PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citizens Bank Park on September 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The game was 4-1 in favor of the Brewers, but the Phillies had something <ahem> brewing.
On Wednesday night, needing a victory to help lower their magic number by a game, with one out in the seventh inning, Kyle Schwarber was plunked by pitcher DL Hall, followed by an infield single by Trea Turner. The team had done nothing with runners in scoring position all night long, but any chance that they can get with that happening, they would take it. The lineup card stated that Bryce Harper would stride to the plate as it was his turn in the order. What would he do?
August was Harper’s best month of the year. His .333/.496/.573 wasn’t his top slugging percentage of this season, but as far as actual production on the field, his 194 wRC+ during the month meant he had few peers during that month in terms of offensive production. While the batting average is nice and the slug is perfectly cromulent, if you’re like me, it’s the fact that he ended up on base half of the time he came to the plate that astounded. That’s treading into Bondsian territory.
It also coincided with a new approach that he and the team took: take pitches. A novel concept, it seemed to have been something that eluded the lineup as an offensive approach for many days. Swinging early and often, attacking pitches if they were in the zone, these were the hallmarks of the Phillies lineup these past few playoff years. In 2026, once August hit, it’s as though Harper decided that swinging less, particularly chasing less, was what he wanted to do in order to be more productive at the plate.
And whaddaya know, something crazy happened. Once Harper decided to swing/chase less, he actually started to become more productive at the plate.
Now, I’m not saying that it is a direct corollary that swinging less equals more production at the plate. It clearly has to do with more with the fact that he wasn’t chasing pitching out of the zone and getting himself out. But it simply cannot be a coincidence. Harper was good this year for most of the year, the usual cold and hot streaks aside, but during August, he was in a god-like mode when hitting. The team started to win more often too and it seemed like the entire offense was hitting well as a result of Harper swinging a hot bat.
However, it is no coincidence that I left the month of September in those charts.
Look at how the things have flip flopped. He’s swinging more and has exited that god mode when at the plate. While he’s been fine this month (.278/.346/.375 prior to Wednesday), it’s mostly just that – fine. The team has needed him to do more, only for him to not be there. I can’t help but believe that his sudden change in approach at the plate – swinging more often – has led to a drop in his production.
Anecdotally, it feels like each time Harper is stepping to the plate, particularly with runners on, he is swinging at the first pitch, no matter where it is. If it also feels to you like he is swinging at missing early in the count more and not just at the first pitch specifically, it could be the fact that pitchers have decided to change their pitch mix to him and he is deciding to jump on the first good fastball he sees.
However, the plan has changed against Harper this year.
There has been a noticeable jump in how pitchers are doing the whole fastball/changeup thing while decreasing the amount of breaking pitches he sees. How has Harper fared against this combination?
You guessed it, by swinging and missing at those offspeed pitches more often.
Granted, it’s the natural game of cat and mouse that pitchers and hitters have played since the dawn of the baseball age and Harper is caught in the middle of that. He’s still getting hits, but a 300 points loss in OPS is an issue.
The first pitch that Harper saw from Hall in that seventh inning, he drilled straight into the plate back to the pitcher for the second out of the game.
If the Phillies are going to do anything in the playoffs, Bryce Harper needs to be productive at the plate. While he did have good months during the season, August showed that a certain approach at the plate was one that worked for him and led to Phillies wins.
As Jack put it in the season three finale of “Lost”, we have to go back.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 20: Angel Martínez #1 of the Cleveland Guardians singles on a ground ball to second base in the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Progressive Field on August 20, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Russell Lee Verlinger/Cleveland Guardians/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Angel Martinez has had a good season for the Cleveland Guardians. Is what he is showing us likely to be repeatable?
Angel Martinez has a 110 wRC+ and a .306 xwOBA with a 22/3 K/BB%. Since coming back from a broken foot, Martinez has put up a 130 wRC+, but with identical K/BB% and xwOBA. Martinez has a 132 wRC+ against RHP and a 99 wRC+ against LHP, but a 125 wRC+ against LHP for his career. One would guess his splits against LHP will improve if he can continue to hit, period. But, there are questions if a player with Angel’s lack of walks and chase rate can sustain what he has done in 2026.
If you are like me, you may remember another fun Guardians’ outfielder who had a geeat season for them while chasing at an unsustainable rate. Oscar Gonzalez (in his age 24 season just as Angel is right now) had a 123 wRC+ with a .325 xwOBA, a 19.6/3.9 K/BB%, 47% chase rate, 21% line drive rate, 51% groundball rate and a 28% fly ball rate. He was a truly awful fielder putting up -6 DRS in two years and -12 OAA in the same time period. Gonzalez washed out of the MLB and has struggled to hit in the NPB so far, doomed by poor defende, an inability to stay disciplined at the plate and the failure to lift the ball with any consistency.
Angel Martinez is not a good defensive outfielder but he appears to be capable of average play in right field (1 DRS and 0 OAA) and not being Gonzalez level bad in left (-3 DRS and -2 OAA). I think we can be reasonably optimistic he can improve some given switching to the outfield was a late move for him, so he shouldn’t be unplayable… but he will also probably not be an asset out there.
The bigger issue is his underlying numbers, specifically his chase rate. Martinez has a 22% line drive rate and a 39% ground ball rate and a 39% fly ball rate. He pulls the ball almost 50% of the time, so he has the ability to make his best swings matter as seen in his 17 homers this season. But, the elephant in the room is Angel’s 42% chase rate. That’s about as bad as any starting player in MLB can manage, while still a little short of Gonzalez’s number. Both Gonzalez and Martinez make contact when they chase in the mid-60% range, but Martinez offers an 82% contact rate overall. He doesn’t miss any pitches in the zone, where Gonzalez would miss JUST enough to make his chase issues that much more glaring.
