Author: MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

After taking the first game of the series in dominant fashion, the Yankees look to take care of business tonight in the Bronx. The Bombers hand the ball to veteran lefty and ace Max Fried. What can Fried do to follow up on Schlittler’s gem in the opener and send Boston home for the winter? Let’s preview Game 2 of this Wild Card Series.

Fried’s body of work was spectacular, but limited in 2026. In 20 starts this season, he posted a 2.80 ERA and a 0.994 WHIP, racking up 104 strikeouts over 112.2 frames while holding opponents to a meager .201 average. In his last two starts of the regular season, Fried dominated Minnesota, going seven strong innings of one-run ball on September 15th, before stumbling slightly against the Rays on September 22nd, when he took a loss after allowing four runs over 6.2 innings.

The 32-year-old Fried squared off with the Red Sox twice during the 2026 regular season. Back on April 22nd, he abandoned his windup mid-game to pitch entirely from the stretch and went eight dominant innings in Boston, striking out nine and giving up only three hits.

Fried’s most recent encounter with the Beantown Boys was on August 29th, when he was coming off the injured list. In that game, he tossed 3.2 frames of one-run ball to help the Yankees to a 9-2 victory. Even though it was last year, we’d also be remiss if we didn’t note that Fried fired 6.1 innings of shutout ball against Boston in the 2025 Wild Card Series opener.

When facing left-handed starters like Fried, the Red Sox usually counter with a lineup heavily anchored by switch-hitters Adley Rutschman and Nick Sogard, alongside right-handed bats Willson Contreras, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Trevor Story. With Roman Anthony leaving Game 1 with an injury, we will have to wait and see what the Red Sox do to try and get some offense. Few Red Sox hitters have many at-bats vs. Fried, but Story has gone 5-for-22 with two home runs off Fried.

Boston counters with right-handed Sonny Gray. The former Yankee has put together a great season as a 36-year-old. After logging an 18-5 record over 29 starts with a 2.72 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and 149 strikeouts in 169 innings, many Red Sox fans would argue “their guy” should be in the down-ballot Cy Young race. Gray is coming off a masterful performance against the Guardians on September 23rd, firing six scoreless innings while earning his 18th win. Over his last three starts, he has surrendered six earned runs across 18.1 innings. Gray attacks hitters with a heavy dose of four-seam fastballs paired with hard-sweeping sliders and multi-quadrant breaking balls.

Gray had one meh start and one really, really good start against the Yankees in the regular season. His numbers ended up at 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in two starts. He outlasted the Yankees in the Stadium on June 5th, giving up three runs over 6.1 innings for a 5-3 win, though the Bombers did tally eight hits in that game. He followed that up on June 28th with a big personal performance, taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning and recording his 2,000th career strikeout.

However, Gray has not faced this Yankees lineup and arguably faced the Yankees this season when they were at their worst.

Meanwhile, the Yankees’ playoff roster is finally the chess board Brian Cashman has tried to provide Aaron Boone with for years, even if the team is still missing the most important offensive piece on the roster. With a right-hander on the bump to start the game, I expect the Yankees to roll a lefty-heavy lineup out of the starting gate despite Gray’s splits showing he has been just as effective versus lefties as righties.

My bold prediction is that Boone will start two right-handed bats tonight in George Lombard Jr. and Amed Rosario. Rosario is 7-for-24 lifetime vs. Gray, while Ryan McMahon is 1-for-11 — though the contact-oriented Fried has generally preferred to have the more defensively adept McMahon at the hot corner. The good news for the Yankees is Trade Deadline acquisition Luis Garcia Jr. is 4-for-10 with a home run, and Game 1 hero Ben Rice is 3-for-7 with two home runs. Those are good for a 1.200 and 1.841 OPS, respectively. Trent Grisham might not start, but he has also hit Gray well, sitting at a .500 average in 10 at-bats with a home run and a 1.445 OPS of his own. The cherry on top is Spencer Jones is also batting .500 against Gray with a double sprinkled into those three hits. Maybe this is all Small Sample Theatre, but it’s worth considering.

The Red Sox have lefties galore on their staff and, in an elimination game, will have to lay all their cards on the table. If you decide to keep score at home, I would recommend a pencil tonight and be ready for lots of scratches through the lineup card, as each pitching change could very well be met with a counter in the batter’s box.

Game 1 is over; let’s do it all again tonight!

Meet the Mets

Jefferson Rojas is nearing the majors, but his hopes could be stalled by a potential lockout.

Joel Sherman wrote a guide to the Mets’ offseason, covering the big questions and potential targets.

