Royals vs Guardians, September 25 live game discussion

Denny Matthews shakes hands with Royals Hall of Famer John Wathan
KANSAS CITY, MO - JULY 05: John Wathan (right) shakes hands with Denny Matthews during the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame induction ceremony prior to the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday, July 5, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Tanner Gatlin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Today is my penultimate game thread for the 2026 MLB Regular season. You might have noticed I’ve been using that word a lot lately. You’ve probably guessed it’s my favorite word. You’re right.

Last time we were together, Noah Cameron was performing his penultimate start to the season. Today is the ultimate. It would be swell if he performed that colloquially as well as definitionally and did something crazy like pitch a no-hitter. The Guardians clinched a playoff berth last night. Perhaps they’re too hungover to hit? They don’t add asterisks for that, though, so Cameron should try to take advantage.

The Guardians are still battling for an opportunity to win the division rather than simply to make a playoff berth. They currently lead the White Sox by a single game in the standings, but the White Sox hold the tiebreaker, so all it will take is for Chicago to win a single game more than the Guardians do this weekend for them to claim the division crown. I’m hoping the Royals sweep the Guardians and make it easy for them. Still, the point I’m taking forever to get to is that Gavin Williams gets the start for Cleveland rather than preparing himself for a playoff series, because if the Guardians can hold out, they won’t have to play in the Wild Card series anyway.

TJ Stats graph for Gavin Williams

By the numbers, Gavin has been terrific this year for Cleveland. Eating innings with style. If you dig a little deeper, you find that he is nearly elite at generating both chase and whiffs. One interesting note to me is that he has universally struggled a bit when hitters actually make contact with any of his pitches. He mixes up his pitches well, so rather than hunt a particular pitch, the Royals might be best served just trying to make contact with whatever he throws and hope for the best.

Williams has faced the Royals twice this year. In their first series, he tossed 5.2 innings of 1-run ball and struck out 8. But he also walked 5, which contributed to the short outing. He took the loss in their second meeting during the second series between the two teams, giving up 5 runs in 6 innings, though he only walked 2 and struck out 7. The Royals managed to sequence really well in that game, scoring those five runs on only eight hits with a pair of doubles and a pair of dingers.

Lineups

It’s kind of funny that Isaac Collins got left out of tonight’s lineup. He’s been unplayably bad for a bit now, but the last time the Royals faced Williams, he had a home run and a double in a 3-for-3 effort. Still, this is probably the best lineup the Royals can put together with their current roster. You could argue that Michael Massey should be above Salvador Perez, or that Nick Loftin should start in left and shift John Rave to center to bench Kyle Isbel. That would all be nitpicking, though. Hopefully the Royals can bring Denny Matthews a win for his 8000th broadcast!

Game 160 Game Day Thread – Texas Rangers @ Minnesota Twins

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 24: Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) celebrates his two run home run during the MLB game between the New York Mets and the Texas Rangers on September 24, 2026 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Texas Rangers @ Minnesota Twins

Friday, September 25, 2026, 7:10 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)

Target Field

RHP Jacob deGrom vs. RHP Joe Ryan

Today’s Lineups

RANGERSTWINS
Brandon Nimmo – RFLuke Keaschall – RF
Josh Jung – DHBrooks Lee – 3B
Corey Seager – SSKody Clemens – 2B
Wyatt Langford – LFJosh Bell – DH
Ezequiel Duran – 3BRyan Jeffers – C
Nicky Lopez – 2BWalker Jenkins – CF
Jake Burger – 1BRoyce Lewis – 1B
Evan Carter – CFEmmanuel Rodriguez – LF
Danny Jansen – CRyan Kreidler – SS
Jacob deGrom – RHPJoe Ryan – RHP

Go Rangers!

