So far, so good in Blake Snell’s bid to make another start before the end of the regular season.
Despite leaving his last outing on Wednesday in Cincinnati after just one inning due to tightness in his left groin, Snell arrived at Dodger Stadium on Friday already feeling better, saying his groin was back up to an “8 out of 10” before heading out for a session of flat-ground catch play in the outfield.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also offered an optimistic outlook on Snell’s status, saying he was “very hopeful” in the left-hander’s chances to get back on the mound before the beginning of the playoffs.
“Happy that we caught it early,” Roberts said of Snell’s injury.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell looks on from the dugout during a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Cincinnati. AP Photo/Tanner PearsonLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell, center, hands the ball to manager Dave Roberts (30) as he is relieved during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Miami. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
Losing Snell — who was already sidelined for three months earlier this season following an elbow procedure and has a history of left groin injuries throughout his career — would have dealt a massive blow to those plans.
However, the Dodgers are at least initially optimistic they’ve avoided anything close to a worst-case scenario.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell (7) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, Saturday, September 5, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
While Roberts acknowledged that there is still “a little bit of uncertainty” regarding Snell, and no exact date for when he might pitch again, the skipper also noted that the two-time Cy Young Award winner didn’t require medical imaging; another sign of the team’s confidence that his injury was not more severe.
It’s possible that, even if Snell continues to feel better, the Dodgers could elect to rest him for the remainder of the regular season to ensure he doesn’t suffer any further setbacks before the playoffs.
But, they are also wary of giving Snell too long of a layoff entering the postseason.
“It’s not just kind of plug-and-play,” Roberts said, “[to] sit it out for two weeks and pitch in a playoff game.”
Thus, the team will continue to monitor Snell’s progress in the coming days, hopeful that a potential pitching crisis has been averted.
PHOENIX — Three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge is headed back on the injured list — this time with a right calf strain — and New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone isn’t sure whether the slugger will be able to return for the postseason.
New York said it will make the roster move on Saturday. The placement could be backdated to Thursday, meaning it is possible Judge could return for New York’s regular-season finale on Sept. 27.
Boone didn’t offer any guarantees that would happen.
“I don’t know,” Boone said. “I don’t have a timeline on him. He’s on the IL now. I’m not going to predict anything. He’s getting treated and we’ll see what transpires.”
Judge was removed for a pinch hitter in the sixth inning Wednesday during a game against the Minnesota Twins because of the discomfort in his leg. At the time, he said it was a precautionary move.
Judge was 4 for 23 with 13 strikeouts and one extra-base hit in seven games since returning last week from a broken rib, which kept him out of the lineup for more than three months.
Three-time All-Star Cody Bellinger said he was frustrated for Judge because he knows how hard the 34-year-old has worked to get back into the lineup.
“It hurts. We all know he’s the best hitter in the game,” Bellinger said. “But for us in here, the mindset is that we’re going to have to find a way. I think the talent in this locker room speaks for itself, and I’m fully confident that we have enough talent in here to go out and beat anybody.”
Judge is hitting .241 with 18 homers and 41 RBIs over 66 games this season. The Yankees have already clinched a playoff spot but entered Friday five games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East.
Boone echoed Bellinger’s sentiment that the Yankees have enough talent to weather another Judge injury. Ben Rice leads New York with 38 homers while Bellinger is hitting .276 with a team-high 25 doubles, 16 homers and 71 RBIs.
“We’ve got a lot of really good offensive players,” Boone said. “A lot of good players, guys who are playing really well now. The reality is we’ve had to play a lot of this year without him. There’s no replacing a player like Aaron Judge, but we have high expectations that don’t change.”
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 14, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Miami Marlins (76-77) at San Diego Padres (84-69), September 18, 2026, 6:40 p.m. PST
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Boone confirmed that the second baseman will return to the club during the team's final homestand, which starts Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees skipper said Chisholm is doing well and Friday was his fourth day in a row hitting. He's done a couple of days of throwing already and is "really close."
Chisholm was placed on the IL back on Sept. 10 with a sprained thumb after he jammed it sliding head-first into second base.
The Yankees infielder was on a tear before he was injured, slashing .375/.464/.500 with a home run over his last seven games. For the season, he's batting .232/.312/.403 with an OPS of .715 to go along with his 19 home runs, 40 stolen bases and 55 RBI.
The return of Chisholm would raise some questions regarding the team's roster. While Chisholm could take over for Max Schuemann, who is being called up to take Judge's spot, Anthony Volpe has been playing second base almost regularly in Chisholm's stead. How Boone juggles the playing time for both players will be worth monitoring.
