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Rays in ALCS spotlight and lose key pitching coach | AL East roundup
No AL East team played yesterday, but the Tampa Bay Rays dominated the news cycle with ALCS action, a coaching change and a weather-driven schedule tweak.
By the PickALeague Newsroom · Published · Source: PickALeagueSummary written with AI assistance — how we workLire en français →
There were no games on the schedule for any AL East teams yesterday, but the Tampa Bay Rays still managed to dominate the headlines thanks to their ALCS run and a notable change in their pitching development staff.
Rays drive the ALCS storylines and lose a pitching guru
Coming off a 98-64 regular season, the Tampa Bay Rays are carrying the AL East banner in the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians. As reported by CBS Sports, the league has moved the first pitch of Game 3 up to 1 p.m. in response to forecasts calling for inclement weather. The proactive shift is designed to get the game in under more favorable conditions for players and fans.
On the field, MLB Trade Rumors notes that right-hander Freddy Peralta turned in an excellent outing to pull the ALCS back even. The same report points out that Peralta extended his streak to nine straight starts allowing one earned run or fewer, underscoring how central he has become to Tampa Bay’s October pitching plans.
Behind the scenes, the Rays’ pitching pipeline took a hit. According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Minnesota Twins have hired Brian Reith as their new major league pitching coach. Reith had served as pitching coach for the Rays’ Triple-A affiliate in Durham for the past five seasons, and he replaces Pete Maki, whose contract was not renewed after the season. For Tampa Bay, it means the departure of a long-time voice in a development system that has consistently churned out quality arms.
Yankees featured in podcast chatter as rest of AL East stays quiet
Elsewhere in the division, news was sparse but not entirely absent. MLB Trade Rumors’ latest podcast episode, hosted by Darragh McDonald, dives into the state of several franchises, including the New York Yankees, who finished 93-68. The show examines where the Yankees stand alongside other clubs as the offseason approaches.
For the Baltimore Orioles (79-82), Boston Red Sox (87-75), Yankees, Rays and Toronto Blue Jays (79-83), the day’s picture is defined more by Tampa Bay’s ALCS push and broader organizational discussions than by on-field action, with winter decisions looming on the horizon.