TORONTO (AP) — For the first time this season, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has homered north of the border.
The 2023 Home Run Derby champion, Guerrero connected off Baltimore’s Trevor Rogers in the fifth inning of Sunday’s 8-1 win.
His 350-foot drive into the left field bullpen was his ninth homer of the season. It came in Toronto’s 75th home game, sparking a celebration in the dugout.
“It looked like it was a walk-off homer,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said of his team’s reaction. “Vlad’s our guy. It’s just nice to get that out of the way.”
Guerrero is batting .265 with 56 RBIs in 135 games.
With the sellout crowd of 41,805 cheering his name, Guerrero came out for a curtain call.
“Obviously it means a lot,” Guerrero said through a translator.
It was Guerrero’s 29th career home run against Baltimore, his most against any opponent. The hit would have been a homer in six of the 30 big league stadiums.
Guerrero had eight home runs in 18 postseason games last October as Toronto reached Game 7 of the World Series. Three of those homers came at Rogers Centre, including one in Game 6 of the ALCS against Seattle.
A six-time All-Star, Guerrero last homered in a regular season game in Toronto in a loss to Texas on Aug. 17, 2025.
Guerrero Jr. had his second four-hit game of the season Sunday. He nearly homered in his second at bat, lining a double off the wall in right-center.
In 29 games for Double-A Binghamton, Rojas slashed .280/.336/.593 with nine home runs and 29 RBI.
New York acquired Rojas from the Cubs in the Aug. 3 trade that dealt RHP Clay Holmes and LF Tyrone Taylor to Chicago.
With Chicago's Double-A affiliate, the Knoxville Smokies, Rojas slashed .270/.339/.461 while hitting 15 home runs and driving in 57 runs over 91 games.
"While his skill set does not scream future star, scouts I speak to look at Rojas as a high-floor player who looks the part of a future everyday player," DeMayo wrote. "It would not surprise me if the Mets gave Rojas a taste of Triple-A before the 2026 season ended. But even if not, he should begin the 2027 season with Triple-A and put himself in position to make his major league debut if/when an opportunity presents itself next season."
New York Mets' Brett Baty reacts after hitting a double against the New York Yankees during the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game on Sunday, September 13, 2026, in New York.
Brett Baty’s return to the lineup allowed for the only really good Mets swing against Cam Schlittler on Sunday.
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After the Yankees ace fired 4 ²/₃ hitless innings, Baty launched a double off the right field fence at Yankee Stadium. It was the only hit Schlittler surrendered over six innings in the Mets’ 2-0 loss.
Baty had missed the previous two games after departing with left knee pain Wednesday in Miami. He started at second base Sunday.
“It’s really kind of mean as a manager to give him two days off and tell him to go get Schlittler, after sitting with an off-day on the front side of that,” interim manager Andy Green said. “It’s good that he is healthy. It’s fun to watch him slide headfirst into second base.”
Over his past 15 games, Baty has produced a 1.101 OPS.
Nate Lavender pitched a scoreless seventh in his first appearance since his streak of 14 shutout innings to begin his major league career was snapped Wednesday in Miami. The left-hander allowed one walk and one strikeout. In his previous appearance he surrendered three earned runs and recorded only one out.
“He was right back to being himself,” Green said. “Getting lazy fly balls, getting above barrels a little bit and then just a relatively efficient inning. He’s a guy we’re excited about. He will continue to work. I wasn’t worried about him getting back on the mound after finally giving up some runs.”
Jonah Tong will be the third rookie in four games to start for the Mets when he faces the Orioles on Monday at Citi Field. The right-hander was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse last week and allowed four earned runs over five innings in a win over the Marlins.
The Mets will begin their final homestand of the season, with the Phillies (four games) following the Orioles into Queens.
The Mets split the season series with the Yankees. All time in the regular season, the Mets are 72-86 in the Subway Series. This includes a 21-27 record at the present Yankee Stadium.
Jun 3, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Fans give a standing ovation for Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (61) after his franchise record consecutive scoreless streak ends after a San Diego Padres run at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Earlier this week, we asked you to choose your preferred first round opponent for the Phillies. Your responses were this:
It’s not surprising that the Padres would be the choice. It has always felt like the Phillies have played them well, regardless of where it is. Were those games to come to fruition, it would likely be in Philadelphia where the Phillies have dominated them in the past five years, going 12-4.