Bad Weathers
On the other side of the return spectrum, LHP Ryan Weathers is "unlikely" to pitch before the end of the regular season, Boone revealed.
Weathers was placed on the IL in late August due to a left forearm flexor strain, and although the southpaw has made strides, there's not enough time on the regular season calendar to get him on the mound before the postseason starts. Boone did say that Weathers will have another side session on Saturday, and that could determine whether the team will use him in the playoffs.
"We’ll see what our needs are and how he looks, and if we feel like he’s ready to come in and be a contributor," Boone said.
In 25 starts this season, Weathers has pitched to a 3.60 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. His last seven starts have been tremendous, though, pitching to a 2.27 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.
Grisham rising
And finally, Trent Grisham is nearing a return as well.
Boone said the veteran outfielder is "pretty far" into his running progression and is doing well. He could be in play to be activated before the end of the season.
Grisham was placed on the IL on Sept. 5 with a right hamstring strain, the same injury he suffered back in June this season. If Grisham is able to return on the upcoming homestand, Boone will, again, have to juggle the roster as Spencer Jones and Heliot Ramos have played regularly in his absence. Though Judge's injury gives Grisham a runway to start, especially against right-handers.
In 121 games this season, Grisham is slashing .211/.308/.395 with an OPS of .703.
Although all MLB teams declined to sign the former Dodgers fan favorite to a minor league contract, Turner found a spot on the Toros de Tijuana in the Mexican League in 2026.
Justin Turner rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the NLCS at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 18, 2016. Getty Images
Earlier this week, the Toros de Tijuana became champions with Turner as their designated hitter in the lineup. The Toros beat the Olmecas de Tabasco in six games.
“I came to the @torosdetijuana because I knew there was more in the tank, but the goal was never to just play. It was always to win, to bring another championship to Tijuana!” Turner wrote.
“And the boys accomplished that! This was such a great group of guys, and not everyone who was a part of it got to hold that trophy, but we couldn’t have done it without them either. We will be bonded together forever in this championship!!
“From the second I drove across the border in TJ for the first time, I have loved every moment. The fans, the food, the stadiums, and the baseball. This is definitely a summer to remember and I cant thank my family enough for always being down for a new adventure!
“Vamos Toros! Vamos Campeons!”
I came to the @torosdetijuana because I knew there was more in the tank, but the goal was never to just play. It was always to win, to bring another championship to Tijuana!
And the boys accomplished that! This was such a great group of guys, and not everyone who was a part of… pic.twitter.com/jJG88s4Ziw
He previously won his first and only World Series ring with the Dodgers in 2020, when he broke the franchise record for postseason home runs after hitting his 12th in Game 4 against the Rays to pass Duke Snider.
Turner spent nine seasons in LA from 2014-22, earning two All-Star selections as a Dodger.
Justin Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs up the first base line watching his home run in the 9th inning as the Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees 8-2 in a baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Paul J. BereswillThird baseman Justin Turner and outfielder Cody Bellinger celebrate after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Houston Astros. USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Seattle Mariners outfielder Lazaro Montes (99) reacts after hitting a two-run home run against Athletics pitcher Scott Blewett (not pictured) during the sixth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The last road series of the 2026 regular season for the Mariners is about to get underway, and what better stop than the friendly confines of Coors Field? The Rockies have improved from “historically bad” in 2025 to just “regular very bad” in 2026, but with the ball’s tendency to fly in Denver, we could see some high scoring games.
Lineups:
Lázaro Montes gets the start in right field, and with three right-handed starting pitchers going for Colorado, he should be in the lineup each of the next three games. I, for one, will be looking forward to seeing if he can put a ball into literal orbit. Brock Rodden will start at the hot corner, his first start since the 10th, and it’s business as usual for the rest of the Mariners’ lineup with Bryan Woo on the mound. As for the Rockies, their 3-4-5 punch of Rule 5 pick TJ Rumfield, catcher Hunter Goodman, and rookie center fielder Cole Carrigg has a bit more thump than you’d expect. Righty Gabriel Hughes is still searching for his first big league win, but a FIP of just over 4 suggests he has not been quite as bad as his 6.37 ERA suggests.
ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 04: A general view of Globe Life Field with "Celebrating America's 250th" signage on the scoreboard prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers on Saturday, July 4, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Courtney Kramer/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The latest series that the Jays ‘must win’.