Freddy Peralta won the American League Pitcher of the Month honor for September, and David Stearns credited Tampa Bay for doing what the Mets were unable to achieve with Peralta.

Around the National League East

The Phillies announced their complete Wild Card series roster.

The Braves beat the Phillies 5-3 in the first game of the Wild Card series. Austin Riley hit a three-run home run off of Phillies closer Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning to seal the victory.

Paul Casella compiled a list of four key takeaways from the first game between the Braves and the Phillies.

Around Major League Baseball

The White Sox beat the Astros 6-3 in the first game of their series and made it look easy.

The Yankees completely dominated the Red Sox 9-0 in the first game of their Wild Card series, with plenty of help from Massachusetts natives Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice.

The Padres bashed their way to a win in a 8-0 beatdown of the Cubs, and Michael King’s seven innings of one-hit baseball sealed the deal for the Padres to take the lead in the Wild Card series.

Britt Ghiroli is dreading this postseason, as the looming lockout could stop games for an indeterminable amount of time.

After years as baseball’s worst hitter, Austin Hedges has been experiencing an offensive renaissance at 34 years old.

John Harper made bold predictions for each postseason series.

The Minor League Baseball award winners were announced Monday evening.

There’s a way each postseason team could eventually go the distance and win the World Series.

Aaron Judge was officially left off the Yankees Wild Card series roster, but he’ll continue his rehab in hopes of being activated for a potential American League Division Series.

Giancarlo Stanton and Garrett Crochet could perform some postseason heroics after being added to their respective teams rosters.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

A Pod of Their Own returned with their 2026 season postmortem.

Linus Lawrence listed the different former Mets playing in this year’s postseason.

Lawrence also wrote a guide to the postseason with reasons why a Mets fan might want to root for each team.

Steve Sypa published the Prospect Report Card for September.

This Date in Mets History

Two different historic Mets defeats occurred 45 years apart on this day.

Payton Tolle had just retired Paul Goldschmidt for the third time on one pitch, running his pitch count to a manageable 83 with two outs in the fifth inning Tuesday, when Chad Tracy decided he’d seen enough.

With Boston trailing by one run and Ben Rice, who doubled in the first inning, due up next, the manager opted to remove his pitcher who had settled into the pitching duel by that point.

And it backfired in horrible fashion for Boston.

Lefty reliever Erik Miller immediately surrendered a long solo homer to center field to Rice — the first of his two against Boston relievers — and it completely changed the tone of the game in Boston’s 9-0 loss to the Yankees in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card series at Yankee Stadium.

Boston’s b-tier relievers ultimately surrendered eight runs in 3 1/3 innings.

“Not just the pitch count necessarily, but you’re trailing already, you’re moving through the third time,” Tracy said. “Rice had already hit a double in the gap off of him, and you have a nice lane there for Miller, and obviously he got him. Just felt like it was the time to go.”

This postseason marks Tracy’s first calling the shots and moments like this one Tuesday night are what ultimately can swing series.

Sure, Boston did not score, but being down 1-0 to Cam Schlittler and the Yankees bullpen is a vastly different world than trailing by two entering the seventh.

Tolle allowed four hits over the first nine batters but settled down to retire eight of the next 10 batters and navigated a two-on, no-outs situation in the fifth while trailing 1-0.

He began the sixth by retiring Austin Wells on six pitches and then sitting down Goldschmidt, leaving him certainly with room to possibly navigate six innings if he worked effectively.

Tracy, though, opted for a new look in Miller, ending Tolle’s day after 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball.

“I thought he threw the ball well,” Tracy said. “They did an effective job of grinding the count up as well. He had traffic. They put traffic on him. He was able to navigate his way through that. I think he competed extremely well for the time that he was out there and gave us what he could.

“I think the number being up there in the mid-80s, still trying to get through five, probably higher than what you normally see with Payton, and to be expected in an environment like this. But I thought he competed his butt off.”

Miller, a midseason trade acquisition, struggled to end the regular season and those issues carried over to the postseason when he fired a middle-middle 97-mph heater that Rice hit out to dead center.

Tolle said that as a competitor, he felt he could have gone longer but understood the decision due to the strength of Boston’s bullpen during the regular seaosn.

Boston is now one loss away from a second straight early postseason exit at the Yankees’ hands.

“Wasn’t good enough,” Tolle said. “They had a good plan and I threw a lot of balls … just didn’t feel like I could command the zone, kind of let some at-bats get away from me. A lot of pitches.”

He added about the bullpen: “Those guys picked me up a lot this year.”

