Pete Crow-Armstrong stole his 40th base of the season Thursday, Sept. 24, and with it, he did something no one has ever done wearing a Cubs uniform.
With the 40 steals and 45 home runs, Crow-Armstrong joined MLB's 40-40 club.
He becomes the seventh MLB player to steal 40 bases and hit 40 home runs in the same season. Jose Canseco was the first to get there in 1988, Barry Bonds did it in 1996, Alex Rodriguez in 1998, Alfonso Soriano in 2006, Ronald Acuna Jr. in 2023 and Shohei Ohtani in 2024, when he completely blew past it and became baseball's first 50-50 player.
Three of those members of the 40-40 club also won the MVP award that season. Crow-Armstrong is certainly the leader in the clubhouse for the NL's version of that award as well.
It took him longer than it probably should have.
Crow-Armstrong had 36 steals by Sept. 8, including two in a game gainst the Milwaukee Brewers on Sept. 7, then didn't add another in the next four games before swiping his 37th of the season against the Atlanta Braves on Sept. 14. It wasn't that he stopped trying, but pitchers stopped giving him much to run on. He got there anyway with three games to spare.
The Cubs got Crow-Armstrong from the New York Mets in 2021, in a trade-deadline deal that sent Javier Baez and Trevor Williams to New York. Mets fans have had years to regret it. PCA debuted in September 2023, made his first All-Star team last year and won a Gold Glove in center field, and went 30-30 for the second consecutive season before doing this.
To be fair, nobody really saw this coming when the trade happened.
Crow-Armstrong was a top defensive prospect, but his bat was always in question. He has improved his bat speed, including nearly two ticks this year from 2025. He changed his batting stance, lowering his hands and shortened his swing path as he stood closer to the plate to change how pitchers attack him.
He also improved in the strike zone. His walk rate has nearly tripled from 4.5% to 11.5% and his chase rate on pitches out of the zone dropped from 41.7% to under 34%.
DENVER, CO - October 20: A traveler looks over a wall mural, part of an installation at the Denver International Airport entitled, Children of the World Dream Peace October 20, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
DIAMONDBACKS
ROCKIES
Lars Nootbaar – LF
Jake McCarthy – LF
Ketel Marte – 2B
Connor Norby – 2B
Gabriel Moreno – DH
Hunter Goodman – DH
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
TJ Rumfield – 1B
Pavin Smith – 1B
Cole Carrigg – CF
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Kyle Karros – 3B
Corbin Carroll – RF
Brett Sullivan – C
James McCann – C
Jordan Beck – RF
Tim Tawa – CF
Ezequiel Tovar – SS
E. Rodriguez – LHP
Tanner Gordon – RHP
#NotDeadYet The Padres beating the Dodgers did put a cramp into the chances of beating them. But our playoff odds still ticked up fractionally, to 8.1%, thanks to the Phillies losing again – and, of course, the victory over the Rockies. We go into today, with the Padres and Cubs both having a magic number of 1, so a win for them OR a loss by the D-backs, would clinch them a wild-card spot. The Phillies sit at 2 for their number, so would need both results to go in their favor to eliminate us. As ever, we would like all three teams to lose, but the most important thing remains the D-backs continuing to take care of their own business.
More scoreboard watching in order eventually, though we are the first game to get under way today. The Phillies game against the Brewers has its first pitch scheduled for 3:05 pm, Arizona time. Meawhile, the Padres-Dodgers game will not get under way until 7:10 pm. So we may not know our fate until the end of the day. Though if Arizona don’t win, things could be over with a Phillies victory. Eduardo Rodriguez has the task of ensuring the D-backs keep rolling. He faced the Rockies twice in May, and went 0-1 despite pitching well enough, allowing three earned runs (all at Coors) over 12.1 innings. Here’s to his first W of the year.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 17: Starting pitcher Tanner Gordon #29 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch in the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on September 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been a tough year for the Colorado Rockies in their home ballpark. After another loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks last night, the Rockies are 32-48 at home this season and are 131-191 overall since the start of the 2023 season.
The obvious struggles at home have been the pitching. The Rockies have a 5.75 ERA at home, which isn’t the worst in baseball thanks to the Athletics, but that pertains to the pitching staff as a whole. The starting pitching has a 6.46 ERA at Coors Field this season, by far the worst in baseball. The first inning has also been a nightmare, where the Rockies rotation owns a 7.41 ERA, over a full run higher than the next team.
Avoiding the sweep seems like a tall task.
Tanner Gordon (1-5, 6.01 ERA) will make the start for the Rockies. Coors Field has been a struggle for Gordon this season, where he owns an 8.20 ERA in 12 appearances, including seven starts. In 56 innings, he has allowed 15 home runs and given up 82 total hits. He hasn’t had much trouble in the first inning alone, but through the first three innings, he has a 7.71 ERA. He struggled in his last outing against the San Diego Padres, allowing seven runs on 10 hits over three innings of work. In September, Gordon has a 12.34 ERA in 11.2 innings, failing to throw five complete innings and giving up at least eight hits in each start. Gordon throws a lot of strikes, which is good, but oftentimes to the point where he becomes too hittable over the plate.
In three career starts against Arizona, Gordon has a 13.94 ERA in 10.1 innings. He made two starts in 2025, allowing 13 runs on 17 hits over 9.2 innings with eight strikeouts and a walk. He has strikeout potential, but a gritty team like the Diamondbacks that will take advantage of pitches over the zone has been an issue he’ll have to fight against today.
Eduardo Rodriguez (15-7, 2.89 ERA) starts for Arizona, trying to end his regular season on a high note. Rodriguez has had an incredible bounce-back year, serving as the rock of the Diamondbacks rotation amid the injuries and underperformance of other players. He has been a workhorse, tossing 183.2 innings, the second-most in a season of his career. In his last start, Rodriguez gave up seven runs on five hits over 5.1 innings against the New York Yankees. His command has been shaky all season, but the strikeout totals have remained strong to mitigate the danger for the most part.
