TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros will continue their final road trip of the regular season with the first game of a four -game series against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, CA…RHP Peter Lambert (8-10) will be on the mound for the Astros, opposite RHP Mason Barnett (1-4) and the Athletics.
THE LAMBO: RHP Peter Lambert has been the most consistent starter for the Astros this season, as he leads the club in wins (8), starts (27), innings pitched (151.0) and strikeouts (147)…he’s allowed two-or-fewer earned runs in 19 of his 27 starts on the year and has done so in 11 of his last 14 starts.
THE POSTSEASON CHASE: The Astros and Rangers are locked in a tight race down the stretch for the AL West with the two teams having the same record with four games left to play… the Astros own the tiebreaker over the Rangers with a season series victory (9-4 record).
AL WEST NEXT GAME
Houston: 78-80 – at ATH (63-95)
Texas: 78-80 – vs. NYM (73-85)
Seattle: 74-84 4.0 vs. LAA (60-98)
VS. THE ATHLETICS: This is the final series between the Astros and Athletics this season, with the two clubs last seeing each other from Aug. 21-23 at Daikin Park..the Astros have gone 4-5 vs. the Athletics this season…the Astros also own an overall regular season record of 124-111 against the Athletics, including a 59-60 record on the road.
THE CASE FOR THE MVP: DH Yordan Alvarez is a solid candidate for the AL MVP Award…Alvarez leads the American League in OPS (1.035), slugging percentage (.603), OBP (.432), batting average (.316), total bases (332), walks (107), IBB (33), wRC+ (181), OPS+ (.191) and extra-base hits (75)…he also ranks tied for first in home runs (41), second in RBI (102), tid for second in hits (174), fourth in runs (101), and tied for third in doubles (33).
TRIPLE THREAT: DH Yordan Alvarez currently ranks first or second in the AL in all three Triple Crown categories…he enters tonight leading the AL in batting avg. (.316), while ranking tied for first in HR (41) and second in RBI (102)…since Carl Yastrzemski won the AL Triple Crown in 1967, there has been just one Triple Crown winner in the Majors, Miguel Cabrera in 2012 (AL):
Batting Avg. (AL) HR (AL) RBI (AL)
Alvarez: .314 1. Alvarez: 41 1. Alonso: 110
Simpson: .309 1. Caminero: 41 2. Alvarez: 102
Yan Díaz: .291 1. Alonso: 41 3. Caminero: 97
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Thursday, September 24, 8:40 p.m. CT
Location: Sutter Heath Park, Sacramento, CA
TV: Spacecity sports netowrk
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; KTRH 740 AM; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
Los Angeles, CA - September 23: Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres tags out Teoscar Hernández #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning at Dodger Stadium on September 23, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
San Diego Padres (88-70) at Los Angeles Dodgers (97-61), September 24, 2026, 7:10 p.m. PST
Watch: Padres.TV
Location: UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles, Calif.
Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our thread
CHICAGO — On a milestone afternoon for Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Chicago Cubs earned their second straight trip to the playoffs.
PCA joined the 40-40 club in Thursday’s 2-1 win over the Miami Marlins.
“I’ve seen a lot of winning here,” Cubs outfielder Ian Happ said. “It’s been a rollercoaster but the resilience of this group and our ability to get through it speaks volumes.”
A favorite to win the NL MVP award, Crow-Armstrong swiped his 40th base and became the seventh player with at least 40 homers and 40 steals in a season. He joined a group that includes Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. Jose Canseco was the first with the 1988 Oakland Athletics.
Crow-Armstrong hit his 45th homer during Sunday’s 9-1 win at Cincinnati, extending his career high. The 24-year-old drew a leadoff walk from Tyler Phillips in the first inning and swiped second base on the next pitch to Seiya Suzuki for his 40th steal in 47 attempts. Fans chanted “MVP” as the Wrigley Field videoboard proclaimed the feat.
