Braves biweekly: a cromulent clincher

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 23: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves takes the field before the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Truist Park on September 23, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Past summaries:

In September’s latter half, the Braves did a big thing: they clinched their first NL East title in three seasons (but seventh in nine seasons under the current Front Office). They did so with a sweep of the Astros in Houston, while dropping every other series they played. Of course, that sounds more woeful than it was, as it was really one series win against a contender, one series loss to a contender, and then six meaningless games where the Braves largely played their regulars but goofed around on the pitching end, and didn’t really do anything that well in the process.

So, as a result, the stats from their 5-5 end to the month (after a 7-7 start) are kind of meaningless. The Braves didn’t end their 2026 regular season on a high note, but… no one’s gonna remember that either way, given that the season’s story was pretty much written before these last few weeks, anyway. If the Braves have a postseason run, or if they don’t, these last two weeks won’t really matter to anyone either way.

Probably the biggest thing to note is that the Braves didn’t collapse. Collapsing is kind of hard to do when you win a bunch of games you shouldn’t in aggregate, but there was no karmic payback or anything. The 2026 Braves started with division odds of about 1-in-3, which shot up to 3-in-4 and higher in mid-April and stayed there until late June. They were coin flip-y with a slight edge around the All-Star Break, were up to nearly unity in mid-August, and then bounced around some more in the 70-95 percent range until becoming basically a sure thing once they fended off the Phillies. The clinch was just a formality, really.

How did the Braves do recently?

Keeping in mind that these stats don’t really tell a useful story given that the Braves largely mailed it in for six of ten games in this span, they were:

  • 23rd in position player value — 21st in wRC+, 17th in xwOBA, 11th defensively
  • 24th in pitching value (inclusive of goofing off, as noted) — 17th in ERA-, 26th in FIP-, and 11th in xFIP-, with no real difference between the rotation and bullpen.

So, what can you say, really? Of the four games that mattered, the Braves were favored in one but won three; if the remaining six, they were favored in five and won two. Eh.

How are the Braves doing on the season?

Well, they won 94 games and clinched the NL East with six games to go. They finished those same six games ahead of the Phillies, whom they’ll play in the Wild Card round best-of-three. 94 wins is good for MLB’s fourth-best record, and they also had MLB’s fifth-best run differential, but just the tenth-best BaseRuns-based record. (Only the Reds, Rays, and Phillies outperformed BaseRuns by more this season.) My own personal amusement is that if you went solely off BaseRuns, the NL playoff field would feature the Dodgers, Brewers, and Marlins as the division winners, and the Cubs, Pirates, and Braves as the Wild Card teams. (Of course, some of that would need to be rejiggered given that the Braves probably don’t goof off for six games if they trail the Marlins by a game.)

The overall team ranks are not kind to the Braves as far as the 2026 season goes.

  • 21st in position player fWAR
  • 20th in wOBA and wRC+; 14th in xwOBA
  • Sixth in defensive value (yay)
  • 13th in pitching fWAR (17th rotation, 12th bullpen)
  • Fifth in ERA- (seventh, fourth)
  • 15th in FIP- (17th, 12th)
  • 11th in xFIP- (14th, 11th)

Yeah, this is not really a good team. While anything can happen in a short series, it’s easy to say that when the Braves lost those sets to the Phillies in 2022 and 2023, it was baseball being baseball, and the Braves were a better team. In 2026… sure, one or the other is better by some specific paradigm, but neither seems particularly good at all.

By the way, the 21st finish in position player fWAR was the team’s lowest since it also did so in 2017. The same goes for its hitting outputs (25th in 2017); hitting inputs had their lowest rank since the 2018 team finished 18th. I don’t know what’s going to happen this offseason, but this team needs a clear reinvention of its offensive wheel, with whatever strategic and personnel moves are needed to get there. Changes weren’t warranted from 2024 to 2025, and things somehow got worse this year, which I would never have guessed given how 2025 transpired.

How are the hitters doing?

Yeesh.

Three of the team’s good bats picked it up over these last two weeks. Mauricio Dubon decided to add some wild xwOBA overperformance for fun. Matt Olson could’ve had a better run, but whatever — he ended up with a really rough September in the end. But all the guys that struggled? Well, they pretty much struggled, except for seven PAs of Dominic Smith. Ozzie Albies absolutely collapsed. Austin Riley, Sean Murphy, and Ha-Seong Kim remained mired in their doldrums. Put this all together, and the seasonal lines look kinda nasty for a lot of these ten guys who crossed the 200 PA threshold.

Michael Harris II, Matt Olson, and Drake Baldwin were legit. No complaints about Ronald Acuña Jr. or Mauricio Dubon. I won’t even touch Murphy and Kim, who maybe could’ve solved things with enough time (Murphy’s bat speed is a real problem). But, the inability to do much to help Riley, to play Smith for 300 PAs despite obvious backsliding in his offensive approach that led to him hitting poorly, Mike Yastrzemski running into a career-worst year… like I said, there are a lot of issues to address.

At least almost everyone basically ended up where expected but for Dubon, and no one fell into some kind of horrendous xwOBA underperformance trap.

How are the pitchers doing?

Let’s also include the relievers, I guess.

Everyone got kinda shelled HR/FB-wise these last two weeks, but whatever. Chris Sale was still awesome, everyone else was meh or worse, especially when including the homers.

On the season, this was a team with Chris Sale, Tyler Mahle, and a bunch of standout relief performances… and that’s about it. Martin Perez was surprisingly helpful, even if he got there in an annoying way. Some guys were pretty awful; the Braves had the latitude to part ways with Tyler Kinley before he could do even more damage, but JR Ritchie and AJ Smith-Shawver really didn’t take any huge steps forward. Smith-Shawver only had like 30 innings, so not a huge deal, but it was kind of a bummer to not see more from Ritchie despite repeated chances.

