David Sandlin is back on the bump for the series finale. | (Getty Images)
With a playoff spot on the line, the White Sox are desperate for a win and to finish off the Royals for good in this midday matchup.
David Sandlin is on the mound for the White Sox. Ideally, he can eat some innings for the overtaxed bullpen, since Will Venable is busy setting them up to fail in the opener role. My two favorite Italians are at the top of the lineup, with Sam Antonacci leading off and Kyle Teel batting second and catching. Andrew Benintendi will DH, batting fifth.
Randy Dobnak (3-4, 3.08 ERA) will get the start for the Royals. We’ll see their usual lineup and hope the likes of Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino won’t drill our pitching again today.
Grab some lunch and mute your work email, because first pitch is at 1:10 p.m. CT. You can watch on CHSN or listen on ESPN Chicago 1000.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 23: Jacob Latz #67 of the Texas Rangers enters the game during the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on September 23, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: Zac Thornton #49 of the New York Mets pitches during the second inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 12, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mets lineup
Francisco Lindor – SS Juan Soto – DH Bo Bichette – 3B Carson Benge – RF Brett Baty – 1B Marcus Semien – 2B A.J. Ewing – CF Luis Torrens – C Nick Morabito – LF
SP: Zac Thornton (LHP)
Rangers lineup
Justin Foscue – 2B Corey Seager – SS Josh Jung – 3B Jake Burger – 1B Brandon Nimmo – RF Wyatt Langford – LF Ezequiel Duran – CF Elias Díaz – C Danny Jansen – DH
SP: Kumar Rocker (RHP)
Broadcast info
First pitch: 2:35 PM EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 04: President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey of the Minnesota Twins reacts during a press conference to introduce Derek Shelton as the club's newest manager at Target Field on November 04, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Steve Cohen joined the Mets’ broadcast booth during Saturday afternoon’s game against the Phillies, he talked about trying to “add certain voices into the front office” for 2027. Five days later, the Mets’ plans appear to be in motion.
After a report yesterday from Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that the Mets were “moving toward” adding Derek Falvey to their front office, the organization today officially announced Falvey as senior advisor of baseball operations. The Mets also promoted Kris Gross to assistant general manager of scouting.
Falvey had been the president of baseball operations for the Minnesota Twins since November of 2019. He worked with Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns from 2011-12, when the two were co-directors of baseball operations in Cleveland.
“I am excited to join the New York Mets and become part of a franchise that means so much to so many people,” said Falvey via a Mets press release. “Throughout my conversations with the organization, what stood out were the high expectations and the commitment to winning at every level. What I’ve always loved most about this game is being part of a team, and I look forward to bringing my experiences and contributing to this group in any way I can. I want to thank Steve and Alex Cohen and David Stearns for this opportunity.”
Gross had been the Mets’ vice president of amateur and international scouting since November of 2023 after spending more than a decade as a scout with the Astros. The Mets happened to offer a window into the inner workings of their scouting process on Thursday with the release of “Searching For Tomorrow,” an original production featuring interviews with Gross and other scouts.
Per Stearns, Gross will now contribute to major league transactions as well as amateur talent acquisition.
“I would like to thank David and the New York Mets for the recognition,” said Gross. “Scouting plays a crucial role in our ability to build a sustainable winning organization. I would like to thank the entire Amateur and International Scouting departments, whose tireless work allows me to be successful. Their dedication is the reason we are able to find exciting young Major League players as well as promising prospects. I am excited to continue the work we are doing to bring more homegrown talent to Queens.”
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels looks stands in the dugout during the eighth inning of the Los Angeles Angels and Athletics game at Sutter Health Park on September 22, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Technically, there’s a miniscule chance the Mariners could sneak into the playoffs. They’d need to win out and both the Rangers and Astros would have to lose out. That would give all three teams a 78-84 record and Seattle would take the division via a three-way tiebreaker. FanGraphs thinks the chances of that happening are … 0.0%. Really, this weekend is all about sending off Rick Rizzs into retirement. (If you’re watching these final four games on Mariners.TV or MLB.TV, make sure you’re switching your audio feed to the radio broadcast!) We never got a chance to say goodbye to Dave — he was here one season and then he was gone the next — so cherish this opportunity to say thank you and godspeed to Rick. The sound of our summer will be different next year.
What can I say about the Angels that John didn’t already say last week when the Mariners faced them in Anaheim? This organization is in a weird spot right now. They’re on the verge of losing 100 games for the first time in franchise history but the team also just got out from under former owner Arte Moreno. This is the worst the team has ever played, yet it might be the most optimistic the fan base has been in a long, long time.
Player
Position
Bats
PA
K%
BB%
ISO
wRC+
Zach Neto
SS
R
684
30.6%
9.5%
0.194
114
Mike Trout
DH
R
619
26.0%
16.6%
0.183
132
Wade Meckler
LF
L
321
18.7%
9.7%
0.081
117
Vaughn Grissom
1B
R
455
18.2%
6.6%
0.151
99
Moisés Ballesteros
C
L
339
22.7%
8.3%
0.121
75
Denzer Guzman
3B
R
290
25.5%
5.5%
0.122
71
Josh Lowe
RF
L
331
30.2%
7.6%
0.153
76
Jose Siri
CF
R
244
32.4%
6.1%
0.167
91
Christian Moore
2B
R
131
34.4%
6.1%
0.066
31
From a previous series preview:
Anaheim has a couple familiar faces up top in Zach Neto and Mike Trout, but not many. They’ve taken the back half of the year to wisely audition several young players, finding some promise in folks like Wade Meckler but still waiting on more elsewhere. Moises Ballesteros was a highly regarded prospect with the Cubs but has not found his swing yet since coming over in return for reliever Ryan Zeferjahn. There’s a few post-hype hopes here as well in Josh Lowe and Jose Siri, but hope has been their predominant currency.
