Sep 26, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Empty seating area at Citizens Bank Park during a rain delayed start between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
This game never stood a chance. Seeing a lineup posted that included putting Aaron Nola on the mound to begin the game on only two days’ rest meant this coaching staff had reached a level of panic they weren’t prepared for.
And that’s where I want to remain for this recap.
Nevermind the score, no one really cares. A loss is a loss and even as I write this with Arizona losing in the bottom of the fifth in San Diego, this game showed that major changes need to happen, either in personnel or in philosophy.
Thanks to a roster construction that borders on inept, the team had no real answers for an offense already in hibernation outside of switching Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner. This solution went 2 for 9. Yes, the minor league season ended a week ago and there really are no good options to help them on whatever taxi squad they have decided to patch together, but they still decided that a hobbled Luis Arraez, with no hope of playing in this game, remained on the active roster.
To me though, that’s not even the worst part.
Jonathan Bowlan last pitched on September 17. He has thrown multiple bullpens in the meantime, yet the team has continually decided that an injured list stint was not necessary. They have insisted that he will be ready for the wild card round even having not faced hitters since that date.
Yet in their most dire day, a day in which a panic had set in – if you are starting Nola on two day’s rest, you are panicking – they opted to pitch a bullpen game down one reliever thanks to Bowlan not being ready to face major league hitters.
To put it in a different light: they have willingly chosen to pitch for over a week, to have a bullpen game on a day where they badly needed a victory, where they were short one reliever.
How does that happen?
How does an organization that is in a complete and total freefall decide to have an active roster with three catchers on it and two guys that can barely walk and say they are ready to fight for a playoff spot? The hubris shown by the players in the lineup has been galling enough, but to seemingly taunt the fans with these rosters decisions that make absolutely no sense is insulting. Obviously we all want them to actually make the playoffs and they might fall ass backwards into doing so if this Arizona score holds and they are somehow able to cobble together runs tomorrow.
Yet with each passing day, each passing decision made by Don Mattingly, who quite frankly should never work again in major league baseball after this week’s debacle of what only he might call “major league managing”, each rolled over ground ball to the second baseman, it’s becoming clearer and clearer that a major shift in how this team is run, from the top of the chain down to the coaching in their Domincan academy.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Owen Murphy #73 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Cincinnati Reds during a game at Truist Park on September 22, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Minor League All-Stars have finally been unveiled for all of the affiliated levels, with the announcement of the Triple-A All-Stars capping off what’s been a bit of an extended rollout for these minor-league standouts. The Braves had a handful of All-Stars in Low-A and High-A, they had just one representative in Double-A and they once again will have a single representative at the Triple-A level.
Owen Murphy has been recognized as a Triple-A All-Star for his performances with the Gwinnett Stripers during the 2026 International League season.
Murphy earned a promotion to Triple-A pretty early on this season, as he made his debut with the Stripers on May 2. From that point forward, Murphy made 18 starts, pitched 117.2 innings and produced a 3.07 ERA (66 ERA-) along with a 4.23 FIP (90 FIP-) and a strikeout percentage of 24.2 percent. While Murphy’s still got a bit of a way to go before he can be considered a reliable big league hurler, he certainly appears to be on the right track based on how he performed for Gwinnett this season.
As Matt Powers’ season review for the Stripers noted, you could potentially give JR Ritchie an honorable mention for his efforts, as he threw 82.1 innings and produced a 3.17 ERA (68 ERA-) and a 4.35 FIP (93 FIP-) across 16 starts for the Stripers this season. I’d imagine that the fact that Ritchie didn’t clear 100 innings at the Triple-A level is what held him back from potentially getting the nod, as he did spend a fair amount of time helping out the big league Braves here in 2026.
Either way, congratulations are in order for Murphy on a job well done in the 2026 season. Hopefully we’ll see those results translate to the big league level at some point in the future!
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 26: Hunter Goodman #15 of the Colorado Rockies rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the third inning during the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Saturday, September 26, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Lawrence Brown/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies came together to work through the weekend on a high note. After a bleak August and September, the fight that this team flashed throughout the season was on display again tonight. With a strong opponent in the Chicago White Sox, playing for their division title, the Rockies held their ground and came away with a win. With several players facing off against their former teams on either side and with milestones being hit in the Rockies clubhouse, it was an emotional Saturday night game.
Blink and you’ll miss Davis Martin
Talk about a hot start for the Rockies.
Colorado has been on the wrong end of first- and second-inning beatdowns all season long. They flipped the script today and got the jump on the White Sox, ending starter Davis Martin’s day before the end of the first inning.
Leadoff hitter Jake McCarthy reached on an error by Martin before being moved to third on a Cole Carrigg single. Hunter Goodman struck out and it felt for a moment like Chicago might escape with Colorado running into their familiar problem of stranding runners. That worry proved to be unfounded, with TJ Rumfield hitting an RBI line drive to right.
Connor Norby drew a walk on five pitches that weren’t close to the zone, prompting a mound visit and showing the short leash for the starter. An Adael Amador single drove in two runs for a 3-0 Rockies lead.
With the AL Central on the line and the Sox feeling like Martin just didn’t have it today, he was pulled quickly after recording just two outs on 25 pitches and allowing three runs on three hits with a walk and a strikeout. Noah Schultz entered in relief to grab the final out before the Rockies recorded a 1-2-3 inning.
