Taking the hill: Sean Burke looks to guide the South Siders to a sweep in Houston. | Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images
The White Sox (84-78) got off to a great start to the postseason with a 6-3 victory, and they hold a 1-0 series lead over the Astros (81-81).
Sean Burke, 26, will start on the mound for the South Siders. Burke posted a 3.36 ERA and a 3.62 FIP in 172 1/3 regular season innings. Burke accumulated 3.2 fWAR to lead the White Sox pitching staff in the regular season. The talented right-handed pitcher had two starts against Houston in the regular season, and he performed admirably against them, only allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits in 11 2/3 innings. The Astros posted a slash line of only .125/.239/.150 against Burke, but the Astros managed to win one of those games.
Hunter Brown, 28, is a right-handed starter who will be challenging for the White Sox to solve. Brown posted a 3.19 ERA and a 3.77 FIP in 107 1/3 innings, resulting in an accumulation of 1.9 fWAR this year. Brown made two starts against the South Siders, and those games went exceptionally well for him, as he only allowed two runs on eight hits in 13 innings. The White Sox slashed just .174/.208/.174 against Brown, so it is no surprise that the Astros won both of those games.
Here are this afternoon’s starting lineups:
This game is available on NBC Sports Network and Peacock, and we have further details in our broadcast guide. The first pitch is scheduled to take place at 4:00 p.m. CT. Will the South Siders complete a sweep for their first postseason series victory in 21 years? Let’s enjoy these exciting moments together.
First, though: Game 2 of the AL wild-card series, with the Yankees getting two shots to eliminate the Red Sox beginning Wednesday, Sept. 30 at Yankee Stadium.
Sonny Gray anticipates getting a loud and not particularly polite greeting from fans in the Bronx as he starts Game 2 trying to keep the Red Sox alive. The right-hander who pitched for the Yankees in 2017 and 2018 said upon the Red Sox acquiring him late last year that it was "easy to hate" the Yankees.
He'll find out just how easy that sentiment can be reciprocated.
Meanwhile, left-hander Max Fried will try to pitch the Yankees into the ALDS and should he and the bullpen succeed, the club is in great shape against the Rays: Right-hander Gerrit Cole will be ready for Game 1, Saturday, followed by an off day that lines up ace Cam Schlittler, with an extra days' rest, to boot.
New York is aiming to eliminate Boston in this round for the second consecutive season.
Follow along:
Where to watch Yankees vs Red Sox: Channel, live stream
First pitch between the Yankees and Red Sox is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
2022: Houston Astros (def. Philadelphia Phillies, 4-2)
2021: Atlanta Braves (def. Houston Astros, 4-2)
2020: Los Angeles Dodgers (def. Tampa Bay Rays, 4-2)
2019: Washington Nationals (def. Houston Astros, 4-3)
2018: Boston Red Sox (def. Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-1)
2017: Houston Astros (def. Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3)
2016: Chicago Cubs (def. Cleveland Indians, 4-3)
Who won Yankees vs. Red Sox season series?
05:55 PM ET, September 30 2026
The Yankees won the 2026 regular-season series against the Red Sox, 7-6. The clubs split their first 10 meetings before the Yankees won three of four games during their final regular-season series at Yankee Stadium in late August to secure the season-series victory.
The Red Sox swept a four-game series at Fenway Park, which ignited their surge after a slow start that cost manager Alex Cora his job.
MLB payrolls
05:35 PM ET, September 30 2026
While eight of MLB's final 12 teams are in the top 10 end-of-season payrolls, based on figures from the MLB Labor Relations Department and obtained by USA TODAY, the remaining four are among baseball’s lowest spenders.
That includes the teams with the best records in each league, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Brewers’ payroll entering the postseason is $143.5 million, good for 19th in MLB. The Rays’ $98.3 million total is No. 25.
Red Sox — Sonny Gray: 18-5 with a 2.72 ERA in 29 starts; 149 strikeouts in 169 innings pitched.
Yankees — Max Fried: 5-5 with a 2.80 ERA in 20 starts; 104 strikeouts in 112⅔ innings pitched.
Roman Anthony injury update
04:41 PM ET, September 30 2026, Jesse Yomtov
NEW YORK — Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is out for the remainder of the playoffs after aggravating a hand injury in two at-bats during Game 1 of the American League wild-card series, manager Chad Tracy said before Game 2 on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Anthony was limited to 55 games due to the injury this season. He was driven from Yankee Stadium to Boston after Game 1, arriving in the middle of the night, and received more imaging Wednesday morning. Tracy said imaging revealed further damage to the hand, which led to an extended absence this season for the second-year player.
“He’s going through it right now, mentally,” Tracy said of Anthony. “I texted with him. He wants to be out there with the guys.”
Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
Los Angeles, - August 12: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with Andy Pages after hitting a solo home run against the Kansas City Royals in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The 2026 Dodgers regular season is over, and we already looked at the final week of the season and the final month. Now let’s look how the season played out in thirds, in increments of 54 games.
Split
W-L
Run diff.
BA/OBP/SLG
wRC+
ERA
ERA-
1st 54
34-20
+108
.258/.344/.427
113
3.10
74
2nd 54
34-20
+48
.265/.338/.438
113
4.08
97
3rd 54
32-22
+45
.247/.332/.408
105
3.46
83
The offense took a dip in the final third of the season, but was buoyed by a bounce back from the pitching staff. Just two games into the final 54 games, the Dodgers started their longest losing streak of the season, dropping seven games in a row, but recovered to win 32 games over the final third of the campaign, a 96-win pace.
Let’s delve into the offense first, beginning with the catchers.
Player
Starts
PA
2B-HR
R-RBI
BA/OBP/SLG
wRC+
Smith 1st
38
170
3-4
18-20
.242/.318/.342
85
Smith 2nd
7
31
10-2
5-3
.292/.452/.625
193
Smith 3rd
15
75
4-4
12-11
.290/.400/.548
160
Rushing 1st
22
91
2-7
14-17
.263/.352/.550
146
Rushing 2nd
35
147
2-4
22-16
.254/.333/.423
109
Rushing 3rd
2
15
0-1
1-3
.071/.133/.286
11
Feduccia 3rd
25
91
2-1
6-7
.197/.322/.263
73
Rortvedt 3rd
9
28
0-0
0-1
.185/.185/.185
-3
Alfonzo 2nd
6
16
2-0
2-2
.188/.188/.313
30
Alfonzo 3rd
3
12
0-0
1-2
.167/.167/.167
-14
Robinson 2nd
6
26
0-0
1-1
.087/.087/.087
-61
Totals 1st
261
5-11
32-37
.249/.330/.415
107
Totals 2nd
220
14-6
30-22
.233/.313/.399
95
Totals 3rd
221
6-6
20-24
.215/.311/.340
84
*includes starts at other positions
For the second year in a row, the Dodgers found themselves without both Will Smith and Dalton Rushing for extended periods, and once again Ben Rortvedt was involved in the cleanup mission. This time, both Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia were reacquired at the trade deadline and handled catching duties for most of August before Smith returned in September and was back to his normal production level in the final month.
Shohei Ohtani didn’t hit a home run after August 18 and landed on the injured list in September, Andy Pages was productive but missed four weeks after getting hit by a fastball on his left hand. Freddie Freeman played nearly every day but hit like Expos-era Pete Rose with only one home run over the final third of the season, and played through a right knee injury in September.
Conversely, Mookie Betts found his stroke again and paced the offense, with Max Muncy continuing his steady production. Teoscar Hernández and Kyle Tucker had upturns over the final month especially.
Tommy Edman, Kiké Hernández, Miguel Rojas, and Alex Call all struggled in the final third of the season, while Josue De Paula excelled in his two-week runway after making his debut.
