Category: Baseball

The Royals had high hopes for Carter Jensen after he raked in a September callup late in 2025. He has not disappointed, tying Bob Hamelin for the club record for most home runs by a Royals rookie with 24. While he still has two weeks to surpass “The Hammer,” he has already cemented his status as one of the best rookie hitters in Royals history. But how does he stack up against the best rookie seasons the franchise has ever seen?

For this ranking, I’m looking at what each player actually accomplished as a rookie, with performance taking precedence over what he went on to do in his career. George Brett was a Hall of Famer, but his rookie season pales in comparison to a rookie slugger like Hamelin. Here are the top hitting rookie seasons in Royals history.

10. Bobby Witt Jr., 2022

There was a lot of hype for Bobby after a monster minor league season in 2021. He had the game-winning hit on Opening Day and became just the second player in MLB history with a 20-home-run/30-stolen-base season in his debut year. However, he put up just a .294 on-base percentage and showed some shaky defense at shortstop, which hurt his WAR numbers. It was a solid season, but there were blemishes to his game that he would quickly correct to become one of the best players in baseball.

9. Mike Fiore, 1969

Fiore had a very overlooked season in that inaugural Royals campaign. Selected from the Orioles in the expansion draft, he was a semi-regular at first base who finished second on the team with a .274 batting average. He also had a very patient eye, finishing 13th in the American League in walks, despite only making 427 plate appearances. It is still the 11th-most walks by a Royals hitter in a season. Fiore hit .274/.420/.428 with 12 home runs, but the next year he clashed with new manager Charlie Metro, and was traded to Boston, where he was buried on the depth chart.

8. Eric Hosmer, 2011

Hosmer also had a highly anticipated debut, and he quickly showed why the Royals had been so high on him. Called up in May, the 21-year-old hit .293/.334/.465 with 19 home runs and 78 RBI in 128 games. He looked smooth scooping out throws at first base, showing the defense that would win him four Gold Glove Awards. He would finish third in Rookie of the Year voting that year, eventually earning All-Star honors and a championship in Kansas City.

7. Lou Piniella, 1969

“Lou Piniella has the red ass,” wrote Seattle Pilots pitcher Jim Bouton in his book Ball Four. The two had been teammates in spring training for the expansion franchise, but Piniella’s fiery temper got him shipped to the Royals before the regular season began. It was a trade Seattle would regret. Piniella had the first hit in Royals history and batted .282/.325/.416 with 11 home runs, earning MVP votes and winning American League Rookie of the Year.

6. Mike Avilés, 2008

Avilés had to overcome a lot to make the big leagues. Drafted as a senior out of tiny Concordia College in New York, he was offered a cheap “take it or leave it” $1,000 bonus. He made the big leagues at age 27 and impressed early on. In just his tenth game, he had a four-hit day with two doubles and a home run. He ended the year with a line of .325/.354/.480, a batting average that would have been sixth in the league had he qualified. He finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting, but his 4.7 rWAR was just behind winner Evan Longoria’s 4.8.

5. Angel Berroa, 2003

The Angel Berroa era in Kansas City ended poorly, but the future seemed bright in his rookie year. Acquired from the Athletics in the Johnny Damon trade, the Royals hoped Berroa could solidify a shortstop position that had been inconsistent since the days of Freddie Patek. He was a big part of why the team had a successful 2003 season, hitting .287/.338/.451 with 17 home runs, 73 RBI and 21 stolen bases. He edged out Hideki Matsui to win American League Rookie of the Year honors, but he never lived up to a long-term deal he signed with the club.

4. Bob Hamelin, 1994

Hamelin was 26 years old when he burst onto the scene in 1994. He didn’t look like a baseball star – he was chubby and wore glasses – but that was part of what endeared him to Royals fans that summer. Oh and the dingers. So many dingers. Hamelin smashed 24 home runs in just 375 plate appearances, finishing ninth in the American League. His bat helped propel the Royals during a hot streak where they won 14 in a row to climb into contention – he hit .354 with six home runs in those games. He finished fifth in the league in OPS and won Rookie of the Year, but just five years later he would retire from baseball.

3. Carter Jensen, 2026

Last night, Jensen set the Royals rookie record for most extra-base hits with 58, and he has flashed some promising power all season. The Kansas City native is hitting .232/.319/.452 with 62 walks and his 24 home runs are fourth-most among all rookies. He has had some mixed results behind the plate, but has shown a strong arm. He has gunned out 35 percent of attempted base stealers, fifth-highest for anyone with at least 10 caught stealing. The Royals are used to a power-hitter behind the plate, and Jensen is a worthy successor to Salvador Perez.

2. Carlos Beltrán, 1999

Beltrán got his Hall of Fame career off to a good start by making an immediate impact for the Royals in his rookie year. He exhibited a unique blend of power and speed, smashing 22 home runs and stealing 27 bases. He became just the eighth rookie to score 100 runs and hit 100 RBI. Overall, he hit .293/.337/.454 while playing spectacular defense in center. He was worth 4.7 rWAR and was a near-unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year.