It was an exciting afternoon at Truist Park as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 to take Game 1 of the National League Wild Card. Chris Sale got the start and was brilliant. In 6.1 innings, he recorded nine strikeouts and issued one walk. He was charged with three earned runs. 

The Atlanta offense had some tough breaks and was unable to put together timely hitting until later in the game. However, that changed when a Michael Harris II single and a hit by pitch had two on for Austin Riley. Riley launched a homer to right center field to give the Braves the 5-3 edge. 

The Braves were able to hold on in the top of the ninth and look to sweep the best-of-three series on Wednesday afternoon at Truist Park.

More Braves News:

Walt Weiss spoke with the media postgame and discussed the unpredictability of the Postseason. 

Don’t think the Braves can win the World Series? Here’s why they can.

MLB News:

Three-time All-Star Liam Hendriks announced his retirement on Tuesday. He was a part of 14 big league seasons. 

The Miami Marlins have parted ways with hitting coach Pedro Guerrero.

From the Feed:

Lock in your predictions for the NL Wild Card series.

Happy Wednesday, OTM! If you’re reading this, that means the sun did rise once again after a horrific game one loss to the New York Yankees last night. My question to you today is simple: do you still believe? The offense is putrid, Roman Anthony is hurt again, and the Yankees have Max Fried lined up to start. Signs are bad, but as Payton Tolle said, he hasn’t heard a fat lady sing. I’m sure if he walks around New York City for long enough, he’ll find one, but he probably wouldn’t find one who’s omniscient and only sings in conjunction with the end of a baseball playoff series. If he did, he should bring her to American Idol or something. America’s Got Talent, maybe? I don’t know, I’m just vamping.

Are we going to win tonight? Do we have any chance at pulling this series out? Talk about this and whatever else you want, and as always, be good to one another.

While eight teams battle it out to see who will advance to the Division Series, the Dodgers are among four teams using this time off to prepare for October baseball.

After winning an even 100 games in the regular season, the Dodgers secured a first-round bye and will await the winner of the NL Wild Card matchup between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies. While the Dodgers continue to add the finishing touches to their postseason roster, there are some lingering questions as to which players will be a part of the team’s depth chart.

21-year-old outfielder Josue De Paula made his presence known while filling in for the then-injured Shohei Ohtani, slashing .323/.500/.581 across 42 plate appearances before he was sent down to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Sonja Chen of MLB.com believes that both De Paula and utility man Hyeseong Kim can make an impact on the postseason roster, with the former being relegated to pinch-hit opportunities due to his lack of big-league experience in the outfield.

Of course, De Paula is capable of playing the corner outfield, but we only saw him play six innings in left as a Dodger. And given how important defense is in the postseason, I doubt we will see him in the field unless it’s an emergency.

The month of September has given Shohei Ohtani plenty of time to prepare for his third consecutive postseason run with the Dodgers. The Dodgers still have another three days to prepare for the NLDS, and Ohtani is using this time to get his swing in the right place, per Chen.

“Everything is feeling great physically,” general manager Brandon Gomes said on a Zoom call with the media on Tuesday. “The swings, once he came back, overall were in a good place. And using these five days to continue to get reps and feeling good into this series is really important. But feels like he’s in a great spot.”

Freddie Freeman had his power zapped in the second half of the regular season, hitting just one home run while posting a slugging percentage of .339. Freeman dealt with patellar tendonitis in his right knee, but entering the NLDS, he said that he’s feeling a lot better, reports Jack Harris of the California Post.

“I truly feel good right now, physically,” Freeman said on Tuesday, during a video conference with reporters ahead of the Dodgers’ first pre-National League Division Series bye week workout. “So it’s on me now to figure out the mechanics of the swing in the next five days. And I have all the confidence in myself that I will figure that out by [Game 1 on] Saturday.”

Good morning, baseball fans!

The National League and American League Wild Card series continue today, with all four series playing the second of three potential games.

Because I live in the past and have to write these before the games have been played, you have a better idea of how the series are going than I do. But here’s what’s on deck for today. I’m going to do these by time instead of league because that makes more sense. Also, rather than repeating myself, all of the games will have national radio coverage on ESPN Radio.

First up, we have the visiting Philadelphia Phillies against the Atlanta Braves, in which Atlanta has a 1-0 lead in the series. This one starts at 11:00 a.m. PT and airs on NBC/Peacock.

After that, we have the visiting Chicago White Sox playing against the Houston Astros at 2:00 p.m. PT, and airing on Peacock/NBC Sports Network.

Then it’s the visiting Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees at 5:00 p.m. PT, airing on NBC/Peacock.

And then finally, we have the visiting Chicago Cubs playing the San Diego Padres at 7:00 p.m. PT, airing on Peacock/NBC Sports Network.