Yankees flop after CC Sabathia ceremony, lose to Orioles

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: A detail shot of a patch honoring CC Sabathia worn by a member of the New York Yankees during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, September 25, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

With nothing left to play for on either side, the Yankees vs. Orioles series opener was somewhat overshadowed with the number retirement ceremony for CC Sabathia that took place before the game. The expected bad weather tomorrow forced a doubleheader today and moved the ceremony up to this afternoon as well. The short notice change led to the stands being emptier than anyone would like, but it was still a nice ceremony for the now-forever Yankees’ No. 52. Old friends Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Andy Pettitte, and Chris Young joined in the festivities on the field, alongside Sabathia’s family.

On the field, things could’ve gone better.

Making something of a spot start with the doubleheader and the Yankees planning ahead for the postseason, Brendan Beck started for the Yankees. Not that it was something the Yankees were considering, but Beck didn’t particularly make a case to be a last-second playoff roster addition. In his five innings, he allowed seven runs on six hits and three walks, including two home runs. The bullpen wasn’t particularly lights out following him, allowing the Orioles to build up a big lead.

The Yankees’ offense was always going to be up against it considering that fact, but they didn’t do much. Orioles starter Trevor Rogers mostly kept the Yankees in check as Baltimore kept adding on. The Yankees could only plate one run from their eight hits, dooming them to a 10-2 loss in the first game of the doubleheader.

On the mound, Beck started things off with a couple scoreless innings. However, Baltimore got on the board in the third. Beck nearly got through the inning again, but issued a two-out walk to Dylan Beavers. That came back to haunt him, as Pete Alonso did a Pete Alonso thing and homered to put the O’s in front.

An inning later, Beck loaded the bases after walking two and allowing a single. Christian Franklin then dropped in a single, plating another Orioles’ run. After a force out got a runner at home, Beavers took Beck deep for a grand slam, putting Baltimore well in front.

The Yankees got on the board themselves in the bottom of the fourth. Heliot Ramos reached with a triple, aided by center fielder Colton Cowser misplaying the carom off the wall. Amed Rosario followed that with an easy single to score the Yankees’ first run.

Baltimore got that run back a short time later, thanks to an outfield miscue of the Yankees’ own. With reliever Yerry De los Santos in for the Yankees, Jeremiah Jackson hit a ball to deep right-center. The ball just got over the glove of Spencer Jones and took a fortuitous bounce past him. Jackson managed to race all the way around and beat the throw home for an inside-the-park homer, the first one in the Bronx in a dozen years — coincidentally with today’s honoree on the mound against Wil Myers. Alonso added a more conventional homer in the seventh in that it went over the fence, but it was unconventional in that it was an absolute bomb, 471 feet away.

Honestly, I can’t even be mad at that one. Baltimore would tack on one more run to get to double digits for the game. Paul Blackburn and David Bednar got their work in as expected, and we now won’t see them again until the Wild Card Series.

The Yankees did get one run back after Spencer Jones singled in the bottom of the ninth and eventually came around to score on a Paul Goldschmidt sacrifice fly. Ben Rice struck out looking to end it.

One pretty disappointing thing to come out of the game was the play of the offense. Yes, the game didn’t actually mean anything, but the Yankees did send out the likes of Goldschmidt and Rosario and their theoretical “lefty” lineup. Them not doing much on offense isn’t what you would want to see considering that the Red Sox Wild Card Series lineup is now locked in and Boston has a bunch of left-handed pitchers they can throw at the Yankees.

The second game of today’s doubleheader is set to begin at 7:30pm ET, which New York just announced. Brandon Young will go for Baltimore, while the Yankees will counter with Ryan Yarbrough, with Will Warren expected to provide relief work in anticipation of his playoff role.

Box Score

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Islanders’ Alexander Romanov, Ryan Pulock finally get game action as key pairing races to get up to speed

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (28) skates with the puck during training camp, Image 2 shows New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock (6) skates with the puck against the New Jersey Devils, Image 3 shows Mika Zibanejad of the New York Rangers is checked by Alexander Romanov of the New York Islanders during a preseason game
Islanders

With the clock ticking fast toward opening night Wednesday in Toronto, Adam Pelech and Matthew Schaefer — on his off side — should form the Islanders’ first pair. Barring something unexpected, Alexander Romanov and Ryan Pulock would be the second. 