1. Kevin Seitzer, 1987

All Kevin Seitzer did was hit. He got off to a blazing start, batting .382 in the month of April. He was named to the All-Star Game at third that summer and caught fire in August, batting .395 and tying a club record with a six-hit game against Boston. He led the league with 207 hits, at the time, the fifth-most by a rookie since 1900. He was a 5.5 rWAR player, hitting .323/.399/.470 with 15 home runs and 80 walks. But he did this in a home-run-happy year – the 1987 season saw a spike in power and slugger Mark McGwire and his 49 homers beat out Seitzer for Rookie of the Year.

Honorable mention: Pat Kelly, 1969; Bo Jackson, 1987; Jon Nunnally, 1995; David DeJesus, 2004; Alex Gordon, 2007.

This morning, Paul Toboni made a big revelation on the radio. He announced that Connelly Early is scheduled to pitch this season for the Nats. Toboni said that he expects Early to pitch the second to last game of the season for the Nats on September 26th. This will be a good chance for the Nats new lefty to make a strong first impression.

Paul Toboni expects that Connelly Early will pitch on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Nationals Park.
From @JunksRadio

— Nats.Talk (@TalkNats) September 16, 2026

When the Connelly Early for Curtis Mead trade was made, it looked like it could help both teams this season. While Early was hurt, he was expected to be back some time in mid to late August. On the other hand, Mead was supposed to be a big boost to the Red Sox lineup.

However, Early had a slight setback and Mead broke his wrist in his first game. So far, the trade has been a wash for both teams. When Early had forearm tightness, it made Nats fans very scared. Multiple arm injuries in short succession is never a good thing for a pitcher. It looks like Early has avoided the worst case scenario though.

He made his first rehab start in AAA yesterday. In that outing, he looked decent but rusty. Early struck out two hitters in a strong first inning. His 4-seam fastball was in the 93-94 MPH range while his sinker sat around 91-92. That is very slightly down from his season averages, but not worryingly so. It was his first outing back, so Early wanted to ease himself in. We saw enough velocity and sharpness on his secondary stuff.

Connelly Early gets first K on a curveball pic.twitter.com/XZkAuXRQXR

— Nats Of The Future (@NatsOfTheFuture) September 15, 2026

He showed all six of his pitches as well. After that first inning, Early hit a wall in the second. He gave up a walk and a hit to start the inning. Then he lost a 10 pitch battle and issued another walk. Early threw 4 pitches to the next batter, getting ahead in the count. However, he hit his 35 pitch limit and was replaced by fellow deadline addition Jack Cebert.

Cebert struck out that batter, but allowed all three inherited runners to score. That meant that Early’s overall statline was ugly. For a rehab start, I don’t really care about the statline. All that concerns me is the quality of the stuff and getting through the start healthy. Early’s stuff was fine and all indications are that he got through the start without any incident. 

As Jackson Kent puts the Nats in a quick 1-0 hole here in D.C. … up in Buffalo, Connelly Early has completed his rehab start for Rochester: Faced 7 batters over 1+ innings, allowed 2 hits and 2 walks, struck out 2, threw 23-of-35 pitches for strikes.

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) September 15, 2026

Even though he was not at his best, this was still a successful day for him. He took the next step towards making his Nationals debut. The debut date that Toboni announced is still 10 days away, so I wonder what will happen from here.

Either Early will make another rehab start at AAA or he will just throw a live bullpen in DC. The AAA season ends this week, but Rochester should make the International League playoffs. Toboni will have to determine the next steps though and that will be something I can ask about today.

That final series against the Mets already had some intrigue with the two clubs looking to avoid last place. Early’s debut adds another element of excitement though. It gives Nats fans something to look forward to and a chance to get to know their new lefty.

This is totally unfair, but given how the season went down after the Mead trade, Early could use a good first start. I think he has the personality and talent to be a fan favorite one day. However, right now he is just the injured pitcher we traded Curtis Mead for. With a good Nationals debut, that can change very quickly. I am really looking forward to seeing Connelly Early on the mound at Nationals Park in 10 days.

Pete Alonso blasted his milestone 300th career home run on Tuesday night, helping lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 7-5 victory against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

After the game, Alonso met with the trio of fans who caught his historic home run ball, and they traded it for an assortment of signed memorabilia in a special moment.

Alonso went above and beyond to show his gratitude, gifting beers and offering tickets to future Orioles games in Baltimore to the three fans – Michael Shaw, Nick Maldarella, and Chris Makarius – that generously returned the prized home run ball.

"On the way here, we were saying we're going to catch his 300th home run," Maldarella told ESPN. "And sure enough, man. It's crazy."

The former Mets star's accomplishment drew a rousing standing ovation from the Citi Field crowd, displaying the admiration New York fans still hold for Alonso despite his move to Baltimore.

After the game, Alonso spent time signing each fan’s jersey, as well as a bat and ball for each of them. In addition to inviting them to Orioles games, Alonso also offered exclusive access to batting practice at Camden Yards next season. The first baseman brought out beers and posed for photos with the group, and he expressed heartfelt appreciation for their generosity in giving him back the milestone home run ball.

"Thank you so much, guys," Alonso said, embracing each fan. "You guys are so kind, and I appreciate it."

More: Pete Alonso launches 300th career home run, and it comes against the Mets

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pete Alonso brought the beer after Mets fans caught his 300th home run

Morning, all!

Jacob deGrom started yesterday’s game instead of Cody Bradford, who was the expected starter after deGrom had an injury scare last week.