Nine games left of the season. The still aren’t at the point that they have to run the table, but winning the series is pretty important. Two of three would make me happy.
Gimenez is out of the lineup with a hamstring issue, but ‘is available off the bench.
Dylan Cease is starting on ‘normal rest’ when the plan had been to give him an extra day off. No pressure Dylan, but we would really like this one.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - AUGUST 7: Kyle Leahy #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Colorado Rockies at Busch Stadium on August 7, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals kick off their final homestand of the season against the Washington Nationals Friday night at Busch Stadium. Kyle Leahy will start for the Cardinals while the Nationals will send RHP Cade Cavalli to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15pm central time and the game broadcast will be handled by Cardinals.tv.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: Nasim Nuñez #26 of the Washington Nationals runs into teammate Daylen Lile #4 in left field after making a catch on a short fly ball in the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on September 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It is a happy day in Nats nation. Ace Cade Cavalli got a contract extension which has fans fired up. The boys will start their last road trip of the year and that will start in St. Louis. These two teams have not faced off since April, so this will be an intriguing matchup.
James Wood will be the DH tonight. That means the outfield will consist of Daylen Lile, Jacob Young and Dylan Crews. Despite a righty being on the mound, Yohandy Morales will start over Abimelec Ortiz at first base. Brady House and Harry Ford are also in the lineup. Cade Cavalli got a contract extension this afternoon and will be pitching tonight.
This season JJ Wetherholt, Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson have been the big 3 in the Cardinals lineup. Since he got called up, catcher Leo Bernal has given the Red Birds a spark. He will be in the lineup tonight. Defensive ace Masyn Winn will also be at shortstop. Kyle Leahy has had a nice season for the Cards and will take the ball tonight.
Hopefully Cade Cavalli can put together another excellent performance and show why he got the big bucks. The Nats have a chance to get their most wins in a season since 2019 tonight as well. The road has not treated the Nats well lately, but that can change quickly. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 15: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 15, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Griffin Quinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Braves will attempt to clinch a playoff spot on Friday night behind Tyler Mahle, who was been superb for Atlanta since coming over at the trade deadline.
A Braves win — or Diamondbacks loss — on Friday night would clinch a postseason spot for Atlanta and would trim the magic number to four games to win the NL East. It would mark the eighth time in nine years the Braves would be postseason bound. We will also do a bit of scoreboard watching as the Phillies take on the Mets at Citi Field.
Mahle and the Braves will be opposed by Peter Lambert, who has been Houston’s best starter in 2026. Lambert has been on a strong run lately, allowing three runs or fewer in every start since the beginning of July.
First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. ET. You can watch and stream the game on Braves Vision.
Sep 17, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Max Clark (15) scores during the third inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Detroit Tigers (72-81) vs. Chicago White Sox (78-75)
Time/Place: 7:40 p.m., Rate Field SB Nation Site:South Side Sox Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Andrew Sears (0-1, 5.40 ERA) vs. RHP David Sandlin (2-2, 5.64 ERA)
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 12: Peter Lambert #38 of the Houston Astros pitches during the game between the Houston Astros and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Saturday, September 12, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
TONIGHT’S GAME: With just nine games remaining on their schedule, the first-place Houston Astros will welcome in the Atlanta Braves for their final home series of the 2026 regular season.
RHP Peter Lambert (8-9, 3.71 ERA) will make his penultimate start of the season for the Astros tonight opposite RHP Tyler Mahle (6-10, 3.91 ERA) and the Braves.
THE POSTSEASON CHASE: The Astros and Rangers are locked in a tight race down the stretch for the AL West with the two teams entering play today separated by just one game. The Astros own the tiebreaker over the Rangers with a season series victory (9-4 record).
AL WEST NEXT GAME
1. Houston: 77-76 vs. ATL (89-64)
2. Texas: 76-77 1.0 GB vs. TOR (76-77)
3. Seattle: 71-82 6.0 GB at COL (56-97)
CHALLENGING STRETCH: The Astros are within a stretch of playing 13 of 16 games against opponents with winning records (CWS, ARI, PHI, TB, ATL), going 6-7 so far in those contests. On the season, the Astros are 28-21 against teams with .500 or better records, the third-best mark in the Majors, immediately ahead of the Braves (35-28).
OLD RIVALS: The Astros and Braves are longtime rivals, having played each other 720 times in the regular season and another 25 times in the postseason. The Braves dominated the Astros early in their playoff matchups, in 1997, 1999 and 2001, before the Astros broke through in 2004 and 2005. The two teams matched up again in the 2021 Fall Classic, won by the Braves in six games.