“That was the most emotion I think I’ve ever experienced on a baseball field,” Crow-Armstrong said. “It wasn’t relief, it wasn’t anxiety. It was a sense of gratitude.”
PCA is hitting .280 with 45 homers, 107 RBIs, 119 runs and 40 steals.
Chicago went 20-3 from April 14 to May 8, but followed with a 2-14 stretch.
“Hasn’t been all smooth,” manager Craig Counsell said, “but you develop some calluses through that and I think it gets you through a lot of stuff.”
Seiya Suzuki homered for the Cubs (88-71), who assured themselves of one of the NL’s three wild card berths.
Chicago also was a wild card last year, when the Cubs beat San Diego in the first round and lost to Milwaukee in a Division Series. The Cubs will be making consecutive postseason appearances for the first time since four straight from 2015-18, which in 2016 included their first championship since 1908.
The Cubs clinched their berth shortly after the White Sox earned their postseason trip with a 9-1 win at Kansas City.
“This city deserves all the great things,” Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said.
Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Athletics starting pitcher Mason Barnett (63) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Earlier this week, the Athletics opened the final week and homestand of the season by sweeping the Los Angeles Angels in a brief two-game series. Now that the A’s are no longer at risk of losing 100 games, they can turn their attention to keeping the Houston Astros out of the playoffs by winning this season-ending, four-game series.
A’s right-hander Mason Barnett will make his final start of the season this evening. The 25-year-old enters his 20th game and sixth start with a 1-4 record, a 7.16 ERA, a 1.75 WHIP and 42 strikeouts in 44 innings.
After scuffling in a brief five-start cameo last season, Barnett has failed to take a step forward during an extended big-league opportunity. Over his last seven appearances, the right-hander has significantly struggled, going 0-4 with a 10.27 ERA and a 2.20 WHIP while handing out nearly as many walks as strikeouts. Barnett received a no-decision in his last start against the Cleveland Guardians after allowing three runs on seven hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings.
The Athletics would greatly appreciate a quality start from Barnett tonight against a playoff-hungry Astros lineup. He will look to match his performance from June 5, when he shut out Houston over four innings. However, if Barnett falters, the Green and Gold will likely have to turn to their bullpen earlier than expected for a third consecutive game.
The Athletics are rocking with the same lineup that scored 16 runs against the Angels over the past two days. Center fielder Henry Bolte, who recorded four hits yesterday, could receive some down-ballot Rookie of the Year votes after showcasing his electric five-tool skill set throughout his first season.
Second baseman Donovan Walton and shortstop Alika Williams have taken advantage of increased playing time over the past few weeks. If the 2027 season is not cancelled by a lockout, these two will surely be at the forefront of the competition for the backup infielder/utility roles on next season’s A’s roster.
The A’s offense has benefited from Shea Langeliers’ return. With Langeliers limited to designated hitter duties, Jonah Heim may have to catch the final four games if backup catcher Brian Serven is unable to recover from the injury he suffered last night.
As for Houston, right-hander Peter Lambert will make his final start of the season. The 29-year-old is finishing a career-best campaign in his return to MLB following a season spent in Japan with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. Lambert enters his 28th start with an 8-10 record, a 3.70 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP and 147 strikeouts in 151 innings.
Lambert is riding a seven-start winless streak, yet his latest outings have been solid. The right-hander took the loss in his last start against the Atlanta Braves despite allowing just two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. On June 5, Lambert earned the win after holding the Athletics to one run over 5 1/3 innings. He will look to repeat that performance today against an A’s squad hoping to play spoiler.
And the Astros’ starting nine shapes up like this:
9/24 ⚾ Astros Lineup is Out! Provided by mlbstartingnine (@DailyMLBLineups for link)
Nothing surprising in the Astros’ lineup, other than rookie Lucas Spence starting in center field. While American League MVP front-runner Yordan Alvarez is the main threat, Jeremy Pena, Isaac Paredes and Jose Altuve are also primed to capitalize on any mistake pitches Barnett leaves over the middle of the plate.
