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

The Yankees’ odds of winning the AL East are down to 2.8 percent per FanGraphs after getting walked off by the Diamondbacks last night. I know mathematically that makes sense, but the chances mentally feel even more extreme. I’ve been having “fun” (or whatever) comping the odds to certain pitchers from history getting a hit. We are the dregs. Remember mid-2000s Mets pitcher Aaron Heilman? I personally remember him most for giving up the homer to Yadier Molina late in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS, just before Adam Wainwright famously caught Carlos Beltrán looking to win the pennant.

Anyway, Heilman was a horrendous hitter. He singled once in his rookie year, and then never got another hit. He ended his career 1-for-47, so an .021 average. So the Yankees just need magic only a little bit more sufficient than that RBI single by Heilman off Sidney Ponson on August 12, 2003! Hell yeah.

It’s not happening, but we press on because it’s good to check up on what everyone else is doing anyway. Here’s what was going on Saturday.

Tampa Bay Rays (94-60) 2, Boston Red Sox (84-71) 1

The Yankees gained a full game on the Rays on Friday for the first time in over a week, as Boston snapped their six-game winning streak. There was no such fortune to be found yesterday though; Tampa Bay made sure of that well before first pitch in Arizona, and it only got worse from there. By the end of the night, the Rays once again had a five-game lead over the Yanks; Tampa Bay’s magic number (combination of Rays wins or Yankees losses) to clinch the AL East is four.

This one was a pitchers’ duel to the bitter end. Brayan Bello had easily his best outing of a turbulent season (and probably the best of his career), firing eight shutout frames at the Trop and fanning 11 Rays, tying a personal best from July 9, 2024. As he only went 5.1 in that one and faced merely the soon-to-depart-Oakland A’s rather than the division-leading Rays.

The only true blemish on Bello’s record came when Jonathan Aranda cracked an opposite-field homer to make it a 1-1 game in the fourth. Tampa Bay had a chance to make it 2-1 against Bello in the seventh when Liam Hicks and Chandler Simpson led off with singles. Bello then induced a grounder from Victor Mesa Jr. to move up the runners, and then another off the bat of Richie Palacios to Trevor Story, who nailed pinch-runner Jonny DeLuca at home. Palacios swiped second, but Bello fanned Cedric Mullins to end the inning. The Rays went down in order in the eighth to end Bello’s brilliant night.

Unfortunately for Bello, a win wasn’t in the cards because Boston put up next to nothing against Freddy Peralta and the Rays’ pitching staff. Doubles by Caleb Durbin and Roman Anthony gave the Red Sox their one run in the second, but they were stymied from there. They had chances!

• Second inning after Anthony’s two-out double: Mickey Gasper lineout to center
• Fourth inning with runners on first and second, one out: Story strikeout, Durbin popout
• Fifth inning with runner on second, one out: Anthony groundout, Gasper strikeout
• Sixth inning with runners on first and second, two out: Durbin fly out to left
• Eighth inning after Adley Rutschman’s one-out double: Wilyer Abreu strikeout, Nick Sogard lineout

Even against lockdown Rays closer Bryan Baker, Boston had one last shot to take a late lead. After Story grounded out, Durbin lined a double down the left field line to put himself in scoring position for Jarren Duran. Durbin darted from second, however, and got thrown out stealing third. Duran promptly followed with a triple over DeLuca’s head in center. Isiah Kiner-Falefa bounced one to Junior Caminero at third to end the threat.

Granted a chance to walk it off, Tampa Bay didn’t waste it. Rather than blasting a homer to finish the game as he had twice earlier this homestand, Caminero began the ninth against Garrett Whitlock with a single to left. (A catwalk curtailed Durbin’s effort to catch a popup earlier in the AB.) DeLuca popped up, but Chandler Simpson grounded one through the six-hole for another hit. The runners moved up when catcher Connor Wong let a Whitlock sinker up bounce off his glove for a passed ball. Palacios ended the night with flare to center that fell in, securing the win for Tampa Bay. At least the Wild Card Series is also almost certainly going to be at Yankee Stadium now, I suppose.

AL Rock Fight

Cleveland Guardians (80-75) 12, The Athletics (61-94) 6

Two crooked numbers effectively decided Saturday’s affair with the A’s in a hurry. Tanner Bibee kind of stunk and would allow six runs in a dozen hits while failing to make through five, but it hardly mattered. Cleveland erased a 2-0 deficit in the first on a three-run shot from rookie Chase DeLauter and two-run homer by Angel Martinez. The A’s got one back in the third, only to see another five-spot from the Guardians on poor Jacob Lopez as David Fry, Austin Hedges, and Brayan Rocchio all delivered RBI doubles. Martinez later added a homer and an RBI single in a career-best four-hit day.

Chicago White Sox (79-76) 3, Detroit Tigers (73-82) 1

Cleveland’s win meant that Chicago was stuck at a game back in the AL Central in the best-case, but they did at least help push one of their Wild Card foes out of the picture with a win. Honestly, this was probably kind of a dud of a game for anyone who isn’t a White Sox fan, the lone highlights being Sean Burke’s six scoreless frames and Miguel Vargas’ sixth-inning solo shot to make it 3-1, Chicago (the other runs scored on an RBI single by Munetaka Murakami and a fifth-inning sac fly). Spencer Torkelson had a chance to tie the game with a homer following Hao-Yu Lee’s two-out single in the ninth, but he flew out to center to end it.