Now, the pitching.
Pitcher
G-QS
W-L
IP
BB-K
ERA
WHIP
xERA
Yamamoto 1st
10-8
4-4
64
13-59
3.09
0.984
4.02
Yamamoto 2nd
9-7
7-2
61.7
15-59
2.34
0.809
2.47
Yamamoto 3rd
9-7
3-3
59.3
14-64
2.12
0.809
2.40
Skubal 3rd
10-7
5-2
62
13-70
2.61
1.048
2.84
Snell 1st
1-0
0-1
3
2-5
12.00
2.667
3.91
Snell 3rd
8-4
4-0
39.7
14-50
1.13
0.983
2.00
Glasnow 1st
7-4
3-0
39.7
13-49
2.72
0.832
2.61
Glasnow 3rd
6-3
2-2
34.3
12-49
4.46
1.078
3.11
Wrobleski 1st
9-5
6-2
55.7
14-31
3.07
1.114
4.31
Wrobleski 2nd
9-7
5-0
57
7-56
2.68
0.930
4.35
Wrobleski 3rd
5-0
1-3
27.3
10-31
6.91
1.646
5.13
Ohtani 1st
8-7
4-2
49
13-54
0.73
0.837
2.52
Ohtani 2nd
6-5
4-0
36.7
13-41
3.19
1.091
2.97
Sasaki 1st
9-2
3-3
45.7
18-43
4.93
1.423
5.21
Sasaki 2nd
9-3
1-2
48
18-51
4.50
1.167
3.60
Sasaki 3rd
5-2
1-0
28.7
12-29
3.77
1.395
4.04
Sheehan 1st
10-4
3-1
51.7
14-59
4.70
1.239
4.08
Sheehan 2nd
9-1
1-6
41
15-45
5.27
1.268
3.45
Sheehan 3rd
3-1
1-1
19.7
4-28
2.75
0.814
2.46
Lauer 2nd
9-6
5-0
51.7
13-30
2.96
0.987
4.06
Lauer 3rd
4-1
2-2
20.3
6-16
8.41
1.820
6.19
Totals 1st
53-30
23-13
308.7
87-300
3.29
1.089
Totals 2nd
51-29
23-10
296
81-282
3.38
1.020
Totals 3rd
50-25
19-13
291.3
85-337
3.46
1.122
This is a bit of a mishmash, as it includes relief appearances by Justin Wrobleski, Roki Sasaki, Emmet Sheehan, and Eric Lauer in the totals. Shohei Ohtani did not pitch at all in the final third of the season, but the Dodgers traded for Tarik Skubal and got Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow back to go with Yoshinobu Yamamoto to set the team up for October. Those four combined for a 2.49 ERA and 30.3-percent strikeout rate in 33 starts over the final 54 games, including 21 quality starts. That’ll play
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 20: Cleveland Guardians pitcher Cade Smith (36) delivers a pitch to the plate during the ninth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Athletics and Cleveland Guardians on September 20, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Some controversy around Don Mattingly’s use of his closer in yesterday’s NL Wildcard game vs. the Braves should provide some opportunity for conversation for the Guardians leading into their American League Division Series beginning this weekend.
Entering the bottom of the seventh inning with a 3-2 lead, Mattingly brought Jhoan Duran in to face numbers 9, 1 and 2 in the Atlanta Braves’ order. He then brought him out again in the eighth to get hitters 3, 4 and 5 in the order. The internet is now full of folks calling Mattingly’s decision to go to his closer earlier a mistake because Duran ended up giving up a 3-run, go-ahead homer to Austin Riley in the 8th after the 5th and 6th hitters reach (via infield hit and a hit-by-pitch). But, I don’t think that’s quite fair to Mattingly… or to Duran… or to any team that might take a similar strategic path.
Duran came in with a narrow one-run lead and got five straight outs from the most dangerous hitters in the Atlanta lineup. He then gave up incredibly weak contact that unluckily resulted in a hit. At this point, someone should have been warming and getting ready as quickly as possible. Said pitcher would have had six pitches and a potential mound visit to start to get ready before the fateful Riley at-bat. However, I suspect Mattingly had a longer leash on Duran than optimal because the Phillies’ bullpen as a whole is not great.
I would argue that Mattingly’ process – despite the bad result – was sound. The most important thing to do in a playoff game in which you have a lead in the 7th or later is make sure that your best reliever throws meaningful pitches against your opponent’s best hitters. He accomplished this and got 5 out of 6 hitters out. At that point, I think it would have made sense to have the next best option ready to come in the game and remove Duran, not only because it was an unfamiliar situation for their closer but because there were two outs and you’re asking for one more out with a runner on first. Additionally, no one other than the six hitters who have faced him gets a rep against Duran to help them later in the series (though Atlanta is very familiar with the Phillies).
I hope Stephen Vogt can have conversations with his bullpen about similar situations. If the Guardians had the exact same situation, going to Cade Smith there makes perfect sense and guarantees he sees the best hitters at the end of the game with a lead. Smith also has experience going multiple innings and being the “fireman” in the past. The off days of the series should also allow the Guardians to be aggressive with Smith and their other best arms as they will have time to recover in-between appearances. Erik Sabrowski, Daniel Espino, Shawn Armstrong, a healthy Colin Holderman and even on a good day Tim Herrin are more than capable of getting a batter to end the 8th… or you let Tanner Bibee or Foster Griffin throw the kitchen sink at a hitter.
I do not mean to dismiss the importance of reliever comfort and role establishment. If the team truly believes that Smith being jarred from the role of pitching the 8th into the 9th would negatively affect his mental status, don’t do it. However, from everything we know of Cade, I doubt this is the case. The one thing to avoid at all costs is losing a lead in the 7th or later without Cade Smith facing your opponent’s greatest threats. Mattingly made sure to avoid it yesterday and I hope the Guardians will as well in the series to come.
Sep 18, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22), right fielder Carson Benge (3) and center fielder A.J. Ewing (9) celebrate after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Mets began the final two weeks of the season with four straight losses, in which they only scored more than one run in one of those four games. Things picked up a little bit after that, but the Mets only won one series in the final two weeks of 2026, playing spoilers to a Rangers team that would just miss the playoffs in a weak AL West. This was mostly a team just playing out the string, but the bright side is NL Rookie of the Year candidate Carson Benge finished the season hot, which may get him a few extra votes.
Player
Last week
This week
Francisco Alvarez, C
Brett Baty, UTIL
Carson Benge, OF
Bo Bichette, 3B
A.J. Ewing, OF
Francisco Lindor, SS
Ronny Mauricio, INF
—
Nick Morabito, OF
Christopher Morel, 1B/DH
Cristian Pache, OF
—
Marcus Semien, 2B
Juan Soto, OF
Luis Torrens, C
Mark Vientos, 1B/3B
Jared Young, 1B/DH
Since I mentioned Carson Benge, we’ll start with him. He was by far the Mets’ best hitter over the final two weeks of the season, putting up a blistering 201 wRC+ in 59 plate appearances and making another “splendiferous” catch in the outfield in the season’s final series in DC. He led the team in hits by a large margin with 21—six more than anybody else. He also led the team in runs scored with ten and RBIs with eight. He racked up six extra base hits, including three home runs. The final of those three home runs was his 20th, making him the first Mets rookie to have a 20-20 season. It’s possible that Benge still doesn’t end up beating out Sal Stewart’s sexy run production totals, but going 21-for-57 in the season’s final two weeks in a sprint to the finish certainly helped bolster his case.