Winding down the season on some happy notes
Given that this year marked the Rockies’ fourth-straight 100-loss season, things were — obviously — not sunshine and rainbows. But with a marked improvement in their record compared to 2025 and a swath of fun, young players on the roster, there were plenty of good times to be had. The Rockies added to that list today.
Rumfield has been hitting well and hitting often this year. His RBI single in the first inning put his average at the .300 mark on the season. With that, manager Warren Schaeffer rewarded him with a nice early break to protect that number. Connor Norby shuffled to first base to replace Rumfield defensively, while Kyle Karros entered the game to bat fourth in Rumfield’s place.
The Rockies and White Sox traded some long ball blows in the early innings. In his first at-bat against his old team since the trade, Brenton Doyle hit a solo home run to put Chicago on the board. Luisangel Acuña would add another solo dinger for the White Sox in the bottom of the third inning.
But the biggest home run among them came for the Rockies in the top of the third. Goodman hit his long-awaited 40th home run of the season.
With the 381-foot shot to left field, Goodman joined a list of just seven other times a National League catcher has hit 40+ homers, joining the likes of Johnny Bench, Roy Campanella, and Mike Piazza. It’s the last 40-home run season for Colorado since Nolan Arenado reached that mark in 2019. Goodman caps off the best offensive season by a Rockies catcher in franchise history.
Starter José Quintana had an emotional day as well, facing off against the club where he spent nearly the first decade of his career. After a season of injuries, Quintana pitched a strong first and put the Rockies in a position to win before exiting after three innings of work, giving up two solo home runs as his only two hits allowed, alongside three strikeouts.
Ezequiel Tovar has found some good moments late in the season after a brutal start. He added a solo homer of his own in the fourth inning as he continues to rediscover his rhythm at the plate.
As the Rockies went up 5-2, the Cleveland Guardians led 5-3 in their matchup across the AL Central, making the situation more dire for the White Sox.
Steady as she goes through the seventh
After the early flurry of runs, both bullpens kept things where they were through the next few innings with little action.
Ryan Feltner entered for Quintana and immediately logged a 1-2-3 inning, including a four-pitch strikeout of Kyle Teel. He allowed a hit and a walk in the fifth, but remained unscathed, getting Randal Grichuk to pop up for the third out. His biggest challenge came in the sixth inning. After getting the first two outs, he allowed a single to Teel and grew frustrated after another single to Sam Antonacci. He responded with a strong strikeout of Colson Montgomery.
After Martin and Schultz, the various White Sox pitchers held their own, too. Jordan Hicks worked a scoreless, hittless fifth inning, before Sean Newcomb pitched a shutout sixth inning. Newcomb got the first two outs of the seventh, but a double by Carrigg led to a move to the bullpen for Huascar Brazobán, who worked out of the inning.
The offense flared back up in the bottom of the seventh inning. After a walk to Miguel Vargas, a ball got by Amador putting runners on the corners. Grichuk grounded for the second out, scoring a run in the process to bring the Sox within two at 5-3. Feltner was pulled there for Brennan Bernardino. Things got dicey, as the always dangerous Munetaka Murakami came up to bat. He hit a deep fly ball to the warning track that was, thankfully, just short.
With eyes on the scoreboard at Rate Field, the Guardians held an 8-5 lead heading into the ninth inning, putting the White Sox’ division hopes on the brink.
Closing time
The White Sox wouldn’t go down without putting another scare in the Rockies. Chase Meidroth entered the game to replace Braden Montgomery and kicked off the eighth inning with a double. A Teel single put runners on first and third with no outs and the White Sox still just down two.
Bernardino went into his bag for another clutch inning, one of many he’s put up this year. He logged the first out with a three-pitch strikeout on Antonacci, getting him to swing at a curveball outside. Next, he was fired up after getting Colson Montgomery to ground into a double play on one pitch.
As the Guardians extended their lead to 11-5 out in Kansas City, the Rockies picked up some insurance of their own and told the White Sox faithful, “You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.”
Colorado started to close things out with some small ball. Jordan Beck doubled, before being moved to third on a Brett Sullivan sacrifice bunt. Tovar flew out for the second out, but McCarthy drew a walk on six pitches to keep things alive. Carrigg delivered a single to put the Rockies up 6-3.
Why stop there? Goodman added to the history books with his second home run of the night, his 41st of the year. The three-run shot put the Rockies up 9-3. Bernardino swung the game with 1.1 innings pitched and no runs allowed on two hits. In tandem with the Guardians result, it slammed the door on the AL Central divisional race.
The extra insurance paid off, as Jordan Romano struggled to end things. A wild pitch that would have been a strikeout for out number one instead put a runner on. Romano then walked Vargas, setting up a three-run homer from Andrew Benintendi to make it a 9-6 game. Romano settled down after that for three straight outs to put the game to bed.
Final thoughts
The Rockies came together as a team for a strong, well-rounded victory, one of their best over the last few months of the season.
In the postgame discussion, the emotion of the game was present. Goodman gave props to his team for not calling it quits this late in the year and continuing to fight and try to get better every day. He dished out compliments to Rumfield, Quintana, Feltner, and the rest of the bullpen for big nights all around.
