ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 2: Justin Hagenman #47 of the New York Mets pitches in the bottom of the third inning for his first start in 2026 against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 2, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Parker S. Freedman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Prior to today’s game against the Nationals, the Mets called up Justin Hagenman. To make room for Hagenman on the roster, the team optioned Jack Weisenburger to the FCL Mets. The team also announced that Xzavion Curry cleared waivers and has been outrighted to the FCL Mets.
With Christian Scott hitting the injured list and missing his start tonight, the team has been expected to call up Hagenman. While it’s unclear if he will start, Anthony DiComo mentioned that the righty “should play a significant role in tonight’s game”. Hagenman has appeared in two games this month for the Mets and has allowed two earned runs on three hits, with two strikeouts and one walk issued. This comes after he pitched 23 2/3 innings for New York across five separate stints for the org in 2025. He finished last year with a 4.56 ERA and a 3.77 FIP in those nine appearances.
Weisenburger was really solid in his two stints for New York this year, which also happened to be his first two turns in the majors. Across 12 2/3 innings, he posted a 2.13 ERA and a 1.83 FIP. He struck out 14 batters, issued three hits, and surrendered 10 hits. He pitched in yesterday’s 3-1 loss to Texas, where he got into some trouble by allowing a walk and a hit before getting out of it with a double play to finish off his outing and his year.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 22: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 and Mauricio Dubón #14 of the Atlanta Braves celebrate in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Truist Park on September 22, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While the Braves are taking a very passive approach to their pitching this weekend in order to best align for next week’s wild-card series at Truist Park, the lineup is being kept in top condition.
For Game 1 of its final regular-season series at Miami (Friday at 7:10 EDT), Atlanta is using a lineup that could very resemble the one it opens the postseason with next Tuesday.
Drake Baldwin leads off and will be the designated hitter against a right-handed starter, while Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and Michael Harris II round out the top four in the order. Mauricio Dubón will hit fifth and play shortstop, while Sean Murphy is catching and hitting ninth.
No one on the Marlins’ active roster has ever faced Braves starter Ray Kerr. But that shouldn’t matter a ton as he’s unlikely to go much past one time through the order before the bullpen game continues with a variety of arms in use.
The Braves have had quite a bit of success against Marlins starter Eury Pérez. They’re a combined 27-for-71 (.380) against the right-hander with four homers, six doubles and 15 RBIs, walking six times and striking out 16.
Ronald Acuña Jr., Drake Baldwin, Michael Harris II, Austin Riley and Dominic Smith are all hitting over .400 against Pérez in a small sample size of nine or fewer at-bats. Baldwin has two of the four Braves’ homers off of Pérez with a sterling 1.111 slugging percentage in the matchup.
Adric from Coors Field | Michael Elizondo / True Blue LA
As the Dodgers embark on their final series of the regular season, let us revisit the last series where both the Dodgers won and Shohei Ohtani had an RBI, which happened to be with my mother in Denver.
We’ve had a lot of fun this year, and the campaign flew by.
Before I knew it, it was over. I’m so glad you stopped to smell the pine tar with me along the way.
As an aside, Mom and a friend of mine from law school will be joining us for the penultimate game of the year.
Rocky Mountain High
Denver was the first stop on my second circuit around the league. Ultimately, a lot of people sleep on Denver, and they really shouldn’t, as it’s a lovely ballpark. The tour of the facilities confirmed that.
Also, on the Tour, I learned that the visiting team does not have a kitchen and thus has to order all meals while playing. Afterward, the Rockies pick up and pay for the orders, and get reimbursed once the visiting team leaves. Coors Field is surrounded by restaurants with its own plaza and hotel across the street from left field.
The main delicacy of Coors Field is the Rocky Mountain Oyster, a deep-fried, breaded bull’s testicle. I meant to try it during this visit, but I found my stomach was not agreeing with me after trying some of the local restaurants. For once, I decided that discretion was the better part of valor.
Now, did Hunter Feduccia become ill during Game 2 of the series because he had a Rocky Mountain Oyster or had a bad reaction to Denver takeout? I have no earthly idea; sadly, I’m not a credentialed reporter, so the big questions like this one get unanswered while everyone focuses on why Kyle Tucker dropped that fly ball.
Considering the follies that arose from our choice of hotel in Los Angeles in 2025, Mom finally listened to me and was willing to split and splurge on The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square.
The hotel was quite nice, and the service was excellent, but it was a little pricey for my budget. Yes, the convenience of just walking out the left field gate only to be right at the hotel is amazing when the weather is muggy and/or you are surrounded by fans.
The Mountain Ranch Bar and Grille is an interesting option if you want to eat at a buffet in the ballpark, overlooking batting practice. Again, best views are the effectively closed-off areas of the ballpark that open up two hours before first pitch.
Mom enjoyed herself both at the games and on the tour. Sometimes there is the temptation to try and make more of experiences than what they were at face value.