He last faced the Rockies on May 21 when he threw seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits while striking out four against one walk. In his career against the Rockies, he’s 3-1 with a 4.21 ERA over eight starts, while boasting a 3.42 ERA over four career starts at Coors Field.
Aug 4, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
On Tuesday, the Detroit Tigers announced that starting catcher Dillon Dingler was the recipient of the team’s 2026 Heart and Hustle award. There couldn’t be a more deserving candidate. Dingler put the team on his back for months in the middle of the season, playing everyday and producing as the best catcher in baseball on both sides of the ball. His defense, his leadership, his bat, and the extra workload he shouldered are all to his credit. He ran out of gas in mid-August and it’s been really rough ever since, but it was still a very successful season for the Tigers primary backstop.
The problem is how to project him going forward. Clearly he hasn’t fully unlocked some new level at the plate where we should expect greatness like we saw in June and July. He’s likely going to end up with basically the same run production he had in 2025 when he posted a 108 wRC+. Currently, he’s at 109 wRC+ for 2026, and that’s despite posting back-to-back months below a 50 wRC+ mark to close out the season. After hitting a 4.1 fWAR mark last year, he’s currently at 5.0 fWAR even in 2026, ranking him the 14th most valuable position player in baseball. Per Baseball Reference, those marks are lower at 3.2 rWAR for 2025, and 4.2 rWAR this season, but B-Ref doesn’t use Statcast’s detailed catching metrics and weighs catcher defense a little lighter as a result.
Either way, the key to Dingler was always his defensive ability. He grades out as the most valuable defensive catcher, and one of most valuable defenders at any position in baseball. Per Statcast, Dingler is fifth in blocks above average with 11. He and the Blue Jays’ Brandon Valenzuela are tied for the lead in framing with eight runs saved. In throwing and pop time he remains near the top of the leaderboard firmly in plus territory. He draws good to elite grades in all elements of the catching position.
This was the reputation when Dingler made his way slowly through the minor leagues before debuting in August of 2024, four years after he was drafted out of Ohio State in 2020 with the first pick in the second round of the amateur draft. Dingler was always an elite catcher in the minor leagues. His offensive production was the more difficult part of the equation. He spent parts of three seasons stuck in Double-A Erie, slowly cutting down his strikeouts, and finally in 2024 at the Triple-A level, he posted a strikeout rate of 20.3 percent with a walk rate of 10 percent, and finally looked ready to go. He didn’t hit the ground running after taking over from Carson Kelly, who was traded to the Texas Rangers at the 2024 trade deadline, but his two full seasons at the major league level now show him as an above average hitting catcher who is one of the top defenders in the league.
In 2026, he started out with pretty typical production, but in June and July, he went nuts, and he did it by massively improving his production against sliders. Sliders in particular have always given him trouble, while he’s feasted more on sinkers and north-south offspeed pitches like splitters or straight changeups. This year it was offspeed stuff that really gave him trouble. Left-handers with good changeups were a problem for him all year long.
What’s particularly notable about this, is that improvement against the slider, and struggles with changeups and splitters, meant that his production was a lot better against right-handed pitching. Dingler currently holds a 129 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers, which is outstanding, but just a meager 66 wRC+ against left-handed pitching this season. Lefties who can spot sinkers away and occasionally back foot a breaking ball, can otherwise lean on their offspeed pitch and tie him up this season. That’s a complete reversal of his splits from 2025, when he mauled lefties for a 169 wRC+ and managed just an 89 wRC+ mark against right-handed pitching.
Dingler made some adjustments to his setup that might explain the increased production against right-handed pitching, particularly against sliders. He started setting up in an open stance, and then using his leg kick, which is basically the same both seasons, to get himself back into a more neutral position with his shoulders and hips square. He also stopped laying off his barrel over his shoulder, and is getting the bat into a more vertical position right before he starts to load his hands. The stance changed helped him keep from flying open against right-handers, which always had left him pretty vulnerable to their sliders. Instead, he preset himself open in his initial stance, and then used his leg kick to rotate back into a fully loaded but more neutral, squared off position at pitch release.
The change to his barrel angle wasn’t major, but presumably by keeping the bat more vertical rather than laid off over his right shoulder, he was able to get the barrel down to the zone earlier and catch more balls with loft, producing the huge surge in power we saw for much of the season. That might explain his improved ability to hammer sliders and the occasional changeup even when they were below the zone. In fact, during his red hot stretch in June and July, he often appeared to be hunting sliders down, knowing he was crushing those pitches with good loft and doing a ton of damage.
So what went wrong? There really isn’t a simple answer other than fatigue, but while that might explain a month long slump, by now you’d expect things to be coming around. Still he has played a lot. Even with AJ Hinch giving him more rest as Eduardo Valencia has settled in, Dingler is still going to finish with 143 or 144 games played this year, assuming one day off in the final series against Pittsburgh. He appeared in 126 games in 2025. He currently has 594 plate appearances compared to 469 in 2025. And yet, he’ll actually finish the season having caught less games than in 2025. His bat was so needed in their lineup after their collapse in May, that Dingler picked up a lot of extra shifts as the designated hitter on days off from behind the plate. Of course, there’s still plenty of work on a DH day, and that lack of full days off certainly could have caught up to him in August.
Take a look at Dingler’s pitch chart for his extra base hits this season. Below, you’ll see the same chart from 2025. He was clearly emphasizing hunting pitches down this year and doing a lot more damage on them, whereas he had a little more neutral bias in his pitch chart in 2025. The stance and barrel angle adjustments played a part as well, but the results indicate clear intent to hunt the ball down in the zone or even below it if necessary, while letting the high fastballs go by. This worked until August, and perhaps by then his legs were just gassed. Tired legs are stiff legs, and that ability to sink into his legs and leverage these lower pitches into the air likely suffered for it.
So, should we just expect that a better rested Dingler will get back to destroying the baseball in 2027?