The Rangers’ capitalized on the strong deGrom start and some early offense to snag a crucial win in their series opener against the Red Sox.

The deGrom outing was somewhat abbreviated, though he managed to strike out eight batters in five innings of work.

You know it hasn’t been a pretty season when Skip Schumaker says “we are in the playoff hunt, it doesn’t matter what the record is.”

Joc Pederson has a fracture in his hand but is going to try to play through the pain over the final two weeks.

Jake Burger has been named the Rangers’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente award on the strength of their work on behalf of children with Down’s syndrome.

The Rangers have announced a slate of eight players that will be joining the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League.

The Rangers Sports Network had technical issues during the broadcast last night.

Hello folks!

The Mariners season continues unceasingly as the squad cemented a losing record in 2026 following a 2-1 loss to the Angels. If you’re still watching the conclusion of this season unfold, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Unfortunately, I cannot provide that to you. But, I can provide you with some news from around the league. I hope that will suffice.

In Mariners news…

• The Mariners are reportedly seeking $19 million in T-Mobile Park upgrades this winter. Hopefully they’re also seeking a sizeable investment in roster upgrades this offseason.
• Longtime Mariners front office member Alan “Moose” Clausen passed away on Monday at the age of 88.
• Get your submissions in to the latest edition of the Reverse MaiLLbag! This one is covering how the Mariners should approach this offseason.
• Over on The Feed, commenter BearInTheRiver put together a nifty graph demonstrating the importance of varying pitch locations.

Around the league…

• The Phillies have placed left-handed ace Jesús Luzardo on the injured list with shoulder inflammation.
• Orioles righty Shane Baz exited yesterday’s game against the Mets after taking a 105 mph line drive off his pitching arm.
• Astros infielder Carlos Correa will not be returning to the Houston lineup this season.
• Even after a down season, the Reds front office is expected to return in 2027 without casualty.
• Matthew Trueblood at Baseball Prospectus broke down a remarkable 18-pitch battle between Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams and White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi. ($)
• Dan Szymborski at Fangraphs gave his verdict on whether Williams is a bona fide ace for Cleveland yet.
• On Roberto Clemente Day, Jorge Castillo at ESPN wrote about how baseball on Puerto Rico is struggling because of the nation’s inclusion in the draft.
• Keagan Stiefel at Over The Monster made the case for rookie left-hander Payton Tolle to be the Red Sox Game 1 starter in the playoffs.
• Jay Jaffe at Fangraphs provided an update on the state of the Cy Young Award races.
• You’ve seen a dog give a first pitch, but now I must show you…

ChipPurr Jones with the cutest first pitch you've seen all year. pic.twitter.com/kGa0hdZ64v

— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) September 15, 2026

Yesterday, the Athletics opened their final road-trip of the season with a 2-1 walk-off loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Despite the tough defeat, right-hander Jack Perkins’ quality start gave the team a positive take away.

With 11 games remaining, time is running out for the A’s to evaluate certain players before the offseason begins. For instance, center fielder Denzel Clarke, who is elite in the field, could pose a challenge to Henry Bolte in center field if he can get his bat to match his glove. Yet, the A’s will never know whether he has made improvements if manager Mark Kotsay continues to leave him on the bench.

In contrast, fellow outfielder Carlos Cortes has received plenty of at-bats, even with Clarke back. Cortes has not provided enough offense to offset his lack of speed and defensive ability. Rookie infielder Tommy White has similarly struggled to hit enough to make up for his defensive limitations. White has not lived up to his “Tommy Tanks” nickname, recording only two home runs and five doubles in his first 162 major league at-bats.

The Athletics are once again ranked near the bottom of the league in advanced metrics measuring defensive efficiency and runs saved. As a result, the new general manager must work with Kotsay to align the A’s defense in a way that helps, rather than hurts, the pitching staff moving forward.

If the A’s want an example, they should look to fellow small-market teams such as the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers, two organizations that have used strong pitching and defense to compete with bigger spenders in their respective divisions.

Speaking of those two teams, the fact that they were the first two to clinch playoff spots this season shows that parity exists without a salary cap. The Athletics were in a similar position a few years ago, but now have plenty of work ahead to escape this losing rut and return to playoff contention. The looming offseason lockout could further complicate matters, potentially creating a unique crunch for player movement and free agency.

How should the A’s approach this upcoming offseason? What do you think of MLB’s latest salary-cap and salary-floor proposal?

A’s Coverage:

• Rays Walk-off A’s, 2-1, in Series Opener
• Injuries Out Of Control, But Why?
• No. 2 prospect in baseball De Vries undergoes successful shoulder surgery
• 2027 Infield Landscape Ever Changing
• A’s Win Series, Beat Mariners 8-7
• A’s Walk Off Blue Jays 6-5
• “Fast Movers” Might Be Key To Contention
• What the A’s Hiring Mike Rizzo would Signal and the Questions it Would Raise
• Bi-Polar Performance Arcs Make Evaluation Difficult
• A’s Designate José Suarez For Assignment
• Q&A: Clarke determined to finish strong with A’s after long IL stint
• It’s Been a Bummer Summer in Sacramento
• The A’s valuation rises with sales of 2 MLB clubs as Las Vegas move looms
• Your 2026 Hacktastic A’s
• Athletics Considering James Click For GM Vacancy
• Daejon Love case brings back Eric Byrnes’ bizarre story of an A’s bat boy impersonation
• Get the best of Athletics Nation on the new SB Nation app
• How defensive whiz Clarke’s return will impact A’s
• How A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell brought taking a knee to MLB and what happened afterwards
• A’s Plan to Test Top Pitching Prospect Jamie Arnold at Next Level
• Separating The Wheat From The Chaff Not So Easy
• Amidst The Despair: The Position Player Talent Is There
• What Are The Next Steps For The A’s? ($)
• Where Each A’s Player’s Contract Stands Entering Offseason
• Why Athletics Will Have Scary Offense in 2027
• Underdog Athletics prospect Cole Conn playing like a big dog for Aviators
• Behind the Plate, the A’s Face an Offseason Reckoning
• Why The New GM Needs To “Clean House”
• A Seemingly Rock Bottomless Glass
• MLB Trade Grades: A’s Have Quiet Trade Deadline
• Fustercluck 2026: The Real Reasons For A Disappointing Season

MLB News and Interest:

• VOTE NOW: Here are the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award nominees
• Brewers clinch fourth straight NL Central title, with Miz right in the thick of it
• Who wrote this script?! Alonso slugs HR No. 300 at Citi Field
• On Roberto Clemente Day, MLB has a Puerto Rico problem
• Stock Watch: Biggest 2026 success, disappointment for all 30 MLB teams
• 14 straight! Dodgers tie MLB record for most consecutive playoff clinches
• Edwin Díaz Not Guaranteed Spot On Dodgers’ Playoff Roster
• Luzardo (shoulder) lands on IL in big blow for Phillies; postseason status TBD
• Yankees check first box, head to postseason for third straight season
• Rafael Devers To Undergo Core Surgery
• Terry Francona encouraged by reports of Reds leaders’ return
• Diamondbacks Claim Jesús Sánchez
• Padres win 8th straight, maintain lead over Arizona in Wild Card chase
• PCA joins Hall of Famer Williams with 42nd homer on 4-hit, 4-RBI night
• Peters’ 18-pitch walk keys White Sox’s win vs. Guardians
• Braves Likely To Place Reynaldo López On Injured List
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

The A’s AFL Contingent!

A's are sending OF Breyson Guedez, catchers Cole Conn & Davis Diaz and pitchers Kenya Huggins, Tucker Novotny, Jared Johnson, Jay Dill & Grant Richardson to the Arizona Fall League. Originally planned to send Devin Taylor instead of Guedez but decided to give Taylor a rest.

— Bill Moriarity – A's Farm (@AthleticsFarm) September 15, 2026

Not surprising at all.

Last week, I asked every MLB team to speak with its owner on camera. They’re less than three months from shutting down the sport via a lockout, and I wanted to hear their explanation for why they think a salary cap is worth the fallout that's bound to come. None agreed to talk. pic.twitter.com/dSKoE8Y7ms

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 15, 2026

What do you think of MLB’s latest economic proposal?

MLB is proposing a salary floor of $171.2 million and a salary cap of $245.3 million, with players receiving 50% of the revenues.

Under this proposal, eight teams would have to reduce their payrolls: Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays, Phillies, Red Sox, Padres and Braves.

Would… pic.twitter.com/CryQDN5kAj

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 15, 2026

The Athletics search for their next general manger continues to expand.

The Athletics are casting a wide net in their search for their next general manager. According to multiple sources, they’ve had conversations with Boston Red Sox SVP/AGMs Mike Groopman and Taylor Smith about the role.

— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) September 15, 2026

This is an encouraging sign.

Joshua Kuroda-Grauer (testicle rupture and repair) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas Friday. Kotsay: “Really encouraging. That takes him into the offseason really confident that everything is OK and he can move forward with his training and prepare for 2027.”

— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) September 15, 2026

Goat has become a confusing sports term. Originally, it meant the person saddled with the blame for a defeat. It still means that, but capitalize it, and you get something much, much more positive. Today, the entire Hartford Yard Goats team were the goats. In the negative sense.

Syracuse 9, Lehigh Valley 1

The IronPigs offense was kept quiet tonight, as they put up just a single run on four hits. They had twice as many strikeouts as hits. Meanwhile, the Mets put together a steady drumbeat of runs. Brian Keller took the start, surrendering four runs on four hits, and walking five. Nestor Cortes pitched 1.2 innings, allowing a two-run homer. Andrew Hoffmann had four hits and three runs allowed in just two-thirds of an inning.

Reading 21, Hartford 4

No, that’s not a typo. In the first game of the Eastern League Divisional Series, the Fightin Phils put together one to remember. The Yard Goats got off to a fast start by scoring three in the second… and then saw the home club put up four times as many in their half. Not content with a dozen, the Phils scored four in the third. That wasn’t enough for them either, as they added on five more in the seventh. Shockingly, only one of those 21 runs came on a homer. Every member of the starting lineup joined the hit parade, and all but one had at least one walk and one RBI. Raylin Heredia and Pedro León led the way with three hits each; the homer belonged to Aroon Escobar. Bryan Rincon and five RBI, and León, Aroon Escobar, and Austin Murr had three each. Aidan Miller was one for five with a RBI, a walk, and three strikeouts.

Gage Wood had the start, with a four inning, two hit, three run, and four strikeout line. Evan Gates earned the win with a 1.1 inning, 1 hit relief performance.