I want Angel Martinez to succeed. He is a truly special person and has saved this team multiple times. However, if pushed on this issue, I would have to guess that Martinez will probably not be a major league hitter longterm if he continues to chase at a 42% rate. If he can lower it to more of the 35% rate he flashed his first season, I am convinced that would be enough to make him a major league starter, especially if it resulted in his walk rate creeping closer to 6% and his opportunities to punish more pitches in the zone increasing. He has that dog in him with a 131 wRC+ in high leverage situations this season, and a general positive spirit that lights up the field. But, without showing he can lower that chase rate and increase the walk rate, I fear our Guardian Angel’s success may be as ephemeral as the dearly departed (to Japan) SpongeBob.
Angel fans… pin your hopes on his pulled fly-ball abilities, his knack of punishing meatballs when he sees them and his defensive mediocrity. Maybe he can find a little more of his minor league plate discipline (walk rate of 9.9% for his career on the farm) having established himself in the big leagues. If so, watch out, because an Angel Martinez who will take a walk even 7% of the time is an MLB All-Star. And, while there is no guarantee that can happen… it’s an exciting possibility that is not entirely out of the realms of reality.
Angel Martinez can enter 2027 with a starting outfield position in front of him, from my view. However, it would be wise to have plenty of depth just in case the chase issues that plagued another former Guardians’ outfield revelation come back to decimate Angel’s numbers as well. Here’s hoping Angel can rise above!
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 08: Andres Chaparro #87 of the Washington Nationals rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on September 08, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Entering 2027, there are going to be a few position battles to watch. There should be plenty of competition on the pitching staff in particular. However, one spot that intrigues me is the first base/DH position. It looks like there will be at least three players battling it out for that first base spot and I wanted to break things down.
For most of the season, there has been a lot of rotation at the first base and DH spots. Until he was traded, Luis Garcia Jr. got the at bats against righties. His platoon partner varied. At one point it was Curtis Mead, before the Aussie grabbed the third base role. Then it was Andres Chaparro, who had a great second half. With Garcia gone, there is now a lot of uncertainty.
Following the Garcia trade, the plan was for Abimelec Ortiz to slide into that role of being the first baseman against righties. However, that has not gone according to plan. Ortiz is hitting just .194 with a .592 OPS in 42 games. Despite having some promising batted ball data, Ortiz has not done enough to take the spot.
Ortiz is currently running a .220 BABIP in MLB despite 80th percentile pull-air, good launch angles, and great exit velocities (so the numbers are simply not representative of his performance at the plate). I'm disappointed to see the swing decisions being quite a major issue,… pic.twitter.com/QcmY65L6zm
I am not giving up on Ortiz, but you also cannot hand him a big role unless he shows a lot next spring. He has really gotten exposed after a hot start. In his last 28 games, Ortiz is hitting just .143 with a .390 OPS. The 24 year old has not been able to make the adjustments after pitchers figured out how to attack him.
However, the Nats have shown that they like to platoon a lot and Ortiz is the only left handed bat in the mix. This could give him a longer leash and put him in the mix for playing time. It also means the Nats could look to go outside the organization for a left handed first base option. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of left handed corner infield profiles set to hit free agency.
That either means they will give Ortiz more runway, or they will give more responsibility to their right handed bats. I think that second option is the way to go. Andres Chaparro has finally broken out of that Quad-A label this second half and has established himself as a big league slugger.
Since the break, Chaparro is hitting .292 with 10 homers and a .962 OPS. The 27 year old has consistently provided clutch hits and a lot of power. He has arguably been the team’s best hitter in the second half. Given his production, I would feel confident in giving Chappy a larger role, much like what the team did with Curtis Mead.
Andrés Chaparro since the All Star Break (48 games):
Chaparro has also shown an ability to hit right handed pitching when given the opportunity. In 71 AB’s against righties, Chaparro is hitting .296 with an .888 OPS. His numbers against righties are actually better than they are against lefties. That is impressive for a guy who is mostly known as a lefty crusher.
Obviously, Chaparro has locked down a roster spot for next season. However, I think he has made a strong case for every day playing time. Platooning is part of this front office’s philosophy, but I think the gap between Ortiz and Chaparro is wide enough to ignore that. Unless Ortiz takes a big offseason leap, Chaparro needs to be playing more next season.
There is also a third name that is making his case. For most of the season, Yohandy Morales was dominating in AAA. His surface level numbers in Rochester were better than Ortiz’s. However, some underlying concerns with Morales made the front office hesitant to call him up. Morales chases a lot, whiffs more than you would like and hits the ball on the ground quite a bit.
That is usually a very bad combination. However, Morales made it work in the minors thanks to how hard he hits the ball. The Nats finally gave Morales a shot in September, and he looks a lot like he did in AAA. Morales has yet to draw a walk and he strikes out a lot. He has still been productive thanks to his power though.
In 15 games, Morales is hitting .279 with 4 homers and a .930 OPS. That raw power is making up for some of the holes in his profile. So far, Morales has a 92.5 MPH average EV, a 64.5% hard hit rate and a 16.1% barrel rate.
All of those numbers are elite and his power has been super impressive. The home run he hit yesterday was an example of his truly elite raw power. It is rare to see a righty hit one out the other way in a big ballpark like Comerica but that is exactly what Morales did.
Yohandy Morales did this at the MiLB level all season. He has some unnaturally good power into the opposite field gap
His 4th HR comes in his 42nd PA…he has yet to take a walk in his young career pic.twitter.com/nwgAr69qqD
He has put his name in the mix for a roster spot in 2027. The difficult part is finding a way to fit both Morales and Chaparro. Ideally you would want a lefty to be part of a platoon. However, these two right handed bats have looked so much better than the left handed Ortiz.
This creates a bit of a dilemma for Paul Toboni this offseason. It was mentioned on the broadcast that the Nats are working on Morales’ third base defense. However, Brady House also needs playing time and has looked good since being recalled from AAA.
Honestly, this is a position to watch in the offseason. I could see a world where one of Chaparro, Morales or even House get traded this offseason. There is a lot of overlap with their offensive skillsets. Maybe they give Ortiz another shot or they try to find a left handed corner bat.