Milwaukee Brewers (97-58) 1, Baltimore Orioles (75-80) 0

Yeah, it’s time to stick a fork in the O’s. It was all but certain for awhile now, but Chicago’s win combined with Baltimore’s second-straight loss to Milwaukee means that the Orioles are four back with a week to play, plus multiple teams in front of them. Trevor Rogers was the hard-luck loser here while Baltimore got blanked on four hits and Rece Hinds lost a fly ball from Joey Ortiz in the sun, allowing him to triple and score on Gary Sánchez’s RBI grounder. Woof.

Texas Rangers (78-77) 6, Toronto Blue Jays (76-79) 1

The O’s aren’t the only bird that are all but shot down, either. Trade Deadline acquisition José Soriano coughed up an early homer to Josh Jung, beginning a five-inning, six-run outing that pushed Toronto three games out in the Wild Card and the Rangers into a one-game AL West lead over Houston. The only downside for Texas was that second-half surprise Cal Quantrill—who has a 1.75 ERA since re-entering the rotation in late July—left in the second with lat tightness, so old friend Jordan Montgomery picked up the slack in long relief, retiring 11 of the 12 hitters he faced with no hits allowed.

Atlanta Braves (91-64) 6, Houston Astros (77-78) 3

Houston and Texas have been wrestling all week over the prestigious “Who can win this horri-awful division with a .500-ish record” crown. Sunday it went to Texas with the Astros falling out of their tie for first place (remember that they own the tiebreaker). Isaac Paredes had put Houston ahead with a solo homer and an RBI knock in the third, but the Astros’ bullpen set that lead on fire. The big blow came off the bat of Ronald Acuña Jr., who belted a grand slam off Bryan Abreu in the seventh after AJ Blubaugh made a right mess of things.

AL Standings

In yesterday’s game against the Mets, the soft underbelly (or maybe, the softer underbelly) of the bullpen was exposed. Brooks Raley, Chase Shugart and Orion Kerkering were given spots in the game where they were asked to at least keep the game within reach, yet instead, they pushed it over the edge into a winless oblivion.

So now what?

What is the plan supposed to be for the bullpen and how the team is supposed to use it? Obviously they are going to have to keep trying things, if only because there are only seven games left on the regular season schedule and someone is going to have to pitch the innings necessary to finish games.

I just don’t know how to do it. Do you?

The finishing touches are being put on to the St. Louis Cardinals season and despite another season missing the playoffs, the overall year has to be seen as a success. With the season being a fact-finding mission for the roster, there are very few remaining questions on the big league squad while the minor league teams cap their seasons with championship runs.

With the experts setting preseason win totals around 68.5 coming into the year, fans were anticipating one of the most painfully long years in recent St. Louis memory. However, the Cardinals steamrolled past that total and while recency bias has really showed how bad things could have been all season, the 2026 season found a way to capture my attention for the entirety of a lost year. As things now stand, there is more clarity and a feeling of optimism that has not surrounded Busch Stadium for a handful of years.

The Cardinals know their needs for 2027 and beyond

As we look back on yet another losing season, the feelings around the club were different. From JJ Wetherholt debuting, Tarps Off, Burly and Walker doing there thing and plenty of other things in between, this team kept me interested far longer than I anticipated. I was honored to be a guest on Meet Me at Musial with friend of the site Daniel Shoptaw (C70) and we agreed that the team got answers nearly everywhere on the diamond, even if some of those answers were not the ones they wanted. I wanted to take the time to ignore these past two weeks and talk about what went right during another rollercoaster season.

1. The lineup foundation

Pretty much from game one, we can look back and see that the Cardinals have some major answers at big spots in the lineup. JJ Wetherholt has spent all but five plate appearances sitting in the leadoff spot, and while the next three spots changed until finally setting on a setup, Ivan Herrera, Alec Burleson, and Jordan Walker can be written with ink into the 2-4 spots next season. On Musial, of these three I mentioned that Herrera’s long-term future is the most in question, but that is not a bridge they need to cross this offseason. I believe he is the starting DH on Opening Day next year and should even get the full season to prove his downturn was due to being run down behind the plate.

Between Burleson and Walker, I do not think it is out of pocket to say I have more confidence in Burly’s career year being a platform season to further greatness than Walker’s. The lefty put together a spectacular season from start to finish and did not have a month with an OPS below .729 while staying totally healthy and playing a very nice first base. Burly’s career-best season is near what I said at the beginning of the year that he is going to be that guy you forget about putting together a handful of 30 homer, 100 RBI seasons at the wrong time for Cardinals baseball.

For Walker, he has been able to sustain his newfound success for an entire season and seemed to always correct his plate discipline right before things went off the rails again. Even as he was breaking out, there was skepticism to how much we should believe in him as a 20% league-average player. Walker is going to end the season was the Cardinals’ team leader in homers, stolen bases, and slugging percentage while finishing right behind Burly in average, RBIs, and overall OPS. The strikeout “fix” is for real and we are just going to have to live with him going down on strikes 25% of the time and looking terrible doing it at times. Being just 24, Walker had the breakout season that could eventually leapfrog him past Burleson as the contract situation gets messier for the middle of the order hitters.

The rest of the order had some glimpses of future, but I am 100% in on Leo Bernal settling in near the top half and while less bullish on the long-term future of Joshua Baez, he will provide enough offensive protection for the first four hitters. Masyn Winn needs a fully healthy season to prove his consistency, but there is no need to rush him out of the lineup. If all goes to plan, Winn could be a highly effective eight or nine hitter but has been asked to do more than that in his career thus far. Nathan Church is the starting center fielder until he is pressed out of the role and that might not come in 2027. Third base is anyone’s to take and Thomas Saggese is doing his best to be at the top of the pecking order when Spring Training arrives.

