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Series Preview: Milwaukee Brewers @ Pittsburgh Pirates

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 06: Dustin May #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning at American Family Field on August 06, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Milwaukee Brewers are set to conclude their stretch of consecutive NL Central opponents this week, as they’ll visit the Pittsburgh Pirates for three games to begin a nine-game road trip. The Crew has faced the Cubs for seven games and the Reds for six games over the last two weeks, going 8-5 over the stretch to clinch a playoff spot and all but put the NL Central away. On the other side, the Pirates have been playing well and are back to .500 on the season, as they won five consecutive series before dropping two of three to the Cubs over the weekend. Pittsburgh currently has the edge in the season series at 6-4, including a three-game sweep in their only series at PNC Park.

All of Milwaukee’s current injuries are on the mound, as they’re without relievers Rob Zastryzny (on rehab assignment), Grant Anderson (mid to late September), Bryse Wilson (mid-September), Brian Fitzpatrick (out for season), and Angel Zerpa (out for season). Starters Quinn Priester (out for season) and Brandon Woodruff (may return for postseason) are also shelved.

The Pirates just lost slugger Esmerlyn Valdez, who exited over the weekend with a hamstring strain that’s expected to keep him out the rest of the season. Catcher/first baseman Endy Rodríguez is also done for the year, as is right-hander Mitch Keller. Pitchers Kirby Yates, Braxton Ashcraft, and Isaac Mattson are all listed as late September returns after going on the IL in the last couple of weeks.

Jake Bauers leads the Brewer offense with 26 homers in what has been a career-year for him. Jackson Chourio is also raking, with 23 homers, 17 steals, and a .292 batting average, while Brice Turang, William Contreras, and Garrett Mitchell are also coming off a solid homestand. Joey Ortiz continues to surprise after a very rough first two months of the season, and Christian Yelich, Gary Sánchez, Andrew Vaughn, Sal Frelick, Cooper Pratt, Luis Lara, and David Hamilton have all contributed at various points this season. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .259/.341/.406 (.747 OPS ranks fourth), with 146 homers (28th), 778 runs scored (second), and 144 steals (fifth).

Brandon Lowe leads Pittsburgh with 29 homers and 85 RBIs this year, adding 28 doubles. Oneil Cruz and Ryan O’Hearn both have 18 homers, and Cruz is closing in on 30 steals with 27 thus far. Bryan Reynolds also has 17 homers and a team-high 36 doubles. Henry Davis starts behind the plate, with Rafael Flores Jr. sharing duties, while Spencer Horwtiz, Nick Gonzales, rookie Konnor Griffin, Jared Triolo, and Jake Mangum are among the other regulars. Ronny Simon, Billy Cook, and Jacob Gonzalez round out the squad. As a team, the Pirates are hitting .253/.330/.401 (.731 OPS ranks seventh), with 170 homers (17th), 718 runs scored (fifth), and 126 steals (eighth).

Milwaukee’s bullpen is led by Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, and Aaron Ashby, with Chad Patrick and DL Hall also taking some of the medium- to high-leverage innings. JoJo Romero has been good, not great, while Antonio Senzatela has been not so good, and Garrett Stallings, who was called up again last weekend, has yet to allow a run in 11 major league innings. Kyle Harrison has also seemingly been moved to the bullpen, though he’s been roughed up in the worst way over his last few appearances. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.57 team ERA (second), including a 3.63 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.50 bullpen ERA (fifth). They’ve struck out 1,433 batters (second) over 1,339 2/3 innings.

Mason Montgomery has seemingly taken over the closer role for Pittsburgh, as he now has 13 saves and a 2.73 ERA over 62 2/3 innings. Yohan Ramírez, Gregory Soto (who still leads the team with 14 saves), and Luke Weaver also play key roles. Camilo Doval, Wilber Dotel, and Brandon Eisert fit somewhere in the middle, while Lake Bachar has been one of the better deadline pickups with a 2.61 ERA over 20 2/3 innings in 10 appearances (five “starts”). Speaking of “starts,” after the injury to Ashcraft, the Pirates don’t really have a clear five-man rotation — instead, Khristian Curtis and Carmen Mlodzinski have functioned more as innings eaters than typical one-inning relievers. Antwone Kelly rounds out the group. As a staff, the Pirates have a 4.18 ERA (15th), including a 4.23 starter ERA (17th) and a 4.11 bullpen ERA (17th). They’ve struck out 1,369 batters (fifth) over 1,338 1/3 innings.