I don’t necessarily think you have to have a left handed bat in the mix. However, from everything we know about this front office, I am not sure they agree with that. The impressive showings by Chaparro and Morales, combined with Ortiz struggling has put the Nats in an interesting position this offseason. Paul Toboni will have to figure out what he wants to do with these corner bats.
Automated ball-strike system or ABS is being used for review as Arkansas Razorbacks take on Tennessee Volunteers during the SEC baseball tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Ala. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Tennessee Volunteers 8-4. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Entering the 2026 season, the introduction of the automated balls and strikes challenge system was a major topic. Throughout the early part of the season, we were heavily focused on who was winning or losing challenges, and what the best strategies for hitters and for pitcher and catchers were to get the most calls in their favor without squandering challenges in low leverage spots. As the season went on, the whole process became more natural and integrated into the approach on both sides of the ball. In low leverage situations, you absolutely better be correct. In higher leverage situations, it’s more reasonable to take a shot at a pitch the hitter or catcher feels is really a borderline call. And so, the game of baseball changes and keeps moving.
Having watched the evolution of the technology unfold in Low-A and Triple-A, there was less of an adjustment period for fans who do follow the minor leagues. Indeed, the real annoyance for prospect writers now is the dark mode at High-A and Double-A, where there is no public Statcast data, and players who broke into full season ball using the system are then left up to the widely varying skills of minor league umpires through two levels, before getting back to ABS ball in Triple-A. Evaluating hitters in particular through those changing rule sets is a bit trickier.
Overall, the league did a really good job developing and implementing the ABS system. It’s quick enough not to impede the flow of the game much, and the two challenge allotment keeps it from being used excessively. We could argue about whether there should be one challenge allowed or three, or whether teams should automatically get an additional challenge in the eighth and ninth innings to help insure that in the highest leverage situations and most pressure packed moments, that the game isn’t decided by the umpires, but overall I’d call it a pretty solid success.
As a somewhat older fan now, do I love every aspect of it? Not really. Catchers used to be able to expand the zone with their target, and if the pitcher hit the glove without much movement required, you could expand the edges of the strike zone, which rewarded pitchers with good command. On the other side of it, if that catcher set up inside and you missed your target by two feet, it was never a strike even if it techically caught the by the book strike zone. Those differences have really taken some getting used to over the past few years as the system was tested in the minors.
And of course, this impacts how the game is played and how it will be taught and played moving forward. The strict zone now enforced really puts even more emphasis on raw stuff, because you have to be able to draw whiffs and weak contact in the zone. The emphasis on velocity, spin, and nasty offspeed stuff over precision command is only going to continue to grow, and the soft tossing command artists of the past have very little space in the game at this point. Such is the way of things as ambiguity becomes a problem to be solved rather than just a fact of life.
The benefits are there as well though. Watching a game end on a really bad ball or strike call was one of the more infuriating things in sports. Perhaps that sort of thing does build character, but it always felt brutal to be on the wrong end of one of those calls. Taking more of the umpire’s discretion out of the game was necessary, and it doesn’t help that the explosion of legal sports gambling has only added suspicion about games or individual pitches or plays in the major sports being rigged somehow. This short-circuited a lot of those concerns in baseball, at least in terms of the umpires.
What do you think? After a year of the ABS, do you like it or not? What would you change if you were running the Show?
The “forever and ever” caption suggests that the proposal took place Sept. 3 — an off day for the Yankees between series in California against the Angels and Padres.
Several significant others of Yankees teammates were quick to toast the couple in the comments section.
“My heart!!!!! Let’s get these two married!!! ” wrote Ava O’Connor, who is dating outfielder Spencer Jones.
The couple got engaged on Sept. 3. Austin Wells / Instagram
“The best off day in the history of off days,” wrote Carlos Rodon’s wife, Ashley.
“SCREAMING CRYING,” wrote Ben Rice’s girlfriend, Sara Falkson.
It is unclear when the couple first started dating. They announced that Nielson was expecting a child last November in one of the first public signs of a relationship.
Before the big day, Wells has an important postseason in front of him.
The engagement took place in California. Austin Wells / Instagram
The 27-year-old catcher has somewhat rebounded from a miserable start to the season, pushing his average up to .185 after dipping down to .150 in July.
Wells, who is respected by the Yankees for his skills behind the plate, will likely be a mainstay in the lineup during the postseason.
That will begin next week when the Yankees in all likelihood will take on the Red Sox in a best-of-three wild card series in The Bronx.
Wells did have perhaps his biggest moment in pinstripes when the rivals met last season in the same round, driving home the game-winning run with an eighth-inning single in Game 2.
Austin Wells hits an RBI double during the second inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., on Aug. 23, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The Yankees evened the series that night and went on to win Game 3 the following evening.
Now, Wells and the Yankees will look for an even deeper postseason run with Nielson no doubt cheering him on from the stands.
A’s catcher Brian Serven left Wednesday’s game after fouling a pitch straight into his face and underwent a CT scan, according to manager Mark Kotsay.
It’s possible he could miss the team’s final four games.
“We’re not sure,” Kotsay said about Serven’s availability, per USA Today. “Right now, he’s getting a CT scan and they’re taking a look at the swelling area on the face. Scary moment for sure.
“Fortunately, looking at the video replay, the ball hit the bat, it also bounced off the earpiece. So we’re hoping that with the combination of that, in that direct impact area underneath the eye … There was a good amount of swelling.”
Brian Serven had to leave the game mid at-bat after a foul ball struck him in the face pic.twitter.com/cLSruT4QX3
In the sixth inning of the A’s 7-3 home win over the Angels, Serven squared up to bunt a 94-mph changeup from righty Jose Fermin.
The ball ran in on Serven and went straight off the bat and into his face, dropping him to the ground immediately while he touched the left side of his face.
Kotsay and a trainer immediately attended to him.
Athletics catcher Brian Serven (10) gets hit by a pitch during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Oh, no,” one A’s broadcaster said after watching the scary scene. “Goodness.”
Serven remained on the ground for a lengthy period before returning to his feet, and Jonah Heim replaced him mid at-bat and flied out to center for the first out of the inning with the A’s leading 5-3.