Based on how they have been lately against teams that have winning records, it’s really not surprising that people would want to avoid the top tier of the National League until they absolutely have to.
MIAMI –– Freddie Freeman will be back out of the Dodgers’ lineup on Monday, manager Dave Roberts announced, after the veteran first baseman continued to look physically limited during back-to-back losses to the Miami Marlins this weekend.
Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs to first base against the Miami Marlins in the fifth inning of a game at loanDepot park on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Miami, Florida. Getty ImagesLos Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman watches the game from the dugout against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in Los Angeles. Wally Skalij for CA Post
Evidently, those days off only did so much good. While Freeman insisted his knee was feeling better, he still suffered back-to-back 0-for-4 performances on Saturday and Sunday and committed a costly miscue defensively in the latter, contributing to a 6-4 walk-off loss.
“Just talking to him today, he said he felt good,” Roberts said, before countering: “Obviously, the swings don’t indicate that, don’t kind of validate that … The last week, it’s pretty obvious that he’s not himself in the box.”
For now, the Dodgers are still not considering an injured list stint for the newly-turned 37-year-old slugger.
As Freeman told the California Post on Saturday, he is hopeful continued treatment and medication will help the problem improve over the final couple weeks of the regular season.
And on Sunday, the team got a reminder of the risk it runs by trotting him out at less than 100%.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman tosses his bat after drawing a walk during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Miami. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
With the Dodgers protecting a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, Freeman was called into action on an Xavier Edwards grounder that forced him to range to his right. While Freeman fielded the ball cleanly, he had to then stop, turn and make an underhand flip back to first base –– ultimately misfiring on a lob that was too high and off-target for pitcher Tanner Scott to receive while still covering the bag.
It was a moment Roberts highlighted specifically in his postgame review of the team’s collapse.
“There’s a PFP that Freddie made an errant throw,” Roberts said, before later adding: “He’s obviously not moving as well as he’s used to [on defense].”
Thus, the Dodgers will try another day of rest for Freeman again on Monday. They will hope he feels better by the time he returns to action (or is at least scheduled to) on Tuesday.
“He’s doing anything and everything he can to prepare,” Roberts noted.
But so far, it hasn’t assuaged the growing concerns over Freeman’s health –– giving the team yet another critical question mark with the start of the playoffs just three weeks away.
Sep 13, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) celebrates with second baseman Justin Foscue (14) after scoring against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fifth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Texas Rangers scored seven runs while the Arizona Diamondbacks scored six runs.
Back on June 30, coincidentally on the exact day the Rangers secured their last road series win before today’s victory, AJM wrote about how the Rangers being unable to grab an extra bag on base hits was hindering their run production.
After Texas went up 2-0 just two batters into the game when Corey Seager hit a monstrous two-run home run, the game settled in at that score until Josh Jung led off the top of fourth with a single and then scampered to second base on a Brandon Nimmo single and then went to third base on a two-out Ezequiel Duran single and then didn’t score because Elias Diaz struck out with the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the inning, two pitches after the Rangers had spent like 25 minutes getting three hits and not scoring, Gabriel Moreno hit a solo home run off of Cal Quantrill to make it a 2-1 game. It felt for a moment like we were in for a repeat of Friday’s loss — and many similar losses throughout the summer — where the Rangers failed to score with the bases loaded in a close game only for the opponent to pounce the next half inning.
Quantrill buckled down and prevented the Diamondbacks from getting anything else going and the game remained 2-1. However, something interesting happened the next inning. After an out, Justin Foscue reached on an error and then took off for third base on a Seager single and made it just before the throw. It was an aggressive play on the bases, one we haven’t seen very often.
It paid off. Jung followed with a single that Arizona left fielder Lars Nootbaar got nutmegged on which allowed two runs to score and Jung to reach second base. After an out, Nimmo singled in Jung to put the Rangers up 5-1. An inning after that, the Rangers added a couple more runs to go up big.
Quantrill ended up with his customary weekly quality start and though Tyler Alexander ran into some trouble in the seventh to allow the Diamondbacks to get back in the game, Robert Garcia was good for a scoreless inning before Jacob Latz escaped the ninth with a save to give the Rangers their first road series win since the first day of July.
There’s only two weeks left. Let’s go gambling!
Player of the Game: Seager finished the day with a team-best three hits and three RBIs while also scoring a couple of runs. The Rangers need their superstar shortstop to be a superstar difference maker in the season’s final couple of weeks and today was a good start.
