Category: Sports News

TONIGHT’S GAME: The first-place Astros will open their final homestand of the regular season tonight as they welcome in the Royals for an important three-game series in Houston, TX.

Astros ace RHP Hunter Brown (5-3) will try to pitch the Astros back into the win column tonight as he starts opposite RHP Michael Wacha (9-8) and the Royals.

BROTHER BROWN: RHP Hunter Brown has posted a 3.12 ERA (18ER/52IP) in his last eight starts (since July 25), pitching through the 5th inning in all eight outings.

Brown, who finished third in the AL Cy Young Award voting last season, has been limited this season, missing over two months due to a lengthy stint on the Injured List (April 1-June 15) with a right shoulder strain.

ASTROS-ROYALS: The Astros and Royals have a memorable history, with the two clubs meeting each other in the 2015 ALDS, won by the Royals in five games.

11 years later, 2B Jose Altuve and C Salvador Perez remain on their respective team’s active rosters, while SS Carlos Correa, currently on the IL, also played in the series.

More recently, the Astros are 9-4 in their last 13 games against the Royals, including a 2-1 record this season.

CLEMENTE DAY: Today is Roberto Clemente Day presented by Capital One.

As part of the league-wide celebration, the Roberto Clemente Day logo will appear on the bases, on the official dugout lineup cards and on a special uniform patch.

In honor of Clemente, seven different Astros players and Manager Joe Espada will wear Clemente’s #21 for tonight’s game.

HADER NAMED CLEMENTE NOMINEE: For the second straight season, LHP Josh Hader has been named the Astros nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, baseball’s most prestigious individual honor for MLB players.

The Roberto Clemente Award, presented by Capital One, is the annual recognition of an MLB player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.

FIRST RESPONDERS NIGHT: Tonight is First Responders Night at the ballpark as the Astros will proudly honor the courageous men and women who serve the city of Houston.

There will be a pregame ceremony and ceremonial first pitch for First Responders Night presented by Budweiser.

THE SUNDAY SCARIES: The Astros finished their six-game road trip on Sunday in Tampa with a 14-4 loss to the Rays.

The Astros hit three homers in the loss, one each by 3B Isaac Paredes (1×3), SS Nick Allen (1×2) and DH Nelson Velázquez (1×2).

CHALLENGING STRETCH: On Sunday, the Astros completed a stretch of playing 13 consecutive games against opponents with winning records (CWS, ARI, PHI, TB), going 6-7 in those contests.

On the season, the Astros are 29-23 against teams with .500 or better records.

TODAY’S ROSTER MOVE: The Astros have placed OF Taylor Trammell on the Paternity List and have recalled OF Joey Loperfido from Triple A Sugar Land.

TRIPLE THREAT: DH Yordan Alvarez, who is a solid candidate for the AL MVP Award, currently ranks first or second in the AL in all three Triple Crown categories.

He enters today leading the AL in batting avg. (.310), while ranking second in RBI (96) and tied for second in HR (38)…Alvarez also leads the Majors in OPS (1.016), SLG (.589) and OBP (.427).

Since Carl Yastrzemski won the AL Triple Crown in 1967, there has been just one Triple Crown winner in the Majors, Miguel Cabrera in 2012 (AL).

ISAAC’S FABLES: 3B Isaac Paredes has posted a 20-game on-base streak, which is the second-longest on-base streak of his career (22g in 2025) and the second-longest active on-base streak in the Majors (Elly De La Cruz, 21g).

During the streak, which dates back to Aug. 23, Paredes has 14 walks, a .395 OBP and a .917 OPS.

NOTHING FINER THAN YAINER: C Yainer Diaz is hitting .378 (14×37) in the month of September with a .924 OPS.

Prior to going 0x3 on Sunday, Diaz had tallied multiple hits in six straight starts, going 13×23 (.565) in that span.

STALKING 200: 1B Christian Walker is currently sitting on 199 career home runs and needs just one homer to become the 35th active Major League player to reach 200 career long balls.

Walker has hit 25 homers this year for his fifth consecutive 25-plus homer season (2022-26).