At one point a few years ago, Grayson Rodriguez was considered the best pitching prospect in baseball. Unfortunately, a variety of injuries have prevented him from making good on those lofty expectations. He was traded from Baltimore to the Angels this past offseason — straight up for Taylor Ward — and returned from a major shoulder injury in May. He definitely hasn’t looked as sharp in his first major league action since 2024, though he’s slowly improved as the season has gone on. The good news is that his fastball velocity is still intact, but his command has really slipped and he’s just not generating as many swings and misses with his secondary pitches this year.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Reid Detmers
179
28.4%
6.4%
9.5%
37.8%
3.47
3.05
Bryce Miller
112.2
24.4%
7.8%
14.6%
37.9%
3.99
4.43
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
45.8%
44.9%
94.1
102
95
102
0.314
Sinker
0.5%
2.5%
93.5
Changeup
12.3%
0.9%
83.8
101
123
112
0.294
Curveball
12.0%
8.6%
72.3
101
117
110
0.307
Slider
29.5%
43.2%
86.0
110
109
97
0.218
From a previous series preview:
Reid Detmers has thrived in his return to the rotation this year, accumulating a career-high 4.4 fWAR with career-best marks in ERA and FIP. His strikeout rate is right in line with his career norms but the big reason he’s taken a big step forward is because he’s cut his walk rate by nearly three points and has dramatically reduced the amount of hard contact he has allowed.
The Mariners managed to score three runs off Detmers last week and he struggled in his next outing against the Twins over the weekend.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Ryan Johnson
95
18.5%
9.5%
13.0%
34.1%
4.93
5.38
Kade Anderson
32.1
21.4%
6.1%
11.1%
38.3%
4.18
3.72
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Sinker
21.7%
15.3%
92.4
81
17
73
0.515
Cutter
37.0%
38.8%
89.7
104
102
88
0.317
Splitter
8.1%
29.3%
84.6
74
93
146
0.253
Sweeper
33.2%
16.7%
80.9
107
90
80
0.279
From a previous series preview:
Ryan Johnson is a perfect encapsulation of everything wrong with the Angels current player development philosophy. He was drafted in the second round in 2024 after dominating in college ball at Dallas Baptist. He made the Opening Day roster in 2025 as a reliever, skipping the minor leagues entirely. After a month and a half and a 7.36 ERA, the Angels pulled the plug and sent him to High-A to continue his development as a starter. He made 12 starts in the minors and looked really good. Fast forward a year and Johnson had a solid, but not outstanding, spring training and Los Angeles opted to start the season with Johnson on the big league roster again. After allowing six runs in his first start of the year, the Angels sent him back to the minors for a few months before recalling him for good in mid June. It’s really too bad because Johnson has a really intriguing profile, and obviously has some raw talent, but the games the Angels have played with his development pathway have really hurt his ability to grow.
Johnson held the Mariners to just a single run in six innings last week, striking out seven against zero walks.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Yusei Kikuchi
62.2
21.3%
10.3%
10.1%
40.8%
4.88
4.12
Logan Gilbert
182
26.7%
6.5%
14.3%
38.0%
3.81
3.91
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
41.1%
42.0%
95.5
99
88
115
0.304
Cutter
6.0%
5.7%
90.2
76
Splitter
20.7%
7.1%
86.6
107
91
66
0.344
Curveball
10.4%
9.9%
79.4
97
76
168
0.301
Slider
21.7%
35.3%
87.4
93
78
122
0.356
From a previous series preview:
Yusei Kikuchi missed nearly four months of the season with a shoulder injury. He returned to the majors towards the end of August and resumed his brand of effectively wild pitching. After a slight dip in velocity last year, his heater is back to averaging close to 96 mph. It’s the eighth hardest four-seamer from the left side among all starting pitchers this year. He continues to mix in a hard slider and a curveball as his primary secondary pitches, but he’s replaced his changeup with a true splitter and added a cutter this season. The split has been an excellent pitch but the cutter has been hit pretty hard.
Kikuchi did not have his best stuff against the Mariners last week. He allowed five runs on five hits and five walks in just 4.1 innings.
The Big Picture:
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Astros
78-80
0.494
—
-53
L-L-L-W-L
Rangers
78-80
0.494
—
-42
W-W-L-L-L
Mariners
74-84
0.468
4.0
-62
W-L-W-L-W
Athletics
63-95
0.399
15.0
-217
L-L-L-W-W
Angels
60-98
0.380
18.0
-93
L-W-L-L-L
Like I said above, the Mariners can sneak into the postseason if they win out and the Astros and Rangers both lose out. That means we’re rooting for the A’s against Houston and the Twins against Texas.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citizens Bank Park on September 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With four games left in the regular season, it is still impossible to predict where the Phillies are going to play in the opening round of the postseason next week.
Yes, this is assuming the Phils don’t blow a 3-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks with four to play, but I’m willing to take that risk.
Things got even murkier on Wednesday night.
The Phillies fell 4-1 to the Milwaukee Brewers after going 0-12 with runners in scoring position.
The Miami Marlins edged the Cubs 3-2, their second win over Chicago in as many nights.
The San Diego Padres handled the Dodgers in L.A., 5-1.
Suddenly, the Padres now sit atop the wild card standings at 88-70, holding a one-game lead on the Cubs and Phillies, both of whom are 87-71.
San Diego is going to enter the playoffs as the hottest team in baseball, 15-5 in September, and 32-16 since the start of August, the best mark in baseball (the Phillies are 30-18, by the way, 4th-best). If the season ended today, the Padres would host the Cubs in the wild card round, with the Phillies heading to Atlanta.
