DENVER, CO - AUGUST 05: Kyle Karros #12 of the Colorado Rockies looks on during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies announced a couple of roster moves today.
The Rockies announced today the following transactions:
-Reinstated INF Kyle Karros from the seven-day concussion injured list. -Optioned INF/OF Ryan Ritter to Triple-A Albuquerque.
Kyle Karros had been on the seven-day concussion injured list for a second time following a collision in the field on August 11th. The Rockies had originally reinstated Karros on August 21st, but after just two games with the club he was placed back on the injured list due to “symptoms similar to his concussion.” according to manager Warren Schaeffer.
In his first stint on the injured list Karros did not see any rehab appearances in the minor leagues but did spend four games with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats the second time around. In those four games he collected six hits including a home run and also stole a base. He will look to keep that level of production as he returns to the big league club for whom he has so far batted .263/.360/.419 over 114 games this season.
To make room on the active roster Ryan Ritter was optioned back down to Triple-A Albuquerque where he has spent the majority of the 2026 season while battling injuries of his own. Ritter has hit well for the Isotopes this year with a .325/.424/.459 slash line in 52 games but has failed to see that translate in limited action for the Major League club.
Ritter only saw action in ten games for the Rockies since being recalled on August 23rd, and only had plate appearances in six of those games. In a very limited sample at the big league level, Ritter is batting only .158/.200/.158 so far this season. He will look to continue to perform in Albuquerque in hopes of another opportunity to return to the Rockies.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Carson Benge #3 of the New York Mets doubles during the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field on September 06, 2026 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Giants 4-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome back to Monday Stat Party, a weekly series showcasing some of the most curious and nostalgia-inducing statistical developments from the past week of Mets baseball. What unites each entry is the sense of intrigue which they aim to spark, and the unbridled love of the game’s anomalies from which they arise. Without further ado, let the stat party begin.
MONDAY
Robert Stock became the fourth pitcher in MLB history to go seven or more calendar years between wins, with each win coming under the same manager. Stock’s previous win came on April 5, 2019, as a member of Andy Green’s Padres. (source: Sarah Langs on X)
TUESDAY
Francisco Lindor reached 15 home runs for the 10th time in his career. At the time on Tuesday, Lindor had become the second primary shortstop to reach 15+ homers in 10+ seasons, joining Cal Ripken Jr. (13 seasons of 15+ homers). But on Sunday, Corey Seager joined Ripken and Lindor on that list by hitting his 15th home run of the year, giving him 10 seasons of 15+ homers as well.
Lindor has recorded 15+ homers in 10 of the last 11 seasons, having done so every year except during the shortened 2020 campaign. Currently, he is one of only seven players with 15+ home runs in 10+ seasons since 2016, joining: Eugenio Suárez, Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Seager.
Sean Manaea allowed 11 hits, marking his most as a Met and tying a career high set on July 27, 2016, at Globe Life Park in Arlington, and matched on September 12, 2017, at Fenway Park.
WEDNESDAY
Dedniel Núñez became the 23rd different Mets pitcher to earn a win this season, marking a new franchise record. The previous mark was set two years ago in 2024, when the Mets had 22 different pitchers earn a win. Remarkably, only four pitchers earned a win for the Mets in both 2024 and 2026: Sean Manaea, David Peterson, Brooks Raley, and fittingly, Núñez.
For just the 10th time this season, Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Bo Bichette each recorded a hit in the same game.
Soto’s 111.8-mph home run was the Mets’ second-hardest-hit long ball of the season, behind Luis Robert Jr.’s 112.2-mph solo shot in Milwaukee on July 21.
FRIDAY
With Carson Benge’s 20th stolen base of the season, Benge and A.J. Ewing became the fifth pair of rookie teammates to steal 20+ bases in the Wild Card era (since 1995), joining: Carlos Beltrán and Carlos Febles (1999 Royals), Dairon Blanco and Maikel Garcia (2023 Royals), Brenton Doyle and Nolan Jones (2023 Rockies), and Chandler Simpson and Jake Mangum (2025 Rays). They are the first New York teammates to pull off the feat since a pair of Brooklyn Dodgers (Bill Davidson and Jake Daubert) and New York Giants (Josh Devore and Fred Snodgrass) did it in 1910.
Nolan McLean’s punchout of Christian Koss on his final pitch of the night marked his 179th strikeout of the season, moving him past Jerry Koosman and into third place on the Mets’ all-time rookie strikeout leaderboard. He now trails only Dwight Gooden (276) and Kodai Senga (202).
McLean recorded his 18th quality start this season, tied with Chris Sale for fifth-most in the Majors behind Sandy Alcantara (21), Cristopher Sánchez (2o), Michael Wacha (19), and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (19). McLean is one of only three pitchers since 2015 to reach 18 quality starts in their rookie season, joining Michael Soroka (18 in 2019) and Shota Imanaga (19 in 2024). McLean also recorded his 19th start of six or more innings pitched this season, tied for the second-most by a Met in a season since 2020, trailing only Chris Bassitt (23 in 2022).
Over his last 12 starts, McLean has posted a 1.87 ERA. McLean is the eighth Met since 2000 to record a 12-game single-season span with an ERA below 1.90 while averaging six or more innings per outing, joining: Mike Hampton, Johan Santana, R.A. Dickey, Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler, and Max Scherzer.
Francisco Alvarez recorded his seventh multi-homer gameas a catcher, tied with Gary Carter for second-most before turning 25 years old. Only Jonny Bench (8) had more such games. (source: Sarah Langs on X)
Alvarez became the first home or visiting player to hit multiple home runs with an exit velocity of 107 mph or higher in a game at Citi Field since Pete Alonso’s franchise-record-setting night against the Braves on August 12, 2025.