Friday’s preseason match against the Rangers, though, was the first time the Islanders’ hopeful second pair got into any game action during camp. The Islanders wanted to give both an extra few days of practice after they had undergone shoulder surgery — Romanov soon after the hit from Mikko Rantanen that ended his season last November and Pulock after the season. That came with the tradeoff of asking both to play back-to-back nights, with coach Pete DeBoer looking to roll out an NHL lineup Saturday against the Devils. 

Rusty would be an understatement to describe how they looked. 

New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (28) skates with the puck during training camp at the Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Much of the 6-1 margin can be explained by the Rangers playing their NHL lineup against a group of mostly AHLers. Romanov and Pulock’s respective minus-3s cannot, though the rust does account for some margin of it. 

Romanov, in particular, repeatedly was boxed out and often behind the play. 

“I was happy to play my first game in 10 months,” he said. “First two periods was tough. I was just turning my head left and right, look at guys skating in front of me. Third period, I started feeling it. I had a couple good takeaways, interceptions.” 

Pulock, for his part, sounded similar, saying he liked some pieces of his game and felt good on the ice, but knows he’ll be better with more game time. 

“That’s what preseason is for,” DeBoer said. “It’s to work out the kinks, get the rust off, get a little bit better. … That first game is always hard.” 

New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock (6) skates with the puck during the first period against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

It was largely forgotten amid the hole it created in the Islanders lineup with Romanov out, but he struggled badly in the 15 games he played last season, never looking like himself. 

As for Pulock, he labored through a shoulder injury in the second half of the season, his play slipping as a result. 

This is to say: The Islanders don’t need to imagine what it is like to have a diminished version of either one in their lineup. It won’t go well. 

“Summer was obviously different,” Pulock told The Post pregame. “It’s the first time I’ve had a surgery like that. The rehab process, different steps. I think off the start, there wasn’t much happening [after surgery] until you can start the strengthening portion of things. I spent the summer here with our guys. I think they did a great job from a strength standpoint — all my testing is better than it was before.” 

Ditto for Romanov, who said he’s dropped approximately 17 pounds and is down from 14 percent body fat a year ago to 7. He cut out sugar and junk food, monitored his gluten intake and got in more on-ice training. The Islanders brass has been impressed all camp with his physical improvement. 

Playing well, though, is a different thing than coming to camp in great shape — and Friday was a reminder. And even following a season ruined by injury, Romanov still has expectations attached to him from an eight-year deal signed in the summer of 2025. 

DeBoer, for his part, still is holding out a top-four spot as a carrot, pointedly using the word “potential” in describing Romanov’s chances of playing there, though there’s little reason to believe he won’t. 

Mika Zibanejad of the New York Rangers is checked by Alexander Romanov of the New York Islanders during the first period of a preseason game at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. Getty Images

“He has all the tools for that and that’s what we need out of him,” DeBoer said. “There’s a spot for him in that hole. So he’s gotta come back healthy, which he is right now. He hasn’t played games in a long time. We’ve gotta give him some runway there to get back up to speed. I’m excited about what I see in practice and how it translates into the games.” 

For the low stakes moment that a preseason game represents, that’s about just regaining comfort on the ice. 

“I just want to remind myself how to play hockey,” Romanov said pregame, “because when you don’t play a whole year, even [though] you’re in shape, you gotta bring back this experience that you have. I’m just happy to play my first game since injury and every shift, every second, just try to play my best game and see how it goes.”

Yankees give up four home runs, drop Game 1 of doubleheader to Orioles

The Yankees (92-68) didn't have much going for them in Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader, falling to the Baltimore Orioles (79-81), 10-2.

Here are the takeaways...

--  Brendan Beck was called up to make his second start of the year, but like his previous appearances, he struggled in a short outing. The right-hander let up seven runs on six hits and three walks over just 5.0 IP (97 pitches) with eight strikeouts.