Goodman himself deserves heaps of praise. His two-home run game pushed him past Johnny Bench for the most road home runs by a catcher in NL history. Schaeffer called it “an incredible feat by an incredible guy.”
Schaeffer spoke to the resilience of the team. “I thought there was redemption there.”
He pointed to Amador responding by getting a double play after a fielding error, to Quintana and Feltner battling, to Bernardino for locking down a double play after a rough start to the inning, and to Tovar finding his swing and finishing the year strong offensively.
Above all, Schaeffer pointed to the model that tonight’s opponent laid out. After dropping 100 games last year, the White Sox are a playoff team this year.
“It can happen. Nobody’s saying it can’t happen, and we feel like we’re on the right trajectory. It’s on the right path.”
Up Next
We bid farewell to another season of Rockies baseball with Game 162 on deck Sunday afternoon.
Kyle Freeland (4-11 in 25 starts, 6.58 ERA) is set for perhaps his last game as a Rockie as an unrestricted free agent. Anthony Kay (9-9 in 30 starts, 4.53 ERA) is the probable pitcher for the White Sox.
The Rockies and White Sox wrap up the series and the season with a rubber match scheduled for a 1:10 p.m. MDT first pitch.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 26: Brice Turang #2 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates with Jackson Chourio #11 after hitting two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth inning at American Family Field on September 26, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Brice Turang is charging hard toward 100 RBIs on the season and he doesn’t appear ready to take no for an answer as he helped lift the Brewers to their 102nd win of the regular season.
Dustin May was making his final start of the regular season and his final opportunity to show the Brewers that he’ll be a trustworthy arm for them in October. He started off well in the first inning, getting a pair of strikeouts while touching 99 MPH. Then it slowly turned to a struggle from there.
In the 2nd inning, he gave up a pair of singles and a walk, which led to a run and a 1-0 Cardinals lead. The Cardinals would tack on one more against May in the 3rd inning when Alec Burleson lifted a mammoth home run that was 111 MPH off the bat. That made it a 2-0 Cardinals lead.
The Brewers would answer in the bottom half of the 3rd inning. Brandon Lockridge in his first AB back, taking the roster spot of Andrew Vaughn who was placed on the IL with an illness, ripped a ringing double to right. David Hamilton dropped down a bunt that got him to third and then Lockridge came around to score on Jackson Chourio’s single.
That still wasn’t going to be enough to keep May back out there as his night was done after just three innings. He did strike out five, but made a couple of mistakes as well.
Pat Murphy turned the ball over to Kyle Harrison after that, another pitcher who is pitching for his chance to be trusted in the postseason. Harrison’s outing went much better. He covered two innings, striking out four and the only baserunner he allowed was a hit by pitch. The fastball velocity was good and the vertical break on his fastball was much better, around his usual season average. Murphy said on Friday he was seeing signs that Harrison was improving but needed to see the results match.
On Saturday night, the results matched for Harrison, which could be a massive development for his confidence and what his role could be going forward.
“Harrison was sharp. He wasn’t thinking, he was just attacking. He was sharp, didn’t matter righty, lefty. The ball had the explosion to it that it had early in the season. His breaking ball was way more convicted. I was impressed.” Pat Murphy said.
Then the Brewers continued to answer at the plate. In the 5th, after Lockridge and Hamilton struck out, Chourio singled and then Brice Turang blasted his 21st homer of the season and brought in his 98th and 99th RBIs.
Turang is still one stolen base shy of a 20-20 season and is now one RBI shy of 100 for the first time in his career.
“Yeah, that’s special. He’s such a baseball kid. He responds so well. That’s the thing that’s most impressive about our group. Brice epitomizes this. He can go through a lull and he doesn’t get too down, he just knows how to respond.” Murphy said.
That gave the Brewers a 3-2 lead, one they would not relinquish.
JoJo Romero, Antonio Senzatela, and Aaron Ashby combined to close out the final four innings in order. The Cardinals did not get a baserunner after that Harrison HBP of Bryan Torres back in the 4th inning.
The Brewers secured their 102nd win of the season, further setting their franchise record. The Cardinals drop to 77-84. There’s just one game left in the regular season. So much is still to be decided in the playoff picture, but the Brewers have everything they control locked up.
Some more good news came out postgame that Joey Ortiz’s MRI came back “all good” and that he doesn’t have a bone bruise. There’s some swelling in the abdomen, but overall nothing concerning popped up. Ortiz will sit out Sunday’s game but is overall fine.
WHAT A GAME!!! WHAT A SEASON!!! The offense has completely bailed out the pitching staff the last couple weeks, and tonight was no different. We got contributions from just about everyone. Multi HR games from both Patrick Bailey and Brayan Rocchio is just a hilariously beautiful way to finish the regular season. We also saw 3 hit games from both Steven Kwan and Travis Bazzana and a HR from Chase DeLauter.
The main difference between this Guardians team and every Guardians playoff team since 2017/2018 is that this team is capable of hitting in the playoffs. This is the most offensive talent they have had in years, albeit most of it young and inexperienced. I’m super happy about the first round BYE and the fact that we only have to beat one of the White Sox or Astros to reach the ALCS, but I am a little worried about rust considering how hot this lineup has been of late.