Sometimes a ballgame is just that, and I continue to remain grateful for the company.
But there are times one has to admit a personal truth, and if you are indifferent to me venturing into foul territory for a bit, you can stop right here.
No longer walking the line
I need to make a confession. For five years, I have steadfastly said that I walk that line between serious journalist and hardcore fan. But that sentence isn’t true anymore.
The cost of experience is wonder. At some point, I learned too much, experienced too much, and I somehow became more journalist than fan. I don’t know when it happened, but I do know when I realized it happened; the fact that this change did happen is noteworthy.
For most of my life, you could define a significant portion of my personality by my fandom of the Dodgers.
26 years ago, I attended a summer program at UCLA for business students. I had no desire to go into business, but I needed to do something to pad out my transcript as an underachieving A-student from a rural Central Valley town that I was desperate to get away from.
The highlight of the program was an outing at Dodger Stadium on July 20, 2000, where the Dodgers were set to face the Colorado Rockies. Before the game, I had cornered some Fox/Dodger executive, and I was peppering him with questions as I was genuinely thrilled to be there.
I fully admit that I have an awkward social manner, and it was much worse when I was younger. And maybe he was having a bad day. I think his last name was Chase, but I wouldn’t testify to it. Anyway, he blew his stack at me loudly, wondering why I didn’t just grow up, and finished his rant by saying, “It’s just a job, man. Grow up.”
I felt like I had been slapped. I must have looked crestfallen. The room went quiet. I apologized meekly, went to finish my dinner, and the silence of the room was broken up by Gary Sheffield hitting a first-inning homer.
Who says that my life lacks poetry? But the moment was transformative, as public humiliation often is. In some ways, I grew up.
17-year-old me would be appalled at that sentence. 43-year-old me, who has literally been around the world to cover this team and to every MLB ballpark to watch this team, would think I’m being ridiculous.
I’m not bona fide. And that’s okay.
Apart from some of the sponsored posts (…don’t stop, I need the money…), I have been proud of everything I have created during these five seasons.
I try not to revel in being right, because when I’m wrong, oh Lord, do I miss the mark.
As I described above, when I realized I was more journalist than fan at this point was when I told Melissa Myer of the podcast Talk Dodgers to Me that at some point, I became an actual journalist and columnist by feeling vindication about being right about the Dodgers’ handling of Ohtani. She was moderately appalled at my vindication.
Ms. Myer is adamant that she is always fans first, and her podcast with Jaclyn Ruiz reflects that approach. The lineup of people who have gone on, including players, broadcasters, and other luminaries, is impressive. It’s hard not to feel a little envy when I have to kick and scream to be noticed on even minor topics. You won’t see hard topics on that podcast, but if you want to indulge your inner fan, have at it.
I realized I know too much. I have spent too much time on the figurative slaughterhouse floor watching how the sausage gets made. I have no problem calling things as they are, including any health code violations in this metaphor, and having a Greek salad afterward.
When Eric Stephen hired me five years ago, he gave me one directive: write about the interesting stuff.
I had it in my head that somehow finishing the circuit and finishing five seasons would somehow confer clout or status on me. As if the heavens would part, and there would be some deeper meaning to all this with Stephen Nelson and Orel Hershiser saying “attaboy.”
It didn’t. At least, not yet, which may not help with the deflating delusions of grandeur.
More folks say hello to me when I’m on the road, which is both neat and confusing.
Dad’s final words to me were that he loved me and a request to have fun. He never got to see Ohtani as a Dodger, or Ohtani’s Perfect Day in Miami, or The Fifth Inning, or my madcap romp to Toronto last year. As I said at the beginning of the year, when you literally experience a high that cannot be topped, one either has to come to terms with it or go mad seeking a repeat.
I got to goof on the road with people I like, respect, or both. I was an accidental witness to some of the best moments in recent Dodger history. I had fun. Originally, this essay was going to be an “Adric’s Retiring” post, but he’s not. I still have four more Guide entries to write, and he’s featured in all of them. Plus, the first question from Mom would be “Where’s Adric?” if I kept him at home.
It’s not the end, even though no one is guaranteed a tomorrow; it’s just the end of the beginning. For this next act, there will likely be more of me, rather than our unofficial mascot. It’s scary, but it’s good and, in some ways, long overdue. That’s the fun part about the second trip around the circuit; there’s absolutely no rush to complete it in a hurry.
So until next time, once more into the breach, my friends.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 29: Brendan Beck #89 of the New York Yankees pitches during the second game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on August 29, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Expected inclement weather of Saturday led to the Yankees and Orioles moving around their weekend regular season finale and playing two games today on Friday. Today’s opener will feature the CC Sabathia number retirement ceremony that was originally set for tomorrow. After that pomp and circumstance, the Yankees and O’s will get their three game set going.