Beck struck out the side in the first inning and got through the second, but ran into trouble the next two frames. He surrendered a two-run homer to Pete Alonso (his AL-leading 42nd) in the top of the third inning to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead. Beck then loaded the bases in the third, gave up an RBI single, and allowed a grand slam to Dylan Beavers, which made it a 7-0 game. The 27-year-old returned for a quick 1-2-3 fifth inning to help save the bullpen arms.

-- After recording just two hits through the first three innings against lefty Trevor Rogers, New York's bats woke up in the fourth inning. Heliot Ramos smashed a leadoff triple that bounced off the wall in center field and scored on Amed Rosario's RBI single, cutting the Baltimore lead to 7-1. They had a chance to get more runs back after an error extended the inning, but left two runners on base.

-- Yerry De los Santos, who was also recalled Friday, replaced Beck on the mound in the top of the sixth and saw similar results. He gave up an inside-the-park home run to Jeremiah Jackson as the ball sailed over the outstretched arms of Spencer Jones in right-center and rolled around the outfield. The right-hander let up another homer in the seventh inning as Alonso launched his second of the day to go up 9-1.

-- Baltimore took a 10-1 lead in the eighth inning against Paul Blackburn after Jose Caballero couldn't handle Gunnar Henderson's sharp grounder, allowing Christian Franklin to score from second base.

-- New York tacked on a run in the ninth, making it 10-2 on Jones' sacrifice fly. Overall, the Yanks recorded nine hits as Ramos, Rosario, and Anthony Volpe each had two apiece; Ben Rice, Spencer Jones, and Ali Sánchez had the other three.

Game MVP: Pete Alonso

The windy, cold conditions were made for the polar bear. Alonso hit two home runs (going 3-for-5 with three RBI) and is up to 43 home runs on the season with 16 career homers against the Yanks.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees play Game 2 of their doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles later Friday night.

New York has yet to announce a starter, while RHP Brandon Young (9-5, 3.62 ERA) takes the mound for the O's.

Bill Giles, longtime Phillies executive and father of Phanatic, dies at 92

Bill Giles, the longtime Philadelphia Phillies executive credited with conceptualizing the Phillie Phanatic and spearheading the construction of both Veterans Stadium and Citizens Bank Park, died Friday, Sept. 25 at 92, the club announced.

Giles was a key figure in the Phillies' front office beginning in 1969, rising from business operations head to executive vice president to, in 1981, organizing a group that purchased the franchise, under which he served as president until 1997 and then chairman. The Phillies won the World Series in 1980 and again in 2008.

In his span, the Phillies moved into multipurpose Veterans Stadium, which they shared with the Philadlephia Eagles, before constructing their baseball-only ballpark on Broad Street that opened in 2004 and has since hosted three World Series and, this past July, the All-Star Game.

Perhaps his most enduring contribution, visually, was conceiving the Phillie Phanatic, likely the most recognizable mascot across the major leagues.

The Phillie Phanatic entertains the fans at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Oct. 4, 2025.

“The Phillies family lost an icon today,” Phillies owner John Middleton said in a statement released by the club. “Bill helped to reshape our franchise from a traditional baseball club into a highly visible entertainment and business operation.

"His profound impact in overseeing one of the greatest eras in franchise history, both on and off the field, will forever be his legacy. Our hearts are heavy for the Giles family and all those who had the privilege of knowing Bill.”

Giles was named honorary National League president in 2001 and served on MLB committees that spearheaded the introduction of interleague play and the wild card.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bill Giles, longtime Phillies executive and father of Phanatic, dies at 92

Friday Evening Orioles Victory GIF Party

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, September 25, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

It is Friday evening.

The Orioles have beaten the Yankees in the first game of a single admission doubleheader, winning a 10-2 blowout. Pete Alonso hit two homers in the game to increase his season homer total to 43 and RBIs to 113, Dylan Beavers blew the game open with a grand slam, and Jeremiah Jackson added an inside-the-park homer just to make things fun. Five Orioles had multi-hit games.

There is still another one to play on Friday, but for now,

YOU KNOW WHAT MUST BE DONE.

