DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 19: Jose Quintana #62 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Saturday, September 19, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ray Bahner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Somehow, every season, 160 baseball games aren’t quite enough. There’s always plenty of drama that spills over into games 161 and 162. 2026 is no different, with lots to be decided around the league during the last weekend of the season.
The Colorado Rockies have two more against the playoff-bound Chicago White Sox with a lot of divisional and Wild Card jockeying going on around the league.
The AL Central remains up for grab in a tight race. The Cleveland Guardians won 12-9 in extras last night, giving them a one-game cushion over the White Sox for the division lead. The Guardians square off against the Kansas City Royals in a 5:10 p.m. MT matchup as well, so Southsiders will be scoreboard watching throughout the evening.
Chicago will try to hold their own and hope for an assist from KC. For their part of the equation, they’ll send out Davis Martin. Martin is 9-7 across 27 starts this season with a 3.84 ERA and a 1.294 WHIP. His production has declined as the season has gone on, as he’s 0-2 in his last seven games with a 4.76 ERA and 0-5 in the last 15 games with his ERA ballooning to 5.51 in that stretch. Despite starting the year with three wins in his first four starts, he hasn’t logged one since back in early June. He did, however, have a strong game in his last outing, going 4.1 scoreless innings, only giving up three hits with six strikeouts.
The Rockies couldn’t play spoiler against an Arizona Diamondbacks squad looking to be the third NL West team in the playoffs this year as they try to chase down the stumbling Philadelphia Phillies. Now, the Rockies try to log a rare September win and ruin some of Chicago’s fun. They’ll start Jose Quintana, who enters with a 2-3 record through 10 starts. The lefty carries a 5.40 ERA, a 1.511 WHIP, and 22/18 K/BB. After returning from a few months on the injured list with a sprained elbow, Quintana gave up three runs on five hits – including two home runs – in four innings of work for a no-decision in a 5-3 win for the Rockies.
The Rockies will see some old friends on the other side of the diamond, with both Brenton Doyle and Randal Grichuk in Chicago’s starting lineup (and with Drew Romo being recalled from Triple-A). The Rockies will look for more progress from their youngsters and try to reach some milestones across the rest of the batting order, including one more Hunter Goodman home run to reach 40 and two more triples to get Jake McCarthy to a 15-15-15 season.
The final days of regular season baseball are here. It will be an exciting finish around the league. Hopefully the Rockies have at least one more win left in the tank.
I thought many of you would like to follow along this evening with the two games that could affect the Cubs’ postseason position, since the Cubs are off today.
Here’s what you need to know about the Phillies/Rays and Padres/Diamondbacks games.
Rays at Phillies, 6:15 p.m. CT
Griffin Jax, RHP (Rays) vs. Aaron Nola, RHP (Phillies)
Nola is going on two days’ rest and he threw 88 pitches three days ago.
DETROIT — Justin Verlander made a teary farewell, accompanied by his 7-year-old daughter as he left a major league mound for the final time in the Detroit Tigers’ 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.
Eduardo Valencia hit a game-ending, two-run homer off Mason Montgomery (6-4) in a three-run ninth that included Kevin McGonigle’s RBI groundout.
Verlander allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings with one walk and six strikeouts in his 91-pitch outing. The 43-year-old right-hander was making his second start of the year and first since March 30 in a season derailed by a sore hip and hamstring injury.
After Brandon Lowe hit a foul popup starting the sixth, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch walked from the dugout toward the plate and pointed toward the seats. Genevieve Verlander, wearing a Tigers jersey with her dad’s name and number, sprinted to the mound and hugged her father, who reached down to embrace her and started shaking and sobbing.
Verlander finished 266-159 in 557 starts with a 3.33 ERA and 3,560 strikeouts, eighth on the career list.
Pittsburgh took a 2-0 lead on solo homers by Brandon Lowe in the fourth and Nick Gonzales.
Javier Báez hit an RBI double in the sixth, and Bryan Reynolds extended Pittsburgh’s lead to 3-1 with a run-scoring triple in the eighth.
Jacob Waguespack (2-2) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Pittsburgh (81-80) needs one win for its first winning season since 2018.
The Pirates’ Kirby Yates made his first career start after 517 relief appearances. The 39-year-old right-hander allowed two hits over 1 2/3 innings in what he said might be his final game.
Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz left in the third inning. He fell awkwardly while trying to field McGonigle’s bloop single in the first.