Up Next: The Rangers have Monday off before beginning a series back at The Shed against the Boston Red Sox beginning on Tuesday evening.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 07: Logan Webb #62 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park on September 07, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s series finale time, and for the last time this year, the San Francisco Giants are facing the San Diego Padres. The Giants are trying to avoid the sweep, after losing on Friday and Saturday.
There will be an MLB debut for the Giants, who called up Scott Bandura before the game, and placed Rafael Devers on the Injured List. Bandura will become the 67th player to play for the Giants this season, which is a franchise record.
Taking the mound for San Francisco is the face of the franchise, righty Logan Webb. The 29-year old three-time All-Star has made 26 starts this year, and is 8-8 with a 4.10 ERA, a 3.46 FIP, and 127 strikeouts to 40 walks in 155.2 innings. He held the St. Louis Cardinals to one run over six innings in his last start.
For San Diego, it’s veteran right-hander Nick Pivetta, who makes just his sixth start of the year. The 33-year old is 2-2 with a 3.43 ERA, a 1.48 FIP, and 26 strikeouts to six walks in 21 innings. In his last start, which was his first outing since a nearly five-month stint on the IL, Pivetta tossed five scoreless innings against the Washington Nationals.
A groundswell of sorts started at Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon, a few minutes after the Yankees clinched the finale of the Subway Series with a Cam Schlittler-fueled 2-0 victory over the Mets. Aaron Boone was asked just how valuable Schlittler has been this season, and Boone ate up the topic. Or at least the verbiage:
“I think valuable is a good word," the manager said. "He might be the MVP, too.”
Schlittler, who delivered six more shutout innings in beating the Mets, is the clear favorite for the AL Cy Young Award. The Yankees seemed mostly delighted to thrust him into the AL MVP conversation, too, and Schlittler’s dominance should at least factor into the voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America, which is announced after the season.
The last full-time pitcher – so, not Shohei Ohtani – to win an MVP Award was Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers in 2014.
“Why not give it to him?” catcher Austin Wells said of Schlittler. “He’s been the MVP of our team, for sure.”
It’s worth kicking around, considering he’s 14-6 with a microscopic 1.95 ERA, the best pitcher in what might be the best rotation in baseball. Schlittler held the Mets hitless for the first 4.2 innings Sunday and only surrendered one hit overall while fanning eight and walking two.
And it was easy to talk MVP Sunday, especially after Schlittler declared himself OK after getting blasted by a 111.5 mph comebacker off Bo Bichette’s bat in the sixth inning. The ball struck him in the right hamstring as he finished his follow-through. It was certainly a scare and, perhaps, a reminder that seasons can tilt in a single moment, but Schlittler said he should be able to make his next scheduled start.
“It’ll be a fun couple of days trying to get that recovered, but I think we’re in a good spot,” Schlittler said.
Schlittler said a couple of teammates came up to him to report the exit velocity on the comebacker. Schlittler said it was a bad pitch (a fastball) that he “didn’t execute it where I wanted to, and he’s a really good hitter.”
At that point in the game, Schlittler was at 94 pitches. Boone said the Yankees wanted to go shorter with him Sunday, so he may have come out without the comebacker. But Schlittler getting hit made it a “no-brainer” for Boone to call on his bullpen, which delivered three scoreless frames.
Schlittler had some long counts early, but used his trio of fastballs – four-seamer, cutter and sinker – to frustrate the Mets. They all come out of his hand the same way and his four-seamer brushes 100 mph, so he’s got enough velocity to leave hitters with little time to make a swing choice. And each of his fastballs has its own distinct action, which makes him a hellacious at-bat.
He also throws a useful curveball that the Mets swung at six times and missed on four. That arsenal has helped him to one of the biggest pitching seasons in Yankee history. Only Spud Chandler (1.64 in 1943), Ron Guidry (1.74 in 1978) and Ray Caldwell (1.95 in 1914) have finished a season with ERAs in Schlittler’s current neighborhood.
His 21 starts allowing one run or fewer, including Sunday, is the most in Yankee history and the most in MLB this year. Only one AL pitcher in the last 110 years (excluding openers) has had more – Dean Chance of the 1964 Angels, who had 22. He’s already got the seventh-most strikeouts by a Yankee (228) in a season.