When Jared Young’s very good 2026 season came to an extremely unfortunate end, Ronny Mauricio was called up to take his spot on the roster and had an incredible power surge to make his case to remain in the Mets’ future plans. In the Mets’ only victory against the Nationals in DC on Saturday, Mauricio went deep from both sides of the plate in his first multi-home run game of his career. Overall, Mauricio had four hits in 12 plate appearances, but three of those four hits were home runs. He drove in six runs and also walked twice.
The Mets’ other young player more on the fringes Nick Morabito also logged 12 plate appearances in the season’s final two weeks, but did not produce as many fireworks as Mauricio. He had three hits—two singles and a double—two runs scored and no RBIs. He also struck out six times and didn’t draw any walks, which is not a ratio you want to see. The future for both him and Mauricio on the team is uncertain, but unlike Morabito, Mauricio is out of options.
The future is also uncertain for both Mark Vientos and Brett Baty, who you could argue are borderline non-tender candidates in the offseason. However, the latter showed some spark in the form of a hot streak in the season’s final month that the former did not. Though Baty was not quite as red hot as in the first half of September, he is still one of the few Mets’ hitters to receive a positive grade for racking up ten hits in 38 plate appearances, including a home run—good for a very strong 147 wRC+ to finish out his season. Baty scored five runs, drove in six runs, and walked six times. He even expanded his repertoire to include the shortstop position in the season’s penultimate game, making his first career start there while Francisco Lindor served as the DH. Vientos’ season did not end on quite as high a note; he put up a 23 wRC+ in 25 plate appearances, notching just four hits—two singles and two doubles. He drove in two runs and walked once, while striking out seven times. While Baty made the case that he still belongs on the Mets’ roster next year, one can’t confidently say the same for Vientos based on his performance after returning from the injured list.
Francisco Lindor’s final two weeks were rather mediocre overall, but he did finally reach the milestone he had been chasing on the season’s final day, going deep for his 300th career home run. In doing so, he became the first shortstop in MLB history to hit 300 home runs and steal 200 bases. That home run was one of ten hits for Lindor over his final 63 plate appearances of 2026 and one of four extra-base hits. Lindor scored seven runs—second only to Benge for the team lead—and drove in two runs. He also walked seven times, which is the second-most on the team, but led the team in strikeouts with 14. Overall, he posted a 59 wRC+ in the second half of September.
By contrast, Juan Soto put up a much more solid 123 wRC+ in the final two weeks of the season. His eight RBIs match Benge for the team lead and his 15 hits are the second-most on the team. Soto also led the team in walks with nine and that is before including the five times he was walked intentionally, including three times in a single game during the Rangers series. Soto even stole a base for good measure, bring his total up to nine steals for the season—a far cry from last year’s total, but at least a good indicator that he is feeling healthy and hopefully ready to contribute a fully healthy season next year. Even though he played in only 111 games, the lowest of any full season in his career, he still amassed 3.0 bWAR in 2026.
The only other hitter to get a positive grade in the season’s final meter is A.J. Ewing, who joined his fellow Mets rookies in finishing strong with a 110 wRC+ in 51 plate appearances. Of course, his numbers aren’t as flashy as Benge’s, but 12-for-45 with six walks and two stolen bases is perfectly adequate production from a center fielder of his caliber defensively. Two of those 12 hits were home runs and Ewing scored five runs and drove in six runs.
Bo Bichette certainly didn’t end his season with a bang in a fashion that would make one confident he is opting out of his contract. He posted a rather pedestrian 84 wRC+ in 61 plate appearances in the last two weeks of the season. Of his 13 hits, only three went for extra bases, but he did go deep twice. He scored four suns, drove in five runs, and walked five times across these 13 games. Perhaps most notably, Bichette grounded into four double plays in the final two weeks of the season while nobody else in the team grounded into more than one; while this is small sample size theater like everything we do here with the meters, I can’t help but feel it is a microcosm of how this season has gone where so often Juan Soto gets on base ahead of Bichette—either because he gets a hit or because teams are pitching around him—and Bichette fails to deliver. Bichette has mentioned Andy Green as his favorite manager he’s ever played for in recent remarks, so the Mets installing him in the role permanently may sway Bichette to stay in New York rather than gamble on trying to get another big contract after an underwhelming season.
In the meantime, in his 2026 postmortem presser, David Stearns would not commit to Marcus Semien as the everyday second baseman next year and it’s easy to see why. Semien put up a 48 wRC+ in 46 plate appearances over the final two weeks of the season and ends his season with a 74 wRC+ overall for 2026. The Mets could have potentially lived with that if he was still playing Gold Glove caliber defense, but he also took a step (more like several steps, if we’re being honest) back defensively this year. Semien collected seven hits, three of which went for extra bases, including a home run. He scored five runs, drove in three runs, and walked four times. He also was caught stealing once.
Meanwhile, it was a rough week for the Mets’ catching tandem in more ways than one. Francisco Alvarez had an ugly game in the series opener in DC, grounding into a double play with the bases loaded in the first, making an errant throw in the second inning, and being behind the plate for three wild pitches in the third, two of which allowed a run to score. Overall, his numbers with the bat weren’t awful; he posted an 81 wRC+ in 37 plate appearances to finish out the season. He amassed nine hits, including two doubles and a home run. He scored six runs and drove in six runs, but he walked only once and struck out 11 times. Meanwhile, the numbers are garish for Luis Torrens, who finished the season 2-for-18 with a -28 wRC+. Torrens scored two runs, drove in a run, and walked just once while striking out seven times. I think it’s safe to say that the August power surge for Torrens petered out over these final couple of weeks.
There were no notable moments in the last two weeks of the season from the final two bench players Christopher Morel and Cristian Pache. Morel had eight plate appearances across three games and did not reach base in any of them. Pache does not get a grade because he only appeared in one game, but did not take an at-bat.
That’s a wrap on the position players for 2026 and we’ll get the final meter for the pitchers tomorrow. As always, I appreciate the community taking the time to read and engage with these fun meter posts every season!
Game 1 of the Wild Card round is in the books, and Chicago, we have some serious problems. The Cubs’ vaunted offense did nothing against Padres pitching, narrowly avoiding being no-hit in the first of the three-game series. Admittedly, Michael King dominated, throwing pitches that looked out of the zone only to dart back in to an unhittable corner of the plate. It completely disrupted a Cubs offense that is defined by taking walks, forcing pitchers to the big part of the zone and then doing damage. If Nick Pivetta is able to execute a similar strategy tonight the Cubs’ Postseason will end unceremoniously tonight.
It’s also unclear how many people in Chicago actually were able to watch the game (whether you think that’s a blessing or a curse is debatable). The Wild Card round was hosted on NBC, which decided to put both of the Chicago games on its streaming platform Peacock and a lesser carried channel, NBC Sports Network. If you subscribe to Comcast/Xfinity, YouTube TV or Fubo, you had the game via those services. If you subscribe to Peacock (more on that in a second) you had the game. If you either get cable through Astound (previously RCN) or DirecTV, you were out of luck, as they don’t carry NBCSN. This was also true if you use a live TV streaming option other than YouTube or Fubo. As reported in the Sun-Times:
To watch Games 1 and 2 of Cubs-Padres and White Sox-Astros, fans must watch on Peacock, which costs $12.99 per month, or NBCSN, which is available on Comcast’s Xfinity system and streamers Fubo and YouTube TV. Though Xfinity and YouTube TV are two of the largest pay-TV providers in the country, NBCSN is missing from services such as DirecTV and Astound/RCN.