However, the Padres would need to finish with the best record, as they would lose the tie-breaker to both the Cubs and the Phillies. They went 1-5 against Chicago and 0-6 against Philadelphia. The Cubs went 6-1 against the Phils and hold that tie-breaker.
The ideal scenario for the Phillies would be for them to finish as the top wild card team and the No. 4 seed, with the Padres slotting in as the 5-seed and Chicago landing at 6. In that situation, the Phils would welcome the Padres to Citizens Bank Park, and that is a realistic scenario given what’s coming this weekend.
On Thursday, the Phils will wrap up their series against the Brewers, who will be throwing a bullpen game as they ready themselves for the postseason. The Padres finish their series against the Dodgers and the Cubs play one more against the feisty Marlins.
This weekend, the Cubs could be in real trouble. With nasty weather anticipated up in Boston, MLB is scheduling a day-night doubleheader between Chicago and the Red Sox on Friday and a single game on Saturday, understanding that one, or multiple, of those games might have to be made up. That kind of disruption could be difficult for the Cubs, even going up against a Red Sox team that is locked in as the AL’s second wild card.
The Padres, meanwhile, are hosting a Diamondbacks team that may or may not still have an outside shot at a playoff berth. San Diego should be able to handle Arizona at home, and may have the clearest path to the NL’s top wild card spot now.
As for the Phils, it remains to be seen how the Rays are going to play things this weekend at Citizens Bank Park. They have the American League’s No. 1 seed locked up, so these games are meaningless to them. They are unlikely to pitch their top starters for more than a couple innings, and their regulars will likely get some rest. That said, Tampa is still a very good, and deep, team, capable of handling the Phils even with some of their regulars out of the lineup.
There is a realistic path to the Phillies earning the top wild card spot and hosting either the Cubs or the Padres. There’s just as likely a chance they’ll finish as the second wild card and travel to Chicago or San Diego for the best-of-three series, and also as likely a chance they are the NL’s final wild card and head to Atlanta for a series against the Braves.
Obviously, a first round match-up with the Padres would be the ideal scenario. The Phillies have owned them over the last few years. A trip to Wrigley would, for the sake of spectacle, be terrific. Despite both teams having existed for more than 100 years, the Phils and Cubs have never squared off in the postseason.
A trip to Atlanta would be ick.
There’s an argument to be made that starting the playoffs on the road, as an underdog and away from the crushing expectations of the fanbase, might be the best thing for this group. They could sell themselves as the upstarts, the same way they did in 2022 against the Cardinals in St. Louis, rather than “the favorite,” expected to win.
Fans should continue to hope for a home wild card series, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if they started the postseason away from home.
On the latest Hittin’ Season podcast, I discussed all the scenarios with Mike Robertson of FranzkeLA, so make sure to check it out!
With a major storm system on track to hit New England on Sunday, the Cubs' regular-season finale in Boston that day has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Friday.
"They never move games up and especially within a five-day window of a starting rotation," Counsell told reporters on Wednesday, Sept. 23. "So we can't have somebody ready to pitch on Saturday. They just moved games up on us. I understand there's extenuating circumstances, but you just don't see that happening."
After the regular season concludes, there's a rest day on Monday before the start of the wild card playoffs.
MLB could conceivably move a rained out game on Sunday to the off day, but that would leave the Red Sox and Cubs very little time to travel to and get ready for their wild-card openers on Tuesday.
The Red Sox are just about locked in to the No. 5 seed in the American League, which will send them to New York to face the Yankees in a best-of-three AL wild card series.
The Cubs are still battling for the top spot in the NL wild card race, but they would still need to get from Boston to the site of their playoff opener, be it home or away.
One other disadvantage for the Cubs is that with expanded rosters in September, they aren't allowed to add an extra player for a doubleheader, as they would normally. So Counsell will have to juggle his pitching staff for two games on Friday and lose one day of rest for his starter on Saturday.
"The decision is made always on a balance of everybody's interest," Counsell said. "And you get shortchanged in some … or not have the optimal solution."
PICKING UP THE PIECES: This is the 11th of the Cubs’ 52 series in which they lost the first two games. They are 7-3 in third games, including 3-2 at home. They beat the Pirates on April 12, the Braves on May 14 and the Cardinals on July 5. They lost to the Brewers and Astros in back-to-back series on May 20 and 24. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
DAY vs. NIGHT: The Cubs are just 34-33 in day games this season. A win today will assure them of finishing with a winning record in sunshine if they play one day game at Boston in their final series. They have finished below .500 in only one of the past 10 full seasons: 32-39 in 2021. They were 8-8 in the 60-game 2020 season. The Cubs are 23-17 in day games at home this year, including 11-5 in day games following night games. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
WINNING ON THURSDAYS: The Cubs are 10-3 on Thursday, their best record on any day of the week. They are 15-10 on Saturday, 15-11 on Wednesday and 11-7 on Monday. At home the Cubs are 5-1 on Thursday. They are 9-2 on Monday, 8-5 on Saturday and 7-6 on Wednesday. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: The Cubs lead 7-3 heading to the seventh, only to give up five to the Mets and trail 8-7. A two-run homer by Jody Davis gives them the lead back, but the Mets score in the eighth to tie the game 9-9. Bobby Bonds homers in the bottom of the eighth and the Cubs hold on for a 10-9 win. This brings them within three games of the NL East lead in that strike season’s “second half.” After the game on the WGN radio broadcast, Lou Boudreau complains that only 2,555 came to see the Cubs in a “pennant race game,” which was technically true, three games back with 10 remaining. The Cubs lost seven of those 10 and finished well out of any postseason play. That Cubs/Mets game happened 45 years ago today, Thursday, Sept. 24, 1981.