In the first of today’s games, the Yankees will give the start to Brendan Beck, who was just called up alongside Yerry De los Santos with Luis Gil and Bradley Hanner farmed out last night. So far, Beck has made three MLB appearances since debuting earlier this season. He has an 8.22 ERA in 7.2 innings, including five runs allowed in 3.2 innings back on July 4th, which was his first career MLB start. Between the playoffs coming up and today now being a doubleheader, the Yankees more than anything will be hoping he can soak up some innings.
Backing up him, the Yankees will be running out their lefty lineup, sending out Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario. Ali Sánchez will be behind the plate before switching with Austin Wells for the nightcap.
With the lefty lineup starting, the Yankees will be facing, as you might guess, a lefty. Trevor Rogers will be going for Baltimore. He has a 4.07 ERA in 165.2 innings this season. This could be his last start with the Orioles after a very up-and-down tenure that began at the 2024 Trade Deadline, as he is a free agent at season’s end.
We hope that you’ll come join us in the game thread for all of today’s action, so here’s how to watch the opener today.
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY
First pitch: 4:05 p.m. ET
TV broadcast: YES (NYY) | MASN (BAL)
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | 98 Rock 97.9 FM, WBAL 1090 AM (BAL)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 04, 2026 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Orioles 12-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is it. The final series of the 2026 Orioles season. And we’ll knock out two of the three games in one fell swoop as the O’s and Yankees play a doubleheader today.
Because of this weekend’s impending nor’easter, Saturday’s scheduled game was moved up to this afternoon, giving the Orioles their second straight doubleheader. Wednesday’s twin bill against the Blue Jays went very well indeed, with a pair of 4-2 O’s wins to sweep Toronto out of the postseason race, and now the Birds will try to repeat the feat against a Yanks team that has nothing to play for. The Yankees’ postseason spot is already secure, as the first wild card winner and #4 overall seed, so they’ll likely be resting most of their regulars this weekend to prepare for Tuesday’s Wild Card Series against the Red Sox.
The Orioles, who were eliminated by the White Sox win yesterday, also don’t have anything to play for, although they could finish the season with a .500 record if they sweep the three-game series. That’s something! But not really.
Trevor Rogers takes the mound in the opener, making what could be the final start of his Orioles career, a thought that makes me sad. After a sluggish start to the season, he’s been fantastic since the start of June, posting a 2.92 ERA and looking more like the 2025 Most Valuable Oriole version of himself. In his last start, he racked up 10 strikeouts and gave up just one run in eight innings, but still got the loss because the Orioles’ offense is dumb. To quote John Malkovich from Rounders: Pay that man his money.
The first game begins at 4:05, and the nightcap will begin about a half hour after the first one ends (but no earlier than 7:05). Brandon Young will start the second game. This thread will be the place to discuss both games.
Game 1 lineups
Orioles:
RF Dylan Beavers 1B Pete Alonso SS Gunnar Henderson DH Coby Mayo 3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand CF Colton Cowser 2B Jeremiah Jackson LF Christian Franklin C Carlos Narváez
LHP Trevor Rogers
Yankees:
1B Paul Goldschmidt DH Ben Rice LF Heliot Ramos RF Amed Rosario SS George Lombard Jr. CF Spencer Jones 3B Anthony Volpe C Ali Sánchez 2B José Caballero
The end of the line for a future Major League Baseball Hall of Famer comes on Saturday afternoon in Detroit.
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander will make his final career start for the Tigers in a celebratory day against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 43-year-old righty pitched only one game in March this season due to left hip inflammation and a left hamstring strain, hampering an emotional return to Detroit.
Verlander was one of the most dominant pitchers baseball has seen over the last 50 years, totaling a career 81.8 WAR, 266 wins, and a 3.33 ERA.
He’s a member of the 3,000-strikeout club and ranks eighth all time with 3,554 punchouts in 21 seasons.
Verlander won the Cy Young in 2011, 2019, and 2022, the latter two with the Houston Astros.
A two-time World Series champion with Houston in 2017 and 2022, Verlander still consistently threw upper-90s with his fastball and was the Astros’ ace during two historic runs in the playoffs
The 2006 AL Rookie of the Year also won the ERA title twice, won the pitcher Triple Crown in 2011, and was a 10-time All-Star selection. Rob Manfred named Verlander an honorary All-Star for the game in Philadelphia this past summer.
Pirates manager Don Kelly told me he will not take it easy on his former team mate Justin Verlander when he pitches for the final time tomorrow. Hear the full interview in the comments! pic.twitter.com/apvqAjvOFg
The 2011 AL MVP pitched one of the most incredible seasons of all time, leading the AL in WAR (8.6), starts (34), wins (24), innings (251), ERA (2.40), ERA+ (172), WHIP (0.92), and strikeouts (250).
Verlander told AJ Pierzynski of Foul Territory that he’s going to throw “until my arm falls off” in his final appearance. The Tigers are honoring Verlander on Friday and giving away Verlander bobbleheads to fans coming to watch the Detroit great.