If I had to give special shoutouts this season, I’d go:

  • Michael Harris II — led the team in both fWAR thanks to his defense, but also WPA despite not having the best overall batting line. Harris had a weird year where he had an insane .442 xwOBA in April but then it declined every month afterwards, dipping under .300 in August… but he bounced back with a pretty big September (.337) despite some underperformance.
  • Chris Sale – duh. While WPA does not really “accrue” to the pitcher because it includes defensive plays made behind the pitcher, it’s telling that Sale and the defense had a “shutdown” in 15 of his 27 outings, while only posting any negative WPA in seven outings, and a “meltdown”-level WPA in just three of them.
  • Didier Fuentes, who finished second in actual shutdowns and meltdowns, but nonetheless tied Dylan Lee with 2.1 fWAR, which ranks second on the team overall behind Sale.

All that said, with all the various struggles, I do think this was basically the Season of Chris Sale for the Braves, as he was consistently, unequivocally good.

And now, we let the tournament take over.

Three up, three down – week of Sept. 21-27

Sep 27, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

They are in the playoffs. Let’s not dwell too much on the how; let’s just focus on the fact that they are in. That’s all they need to make some noise in the playoffs.

Three up

Zack Wheeler – Imagine this season without an Ace level Wheeler. He was always going to come back from the injury he had, if only because the trainers and medical staff of the Phillies were never really worried that it would end his career. How he would perform was an altogether different question. Would he be the Ace the team had relied on for many years, or something of a shell of himself? No one really knew until he actually started pitching….and then we knew. He was the one that the team would depend on each and every time. Many people outside of the organization point to the firing of Rob Thomson as the turning point of this season, but the real ones know: once Wheeler returned, that’s when it all changed.

Aaron Nola – I’m not going to get down on a guy that asked for the ball on short rest when the team needed someone to step up. Nola may have gotten blitzed in that start Saturday night, but good on him for wanting to do something to help the team. His resurgence this season was one of the reasons they are still playing baseball. Imagine if he was the bad version of Nola. Does this team make the playoffs at all?

Bryson Stott – The only bat worthy of this tier, Stott was good this week, boosted by his 3 for 3 performance on Sunday. While it will be how the stars fare against the Braves that determines if they are able to advance to meet the Dodgers, the complimentary bats like Stott and Alec Bohm also have to show something of a pulse if they expect to do anything.

Three down

Jose Alvarado – Let’s ask the true question when it comes to Alvarado: was Saturday night the final time we see him in a Phillies uniform? One can argue that there really is no reason to pitch him in the playoffs outside of a mop up appearance. Tanner Banks and Tim Mayza are more than likely ahead of him on the left handed pecking order if a southpaw is needed in the next week, so there really is no reason to call on him when the game is on the line. He might still have decent stuff (I’d argue he doesn’t), but the absolute loss of knowing where that stuff is going means he cannot be put into leverage situations, situations that abound in the playoffs. He was good when they needed him to be, but his time here is at an end.

J.T. Realmuto – Yes he had the big hit Sunday, arguably the biggest one, but boy is he bad right now. One could spin it in a positive direction and say he had bad luck, but that would be strictly looking at data and not watching with your eyes. He is not right at the plate.

Alec Bohm – Another that really isn’t swinging a good bat either, Bohm might be the key to the lineup outside of the big three. Hitting behind that trio, especially against Chris Sale, Bohm is going to have to have a key hit or two if they have a chance to steal Game 1.

Yankees vs. Red Sox: 2026 AL Wild Card Series Preview and Prediction

Another installment of Yankees-Red Sox in October? Yes, please! 

For the seventh time, these familiar rivals meet in the playoffs and, if the past is any indication, we’re due for more history, another slice of perma-angst for at least one fanbase, and maybe a new pejorative nickname or two. 

In this best-of-three AL Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium, both teams must cope with injuries to huge hitters. Will Aaron Judge make the Yankee roster? Willson Contreras returned to the Red Sox lineup Sunday after missing eight games, but he’s got a bruised right hand that could hinder his thump.

Runs could be at a premium, because both teams have sharp pitching staffs. The Yanks (93-68) had the best starter ERA in baseball and the Red Sox (87-75) recorded the best bullpen ERA.

It may all come down to who melts in the October cauldron. Or who soars.

Each team has won three of the previous postseason meetings, so perhaps we can consider this a "Game 7" scenario? And nothing interesting ever happens in a Game 7, right? 

It’s so on. 

WHAT THE YANKEES HAVE GOING FOR THEM

Judge usually leads this department, but he’s iffy with a calf injury. He’s pledged to be on the roster, but even if he is, can he be impactful? 

With that swirling, the Yanks’ strength is clearly their starting rotation, led by Game 1 starter Cam Schlittler, the Massachusetts kid who shreds the Sox. You can expect the Twit-wits of New England to seethe at him on social media, but Schlittler seems built to handle online smoke. 

And he can certainly handle the mound. Schlittler, who will win the AL Cy Young Award after an amazing regular season, allowed one run or fewer in 21 of his 33 starts and became the fourth Yankee starter to finish a season with a sub-2.00 ERA (1.95). Over his last nine starts, he pitched to a 1.17 ERA.

Schlittler had a 0.74 ERA against Boston in four starts this season, and you might remember a certain October outing last year in which he was overpowering for eight shutout innings as the Yanks dispatched the Sox in a winner-take-all Game 3. 

The Yanks weighed whether Schlittler should start the first or second game — overthink much, Yankee braintrust? — before making the obvious choice. They’re loaded in Game 2, too, when Max Fried (2.80 ERA in 20 starts) goes. 

If Game 3 is necessary, Gerrit Cole will start. Cole has had some blips this season. But he’s been good his last two starts. Plus, it’s Gerrit Cole. 