FIREMEN: LHP Josh Hader ranks tied for 40th in Major League history with 252 career saves, along with LHP Dave Righetti.

Among lefties, Hader and Righetti rank tied for fifth in saves in MLB history.

ONE WIN AWAY!: The Class A Fayetteville Woodpeckers won Game 1 of the Carolina League Championship Series over Charleston on Sunday by a score of 14-4.

The three-game series shifts to Fayetteville tonight with the Woodpeckers needing just one more win to take home their first championship in franchise history.

ASTROS MILB PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: The Astros player development department has named C Jason Schiavone the Astros 2026 Minor League Player of the Year, RHP Bryce Mayer the Astros 2026 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, OF Anthony Huezo the Astros 2026 Minor League Baserunner of the Year, IF Max Holy the Astros 2026 Minor League Defender of the Year and IF Yamal Encarnacion the Astros 2026 Standard Award recipient.

All five players will be recognized in a pregame ceremony at Daikin Park on Sunday.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Tuesday, September 15, 7:10 p.m. CT

Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX

TV: Space City Home Network

Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

Back home.

⚾️: 7:10 PM
🏟️: Closed
📺: @SpaceCityHN & SCHN2
🎙️: @SportsTalk790 & 740 AM | Spanish: 102.9 HD2#ChaseTheFight x @reliantenergypic.twitter.com/Uqs1iPtto7

— Houston Astros (@astros) September 15, 2026

Taking the field for a #ClementeDay matchup vs. the Astros. pic.twitter.com/W5sp0pCD8I

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) September 15, 2026

Apparently all the work and all the hope was for naught.

Carlos Correa will not return this season, Astros manager, Joe Espada said

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) September 15, 2026

It’s yet another kick in the teeth for the Astros, who have been beset by injuries for the third straight season.

There was hope that a return for Correa would inject some life into an offense that has been scuffling with Jeremy Pena slumping and Yordan Alvarez experiencing a power outage. The bottom two-thirds of the lineup has been shaky at best over the last month and a half.

It is a complete 180 degree turn from the optimism that has been exuded from both Correa and the reports that had Correa ramping up and starting rehab games this week with Triple-A Sugar Land.

Correa had been scheduled to meet with doctors before going on the rehab assignment, and as of right now we can only presume that the reports were not good enough to allow him to start playing.

Yet another tough break for Houston and Correa.

The St. Louis Cardinals will meet again Tuesday night at Busch Stadium. Andre Pallante is the scheduled starter for the Cardinals while the Giants will send RHP Blade Tidwell to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45pm central time while the game broadcast will be handled by Cardinals.tv.

The San Francisco Giants continue this three-game road series against the St. Louis Cardinals this afternoon.

Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Blade Tidwell, who enters today’s game with a 4.82 ERA, 4.75 FIP, with 38 strikeouts to 20 walks in 46.2 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 7-6 win over the Cardinals last Wednesday, in which he allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks in four innings.

He’ll be facing off against Cardinals right-hander Andre Pallante, who enters today’s game with a 3.45 ERA, 3.65 FIP, with 102 strikeouts to 45 walks in 146 innings pitched. His last start was also in last Wednesday’s game, in which he allowed just one run on five hits with four strikeouts in five innings.

Game #152

Who: San Francisco Giants (62-89) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (75-76)

Where: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

When: 4:45 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

The Yankees are heading to the playoffs. In a season of uncertainty (particularly around injuries), that much is certain after last night’s series-opening comeback victory officially punched their ticket for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons. Everything beyond that, though, is still unknown.

While their playoff spot (and likely the top wild card based on the standings) is secure, the team has made it clear that their aspirations are still to win the AL East, which they trail by 3.5 games with 12 to go. Until they get their hands on the Tampa Bay Rays next week in the Bronx, their playoff journey won’t be set in stone, but games like these are important to ensure that what they do that week can directly control their fate.

