LSU Professional Athletes

The LSU Arm Carrying Chicago's October

Grant Taylor is doing something that hasn't been done in MLB postseason history in a very long time — and he's doing it in a White Sox uniform.

The LSU product and Chicago reliever delivered a four-inning save in Game 1 of the 2026 ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians, a performance so rare it made history across the sport. Taylor struck out six in the outing as the White Sox shut out Cleveland 3-0, with Munetaka Murakami's two-run blast providing the offensive spark and Taylor locking the door for the final four frames. Four-inning saves are an extreme rarity in postseason baseball — the kind of moment that gets attached to a pitcher's name for years.

It isn't a one-game flash, either. Taylor has been the connective tissue of Chicago's entire postseason run. The White Sox have now collected three postseason wins — matching the franchise's total from the first 20 years after their 2005 World Series title. Taylor has been central to all of it, earning a reputation as a genuine October weapon for a franchise that hasn't had many of those.

The Game 1 effort against Cleveland stands as the centerpiece. Six strikeouts, four innings, no runs — in a winner-take-more postseason environment where relievers are typically deployed in one- or two-inning bursts, Taylor's workload was exceptional. Sports Illustrated went as far as dubbing him a "White Sox playoff legend" in the making, and based on the numbers, that framing isn't hyperbole.

Game 2 of the ALDS on Friday brought a rougher outing — Taylor allowed four earned runs in 1.1 innings in the 5-9 loss to Cleveland, pushing his series ERA to 4.70. The White Sox trail in the series, and Taylor's role going forward will be closely watched. But Game 1 alone has already etched his name into White Sox postseason lore.

The Rest of the LSU Board

Taylor is the headliner, but LSU's MLB footprint extends well beyond Chicago.

Paul Skenes (Pirates) is making news off the field: the former LSU ace is on track to shatter the record for first-year MLB arbitration earnings for a pitcher when he hits eligibility, a financial milestone that reflects just how quickly he's established himself as a franchise-caliber arm — even in a down season by his standards.

Kevin Gausman (Cubs) is generating offseason buzz of a different kind. His name is surfacing prominently in free agency discussions as Chicago grapples with a pitching rotation in flux — Gausman is among several pending free agents the Cubs will need to replace or bring back this offseason. The Blue Jays, who originally traded Gausman to the Cubs, could be poised for a reunion — a storyline that puts the LSU righty at the center of one of the more intriguing offseason chess matches in the NL.

Aaron Nola (Phillies) finds himself in an uncomfortable spotlight: a FanSided piece ranked him among the Phillies' core players fans would most like to see moved this offseason, a stark sign of where his standing in Philadelphia currently sits.

Taylor's October heroics are the story of the week — and arguably the story of LSU's 2026 MLB chapter. Whether the White Sox can extend their run will go a long way toward determining just how legendary his postseason run becomes.

Grant Taylor Is the White Sox's Postseason Lifeline

LSU's Grant Taylor didn't just pitch his way into Chicago's postseason rotation — he is Chicago's postseason rotation.

The 24-year-old reliever has been the most indispensable arm on a White Sox staff that, by the team's own manager's admission, functions less like a pitching staff and more like an elaborate relay race. Through the first week of October, Taylor has been the anchor at the end of that race.

In Game 1 of the ALDS against the Houston Astros on Tuesday, Taylor entered in the late innings and struck out five batters across 2.1 innings as Chicago held on for a 6-3 win. It was the kind of performance that turns a nervous bullpen game into a controlled conclusion. Then, in Game 1 against the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday, Taylor topped himself — delivering a career-high four innings of two-hit, shutout ball, striking out six and earning the save as Chicago blanked Cleveland to go up 1-0 in the series.

That's 6.1 combined postseason innings, 11 strikeouts, zero runs allowed, and two wins secured. For a team that ranks among the shakiest rotations in the American League — only three starters made more than 15 starts all season — Taylor has become what one outlet called manager Will Venable's "rice cooker": reliable, low-maintenance, and trusted to finish the job while everything else demands attention.

Taylor is in just his second MLB season. As a rookie on a 102-loss White Sox team, he showed flashes but remained inconsistent. That version of Taylor is nowhere to be found in these playoffs.