Sep 2, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) throws against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
When the Yankee offense went through its tough times – sometimes it seems like they’re still in them, eh? – Schlittler was a constant at the top of the rotation. With him, MaxFried, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón, the Yankees figure to be a difficult playoff opponent, especially if they start scoring more. We know Schlittler can deliver in October, considering his brilliant outing against Boston last year.
And he’s only 25 years old.
“He goes deep in games for us when we need him to, especially when the bullpen’s beat up at times,” Aaron Judge, the reigning back-to-back AL MVP, said. “We’ve been leaning on him a lot. It just continues to get better, and it’s just been amazing to see all the way back to the Wild Card (Series).”
Judge was asked about Schlittler and the MVP, saying, “he’s definitely pitching like an MVP.” But then he added, “You know, they got a Cy Young Award for a reason – best pitcher in the game. He’s got my vote, definitely, for the Cy Young.”
There have been 25 instances in which a pitcher has won an MVP Award, and 11 of those have come since the 1956 invention of the Cy Young. Houston’s Yordan Alvarez, who harbors Triple Crown dreams – he came into Sunday leading the AL in average and was second in homers and RBI – provides thorny competition for a Schlittler sweep of MVP and Cy Young. He’s not the only one, either.
Schlittler seems to have a sense of theater – he noted that all the Mets chants at Yankee Stadium when the Yanks got clobbered on Saturday were “a little frustrating… Just kind of want to make sure I came in here and kind of shut that down.”
So he sounds like a guy who’d probably appreciate the debate over the award.
When he was told of Boone’s suggestion, Schlittler said, “I don’t know. I don’t know anything about that. Great compliment… I always appreciate the kind words from him.”
Whatever happens, Schlittler’s been an enormous part of the Yankees' run toward a playoff spot – their Magic Number is one entering play Monday. And, as their best starter, he’ll be an enormous part of however far they roam in October.
And Schlittler really has had a helluva season.
He even leaves his teammates gaping sometimes. Watching from the outfield Sunday, Cody Bellinger marveled at Schlittler. “In the middle of the game, I was just being, like, ‘It’s unbelievable,’” he said.
“You know,” Bellinger added, “you don’t really get that too much."
Yankees ace Cam Schlittler strengthened his Cy Young case in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Mets, overshadowing one of Christian Scott's best starts this season.
The Mets' 27-year-old RHP allowed two runs on three hits while striking out seven and walking two in six innings of the team's Subway Series finale at Yankee Stadium.
Scott (4-5, 3.76 ERA) allowed two solo shots -- Ben Rice's leadoff homer and Austin Wells' third-inning blast -- but "was absolutely dominant" otherwise, Mets interim manager Andy Green explained.
"I think Christian Scott's really good," Green said. "He's getting better and better every time we watch him. I just mentioned -- it was a 315-foot home run that goes out of this ballpark and this ballpark alone (against Rice). We had a chance to do the same thing, we didn't, but it was his split-change that got lifted out -- it wasn't even necessarily a bad pitch. And then he got ambushed on a heater that got well out of the ballpark (against Wells).
"Outside of that, he was absolutely dominant. He matched Schlittler, pitch for pitch, at that point and time. But they did the damage on the home runs and Scotty, to me -- Cutter's getting better and better. The four really plays and just continues to grow his confidence and using his other pitches as well."
The Mets (69-80) enter the season's final two weeks with a stock-up pitcher in Scott as he winds down his first year back from September 2024 Tommy John surgery.
"I can compete anywhere versus anybody," Scott said of what he takes away from his latest outing. "Obviously, Cam threw a great game today. When you give up a solo home run and he goes no runs through six, it's tough to beat him. But I feel like, at the end of the day, I can go out and compete against anybody, put myself against anybody else's. So, especially a third time through, being able to get soft contact when I needed to -- exciting, to be able to take that into the next start."
"It's good to see him do it here," Green said. "I don't think there's a one of us that knows to guys that would've doubted they would do it here. Pitchers have bad games sometimes because they have bad games, but this park was not going to rattle either one of those guys. Don't see playoff atmospheres rattling those guys. Don't see anything really getting in their way from being what they can be -- and that goes to Nolan (McLean), too. Sometimes you just don't have your best game, but it's not a matter of handling pressure and handling environment. Those guys are wired to handle that stuff well."