The rotation is backed by a bullpen that had a strong regular season as Paul Blackburn (1.69 ERA) and Brent Headrick (2.18) emerged behind closer David Bednar. Will Warren will move from the rotation to the bullpen and could provide key length. Going into Game 1, the Yanks will have had three consecutive days off, thanks to last weekend’s Nor’easter, and the rest might mitigate some of the relief workload concerns that have bloomed late. 

With Judge only playing 66 games, Ben Rice (41 homers, .897 OPS) was the key cog in an offense that was eighth in runs per game (4.59). 

Aug 9, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) pitches in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium.
Aug 9, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) pitches in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

WHAT THE RED SOX HAVE GOING FOR THEM

Boston has both the best bullpen in baseball by ERA (3.00) and enough quality starters — Payton Tolle, Sonny Gray, and Ranger Suárez — to make things very difficult for the Yankees. 

The Yankees never seemed to know what to do with Gray when he was a Yankee from 2017-18, but he’s been terrific everywhere else and tied for the MLB lead with 18 wins this year and had a 2.72 ERA. The mustachioed Tolle, a lefty who pitches with a nifty joie de vivre, allowed one run and four hits over 13 innings in two starts against the Yanks. Suarez, another lefty, had a 3.22 ERA during the regular season, but the Yankees bashed him (6.06 ERA in three outings).

Without Judge, the Yanks’ lineup tilts too left-handed, which theoretically should make them vulnerable to lefty starters. But they were 35-20 in games started by a left-hander. 

The Boston rotation usually features Garrett Crochet, who put the Yankees on the brink of a quick exit last October with a masterful Game 1 performance. But after an injury-plagued year, he won’t start in this series. Problem is, he could be part of the Sox bullpen arsenal, which is already lethal. 

Ageless closer Aroldis Chapman (remember him?) is still dishing heat and hard looks. He had 35 saves, a 1.92 ERA and a 12.4 K/9. Garrett Whitlock, whom the Sox plucked from the Yankees in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft, has a 1.72 ERA. The Red Sox bullpen gave up the fewest home runs of any relief corps in the majors this year.

THE YANKEES WILL WIN THE SERIES IF…

Their rotation continues to thrive and their power plays. The Yankees hit 223 home runs during the regular season, second in MLB to only the Houston Astros, despite missing Judge for so long. Home runs can dwindle in October, but they can also wreck a series, and if Rice slugs, watch out. If he doesn’t, there were 10 other Yankees who hit double-digit home runs this season and that doesn’t include Luis García Jr., who hit seven of his 30 with the Yanks after a deadline trade from Washington. 

Could Giancarlo Stanton finally return from injury and hit a big October laser? He’s done it before. 

Of course, as any Yankee fan will tell you, the pinstriped offense sometimes sputters if the ball isn’t soaring out of the park. But they’re capable of the speed game, too, after finishing sixth in stolen bases. Jazz Chisholm, Jr. had 41 steals and José Caballero added 34, so perhaps they can manufacture runs if their lightning sags.

THE RED SOX WILL WIN THE SERIES IF…

Yanks-Sox is fertile ground for a mega breakout (see Schlittler, Cam, from last October) and one of the most talented players on either team is Roman Anthony, the 22-year-old Red Sox outfielder. He’s had an injury-marred season but this might be his chance. Anthony had a 1.008 OPS over his final eight games. What if he goes bonkers at the Stadium? 

As noted, the Red Sox can really pitch. And they play strong defense, too — they were sixth-best in Baseball Savant’s Fielding Run Value. Can they score enough, though, especially if their best hitter, Contreras (.901 OPS) is compromised? Will Anthony help provide the answer? 

Caption: May 19, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) celebrates with right fielder Aaron Judge (99) after hitting a two run home run in the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.
Caption: May 19, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) celebrates with right fielder Aaron Judge (99) after hitting a two run home run in the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

PREDICTION

Yankees in three. 

This is rivalry business, so there’s little chance of a sweep. Each team will face the brink, but the Yankees will shove the Red Sox over it by, well, shoving. Pitching, we mean.

The Red Sox averaged the second-fewest runs (4.25) of any playoff team and they’ll have a hard time plating enough against the Yanks.

The Yankees are comfortable at the Stadium, where they were 46-34 this season and 4-2 against the Red Sox, including winning three of four in late August.

Is that real intel or real insignificant? We’ll see, but it’s compelling that the Yankees blew out the Sox twice in that series and also won a 1-0 game that was started by, you guessed it — Schlittler.

4 Former Buffalo Sabres Placed On Waivers

Several former Buffalo Sabres players hit the waiver wire on Sep. 27, as Henri Jokiharju, Sam Lafferty, Ilya Lyubushkin, and Vinne Hinostroza have all been waived by their current clubs.

With the Boston Bruins having a crowded blueline, Jokiharju has become the odd man. The former Sabres defenseman appeared in 41 games last season for Boston, where he recorded two goals, 15 points, and a plus-2 rating. 

Lafferty was placed on waivers by the Florida Panthers after signing with them this off-season. This comes after the former Sabres forward recorded one goal and one assist in 29 games with the Chicago Blackhawks last season.

Lyubushkin being placed on waivers comes after the Nashville Predators acquired him from the Dallas Stars during the summer. The former Sabres defenseman recorded one goal, nine points, 68 hits, and a plus-1 rating in 53 games last season for Dallas. 

As for Hinostroza, he has been waived by the Colorado Avalanche. The 32-year-old forward split last season between the Minnesota Wild and Florida Panthers, where he recorded six goals and 18 points in 65 games.