Time to play spoiler and make it three straight wins. Let’s go, A’s!
New York Mets starting pitcher Zac Thornton throws to the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Zac Thornton accomplished his biggest goal for this season just by walking to the mound during Thursday’s first inning.
Between the minor leagues and majors, it was start No. 28 for the rookie left-hander.
Access the Mets beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.
“I met all my goals this year of debuting and making every start,” Thornton said after the Mets lost 3-1 to the Rangers. “I wanted to finish the year and, obviously, make it up here.”
In his final whirl, he allowed two earned runs on four hits and one walk over five innings. Josh Jung’s two-run homer in the first accounted for the scoring against him.
Thornton finished the season with a 3.42 ERA in his 15 starts for the Mets, firmly placing him in the mix for a rotation spot next year.
“I don’t think anybody could have had higher expectations than what he went out there and did,” manager Andy Green said. “That’s a tribute to him and how hard he works and getting more strikeouts here recently too, which is encouraging as well.”
New York Mets starting pitcher Zac Thornton throws to the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game on Sept. 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. AP Photo/Julio Cortez
The Mets fell short of a Texas sweep but departed for Washington with a 26-20 record since the trade deadline.
Thornton belongs to a young pitching nucleus that includes Nolan McLean, Christian Scott and Jonah Tong, as the Mets look for rotation answers heading to next season.
“I always thought I would be up [in the majors] this year,” said Thornton, who began the season at Double-A Binghamton. “I didn’t know to what extent it would be — maybe, like, September to help us make a push to the postseason.
“It just so happened that we had a few injuries, and then obviously the trade deadline we had open spots, but I wouldn’t say I surprised myself.”
New York Mets pitcher Zac Thornton (49) throws to the plate against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on September 24, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Derek Falvey was named senior adviser, baseball operations, adding a seasoned voice to David Stearns’ front office. Falvey, 41, was previously the president of baseball operations for the Twins.
The Mets also named Kris Gross assistant general manager, scouting. Gross oversaw amateur and international scouting for the Mets over the past three seasons.
Green was leaning toward a bullpen game, perhaps with an opener, for Friday’s game against the Nationals. The Mets are short-handed in the rotation following the injuries that landed Scott and Robert Stock on the injured list over the past week.
Tong and Sean Manaea are scheduled to start the final two games of the season.
The Mets finished 23-25 in interleague play this season.
The Chicago White Sox celebrate a playoff berth after defeating the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, Thursday, September 24, 2026.
The White Sox made baseball history with their unbelievable playoff berth.
After clinching an American League postseason spot on Thursday, the Southsiders became the first team ever to reach the playoffs after back-to-back 100-loss seasons.
Chicago had, in fact, been even worse than that in recent years, losing at least 100 games in each of the last three seasons, including a modern MLB record of 121 losses in 2024.
Miguel Vargas head back to the dugout after scoring during the first inning of the White Sox’s 9-1 playoff berth-clinching win over the Royals on Sept. 24, 2026 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
They’re also just the third MLB team to lose 100 games and make the postseason a year later.
It’s the first time the White Sox will play postseason baseball since 2021, when they won the AL Central after going 93-69 during the regular season.
After Thursday’s playoff-clinching 9-1 win over the Royals, Chicago sits at 82-77, which is 22 more victories than they had in 2025, with three games to go.
The White Sox are still fighting for a division title and first-round bye.
The White Sox celebrate after clinching a playoff berth after their blowout win over the Royals. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Guardians, who play the Red Sox on Thursday night, sit a half-game up on the White Sox in the AL Central at 82-76.
Chicago holds the tiebreaker over Cleveland, meaning the White Sox would come out on top in the division if they finish with the same record.