Good morning! Last night, Chad Tracy gave at-bats to two pinch-hitters in the 8th inning: lefty killer Jahmai Jones and utility infielder Andruw Monasterio. Jones did his job in the 8th, singling to start the inning in place of Mickey Gasper, but would subsequently strike out to end the game in the 9th. Jones was a platoon revelation when he first arrived in Boston, but he’s cooled off since then (a .200 batting average over his last 12 games), and his positional inflexibility makes him a difficult roster fit. Monasterio did not do his job last night. He struck out with the bases loaded, putting an end to the biggest threat the Sox had all night.

In light of last night’s events it’s time to ask: Is it time for Romy Gonzalez to get another crack? Romy theoretically combines the best of both Jones and Monasterio — he’s a lefty-killer and a utility infielder. He struggled mightily in his (rushed) return to the Sox earlier this year and has recently been battling a nagging injury lately, but his AAA line reads .344/.400/.505 with 3 homers and 6 doubles. He could inject some pop just as the Sox look like they could use a little extra juice.

Use this space to talk about bench bats and whatever else you want, and, as always, be good to one another.

None of the San Diego Padres pitchers could find an answer for Cole Carrigg of the Colorado Rockies and the San Diego State product had a huge night finishing 4-for-5 with a single, a double and two home runs with two runs scored and five RBI to hand the Padres a 9-3 loss at Coors Field on Tuesday.

Carrigg connected on single in the first inning, but was thrown out attempting to steal second base. He hit a game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning and doubled in the bottom of the fifth. Wandy Peralta replaced Walker Buehler in the bottom of the fifth after the Carrigg double, which meant he would have to face a new pitcher in his next at-bat. That pitcher was Randy Vasquez and Carrigg turned in a 13-pitch turn at the plate that ended with a three-run home run to right field that gave the Rockies a 7-3 lead. Vasquez was able to strike Carrigg out in his final at-bat but the performance from Carrigg was all Colorado would need to snap the San Diego eight-game winning streak.

The Padres started the game with a bang when Fernando Tatis Jr. connected on a leadoff home run. They took a two-run lead in the top of the second when Luis Campusano connected on a solo home run. Carrigg hit the two-run home run to tie the game, but San Diego regained the lead with another solo home run, this time from Austin Hays, in the top of the fifth inning. That marked the end of the scoring for the Padres despite the fact that they finished with 11 hits in the game. San Diego was 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position in the game while Colorado finished 4-for-10. Outside of Carrigg, that was the difference in the game, the Padres could not string hits together and did not get hits when they had opportunities to drive in runs.

Buehler lasted just 4.2 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits with a walk and a strikeout. Peralta was abysmal and allowed four runs on four hits with a hit batter and one strikeout over 0.2 innings pitched. The only real positive to come from the game was Vasquez finished the final 2.2 innings and saved the high leverage bullpen arms for San Diego who have been taxed recently. He allowed three runs on five hits with a strikeout.

The Padres will try to start a new winning streak when they play the third game of the series against the Rockies today at 5:40 p.m.

Padres News:

• Lake Elsinore and San Antonio are heading in different directions this week.

• Padres prospect Alex McCoy was named to the Arizona Fall League roster.

Baseball News:

• The Milwaukee Brewers clinched the NL Central title.

• Pete Alonso returned to Citi Field as a member of the Baltimore Orioles and hit his 300th career home run against the New York Mets.

• The Atlanta Braves moved a game closer to clinching the NL East with a win over the Chicago Cubs.

• The Philadelphia Phillies lost a pitcher to the IL and lost a game to the Washington Nationals, 6-3.

• Esteury Ruiz hit a three-run double to lead the Miami Marlins over the Arizona Diamondbacks in extra innings.

Hall-of-Fame outfielder Tim Raines was one of the faces of Canadian baseball in the 1980s—an adroit hitter and fast-twitch baserunner whose 808 career steals ranks fifth all time. By the mid-90s, he had won a batting title, accumulated 2,295 hits, reached 50 steals in eight seasons, and been named an All-Star seven times in his prime with Montreal, before a strong yet less spectacular five-year stint in the South Side. But a taste of World Series glory had always eluded Raines until he came to the Bronx in 1996.

With his prime years behind him, Raines donned the pinstripes and brought his wealth of experience to a club on the rise; while the Yankees, for minimal cost, brought an additional marquee name into the fold alongside elder statesman Wade Boggs. Despite injuries which limited his playing time in New York, Raines won two World Series rings with the Yankees in 1996 and 1998.

Born: September 16, 1959 (Sanford, FL)
Yankees Tenure: 1996-98

Raines was, commensurate to his preternatural athleticism and agility, a three-sport athlete who played baseball and football in addition to running track for Seminole High School in Florida. He was selected by the Montreal Expos in the fifth round of the 1977 Draft, behind pitchers Bill Gullickson and Scott Sanderson. Raines, though, was the prize. The young switch-hitter broke out as a rookie in 1981, securing his first of seven straight All-Star selections in the National League and establishing himself as one of the most feared (and consistently successful) base stealers in the league.

