Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney

Special Talent: Cubs Built on Defense; Kyle Tucker Booed; Potential Ohtani Opt-Out?

Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney

Show Notes

Jesse Rogers and Buster Olney discuss Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson’s oblique injury, how the Cubs are built on defense, the Brewers making a statement, what’s wrong with Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, Kyle Tucker’s ugly season continuing, and how the Mark Walter situation potentially lead to Shohei Ohtani opting out of his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then, Eduardo Pérez talks about how the St. Louis Cardinals are headed in the right direction, how the labor situation plays into the Seattle Mariners’ decision on promoting Kade Anderson, and why the San Diego Padres are more dangerous than you think. Later, Buster answers your questions during Bleacher Tweets.

0:00 WELCOME

0:46 TOP OF THE FIRST

03:55 JESSE ROGERS JOINS THE SHOW

04:15 DANSBY SWANSON TO THE IL WITH OBLIQUE INJURY

06:11 CUBS IDENTITY BUILT AROUND DEFENSE

09:00 PIRATES RESTING ACE PAUL SKENES

11:16 BREWERS MAKE STATEMENT VS. DODGERS IN LA

14:58 DODGERS SLIDING: CAN THEY TURN IT ON IN OCTOBER?

16:26 SHOHEI OHTANI RAMPING UP THROWING BULLPEN SESSIONS

19:18 KYLE TUCKER GETS BOOED AT HOME

24:10 WILL MARK WALTER REMAIN AS PRINCIPAL DODGERS OWNER?

28:25 EDUARDO PÉREZ JOINS

29:37 EDUARDO HAS A SPECIAL TALENT

32:17 CARDINALS ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

37:38 HOW BIG OF A DEAL IS DANSBY SWANSON’S INJURY?

39:33 MARINERS WEIGHING THE DECISION TO PROMOTE KADE ANDERSON

43:55 THE PADRES ARE MORE DANGEROUS THAN YOU THINK

46:33 BLEACHER TWEETS

EMAIL THE SHOW: [email protected]

REACH OUT ON X: #BLEACHERTWEETS

Follow The Baseball Tonight Podcast on…

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHeL6O-A-ASmSMwbSCFvPKEq1Cslo_lrw

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5FG6xCcd338SgZjZ9urHRI

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/baseball-tonight-with-buster-olney/id137699414 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More from Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney

Oct 23, 2026

WORLD SERIES RECAPS UP THE MORNING AFTER GAMES

Oct 20, 2026

WORLD SERIES PREVIEW COMING THURSDAY (10/22)

Oct 19, 2026

Eduardo Pérez is wheeling his one-man clown car around Progressive Field when joining Buster Olney to discuss the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the ALCS. They discuss how Drew Rasmussen controlled the strike zone with three different fastballs, Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda stepping up, Junior Caminero looking eager and overwhelmed, Taylor Walls’ defense, if baseball will be played in Cleveland again in 2026, whether the week off for the Milwaukee Brewers will help or hurt them before the World Series, and the conversations that will be had between Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Later, Buster answers your questions during Bleacher Tweets.

Oct 16, 2026

David Vassegh and Buster Olney convene following the Milwaukee Brewers sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS to punch their ticket to the World Series. The guys discuss the Brewers thoroughly drumming the Dodgers, Milwaukee’s vicious bullpen, a tough offseason awaiting Los Angeles. Then, Eduardo Pérez is one man clown car on the streets of Cleveland as he meets Guardians fan who has a message for Buster. Plus, he talks about the Guardians taking a 2-1 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS after a 3-1 Game 3 victory. Petey Halpin’s big home run and bat flip, Gavin Williams with another stellar start, potential bad weather for Game 4, pressure on the Rays, and José Ramírez’s confidence. Later, Sarah Langs plays The Numbers Game.

Oct 15, 2026

David Schoenfield and Buster Olney convene following the Milwaukee Brewers’ 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers to take a 3-0 NLCS lead. They discuss Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell hitting back-to-back home runs off Blake Snell, Jackson Chourio’s first pitch jack, if Dave Roberts made the right move keeping Snell in the game, and whether the Dodgers are more banged up than we think. Then, Eric Hosmer stops by to talk about Shohei Ohtani avoiding the bench, the Guardians-Rays ALCS shifting to Cleveland and moving up first pitch due to weather, and the postseason grind as a player.

See all episodes →