CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 15: Brayan Rocchio #4 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run double to defeat the Chicago White Sox 7-6 at Progressive Field on September 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Chicago White Sox came to town coming off of back-to-back series losses and have been hunting for the divisional title. The Cleveland Guardians put up a feckless fight last night, but looked to still be in the fight to start tonight’s game.
Foster Griffin, sandwiched between Gavin and Parker starts, was pulled after 4.0 innings of work. Griffin gave up two runs on five hits and two walks, striking out five. Stephen Vogt was super aggressive with the bullpen today with an off day coming on Thursday, something that played into his favor. Erik Sabrowski pitched a clean fifth inning, walking one and striking out two. Craig Yoho struggled hard in the sixth, only pitch 0.1 innings. He allowed three runs on one hit and two walks.
Hunter Gaddis recorded his fourth blown save of the season, throwing 1.0 full inning. He allowed one run on two hits. Tim Herrin locked back in after last night’s outing and threw a scoreless 1.0 before Vogt turned to Cade Smith early in the eighth. Cade pitched 1.2 innings and was solid. He struck out one.
This game ended up giving me whiplash from the roller coaster of emotions; the epitome of the “its so over, we’re so back” meme. In the bottom of the first things looked like they were going to be smooth sailing for Cleveland. Steven Kwan drew a lead off walk and quickly scored when Jo Adell hit a towering home run to the bleachers, scoring two.
Travis Bazzana got in on the home run action immediately, following Adell with a homer to right center.
In the bottom of the fifth, back-to-back singles and an forceout had Rocchio on third and Ramírez on first. A flubbed pickoff attempt gave Rocchio the lane to score, giving an insurance run.
When Cleveland took the early lead, it made me feel confident, but the White Sox quickly reminded me that they have some fantastic hitters on the team. The White Sox answered immediately in the sixth inning, taking a two run lead over the Guardians.
In the bottom of the sixth Travis Bazzana brought Cleveland within one with his second home run of the night.
In the bottom of the ninth, down one, Cleveland had one last shot to save their AL Central pennant goal. Nathaniel Lowe hit a hard single, 106.9 mph off the bat, to right field to start the inning. He was lifted for Daniel Schneemann to pinch-run. Patrick Bailey drew a crucial one-out walk and Petey Halpin grounded out to first to move both runners into scoring position. David Fry was brought in to pinch-run for Bailey.
With two outs, two on, none other than high leverage Mr. Late Season himself was up to bat. Brayan Rocchio took a called strike, fouled off the next pitch, then hit a sinker out of the zone 100.9 mph to left field for the walk off double.
And because I can, here are the Hammy and Los Guardians calls:
Knoxville Smokies pitcher Brooks Caple (19) opens against Columbus Clingstones during a Minor League Baseball game on July 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were rained out in Omaha tonight, which ruined the scheduled rehab games for Dansby Swanson and Gavin Hollowell. It hasn’t been decided yet when or even if the game will be made up.
The Smokies fell behind early when Knoxville starter Brooks Caple gave up a leadoff home run in the second inning by Caleb Bartolero. The Trash Pandas got another run in the second after Caple allowed a walk and a single to the next two batters, followed by two ground outs.
The Smokies tied the game back up 2-2 with a run in the top of the third and another one in the fourth. Third baseman Angel Cepeda hit a solo home run in the third for the first run. The second one was a double by left fielder Carter Trice that scored catcher Ariel Armas in the fourth.
But Caple gave up a one-out infield single in the sixth inning and was taken out for Tyler Schlaffer. Schlaffer hit a batter and then gave up a three-run home run to Eddie Micheletti Jr. The game was never close again after that.
Caple pitched fairly well but took the loss. He was charged with three runs on four hits over 5.1 innings. He walked two, hit one and struck out four.
Schlaffer gave up five runs on four hits over two innings. Schlaffer struck out two, walked two and hit one batter.
Cepeda went 1 for 3 with the home run. Trice was 1 for 3 with the double. Armas was 0 for 2 with a walk.
The Smokies managed just three hits.
The Smokies now return home to Knoxville for Game 2 on Thursday. They will have to win both on Thursday and on Friday to keep their season alive and advance to the Southern League Championship Series.
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 15: Drew Anderson #38 of the Detroit Tigers wears a '21' patch for Roberto Clemente Day during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 15, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 Detroit Tigers are not going quietly into that good night. The youth movement, with some assistance from Spencer Torkelson, victimized a pretty shoddy looking Toronto Blue Jays’ staff with 10 hits and eight walks to crush them 10-1 on Roberto Clemente Day. That makes six straight for the Kitties.
Drew Anderson got the start for the Tigers on Tuesday, while the Blue Jays went with a bullpen game. Right-hander Braydon Fisher started for the Jays, and he started the game by walking Gleyber Torres and Kevin McGonigle. Unfortunately, Hao-Yu Lee grounded into a double play, and Riley Greene struck out.
Anderson meanwhile started his night well with a quick 1-2-3 bottom of the first.
Eduardo Valencia opened the second inning with a hot grounder off of Fisher, but Ernie Clement made a diving stop and got the slow moving catcher at first. Lefty Brendon Cellucci succeeded Fisher at that point, and he punched out Max Clark and Spencer Torkelson with high heat.
Anderson retired Alejandro Kirk on a ground out and struck out Nathan Lukes to start the bottom of the second. Kazuma Okamoto singled to right field, but a fly ball to center from Andres Giménez was hauled in by Max Clark to send us to the third inning.
The Tigers went in order again in the third, as Zach McKinstry flew out, John Peck struck out, and McGonigle hit a deep drive to center that was caught by Brett Bateman.