"It means a lot," he said through an interpreter. "Obviously, it's been a difficult year. We're already approaching the end of the season, but it means a lot to have this type of game. You've just got to continue to go out there and do your best and try to finish strong with the way the season turned out."
The 25-year-old infielder homered for the first time since May 1 in the Mets' 4-3 win at the Los Angeles Angels.
"I'm happy for him," Mets manager Andy Green said of Mauricio. "It's got to feel good, going deep from both sides of the plate. Played a really nice game, made a really nice backhanded play as well. So, I know it's been a long year with limited major league opportunity with him. So, we're very happy for him."
Mauricio slashed .261/.302/.493 with 18 home runs and 57 RBI in 71 games for Triple-A Syracuse this year before rejoining the Mets upon last Friday's recall.
"That did not surprise us at all," Green said of Mauricio's impact. "... It's really impressive pop. He took some pitches south of the zone and set up that home run, which is huge for him. We talked about it yesterday -- when he impacts the baseball, it's special."
Mauricio's 2-for-4, three-RBI performance rebounds from last Saturday's 0-for-2 return in the Mets' 10-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
"There's a lot of motivation to continue to build off of how we've been playing," Mauricio said through an interpreter. "It allows us to play strong, to play together. And I think, with that, it kind of inspires us to go out there next season with the same motivation, that same drive to continue to play well."
Mauricio, who debuted Sept. 1, 2023, before missing the 2024 campaign with a torn right ACL and logging 61 games with the Mets in 2025, made 19 appearances for New York this season while working through a left thumb fracture earlier this year.
"I think the injuries were the toughest part," Mauricio said through an interpreter, "but, at the same time, that's part of the game. This game has a lot of highs and lows, and I think the most important thing is to go out there and try to do your best and try to be successful with whatever situation you have."
What comes next for Mauricio on Green's Mets?
"When we think of him, there's two ways towards greatness," Green said. "One is shrinking the zone down, not chasing. And then the other is kind of the chase rate that's still high, but you're absolutely annihilating the baseball consistently. So, those two things give a path towards him getting better. I think he's always going to be aggressive. I think there's always going to be some element of chase there. If he does that type of damage, though, you can live with the chase."
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 25: David Hamilton #6 of the Milwaukee Brewers is congratulated after scoring in the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field on September 25, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 regular season is drawing closer to the end. There are just two games left, the Brewers are working on their final tune-ups before the postseason. The St. Louis Cardinals are already making their plans for Cancun.
The Brewers showed the fight they still had as they put together a four-run eighth inning last night to get an 8-4 victory and their 101st win of the season. They’ll be looking for win #102 tonight.
However, also last night, third baseman Joey Ortiz was removed from the game with a nagging right knee bruise. Prior to tonight’s game, Ortiz went for an MRI. Pat Murphy told reporters that on top of the knee bruise, Ortiz had been dealing with an abdominal strain and a groin injury.
Jonathan Ornelas is with the club, but has not been activated. Murphy said the Brewers will operate a man down on their bench with Ortiz unavailable since they’re within 10 days of the NLDS and an IL stint would make him unavailable for that series.
On the mound tonight, the Brewers will have Dustin May, who is looking to make one final tune-up before the postseason. He’s been working on trying to find the right pitch mix and sequencing.
“It’s an opportunity for him to pitch well. It’s especially hard to pitch well against the team that knows you so well, but at the same time you know them. So I think it’s an opportunity…and I think he’ll take that head on.” Murphy said.
May has had a lot of short outings lately, though some of that has been by design or out of his control. Still, the Brewers would love to see May be able to fully stretch out and pitch a little deeper into this game and find the pitch mix that works well for him.
His counterpart tonight is Quinn Mathews, who has a 3.65 ERA on the season. He’s a left-handed pitcher, which means the Brewers are going with a largely right-handed lineup.
Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, and Jake Bauers lead things off for the Brewers. William Contreras, Gary Sanchez, and Luis Lara form the middle of the order. Contreras is catching while Sanchez is the DH tonight. Then Cooper Pratt, Brandon Lockridge, and David Hamilton will round out the bottom of the lineup.