This has been such an awesome season and it has been so much fun to watch the development of our young players, and I can’t wait to watch how they play in the playoffs.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 26: Cody Freeman #39 and Jake Burger #21 of the Texas Rangers celebrate the win against the Minnesota Twins after the game at Target Field on September 26, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Rangers defeated the Twins 6-2. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, in their quest to aid major-league history and prevent a sub-.500 team from winning their division, the Texas Rangers knocked the Twins around in a rain-delayed, 6-2 victory on Saturday afternoon. With the Houston Astros just underway, the Rangers improve to 80-81, and give themselves a fighting chance of claiming the West with another win tomorrow afternoon; if they do, they will at least guarantee that their ticket to the playoffs will come on the back of an even record.
For the first time since 2009, the Rangers hit four doubles in the same inning, a four-run second that summed up most of Bailey Ober’s day. Nicky Lopez, Evan Carter, Alejandro Osuna, and Brandon Nimmo each had a two-bagger in the inning, which saw Ober give up four of his six earned runs, and five of his ten hits — all with two outs in the inning and nobody aboard.
It closed the book on Ober for 2026, leaving him with a 7-7 record and 4.47 ERA. He added five strikeouts and one walk to his final marks.
The Twins were not as successful in getting to Texas starter Nathan Eovaldi, who did not make it through five frames after tossing 71 pitches and booking it. Luke Keaschall doubled and scored in the first, but only three other Twins would tag Eovaldi for a hit, and the only other Twins run came after the white-hot Keaschall tripled and scored on a Josh Bell single in the bottom of the eighth.
The book is nearly closed on all the members of the Twins roster, with Dean Kremer scheduled to start Game 162 and finish off this season for good. Minnesota currently sits at 76-85, dead even with the Detroit Tigers; a win and a Tiger loss tomorrow would leave the Twins alone in third place to end the season.
Jul 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) keeps an eye on New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge (3) at first base during the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Emmet Sheehan is on the mound as the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets play the Rochester Red Wings for the Triple-A championship game.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 26: Michael Wacha #52 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium on September 26, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Things started off so well for the Royals, but one error led to a disaster second inning, and the Royals could never recover. They ultimately fell to the 2026 AL Central Division Champion Cleveland Guardians by a score of 11-5.
Michael Wacha faced only three in the first inning, and the offense went to work against Tanner Bibee in the bottom of the inning. Carter Jensen smoked another double leading off, then Bobby Witt Jr. singled to right. Carter had to hold at third, but scored one pitch later when Bobby stole second, and the throw went into center field. Jac Caglianone ripped a double down the first base line to score Bobby. Jac himself would score a few batters later when Michael Massey hit a single into right.
In the top of the second, Jo Adell hit a routine grounder to Bobby, but the Platinum Glove winner booted it. You can’t blame that on Wacha, but even though all four runs that would eventually score in the inning were ruled unearned, Wacha was giving up some loud contact. Travis Bazzana smoked a double to right center, and Nathaniel Lowe got a well-struck sacrifice fly. Wacha got Angel Martínez to foul pop out, and you began to think he might escape the inning. Then Patrick Bailey bounced a home run off the base of the right field foul pole to tie the game. That would have been bad enough, but Brayan Rocchio doubled, and Steven Kwan tripled to give the Guardians a lead they would never relinquish.
Wacha gave up a lead-off home run to Chase DeLauter in the third. He gave up a final run in the sixth. Quatraro sent him out for the seventh so he could call him off the field after a single out for another ovation. Anthony Gose finally gave up his first run of the season. The first charged to him, anyway, when Rocchio homered to left.
The Royals added a pair in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a Bobby double, a Jac double, and a Vinnie single. Patrick Bailey and Brayan Rocchio got the runs right back in the bottom of the ninth with back-to-back dingers off of Alex Lange. Bailey had 29 career home runs in 463 games prior to tonight. He had never hit two in a game before. At least Rocchio has a history of showing flashes of power, even if he was batting ninth tonight.
Lange and Spencer Bivens combined to give up two more runs. No one cares how, least of all myself. So we’ll leave it at that. It took the two pitchers 50 pitches to escape the top of the ninth.
If I were a Chicago White Sox fan, I think I’d be pretty annoyed at the Royals leaving a clearly gassed Wacha out there – his changeups were hanging all night – instead of making a serious effort to win the game. But such are the vagaries of late September baseball. And it’s not like the bullpen did any better. Plus, Chicago could have beaten the woe-begotten Rockies and forced the division to be decided tomorrow, but they didn’t.
The Royals have one last game to play. They’ve certainly seemed this week like a team that’s more than ready to call it a season, so I don’t think I’ll be sad to see them go. Daniel Lynch IV will get the start for the Royals. The Guardians haven’t announced a starter, but don’t expect them to risk any of their most valuable players in a game that has become meaningless to them. The game, as has become standard on the final day of the season, will start at 2:10 PM Central Time. There are a couple of teams that will start earlier than that, but only because of the nor’easter and the fact that those games don’t really matter, either.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 26: Brice Turang #2 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates with Jackson Chourio #11 after hitting two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth inning at American Family Field on September 26, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The eve of the season’s end for the St. Louis Cardinals featured a matchup of a potential future rotation staple against the veteran that started the season wearing birds on the bat. Quinn Mathews squared off against former Cardinal Dustin May, but offense would be the real story of Saturday night’s game. Specifically, two swings by the Brewers would be the difference.