Looking to lock up another series win in Minnesota will be Max Fried, who’s probably hoping to go deeper than his last start against Colorado. He labored through 3.1 innings of work and was removed due to pitch count, but should be pretty close to full-go tonight as he continues to build up. Entering play, he has a 2.73 ERA (155 ERA+) and 2.73 FIP across 99 innings in 18 starts. He did not face the Twins in early July at Yankee Stadium, having been on the injured list with the bone bruise in his elbow.

Making the start for Minnesota will be Bailey Ober, who will be toeing the slab for the 23rd time this season. The 31-year-old has been one of their most consistent starters for half a decade now, despite becoming a completely different pitcher as he’s aged. He went from someone who had a very good strikeout rate to one of the lowest among starting pitchers, currently sitting with just 85 strikeouts in 117.2 innings with a 4.28 ERA (98 ERA+). Impressively, he’s only managed to make one career start against the Yankees, allowing three runs in five innings in 2024.

Finesse has always been the way he’s gotten batters out, but it’s particularly true as his fastball velocity and, subsequently, usage have cratered over the years, now sitting at just 88.1 mph on average. He has good command and limits hard contact, but has a big issue with allowing barrels due to middling stuff. Against lefties, it’s changeups and four-seamers with a few sliders mixed in, while he throws them much more evenly against righties alongside a sweeper and sinker.

How to watch

Location: Target Field, Minneapolis, MN

First pitch: 7:40 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES, Twins.TV

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY), TIBN, The Wolf 102.9 FM, LosTwins.com (MIN)

Online stream: MLB.tv (out-of-market only), Gotham Sports App

For updates, follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Max on the mound in Minneapolis. #RepBXpic.twitter.com/Ho8tDU2p8D

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 15, 2026

Tuesday's starters

📺 https://t.co/sQveEyIirXpic.twitter.com/uFBydPF2sk

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) September 15, 2026

Boston Red Sox @ Texas Rangers

Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 7:05 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)

The Shed

LHP Patrick Sandoval vs. RHP Jacob deGrom

Go Rangers!

The Atlanta Braves enter Tuesday night with a magic number of four to clinch a postseason spot and a magic number of seven to clinch the NL East.

They’ll look to cut into those respective numbers when they continue their series against the Chicago Cubs with a 7:40 p.m. EDT game at Wrigley Field which will be broadcast both nationally on TBS, locally on Atlanta News First and on BravesVision.

The Diamondbacks losing against the Marlins or the Phillies losing to the Nationals would also help those respective magic numbers drop regardless of the outcome of the Braves game.

Martín Pérez (8-9, 3.08 ERA) gets the start for Atlanta against one-time Brave Kevin Gausman (9-12, 4.60), who was acquired by the Cubs ahead of the trade deadline.

Follow along and share your thoughts below as the Braves look to even the series and set up a Wednesday evening rubber match.

Game Info

Preview

Lineups

The Red Sox enter tonight with a record of 82-68. Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers enter tonight with a record of 74-76. However, thanks to a combination of MLB’s far too bloated playoff system and a wretched AL West, this game has much, MUCH higher playoff implications for the Rangers than it does for the Red Sox.

Texas finds itself just a game off their division lead (and 1.5 out of the third Wild Card spot) while the Red Sox are virtually locked into the second Wild Card spot (unless something historical happens). There’s something about this entire dynamic that just doesn’t sit well with me as the daylight grows shorter and we approach the playoffs, but alas, it’s what we’ve got.

As far as a tune up is concerned though, this game still means something to the Red Sox in terms of getter guys hot and the lineup clicking all at once. So on that note, here’s the lineup that will be facing Jacob deGrom this evening, and outside of missing Ceddanne Rafaela (who is still on the IL), it’s starting to look closer and closer to what the Sox might roll out there for Game 1 of the Wild Card series two weeks from tonight.

⚾️ First Pitch: 8:05pm — Arlington, TX

📺 TV: NESN

📻 Radio: WEEI

Join us in the game thread below!

Game Two against the Tigers. The latest in a series of what we’ll be told are ‘must win’ games. This one is a bullpen game. I don’t know what the plan is after Fisher.