The Cardinals had a last minute scratch of shortstop Masyn Winn. Thomas Saggese is taking his place at shortstop and batting eighth. The top of the Redbirds lineup is led by JJ Wetherholt and Ivan Herrera again, with Alec Burleson batting third. Jordan walker, Leo Bernal, and Nolan Gorman form the middle of the lineup. Then Bryan Torres, Saggese, and Nathan Church round out the bottom of their order.
Can the Brewers get win #102 and keep pushing this wins record? Can Dustin May prove he’s trustworthy for Game 3 of the NLDS? We’ll find out, starting with first pitch at 6:10 PM.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Casey Mize #32 of the San Diego Padres walks to the dugout after pitching the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park on September 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After stunning the rival Los Angeles Dodgers with a series win this week, the San Diego Padres returned home to face the Arizona Diamondbacks. They clinched on Thursday night, which might have had something to do with Friday night’s debacle of a game. Starter Casey Mize pitched four innings, surrendering seven runs (yes, you read that right). Mize’s ERA raised to 4.32 on the season after posting a 2.70 ERA before joining San Diego. He was placed on the 15-day IL ahead of today’s game.
Even still, the offense didn’t do much to back him up. By the time Mize departed, the score was 7-2. The final score was 11-4. Four runs isn’t nothing, but it’s peanuts compared to 11. Most of those Arizona runs came via command issues. The Padres walked eight batters in, with Kyle Hart and Jason Adam loading the bases via five walks. San Diego needs just one win to clinch home-field advantage for the upcoming Wild Card series. They’ll need better performances tonight to do so.
Taking the mound
Ryne Nelson (AZ) v. Walker Buehler (SD)
Nelson is likely to fill out a bulk relief role for the Dbacks tonight, with a reliever serving as the opener ahead of him. He’s pitched decent this season with a 4.80 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 86 1/3 innings. He was a starter for most of the year before transitioning to the bullpen in September.
The right-hander struggled in his last start against the Padres. Nelson surrendered six runs in five innings of work. He gave up two home as well. Still, it seems likely that Arizona uses him after he pitched in relief on Sunday versus the New York Yankees. Even though Nelson pitched last night, he only threw 12 pitches to record one out. His arm should still be fresh.
Buehler is coming off of a stellar performance against the Miami Marlins on Sunday. The veteran righty pitched into the seventh inning and had given up no runs in the first six. Unfortunately, Buehler surrendered a three-run shot to end his scoreless bid. That said, it was still a great performance from the Padres starter.
It seems likely that Buehler starts a potential Game 3 for San Diego. In a win-or-go-home spot, there’s not many pitchers who have shown they can be trusted more than him. He owns a 3.53 ERA in his last seven games and has surrendered three or fewer runs in every starts he’s made since July 21.
Batter up!
The strange thing about last night’s game is that San Diego’s offense has two more hits (10) than Arizona’s (8). Despite that, the Dbacks scored seven more runs than the Friars. Of the second-stringers put in, Sung-Mun Song had the most eventful night. Song went 2-for-2 and scored a run after replacing Jackson Merrill in the seventh inning.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Dustin Harris, LF
Manny Machado, 3B
Ty France, 1B
Jackson Merrill, CF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Luis Campusano, DH
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Freddy Fermin, C
Machado fouled a pitch off himself quite painfully last night. It’s possible he could take an off day tonight in order to keep him fresh for the upcoming playoff series on Tuesday. Either way, Machado has seemed to be playing with an injured hand lately. He’s DH’d in three of the last seven games.
Relief corps
With Mize departing after four, San Diego got creative. David Morgan, Kyle Hart, Jason Adam and Wandy Peralta covered the final five frames for the Padres. They did so to varying degrees of success. Peralta threw two perfect innings, and Morgan pitched a scoreless fifth. Hart was on his way with two outs but walked three before allowing a three-run double. Adam struggled in his second appearance back from the IL, walking two and allowing a run.
The positive side is that it leaves the Friars with options for tonight. The Padres have Yuki Matsui, Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon and Bradgley Rodriguez available out of the ‘pen. All are high-leverage options. The best-case scenario for San Diego is to clinch home-field advantage tonight so that they can rest their top players ahead of Tuesday’s Game 1.
Chase Hampton’s time with the Nationals is likely coming to an end after the team designated the pitcher for assignment, Washington announced Saturday.
The right-hander spent a couple of weeks with the organization but never took the mound. The DFA of Hampton and the optioning of pitcher Luis Perales to Triple-A opened a roster spot for lefty Connelly Early, who is set to be activated off the 60-day injured list.
