The Dodgers feature a veteran roster that has, among others, shortstop Mookie Betts, left, infielder Miguel Rojas and third baseman Max Muncy, right. Teoscar Hernández, second from left, celebrates after hitting a grand slam in a July 3 game. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
When Dodgers rookie Josue De Paula debuted a little over two weeks ago, he was the youngest player in the lineup by four years. And when veteran infielder Miguel Rojas pinch-hit for Alex Freeland in the eighth inning, the 21-year-old De Paula and 29-year-old Kyle Tucker were the only Dodgers under 30 remaining in the batting order.
“You’ve got to have both,” veteran shortstop Mookie Betts, who turns 34 next month, said in a recent conversation with the Times. “You need experience, but you also do need youth. I don’t know what the balance is, to be honest.”
The age of the Dodgers’ stars is the most persistent knock on a group that just finished a 100-win regular season and has the second-best odds to win the World Series (16.7%), according to Baseball Prospectus.
It’s the threat looming beyond every new accomplishment. Yes, the Dodgers are in the midst of a historic run. Only one other organization has strung together so many consecutive postseason berths, and that Braves team of the 1990s and early 2000s won only one World Series.
The Dodgers are aiming to become the first National League team to claim three straight championships.
But how long can this last?
The Dodgers’ lineup is the oldest in the majors, according to Baseball Reference, with an average age of 30.9 years old when weighted by at-bats and games played. Their star corner infielders, Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy, are the oldest of the everyday starters, at 37 and 36, respectively. Even two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani turned 32 in July.
“That’s a fact, we’re an older team,” manager Dave Roberts said. “With age, there’s experience. I know we’re not going to fall off a cliff, our team.”
Plenty of young players in the Dodgers’ system have been blocked by older stars over the years. But in addition to a sky-high payroll, the Dodgers are known for their player development.
Even after the trade deadline — when the Dodgers sent two MLB Top-100 prospects, outfielder Zyhir Hope (No. 25) and right-hander River Ryan (No. 68), to the Tigers as part of the trade package for left-hander Tarik Skubal — the organization’s farm system ranked No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s rankings.
Serving as a reminder of that strength, when the Dodgers called up De Paula straight from double A, he immediately showed his bat belonged in the big-leagues.
At the same time, injuries stoked the flames of the age discussion. De Paula got his shot because Ohtani finally went on the injured list, after managing problems with his left knee and right biceps for much of the season.
Freeman pushed through knee tendinitis in September. Teoscar Hernández (left hamstring strain) and Betts (right oblique strain) both had monthlong IL stints earlier in the season but have helped carry the offense lately.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’m definitely taking a lot more care of my body,” Betts said. “I know I had an oblique [injury] earlier, but as far as just showing up every day and whatnot, I feel like we do a good job in taking care of our bodies and staying healthy for the most part.
“But I mean, people are talking like we’re the only ones in the league that’s getting hurt. You look everywhere around the league, somebody’s hurt.”
That’s true. And it also isn’t just the guys in their mid-to-late 30’s sustaining soft-tissue injuries. Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing, 25, served back-to-back IL stints for a flexor strain in his forearm down the stretch.
The Dodgers’ roster has proven deep enough to withstand injuries, as the team posted the second-best regular-season record in the majors this year.
“We’re not going to win games the same way that Milwaukee or Tampa Bay or these younger teams are winning games,” said Rojas, 37. “We’re going to win games a different way. We’re going to win games with a lot of talent, with experience, and winning moments.”
Over the years, the Dodgers have brought in players with postseason experience. But roster continuity also has meant that 17 players on this year’s projected postseason roster also contributed to both of the Dodgers’ last two World Series-winning seasons.
So, after playing more games than any other team the past couple years, the Dodgers may be a little hobbled going into their first-round bye. Regardless, they just completed their first 100-win season since 2023.
“The experience, how smart these guys are on the field, I think those things help win moments and win battles on the edges in October,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said when the Dodgers clinched the NL West title earlier this month. “It’s not as easy to navigate through a 162-game season with an older roster. But I do think that experience in those moments will definitely help and we’ll see it shine through at different points in October.”
San Diego, California - September 26: San Diego Padres announce on the video board that Petco Park will host the Chicago Cubs for the National League Wild Card series after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Here we are — the 2026 MLB Postseason.
While the Brewers are awaiting an opponent for the National League Division Series, eight teams will compete in four Wild Card Series this week. Let’s take a quick look at each of the matchups. All times listed in Central Time.
AL Wild Card Series: (3) Houston Astros vs. (6) Chicago White Sox
This series is just a sample of how the National League’s playoff field is much deeper than the American League’s — neither of these teams would have made the postseason if they were on the other side. In fact, the Astros, at 81-81, finished with what would have been the ninth-best record in the NL, behind even the 82-80 Pirates. Alas, one of these squads will make it to the NLCS against the Guardians next weekend. The Astros have a bit of an edge here just because of home-field advantage, but the White Sox, who were arguably the biggest surprise in all of baseball, will certainly give them a run for their money. Chicago led the AL Central for a decent chunk of the season and ultimately finished just one game behind Cleveland for the No. 2 seed in the AL.
Pitching: 4.45 team ERA (24th); 4.81 starter ERA (27th); 4.08 reliever ERA (17th); 1,411 Ks (ninth)
White Sox:
Offense: .236/.320/.406 (.726 OPS ranks ninth); 211 HRs (fifth); 776 runs (fifth); 93 SBs (tied for 18th)
Pitching: 4.12 team ERA (15th); 4.60 starter ERA (26th); 3.70 reliever ERA (eighth); 1,337 Ks (tied for 16th)
Projected Pitching Matchups
Game 1: RHP AJ Blubaugh (HOU) vs. LHP Hagen Smith (CWS)
Game 2: TBD (HOU) vs. TBD (CWS)
Game 3: TBD (HOU) vs. TBD (CWS)
Prediction
This is a pair of strong offenses and a pair of mediocre pitching staffs, which means I’d expect we’ll see some high-scoring, back-and-forth games. The Astros have home-field advantage, and they also have the better offense, but the White Sox have a very slight edge on the mound. I’ll take the Astros to win in three games.
AL Wild Card Series: (4) New York Yankees vs. (5) Boston Red Sox
A rematch of last year’s AL Wild Card Series, the Yankees took two of three against Boston in three low-scoring games — Boston won the first game 3-1 before the Yankees took the last two games by finals of 4-3 and 4-0. It’s hard to say what we should expect this time around, as the Red Sox have had one of the better offenses in baseball in the second half and the Yankees have arguably the best pitching staff, though the Red Sox’s staff isn’t much worse.
Pitching: 3.54 team ERA (third); 3.92 starter ERA (eighth); 3.00 reliever ERA (first); 1,398 Ks (11th)
Projected Pitching Matchups
Game 1: RHP Cam Schlittler (NYY) vs. LHP Payton Tolle (BOS)
Game 2: LHP Max Fried (NYY) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (BOS)
Game 3: RHP Gerrit Cole (NYY) vs. LHP Ranger Suarez (BOS)
Prediction
The key to this series is which version of Boston shows up — they looked terrible through late June, had the best month of July of any MLB team, and feel back down to earth over the last month and a half. If that July/early August team shows up, I’d easily pick the Red Sox, but I think they got hot too early. I’ll take the Yankees to win two out of three for the second straight year.
NL Wild Card Series: (3) Atlanta Braves vs. (6) Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies backed their way into the final NL Wild Card spot, as the Arizona Diamondbacks nearly replaced them in the playoff field before Philadelphia finally clinched on the final day of the season. The Phils will look to make people forget about that as they have a chance to knock out their division foes in the Braves after doing exactly that in 2022 and 2023, beating them in the NLDS both years. The Braves, meanwhile, have bounced back nicely in 2026 after a very disappointing 2025, and they locked up the NL East with a 94-win season behind a solid offense and even better pitching staff.