Who are you rooting for today?

Happy Wednesday, everyone! The postseason is officially here and Wild Card games are underway. While we wait to see how the final postseason picture develops, we’ve got loads of little news tidbits, including deep dives into how all the teams are shaping up, and how all the different MLB experts predict things going as we head towards the World Series.

Plenty to get into so we know which storylines to keep an eye on this October, so let’s just dive right in.

• Michael Baumann looks at the first Wild Card game to be completed this postseason, and how the Braves got their win.
• Paul Casella breaks down the Phillies-Braves game in detail.
• Jay Jaffe assesses what team defense looks like for all the remaining postseason clubs.
• Karl Rasmussen looks into what really went on to lead to Dan Wilson being fired as the Mariners manager.
• Grant Brisbee ranks all the teams in the postseason. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• The White Sox really do have friends in high places.

• JP Hoornstra has more details on that letter from the Pope.
• The staff of FanGraphs do their best to figure out who they think will win the World Series.
• The Sports Illustrated staff have likewise made their own predictions.
• The Athletic couldn’t be left out of the postseason predictions. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Tom Verducci looks at some truths that will impact the MLB postseason.
• The Brewers are going to be cautious about Joey Ortiz ahead of the NLDS. (AP)
• Stephen J. Nesbitt looks at how hopeful all the fanbases are about their team’s World Series chances. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• I’ve seen a lot of weird lawsuits…

• Sam Blum has more information on the Gelof lawsuit. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Bryan Hoch confirms what we already suspected: Aaron Judge won’t be on the Wild Card roster for the Yankees.
• Karl Rasmussen looks at the rosters for all the Wild Card teams.
• Ryan Phillips offers a fatal flaw for all the postseason-eligible teams.
• The Athletic staff explains why it seems like major league baseball players have all known each other since they were kids. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Liam Hendriks has announced his retirement.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.

Despite once seemingly having no path toward big league playing time, Ethan Anderson’s impressive 2026 campaign saw him rise to the top of Baltimore’s catching prospects and put him on the doorstep of the major leagues.

This time last year, catcher was perhaps the most logjammed position of any in the Orioles organization. Adley Rutschman was the established starter coming off his fourth (albeit injury-riddled) season in the majors. Samuel Basallo had arrived in Baltimore at the end of August to start his promising big league career. Backstop was simply not a major position of need for Baltimore, and as such, it seemed like there was no real path forward for any minor leaguer.

Fast forward a year, and things have changed in a big way. Rutschman suffered through another injury-laden first half before being shipped off to Boston in a blockbuster trade. Basallo missed some time with his own injury issues and only projects as a part-timer behind the plate going forward. Injuries to the established catchers mean the Orioles once again cycled through backstops, with Chadwick Tromp, Sam Huff, Carlos Narváez, Yohel Pozo and Jake Rogers all seeing action behind the plate for Baltimore.

While Pozo and Narváez are still under team control for a couple more seasons, their lackluster offensive games mean that the role of Basallo’s running mate should be an open competition. And no minor leaguer, after 2026, is better positioned to take advantage of that opportunity than Anderson.

The former 2024 second-round pick out of Virginia spent most of the year with the Baysox in Double-A and established himself as the heartbeat of Chesapeake’s lineup. Compared to what he’d become, the 23-year-old switch-hitter got off to a relatively quiet start. Over the first month of the season, he hit a strong .302, but only put up one home run and four total extra-base hits en route to a SLG (.397) lower than his OBP (.429)

In May, those numbers would flip. Anderson started showing off his power stroke during the second month of the season, swatting 7 homers along with 3 doubles as he put up an improved .484 SLG. However, his average dipped down to .220, while his OBP dropped to .317. Overall, his first two months of the year reflected a respectable minor league hitter, but one who was still figuring some things out offensively.

Everything truly clicked for Anderson starting in June. In 21 games that month, he again launched 7 long balls, but added to that power with a .286 average, a .368 OBP and a strikeout rate that decreased from 26% to 14 percent.

Throughout the second half of the season, Anderson continued to wear out minor league pitchers. After missing most of July with an ankle injury, he returned in August and embarked on an epic hot streak. Over his final 25 games of the season (split between Frederick, Chesapeake and Norfolk), Anderson slashed .333/.390/.604 (.995 OPS) while hitting another 8 home runs and continuing to keep his strikeout rate under 20 percent.

Perhaps most encouraging was the cup of coffee Anderson had in Norfolk to end the season. In five games, the former Virginia Cavalier picked up a hit in all five contests, hit his first two Triple-A home runs and proved even a step up in competition couldn’t slow him down.