Scott is set to follow Thornton again this coming Saturday in the Mets' four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
"I feel like we're doing a good job building off each other," Scott said. "Learning from each other, really. I mean, Zach threw an unbelievable game (Saturday). When he goes seven shutout innings, I want to go eight shutout innings. So, being able to also take the challenge that each of us provides and we're obviously not going to be able to do that every time but be able to bounce ideas off each other -- I feel like we're a really confident group. Just being able to consistently do that at a high level throughout the whole season's going to be special."
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 13: Joe Ryan #41 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Target Field on September 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Steven Garcia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bad news: the Twins lost. Good news: it doesn’t really matter at this point. While Minnesota’s second half fade has been disappointing, 2026 was always supposed to be a transition season as the kids worked their way up to the MLB squad to make a push for 2027 and beyond. But for now, let’s look at this one.
Joe Ryan was back on the mound for the second time since returning from the IL and had yet another rough second half outing. He gave up a homer on the second pitch of the game to known slap-hitter Steven Kwan, just Kwan’s third of the season.
The second inning didn’t end in runs, but it was arguably worse. Ryan gave up singles to Patrick Bailey and Kwan before a contentious at-bat with rookie Chase DeLauter. With a 1-1 count, Ryan threw a slider a good 6 inches below the strike zone, which he thought was a strike and was visibly upset that Ryan Jeffers didn’t challenge on his behalf. Two pitches later, Ryan did technically strike out DeLauter looking on a very similar pitch, but the rookie correctly challenged to bring the count full. Ryan was 3/4 of the way to the dugout by the time it was overturned and had to get back into things. AND THEN Ryan thought he had strike three for the third time on a fastball inside that was correctly called a ball. Ryan challenged the call, the first time a Twins pitcher has challenged all season, and lost, loading the bases for Travis Bazzana. Bazzana then should have walked on four pitches after Ryan couldn’t collect himself, but got a gift strike on a fastball well outside which Bazzana did not challenge. A few pitches later, Bazzana flew out about 360 feet to right-center.
That’s hopefully the most words I’ll ever write about an inning that didn’t result in runs for either team, but it completely encapsulates what went wrong for Ryan today.
Things didn’t get much better from there for the Twins’ ace. He gave up a leadoff homer to Jo Adell that went approximately 800 feet into the apartments behind left field, at least according to the eye test.
Cleveland decided to pick on Ryan in a new way in the fourth inning, running the bases aggressively and stealing two bags to plate a couple more runs. He’s struggled to control the run game for years, which typically matters less when he’s on his game since so few batters reach base, but Ryan was just completely out of his element today. By the time his afternoon was over, the Twins trailed 4-1 but it felt like a much larger deficit.
For the bats, there just wasn’t much the Twins could do against Tanner Bibee. They plated a run in the third thanks to a well-placed fly ball from Kody Clemens that resulted in an RBI double. The only other time Minnesota had multiple baserunners came in the seventh, with a leadoff homer from Trevor Larnach and a two-out single from Emma Rodriguez.
Tough looks all around today, but hey, at least we get to watch Rodriguez, Walker Jenkins, and (hopefully) Kaelen Culpepper the rest of the way. It’s hard to remember a time when three players this highly touted all debuted within about a month of each other. Things aren’t fun to watch right now, but those three spell a bright future for the Minnesota baseball club.
STUDS
Luke Keaschall: 2-4, R
Trevor Larnach: 2-3, R, RBI, BB HR
DUDS
All the pitchers (Ryan, Adams, Rogers, Nance): each gave up at least 1 run. All but Nance gave up 2
Joe Ryan, in particular: 4 IP, 7 H, 4 R, BB, K, 2 HR allowed
At least there’s some Vikings to numb the pain.
— sees Kyler Murray got knocked out 10 plays into the game
— ducks
At least there’s a Twins-Yankees game tomorrow to enhance the pain.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated by teammates after he hit a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the sixth inning at Oracle Park on September 12, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres (80-68) at San Francisco Giants (62-87), September 13, 2026, 4:20 p.m. PST
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Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd has to be the MLB King of Having His Inherited Runners Scoring. (For lack of a better term.)
This has been happening frequently to Boyd — in fact, that makes three starts in a row where he left with the lead and runners on base and a Cubs reliever let those runners score and in two of the three, the Cubs thus coughed up the lead.
That’s what happened Sunday at a rainy Wrigley Field that, for the first time, really felt like September. The Cubs and Boyd entered the sixth with a lead, Boyd put runners on base and in this case it was Aaron Civale giving up a two-run single that the Pirates made hold up for a 4-3 Cubs defeat.