Anderson was cruising thus far, but he got into a spot of the old bother in the bottom of the third. He struck out Josh Smith looking at a curveball, walked Clement, and locked up Bateman with a changeup. However, Clement stole second and Anderson walked George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to load the bases. A pair of well located fastballs away to Kirk got him behind 0-2, and a good curveball drew a ground out to third to end the inning.
Escaping that potential disaster seemed to inspire the lineup in the fourth. Old friend Michael Lorenzen took the mound, and while he got Torres and Lee, he then walked Greene and Valencia with two outs. Max Clark was up next, and the kid stayed hot, slashing a double the opposite way into the left field corner to score Greene and get Valencia to third.
Torkelson was up next and got a tasty 1-1 sweeper right in the heart of the plate. The first baseman lifted a towering blast high and deep to left and into the bullpen for a three-run homer. McKinstry grounded out, but it was now 4-0 Tigers.
Anderson took inspiration from that lead and locked in his command again. He got Lukes on a grounder to first, and then whiffed Okamoto with a high fastball after an eight-pitch battle. Giménez flew out, and we were on to the fifth.
Lorenzen was still in there in the fifth. He popped up Peck, but walked McGonigle. Torres flew out, and so it was up to Hao-Yu Lee and the third baseman singled to right to get McGonigle to third. Lorenzen got a first pitch strike to Greene, but the Tigers slugger spat on the next two and in a 2-1 count Lorenzen left a slider up in the zone and Greene hammered it off the wall in right just short of a home run. McGonigle scored and Lee took third, while the ball was hit so hard that Greene stayed at first base with a single. Valenica fought Lorenzen to a 3-2 count, but ultimately popped out to end the inning. 5-0 Tigers.
Anderson continued to roll in the fifth. He got Josh Smith to ground out and then popped up Clement. Bateman lashed a single past a diving Torres into right field, but Anderson dropped in a curveball to Springer that was fouled off and came back with a changeup that was grounded to third. The long third inning wasn’t good for Anderson’s pitch count, which stood at 88 pitches through five frames, but he threw a really good game otherwise. 5.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K was his line, and right-hander Jacob Waguespack was warming up to take over in the sixth.
Lefty Brendon Little succeeded Lorenzen in the top of the sixth. He coaxed a grounder to first from Clark to start the inning. Little was wary of Torkelson though, and put him on with a five-pitch walk. With McKinstry at the dish, and Little’s leg kick making him slow to the plate, Torkelson then shocked the world by stealing second for his first of the season. McKinstry bounced one to Clement at second and couldn’t quite beat out the throw, but Torkelson got to third and Peck had an opportunity to add to the lead. He did so, slashing a 1-0 sinker the opposite way down the right field line. Really nice piece of hitting to make it 6-0, though he was cut down trying to take second on a good throw from Lukes in right field, ending the inning. It was worth a try. Lukes just made a pretty perfect play on that one.
Waguespack did take over in the bottom of the sixth. He got a comebacker from Guerrero to start the inning, and then a soft tapper from Kirk than Valencia handled. Lukes reached on a grounder to Torres, but Okamoto flew out to McKinstry to snuff any threat from developing. The right-hander doesn’t strike anyone out, walks too many, and gives up too many homers, and yet he still holds a 2.70 ERA. How long can it last? Place your bets, but the funk, overhand delivery, and changeup have generally kept the contact light most of the time.
Former Astros right-hander Spencer Arrighetti was on the mound for the Jays in the seventh. He walked McGonigle to start the inning, but Torres flew out and Lee struck out. Greene battled through a seven pitch AB but eventually popped out.
Waguespace whiffed Giménez with a good changeup to start the bottom half. Smith lined out to McKinstry, and Waguespack got a routine grounder to Peck from Clement to send us to the eighth. Still 6-0 Tigers.
The eighth started quite strangely. Valencia battled Arrighetti for six pitches. The seventh was fouled off but Valencia took the ball right out of Kirk’s glove. The foul nearly caught Max Clark in the batter’s box, and it was also catcher interference, putting Valencia at first. Clark grounded into a force of Valencia, but Torkelson hammered a 2-1 pitch hard off the left field wall. It was hit so hard and played so well by Smith that the ricochet came straight to him, and Clark was held at third as Torkelson took second.
Clark then made some things happen with his baserunning. His lead from third wasn’t even egregious, but he caught Kirk’s attention and drew a throw after a pitch to McKinstry. Kirk fired to Okamoto, but the throw skipped past him down the left field line. Clark jogged home, and Torkelson read it well and scored from second before Smith could corral the ball. 8-0 Tigers. A Malek, as it’s known colloquially.
McKinstry struck out, but John Peck drew a walk and Brett Callahan entered to hit for McGonigle as it was a good time to rest the rookie infielder. He flew out to center to end the inning.
Kyle Finnegan took over in the bottom of the eighth, while Ben Malgeri entered the game for Riley Greene in left. The way Finnegan is going this year this was optimal usage. Bateman greeted him with a leadoff single, and Finnegan quickly started falling apart. With his splitter ineffective, he had to turn to his fastball and it just isn’t a good one. Springer singled to right, and Guerrero smoked a ball to center that Clark hauled in. Kirk singled in Bateman, and Hinch was done. Brant Hurter was warm and he entered to face Myles Straw, hitting for Lukes. A 1-2 changeup got a grounder to Torres for a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
Old friend Joe Mantiply took over in the top of the ninth. Torres lined out, but Hao-Yu Lee is a big believer in eight-run leads. A 1-0 curveball up from Mantiply got absolutely crushed to left field and into the second deck for his ninth homer of the year. 9-1 Tigers.