Matthew Boyd threw well in his last start, Saturday at Cincinnati, allowing the Reds just two hits and two runs (one earned) in five innings.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that he’s been much worse at Wrigley Field this year (5.53 ERA in 10 starts) than on the road (2.86 ERA in 11 starts).
He has not faced the Marlins as a Cub, either this year or last year. No current member of the Marlins has ever faced him, so maybe that’ll be a positive this afternoon.
The Cubs scored three runs in five innings off Tyler Phillips Sept. 6 at Miami, including Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 40th home run of the season.
Since then Phillips hasn’t gotten out of the fourth inning in two starts, and hasn’t thrown more than 68 pitches. Perhaps the Cubs can get to him early today.
Please visit the Marlins site Fish On First. If you do go there to interact with Marlins fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 21: Jackson Chourio #11 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats against the Baltimore Orioles during the tenth inning at American Family Field on May 21, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here we are, the last series of the regular season.
The Brewers, at 99 wins entering Thursday night’s series finale in Philadelphia, have four more chances to reach the 100-win threshold for the first time in franchise history. Their magic number for the No. 1 overall seed also sits at 2, meaning they need some combination of two wins and Dodgers’ losses to lock it up over these next few days. On the other side, the Cardinals, at 77-81, got off to a strong start despite low expectations entering the season. They’ve cooled off considerably over the last few months and now look like they’ll finish just below .500 but still ahead of the “Why aren’t we the Brewers” Reds at the bottom of the NL Central.
On the injury front, the Brewers are without relievers Grant Anderson and Bryse Wilson (both could be activated for Thursday’s series finale in Philadelphia), as well as Brian Fitzpatrick and Angel Zerpa (both out for season). Starters Quinn Priester (out for season) and Brandon Woodruff (slim chance of returning in the postseason) are also out.
St. Louis is without position players Blaze Jordan, Joshua Báez, and Everson Pereira. Pereira is the only player we could see this weekend, as he was on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis entering their postseason series this week. Pitchers Hunter Dobbins and Max Rajcic are also done for the year.
Jake Bauers, Jackson Chourio, and Brice Turang have anchored Milwaukee’s well-rounded offense this season, and all three of them are now at 20-plus homers. William Contreras has an outside chance at hitting the 20-homer threshold, sitting at 18 with four games to go. Garrett Mitchell, Andrew Vaughn, Cooper Pratt, Luis Lara, Christian Yelich, and Joey Ortiz are the other regulars, with Sal Frelick, Gary Sánchez, and David Hamilton the first players off the bench. Bo Naylor has effectively served as the emergency catcher/travel day backstop since rosters expanded earlier this month. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .257/.339/.402 (.741 OPS ranks fourth), with 151 homers (tied for 28th), 810 runs scored (second), and 159 steals (fifth).
The Cardinals are led by Jordan Walker, who is wrapping up what will likely be a top five MVP finish as he’s hitting .273/.330/.470 with 28 homers, 100 RBIs, 94 runs scored, and 21 steals this season. Alec Burleson has added 23 homers and an MLB-best 112 RBIs, while Iván Herrera, Rookie of the Year candidate JJ Wetherholt, and Nathan Church also have double-digit homers. José Fermín, Leo Bernal, Nolan Gorman, Masyn Winn, and Bryan Torres are also in the regular mix, with Victor Scott II, Thomas Saggese, César Prieto, and Pedro Pagés rounding things out. As a team, the Cardinals are hitting .241/.315/.380 (.695 OPS ranks 26th), with 161 homers (25th), 709 runs scored (tied for 12th), and 99 steals (17th).
Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe have the late innings on lock for Milwaukee’s bullpen, while Aaron Ashby, Chad Patrick, and DL Hall have all taken on high-leverage roles. Deadline acquisitions Antonio Senzatela and JoJo Romero (a long-time Cardinal) have had their ups and downs, while Shane Drohan and Kyle Harrison have both moved to the bullpen here late in the season. Lyon Richardson is the latest piece, replacing Colton Gordon after his long relief outing on Tuesday night. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.53 team ERA (second), including a 3.64 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.40 bullpen ERA (third). They’ve struck out 1,503 batters (second) over 1,410 2/3 innings.
All-Star Riley O’Brien has 38 saves this season, but he’s also blown eight saves and has a 4.08 ERA. Justin Bruihl (3.69 ERA over 75 2/3 IP), George Soriano (4.23 ERA over 66 IP), and Ryne Stanek (4.09 ERA over 61 2/3 IP) are the other anchors for the bullpen. Gordon Graceffo (2.76 ERA over 78 1/3 IP) has been one of the best arms for St. Louis, and rookie Luis Gastelum (4.29 ERA over 35 2/3 IP) has also been solid. Cade Winquest (4.63 ERA over 11 2/3 IP), Cooper Hjerpe (6.00 ERA over 9 IP), and Brycen Mautz (6.92 ERA over 13 IP) round things out. As a staff, the Cardinals have a 4.26 team ERA (21st), including a 4.10 starter ERA (11th) and a 4.50 bullpen ERA (24th). They’ve struck out 1,248 batters (25th) over 1,410 2/3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, September 25 @ 6:40 p.m.: LHP Robert Gasser (5-5, 4.01 ERA, 4.32 FIP) vs. RHP Michael McGreevy (7-9, 3.84 ERA, 4.24 FIP)
Gasser has been a solid arm for the Brewers this season, particularly over the last couple of months, and he seems in line to be in the rotation for the postseason. He’s coming off arguably the best start of his young career, as he went seven scoreless innings in a 1-0 win over the Orioles, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out a pair. The left-hander has now allowed one run or fewer in four of his last five outings, lowering his season ERA from 4.79 to 4.01. Gasser has made three career starts against St. Louis, going 2-1 with a 2.16 ERA and 10 strikeouts over 16 2/3 innings. That includes a win in St. Louis back in July, when he went 7 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and striking out four.
