Brewers Push Dodgers to the Brink | Ohtani's Injury-Fueled Slump, Peralta Dominates Cleveland, Yankees' 17-Year Drought & Padres, White Sox and Braves Fallout | 189

Episode 189 of Tablesetters is LIVE!

The Milwaukee Brewers have the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers on the brink of elimination, Shohei Ohtani's offensive struggles are becoming impossible to ignore, and Freddy Peralta has emerged as an October ace for the Tampa Bay Rays following a remarkable turnaround since leaving the Mets. Steve also has plenty to get off his chest about another disappointing Yankees season, while the Padres, White Sox and Braves face difficult questions heading into the offseason.

We open with Milwaukee holding a commanding 2-0 NLCS lead over Los Angeles, and we're live during Game 3 as the Dodgers attempt to claw their way back into the series. The Brewers outhit Los Angeles 19-9 through the opening two games, held Dodgers hitters to a .069 batting average against their bullpen and have dictated how these games are being played. Jake Bauers' ridiculous 12-pitch walk against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, William Contreras delivering in the biggest moments and Dave Roberts' questionable decision to pitch to Milwaukee's hottest hitter have turned this series into a fascinating contrast in offensive philosophy. With Los Angeles chasing a historic third consecutive championship, we examine whether Pat Murphy's relentless, contact-oriented approach has exposed the Dodgers' weaknesses and what needs to change before this series slips away completely.

Then there's Ohtani, whose struggles go well beyond a couple of bad postseason games. He's hitting .156 with no home runs since August 18, has managed just one hit against pitches of at least 95 mph during that stretch and is dealing with neck, biceps and knee issues that appear to be affecting his swing mechanics. We examine whether Roberts can continue riding with a physically compromised superstar, whether 21-year-old rookie Josue De Paula deserves an opportunity and just how much Los Angeles can realistically expect from Ohtani as its three-peat aspirations hang in the balance.

Over in the American League, the Guardians and Rays head to Cleveland tied 1-1 in the ALCS after Peralta's dominant six-inning performance in Tampa Bay's Game 2 victory. Acquired from the Mets in August after posting a 4.99 ERA in New York, Peralta has recorded a remarkable 0.81 ERA over his last eight starts, including the postseason. We break down Gavin Williams throwing 210 pitches over six days during Cleveland's comeback against Chicago, Griffin Jax's unexpected success transitioning from Tampa Bay's bullpen to its rotation and Thursday's Game 3 pitching matchup. We also get into the controversy surrounding the Rays' inability to sell out both ALCS home games, WFAN's Evan Roberts criticizing the turnout and whether Tampa Bay's longstanding stadium and attendance issues deserve more consideration.

Steve also unloads on the Yankees after another season ends without a championship, extending their drought to 17 years. Aaron Boone appears likely to return despite eight postseason appearances in nine seasons without a title, Brian Cashman's roster construction continues to resemble a never-ending game of whack-a-mole, and the organization's pitching development seems to have unlocked something while its offensive philosophy remains two or three years behind. We dig into New York's .130 batting average against Tampa Bay, its recurring defensive disasters, Austin Wells' disappointing production and the absurd irony of assistant director of baseball operations Mike Pinsky still surviving on Survivor while the Yankees are already home.

We also put a bow on three other eliminated teams. San Diego's historically close NLDS loss to Milwaukee featured four games decided by two runs or fewer, raising questions about pitching depth and keeping its core together. Chicago's surprising postseason run ended with 52 strikeouts across its final three games against Cleveland, including a record 21 in Game 5, leaving Chris Getz facing important roster decisions. Atlanta eliminated Philadelphia before falling to Los Angeles, but Ronald Acuña Jr.'s offensive struggles and cryptic podcast comments have created another storyline heading into the winter. Meanwhile, the Phillies are moving forward with Don Mattingly on a two-year managerial deal, adding another interesting dimension to the NL East.

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