Offense: .246/.309/.409 (.718 OPS ranks tied for 16th); 204 HRs (tied for seventh); 742 runs (eighth); 83 SBs (tied for 23rd)
Pitching: 3.63 team ERA (fifth); 3.76 starter ERA (sixth); 3.44 reliever ERA (fourth); 1,350 Ks (15th)
Phillies:
Offense: .240/.312/.395 (.707 OPS ranks 22nd); 182 HRs (tied for 16th); 713 runs (19th); 105 SBs (15th)
Pitching: 4.04 team ERA (11th); 3.80 starter ERA (seventh); 4.43 reliever ERA (21st); 1,577 Ks (first)
Projected Pitching Matchups
Game 1: LHP Chris Sale (ATL) vs. LHP Jesús Luzardo (PHI)
Game 2: TBD (ATL) vs. TBD (PHI)
Game 3: TBD (ATL) vs. TBD (PHI)
Prediction
Had the Phillies not had to fight their way to the postseason until the last day of the regular season, I would have been inclined to take them in a short series behind their strong starting pitching, but after they were forced to use their top starters in the final weekend, that advantage may not be there. Having Chris Sale going in game 1 helps the Braves in a major way — I’ll take Atlanta to sweep.
NL Wild Card Series: (4) San Diego Padres vs. (5) Chicago Cubs
Another rematch from last year, this one has changed locations as the Padres caught fire in September to storm atop the NL Wild Card standings, claiming the No. 4 seed as they’ll host the No. 5 seed Cubs, who struggled in the final few weeks of the year. The Cubs, statistically, have the best offense (led by Pete Crow-Armstrong) and defense in baseball, but their bullpen has been dismal, while the Padres have been good in just about every area down the stretch, anchored by their strong bullpen and the second-half resurgence of Fernando Tatis Jr.
Offense: .244/.319/.398 (.717 OPS ranks 18th); 183 HRs (tied for 14th); 722 runs (15th); 164 SBs (tied for second)
Pitching: 3.99 team ERA (10th); 4.42 starter ERA (21st); 3.53 reliever ERA (fifth); 1,315 Ks (20th)
Cubs:
Offense: .251/.339/.428 (.767 OPS ranks first); 220 HRs (third); 850 runs (first); 114 SBs (tied for 10th)
Pitching: 4.12 team ERA (14th); 4.27 starter ERA (18th); 3.90 reliever ERA (13th); 1,260 Ks (26th)
Projected Pitching Matchups
Game 1: RHP Michael King (SD) vs. LHP Matthew Boyd (CHC)
Game 2: TBD (SD) vs. TBD (CHC)
Game 3: TBD (SD) vs. TBD (CHC)
Prediction
Had you asked me at the start of September, I would have picked the Cubs to win this series, perhaps even with a sweep. But the Cubs have been inconsistent all season, so I have no idea what to expect. With that in mind, I’ll take the safer bet and pick the Padres to win two of three and move on to face the Brewers.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on during the seventh inning of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on September 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
At long last, we’ve reached judgment day. Or, perhaps, the first of many days of judgment, pun intended. Today, the Yankees’ 2026 postseason run begins, as the club hopes that this foray into October baseball lasts longer than last year’s did. We will also learn today whether Aaron Judge will be on the playoff roster, as the slugger was on the field taking live batting practice just yesterday less than two weeks after suffering a calf strain. The stakes, both with regard to Judge’s health, and with the Yankees’ matchup with their archnemesis, are unbearably high.
Let’s take a deep breath, and jump in together. On the site today, Dani will preview Game 1 against the Red Sox, while Andrew runs our sitewide postseason predictions. Later, we’ll see Peter’s At-bat of the Week feature Ryan McMahon, and John’s entry in the Yankee Birthday series profiles Scranton manager Shelley Duncan. Also, as the Yankees embark on their playoff journey, Michael finds an optimistic slant and compares the Yankees’ impending run to the 2026 Knicks’ run to a legendary championship.
Today’s Matchup:
New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
TV: NBC/Peacock
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Questions/Prompts:
1. Alright, what do you think: is Aaron Judge in the lineup tonight?
2. Are you worried about the Yankee lineup facing lefty Payton Tolle, with or without Judge?
The openers of the four best-of-three wild card series take place Tuesday, with Game 2s on Wednesday and if necessary, winner-take-all Game 3s on Thursday. The winners advance to the best-of-five Division Series, which begin on Saturday, Oct. 3.
The World Series begins on Friday, Oct. 23 at the home ballpark of the pennant winner with the better record. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the reigning World Series champions and enter the fold in the Division Series after earning a bye.
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 27: Mason Montgomery #46 of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Rafael Flores Jr. #43 celebrate after the Pirates defeated the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Sunday, September 27, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Izzy Rincon/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
There hasn’t been a lot of celebrating for the Pittsburgh Pirates over the years but they were able to achieve one pretty big goal this season. The Pirates finished the 2026 season with a winning record, 82-80, after defeating the Detroit Tigers 4-2 in the series/season finale at Comerica Park on Sept. 27.
The Pirates haven’t had a winning season since 2018, when they went 82-79, marking seven seasons of poor baseball. There have been a couple of close seasons throughout the years but they were never able to get over the hump.
It was tied for the second-longest streak in baseball, with only the Los Angeles Angels having more at 11 and the Colorado Rockies at eight this season.
In 2025, The Bucs went 71-91 and finished last in the NL Central. The Pirates also had the fifth worst record in all of baseball.
Pittsburgh finished third in the division, and had a winning record and an 11-win improvement from last season. It is just the fifth winning season in the past 34 years for the Pirates, including their three postseason appearances, 2013-15.
The Pirates were even in the third Wild Card spot in late July, but seven straight losing series put them six games below .500 and they fell too far behind to make up ground. It is frustrating to see a promising season slip but even though this was not a playoff team this year it still feels like The Pirates are treading into the right direction to snap their massive playoff drought.
Even though fans in the steel city want to see them in the postseason, this season should still be considered a victory. The Pirates went from being an irrelevant laughably bad team to a squad that was respected and competitive this year.
The playoffs felt like an unrealistic goal for this young team before the season started. With all the inexperience and the defensive being a major question making the postseason felt fair fetched but now with a lot of that young talent coming together and if they can keep Brandon Lowe the playoffs seem like a legit possibility for 2027.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout during the fifth 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
MLB.com | Max Ralph: Last week, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Aaron Judge would miss the Wild Card Series, but the slugger had other plans. Judge himself is aiming to play against the Red Sox and is ramping up baseball activities, as he partook in indoor hitting and throwing on Sunday before participating in a live BP session against Elmer Rodríguez today. While the thought of Judge rushing his return and playing in a diminished state or re-aggravating his calf is scary, having his righty bat against Boston’s collection of lefty pitchers would certainly be a boon — if he’s not as rusty as he looked in September.
FanGraphs | Jay Jaffe: The Yankees and Red Sox are meeting in the Wild Card Series for the second year in a row, but this year’s matchup looks a whole lot different than last year’s. While the 2025 editions of both clubs featured high-octane offenses, this year the bitter rivals each feature elite pitching in what looks to be a low-scoring affair. No matter what shape the games take, here’s hoping that the Yankees enjoy the same outcome as last year.
The Athletic | Brendan Kuty: ($) Cam Schlittler’s eight-inning, 12-strikeout, scoreless start against the Red Sox in Game 3 of last year’s Wild Card Series was one for the ages. It was also fueled by online hate directed towards Schlittler from Red Sox Nation prior to the game. Apparently, some members of the Boston faithful have still continued to chirp online. To his credit, Schlittler seems unfazed, saying, “At the end of the day, when I get prepared for whatever day I start, it’s not what I’m going to be thinking about.”