Rafael Devers became the 35th player to record three extra-base hits and five RBI in a game against the Mets. Fittingly, the first ever to do it was another Giant, as Willie McCovey clubbed three homers and drove in five at Candlestick Park on September 22, 1963.
The Mets hit five home runs against the Giants, marking their most in a game in franchise history against San Francisco. The Mets had hit four home runs against the Giants seven times, most recently on July 20, 2019, at Oracle Park (Dom Smith, Jeff McNeil, Todd Frazier, and Pete Alonso).
The Mets scored 10+ runs for the 15th time this season, tied with 2006, 2007, and 2022 for the fifth-most such games in a season in franchise history. The only seasons in franchise history with more double-digit scoring games were 2000 (24), 1999 (20), 1997 (18), and 1990 (17).
The Mets scored 10+ runs on fewer than 10 hits for the second time this season, after having done so on May 31 against the Marlins at Citi Field. It’s only the third season in franchise history where they’ve had multiple games of scoring double-digit runs on fewer than double-digit hits, joining 1976 (2 such games) and 1987 (3 such games).
The Mets recorded 13 batted balls at 100 mph or higher, tied for their most in a game this season (matching their total set on July 27 against the Braves at Citi Field).
SATURDAY
Rafael Devers became the 14th player with five extra-base hits over two consecutive games against the Mets, and the second this season after Bryce Harper did it on June 20-21 at Citizens Bank Park (a stretch which included his first career cycle). The only other Giant to do it was Hunter Pence from August 3-4, 2014, at Citi Field.
With two home runs off Zac Thornton, Christian Koss became just the third No. 9 hitter with multiple homers in a game off the same Mets pitcher, joining the Phillies’ Larry Christenson (September 5, 1976, off Mickey Lolich) and the Braves’ Derek Lilliquist (May 1, 1990, off Ron Darling). Koss is just the ninth No. 9 hitter with a multi-homer game against the Mets, but the second this season after Dansby Swanson went deep twice at Wrigley Field on June 24. It’s the first time in Mets history they’ve yielded multiple multi-homer games to No. 9 batters in the same season. (credit: SNY broadcast)
Devers and Koss each hit a pair of homers, marking the 17th time in franchise history that the Mets allowed multiplehome runs to multiple players in the same game, and the first since July 14, 2024, when Ezequiel Tovar went deep twice and Michael Toglia went deep thrice for the Rockies at Citi Field. The Giants had done it against the Mets once before, when Orlando Cepeda and Ed Bailey each homered twice at the Polo Grounds on May 4, 1963. Only once have three teammates recorded muli-homer games together against the Mets — on September 8, 1998, when the Phillies’ Kevin Sefcik, Rico Brogna, and Bobby Estalella did it at Veterans Stadium.
SUNDAY
Carson Benge’s seventh-inning double marked his 143rd hit of the season, moving him past Jay Payton and into fourth place on the Mets’ rookie hits leaderboard behind Pete Alonso (155 in 2019), Ty Wigginton (146 in 2003), and Ron Hunt (145 in 1963).
Nate Lavender recorded a 13th straight scoreless appearance to begin his career, marking the second-most for a Mets pitcher behind Joe Smith (17 in 2007).
Christian Scott notched his 159th strikeout in his 30th career game, tying Nolan Ryan and Zack Wheeler for the eighth-most strikeouts by a Mets pitcher through their first 30 games, behind: Dwight Gooden (267), Matt Harvey (227), Noah Syndergaard (215), Kodai Senga (211), Nolan McLean (205), Jacob deGrom (187), and Steven Matz (169).
Bo Bichette hit his first three-run home run since Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, when he gave the Blue Jays a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning with an iconic shot off Shohei Ohtani.
The Mets won while only scoring runs in the eighth inning for the first time since April 14, 2024, against the Royals at Citi Field. The Mets won after scoring four or more runs in the eighth inning despite being held scoreless over the first seven innings for the first time since their fateful Game 161 in Atlanta on September 30, 2024.
The Mets earned their fifth win over the Giants this season, tied for their most against the Giants in a single season since they went 7-2 against San Francisco in 1999.
Miscellaneous Mets stat of the week:
Since 1910, only six National League teams are known to have hit multiple walk-off grand slams in a season:
*Both of the 2001 Braves’ walk-off grand slams came against the Mets, making them one of only three teams since 1910 to hit two walk-off grand slams against the same team in the same season along with the 1998 Red Sox, who pulled off the feat facing Seattle, and the 1963 Mets, who themselves pulled it off against the Cubs.
Jac Caglianone hit a one-RBI single. (Photo by Reed Hoffmann/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Wild Card Race.
The Royals are 9 games back from winning an AL Wild Card. Although the Royals were a hot team in August, in September they have 4 losses and 1 win.
The Diamondbacks have realistic chances of winning a NL Wild Card. As of Monday morning, they were the third Wild Card, half a game ahead of the Padres. They need to win this series, and a sweep would be really nice.
In the Background. The Diamondbacks are better baserunners (which includes stealing and extra bases taken) than the Royals. This season through 30 August, the Diamondbacks had more Baserunning Runs (+12 vs negative 6).
The Obvious. The return of Corbin Burnes will boost the Diamondbacks chances of a Wild Card. He is expected to return and pitch in the second game of this series. Another boost will be the return of Soroka. He might return in the third game of this series.
The Subtle. Several Diamondbacks batters seem to be in a slump. When they break out, it will be a game-changer in a positive way.
The Difference that Matters. Winning games is the difference that matters.
Royals Players to Watch.
Former Diamondback, Josh Rojas. From 2019 to 2023, he was a utility player for the Diamondbacks, playing both infield and outfield. Currently, he plays most games at third base for the Royals. His OPS+ is 82.