Ben Malgeri followed with a single that Clement, now at shortstop, had to dive for and couldn’t make a throw. Valencia smoked a double to left, getting Malgeri to third. Clark got jammed a bit by the lefty, but grounder one right between Davis Schneider at second and Clement at short. It wasn’t hit hard, but the two infielders sort of stared at each other as it rolled into right field, scoring Malgeri. 10-1 Tigers.
Mantiply struck out Torkelson, and McKinstry lined out to Clement to end the inning, but man this team is hot right now.
Hurter stayed in there to finish this game, and he quickly got Okamoto to ground out on a nice play by Peck at shortstop. Schneider was up next, and he battled through a lengthy at-bat but Hurter whiffed him with a sweeper, and so it was up to Charles McAdoo, hitting for Smith. He grounded the first pitch to Torkelson ranging off of first base, but his throw was behind Hurter and had to be collected by Valencia as McAdoo was safe. A fly ball to Callahan in right field from Clement ended things.
That is six straight for the suddenly streaking Tigers, but streaks one way or the other seem to be par for the course for them. The Tigers are now five games back in the AL Central, but the Guardians won on Tuesday, and so the Tigers remain 4.5 games out of the Wild Card with 11 games left in the season. Hey, nothing to do but keep winning.
Tomorrow’s 2:30 p.m. ET matchup will see RHP Keider Montero taking on a badly struggling RHP Max Scherzer as the Tigers hunt for the sweep.
The New York Mets had a decision to make about Pete Alonso last winter. David Stearns made it by not doing anything. The Mets GM let the very popular "Polar Bear" walk away after seven years in Flushing as a free agent.
On Tuesday night, he reminded Mets fans what they have lost.
Alonso, the former homegrown Mets star, cracked the 300th home run of his career against his former team wearing a Baltimore Orioles uniform. Alonso's solo blast came in the top of the ninth inning Tuesday with the Orioles trailing 3-2.
So Mets fans, who embraced Alonso's bold personality in his seven years in Queens, got to watch him hit this milestone. He earned a warm welcome back to Flushing, the fans saluting him in Game 1 of the series Monday night before honoring him more Tuesday.
The Orioles eventually won 7-5 in 11 innings.
Pete Alonso takes a curtain call at Citi Field after his 300th career home run pic.twitter.com/FWhWhiA8En
The Mets took Alonso in the second round in the 2016 MLB Draft, 64th overall, out of Florida, and had a star within three years. He set the rookie home run record with 53 in 2019, endearing himself to the Mets faithful because it surpassed the record set by crosstown rival Aaron Judge. He ran away with the 2019 NL Rookie of the Year. Todd Frazier nicknamed him Polar Bear that same season, telling Alonso he looked like a "big, damn polar bear," and it stuck. Alonso won the Home Run Derby that July, then won it again two years later. He made five All-Star teams and broke David Wright's franchise home run record.
Still, none of that earned him a call worth taking from Stearns in the winter.
Alonso opted out of his contract with the Mets after a strong 2025 season, betting on himself the same way he had in 2024. This time, the Mets didn't counter. Stearns inherited Alonso when he took over the organization and showed no inclination to bring him back on a star-level deal. Baltimore, however, was looking for a star first baseman. The Orioles signed him to a five-year, $155-million deal in December.
Even Steve Cohen, the Mets' billionaire owner, understood the emotion of fans watching Alonso walk.
"I totally understand the fans' reaction," he texted a reporter at the time. "There is lots of offseason left to put a playoff team on the field."
Fast forward 10 months later and that is something Cohen probably wishes he hadn't put in print. Alonso returned to a dispirited Citi Field to face a team that imploded. The Mets fired their manager, they traded off their assets at the deadline and headed into this series 18.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East and 12 games out of a wild card.
Alonso's Orioles have had a little better season.
While he came to New York hitting .269 with 35 home runs and 100 RBI this season, the Orioles have still underperformed. They sit four games back of the final AL wild-card spot.
Sep 15, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Derek Hill (49) scales the wall in an attempt to catch a three run go-ahead home run hit by Washington Nationals left fielder Daylen Lile (not pictured) during the seventh inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
On the night that their hottest pitcher hit the injured list, the overall fatigue of the Philadelphia Phillies (83-68) pitching staff shone through in a 6-3 defeat to the Washington Nationals (71-81).
The Phillies got three runners aboard in the first inning with a pair of walks by Kyle Schwarber and Luis Arraez and an RBI single by Alec Bohm which opened the scoring.
The Nats sprang back to take the lead in the bottom of the inning with a pair of doubles by Brady House and Yohandy Morales and a single by Jorbit Vivas.
Arraez tied the game in the third inning with an RBI double to score Trea Turner.
Kyle Schwarber hit a go-ahead lead-off home run in the top of the sixth but the Phillies would again relinquish the lead in the bottom of the inning on a solo shot by Andres Chaparro.
Kyle Schwarber's in his 5th season with the Phillies
Cristopher Sanchez’s ERA has increased by nearly half a point since the beginning of the month and those struggles continued tonight as he allowed eight hits for the tenth time this season, but it was his “relief” that surrendered the killing blow.
Daylen Lile blew the game open in the seventh inning with a pinch-hit three-run home run off of Jonathan Bowlan, two runs of which were inherited from Sanchez.
Daylen Lile crushes a pinch-hit three-run blast for the lead over the Phillies!
It was the 5th straight appearance in which Bowlan has allowed a run and the second in a row Sanchez has allowed five plus.