McGreevy, 26, has turned in a solid season, making 30 starts with a 3.84 ERA, 4.24 FIP, and 113 strikeouts over 164 innings. He went four innings in his last appearance, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out one in an extra-innings loss to the Nationals. McGreevy’s two career appearances against Milwaukee both came this year, and he’s 1-1 with six runs allowed and 12 strikeouts across 10 1/3 innings.
Saturday, September 26 @ 6:10 p.m.: RHP Dustin May (7-9, 4.67 ERA, 3.59 FIP) vs. LHP Quinn Mathews (2-3, 3.65 ERA, 3.80 FIP)
May, who started the season with the Cardinals and made 21 starts for them, was acquired by the Brewers alongside JoJo Romero at the trade deadline. He’s had an up-and-down tenure with Milwaukee, going 2-2 with a 5.61 ERA, 5.06 FIP, and 33 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings. Despite those numbers, there are a few strong starts in there, including six scoreless against the Reds just two weeks ago. This is May’s first time facing the Cardinals since he was a Dodger back in 2023. He’s made two career starts against St. Louis, going 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA and 11 strikeouts over 10 2/3 innings.
Mathews, 25, is a rookie who was called up right around the trade deadline. He’s made eight starts for St. Louis, going 2-3 with a 3.65 ERA, 3.80 FIP, and 39 strikeouts across 44 1/3 innings. He went seven solid frames against the Nationals in his last appearance, allowing three runs and striking out three. This marks his first career appearance against Milwaukee.
Sunday, September 27 @ 2:10 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (15-5, 1.86 ERA, 2.16 FIP) vs. RHP Andre Pallante (12-8, 3.61 ERA, 3.71 FIP)
Misiorowski has all but locked up his NL Cy Young candidacy, and Sunday will just be a tune-up outing for him ahead of the postseason. Across 169 1/3 innings this year, Miz is 15-5 with a 1.86 ERA, 2.16 FIP, and 247 strikeouts, leading the majors in all three of those stats. He went three scoreless in an intentionally shortened start against the Orioles on Sunday night, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out four on 44 pitches. Miz has made five starts against St. Louis, going 3-1 with a 3.25 ERA and 35 strikeouts over 27 2/3 innings. That includes two starts this year, going 2-0 with four runs allowed over 14 innings, striking out 23.
Another familiar foe, Pallante, 28, is in his fifth season with St. Louis and third as a full-time starter. This has been his best year as a starter yet, pitching to a 12-8 record with a 3.61 ERA, 3.71 FIP, and 106 strikeouts across 157 innings. The right-hander took a tough luck loss in his last outing, allowing one run and striking out two over six innings as the Cardinals lost 2-0 to the Pirates. Pallante has made 17 career appearances (five starts) against Milwaukee, with a 6.07 ERA and 24 strikeouts across 43 innings. That includes a pair of losses this season, as he’s totaled 11 innings with 11 runs allowed and five strikeouts.
How to Watch & Listen
Friday, September 25: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Saturday, September 26: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Sunday, September 27: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
Neither of these two teams should have much to play for this weekend, but I can’t imagine Pat Murphy will let his team let up on the gas as they approach the postseason. Give me the Brewers to win two of three as the squad looks to turn things up a notch before next weekend.
NEW YORK — Ben Rice one-upped Aaron Boone. And then he two-upped the New York Yankees manager.
Boone predicted during spring training that Rice would finish with 39 home runs this season. Rice hit Nos. 40 and 41 in a 9-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, tying for the American League home run lead.
He smiled and pointed at Boone when he returned to the dugout after driving Mason Englert’s first pitch of the game into Yankee Stadium’s right field second deck. Rice grinned at Boone some more after another solo homer in the fourth.
“I think I said, `Hey, there’s 40 for you,’” Rice recalled. “I was joking with him after the 41st one, saying, `Hey thanks for inspiring me this year.’ But it’s all in good fun. Back in spring when he told me that, I knew that secretly meant he was hoping I’d hit 40.”
Rice is tied for the AL home run lead with Baltimore’s Pete Alonso, the Rays’ Junior Caminero and Houston’s Yordan Alvarez. He is hitting .263 and leads the Yankees with 97 RBIs and an .899 OPS, becoming a first-time All-Star and the biggest cog in an offense missing Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton for most of the season.
Boone deliberately picked an odd total rather than a round figure.
“I was confident he was going to have a really big year,” he said. “Probably wanted to make sure it was just south of a number, maybe to maybe let him know that.”
Rice, who had three hits and a walk, became the 13th Yankees player with a 40-home run season but just the third to reach the milestone during his first three seasons after Joe DiMaggio and Judge. Rice’s plate appearances often prompt a rendition of Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets″ from the stadium’s organist, and Rice has sparked an often struggling offense with 16 go-ahead homers this year and three that have tied games.
“One thing I always tell guys the difference between minor leaguers and big leaguers is the consistency,” Judge said. “He’s one of the best. I can look up at the clock and I know exactly where he’s going to be in the cage. You know what he’s doing in the training room, the weight room. It’s just every single day, man, this guy’s a machine.”
A 12th-round pick in the 2021 amateur draft from Dartmouth, where he played just 30 games over three years due to the coronavirus pandemic, Rice mostly was a catcher but occasionally a first baseman in the minors. He made his big league debut in June 2024 at age 25 after Anthony Rizzo broke a forearm.
Rice hit .171 with seven homers and 23 RBIs in 50 games that year, then batted .255 with 26 homers and 65 RBIs in 138 games last year.