FanGraphs | Dan Szymborski: Finally, the 2026 ZiPS game-by-game postseason odds have gone live on FanGraphs! In contrast to the regular season-version, playoff ZiPS incorporates matchup-specific info – starters, lineups, players’ health status – to provide win-loss odds for each individual game. For what it’s worth, the model gives the Yankees a 52.6% chance of besting the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series, with favorable odds in both Game 1 and 2.
Shohei Ohtani, Jacob Misiorowski and Junior Caminero will all play a big part in this year’s playoffs. Composite: Guardian Pictures (via Getty)
Team who will most be missed from the playoffs
The Mariners. The only active MLB team to have never appeared in a World Series came within a single win of ending that hoodoo last October and appeared poised to go one stage further in 2026. Instead, their 76-86 clunker feels like a wasted chance for a lineup featuring Julio Rodríguez, Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena. BAG
The Pirates could have brought real verve to the postseason with a healthy Konnor Griffin at shortstop and Paul Skenes on the mound. Sadly the team dug too deep a hole in August and, in usual Pirate fashion, didn’t give themselves a chance. AK
That has to be the Orioles, which means Pete Alonso’s F-David Stearns tour won’t see the bright lights of the postseason. The Mets’ president of baseball operations, one with almost all the money in the world at his disposal, who didn’t offer a contract to Alonso – who hit 43 home runs, arguably the second-best season of his career – is finally off the hook. That is, at least until a would-be 2027 season. Too bad. DL
High seed at risk of going out early
The American League’s No 2 seed is an 85-win division champion with a plus-11 run differential who FanGraphs suggests was closer to a .500 ball club. The Guardians have the pitching to thrive in close games, but a lineup without a 20-homer batter leaves them little room for error. BAG
The Dodgers are finally going to face the consequences that come with age, variance, and having had to play an extra 31 games over the prior two postseasons. They still have no big weaknesses, but their lineup is old (the average age on their roster is 31, making them the oldest team in MLB) and has occasionally looked the part this year. AK
If you needed a team to squeak out a single run under pressure against great playoff pitching, that’s not the Yankeeswith Aaron Judge in the lineup. Without him, against some superb Red Sox hurlers, the swing-and-a-miss Bronx Bombers have even less of a chance of putting runs on the board. They could find themselves bronzing in Cancún sooner rather than later. DL
Dark horse to win
It seems odd to call a team with baseball’s best offense and defense a dark horse, but the Cubs’ leaky relief pitching makes them one. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman give Chicago plenty of ways to win games. If the bullpen can keep the ball in the park, they could go far. BAG
The Rays will always have a dark-horse feel, even in a year when they win the AL East. Pitching could be the difference here: whether injured starter Shane McClanahan returns at some point or not, the deadline acquisition of Freddy Peralta from the Mets ensures rotation depth that will serve this club well. AK
How can a team with 98 wins be a dark horse? When they don’t hit for power, get on base less than the Rockies, and their ability to score is a little better than middle of the road. They play in a condom-covered dump in front of some of the leanest crowds in the league. An inspiring, title-like set up? Nope, and the Rays are dark horses because few fans know they even exist. Pragmatic as they come though; they can pitch and Kevin Cash can manage. The AL can’t handle them, and the Dodgers are vulnerable. DL
default
Player to watch …
Tarik Skubal arrives in October as the centerpiece of baseball’s most formidable rotation, with a potential record-setting free agency ahead. Every start will be judged against the imposing price the Dodgers paid to acquire him in their bid for a rare third straight title. BAG
Tampa Bay’s Chandler Simpson is a throwback, a defense, speed and batting average-heavy corner outfielder who’s made a place for himself despite lacking the power that makes most great modern hitters. In a lineup with a lot of thump, Simpson’s slap hitting offers a bit of variety. AK
Sticking to my Rays theme, it’s Junior Caminero. The Dominican gets no recognition, or at least not enough, despite crushing close to 90 home runs in two years, while also hitting for average. He’s making strides every season and he’s only 23. At some point the third baseman is going to be very expensive, so who knows how long he’ll remain on the Gulf. At the moment, he’s the straw that stirs Tampa’s tipple, and now Caminero has the spotlight. DL
Most important factor this postseason/offseason
The labor talks. The collective bargaining agreement expires on 1 December and MLB’s salary-cap proposal remains at odds with the players’ intractable position. A lockout could freeze the hot-stove market while a prolonged dispute could torpedo the 2027 season entirely. Whatever happens on the field, the most important baseball story after the Fall Classic will unfold across a bargaining table. BAG
The lack of great teams in the American League. The Rays may be a great team, but is anyone else in the Junior Circuit? MLB’s three best teams – the Brewers, Dodgers and Braves – are all in the NL, and I’d probably prefer the Cubs over any team in the AL at the moment, too. The AL has a true “anyone’s ballgame” feel. You could imagine this league producing a truly weird pennant winner. AK
The postseason CBA negotiations may not bring us world peace, but hopefully they will create a new rule that bans teams with .500 records or worse from winning a division, or reaching the playoffs via a wildcard spot. The team with the best above-.500 record not to qualify for the playoffs, regardless of league, will replace that team, and the sub-.500 bums will not be allowed to complain AT ALL. And God forbid the Astros win the 2026 World Series, I will pull whatever is left of my hair out. Who’s with me? DL
NLCS
Dodgers over Brewers. BAG
Brewers over Dodgers. AK
Brewers over Dodgers. DL
ALCS
Rays over White Sox. BAG
Rays over White Sox. AK
Rays over Guardians. DL
Your World Series winners will be …
The Rays will put the ball in play, run the basepaths aggressively and make the Dodgers earn their outs. But a rotation of Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow gives the Dodgers four starters capable of shutting down the Rays’ contact-heavy lineup, while the incandescent Shohei Ohtani supplies the power capable of turning any close game with one swing of the bat. Milwaukee and Tampa Bay may grade out better analytically, but the smell test clearly favors the Dodgers to become only the third franchise to win three consecutive World Series crowns. BAG
The Brewers will finally get the right October mixture this year. They have the same deep lineup as usual, with no real stars but also no weaknesses. Jacob Misiorowski gives them a rotation trump card that they haven’t had since CC Sabathia’s brief run in Milwaukee after the 2008 trade deadline. And they have the necessary high-leverage relievers (Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby) to feel good about any game that’s still competitive after six innings. AK
In many ways the Brewers and Rays are mirror images of each other, especially when it comes to their contract-based approaches to baseball. They are also similar in the way that absolutely nobody except their fans wants to see such a matchup. The Brewers have the overwhelming ace in Misiorowski, but the Rays have more pitching depth. They’re also due to win, with the owners detesting this matchup which proves lower payroll teams can win it all. And at precisely the wrong time. DL
Jesús Luzardo will start Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series on Tuesday in Atlanta, 22 days after his previous start.
Activated from the injured list Sunday, Luzardo threw four pitches and induced three groundouts. The appearance could not show how deep he is ready to pitch, but the Phillies came away comfortable enough to give him the ball.
Luzardo’s previous start showed why the Phillies wanted that option. On Sept. 7, Labor Day, he threw the first complete game of his career in his 150th major league start. He struck out 12 and needed 109 pitches in a 1-0 win over the Braves.
It completed a 16-start run in which Luzardo went 10-1 with a 1.70 ERA and the Phillies went 14-2. No qualified pitcher in baseball had a lower ERA from June 10 through Sept. 7.
His average arm angle in the complete game was 26.5 degrees.
That reading put a stamp on a trend that had developed start by start. Luzardo was at 32.1 degrees on June 5. His angle dipped below 30 on June 23 and remained there for each of his final 14 starts.
As the angle fell, his results improved. The connection is more complicated than one mechanical number. Luzardo also threw more first-pitch strikes and leaned harder on one of baseball’s best sweepers in favorable counts.