Well, I think we can expect above average production again, but the fact is that Dingler is a pretty streaky hitter and will remain so without some amazing improvement in his plate discipline. He’ll need to readjust to the adjustments pitchers made to him after months of getting torched. Beyond that, players who chase a lot and don’t walk much just tend to be more erratic in their production, and plate discipline has always been a bit of a problem for Dingler. His walk rate in 2024 was a miserable 3.9 percent. In 2025 it was 4.9 percent, and in 2026 he raised it a bit further to 5.6 percent, but this is still roughly two percent lower than league average. At least he’s trending in the right direction.
Here’s his production by month. Obviously the highs and lows are somewhat BABIP dependent. It’s not as though he’s starting striking out a crazy amount either, though those numbers have certainly trended the wrong way. A combination of bad luck and fewer hard hit balls in the air is to blame for his production crumbling in early August, and it hasn’t come around in September despite playing a little less.
Month
PA
wRC+
K%
BB%
OBP
BABIP
March/Apr
106
124
17.9
6.6
0.327
0.261
May
110
107
24.9
11.8
0.300
0.219
June
113
175
21.2
2.7
0.354
0.355
July
93
138
23.7
3.2
0.355
0.345
August
113
45
25.7
5.3
0.239
0.208
September
63
40
25.4
3.2
0.222
0.250
As the low walk rates after May indicates, Dingler’s chase rates, or O-Swing percentage, remain on the high side. In 2024, he chased 36.7 percent of the time. In 2025 he cut that to a more palatable 30.2 percent, but then reverted back somewhat in 2026 to 33.7 percent. League average this year was 32.9 percent, so he’s not a disaster in this regard, but he strikes out more than average, and walks less than average, so there is certainly room for improvement. We’re probably not going to see that though. Instead, recently having turned 28 years old, this is just who Dillon Dingler is as a hitter. He’s going to have stretches where he’s chasing too much and caught between hard and soft stuff, and he’ll have runs where he’s a dominant hitter doing a lot of damage because he does make plenty of hard contact despite the strikeouts. There’s no need for more, because Dingler is more than enough already.
Dingler’s value is tied directly to his skills behind the plate, and the Tigers need to put themselves in positions where they aren’t riding an elite defensive catcher into the ground because they need maximum offensive production out of him too. That’s only going to become more relevant as he nears 30.
His work ethic, intelligence, and leadership all draw rave reviews from his coaches and teammates, leading to Dingler being voted the Tigers’ Heart and Hustle award winner this season. He’s going to give them everything he’s got, and this year they may have just drained the tank long before the season neared its endpoint. Pushing for more, especially as he’s into his late 20’s, is a bad idea. The Tigers have a lot of bats without a real defensive home. Sorting out that group and getting the most offense possible out of them is a necessity so that Dingler can just do what he does best, and catch as many games as possible.
Despite the collapse in August and September, it’s been an outstanding overall season for Dillon Dingler. He’ll finish the season as one of the top 20 position players in the game. Between him, Kevin McGonigle, Riley Greene, and now Max Clark, the Tigers look like they’ve got more than enough high end talent to get back to contention next year from an offensive perspective. The problem is getting enough out of the other positions on the field to balance out the lineup and the team’s defensive needs. Sort the rest of the roster out, and just let Dillon Dingler be Dillon Dingler next year. The Tigers, and his longer term career outlook, will be better for it.
The Yankees were officially eliminated from the AL East title race by the Rays’ win in the second game of the doubleheader on Tuesday. They managed to temporarily stave off elimination thanks to a dominant performance by Carlos Rodón in the first game of the day’s twin billing. With eight scoreless innings, he equalled his longest outing in a Yankees uniform to lower his season ERA to a sterling 2.67. Given the gravity of the performance and the game, it was a no-brainer to select Rodón for our Sequence of the Week.
We join Rodón facing Liam Hicks to lead off the top of the second. With one of MLB’s best run suppressors in Nick Martinez on the mound for the Rays, the task ahead of Rodón is a tough one. Hicks has proven an inspired pickup from the Marlins by the Rays at the deadline, batting .305 with a 143 wRC+ in 123 plate appearances since making the switch from the Atlantic Coast to the Gulf Coast, which explains why the catcher is batting cleanup for Tampa Bay.
Rodón starts Hicks with a first pitch four-seamer at 93 mph, Ali Sánchez setting a target low and away.
Rodón nails his spot with this fastball, painting the corner for called strike one. Hicks must be looking for something on the inner half, because he watches it go by without a thought of offering.
It appears Rodón is satisfied with the way that pitch felt coming out of the hand, because he goes right back to that pitch-location combo.
Same pitch, even better execution. Rodón paints the bottom edge of the zone with this 93 mph four-seamer for strike two called. It’s obvious at this point that Hicks is hunting something he can pull given the bat has not left his shoulder, and this is the last pitch you want to be trying to get out in front of.
At this point, Hicks has to defend that corner of the strike zone. Establishing the four-seamer for called strikes there has Hicks perfectly set up for the wipeout slider down and away out of the zone as he’s now forced to look away.
It’s the right idea but just without the execution to match. Rodón pulls this slider a hair, bouncing it beyond home plate for ball one. It looks like a ball low out of the hand, making for a pretty easy take from Hicks.
Rodón is still in the driver’s seat with the count 1-2. He’d be well within his rights to try another slider low and away, this time trying to execute it closer to the zone. However, he elects to go back to the four-seamer, if not for the strikeout then to set up a future slider.
Even though Rodón fails to elevate this four-seamer where he wants it and ends up leaving it in a pretty dangerous place, the 19 inches of induced vertical break keep the pitch above Hicks’ barrel, leading to a foul ball rather than a ball in play. What’s more, as we are about to see, this fastball is the perfect setup pitch for a chase slider.
By continuing to prove that he can land his four-seamer on the outer edge of the zone, Rodón keeps the door open for Hicks to chase a slider.