DUBIE!: The Astros are happy to welcome back Braves IF/OF Mauricio Dubón, who’ll be recognized with a pregame video tonight. Dubón, a 2022 World Series Champion, played parts of four seasons (2022-25) with the Astros, appearing in 485 regular season games with Houston.
HISPANIC HERITAGE WEEKEND: The Astros are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Weekend starting tonight. The ballpark will come alive with Latin music, vibrant festivities, and cultural pride all weekend long. As part of the celebration, 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a Jeremy Peña Retro Los Astros Jersey
LAST NIGHT’S BIG WIN: The Astros hammered a season-high five home runs in their 6-2 win in the rubber game of their three-game series with the Royals last night. SS Jeremy Peña started the home run barrage with a leadoff homer and was later joined by CF Daulton Varsho, 1B LaMonte Wade Jr., DH Yordan Alvarez and RF Taylor Trammell, who all hit solo shots. RHP Ethan Pecko (1ER/5.2IP) pitched great as the bulk reliever, allowing just three hits in his outing.
GOIN’ DEEP: The Astros have hit 206 homers as a team this year and have hit 200-plus homers in a single season for the 10th time in franchise history (last, 222 HR in 2023). The Astros rank second in the AL in home runs this season behind only the Yankees (209).
TRIPLE THREAT: DH Yordan Alvarez, who is a solid candidate for the AL MVP Award, currently ranks first or second in the AL in all three Triple Crown categories. He enters today leading the AL in batting avg. (.311), while ranking second in HR (40) and RBI (99). Alvarez also leads the Majors in OPS (1.027), SLG (.598) and OBP (.429). 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).
BIG NUMBERS: DH Yordan Alvarez hit his 40th homer of the season last night, marking the eighth time an Astro has hit 40-plus homers in a single season in club history. He’s also up to 99 RBI on the season and is looking to post the 29th 100-RBI season in Astros history. Alvarez’s career high in RBI is 104, which he reached in 2021.
LEADING MAN: SS Jeremy Peña hit his sixth leadoff home run of the season last night, and the 11th of his career, a total that ranks fifth in Astros history. He ranks tied for second in the AL in leadoff home runs this season, trailing only the Rangers DH Joc Pederson (7).
NOTHING FINER THAN YAINER: C Yainer Diaz is hitting .362 (17×47) in the month of September with two homers, five RBI and a .932 OPS. Diaz has multiple hits in seven if his 12 starts this month.
STALKING 200:1B Christian Walker is currently sitting on 199 career home runs and needs just one homer to become the 35th active Major League player to reach 200 career long balls. Walker has hit 25 homers this year for his fifth consecutive 25-plus homer season (2022-26).
STARTING STRONG: In their last 13 home games, Astros starting pitchers have combined for a 2.40 ERA (17ER/63.2IP), while allowing two-or-fewer runs in 11 of those contests. Additionally, Astros starters have posted a 3.28 ERA (43ER/118IP) in their last 25 games dating back to Aug. 21.
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 (26), innings pitched (145.2) and strikeouts (141). He’s allowed two-or-fewer earned runs in 18 of his 26 starts on the year and has done so in 10 of his last 13 starts.
THE FIREMAN: LHP Josh Hader has converted 26 consecutive save opportunities to open his season, which is the Astros club record. Should Hader finish the season without a blown save, he would become the seventh pitcher in MLB history to post 26-plus saves without a blown save and the first to do so since RHP Ken Giles in 2018 (26 SV).
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2019 – Many milestones are reached in the Astros 3-2 victory over the Rangers at Daikin Park. First, the win clinches a postseason berth for the Astros and gives the team 100 victories for the third consecutive season. Secondly, RHP Gerrit Cole tallies 10 strikeouts in the game to reach 300 on the season, joining RHP J.R. Richard and RHP Mike Scott as the only Astros to reach that total in strikeouts. RHP Justin Verlander would also reach 300 later that season.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Friday, September 18, 7:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: SCHN, SCHN2 (Spanish), Peacock (subject to blackout)
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish), ESPN Radio (subject to blackout)
The fate of the AL Central lies in the hands of David Sandlin tonight.
It may not be Thanksgiving quite yet, but I’d like to make a toast to the City of Detroit. Sure, your football franchise is irrelevant, your hockey team is a shell of what it was and the best thing about your city is the bridge to Canada, but you do have the Detroit Tigers. We would like to thank you for giving them to us for an easy win to get the White Sox back on track.