The move comes just weeks after the Yankees cut ties with Hampton.
The former Yankees prospect and 2022 sixth-round pick finishes this season with an 8.18 ERA over 55 innings across three levels of the minor leagues.
New York Yankees pitcher Chase Hampton poses for a photo at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Hampton was a top-100 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s list in 2024. The year prior, during his first full professional season, he posted a 3.63 ERA in 20 starts at High-A and Double-A, striking out 145 and walking 37 over 106 2/3 innings.
But the 25-year-old has dealt with a series of injuries early in his career.
After returning this season with the Yankees’ Single-A affiliate in Tampa, Hampton struggled — in both A-ball and Double-A — to match his earlier results.
New York Yankees pitcher Chase Hampton throws in the outfield during a workout at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, Saturday, February 14, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Hampton’s ERA climbed as he gave up 13 home runs in 55 innings. In the Yankees’ system, he also posted a 12.9 percent walk rate against a 21.3 percent strikeout rate.
Justin Verlander’s final big league start became a family affair — and there were few dry eyes in Comerica Park.
The 43-year-old future Hall of Famer announced earlier this year that this season would be his last, and Saturday’s outing against the Pirates marked his final time on a big league field.
And, in the middle of all the fanfare to close out his career, Verlander was surrounded by his family — wife Kate Upton, 7-year-old daughter Genevieve and 1-year-old son Bellamy.
But it was a moment with Genevieve that made Verlander’s final time on the mound even more of a tear-jerker.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander stands on the mound next to his daughter during his last MLB game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park in Detroit, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectGenevieve Verlander, left, hugs her dad, Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Detroit. AP Photo/Jose Juarez
With one out in the sixth inning, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch left the dugout to signal the end of Verlander’s day and career, but instead of going toward the mound, he walked toward the stands and summoned Genevieve to come out to the field and share a moment with her dad.
Genevieve ran out to the mound ahead of Hinch, and she shared a long embrace with Verlander as the Detroit crowd stood and applauded. A clearly emotional Verlander shared hugs with his teammates on the mound before he walked slowly to the Detroit dugout with his daughter. He doffed his cap to the roaring crowd and then shared a hug with Upton, who came out onto the dirt near the dugout.
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander, center, acknowledges the crowd after being taken out of the game during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Detroit. AP Photo/Jose JuarezKate Upton, left foreground, hugs her husband, Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander, after he was taken out of the game during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Detroit, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. AP Photo/Jose Juarez
Verlander’s farewell season didn’t go as planned, as hip inflammation and a hamstring strain limited him to just one start — in which he allowed five runs in 3 ⅔ innings — before Saturday.
But against the Pirates, he brought some vintage Verlander, striking out six and yielding just two runs over 5 ⅓ frames. Verlander said before the game there was “no script” in how long he would pitch in his career sendoff.
“There’s no script,” Verlander told reporters. “I want to go as long as I can. I skipped about a month’s worth of rehab to be able to do this, but I also don’t want to just go out there and throw 20 pitches. I think everybody feels comfortable with 20 pitches, and then after that, we’re kind of in a who-knows zone.”
The three-time Cy Young Award winner and one-time American League MVP finished his career with 3,560 strikeouts, which rank eighth all time.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Bryson Stott #5 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after a double play in the second inning during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park on September 25, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A.J. Hinch has made plenty of pitching changes, but Saturday, he gave this one to someone else.
After Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe popped out in the sixth inning Saturday, the Detroit Tigers manager signaled to the stands and Justin Verlander's daughter, Genevieve, sprinted out to the mound to get her father.
Justin Verlander was already crying as she closed the gap to the mound quickly. He bent down and wrapped her up in a hug that lasted about 15 seconds as the crowd around him rose. When he stood back up, he took his daughter's hand and walked off the mound for a final time.
It was the final scene of a farewell that Verlander and the Tigers had been building toward since he announced his retirement in July.
After two decades that took him from Detroit to Houston, New York and San Francisco, the 43-year-old came home for one last start, his first at Comerica Park in a Tiger uniform since he was traded in 2017 and only his second of this injury-wrecked season. He leaves as one of the defining pitchers of his generation: three Cy Young Awards, 2011 MVP, Rookie of the Year, three no-hitters, two World Series titles and 3,560 strikeouts, eighth in major league history. Saturday, in the ballpark where it started, he got to go out on his own terms.