There’s a theme apparent in the latest disastrous Cincinnati Reds season

CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 14: Cincinnati Reds principal owner Bob Castellini looks on during a memorial ceremony for former player Pete Rose on Pete Rose Night prior to a baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on May 14, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cincinnati Reds just wrapped up the 21st regular season since the above note was penned by the then-new ownership group. It was a five-point plan built on the back of nebulous subjectivity aside from the one concrete declaration emboldened at the top – We will bring championship baseball to Cincinnati.

After 21 seasons, there are only two ways with which you can grade that singular, objective declaration. The ownership group, spearheaded by the Castellini family, is either officially lying, or officially a failure.

By no definition of championship baseball have they approached achieving said goal. Even if you squint, reduce the assertion to the divisional level, and parse through the annals of baseball history, you need to go back fourteen seasons to even find the Reds atop their own. There have been no World Series appearances, let alone titles. There have been no National League Championship Series claimed, and zero appearances there. They have not won a playoff series since back in 1995, which also coincides with the last time the team actually won a home playoff game in their own park.

Cincinnati hasn’t won a playoff game in Cincinnati in 31 years. Frank Viola turned 66 years old this year, and that 66 year old man played on the team that last won a playoff game in Cincinnati – in a stadium that was reduced to rubble 25 years ago.

This is not rekindling the Reds Nation spirit. This is the literal definition of resting while we are unhappy.

They have built one of the least respected organizations in baseball.

Sell the team, Bob and Phil.

'I've Got Lots Of Faith In That Young Man,' Sandis Vilmanis Earns Top Nine Role To Start Panthers 2026-27 NHL Season

Sandis Vilmanis wasn't a first-round pick, nor does he come from a country with a rich hockey history, but all he's done is put his head down and work.

Before the Florida Panthers drafted him in the fifth round (157th overall) of the 2022 NHL draft, Vilmanis moved from Latvia, where he was born, to Sweden to play hockey. After being selected, he moved to Canada to play in the OHL. After two impressive seasons, he joined the Charlotte Checkers and continued to impress the organization.

Now entering the 2026-27 season, Vilmanis is preparing to not only make the opening night lineup but also play in the top nine alongside Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen. 

"I think he's a top-9 player all day long," said coach Paul Maurice of Vilmanis. "We don't have to wait three years for him to be impactful. ... He's got enough in his game right now for me to just play him. ... I've got lots of faith in that young man."

It's high praise, but Vilmanis deserves it. 

In his rookie AHL season in 2024-25, Vilmanis posted nine goals and 27 points, while showing defensive responsibility and physicality. In his sophomore season, Vilmanis' play warranted an NHL call-up.

He notched 17 goals and 38 points in 48 AHL games, but more importantly, he scored three goals and added five points in the 19 NHL games he skated in. 

His NHL role was that of a fourth-liner, but he was impactful. According to NaturalStatTrick.com, he posted a Corsi For percentage of 53.73 percent and an expected goals percentage of 55.04 percent at 5-on-5. The Panthers were even in goals for, at 7-7. 

In addition to his on-ice analytics, the 22-year-old took 15 shots on goal, threw 38 hits, and blocked five shots while averaging 10:23 of ice time. 

Florida Panthers, Vladimir Tarasenko Reportedly 'Eying Each Other'Florida Panthers, Vladimir Tarasenko Reportedly 'Eying Each Other'According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Florida Panthers and UFA Vladimir Tarasenko are reportedly "eying each other."

His NHL performance warranted a look during training camp, but the 6-foot-1, 192-pound left-handed winger continued to improve with a stellar performance at the World Championship. He scored four goals and led Latvia in points with 11 in just eight games. His 11 points ranked tied for fifth with NHL stars like Nico Hischier, Lucas Raymond, Timo Meier, and his Panthers teammate and captain, Aleksander Barkov.

Vilmanis did everything he could to prove he was ready for an NHL role, and with the unfortunate injuries to Brad Marchand and Jonah Gadjovich, he has the opportunity to do more than just stay in the NHL.

The Panthers' third line matters more than most NHL teams' third lines. Lundell and Luostarinen are critical to the Panthers' defensive game, both at 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill. They take plenty of defensive zone draws, as without Barkov last year, Lundell and Luostarinen had the most defensive zone starts on the team, despite Lundell missing 18 games and Luostarinen missing nine. 

Florida Panthers Place Eight Players On NHL Waivers; Sign Nathan Bastian To NHL ContractFlorida Panthers Place Eight Players On NHL Waivers; Sign Nathan Bastian To NHL ContractThe Florida Panthers placed eight players on NHL waivers on Sunday. They have also signed Nathan Bastian to an NHL contract following his PTO stint during pre-season.

Vilmanis will need to produce offensively alongside the Panthers' Finnish duo and be potent and responsible defensively. It's a fairly large ask for a 22-year-old still on an entry-level contract, but Maurice clearly holds Vilmanis in high regard and believes he is ready for the role. 

When Marchand returns and if the Panthers' lineup is healthy, where Vilmanis plays will be interesting to monitor, but for now, all Vilmanis can do is make that decision difficult. 


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Injury To Jacob Bernard-Docker Opens Pathway For Other Young Red Wings Defenseman

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The Detroit Red Wings are only days away from the start of the 2026-27 NHL regular season, and by late Monday afternoon, they will need to submit their final, cap-compliant opening-night roster.

While defenseman Simon Edvinsson remains unsigned despite being present at Training Camp, the Red Wings have announced that another defenseman is now unavailable, albeit for a different reason.

Jacob Bernard-Docker, whom the Red Wings signed last offseason and later extended to a two-year, $3.2 million contract, has been placed on Injured Reserve. 

This means that the chances of young defenseman Anton Johansson, who impressed during Training Camp and the preseason, could very well find himself on the Opening Night roster.