First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. as baseball says goodbye to one of the game’s all-time great pitchers.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided some updates ahead of the team’s doubleheader against the Orioles…
No Lagrange
Consider any talk of Carlos Lagrange joining the Yanks shut down.
Boone said that the righty could potentially be an option down the road, but he isn't on their radar at the moment.
“It’s not real,” the skipper emphasized. “He had an injury and he’s just starting to throw lives again, he threw one just two days ago, so he’s not in play right now.”
Lagrange was expected to get a shot in the Yankees’ bullpen during the second half, before being diagnosed with a capsular sprain of the right shoulder in late-June.
After a six-week shutdown he returned to throw an inning down in Triple-A last week.
The 23-year-old has put together a bit of an up-and-down season when healthy, pitching to a 4.48 ERA while striking out 85 batters across just 64.1 Triple-A innings.
Weathers on the mend
While the Yanks won’t be adding Lagrange, they appear to be close to getting another big piece back from injury.
Boone said that Ryan Weathers looked healthy, touching up to 96 mph on his fastball while throwing a one-inning simulated game in the Bronx on Friday afternoon.
Boone wasn’t ready to fully commit to the left-hander being ready for the Wild Card round, but it’s certainly another encouraging step in the right direction.
“He looked like Ryan stuff-wise,” he said. “He was a little scattered there in his inning, but from my vantage-point on the side his stuff looked good, look forward to flushing it out a bit.”
Weathers has been sidelined since late-August due to a left forearm flexor strain.
Though there was big concern at the time, the Yanks have always expected him to be back contributing in some capacity before the season comes to a close.
Rodon in the pen?
It appears Carlos Rodon could potentially be joining Weathers in the Yankees' bullpen.
With the team only needed three starting pitching for the Wild Card series, we should expect to see some mixing-and-matching with the pitching staff.
Cam Schlittler, Gerrit Cole, and Max Fried will obviously be their three starters.
New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
With that in mind, Boone said that Rodon is "very much in the conversation" to work out of the bullpen if needed during the three-game series with the Red Sox.
The left-hander has been tremendous for the Yanks since returning from another injury, allowing two runs or less in each of his last seven outings of the season.
He’s made just five relief appearances over his 12-year big-league career.
Stanton making the cut?
Giancarlo Stanton was one of the batters who dug into the box to face Weathers during his sim game.
Stanton has been sidelined since late April due to continued calf trouble, but Boone recently told reporters that he’s knocking on the door at a return.
So, what exactly would it take for him to be an option in the WC round?
“A lot of that comes down to how many position players we decide to go with,” Boone explained. “Those are the conversations we'll be having over the next couple of days -- we’ll talk to G and see where he’s at physically and mentally, and then we’ll do the best we can to make the right decision.”
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 21: Yohandy Morales #28 of the Washington Nationals celebrates his eighth inning two run home run against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on September 21, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In what has been a tumultuous season with plenty of exciting highs and crushing lows, the last series of 2026 is finally here. With just two games separating these two clubs for the 4th and 5th spots in the National League East, the battle for the basement of the division has taken us all the way to games 159-162. It once looked like Washington could be in the mix for a playoff spot, but those dreams have been dashed in recent months. The Nats have won or tied their last 4 series (3-0-1 series record) and are looking to salvage a rough second half with one last positive mark before an offseason of uncertainty begins.
The Mets, once again sitting near the top of the league in payroll, will conclude the 2026 season without a playoff appearance. Their second half was more impressive than Washington’s, but their disastrous start to the year and myriad of injuries made October baseball impossible. They too have won each of their last 2 series, and are also in the market for moral victories as the season comes to a close.
Game One – Friday, 6:45 PM ET
WSH: LHP Andrew Alvarez (2-6, 3.16 ERA) NYM: TBA
Alvarez’s season has been far beyond any expectations placed on him, and he has a chance to end it off with a fantastic exclamation point. The Mets are likely to throw multiple long relievers at the Nats’ lineup, giving Washington a chance to start the series off hot.
New York’s funky young righty has 1 super outing sandwiched by 2 4-run appearances since being called up in September, and is still working through the growing pains of being a rookie arm. With experience on their side, the Nats’ lefty hitters could jump on Tong and hopefully get backed up by some long-awaited stabilization from the veteran Irvin.
Game Three – Sunday, 3:05 PM ET
WSH: LHP DJ Herz (0-1, 9.00 ERA) NYM: LHP Sean Manaea (6-7, 4.67 ERA)
Essentially a full reversal of the middle game, the matchup of righties going into Game 162 gives New York the veteran edge, although, once again, both pitchers haven’t seen much success this season. Herz could be an MLB option in the future for Washington, and it would be quite favorable for him to end his brief 2026 campaign on a high note.
San Diego Padres SP Casey Mize (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres have only three games remaining in what has been an unbelievable season. Rookie manager Craig Stammen has plenty of work ahead after securing a Wild Card berth.