Overall, the offense was not the problem in 2026 and while expecting the entire group to remain healthy and mirror their success from this year are high expectations, little needs to be done in the lineup heading into next year.

2. Team Health

For better or worse, the Cardinals had a stellar bill of health with the arms on their major league roster yet again. This year, thankfully, the health spread to guys like Kyle Leahy and Andre Pallante rather than Erick Fedde and Miles Mikolas and the current group took full advantage of a full season. The end of the season for Leahy has been a disappointing taper off in order to get him ready for 175+ innings next year, and Pallante used the extended leash to put up a career-best season and a short IL stay.

Michael McGreevy has done exactly what is expected from him from a stuff perspective and the trio seems to be an easy lock into the 2027 rotation. The top and bottom slots in those five are up for debate and will probably not get an answer any time soon, but we did find out who is not that solution. Matthew Liberatore got another full season as a starter, so the team is not allowed to point to Libby needing a healthy season to prove his value. It may be possible that he is penciled into the rotation on a matter of seniority, but Quinn Mathews and Cooper Hjerpe will be pushing him from day one.

Because of the overall pitching health, the Cardinals know what they have with may of their guys. While it was disappointing to see Richard Fitts and Hunter Dobbins go down with injuries alongside Ixan Henderson, there is enough talent stocked at the top of the minors that stayed healthy and can figure into their remaining plans. That spot may end up being the bullpen that Chaim Bloom was unwilling to supplement, so if any of the high-octane prospects miss out of the starting rotation, they can still figure into the big league club and help to update one of the worst reliever corps in the entire league.

To no surprise, the guys who played everyday got a little more nicked up than the starters, but none of them were long-term, career-altering stays on the IL. Masyn Winn does need to find a way to keep himself healthy for 140+ games so he and JJ Weterholt can truly be the middle infield duo of the future. Wetherholt had his own mismanaged wrist injury as a rookie, but that was attributed to playing more baseball than he has in his life so no need to look too far into that yet. The overall health was still there, which allowed us to see that Nolan Gorman and Victor Scott II are not the future at third and center.

Whether it is through prescribed methods from Chris Conroy and Co. or just luck, the Cardinals bill of health has been solid at the big league level. The injuries to the pitching staff had mounted up among the prospect group, which led me to wonder if the newfound focus on stuff and velocity is the culprit since the major league group is still led by more traditional pitch-to-contact arms.

3. Prospect Debuts

There were definitely more positives beyond these three, so feel free to share yours in the comments to keep the conversation going. Honorable mentions for me before finishing the list were The Trade Deadline and Upper Minors Success

In a way to combine those two ideas, I decided to go with the debuts of the Cardinals well-regarded prospects as my final choice for the list. What Bloom was able to do at the deadline set the team up for guys to get their chances in the bigs, but what we saw from these prospects is also a major shout to the player development staff.

Joshua Baez obviously had one of the great debuts in major league history, but his overall progression to get here was also impressive. He will probably be the starting left fielder and five-hole hitter on the 2027 Cardinals and he will get as much run as possible there. The Cardinals had to be a little cautious with his usage this year, which saw him platoon a tad before going down with an oblique injury, but those restrictions will not be in place next season. The power is there, but how much the swing-and-miss interrupts his potential will be the biggest story for him next year.

JJ Wetherholt and Leo Bernal have been comfortable and consistent in their debut seasons and there is no reason to see them outside of their spots next year. Wetherholt was the best defensive second baseman in the game while showing as a perfect lead off hitter for the boppers behind him. He should see a great second year jump after what was a successful rookie year. In Bernal’s case, he may be playing his way into a top-five favorite for 2027 Rookie of the Year. The switch-hitter has not been overmatched at the plate and while he has a few errors already, he won two minor league awards for his catching so I have faith he will be okay back there. His progression makes the catching situation one to monitor again. Jimmy Crooks and Pedro Pages will likely be dangled on the market, while Rainiel Rodriguez will probably add a glove or two to his practice bag.

On the pitching side, Quinn Mathews and Cooper Hjerpe have both shown high-quality major league stuff. They have also shown the issues they will have to iron out going into their first full seasons in the bigs. Both can be seen as rotation candidates to slot in among the right-handers, but they will have plenty to compete with in the spring. Mathews has been trusted to work deeper into games as the year progressed while Hjerpe is coming back from injury, so the former may have the inside track on a spot. What happens with Liberatore will also give some look into the future, because Hjerpe has long been projected to settle in as a reliever with some starting potential.

Even as the Cardinals close out another season under .500, the 2026 season was a step forward from the previous two seasons. The vibes are different in the clubhouse and the front office has the foundation for which to build the next contender. The team’s overall success this year allows Bloom to allocate resources to a couple spots, rather than having to seek answers at a handful of positions. Outside of CBA negotiations, the 2026 offseason would be one of the most interesting for me to see if Bloom opens the pocketbook or gets aggressive on the trade market.

Thanks as always!

Meet the Mets

The Mets soundly defeated the Phillies 10-3, feasting on Philadelphia’s beleaguered bullpen in a memorable day at Citi Field that began with Carlos Beltrán’s number retirement ceremony and ended with Howie Rose signing off the Mets radio broadcast for the last time. It contained another piece of history too: Carson Benge recorded three hits—including a home run—to break Pete Alonso’s record for most hits by a Mets rookie in a season.

Choose your recap: Amazin’ Avenue, MLB.com, Newsday, New York Daily News, New York Post

Carson Benge’s third hit of yesterday’s game was his 156th of the season, which snaps the record previously held by Pete Alonso for most hits by a Mets rookie in a season.