With Stanton sidelined for most of the season, the left-handed-hitting Rice has 93 games at DH this year and 52 at first.
“It’s tough to pull him off his back leg,” Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole said. “He’s really able to stay balanced and deliver high-efficacy strikes on various pitches in all parts of the zone.”
Rice was hitting .306 through May, then batted .196 in June. An 18-for-58 (.119) slide after the All-Star break dropped his season average to .248 on Aug. 22 but he’s rebounded to bat .333 (34 for 102) since.
“Went through a lull, which is inevitable, even in a great season,” Boone said. “Had a stretch in there where it was a struggle and he was grinding but kind of battled through that and feel like the last few weeks has been on a really good run.”
Rice’s potential was evident on July 6, 2024, less than a month into his big league career, when he became the first Yankees rookie with three home runs in a game and tied Lou Gehrig’s Yankees rookie record of seven RBIs. Consistency took time.
“A lot of it I always feel like is just experience-based,” Rice said. “You just see more pitching at the big league level, get exposed to guys who throw all different kinds of pitches from different angles and slots and all these things. I feel like I’ve always been a good learner in that way.”
Justin Foscue of the Texas Rangers swings at a pitch during the game between the New York Mets and Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on September 22, 2026. (Photo by Seth Garber/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for September 24, 2026 against the New York Mets: starting pitchers are Kumar Rocker for the Rangers and Zac Thornton for the Mets.
The Rangers this afternoon try to finish their home schedule with a win, avoid a sweep, keep alive their hopes of a winning record, and keep afloat in their battle with the Astros for the A.L. West.
The lineup:
Foscue — 2B
Seager — SS
Jung — 3B
Burger — 1B
Nimmo — RF
Langford — LF
Duran — CF
Diaz — C
Jansen — DH
1:35 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -131 favorites.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 22: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates warms up in the bullpen before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals will face the Pittsburgh Pirates for the final time this season Thursday when they’ll face Paul Skenes. The Cardinals will counter with Kyle Leahy who will pitch at least the first few innings depending on his pitch count limitation. First pitch scheduled for 11:35am at PNC Park and the game broadcast will be handled by Cardinals.tv.
Detroit Tigers broadcasters Jason Benetti (left) and Dan Dickerson (right) before a spring training game between the Tigers and Boston Red Sox on Thursday, February 27, 2025, in Lakeland, Florida. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
The Detroit Tigers announced today that broadcasters Dan Dickerson and Jason Benetti have signed long-term extensions with the club. This keeps them locked in as the lead voices for Detroit SportsNet and the Tigers Radio Network for years to come. The duo has worked as a team the past few seasons already, with Dickerson handling the television broadcasts when Benetti’s national obligations take him away from the Tigers for certain events.
The length of the deals wasn’t made public, but the Tigers continue to draw high marks both nationally and locally for their broadcasts, and the rollout of Detroit SportsNet this season has seemingly gone quite well, so getting them locked up long-term makes sense. In the wake of their independent regional sports networks collapse after the long saga of Bally Sports and then FanDuel Sports trying to hang onto the old model, the Tigers are in a pretty good place in terms of their broadcast production and on air talent, and things will remain consistent for a while.
Dickerson has now been one of the voices of Tigers radio since 2000 and the lead play-by-play voice of their radio broadcasts since 2003 after he succeeded one of the all-time greats in Ernie Harwell. He’s on his way to a similar place in Tigers broadcast history, though catching Harwell’s 42 year career as the voice of Tigers baseball will be difficult. His appearances handling the television broadcast will be expanded somewhat next season in support of Benetti, who continues to be one of the most sought after all-around voices in sports.
2026 was Benetti’s third season in Detroit after coming over from the Chicago White Sox for the 2024 season. He remains the play-by-play voice for NBC Sports “Sunday Night Baseball” while also handling some college football and basketball, including working some NCAA tournament games during March Madness.
The Tigers had prepared for the eventual RSN collapse by hiring Dickerson and Benetti as team employees, rather than as employees of Bally or FanDuel. So the transition out of the RSN model went pretty smoothly, with the Detroit SportsNet rollout this season a pretty successful one. Dickerson and Benetti will be the center of the team’s broadcasts for several more years to come. The duo also collaborates to host the Have a Seat podcast on the Detroit Tigers YouTube channel, interviewing players and coaches throughout the season.
“We’re incredibly proud to have Jason and Dan as the voices of Tigers baseball, and grateful for their eagerness to make an even deeper commitment to our organization,” said Ryan Gustafson, President and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “Several years ago, we made a deliberate decision to improve how we engage with our fans, and building a broadcast worthy of them was central to the effort. Jason and Dan, alongside many others, continue to deliver an entertaining and informed broadcast that is among the best in baseball.”
Detroit Tigers Sign Jason Benetti and Dan Dickerson to Long-Term Contract Extensions
DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today announced multi-year contract extensions with television play-by-play voice Jason Benetti and radio play-by-play voice Dan Dickerson, keeping the pair at the…
ANAHEIM, CA - AUGUST, 1980: Infielder Eric Soderholm of the New York Yankees, during pregame warmups prior to a game in August, 1980 against the California Angels at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California. (Photo by: Diamond Images/Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
A New Yorker by birth, Eric Soderholm was a right-handed third baseman who played nine seasons in the majors. Spending his final season in pinstripes, Soderholm’s calm and thoughtful personality was not indicative of the state of the team at the time, as George Steinbrenner was at the height of his rule and the other players in the clubhouse featured the likes of Reggie Jackson and Rich “Goose” Gossage. It turned out to be a 103-win division champ under skipper Dick Howser, but alas their October was short-lived.