San Diego clinches against rivals in 2024 déjà vu, turns to Arizona for final homestand

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres earns a save in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 24, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) | Getty Images

What a game. What a series. What a season. What a way for the San Diego Padres to clinch their spot in the 2026 postseason. The Friars sealed a series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night, earning a Wild Card berth and maintaining a one-game lead over the Chicago Cubs for the top spot in the NL Wild Card.

Despite being no-hit by Tyler Glasnow through 5 1/3 innings, the Padres quickly got to work with back-to-back singles before the first run crossed home plate on a Dustin Harris sac fly. Nick Pivetta worked in and out of trouble through 4 2/3 scoreless innings before turning it over to the bullpen. The Friars’ offense kept it going with a three-run seventh, capping off a huge series win with major playoff implications.

San Diego now returns home to Petco Park for the final series of the 2026 regular season. They’ll play the Arizona Diamondbacks with Wild Card seeding on the line. The Padres need to win every game to ensure that they retain the top Wild Card spot. The Dbacks, meanwhile, are playing their way into the playoffs. They’re two games back of the Philadelphia Phillies for the last spot.

Taking the mound

Brandon Pfaadt (AZ) v. Casey Mize (SD)

Pfaadt has had a resurgent year with Arizona this season. He recorded a 5.25 ERA in 2025 but has pitched to a 3.72 ERA this year across 128 1/3 innings. He missed most of June after being demoted to Triple-A to figure out his mechanics and it worked. Since coming back on June 30, Pfaadt owns a 2.79 ERA (90.1 IP).

The right-hander has faced the Padres three times this season and gotten the better of them twice. After tagging Pfaadt for four runs in three innings on April 25, the Padres haven’t scored an earned run against him since. They’ll need to reverse that in order to notch a win in the series opener tonight.

Mize is scheduled to make his final start of the regular season tonight. It’s hard to understate just how much he has struggled since joining San Diego. It’s tanked his stock as an impending free agent as well as any ability to trust him as a playoff starter. That said, Mize has a great track record in the postseason and could shove when the lights are brightest.

The righty is coming off of one of his roughest outings, surrendering five runs to the Miami Marlins last Saturday. Thankfully, the Padres managed to come out with the win in extra innings. Since joining the Friars, Mize has pitched to a 6.64 ERA (40.2 IP), surrendering three or more runs in six of those outings. He’ll need to turn the tables tonight to restore some faith in his pitching.

Batter up!

The offense cooled off a bit in L.A., but that didn’t stop the Padres from scoring. After being shutout in the series opener, San Diego scored nine runs in the final two games. Against a pitching staff like the Dodgers’, that’s fantastic production. They’ll need their lineup to keep that up against Arizona if they are to retain their current seeding.

  1. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
  2. Dustin Harris, LF
  3. Manny Machado, 3B
  4. Ty France, 1B
  5. Jackson Merrill, CF
  6. Luis Campusano, C
  7. Xander Bogaerts, SS
  8. Jake Cronenworth, 2B
  9. Ethan Salas, DH

Salas has turned into an incredibly potent hitter in the last few weeks. In his last seven games, he’s recorded a blistering .389/.421/.722 slash line with five RBIs and a walk. He’s raking his way to a spot on the postseason roster, and could see plenty of time behind the dish this weekend.

Relief corps

After Pivetta’s stellar (albeit short) outing on Thursday night, Yuki Matsui, Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller nailed down the final 4 1/3 innings. Adam, in his long-awaited return from the injured list, pitched a perfect frame on just five pitches. Miller struck out Tommy Edman to end the game, but the pitch was so filthy that the ball got away from Salas, allowing Edman to reach first. Miller ended the game shortly thereafter despite allowing a run to cross on a Shohei Ohtani double.

Tonight, San Diego can breathe a sigh of relief as they hope to give their high-leverage arms some rest in anticipation of the coming playoff series on Tuesday. The Friars will have Kyle Hart, David Morgan, Wandy Peralta, Bradgley Rodriguez and Randy Vásquez available out of the ‘pen tonight. Adam will likely be available as well given his low pitch count last night.