Probable Pitchers

Tuesday, September 15 @ 5:40 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (14-5, 1.95 ERA, 2.24 FIP) vs. TBD

Misiorowski is looking to close out his NL Cy Young candidacy with at least two (likely three) more outings over the next two weeks. Through 27 starts this year, Miz is 14-5 with a 1.95 ERA, 2.24 FIP, and 236 strikeouts over 161 1/3 innings. He went 6 1/3 innings against the Cubs in his last outing, allowing one run on four hits and two walks, striking out nine as the Brewers would go on to win in extra innings. Misiorowski has made three career starts against Pittsburgh, going 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA and 25 strikeouts over 18 frames. That includes a six-inning no-decision with three runs allowed and nine strikeouts back in April of this season.

With Ashcraft and Keller both shelved and no other clear starters, the Pirates have been deploying Lake Bachar as an opener with some combination of Khristian Curtis and Carmen Mlodzinski eating most of the innings. Assuming Bachar gets the start here, I’d expect Curtis and/or Mlodzinski to pitch in relief, with the other likely to start in Thursday’s series finale.

Wednesday, September 16 @ 5:40 p.m.: RHP Logan Henderson (10-3, 2.34 ERA, 3.17 FIP) vs. RHP Jared Jones (4-6, 4.10 ERA, 3.71 FIP)

Henderson continues to turn in strong results in his first full season. He’s made 16 starts this year, with a 10-3 record, 2.34 ERA, 3.17 FIP, and 99 strikeouts across 88 1/3 innings, and he’s allowed three or fewer runs in all 16 appearances. He went five innings against the Cubs his last time out, allowing just an unearned run on two hits and a walk, striking out six to pick up the win. Henderson has made two starts against the Pirates, totaling 11 innings with a 2.45 ERA and 14 strikeouts. That includes a win in early August, when he went six frames with two runs allowed and eight strikeouts.

Jones, 25, has great stuff on the mound but hasn’t quite been able to put it together yet. He’s made 18 starts this year, with a 4.10 ERA, 3.71 FIP, and 100 strikeouts over 85 2/3 innings. He’s coming off back-to-back great starts, though, as he’s earned the win in both games, totaling 13 innings with no runs allowed on four hits and three walks, striking out 17 against the Angels and White Sox. Jones is 1-1 in two starts against Milwaukee, as he allowed one run and struck out seven over six innings in 2024 but took the loss in August of this year (in the same game that Henderson won), allowing three runs and striking out four over four innings.

Thursday, September 17 @ 11:35 a.m.: RHP Dustin May (7-9, 4.49 ERA, 3.43 FIP) vs. TBD

May is coming off one of his better starts since joining the Brewers, as he went six strong innings, allowing no runs on two hits and a walk while striking out six in Milwaukee’s 20-0 blowout victory over the Reds. Across seven starts with Milwaukee, he’s now 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA, 4.47 FIP, and 27 strikeouts over 29 1/3 innings. May picked up a win against Pittsburgh in his Brewers’ debut back in early August, going six innings with two runs allowed and five strikeouts. For his career, he’s 1-2 with a 5.56 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings against the Pirates.

See Tuesday’s probable pitching matchup above for more information on the Pirates’ likely plan.

How to Watch & Listen

Tuesday, September 15: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Wednesday, September 16: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Thursday, September 17: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Prediction

The Brewers are on the verge of clinching the division, while the Pirates are still trying to keep themselves in the playoff picture, even if the odds are very slim. I think that will make this a more interesting series than one might expect but still give me Milwaukee to win two of three.

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Analyzing the Brody Hopkins debut

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 13: Brody Hopkins #88 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on during the game between the Houston Astros and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Sunday, September 13, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Alex Zadorozny/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Rays pitching prospect made his Major League debut this weekend against the Astros. His stuff was electric and his command was better than expected. He could be an impact reliever during the final two weeks of the regular season and into October.

It’s not a hyperbole to say that Hopkins has the best stuff in professional baseball.

It starts with a very low, sub five-foot release height with plus extension that makes his 100mph fastball get on hitters even faster than the radar gun suggests. It gets significantly more vertical movement that expected from his slot, making it a pitch that plays best up in and above the zone – although the release traits and sheer velocity make it something that will be effective anywhere in the zone.