Asked Monday about the lower slot, J.T. Realmuto pointed to more than the breaking ball.
“I don’t know the numbers or anything to back it up, but for me, it actually feels like his fastball got better,” Realmuto said.
Realmuto saw Luzardo beating right-handed hitters with the four-seamer more often. Better location could have contributed, but the pitches also worked together.
“I feel like his fastball played up when his arm slot lowered a little bit, and that just makes the sweeper that much better,” Realmuto said.
The numbers support what Realmuto saw. Against right-handed hitters, Luzardo’s four-seam whiff rate rose from 15.2 percent over his first 15 starts to 23.4 percent over his final 14. Their slugging percentage in plate appearances ending with the pitch fell from .554 to .389.
The lower slot was not entirely new. Luzardo raised his arm in 2024 to create more ride on his four-seam fastball. The delivery aggravated his back, and a lumbar stress reaction ended his season in June. With the Phillies in 2025, he returned to a lower slot that better fit his body and new sweeper.
He went lower again in 2026 without a planned overhaul or target number. Speaking Sept. 11 during the Phillies’ previous trip to Atlanta, Luzardo said he followed what felt right.
“It just felt better,” Luzardo said. “Just felt cleaner and easier for me to repeat my mechanics that way.”
“Gradually, some days I would throw a little lower, and I was like, ‘All right, that feels pretty good. Let me try that out,'” Luzardo said. “Every time I threw down there, it just felt cleaner and cleaner.”
Phillies assistant pitching coach Mark Lowy, who spoke that same day, has known Luzardo since the left-hander was a teenager. He also sees a delivery that works better with a lower slot.
“For him, the slot being lower, the rotation is a little bit cleaner,” Lowy said. “It just seems like that works with his body.”
“It’s more like a health and philosophy thing for me than pitch shapes or execution,” Lowy said. “I think he’s just kind of settled back down into more of a natural slot.”
One day later, left shoulder stiffness forced Luzardo out of his scheduled start. The Phillies eventually placed him on the 15-day injured list with inflammation. The timing adds context to Lowy’s health framing. The lower slot did not make Luzardo injury-proof, but it does not erase what the preceding three months showed.
A real change, with a tracking caveat
Statcast measures arm angle from a pitcher’s throwing shoulder to the ball at release. Luzardo’s pitch-weighted average fell from 31.4 degrees over his first 15 starts to 26.7 over his final 14, a drop of 4.7 degrees.
The shift cannot be explained by throwing more sweepers, a pitch he already releases from a lower angle. His arm angle dropped by at least four degrees on each of his four pitches. His release point also moved about two inches lower and three inches farther to the side.
Lowy warned against placing too much weight on a comparison between readings from different ballparks.
“I’m always a little bit of a skeptic with some of the measurements we get outside of CBP,” Lowy said. “Just ’cause you never know how well everything’s calibrated, and I don’t want to compare, you know, a road park to our home park.”
One road start still stood out. On July 9 in Cincinnati, Luzardo followed what felt natural instead of forcing his arm higher.
“Cincinnati stood out to me when he threw there, just visually,” Lowy said. “Throughout the outing, it just looked lower. I think instead of trying to create it differently, he kind of just fed into the lower slot, then he threw really well that day.”
Luzardo’s measured angle was 25.7 degrees. He allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings and struck out 11. Entering 2026, his previous lows were 28.0 degrees in a regular-season start and 27.6 in the postseason. Cincinnati was his first start on record below 27.
The broader change remains clear when road readings are removed. Luzardo averaged 31.3 degrees in his eight early starts at Citizens Bank Park. He averaged 26.1 in his six later home starts, a 5.2-degree drop measured in the same ballpark.
What changed with it
June 23 is the dividing line because it was Luzardo’s first start below 30 degrees.
Metric
First 15 starts
Final 14 starts
Arm angle
31.4°
26.7°
Innings
85 2/3
93
ERA
4.20
1.65
Estimated xERA
3.41
2.32
WHIP
1.31
0.87
Opponent average
.259
.170
Strikeout rate
26.6%
34.2%
Walk rate
7.4%
6.9%
His estimated xERA, which accounts for strikeouts, walks and quality of contact, also improved. The actual ERA swing was even larger.
Lowy said early results obscured some good work. A broken-bat single and a nine-pitch walk could precede a three-run homer. In another order, the same events might produce one run.
“All the numbers underneath the surface early on pointed to, like, dude, you’re doing a really, really good job,” Lowy said. “Let’s not panic.”
The lower angle should not receive credit for every result. Luzardo allowed five runs, one earned, in his first sub-30-degree start. He later allowed six earned runs in Miami at 26.8 degrees.
The relevant change is his broader move into a lower release window, not whether he was at 25 degrees or 27 in one start.
An elite sweeper, used differently
Luzardo’s sweeper finished among the best pitches in baseball. Only five qualifying pitches produced more than its plus-23 run value. Its 47.6 percent whiff rate ranked fifth. The .159 slugging percentage against it was third lowest, while the .112 batting average was second lowest.
The movement numbers alone do not show the lower slot making it better. The sweeper’s horizontal movement held at about 8.5 inches. Its velocity barely changed, and its whiff rate went from 47.2 percent to 47.8.
“I don’t think the pitch necessarily changed,” Luzardo said. “I think maybe a lower slot, different approach angle.”
The same break can look different from a lower and wider starting point. Luzardo believes the ball begins farther behind a left-handed hitter and farther away from a right-handed hitter.
“Whether it does add or doesn’t add more inches horizontally, I think just the angle itself probably helps me,” Luzardo said.
The lower release also works with his sinker, which moves in the opposite direction.
“Adding the sinker out of that slot kind of creates a little more east and west,” Luzardo said.
The results were most pronounced against left-handed hitters. Their chase rate against his sweeper rose from 38 percent to 46 percent. In 41 plate appearances that ended with the pitch during the second span, lefties had two singles in 40 at-bats and struck out 29 times.
Across Luzardo’s entire arsenal, lefties hit .105 in the second span. His strikeout rate against them climbed from 26 percent to 44 percent.
The largest strategic change was when Luzardo threw the sweeper. With two strikes, its usage jumped from 43.3 percent to 56.4. His changeup use in those counts fell from 23.7 percent to 10.7.
“Analytically now, baseball is going towards, like, you throw your best pitch in favorable counts,” Luzardo said.
The sweeper’s chase rate climbed from 33 percent to 42 percent. Its putaway rate, the share of two-strike sweepers that produced a strikeout, rose from 27 percent to 32 percent.
“I think more guys just have a hole to a sweeper than they do to a changeup,” Luzardo said. “A lot of times changeup seems to be a weak-contact pitch. And if you’re looking for swing and miss, it’s probably something else, at least for me.”
The changeup was not obsolete. Luzardo said the choice remained lineup-dependent, but he found more chances to finish hitters with the sweeper.
More first-pitch strikes
Getting ahead was a separate adjustment. Luzardo did not describe it as a direct result of lowering his arm.
“I was struggling earlier,” Luzardo said. “I don’t think it was really because of that, but I was falling behind more.”
His overall zone rate barely changed, from 46.2 percent to 46.9. His first-pitch strike rate made a larger jump, from 59.8 percent to 65.4.
“I think that we just made a conscious effort, like, I need to get in the zone more. I need to start ahead more,” Luzardo said. “Whatever pitch that is, make sure it’s in the zone.”
Getting the first strike created more chances to use his sweeper. His overall chase rate increased only one point, from 33.2 percent to 34.2. The larger increase was concentrated against his best pitch.
The lower slot happened by feel. The commitment to early strikes was intentional. They developed together during the best stretch of his career, even if the data cannot assign each change an exact share of the credit.
Luzardo finished the regular season 14-5 with a 2.86 ERA and 221 strikeouts in 179 2/3 innings.