Additionally, the Red Wings recently claimed 6-foot-4 defenseman Andreas Englund off waivers from the Calgary Flames. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

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Last season, Bernard-Docker skated in 63 games, scoring one goal with four assists along with 25 penalty minutes.

He's appeared in 207 career NHL games with the Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres and Red Wings, and has tallied seven goals with 22 assists, 82 penalty minutes, and has a minus-one rating. 

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Astros Win AL West — Now Why Not One More October Run?

SACRAMENTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Bryan Abreu #52, Cristian Javier #53, and Ronel Blanco #56 of the Houston Astros pose for a photo in the clubhouse after clinching the American League West title by defeating the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Sunday, September 27, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Jacob Soriano/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Astros fans, after 162 games, your team is once again the champion of the American League West.

So how are you feeling? Excited? Relieved? Optimistic? Still concerned? Or are you simply hopeful that this team has another October run left in it?

Whatever your answer, here’s what matters most:

They’re in.

And once you’re in, you have a chance.

It certainly wasn’t pretty. This Astros team clawed, scratched, fought and struggled its way to the finish line. There were times when they looked exhausted. There were times when the pitching staff appeared to be running on fumes. There were stretches when the offense couldn’t find consistency and moments when it looked like all the energy required to dig out of another early-season hole had finally caught up with them.

But when they absolutely had to get it done, they did.

The Houston Astros are American League West champions.

Now the question changes. Can they get hot? Can they go on another October run? Can they somehow add another chapter to this incredible Golden Era of Astros baseball?

I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility.

Get In and See What Happens

The Astros aren’t entering the postseason as some flawless juggernaut. Far from it.

We’ve spent an entire season talking about their shortcomings. The roster construction. The revolving door in the outfield. The injuries. The inconsistent starting pitching. A bullpen that carried an enormous workload and at times looked completely out of gas.

None of those concerns suddenly disappear because Houston won the division, but neither does everything this team accomplished.

They were knocked down repeatedly and kept getting back up. They dug themselves another enormous hole and somehow climbed out of it. They reached the finish line battered and bruised, but they reached it as division champions.

There’s something to be said for that, and now none of the struggles that came before matter.

It’s October.

You Have the MVP

Here’s a pretty good place to start if you’re searching for reasons to believe:

The Astros have the American League Most Valuable Player. Yordan Alvarez has been the centerpiece of this offense all season, and now he gets the opportunity to do it on baseball’s biggest stage.

In October, one superstar can change a series. One swing can change a game. One hot hitter can carry an entire lineup for a week. The Astros have that guy.

The rest of the offense doesn’t need to suddenly become the greatest lineup in baseball. It just needs to continue doing enough around Yordan to score runs and give this team an opportunity to win.

That’s what they’ve done for much of the season. Now they need to do it when the games matter most.

It All Comes Down to Pitching

For all the discussion about the offense, I believe Houston’s postseason fate ultimately comes down to one thing: Pitching.

Which starting pitchers can Joe Espada trust? Who can give him five, six or seven quality innings? Who has the ability to take the baseball in a postseason game and dominate? Perhaps most importantly, which bullpen arms still have enough left in the tank?

The last question is the one that concerns me most.

The Astros asked an enormous amount from their bullpen this season. Those relievers were forced to cover innings when starters couldn’t get deep into games, and they helped keep this season alive while Houston fought its way back into contention. Now they’re being asked for more.

Postseason baseball magnifies the importance of every bullpen decision. Managers are quicker to pull starters. Matchups become more important. High-leverage relievers can be asked to pitch on consecutive days, and sometimes the difference between advancing and going home comes down to which bullpen can record the final nine outs.

Houston doesn’t need every reliever to suddenly become dominant, but it needs enough of them.

Give This Team Its Credit

I’ve been critical of this team throughout the season. I’ve questioned the roster. I’ve questioned the front office. I’ve questioned whether the bullpen could survive its workload and whether the Astros had enough left in the tank to finish the job. Those questions were fair.

But so is giving this team credit now. I’m proud of the fight they’ve shown. I’m proud of the veteran leadership that helped get them here. I’m proud of the way this group refused to allow its season to disappear when it easily could have.

Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Yordan Alvarez and the other veterans in that clubhouse know what October baseball feels like. They know what it takes to win when every pitch matters. That experience means something now.

Joe Espada deserves credit, too.

He took an imperfect roster, navigated injuries, survived an inconsistent rotation and an overworked bullpen, and somehow got this team across the finish line as division champions.

That’s an accomplishment.

Why Not the Astros?

Do I think this is the best Astros team we’ve seen during this Golden Era? No. Do I think they’re entering October without legitimate concerns? Absolutely not.

But that’s not the question anymore. The question is whether they’re good enough to win a postseason series. Then another. And maybe another.

There’s a part of me that looks at the experience in this clubhouse, the presence of the American League MVP and everything this team survived just to get here and believes they have enough to at least make another run at the American League Championship Series.

After that? Who knows?

That’s the beauty of postseason baseball.

You don’t have to dominate for six months anymore. You have to be better than the team in the other dugout for a few days. The Astros survived 162 games. They won the American League West. They gave themselves a chance.

Now let’s find out if there’s one more October run left in this Golden Era of Houston Astros baseball.

Astros fans, how are you feeling?

Are you simply happy they survived and got in? Do you believe this team can make a run to the ALCS, or do you think they have enough left to go even further?

October is here.

Why not the Astros?

Houston Astros rebound from 11 games under .500 and win AL West despite finishing 81-81

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Houston Astros dropped 11 games under .500. They got rid of their general manager in August. They failed to finish with a winning record.

And they won the AL West for the fifth time in six years.

“It’s been a roller coaster of a season, but just to be here and know that the division is back in Houston, that the crown is back, it’s a good feeling,” manager Joe Espada said after the Astros clinched the title on the final day of the regular season.