After both the Cardinals and Brewers went down 1-2-3 in the 1st inning, it was St. Louis that would score first. Jordan Walker led off the inning with a single and then stole second after Leo Bernal flew out to center. Nolan Gorman walked giving the Cardinals runners on first and second, but Bryan Torres struck out. Fortunately, Thomas Saggese came through with a 2-out RBI broken bat single scoring Walker giving St. Louis an early 1-0 lead.
St. Louis would add to their lead in the top of the 3rd inning when Alec Burleson unloaded on a 98 mph four-seam fastball launching it 432 feet into the right-centerfield stands for one of his longest home runs of the year doubling the Cardinals lead to 2-0.
The Milwaukee Brewers would cut into that Cardinals lead in the bottom of the 3rd inning as Brandon Lockridge led off with a double. Hamilton reached laying down a sacrifice bunt advancing Lockridge to third, but would be thrown out by a perfect throw by Leo Bernal. Lockridge would score on the next play when Jackson Chourio hit a ball off of the right field wall that ended up only being a single after Jordan Walker duped him into thinking it was leaving the park, but played the ball off of the wall and fired a strike to second base. That’s all the Brewers would get in the bottom of the third after Bernal successfully challenged a ball four call by the umpire resulting in a strikeout of Contreras. Cardinals lead was 2-1 after 3 innings.
Manager Pat Murphy took Dustin May out of the game after 3 innings and brought in Kyle Harrison in relief. Dustin May’s stat line for the night included just 3 innings surrendering 3 hits, 2 earned runs striking out 5 and walking 1. On the other side of the diamond, Quinn Mathews was cruising along for the Cardinals with a fairly efficient first few innings as he completed the bottom of the 4th inning throwing just 67 pitches. He looked like he’s cruise through 5 innings maintaining the Cardinals lead, but that went south with one swing. Actually, it was two swings. The first was a chopped single that died in the grass in front of home plate that Leo Bernal couldn’t get to quick enough. The second swing was from Brice Turang who blasted an 84 mph slider way over the centerfield wall for a 2-run homer and a 3-2 Brewers lead. Mathews night would end after 5 innings as he gave up 3 earned runs on 5 hits while striking out 7 and walking just 1.
The ghosts of Cardinals pitchers past would happen again in the top of the 6th inning when the Brewers sent JoJo Romero to the mound. He struck out Burleson, Walker and Bernal because of course he did.
The Cardinals bullpen would take over in the bottom of the 6th inning starting with Gordon Graceffo. Unofficially entering the game in the bottom of the 6th inning would be sloppy St. Louis defense. William Contreras led off the inning with a single to right followed by a flyout to deep center from Christian Yelich. After Graceffo struck out Lara, Pratt hit a double to center that should not have been a double. Nathan Church threw the ball errantly over second which was fortunately backed up by Bernal, but it gave Milwaukee runners and second and third threatening to break the game open similar to how the late innings got away from the Cardinals bullpen Friday night. Gordon Graceffo rose to the occasion to make sure that didn’t happen as he struck out Mitchell to end the Brewers 6th and keep St. Louis within a run going into the 7th inning. Graceffo would also tough his way through the bottom of the 7th before Cade Winquest was brought in to deal with the Brewers in the bottom of the 8th and he managed to escape with no runs scored despite two runners on and some additional sloppy defense behind him.
Would the Cardinals offense mount a rally late in the game? Well, they went down in order in the top of the 6th, 7th and 8th so there would have to be a 9th inning hero if St. Louis was going to be victorious. It would be up to the heart of the Cardinals order: Burleson, Walker and Bernal. They would have to manufacture a run or runs off of Brewers reliever Ashby. Alec started the inning by gently grounding out to first. Walker grounded out to second for the second out. Leo Bernal quickly fell behind 0-2 in the count as Ashby had him fishing for sinkers on the outside corner. He eventually struck out to end the game.
The St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up their season Sunday afternoon in Milwaukee as Andre Pallante will face one of the NL’s most formidable pitchers, Jacob Misiorowski of the Brewers. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10pm central time at American Family Field and the final game broadcast of the year will be available via Cardinals.tv.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Isaac Paredes #15 of the Houston Astros bats against the Athletics in the top of the first inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on September 24, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (79-81) will continue their final road trip of the regular season with the third game of a four-game series against the Athletics (64-96) at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, CA.
RHP Hayden Wesneski (5-2, 3.50 ERA) will be on the mound for the Astros, opposite RHP Jack Perkins (3-12, 5.90 ERA) and the Athletics.
BIG WES: Tonight will be the 11th Major League start of the season for RHP Hayden Wesneski, who rejoined the Astros rotation on July 29 after missing 14 months while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Since his return, he’s been one of the Astros best starters, leading the club in wins (5) and ranking second in innings (54.0), while pitching through the 5th inning in eight of his 10 starts.
THE POSTSEASON CHASE: The Astros and Rangers are locked in a tight race down the stretch for the AL West with the two teams having the same record with two games left to play. The Astros own the tiebreaker over the Rangers with a season series victory (9-4 record).
CLINCH SCENARIO: The Astros can clinch the AL West division tonight with a win against the Athletics and the Rangers losing to the Twins.