The ambitions of catching the Braves for the division are fading into the rearview as the Phillies are now 4-8 in their last 12 and hanging on to a wild card spot for dear life.
Zack Wheeler will attempt to outduel Washington ace, Cade Cavalli, tomorrow night in the second half of the short series.
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 15: William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers wearing #21 in honor of Roberto Clemente reacts to a play during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The division has almost been secured. With their ace on the mound, the Brewers put together an all-around strong game to defeat the Pirates 5-1 on Tuesday night, lowering their magic number to one.
The Brewers got on the board first with some small ball. Jake Bauers led off the second inning with a single to right field. He moved over to second on a Christian Yelich groundout, then made it to third on a wild pitch by Lake Bachar. Luis Lara brought him in with a sacrifice fly, and the Brewers had a 1-0 lead.
They had another chance to score with two outs. Joey Ortiz and David Hamilton hit back-to-back singles, and Garrett Mitchell worked a 3-0 count before getting intentionally walked. Jackson Chourio had a chance to break the game open with the bases loaded, but a flyout to center ended the inning.
Meanwhile, Jacob Misiorowski was efficient through his first three innings. He struck out the side in the first and had six strikeouts. In the fourth, the Pirates had a chance to break through. After striking out Oneil Cruz to start the inning, back-to-back singles by Nick Gonzales and Ryan O’Hearn put two runners on base.
After a mound visit, Rafael Flores Jr. hit the Pirates’ third straight single when Hamilton couldn’t get to a ground ball. The deflection sent the ball into shallow center field, and it was a spot where Gonzales should have been able to score. However, third base coach Tony Beasley held Gonzales at third. O’Hearn didn’t see Gonzales stop and kept running toward third, assuming he would score, while Chourio caught up to the ball and threw it in. O’Hearn was an easy out in no-man’s land, turning a bases-loaded, one-out situation into runners at the corners with two outs. That loomed bigger when Spencer Horwitz flew out to Chourio to end the inning, keeping the Pirates off the board and bringing the boo birds out in Pittsburgh.
The offense blew the game open in the sixth inning. Brice Turang led off the inning with a walk, then William Contreras hit a double to deep right to put two runners in scoring position. After Bauers struck out, Yelich drew a walk, but reliever Gregory Soto threw a wild pitch on ball four. Turang scored to make it a 2-0 lead.
The offense kept going as Lara doubled into right field, scoring Contreras and putting runners at the corners again. Ortiz followed that up with another single, scoring Yelich and Lara all the way from first base. The rally ended there as Ortiz tried to steal but was caught, and Hamilton struck out to end the inning.
With the Brewers up 5-0, and the top of the sixth taking a while, Misiorowski’s day came to an end a little early. He pitched five scoreless innings and threw 84 pitches, allowing just five hits and a walk while striking out seven. It was likely just a workload management decision, with the Brewers holding a five-run lead.
Aaron Ashby was the first reliever out of the bullpen. He started with a clean sixth inning before returning for the seventh, but started rough in his second inning of work. He walked O’Hearn, then Flores Jr. singled. Ashby recovered from there, getting two lineouts and a groundout to end the inning and keep the Pirates off the board.
DL Hall took the eighth inning and allowed a leadoff home run to Brandon Lowe, ending the shutout. Gonzales hit a two-out single, but that was it, as Hall got out of the inning with no further damage.
Trevor Megill took the ninth inning despite it being a four-run lead and not a save situation. The inning started rough as he allowed back-to-back singles to Flores Jr. and pinch-hitter Ronny Simon. Jake Mangum hit a ground ball to the left side of second, Ortiz grabbed it and threw to Turang, who ran past second but managed to get his foot on the bag for the out. After that, pop-outs from Konnor Griffin and Brandon Lowe ended the game.
It was a balanced day for the offense. Every starter other than Chourio reached base safely at least once. Ortiz led the offense with a three-hit day, and Turang reached base four times with four walks. Lara and Ortiz each drove in two runs.
Looking at the scoreboard, the Dodgers defeated the Reds 4-0 to keep the Brewers’ lead for the best record in MLB at two games. Meanwhile, the Braves have mounted a comeback and lead 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh thanks to two separate two-run home runs. If the lead holds, the Brewers will clinch the NL Central.
Tomorrow’s game will feature Logan Henderson and Jared Jones. First pitch is at 5:40 p.m. Meanwhile, stay tuned here to see if the Brewers clinch the division.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 15: Brayan Rocchio #4 of the Cleveland Guardians scores on a throwing error by the pitcher to first base in the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on September 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
BASEBALL IS THE DUMBEST MOST WONDERFUL SPORT IN THE WORLD!
TRAVIS BAZZANA IS GREAT, TAKE THAT, COMMENTER GUY!
YOU GOTTA WALK ROCCHTEMBER THERE, WILL VENABLE, WITH A BASE OPEN! CLASSIC BLUNDER. AND YOUR LEFT FIELDER WAS PLAYING LAUGHABLY SHALLOW HAHAHAHAHA
HE HIT A 101 MPH FASTBALL ABOVE THE ZONE LOL
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY DID NOT GET SOMEONE UP HERE WITH DELAUTER AND MARTINEZ BOTH OUT BUT THEY SOMEHOW PULLED THIS OUT!
Do you have baseball fever yet? If you’re still watching, I’ll assume you do.
I normally put some sort of analysis in the preview. I’m told nobody reads these, but it gives me a head start on the recap. Unfortunately, there’s not much analysis left. The Mariners lost their chance for a winning season last night. And they’ll officially have a losing record if they lose again tonight. If they don’t, that’ll be on the table again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and so on until this season is mercifully over.