“He knows what he needs rather than, ‘I’m gonna go do what everyone else does, because that’s how it’s supposed to look,'” Lowy said.
The Phillies do not know how many innings Luzardo can give them Tuesday. Sunday showed that he could return to a major league mound. His final 16 starts explained why they were willing to put him back on one in Game 1.
Push for the playoffs coverage on NBC Sports Philadelphia is presented by Toyota, proud partner of the Philadelphia Phillies.
When the Yankees faced a Red Sox lefty in Game 1 of the AL wild-card series last year, Aaron Boone sent Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the bench, much to his chagrin.
History could repeat itself Tuesday night, with Boone having to decide whether to start the left-handed hitting Chisholm or the right-handed hitting Anthony Volpe at second base against southpaw Payton Tolle.
Access the Yankees beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.
Chisholm said Monday he expected to be in the lineup Tuesday, but had not yet heard anything from Boone. Asked if he would be “angry” not to be in the lineup to face Tolle — against whom he is 1-for-5 with a home run and two strikeouts — Chisholm indicated he would.
“As a competitor, who wouldn’t be?” said Chisholm, who was upset last year when he was not in the Game 1 lineup against lefty Garrett Crochet. “It’s the playoffs, you want to play.”
Chisholm started both games against Tolle during the regular season, though the Yankees roster composition will be different this time around, including having Volpe (0-for-2 against Tolle) as a utility player. Chisholm also only got 12 plate appearances under his belt after returning from the IL last week for a right thumb sprain.
Boone brought up Chisholm’s recent injury when acknowledging he was considering platooning him and Volpe at second base.
“Volpe is very much in play,” Boone said. “The platoon stuff is in play there. Obviously Jazz is just coming back from the thumb. He was able to get a couple games in, would have liked another one or two, but the weather didn’t really cooperate this weekend. Anthony’s put himself very much in the mix to be a part of the equation.”
Chisholm, a pending free agent, had a mostly brutal contract year in the regular season but had been playing his best baseball when he got hurt earlier this month. He was asked if he would understand why Boone would play the platoon matchups in this series.
New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. runs off the field in the sixth inning during the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Adam Hunger
Ryan Weathers threw an inning of live batting practice Monday, which the Yankees will have to take into account when deciding whether the left-hander will be on their roster. Because he is coming back from a left forearm flexor strain, the live session Monday will likely make him unavailable to pitch in Game 1 on Tuesday, but would he be recovered in time to pitch either Wednesday or Thursday?
Weathers’ first live session was Friday, and he threw again Monday on two days’ rest. If he makes the roster, the Yankees will essentially have him for one inning versus another lefty like Tim Hill, who would probably be available to pitch in all three games.
Crochet, who has been out since April with a shoulder injury, threw a second live batting practice Saturday as he attempts to rush through an expedited rehab that could land him on the Red Sox wild-card roster.
“I guess now it’s just a matter of if anybody agrees with me,” said Crochet, who was pleased with his stuff and his health. “I’ve been busting my tail just to give myself a fighting chance, and I feel like I did that. … Now just waiting for the roster to come out.”
Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said he did not know yet whether Crochet would crack the roster. He felt more optimistic about Willson Contreras, who returned to the lineup Sunday after missing eight games with a bruised hand.
“We’ll make sure we get everybody through [the workout] and see where we’re at, but I think he’s ready to go,” Tracy said.
One other roster curiosity for the Red Sox: Triple-A outfielder Braiden Ward traveled with the team to The Bronx because he stole 61 bases in the minors this season and could be added as a pinch runner.
If so, the 27-year-old would be making his major league debut.
“It’s like a dream — it’s a fever dream,” Ward said. “One day I’m in Worcester, the next day I’m in Florida, the next day I’m at the nicest hotel I’ve ever stayed at in New York City, the greatest view, the greatest team, getting to hopefully play in the greatest rivalry.”
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 07: Dylan Cease #84 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches against the Athletics in the bottom of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on September 07, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Each year, I look at how each Jays player performed during the season.
We signed Dylan Cease on December 2nd last year. He got a seven-year, $210 million contract. I read a few baseball commentators call it the worst free-agent signing of the off-season. Right now, they appear very wrong.
We disagreed. 42.9% of us were ‘Kind of Happy’, 41.8% were Very Happy. Only 5.1% were Kind of or Very Unhappy.
Cease spent the previous two seasons with the Padres. He had a very good season in 2024, a 3.47 ERA and a 4.0 bWAR and a less good 2025 season, with a 4.55 ERA and a 1.0 bWAR.
The Jays thought they saw something in him that they could ‘fix’. I’m always dubious of teams thinking that. But it seems like the Jays were right.
Baseball Reference has him at 5.7 WAR, and Fangraphs has him at 5.5, valuing him at $43.9 million to the Blue Jays.
Dylan had a 2.56 FIP and 2.93 xFIP.
He had a .274 BABIP (down from .320 last year). 77.8% of the base runners he allowed were stranded (up from 69.0% last year).
Cease’s line drive rate was 20.4% (down from 21.8% last year). His ground ball rate was 42.1% (up from 36.6). And the fly ball rate was 37.5% (down from 41.5). 8.1% of his fly balls left the park (down from 11.9).
His strikeout rate was 34.9% (up from 29.8), while his walk rate was up 11.4% from 9.8.
Dylan’s soft contact rate was up (21.6% from 17.2). Hard contact was down (29.0% from 33.8).
He was slightly better vs. LHB (.167/.267/.271) than RHB (.198/.289/.270). Career, he has been a fair bit better vs. right-handed batters.
Cease was better on the road (batters hit.162/.257/.234, with a 1.94 ERA) than at home (.198/.295/.305 with a 2.85 ERA).
He was slightly better in the second half (2.17, .167/.265/.285) than in the first half (2.56, .190/.284/.261).
Cease by month:
April: 6 starts, 1-1, 2.87. Batters hit .220/.326/.246 with 0 home runs, 17 walks and 49 strikeouts.
May: 5 starts, 2-2, 3.23. Batters hit .209/.275/.373 with 5 home runs, 9 walks and 43 strikeouts.
June: 4 starts, 1-1, 2.95. Batters hit .182/.308/.221 with 0 home runs, 14 walks and 36 strikeouts..
July: 5 starts, 3-1, 1.00. Batters hit .125/.198/.217 with 2 home runs, 11 walks and 46 strikeouts.
August: 5 starts, 2-0, 2.03. Batters hit .144/.242/.260 with 3 home runs, 14 walks and 43 strikeouts.
September: 4 starts, 2-1, 2.89. Batters hit .214/.333/.314 with 1 home run, 13 walks and 22 strikeouts.
The Jays were 18-11 in his starts. They averaged 4.56 runs per game in his starts. They scored 3 or fewer runs in 11 of his starts.
Days of rest:
4 days, 13 starts: 5-3, 2.75 ERA, batters hit .178/.280/.280.
5 days, 10 starts: 5-1, 1.96 ERA, batters hit .167/.263/.234.
6 or more days: 6 starts, 1-2, 2.38 ERA, batters hit .206/.291/.310.
By Catcher:
Tyler Heineman: 5 games, 4.23 ERA, batters hit .230/.350/.310.
Alejandro Kirk: 15 games, 2.44 ERA, batters hit .173/.276/.256.
Brandon Valenzuela: 9 games, 1.43 ERA, batters hit .167/.236/.273.
Times through the order:
1st: Batters hit .160/.257/.255.
2nd: Batters hit .174/.251/.230.
3rd: Batters hit .224/.346/.366.
4th: Batters hit ..250/.400/.250 in just 5 PA.
Dylan was good with RISP, holding batters to a .200/.255/.255 line.
In high-leverage spots, batters hit .233/.284/.291. Low leverage .157/.259/.252.