Anderson finished the season with a final triple slash of .288/.375/.544, a .919 OPS, 14 doubles, 24 home runs, 55 RBIs and a 22.1% strikeout rate. Of his 344 ABs, 303 came for the Baysox and 21 of his 24 long balls came against Double-A pitchers. Of the Orioles’ Top 30 prospects, only Wehiwa Aloy and Aron Estrada (25 each) hit more home runs than Anderson.

The switch-hitting Anderson also shows promise from both sides of the plate. He has more power against left-handed pitching, with 18 of his 24 homers coming from the right side and a slugging percentage that’s nearly 100 points higher. However, as a LHB against RHPs, Anderson hit .306—compared to .280 against LHPs.

Having already made his way up to Triple-A, Anderson will likely split time with Creed Willems behind the plate to begin next season. Both Anderson and Willems have the same problem; each has a strong offensive profile for a catcher, but questionable defensive skills that make it uncertain if they can stick behind the plate long term.

Anderson did play 500 defensive innings at catcher this past season, compared to 207 innings at 1B. If he can continue to hold his own behind the dish, Anderson should be first in line to replace Narváez in Baltimore next season. The Orioles have had some success in developing catchers defensively, as Basallo was graded as a below-average defender in the minors but showed major strides as a receiver over his first big league season.

A year ago, Anderson would not have been worth monitoring going into 2027, as he’d likely just be another Willems—stuck in Triple-A all season. But with Rutschman gone and the need to pair Basallo with a catcher who can play 75+ games, Anderson is now on a short list of players who could make their debut in 2027.

Greetings, friends!

The postseason is officially underway after the first day of Wild Card action. The games were electric, but it’s also interesting to see how teams constructed their rosters. Injured pitchers who hadn’t started for a while made rosters, while Aaron Judge was left off the roster for the New York Yankees. It’ll be interesting to see if any teams can move on to the division round today.

Meanwhile, the Colorado Rockies got some good news to cap off the 2026 season as MLB announced Cole Carrigg was named the National League Rookie of the Month for September. It was the third time a Rockies rookie earned the award this season after TJ Rumfield won the award twice.

Now, here’s what’s going on for the Rockies and the league.

Rockies news & links

• Cole Carrigg selected as NL Rookie of the Month for September | Purple Row — Sam Bradfield caught up on all the details of Carrigg’s fantastic September.
• Yankees traded TJ Rumfield to Rockies — And he matched 1926 MLB record | heavy.com — Rumfield’s rookie season was definitely one for the record books as he led the National League in OBP, the first rookie to lead his league in that category in 100 years. It’s interesting to think that because of Ben Rice’s breakout for the New York Yankees last season, Rumfield’s opportunity opened up in Colorado.
• Why another 100-loss season isn’t deterring fans of the Colorado Rockies | Just Baseball — Patrick Lyons highlights some of the positive takeaways and lessons learned from the 2026 season. Warren Schaeffer also provided some nice insights as we head into the offseason.
• Affected by Altitude Episode 227: 100 Once More | Rocky Mountain Rooftop — Evan Lang and I recap the end of the 2026 and what went wrong and right. We also talk about the great seasons for Hunter Goodman and Rumfield before saying goodbye to Kyle Freeland and naming our September Players of the Month!

Around MLB

• Here is why each playoff team could win the World Series | MLB.com — The beauty of the chaos of the MLB postseason is that truly anything can happen. Every team that makes it to the dance has a chance to win the whole thing, so the writers at MLB.com share those reasons.
• O’s to renovate LF upper deck at Camden Yards, add social space | MLB.com — Every offseason, teams turn their attention to renovations and alterations that could be made to the ballpark. The Baltimore Orioles, who have moved the outfield walls a couple of times over the years, are building what I can mostly relate to a “Party Deck” in left field.
• To little fanfare, Nick Sogard has played a big role in a resurgent Red Sox season | FanGraphs —The Boston Red Sox turnaround to making the postseason was a great story for the 2026 season. One of the unsung heroes happened to be Nick Sogard. The journeyman utility infielder filled in admirably at multiple positions as injuries hindered the Red Sox offense.
• Would Jose Iglesias ever return to the MLB? Yes, with 1 condition | Today.com — Former Rockies infielder Jose Iglesias has transitioned his music career into a stint on Broadway. While his post-baseball pursuits are going well, he’d still be interested in returning if a team ready to compete for a title came calling.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

The 2026 MLB playoffs kicked off with a bang, setting the stage for a full slate of matchups Wednesday, Sept. 30, with pivotal second games in the best-of-three wild card round.