So instead analysis, I’ll steal Zach Mason’s bit from last night, and ask a question to see who reads these things: Let’s name some Mariners-Angels crossovers. Who’s your favorite? Who’s your least favorite? Who should have been a Mariner but never was? Who should have been an Angel but never was? What do you think of the Angels, as an organization?
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with Chandler Simpson #14 and Jorge Mateo #9 after hitting a walk-off home run in the ninth inning to defeat the Athletics 2-1 at Tropicana Field on September 15, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Seriously, nothing much happened in this game on offense — for either team.
The Rays first — and for many innings, only — run came when Chandler Simpson scored from third on a passed ball, but perhaps what is most notable is how Simpson came to be on third. He hit a deep line drive (98 mph!) that bounced of the back wall for a double. He moved to third on a ground out and was then able to score when the Oakland catcher failed to grab an errant pitch. Simpson, in fact, was pretty much the Rays offense until the Cami home run: the Rays had six hits, total, and Chandler had three of them.
Griffin Jax picked up from his last, very effective start. He shut down the A’s almost entirely for five innings. He walked no one and gave up two forgettable hits while striking out seven.
But apparently the Rays are determined to manage his workload, because despite pitching just five relatively low stress innings — a mere 67 pitches — he was pulled before the sixth inning.
Jax wasn’t the only pitcher on top of his game today. Jack Perkins, the A’s starter whose ERA is north of 6.00, held the Rays in check for 6.2 innings. He scattered a few hits, walked just one, and made the Rays hitters, even the “big three,” look lost.
After Jax left the game, Cash brought in Ty Johnson, who was the weak-ish link among tonight’s pitchers. He gave up two hits and then threw a very wild pitch that scored a run to tie the game at 1-1. But the rest of the bullpen — Cam Booser, Kevin Kelly and Bryan Baker — cruised through their innings. After Baker polished off the A’s in the top of the ninth, I was hoping hard that the Rays would manage to walk it off in the bottom of the inning because I didn’t like the pitching options that would follow Baker.
And then: BOOM. Junior did indeed put this game to bed. He’s got the bat, and he’s got the confidence too; this 23-year old is ready for this moment, beckoning to the post-game crowd to raise the volume as they chanted “MVP.”
With the win the Rays magic number to win the division is down to nine (as I write the Yankees are leading the Minnesota Twins so we’ll get no help there), and they have two more games against the A’s. Tomorrow Nick “our workhorse” Martinez takes the mound.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Jack Perkins #50 of the Athletics delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 15, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Athletics opened a three-game road series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Roberto Clemente Day. The Rays won a 2-1 pitching duel on a walk-off home run by superstar third baseman Junior Caminero.
Pitching Duel in Florida
The Athletics had trouble generating offense against Rays right-hander Griffin Jax, who opened the game with seven strikeouts across five scoreless innings. A’s right-hander Jack Perkins nearly matched him, as it quickly became apparent that this game would be a low-scoring affair.
After failing to capitalize on their first scoring opportunity in the bottom of the first, the Rays took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Chandler Simpson scored on a passed ball by A’s catcher Jonah Heim. The visitors had a chance to immediately respond in the top of the third. With two outs, shortstop Alika Williams doubled for the A’s first hit of the game, but he was stranded at second when Jax struck out center fielder Henry Bolte to end the inning.
A’s Tie The Game
With their sights set on a deep playoff run, the Rays removed Jax after 67 pitches and five scoreless innings. Rookie right-hander Ty Johnson entered from the hosts’ bullpen, looking to maintain his team’s 1-0 lead.
With one out, Bolte and first baseman Jeff McNeil hit back-to-back singles, giving the A’s a golden opportunity to at least tie the game. Bolte scored the game-tying run on a wild pitch by Johnson. The Green and Gold stranded McNeil at second, wasting a chance to take the lead.
Perkins turned in arguably his best start of the season. The command-challenged right-hander pitched into the seventh inning for the first time this year, allowing just four hits and one unearned run while striking out eight and issuing only one walk over 6 2/3 innings.
With two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh, A’s right-hander Luis Medina replaced Perkins, looking to keep the game tied. Medina struck out second baseman Richie Palacios on three pitches, ending the Rays’ scoring threat.
Another Close Game Late
The game remained deadlocked as Rays left-hander Cam Booser, setup man Kevin Kelly and closer Bryan Baker shut down the A’s offense over the final three innings.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Rays had an opportunity to take the lead after getting a runner to second with one out. However, A’s left-hander Hogan Harris retired the next two batters to strand the go-ahead run at third.
Wrong Kind of Music from Elvis
Right-hander Elvis Alvarado entered for the bottom of the ninth with the A’s hoping he could send the game to extra innings. However, he did not record an out.
After achieving walk-off wins in two of their past three games, the Athletics were on the other side of that equation tonight. In an 0-2 count, Caminero sliced a walk-off opposite-field home run down the right field line. His 41st long ball of the season gave the American League-best Rays a 2-1 series-opening victory.
The Athletics’ offense will look to have more success tomorrow as the team looks to even the series. Left-hander Brady Basso will open for the Green and Gold, with the length of his outing likely depending on his performance. The Rays will counter with right-hander Nick Martinez, who pitched a complete game when these teams met in Sacramento last month.
Teoscar Hernández gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run homer in the third inning Tuesday. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)
A simple change opened up a dramatic offensive turnaround for Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández.
Hernández’s two-run homer Tuesday, in the Dodgers’ 4-0 win against the Reds, was his second home run in as many nights, as the team trimmed its magic number to clinch the division to one behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s seven innings of one-hit ball. And, significantly, this one was against a right-handed pitcher.