“They have belief in themselves, belief in each other,” White Sox manager Will Venable said according to MLB.com. “That can carry you a long way … These guys continue to believe and whatever the ending is to this one, we all can agree that from the beginning, this group has as much self-belief as any group I’ve seen.”
The White Sox will finish up the regular season with three games at home against the Rockies.
“I absolutely understand his mindset,’’ Sabathia said. “He wants to get back for the guys. You feel like you owe that to the guys. But I would want him to be careful.”
Sabathia pitched through knee and shoulder injuries, especially in the latter part of his career, and is now living with the consequences.
“Even with as much praise as I get for pitching till my arm fell off, I still needed my knee replaced at 46 and my shoulder reconstructed,’’ said Sabathia, who will have his No. 52 retired and a plaque unveiled in Monument Park before Game 1 of Friday’s doubleheader.
Asked if he would change any of his decisions to stay on the mound in spite of the injuries, Sabathia paused and said, “No.”
Aaron Judge watches from the dugout during the Yankees’ blowout win over the Rays o Sept. 23, 2026 at the Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“But I had to think about it right now,’’ Sabathia said. “There was no question at the time. You just do it. But now, I think about everything I’m going through physically, and I’m not even 50.”
Sabathia also saw Derek Jeter play with an injured foot throughout the final month and into the playoffs in 2012.
Yankees great CC Sabathia, an MLB commentator for Netflix, is seen on the field before the start of the 2026 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby on July 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Jeter finally went down with a fractured left ankle in Game 1 of the ALCS against Detroit, so he knows what it’s like to see a leader go down and not be available in the playoffs, as Judge could be when the wild-card series starts Tuesday.
“[Judge] has been hurt all year, so you just keep going,’’ Sabathia said. “I remember when [Jeter] broke his ankle, we were sad, but what were we gonna do, quit? You’ve got to keep going. You’ve got to play.”
But, as Sabathia quickly noted with a laugh, “We got swept [in the series], but you’ve got to show up and play. It’s hard not to have your best player, especially when he’s the best player in the game.”
“Not being a homegrown Yankee and to finish my career in Monument Park is incredible,’’ Sabathia said. “I don’t want to downplay the Hall of Fame, because that’s the biggest accomplishment of my life, but I think this is bigger. Being able to come here as the highest-paid pitcher ever at the time and have them feel I lived up to that makes me feel good.”
I have a terrible track record when it comes to singling out players. Recently, I’ve glorified Tyler Fitzgerald, Logan Webb, and Willy Adames, and turned into pumpkins soon after my exaltations. Alternatively, my naysaying spotlight pointed at Rafael Devers received a double middle finger from him by his explosive season with the bat. So, I did briefly considered making this a real miserable post, but I have to believe that at some point, there will be alignment.
Jonah Cox is the most exciting San Francisco Giant playing today.
I know, I know. There’s Bryce Eldridge. There was Rafael Devers. There’s, uh… um… other dudes maybe somewhere. But just like a movie star entering a room, there’s a light that shines whenever Jonah Cox is on the TV screen. Sure, a little bit of that is the stadium lighting reflecting off his fair features, but the rest of it is the undeniable talent. Somehow, the Giants have found a contact-speed threat the likes of which we haven’t seen in a very long time and one who seems setup to make a huge positive impact for next year’s team (which probably won’t be good, but should be interesting at the very least).
Justice delos Santos wrote a heckuva profile about Cox last week and the section on his swing adjustment really got me excited.
Before the team traveled to Boston, Cox and Mense talked about implementing a wider base with no stride. When Cox tried it out in the cage, Mense recalled him three straight line drives up the middle.
Cox introduced his refurbished mechanics on Aug. 23 and saw immediate results.
From August 23rd to September 16th, Cox slashed .329/.386/.461 in 23 games (86 PA) with 3 homers, a double, and 9 stolen bases. Three weeks of me going gaga here in my mom’s basement. Earlier in the piece, hitting coach Hunter Mense put my it plainly: “Anybody that has the kind of toolset that he does is incredibly exciting to watch because you don’t know what the ceiling is going to be.”