Greg Prince of Faith and Fear in Flushingreflected on Carlos Beltrán’s place in Mets history and his place among other Mets who have had their numbers retired. Benge’s twelve three-hit games are also a Mets rookie record.

When asked about the Mets’ managerial job, Carlos Beltrán was noncommittal, stressing that he enjoys his current role in the front office. But he left the possibility open that he would interview for the position.

“We’re going to add certain voices to the front office that are going to be helpful,” Mets owner Steve Cohen said during an in-game interview yesterday—not necessarily meaning a general manager.

The Mets activated Cionel Pérez from the injured list and optioned Cameron Weston ahead of yesterday’s game, in which Pérez appeared.

Christian Scott and Andrew Painter were high school teammates. Yesterday, they faced off against each other in the major leagues.

After the game, Howie Rose signed off for possibly the last time. Gary, Keith, and Ron paid tribute to the Mets’ iconic radio announcer as well.

Around the National League East

After the Mets tagged Orion Kerkering for four runs in his outing yesterday, the Phillies optioned him to Triple-A as their bullpen woes continue.

Ethan Salas came through with a pinch-hit, walk-off hit to lift the Padres over the Marlins 7-6 in ten innings.

The Nationals played an extra-inning game as well, overcoming four errors and two blown leads by the bullpen to defeat the Cardinals 8-5 in eleven innings.

Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a go-ahead grand slam in the Braves’ 6-3 win over the Astros.

Around Major League Baseball

David Adlery of MLB.com reviewed nine stats that will loom large in the postseason.

The Yankees are not revealing the severity of Aaron Judge’s calf strain, which has him currently on the injured list.

Wyatt Langford showed off some acrobatics in the Rangers’ 6-2 victory over the Blue Jays.

There is a “good chance” Shohei Ohtani will be activated for the Dodgers’ next series against the Padres.

Manny Randhawa of MLB.com ran down the best player on each contending team seeking his first ring.

This Date in Mets History

As it turns out, September 20 has historically been a good day for Mets pitching.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz recently said, “As a whole, we felt like we’ve been playing with house money. What an opportunity for these guys to go out and compete [in meaningful late-season games].”

Yes, that’s the wrong color Sox, but I’ve been thinking this exact same thing as a Red Sox fan. After the way the 2026 season kicked off, I can hardly believe we’re here, primed to clinch the second Wild Card. The months of April through June almost feel like a bad dream I once had, but no, they really happened: the team played bad baseball right out of the gate, Alex Cora was fired, Chad Tracy took over as an interim manager, and players who were seen as massively important to the Red Sox chances—Garrett Crochet, Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, and more—were quickly lost to long-term injuries.

Fans were calling this one of the worst Sox teams they had ever seen. I was one of them. I had written off the Red Sox completely by the time my birthday rolled around in mid-April. I publicly wrote how painful it was for me to recap my assigned games. It looked like it was going to be a loooong season.

Now, with a shrinking magic number, they can comfortably count on the second Wild Card spot. Given what the team has been through, to be here feels incredible. This is gravy, as they say. It feels like we—I’m collectively speaking of the fans, the players, the interim coaches—are playing with nothing to lose.

The early-season chaos elevated Chad Tracy and his interim staff unexpectedly from posts across the minor league system. If things had gone according to plan, they wouldn’t have even been in the majors. There was clearly pressure, of course, with all eyes on them. But there was no immediate turnaround. The team was still bad, almost all the way through June. There’s a kind of freedom in that. Screw it, right, because what else can you say? Well, the team rose up from the ashes of poor play and IL casualties. Big contributions from unexpected heroes like Caleb Durbin, Jake Bennett, Anthony Seigler, Andruw Monasterio, Tsung-Che Cheng, Nick Sogard, and Mickey Gasper helped make this summer magical. This is the embodiment of house money, like Getz said.

House Money Vs. Real Money

The paradox here is that it may feel like house money for the fans, the players, and the interim coaching staff. Meanwhile, success is absolutely a high-stakes corporate mandate for John Henry and FSG.

The truth is, John Henry paid the toll, in real money. The 2026 season was not some accidental, low-budget miracle. FSG spent historic amounts of money and other currency (prospects!) to construct the core of this team.

First there were the starting rotation upgrades. They traded for Garrett Crochet in December 2024 and then extended him the following March to a six-year, $170 million blockbuster deal (only for him to spend most of 2026 on the Injured List, unfortunately). The Red Sox traded three players for Sonny Gray in November 2025. Craig Breslow recovered from the seeming embarrassment of missing out on free agent Alex Bregman by handing Ranger Suárez a massive 5-year, $130 million contract.

In the search for improved defense, the Red Sox mostly used their prospects capital. The trade that brought Durbin, Seigler, and Monasterio (and a draft pick) to Boston was facilitated by sending out three other players.

Don’t forget the big bats. To secure a premier, middle-of-the-order, right-handed hitter, they traded three more prospects for Willson Contreras. Then the Sox shocked everyone at the trade deadline by trading four prospects and a current major leaguer for All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman.

For the front office, this season’s success isn’t house money—it’s an expected return on investment. From the luxury tax perspective, the Red Sox should be here. Henry has paid handsomely for them to be here. He didn’t authorize roughly a quarter-billion dollars in new commitments over the last year for nothing.

So if we’re talking house money, well, it’s John Henry’s house. He bought the house—built the whole casino, in fact—and financed the chips we’re all playing with. But the irony remains: the team living inside Henry’s casino played most of the summer with the kind of scrappy abandon that comes from having snuck in through a back entrance.