“It’s been very helpful,” manager Dave Roberts said after the game. “As certain guys are not seeing the ball as well, it’s nice to kind of backfill with guys like Teo swinging the bat. And when you can slug like he can, you can win baseball games, and he can carry us for a while. And the last 10 days, something like that, it’s been really good from him.”
Through the end of August, Hernández had just a .668 OPS against right-handed pitchers this season. So, when Roberts was asked in Detroit whether the Dodgers would consider setting up a left-field platoon with the team’s September call-ups, he said yes.
Hernández homered off Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez on the last day of the series. And before the Dodgers opened a three-game set against the Cardinals at Dodger Stadium, Hernández met with the hitting coaches.
Against Valdez, Hernández was in a closed stance, to delay his front hip from opening, according to Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates. But the team’s hitting group thought a return to a familiar setup could be a long-term solution.
“It was a great meeting we had,” Bates said. “We all talked about it, and then he felt comfortable enough to do it, and then the rest is to his credit. He’s just been who he is.”
In the past, Hernández had used a “twister tap” as his stride. He started in a more open stance, tapped his toe in line with the pitcher, and then set his foot down. But lower-body injuries the last couple of years — a left groin strain last season and a left hamstring strain earlier this season — forced him away from it.
His improved health and hip flexibility opened up the avenue for him to return to that timing mechanism.
“When Teo’s hips are loose that way, and his front leg looks like an Elvis knee, it’s a good sign for us,” Bates said. “Because that means that he can open and close it without his upper body going with it.”
The advantage of the twister tap, as Hernández explained it, is how repeatable it is. A more traditional stride can be sped up or slowed down.
“Just being able to control my body and being in a good position,” Hernández said earlier this month. “I can see the pitch a little sooner and identify what kind of pitch it is and if it’s going to be a strike or a ball.”
Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitches during one of his seven shutout innings against the Reds Tuesday. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)
With that change, he’s rewarded the Dodgers for deciding against platooning left field. Hernández entered Tuesday with a .777 OPS against right-handed pitchers — a sample size of just 28 plate appearances but still a significant jump.
“The biggest thing is his plate coverage away,” Bates said. “Because now he can spoil pitches, and he’s staying in at-bats longer.”
Hernández’s dramatic offensive turnaround, along with fellow corner outfielder Kyle Tucker’s improvement, have helped steady a Dodgers offense that’s missing Shohei Ohtani (on the IL with right biceps and left knee injuries) and includes a hobbled Freddie Freeman (right knee soreness).
Rookie Josue De Paula, mostly filling in for Ohtani at designated hitter, has already shown he can take mature at-bats and provide some pop. But he’s still finding his footing in a new league.
It lengthens the Dodgers lineup for Hernández, after a slow start to his year, to return to being a veteran power threat — just in time to, ideally, carry the momentum into the postseason.
On Monday, he launched his two-run shot off left-hander Nick Lodolo. On Tuesday, he replicated the feat off right-hander Rhett Lowder.
On the second pitch of the at-bat, Hernández recognized a hung slider, and he roped it over the left-field fence at 109.3 mph, according to Statcast. The blast put the Dodgers up 3-0 in the third inning, with Dodgers starter Yamamoto settling into a groove on the other side.
Yamamoto had walked the first two batters he faced, but he reined in his control to pitch seven scoreless innings and allow just one more baserunner, on a double by Reds star shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
The Dodgers also scored on Hunter Feduccia’s second-inning single and Alex Freeland’s seventh-inning homer. And the Dodgers bullpen completed the shutout.
Freeman staying in the lineup
Freeman was all smiles after his three-hit game Tuesday — after going hitless for his last four games.
“I was supposed to be off tomorrow, but I played myself in there,” he said. “So I’m very excited.”
Roberts explained: “He was joking, saying, ‘If I get three hits, then can I be in there tomorrow?’”
Sure enough, the mechanical adjustments he made in the batting cage — focusing on getting his foot down early and making contact out in front — got him there.
“I’m just trying to find something that gives me results,” Freeman said. “We’re at the time where we’re just trying to get hot for five weeks here. So kind of like I did in the World Series a couple years ago, I did the step-out move. That’s not sustainable over six months. I’m not trying to find something that’s sustainable.”
Though Roberts has been trying to find opportunities to rest Freeman, he saw promising signs Tuesday beyond the results.
“Just my eyes, just watching him move, I feel good about him going tomorrow,” Roberts said.
De Paula, Freeland and third baseman Max Muncy will be out of the lineup Wednesday, Roberts said.
The Mets' top prospect went 2-for-5, with three strikeouts and a home run in his first game with Syracuse.
In the first inning, Rojas hit a groundball single and came around to score on a Vidal Brujan double, but the big blast came in his second at-bat. With Syracuse already up 2-0 in the second inning, Rojas took Brian Keller deep with a runner on. Rojas smashed an 80 mph sweeper over the heart of the plate that went 361 feet.
Rojas, acquired from the Cubs for Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor at the trade deadline, has made his mark in the Mets' system since the deal.
In 29 games with Double-A Binghamton, Rojas slashed .280/.336/.593 with an OPS of .929 to go along with nine home runs and 29 RBI, nearly doubling both season totals in a third of the games from when he was in the Cubs system -- Rojas hit 15 homers and drove in 57 runs in 91 games with Knoxville while slashing .270/.339/.461.
With the minor league regular season set to end Sunday, Sept. 20, Rojas will get to experience Triple-A pitching for a few more days before he enters the offseason before playing in his first spring training with the Mets.
CINCINNATI –– There’s not much the Dodgers can do, manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday afternoon, to get their all-important rotation ready for the added workload that will come in the postseason.