Sometimes, there’s added hype from the context. But that’s just not the case here. I don’t care that the Giants got him from the A’s. For Ross Stripling. During Farhan Zaidi’s tenure. But that he also flourished under the new player development program run by Randy Winn. It only matters that he’s here and he’s got me excited about a team I have been invited (and taken the opportunity) to hate a little bit.
But maybe the streak is over. Maybe it’s time to take off the rose colored glasses. Maybe it’s logical to tone down my excitement. This past week, he’s struck out 12 times in 25 plate appearances (48 K%) and is 2-for-20 (.100). That speed and defense has certainly helped prop up his profile overall (he’s about a 1 WAR player right now no matter the WAR system), but he’s got a lot of swing and miss. Too much. On the season, it’s 60 strikeouts to 10 walks in 157 plate appearances. Putting aside the 6:1 ratio, that’s still 38.3% overall.
In the minors, it’s a far more palatable 23.4% for his career and 17% here in 2026. He hit .400 in the minors this season, you know. It’s so easy to root for him and dream big right now. But check out this list of 2B/OF types who had 200 PA or fewer, 15 or fewer walks and 60 or more strikeouts (which I’ve gone ahead and sorted by rWAR):
I didn’t expect to get just 33 results; but, as I suspected, it’s not promising. On the other hand — wow, Jonah Cox is the best of this bunch. What I’m looking to see is whether or not this could be a part of a players’ track record long-term. To do that, I needed to sort by age. The younger the player, the better chance of this being a sort of rough start to a career.
Players for whom this was their final season
Rick Ankiel, Brant Brown
Players who’d play in just 1 more season
Bill Hall (14 MLB PAs for Baltimore), Gregory Polanco (382 PA for PIT; 72 OPS+), Jhonkensy Noel (153 PA for CLE; 31 OPS+), Trayvon Robinson (164 PA for SEA; 76 OPS)
Egyptian Healy (1885-1892)*, Gorman Thomas (1973-1986)
Result in current season/still active
Gabriel Arias, Jonah Cox, Tristan Gray, James Outman, Denzel Clarke, Alex Jackson, Connor Norby, Josh Lowe, Jordan Beck, Leody Taveras
So, after reviewing MLB history, the most accurate thing we could say is that nothing is set in stone. Cox could go either way. Makes sense. This is his age-24 season. He’s got a heckuva MiLB track record. Egyptian Healy (1886) and Gorman Thomas (1973) are the two outliers in this comparison group — Healy was a pitcher who amassed that hitting line — who are from such wildly different eras that a comparison doesn’t seem relevant. Just eyeballing the list, if Cox is to have longevity at all, it’ll be because of his speed and defense. But will his bat push him into being a regular or is he bound for the bench?
Strikeout rates are as instructive as walk rates — at least, to me they are. There’s some research to suggest that Double-A numbers are also strong predictors of MLB success/failure, and so when I mash those two ideas together in my brain I get the idea that Jonah Cox is still making the adjustment to major league pitching. But that 17% MiLB strikeout rate sis a swing and a drive away from the 38.2% he has in his first 157 plate appearances. The scant Statcast data isn’t exciting either. 5.8% barrel rate. Just a .213 expected batting average. A 32.7% chase rate.
Still, he’s kind of unique. If you filter the age to 24 or younger and set a minimum threshold for stolen bases of 10, then the only comp is that Leody Taveras season, who was graded as one of the best prospects and athletes when he signed as an international amateur in 2015 and as he got older was graded for playing plus defense at a premium position. Now, some speedsters can thrive if they can square up the ball, but Cox isn’t at that point — not yet, anyway.
The position comparison doesn’t necessarily suggest that regular starter I’d so hoped for either, but he has certainly demonstrated an intensity and physical talent to keep an eye on; the team isn’t necessarily set at the position, but at the very least with Gilbert there, too, they’ve got options in center that they didn’t have a year ago.