They’re a different team now, of course, since players like Story and Anthony have returned from the IL, and there may be more additions too, with Crochet and Tanner Houck possibly assuming roles as relievers. Those returns have changed the roster, and so has Tracy’s strategy of resting players and reserving energy for the playoffs.

But let’s see where this house money can take us. It’s still burning a hole in my pocket and I know I’m not the only one.

2026 looked to be a lost season for Mookie Betts, as an oblique injury cost him a month’s worth of time. At the All-Star break, the Dodgers shortstop was limping to the tune of a .235/.293/.416 slashline with 11 home runs and 31 RBI over 60 games.

Since the second half of the regular season began, Betts has turned into his 2023 MVP-runner-up self, as he’s slashing .290/.364/.452 with 11 home runs and 36 RBI over his last 56 games. Betts has been on a tear his last three games, as he’s hitting .833 with five extra-base hits and five RBI, highlighted by a four-hit, three-double game on Saturday in the Dodgers’ 10-4 win over the San Francisco Giants.

Betts has hit all around the lineup, going from as high as leadoff to as low as the six hole, but Betts has been certifying himself as a force at the top of the lineup during this final homestand. Betts spoke with David Vassegh of SportsNet LA about his torrid stretch at the plate hitting at the top spot following Saturday’s win, noting that the return of Shohei Ohtani will directly impact where he hits everyday.

“It’s fun. Like you said, I’ve done it for so long, but that man Shohei— he deserves what he gets. We all know where he needs to hit in the lineup.”

Saturday was a rough outing for left-hander Tarik Skubal as he allowed four earned runs while striking out a season-low three hitters over five innings.

Despite the atypical night for Skubal, his offense was able to generate six runs after his final pitch, giving him his fourth win as a Dodger. When speaking with Vassegh following the game, Skubal gave all the credit to the offense and bullpen for carrying the team the rest of the way.

“Obviously, I wasn’t very good today. The offense, defense and bullpen picked me up big time, and that’s what good teams do— they pick each other up, and win series and win baseball games. Hats off to them.”

Mirjam Swanson at the Los Angeles Times writes about Tyler Glasnow and the ability to trust himself as the playoffs loom near. Glasnow was solid on Friday against San Francisco, allowing just two runs while striking out 10 hitters.

“Today was a step in the right direction,” said Glasnow, the formerHart High star, before leaving the clubhouse in flip-flops. “I’d rather kind of feel it, work through some stuff, and have a good one right before playoffs.

“I think I’m in a good spot right now.”

Jack Harris of the California Post has a positive update regarding Shohei Ohtani, as the two-way superstar did base running drills and used the Trajekt Ark pitching machine in the cage. Hitting coach Aaron Bates notes that Ohtani has been really good with the machine, and the next test will be how he performs in live batting practice.

“In the cage, in a controlled setting, he’s been really good. It’s 100% intensity,” Bates said. “Once he gets out to the field, if he does a live BP or something like that, and the intensity ramps up, it’ll be a good test to see what happens. But in the cage, in the controlled setting, he’s been really good.”

Today’s Reflections

I would like to say that Clay Holmes’ game Friday night wasn’t that bad when he left the game. However, end the end, it WAS a bad game.

Holmes allowed only three hits over 5.1 innings with four strikeouts, but five big walks doomed him. He had a rough first three innings as the Cubs trailed, 3-2, at that point. He received a boost in the fourth with a two-run Cub inning for a 4-3 lead and Holmes responded with two good innings.

But it all fell apart in the sixth. Holmes left after he filled the bases with three walks with one out. Javier Assad was in a tough situation, but didn’t put out the fire as he allowed one-run and two-run singles as the Reds took a 6-4 lead and held it for the duration.

Offensively, the Cubs built their 4-3 lead with an RBI-single by Carson Kelly, a solo home run by Ian Happ and a two-RBI single by Seiya Suzuki. Michael Conforto had an empty 3-for-4 game. Kelly later had another single, a walk and a HBP. Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson each singled.

The Cubs had the opportunities, with nine hits and four walks, but they went 2-for 10 with RISP.

I appreciate your reading.

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Friday’s Game Stories:

• Bill Ladson (MLB.com): Wheels fall off in 6th frame for Holmes, Cubs in missed opportunity. ““I really couldn’t finish the outing. That’s what it comes down to. You can’t walk the leadoff guy in the sixth — the walks hurt us,” Holmes said.“

• Jeff Agrest (Chicago Sun-Times): Michael Busch’s caught-stealing caps Cubs’ frustrating loss to Reds. “Happ homered in the third inning, continuing his pillaging of Great American Ball Park. So why on earth did Michael Busch try stealing second base with two outs and Happ representing the tying run?”

• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): Michael Busch’s baserunning miscue and Chicago Cubs’ lack of execution prove costly in 6-4 loss in Cincinnati. “For a Chicago Cubs team trying to secure the National League’s top wild-card spot, there were ample moments Friday night at Great American Ball Park they might dwell on as missed opportunities.”

Assorted Pitching Stories:

• Carson Wolf (Just Baseball): How Should the Cubs Stack Up Their Playoff Rotation? “The Chicago Cubs have several options for their postseason rotation, but which starters should get the ball in a postseason series?”
• Elias Schuster (Chicago Cubs {$}): Cubs’ Decision on Justin Steele Looms After Best Rehab Appearance Yet. “The Chicago Cubs could welcome Justin Steele back into the bullpen for their stretch run, but would it be too risky?”