Jac Caglianone. He plays right field. He is 23 years old, in his second MLB season. His breakout in batting is impressive. In June and August, his OPS was 1.036 (106 PAs) and 1.113 (98 PAs). In September (thru 4 September) he had 3 RBIs in 17 PAs.
Pitching Matchups.
Anticipated Diamondbacks Pitchers:
Relief pitcher Derek Law will start the first game of the series against the Giants. This season, he pitched 4.2 innings, with 3 strikeouts, and allowing only one earned run.
Corbin Burnes is expected to return from the injured list and start the second game of the series.
Soroka might return from the injured list and start the third game of the series. Or Gallen might return from the injured list and start the third game of the series.
Because the Royals batters are weak against left-handed pitchers (.708 OPS), expect to see left-handed Diamondbacks relievers Blake Walston and Brandyn Garcia.
Announced Royals Starters:
Noah Cameron is expected to start the first game of the series. He is left-handed, which will be an advantage to Diamondbacks batters (whose OPS is about 100 points higher against lefties). His 101 ERA+ reflects he is an average pitcher. He has 6 pitch types. His best is a curve (.203 wOBA) and his worst is a cutter (.356 wOBA).
Michael Wacha is expected to start the second game of the series. He is right-handed. His 123 ERA+ reflects he is an above average pitcher.
Daniel Lynch IV is expected to start the third game of the series. He is left-handed. He started the season as a short reliever. He switched from relieving to starting on 7 August. He has started 7 games. In his latest start, he allowed 5 earned runs in 5 innings pitched. Nevertheless, his ERA+ is 118.
A 4-3 week has left the Guardians exactly where they need to be heading into the final weeks of the season. Being just 2.5 games back of the division-leading Chicago White Sox and holding the final Wild Card spot gives them the opportunity to charge into first place.
Williams Tops K Leaderboard
Thanks to another stellar performance where he collected 11 strikeouts over six innings, Gavin Williams has found himself back at the top of the strikeout leaderboard. With 228 strikeouts so far this season, he leads Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski by one and Toronto’s Dylan Cease by seven. While he’s not even in the top 25 when it comes to ERA, he’s found himself near the top of the innings pitched and average against leaderboards. He’s certainly making a case for himself in the 2026 Cy Young discussion.
Weekend of Walkoffs
In all three of the Guardians’ wins against the Detroit Tigers this weekend, they kept the excitement (or stress) going until the very last minute. Game one of Friday’s doubleheader saw the Guards and Tigers tied 6-6 until the bottom of the ninth when Brayan Rocchio hit a walkoff home run to secure the win. Game two was more of the same, seeing the score tied 3-3 heading into the final inning. That was until Travis Bazzana came to the plate with Rocchio on third. Bazzana hit a single into center field, bringing Rocchio home. In Sunday’s finale, the game was once again tied in the ninth, but this time there was no resolution after the Guards came up to bat. It took the ghost runner in the bottom of the tenth to score the winning run thanks to a single by Daniel Schneeman. While we’re all very thankful these games ended in wins, I think we could all benefit from a few less stressful games.
Genao Still Hot
Rookie Angel Genao is still finding success at the plate without really experiencing much of a slump. After 28 games, he’s hitting .245/.302/.347 with two home runs and a stolen base. He’s been shuffled around the infield, spending 12 games at second base, 11 at third base, and four at shortstop. He’s sure to be a key contributor to the Guardians’ postseason efforts if they can secure their spot in the coming weeks.
Sep 6, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) wears yellow wrist bands on MLB Childhood Cancer Awareness Day during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 09: Pascanel Ferreras (93) of the Houston Astros bats during a spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals on March 09, 2026 at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (71-66) won 3-1 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in the first inning on a Cole solo home run. Hendrickson started for Sugar Land and pitched well allowing 1 run over 5.2 innings while striking out 8. In the bottom of the 6th, Ferreras broke the tie with a solo home run to right center field. Price added some insurance in the 8th inning with a solo home run. The pen was great tossing 3.1 scoreless as they closed out the 3-1 win.
Christian Roa, RHP: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (WIN)
Logan VanWey, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (SAVE)
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (59-73) lost 8-2 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks got on the board in the third inning on a Call 2 run home run. Hicks got the start and pitched well allowing 2 runs over 6.2 innings while striking out 7. The game stayed tied until the 8th where the bullpen allowed 6 runs as the Cardinals took the lead. The Hooks offense was unable to respond as they fell 8-2.
A+: Asheville Tourists (43-87) lost 6-4 (BOX SCORE)
Howard started for Asheville and went 5 innings allowing 2 runs while striking out 8 batters. The offense got on the board in the 4th on a Gomez RBI double. They got another run in the 5th on a Neyens RBI single. Cruz struggled in relief as he allowed 4 runs over 4 innings. The offense got one back in the 7th on a Moss RBI single and another in the 8th on a Vasquez RBI single but that was it as Asheville fell 6-4.
Doesn’t matter if the last three victories in their four-game winning streak came against the Nationals.
Momentum is momentum, and momentum in September can be especially valuable, as it can lead to momentum into October.
“Obviously, if you can end it in September playing good ball, then I think it gives you confidence going into the postseason,” shortstop Mookie Betts said.
The Dodgers, who on Monday open a three-game series against the Reds at Dodger Stadium, understand they have to finish the regular season playing better than they did when they posted a 13-14 record last month.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts rounds the bases after hitting a three-run, go-ahead home run against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 6, 2026. The Dodgers defeated the Nationals 7-5. Jim Ruymen/UPI/Shutterstock
“I think a couple of years ago we finished September not that great, and then it kind of carried into the playoffs,” Betts said.
Betts could have been referencing the 2022 season.
The Dodgers dropped three of their last four regular-season games that year and went on to be eliminated by the Padres in a National League Division Series.