But, I guess, pump the brakes. Take a breath. Cox is not quite the surprise breakout of this rebuild season, but he has certainly made us all anxious to see if he can take the next step.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Elly De La Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates his home run with teammates in the dugout during the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on September 22, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Elly De La Cruz entered the final week of the 2026 regular season with a chance to join one of the most elite clubs in Major League Baseball history.
Only 51 players have ever managed to homer at least 30 times and swipe at least 30 bags in a single season, and only a trio of Cincinnati Reds legends have ever accomplished said feat, either. That trio? None other than Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, and Brandon Phillips.
Elly, who opened Thursday’s series finale against the Atlanta Braves with both 29 homers and 29 steals to his name so far this season, just smashed his 30th homer.
This particular big fly carried 402 feet off a heater thrown by former Cincinnati Red Tyler Mahle, and it spearheaded a big 3rd inning that saw the Reds flip a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead.
Now, if only he can get on base and swipe one more bag…
New York Yankees announcer Michael Kay prepares to lay flowers at home plate during a pregame memorial for radio announcer John Sterling before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium, Monday, May 4, 2026, in the Bronx, N.Y.
Michael Kay doesn’t think he’s “close at all” to starting to think about his broadcast future, though he joked in a phone interview with The Post on Thursday that “when you reach a certain age, people are going to wonder.”
“It’s funny because I worry about that decision whenever I make it. I don’t think I’m close to it at all,” he said. “I love the line, God laughs at those that make plans.”
Michael Kay prepares to lay flowers at home plate during a pregame memorial for radio announcer John Sterling before the Yankees’ blowout win over the Orioles at the Stadium on May 4, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Kay has been part of Yankees’ radio and TV broadcasts for 35 years and said on Thursday that he still feels good, noting how much health can play into any decision.
He also reiterated a comment he made on the Awful Announcing podcast last month when he was asked if he would follow in longtime Yankees play-by-play radio announcer John Sterling’s footsteps and carry on his career behind the microphone into his 80s.
“I probably can’t even imagine being 80, so I can’t imagine what I’d be doing then,” Kay said.
The Yankees broadcaster also recalled a conversation he had with Rose when the Mets announcer called it “strange” that their colleagues stayed in their jobs as long as they do.
“I said, ‘because it’s a great job. Why would you, why would you give it up willingly,’” Kay recalled saying to Rose. “Obviously, if you lose your skill or you see yourself slowing down, then you probably owe it to your bosses and the audience to consider.
“But I don’t think I’m anywhere near that. I guess other people would have to judge that for themselves, but I think I’m a pretty good judge of myself, so I don’t see retirement anytime in the future.”
Yankees announcers John Sterling and Michael Kay are seen on the field during Derek Jeter night at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 22, 2022. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The series will be aired locally on 880 ESPN, and Kay will also be working the pre- and post-game shows on YES Network during the length of the Bronx Bombers’ playoff run.
The Yankees voice added one other reason for not looking too far into what his future holds, joking that his son — a diehard Bronx Bombers fan — is “dead set against it.”
“He knows there’s advantages to your father is the Yankee announcer,” he said jokingly. “Then let’s say that I continue to do it.
“Well, in five years, my daughter’s in college, and six years, my son’s in college, and I don’t know if [Kay’s wife] Jody would want me around that much.”
The Philadelphia Phillies are still battling for an NL wild card spot, but suddenly, they're also left fretting about the health of their big trade deadline pickup.
Luis Arraez exited the Phillies' Sept. 24 game against the Milwaukee Brewers with a leg injury. Arraez appeared to be hurt as he tried to avoid a tag while running to first in the bottom of the sixth inning. He lay on the ground in obvious pain as he was tended to by a trainer.
He was clearly hampered as he made his way off the field and while walking around in the dugout.