Assorted Hitting Stories:

• Carson Wolf (Just Baseball): When Do We Buy Into Tyrone Taylor’s Shocking Heater? “Tyrone Taylor has quietly been a major force for months. Here’s what’s powering his surge and why it may be worth buying into.”
• Randy Holt (North Side Baseball): Alex Bregman’s Jekyll-and-Hyde Season Hasn’t Actually Been That Confusing. “Only four NL position players have been more valuable to their team in 2026 than Alex Bregman. What changed after a slow start, and where was the catalyst?”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong extension looks better than ever with new Elly De La Cruz rumor. “Reds and their superstar stuck in a marriage destined for failure?”
• Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Cubs’ Ian Happ faces major problem with upcoming free agency. “”The big problem here for the four-time Gold Glover is that he’s a switch-hitter who is totally broken from one side,” Snyder writes. “As a right-handed hitter, Happ is slashing .150/.223/.276 with 48 strikeouts in 127 at-bats.”“
• Bill Ladson (MLB.com): Swanson returns from left oblique strain for Cubs’ final stretch. ““Since that time frame, I felt really good and figured some things out as far as what is going to work for me offensively — hopefully for the rest of my career,” he said.“
• Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Why beloved Cubs outfielder’s free agent stock being high could be a problem. “”There had previously been concerns that he might need to become a full-time designated hitter, and instead he now grades out as above average in the field,” Snyder writes. “His stock is high heading toward the offseason.”“

Assorted Stories:

• AJ Cassavell (MLB.com): Now even with Cubs, Phillies for top WC spot, Padres take aim at home playoff series, “The Cubs had lost in Cincinnati. The Phillies had lost to the Mets. The Yankees hung a five-spot on the Diamondbacks in the top of the first inning and cruised to a win.”
• Rich Eberwein (Cubbies Crib): Cubs can find some much needed playoff optimism hiding inside one incredible stat. “The 2026 Cubs have one of the best offenses the franchise has ever seen”
• Brandon Click (Cubbies Crib): 2 things Cubs can’t ignore with the final 10 days of the season finally here. “It’s put up or shut up time.”
• Field Level Media (Yardbarker): With hope of being ‘the last team standing,’ Cubs seek to even series vs. Reds. “Despite their struggles of late — the Cubs have lost three of their past five games — they haven’t lost their belief.“
• Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Cubs could have perfect opportunity for front office change with Carter Hawkins in demand. “Change on the horizon?”

Food For Thought:

Joshua Barnes Howell, known as Peg Leg Howell (March 5, 1888 – August 11, 1966), was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist, who connected early country blues and the later 12-bar style. He was one of the first recorded artists of the Atlanta blues scene during the pre-war period, and he was also one of the first blues musicians to ever make a race record.

Joshua Barnes Howell was born on March 5, 1888, on a farm in Eatonton, Georgia, to Thomas Howell and Ruthie Myrick. During his childhood, he grew up around music, but did not take a serious interest in playing music until his early twenties. He completed school in the 9th grade, and went to work alongside his father as a farm hand.

In 1909, he reportedly stayed up one night and taught himself to play the guitar at the age of 21. He became skilled in pre-Piedmont fingerpicking and slide guitar techniques. He continued working on the farm until 1916, when he was shot during an argument with his brother-in-law, as a result of which he lost his right leg, and had to wear a prosthetic afterwards.

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

Triple-A: Charlotte Knights (CWS) 10, Norfolk Tides 6

Juaron Watts-Brown’s final start of the season did not go well. He lasted just three innings and gave up seven runs. The Knights had a four-run first that included a three-run homer. Watts-Brown gave up three more runs in the third inning another home run, plus two walks thrown in. His final line: 3 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 4 BB, 1 K. In 10 games with the Tides, Watts-Brown had a 10.22 ERA.

The bullpen allowed three more runs, but Dietrich Enns and Albert Suárez pitched two scoreless innings apiece. Enns was perfect with just 23 pitches. Suárez allowed a hit and a walk, but struck out three.

On offense, the Tides had a two-run first inning in a Creed Williams sac fly and Bryan Ramos double, which came after Enrique Bradfield reach on an error and Jud Fabian walked.

In the third inning, Enrique Bradfield manufactured a run almost all on his own. He singled, stole both second and third, and scored on a groundout by Aron Estrada. He had three stolen bases in the game giving him a season total of 44. He’s been caught just six times.

The final three Tides’ runs scored on home runs from Ramos and Sam Huff.

Ramos and Peyton Eelees both had a two-hit game. Estrada and Willems were hitless.

Box Score

Today’s Schedule

Today is the final day of the Minor League season. The Tides host the Knights at 1:05. Starting pitcher is Trace Bright.

Good morning, baseball fans!

Another week of San Francisco Giants baseball comes to a close today, so it’s time to pick our favorite highlights of the week!

Mine happened to take place a little over a week ago, but since I pre-write these I made the executive decision that my week includes the previous Friday. Which is a good thing because Rafael Devers hit a grand slam in last Friday’s game against the Padres. Grand slams and splash hits will almost always be my picks for highlights of the week.

What was your favorite highlight of the week?

What time do the Giants play today?

The Giants wrap up this road series against the Los Angeles Dodgers this afternoon at 1:10 p.m. PT.

PHOENIX — When Laz Diaz arrived at Tiger Stadium to make his major-league debut, Sparky Anderson was in the Detroit Tigers dugout, Phil Garner was managing the Milwaukee Brewers, and the lineups were littered with names like Lou Whitaker, Kirk Gibson, Cecil Fielder, David Wells, B.J. Surhoff and Daryl Hamilton.

The year was 1995.

Now, 31 years later, with Tiger Stadium long gone, Diaz will be back in Detroit, this time at Comerica Park, where he is scheduled to be the home-plate umpire Saturday, Sept. 26, when future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander makes his final appearance.