Hopkins pairs that with a mid-90s cutting fastball that can miss bats when located up and induce weak contact when located down. His best pitch though is his upper 80s breaking ball. It has a steep break and drops more than other breaking balls from a similar slot and velocity. There really isn’t a 1-for-1 comp for that pitch. Hopkins hasn’t thrown any in the majors yet, but Hopkins also throws a pair of plus secondaries. He has a low-90s offspeed pitch that he gets plus separation off his fastball, and an upper-80s slider with a two-plane shape.

The area for Hopkins remains his command. He has a relatively low training age as he didn’t start pitching full time until he became a professional in 2024, so he is likely to be a slow-burn type of developer in his command. This, coupled with having to adjust to a new baseball this season in Triple-A, gave him some struggles early on.

His command improved following a mechanical adjustment in June, and his zone and strike rates steadily improved as the year went on. But there wasn’t room for Hopkins in the Major League rotation. They began to shorten him up to a relief role in mid-August, and he has taken to it well.

Fast forward to yesterday, and Hopkins looked solid with his command in his Major League debut:

He had an above-average strike rate in that outing, and the homerun he allowed was really just a great piece of hitting from Isaac Paredes to turn on triple-digits at the very top of the zone up and in. He zoned two pitches at 50% as well, so hitters couldn’t be passive at the plate. Hopkins continues to command the ball a little bit better every time he takes the mound.

In the bullpen, his command has looked closer to average than the 30-grade command he was showing previously this season.

Hopkins honestly looks more like how he did at Double-A Montgomery in 2025.

It appears that he’s adjusting well to the AAA/Major League baseball. His arsenal has been simplified a bit – relying less on his offspeed pitch and leaning more into his fastballs and outlier breaking ball. Hopkins could still work as a starter in the future with a smaller arsenal because all three of those pitches grade as elite or close to it.

Hopkins will certainly have an opportunity to work as a starter beyond this season, but he’ll have a chance to impact games in relief as the Rays look to make some noise in the Postseason.

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Dodgers left-hander Kris Bubic set to join team in Cincinnati

Kansas City's Kris Bubic delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox on May 14 in Chicago.
Kris Bubic, who the Dodgers acquired at the trade deadline from the Kansas City Royals, is joining the Dodgers in Cincinnati. (Jayden Mack / Getty Images)

Dodgers left-handed pitcher Kris Bubic is scheduled to meet the team in Cincinnati, according to people with knowledge of the plans who weren’t authorized to discuss it publicly.

Bubic made his last rehab appearance for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, so the Dodgers are not expected to activate him off the 60-day injured list right away.

The Dodgers acquired Bubic from the Royals at the trade deadline this year. He’d been on the IL since May, first with a low-grade flexor strain in his left forearm, and then a shoulder impingement setback.

Bubic reported to the Dodgers’ Arizona complex, where the 2025 All-Star began working back as a reliever due to the time constraints of the season.

In six Triple-A rehab appearances (5 2/3 Innings) this month, Bubic didn’t allow a run, and he limited opponents to two hits and two walks.

Because Bubic is on the 60-day IL, the Dodgers will need to clear spots on the active and 40-man rosters to reinstate him.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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What top pick Ivar Stenberg's 2026 Rookie Faceoff performance means for Sharks

What top pick Ivar Stenberg's 2026 Rookie Faceoff performance means for Sharks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It’s always hard to use the Rookie Faceoff as a measuring stick for immediate NHL impact.

The difference in the level of competition — the Rookie Faceoff might be between NCAA-to-AHL caliber? — is just too wide.

So what’s that mean for top Sharks prospect Ivar Stenberg? Can he help the big club this year? San Jose Hockey Now spoke with multiple NHL scouts about their impressions of Stenberg at the Rookie Faceoff.

The No. 2 overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft had two goals in the games, both in an 8-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

San Jose Barracuda head coach John McCarthy offered a smart yardstick.

Last Rookie Faceoff, Collin Graf was something of a surprise inclusion of the Sharks roster, after a successful rookie campaign split between the NHL and AHL.

How did Graf use the rookie tournament as a runway to a breakout 21-goal campaign with the Sharks?

“He was the best player in the tournament,” McCarthy said. “He took advantage of it. He came in with the right attitude and wanted to show everybody that he was the best player on the ice, and it worked.”