As he and his daughter walked off, the crowd and his teammates gave him a standing ovation. The Pirates stood in their dugout, clapping and watching history.
Verlander tipped his cap. His wife, Kate Upton, and their son, Bellamy met him on the dirt for more hugs. He high-fived his way down a line of teammates, tipped his cap again, took a deep breath through tears, waved, tipped his cap again and disappeared down the dugout stairs.
It was the second time in two days Genevieve had been part of the show. Before Friday night's game, she threw the ceremonial first pitch to her dad and put it right over the plate.
Verlander left with the Tigers trailing 2-0 after having allowed two solo home runs and striking out six in 5 1/3 innings. The Tigers rallied to take him off the hook. Eduardo Valencia's two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth gave Detroit a 4-3 win in Verlander's last game.
The Mets and Nationals will play their final game of the regular season on Sunday a little earlier than anticipated due to the forecast of inclement weather in Washington, D.C., the Nats announced.
First pitch will now be at 1:05 p.m. instead of 3:05 p.m.
The nor'easter already caused Saturday's game to be moved up from 4:05 p.m. to 12:35 p.m.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 25: Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers poses for a photo with his wife Kate Upton and his daughter Genevieve Upton Verlander while holding Bellamy Verlander during Career Celebration Ceremony prior to playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park on September 25, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Justin Verlander always said he wanted to leave it all on the field when his time came, and he made good on that vow on an emotional Saturday afternoon at Comerica Park. The Tigers long-time ace was pretty good, putting together a solid 5.1 innings of work, more than anyone could’ve expected after nearly six months on the shelf. The emotions were high, and baseball provided a pretty nice send off for one of the greatest to ever do it. After struggling to score all game long, the young Tigers rallied hard in the ninth, and Eduardo Valencia launched a two-run walkoff home run to win in staggering fashion on Justin Verlander day.
We watched Justin Verlander warming up in the bullpen, wondering what we were going to see here on Saturday as he prepared for the last major league start of his incredible career. Eventually he came out and made his walk to the dugout. JK Simmons introduced the Tigers. The opening chords of Til I Collapse sounded, the 43-year-old Verlander took the mound in the throwback Adidas, which he joked later he’d told Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark were older than they were, and now the moment had arrived.
‘Til the roof comes off, ’til the lights go out ‘Til my legs give out, can’t shut my mouth
I couldn’t help feel some trepidation about this. On the one hand, it’s Justin Verlander and he’s not going out there to embarrass himself. On the other hand, even pitching well he might get lit up after nearly six months on the shelf. We just had to have faith in JV, and that’s never been hard. It was a little harder today, but we should’ve known better.
Verlander retired Ryan O’Hearn on a fly out to left to start things off. In classic JV style, he then popped up Brandon Lowe and Brian Reynolds for a snappy 1-2-3 first inning. The veteran was keeping things efficient early to be able to pitch deep into the game.
When the inning ended, Verlander spent a little time congratulating home plate umpire Laz Diaz, who is also retiring, while getting his hands checkecd for illegal substances. All in a day’s work. “The only substance here is joy” was Benetti’s line, and it was a pretty good one.
Leadoff man Max Clark started the bottom of the first with a sharp line drive out to Oneil Cruz in center field. Hao-Yu Lee drove a Kirby Yates offering up the middle for a single, and then Kevin McGonigle dumped a blooper into center field and Cruz got his cleat stuck and took a tumble, unable to catch the ball. He came up limping but was fortunately able to stay in the game. Yates got Eduardo Valencia to chase a splitter down and ground into a 5-4-3 double play, ending the inning.
Justin Verlander bounced back out of the dugout to more applause and took the mound for round two, and this did feel like a boxer in his final fight. He spotted good fastballs to Oneil Cruz, and eventually whiffed him on a backfoot slider for his first punchout of the game.
An 0-2 high fastball to Konnor Griffin was lined into right center for a single. He then tried to steal on a 1-0 pitch to Spencer Horwitz, but Dillon Dingler cut him down with a perfect strike and a slick tag from Javier Báez. A 3-1 fastball to Horwitz faded away for a walk, and we got Verlander barking at himself after a walk. Classic JV. After a lengthy battle with Ronny Simon, the outfielder offered at a slider in the zone and flew out to Zach McKinstry in right field.