The Phillies said Arraez is dealing with a left ankle sprain and will be evaluated further.
Luis Arráez went down in pain after running to 1st base on this play. He has left the game. pic.twitter.com/nbKPlGanAg
The Phillies acquired the four-time All-Star on Aug. 3 in a deal with the San Francisco Giants. Though his numbers have dipped since his trade, he still leads the National League in batting average this season.
Luis Arraez injury update
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said X-rays for Arraez were negative.
"We'll know more tomorrow," Mattingly said.
Asked if he was hopeful Arraez would play again this season, Mattingly said, "I'm hopeful that he can play, but we'll see. We'll see where it goes."
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres hits a home run during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Last night’s game might not have seemed as important as it was. The San Diego Padres dropped their series opener on Tuesday night versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. Their magic number remained at two to clinch a playoff spot with five games left to play. Three of those games come against the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, it still felt all but certain that the Padres would clinch. Tuesday night gave a bit of fear that San Diego would regress.
Instead, they turned in a fantastic performance on Wednesday night, besting the rival Dodgers and forcing the rubber match in today’s finale. The offense performed well, scoring five runs. But it was the pitching staff that truly outdid themselves. The Friars’ pitchers surrendered just one run despite allowing plenty of traffic. Notably, David Morgan worked out a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning. San Diego will need more of that if they want to get anywhere in October.
Taking the mound
Tyler Glasnow (LAD) v. Nick Pivetta (SD)
Similar to Pivetta, Glasnow has spent the majority of his time on the injured list this season. However, Glasnow owns a 4.50 ERA since coming off of the IL. He pitched well in August (3.00 ERA), but his last three starts have been tough. The righty has given up four runs in two of his last three appearances.
Glasnow hasn’t faced the Friars yet this season, but he’s pitched well against them in the past. Of the hitters with 10-plus at-bats against the right-hander, none are batting above league average (.244). San Diego will need to reverse that narrative in order to win the series finale over the rival Dodgers.
Pivetta has surged since returning from the IL earlier this month. In three starts this month, the veteran right-hander owns a 1.93 ERA through 14 innings pitched. His ERA on the season has now dropped to 3.30 (30.0 IP). In those last three starts, Pivetta has surrendered a total of three runs on 11 hits and one walk.
He’s looked dominant since his return, which has been huge for the Padres. Pivetta’s strikeout numbers were initially down, with just two in his first five innings. But they’ve since bumped up (11 K’s across 14 innings). He is San Diego’s most volatile starter since his arm is relatively untested this season. It’s very possible that he crashes and burns soon, though he could continue to go on the run he’s been on.
Batter up!
Manny Machado slugged the 398th home run of his career to open the scoring on Wednesday night. He’s one away from his first 30-homer season since 2023 and could easily do so in the final four games of the year. Regardless, if he can start to get hot (especially with the coming playoffs) it would be a huge turn of fortune for San Diego.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Dustin Harris, LF
Manny Machado, 3B
Ty France, 1B
Jackson Merrill, CF
Luis Campusano, C
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Ethan Salas, DH
Despite the Dodgers outhitting the Padres last night, San Diego made better use of their opportunities. You’d think that wouldn’t be the case with the Friars going 1-for-10 with RISP, but they still scored when it mattered. Most importantly, the Padres capitalized on Los Angeles’ mistakes. They played some great baseball, and they’ll need to continue that.
Relief corps
Starter Robbie Ray worked a grueling 3 1/3 innings before Morgan finished out the fourth inning. He surrendered just one run, but needed a whopping 84 pitches to complete the outing. After that, the ‘pen slammed the door. Yuki Matsui, Bradgley Rodriguez, Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller covered five scoreless innings. They allowed a combined total of three hits and walked two, striking out five batters.