Granted, last September, Graf was five years older than Stenberg is now, with a lot more North American pro experience.

Nonetheless, that’s a good barometer for any prospect in a tournament like this, and not getting ahead of ourselves about what the Rookie Faceoff means: They should dominate a tournament like this.

For what it’s worth, Macklin Celebrini did the same in 2024.

“I thought Macklin was uber-competitive,” McCarthy said then. “I re-watched the game [he played], every loose puck, he’s inside, he’s winning.”

And while Stenberg did not overwhelm scouts, he did impress them.

“Obvious skill,” Scout No. 1 said. “Probably tried to do too much at times, but the games were so sloppy.”

“I thought he looked really good,” Scout No. 2 said. “Made a lot of plays.”

“He’s young,” Scout No. 3 said, and not as a compliment.

The 5-foot-11 winger definitely held the puck for too long and tried plays that weren’t there, I think normal for a youthful player getting used to the small North American rink. He did show a defensive conscience, which bodes well for him to earn minutes as a rookie.

The question is how Stenberg processes all that for his next test, an NHL preseason. Sharks training camp opens on Sept. 17. He’ll need to pick up his pace if he wants to keep up with the fastest league in the world.

Stenberg showed enough in the Rookie Faceoff that the rest of the league wants to see what he’s got against a bigger challenge.

“Excited to see him in an NHL environment,” Scout No. 1 said.

“Will do better with better players,” Scout No. 2 said. “He should be ready to play this season.”

Stenberg’s biggest challenge could be a much deeper Sharks roster with bigger things in mind than their eighth straight NHL draft lottery appearance.

“I’m not sure if he gets the same opportunity and leash as Smith and Misa got their first year,” Scout No. 1 said.

2023 No. 4 pick Will Smith and 2025 No. 2 pick Michael Misa were afforded more NHL playing time in their respective rookie campaigns, in part because the Sharks weren’t expected to make the playoffs.

These Sharks, after adding expensive veterans Darnell Nurse, Jacob Trouba and Mason Marchment over the summer, are expecting to return to the postseason.

They’re also stocked with offense at wing, headlined by Smith, Marchment, Graf, Igor Chernyshov, Kiefer Sherwood, Tyler Toffoli and Adam Gaudette.

“Team is deeper and they’re going to be looking to take the next step,” Scout No. 1 said. “Not as easy to develop on the fly at the NHL level, when playoffs are the priority.”

No scouts were willing to commit to Stenberg surpassing 50 points during the 2026-27 NHL season.

“Hard to say on points,” Scout No. 2 said. “Depending on where they fit him. They do have depth, so no need to rush him.”

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast

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Why Knicks' OG Anunoby is poised to level up during 2026-27 season

As the Knicks look to repeat for a championship, the club has a good chance at having three All-Stars during the 2026-27 season. 

Jalen Brunson andKarl-Anthony Townsare the two obvious names, with both players having made the All-Star team each of the last three seasons. Looking to join them this season is OG Anunoby. 

Entering his 10th NBA season, Anunoby has proven to be one of the more valuable players in the NBA, but he has very little to show for it when it comes to awards -- with Anunoby having only two NBA All-Defensive team appearances for his career accomplishments.

Anunoby was phenomenal during New York’s championship run, with the 6-foot-7 forward averaging 20.1 points throughout the playoffs. In the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Anunoby rose to the occasion, becoming a franchise legend. 

Anunoby’s tip-in that essentially won the Knicks Game 4 is one of the biggest plays in league history. That moment makes it easy to forget his game-saving block of Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox the play before. The two moments were a microcosm of the Knicks' "demon," as Josh Hart calls him. Anunoby can impact the game on both sides of the floor, and is one of the best defenders in the NBA -- both in one-on-one situations and help scenarios.

During the Finals, Anunoby was arguably New York’s most important contributor. In five games, he was second in scoring (21.2 points) and converted 16 of 32 threes. The playoff performance highlighted Anunoby’s value to the Knicks. With that added attention, there will be more awareness of how much Anunoby contributes to New York’s success going into this season. 

Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard De'aaron Fox (4) shoots against New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) in the fourth quarter during game four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.
Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard De'aaron Fox (4) shoots against New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) in the fourth quarter during game four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. / Geoff Burke - Imagn Images

Non-traditional star

There are a few factors that have worked against Anunoby. He’s never been one to post eye-popping numbers. Anunoby averaged a career-high 18.0 points during the 2025-26 season, but he’s not known as a high-scoring contributor, averaging a combined 16.7 points over the last six seasons with the Knicks and Toronto Raptors. Anunoby is also not a traditional scorer since he’s not attacking off the dribble much. Of the forward’s shot attempts in the postseason, 40.9 percent came without a dribble, per NBA Stats.

Another reason is the Knicks have never had a dominant regular season. Most teams that have produced more than two All-Stars in a season in the modern era have posted dominant records.

New York has won at least 50 games all of the last three seasons, but all three campaigns were in the low-50s. Even the 53-29 mark from the championship season was low for the traditional standard of a title winner. If New York can be a top-three seed and play at a 55-plus win pace, that would help Anunoby’s case.

Luck will also be a factor, since injuries could have an impact either as a positive or a negative. Meanwhile, Anunoby’s role could level up this season after the Knicks discovered alternative styles of play in the postseason. Towns was unlocked as a playmaker, averaging 4.9 assists during the playoffs.

Anunoby’s ability to cut to the basket or spot up from the corner three makes him likely to benefit from more ball movement and have extra scoring opportunities. Also, Brunson is recovering from offseason wrist surgery. While he might not miss games, New York could manage the captain’s minutes throughout the season with an eye toward another playoff run. That might open up more shot attempts across the roster.

If the Knicks have a top record and Anunoby continues his steady production, there’s a very good chance at him earning a well-deserved spot on the All-Star team.

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Dillon Brooks hosts basketball camp in Mesa

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Dillon Brooks attends Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Nearly 300 kids showed up Saturday to watch Dillon Brooks set up layup drills at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa.

This wasn’t a random appearance or a half-hearted community obligation. Suns veteran Dillon Brooks rolled straight from a media availability into on-court work with kids who came because they believe in what he’s building in Phoenix, and look up to him.

One of the instructors nailed it. With Brooks involved, “it just brings more people out.” That’s what star credibility does in a market. Kids show up. Parents pay attention. The Suns organization gets community penetration without forcing it.

READ: Suns’ Dillon Brooks says youth camp focuses on mental wellness, hoops

This matters because Brooks just signed a three-year, $73 million extension that locks him in Phoenix through 2029-30. That contract is a statement that Phoenix is investing in Brooks long-term, and this camp is a glimpse of proof that he is returning the favor.

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 1: Collin Gillespie #12 and Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns talk to the media after the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 1, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Brooks is one of the most misunderstood players in the league, with the narrative centered on who he is on the court. As a person, you hear nothing but great things from every organization he’s been a part of.

Brooks recently returned from China, where he trained kung fu and worked with UFC fighters because, of course, he did.

This is a man committed to attacking his physical and mental ceiling. But what he emphasized at the camp tells you his real priority: mental wellness alongside basketball fundamentals. He talked directly about teaching kids early that their mental game controls everything, then connecting that to nutrition, body care, and stretch routines.

There are plenty of young Suns fans who look up to Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks in this community, so it’s always great to see players get involved and make a difference. More of this stuff as the headliners, please!

I wonder if he did his patented pre-game staredown at the camp. Will investigate more on this matter.

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MLB Mid-September Check-in: AL West

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Jeremy Peña #3 of the Houston Astros celebrates with Cam Smith #11 after the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Astros defeated the Phillies 2-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Every day, Pinstripe Alley offers updates on what the Yankees’ top American League opponents are up to through the Rivalry Roundup. The AL East is well-trodden ground there, but with the final month of the season just ahead, we’re going to take a peek around MLB as a whole and check in with each of the other five divisions. Who’s surprising? Who’s underwhelming? Who’s simply mediocre at the moment? Read on and find out.

First Place: Houston Astros (75-75)

Top Position Player: Yordan Alvarez (5.8 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Peter Lambert (2.4 fWAR)

Much like a panicked squashed cockroach in a muggy South Texas roadside motel, the Astros currently find themselves right at .500 but somehow leading the division. What I mean is they’re barely alive, but still living their dream in a division that is a trashcan. 

The rest of the way the Astros start with four games at home versus lowly Kansas City and then welcome the NL East leading Braves to Space City for a three game set. Houston then finishes the year with two games in Seattle before finishing the season with a four-game set with the Athletics. 