The Pirates had taken a 1-0 lead in the first on a single by Konnor Griffin, walk drawn by Oneil Cruz and single by Bryan Reynolds.
Interesting editing on that clip, too, which has video from the Pirates broadcast. It starts with audio from the Pittsburgh channel, then switches to Marquee audio when the play is made at third.
The lead did not last long. Boyd issued a leadoff walk in the sixth, and how often have we seen those come back to bite the Cubs? A single by Rafael Flores Jr. followed, and then Nick Gonzales sent a double to right that got stuck in the ivy. For a moment, at least, a break for the Cubs as only one run scored on the play, tying the game.
But there are still two runners on with nobody out. Boyd struck out Ryan O’Hearn and then was lifted for Civale.
That was absolutely, positively the right move to make, but Civale did not produce. He walked Jake Mangum to load the bases and then gave up a two-run single to pinch-hitter Brandon Lowe, who just wore out Cubs pitching all year. The runs, as noted above, were charged to Boyd.
Civale then settled down and finished off that inning, and the Cubs mounted a comeback in the bottom of the sixth. Michael Busch singled with one out and went to third on a double by Bregman. A walk to Happ loaded the bases, and Nico Hoerner then grounded out, with Busch scoring [VIDEO].
That left runners on second and third with two out, but Ramirez flied to right to end the inning.
The Cubs managed just one baserunner after the sixth, a two-out walk drawn by Suzuki in the seventh. The Pirates might have scored more runs, too, if not for some more good defense.
Check out this nice play by Ramirez in the eighth [VIDEO].
This loss isn’t the end of the world. The Phillies won Sunday, so the teams are back in a tie for the top wild-card spot at 83-67, with the Cubs holding the tiebreaker. Something I noticed about the Phillies while watching them this weekend against the Braves — they are a very poor defensive team, while the Cubs play elite defense which will get better when Dansby Swanson returns, hopefully Friday in Cincinnati. If the Cubs and Phillies do wind up matching up in a Wild Card series, that will matter.
Note on this loss from BCB’s JohnW53:
This was the 54th of the Cubs’ 150 games in which they have squandered a lead. They are 24-30 in such games and have lost 10 of 11: nine in a row before winning Friday, then the loss today.
They have blown 65 total leads, 25 of them, including today, in the next half-inning after going ahead.
That… that’s just got to change before the regular season ends, or any postseason run isn’t going to last long.
Things are not going to get any easier for the Cubs beginning Monday evening, when they host the Braves in the opener of a three-game series. The Braves do play much better at home (51-27) than on the road (37-35), so perhaps the Cubs can take advantage. David Peterson will start the series opener Monday against Atlanta right-hander Reynaldo Lopez. Game time Monday is 6:40 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 13: Robert Gasser #54 of the Milwaukee Brewers is taken out of game by manager Pat Murphy #49 of the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field on September 13, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A three-run home run off the bat of Eugenio Suárez in the top of the sixth inning led the way for the Cincinnati Reds to salvage the final game of the three-game series. The Brewers’ 4-3 loss snaps their five-game winning streak and avoids any chance of clinching the division title on an off-day.
Robert Gasser toed the mound for the 19th time this season and delivered one of his better performances that the Brewers have seen this season. He threw five innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits and two walks. Looking to avoid early trouble, Gasser found himself with two runners on base with just one out; that was until he forced back-to-back flyouts to end the top of the second inning.
After scoring 33 runs in the first two games of the series, the Brewers offense came back down to Earth this afternoon only scoring three-runs, all off of home runs. Entering play this afternoon, the Crew had hit seven home runs as a team during the series against the Reds. Joey Ortiz made it eight in the series with his two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning to give the Brewers an early 2-0 lead.
Shortly thereafter, Reds ace Chase Burns left the game after 56 pitches in three innings. That’s the second straight appearance for Burns in which he hasn’t appeared into the fourth inning. In fact, three out of his last four starts have resulted in an early departure from the game for Burns, having not pitched into the fifth inning since August 30.
Gasser gave up his second hit of the game on a ground-rule double to Tyler Stephenson in the top of the fourth inning; from that point on, no one else would reach base. He finished the afternoon with three 1-2-3 innings, a significant improvement from what we’ve seen from him on the mound. This won’t be the last time we see Gasser this regular season, as if the schedule remains the same, he should expect one to two more starts.