Last year, they recovered from a dreadful July and mediocre August to post a 15-10 record in the final month of the regular season. They won nine of their last 11 games, including each of their last five, and went on to win the World Series.
The year before that, they also posted a losing record in July, only in that season, their comeback started a month earlier. They ran over their opposition in August, maintained their form through September — and guess what? — they won the World Series.
“I think a lot of September is the depth,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Rosters expand to 28 players on Sept. 1 of every season, and the Dodgers use that to give their players breaks.
Shohei Ohtani was out of the lineup for four consecutive days so that he could recover from an assortment of injuries. Max Muncy didn’t play on Saturday because he was sick. Betts is scheduled to take a day off on Monday.
“We’ve kind of done that over the years, and that’s a sign of having a lot of good players,” Roberts said. “But, yeah, it’s important to go into October playing well.”
The early signs are promising.
The starting pitching is coming together, the recent comebacks of Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow giving the Dodgers four Cy Young Award-caliber pitchers in their projected postseason rotation. Ohtani is expected to return to the lineup on Monday after missing the last four games.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani prepares to enter the game against the Washington Nationals in the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 6, 2026. The Dodgers defeated the Nationals 7-5. Jim Ruymen/UPI/Shutterstock
The Dodgers averaged just 3.9 runs scored per game in August. They averaged 5.8 runs in their first six games of September, which included two losses to the Cardinals.
Over their three-game sweep of the Nationals, they scored a total of 18 runs. An offense that previously had difficulties hitting with men on base was 9-for-28 (.321) with runners in scoring position and drove in 11 runs with two outs.
“We’ve just taken good at-bats and continued to get runners on base,” Roberts said. “I just like the at-bat quality. It just seems like every night is someone different.”
Trailing 4-1 through four innings, the Dodgers collected five hits in the fifth to score three runs and level the score at 4. Of the five hits in the inning, only one was an extra-base hit, a one-out double by Tommy Edman that drove in Muncy for the first run of the frame.
The Dodgers let the Nationals move in front of them again but by only one run.
“I thought we were going to break through, I really did,” Roberts said.
He was right. With two outs in the eighth inning, Alex Call singled and Edman walked. With the two of them on base, Betts stepped into the batter’s box.
The first pitch thrown to Betts by Nationals left-hander Will Dion was up and in.
“I was wishing he would get hit by the pitch,” Roberts said.
Betts sent the next pitch into the left field pavilion for a three-run home run.
Roberts said Freddie Freeman joked with him, “That’s why he avoids the pitch — so he can hit a home run.”
Betts has a .246 average this season, but he’s batting .305 with five homers, seven doubles and 22 RBIs over his last 24 games. His resurgence is overlapping with that of Teoscar Hernández, who is batting .423 with a home run over his last eight games.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez reacts during the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Dodgers have something to play for this month, as they started the week a game ahead of the Braves in the race for the No. 2 seed in the National League, which entitles a team to a first-round bye in the postseason.
Then again, the Dodgers went into the playoffs last year as the No. 3 seed, which required them to play in the wild-card round. They learned something important from the experience: Where they finished in the standings didn’t matter as much as how they played down the stretch.
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 06: Elly De La Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds bats during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Sunday, September 6, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Colten Strauss/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds woke Monday with the knowledge that it’s at least possible to take down the Milwaukee Brewers in a three-game series. I am not sure the same could have been said when they woke up on Friday, even if they’d firmly believed it all along.
Despite dropping Friday’s series opener 10-7 in a way that’s become so maddening, they rebounded in kind. Friday saw the Reds jump to an early lead only for the grind of the Brewers at-bats to chase starter Rhett Lowder amid a flurry of line drives and singles as Milwaukee turned the scoreboard upside down one professional at-bat at a time.
Still, Cincinnati pocketed that during Saturday’s game, and took home a hard-earned 5-3 victory that featured the best of their bullpen finally getting the best of Milwaukee’s. Then, on Sunday, the Reds themselves churned out 12 runs on 14 hits – just one of them a homer – as they found ways to work counts deep and pick up key hits with men in scoring position.
Sunday saw them overcome the demons that cost them in the series opener, too. They did jump to an early lead, and they did see Milwaukee scratch and claw their way back and into a lead of their own. Undeterred, the Reds plowed right ahead, as Elly De La Cruz had yet another big day to lead them through to a 12-8 win that maybe, just maybe, can propel them through the gauntlet that remains this season.
And that’s the point here, I think. This stretch of Milwaukee/Dodgers/Milwaukee/Dodgers/Cubs/Braves is as difficult as it gets. It’s a veritable playoff slate for a 2026 Reds club that will not be playing in actual playoff games. But if the Reds brass and ownership is truly committed to keeping this entire band together for another year in 2027 – should there be a season – coming up large in September against this caliber of team is what the team needs for its psyche to clear through a run of a more important ilk this time in a calendar year.
Hopefully, this weekend serves as a wake-up call to the players on Cincinnati’s roster that yes, they can play and win against the big clubs. They can hang, they can take punches, and they can punch right back. That’s what the good teams do, anyway – they never feel like they’re buried and out of reach, something that’s been felt in Reds games all too often over the last few years as their overall offense slumped to league-worst marks. This weekend, at least, that era of Reds baseball took a backseat.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 4: Umpire Rob Drake #8 calls Nasim Nuñez #26 of the Washington Nationals out as he is tagged out by Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers as he over slid the bag in the third inning at Dodger Stadium on September 4, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This season, Nasim Nunez has had the chance to prove he can be an everyday player. While he showed some promise at times in the summer, he has failed in that mission. For most of this season, his flaws have been brutally exposed as he has been overplayed. Nunez has skills, but this is not something that works in a full-time role.