Diaz, who was also the home-plate umpire in Verlander’s first postseason game in 2006 at Yankee Stadium – a 4-3 victory in the AL Division Series – now is calling it a career, too.

More: Phillies can't live in fear of another playoff bullpen debacle

Diaz, 63, only the second Latino crew chief in MLB history and a former Marine Corps reserve, is umpiring his final regular-season game Sunday, Sept. 27. He and six other veteran umpires have taken the buyouts and will say good-bye to a game that has dramatically changed.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:W, 6-5 (10) vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp — thrilling win, but a victory by the Rochester Red Wings left the RailRiders two games back with one to play; today will be the Yankees’ 2026 minor league finale (though the Arizona Fall League is coming up soon)

LF Jarred Kelenic 1-5, 3 K
DH Jasson Domínguez 0-4, 2 K
C J.C. Escarra 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K — two-run shot in the fifth pulled Scranton within one
2B Marco Luciano 0-5, K
1B Yanquiel Fernández 0-3, 2 BB, K — scored on a wild pitch in the tenth to win it
3B Tyler Hardman 2-5, HR, RBI, K, throwing error
CF Duke Ellis 3-5, SB
RF Kenedy Corona 1-4, 2B, RBI, K
SS Connor McGinnis 1-3, RBI — sac fly in the eighth tied game at five

Alexander Cornielle 3.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 4 K, 1 HR — gave up a grand slam in the second
Zach Messinger 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Eric Reyzelman 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Eli Morgan 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Chris Kean 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Justin Topa 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Edinson Duran 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K (win) — position player comes on and gets the win

Double-A Somerset Patriots: Season over

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades: Season over

Low-A Tampa Tarpons: Season over

Florida Complex League Yankees: Season over

Dominican Summer League Yankees: Season over

Dominican Summer League Bombers: Season over

Hello, friends.

The Orioles added another disappointing game on an “honor a part of the team’s history” day with yesterday’s 1-0 loss to the Brewers. You would easily think that Trevor Rogers pitching eight innings while striking out batters would have meant a win on the day that the team hosted the honorary “retire as an Oriole” festivities for Trey Mancini. Alas, no! The Orioles mustered four hits, still more than the Brewers did, and still they lost. Check out Andrea’s recap of the game for more of the not-so-lovely totals.

Any slim postseason hopes have crashed with the losses in the last two games, each of which was stupid in their own way. Even if the Orioles run the table at this point, 82-80 isn’t likely to get them there. They probably won’t be mathematically eliminated before Tuesday. If they play better, they’ll push that back a day or three. They don’t look like they’re going to play better.

The real news from yesterday is that Mike Elias spoke to Orioles media ahead of yesterday’s game and indicated he’s expecting to return, and that manager Craig Albernaz will also return. That probably means there won’t be a David Rubenstein-induced surprise in another eight days.

This is likely not a welcome series of news for people who’ve watched the season play out; I’ve gone in on Albernaz a few times as the season has gone along and did so again after watching Friday’s loss. I don’t think he’ll be better next year. I don’t think he’s going to go home this offseason and think about it and come back as a different guy. We’re stuck with him until Elias is gone. Not much to do but hope for the best even when it’s unlikely we’ll get it.

Elias is, at least, sort of signaling that maybe things will go a little differently in the front office. Recent days have seen the director of player development Matt Blood depart, and analytics guru Sig Mejdal had his title adjusted to reflect more working with technology than overseeing analytics. The idea of hiring a subordinate general manager to Elias has come up again; The Baltimore Banner’s Andy Kostka reported that a source says the O’s are looking for a potential GM with a player development background to complement Elias’s scouting background, with the idea of finding someone from outside the organization who might have different ideas of doing things.

There is some potential here for things to change. Kostka’s source indicated that the Orioles ownership would be involved in the search for front office additions. If this is the way we’re seeing the top level think that things need to go differently – not firing Elias outright but making sure he knows he’s got to try to change how he’s doing things – then that’s a plus. One could certainly view it all cynically and think Elias will just hire somebody who is going to tell him that everything is going great and that he’s doing everything right already.

This is not a ship that can turn quickly. The offseason may afford even fewer chances to turn the ship, since player movement is going to be shut down as soon as the owners collective greed leads to an immediate lockout as soon as the CBA expires in December. If things play out on a similar timetable as the last round of negotiations, there’ll be nothing happening in December and January and early February, no trades or signings. 2027, who knows?

The 2026 Orioles already had their “Iceberg, right ahead!” moment where they could not avert the disaster. The ship is rapidly sinking. The captain is not going down with this ship. They play another game at 7:20 tonight, which will air only on Peacock.

Orioles stuff you might have missed

Félix Bautista activated; Helsley and O’Neill officially done for 2026 (Orioles.com)
Not to be lost from yesterday’s news, the Mountain is back with the Orioles. Maybe we’ll see him pitch today. Maybe it won’t be depressing.

Trey Mancini signs one-day contract to retire an Oriole: ‘One of the great honors of my life’ (The Baltimore Banner)
Kostka’s write-up of the honorary contract and retirement from yesterday. Mancini might have been able to walk out into an Orioles uniform for a day and improve that lineup.

Joseph Dzierwa sees his outstanding year on Orioles farm as “a combination of everything” (Steve on Baseball)
If you have been paying attention to Orioles prospects this year, you probably caught Dzierwa fever as the season went along.