Kotsay reportedly said the team will know more Thursday morning about his status, with the team beginning a season-ending four-game home set against the Astros later that night.
Athletics’ Brian Serven, middle, walks off the field after being hit by the pitch during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. AP Photo/Scott Marshall
Serven, 31, is in his fourth season in the majors and first with the A’s.
He’s slashed .179/.220/.385 across 28 games.
The former 2016 first-round pick of the Rockies has appeared in 129 career games and has tallied 11 homers and 34 RBIs while posting a .554 OPS.
He previously spent time with the Rockies from 2022-23 and the Blue Jays in 2024.
October isn't about six months of numbers. It's about who is hot right now, for three days or seven, and that can be anyone from a slumping star, a middle reliever nobody outside the clubhouse has heard of and a player coming back from an injury – (Aaron Judge, anybody?).
Here's the X-factors for each playoff contender, the ones who could swing a series.
Freddy Peralta was a disaster for six weeks after Tampa Bay acquired him from the New York Mets on Aug. 3, a 7.17 ERA over his first four starts with the Rays. Over his last five starts, he's allowed just three earned runs in 28 ⅔ innings (0.94 ERA). He's not entirely fixed, though. His outing on Sept. 13 was a near no-hitter against the Houston Astros, but it still took 86 pitches to get through five innings because he walked three. If the newer version of Peralta shows up in October, the Rays have three dependable arms when including Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez. If the wild version shows up, the Rays might be walked out of the playoffs. If the version from August shows up, they are in trouble.
The Yankees postseason hangs on the health of Aaron Judge. Just back after missing three months with a broken rib, Judge seemed to be getting back into form when he left the series finale against the Twins on Sept. 16 with a right calf strain. Manager Aaron Boone said the team is planning for Judge "not being a part" of the Yankees' wild-card series, but Judge insists he shouldn't be ruled out. New York has to hope it's just part of the ramp-up process, because without Judge in the lineup, the Yankees' October could be very short.
Garrett Crochet hasn't pitched in a competitive game since April 25. The Red Sox ace has missed almost the entire season, first with the shoulder inflammation, then a lat strain. He's been ramping up over the past two weeks, throwing his sweeper off a mound for the first time on Sept. 11, and Boston is skipping a minor league rehab assignment entirely, aiming instead to get him into live batting practice in the season's final week. The plan, if he's ready, isn't to start him. It's to use him in short relief, like he did as a rookie with the White Sox. The Red Sox rallied to get into contention without him. If he can be effective with essentially no tune-up, that's a heck of a playoff weapon.
Colson Montgomery is a 24-year-old having a 30-homer season, and striking out at a rate that's putting him in the company of the biggest whiff totals in White Sox history. He is also going through a brutal cold stretch at the wrong time: 4 for his last 49 with 29 strikeouts during that span. Getting hit by a pitch on Sept. 16 didn't help, though X-rays came back clean. After leading the AL Central from July 4 until Sept. 16, the White Sox are still on the Cleveland Guardians' tails. In a race that tight, Montgomery is either a middle-of-the order threat, or an easy out and nobody will know which until it happens.
Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland traded for Jo Adell on Aug. 3, needing a jolt of power while Jose Ramirez was still finding his timing back from hamate surgery. The Guardians got a hitter who's two different players depending on who's on the mound. Against left-handers this year, he has hit .321 with a .593 slugging percentage. Facing righties, he's hit .209 and been close to unplayable. Since the trade he's hit three home runs of at least 450 feet. How much of a factor he is for the Guardians depends on how many left-handers that they face and if manager Stephen Vogt is willing to sit him against the rest.
Houston Astros
Hunter Brown was a Cy Young contender for Houston in 2025 with a 2.43 ERA that put him in the conversation for the American League's best pitcher. A shoulder strain cost him from April to mid-June, and the version that came back still throws just as hard, but he's lost the command that made him elite. His walk rate has nearly doubled since returning, and his ERA over that stretch has run closer to 4.75 than the number that made him a star a year ago. Houston doesn't have much rotation depth to lean on if he's off. Cristian Javier has an ERA over 5, and the Astros have already turned to a bullpen game just to get through a rotation turn. Tied with Texas heading into the final week of the season, the Astros need Brown to find himself or it will be a short October.
If the Rangers get in, they'll go as far as Jacob deGrom lets them, and lately that has meant something different every turn through the rotation. DeGrom left an August start against the Angels after two innings with triceps fatigue. Three weeks later, he struck out 12 over six shutout innings against Seattle – then left that game early, too, this time with groin tightness. He came back on schedule and pitched through it against Boston with eight strikeouts over five innings. His ERA sits at 3.86 for the season. At 38, deGrom's stuff still looks like peak deGrom, but whether his body holds up long enough to carry the Rangers in October is the question.
Ronald Acuna Jr. has played 100 games in a season only five times in his career, and this (barely) is one of those years. A hamstring strain cost him from June 9 to late July, and for a former MVP, his season line is pretty modest. He's hitting .259 with 20 home runs for the season, buoyed by an 18-game stretch where he hit .366 with 10 extra-base hits. Then he fouled a ball off his leg on Sept. 22, leaving the game with a left shin contusion. If Acuna can get back and pick up where he left off, that's the X-factor the Braves need.
The Phillies rotation looked settled heading into September. Then Jesus Luzardo went on the injured list with left shoulder soreness, and Cristopher Sanchez, who has a 2.93 ERA for season, has put up a 4.48 ERA since July 1. That leaves Zack Wheeler as the only starter the Phillies don't have to worry about – even if he is coming off thoracic outlet surgery last year. Aaron Nola has a 3.03 ERA since the All-Star break, a real turnaround from a rocky start, and Andrew Painter has been nearly as good since midseason. How many of those arms steps up in October is going to be the difference between the Phillies celebrating or going home early.