Houston might very well walk away from what should be a disappointing season in terms of record with a division crown, triple-crown winner, and possible MVP. Why the baseball Gods feel inclined to continue to bless this abomination of a ball club is beyond me.

Second Place: Texas Rangers (74-76, 1 GB)

Top Position Player: Ezequiel Durán (4.7 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Jacob deGrom (4.1 fWAR)

The other Texas team came into the month with a chance to run down their instate foes but have not done anything to make it easier on themselves after starting September 5-6. The odds makers currently have the Rangers’ playoffs chances around 30 percent. And it might just be recency bias, but the Rangers seem like the hottest team out west with their current two-game win streak.

The Rangers’ next game kicks off a nine game homestand. The Red Sox are the first team to come to town, followed by the Blue Jays, and then the Mets crash the party. All three series are three games apiece. The Rangers then close the season in Minnesota with another three game set against the Twins.

Not having a single game left against the AL West hurts the Rangers chances to run down the Astros. Another Texas-sized problem for the Rangers is the fact their lone star neighbors hold the tiebreaker so they are really an additional game back in the standings. With 12 games left to go will the Rangers be able to free the world from having to watch the Astros in the playoffs?

Third Place: Seattle Mariners (70-80, 5 GB)

Top Position Player: Randy Arozarena (4.3 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Bryan Woo (3.7 fWAR)

While I would say the Tigers have to hold the torch for the most disappointing team in 2026, the Mariners might be the challenger for that top spot. Seattle’s sky high expectations are all but sleepless at this point, unless they find some magic and get some help.

In order to reach the .500 mark, that might be all that is needed to win the west, the Mariners would need to be near perfect. They honestly have the schedule to pull it off, but it is hard to sweep teams. Starting today the Mariners are in LA for three games against the Angels, then shoot over to Denver to face the punching bag of a club in the Rockies for three games. Seattle returns home for the final six, with two against the Astros, before getting the Angels for the last four games of the season. 

The Mariners have already clinched the tiebreaker versus the Astros on the season. It is very unlikely, but having the tiebreaker is huge and if the Astros slip the Mariners very well could be the team that squeaks their way into the division crown. 

Fourth Place: The Athletics (61-89, eliminated)

Top Position Player: Nick Kurtz (2.6 fWAR)
Top Pitchers: J.T. Ginn (1.7 fWAR)

The team formerly from Oakland always comes into the season looking at true two outcomes. They either surprise and find themselves at the top of the division with players to be traded later, or they bottom out like they did this season. The Athletics have one more year before relocating to Vegas.

On a Yankees note, the Athletics are our second favorite team this week as they face the Rays starting on Tuesday for a three game set in the Trop. It might be a bad bet, but maybe the Athletics will be able to channel ghosts of decades past and take one or two games before leaving Florida. 

Last Place: Los Angeles Angels (56-93, eliminated)

Top Position Players: Mike Trout and Zach Neto (3.3 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Reid Detmers (4.4 fWAR)

The Angels might finally, ironically, have a light at the end of the tunnel as they will be under new ownership after the 2026 season. Change cannot come fast enough for the team battling the Rockies for the league’s worst record.

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Hopeless: Mariners at Angels Series Preview

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 11: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates with Wade Meckler #53 after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Floating on a river, gazing at the heavens, you’re liable to see neither the hearts of the Anaheim Angels nor the spirits of the Seattle Mariners. Sacramento offered two of the season’s most gutting, but representative losses, and Seattle’s California carousel of hell continues in Disneyland. They’ll take on the team owned no longer by Arte Moreno for the first time in more than two decades.

GameTimeMariners StarterAngels StarterMariners Win%Angels Win%
Game 1Monday, September 14 | 6:38 pmLHP Kade AndersonLHP Reid Detmers46.9%53.1%
Game 2Tuesday, September 15 | 6:38 pmRHP Logan GilbertRHP Ryan Johnson58.0%42.0%
Game 3Wednesday, September 16 | 6:38 pmRHP George KirbyLHP Yusei Kikuchi52.8%47.2%
*Game odds courtesy of FanGraphs
OverviewMarinersAngelsEdge
Batting (wRC+)102 (6th in AL)92 (15th in AL)Mariners
Fielding (FRV)-45 (15th)-30 (13th)Angels
Starting Pitching (FIP-)100 (8th)101 (9th)Mariners
Bullpen (FIP-)104 (10th)97 (7th)Angels

The Angels are a moribund bunch, but they are in many ways what Seattle would look like if the M’s couldn’t hit. Like, really couldn’t hit. They are an atrocious defensive team (hark, the vantablack kettle) that strikes out a boatload, undermining what’s actually a decent pitching staff. Deadline deals chipped away at that pitching staff and lineup, moving Jo Adell and Jose Soriano among others. While they dealt some arms away from their bullpen, flamethrower Ben Joyce is healthy after missing half the year and working his way into high leverage.