That’s what appeared to happen with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park, in what was the right-hander’s most dominant performance of at least the last couple months.
In the Dodgers’ 4-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds, Yamamoto threw a one-hit masterpiece over seven scoreless innings, flashing the kind of ruthless efficiency that defined his heroics during last year’s playoffs.
Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered his most dominant performance of at least the last couple months on Tuesday night in Cincinnati USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectIn the Dodgers’ 4-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds, Yamamoto threw a one-hit masterpiece over seven scoreless innings AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
After walking his first two batters in the first inning, he retired 21 of the 22 after with seven strikeouts and virtually no stress.
“After the first two hitters, it was vintage Yama,” Roberts said. “Just attacking, not trying to be too fine.”
The reigning World Series MVP hadn’t exactly been struggling lately, of course. Just last week, he held the Reds to one run over seven innings with 10 strikeouts back in Los Angeles.
But what Yamamoto did on Tuesday was different, keyed by quick and easy outs on soft and harmless contact.
“I’d like to carry this,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter of his renewed stuff, “into October.”
The Dodgers are hoping they won’t have to ask as much out of Yamamoto this time around; that they need him to pitch back-to-back complete games (like he did in Game 2 of the NLCS and Game 2 of the World Series) or provide back-to-back nights of season-saving heroics (following up a victorious Game 6 start in the Fall Classic with a winning three-inning appearance out of the bullpen in Game 7).
But in a postseason environment, it’s impossible to know what exactly will be required.
“You can’t just try to create that during the regular season because you want these guys as strong and healthy for the October run [as possible],” Roberts said pregame. “But it’s one of those things that, once we get to the postseason, all bets are off and everyone is going to do what they can to contribute.”
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws a pitch in the first inning of the MLB National League game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026 USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
The biggest development: Freddie Freeman returned to the lineup amid his ongoing right knee injury, and finally snapped out of a 3-for-30 slump by collecting three singles in the first, fifth and seventh innings.
“Feels better today than he did yesterday,” Roberts said, after Freeman missed his third game in the last week on Monday, “which is a good thing.”
The Dodgers’ scoring, meanwhile, came from elsewhere.
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Hunter Feduccia laced an RBI single in the second off Reds starter Rhett Lowder, maintaining his unexpected status as the Dodgers’ best hitter against right-handed pitching since being re-acquired at the trade deadline (with a team-leading .292 average in such splits since the start of August).
Even Alex Freeland chipped in with a solo blast in the seventh and a double in the ninth, helping him outshine fellow rookie Josue De Paula (who went 0-for-5 with his first two strikeouts of the season after getting bumped up to the leadoff spot).
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning at Great American Ball Park on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, in Cincinnati, Ohio. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
That was all enough to help the team lower its magic number to clinch the National League West to one.
Still, when it comes to October, no position group will be more important than the Dodgers’ rotation.
That’s why, right now, outings like the one Yamamoto made on Tuesday, or Tarik Skubal spun the night before (also seven scoreless innings) are the most promising ways the Dodgers can ramp up toward the playoffs.
Once they get there, they’ll need their starters to be on.
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 30: A general view of the exterior of Chase field is seen prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
MARLINS
DIAMONDBACKS
Kyle Stowers – DH
Lars Nootbaar – LF
Heriberto Hernandez – LF
Ketel Marte – 2B
Otto Lopez – SS
Gabriel Moreno – C
Griffin Conine – RF
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Javier Sanoja – 2B
Corbin Carroll – RF
Jakob Marsee – CF
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Agustin Ramirez – C
Jesus Sanchez – DH
Graham Pauley – 3B
Pavin Smith – 1B
Deyvison De Los Santos – 1B
Jordan Lawlar – CF
Janson Junk – RHP
Zac Gallen – RHP
Roster moves
The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ active roster is at 28 and the 40-man roster is at 40.
Reported to the Major League roster: OF Jesús Sánchez (No. 18)
Optioned to Triple-A Reno following last night’s game: OF Tommy Troy
The team’s efforts to improve against right-handed pitching go on. That’s why we saw Pavin Smith come up the other day, and now another left-handed bat joins them. Sánchez (I wonder how long it’ll be before I can’t be bothered with the acute over the a?) comes right into the starting line-up tonight, facing another right-handed starter. He bats seventh and plays DH. Arizona are a mediocre 53-58 in games where the opposition start a right-hander, and looks like they will be seeing a few more over the remaining eleven games, so ramping that up is going to be very helpful.
DH is another area where the team could use more production. I don’t know how much Sánchez will be able to move the needle, with less than two weeks to go. But currently the D-backs rank 27th by OPS at the position, at only .644. [Hey, still better than 1B, where they are 30th at .635, 46 points below anybody else. Although that is up 75 points from the mid-June figure] It’d be lower, except for the time Ketel Marte and Gabriel Moreno have spent at the position this year. They are the only occupants of it to have hit more than one home-run. It likely says a lot that we have had seventeen different players take bats as the Arizona DH.
Michael Soroka starts for the team tonight at Chase, and we’ll see if Zac Gallen follows him, flip-flopping their roles from Soroka’s last start. I imagine Michael will be on a similar pitch-count as Corbin Burnes was last night, somewhere around 75. Get him twice through the order, and then turn it over to Gallen for a bit? I think we would all feel more comfortable if the Diamondbacks had a healthy lead by the time that came to pass. Be nice if the Padres would lose too, but the Rockies are about as useful as a chocolate teapot in this situation. Just keep winning, D-backs…
The Lake Elsinore Storm, the San Diego Padres’ Single-A minor league affiliate, finished their season with a 66-65 record, 4.5 games behind the Ontario Tower Buzzers (LAD) in the South Division. After winning the first-half crown, the Storm floundered during the second half and finished with a 27-35 record in the last half of the year.