Colorado Rockies at Chicago White Sox game discussion: Tomoyuki Sugano vs. Sean Burke

DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 20: Tomoyuki Sugano #11 of the Colorado Rockies walks off the field after pitching in the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Coors Field on September 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Three games. That’s it.

The Rockies have reached the final weekend of the 2026 season, and after the way the last two months have gone, I am very much looking forward to the offseason and what comes next — pending lockout notwithstanding.

Don’t get me wrong, there was real progress this year. Colorado had stretches where it looked much more competitive and gave some reason to believe things were moving in the right direction.

But August and September have been rough.

The Rockies are 14-35 over the last two months, including 5-16 in September, and come into Chicago on a four-game losing streak. They closed the book on Coors Field by getting swept by Arizona, falling 7-2, 5-3 and 12-8.

So yes, I am ready for the offseason. Ready to start sorting through the roster, the rotation, what worked, what didn’t and what comes next.

Six months of watching this team every day is about to stop all at once, and as ready as I am to turn the page, I know I am going to miss watching these guys play when suddenly there is no game to turn on.

Before that happens, it would be nice to see the Rockies close the season on a positive note against a quality opponent. The playoff-bound White Sox still have something to play for, entering the weekend just one game behind Cleveland in the AL Central.

Tomoyuki Sugano gets the first chance to help make that happen tonight, probably for the final time as a Rockie.

Sugano enters 12-11 with a 5.36 ERA over 147.2 innings. A win tonight would give him 13, making him the first Rockies pitcher to win 13 or more games in a season since 2018, when Kyle Freeland won 17 and Germán Márquez won 14.

The second half has been difficult, but Sugano is coming off one of his better recent starts after holding Seattle to one run on one hit over five innings with five strikeouts.

Recently, the biggest issue has been avoiding the big inning.

Sugano has shown he can still navigate a lineup when he keeps the damage contained, but several starts have gotten away from him quickly when mistakes begin stacking together.

He continues to work with a deep seven-pitch mix led by his split-finger, four-seam fastball and sinker, with a sweeper, cutter, slider and curveball mixed in. The splitter remains his best bat-missing pitch.

Sean Burke will make his final regular-season start for Chicago after putting together a strong year.

The right-hander enters 10-7 with a 3.40 ERA, 178 strikeouts and a 1.20 WHIP over 167 innings. Burke leads with a four-seam fastball around 95 mph and pairs it with a knuckle curve around 79 mph, creating a sizeable velocity gap. He fills the space between with a slider and cutter while also mixing in a sinker. The changeup is barely used at all.

The exact combination changes with handedness. Lefties see more four-seamers and curveballs, while the slider becomes a bigger part of the plan against righties. Left-handed hitters have produced a .233/.305/.405 line against Burke, compared with .217/.302/.339 for righties.

Burke doesn’t have pinpoint command and can give up some hard contact in the air, but he has enough stuff to miss bats. He has also pitched well down the stretch outside of one ugly start in Pittsburgh. In his other three September outings, Burke has allowed just one earned run over 16.2 innings.

On offense, there are a few milestones worth tracking over the final weekend. Hunter Goodman is sitting on 39 home runs, one away from 40, while T.J. Rumfield is batting .297 with a chance to finish his first major-league season at .300. Jake McCarthy is also two triples shy of 15, which would give him at least 15 doubles, 15 triples, 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases on the year.

So, can Sugano avoid the big inning and pick up win No. 13 while the Rockies find a way through Burke and open their final weekend with a win?

The details…

First pitch: 5:40 p.m. MDT

TV: Rockies.TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

White Sox SB Nation:South Side Sox

Lineups:


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GameThread: Detroit Tigers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 6:40 p.m.