In that strike-shortened season, the Expos defeated the Phillies in the expanded playoffs before falling in a five-game NLCS to the Dodgers. Raines, who went 5-for-21 in the series with no steals, would never make the playoffs with Montreal again. He would be 33 the next time he suited up in October—with the White Sox, who fell to the defending champion Blue Jays in the ALCS. His performance in that series was far more Raines-esque: 12 hits in 29 at-bats.

Raines took a step back offensively in his final two years with Chicago as he reached the end of his prime. Now in his mid-30s, his teammates and coaches wanted him stealing fewer bases, though Raines maintained he was still as quick as ever. The White Sox, unconvinced, dealt him away a few days after Christmas 1995. Minor league pitcher Blaise Kozeniewski was the lone player the Yankees parted with for Rock.

With a fresh start in a new organization, Raines relished the opportunity to play with an organization which had gone out of its way to bring him in for a championship quest. Yankees GM Bob Watson gave him a contract extension right after trading for him. He arrived right on time to bolster a roster poised to begin a dynastic run.

While Raines fractured his thumb and missed time from May to August in 1996, he proved a useful contributor for the Bombers when healthy, with a characteristically high .383 on-base percentage and 20 doubles bolstering his slugging percentage to .468. In a postseason timeshare at left field with slugger Darryl Strawberry, he contributed 11 hits in 13 appearances.

While he never plated a run himself, he scored seven times as the Yankees ran the table in the American League playoff. He started Games 2, 3, and 4 of the World Series, scoring the go-ahead run of Game 4 on Steve Avery’s bases-loaded walk of Wade Boggs in the 10th inning. Raines had himself walked to catalyze the two-run rally which wiped away the 2-0 series deficit into which the Yankees had fallen. Raines, who memorably made the final catch of that game while slipping and falling on the warning track, did not take the field again in the Fall Classic, but New York finished the reversal in six games, giving the veteran his long-awaited World Series ring in his 16th full season.

Raines returned for 1997, continuing to produce when he saw the field. His 74 games played constituted only a modest uptick from the year before, but he remained highly productive with a .321/.403/.454 slash line. However, despite hitting a three-run home run in Game 1 of the ALCS against Cleveland, the Yankees were denied their title defense, losing in six.

Raines re-upped with the Yankees ahead of 1998, a year in which he served as the top reserve player for one of the greatest teams in baseball history. Despite being more of a backup, Raines appeared in more games than he did in the previous two seasons, eclipsing the 100-game threshold for the only time in pinstripes. The reliable veteran continued to be an absolute pain for pitchers to get out, as his on-base percentage once again hovered close to .400 for the whole season. On June 10th, he picked up his 800th career stolen base in where else but Montreal’s Stade Olympique, where his star was born in the 1980s. He became just the fifth player in MLB history to reach that milestone.

Now 38, Raines was increasingly stashed at DH, then struggled in the 1998 playoffs and largely rode the bench, with Chili Davis getting the majority of the plate appearances there. Still, when he wasn’t on the field, he had a front-row seat to the finest incarnation of this Yankee dynasty—including all four games of their decisive World Series sweep in San Diego.

With two World Series rings in hand, Rock could easily have walked off into the sunset as a man with nothing more to prove—but like many a baseball lifer, he couldn’t give the sport up. Not even after he was diagnosed with lupus in the middle of the 1999 season did he hang up his spikes. The treatment he had to undergo for the autoimmune disease cut short his one-year cameo with the Oakland A’s—and while he attempted to rejoin the Yankees in 2000, he didn’t make the roster.

Still, he continued playing. In 2001, Raines, already inducted into the Expos’ Hall of Fame, returned to the club and played 47 games in his old colors before taking the field with his son, Tim Jr., with the Orioles at the tail-end of the season. Even after that, he snuck in one last season with the Marlins before finally retiring at age 43.

Raines’ late retirement meant a rather delayed start to his Hall of Fame eligibility, which began in 2007. Initially, he received little serious interest from voters, but as the 2010s wore on and he neared the end of his decade on the ballot, the sabermetric community—as well as his contemporaries—rallied for his induction, as they would later do for Edgar Martinez and Larry Walker in those players’ final year of eligibility. At last, in 2017, Raines got his plaque in Cooperstown.

While the man they called “Rock” finished his career as the most efficient base stealer of all time among those who even approached his body of work, Tim Raines was not that dynamic force at the top of the lineup once he came to the Bronx. But his other skills—his outstanding contact ability, discerning plate discipline, and the ability to plug gaps and pick up doubles—hadn’t gone anywhere. Those skills allowed him to assist the Yankees as they made the leap from franchise in limbo into an era-defining dynasty.

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See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

The Mets conclude a three-game series against Pete Alonso and the Orioles at Citi Field on Wednesday night at 7:10.

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Mets Notes

• Francisco Lindor enters play on Wednesday with 299 career home runs
• A.J. Ewing is hitting .380/.448/.620 with three homers and three doubles in 58 plate appearances over his last 13 games
• Robert Stock allowed three runs on five hits while walking two and striking out four in four innings against the Marlins in Miami during his last start on Sept. 9

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Today's Lineups

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Colton Cowser made a game-saving catch against the Rockies on August 31. The grab took the sports world by storm and lifted the Orioles back to .500 for the first time in four months. The play also preserved Baltimore’s spot as a contender for the third and final wild card spot.