A couple of notes here: I am one of the people impacted by this as I use Sling and despite having multiple sports add-ons had no way to access NBCSN through that platform. Additionally, not to quibble with the Sun-Times, but when I looked at the cost of adding Peacock for the game yesterday it was $19.99 a month and there was no option for a free trial through NBC. I did some digging and found that I could add a 7-day Peacock trial through Amazon Prime, and if I didn’t cancel in seven days the charge would be an additional $19.99 a month. I have also since heard on social media that if you have some cable packages, Peacock is a $5 add-on, for others it’s $9.
Got it?
The current maze of streaming, cable and pay-TV options is exhausting. Admittedly, I am taking people’s word on the price they are charged for Peacock right now, and didn’t devote even more hours trying to figure out their pricing tiers and deals. And that’s just Peacock. This season MLB had a handful of deals with multiple streamers who all have their own deals with different providers, etc.
Major League Baseball deliberately partitioning off a handful of games here and a handful of games there is designed to extract the maximum amount of money from their most engaged fans at a time most Americans feel stretched economically. Want to watch the Home Run Derby? Better have Netflix. Want to watch teams all over the country (except your local team)? Better sign up for MLB.TV. Want to watch your local team? Better pay them for streaming too, and/or pray your cable or pay-TV option has a deal with them. You can shell out $19.99 a month to subscribe to Marquee Sports Network, right? Want to watch your local team in the playoffs? That’s another $19.99 a month, either to NBC or through an add-on via some other nonsense Subscription as a Service (SAAS) designed to ensure you NEVER pay for just one thing. You’re always shelling out a few dollars here, a few dollars there, and from a company perspective, hopefully forgetting you signed up for that free trial so they can milk you for $19.99 until you figure it out.
Oh, and it doesn’t stop there. Not only are they hoping you forget you are paying them every month, they can and will raise those rates with as little notice as legally possible until you figure out that what you used to spend $64 a year for has somehow ballooned to $122 in less than two years. Streamflation is real, as reported this month by Nerdist:
Last year, we set out to chronicle the number of price hikes we’d see across streaming platforms. It had started to feel like every day, a streaming platform would raise its prices and increase its costs to subscribers. And that turned out to be… basically true. In 2025, we saw a total of SIX streaming price hikes — averaging out to about one cost increase every other month. While in a vacuum, streaming price increases can feel immaterial, taken altogether, the constant cost hikes are INTENSE. So this year, we’re doing it again. Join us as we take a look at every streaming price hike and cost increase in 2026. Will we be over or under the 2025 total? We’re already tied at 6 streaming price hikes in 2026 and 2025… So under is off the table… And over is looking likely.
My apologies for screenshotting the table of contents to summarize this article, there are so many increases, with so much individual nuance, the table of contents is the best way to get a sense of the scope of the changes. You really should read the whole thing to get an idea of actual increases and then take a close look at your bill to tally what you’re actually paying for TV and streaming):
Spoiler alert: they are all just really hoping that you never notice it or do the tally. That $7 becoming $9 becoming $14.99 just doesn’t register in the slew of other cost increases that are more in your face each day. It’s hard to escape the conclusion that one-off events like the MLB Wild Card round being on a niche streaming service that’s losing the platform wars are designed to artificially increase their market share. Here is the list of top streaming services in the United States by subscribers according to FlixPatrol:
There are any number of fans who are just tired of this discourse. I don’t blame them, it’s a complaint about the new media reality that probably isn’t changing anytime soon. Someone is always going to lose. Get over it and either sign up for the free trial, remember to cancel, pay $5 (or $9, or $12.99 or $19.99) and watch the game or choose to miss it.
However, the answer to an increasingly labyrinthine and opaque system for charging baseball fans the maximum they’ll agree to pay for games is not to just sigh and open your wallet. Especially not while corporate fingers are crossed behind CEO backs as they secretly hope you forget you added their service. It’s a textbook example of why people despise big business. Don’t take my word for it, Gallup polls these things:
Fifteen percent of Americans say they have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in big business, far below the 70% who say they have confidence in small business, as of June 2025. Separately, an August 2025 poll found that 37% of Americans have a positive view of big business, while 95% have a positive view of small business. Perceptions of small business have generally been steady in recent years, while views of big business have worsened.
Perhaps the billionaires who own baseball teams and the people who direct MLB’s front offices to make these decisions don’t care about any of that. Netflix offered more than Peacock, who offered more than Amazon, and some consultant with a spreadsheet figured out a way to maximize all of that at the cost of our growing anger and frustration. Fans have dealt with that angst in housing, food costs and the rising cost of everything else, so we’ll probably tolerate it from baseball too. Even if the powers that be in MLB’s front offices believe fans will always come back and they don’t need to worry about losing their most loyal fans, they should worry about the constraints they are inadvertently putting on growing the next generation of fans. How many kiddos out there won’t even have the chance to fall in love with baseball because they never saw the big moments in the first place?
MLB should be more than a corporation. It should be more than profit and loss statements. The type of loyalty, love and heartbreak that was on display at our watch party last night in Wrigleyville is a priceless asset MLB and team owners hold in trust. The endless carousel of streaming complications making it difficult for fans to watch the most important games of the year is a violation of that trust. MLB is playing a dangerous game leaving their fans disgruntled with these arrangements, especially with a labor battle looming that threatens the viability of the sport in 2027 and beyond.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees celebrates after hitting a grand slam home run against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cristopher Sánchez and the Phillies take on Tyler Mahle in Atlanta.
Sean Burke and the White Sox try to finish off Hunter Brown and the Astros in Houston.
Sonny Gray and the Red Sox try to stay alive against Max Fried and the Yankees in New York
Kevin Gausman leads the Cubs’ rallying efforts against Nick Pivetta and the Padres in San Diego.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 10: Manager Blake Butera #10 of the Washington Nationals takes the ball from pitcher Gus Varland #47, taking him out of the game against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the ninth inning at Oracle Park on June 10, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There were a lot of positive things to come out of the 2026 season for the Nationals. The offense exploded, starters like Cade Cavalli and Andrew Alvarez broke out, and the farm system is in a great place. However, the bullpen was a nightmare for the Nats this season. They aimlessly cycled through arms and repeatedly blew games.
The bullpen made history, but not in a good way. The 2026 Nationals set the all time blown saves record with 42 blown saves this season. They set the record on September 8th, when they blew their 38th save and did not look back from that. It was an ugly year, especially late in games.
The Nationals have blown 38 saves this season, setting the MLB single-season record.pic.twitter.com/KWcNTz84Bn
Honestly, this record was a bit of a perfect storm. It is unusual to have such a good offense paired with a very bad pitching staff, but that is what happened with the 2026 Nationals. That meant the bullpen had a lot of leads to protect, and inevitably they blew a lot of them.
When you look at the raw ERA total, the 2026 bullpen was actually better than 2025. Last season, the Nats posted a 5.59 bullpen ERA, the worst in baseball. This season, that number actually dropped to 4.99. However, due to all the leads the offense gave them, the Nats bullpen blew more games this year.
George Lewis on X actually tracked every blown save for the Nats. Most of them actually did not come in the 9th inning, interestingly. That chart shows a lot of interesting trends. It also gives you a visual of how unreliable the unit is.
On September 8th, the Nats bullpen blew its MLB-record 38th save. As someone who can objectively appreciate an epic collapse, I gave myself a mission: rewatch them all.
Here they are chronologically. More importantly, I ranked all 38 from least to most worst. Link below! pic.twitter.com/XAjftHkGCZ
What this tells me, is the Nats need a sure fire option at the back end of the bullpen. We will see how much money the Nats spend this offseason, but a lot of that budget needs to go to the bullpen. You can argue about the merits of throwing big money at bullpen arms, but the Nats do not have much of a choice. Once you have a true alpha in the bullpen, it helps the rest of the bullpen settle into a more appropriate role.
