa Bay postseason debut in this one. Here’s the full lineup: Ben Rice (DH), Cody Bellinger (LF), Luis García Jr. (1B), Spencer Jones (RF), George Lombard Jr. (SS), Chisholm (2B), Trent Grisham (CF), Austin Wells (C) and Ryan McMahon (3B).