His best start, according to GameScore, was a 94 on July 25th, in Boston. He went 9 innings, allowing 1 hit, 3 walks, and 12 strikeouts. He also posted an 88 on July 8th in San Francisco, allowing 1 hit in 8 innings, with 3 walks and 11 strikeouts.
The worst start was a 38 GameScore. September 18th, going 2.2 innings, allowing 3 hits, 4 runs, 1 earned run, 6 walks and 6 strikeouts against the Rangers. You likely remember it.
José averaged 5.8 innings per start.
Cease had a super season. He tired a bit near the end. I didn’t think the Jays really worked him all that hard; he threw 169 innings. In 2024, he threw 189 innings. But then different innings cause different stresses.
It was a nice way to start a seven-year contract. Odds are his last couple of seasons won’t be as good, but we have a while until then. He’s clearly our opening-day starter next year. When 77% of your outs are strikeouts or groundouts, it is a good season.
I’m not going to worry (much) about his ‘tired arm’ at the end of the season. If they suddenly schedule surgery, then I’ll worry, but a tired arm does happen.
Before the season, Steamer projected him to make 32 starts, throw 185 innings with a 3.61 ERA, a 12-10 record, and a 3.8 fWAR. The 185 innings was overly hopeful, but the rest they undershot the target.
By Baseball Savant, his fastball was a little slower than last year: 96.8 mph this year, 97.1 last year, but it got hit harder last year: .204 this year, .241 last. His slider was also harder, 89.1 to 88.7 this year. Batters hit his slider at .145 this year, .228 last year.
We changed his pitch usage some:
Four Seamer: 37.0% this year, 42.1% last year.
Slider: 30.1% this year, 40.8 last year.
Change-up: 11.5% this year, 1.2 last.
Knuckle Curve: 10.1% this year, 8.3 last.
Sinker: 7.9% this year, 3.9 last.
Sweeper: 3.5% this year, 3.5 last.
Before the season we asked:
If the over/under on Dylan’s innings is 180, I’d take the…..33.81% of us were right. If he hadn’t tired at the end, it would have been very close.
We also asked, “If the over/under on Dylan’s wins in his seven-year contract was 77”. 52.9% of us picked the over. We also asked who would be the opening-day starter. 9.3 said, Cease. Most were right in picking Gausman.tarter. 9.3 said Cease. Most were right picking Gausman.
There are several Yankees roster questions whose answers will dictate the outfield alignment for the Game 1 lineup. Will Aaron Judge play? And if so, would he be mobile enough to play right field? How about Trent Grisham? Can Heliot Ramos be trusted in right field?
The only certainty, really, is Cody Bellinger’s presence in left field. But Spencer Jones has made a charge that gives him a strong argument to be 1) in center field and 2) in the middle of the lineup even against a strong lefty in Boston’s Payton Tolle.
Among the more impressive, and surprising, aspects of Jones’ emergence is how he has done it: A mighty lefty slugger with a notorious whiffing problem in the minors has done the bulk of his major league damage against fellow lefties.
New York Yankees left fielder Jose Caballero (72), center fielder Spencer Jones (78) and right fielder Heliot Ramos (34) celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
An outlier of a talent, he has also been an outlier among young lefty hitters in slashing .389/.441/.667 in 59 plate appearances against southpaws.
“I think we get a lot of times caught up in a smaller sample, but from my watching him, I feel like he’s been really impressive against left-handed [pitching],” manager Aaron Boone said during Monday’s workout day in The Bronx ahead of Tuesday’s wild-card series opener against the Red Sox. “It’s not just, ‘Yeah, he’s gotten hits,’ but he’s faced a lot of tough lefties and not only held his own but kind of thrived.”
Many young lefty hitters require a platoon complement at least early in their careers. In explaining his success against lefty pitching, Jones mentioned conversations with other “really good left-handed hitters on this team,” with Bellinger among the best in the game at hitting lefty-on-lefty.
“It’s just about I think making tight turns,” Jones said, “and being ready and preparing yourself for left-handed arms. Kind of just having an idea, visualizing, what you want to do and where you want to hit the ball. It’s a combination of a lot of things.”
The biggest threat to Jones’ lineup spot is Grisham, who has been sidelined since Sept. 4 with a hamstring strain but has felt healthy enough to be activated for several days, a process delayed by the complications of optioning another player so close to the postseason.
Boone said Grisham, who was set to take live batting practice Monday, is “very much in play” to be a part of the wild-card roster.
If Grisham is cleared, it would set up Boone with a decision between a rookie’s potential and a veteran’s experience. Grisham is more sure-handed in center but does not have Jones’ legs. Jones, who has been spotty defensively, does not have Grisham’s years of reps and is probably a bigger risk to misplay a routine ball, even if he has a better chance at making a spectacular play.
Regardless, Jones — who struck out 200 times at Double-A Somerset in 2024 and who in 2025 could not fight his way to the majors — has positioned himself well for not just a roster spot but playing time.
New York Yankees’ Trent Grisham (12) takes batting practice before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Which is starkly different from his status at this time last year, when he and his girlfriend drove from Triple-A Scranton back home to Nashville, Tenn. They watched Cam Schlittler dominate in Game 3 of the wild-card series on an iPad in the car and during a stop at a Chipotle.
“What I was thinking about [then] was: being on the team, being in that lineup and being able to play in these games,” Jones said. “Now we get to come in here this week, and I’m excited about it.”
New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler throws a pitch during the first inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Cam Schlittler had made 14 major league starts before taking the ball in Game 3 of last year’s wild-card series against the Red Sox in The Bronx.
“I thought [the Yankees] were in trouble when they lost the first game of that series,’’ an American League scout said Monday. “I didn’t know yet that Cam Schlittler was Cam Schlittler.”
Access the Yankees beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.
And instead of asking the right-hander to save their season, as they did in 2025, the Yankees are looking for Schlittler to get them out of the gate fast.
It’s why the 25-year-old, who is certain to win his first AL Cy Young Award this offseason, was tabbed to pitch Tuesday night’s opener at the Stadium by Aaron Boone and the pitching department.
“For him to put faith in me to go out there and put a good performance in in Game 1, that’s definitely a great feeling,’’ Schlittler said before the Yankees worked out in The Bronx on Monday.
In that decisive Game 3 against Boston, Schlittler tossed eight shutout innings — striking out 12 and walking none — to knock off the Red Sox.
He wasn’t as dominant against the Blue Jays in the ALDS, but that was before Schlittler established himself as one of the top pitchers in the game.
And the Walpole, Mass., native will be facing his hometown Red Sox, a franchise — and fanbase — he’s developed a long history with.
He hasn’t shied away from all aspects of the rivalry — both good and bad — in this age of social media.
Last year, Schlittler said he was disappointed by how some Red Sox fans went after not only him but his family during the postseason, calling it “personal.”
New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler throws a pitch during the first inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post
This time around, Schlittler said he knows what to expect.
“I wouldn’t say I’m always on my phone looking for that stuff,’’ Schlittler said. “At the same time, I don’t really live under a rock. I’ve found ways to use that to my advantage. I think I’m good at keeping receipts. At the end of the day, I’m locked into going in there [Tuesday] and doing my job.”
He’s done that better than just about anyone in the American League in his first full season in the majors, finishing with an AL-best 1.95 ERA, as well as 239 strikeouts over 33 starts.
While that won’t be forgotten if Tuesday night doesn’t go Schlittler’s way, those accomplishments will certainly look less impressive.
And he knows that what happens in these playoffs will go a long way in defining his legacy.
Still, in a rotation that includes high-priced free agents like Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and Carlos Rodón, Schlittler has clearly stood apart.
But he’s not ready to put himself in their category — yet.