The day’s action begins with the Atlanta Braves, fresh off a come-from-behind victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1. Up 1-0 in the series, the Braves are looking to clinch a spot in the next round, while the Phillies fight to keep their season alive.

In the late afternoon, the American League takes center stage as the Chicago White Sox look to end their series against the Houston Astros.

Later, all eyes will be on the rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. The Red Sox, on the brink of elimination, need a Game 2 win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The night concludes with the San Diego Padres taking on the Chicago Cubs. After a dominant Game 1, the Padres have a chance to close out the series at home as the Cubs try to force a decisive Game 3.

More: MLB's worst nightmare tops list of best potential World Series matchups

Last year, Cam Schlittler put in one of the most memorable Yankees’ playoff pitching performances of the century in Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Red Sox. With the series tied at one and everything at stake, he went eight innings, striking out 12 batters while scattering a couple hits and no walks. While anyone who had seen him pitch in the weeks leading up to that start could see that there was something there, that start exceeded almost everyone’s expectation. Adding to that, he was born and raised in Massachusetts, and hasn’t been afraid to go at Boston fans on social media, clearly coming in with a chip on his shoulder, even against the team he grew up rooting for.

Flash forward a year, and Schlittler has very much looked like the pitcher he was that day in 2025, except for the entire season. With a season ERA under 2.00 and a bunch of other excellent numbers, he’s the current favorite for the AL Cy Young Award. While starting a rookie in a do-or-die game last season was something of a risk, this year he was the no-doubt choice to take the mound in Game 1 as the Yankees and Red Sox met in the Wild Card Series again.

While just on raw numbers, Schlittler wasn’t as good as he was last year, his start in Game 1 against the Red Sox looked pretty similar to 2025.

In 6.1 innings on Tuesday night, Schlittler kept the Red Sox off the board, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out 10. Both the hits he allowed were just singles and none of any of the runners even got into scoring position while he was in the game. You always feel somewhat on edge during close playoff baseball games, but there wasn’t much actual reason to be while Schlittler was in the game. Other than maybe going eight innings like he did last year, you couldn’t really ask for much more from him.

Between his performance this year and last year, he’s writing himself quite a legacy in this rivalry.

Then there’s Ben Rice. While Rice grew up a Yankee fan in enemy territory, he grew up in Massachusetts all the same. He’s probably not going to get the award love that Schlittler will, but he’s arguably been just as important this year. With 41 regular season home runs, he’s carried the offense at points, especially with Aaron Judge injured for much of this season.

On Tuesday night, he carried the offense once again. Rice went 4-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI. He turned a close game into a more than comfortable one.

While he wasn’t involved in the first of the Yankees’ nine runs, he played a part in a whole chunk of the rest. In the fifth inning, he hit a home run to double the Yankees’ lead with the game still very close. As the Yankees started to tack on some insurance runs, he drove home one with a single as part of a two-run seventh. However, the big blow was still yet to come.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth, the Yankees led 5-0 with Rice at the plate. At five runs, they had a comfortable lead, but still one you’d probably expect them to turn to closer David Bednar for, if not only to erase any doubt. With one swing, Rice put the cherry on top of the game and insured they could save some bullpen bullets for future games.

The Yankees getting these performances in big moments is always great. It’s even better when you factor in that both Schlittler and Rice are homegrown prospects. Then you add in the fact that they’re from Red Sox territory and it adds a layer of humor. That being said, no matter where they’re from, I’ll take performances like what they provided on Tuesday night.

The high-scoring Chicago Cubs lineup was shut out in Game 1 of the National League wild card series at Petco Park and the team will try to extend its season with a win-or-go-home contest against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado hit first-inning home runs for the Padres in the opener and San Diego never looked back, going on to win 8-0 as starter Michael King took a no-hitter into the seventh inning.

Kevin Gausman will start Game 2 for the Cubs while Nick Pivetta takes the mound for the Padres, hoping to put away Chicago and get some revenge for last year's loss at this stage in the postseason. The Padres have not reached the World Series since 1998 and have never won a championship.

The Padres-Cubs winner advances to the best-of-five NL Division Series, where it will face the Milwaukee Brewers, who finished with MLB's best regular season record. If the Cubs win Game 2 on Wednesday, the winner-take-all Game 3 will be played on Thursday in San Diego.

Where to watch Cubs vs Padres: TV channel, streaming

• Time: 10 p.m. ET
• TV channel: NBCSN
• Streaming: Peacock

Watch MLB playoffs on Peacock

What time is Cubs vs Padres today?

First pitch is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET at Petco Park in San Diego.