Several players are fighting for postseason roster security. They all have a legitimate opportunity to make a strong impression in the last series of 2026.
Which Padres have the most to gain? Because cuts are coming.
Casey Mize
Since the trade deadline, the Friars have given Casey Mize every opportunity to secure the No. 3 position in the starting rotation. But his brief time in San Diego has been disappointing.
In nine starts, Mize has a 6.64 ERA and a 1.623 WHIP over 40.2 innings pitched. Yes, we have seen glimpses of greatness, most notably when Mize threw six shutout innings against the Cleveland Guardians in August. His struggles with the long ball have been a problem, as Mize has given up 10 home runs in the Brown & Gold.
The organization will discuss how many starting pitchers are needed on the Wild Card roster. In his final start, Mize must prove he can back up Michael King, Robbie Ray, and Walker Buehler if a postseason emergency arises.
He must let his pitching repertoire be his best defense. If Mize finishes the season with a strong outing, he has made a case for postseason roster consideration.
Samad Taylor
In June, the Padres needed a boost to their lethargic offense. The team promoted minor-league journeyman Samad Taylor, and he made an immediate impact with speed and timely hitting.
Taylor is not a liability at the plate. He is hitting .324 with a .821 OPS over 168 plate appearances. The one concern is his strikeout rate (25.0%), which is higher than the major league average (22.4%). However, he puts the ball in play, and if Taylor continues to produce, the Corona native has a strong chance of making the Wild Card roster.
His legs will be a major weapon in the postseason. With game-changing speed, Taylor will exploit pitchers who forget about him at first base. He has 10 stolen bases in 13 attempts. Taylor will be called upon as a pinch-runner to steal a base in close playoff games.
Let’s not forget that he is an above-average fielder at multiple positions. Taylor can play all three outfield positions and has spent some time at both middle infield positions. In fact, he has made several outstanding defensive plays in his limited time with San Diego.
Whenever he is in the lineup, Taylor showcases his talents by getting on base and stealing a base.
Speed is a valuable weapon in October.
David Morgan
David Morgan is not exactly having a stellar 2026 season. He has a 4.11 ERA in 29 appearances. However, Morgan has been lights-out since Sept. 9.
The Good Captain has allowed one earned run over 6.0 innings, striking out seven. The right-hander’s four-seam fastball has been devastating of late; Morgan has regained velocity (97 MPH) since his recent call-up. And let’s not forget that his curveball has added more than two inches of vertical movement heading to the plate.
Morgan is under consideration to work out of the bullpen in the Wild Card round. He may need a strong finish to the season. If Morgan can show that he is a multi-inning reliever, it gives Stammen another option out of the pen.
Jase Bowen
The Friars have an abundance of outfielders on the 40-man roster. The everyday lineup is set: Fernando Tatis Jr. patrols right field, Jackson Merril in center field, and Dustin Harris roams left field. Unfortunately, Jase Bowen’s postseason status remains up in the air.
His .152 batting average does not make him an ideal pinch-hitter off the bench. But Bowen’s ability to steal a base and his versatility to play anywhere in the field offer Stammen another option late in games.
The Padres may have room on the Wild Card round roster for another positional player if a starting pitcher is left off.
No decisions will be made until their opponent is set.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 10: The San Diego Padres mascot Swinging Friar and the mother version of swinging Friar pose on the field for Mother's Day before the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park on May 10, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the third season out of four, the Diamondbacks playoff hopes hinge on the final weekend of the series. Of the two other final weekends, one worked out, one didn’t. Tiebreaker time, I guess. This season, like in 2024, they come in without any control over their own destiny, this time needing the Phillies to lose at least twice, while they need to win two.
Neither side has it easy this weekend. The Phillies are going home to face the AL West winning Tampa Bay Rays, while the Diamondbacks have to go on the road to face the hottest team in baseball, the San Diego Padres. No pressure boys. On the other hand, the Padres locked up their Wild Card spot last night with a win against the Dodgers and now only have positioning left to play for.
Because of that, you’ll find that the Padres have not announced any of their pitchers yet. They get the luxury of moving their pitchers around and putting their best foot forward going into the playoffs. The Diamondbacks get no such luxury. They’ll play the cards they’ve been given and hope for the best.
Game 1 — 9/25, 6:40 PM: Brandon Pfaadt (1.7 bWAR, 7-3, 3.72 ERA/112 ERA+, 1.16 WHIP) vs TBD
Pfaadt is coming off a 4 1/3 inning outing against the Yankees where he only gave up one run. It was his shortest outing since returning to the rotation, but also his most successful since he went four starts and only gave up one run between them. You’ll see a similarly short leash in this outing, as Lovullo will be more than willing to get into the bullpen to avoid the One Big Inning.