In my opinion, the Nats need to either sign a big money reliever or make a trade for a big time arm. Spencer Nusbaum wrote about how there was no guarantee the Nats sign a big fish in the bullpen. I think it should be at the top of their wish list though.
The Nationals will almost certainly add bullpen help this winter. It is no guarantee they sign a big fish with ninth-inning experience.
More, including the case for and against that philosophy and how the bullpen is shaping up ahead of 2027: https://t.co/e4WEtqt680
I do not necessarily need the arm to have closing experience, but I want someone who has proven they can produce at a high level. My dream option actually does not have 9th inning experience.
It would be far-fetched, but Adrian Morejon would be such a perfect fit for this team. He checks just about every box. Morejon is a very young free agent, not turning 28 until February. He also has absolutely insane stuff, with a savant page that is about as red as it gets. The market for Morejon will be bonkers, so I would not hold my breath there.
The other big name at the top of the market is David Bednar. He has proven he can handle the spotlight and has thrived as the Yankees closer. Bednar has a filthy three pitch mix, but again, the market will be intense. If Mark Lerner and the front office want to make a statement, that would be a great signing to make.
Honestly, there are plenty of options on the market, and the Nats need to come away with at least one or two of these guys. Some names that intrigue me are Evan Phillips, Raisel Iglesias and Alex Vesia. Those three are more realistic than the first two in my opinion.
Based on what we know about Paul Toboni, it does not seem like throwing major resources at the bullpen is something he wants to do. However, I do not think he has much of a choice right now. He tried to build a bullpen through shrewd waiver claims, internal development and minor trades. That simply did not work. We found a few nice arms, but no future closers.
If the Nats do acquire one or two heavy hitters, I think the bullpen would be in a nice spot. Over the last couple months of the season, some depth started to emerge. I like Erik Tolman, Jack Sinclair, Will Dion, Orlando Ribalta, Yovanny Cruz, Riley Cornelio and Brad Lord. However, I do not like any of those guys pitching in the 9th inning.
Once you find that alpha in the back of the bullpen, things begin to take shape. This offseason, Paul Toboni needs to swing big at the top of the relief market, instead of looking for quantity. With the right closer to spearhead this unit, I think the Nats bullpen could surprise people in 2027.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 12: Ralphy Velazquez #22 of the Cleveland Guardians on the American League Team fist bumps teammates during team introductions at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Now that the minor league seasons are over for Cleveland’s affiliates, it’s time to take a look back and see which players made a name for themselves in 2026 and should be monitored to make an impact on the 2027 Guardians’ team.
Prospects who Debuted and Ended the Season on the Guardians: Chase DeLauter, Travis Bazzana, Angel Genao, Daniel Espino, Parker Messick, and Austin Peterson: From your rookie of the year candidates – DeLauter and Messick – to your AL All-Star – Bazzana – to a guy throwing 100 mph out of the bullpen – Espino – to your solid longman/fifth starter – Peterson, this was a special group of Guardians’ rookies without a doubt.
Columbus Clippers:
Hitters: Cooper Ingle, LH C/LF – 151 wRC+, 23/18 (.371 wOBA/.351 xwOBA in August-September) – Ingle is clearly going to be a good hitter, but it’s his defensive home that’s the trouble. Can he stick at catcher? Will he be able to adjust to left field (after a disastrous few games there in Cleveland)? At the plate, he clearly sold out for some more power this season, leading to an uptick in strikeouts. Was the trade-off worth it? All questions the Guardians have to answer, but I do wonder if Ingle isn’t Kwan’s eventual replacement in left.
Ralphy Velazquez – 133 wRC+, 21/11 – (.481 wOBA/.396 xwOBA in Aug-Sep). For those wondering, in Ralphy’s last two months he put up a .491 wOBA on off-speed pitches, a .355 wOBA on curveballs, and a .355 wOBA on sliders. His wOBA on fastballs was a ridiculous .561. Basically, he is steadily figuring each kind of pitch out and doing damage on them. I believe he should be plan-A to start 2027 at first base for the Guardians.
Kahlil Watson, LH CF – 116 wRC+, 27/13 (.348 wOBA/.344 xwOBA in Aug-Sep) – Watson is such a fun player and competitor but I just can’t see him making it as a big leaguer with his chase and whiff issues.
Kody Huff, RH C/1B – 131 wRC+, 20/14, .362 wOBA/.311 xwOBA in Aug-Sep) – This was a breakout year for Huff at the plate, who hit lefties extremely well. Zack Meisel of the Athletic has repeatedly mentioned how much the Guardians love him, and I would assume he is next in line if anything should happen to injure on the Bailey-Hedges tandem in Cleveland. I see little reason to doubt Hedges will be back in 2027. Huff is Rule-5 eligible and looks like he will be a needed add this offseason.
Note: George Valera, LH OF/DH ended 2026 with a .544 wOBA for August-September, but only a .364 xwOBA. I suspect Gorgeous George will see time with a major league team again, but it may not be in Cleveland, if only because of his horrible defense in the corner outfield spots.
Pitchers: Rorik Maltrud, RHP – 3.90 ERA/4.58 FIP, 7.86/3.27 K/BB/9 (Aug-Sept: .262 wOBA/.263 xwOBA allowed). Maltrud looks like a functional emergency starter option for MLB games next season.
Justin Campbell, RHP – 2.08 ERA/3.31 FIP, 8.83/3.12 K/BB/9 (Aug-Sept: .269 wOBA/.270 xwOBA allowed). Campbell being healthy and looking special this season is probably the best news for the organization’s pitching group aside from Messick and Espino. He needs to increase his strikeout numbers at Triple-A, but I think we can be reasonably confident that with additional reps, he will do so. Hopefully, Campbell has a smooth offseason in recovery and training and arrives for Spring Training ready to compete for a major league spot, making himself an option during the 2027 season. Campbell is Rule-5 eligible and will have to be added to the 40-man prior to the lockout.
Steven Perez, LHrP – 4.78 ERA /4.79 FIP, 9.72/5.40 K/BB/9 (Aug-Sept: .262 wOBA/.235 xwOBA allowed). Perez had a rocky season in the tough pitching environment of Triple-A (especially in Columbus), but he finished strong and still has major league left-handed specialist ceiling. He lowered that walk-rate about 2 walks per 9 for August-September which is the key for making this ceiling attainable.
Rubber Ducks:
Hitters:
Ryan Cesarini, LH RF/LF – 162 wRC+, 13.6/10.3 K/BB%, .298 BABIP – Don’t sleep on Cesarini. Over the past two seasons, he has had mostly even splits as a hitter (hitting LHP slightly BETTER than RHP) and showed an impressive jump in power to accompany his excellent contact abilities. This is the kind of player who makes his way into organizational top 10 prospect lists if he starts 2027 hot in Columbus.
Nolan Schubart, LH 1B/DH – 145 wRC+, 34/18 K/BB% – Is Schubart capable of being Joey Gallo – good for a lot of strikeouts, a lot of walks and a lot of home runs? That’s the path to the majors for this likely-DH with prodiguous power. But, it’s an uncertain one because of his immense swing-and-miss issues.
Aaron Walton, RH CF – 132 wRC+, 26/13 K/BB% – Walton is one of the most exciting prospects from 2026 for me. He managed to cut his whiff JUST enough to make his hitting look potentially viable at a higher level, and he appears to be an excellent defender in center. He’s also RIGHT-HANDED which is a miracle in the Guardians’ system.
Dean Curley, RH IF – 122 wRC+, 32/13 K/BB% – Curley is an interesting player with some fun power and plate discipline, but also prone to taking WAY too many strikes and swing-and-miss. He’s also not a very good defender, and I’d expect him to get more time at third base than shortstop in the near future.