So the bad news is that Trey Yesavage had a rough time throwing tonight in for Buffalo. He got just two outs on 34 pitches. The Jays are listing him to pitch against the Orioles on Sunday. I don’t know if that will change with this news. They figured on him for two ‘starts’ or bulk guy games. They weren’t worried about results, but then there is results you don’t worry about and there is not getting out of the first inning.

Getting the feel of the slider will take a bit I guess.

And Jameson Taillon is saying his season is over, with an elbow issue. He’s hoping there isn’t surgery in his future.

Lineups:

With the Mariners winding towards the end of another disappointing season, there’s some fun on the horizon with the promise of the Arizona Fall League, a unique monthlong league that’s often called “prospect graduate school.” The AFL is an opportunity for teams to get extra reps in for prospects who have missed regular-season time due to injury, are undergoing a position change, or for whom they just want to accelerate the developmental timetable. This year’s league starts on October 3 and runs all the way through November 14; you can see the complete schedule here.

This year the Mariners will be sending eight players to the AFL: C/OF Boston Smith,RHPTy Cummings; LHP Reid Easterly; 1B/3B Brandon Eike; C/1B Matthew Ellis; RHP Jose Geraldo; LHP Calvin Schapira; RHP Adam Smith

What’s unique about the Fall League is every team participates, meaning if you only ever go to Cactus League spring training, this is a rare opportunity to see players from Grapefruit League teams. The Mariners play as part of the Peoria Javelinas, along with their complex-mates the Padres; they’re joined by the Reds, Orioles, and Cardinals, the latter two of whom don’t usually play in Arizona.

If you have the ability to go, I highly recommend it; a trip to the Fall League is a unique experience. Smaller and less crowded than spring training (and therefore significantly less expensive), I’ve heard the AFL described as “what spring training used to be” – meaning there’s a real opportunity to meet players and interact with them. Exposure to players isn’t limited to those selected for the Fall League, either; the Mariners run various camps during this time in-between the end of the minor-league season and the ramp up to spring training, so there’s a good chance you’ll see other prospects from the farm system around on the backfields or in attendance at the games. If you can’t make it down, the games will be streamed on MLB.com.

And obviously, you’ll have a chance to see non-Mariners top prospects, as well. This year the highest-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline is Dodgers outfielder Eduardo Quintero (19), followed by former Dodger prospect now Tigers prospect (traded in the Tarik Skubal deal) outfielder Zyhir Hope (27). If you want to scout some AL West competition, the Angels are sending shortstop Arjun Nimmala (37), acquired in the Jose Soriano deal. The only top-100 prospect playing for Peoria will come from the Orioles, OF/1B Ike Irish, who just sneaks in at number 99.

The highest-ranked prospect the Mariners will be sending is catching prospect Boston Smith, who just misses Top 100 consideration, but should be in it after a strong season at Double-A split between Birmingham in the Southern League and Arkansas in the Texas League. Smith has posted some impressive power numbers and barrel rates, but there are also concerns about the amount of swing-and-miss in his game. But the main thing the Mariners are likely interested in is getting him more reps behind the dish to see if he can stick at catcher. He’ll also have the opportunity to spend time around his new organization and gain comfort with the staff and facilities before spring training (whenever that might be).

🌵 𝘼𝙧𝙞𝙯𝙤𝙣𝙖 𝙁𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙚 🌟

Boston Smith (@crosscutters '25) is representing the @Mariners in the @MLBazFallLeague with the Peoria Javelinas! 🏜️

2026: .274/.424/.566 (.990 OPS), 31 HR, 4 3B, 12 2B, 93 R, 84 RBI
MLBDL: 18 G, .226/.391/.434 (.825 OPS), 3 HR, 2 2B,… pic.twitter.com/OHlVtGypJR

— MLB Draft League (@mlbdraftleague) September 15, 2026

Now into some deeper cuts to round out the rest of the Mariners contingent. Besides Smith, the Mariners are only sending two other position players: 1B/3B Brandon Eike, and C/1B Matthew Ellis. Eike is a 2024 13th-rounder out of VCU who has been jokingly described as “Tyler Locklear Lite” as the two share an alma mater. After striking out over 30% of the time at High-A in 2025, the organization sent him to repeat the level to see if his aggressive style at the plate could be married with some better plate discipline, and he responded by cutting down his strikeouts and winning Northwest Player of the Month for August. Eike was likely due a promotion to Double-A at some time this season after smashing 24 homers in the bandboxes of the Northwest League, but instead he’ll get a chance to show off his power on a national stage. Eike is primarily a first baseman but did see about 200 innings at the hot corner this year for Everett. Similarly, Ellis split time between two positions, catcher and first base for the AquaSox this year, primarily because of a Luke Stevenson-shaped boulder at the catching position; expect him to get more reps at catcher in the AFL.