Trevor Megill opened the season so poorly that he briefly lost the closer's job. He posted a 14.40 ERA in April that included a blown save against Toronto. He turned it around with an 0.86 ERA over a 20-outing stretch that carried into July, but lately it looks like the heavy workload could be catching up (5.40 ERA in September). Milwaukee has the best record in baseball and a first-round bye, which will bring some much-needed rest for its closer. Which version of Megill shows up in October will determine how far the Brewers go.
The Cubs' ninth inning is still up for grabs. Jacob Webb had it and put up a 24-appearance scoreless streak until he blew consecutive saves and has allowed 11 earned runs in his past nine innings. Daniel Palencia wants it back. He has a 100 mph fastball and 22 saves from a year ago, but he looked rusty coming off elbow inflammation in August, before stringing together enough clean outings that manager Craig Counsell called it the best stretch yet. Whoever is closing in October will hold the Cubs' fate in his hands.
Shohei Ohtani hadn't played in nearly two weeks, before returning Sept. 23. His two-way comeback ended for good in late August with biceps soreness that has since spread into his knee and neck. He says he feels good, but the Dodgers have already said he probably won't be at full strength in October. His season line, a .900 OPS with 30 home runs, still reads like an MVP, but since Aug. 8 he was hitting .198. Whether he can play at his elite level might be the single biggest X-factor heading into October.
San Diego Padres
The Padres rotation lost four projected starters to injury this year: Joe Musgrove, Lucas Giolito, Yu Darvish and Bryan Hoeing all done for the season. Michael King has emerged as the ace, and Walker Buehler has a 3.15 ERA over his past nine starts. Behind them it's a question mark. Nick Pivetta just came back from injury, and deadline pickups Robbie Ray and Casey Mize have settled in and a shaky start. Which of these arms the Padres can trust heading into October will make the difference.
For most of the Mets, taking on the Rangers in Texas this week just marks the second to last series of the season.
For two of them, though, it serves as a homecoming.
It’s an actual homecoming for Brett Baty, who was raised just hours away from Globe Life Field.
For Marcus Semien, the circumstances are a bit different.
Semien, of course, spent the last four years manning second base for the Rangers before being shipped to the Mets this offseason in the Brandon Nimmo deal.
While it’s two different situations, both had a very similar feeling after hitting big homers late to help the Mets pull ahead of the Rangers and play spoiler once again on Wednesday night.
“It was cool to go out there and greet the people who came to support me,” said Baty, who crushed a dagger pinch-hit grand slam. “You only get to play in Texas so many times in a year playing in New York, so it was really cool."
“Go-ahead homer in the eighth is obviously a good feeling,” Semien added. “Coming back here after four good years -- I really enjoyed playing here, it’s a place I love to play, so it felt really good doing that in that last at-bat.”
The 36-year-old Semien is now up to 15 homers and a .625 OPS in what he perfectly summed up as a “roller coaster” first season rocking the orange and blue.
He knows it’s much too late to salvage it, but is simply looking to finish the year strong.
That’s exactly what the red-hot Baty has been able to do over the past 50-plus games.
After an up-and-down start of his own, the lefty-hitting slugger has settled into a groove at the plate, hitting .282 with 21 extra base-hits and a .850 OPS since the end of June.
“He’s a weapon for us,” Semien said.
“This is who he is,” manager Andy Green added. “Our goal will be to get to that earlier in the season, but he’s having confident at-bats, has a ton of power, and is using the whole field -- he’s just had good at-bat after good at-bat.”
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 29: Gerrit Cole #45 and Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees talk before the second game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on August 29, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Over the past two seasons, Carlos Rodón has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. After winning 18 games and finishing sixth in Cy Young voting in an All-Star 2025, he’s been even better when healthy this year, posting a 2.67 ERA that would be fourth-best in the AL if he had enough innings to qualify. Since returning from the IL in mid-August, it’s 1.89. Come October, most teams would be thrilled to hand him the ball in Game 1 of any series. The Yankees are expected to bounce him to the bullpen for the Wild Card round. So deep is their rotation, fronted by Cam Schlittler, Max Fried, and Gerrit Cole, that Rodón is expendable.
When Aaron Judge went down last week with a calf injury, it was a gut punch. After holding the line without him for most of the year, the excitement of the Yankees captain returning for the stretch run was immediately punctured. Aaron Boone relayed that Judge is expected to miss the Wild Card round. While Judge himself pushed back on that assessment Wednesday, given the timing of his injury and narrow margin for recovery, it’s fair to question when he’ll be able to contribute. Judge is one of the premier difference-makers in the sport — by whatever metric you use, he’s been one of the two best players in the league for the past decade. When a team loses a player of that caliber, it’s easy to lose hope. But not only is this Yankees team still competitive, it should still be considered the favorites in the AL.
The rotation is the primary reason why. Schlittler has the Cy Young wrapped up and is squarely in the MVP conversation, leading the league in ERA while punching out 234 (and counting). He’s the kind of dominant hurler that can take over a playoff series—as he did last October—giving even a dormant offense a massive leg up. Fried, who won 19 games last year and finished fourth in Cy Young voting, has a 2.80 ERA through 20 starts and remains the game’s most consistent run preventer. And, despite concerns during a slump in early September, Cole has mostly looked like the same pitcher he was before missing a year and a half to Tommy John surgery. The Yankees’ bullpen, led by quietly elite closer David Bednar and boosted by reclamation projects Brent Headrick and Paul Blackburn, has the second-lowest ERA in the game. On the strength of those two units, the team has allowed the fewest runs in baseball. If good pitching beats good hitting, the Yankees are already well on their way.
But let’s not bury the Yankees offense yet, either. To be certain, it’s been an uneven year. In addition to spending nearly the whole season without Judge, Jazz Chisholm Jr. has underperformed, Ryan McMahon has been an offensive black hole (even after last night, his season wRC+ is just 76), Yankees catchers have hit below the Mendoza line, and Anthony Volpe played his way out of the starting shortstop job. Still, among AL playoff teams, only the White Sox have scored more runs. Ben Rice is tied for the AL lead in homers with 41 and has been one of the best hitters in baseball, Luis García Jr. and Paul Goldschmidt form a strong platoon at first, and Cody Bellinger has been his usual All-Star caliber bat. Murderers’ Row, this lineup is not. But they stack up perfectly fine against the rest the AL has to offer, even without their best hitter.