Nick Allen had just doubled leading off the eighth inning with Houston leading the Athletics by eight runs when Texas lost 6-4 at Minnesota, assuring the Astros of their ninth postseason trip in 10 years after missing out in 2025.

Houston will host the Chicago White Sox in a best-of-three Wild Card Series. The Astros finished one game ahead of Texas (80-82) but would have earned the division title even with a defeat because they held the tiebreaker.

Houston (81-81) had the lowest winning percentage for a team reaching the playoffs in a non-shortened season, breaking the mark set when the 2005 San Diego Padres went 82-80.

“About early May, we were in a tough spot. Any other team would have folded, but these guys chose not to,” Espada said following his team’s 9-0 victory over the A’s. “It’s about character and this team don’t quit, they fight.”

Yordan Alvarez won the AL batting title with an MLB-best .316 average — the lowest ever for the big league leader. He had 42 homers and 106 RBIs.

“I even told the guys in there that even though I hit 40 home runs, I think the batting title was something I always wanted,” Alvarez said.

Star infielder Carlos Correa didn’t play after May 4 because of a torn tendon in his left ankle that needed surgery.

Right-hander Hunter Brown, a 2025 All-Star, didn’t pitch for the Astros between March 3 and June 16 because of a strained right shoulder.

“Every team deals with adversity, and at that time, it was just ours,” Brown said.

Houston shortstop Jeremy Peña, the 2022 World Series MVP, was sidelined between April 11 and May 18 by a strained right hamstring and between June 28 and July 10 by a strained left calf. All-Star closer Josh Hader didn’t pitch until June 3 because of left biceps tendinitis.

Houston was 20-31 through May 20 but dropped only as much as six games out of first place in a weak division.

The Astros took sole possession of first with an 11-2 win over the Rangers on July 31 and held at least a share of the lead for most of the rest of the season.

“All games in the big leagues are important, and today came down to winning the last one,” Brown said. “We’ve been playing playoff baseball for the last couple of weeks. We’re ready to go.”

The Canadiens Have A Roster, But Someone’s Day-To-Day

While the Montreal Canadiens had a day off on Sunday, the Habs brass worked hard on roster decisions. As reported yesterday, a group of players was put on waivers while another group, which didn’t have to clear waivers, was assigned to the Laval Rocket. That group included Jacob Fowler, Owen Beck, and David Reinbacher.

While Fowler wouldn’t have looked out of place on the NHL roster, Samuel Montembeault’s bounce-back performance sealed his fate. The Bécancour native has earned the right to back up Jakub Dobes, and while he won’t be with the Canadiens long-term, this is the last year of his contract; Fowler may need a bit more patience before the coast is clear. Of course, Montembeault could be traded, but that’s far from guaranteed, as there doesn’t seem to be much of a market for him right now.

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As for Beck, nobody was surprised to see him head back to Laval; he’s a good player who does everything well but nothing fantastically well. He doesn’t fill a gap in the Canadiens’ lineup the way Florian Xhekaj brings sandpaper.

Reinbacher’s return to Laval is also somewhat surprising, especially since Kaiden Guhle is injured, but he's done enough to earn a call-up as soon as circumstances warrant it. It also seems inevitable that the Habs will need to make room on their blueline sooner rather than later. Jayden Struble, Arber Xhekaj, Engstrom and Reinbacher could all play in the NHL, but once Guhle is healthy, they’ll all be fighting for a single spot.

On Monday morning, Martin St-Louis ran his first practice of the real season. Only 23 players were on the ice since Oliver Kapanen was missing and is now considered day-to-day. As for Guhle, he was on the ice, but unlike Saturday morning, when he joined the team in practice, he wore a no-contact jersey. With Kapanen missing, the following lines and pairings were used at practice:

Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Chris Kreider

Juraj Slafkovsky – Alex Newhook – Ivan Demidov

Alexandre Texier – Phillip Danault- Kirby Dach

Zachary Bolduc – Jake Evans – Josh Anderson

Extra: Florian Xhekaj. If Kapanen had been available, chances are Dach would have been right next to the youngest Xhekaj as an extra. Newhook slides in nicely at second C with his speed, but when Kapanen is healthy, he’s likely to go right back in that spot while Newhook goes down a line, making Dach surplus to requirements. St-Louis has already confirmed that Kapanen will not play on Tuesday.

Mike Matheson – Noah Dobson

Lane Hutson – Alexandre Carrier

Jayden Struble – Arber Xhekaj

Extra: Adam Engstrom. He took reps with Guhle, which more than likely means he’ll be the seventh defenseman on Tuesday night.

Jakub Dobes

Samuel Montembeault

As for the power play, TVA Sports’ Anthony Martineau reports that the second unit features Bolduc, Newhook, Kreider, Dobson and Texier. The first unit remains intact as both Hutson and Demidov were back on the ice this morning.

It’s unusual to see the Canadiens with 14 forwards on their roster, so you have to wonder whether Kent Hughes might be working on a trade right now. According to insider Frank Seravalli, the Edmonton Oilers are very interested in trading for Kirby Dach. Stan Bowman, who was the Chicago Blackhawks GM when they picked Dach third overall in 2019, is now the Oilers GM, so there’s a link there. Warren Rychel, an Oilers scout, attended the game between the Habs and the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night, but Dach wasn’t playing in Montreal that night, but rather in Ottawa. Could the two teams be working on a multi-piece trade? Are the Oilers having buyer’s remorse over the often-injured Frederik Andersen and are considering Montembeault? Time will tell.

It will be interesting to see what the lineup looks like tomorrow night against the Toronto Maple Leafs as the puck officially drops on the season, the coach refrained from announcing his starting netminder.