“I think an ace is someone that has longevity [and] success in their career over a handful of seasons and they’ve shown consistency,’’ Schlittler said. “I think I’ve shown consistency over a year and a half, but I still think we’ve got a long way to go. We’ve got a lot of guys in this rotation that have a lot of experience and have proven to be an ace. I have confidence in myself to kind of treat myself like an ace, but I wouldn’t really define that yet.’’
Boone is ready to take that leap.
“He’s turned into an ace in the sport,’’ the manager said. “He’s obviously super talented and really skilled, but he’s also really tough and able to focus. And it seems like the bigger the game, the better he seems to be here in his young career.’’
New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton (27) takes live batting practice during a workout day before their Wild Card Series with the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 28, 2026.
Is it possible that the postseason fate of Giancarlo Stanton — at least for the first round — came down to a bunch of at-bats against Ryan Weathers, Elmer Rodríguez and prospect Kyle Carr at an empty Yankee Stadium?
It certainly sounded as if the day’s live batting practice, on the eve of Game 1 against the Red Sox, would matter, with the slugger attempting to show team brass both that he is healthy enough to play and that his bat is ready enough to perform.
Access the Yankees beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.
If manager Aaron Boone & Co. were judging purely on what they saw Monday, Stanton could more easily argue the former than the latter.
He stepped to the plate five times and was able to take his vicious hacks without betraying discomfort. Afterward, he made his way to the outfield and ran curves. Finally, as other Yankees hitters stepped into the box, Stanton took a lead off first base and several times ran to second. He was not going 100 percent, but this version of Stanton is never going all out because he is purposeful with each step to try to avoid injury. If he needed to demonstrate that he could make it through a game without a setback, perhaps he accomplished as much.
But in the tiny sampling of five plate appearances against Weathers (the first two), Rodríguez (the next two) and Carr (the final one), Stanton walked; fought a nine-pitch at-bat that included four foul balls before swinging through a breaking ball for a strikeout; hit a hot-shot ground ball to the shortstop area; chopped another, more softly, to the left side; and swung through an offspeed pitch for his second strikeout of the late afternoon session.
New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton (27) takes live batting practice during a workout day before their Wild Card Series with the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Boone, who watched the entire live BP, had earlier branded the workout day “important” and said the club had not made the final decisions, such as determining whether Stanton would be on or off the roster.
“I want to see another day here [from Stanton],” Boone said before the workout ahead of Tuesday’s Game 1 of the wild-card series. “Again, I don’t know if there’s one definitive [moment] like, ‘Ooh, there he is, he’s on.’ It’s more just letting the day unfold, seeing where we’re at, and making a final call one way or the other.”
New York Yankees’ Trent Grishman, left, Giancarlo Stanton, center, and Aaron Judge wait to take live batting practice at Yankees Stadium in The Bronx, New York, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. The practice comes a day before Game 1 of the 2026 American League Wild Card game against the Boston Red Sox. JASON SZENES FOR NEW YORK POST
While a series of strikeouts or a few home runs may have made the decision easier, it is likely that the Yankees will wrestle all night with a call that will have to officially be made Tuesday morning.
Stanton has not played in more than five months — since all the way back on April 24, a game so long ago that after Stanton suffered his initial injury, his pinch runner was Randal Grichuk — and in total this season has incurred three separate calf strains.
He was on the verge of returning from that strain in June, when he had graduated to running the bases and hurt his right calf again. And then he was on the verge of returning from that strain in August when he was running the bases and suffered a strain to his left calf.
Still chasing his first title, the 36-year-old brings a prodigious October résumé, including 18 home runs in 202 plate appearances. By showing he can fill a valuable niche — a right-handed pinch hitter to deploy against a lefty-heavy Boston staff — he has successfully made his case for a roster spot.
SAN DIEGO — The last time the Chicago Cubs laid eyes on the San Diego Padres they had to refrain from laughing aloud in their faces.
It was July 1 at Wrigley Field.
And the Cubs humiliated the Padres, winning 23-3, with No. 9 hitter Dansby Swanson hitting three home runs and driving in eight runs, handing the Padres their worst loss in the 58-year history of the franchise.
It was the Cubs’ fifth consecutive victory, and the Padres’ fifth consecutive loss, leaving the Padres’ season on the brink.
Well, here they are meeting again, and, oh, how so much has changed.
The Padres these days just so happen to be the hottest team in baseball, winning 17 of their last 20 games, to not only storm into the postseason, but clinch the top wild-card spot, hosting the Cubs in the best-of-three wild-card series.
It’s a rematch of the wild-card series a year ago, only this time the games will all be played at raucous Petco Park and not Wrigley Field.
The Padres (91-71) are in the postseason for the third consecutive year, fifth time in the last seven years, and believing this time around they could go where they have never gone before in franchise history.
That’s winning a World Series.
They’ve been to the big stage twice, back in 1984 when they knocked off the Cubs in the NLCS before losing in five games to the Detroit Tigers, and again in 1998 when they were swept by the New York Yankees.
They’re ready to give it another go.
The Padres might have a rotation held together by duct tape, but they have the nastiest bullpen in all of the land. No team can shorten games like the Padres with All-Star closer Mason Miller, setup man Adrian Morejon, and rookie Bradgley Rodriguez.
“We played them in a playoff series last year and understand how their bullpen is going to work and how they're going to use Miller and Morejon,’’ Cubs manager Craig Counsell says, “and this year Bradgley Rodriguez has been added to that group as somebody who is pretty darn good.
“We've got to have good at-bats. We've got to make ourselves tough outs, and we're going to have to score against the bullpen, too, and we have scored against their bullpen. So I think we're confident.’’
The Padres, who keep knocking on the playoff door without getting through, still are haunted by not putting away the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024. They were up two games to one in the best-of-five division series, had Game 4 at home, and were shut out in the next two games. They lost in three games to the Cubs last year at Wrigley Field in the wild-card round.
But this time around, they truly believe their fate will be different.
“I think we're firing on all cylinders,’’ says Padres ace Michael King, who will start Game 1 against Cubs starter Matthew Boyd. “I think the last two months, two and a half months, the offense has possibly been the best in baseball. We've really come together as a starting rotation, and the bullpen is obviously a strong piece.
“I think that, when you look at us, we don't really have many weaknesses. ... We're very confident in what we've been doing the last few weeks, and we're very happy that this is the time that we got hot, and we've just got to continue it throughout all this postseason.’’
Padres star third baseman Manny Machado, who produced his lowest OPS (.711) in his career, batting just .217, still managed to hit 30 homers and drive in 91 runs. Fernando Tatis Jr., who didn’t homer until May 30, still hit .289 with 25 homers and 83 RBI. And they got huge production out of first baseman Ty France, signed to a minor-league contract this spring, who hit 21 homers with 72 RBI.
This is why Machado believes this version of the Padres is the best since his arrival in 2019, and could finally be the one that knocks off their mighty neighbors to the north, the Dodgers.
Machado might already have his sights set on the Dodgers. He asked a reporter on Monday, Sept. 28 why he was wearing a bright blue suit that resembled Dodger colors.
“Are you for San Diego,’’ he asked the local reporter.
Reporter: “I am.’’
Machado: “Why are you wearing blue?
Reporter: “Do you like it?’’
Machado: “Obviously not. I'm just asking.’’
So why does Machado believe this team has its best chance to be playing in late October?
“I mean, experience,’’ he said. “At the end of the day, it goes back to experience. We have a lot of the same group that was here last year. Hopefully we get a lot further. But ultimately, I think it's just believing in ourselves, believing in the group that we have in there and go out there and just continue to do what we've been doing.’’
Even though the Cubs ended the Padres’ season last year, and beat them up during the season by winning five of six games, Machado insists there will be no carry-over effect.
“It's a new year, it's a different year,’’ Machado said. “Obviously, that stung last year for us. They played better ball than us last year. This year's going to be a little bit different.