It is tough to overstate just how bad Nasim Nunez has been offensively. On the season, his OPS is .534, which is over 50 points worse than the second worst qualified hitter. You can be an all-world baserunner and defender, but there are offensive thresholds you have to hit to be on an MLB field every day. Nunez is simply not hitting those.
When you look at his Baseball Savant page, it is very easy to identify the problems here. Nunez just is not strong enough to consistently make hard contact. His xwOBA, xSLG and barrel rate are all in the first percentile. There are actually ways to work around this, but Nunez either can’t or won’t do that.
Chandler Simpson has the same issues as Nunez, but he is hitting .308 this season. That is because he has gone all in on making contact and weaponizing his speed. Simpson only strikes out 8.2% of the time while Nunez strikes out over 20% of the time. Being like Chandler Simpson is the only way for Nunez to have offensive success. However, I just don’t think he has the bat to ball skills to do that.
The result of this is pretty disastrous. This season, Nunez has an insanely low 52 wRC+. That means he is about half as good as even an average hitter. It is rare to see a wRC+ that low for a guy with over 450 plate appearances because usually those sorts of bats don’t get this much rope.
People would counter that Nunez makes up for this on the bases and in the field. However, fWAR does not think so. Even while grading out as an elite baserunner and very good fielder, Nunez still has -0.2 fWAR. With his profile, you have to be an impressively bad hitter to compile negative WAR. That is exactly what he is doing though.
For all the talk about the value Nasim Nunez brings with the glove and his legs, it is not enough to make up for his abysmal bat. Sub-replacement level guy https://t.co/RXS9bM5qeA
It feels like the new regime has really bought into Nunez’s skillset. He is getting way more opportunities than he did with the old regime. They even moved CJ Abrams off of shortstop to get Nunez looks over there. Seaver King has been knocking on the door for a while, but Paul Toboni has decided to stick with Nunez.
With a slash line of .211/.289/.245, that faith is not being rewarded. Lately, Nunez has been as close to an automatic out as you get in the modern game. He is hitting .116 with a .302 OPS. Even old NL pitchers would be disappointed by those numbers. In his last 15 games, it has gotten even worse with an .095 average and .235 OPS. These numbers are just comically low.
With the offense having a tougher time post-deadline, you just cannot have this player in the lineup with any regularity. Whenever he comes up in a big spot, you are just conceding an out to the other team. That is what happened last night, with Nunez looking helpless at the dish.
Nasim Nunez's OPS is down to .536, lowest among all qualified MLB hitters by 55 points.
But Dylan Crews did "drive in" the go-ahead run when he took a curveball off his elbow with the bases loaded. Nats back on top, 5-4 in the 6th.
Nasim Nunez has a unique skillset, so I understand giving him some run in a rebuilding year. However, entering next season with Nunez as an Opening Day starter would be unacceptable. He has proven to be incapable at the plate and not starter quality.
You can keep him around as a defensive replacement and pinch runner. However, if he is a starter on the 2027 infield, the offseason would be a failure. Nunez has gotten his chance and has very clearly shown he cannot be an everyday player.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 6: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws the ball against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on September 6, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Braves defeated the Phillies 5-4. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phillies are at the top of the wild card standings thanks to a solid end of a West coast swing, but this weekend has been a bit of a bummer. Bullpen issues are creeping in again, making the prospect of a postseason swoon that much more looming, but hey – have to make it in first.
Three up
Bryce Harper – As I inferred in the question of the day this weekend, I believe Harper has joined the conversation about a top three MVP finish on the season. Another week in which he was getting on base and scoring runs, Harper has led this team (.409/.480/.455 on the week) to the top of the wild card standings, giving the definition of what an MVP is some meaning.
Alec Bohm – Bohm’s tenure with the Phillies is probably coming to an end. A free agent once the season is over, he’ll likely be on a new team thanks to his not really becoming what they thought he would be plus what he’ll want in free agency. That doesn’t mean he can’t be productive in the final days, just as he was this week (.278/.381/.611 on the week) against the Diamondbacks and Braves. If he can keep it up into October, it’ll help this lineup tremendously.
Zack Wheeler – It’s nice to be able to put Wheeler back to this part of the list. His last two starts have quelled the cries about his possibly being washed as he’s looked the part once again of ace of the staff. It might have been a dead arm period, likely a more complicated explanation, but I feel comfortable putting those says behind us. Wheeler is back and ready for the postseason.
Three down
Bryson Stott – Whew, is Stott ice cold or what? A paltry line of .111/.150/.278 was helped by a mammoth home run in Arizona, but Stott looks like he could use an extended break.
J.T. Realmuto – The first week of September was not kind to Realmuto, who really does look worn down these days. With the addition of Rafael Marchan to the roster thanks to the expansion, there really is no need to catch Realmuto more than three days a week at this point. Get his legs fresh for October, when he will really be leaned on.
Orion Kerkering – I’ll have more on this this week, but I am of the opinion that Kerkering needs to be in a new organization once this season is over.
Anaheim, CA - September 01: Life-long Angel fan George Sehremelis waves a flag after pulling up to the stadium, blasting Train's "Calling All Your Angels" on his stereo at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Arte Moreno sold a controlling interest in the Angel franchise to Rams owner Stan Kroenke. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
A sweep of the Baltimore Orioles was just what the medical team ordered for the Red Sox. The O’s had been hanging around the Wild Card for weeks – even through a selloff that included their starting catcher – while the Sox won 15 straight and 9 straight and put up an historic run since the end of June. A sweep for Baltimore would have put them solidly into the playoff picture, if still a bit outside of a playoff spot. But even lacking Willson Contreras and Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston came out on top.