Yates got Riley Greene to ground out and then whiffed Spencer Torkelson. Don Kelly then came out to remove him from the game to his own accolades. Applause came from both dugouts, and Yates exchanged congratulations with Laz Diaz and then his teammates in the dugout as the veteran reliever wrapped up his last season in the major leagues. Yates is set to retire at age 39 after a very nice 12 year career. Yohan Ramirez took over and wrapped up a 1-2-3 bottom of the second inning.
Verlander whiffed Gonzalez with a first pitch curveball, and then a high heater was fouled off. A changeup sailed wide, and a slider missed down, but a changeup down for his 40th pitch got a lazy fly ball to Clark in center field for the first out of the third inning. A fastball to Henry Davis was a strike, but a pair of curveballs missed. Another heater was fouled off, but the old dog reached back for 95 and blew him away for his second strikeout.
The fastball had pretty good life, if certainly diminished from his prime, and the breaking stuff was sharp. He legimately looked good. The arm is willing. Some other parts of the body, not so much, but he’ll deal with that on Sunday morning with plenty of ice. Verlander got ahead of Ryan O’Hearn with some changeups, and the left-handed hitter fouled off a pair of breaking balls. A 94.4 mph heater was by him before he got bat to ball, and Verlander had his third strikeout, all swinging. You know it had to be this way as he pushed his career strikeout mark to 3557.
Oneill Cruz did come out of the game, with Jake Mangum taking over center field in the bottom of the third. Ramirez hit McKinstry to start the frame, and Báez ripped a single to left. Clark lined out center but more softly this time, and after a battle, Hao-Yu Lee walked to load the bases with one out for Kevin McGonigle. The Tigers star rookie battled into a 2-2 count. Ramirez landed a breaking ball down, but it was challenged correctly to make it 3-2. McGonigle chopped another sweeper foul, and a sinker was smoked foul the opposite way. The 10th pitch of the at-bat was a heater that locked him up for an anti-climactic strike three. With Verlander no doubt begging for a lead and a chance to pick up one more win, Valencia dueled Ramirez and then whiffed on a sweeper to strand the bases loaded despite a 30 pitch inning for Ramirez.
Verlander had faced 10 hitters through three innings, but after the Pirates escaped that jam, the top of their order took heart and Brandon Lowe launched a first-pitch heater for a solo shot to right field. 1-0 Pirates. All this too, felt very familiar. No run support, and then a solo shot somewhere along the way…
Brian Reynolds bit on a 2-1 slider to even the count with a whiff, and then grounded out to Torkelson at first on Verlander’s 58th pitch. He got ahead of Mangum and whiffed him with a curveball up for strikeout number 3558. Griffin took a 1-1 curveball away to make it 2-1, but Verlander fired a well located 95 mph heater to get back in the count, and a breaking ball drew a lazy fly ball to right field for the final out.
This was going better than expected, despite the lack of run support. And again, even that felt very familiar. If you told Verlander he’d pitch into the fifth before the game, he would’ve taken it. Now he needed his teammates to get it going.
Carmen Mlodzinski took over for the Pirates in the bottom of the fourth. Riley Greene greeted him with a hot shot the opposite way down the line for a leadoff double. Dillon Dingler struck out, and Torkelson took a called third, but McKinstry was again hit by a pitch. Báez pulled a sharp grounder to Griffin at shortstop, and he couldn’t handle it. Everyone was safe, the bases were loaded with two outs, and Max Clark was up to bat. A pair of sinkers got ahead, but a ball call was challenged incorrectly, and the Pirates were out of challenges, as were the Tigers. Diaz was pleased, and there was something hilarious and fitting about the old ump getting to call the game old school the rest of the way. It mattered little as a good splitter drew the whiff as the Tigers continued to strand baserunners at an outrageous rate.
The bullpen was warming as the fifth started, and we knew the moment was coming soon with Verlander at 67 pitches. He worked ahead of Horwitz 1-2. A curveball was fouled off, a changeup missed down, and a slider missed away. Horwitz just got a piece of a 3-2 fastball, but a slider away, his 75th pitch, dropped just close enough to the zone that Diaz rung him up as Verlander’s fifth and 3559th strikeout. Old school indeed.