Game 2 — 9/26, 5:40 PM: Corbin Burnes (-0.3 bWAR, 0-0, 7.84 ERA/55 ERA+, 9.00) vs TBD
Expect Corbin Burnes to be on the same short leash, if not even shorter. He hasn’t been stellar since returning from the injured list, nor does he seem to be getting stretched out. After throwing three scoreless in his initial return, he gave up five in 4 2/3 and then 4 in 2 2/3. The most startling number out of that is the five home runs he gave up in those two starts. It all comes down to him not having the feel for the control of his pitches. Evey analyst and former pitcher says that’s the last thing to come back after Tommy John Surgery and Burnes’ recovery is making that very clear.
Game 3 — 9/27, 12:10 PM: Michael Soroka (2.2 bWAR, 9-5, 3.31 ERA/126 ERA+, 1.08 WHIP) vs TBD
If you had told me at the start of the season that it would all rest on the final series of the season, and the final game of that final series would be started by Michael Soroka and I’d be okay with that, I don’t think I would have believed you. It’s almost like the people that are paid to put together baseball teams know more than me… No that can’t be it. Anyway, Soroka has had a great season, one of the very best in his career, and if it comes down to the final game, the starting pitcher will not be my concern.
Conclusion
Well, sorry, I spoiled the conclusion at the start of the article. It all comes down to this. Not a whole lot more to add, other than a reminder. After Sunday, we don’t know when the next Diamondbacks game will be. Make sure to take some time this weekend to enjoy it, even if it doesn’t go the way we’re all hoping it does. It’s going to be an especially long, cold offseason.
I think they’ve got a chance to win this series. We won’t face the top of the Padres rotation, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see hitters and relievers get days off that they wouldn’t normally get. But the team has to execute. They’ve been playing solid baseball this week, and it’s paid off in the form of a five game winning streak. To have the very best chance of success, they have to see that winning streak go to eight games. It’s going to be a tall order, but… I think they can do it. Give ‘em hell, men. Go Dbacks!
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates winning the National League East title after a game against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Joe Buvid/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’ve reached the final weekend of the season and the 2026 NL East champion Atlanta Braves have officially locked themselves into the three-seed and will be starting their Postseason journey at home in the Wild Card Series.
What we already know
We do know what day these games are going to be played but we still don’t know the time. Game 1 will take place on Tuesday, September 29, Game 2 will be on Wednesday, September 30 and if it comes down to it, Game 3 will be on Thursday, October 1. If the Braves can get through the Wild Card Series then they’ll have at least one day of rest before jetting off to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers for another Postseason series.
We know that all of the games during the Wild Card Series will be airing on NBC/Peacock, so keep that in mind once we get closer to the event. We also know that since the Braves are in the three-seed, they’ll be hosting the series and hopefully that’ll turn into a serious advantage for the Braves during this particular Postseason run. If you’d rather hear the home slant on things, then you can mute the TV and turn on 680 The Fan so you can listen to Ben Ingram do play-by-play on the Braves Radio Network. Again, if you can’t stand the National broadcasts then I highly recommend going down that route during the Postseason run.
We know that the pitching will be a bit of a mystery after the first two games of the Wild Card Series. Chris Sale is very likely going to get the ball for Game 1 and I’d imagine that Tyler Mahle has pitched his way into being the Game 2 starter. After that, it’s anybody’s guess. It likely would’ve been Martín Pérez but unfortunately he’s been sidelined with a back injury. Bryce Elder would’ve been the next candidate, but he’s down while recovering from a procedure being done on his knee. It could be Grant Holmes or it could very well be a bullpen game — and we’ll have to see what the state of the bullpen is in after the first two games of the Wild Card Series.
So based off of that, we know that the Braves are very likely going to want to get this Wild Card Series done as soon as possible, as a third game could potentially throw everything into flux as far as Game 1 of the NLDS goes.
What we don’t know yet
We still don’t know when the Braves are going to be playing these games during their dates and we likely won’t know until the season ends. When it comes to the timing of these games, I’d have to imagine that maybe geography would play a role and that the Padres would get the “late” game if they host a Wild Card Series. I’d also guess that the Cubs would get a primetime slot no matter what, so I’m going to speculate that the Braves could be looking at a late afternoon/early evening slot for their Wild Card games. I have no clue how that’s going to shake out, so don’t hold me on that one.
We don’t know who the Braves will be facing during the Wild Card Series. We do know that it’ll likely be one of the Padres, Cubs, Phillies or Diamondbacks — and yes, the Diamondbacks are still alive after they’ve won five-straight games and there is a scenario where Arizona gets in and Philadelphia misses out. It’s a long-shot for the D-Backs but it’s still possible.
We don’t know the official rosters just yet but it’s pretty safe to assume that the usual suspects will be there. It’s only a matter of them staying healthy from now until the series begins and also filling out the edges of the roster. Will JR Ritchie make it onto the roster? Is DaShawn Keirsey Jr. going to play the Terrance Gore-type role as a crucial pinch-running option? Will the Braves load up on piggyback options to supplement their bullpen? It will be very fascinating to figure out how the rest of the roster gets filled out.