After a dominant 9-0 win in Game 1 of the American League wild card series, the New York Yankees have the opportunity to eliminate their rival Boston Red Sox from the MLB playoffs for the second year in a row.

Likely Cy Young Cam Schlittler was lights out at Yankee Stadium and Ben Rice hit two home runs, including a back-breaking grand slam in the eighth inning in front of a raucous crowd.

"You could feel that energy, it was electric and so many guys played so well, you enjoy it for a minute," Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters after the win.

"But it's getting right back after it tomorrow knowing that we'll have a chance to close it out ... It's one win. So we've got the blinders on. But it's a confident group in knowing that we can, if we play our game we can beat anyone.

Lefty Max Fried will start for the Yankees and Sonny Gray goes for the Red Sox trying to stave off elimination. The winner of this best-of-three series advances to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Division Series.

Where to watch Yankees vs Red Sox today

• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• TV channel: NBC
• Streaming: Peacock

Watch Yankees vs. Red Sox free with Fubo

What time is Yankees vs Red Sox game?

First pitch in the Bronx is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

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Happy birthday to Trent Thornton, and a mighty host of others.

Today in baseball history, in 1972 – Roberto Clemente doubles off the Mets’ Jon Matlack to become the eleventh major leaguer to collect 3000 hits. The hit, sadly, will be the Pirate right fielder’s last, as he will die in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve attempting to bring relief aid to earthquake-stricken Managua, Nicaragua, and other stories as well.

Today in baseball history:

• 1927 – With the score tied 2-2 in the eighth, Mark Koenig triples and Babe Ruth hits home run number 60 off Tom Zachary for a 4-2 win. In the ninth, Walter Johnson makes his final appearance as a player. He pinch-hits for Zachary and flies out to Ruth. Ruth hits 17 homers in September, the highest month’s home run output till Rudy York‘s 18 in August 1937.
• 1936 – In the World Series opener, Carl Hubbell scatters seven hits and limits the Yankees to a solo home run by George Selkirk. The Giants take a decisive 6-1 win.
• 1942 – Down 7-0 to Red Ruffing in the World Series opener, the Cardinals storm back for four 9th-inning runs, not enough to win but enough to portend the result of the Series.
• 1945 – Hank Greenberg hits a pennant-winning grand slam on the final day of the season. The Tiger left fielder’s 9th-inning bases-full homer beats the Browns, 6-3, clinching the American League flag for Detroit over the second-place Senators.
• 1949 – Ralph Kiner hits his 54th homer and 16th in September, as the Pirates beat Herm Wehmeier and the Reds, 3-2. The monthly total eclipses Cy Williams‘s National League mark set in 1923.
• 1950 – Before 23,879 at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn pulls within one game of the lead, as Erv Palica wins, 7-3, over the Phillies. The Brooks rout rookie Bob Miller and then Duke Snider and Roy Campanella pound homers off Jim Konstanty. It is the Phillies’ fifth loss in a row, their eighth in ten games. The red-hot Dodgers have now won 13 of their last 16 games. For the second year in a row, the pennant race will come down to the last game. If the Dodgers win tomorrow, the race will end in a three-way tie.
• 1951 – Jackie Robinson hits an upper-deck home run in the 14th inning off Robin Roberts, who came on in the 8th, to give the Dodgers a critical 9-8 win over the Phils. Robbie saves the game in the 13th by making a great catch of an Eddie Waitkus line drive and throwing to second base for a double play. 
• 1954 – With lefty Johnny Antonelli going the distance, the Giants defeat Early Wynn and the Indians, 3-1, in Game 2 of the World Series.
• 1955 – In Game 3 of the World Series, the Dodgers’ Johnny Podres defeats Bob Turley who fails to last two innings against the Bums. C Roy Campanella leads the attack with three hits and three RBI, as Brooklyn wins, 8-3.
• 1962 – Willie Mays‘ 47th home run, an 8th-inning blast off Dick Farrell (10-20), leads the Giants to a critical 2-1 win.
• 1967 – Boston beats the Twins, 6-4, to tie Minnesota for first place. Carl Yastrzemski‘s three-run home run gives him the American League-lead with 44, but Harmon Killebrew answers with his 44th for the losers. 
• 1979 – With his fifth-inning solo homer, Willie Stargell passes Honus Wagner as the Pittsburgh Pirates‘ all-time RBI leader, bringing his career total thus far to 1,476. His milestone shot makes it 3-0 Bucs, and they hang on to beat Chicago, 5-3, clinching the National League Eastern Division title in the process.
• 1980 – A’s OF Rickey Henderson sets the American League single-season stolen base record with his 97th in a 5-1 win over the White Sox, breaking Ty Cobb‘s record of 96 set in 1915. Henderson will finish the season with 100 stolen bases.
• 1984 – On the final day of the season, Mike Witt uses only 97 pitches to retire 27 consecutive hitters. The Angels’ hurler throws the perfect game against the Rangers and beats Charlie Hough on an unearned run, 1-0.
• 1992 – George Brett of the Royals gets the 3,000th hit of his career, stroking four safeties in Kansas City’s 4-0 win over California. Moments later, Brett is picked off base by Tim Fortugno.
• 1997 – SS Edgar Renteria‘s two-out single in the bottom of the ninth scores Charles Johnson with the winning run as the Marlins defeat the Giants, 2- 1, in the opener of the other Division Series in the National League.
• 2001 – Todd Helton‘s double is his 100th extra base hit of the season. He is the first player in history to have 100 extra base hits in back-to-back seasons. Lou Gehrig and Chuck Klein were the only others to do it twice in their careers.
• 2008 – The White Sox complete their unlikely run to the postseason by blanking the Minnesota Twins, 1-0, in a one-game playoff to determine the winner of the AL Central division. Jim Thome homers off loser Nick Blackburn to lead off the 7th inning for the game’s only run.