Rodón unleashes a dandy, this slider looking like a strike out of the hand before falling off the table for the swinging strikeout. This kind of slider is so tough to lay off because it remains over the plate for the entire journey toward home, the sharp downward movement carrying it into an unhittable location. Rodón can thank the prior four-seamer for the outcome of this slider.
Look at the way the slider and the four-seamer that immediately preceded it look exactly the same coming out of Rodón’s hand. Rodón landing that four-seamer where he did set a perfect target for him to tunnel the subsequent slider. Hicks really never had a chance at distinguishing the two pitches from each other and goes down with a weak hack.
Rodón is hitting his stride just in time for the playoffs. Over his last eight starts he has a 1.67 ERA with less than one home run allowed per nine, allowing two or fewer runs in all eight of those appearances. He really can’t do much more when it comes to making a case for the postseason rotation. The competition is fierce, with Cy Young frontunner Cam Schlittler starting early on and Aaron Boone looking likely to pick 2024 ace Gerrit Cole and 2025 ace Max Fried for the two other Wild Card Series starts. Even with Rodón’s recent excellence, he could be out of luck unless they advance. Still, Rodón has certainly earned the opportunity and is someone I would absolutely feel confident handing the ball.
We’ve written a lot about Rodón’s evolution as a starting pitcher to being a more well-rounded complete package thanks to the mastery of changeup and sinker. I certainly do not want to downplay this transformation and how key it is for his longevity. However, this outing was something of a throwback start for Rodón — a glimpse of the peak version from his days in Chicago and San Francisco. He whiffed over 30-percent of batters on his four-seamer and over 40-percent on his slider, that deadly pitch pairing the hallmark of his earlier years. This AB in particular was vintage Rodón, with each four-seamer exhibiting at least 19 inches of induced vertical break — well above the threshold that is considered elite — and his slider dropping two inches more than its season average. If he can hold onto the feel of this start, the Yankees will have a real weapon in the playoffs, be that out of the rotation or the bullpen.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 12: Tyler Mahle #54 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park on September 12, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s hard to believe, but today marks the final home game of the regular season for the Atlanta Braves. Where does the time go?
For Atlanta, it will be trade deadline acquisition extraordinaire Tyler Mahle who makes his final tune up start of the season before (presumably) pitching game two of the National League Wild Card Round next week.
Mahle has been incredible since the trade in early August, making eight starts with a 1.28 ERA, 2.85 FIP and 3.27 xFIP. He’s done a tremendous job of keeping the ball in and around the strike zone with 44 strikeouts and just seven walks over 49 innings, and he’s limited hard contact with just four batters hitting a baseball over the fence since joining the Braves. Mahle’s run of excellence extends to even before the trade; since returning from an injury on June 24, the veteran righty owns a 2.37 ERA, 3.19 FIP and 3.60 xFIP over 15 starts. As a pending free agent, Mahle has made himself some serious money over the past three months. We’ll see if his future involves Atlanta.
The Reds will counter with Brady Singer, who has had a dreadful season with Cincinnati. The 30-year-old righty has career-worst numbers across the board (or pretty close to it) with a 5.67 ERA, 5.55 FIP and 4.67 xFIP. His biggest issue is the home run ball, where he has surrendered an astounding 31 of them in 154 innings. We’ll see if the Braves bats, which have been pretty lifeless in the series so far, can get to Singer on Thursday night.
First pitch from Truist Park is set for 7:15 p.m. ET. In addition to all the usual places to watch and listen to the game, it will also be broadcast on Fox Sports 1.
David Sandlin is back on the bump for the series finale. | (Getty Images)
With a playoff spot on the line, the White Sox are desperate for a win and to finish off the Royals for good in this midday matchup.
David Sandlin is on the mound for the White Sox. Ideally, he can eat some innings for the overtaxed bullpen, since Will Venable is busy setting them up to fail in the opener role. My two favorite Italians are at the top of the lineup, with Sam Antonacci leading off and Kyle Teel batting second and catching. Andrew Benintendi will DH, batting fifth.
Randy Dobnak (3-4, 3.08 ERA) will get the start for the Royals. We’ll see their usual lineup and hope the likes of Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino won’t drill our pitching again today.
Grab some lunch and mute your work email, because first pitch is at 1:10 p.m. CT. You can watch on CHSN or listen on ESPN Chicago 1000.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 23: Jacob Latz #67 of the Texas Rangers enters the game during the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on September 23, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: Zac Thornton #49 of the New York Mets pitches during the second inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 12, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mets lineup
Francisco Lindor – SS Juan Soto – DH Bo Bichette – 3B Carson Benge – RF Brett Baty – 1B Marcus Semien – 2B A.J. Ewing – CF Luis Torrens – C Nick Morabito – LF
SP: Zac Thornton (LHP)
Rangers lineup
Justin Foscue – 2B Corey Seager – SS Josh Jung – 3B Jake Burger – 1B Brandon Nimmo – RF Wyatt Langford – LF Ezequiel Duran – CF Elias Díaz – C Danny Jansen – DH
SP: Kumar Rocker (RHP)
Broadcast info
First pitch: 2:35 PM EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 04: President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey of the Minnesota Twins reacts during a press conference to introduce Derek Shelton as the club's newest manager at Target Field on November 04, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Steve Cohen joined the Mets’ broadcast booth during Saturday afternoon’s game against the Phillies, he talked about trying to “add certain voices into the front office” for 2027. Five days later, the Mets’ plans appear to be in motion.
After a report yesterday from Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that the Mets were “moving toward” adding Derek Falvey to their front office, the organization today officially announced Falvey as senior advisor of baseball operations. The Mets also promoted Kris Gross to assistant general manager of scouting.
Falvey had been the president of baseball operations for the Minnesota Twins since November of 2019. He worked with Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns from 2011-12, when the two were co-directors of baseball operations in Cleveland.