Prospect review: Stiven Martinez might have found something (Orioles On The Verge)
Martinez was on my preliminary list for getting a Camden Chat prospect review post, but didn’t end up making the final cut. The folks at On The Verge are a bit more interested.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

Today in 1958, knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm threw a no-hitter in a 1-0 victory over the Yankees. This was the first no-hitter in Orioles history, and the last time in the 20th century that the Yankees were no-hit.

In 1998, Cal Ripken Jr. did not play in a game, ending his consecutive games played streak at 2,632. Atlanta’s Matt Olson is the active leader with 932 consecutive games – 8th place on the all-time list.

There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2014 infielder Steve Lombardozzi, 1990 outfielder Dave Gallagher, and 1972 pitcher Roric Harrison.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: novelist Upton Sinclair (1878), actress Sophia Loren (1934), and author George R. R. Martin (1948).

On this day in history…

In 1519, Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition to circumnavigate the globe set sail from Sanlúcar de Barrameda in southern Spain. Nearly three full years later, one of the five ships and 40 of the 270 men returned successfully. Magellan did not survive.

In 1946, the first Cannes Film Festival was held. The original plan was for the first festival to take place in 1939. That plan was interrupted by World War II.

In 1973, Billie Jean King was victorious in the “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match against Bobby Riggs.

**

And that’s the way it is in Birdland on September 20. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!

The Detroit Tigers dropped the third game of their four-game weekend series against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Saturday, 3-1, ending any chance of the team finishing at the .500 mark this season. Jackson Jobe earned a quality start for his effort, but the offense failed to play their part, resulting in the disappointing road loss.

Getting the start in the final game of the series is right-hander Troy Melton, who has faded a bit late this season after a summer that saw him post a sub-2.00 ERA for a healthy portion of the campaign. However, over the 25-year-old’s last five outings, he has posted a 5.81 ERA and 5.75 FIP over 26 1/3 innings of work — but that stretch did also include a seven-inning quality start in which he gave up three runs to the Tampa Bay Rays in Detroit, but still took the loss.

Melton has seen the ChiSox thrice this season and has not allowed more than one earned run in any of those games. Collectively, the former fourth-round pick put up a 1.56 ERA and a 3.86 FIP over 17 1/3 frames against the White Sox, with one personal win while his team lost the other two.

For the White Sox, fellow righty Davis Martin will climb the hill for Sunday’s finale looking to continue his strong September showing. Over his last three starts stretching across 16 innings, the 29-year-old has put up a microscopic 1.13 ERA but a much less impressive 4.97 FIP on 13 hits (two home runs) and four walks while striking out just four; his team lost all three of those games, while he earned an L as well.

Martin faced the Tigers once before this season, on June 21, when he threw six innings of one-run ball on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts for a no-decision in a 10-inning, 5-4 road loss.

Below is a look at how the two starters match up in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.

Detroit Tigers (73-82) vs. Chicago White Sox (79-76)

Time (ET): 2:10 p.m.
Place: Rate Field, Chicago, Illinois
SB Nation Site:South Side Sox
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 156: RHP Troy Melton (8-4, 2.52 ERA) vs. RHP Davis Martin (9-7, 3.96 ERA)

MELTON

MARTIN

Are there any good relievers left on the Phillies’ roster? Anyone? If there is any hope of their doing some kind of damage in the playoffs, it’s likely resting squarely on the shoulders of whoever Don Mattingly decides to entrust the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• Since the All-Star break, Brandon Marsh has been the worst hitter in baseball ($). It’s been difficult to watch.
• Even though he can’t actually pitch during the month, Jose Urquidy is trying to help the Phillies get to October.
• Orion Kerkering has been bad this year, which puts him at or near the top of the team’s list of bullpen concerns.

MLB news:

• The Mountain returns. Felix Bautista will pitch again this season for the Orioles for the first time in 14 months.
• Brandon Lowe has played well in Pittsburgh, who unsurprisingly is interested in retaining him beyond this season.
• Jose Ramirez got his 1,000th RBI on Friday night for the Guardians. I always wish the Phillies had made a deal for him.

The Marvel Universe continues to expand and reinvent itself. One of their many successes is the various “What If?” plot twists. “What If Doctor strange loses his heart instead of his hands? Perhaps it’s Spider-Man joining the Fantastic Four or “What If?” Ultron actually won?  

What if ?   

What if the Astros with all of their limitations this season won it all? Sure there’s organizational unrest internally and the product on the field has been disappointing, but could the Astros transform October into Shocktober?  

In my lifetime, it’s happened multiple times. Entrenched in our memories is Kirk Gibson’s hobbled AB vs. Eckersley in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, but there’s been countless others.

A year before Gibson’s heroics, the 1987 Twins had a run differential of -20. It was Tom Kelly’s first full season on the job and during the months of July and August that year, they posted losing records. The struggles on the road were even more daunting. In fact, in their World Series matchup vs. the St. Louis Cardinals, they’d drop every contest at Busch Stadium. Yet Minnesota won it all.

The 1990 Cincinnati Reds were remarkably average. After a red hot 9-0 start, they’d merely play .500 baseball over their final 100 games, posting a mark of 50-50. The start to the postseason was even more ominous as they dropped game one of the NLCS at home to the Pirates. The game wasn’t even a sellout. That was on October 4th and by October 20th, they had swept the A’s. Oakland simply had no answers for Jose Rijo.

Remember Josh Beckett? The New York Yankees certainly do. His two-hit complete game shutout at Yankee Stadium shocked the world and brought a title to South Beach in 2003. The Marlins payroll that season wasn’t even $50 million. By contrast, the Yankees spent $164 million.   

What If Mattress Mack has to give everyone a free Mattress this Fall?