After back-to-back collapses at the hands of the Cleveland Guardians, the White Sox scored three runs in the first inning yesterday vs. Detroit, and dared the kitty cats to do something about it. Much like they have all season (and all decade, really), the Tigers laid an egg when it mattered most and the White Sox are back atop the AL Central thanks to their handy-dandy tiebreaker.
Unfortunately, thanks to their monthlong collapse, the White Sox still have work to do. There’s certainly pressure on the Guardians, but with their next series being against the Athletics at home, it’s mostly on the White Sox to keep up.
With a bullpen that is also absolutely gassed, they’ll need more length from their starters, as no team this season has gotten less out of its rotation in terms of innings load. To wit, it’s been more than a month since a starter has gone six innings, and that can’t continue for much longer.
Drew Sandlin gets the task for the White Sox Friday night, and he came close to snapping the streak his last time out, perfect into the sixth inning on Sunday at St. Louis. Despite mixed results overall during his first taste of the majors, Sandlin has crushed it all season at Triple-A and ran a streak of five minor league starts allowing more than a run just once. And his work vs. the Cardinals earlier this week was as impeccable as you’re going to get from the White Sox rotation. Hopefully the home crowd will give Sandlin some juice, and he can will his way to a strong start.
The Tigers will throw out Andrew Sears. While he may look like a high school robotics teacher, he’s seen some success at the major league level — with the operative word being, “some.” Means has started in two of his four appearances and it seems his performance comes down to the flip of a coin. In a relief appearance against Kansas City in late August, he surrendered five runs in four innings. He followed that up by blanking the Los Angeles Dodgers in his next outing.
Everything looked bright when he limited Cleveland to one run in his first career start, in just under six innings of work. Unfortunately for him, Means quickly followed that up by allowing four runs in under five innings in his next outing. His best two outings were against two good teams and his two worst outings came against two of the worst teams in baseball. The good news is that if Means shuts us down, that means we’re a good team, right?
As every game has felt for Chicago lately, expect the unexpected. There is no doubt that Chicago could blow Detroit out, but there is also zero doubt they could get ran out of the park by a guy with goggles we haven’t seen since the 1980’s NBA.
Ease your nerves with some wise words from Tom Cappello:
Here is the starting lineup for the Chicago White Sox:
Here is the starting lineup for the Detroit Tigers:
First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. CDT. The game will be televised on CHSN and can be heard on ESPN Chicago 1000. Drop your predictions and thoughts down below!
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 13: Gabriel Hughes #43 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the second inning at Comerica Park on September 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is not much on the line at Coors Field this weekend.
The Colorado Rockies enter tonight’s series opener at 56-97, three losses away from their fourth consecutive 100-loss season. They are 4-11 in September and 7-23 over their last 30 games, turning another difficult year into an ugly finish.
The Seattle Mariners reached the ALCS last season and entered 2026 looking poised to build on it. Instead, they arrive in Denver at 71-82, six games back of first place in the AL West and even further back in the Wild Card race.
Seattle remains a much more competitive team than Colorado, but several parts of last year’s formula have slipped. The pitching has been roughly similar, the defense has been among the worst in baseball, and the offense has fallen from a 113 wRC+ in 2025 to a roughly league-average 102 this season.
The biggest drop has come from Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez. Raleigh went from 60 home runs and a 161 wRC+ last year to a 96 wRC+ this season, while Rodríguez has fallen from 126 to 102 — turning what began as another hopeful season in Seattle into something much different.
The grind continues tonight.
Rookie Gabriel Hughes will make his 13th major-league start. He remains in search of his first win and enters 0-8 with a 6.37 ERA over 59.1 innings.
Against the Yankees on Sept. 8, Hughes generated 13 whiffs and struck out six over five solid innings. Five days later, Detroit repeatedly extended at-bats and forced him to throw 70 pitches in two innings. He allowed five runs and two home runs while generating just six whiffs.
Hughes has held hitters to an 87.2 mph average exit velocity (82nd percentile), a 29.9% hard-hit rate (96th percentile) and a 5.4% barrel rate (84th percentile), while his 4.04 FIP sits well below his ERA. The larger issue has been finishing hitters.
Woo is 12-9 with a 3.88 ERA and 163 strikeouts, including a 1.93 ERA and 0.76 WHIP over his last seven starts. One six-run outing against Philadelphia accounts for most of the damage during that stretch; across the other six starts, he has allowed just three earned runs in 38 innings.