Welbyn Francisca, SH SS – From Aug.-Sept: 132 wRC+, 26/10 K/BB% – In case you forgot about this latest, switch-hitting Guardians’ shortstop project, Francisca put up an insane last two months at Double-A at the age of only 20. I’ll be interested if they get Francisca some centerfield reps (a la Kahlil Watson) or if they keep him at short where he looks viable. He pulls the ball in the air extremely consistently, but the whiff is a little high.
Additional names: Jaison Chourio (Rule-5 eligible), Bennett Thompson, and Jake Fox are names to continue to monitor, but none have put themselves into the upper echelon of Guardians’ prospects with their 2026 seasons. The outfielders Chourio and Fox and catcher Thompson all rely on heavy contact-over-power tools. Hope is not entirely lost for Jace LaViolette, who had a strong end to his Double-A season… but the clock is ticking for him to show that some swing adjustments can help him alleviate his SIGNIFICANT whiff issues.
Pitchers:
Izaak Martinez, LHP – 2.06 ERA/4.15 FIP, 11.84/3.32 K/BB/9. Did not go well in seven innings at Columbus, but looks to still have potential as a left-handed specialist
Matt Jachec, RHP – 2.05 ERA/3.83 FIP, 12.3/3.4 K/BB/9. Jachec is rule-5 eligible, for what that’s worth. I think he will be a decent major league reliever soon, at the age of 25.
Jack Jasiak, RHP – 3.02 ERA/3.48 FIP, 11.75/2.54 K/BB/9. Didn’t go well in Columbus in eight innings. Also rule-5 eligible, Jasiak will get a prompt chance to show what he can do with prolonged time in Columbus should he still be in the Guardians’ organization come Opening Day there.
Khal Stephen, RHP – 3.44 ERA/4.55 FIP, 8/3.8 K/BB/9. Stephen got to 55 innings until he had to go to the operating table for Tommy John, but his potential to be a mid-rotation starter was clear. Hopefully, he can return to the mound sometime in 2027 and be ready to help in 2028.
Franklin Gomez, LHP – 3.78 ERA/4.92 FIP, 7.56/4.32 K/BB/9. Gomez put up some great numbers in High-A and then Double-A was a struggle as he dealt with his own arm issues. He was able to return and be healthy by the end of the year, so we can have some optimism that he will take the next steps forward in 2027 (if he can pitch, as he has to be added to the 40-man this offseason).
In summary, there were some very encouraging performances from many players in the upper and lower levels of the Guardians’ farm system in 2026. The players listed above have the highest degree of probability to impact the Major League team in 2026, and, for likelihood to do that, I would look at Ingle, Velazquez, Campbell, Perez and Gomez as the highest potential to do so.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros hits a two run home run in the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Two of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
These are the days where legends are made. It’s one thing to win a random Tuesday night regular season contest during the month of May against the lowly Angels. It’s another thing to stave off elimination and extend a playoff series. That will be the task today for Hunter Brown, who will be opposed by Sean Burke. There have been plenty of memorable Game Two’s throughout Astros history.
The 1980 NLCS was high drama. The Phillies would eventually capture their first ever World Series, but they’d have to go through the Astros first. Game Two of the NLDS would be remembered as a victorious extra inning affair thanks in part to Jose Cruz’ clutch RBI in the 10th inning. All told, Houston would tag Phillies reliever Ron Reed and the Phillies bullpen for 4 runs to bust things open during sudden death. Nolan Ryan would go into the 7th, striking out six, but the day belonged to Joaquin Andujar as he closed the door.
In 1986, the Astros were riding high after Mike Scott’s tossed a complete game 1 shutout, striking out 14. They appeared to be well on their way to their first ever World Series, handing the ball to Nolan Ryan the next night. Early on, Nolan would rack up 5 K’s, but the day would belong to Bob Ojeda who pitched a complete game, allowing only 1 run. Ojeda would come back to haunt the Astros a week later in Game 6.
Crushing moments wouldn’t end there. Remember the walk-off winner in the bottom of the 11th at Turner Field in 2004? Rafael Furcal’s two-run homer off Dan Miceli was heartbreaking.
However, 2017 would be a reversal of fortune. As exciting as George Springer’s performance was in the deciding Game 7 at Dodger Stadium, the gem of the series was actually in Game Two. This back-and-forth duel would last 4 hours and 19 minutes. It would feature a record 8 home runs, 6 of which came in the 9th inning or later. Trailing 3-1, Marwin Gonzalez would tie things up off Kenley Jansen, who at the time was considered one of the best closers in the game. In the 10th, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa would leave the yard, but the contest would be decided in the 11th on Springer’s 2 run blast.
Five years later, Game Two of the 2022 World Series swung momentum back to Houston, in route to eventually capturing their second championship crown. Alex Bregman’s two run home run in the 5th inning put the game out of reach.
Of course, the Astros and White Sox have their own playoff history. Game Two of the 2021 ALDS featured Houston exploding in the 7th inning thanks to huge hits from Tucker and Correa in a 9-4 win.
Will more favorable history be made today? Will Astros fans actually show up? Will Hunter Brown recapture his “ace” status on the mound? Will the Astros live to play tomorrow?
Michael Soroka Expresses Interest in Return to AZ It is a no-brainer that Michael Soroka will opt-out of the mutual option for 2027. The revitalized right-hander is already saying all the right things to pump up the payday.
Would Keeping Hazen and Lovullo Be Best for Club? With the impending lockout, it is difficult to see how firing either member of the team would produce a positive outcome at this point. Lovullo is in search of a multi-year contract, something there is zero doubt he will be offered by other clubs. Hazen is only signed through 2028, the season that will be the very first under the new CBA-approved framework.
White Sox Show Poise in Wild Card Win After limping into the playoffs with a .500 record, the Astros are now one loss from elimination to a team that lost 102 games last season.
MLB is so dumb. Kids are in school, adults are at work, and they schedule an entire series at 2:00pm on week days. This isn’t the NFL where people will sit and watch every game so they need their own time. They games should start at 5, 6, 7, and 8. People will watch their team,…
NEW YORK — Ben Rice’s route to stardom with the New York Yankees was anything but routine, even though he is a creature of habit.
A rare Ivy League graduate playing big league baseball, the baby-faced 27-year-old has filled the offensive void created by Aaron Judge’s injury-filled season. Rice had a night to remember in the AL Wild Card Series opener, hitting a grand slam with six RBIs and four hits in a 9-0 rout of the Boston Red Sox.
He tied the Yankees RBIs record for a postseason game, matching Bobby Richardson, Bernie Williams, Hideki Matsui and Robinson Canó.
“Ben is Mr. Consistency, on top of being a Ivy League graduate,” teammate Spencer Jones said. “He’s incredibly smart. He doesn’t take himself too seriously.”
A 12th-round pick in the 2021 amateur draft from Dartmouth, Rice played just 30 college games over three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He grew up in Cohasset, Massachusetts, less than an hour’s drive south of Fenway Park.
He was a Yankees fan surrounded by Red Sox Nation, idolizing New York captain Derek Jeter.
“I was always playing with the Yankees on MLB 2K6 when I was a little guy. What a team to root for. They’re always so good. Pretty cool,” he said.
Rice thought back to his youth at Joseph Osgood Elementary School.
“Definitely wearing the Yankees jersey to the first-grade picture day probably got some weird looks,” he said.
Rice was a 10-year-old in Massachusetts when he watched the Yankees win their last title in 2009.
“It’s probably a little hazy for me,” he said. “I was pretty young.”
Rice likely will get MVP votes after leading the Yankees with 41 homers, 97 RBIs and 105 runs while hitting .264 in his second full big league season.