There are still a few questions to be answered but overall, the Postseason picture is starting to come into full focus. I’d imagine it’ll get clearer and clearer as the weekend progresses but for now, the Braves are in a pleasant holding pattern as they wait for their Postseason journey to begin. Let’s see what happens, folks.
On the latest episode of The Mets Pod, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo react to a new skipper and new voices in the front office.
The guys cover the news that Andy Green is interim Mets manager no more, as he signed a three-year deal to be the permanent bench boss.
Connor and Joe also discuss the addition of Derek Falvey as senior advisor, baseball operations, the promotion of Kris Gross to assistant GM, scouting, and whether or not there will be more new names added to the front office in the near future.
The Mets Pod Answering Machine takes a call about the next steps for the organization, the guys take one more Scoreboard swing for the season, and the Mailbag delivers one more look at what "could have been" last offseason.
Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
LOS ANGELES — The San Diego Padres are back in the postseason for a franchise-record third consecutive year.
Now, they want to win a World Series for the first time, having been there twice only to lose.
Manny Machado fielded Mookie Betts’ groundout to third base for the final out in a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers that clinched a playoff berth, and the celebration was on.
“I was feeling nice,” Machado said in the cramped visitors’ clubhouse, his bare chest soaked with a mix of beer and Champagne. “We’re clinching!”
The Padres (89-70) partied inside and then came out on the Dodger Stadium field in matching black T-shirts to pose for photos. It’ll be their third straight postseason as a wild-card team.
“I’ve never won a championship,” Machado said. “I know what winning looks like. It takes a whole village to do it and we’ve been showing it this year. There’s been a lot of guys contributing in so many ways. It’s awesome to see it being done.”
Fernando Tatis Jr. stole two bases for the fourth time this season and extended his on-base streak to 18 games with a walk in the fourth against the Dodgers. He was 2 for 3 with an RBI.
“Let’s celebrate!” he screamed above the din in the darkened clubhouse. “We’re here for a reason. We’re ready to compete. We’re here for the long run.”
The Padres made franchise history under rookie manager Craig Stammen, a surprise pick by general manager A.J. Preller to replace Mike Shildt, who suddenly retired less than two weeks after the Padres were eliminated by the Chicago Cubs 2-1 in the wild-card round last season.
The 42-year-old Stammen was hired less than three years after retiring as a player despite having no coaching or managerial experience at any level. He’s been with the organization since 2017 and is best known for starting the deciding Game 3 of the 2020 Wild Card Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, who at the time were managed by Shildt. He pitched 1 2/3 innings as the first of nine pitchers the Padres used in the 4-0 win, which clinched their first postseason series victory since 1998.
The Padres popped half a game ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 18 after Michael King struck out nine and Miguel Andujar hit a solo homer off Yoshinobu Yamamoto in a 1-0 win at Petco Park on May 18. But they lost the next night and fell behind the two-time defending World Series champions by double digits by late June.
They were 48-48 at the All-Star break and in third place in the division and have gone 41-22 since then. They came up with a “pitching chaos” game plan to get them through a difficult period with their rotation, which is still thin without Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove, who have missed the whole season. Nick Pivetta only recently returned from a long stint on the IL.
Pivetta fired 4 2/3 scoreless innings in his eighth career start against the Dodgers, allowing four hits and striking out seven.
Perhaps the biggest pickup of the offseason was first baseman Ty France, who was signed to a minor league free agent deal and made the team out of spring training, his second stint with the Padres. He is from West Covina, California, and played for Tony Gwynn at San Diego State. He’s hit a career-high 21 homers and played solid defense.
“I still felt like I had a lot left in the tank and a lot to offer to a team,” France said. “Very grateful and fortunate that it’s here.”
Tatis had an unfathomable home run drought to start the season. He didn’t hit his first home run until May 30 at Washington, his 56th game. He’s now recorded his fourth 25-homer season and has 38 stolen bases.
“We’re one, we’re one,” he said of the team unity. “It’s been that way for the whole year and we’re going to keep it that way.”
Infielder Jake Cronenworth has come on strong after missing significant time after getting grazed on the jaw by a 96 mph fastball at Anaheim on April 18, and center fielder Jackson Merrill, like Tatis, is a 25-25 guy.
Stammen hasn’t been afraid to experiment with the starting lineup, including moving Tatis from right to second for several games after Cronenworth was hurt.
Back in right field, Tatis had one of the biggest games of his career on Aug. 18 at the New York Mets when he robbed Francisco Lindor of a grand slam and hit two home runs.
The Padres were 58-54 going into the trade deadline on Aug. 3 and Preller not only kept All-Star closer Mason Miller, but added starters Robbie Ray and Casey Mize.
“You can never count them out,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said this week. “They’re just too talented.”