VS. THE ATHLETICS: This is the final series between the Astros and Athletics this season, with the two clubs last seeing each other from Aug. 21-23 at Daikin Park.. The Astros have gone 5-6 vs. the Athletics this season. The Astros also own an overall regular season record of 125-112 against the Athletics, including a 60-61 record on the road.
ROAD WARRIORS: Tonight is the fourth game of a six-game road trip for the Astros. Since going 1-9 on the first road trip of the 2026 season, the Astros have gone 39-30 (.565) on the road since April 14, which ranks third in the AL in that span, behind the Red Sox (43-28) and the Yankees (42-30).
LAST NIGHT’S GAME: The Astros were defeated by the Athletics, 5-6, last night at Sutter Health Park. RHP Hunter Brown allowed two runs (one earned run) on two hits and four walks with four strikeouts in 5.1 innings. CYainer Diaz (2×4, 2B, RBI), 1B Christian Walker (1×3, HR, RBI) and RF Cam Smith (1×3, HR, RBI) each drove in a run for the Astros.
GOIN’ DEEP: The Astros have hit 220 homers as a team this year and have hit 200-plus homers in a single season for the 10th time in franchise history (last, 222 HR in 2023). The Astros rank second in the AL in home runs this season behind only the Yankees (223).
TWO-OUT MAGIC: The Astros lead the American League in two-out runs with 315 on the season, trailing only the Cubs (332) in the Majors. 3B Isaac Paredes leads this effort, as he holds the Major League lead with 45 two-out RBI, directly ahead of CHC Pete Crow-Armstrong,DET C Dillon Dingler and STL 1B Alec Burleson (44 RBI).
THE CASE FOR THE MVP: DH Yordan Alvarez is a solid candidate for the AL MVP Award. Alvarez leads the American League in OPS (1.037), slugging percentage (.599), OBP (.433), batting average (.315), total bases (334), walks (109), IBB (33), wRC+ (180), OPS+ (.190) and extra-base hits (75). He also ranks tied for second in home runs (41), second in RBI (102), second in hits (176),tied for third in doubles (33) and fourth in runs (102).
TRIFECTA: CF Lucas Spence went 3×4 with three home runs and five RBI on Thurs. night vs. the Athletics. He became the third player in Major League history to hit their first three career home runs in the same game, joining STL OF Joshua Baez (Aug. 15, 2026) and CWS C Seby Zavala (July 31, 2021). Spence is the second rookie in Astros franchise history to record a three-homer game, joining DH Yordan Alvarez (Aug. 10, 2019 at BAL). It was the first three-homer game by an Astro this season (last, IF Jose Altuve on Sept. 5, 2023 vs. TEX).
STRONG SEPTEMBERS: 3B Isaac Paredes has a .979 OPS this month to go along with a team-leading 20 RBI, which ranks tied for third in the AL. C Yainer Diaz is also having a strong September, as he’s hitting .351 (26×74) with four homers, 11 RBI and a .971 OPS in 21 games (18 starts) this month.
RACKING UP K’S: RHP Bryan Abreu has posted 528 career strikeouts, which ranks fourth among relievers in Astros history. He’s closing in on third-place RHP Dave Smith (529), needing only one strikeout to match the Astros reliever from the 1980s. LHP Billy Wagner (694) and RHP Brad Lidge (557) sit atop that all-time list.
THE FIREMAN: LHP Josh Hader has converted 26 consecutive save chances to open his season, which is the Astros record. Should Hader finish the season without a blown save, he would become the seventh pitcher in MLB history to post 26-plus saves without a blown save. The last Major Leaguer to do so was RHP Ken Giles in 2018 (26 SV)
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY:1986 – RHP Mike Scott clinches the NL West Division title for the Astros in historic fashion by hurling a 2-0, no-hit victory over the Giants in the Dome. Scott, who tallied 13 strikeouts in the win, would go on to win the NL Cy Young Award later that season, finishing with an 18-10 while leading the Majors in both ERA (2.22) and strikeouts (306).
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, September 25, 8:40 p.m. CT
Sep 26, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Texas Rangers center fielder Evan Carter (32) celebrates after scoring against the Minnesota Twins during the second inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Texas Rangers scored six runs while the Minnesota Twins scored two runs.
Earlier this month, the Rangers saw their leadoff hitter and most potent bat against right handers go down with a broken wrist. A few days later, their best and most reliable starting pitcher over the second half hit the shelf for the rest of the year. Last night, Texas’ most clutch and consistent hitter broke his wrist as well, ending his season.
Today, on a rain slick Target Field in Minneapolis, creaky veteran Brandon Nimmo slipped or tripped and limped to his position. Substitute infielder Nicky Lopez later spent a half inning trying to work out the kinks from an awkward landing trying to beat out a bunt. He was later lifted.
Jake Burger was kicked off the team for refusing to shave his goatee. Corey Seager developed gigantism due to overindulging on nerve tonic. Poor Danny Jansen succumbed to radiation poisoning as a result of working a side gig at an experimental data center. Cursed with toxic narcissistic tendencies, Wyatt Langford missed the team flight after playing hero trying to save a neighbor’s possessions from a burning house. Evan Carter disappeared after making a visit to the Duluth Mystery Spot tourist trap. Jacob Latz fit the description of a wanted murderer and now awaits justice in a St. Paul jail cell. Ezequiel Duran was knocked out debating historical English politics at a bar in Shakopee. Trying to shake bouts of confidence issues, Jacob deGrom was hypnotized into believing he’s a chicken by a quack team psychologist.