With the benefit of hindsight, Cowser’s home run robbery of Jake McCarthy probably marked the high point of another disappointing season. The Orioles proceeded to lose their next six games (two in Colorado; four against Boston). Everyone chalked the Rockies result up to fatigue at the end of a long road trip, but the Birds came home and got taken behind the woodshed. Adley Rutschman hit multiple home runs during his return to Camden Yards, and Baltimore’s offense tallied only one run over the final three games of the four-game set.

And just like that, the season was lost. The Orioles took two-of-three from Cleveland when they desperately needed a sweep, and the O’s dropped two-of-three in Toronto.

In most years, the Orioles would have lost the privilege of competing for a playoff spot long before September. The third wild card spot, paired with a mediocre American League (outside of the AL East), allowed Baltimore one last chance to compete, but the team let that opportunity slip away.

Let’s put aside the early injuries to guys like Jordan Westburg and Zach Eflin. We can even look beyond the deadline sale of Rutschman, Taylor Ward, Tyler Wells and Dean Kremer. The Orioles held possession of the third wild card spot a little over two weeks ago. If I had told you back in March that the O’s would possess a wild card spot with a month to play, would you have taken that deal? I know that I would have. I would have anticipated a better record, but the playoff spot is the selling point there.

It’s clear that the 2026 season was a failure, but how would you evaluate the last three weeks? Did Craig Albernaz and his team ever really have a real chance of making the postseason? If so, what did they do wrong?

The final two games in Colorado cannot be discounted. I don’t care if the Orioles had spent a full month on the road. Baltimore, desperate for wins, had the luxury of facing the only team in the National League with a winning percentage that begins with the number three.

The team summoned Luis De León—the team’s seventh best prospect according to MLB Pipeline—to join the team in Colorado. The 23-year-old had started in 22 of his 26 appearances in the minors this year, but Baltimore gave the lefty a few relief reps before adding him to its major league bullpen. Albernaz immediately thrust the rookie into a high-leverage situation, and De León surrendered the go-ahead homer in a 4-2 loss.

It’s fair to wonder if De León should have even been with the team, let alone working in a leverage situation during his debut. The Orioles needed a fresh lefty in the bullpen, but they opted to go with a prospect that wasn’t exactly pounding down the door (6.50 ERA over 18 Triple-A innings) over a guy like Cade Povich.

The bullpen continued to bite the team as Andrew Kittredge and Grant Wolfram both blew saves in the series finale. Kittredge, one of the only experienced relievers in the bullpen, clearly lost a step in the second half. But did Albernaz mismanage the bullpen, or was he simply working with a bunch that shouldn’t be expected to deliver?

The four-game sweep at the hands of Boston all but put the final nail in the coffin. The Orioles, facing their former franchise player for the first time, all but crumbled under the pressure. The O’s failed to score on Friday and Saturday before exploding for one run in the finale. Do you blame the front office for the bats going to sleep? Can you blame the skipper?

The team deserves credit for claiming Luis Robert Jr., but the outfielder hit the injured list shortly after his arrival. Gunnar Henderson finished 3-for-13 with 0 RBIs in the Boston series. Samuel Basallo hasn’t hit since returning from the injured list. Carlos Narváez quickly reminded everyone in Baltimore what a true backup catcher looks like at the plate. Blaze Alexander attempted to manufacture a spark before returning to the injured list.

Baltimore entered last night with a season-low .650 team OPS in the month of September. Despite all the team’s struggles, the Orioles still managed to post an OPS in the .700s during every other month of the season.

It’s understandable that the pitching staff started to run out of gas. The rotation was filled with guys approaching a career high in innings pitched. Brandon Young, the starter with the highest WAR (2.1), had been pitching above his level all season. But at the end of the day, the bullpen didn’t have the dudes. The offense, with respect to Pete Alonso and Coby Mayo, didn’t have the juice.

The Orioles were the benefit of a weak field, but they proved to be the weakest of the bunch. Albernaz deserves some heat for how things unfolded this year, but it’s not like he managed this team out of a playoff spot. Players like Jackson Holliday and Colton Cowser did not take the step that everyone expected. Ryan Helsley got banged up, and Félix Bautista never returned.

This roster just didn’t have the talent to make the playoffs this season, and it will need to make several improvements if it hopes to compete next year.

No news is good news. That’s not always true (few fans feel this way during trade deadline season), but it’s arguably true during the final days of the campaign, where news can really mean only one thing: an injury. And this was so yesterday, as the Phillies placed Jesús Luzardo on the 15 day IL with the shoulder inflammation that had caused him to miss his last start. A return for the postseason is possible but certainly not guaranteed.

There’s no question that this is a major blow for the team. So today’s question is: how does it change your outlook for the rest of the season?

I’m shamelessly stealing from the comments, because it’s a long season and I had nothing else for today anyway.

Didier Fuentes is 12th among relievers with 2.0 fWAR. He also ranks in the top 15 in WPA, which isn’t really something he did alone, but is a bit of a tiebreaker when others are close.

He’s not going to win. There are five position player rookies in the NL with more than 2 fWAR, including JJ Wetherholt, who has 4.4 while underhitting his xwOBA by .030. (If he weren’t underhitting it, he’d probably ge some downballot MVP votes.) The Mets’ Carson Benge has 3.5 fWAR and hasn’t missed any time with injury. TJ Rumfield has a .375 wOBA / 125 wRC+, though the former is very Coors-addled and he’s outperforming his inputs. Sal Stewart has 31 homers.