Central to the Yankees’ chances is the state of their competition. The AL was taken to the woodshed this year by the NL, who dominated interleague play and stacked up four teams with a run differential above 100 to the AL’s one. That one is the Yankees, who came out 48 runs ahead of the Rays despite losing out on the AL East title. Eighty-five wins or so should carry the day in the AL Central while the AL West leader will likely land right around .500. The Rays’ extreme overperformance of their Pythagorean win total this year surely speaks to their ability to play together as a team and manager Kevin Cash’s knack for playing matchups. However, it also leaves open the question of how their style of play will transfer to October baseball, where they’ve really succeded with Cash just once (in the COVID-affected 2020).
The Yankees will face the Red Sox in the Wild Card round, a team that’s arguably also without its best playoff weapon, starter Garrett Crochet. At best, he’ll be in the bullpen, likely rusty. As Jon Morosi notes below, the Yankees’ pitching staff has held Boston at bay throughout their matchups this season.
Yankees fans are justified in worrying about Aaron Judge's injury. But remember:
NYY is 7-6 vs. BOS, and Judge played in 3 of those games.
The Red Sox have averaged only 3 runs per game vs. the Yankees.
The Yankees have given up the fewest runs in @MLB.@MLBNetwork
There’s also precedent for teams making deep playoff runs while their superstar watched from the bench. Ronald Acuña Jr. missed the entire 2021 postseason as his Braves (buoyed by six shutout innings from Fried in the decisive Game 6) took the title. The 1972 A’s lost Reggie Jackson to a torn hamstring in the ALCS while winning their first pennant in 41 years but still bested the Big Red Machine in the Fall Classic. The Yankees have also found ways to win in October without much from Judge. While his presence surely impacted how opposing pitchers tackled the Yankees’ lineup, Judge batted .161 through the first two rounds of the 2024 playoffs as the Yankees nonetheless won the pennant. And while they had a red-hot Giancarlo Stanton and another all-world hitter, Juan Soto, to pick up the slack that year, the Yankees also had a significantly weaker pitching staff.
A lot can happen quickly in the postseason, and a resurgent and hungry Red Sox squad is certainly a threat, particularly in a best-two-out-of-three series. The Rays loom as well, with the regular-season standings telling a compelling story about their winning formula, and whatever teams rise from the ashes of the Central and West cannot be dismissed. Teams like the 2006 Cardinals and 2023 Rangers prove that anything can happen if you just get into the dance. But the Yankees have a formula of their own that’s even more compelling, even without their captain. In a lackluster AL, the Yankees still have the strongest pitching staff and most talented roster overall. Let the games begin.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 14: Jackson Holliday #7 of the Baltimore Orioles bats during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Monday, September 14, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning everyone!
The Mariners won a thrilling 6-5 extra-innings contest against the rival Astros last night. The team’s final series of the season begins tonight against the Angels with first pitch set for 6:40pm PT.
In Mariners news…
Cal Raleigh brought our favorite broadcaster a retirement gift.
Jackson Holliday, who has been hurt for much of the year, is getting wrist surgery in the next week.
Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela, who just returned from the injured list with a quad strain, is headed to the IL once more with a hamstring injury.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 23: Shea Langeliers #23 of the Athletics hits a two-run RBI double against the Los Angeles Angels in the bottom of the six inning at Sutter Health Park on September 23, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Thursday A’s fans!
The team wrapped up its series with the Los Angeles Angels last night, finishing their rivals off with a convincing 7-3 win. That gave the club 63 wins on the year and we’ll avoid the worst-case scenario of a 100-loss season. We’re three games up on the Angels with four to go for last in the AL so one more win or loss from them and we’ll guarantee not-worst in the league. Good news, I guess?
Now the team is down to its final series of the season, a four-game set against the Houston Astros. The A’s division rival comes into this contest in a tie for first place in the AL West, with the loser almost certainly watching October baseball from home on the couch. Their in-state rivals the Texas Rangers are right there with them at 78-80 so this race is going to come right down to the wire. Houston needs every game in this series so the pressure is on them.
The A’s however are playing carefree baseball right now and are on a little two-game win streak coming into tonight’s series opener. The A’s can put their spoiler hats on and give the Astros a headache over the final weekend. If the A’s are able to take at least two games against the Astros, then that means that we could have been the ones to help send a team with a losing record to the playoffs. That’s a nice way to wrap up the season if you ask me.
We don’t know who any of the starters will be for the A’s yet so stay tuned there. The Astros have the likely AL MVP in Yordan Alvarez in their lineup so hopefully the A’s can stay away from him in the bandbox of Sutter Health Park this weekend. What would you like to see in the final series of 2026 before the long winter begins?
First pitch is at 6:40. Enjoy the final series of the year, folks! And have a great day A’s fans.
A’s catcher Brian Serven got hit hard last night so the team may need an extra catcher for the Houston series. Hopefully he’s alright, tough injury right before the end of the year:
A's catcher Brian Serven exited on his own power after getting hit in the face with a pitch while trying to bunt pic.twitter.com/6S7AmQ7gye
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 22: Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Texas Rangers stands on the mound during the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on September 22, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning! As Matt lays out today, there is a very slight possibility that the Red Sox fall to the third Wild Card slot, thus avoiding the first round Yankees matchup that has seemed all but inevitable for weeks now. Instead of Yankee Stadium, the Sox would head out west to face either the Rangers or the Astros, one of whom will win the division, quite possibly with a losing record. Moreover, falling to the third seed would likely mean facing either the White Sox or the Guardians in the divisional round, as opposed to getting the fifth seed and facing the Rays. There really is no question: the sixth seed presents the easier path to the World Series.