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Aaron Nola's Rough Exit

On the NL side, fellow LSU alum Aaron Nola had a far tougher week. Selected to start the decisive Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Atlanta Braves, Nola lasted just 1.2 innings — surrendering a three-run homer to Michael Harris in the first inning. The Phillies never recovered, falling 6-2 and ending their season. Nola, still owed $100 million by Philadelphia, now heads into an offseason carrying the weight of one of the postseason's most critical misfires.

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Kevin Gausman Exits as a Free Agent

Kevin Gausman's stint in Chicago ended quietly. Acquired from the Blue Jays at the trade deadline, Gausman started Game 2 of the Cubs' NL Wild Card Series against the Padres, going 3.1 innings and allowing three earned runs in a 4-1 loss. Chicago was swept, and Gausman — whose Cubs tenure amounted to roughly one month of regular-season work and a forgettable playoff appearance — heads into free agency this offseason.

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Bregman Carries Cubs Into October

Before the Cubs' postseason collapse, Alex Bregman gave them something to cheer about. In the regular-season finale against Boston, Bregman homered twice, drove in four runs, and scored three times in a 6-2 win — a vintage performance from LSU's most decorated position-player alum in the league. It wasn't enough to carry momentum into October, but Bregman's .265 average and late-season pop confirmed he remains one of the game's elite third basemen.

Taylor's emergence is the headline, but LSU's October fingerprints — for better and worse — were all over the first week of the MLB playoffs.

Skenes Closes on a Statement

Paul Skenes didn't let a forgettable Pirates season define his finish. In his final start of 2026 — a Thursday night outing against the Cardinals — the LSU product went 6.1 innings, struck out eight, and allowed just one earned run, posting a 3.82 ERA on the season. Per Sports Illustrated, Skenes made Pirates history with the performance, capping a year that has left the ace visibly frustrated with Pittsburgh's organizational trajectory. He's made clear he's tired of watching October from home, and with the new CBA on the horizon, Skenes figures to be one of the players union's most prominent voices in the coming labor battle. The Pirates brass should be listening on both fronts.

Bregman's Playoff Streak, Fractured Face and All

Few storylines in the final week of the MLB regular season were more remarkable — or more uncomfortable to look at — than Alex Bregman's. The Cubs third baseman was struck by a foul ball while standing in the on-deck circle during a late-September game against the Reds, suffering multiple facial fractures. The swelling was significant enough to make national headlines, with photos of Bregman arriving at Wrigley Field going viral.

And yet, he played.

Chicago declined to place Bregman on the injured list, and he returned to the lineup just five days after the injury, initially as the DH. His return wasn't just about grit — it carried genuine October stakes. According to Yahoo Sports, Bregman is on the cusp of a 10th consecutive postseason appearance, a streak that puts him in rare historical company. The Cubs entered the final weekend in a three-way tie for the NL's top wild-card spot, making every body in that lineup count.

His defensive availability remains a question heading into the postseason, with his return at third base potentially affecting roster construction — including the futures of Michael Conforto and infield prospect Matt Shaw.

The Cubs' playoff push also hit a separate snag when fellow LSU alum Kevin Gausman exited a Wednesday start against the Marlins after diving to make a play, departing with a potential injury. Gausman had struck out seven in 5.2 innings before leaving, and Chicago dropped the game 3-2. With a magic number of one at that point and Gausman's status uncertain heading into a weather-disrupted final weekend at Fenway, the Cubs' path to October got significantly more complicated.

Anderson Makes History in Seattle

While the Mariners missed the playoffs in 2026 after their ALCS run the year before, LSU lefty Kade Anderson gave the organization a genuine highlight to hold onto. On Sunday, September 20, Anderson threw seven innings against the Rockies, striking out seven and allowing just one earned run in a 2-1 Seattle win. According to Heavy Sports, the outing placed Anderson alongside Madison Bumgarner in the record books — the specific feat was not detailed further, but the historical company alone signals a performance worth noting for Tigers fans tracking his development.