“Count on one hand, one of the best hitters in the league,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
New York struggled when Judge was out with a toe injury in 2023 and had difficulty generating offense this year when their captain missed most of the season with a broken rib. Rice became the key cog, living up to the “Benny Barrels” nickname given to him by Yankees broadcaster David Cone.
Rice was hitting .306 through May, then batted .196 in June. An 18-for-58 (.119) slide after the All-Star break dropped his season average to .248 on Aug. 22 but he hit .327 (37 for 113) over the remainder.
“For as great a year as he had, he had a stretch there for a month where it was a grind and a struggle,” Boone said. “But he kind of got himself out of it. Really finished the last month with a flurry, and obviously carried it in here the first game of the postseason.”
When Rice debuted with the Yankees two years ago, he joined Yankees coach Brad Ausmus, Kyle Hendricks and Jim Beattie as Dartmouth graduates in the major leagues. Rice’s degree is in psychology.
“He’s a Dartmouth grad — he’s an intelligent guy,” Ausmus said when Rice first made it to the big leagues.
Before heading to Yankee Stadium, Rice makes sure to start every day with scrambled eggs and toast.
“Same breakfast every day. Same routine in the cage every day. The whole timeline of the day is the same. Really just everything,” he said. “Of course, you’ve got different pitchers on the mound, there’s different ways you prepare, but I think the consistency just leaves you asking yourself fewer questions throughout the day because you just go out there, OK, this is what I do, and this is how I’m going to go about my business and just be ready for whenever the game starts.”
The Chicago White Sox were the only team in Tuesday's four wild-card openers to win on the road. That shouldn't really have come as a surprise since they did have a better regular-season record (84-78) than their opponent, the AL West champion Houston Astros (81-81).
The Sox will go for the sweep Wednesday afternoon in Houston with their top starting pitcher, right-hander Sean Burke (11-7, 3.34 ERA) going against Astros ace Hunter Brown (6-4, 3.19 ERA).
Chicago took advantage of a bullpen game for Houston in Game 1 by jumping out to an early lead and holding on for a 6-3 victory.
The Astros, who've lost their past eight postseason games at home, will need to snap that streak to keep their season alive.
USA TODAY Sports will follow all the action with updates and analysis.
HOUSTON – The Astros might slowly be inching toward a comeback. Outfielder Cam Smith deposited a two-out solo home run into the Crawford Boxes and whittled the White Sox's lead to 4-2 after two innings. Smith, a 23-year-old playing in his first MLB postseason, gestured excitedly to the Astros dugout as he rounded the bases.
Jeremy Peña hits leadoff HR to get Astros on the board
05:51 PM ET, September 30 2026, Danielle Lerner
HOUSTON – Jeremy Peña gave Astros fans something to cheer about when he pounced on a middle-of-the-plate slider and crushed a leadoff homer in the top of the first. Jose Altuve struck a two-out hit but was left stranded when Yainer Diaz struck out swinging. Houston remains in a 4-1 hole with another bullpen day looming after Hunter Brown's disastrous start.
HOUSTON – Hunter Brown allowed four or more runs in just three games this regular season. Today, he gave up four runs in the opening frame and failed to finish the first inning. Five pitches in, the White Sox were on the board after Sam Antonacci's leadoff double and Kyle Teel's RBI single. They added three more runs and cycled through the batting order before the Astros decided to pull Brown off the mound.
Brown secured just two outs on 36 pitches and was hailed with a mix of boos and cheers as he walked to the dugout. He left the bases loaded for reliever AJ Blubaugh, who had a rough outing as Houston's opener in Game 1.
Although Brown didn't deliver his best stuff, the Astros defense behind him didn't help matters. Yordan Alvarez missed Antonacci's leadoff double in left field, and replacement third baseman Nick Allen and center fielder Lucas Spence both committed errors.
Not exactly a full house at Daikin Park
05:17 PM ET, September 30 2026, Danielle Lerner
HOUSTON – At first pitch, large sections of the Daikin Park stands remain empty. Announced attendance for Game 1 was 34,011 fans, about 7,000 below official capacity.
Game 2, Wednesday: White Sox at Astros – buy tickets – 5 p.m. ET, NBCSN & Peacock
Game 3*, Thursday: White Sox at Astros – buy tickets – 5 p.m. ET, NBCSN & Peacock
Astros lineup for Game 2 vs White Sox
04:21 PM ET, September 30 2026, Danielle Lerner
Yordan Alvarez will start Game 2 in left field for the Astros while Isaac Paredes moves from third base to designated hitter. Houston's lineup was released less than an hour before first pitch because the team was waiting on the status of Paredes, who fouled a ball of his left knee during a Sept. 26 game against the A's. Although Paredes has played multiple games since then, including Game 1 against the White Sox, he said before the wild card series began that his knee was still sore.
Utility infielder Nick Allen, who has played mostly at shortstop and second base this season, will start at third base in Paredes' place and bat ninth.
Jeremy Peña SS
Yordan Alvarez LF
Isaac Paredes DH
Jose Altuve 2B
Yainer Diaz C
Christian Walker 1B
Lucas Spence CF
Cam Smith RF
Nick Allen 3B
MLB payrolls
03:52 PM ET, September 30 2026
While eight of MLB's final 12 teams are in the top 10 end-of-season payrolls, based on figures from the MLB Labor Relations Department and obtained by USA TODAY, the remaining four are among baseball’s lowest spenders.
That includes the teams with the best records in each league, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Brewers’ payroll entering the postseason is $143.5 million, good for 19th in MLB. The Rays’ $98.3 million total is No. 25.
White Sox — Sean Burke went 11-7 with a 3.34 ERA in 27 starts (32 games); 185 strikeouts in 172⅓ innings.
Astros — Hunter Brown went 6-4 with a 3.19 ERA in 20 starts; 124 strikeouts in 107⅓.
Munetaka Murakami, Tatsuya Imai and Kazuo Matsui chat before Game 2
03:06 PM ET, September 30 2026, Danielle Lerner
HOUSTON - White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami stood on the field at Daikin Park on Wednesday with Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai and former big leaguer Kazuo Matsui, the three chatted before Game 2.
All three came to the majors from Japan's top league, Nippon Professional Baseball. Murakami starred for the Yakult Swallows, and Imai pitched for the Seibu Lions. Matsui played seven seasons in the majors with the Mets, Rockies and Astros. He later managed Imai in Seibu.
White Sox infielder Munetaka Murakami, Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai and former MLB player Kazuo Matsui (who played for the Astros from 2008-10) have a pregame chat at Daikin Park surrounded by Japanese media pic.twitter.com/mnuFvNomw5
After the home crowd at Daikin Park vehemently booed the Astros during Tuesday night’s Game 1 loss, Houston players Bennett Sousa and Christian Walker denounced their fans’ reaction in comments to The Athletic.Astros manager Joe Espada addressed the tension before Game 2, saying he spoke to players about it and adding that he loves the franchise’s fans.“I understand both sides,” Espada said. “There's frustration. Our players and the fans have the right to also show their emotions, and I get it. But one thing I do know is that our players love our fans. We respect our fans. We need our fans. We need the energy from our fans. We feed off that.But I did talk to the players and we're going to move on. But I do want our fans to know that we love them and we need them.”
White Sox players climb up to Daikin Park train before Game 2
02:25 PM ET, September 30 2026
Before Game 2, a troupe of White Sox players visited the train above left field at Daikin Park. The field trip perhaps indicates how relaxed the White Sox are feeling with a chance to end the series tonight.Manager Will Venable said he and the front office have tried to balance setting high expectations with eliminating stress for players.“We want to create an environment where people can be themselves,” Venable said. “We have some of the best personalities in the league in that room, and at the same time, you know, having real clarity on where our vision for winning looks like, and the expectations that help us get there.