Brandon Eike inches closer to the AquaSox single-season home run record 👀 pic.twitter.com/irsRcfk2Fj

— Everett AquaSox (@EverettAquaSox) August 17, 2026

Everyone else the Mariners are sending will be throwing baseballs. The name you might be most familiar with is righty Ty Cummings, drafted by the Mariners and sent to the Rays for Randy Arozarena, and then re-acquired for Casey Legumina because the Mariners simply must possess every former Campbell Camel in professional baseball. The name I’m most interested in is lefty Reid Easterly, a Duke product signed as an UDFA last July, who came out of nowhere this year and shoved at High-A as a 24-year-old, winning the organization’s MiLB Reliever of the Month award in July. If his stuff plays against the advanced bats in the Fall League, I’m prepared to label him a spring training dark horse candidate for a fringe bullpen role.

Spokane had no chance vs Reid Easterly tonight. Final line: 3IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 5K, 39 pitches, 25 strikes. pic.twitter.com/nTWlX1XUgo

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) September 3, 2026

Another lefty, Calvin Schapira, had a big uptick in his strikeouts this year at Everett, but an attendant uptick in his walks. Similarly, righty José Geraldo has been grinding in the low minors since being signed as an international free agent in 2021; he’s got strikeout stuff but command issues. Adam Smith is a former indy ball player who is probably the best professional baseball player who also shares his name with an 18th century Scottish father of economics.

It’s night two of the Pete Alonso Reunion Tour at CitiField, where Mets fans will continue to cheer on their team’s favorite former slugger. Expect their signs and camera phones to be held high every time Alonso steps to the plate as he seeks to mash his 300th career home run at his longtime home ballpark. And he’s not the only one — on the other side of the field, the Mets’ Francisco Lindor is also sitting on 299 career dingers. It’d be pretty neat if they both hit #300 in the same game, especially if the Orioles go on to win.

But yikes, the O’s are going to have their work cut out for them, if tonight’s starting lineup is any indication. Take a peek below. There’s Rece Hinds, leadoff hitter. There’s an entirely useless bottom four of the lineup (arguably bottom five, if you’re feeling particularly cranky about Gunnar Henderson). Rarely seen third catcher Yohel Pozo will make his first start since Aug. 16, almost a month ago. And lefty swingers Samuel Basallo, Dylan Beavers, Heston Kjerstad, and Jackson Holliday are all on the bench against Mets southpaw Sean Manaea.

I just don’t get it. The Orioles are out of contention and the season is winding down, so why not let your young left-handers get some starts against lefties? How are they ever going to get better with their platoon splits if you don’t give them the opportunity? Why are you giving starts to guys with no future with the Orioles, like Hinds, Pozo, and Leody Taveras, instead of homegrown guys who might have a chance at being part of the future? The Orioles, as usual, make no sense.

Poor Shane Baz already never gets run support, and now this is the lineup that’s tasked with trying to help him out. Well, uh…good luck.

Orioles lineup:

LF Rece Hinds
1B Pete Alonso
DH Coby Mayo
3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand
SS Gunnar Henderson
2B Jeremiah Jackson
C Yohel Pozo
RF Leody Taveras
CF Colton Cowser

RHP Shane Baz

Mets lineup:

SS Francisco Lindor
LF Juan Soto
3B Bo Bichette
RF Carson Benge
1B Jared Young
2B Marcus Semien
CF A.J. Ewing
DH Brett Baty
C Francisco Alvarez

LHP Sean Manaea