But you know what? I want the Yankees. I always want the Yankees. Baseball is better when the Red Sox and Yankees are playing each other. And that applies not just to TV executives, but to the fans of the respective teams. It’s fun! It’s been over 20 years since I’ve seen the Yankees on the schedule and felt any sort of trepidation. Now, I see them on the schedule and I get pumped for what I hope will be yet another memorable chapter of the rivalry. And, frankly, while being bounced from the playoffs by the Yankees would certainly sting, I’m not sure it would feel any better to get bounced by the first under-.500 playoff team in history, either.
So who do you want: the Yankees, or whatever crap team comes out of the west?
Use this space to talk about playoff matchups and whatever else you want and, as always, be good to one another.
Sep 23, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers (9), third baseman David Hamilton (6), shortstop Joey Ortiz (3) and second baseman Brice Turang (2) celebrate win against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
There are just four games left in the regular season, and the Brewers have a first-round bye locked up. While the pitching situation is more chaotic right now, the position player situation is much more straight-forward. Let’s take a look at how they compare to last year’s postseason players.
For this post, the assumption is that the 14 current position players will also be the 14 position players on the postseason roster. It’s strongly likely that 13 of the 14 players will be on the roster. Bo Naylor is one player that the Brewers could pivot on. They have barely used him since the start of September, with just a couple rare starts and late game substitutions so far.
The Brewers could pivot and grab someone else from the minors, but the only three position players on the 40-man roster currently are Akil Baddoo, Tyler Black, and Brandon Lockridge. There is also an open 40-man spot, if they choose to use it. However, this is discussing the 14th position player on the roster, so whoever they choose to go with likely won’t have much of an impact.
(Statistics are from FanGraphs are are through Tuesday’s games.)
Last season, Contreras spent most of the year dealing with a broken left middle finger. It affected his numbers at the plate, but despite that, he still put together a strong season. This season, even though he’s healthy, the overall numbers are not much different. He has seen a rise in his batting average and slugging percentage, though his on-base percentage is lower. His WAR is a little lower, but overall, the numbers are about the same. The one big addition to this season has been the ABS challenge system, which has been a point of difficulty for Contreras all year. We can’t say how he would have handled it last season, so that won’t be a factor here. Overall, Contreras is a very similar player to last year, so there’s no real advantage to either version here.
When looking at the overall numbers, this looks like an easy comparison. Bauers this season has been much better than he was last year. However, it’s important to remember that Bauers’ rise began late last season. He played so well in September (21 G, .360/.458/.560, 188 wRC+) that he took full control of the first base job, and basically forced Rhys Hoskins off the roster once he returned from injury. This year, he’s just continued that play and set himself up for a big contract this offseason. It’s still an advantage for Bauers this year, but it’s closer than the numbers would suggest.
The rise of Turang continues in 2026. While the offensive numbers are very similar, it’s his defense that is the big change. Last year, he was closer to neutral on defense. This year, he’s made a resurgence, and his defense has caught up to where it should be. He’s jumped from 7 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) in 2025 to 22 DRS in 2026, and his Fielding Run Value is up from 0 FRV to 13 FRV. This postseason, they will still have the same strong player on offense in Turang but will also get the better defense from past seasons.
Ortiz has helped stabilize the third base position, which was in disarray at the start of the season. Luis Rengifo barely provided any positive value before he was released. David Hamilton was OK at the position, but he was just holding it down. Meanwhile, Ortiz has really stepped it up in the last couple months. Since the All-Star break, he’s batting .327/.377/.544 with a 151 wRC+. That’s in addition to 7 DRS in just 372 innings at third base. The overall numbers would suggest that these two are near even over the course of the season. However, with Ortiz’s late-season resurgence and defensive prowess, I’d give a slight edge to him here.
While Ortiz has seen a boost at third base this year, it’s hard to think about his performance last season. He provided overall positive value, but his bat in the lineup was a regular problem. This year, Pratt has matched Ortiz’s production in less than half the games. It’s an impressive rookie season from Pratt, and he’s going to provide a boost at shortstop over what the Brewers had last season.
Realistically, you couldn’t go wrong with either choice here. Chourio last year was a great player. This year, he’s turned into a star. He’s boosted his numbers on both offense and defense. If he hadn’t missed a month of the season due to injury, his stats would be even better. Not only that, but he is healthy heading into this postseason, compared to last season when he was dealing with a hamstring injury. I’m looking forward to seeing what this year’s Chourio can do in the postseason.
Entering this season, I didn’t have much faith in Mitchell. It wasn’t the talent, it was the injury history. Losing so many games to injury had soured his outlook. However, he’s proven me wrong this season, along with many other people. Mitchell has remained healthy and has shown what he’s capable of. Not only are his numbers on offense significantly better, but he’s matched what Perkins was able to do last season. It’s a much more complete package overall, and it’s a huge step up from where they were last postseason.
This one is a bit hard to pinpoint who is the primary starter right now, as both Lara and Frelick have been splitting time in right field. For now, I’ll go with Lara, who appears to be getting a bigger share of the starts there lately. Either way, the result is the same on this one. While Lara has shown a lot of promise so far, the overall numbers don’t back it up yet. Meanwhile, Frelick was an incredibly solid right fielder last season. Lara has the ability to eventually be better than Frelick, but for now, Frelick last season was the better right fielder.
There’s not much to say for Yelich, other than it’s been a disappointing season for him. Across the board, his numbers have been down this season. He’s barely been above replacement level, and he’s been trending the wrong way. Since the All-Star break, he’s batting .225/.295/.369 with an 83 wRC+. According to FanGraphs, he’s been worth 0.0 fWAR, which is right at replacement level (though he did hit a home run on Wednesday night). It’s still not a question of if he’ll be on the postseason roster — he definitely will be on it. However, the Brewers may have to think carefully about how they want to use the DH spot this postseason.