“I am excited to join the New York Mets and become part of a franchise that means so much to so many people,” said Falvey via a Mets press release. “Throughout my conversations with the organization, what stood out were the high expectations and the commitment to winning at every level. What I’ve always loved most about this game is being part of a team, and I look forward to bringing my experiences and contributing to this group in any way I can. I want to thank Steve and Alex Cohen and David Stearns for this opportunity.”
Gross had been the Mets’ vice president of amateur and international scouting since November of 2023 after spending more than a decade as a scout with the Astros. The Mets happened to offer a window into the inner workings of their scouting process on Thursday with the release of “Searching For Tomorrow,” an original production featuring interviews with Gross and other scouts.
Per Stearns, Gross will now contribute to major league transactions as well as amateur talent acquisition.
“I would like to thank David and the New York Mets for the recognition,” said Gross. “Scouting plays a crucial role in our ability to build a sustainable winning organization. I would like to thank the entire Amateur and International Scouting departments, whose tireless work allows me to be successful. Their dedication is the reason we are able to find exciting young Major League players as well as promising prospects. I am excited to continue the work we are doing to bring more homegrown talent to Queens.”
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels looks stands in the dugout during the eighth inning of the Los Angeles Angels and Athletics game at Sutter Health Park on September 22, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Technically, there’s a miniscule chance the Mariners could sneak into the playoffs. They’d need to win out and both the Rangers and Astros would have to lose out. That would give all three teams a 78-84 record and Seattle would take the division via a three-way tiebreaker. FanGraphs thinks the chances of that happening are … 0.0%. Really, this weekend is all about sending off Rick Rizzs into retirement. (If you’re watching these final four games on Mariners.TV or MLB.TV, make sure you’re switching your audio feed to the radio broadcast!) We never got a chance to say goodbye to Dave — he was here one season and then he was gone the next — so cherish this opportunity to say thank you and godspeed to Rick. The sound of our summer will be different next year.
What can I say about the Angels that John didn’t already say last week when the Mariners faced them in Anaheim? This organization is in a weird spot right now. They’re on the verge of losing 100 games for the first time in franchise history but the team also just got out from under former owner Arte Moreno. This is the worst the team has ever played, yet it might be the most optimistic the fan base has been in a long, long time.
Player
Position
Bats
PA
K%
BB%
ISO
wRC+
Zach Neto
SS
R
684
30.6%
9.5%
0.194
114
Mike Trout
DH
R
619
26.0%
16.6%
0.183
132
Wade Meckler
LF
L
321
18.7%
9.7%
0.081
117
Vaughn Grissom
1B
R
455
18.2%
6.6%
0.151
99
Moisés Ballesteros
C
L
339
22.7%
8.3%
0.121
75
Denzer Guzman
3B
R
290
25.5%
5.5%
0.122
71
Josh Lowe
RF
L
331
30.2%
7.6%
0.153
76
Jose Siri
CF
R
244
32.4%
6.1%
0.167
91
Christian Moore
2B
R
131
34.4%
6.1%
0.066
31
From a previous series preview:
Anaheim has a couple familiar faces up top in Zach Neto and Mike Trout, but not many. They’ve taken the back half of the year to wisely audition several young players, finding some promise in folks like Wade Meckler but still waiting on more elsewhere. Moises Ballesteros was a highly regarded prospect with the Cubs but has not found his swing yet since coming over in return for reliever Ryan Zeferjahn. There’s a few post-hype hopes here as well in Josh Lowe and Jose Siri, but hope has been their predominant currency.
At one point a few years ago, Grayson Rodriguez was considered the best pitching prospect in baseball. Unfortunately, a variety of injuries have prevented him from making good on those lofty expectations. He was traded from Baltimore to the Angels this past offseason — straight up for Taylor Ward — and returned from a major shoulder injury in May. He definitely hasn’t looked as sharp in his first major league action since 2024, though he’s slowly improved as the season has gone on. The good news is that his fastball velocity is still intact, but his command has really slipped and he’s just not generating as many swings and misses with his secondary pitches this year.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Reid Detmers
179
28.4%
6.4%
9.5%
37.8%
3.47
3.05
Bryce Miller
112.2
24.4%
7.8%
14.6%
37.9%
3.99
4.43
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
45.8%
44.9%
94.1
102
95
102
0.314
Sinker
0.5%
2.5%
93.5
Changeup
12.3%
0.9%
83.8
101
123
112
0.294
Curveball
12.0%
8.6%
72.3
101
117
110
0.307
Slider
29.5%
43.2%
86.0
110
109
97
0.218
From a previous series preview:
Reid Detmers has thrived in his return to the rotation this year, accumulating a career-high 4.4 fWAR with career-best marks in ERA and FIP. His strikeout rate is right in line with his career norms but the big reason he’s taken a big step forward is because he’s cut his walk rate by nearly three points and has dramatically reduced the amount of hard contact he has allowed.
The Mariners managed to score three runs off Detmers last week and he struggled in his next outing against the Twins over the weekend.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Ryan Johnson
95
18.5%
9.5%
13.0%
34.1%
4.93
5.38
Kade Anderson
32.1
21.4%
6.1%
11.1%
38.3%
4.18
3.72
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Sinker
21.7%
15.3%
92.4
81
17
73
0.515
Cutter
37.0%
38.8%
89.7
104
102
88
0.317
Splitter
8.1%
29.3%
84.6
74
93
146
0.253
Sweeper
33.2%
16.7%
80.9
107
90
80
0.279
From a previous series preview:
Ryan Johnson is a perfect encapsulation of everything wrong with the Angels current player development philosophy. He was drafted in the second round in 2024 after dominating in college ball at Dallas Baptist. He made the Opening Day roster in 2025 as a reliever, skipping the minor leagues entirely. After a month and a half and a 7.36 ERA, the Angels pulled the plug and sent him to High-A to continue his development as a starter. He made 12 starts in the minors and looked really good. Fast forward a year and Johnson had a solid, but not outstanding, spring training and Los Angeles opted to start the season with Johnson on the big league roster again. After allowing six runs in his first start of the year, the Angels sent him back to the minors for a few months before recalling him for good in mid June. It’s really too bad because Johnson has a really intriguing profile, and obviously has some raw talent, but the games the Angels have played with his development pathway have really hurt his ability to grow.