Now at home, the Sox welcome the Angels for three games. They played the Angels to kick off winning 15 straight at the start of July, part of the 9-game, 3-series, road sweep on their way into the All Star Break.
Speaking of former Orioles. Grayson Rodriguez, who should have been their ace by now, will start for the Orioles Monday afternoon. That ERA over 6.00 looks promising but he was really pummeled early on. A 3.2 inning 7-run outing, another with 8 runs (7 earned) obscure that he hasn’t been quite that bad. Since giving up 11 runs over two starts in July he’s actually put up a 3.49 ERA / 3.85 FIP. Baltimore acquired him for Taylor Ward who they since traded to the Mariners for prospects. Health is a skill, but maybe they do wish they’d just stuck with their guy? Brayan Bello isn’t listed as the starter but he might be! Bello has lost some of his bullpen magic of late, but the Sox need to know what kind of pitcher he has become as they approach October. It’ll be interesting to see how long he’s even in a game. Bello threw 94 pitches on 8/29. Then given three days grace before tossing another 69. Pain. This time he’ll have four days of rest. It’s not too late, never too late for Bello to reclaim a rotation spot.
Why didn’t the Angels trade Reid Detmers? Who can say. But the 27-year-old southpaw is on a roll in what is something of a breakout season. Boston hit him hard back in July with 5 runs in 5.0 innings. He gave up 5 runs to the Rangers the next time out but since then has an ERA/FIP of 1.52/2.61 over 9 starts. That includes a 7.0 inning, 1 run, gem against the Yankees last time out. New York won in 10 innings but Detmers was gone. The Sox will send Patrick Sandoval. After gutting his way through 5.1 innings with just a single run allowed against the Yankees he turned back into a Pablo pumpkin against the Mariners allowing 4 runs (3 earned) in 4.0 innings. He pitched in the same game as Bello, tossed 80 pitches, but will get even more rest. Hope it helps!
Boston will look to have their knives out against Ryan Johnson, owner of an ERA north of 5.00. However, with some luck, he’s been better of late. In 12 starts before August: 7.63/6.31 ERA/FIP with 37Ks, 20 walks in 46 innings. Since the calendar hit August, over 6 starts, 1.67/5.26 ERA/FIP with 21Ks, and 18 BBs across 32.1 innings. He hasn’t been allowing runs but it hasn’t been exactly stress free. Is Jake Bennett back? The stoic Sox lefty turned in another quality start last time out against the Orioles and has 14 Ks to 0 walks over his last two outings. You can go back another start and it’s 20-1 or perhaps 26-2 if you go back yet another start. The point is he’s been good since getting that extra rest.
Mike Trout isn’t MIKE TROUT but he’s putting up a .241/.376/.422 line with 20 homers.
Old friend Vaughn Grissom is slashing .249/.310/.391
Since the trade deadline, shortstop Zach Neto is hitting .265/.306/.444.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Monday, September 7: Grayson Rodriguez (6.03 ERA / 4.76 FIP) vs. Brayan Bello (5.07 ERA / 4.33 FIP)
Tuesday, September 8: Reid Detmers (3.44 ERA / 3.10 FIP) vs. Patrick Sandoval (4.41 ERA / 4.42 FIP)
Wednesday, September 9: Ryan Johnson (5.17 ERA / 5.88 FIP) vs. Jake Bennett (3.34 ERA / 4.22 FIP)
Jesús Luzardo pounded his mitt, looked toward the sky and took in the roar of a near-sellout crowd.
It was 2:56 p.m.
One hour and 51 minutes after he threw his first pitch, Luzardo had completed the first complete game of his career in his 150th start.
Every time the left-hander takes the ball nowadays, it feels like a short day awaits the bullpen — and anyone hoping to get home at a reasonable hour.
His latest turn came on Labor Day, with more than 41,000 fans filling Citizens Bank Park on a beautiful afternoon against the Braves.
No one was in a rush to leave. Luzardo sent them home early anyway.
The Phillies beat Atlanta 1-0 in the finale of their four-game weekend series behind the pitcher who has been the best in baseball since the end of July and arguably since the second week of June.
Working quickly from the start, Luzardo repeatedly jumped ahead of Atlanta’s righty-heavy lineup with his four-seam fastball. Twelve of the 14 at-bats he opened with a heater began with a strike.
Getting ahead did not make him predictable.
Luzardo finished with five strikeouts on his fastball and five more on his signature sweeper, giving him his sixth double-digit strikeout performance of the season. The two pitches attacked opposite eye levels and kept one of baseball’s best lineups guessing throughout the afternoon.
The Braves managed two hits. They did not draw a walk. And because Luzardo needed only 88 pitches to complete eight scoreless innings, there was never much doubt about who would take the mound for the ninth.
First, the Phillies needed to give him a lead.
Their offense had done little against Atlanta all afternoon, struggling both to create opportunities and cash them in. Then Kyle Schwarber stepped to the plate with one out in the bottom of the eighth.
Facing Didier Fuentes, who entered with six consecutive scoreless appearances, Schwarber got a fastball over the heart of the plate and drove it into the right-field seats.
That was all Luzardo needed.
At 2:50 p.m., he walked back to the mound as the crowd rose around him. Ha-Seong Kim flew out. Ronald Acuña Jr. was hit by a two-strike pitch, bringing the tying run aboard.
Luzardo bore down.
He froze Drake Baldwin for his 10th strikeout, then got Ozzie Albies to fly out for the final out.
Luzardo pounded his glove, turned his eyes toward the sky and spoke to the heavens.
Before some fans could finish their meal or afternoon drink, his masterpiece was complete.
Sep 4, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz (3) warms up prior to the game against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz started a rehab assignment on Sunday with Oklahoma City, and pitched a scoreless inning, though it wasn’t clean. He walked a batter and threw only seven strikes among his 16 pitches, and did not induce a swinging strike, though did get a called strikeout.