2026: David Hamilton (117 G, .241/.308/.329, 80 wRC+, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 30 SB, 0.2 fWAR, 1.7 bWAR)
Both players have been the infield utility player throughout the season. They bounced between second base, third base, and shortstop all year. Hamilton has been used more regularly this season. He was a regular starter earlier in the year, but is now behind Turang, Pratt, and Ortiz on the depth chart. He still can be a great bench player this postseason, particularly as a late game pinch-runner. He can also move runners up effectively and provides decent defense. He shouldn’t be the primary player at any position, but as a backup and overall utility guy, he has a lot of value. Monasterio had a better profile on offense, though Hamilton offers a lot of flexibility as a pinch-hitter, pinch-runner, or late inning defensive replacement. That’s good for the roster in the postseason.
Advantage: Even
Backup First Baseman
2025: Andrew Vaughn (64 G with Brewers, .308/.375/.493, 142 wRC+, 9 HR, 46 RBI, 1.9 fWAR, 1.3 bWAR)
It doesn’t feel fair to call Vaughn the backup first baseman here. He’s been getting a good amount of play time throughout the season. However, compared to Bauers, he is the clear backup. That’s still a good player to have as a backup, though. While the power numbers have been down this year, his on-base percentage is up. He’s been just as valuable this season, though part of that could be due to being more selective with his starts. He will be valuable on the postseason roster, and if he could get some extra starts while Bauers covers DH or right field, that will help the team. Overall, it’s about even with what he provided last postseason.
Advantage: Even
Backup Catcher
2025: Danny Jansen (25 G with Brewers, .254/.346/.433, 120 wRC+, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 0.4 fWAR, 0.7 bWAR)
2026: Gary Sánchez (84 G, .209/.352/.419, 117 wRC+, 11 HR, 36 RBI, 0.8 fWAR, 0.5 bWAR) & Bo Naylor
Last postseason, Jansen had next to no impact on the postseason roster. Contreras started every game and Jansen did not get a postseason at-bat. That will likely be a different story this postseason, especially if the Brewers carry three catchers as they are right now. Having two backup catchers gives the Brewers flexibility to use Contreras at DH or pinch-run for a catcher late. They could also choose to use Sánchez in either of those roles. Naylor will just be an emergency catcher and will see very little play time. It’s still a better situation than they had at catcher last postseason.
While it looks like Collins has the big advantage here, he was not much of a factor in the postseason. His numbers in September dropped to .191/.345/.319 with a 97 wRC+. He only received 10 plate appearances over six games between the NLDS and NLCS, and was relegated to a bench role. Lockridge was in a similar role, only playing in four games and getting two plate appearances. That still is better than Frelick’s numbers to finish up this season. The backup outfielder should hopefully have a smaller role in the postseason, but last year’s duo has the advantage.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 22: MacKenzie Gore #1 of the Texas Rangers throws a pitch during the first inning against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on September 22, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Morning, all!
The Rangers have optioned Winston Santos and recalled right handed pitcher Gavin Collyer for the final, probably futile, push for the playoffs.
Aggressive bullpen usage wasn’t enough to keep the Rangers in the game last night and the ultimately fell 7-2 to the mets, leaving them 1.5 games behind Houston for the AL West title and 3 games behind the White Sox for the last wild card spot.
Skip Schumaker has got a lot of plates spinning trying to manage the Rangers’ pitching staff.
Evan Grant has a eulogy for the Rangers’ 2026 hopes and, likely, the core of this Rangers roster.
The Rangers are not yet mathematically eliminated, but “not yet mathematically eliminated” is usually a phrase that precedes a failed season.
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 22: Parker Messick #77 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches during the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Sullivan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
With a playoff berth just one magic number away, the Guardians will have to make some interesting decisions regarding their pitching options.
The Guardians can make certain tonight of at least a wildcard appearance with a win, but they also hold a one-game lead in the AL Central. One more win would also guarantee that the winner of the division will be given the 2nd seed in the American League and a bye for the first round of the playoffs. This would be huge for either Cleveland or the White Sox as they could rest their bullpen and reset their starters for the opening game on October 3rd. Whoever makes the wildcard will play their first of a best of three series on September 29th.
Currently, Daniel Espino and Joey Cantillo are set to tag-team start today, Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee and Parker Messick are set to start the final three games. As the rotation currently aligns, Foster Griffin would start game one of a wildcard series on regular rest, Gavin Williams game two on regular rest and then Parker Messick would be on short rest for game three as needed. None of this is ideal. The team wants Williams and Messick starting games one and two of their series on regular rest.
If it is possible to get the #2 seed, then you take the risk and allow Williams and Messick to both pitch this week as planned. It is simply THAT valuable to get the bye. However, if the Guardians would happen to lose tonight to Boston while the White Sox happen to beat the Royals, and yet Cleveland clinches a playoff berth, they should absolutely readjust their thinking with the White Sox headed to Colorado to play the Rockies to end the season.
You cannot assume anything for certain in baseball but the odds are very good that the White Sox take at least two of three from the Rockies and the Guardians will not sweep the Royals. If the Guardians are tied with the White Sox and yet sure of a playoff berth by the end of tonight, then it is time to give Williams a short leash on Friday and to hold Messick in reserve to start both at their best in an incredibly likely Wildcard series. These two pitchers are the most valuable assets the team has in terms of highest playoff impact and have to be leveraged for maximum impact for a playoff run to be reasonable.
The good news is that if there is still more room to doubt after today, the team can start Williams tomorrow and then reevaluate before Sunday’s start. If they are tied with the White Sox entering Sunday but assured of a playoff berth, they CANNOT start Messick on Sunday. He must be held for game one of the wildcard so Williams can start in game two.
To make all this happen, the team may have to go get Austin Peterson or Logan Allen to make a spot start. Perhaps Slade Cecconi can do it, but, if not, demoting Espino and then calling him back up for the playoffs makes sense (he does not have to wait the usual ten days to return when the season ends).
A lot depends on today – if the Guardians beat the Red Sox and the White Sox somehow lose another game to the Royals, then it is time to go full bore after that #2 seed. If, however, things don’t quite go to plan, the Guardians will need to stay nimble to adjust to make sure their best pitchers are positioned to keep them in the playoffs as long as possible.