Detroit Tigers designated hitter Kerry Carpenter (30) bats against Athletics during the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co

Detroit Tigers (74-85) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (81-78)

Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park
SB Nation Site:Bucs Dugout
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Jackson Jobe (2-3, 3.98 ERA) vs. RHP Bubba Chandler (8-9, 4.34 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Jobe840.225.08.146.84.550.3
Chandler30151.121.011.638.94.212.0

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Reds @ Jays Game Thread

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 16: A general view of Toronto Blue Jays batting gear prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jon Blacker/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Game One of the last series of the season.

Not surprisingly, there was a roster move: CJ Van Eyk was optioned to Buffalo and John Klein has been recalled. So we only have two more days of roster moves let.

And Vlad apologized for his comment. People that are mad about it all aren’t going to care about the apology.



Anyway, today’s lineup. As Dan has said, George Springer will likely play in the outfield on Sunday so that John can take him out of the game to allow the fans to give Springer a well deserved ovation. That doesn’t mean he shouldn’t get an ovation in every at bat.

Today’s Lineups

REDSBLUE JAYS
Carlos Jorge – CFCharles McAdoo – 2B
Elly De La Cruz – DHAlejandro Kirk – C
Sal Stewart – 1BVladimir Guerrero – 1B
JJ Bleday – LFGeorge Springer – DH
Eugenio Suarez – 3BKazuma Okamoto – 3B
Hector Rodriguez – RFNathan Lukes – RF
Juan Brito – 2BDavis Schneider – LF
Jose Trevino – CErnie Clement – SS
Oswaldo Cabrera – SSMyles Straw – CF
Nick Lodolo – LHPJose Soriano – RHP

Joey Votto is just a good guy.

Braves vs. Marlins chat and discussion: Ray Kerr vs. Eury Pérez

Sep 24, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) rounds third base on his way to score a run against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With 159 games down, there are just three left in the Atlanta Braves’ 2026 regular season.

Those final three will be played at Miami, starting Friday at 7:10 p.m. EDT, before the Braves return to Truist Park to host a best-of-three wild-card series against a TBD team starting next Tuesday.

But first, Atlanta has a three-game set against the Marlins which has minimal stakes with the Braves locked into the No. 3 seed in the National League. The Braves are kicking off their time in South Florida with a bullpen game started by left-hander Ray Kerr.

Let’s all enjoy some rare innings of (relatively) stress-free baseball this weekend before the impending dread that is postseason baseball descends next week.

Game Info

Preview

Lineups

Postseason outlook

Game Discussion: Milwaukee Brewers (100-59) vs St. Louis Cardinals (77-82)

Milwaukee Brewers
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Robert Gasser #54 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 19, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

When the Milwaukee Brewers were last at American Family Field, they still had not yet clinched the NL Central. Today, they return back home, not only division champions for the fourth consecutive year, but they also clinched a bye to the NLDS, clinched the best record in all of baseball and clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs, including the World Series.

There is, quite literally, nothing left to play for in the standings. Whether the Brewers win or lose, it will have no bearing on the outcome of the regular season or what their postseason path would look like.

However, that doesn’t mean these games aren’t important. Mentally, it’s important for the Brewers to keep their foot on the gas and stay locked in, because if they lose that focus, it can be extremely difficult to get it again in the postseason.

The St. Louis Cardinals, meanwhile, have nothing to play for but pride. The Cardinals are going to have a losing season regardless, as they already have 82 losses on the season. They are essentially locked into a 4th place finish in the division.

There were a slew of roster moves from the Brewers prior to the game. Bryse Wilson was reinstated from the injured list with Lyon Richardson being designated for assignment to make room. Also Andrew Vaughn was placed on the 10-day IL with an illness. Outfielder Brandon Lockridge was recalled from Triple-A to take his roster spot.

The Brewers will have Robert Gasser on the mound as he makes his last push for a postseason rotation job. Gasser massively helped his cause his last time out against Baltimore, throwing seven shutout innings en route to a 1-0 victory. If Gasser can continue to climb that trust tree, he could very easily be in play to start Game 3 of the NLDS.

“Gas[ser] has been confident. He’s starting to understand his stuff and how it works…and he’s taking that step, when you see the confidence and then you see the consistency, that’s what fires you up.” Pat Murphy said.