Johnson held the Mariners to just a single run in six innings last week, striking out seven against zero walks.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Yusei Kikuchi
62.2
21.3%
10.3%
10.1%
40.8%
4.88
4.12
Logan Gilbert
182
26.7%
6.5%
14.3%
38.0%
3.81
3.91
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
41.1%
42.0%
95.5
99
88
115
0.304
Cutter
6.0%
5.7%
90.2
76
Splitter
20.7%
7.1%
86.6
107
91
66
0.344
Curveball
10.4%
9.9%
79.4
97
76
168
0.301
Slider
21.7%
35.3%
87.4
93
78
122
0.356
From a previous series preview:
Yusei Kikuchi missed nearly four months of the season with a shoulder injury. He returned to the majors towards the end of August and resumed his brand of effectively wild pitching. After a slight dip in velocity last year, his heater is back to averaging close to 96 mph. It’s the eighth hardest four-seamer from the left side among all starting pitchers this year. He continues to mix in a hard slider and a curveball as his primary secondary pitches, but he’s replaced his changeup with a true splitter and added a cutter this season. The split has been an excellent pitch but the cutter has been hit pretty hard.
Kikuchi did not have his best stuff against the Mariners last week. He allowed five runs on five hits and five walks in just 4.1 innings.
The Big Picture:
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Astros
78-80
0.494
—
-53
L-L-L-W-L
Rangers
78-80
0.494
—
-42
W-W-L-L-L
Mariners
74-84
0.468
4.0
-62
W-L-W-L-W
Athletics
63-95
0.399
15.0
-217
L-L-L-W-W
Angels
60-98
0.380
18.0
-93
L-W-L-L-L
Like I said above, the Mariners can sneak into the postseason if they win out and the Astros and Rangers both lose out. That means we’re rooting for the A’s against Houston and the Twins against Texas.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citizens Bank Park on September 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With four games left in the regular season, it is still impossible to predict where the Phillies are going to play in the opening round of the postseason next week.
Yes, this is assuming the Phils don’t blow a 3-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks with four to play, but I’m willing to take that risk.
Things got even murkier on Wednesday night.
The Phillies fell 4-1 to the Milwaukee Brewers after going 0-12 with runners in scoring position.
The Miami Marlins edged the Cubs 3-2, their second win over Chicago in as many nights.
The San Diego Padres handled the Dodgers in L.A., 5-1.
Suddenly, the Padres now sit atop the wild card standings at 88-70, holding a one-game lead on the Cubs and Phillies, both of whom are 87-71.
San Diego is going to enter the playoffs as the hottest team in baseball, 15-5 in September, and 32-16 since the start of August, the best mark in baseball (the Phillies are 30-18, by the way, 4th-best). If the season ended today, the Padres would host the Cubs in the wild card round, with the Phillies heading to Atlanta.
However, the Padres would need to finish with the best record, as they would lose the tie-breaker to both the Cubs and the Phillies. They went 1-5 against Chicago and 0-6 against Philadelphia. The Cubs went 6-1 against the Phils and hold that tie-breaker.
The ideal scenario for the Phillies would be for them to finish as the top wild card team and the No. 4 seed, with the Padres slotting in as the 5-seed and Chicago landing at 6. In that situation, the Phils would welcome the Padres to Citizens Bank Park, and that is a realistic scenario given what’s coming this weekend.
On Thursday, the Phils will wrap up their series against the Brewers, who will be throwing a bullpen game as they ready themselves for the postseason. The Padres finish their series against the Dodgers and the Cubs play one more against the feisty Marlins.
This weekend, the Cubs could be in real trouble. With nasty weather anticipated up in Boston, MLB is scheduling a day-night doubleheader between Chicago and the Red Sox on Friday and a single game on Saturday, understanding that one, or multiple, of those games might have to be made up. That kind of disruption could be difficult for the Cubs, even going up against a Red Sox team that is locked in as the AL’s second wild card.
The Padres, meanwhile, are hosting a Diamondbacks team that may or may not still have an outside shot at a playoff berth. San Diego should be able to handle Arizona at home, and may have the clearest path to the NL’s top wild card spot now.
As for the Phils, it remains to be seen how the Rays are going to play things this weekend at Citizens Bank Park. They have the American League’s No. 1 seed locked up, so these games are meaningless to them. They are unlikely to pitch their top starters for more than a couple innings, and their regulars will likely get some rest. That said, Tampa is still a very good, and deep, team, capable of handling the Phils even with some of their regulars out of the lineup.
There is a realistic path to the Phillies earning the top wild card spot and hosting either the Cubs or the Padres. There’s just as likely a chance they’ll finish as the second wild card and travel to Chicago or San Diego for the best-of-three series, and also as likely a chance they are the NL’s final wild card and head to Atlanta for a series against the Braves.
Obviously, a first round match-up with the Padres would be the ideal scenario. The Phillies have owned them over the last few years. A trip to Wrigley would, for the sake of spectacle, be terrific. Despite both teams having existed for more than 100 years, the Phils and Cubs have never squared off in the postseason.
A trip to Atlanta would be ick.
There’s an argument to be made that starting the playoffs on the road, as an underdog and away from the crushing expectations of the fanbase, might be the best thing for this group. They could sell themselves as the upstarts, the same way they did in 2022 against the Cardinals in St. Louis, rather than “the favorite,” expected to win.
Fans should continue to hope for a home wild card series, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if they started the postseason away from home.
On the latest Hittin’ Season podcast, I discussed all the scenarios with Mike Robertson of FranzkeLA, so make sure to check it out!
With a major storm system on track to hit New England on Sunday, the Cubs' regular-season finale in Boston that day has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Friday.