The last week of their season ended on a high note with a series win versus the Inland Empire 66’ers. For the start of the division playoffs, the Storm went up against the Ontario Tower Buzzers for the South Division title. In a best-of-three series, the Storm captured the first two games, beating Ontario 10-9 on Sept. 8. Lake Elsinore out-hit Ontario while starter Jesus Castro pitched six innings of one run ball. Despite the bullpen relinquishing nine runs, the offense scored ten runs on twelve hits.
LF Alex Conover and DH Nu’u Contrades, both 2026 draftees who joined the team in August, excelled for the Storm.
After an off day, the Storm scored six runs on six hits while LHP Kruz Schoolcraft and 2026 No. 1 draft pick Coleman Borthwick combined to throw seven innings with only one run allowed. Schoolcraft allowed two hits and no runs, striking out eight in five innings, while Borthwick, promoted just for the playoffs and making his professional debut, pitched two innings with two hits and one run, striking out four.
Taiwanese righty Lan-Hong Su also came in as a reliever, throwing two innings with no hits and three strikeouts. It was an overwhelming performance for three of the top four best-ranked pitchers in the system. Combined, they allowed four hits, and the three gave a glimpse of what the future could hold for the Padres.
On Sept. 13, the Storm took on the winners of the North Division of the California League for the Cal League Championship series. The San Jose Giants (SF) dominated their division with an 80-52 record, 11 games up on the next team (Fresno).
The Storm had their only home playoff game of the championship series and took full advantage of their home-field advantage. It was never a contest, with Lake Elsinore scoring early and often while their starter, RHP Tyler Schmitt, pitched 4.1 innings, allowing four hits and no runs.
Undrafted free agent RHP Jack Pineau finished the fifth with no hits allowed. Then LHP Adler Cecil pitched three innings, with two hits and no runs allowed.
By the end of the third inning, Lake Elsinore had scored six runs, and they added six more before finishing with 12 runs on 13 hits while their pitchers allowed one run on eight hits. The game was closed out by another undrafted free agent, RHP Ben Stubbs, who allowed the only run on two hits.
The Storm hurlers combined for nine strikeouts. The two UDFA pitchers were added to the Storm roster just for the playoffs. Both had been pitching in the Bridge League after signing in July.
The best-of-three series continues in San Jose today with a third game, if needed, on Wednesday.
El Paso Chihuahuas (58-86 record, last in PCL East)
El Paso lost their week-long series to Tacoma, two games to four. LHP Luis Gutierrez made his El Paso debut, throwing four innings with three hits, a run, and four strikeouts to two walks. After missing most of the season, Gutierrez is finishing strong but is a free agent after this year unless the organization re-signs him by Oct. 15.
Two Padres players were on rehab assignments with the Chihuahuas over the week. Miguel Andujar started off as the DH but then progressed to playing first base and left field. In his five games and 21 at-bats, Andujar has four doubles and an RBI while hitting .286/.286/.476 for El Paso.
RHP Jason Adam began his rehab on Sunday with one inning and 11 pitches. His fastball topped out at 93 mph, and he struck out one hitter without allowing a hit.
Infielder Rosman Verdugo was promoted to El Paso for the last two weeks of the season.
The Chihuahuas have one more week left in their season.
San Antonio Missions (59-79 record, last in the Texas League South)
In their final series of the season, the Missions lost all but the last game of their six-game set. RHP Carson Montgomery made his Double-A debut with San Antonio and was roughed up for 10 runs in 2.2 innings pitched with three walks and one strikeout. In his first season back after Tommy John surgery, Montgomery was inconsistent, with command issues plaguing his performances.
Outfielder Alex McCoy, 24, has hit at all levels in his pro career. An undrafted free agent out of Maryland, McCoy started the season with Fort Wayne and was promoted to San Antonio in the last month of the year. Combined over two levels, McCoy hit .278/.355/.467 with 31 doubles, a triple, and 19 home runs for 71 RBI. He also stole 24 bases in 33 attempts. His pattern in his two seasons in the Padres system has been consistent. There are some initial struggles when he begins a level, but he adjusts and starts hitting again. Although he has slumps, he adjusts again and comes back strong.
There is significant swing-and-miss in his game; his 26% K rate is too high, with most of that chasing, but his power is significant. He registered 119.7 mph max Exit Velocity during the season.
As a side note, MadFriars.com posted an interview with McCoy, and he reported that he is actually 6-6 and 275 pounds. He is listed at 6-5, 260 pounds.
McCoy currently sits as the No. 26 prospect in the Padres system per MLB Pipeline. I would expect that to change going forward.
First baseman Romeo Sanabria had a puzzling year in his age 24 season. Promoted to El Paso from San Antonio for his improved hitting, Sanabria floundered in Triple-A. A hitting haven for almost everyone, Sanabria played in 21 games for the Chihuahuas and hit .200 with a .575 OPS. Sent back to the Missions, Sanabria picked up where he left off and finished the season hitting .295/.389/.442 in a much more difficult league to hit. Limited defensively to first base, Sanabria will need to hit for power to maintain his status as a prospect in the system. He hit 12 homers in the last two seasons and 64 RBI combined over the two levels this year.
AFL starts in October
Next week will be the final affiliate report for this year and the Arizona Fall League will get started on Oct. 3. Rosters will be forthcoming and the schedule is available on the website. All games are also streamed on the website.