Around the Horn

Elsewhere, Jake Fraley's stint with the Rays came to an unceremonious end when Tampa Bay released the LSU outfielder on September 22 after he declined a minor league assignment. Cole Henry was similarly let go by Washington, with the Nationals requesting unconditional release waivers on the right-hander to clear a 40-man roster spot. Aaron Nola meanwhile was being deployed on two days' rest by interim Phillies manager Don Mattingly in a must-win situation, underscoring how much Philadelphia still leans on the LSU product in high-leverage moments. Dylan Crews provided a bright spot in Washington with a home run and three runs scored in Friday's game against the Mets, hitting .224 on the season.

LSU's MLB footprint in 2026's final week was unmistakably large — from history-makers to walking wounded to postseason hopefuls. October should tell the rest of the story.

Bregman's MVP Case Hits a New Peak

Alex Bregman didn't just have a good week — he made history. On Wednesday night at Wrigley Field, the LSU product went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs as the Cubs routed the Braves 8-4. But the night's signature moment belonged to both Bregman and centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who combined to accomplish something MLB hadn't seen in nearly 70 years — a rare dual feat that sent Wrigley into a frenzy and further cemented Bregman's place in Chicago's best-in-baseball offense.

It wasn't just the stat line. According to The Sporting News, Bregman's presence in the Cubs' clubhouse has been a catalyst for Crow-Armstrong's own MVP-caliber season, with teammates crediting the former Astros star for "unleashing" the young outfielder's potential. That's the kind of fingerprint that doesn't show up on a box score — and it's exactly the sort of veteran leadership Cubs front office was betting on when they signed Bregman this past winter, a decision that left the Red Sox scrambling to adjust their own plans.

The week wasn't without turbulence. Bregman went 0-for-5 in a 6-4 Friday loss to Cincinnati, and the Cubs shuffled their lineup heading into Saturday's rematch with the Reds. But even with a down game sprinkled in, Bregman is running a .262 average with the kind of RBI production that keeps him in the NL MVP conversation deep into September. On his off-day Thursday, he even found time to celebrate a Churchill Downs victory by his racehorse — Cubs players joined in the festivities, per video circulating on social media.

Skenes and Pittsburgh: A Season Gone Sideways

Across the league, the story for LSU's other marquee name is far grimmer. Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates have been officially eliminated from playoff contention, closing the book on a season that once carried genuine promise.

Skenes, who entered 2026 as one of the most hyped young arms in baseball, has not been the shutdown ace Pittsburgh needed. On Friday, he surrendered five earned runs over six innings against Kansas City in an 8-5 loss — pushing his ERA to 3.91, a number that, while not catastrophic, falls well short of the standard set by his electric rookie campaign. FanSided and Heavy Sports both noted that Skenes has drawn the bulk of scrutiny for the Pirates' collapse, though the failures run deeper than any one pitcher. The Pirates manager offered a measured but honest assessment of Skenes heading into the Royals start — acknowledging the struggles without throwing his ace under the bus.

The Pirates may finish with one of the league's worst records. For Skenes, the offseason questions will be pointed: Was this a sophomore slump, or something more structural?

Around the Diamond

A few other Tigers worth noting:

Kevin Gausman took the mound Tuesday for Chicago against Atlanta, going 5.2 innings and allowing two earned runs with six strikeouts (ERA: 4.55). The Cubs needed more, but the veteran stabilized after a rough outing against Milwaukee.

Grant Taylor had a solid stretch for the White Sox, logging 2.1 scoreless innings Thursday against Detroit (ERA: 2.34) before giving up two earned in 1.2 frames Tuesday. Chicago's AL Central situation remains tenuous.

Gage Jump's rookie season with the Athletics ended abruptly — the lefty was placed on the 15-day IL on September 13 with a left shoulder impingement after exiting his last start after just 44 pitches. Sports Illustrated has already begun grading his freshman campaign.

Aaron Nola continues to be a quiet force for playoff-bound Philadelphia, with his recent performances dropping the Phillies' magic number and drawing praise as a potential October X-factor.

LSU's footprint across the league is wide — but this week, it all came back to two poles: Bregman's brilliance in Chicago and Skenes' unfinished business in Pittsburgh.