“I’m sure Edwin is going to want to get back here as soon as possible,” manager Dave Roberts said Sunday. “But I’m probably more of the ‘get another one, and then get back with us.’”
I would posit there are more than those two options, but Díaz is getting closer to a potential return. Sunday was the first step.
Player of the day
Zach Ehrhard reached base four times and drove in all three runs to finish an Oklahoma City six-game sweep. Ehrhard had a two-run single in the seventh inning to open the scoring and adding an RBI single for some insurance in the ninth.
Christian Romero and friends took the offense provided by Ehrhard to beat the Round Rock Express (Rangers). Romero pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings, scattering three singles, with two strikeouts.
Hyeseong Kim had two hits, including a double, and scored a run. Noah Miller walked twice and scored the other two runs.
Kris Bubic pitched a scoreless eighth, his third scoreless inning in three tries on his rehab assignment.
Oklahoma City is tied with Sugar Land in the second half at 39-24 with 12 games left in the regular season. Those two teams play each other next week for six games in Oklahoma City, which will go a long way in determining who faces Las Vegas in the Pacific Coast league championship.
Double-A Tulsa
The Drillers allowed a run in the ninth to force extra innings, then gave up six runs in the 10th in a loss to the Wichita Wind Surge (Twins).
Josue De Paula had two hits, walked, and stole his 30th base of the season, two swipes shy of his career high set last year.
After a series of shortened starts and two injured list stints, Luke Fox had a nice clean outing on Sunday, with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts. The left-hander retired all six batters he faced.
Right-hander Jacob Kmatz, acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in the August 3 Hunter Feduccia/Jack Suwinski trade, struck out four in two scoreless innings on Sunday, stranding a pair of singles. Since joining Tulsa, Kmatz has a 1.72 ERA in 11 games, with 21 strikeouts against only two walks in 15 2/3 innings and a 30.6-percent strikeout-minus-walk rate.
High-A Great Lakes
There was no celebration hangover for the Loons, who closed out the regular season with a win over the Lake County Captains (Guardians). Third baseman Eduardo Guerrero had a pair of run-scoring singles.
With a playoff spot clinched and the postseason starting in two days, it was a group pitching effort on Sunday for Great Lakes, with six pitchers used to cover nine innings. Jacob Frost had the longest outing of the bunch with three scoreless innings, the 2025 draft pick ending his first professional season on a high note.
Second baseman Nico Perez was the designated hitter on Sunday, walked twice, and stole two bases, giving him 35 steals in 41 attempts in 83 games with the Loons this year. Last year Perez was hurt in July, ending his season, and stole 35 bases in 41 tries in only 61 games with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. Perez, who turns 22 this season, hit .270/.380/.450 with Great Lakes, including a 118 wRC+ entering Sunday.
Edgardo Quintero did not play on Sunday, but the top-100 prospect ended the regular season leading the Midwest League in runs scored (107), batting average (.309), and on-base percentage (.445), and was second in OPS (.940) and hits (123). Teammate Charles Davalan led the league in hits (128), extra-base hits (56), and total bases (235).
Class-A Ontario
Tower Buzzers relievers allowed five runs in the final three innings, turning a close game into a lopsided loss to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Angels).
Easton Shelton one day after hitting a billion-foot grand slam (roughly) was walked three times and had a sacrifice fly. The cornerman ends the regular season leading the California League in home runs (37), RBI (112), total bases (262), extra-base hits (65), OPS (1.047), and slugging percentage (.644), and was second in on-base percentage (.403) and fourth in batting average (.297) and runs scored (89).
Triple-A: Catcher Eliezer Alfonzo was called up the Dodgers with Dalton Rushing on the injured list. Nelson Quiroz was promoted to Oklahoma City for catching depth, though he didn’t play Sunday.
Double-A: One day after being active without pitching, Angel Cruz was sent back to the Arizona Complex League roster. Alex Walsh joined Tulsa from the ACL roster instead.
High-A: Closer Davis Chastain was placed on the injured list retroactive to Saturday. That puts him out for the divisional playoffs. Hyun-Seok Jang was activated after four weeks on the injured list to start, but retired only three of his eight batters faced and was pulled with no outs in the second inning after allowing two runs, one earned.
Class-A: Right-hander Jesus Tillero was activated after seven weeks on the injured list. He allowed three runs in his two innings of work.
Midwest League East Division playoffs, best of 3: Great Lakes vs. Dayton (Reds)
Cal League South Division playoffs, best of 3: Ontario vs. Lake Elsinore (Padres)
Oklahoma City vs. Sugar Land (Astros)
Tulsa at Northwest Arkansas (Royals)
Great Lakes as the second-half winner hosts Game 1 on Tuesday, with Games 2 and 3 at Dayton on Thursday and Friday. Ontario as the second-half winner hosts Game 1 on Tuesday, with Games 2 and 3 at Lake Elsinore on Thursday and Friday.
In both Class-A and High-A, the best-of-3 league championship series start on Sunday, with Games 2-3 on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 15-16.
Probabilities courtesy of Polymarket. For help understanding Polymarket probabilities, see our odds calculator.
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Jon Metler's expert pick: Cubs moneyline
Price: 48¢ at Polymarket
The Chicago Cubs are trading at 48% on Polymarket, but I make them closer to a 51% favorite.
Two factors stand out to me. First, I'm much more comfortable backing Matthew Boyd on the road, where he owns a 2.83 ERA compared to a 5.40 ERA at Wrigley Field.
Second, Brewers starter Robert Gasser relies heavily on his slider.
The Cubs have several right-handed bats — including Alex Bregman, Nico Hoerner, and Seiya Suzuki — who are either patient against off-speed pitches from left-handed pitchers or have swing paths that profile well against the slider.