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Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski ready for the playoffs after completing his history-making regular season

MILWAUKEE — After completing one of the most extraordinary regular seasons of any pitcher in recent history, Milwaukee Brewers flame-throwing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski cited the one number that meant the most to him.

Thirty.

That’s the number of starts Misiorowski made in his first full season in the majors while establishing himself as a Cy Young Award favorite.

“Honestly, being able to go in week in and week out and perform for my teammates, I think that’s the biggest thing,” Misiorowski said in reference to the number of starts he made this season.

Misiorowski (16-5) made that 30th start and allowed two hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings in a 6-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals to cap one of the greatest seasons for any pitcher in franchise history. The 24-year-old could join Rollie Fingers (1981), Pete Vukovich (1982) and Corbin Burnes (2021) as Brewers to win Cy Young Awards.

His performance helped the Brewers close the regular season with a franchise-best 103-59 record.

“That number, I think it’s cool,” Misiorowski said. “It’s not 100. It’s not 101. It’s a little bit more than that. It just shows the work these guys in here have put in and done throughout the season.”

Misiorowski has put up plenty of pretty cool numbers this year.

He posted a 1.80 ERA, struck out 252 batters and limited hitters to a .157 batting average to lead the major leagues in all three categories. The only other pitchers since 1950 to finish a season atop all three of those categories are Sandy Koufax in 1965, J.R. Richard in 1979 and Mike Scott in 1986, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

That .157 opponents’ batting average was the lowest since 1900 for an AL or NL pitcher with 100 or more innings, improving upon Pedro Martinez’s .167 in 2000. His 0.80 WHIP (walks and hits allowed per innings pitched) was the lowest in a full regulation season for pitchers with at least 150 innings since Martinez’s 0.73 in 2000.

Misiorowski is the first pitcher in Brewers history to lead the league in both ERA and strikeouts in the same season. His 252 strikeouts are the second-highest, single-season total in Brewers history, behind Ben Sheets’ 264 in 2004.

“Have I ever seen a year on the mound like that in the major leagues? Probably not,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “It’s as good as I’ve seen.”

Misiorowski has produced those totals while throwing harder than any other starting pitcher.

His 1,115 pitches of 100 mph or more were the most in a season since tracking started in 2008, shattering the prior mark of 673 by Jordan Hicks in 2018.

“What he has is a gift,” Brewers second baseman Brice Turang said. “It’s really incredible to stand there behind him and watch him do what he does.”

The American Family Field sellout crowd showed its appreciation for Misiorowski by giving him a standing ovation as he left the mound after striking out Jordan Walker in the sixth inning. Misiorowski responded by tipping his cap as he headed into the dugout, acknowledging a special moment that capped a special regular season.

“That was fun,” Misiorowski said. “That was cool. Hopefully there’s a few more like that.”

Misiorowski wants to help the Brewers win their first World Series title.

Although Milwaukee is heading to the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years, the Brewers have never won it all and made their lone World Series appearance way back in 1982. Milwaukee has home-field advantage throughout the playoffs for a second straight year.

During last year’s postseason, Misiorowski made three relief appearances and posted a 1.50 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 12 innings as the Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs in the NL Division Series before getting swept by the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series.

This year, Misiorowski enters the playoffs as the Brewers’ clear ace. He’s expected to get the call for Game 1 of the NLDS when the Brewers face either the Chicago Cubs or San Diego Padres.

Misiorowski was asked when he’d start to flip the switch toward getting ready for the postseason.

“That flipped a while back,” Misiorowski said. “We’re ready to go.”

County pride and England chaos relegated Hundred to summer undercard | Ali Martin

Franchise tournament remains an enigma after an unexpectedly dramatic men’s international summer and a thrilling Championship title race

After pumping astronomical sums of money into English cricket, the headline act of the summer should probably have been the Hundred’s rebirth under private ownership. After all, the decks were relatively clear.

There was no Ashes series or Indian arm-wrestle in Test cricket to hog the limelight, rather a small-plates menu of touring teams. The Women’s T20 World Cup was on home soil, but for all that it outdid its 50-over equivalent in 2017 by way of engagement, the men’s football World Cup dominated. Plus, folks kind of knew Nat Sciver-Brunt’s England side was not quite ready to derail the Australian machine.

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Dan Wilson out as manager of the Seattle Mariners after disappointing season

SEATTLE — Dan Wilson will not return as the Seattle Mariners’ manager next season, he and the team said.

Wilson made the announcement shortly after the Mariners finished off a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels, the ending to a disappointing 76-86 season that began with World Series aspirations after Seattle reached Game 7 of the American League Championship Series last year.

“Collectively we failed to meet our own expectations this season,” Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. “Dan and I both care deeply about this organization, these players, and the future of the Mariners. After much discussion it was concluded that a new direction is best for 2027 and beyond.

“I want to thank Dan for his efforts over the past two years and specifically recognize his role in our club advancing to Game 7 of the ALCS in 2025.”

Wilson, a Mariners Hall of Famer who played catcher for the team from 1994-2005, took over the job after Seattle fired Scott Servais on Aug. 22, 2024. Things started off well, as Wilson led the club to a 21-13 finish after it squandered a 10-game lead in the AL West earlier in the season.

The Mariners won the AL West in 2025, their first division title in 24 years, and came within one victory of the franchise’s first World Series appearance. But a combination of injuries and regression by the bullpen and several of the team’s top offensive stars led to a 2026 season filled with disappointment.

After hitting .247 with 60 homers and 125 RBIs and finishing second in the AL MVP race to Aaron Judge last year, Cal Raleigh batted .182 with 23 homers and 69 RBIs. Center fielder Julio Rodríguez and first baseman Josh Naylor also had career-worst seasons as the Mariners scored just 664 runs — third-fewest in the majors.

The defense ranked last in MLB with -58 outs above average, and All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz blew 10 saves.