White Sox lineup for Game 2 vs Astros
02:15 PM ET, September 30 2026
Chase Meidroth went 2-for-4 with an RBI from the No.8 spot in the White Sox win Tuesday. On Wednesday, the second baseman moved up a spot.
White Sox manager Will Venable swapped Meidroth and rookie right fielder Braden Montgomery for Game 2 of the AL wild-card series against the Houston Astros. The rest of the order is the same as in Tuesday's 6-3 win. One more win and CHicago advances to the Division Series.
The White Sox are facing a real starter this time. Hunter Brown is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA against them this season.
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 29: The Post Season logo on the On Deck Circle mat before the the Philadelphia Phillies game versus the Atlanta Braves in game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series on September 29, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The first day of the post-season is in the books, and most of the games were pretty dull. The only excitement came in Atlanta, where the Braves came back late to take their opener. But elsewhere, the White Sox took the lead in the first inning, and never led by less than three from the middle of the second. The evening games were then totally uncompetitive, with the Yankees and Padres winning in blowouts, each holding their opponents to just three hits. Let’s hope for something a bit more attention keeping in today’s batch. Here’s the schedule which, in a very helpful way, is exactly the same as yesterday!
Philadelphia Phillies @ Atlanta Braves (0-1): 11:00 am, NBC
Chicago White Sox @ Houston Astros (1-0): 2:00 pm, Peacock
Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees (0-1): 5:00 pm, NBC
Chicago Cubs @ San Diego Padres (0-1): 8:00 pm, Peacock
Aug 13, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Kevin Gausman (12) throws to the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Best-of-three series are weird, huh? The postseason just started yesterday and already there are four teams that could be eliminated today. To think that you battle and slog through a six-month, 162-game season to make the playoffs, and then it could be over in the blink of an eye. Or two blinks of an eye, I guess. Baseball is an unforgiving game.
Day 1 brought few surprises, as the team with the better record won all four games (including the White Sox, who were three games better than Houston despite being the road team in this series). The Yankees/Red Sox and Cubs/Padres games were particularly uncompetitive. Of the four teams with their backs against the wall, can any of them find a spark to keep their season alive?
Phillies at Braves, 2:00 ET (NBC/Peacock) — ATL leads 1-0
LHP Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) vs. RHP Tyler Mahle (ATL)
I was today years old when I learned that Tyler Mahle was on the Braves. Maybe I should have been paying more attention, considering that the veteran has been outstanding since joining Atlanta in a trade-deadline deal with the Giants. Mahle had a 1.99 ERA in nine regular-season starts with the Braves, averaging less than one baserunner per inning, and he’ll be facing an opponent he’s particularly dominant against. Mahle has pitched against the Phillies four times this year — twice as a Giant in May, and twice as a Brave in September — and has posted a 2.28 ERA against them, with his team winning three. It’s not the ideal opponent for the Phillies, whose offense went into a deep freeze down the stretch.
At least the Phils have the right guy on the mound to try to stave off elimination. Sánchez, last year’s NL Cy Young runner-up to Paul Skenes, just finished his second consecutive brilliant season. The 29-year-old lefty had a 2.91 ERA and a league-leading 18 wins, and earlier this season he strung together a 50.2 scoreless innings streak, the longest in the Phillies’ 144-year history. For the second straight year, Sánchez led the league with an 8.1 bWAR, though he’ll probably finish second place in the Cy vote again, this time to Jacob Misiorowski.
Of course, it won’t matter how well Sánchez pitches today if the Phillies’ beleaguered bullpen can’t hold a lead. Closer Jhoan Duran coughed up the game-losing three-run homer to Austin Riley yesterday and threw 27 pitches in doing so. The Phillies need to find one or two reliable relievers or they’re cooked.
White Sox at Astros, 5:00 ET (NBCSN/Peacock) — CWS leads 1-0
RHP Sean Burke (CHW) vs. RHP Hunter Brown (HOU)
I think it’d be a joke for a .500 team to advance far in the playoffs (unless that team were the Orioles, of course), and the fact that it’s the already unlikeable Astros makes it easy to root against them. So yesterday’s result, with the scrappy White Sox pulling out the victory while Houston fans booed their own team, was delicious.
I’ll also be rooting for University of Maryland alum Sean Burke to close out this series for the White Sox. The righty had a fine year, with a 3.34 ERA and better than a strikeout per inning in 27 starts and five bulk-relief appearances. If he can hold down (or pitch around) MVP front-runner Yordan Alvarez, who was 1-for-4 in Game 1, then Burke can get the job done.
But the Astros seem to have the pitching advantage here, sending ace Hunter Brown to the mound needing a win to survive. Brown missed two months with injury but was his usual excellent self when healthy, racking up 10.4 K/9 and posting a 3.19 ERA. In eight career postseason appearances, mostly in relief, Brown has allowed only two earned runs in 16.1 innings.
Red Sox at Yankees, 8:00 ET (NBC/Peacock) — NYY leads 1-0
RHP Sonny Gray (BOS) vs. LHP Max Fried (NYY)
Boston’s unlikely comeback this season, rallying from 14 games under .500 in June to 12 games over by the end of the year, could reach a swift end today. It certainly will if their offense doesn’t put up a more competent performance than in Game 1, when AL Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler and two relievers combined to shut them out. The Sox managed just three hits and struck out 11 times. Old friend Adley Rutschman had a single and fanned twice. But the job doesn’t get any easier in Game 2 against three-time All-Star Max Fried, who had a 2.80 ERA and 0.994 WHIP in 20 starts.
It wasn’t just the Red Sox offense that stunk in Game 1. So too did their pitching, which gave up nine runs. The soft underbelly of Boston’s bullpen gave up eight runs, including guys I’ve never heard of like Alec Gamboa and Wyatt Olds. (“Wyatt Olds”? Come on, am I supposed to believe that’s a real person?) It’ll be up to Sonny Gray, who had an excellent first season in Boston with a league-leading 18 wins and a 2.72 ERA, to force a Game 3. He faced the Yankees twice this season and delivered two quality starts, with the Sox winning both. Gray has now made the postseason four times in his career, each at least four seasons apart and with four different teams (with the 2013 Athletics, 2017 Yankees, and 2023 Twins before this).
Cubs at Padres, 10:00 ET (NBCSN/Peacock) — SD leads 1-0
RHP Kevin Gausman (CHC) vs. RHP Nick Pivetta (SD)
You’d never know that the Cubs had the most potent offense in baseball this season. They had no answer for Padres pitching in Game 1, an 8-0 shutout loss. Like the Red Sox, the Cubs had only three hits in the game, and presumptive NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. Combined with last year’s 5-for-27 playoff performance, Crow-Armstrong is not exactly building a sterling postseason career so far.
Veteran Nick Pivetta, who was limited to eight starts this season due to a right flexor strain, will take the mound for San Diego, hoping to follow up on Michael King’s seven scoreless innings in Game 1. Pivetta faced the Cubs in last year’s NL Wild Card Series and struck out nine in five innings, but gave up two runs to take the loss.
Another old friend, Kevin Gausman, starts for the Cubs. Acquired from Toronto at the deadline, Gausman didn’t have a great regular season in Chicago, posting a 4.83 ERA and giving up 11 home runs in nine games. This will be Gausman’s 15th career playoff game — including three relief appearances with the Orioles in 2014 — and while he struggled for most of his postseason career, he was brilliant last year during the Blue Jays’ World Series run, with a 2.93 ERA in six games.