Simon tried a bunt, drawing boos from the faithful, and eventually fouled off two-strike sliders as Verlander topped 80 pitches. A 2-2 fastball away drew the whiff for strikeout number 3660 and sixth of the day. This rules. Leaving it all on the field. I expected AJ Hinch to pull him here, but he didn’t. Gonzalez stepped into the box and lifted a 1-1 curveball just over the right field wall for a solo shot. 2-0 Pirates.
Davis lined a single to left, and Hinch was at the top of the steps, but wanted to give Verlander the chance to end the inning. He was now at 86 pitches, well beyond what I thought was possible. O’Hearn pulled a curveball into right field, but McKinstry picked it, spun, and fired an absolute strike to third. McGonigle didn’t have to move an inch, snapping the tag down on Davis for the third out. The crowd went nuts, Verlander was fired up, and holy cow that was an elite throw from McKinstry there.
The Pirates challenged, the call stood, and Verlander high gloved McKinstry as he and his teammates came off the field. So, it looked as though we’d see him face one more hitter so Hinch could give him the mid-inning sendoff. Five innings with two solo shots among his five hits and a walk allowed, with six strikeouts, was legimately a good start already.
The Tigers got a walk to Lee in the bottom of the fifth, but no more. They were really going to leave the old ace on the hook for a loss with just two runs allowed.
Verlander took the mound at 87 pitches, bouncing back out of the dugout knowing he was facing the final hitter of his storied career. Hinch really was letting him empty the tank as the sixth began. As he warmed up, Kate Upton and the kids headed down to be ready to come out with Hinch to get him.
He was still hitting 94 as he faced Lowe again. A fastball up and away drew a pop up, and Dillon Dingler hauled it in next to home plate. And just like that, it was over.
AJ Hinch came out of the dugout and walked toward home plate. He signaled to Kate Upton, who sent their daughter Genevieve running out to the mound to get her Dad. Verlander erupted in tears as she reached him for a long hug. Hinch followed for a long embrace of his own, and it was done. All the onions in the building were chopped at once as Verlander’s teammates came to the mound for a hug and a handshake. The dugout emptied into a lineup as Verlander embraced all his teammates and coaches, with a big hug for Kenley Jansen notable as the all-time great reliever is nearing his final moments on the mound as well.
When all the congratulations and love had been exchanged, Verlander was joined again by his wife, and they headed down the dugout steps together as he saluted the crowd one more time and the standing ovation roared down from the seats. Pretty amazing scene, and yes we were crying a bit. Miggy’s final game went so well. It was hard to imagine this turning out so perfectly, but baseball and Verlander had a little magic left for us.
‘Til the roof comes off, ’til the lights go out ‘Til my legs give out, can’t shut my mouth
Justin Verlander’s final final line? 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, BB, 6 K. He’s still got it. The problem is recovering from it over the next few days.
Now, it was time to rely on his younger teammates to go and win the game. Tyler Kinley took over and gave up a single, but cleaned up the rest of the inning expeditiously.
Dingler grounded out to start the bottom of the sixth. Torkelson drew a walk, and Don Kelly turned to lefty Evan Sisk. Ben Malgeri pinch-hit for McKinstry and pulled a sharp single to left. Báez smoked a double to left to score Torkelson and make it a 2-1 Pirates lead. Clark struck out, and Lee grounded out to end the threat, but at least there was progress on the scoring front.
Brant Hurter racked up three quick outs in the top of the seventh.
Old friend Gregory Soto took the mound in the seventh and did his thing, pounding McGonigle, Valencia, and Greene into three groundouts with the power sinker.
Hurter gave up a single to Davis to start the eighth. O’Hearn grounded out, moving him to second, and Lowe did likewise, getting Davis to third. Jacob Waguespack took over from Hurter to face Reynolds, but the Pirates third baseman smoked a triple off the warning track in right to make it a 3-1 game. Mangum grounded out, but the hill to climb had gotten a bit higher.
Right-hander Luke Weaver succeeded Soto in the bottom of the eighth. Dingler greeted him with a single, but was erased by a Torkelson double play ball. Malgeri struck out, and we were on to the ninth.
Waguespack gave up a leadoff double to right off the bat of rookie Konnor Griffin to start the ninth. Horwitz grounded out, moving Griffin to third. A good changeup locked up Billy Cook for strike three. Waguespack blew away Jared Triolo with a fastball to send it to the bottom of the ninth.