In the top of the sixth inning, Gasser went back out to the mound and gave up a lead-off single to Elly De La Cruz. Antonio Senzatela replaced Gasser on the mound, tasked with getting through the heart of the Reds lineup. After instantly allowing a single up the middle, Suárez attacked with his 24th home run of the season to give the Reds their first lead of the game. After the nightmare sixth inning for Senzatela, his ERA with the Brewers now inflates to 6.48 in 16.2 innings.
Needing an offensive spark after being held at bay for four straight innings, Jake Bauers woke up the bats with a lead-off solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to bring the game back to even. His home run total on the season improves to 26, continuing to lead the Brewers in long ball.
Bullpen issues continued to haunt the Brewers for the second time in the game, as reliable setup man Abner Uribe allowed back-to-back singles to lead off the top of the eighth inning. After getting Suárez to pop out, Stephenson hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in the go-ahead and ultimately winning run of the game.
The Brewers had a great start in the bottom of the eighth inning with a lead-off single from Cooper Pratt followed by a bunt for a single hit from Sal Frelick. With it looking like it was turning into another classic Brewers inning, Jackson Chourio grounded into the team’s third double-play of the day to kill any momentum swinging their way.
Outside of the Brice Turang lead-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning, there was no real threat for the Brewers to come back against the Reds as Gary Sánchez was called out on strikes before Bauers lined out. Christian Yelich flew out in foul territory to lock in the win for the Reds.
Today marked the final time these two teams will face each other, and the Brewers won the season series 9-4. The Crew will go on one of their longer road trips of the season as they go on the East Coast tour, beginning in Pittsburgh on Tuesday for a three-game series.
After today, the Brewers didn’t make up any ground on their own in their other magic number races, but did so with the help of the Pirates. With the Cubs’ loss, their number to clinch the division is now down to two games. On top of that, their number to clinch a first-round bye is down to eight.
The Brewers will head to Pittsburgh for the final time in 2026 for a three-game series, which will begin on Tuesday at 5:40 p.m.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 13: Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates in the dugout after a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field on September 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Steven Garcia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Guardians made up some ground in the AL Central race with today’s victory over the Minnesota Twins. Steven Kwan started things off with a second pitch bang.
This immediate lead gave the team some great momentum through the game. Tanner Bibee had one of the best starts of his 2026 campaign. Bibee only gave up two runs on four hits and two walks and struck out seven in 6.2 innings of work. He never really had a huge threat on the base path, with one of the runs coming from a solo home run. Hunter Gaddis went 0.2 of scoreless ball, allowing one hit. Erik Sabrowski pitched 0.2 scoreless innings too, leaving things to Matt Festa to close things out. Festa gave them a clean ninth, only allowing one baserunner and striking out two.
Cleveland put up a couple of runs via the home run, and Jo Adell absolutely demolished one. 451 feet, 116.8 mph off the bat, an absolute beauty.
Not to forget their roots, the Guardians threw in some small ball in the top of the fourth to tack on two runs. Brayan Rocchio reached on a one-out hit by pitch then stole second to put himself in scoring position. Steven Kwan doubled on a liner to right to score Rocchio. Chase DeLauter grounded out for the second out, but it moved Kwan to third in the process. Travis Bazzana hit a single on a liner to right to score Kwan and give Cleveland a 4-1 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Brayan Rocchio lead things off with a single to right. With two outs, Travis Bazzana hit a home run of his own, scoring Rocchio and giving the Guards a five run lead.
Cleveland pretty much sealed the deal in the top of the ninth. Chase DeLauter singled on a grounder to right and was lifted for pinch runner Petey Halpin. Travis Bazzana drew a walk and forced a pitching change. Jo Adell hit a ground-rule double scoring Petey and moving Travis to third. Nathaniel Lowe hit a sac fly to left, scoring Travis easily and giving the space for Adell to move to third. Angel Martínez doubled to center, scoring Adell for the final Cleveland run of the game.
Steven Kwan had a fantastic game, going 3-for-4 with only a triple shy of a cycle and a walk. He had two runs and two RBI. Travis Bazzana went 2-for-4 with two runs, three RBI, and walk. Jo Adell went 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI.
The Chicago White Sox come to town tomorrow after dropping back-to-back series against the Pirates and Cardinals. That means they will be desperate for a win in a series that practically determines who raises the AL Central pennant next year. It will make for some gritty baseball that hopefully ends in Cleveland’s favor.