Woo works from a lower arm slot, around 24 degrees, and changes his mix by handedness. He leans on the four-seamer and slider against lefties, with a sinker and changeup mixed in, while right-handers see a heavier four-seam/sinker combination with the sweeper as his primary breaking ball.
Both fastballs sit around 96 mph, with the slider around 89 mph, the changeup around 88 mph and the sweeper dropping into the low 80s.
Woo’s whiff rate is 24.7% (48th percentile), while he has walked just 5.3% of opposing hitters (95th percentile). Still, he has allowed some firm contact — an 89.3 mph average exit velocity (31st percentile) and a 42.0% hard-hit rate (20th percentile) — and much of it has come in the air, with a 38.1% ground-ball rate (28th percentile).
That makes his first career start at Coors Field especially interesting.
TJ Rumfield and Jake McCarthy enter play fifth and sixth in the National League in batting average, with Rumfield at .301 and McCarthy at .295. Cole Carrigg has slugged .633 with three home runs over his last 30 at-bats, while Hunter Goodman, with his 38 home runs, returns to the middle of the lineup.
For most of the 2026 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have had to navigate their roster like a stout ship dashing through a storm.
Shoulders. Elbows. Backs. Necks. Knees. Hands. Biceps. Blisters. And now, with October quickly approaching, Blake Snell’s groin.
In what is turning out to be an annual occurrence, the Dodgers have spent much of their pursuit of history trying to outrun the injured list, and the numbers show just how bruised and battered baseball’s powerhouse has been.
For most of the 2026 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have had to navigate their roster like a stout ship dashing through a storm. AP Photo/Tanner Pearson
According to RotoWire’s latest MLB injury severity rankings, the Dodgers currently sit 11th among all 30 teams with a 75-point score, including 11 players on the 60-day injured list and six on the 10- or 15-day IL. RotoWire’s model assigns greater weight to long-term absences, giving five points for every 60-day IL placement and three for shorter 10- or 15-day stays.
Ironically, this is the first time the Dodgers have fallen out of the top 10 in the rankings this season. At the end of August they were 8th, and have consistently been in the top 10 throughout the year. Maybe, their slip to 11th is coming at the perfect time.
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (3) signals to the dugout against the Seattle Mariners in the ninth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 30, 2026, in Los Angeles. Wally Skalij for CA Post
The Dodgers have already secured their 14th consecutive postseason appearance and clinched the NL West for the 13th time in 14 seasons. Now comes their attempt to become the first National League franchise to win three consecutive World Series championships.
That attempt will come with some of their biggest stars fighting through injuries.
Superstar Shohei Ohtani is still on the 15-day IL with lingering left knee and right biceps issues, but Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman recently told the California Post that Ohtani is “progressing well,” and he expects him to return before the end of the regular season.
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after fouling a ball off his foot during the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. Getty Images
All-Star closer Edwin Diaz has been battling several injuries throughout the season but was activated on Friday after being sidelined since Aug. 18 with neck inflammation.
All-Star center fielder Andy Pages remains on the IL with a fractured left hand, but could be activated during the Dodgers final homestand.
Tyler Glasnow is back in the starting rotation, but missed more than three months with lower back spasms before returning in late August. Snell opened the season sidelined by shoulder fatigue and underwent elbow surgery in May and didn’t return until August.
On Wednesday in Cincinnati, he lasted just one inning before left groin tightness forced him from the game. A source told the California Post the decision to remove him from the game was “precautionary,” and Snell himself said he expects to make his next start.
All-Star center fielder Andy Pages remains on the IL with a fractured left hand, but could be activated during the Dodgers final homestand. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Roki Sasaki has been sidelined since Aug. 27 with a blister on his pitching hand, and Will Smith recently returned after missing nearly three months with neck inflammation.
The Giants and Orioles are the only two teams in RotoWire’s study that have more than 100 points on their severity score due to the amount of players currently on the 60-day IL.
Currently there are 526 roster players currently on injured lists across all 30 teams.
According to Spotrac, the Dodgers have had 26 different players on the IL this season and lead the league in total days players have been on the injured list with 2,194. They trail only the New York Yankees ($91.4 million) with an estimated cash total of $83 million in players salaries on the IL this season.
The Dodgers survived six months of baseball’s version of a demolition derby and still won the West. The question now isn’t whether they were good enough to survive the regular season.
It’s whether enough of them will be healthy enough to survive October and bring home a third straight World Series title.
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