Before we get into the NLDS games, congrats to Eric Carter on another fine season as Durham's closer:
I'm sure he'd trade this hardware for a spot in the Rays bullpen, and he might just have the chance next spring as Jordan Diaz and Jim Connors will heading out of town as they're both projected for 8 figures in arbitration which, uh....no. So that's two spots and with Chris Hicks struggling this year with us, Carter will get another long look.
What a game in Columbus as Jorge Perez's grand slam in the bottom of the 9th off....wait for it....Jasseel De La Cruz gave the Lightning a 1-0 series edge. Perez had a breakout season for Columbus this year, going .274-27-67 and earning 3.5 WAR as their SS, he was only a highly-prized Rays prospect whom we traded all the way back in 2023 to the then-Miami Marlins in a deal for Asa Lacy. It took 10 long years, but Miami/Columbus finally got the better end of the deal. This was all after Lightning closer Pat Gatlin blew a 5-3 lead in the 8th. Much less drama in St. Louis where Pat Brownell and the Nationals surprised 102-win St. Louis in Game 1 with the ageless (OK, 34) Juan Soto having a big game.