He’d already fouled off three sinkers in the at-bat and was rewarded with a four-seam fastball on the inner third of the plate. He extended through it and admired the ball’s flight to loanDepot Park’s right-field upper deck, his bat at his side.
The Dodgers dugout turned raucous.
In the Dodgers’ 6-4 walk-off loss against the Marlins on Sunday, De Paula’s three-run home run in the fourth inning gave the team a spark on offense. He also drew a walk and hit a double to reach base in every plate appearance.
As Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan turned in a two-hit gem over the course of six scoreless innings, De Paula carried the offense. The Dodgers logged just two other extra-base hits, a double from Will Smith to lead off the fourth, and an RBI double from Mookie Betts in the ninth.
Then to start a bullpen meltdown, reliever Edgardo Henriquez gave up two runs in the eighth to make it a nail-biter. Closer Tanner Scott finished the inning, but after allowing an infield single and a bunt for a base hit in the ninth, he surrendered a game-tying double to Javier Sanoja. Right-hander Brock Stewart replaced him and gave up a walk-off two-run homer to Agustín Ramírez.
De Paula’s day started with a first: a major-league start in the outfield. He’d served as the designated hitter in his first two big-league games, racking up three walks in eight plate appearances. But the Dodgers’ lineup Sunday was missing left fielder Teoscar Hernández and utility man Tommy Edman.
Manager Dave Roberts explained that, for them, he wanted to avoid the toll of playing three straight days in a turf outfield. So, De Paula went out to left field, and Alex Call started in center field.
De Paula’s defense is behind his offensive game, but the Dodgers have been pleased with his progress lately. And he’s bought into a pregame routine with third base coach Dino Ebel in his short time with the team.
Dodgers rookie Josue De Paula celebrates after hitting a three-run homer against the Marlins Sunday in Miami. (Lynne Sladky / Associated Press)
“Being candid, I don’t think that he’s valued it as much as he will,” Roberts said earlier this week. “And it just has to be important. Certainly, when you get to the big leagues, outs are important, converting outs are important. And so, he’s a young player, he’s 21 years old. His bat has certainly got him here, but it’s our job to make him value defense and get him to be a better defender.”
De Paula immediately impressed with the quality of his at-bats — “I don’t think he swung at a ball out of the hitting zone,” Roberts said Saturday — and he again showed off his plate discipline in his first at-bat Sunday, drawing a five-pitch walk in the second inning.
Then, in the fourth, he stepped into the biggest situation of his young major-league career: a 0-0 ballgame, with runners on first and second. And his patience paid off.
The crack of the bat echoed the thunder that had been rumbling outside of the roofed ballpark for much of the afternoon.
He lifted Marlins starter Eury Pérez’s fastball at a 39-degree launch angle, according to Statcast, 108.2 mph off the bat.
De Paula tossed his bat aside, looked into the Dodgers dugout and slapped his chest across the letters.
He logged his second major-league hit in the next at-bat. With two outs in the sixth inning, he lined a splitter from Marlins right-handed reliever Jack Ralston off the wall in right-center field for a double.
Rojas returns
Dodgers' Mookie Betts, left, and Miguel Rojas celebrate in the seventh inning against the Marlins in Miami on Sunday. (Megan Briggs / Getty Images)
Roberts also made sure to get Miguel Rojas in the lineup Sunday, in what may be the former Marlin’s last game at loanDepot Park. Rojas has shied away from a full farewell tour but is contemplating returning after the season and transitioning into a player development role.
“I had a conversation with him about a week ago about potentially getting a start here,” Roberts said. “That’s something that meant a lot to him. I don’t know how emotional you’re going to see him. Maybe at the end of the game or to start the game I think you’ll probably see some kinds of emotions if you’re looking closely. This has been an important place for him, an important organization. So for him to get a potential final start here, it’s important for him.”
The Marlins played a tribute video for Rojas after the first inning. At the top of the dugout stairs, he put his hand over his heart and acknowledged the cheering crowd.
In the eighth inning, he dove after a ground ball up the middle, as shortstop Mookie Betts hurdled over him, and was slow to get up, holding his right shoulder. But after a conversation with an athletic trainer and a couple practice throws, he remained in the game for the rest of the inning. Edman pinch hit for him against a right-handed reliever in the top of the ninth.