On the pitching end, you have Nolan McLean as the “full-time starter as a rookie” option (3.1 fWAR, about 170 innings), as well as Logan Henderson as the “pitched super-well but only up for like half a season” option (2.3 fWAR, under 90 innings).

But, Fuentes is still ninth in the NL in rookie fWAR, so maybe he gets some recognition, even if it’s not much. He does actually lead all NL rookies in WPA, but again, I don’t expect that to carry the day. It is pretty funny, though.

What do you think?

What would you call the opposite of a baseball manager’s “circle of trust”?

Because that’s where the Cubs are probably going to have to send Jacob Webb after yet another blown save, yet another two-run homer served up, yet another game where it’s clear he can no longer be used in high-leverage situations.

The numbers are horrific. In his last eight appearances, Webb has thrown 6.2 innings and has a 14.85 ERA, 2.100 WHIP, 14 hits and four walks allowed and the worst part, four home runs — all of which either gave the other team the lead or tied the game. In those eight games, Webb had four blown saves.

Convert even two of those save opportunities and the Cubs are a lot more comfortable in the Wild Card race. Unfortunately, these games are in the books and they are, at the moment, not.

All right, that’s out of my system, let’s look back at the Cubs’ 6-3 loss to the Braves, all of Atlanta’s runs scoring via three two-run homers.

Kevin Gausman had a rough first inning — 25 pitches — but got out of it scoreless. The Cubs put two runners on in the bottom of the inning via a pair of two-out walks, but could not score.

The Cubs took the lead in the bottom of the second. Michael Busch led off with a single and advanced to second on a walk by Matt Shaw.

Pedro Ramirez’s single scored Busch to make it 1-0 [VIDEO].

Miguel Amaya then sacrificed Shaw and Ramirez up a base, putting runners on second and third with one out. Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a ground ball to second and Shaw was thrown out at the plate. Seiya Suzuki then struck out, so the Cubs had just one run to show for all that traffic.

Gausman settled down and retired 10 straight Braves from the last out of the first through the fourth. The Cubs extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Busch led off with a walk and Shaw’s infield single moved Busch to second.

Then this happened [VIDEO].

That throw… what was that? That play should have resulted in at least one out. Instead, Busch scored to make it 2-0 and Shaw wound up on third, where he scored on this sac fly by Miguel Amaya [VIDEO].

About the Cubs’ two-sac night, from BCB’s JohnW53:

The Cubs went into Tuesday with nine successful sacrifice bunts, tied with the Braves and Twins for the second fewest. The Tigers had eighth; the Yankees, 10.

The Cubs were 11th in sacrifice flies with 43, one behind the Braves and Royals.

Tuesday’s game was the first this season in which the Cubs had at least one of each. They had not done it since May 26, 2025. They had played 260 games since then before Tuesday.

So it’s 3-0 Cubs going to the top of the sixth. Gausman had been sailing along, but a one-out single by Drake Baldwin followed by a two-run homer by Ronald Acuña Jr. made it 3-2. Gausman gave up another hit and a hard-hit line drive out and then was removed in favor of Daniel Palencia, who ended the sixth with a fly ball to right.

The Cubs did not score in the bottom of the sixth and that’s when Webb entered the game. Honestly, I was surprised Craig Counsell didn’t just leave Palencia out there — he’d thrown only two pitches to retire Mauricio Dubon to end the sixth.

Webb, as I noted above, did not have a good game. The two-run homer he allowed to Ozzie Albies gave Atlanta a 4-3 lead.

Still, that’s not insurmountable — usually. But the Cubs bats went silent. After Shaw led off the sixth with a single, the next 12 Cubs went down in order.

Meanwhile, Edward Cabrera made his Cubs relief debut. And actually, it was going along pretty well until a two-run homer by Baldwin in the ninth put the game out of reach. Cabrera threw 40 pitches — maybe too many for his first outing out of the bullpen? I do still think Cabrera can be a useful weapon in relief. He touched 99 with his four-seamer several times, and that, combined with his 94 mile per hour changeup, can record outs — but again, maybe in shorter bursts.

Here are Craig Counsell’s postgame remarks [VIDEO].

In that clip, Counsell doesn’t sound like he’s going to take Webb out of that circle of trust, and he really needs to. He notes that the team is giving up “too many home runs.” Ya think? This cannot keep happening:

Marquee’s postgame show discussed #Cubs bullpen woes, including a critique of Jacob Webb. pic.twitter.com/YbXio8pwFZ

— Jeff Agrest #🟦 (@JeffAgrest) September 16, 2026

Fortunately, all the other teams in Wild Card competition with the Cubs — the Phillies, Padres and Diamondbacks — also lost Tuesday, so no ground was lost and the Cubs still have the top wild card spot by half a game over the Phillies. The Cubs lead the Padres by 1.5 games and the Diamondbacks by four. Arizona’s loss reduced the Cubs’ magic number to clinch a postseason spot to 6.

The Cubs still have a chance at a series win over the Braves Wednesday evening at Wrigley Field. Shōta Imanaga will take the mound for the Cubs and JR Ritchie, just recalled from Triple-A by Atlanta, goes for the Braves. Game time is again 6:40 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.