“Playing in front of our home crowd and playing in front of these fans here, I think it's going to be a lot different. Definitely looking forward to that rematch for sure.’’
The Padres enjoy one of the greatest home-field advantages in baseball, playing in front of fans that pack the joint nearly on a nightly basis. The Padres went a sizzling 26-6 in their last 32 home games this season.
“I think being at home is huge,’’ Machado said. “We love playing here, playing in front of this crowd, playing in the stadium. Obviously sleeping at home and being at home is a big advantage, but I think the biggest one is playing in front of the home crowd. They've brought the energy all year. They're going to continue to do it.
“To have a postseason here at home in front of them, they're definitely going to bring the energy, and I think we all feed off of that.’’
The Cubs realize what a difference it can make playing at home themselves at Wrigley Field, but instead of being intimidated, plan to embrace the hostility.
“They have a great atmosphere,” Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner told reporters in Tampa Bay on Sunday after their regular-season finale. “It’s probably one of the places that’s changed the most over the last 10 years or so. They have a great fan base. It’ll be electric, a lot of fun and challenging.”
The winner of the series will face the Milwaukee Brewers, who won an MLB-leading 103 games, and ended the Cubs’ season a year ago.
This time around, the Padres want to be the ones to take a crack at the powerful Brewers, but first, they’ve got to get past the Cubs, who will have third Alex Bregman back in the lineup who suffered eight fractured bones in his face when hit by foul ball standing near the on-deck circle a week ago.
Bregman, who took a ground ball for the first time in a week on Monday, showed that he was ready with the bat Sunday when he went 4-for-4 with two homers.
“He's the man, to be honest,’’ Cubs reliever Jacob Webb said. “That's tough to do. That's really cool and shows the kind of character that he has going through such a crazy injury. I mean, you're putting your career on the line at that point, but he's always prepared.
“He's a good dude. He knows what he's doing. He has his plan, and I think that's the biggest thing, is he wants to be here. He wants to win.’’
No offense, the Padres say, but they would love to send Bregman home early, giving him all winter to heal.
“We're steady,’’ King said. “We're confident. And we're going to go play Padres baseball.’’
"I'm always under pressure," Stearns said. "My job is to put a winning team on here, on the field, every single year. That hasn't changed from the day I sat up here for my introductory press conference to when I'm sitting up here right now."
What other key topics did Stearns discuss? From the Mets' roster to New York's retooled coaching staff and front office, here is a closer look.
Bichette has time to opt in or out of his contract with the Mets. He and Stearns "have not had those discussions."
"I have not had those discussions with Bo," Stearns said of Bichette, who slashed .260/.312/.390 with 18 home runs and 78 RBI in 160 games. "He's got the right now to take some space, discuss with his family and his agent, and I'm sure he'll get back to us."
Baty slashed .333/.417/.608 with three home runs and 16 RBI in September, capping his fourth full season since his Aug. 17, 2022, debut. Will he take another step in 2027?
"The truth is we won't know," Stearns said of Baty, who slashed .236./.309/.371 with 11 home runs and 56 RBI in 143 games. "I do think, having been around Brett for multiple years now -- I think where he is from a mindset perspective, his level of belief in himself and how he works through an at-bat, is different right now. But as with any player, until you see it for an extended period, very difficult for me to sit here right now and have complete certainty on that."
Mauricio, who broke out with two home runs this past weekend to cap a 20-game sample size with the Mets this season, has a pivotal offseason entering the 2027 campaign.
"He's among them," Stearns said of Mauricio, who slashed .220/.258/.441 with four home runs and eight RBI. "Ronny goes into next year out of options. We saw the flash of potential over the last couple days. That was exciting for us to see -- I think great for him to experience going into the offseason, and so he's among them. I think he comes into spring training next year competing for a spot."
Alvarez slashed .233/.311/.399 with 16 home runs and 43 RBI in 113 games but left Stearns impressed elsewhere.
"Probably up and down," Stearns said of Alvarez's fourth MLB season. "But we've seen, I think -- again, the second half Francisco behind the plate was really encouraging. I think his defense took a step forward behind the plate. His command of the pitching staff and game-calling took a step forward in the second half. Really a credit to him for not getting down and frustrated, and a credit to our coaching staff for getting him there."
Senga started 8 of 31 games and moved to the bullpen. Will he remain a reliever or return to his role in the starting rotation?
"I think we'll make that determination as we get into spring training and see where we are," Stearns said. "We know where Kodai's passion is. He's been very honest with that. We also understand that we need a level of production, in whatever role he's going to be in, to contribute to a winning team. And so, we'll ultimately make that role determination as we get into next year."
Bullpen options
Whether or not the Mets' bullpen includes Senga, Stearns sees options among the returning arms.
"I give Devin (Williams) a lot of credit for working his tail off to getting back here and being able to pitch a couple games in September," Stearns said of Williams (right shoulder strain) returning from a late-season stint on the injured list to make two relief appearances. "I think that was important for us. It was important for Devin. He's now going to have a completely normal offseason. He's healthy, he feels great and we expect him to be a big part in the back end of the bullpen going forward.
"We also feel really good about some of the younger guys who stepped up in a big way over the last two months, whether that's aNate Lavenderor (Dedniel Núñez) coming back or (Daniel) Duarte taking some leverage innings. We saw flashes from (Jefry) Yan that make you believe that there's a level in there that he can be one of the better left-handed relievers in baseball. Again, we need to see consistency, and we recognize that, and there's inevitable volatility in bullpens. But I think what we saw out of that group collectively was very encouraging."
Garrett and Megill are set to enter the spring at 100 percent after missing the 2026 season due to surgeries in 2025, Stearns said.
"They've both been around the team over the last couple weeks," Stearns said. "Great to see them. We expect them to be full go in spring training."
Stearns did not say whether Megill, a starter before he went down with his injury, would be a reliever when asked.
"I think he's going to come and compete, and we believe he can contribute on the team," Stearns said of Megill, who is a career 26-26 with a 4.46 ERA in 88 games (81 starts). "He'll ramp up for starter workload over the offseason and come to spring training, compete."
Young, who sustained a concussion in the past two weeks, is doing "well" after the "scary" incident against the Philadelphia Phillies.
"Concussions are serious, and obviously that was as ugly as it gets on a baseball field and scary," Stearns said of Young, who slashed .266/.330/.429 with nine home runs and 39 RBI in 103 games. "Right now, everything seems to be going well. But concussions are serious, and we've got to see how this goes."
The Mets added to the front office this past week when they hired Falvey as their senior advisor for baseball operations.
"Derek's in the office today," Stearns said. "He's up and going. Derek, in my estimation, is one of the better executives in our sport. He's got a tremendous amount of experience. He's touched every aspect of baseball operations over the course of his career. He ran the business side in Minnesota as well. So, I think he's going to help us everywhere. He's a great thought partner, can provide some different life experiences and different perspectives, and I'm thrilled that he's on board right now."
Falvey's career includes stints in the front offices of the Cleveland Guardians (2008-16) and Minnesota Twins (2017-26).
"I think you can add to front offices in a variety of different ways," Stearns said. "I think the important part is getting people here who are ready to contribute and want to contribute and can offer us perspectives that will help."
Stearns did not "close the door on" adding to the front office further.
"There's always executive movement in October," Stearns said. "I'm open to adding, as I've always been, if we find the right complements and the right people. So, I wouldn't close the door on anything right now."
Staff movement
Andy Green is the Mets' full-time manager, and "conversations on" his coaching staff will come in the near future.
"Andy and I are going to have conversations on that this week, and we'll get to a decision point here over the next week or so," Stearns said.
"I think the manager is always an integral part of that, and I think Andy did a really nice job creating an environment that facilitated that level of connection," Stearns said. "I also think players are responsible for that, and both the players we had here and the younger players and the Triple-A players who joined after the deadline made real effort of that and I'm appreciative of that."