"They never move games up and especially within a five-day window of a starting rotation," Counsell told reporters on Wednesday, Sept. 23. "So we can't have somebody ready to pitch on Saturday. They just moved games up on us. I understand there's extenuating circumstances, but you just don't see that happening."
After the regular season concludes, there's a rest day on Monday before the start of the wild card playoffs.
MLB could conceivably move a rained out game on Sunday to the off day, but that would leave the Red Sox and Cubs very little time to travel to and get ready for their wild-card openers on Tuesday.
The Red Sox are just about locked in to the No. 5 seed in the American League, which will send them to New York to face the Yankees in a best-of-three AL wild card series.
The Cubs are still battling for the top spot in the NL wild card race, but they would still need to get from Boston to the site of their playoff opener, be it home or away.
One other disadvantage for the Cubs is that with expanded rosters in September, they aren't allowed to add an extra player for a doubleheader, as they would normally. So Counsell will have to juggle his pitching staff for two games on Friday and lose one day of rest for his starter on Saturday.
"The decision is made always on a balance of everybody's interest," Counsell said. "And you get shortchanged in some … or not have the optimal solution."
PICKING UP THE PIECES: This is the 11th of the Cubs’ 52 series in which they lost the first two games. They are 7-3 in third games, including 3-2 at home. They beat the Pirates on April 12, the Braves on May 14 and the Cardinals on July 5. They lost to the Brewers and Astros in back-to-back series on May 20 and 24. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
DAY vs. NIGHT: The Cubs are just 34-33 in day games this season. A win today will assure them of finishing with a winning record in sunshine if they play one day game at Boston in their final series. They have finished below .500 in only one of the past 10 full seasons: 32-39 in 2021. They were 8-8 in the 60-game 2020 season. The Cubs are 23-17 in day games at home this year, including 11-5 in day games following night games. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
WINNING ON THURSDAYS: The Cubs are 10-3 on Thursday, their best record on any day of the week. They are 15-10 on Saturday, 15-11 on Wednesday and 11-7 on Monday. At home the Cubs are 5-1 on Thursday. They are 9-2 on Monday, 8-5 on Saturday and 7-6 on Wednesday. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: The Cubs lead 7-3 heading to the seventh, only to give up five to the Mets and trail 8-7. A two-run homer by Jody Davis gives them the lead back, but the Mets score in the eighth to tie the game 9-9. Bobby Bonds homers in the bottom of the eighth and the Cubs hold on for a 10-9 win. This brings them within three games of the NL East lead in that strike season’s “second half.” After the game on the WGN radio broadcast, Lou Boudreau complains that only 2,555 came to see the Cubs in a “pennant race game,” which was technically true, three games back with 10 remaining. The Cubs lost seven of those 10 and finished well out of any postseason play. That Cubs/Mets game happened 45 years ago today, Thursday, Sept. 24, 1981.
Matthew Boyd threw well in his last start, Saturday at Cincinnati, allowing the Reds just two hits and two runs (one earned) in five innings.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that he’s been much worse at Wrigley Field this year (5.53 ERA in 10 starts) than on the road (2.86 ERA in 11 starts).
He has not faced the Marlins as a Cub, either this year or last year. No current member of the Marlins has ever faced him, so maybe that’ll be a positive this afternoon.
The Cubs scored three runs in five innings off Tyler Phillips Sept. 6 at Miami, including Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 40th home run of the season.
Since then Phillips hasn’t gotten out of the fourth inning in two starts, and hasn’t thrown more than 68 pitches. Perhaps the Cubs can get to him early today.
Please visit the Marlins site Fish On First. If you do go there to interact with Marlins fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 21: Jackson Chourio #11 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats against the Baltimore Orioles during the tenth inning at American Family Field on May 21, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here we are, the last series of the regular season.
The Brewers, at 99 wins entering Thursday night’s series finale in Philadelphia, have four more chances to reach the 100-win threshold for the first time in franchise history. Their magic number for the No. 1 overall seed also sits at 2, meaning they need some combination of two wins and Dodgers’ losses to lock it up over these next few days. On the other side, the Cardinals, at 77-81, got off to a strong start despite low expectations entering the season. They’ve cooled off considerably over the last few months and now look like they’ll finish just below .500 but still ahead of the “Why aren’t we the Brewers” Reds at the bottom of the NL Central.
On the injury front, the Brewers are without relievers Grant Anderson and Bryse Wilson (both could be activated for Thursday’s series finale in Philadelphia), as well as Brian Fitzpatrick and Angel Zerpa (both out for season). Starters Quinn Priester (out for season) and Brandon Woodruff (slim chance of returning in the postseason) are also out.
St. Louis is without position players Blaze Jordan, Joshua Báez, and Everson Pereira. Pereira is the only player we could see this weekend, as he was on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis entering their postseason series this week. Pitchers Hunter Dobbins and Max Rajcic are also done for the year.
Jake Bauers, Jackson Chourio, and Brice Turang have anchored Milwaukee’s well-rounded offense this season, and all three of them are now at 20-plus homers. William Contreras has an outside chance at hitting the 20-homer threshold, sitting at 18 with four games to go. Garrett Mitchell, Andrew Vaughn, Cooper Pratt, Luis Lara, Christian Yelich, and Joey Ortiz are the other regulars, with Sal Frelick, Gary Sánchez, and David Hamilton the first players off the bench. Bo Naylor has effectively served as the emergency catcher/travel day backstop since rosters expanded earlier this month. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .257/.339/.402 (.741 OPS ranks fourth), with 151 homers (tied for 28th), 810 runs scored (second), and 159 steals (fifth).
The Cardinals are led by Jordan Walker, who is wrapping up what will likely be a top five MVP finish as he’s hitting .273/.330/.470 with 28 homers, 100 RBIs, 94 runs scored, and 21 steals this season. Alec Burleson has added 23 homers and an MLB-best 112 RBIs, while Iván Herrera, Rookie of the Year candidate JJ Wetherholt, and Nathan Church also have double-digit homers. José Fermín, Leo Bernal, Nolan Gorman, Masyn Winn, and Bryan Torres are also in the regular mix, with Victor Scott II, Thomas Saggese, César Prieto, and Pedro Pagés rounding things out. As a team, the Cardinals are hitting .241/.315/.380 (.695 OPS ranks 26th), with 161 homers (25th), 709 runs scored (tied for 12th), and 99 steals (17th).
Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe have the late innings on lock for Milwaukee’s bullpen, while Aaron Ashby, Chad Patrick, and DL Hall have all taken on high-leverage roles. Deadline acquisitions Antonio Senzatela and JoJo Romero (a long-time Cardinal) have had their ups and downs, while Shane Drohan and Kyle Harrison have both moved to the bullpen here late in the season. Lyon Richardson is the latest piece, replacing Colton Gordon after his long relief outing on Tuesday night. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.53 team ERA (second), including a 3.64 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.40 bullpen ERA (third). They’ve struck out 1,503 batters (second) over 1,410 2/3 innings.
All-Star Riley O’Brien has 38 saves this season, but he’s also blown eight saves and has a 4.08 ERA. Justin Bruihl (3.69 ERA over 75 2/3 IP), George Soriano (4.23 ERA over 66 IP), and Ryne Stanek (4.09 ERA over 61 2/3 IP) are the other anchors for the bullpen. Gordon Graceffo (2.76 ERA over 78 1/3 IP) has been one of the best arms for St. Louis, and rookie Luis Gastelum (4.29 ERA over 35 2/3 IP) has also been solid. Cade Winquest (4.63 ERA over 11 2/3 IP), Cooper Hjerpe (6.00 ERA over 9 IP), and Brycen Mautz (6.92 ERA over 13 IP) round things out. As a staff, the Cardinals have a 4.26 team ERA (21st), including a 4.10 starter ERA (11th) and a 4.50 bullpen ERA (24th). They’ve struck out 1,248 batters (25th) over 1,410 2/3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, September 25 @ 6:40 p.m.: LHP Robert Gasser (5-5, 4.01 ERA, 4.32 FIP) vs. RHP Michael McGreevy (7-9, 3.84 ERA, 4.24 FIP)
Gasser has been a solid arm for the Brewers this season, particularly over the last couple of months, and he seems in line to be in the rotation for the postseason. He’s coming off arguably the best start of his young career, as he went seven scoreless innings in a 1-0 win over the Orioles, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out a pair. The left-hander has now allowed one run or fewer in four of his last five outings, lowering his season ERA from 4.79 to 4.01. Gasser has made three career starts against St. Louis, going 2-1 with a 2.16 ERA and 10 strikeouts over 16 2/3 innings. That includes a win in St. Louis back in July, when he went 7 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and striking out four.
McGreevy, 26, has turned in a solid season, making 30 starts with a 3.84 ERA, 4.24 FIP, and 113 strikeouts over 164 innings. He went four innings in his last appearance, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out one in an extra-innings loss to the Nationals. McGreevy’s two career appearances against Milwaukee both came this year, and he’s 1-1 with six runs allowed and 12 strikeouts across 10 1/3 innings.
Saturday, September 26 @ 6:10 p.m.: RHP Dustin May (7-9, 4.67 ERA, 3.59 FIP) vs. LHP Quinn Mathews (2-3, 3.65 ERA, 3.80 FIP)
May, who started the season with the Cardinals and made 21 starts for them, was acquired by the Brewers alongside JoJo Romero at the trade deadline. He’s had an up-and-down tenure with Milwaukee, going 2-2 with a 5.61 ERA, 5.06 FIP, and 33 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings. Despite those numbers, there are a few strong starts in there, including six scoreless against the Reds just two weeks ago. This is May’s first time facing the Cardinals since he was a Dodger back in 2023. He’s made two career starts against St. Louis, going 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA and 11 strikeouts over 10 2/3 innings.
Mathews, 25, is a rookie who was called up right around the trade deadline. He’s made eight starts for St. Louis, going 2-3 with a 3.65 ERA, 3.80 FIP, and 39 strikeouts across 44 1/3 innings. He went seven solid frames against the Nationals in his last appearance, allowing three runs and striking out three. This marks his first career appearance against Milwaukee.
Sunday, September 27 @ 2:10 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (15-5, 1.86 ERA, 2.16 FIP) vs. RHP Andre Pallante (12-8, 3.61 ERA, 3.71 FIP)
Misiorowski has all but locked up his NL Cy Young candidacy, and Sunday will just be a tune-up outing for him ahead of the postseason. Across 169 1/3 innings this year, Miz is 15-5 with a 1.86 ERA, 2.16 FIP, and 247 strikeouts, leading the majors in all three of those stats. He went three scoreless in an intentionally shortened start against the Orioles on Sunday night, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out four on 44 pitches. Miz has made five starts against St. Louis, going 3-1 with a 3.25 ERA and 35 strikeouts over 27 2/3 innings. That includes two starts this year, going 2-0 with four runs allowed over 14 innings, striking out 23.
Another familiar foe, Pallante, 28, is in his fifth season with St. Louis and third as a full-time starter. This has been his best year as a starter yet, pitching to a 12-8 record with a 3.61 ERA, 3.71 FIP, and 106 strikeouts across 157 innings. The right-hander took a tough luck loss in his last outing, allowing one run and striking out two over six innings as the Cardinals lost 2-0 to the Pirates. Pallante has made 17 career appearances (five starts) against Milwaukee, with a 6.07 ERA and 24 strikeouts across 43 innings. That includes a pair of losses this season, as he’s totaled 11 innings with 11 runs allowed and five strikeouts.
How to Watch & Listen
Friday, September 25: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Saturday, September 26: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Sunday, September 27: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
Neither of these two teams should have much to play for this weekend, but I can’t imagine Pat Murphy will let his team let up on the gas as they approach the postseason. Give me the Brewers to win two of three as the squad looks to turn things up a notch before next weekend.