The Tigers would have to get to a tough, hard throwing left-hander in Mason Montgomery to walk this one off. Báez struck out swinging, but Max Clark singled the opposite way. Hao-Yu Lee battled back to a full count after Montgomery got ahead early. He spoiled a nasty 99 mph high fastball, and then smoked the next one into the right field corner for a double that got Clark to third.
So it was up to McGonigle, and Montgomery missed down twice to run the count to 2-0. Another power sinker in on his hands drew a ground out to second from McGonigle. Clark scored, and it was a 3-2 game. Lee took third, and Eduardo Valencia stepped to the plate. He pulled the first pitch he saw just foul down the third base line, and fouled off the next one as well. Montgomery is nasty. A 101 mph heater missed well high, and Valencia fouled off the next fastball. Was there any magic left in the ballpark? The lefty shifted gears to the breaking stuff…and Valencia launched a curveball out to left and over the wall for a walkoff two-run home run!!! Amazing.
Valencia spent the postgame talking about needing to do that for Verlander, and the party was on. What a swing from the young catcher. Unbelievable stuff. What could be better than baseball? The answer is postseason baseball. Hopefully the organization turns it around in 2027.
Sunday's regular season finale between the Yankees and Baltimore Orioles has been moved up to 1:05 p.m. instead of 3:20 p.m. due to the forecast of inclement weather, the team announced.
The Yankee Stadium Gates will now open at 12:00 p.m. for fans with valid tickets, one hour before the first pitch.
The two teams already moved Saturday's game to Friday to avoid the nor'easter, as they split the doubleheader.
Elmer Rodriguez will take the mound for the Yanks, facing Shane Baz for Baltimore.
Luckily, the results of Sunday's game don't matter too much, as the Yanks have already clinched a playoff spot and know they will face the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card Series on Tuesday.
In coordination with Major League Baseball, the New York Yankees have announced that the start time of tomorrow’s Yankees-Orioles game (Sunday, September 27) has been moved to 1:05 p.m. due to the current forecast of inclement weather throughout the late afternoon.
Sep 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) looks on during the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The end of the 2026 regular season is upon us, as the Dodgers play their 162nd game on Sunday afternoon against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park.
Nothing is at stake, and the Dodgers are running a bullpen game.
Jonah Tong’s 2026 season didn’t quite go as planned.
Working through some tweaks to his arsenal and changes in his mechanics, the Mets’ top-ranked pitching prospect was knocked around a bit at the Triple-A level.
Between the majors and minors, he pitched to a 5.27 ERA over his first 22 outings.
Tong continued to battle his way through those struggles, though, and began finding his groove down the stretch in the minor league season. He finally earned himself another call back up to audition for a spot in the Mets’ rotation, and certainly gave himself an encouraging sample to build off of.
The right-hander enjoyed one of his best showings Saturday against the Nationals, closing his season by allowing just one run while striking out a career-high nine batters over five innings. He worked around trouble in the third, and held Washington just one walk and three hits.
“I thought it was great,” manager Andy Green said. “Really encouraged by it -- the changeup was back in the mix, I thought curveball was good, he won with the fastball up in the zone -- that’s a really good version of him and a great way for him to end the season.”
Despite the rough start to the year, the crafty 23-year-old certainly was able to close things out strong. He finished the campaign with a 2.36 ERA over his final eight appearances, and struck out a total of 27 batters across 20.2 MLB innings during the final month of the season.
Destined to battle for a spot in the big-league rotation during spring training, Tong will now look to use this late-season success as a springboard heading into what could be a long offseason.
"It’s one of those things where the moment is going to let you know," he said. “I’m not going to put pressure on myself, I'm up for the challenge -- I know where I’m at, I know what I need to do -- that’s the beauty of the offseason, I can just go out, compete, have fun, and let everything else take care of itself.”
Even if Tong doesn't make the team out of camp, Green expects him to play a big role.
"We've been forthright with him," the skipper explained. "What does an organization desperately need to win a World Series? You need guys that are six and seven starters that start the year in Triple-A that can come up and dominate -- you don't win a World Series with only five starters.
"In that case, his desires don't perfectly align with what our desires would be, because he wants to be here -- his job is to make it so freaking obvious to us that he deserves to be here that we can't make those types of decisions when he comes and competes in spring training," Green continued.
"He has a full understanding of what that landscape looks like, a full understanding of what makes sense for us, and the resolve to go prove that he belongs here -- long-term, I'm a huge believer in Jonah, I think he's going to be a huge piece for us moving forward."