Today in Cubs history:

• 1911 – At the West Side Grounds, Red Ames gives the Giants a needed 3-1 victory over the second-place Cubs.
• 1917 – The Cubs finish the season with a 9-2 loss to the visiting Braves. Vic Saier, out with a broken leg he suffered on April 15th, starts at 1B and goes 3 for 4 in his last game as a Cub. He’ll play in 1919 with the Pirates.
• 1922 – In the second of two at Cubs Park, the Cards whip the Cubs, 5-3, in a game stopped after five innings. The big blow for the Birds is a three-run homer in the first inning by journeyman infielder Del Gainer off Cubs lefty Percy Jones. When Jones is lifted, so is Gainer, who closes out his career with the home run. The Cards also take the opener, 9-8.
• 1933 – In a 12-2 romp over the Cardinals, Babe Herman of the Chicago Cubs hits for the cycle, the third time he has performed the feat.
• 1988 – Ronald Reagan, nearing the end of his presidency, throws out the ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field. The former Cub announcer then spends an inning and a half doing play-by-play with Harry Caray in the WGN television booth.
• 1992 – Greg Maddux blanks the Pirates, 6-0, to become the Cubs’ first 20-game winner in 15 years. He will tie Tom Glavine for the National League lead in wins.
• 1998 – In the first game of their NLDS, the Braves defeat the Cubs, 7-1, as Michael Tucker and Ryan Klesko homer to back John Smoltz‘s pitching.
• 2007 – Alfonso Soriano hits his 14th home run of the month, this one against Homer Bailey. This sets the Chicago Cubs record for most homers by one player in a month, and contributes to a new team record of 45.
• 2013 – The Cubs fire manager Dale Sveum one day after the end of a second straight disappointing season in which they lost 96 games after losing 101 in 2012.
• 2025 – It’s also a low-scoring game in Wrigley Field, where the wind is blowing in for Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series. Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly still manage to hit back-to-back homers off Nick Pivetta in the 5th to lead the Cubs to a 3-1 win. Four Cubs relievers retire the final 14 Padres batters in order to seal the win.

Cubs Birthdays:Trent Thornton*, Curtis Goodwin, Yorkis Pérez, Doug Jennings, Dave Magadan, Carlos Lezcano, Alex Hardy, Hal O’Hagan. Also notable: Robin Roberts HOF.

Today in history:

• 1841 – Samuel Slocum patents the stapler.
• 1939 – In the first televised college football game, Fordham defeats Waynesburg 34-7 at Randall’s Island, NY.
• 1955 – American actor and cultural icon James Dean is killed in a car crash at age 24.
• 1968 – Motown releases The Supremes‘ single “Love Child.”
• 1980 – Ethernet specifications are published by Xerox in collaboration with Intel and Digital Equipment Corporation.
• 1982 – Columbia Records releases Bruce Springsteen‘s sixth studio album “Nebraska,” a solo record made without a backing band.
• 1985 – Island Records releases “Rain Dogs,” the ninth studio album by singer-songwriter Tom Waits; the album features guitarist Marc Ribot, guest appearances from Keith Richards, and one of Waits’s most covered songs, “Downtown Train.”
• 2024 – A Montana man is sentenced to six months in prison for illegally using large Marco Polo sheep tissue and testicles to clone giant hybrid sheep for trophy hunting.

*pictured.