ARLINGTON, Texas — The mood had changed completely for the Texas Rangers by time they got back to the ballpark for their home finale while still trying to get in the playoffs.
“Coming into today, it just felt like ... we still have a heartbeat, still have a pulse and felt like we’d come out and play the game with our chest out and our chin up,” manager Skip Schumaker said after a 3-1 win in their series finale against the New York Mets.
That kept the Rangers (79-80) tied for the AL West lead with Houston going into the final weekend of the regular season. Texas plays three games at Minnesota, and has two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom (11-10) scheduled to start the series opener.
The Astros (79-80), who hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Texas for the AL’s last available playoff spot, opened a four-game series at the Athletics with a 7-5 win.
When Texas players were leaving their clubhouse after a 7-2 loss to the Mets, their third defeat in a row, the Astros already had a 4-0 lead in the third inning in Seattle. They appeared on way to a one-game division lead, really a two-game edge since the Rangers have to finish ahead of them. But the Mariners rallied to win in 10 innings.
“It really keeps you in it. (The Astros) win last night, it’s definitely an uphill battle. So you take advantage of it, and fortunately we were able to,” shortstop Corey Seager said.
“Everybody’s eyes were in Seattle last night,” third baseman Josh Jung said. “I know we were all texting about it on the group chat. So definitely came in revitalized this morning.”
Jung, who has played only 11 games since missing nearly two months with a left calf strain, had a two-run homer in the first inning that put the Rangers ahead to stay. Seager snapped an 0-for-15 slide with his 19th homer leading off the sixth.
In this season when it will never be more than three games out of the division lead, Texas has to try to finish one game ahead of Houston.
When the Rangers won their only World Series title in 2023, they went into the postseason as the second wild card after Houston matched them at 90-72 on the final day of the regular season. The Astros also had the tiebreaker then, but this time there will not be a postseason spot for a second AL West team.
“I’m not even thinking about that. I’m thinking about tomorrow, winning tomorrow. That’s it,” said Schumaker, the first-year Rangers manager who took Miami to the NL playoffs as a wild card in 2023. “Jacob deGrom’s on the hill, and we have Corey Seager playing short, and JJ playing third, and I’m really excited about what the lineup looks like.”
BOSTON — Jo Adell isn’t much of a sparkling wine guy.
“I am tonight,” said the outfielder with a smile from inside a joyous visitors’ clubhouse at Fenway Park, as the Cleveland Guardians celebrated after earning their third straight trip to the playoffs with a 1-0 win over the Boston Red Sox.
Acquired by Cleveland from the Los Angeles Angels in advance of the trade deadline, the power-hitting Adell is heading to the postseason for the first time in his seven-year MLB career.
While it’s becoming a familiar refrain, seeing the Guardians play meaningful games in October, manager Stephen Vogt specifically noted Adell as one of the cool developments of the franchise’s latest postseason clincher.
“What I love is that we have a number of guys who have never been in this position, playing meaningful games in September or playoff baseball,” Vogt said. “It’s just so fun to watch Jo Adell celebrate. To me, that’s so special. He’s been a great player in this league and I’m excited to watch what he’s doing to do.”
The Guardians were 57-56 when they traded for Adell and trailed the Chicago White Sox by three games in AL Central. Chicago also is postseason-bound after defeating the Kansas City Royals 9-1.
“The Champagne is burning my eyes, and that’s a good thing,” said Adell, who has 22 home runs and 93 RBIs this season. “When I came here, I was so psyched with the ability to be who I am and help this team make a push to this point. We’ve had a lot of games where we’ve had to grind and try to figure it out, but to win a 1-0 game with the pitching performances we got is amazing.”
What does it mean to lead a team to three consecutive trips to MLB’s second season?
“Our fans get to watch playoff baseball. This is why we play. We play for our fans and we’re proud that we’re going again,” Vogt said.
A year ago, Cleveland rode a 20-8 record in September to earn an invite to the postseason. After Angel Martínez homered for the game’s lone run and All-Star closer Cade Smith struck out the side in the ninth inning for his MLB-best 41st save, the Guardians improved to 14-8 this month with three games remaining.
“I think we’ve been positioned all three years, but with our pitching and our lineup, we have the opportunity to hit with people (in scoring position). That hasn’t always been the case. I really like the way this offense has been clicking over the last couple of months, and we’re pitching well,” Vogt said. “You got hot at the right time, and this team is getting hot in September.”
The postseason berth might be secured, but the AL Central is still up for grabs. Cleveland heads into the final series of the regular season with a one-game lead over Chicago. The Guardians will play three games at Kansas City while the White Sox host the Colorado Rockies.
The winner of the Central will clinch the No. 2 seed in the American League bracket and won’t have to worry about the best-of-three Wild Card Series.
“We’re not done,” Adell said.
“One pitch at a time, one day at a time,” Martínez said. “Right now, it’s about enjoying. Tomorrow is another day.”