If Gasser can't generate outs with his slider, he'll be forced to attack the zone with a low-velocity fastball. Chicago also faced him just six days ago, giving its hitters a recent look at his stuff and an even greater advantage in an already difficult matchup.
Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
How to watch: Brewers.TV, Marquee
Neil Parker's expert pick: Royals moneyline
Price: 51¢ at Polymarket
The Diamondbacks are 28th in wOBA and 30th in xwOBA over the past two weeks, so with the Kansas City Royals respectively checking in ninth and eighth in the two metrics, I’m expecting Kansas City to pull away.
Royals lefty Noah Cameron has also settled in down the stretch with a high-end 2.34 xERA and 2.82 xFIP across his past seven starts, while the Diamondbacks counter with inexperienced righty Jose Cabrera (4.84 xERA and 5.00 xFIP).
Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
How to watch: One national/two local
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Cardinals vs Giants - Over 7.5
Price: 53¢ at Polymarket
We’ve got all the ingredients for an Over tonight in San Francisco, with a low total and 14.6 mph winds blowing out.
Both offenses are swinging hot bats, with the St. Louis Cardinals ranking first in OPS over the past week, while the San Francisco Giants sit eighth. They should be able to tee off against two struggling starters.
Logan Webb has been rocked for 16 earned runs across his last three starts, including nine last time out, while Michael McGreevy has surrendered 14 over the same span.
The bullpens offer little relief, ranking 26th and 21st in ERA over the past two weeks. With St. Louis going Over in 14 of its last 17, Over 7.5 is the play.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 06: Daniel Schneemann #10 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off RBI single during the tenth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on September 06, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Guardians defeated the Tigers 3-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It really feels like this was a weekend of missed opportunities for the Yankees. They easily could have left San Diego with a sweep, or at least having taken two of three from the Padres. Instead, they head home with only Saturday’s win to show for their weekend. And in the process, they let Boston creep closer and failed to gain ground on Tampa.
Elsewhere, it is starting to look like the race for the final Wild Card spot could come down to three teams: whomever out of Cleveland and the White Sox doesn’t win the AL Central, whomever out of Houston and Texas doesn’t win the AL West, and the Blue Jays. The rest of the American League’s pretenders sit at least four games out of the final playoff spot, with multiple teams in front of them.
Tampa Bay Rays (85-58) 6, Texas Rangers (71-73) 8
I guess it could have been worse. And would have, if not for Jake Burger. There’s a Burger King joke here somewhere, but I am not clever enough to think of it. Burger cracked pair of home runs, helping Texas come back from an early 5-1 deficit. The Rangers scored six in the fourth and fifth innings to take the lead and managed to hold on for a much-needed win, as they try to stay in the hunt in both the AL West and Wild Card races.
If you’re a fan of great pitching, this was not the game for you. Each team burned through six pitchers, with not a single one recording more than nine outs. Gross. Texas’ win, however, prevents Tampa from going five games up on the Yankees, who already face a steep challenge trying to make up a four-game deficit in the AL East as the season rapidly approaches a close.
Boston Red Sox (79-65)3, Baltimore Orioles (69-75) 1: You only really need to know two names from today’s game and they’re both Red Sox. In the top of the second, Eli White stepped to the dish with a pair of runners on. His three-run home run gave Boston a lead they never surrendered. And they can thank Payton Tolle for much of that. The hefty lefty spun six innings of one-run ball for Beantown, striking out 12 Orioles along the way. Former Yankee Aroldis Chapman came in for the ninth and recorded the final three outs, in the process notching his 400th career save. Chapman is the ninth man all-time to reach that milestone.
Chicago White Sox (75-68) 10, Minnesota Twins (68-75) 1: You’d never know it by the final score but for the first half of this game, it looked like “first run wins.” Then Chicago scored the first run. And nine more. So in a way, first run did win. Of note for Yankee fans: remember Randal Grichuk? The longtime Yankee killer hit .194 with nary a home run in 16 games in pinstripes. His eighth-inning longball was his 12th of the year and it pushes his OPS with the Pale Hose over .900 in 183 AB. An outcome both enraging and so incredibly predictable.
Houston Astros (73-71) 2, Arizona Diamondbacks (76-68) 3: I cannot describe how much I am going to hate it if Houston makes the playoff with 84 wins and then goes on a deep run. Eduardo Rodriguez and Arizona did their job Sunday to try and prevent that. Rodriguez threw six frames of one-run ball, earning his 15th win of the season in the process. For Houston, presumptive AL MVP Yordan Alvarez was up to his usual tricks, bashing his 38th homer of the season. He continues to lead (or share in the lead) for each of the Triple Crown categories as well, though an MLB Triple Crown seems a longshot at this point.
Cleveland Guardians (73-71) 3, Detroit Tigers (65-78) 2 (F/10): Apparently Guards Ball is now when Cleveland keeps it close at home, gets the game to extra innings, and walks it off for the win. Sunday marked their third such game of the weekend, this time with Daniel Schneemann providing the heroics on with a tenth inning single. In a “you can’t predict baseball, Suzyn” anecdote… at no point this weekend did Cleveland ever lead one of their games prior to walking each one off. Wild. Oh, and Gavin Williams notched double-digit strikeouts again. Ho hum. That’s eight of his last 11 starts.
Toronto Blue Jays (72-72) 1, Kansas City Royals (64-80) 6: Maybe Spencer Arrighetti just isn’t good. I remember being surprised at the deadline that the Astros of all teams would trade away young, controllable starting pitching. I’m increasingly less surprised. After getting shelled on Sunday, Arrighetti has allowed 14 ER in 15.2 IP since becoming a Blue Jay. That’s “good” for an 8.04 ERA. Yikes.