Eric Thane Soderholm Born: September 24, 1948 (Cortland, NY) Yankees Tenure: 1980
Soderholm was raised in Florida and graduated from Coral Park High School in Miami. A shortstop in high school, Soderholm was not much of a prospect, appearing to most as just another skinny kid playing ball. He took a work-study scholarship to play baseball at South Georgia College, and after filling out and adding strength, Soderholm was selected by the Kansas City Athletics in the 11th round of the 1967 MLB Draft. However, he chose not to sign in June, so that opened the door for the Minnesota Twins to take him as the very top pick in January edition of the draft (which was held until 1986).
The Twins got Soderholm to sign on the dotted line, and he started his professional journey in 1968. Most of the 1968 and 1969 seasons saw Soderholm playing Single-A ball in Orlando. However, by the end of the 1969 season, Soderholm was promoted to Double-A Evansville and would eventually hit his way to the highest level of the minors in 1970.
When the 1971 campaign began, Soderholm was with the Portland Bears in Triple-A. After hitting .275 with 22 home runs, the Twins finally gave the kid the call. On September 3rd, Soderholm made his debut and hit a home run in his second career at-bat, swatting a solo shot off Diego Segui en route to a 9-4 Twins victory. He otherwise struggled though, and though he hit in opportunities in late 1973, it was hard for him to catch a regular rhythm. In fact, it took until the 1974 campaign.
In his first season as the Twins’ regular third baseman, Soderholm slashed .276/.349/.392 with 10 home runs in 141 games, good for 3.1 fWAR and a 114 wRC+. With the job secured following a successful season, Soderholm then followed that up in 1975 by slashing .286/.365/.415 with 11 home runs through mid-August. In 117 games, he’d posted 4.4 fWAR, higher than all but six players in the Junior Circuit.
However, on August 20th, Soderholm fell into an unmarked storm sewer while walking a property he was looking to buy in Minnesota. This fall broke several of his ribs and caused major damage to his knee, ending his season and costing him all of the 1976 season. The knee took two surgeries, and doctors gave him a 50/50 chance to play again.
Soderholm found Dr. Fred Allman, who put him on a strict rehabilitation program that centered around Nautilus exercise equipment. Becoming one of the first professional baseball players to use weight machines for rehabilitation, Allman declared a new and stronger Soderholm was bionic. The Twins did not want to risk the recovery and released Soderholm, who signed with the White Sox ahead of the 1977 season.
Defying the odds after his knee surgeries, Soderholm was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year during the 1977 season. The slugger played in 130 games, batting .280 with a career-high 25 home runs for a surprising White Sox team that zoomed from a league-worst 64-97 record in 1976 to a 90-72 mark the following year, a 26-game swing (though the Royals beat them out for the AL West). Chicago took a step back in 1978, but Soderholm himself proved his resurgence wasn’t a fluke by hitting another 20 home runs for the Pale Hose. In total, his memorable two-and-a-half-year stint on the South Side yielded 51 home runs and cemented his legacy as a fan favorite who would eventually land in the Chicagoland Hall of Fame.
As the White Sox entered a rebuilding phase during the 1979 season, they traded Soderholm to the Texas Rangers on June 15th in exchange for pitcher (and future longtime announcer) Ed Farmer. Because Texas already featured star third baseman Buddy Bell, Soderholm was utilized in a utility role across 63 games. Then, in November 1979, the Rangers dealt Soderholm to the Yankees for infielder Amos Lewis and pitcher Ricky Burdette.
The Yankees hoped Soderholm could be a reliable platoon designated hitter and backup infielder. He excelled in his role, appearing in 95 games and batting a productive .287 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs to help the Yankees secure the AL East division crown.
This led to Soderholm making his first postseason appearance during the 1980 ALCS against Kansas City. The Yanks had taken down the Royals in three consecutive playoff series between 1976 and 1978, and with much of the core still intact a couple years later, KC was ready for some revenge. They got it, sweeping New York away in three games, and Sodeholm was held to a 1-for-6 showing with a ground-ball single in Game 1 and nothing else.
After the season, Soderholm became a free agent. Before he could land a new deal in February 1981, Soderholm slipped on a patch of ice near his home in Chicago. The fall severely re-injured his knee, requiring the fifth major surgery on the chronically damaged joint. This one forced him into retirement following that lone season in New York.
The Cubs hired Soderholm as a scout following his retirement, and he also launched the Eric Soderholm Baseball Camps. This led to him opening a hitting school to mentor young players. Feeling like he needed some action, Soderholm eventually launched Front Row Tickets, which became a lucrative ticket resale platform.
Finding this line of work unfulfilling, in 1997, he and his daughter co-founded the SoderWorld Wellness Center & Academy in Willowbrook, Illinois. Soderholm uses his experiences working back from injuries to serve as a personal life coach and meditation teacher at the center.
Happy birthday, Eric. May it be even and balanced!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 11: Jordan Beck #27 of the Colorado Rockies makes a leaping catch over the wall during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on April 11, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Baseball highlight’s are most commonly filled with a mixture of home runs and defensive plays in which the fielder must do something particularly spectacular in order to make up for a mistake earlier in the play. The skill required for those is both easily visible in the confines of television camera frame. Efficient outfield catches, however, are difficult to appreciate unless you happen to be at the ballpark and able to see the whole field.
So, as the 2026 Colorado Rockies season comes to a close, let’s take a moment to marvel at the most highlight-worthy plays for each Rockies outfielder as estimated by Catch Probability from Statcast.
Catch Probability is a simple concept at its heart that simply attempts to explain how difficult it would be for an outfielder to arrive where the ball is landing before it does. It does this with two primary inputs,
How far an outfielder needs to run.
How long they have to run that far.
Those factors are combined, and a resulting percentage of the time that the ball is caught in the Major Leagues is calculated. There’s some extra nuance, but the basic premise is incredibly simple.