As you can see, a lot has gone wrong for Texas this season and especially of late. But here’s another interesting factoid: As of this very moment, the Rangers lead the American League West by half a game.
After scoring four, two-out runs in the top of the second, and after getting the usual courageous outing from Nathan Eovaldi, the Rangers turned a 1-0 first inning deficit into a pretty easy win to accomplish the modest goal of ensuring that every game this season will have mattered.
Of course, that ultimately only really matters for the purposes of extending this season into the playoffs as the first non-winning team to ever earn a division title if Houston loses at least one more game and the Rangers win tomorrow (assuming the Astros don’t just lose their final two games, which I suppose is possible given this season in this division).
Considering the Rangers will also be playing to end this year with a .500 record, it would at least be a fitting finish.
Player of the Game: They could never make me hate you, Nathan Eovaldi. Limited in the number of bullets in the chamber today, the Rangers legend tossed 4 1/3 innings of one run ball on four hits and couple of walks. After allowing a first inning run, Eovaldi buckled down for 71 serviceable pitches to help get the Rangers to game No. 162 with a shot.
Also, Danny Jansen drew my ire often during his first season in Texas, but today he had two RBI hits, including a home run and also the two out blooper that started the string of scoring during the Rangers’ four-run second inning rally that broke open the game and allowed the Rangers to coast to victory.
Up Next: The final game of the regular season will be played with the Rangers still clinging to postseason hopes. Texas hasn’t announced a season finale starter but perhaps it will be LHP MacKenzie Gore. Minnesota will counter with RHP Dean Kremer.
The Sunday afternoon first pitch from Target Field is scheduled for 2:10 pm CDT and the Rangers Sports Network will carry it one last time this year.
Sep 26, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Camilo Doval (57) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Make that seven in a row.
After the Giants came up a run short in Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the Dodgers, San Francisco has now dropped seven consecutive games against their rivals this year.
This one wasn’t a hard pill to swallow though. Maybe it’s because after six months and 161 games, I’m pretty numb to the pains of Giants’ baseball; or it’s the fact that wins–and-losses are besides the point right now; or it’s knowing that coming up short against one of the better teams in baseball history is not a particularly shameful occurrence — but most of all, I think this actually turned out to be a decent game.
First of all, this didn’t feel like a postseason soft launch for Blake Snell. Giants hitters weren’t milling about the field as underpaid caterers serving canapés while Dodger pitchers snacked and schmoozed for nine innings. They only managed to plate one run off him, but they kept the infamously sensitive starter from getting comfortable. Snell needed 77 pitches to record 12 outs — two pitches more than Tarik Skubal needed to record 21 on Friday. A Giant had an at-bat with a runner in scoring position in each of the first three frames. He allowed five hits, recorded just three strikeouts, and broke one necklace over four innings.
Jonah Cox led off the 3rd with a lead-off double against Blake Snell and promptly stole third to put himself in a position to score on Turner Hill’s sacrifice fly.
A 7th inning line change by the Drews of Gilbert and Cavanaugh cut LA’s lead down to one and seemed to turn the tide in the Giants favor. Gilbert worked a lead-off walk against Brock Stewart before scoring from first on Cavanaugh’s first career triple off the bricks in deep right center. He also put the tying run in scoring position in the 9th with a two-out, two-strike double to left off Tanner Scott.
Hill then led off the 8th against right-handed reliever Evan Philips by banking a double off the wall in Triple’s alley. With one-out and two strikes to Bo Davidson, a spiked breaking ball allowed Hill to take third, and Davidson capitalized on the gift by punching a fly ball just deep enough to center to score Hill and claim his first career run batted-in.
Two pitches into LA’s 9th, that hard-earned run was nullified by Enrique Hernández homer. A bucket of ice water that broke the 3-3 tie the Giants had just scratched and clawed for over two innings. Disappointing in the moment, especially for Trent Harris, who hadn’t allowed an earned run since August 21st (15.1 IP) — but we got over it pretty quick. LA was always going to win this game — it would have been embarrassing for them if they hadn’t.
What wasn’t guaranteed was the San Francisco offense erasing two deficits, or the bullpen working through (self-inflicted) trouble to keep the game from completely spinning out of control, as they have done in the recent past.
These are objectively embarrassingly small victories to applaud — stolen bases and sac flies and advancing the runner and one-off strikeouts — but that’s exactly what this iteration of the 2026 Giants are playing for. Opportunities, experience, footholds and feelings and tiny hooks to hang their hat on, however briefly.
Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson will certainly strut into the off-season with a feeling. The southpaw backed up his last outing against LA with another solid, though abbreviated start. Wilkinson allowed just one hit, a Mookie Betts solo shot in 3rd, over three innings of work. He’s officially a rivalry legend, allowing just one earned run on four hits over eight IP across two games against the Dodgers.
Add three-pitching Shohei Ohtani to that short but spectacular CV as well.
