MLB Insiders Tab Brewers, Yankees as October Favorites — SkimNews
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- Milwaukee Brewers edged the Dodgers 6 votes to 5 as NL team to beat, with insiders pointing to Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson as a one-two combo that can hang with anyone, especially with home-field advantage powering an offense that 'hits home runs' at home.
- New York Yankees dominated AL voting with 9 of 16 votes as the team to beat, boosted by Aaron Judge's return from a three-month-plus injury absence and Carlos Rodon's return, with one NL scout calling Cam Schlittler 'a treat' for anyone who hasn't seen him pitch.
- San Diego Padres were the consensus NL sleeper with 7 votes, as deadline additions Casey Mize and Robbie Ray helped San Diego compile the best NL ERA since the trade deadline, anchored by closer Mason Miller.
- Houston Astros were named AL sleeper with 7 votes — though several voters admitted they were essentially forced to pick someone, citing Yordan Alvarez as a series-changer and Josh Hader 'as good as ever,' while expressing doubts about the rest of Houston's staff.
- The Phillies drew 4 NL-favorite votes and execs' praise as a top threat to Milwaukee, with Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, and Jesus Luzardo making them 'one team that doesn't HAVE to have the bye' alongside Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber.
- The Seattle Mariners — last year's consensus sleeper who fell one game short of the World Series — didn't appear in this year's poll and are unlikely to make the postseason, per the source.
- Cubs finished with 1 NL-favorite vote but 4 sleeper votes, capturing their Jekyll-and-Hyde season: a record-setting August, a 10-game May losing streak, and a slumping bullpen that insiders said caps their ceiling despite leading the NL in offense and defense.
Why it matters: The Yankees grabbed 9 of 16 insider votes as AL favorite behind Judge's return from a 3-month absence, while the Brewers (6 votes) narrowly topped the Dodgers (5) despite losing to LA in last year's NLCS — putting Milwaukee in the awkward spot of consensus NL pick whose title hopes depend on Misiorowski matching Ohtani head-to-head.
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