Wilson went 187-171 in two-plus seasons as Mariners manager, at .522 the second-best winning percentage in club history behind Lou Piniella (.542).

“I’m still processing this with my family, and it’s a very difficult day,” Wilson said at a postgame news conference, reading from a prepared statement. “We love this city, we love this community and we appreciate the organization for what it has meant to the family since coming here as a player in ’94.”

His tenure as manager ends with the Mariners still the only major league team that’s never reached the World Series.

“I’ve appreciated the opportunity to lead this team the past two years,” Wilson said. “While this season has not gone the way any of us expected, I’m proud that the players in the clubhouse showed up each day to try and compete and battle in each game they played. I’m confident that the 2026 season doesn’t accurately reflect the talent, passion and desire of our players and know that bright things are ahead for this group.”

Prior to the game, Wilson told the team he would not be back in 2027.

“He just made it clear that he really cares about this team and this organization as a whole,” Rodríguez said. “Even though he’s not going to be around us, he’s going to always be there for us in many different ways and that he believes in this group going forward.”

Mariners Chairman and CEO John Stanton thanked Wilson and said he could still remain in the organization.

“I want to add my thanks to Dan for the work he’s done as manager,” Stanton said in the team’s statement. “I have also spoken with Dan and made it clear that we would like to keep him in our organization. I look forward to continued conversations as we work to identify a role in which we can continue to benefit from his experience and commitment to the Mariners and our community.”

Texas Rangers disappointed after stumbling on final weekend of season and missing playoffs

MINNEAPOLIS — The beer and bubbly stayed on ice, and rather than loud music and cheers, the only sounds in the Texas Rangers clubhouse were of players saying goodbye and wishing each other well in the offseason.

What could have been a joyful moment for the Rangers turned somber as they fell one game short of a playoff spot.

Texas entered its season finale needing a win over Minnesota and a loss by the Houston Astros at the Athletics to win the AL West. Instead, the Rangers got neither of their desired results. They lost 6-4 to the Twins while the Astros beat the A’s 9-0, leaving Texas (80-82) one game behind first-place Houston (81-81) and on the sidelines in October for the third straight year.

Since winning their first World Series crown in 2023, the Rangers haven’t finished a season with a winning record, posting victory totals of 78, 81 and now 80 in the past three years.

“We’ve got to figure out a way to get back,” first-year manager Skip Schumaker said. “The goal is always going to be to win. We didn’t win enough, and we’ve got to figure out how to do that.”

The Rangers entered the weekend tied with the Astros, but essentially a half-game back because Houston held the head-to-head tiebreaker after winning their season series. Texas needed to win one more game than Houston did over the weekend, but the Rangers lost two of three to the Twins (77-85) while the Astros won two of three against the Athletics.

Texas’ struggles over the weekend were part of a pattern that dogged the team all season. The Rangers finished 35-46 on the road and 33-38 against opponents with a losing record.

“We weren’t good enough on the road, and we weren’t good enough against teams we should have beat, and that’s a reflection on me,” Schumaker said. “And I’ve got to figure out what to do this offseason — look in the mirror and figure out how to move this thing forward, because there’s too good of talent in that room for us to fall short.”

Right fielder Brandon Nimmo, an 11-year veteran who spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the New York Mets, said falling just short was a painful but familiar feeling.

“You can point it any number of two games throughout the season, and that’s a thing that I’ve, unfortunately, got real familiar with over the years,” Nimmo said. “You think of all the times that you maybe let one game slip away. I’ve had too much experience with this now, so that’s how I’ve dealt with processing it.”

Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, who hit his 20th home run but still finished with a career-low OPS of .736, said his offseason will come down to “figuring out that way to pick up that one extra out, one extra run.”

In the end, the fact that the Rangers were still vying for a playoff spot on the final day of the season was cold comfort.

“They gave it everything they had the whole year through 162, and I’m grateful for that,” Schumaker said. “But the goal was to get to the postseason and make a run, and we didn’t do that. We fell short, and that’s going to hurt for a little bit.”

Former Avalanche Defenseman Turns Toronto PTO Into $1.4 Million NHL Contract

Nick Blankenburg turned his opportunity with the Toronto Maple Leafs into an NHL contract.

The Maple Leafs signed the former Colorado Avalanche defenseman to a one-year, $1.4 million deal Sunday after Blankenburg joined the club on a professional tryout. For the Avalanche, it marks another chapter in the story of a player who made a memorable impact in a short stint with Colorado.

The Avalanche acquired Blankenburg at the 2025-26 trade deadline, bringing in the right-handed defenseman to add depth to the blue line for the stretch run.

Blankenburg appeared in 12 regular-season games with Colorado, scoring twice and adding an assist for three points.

He also suited up in five playoff games.

His biggest moment came in Game 2 of Colorado’s second-round series against the Minnesota Wild. Blankenburg scored his first career playoff goal with his parents watching from the stands, making the moment even more meaningful for the 28-year-old defenseman.

Colorado ultimately chose not to bring Blankenburg back in free agency. Instead, the Avalanche turned their attention to Noah Juulsen, who had spent the previous season with the Philadelphia Flyers, as they continued to build out their defensive depth.

Blankenburg found another opportunity with Toronto.

After earning a PTO with the Maple Leafs, he made enough of an impression to secure a one-year contract worth $1.4 million.

The deal comes after Blankenburg recorded a career-best season offensively between Nashville and Colorado. He finished the 2025-26 campaign with eight goals and 16 assists.

Blankenburg has now appeared in 178 NHL games, recording 18 goals and 40 assists.

For the Avalanche, Blankenburg’s time in Colorado was brief, but it included a series of memorable moments. Now, he gets another chance to establish himself in Toronto.

How do you think Blankenburg will fare in Canada? Let us know down below.

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