And sometimes you play for perspective. Camilo Doval, after two trades and two teams and being DFA’d and claimed again, took the field as a Giant once again. The reliever became the 71st Giants player of the season, tying the Major League record set by the 2025 Atlanta Braves, and how ironic and maybe beautiful that the froth of that insane roster churn has spit an old friend back on San Francisco’s shores. A new number, possibly a new man? Who knows if we can expect more, or if this was just a one-off — all I know is seeing him out there on the mound felt good. I think he felt it too, fanning both Betts and Ohtani on his way to striking out the side in the 7th.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Jack Perkins #50 walks to the dugout with Jonah Heim #15 of the Athletics following the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 15, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re down to our final two games of Athletics baseball this year! After the first couple months of the season, it seemed like the A’s had the ability to remain competitive in the American League (AL) West. However, injuries coupled with a league-worst pitching staff resulted in the team’s second consecutive midseason collapse and fifth straight losing season.
The A’s have embraced the role of spoiler over the past few weeks. They will have two more opportunities to do so against a Houston Astros club fighting for the division title and a playoff berth. Depending on the results tonight and tomorrow, either the Astros or Texas Rangers will make history as the first team to reach the playoffs without a winning record.
Athletics right-hander Jack Perkins will make his final start of 2026. The 26-year-old enters his 37th appearance and 17th start of the season with a 3-12 record, a 5.90 ERA, a 1.45 WHIP and 131 strikeouts over 116 innings.
Perkins started the season in the bullpen before moving into the rotation in June. The right-hander looks to be ending the season on a high note. He has gone 1-3 with a 2.62 ERA in his last seven games, pitching at least six innings while allowing just one run in each of his last two starts.
The talented right-hander, making his third appearance against the Astros this season, will look to end his campaign on a strong note and position himself for a spot in next year’s rotation. Will Perkins make it three straight quality starts, or will his inconsistency resurface and force the Athletics to turn to their bullpen earlier than expected?
The Athletics are rolling with the same starting lineup that scored six runs last night. Center fielder Henry Bolte will look to serve as the spark plug once again, setting the table for Lawrence Butler, Shea Langeliers and Zack Gelof.
These final two games are important for Tommy White, whose aggressive swing-at-everything approach has held him back in his first taste of MLB action. With injured sluggers Nick Kurtz and Brent Rooker set to return next year, White could fall out of the team’s plans unless he improves his approach or unlocks the power he displayed in college baseball. Meanwhile, looming free-agent catcher Jonah Heim needs to put together a strong finish to the season if he hopes to attract suitors on the open market.
The A’s offense will face Astros right-hander Hayden Wesneski this evening. The 28-year-old, who returned from Tommy John surgery in late July, enters his 11th and final start of the season with a 5-2 record, a 3.50 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP and 41 strikeouts over 54 innings.
Wesneski aims to continue his dominance against the Green and Gold tonight. He is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA and 11 strikeouts in two career appearances against the Athletics. Nearly a month ago, the right-hander earned the win after allowing just one hit over five scoreless innings when these teams met in Houston.
And the Astros’ starting nine shapes up like this:
All the Astros regulars are playing, including Thursday’s unlikely hero, rookie Lucas Spence. The A’s have mostly kept AL MVP front-runner Yordan Alvarez and star second baseman Jose Altuve quiet this series, something that will have to continue if the hosts want a second straight win today. Left fielder Taylor Trammell is the only newcomer in the visitors’ lineup as he makes his first start of the series.
Time to hand Houston’s division-winning hopes a crushing blow and secure at least a split of this season-ending series. Let’s go, A’s!
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 09: Kade Anderson #13 of the Seattle Mariners is doused with water after defeating the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Eric Hiller/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Autumn beckons. The chilly rains of Friday night kept Seattle’s bats cool and offered little comfort to Bryce Miller as he struggled through another disappointing outing, hampered at every turn by his dismal defense. Tonight’s penultimate affair has rookie LHP Kade Anderson on the hill, hopeful to finish his season strong and bully another below par as he did the Colorado Rockies this past weekend.
Lineups:
The final RHP starting opponent Seattle will face this year is one M’s fans should grow accustomed to. Ryan Johnson’s adventurous prospect path has nonetheless settled in a fairly traditional back end rotation trajectory, something he should be to start 2027 as well.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 17: Blake Treinen #49 of the Los Angeles Dodgers catches the ball during the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 17, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen suffered a shoulder injury while warming up in the bullpen on Saturday in the win over the San Francisco Giants. The veteran right-hander’s season is likely over.
Brock Stewart pitched the bottom of the seventh inning but was allotted extra warm-up pitches as he entered the game. He wasn’t warming up in the bullpen before getting called in, but Treinen was before suddenly stopping.
In the top of the eighth, the SportsNet LA broadcast showed footage from the Dodgers bullpen, showing bullpen coach Josh Bard embracing Treinen, then of Treinen walking back to the Dodgers dugout and clubhouse with trainer Bernard Li.
“I don’t know if it was a complete blowout. But really unfortunate,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters at Oracle Park in San Francisco, as shown by SportsNet LA. “We’re going to get imaging, obviously it’s an IL, his season’s over.”
Treinen had a 3.64 ERA and 5.07 xERA in 36 games, with 31 strikeouts and 13 walks in 29 2/3 innings this season, his seventh with the Dodgers. The 38-year-old is the longest-tenured pitcher on the team.
“Obviously it’s gut-wrenching for us,” Alex Vesia told reporters, again per SportsNet LA. “Blake’s one of our leaders in the bullpen. He’s been around for quite some time.”