To make it even simpler, comparing plays can be done by dividing their Catch Percentages into the following categories:
Technically both Braxton Fulford and Willi Castro have seen time in the outfield for the Rockies this season. Fulford has a total of two appearances on the outfield grass, and Castro has played parts of nine games out there despite having only started in the outfield twice.
While they both have played the outfield, neither has had enough opportunities to have made any catches that qualify for “stars” using Catch Probability. In fact, the only opportunity that either player has had that would have qualified if it had been caught was a play at the left field wall on June 7, which Castro wisely played on the bounce. If he had managed to make a miraculous grab, it would have been considered a five-star catch according to Catch Probability.
That, however, is the only chance either Fulford or Castro has had to qualify for this list, so the only fair thing to do is take them out of the running.
Two-Star Catches
Sterlin Thompson only had a few more games in a big league outfield this year than Fulford or Castro but he made the most of them.
In the 15 Major League games that Thompson took the field, he made two separate plays at the wall that qualified as two-star catches. The most visually impressive was one from June 3 that would have meant extra bases for Mike Trout had Thompson not been able to effectively backpedal and leap against the left field wall to make the grab.
Zac Veen’s most difficult catch of the season is similar to Thompson’s in that it required him to backpedal and judge a play against the wall. The difference between the plays is subtle, but Veen needed to cover four more feet with less time than Thompson did.
Mickey Moniak’s hardest catch of the season nearly resulted in a collision.
Moniak was making chase towards a ball deep in the right-center gap when center fielder Jake McCarthy slid in front of him in what could have been an ugly result if McCarthy had been just a step slower.
While Catch Probability doesn’t account for the nuances of needing to coordinate with and/or avoid fellow outfielders, the 93 feet of distance Moniak needed to cover in just over five seconds was enough to qualify this catch as only 60% likely.
Where Moniak’s best catch qualified primarily based on the distance he needed to cover, Jordan Beck’s most difficult was primarily due to how little time he had to react. In just under three seconds from the moment Brett Sullivan released his 57 MPH “fastball,” Beck needed to assess where the hit from Steven Kwan would land, run 31 feet, and slide to be at the correct height to be able to scoop the ball as it was landing.
Given that lack of available reaction time, it’s understandable why that August 21 catch from Beck is qualified as his most difficult on the season. That being said, Beck’s other three-star catch (which only has five percent lower Catch Probability than his most difficult catch) was far more impactful. I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind everyone of this early-season home run robbery against Nick Castellanos.
His best catch of the season wearing a Rockies uniform came on April 5 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Much like Beck’s home run robbery, Doyle needed both to cover a large distance (93 feet) and time a jump just perfectly in order to make the following beautiful play possible.
Troy Johnston isn’t exactly known for his defensive prowess, but he has managed a surprising number of memorable defensive plays in his first season with the Rockies. Johnston actually has two catches that are rated four-stars, but his least likely one came on April 23 on a line drive to shallow right field.
This dive forward towards short liners may be Johnston’s signature move as he had made a very similar play to end a game just four days earlier. While that catch obviously had a larger impact on the specific game than the first, it didn’t quite qualify as a four-star catch.
Cole Carrigg provides an illustration of a couple factors that Catch Probability does not take into account: sightlines and angles.
The following is Carrigg’s singular four-star catch per Catch Probability:
That is, for sure, an impressive catch that showcases Carrigg’s speed and range as he had to cover 46 feet in just over three seconds. What it isn’t, in my estimation, is Carrigg’s most difficult catch of the season.
This ball was in the air for nearly a full five seconds which limits its catch probability to two-stars, Carrigg needed to be sprinting towards the wall while looking over his right shoulder to reach his left arm forward at the right angle in order to make it.
Catch Probability attempts to account for needing to run backwards in terms of how doing so slows the fielder down and decreases the chance to reach the ball in time. What it doesn’t account for is how much more difficult it is to catch a ball a player can’t properly view. This Carrigg catch shows off a combination of coordination and dexterity in addition to the range that Catch Probability does a good job of assessing.
Five-Star Catches
What Jake McCarthy lacks in arm strength, he more than makes up for in sprint speed. He has limitations as a fielder, but his range in the outfield is obviously great. He often gets to balls with enough time to spare to make routine looking catches that would have required desperate diving plays by outfielders with average speed.
Given that, it should come as no surprise that McCarthy’s most difficult catch of the season doesn’t actually look particularly difficult.
In that July 20 play McCarthy had to cover 60 feet with just 3.7 seconds of reaction time from the moment the ball left Kyle Freeland’s hand.
This is a great example of an incredible catch that would be difficult to assess as such via the television broadcast. At the ballpark a scout may be able to pay attention to McCarthy’s starting point, his reaction time, and his route efficiency in order to appreciate how hard that really was. From home, being locked into the camera view that shows the pitcher and batter for the first few moments of the play, it’s implausible to recognize that that was McCarthy’s best catch of the year.
The same can not be said for Tyler Freeman’s best catch of the season.
This diving catch in which the tip of Freeman’s glove just barely manages to reach underneath the ball as it lands is a perfect counterpoint to the visual ease of McCarthy’s five-star catch above. Freeman needed to cover slightly less distance (53 feet) in slightly less time (3.5 seconds) than McCarthy did which equates to a roughly equal 15% Catch Probability score.
McCarthy made a 15% catch look easy. Against those same odds, Freeman clearly needed to use every inch of his range in order to match McCarthy’s success.
The end result of both plays was the same. The most difficult outfield catches of the 2026 Rockies season… so far.
There aren’t many Rockies games left, but we should all be sure to be on the lookout for a more spectacular catch and ready to give it the recognition it deserves regardless of whether the player is able to make it look easy.