The Cardinals will have right-hander Michael McGreevy on the mound. McGreevy has had a solid season, making 30 starts for St. Louis with a 3.84 ERA.

The lineup going against McGreevy tonight will have Garrett Mitchell, Brice Turang, and William Contreras atop the order. Jake Bauers, Christian Yelich, and Joey Ortiz form the middle of the order with Ortiz holding down shortstop. Cooper Pratt is sitting today because he’s “not feeling well”, per Pat Murphy. Luis Lara, Sal Frelick, and David Hamilton round out the bottom of the order. Lara is in right field while Frelick is in left field. Jackson Chourio is sitting once again today, but will likely be the first man off the bench. Murphy is trying to strategically give a few of his starters rest days here and Chourio is one of them.

The Cardinals lineup against Gasser will have JJ Wetherholt, Ivan Herrera, and Jordan Walker leading things off. Leo Bernal, Jose Fermin, and Thomas Saggese form the middle of the order. Then Masyn Winn, Pedro Pages, and Victor Scott II round out the bottom of the lineup.

There’s nothing left to clinch, but the Brewers still have to play their way and are looking to finish off the regular season on a high note.

Former Maple Leafs Forward Alex Nylander Turns PTO With Flames Into NHL Contract

The Calgary Flames have signed Alex Nylander to a two-way NHL contract for the 2026-27 season. After bringing in the Swede on a PTO, the Flames are making a one-year, $850,000 commitment to him.

Alex Nylander, brother of William, was in the Toronto Maple Leafs' organization for the last two years.

For 2024-25, he signed a one-year contract at $775,000 with the Maple Leafs, and one year later signed an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies. The majority of those two campaigns were spent in the minors, playing a total of 129 regular-season games for the Marlies.

Last year, Nylander scored 24 goals and 53 points in 65 appearances and went on to win the Calder Cup with Toronto later in the year. In terms of production, that was his best season in professional hockey.

Report: Maple Leafs Are Among Interested Teams In Blue Jackets' Kirill MarchenkoReport: Maple Leafs Are Among Interested Teams In Blue Jackets' Kirill MarchenkoA recent report indicates that the Toronto Maple Leafs could be involved in the list of many teams that are making an effort to acquire Columbus Blue Jackets right winger Kirill Marchenko.

In the NHL with the Maple Leafs in that span, Nylander featured in just five regular-season outings, recording four penalty minutes, a minus-one rating and averaging 9:53 of ice time.

Outside of the Maple Leafs, Nylander was also a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres, drafted by the latter as the eighth overall pick in 2016.

In total, the 28-year-old has played 126 NHL games, scoring 25 goals and 49 points. In the AHL, he's made 459 regular-season appearances, registering 141 goals and 307 points in his career.

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Washington Nationals vs New York Mets Game Thread

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 23: Blake Butera #10 of the Washington Nationals receives a at on the shoulder from pitcher Will Dion #76 as he leaves the game during the seventh inning at Comerica Park on September 23, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The end is truly near now. It is time for the final series of the season. The Nats square off against the Mets this weekend for their last games of 2026. With one more win, the Nats will secure not being in last place. This should be a fun series to watch.

James Wood will be the DH for the Nats in this one. That means the outfield will consist of Daylen Lile, Jacob Young and Dylan Crews. CJ Abrams is at shortstop, meaning Jorbit Vivas will be playing second base and Brady House is at third. Keibert Ruiz is behind the dish tonight. Andrew Alvarez has been pitching well, but hopefully he can finally be rewarded with a win tonight. 

The Nats have rarely seen Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto in the lineup at the same time this season. That will change tonight though. The two stars are at the top of the Mets order. Ironically, this is the healthiest the Mets have been in a while. We will see a newer face in Christopher Morel at the bottom of the order. The eccentric Jefry Yan will be the opener for New York.

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Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 6:45 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

This has been a step forward season for the Nats, who now have 75 wins. With one more, they will avoid last place, which I think is a big deal. Even with just three games left, there is plenty to play for in DC. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!