The bullpen will be somewhat depleted today because of that. However, Jason Adam’s return bolsters the club quite a bit. To make room for Adam, Griffin Canning was optioned to Triple-A El Paso. That means the Friars will have Adam, Kyle Hart, Wandy Peralta and Randy Vásquez available. Should Pivetta stumble, the latter trio will be out in full force.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees celebrates hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on September 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s going to be some nasty weather in New York this weekend, and the Yankees have done their best to try and get ahead of it. Saturday’s showdown with the Orioles will instead be played on Friday, in a traditional single-admission doubleheader.
Game one will kick off at 4:05pm Eastern time, with the highly-anticipated twin promotion of Josh Hart’s bobblehead night and CC Sabathia’s No. 52 being retired pregame. After that first game concludes, game two will kick off about 30 minutes afterward.
Saturday's Yankees-Orioles game (Saturday, September 26) has been rescheduled due to the forecast of sustained inclement weather and will be made up tomorrow, Friday, September 25, as the first game of a single-admission doubleheader, which will begin at 4:05 p.m.
There’s no word yet on what the team plans to do for Sunday’s game, although MLB has in the past cancelled games 162 when it’s clear there will be no material impact on the standings. The Orioles currently sit just a game up on the Blue Jays though, so while both are eliminated, the league may try and fit that contest around possible inclement weather since their exact order does at least affect the draft lottery. The Yankees themselves have little to play for with the No. 4 seed locked up in the AL and a home playoff game Tuesday night.
Ticketholders are reminded that only tickets for the original September 25th game will be valid for tomorrow. Ticketholders for September 26th will likely only be able to exchange for 2027 tickets, so let’s make sure that CBA stuff gets cleared up!
As the regular season winds down and the Yankees begin to plan for the postseason, the team's roster lacks some major players. To name a few, Fernando Cruz has been on the injured list (IL) since late August, Clarke Schmidt was diagnosed with right bicep neuritis before Thursday night's matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays, and captain Aaron Judge is battling a right calf strain, which he said he hopes to beat by the beginning of the Wild Card round Monday.
But ahead of the game Thursday, manager Aaron Boone gave a cautiously optimistic update about two of New York's injured members: Trent Grisham and Giancarlo Stanton.
"I just talked to [Grisham], said he feels really good. [Giancarlo] was actually in the cage hitting when I was down there. They're going out to hit on the field right now," Boone said. "They're trending in a good way."
Grisham was placed on the 10-day IL on Sept. 6 after tweaking his hamstring, which was declared a Grade 2 strain, less than three months after injuring the same hamstring in mid-June. His first stint on the IL lasted nearly three weeks.
Prior to his injuries this season, the 29-year-old struggled both at the plate and in the field, slashing .211/.308/.395 and posting -7 defensive runs saved (DRS) and -6 outs above average (OAA), which were tied for second-worst and worst in the league, respectively, on Sept. 6. His lackluster season followed a career-best year in which he put up 34 home runs and a .812 OPS.
Stanton, on the other hand, has missed nearly the whole season. The slugger first injured his right calf April 24 running from first to second, then reinjured the same leg in June, extending his rehab process. Then, in late August, he faced another setback while running the bases, this time straining his other calf.
The five-time All-Star would offer a significant boost to New York's offense in the postseason, but when asked what kind of an impact either of the two players could have on the team's Wild Card series against the Boston Red Sox, Boone was hesitant to make anything official.
"We'll see. It's still days away, so I don't wanna put the cart before the horse," he said. "Let's just get through these next few days and see what we have."
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 30: Tyler Mahle #54 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Truist Park on August 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s the home finale for the Atlanta Braves! Will Tyler Mahle make it another great start on the mound for the Braves? Will the home team send the home fans home happy for one last time before the Postseason gets under way? Let’s get into it, shall we? Also, join us on the app — especially if you’re a Falcons fan tuning in for the latest episode of football tomfoolery, as you’ll be able to switch between The Falcoholic and Battery Power pretty easily.