PlayerPositionBatsPAK%BB%ISOwRC+
Zach NetoSSR64430.6%8.7%0.200113
Mike TroutCFR57926.3%16.2%0.186129
Wade MecklerLFL28219.1%10.3%0.092119
Vaughn Grissom1BR41818.9%6.5%0.14493
Moisés BallesterosCL30823.1%8.4%0.13377
Denzer Guzman3BR25226.6%5.2%0.12871
Josh LoweDHL30829.2%8.1%0.14875
Jose SiriRFR21332.4%6.1%0.17187
Christian Moore2BR10429.8%6.7%0.08441

Anaheim has a couple familiar faces up top in Zach Neto and Mike Trout, but not many. They’ve taken the back half of the year to wisely audition several young players, finding some promise in folks like Wade Meckler but still waiting on more elsewhere. Moises Ballesteros was a highly regarded prospect with the Cubs but has not found his swing yet since coming over in return for reliever Ryan Zeferjahn. There’s a few post-hype hopes here as well in Josh Lowe and Jose Siri, but hope has been their predominant currency. 

Probable Pitchers 

Updated Stuff+ Explainer 

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Reid Detmers16828.4%6.7%9.0%37.6%3.323.04
Kade Anderson2118.4%9.2%14.8%35.5%4.295.20
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam45.6%45.0%94.1102991030.312
Sinker0.5%2.6%93.5
Changeup12.6%1.0%83.81011201120.301
Curveball11.8%8.9%72.31011191180.303
Slider29.4%42.5%86.0110107950.215

From a previous series preview:

Last year, the Angels moved Reid Detmers to the bullpen and he wound up seeing some high leverage work by the end of the season. Perhaps it was out of frustration with his slow development path despite possessing above average stuff, but that experiment lasted one season because a talented starter — even an inconsistent one like Detmers — is always going to be more valuable than a back-end reliever. If there’s one thing that he’ll carry forward from his time in the ‘pen, it’s a more aggressive approach that leans heavily on his two fantastic breaking balls to put batters away.

Detmers has thrived in his return to the rotation this year, accumulating a career-high 4.4 fWAR with career-best marks in ERA and FIP. His strikeout rate is right in line with his career norms but the big reason he’s taken a big step forward is because he’s cut his walk rate by nearly three points and has dramatically reduced the amount of hard contact he has allowed. The last time he faced the Mariners, way back in early April, he held them scoreless over 6.2 innings with four strikeouts.

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Ryan Johnson84.117.4%10.7%14.6%34.5%5.125.91
Logan Gilbert17227.3%6.4%14.1%37.3%3.723.84
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Sinker22.4%17.3%92.38118730.511
Cutter37.7%37.8%89.610497830.336
Splitter8.3%30.4%84.774921430.243
Sweeper31.6%14.5%80.810692680.286

From a previous series preview:

Ryan Johnson is a perfect encapsulation of everything wrong with the Angels current player development philosophy. He was drafted in the second round in 2024 after dominating in college ball at Dallas Baptist. He made the Opening Day roster in 2025 as a reliever, skipping the minor leagues entirely. After a month and a half and a 7.36 ERA, the Angels pulled the plug and sent him to High-A to continue his development as a starter. He made 12 starts in the minors and looked really good. Fast forward a year and Johnson had a solid, but not outstanding, spring training and Los Angeles opted to start the season with Johnson on the big league roster again. After allowing six runs in his first start of the year, the Angels sent him back to the minors for a few months before recalling him for good in mid June. It’s really too bad because Johnson has a really intriguing profile, and obviously has some raw talent, but the games the Angels have played with his development pathway have really hurt his ability to grow.

Since the beginning of August, Johnson has enjoyed some solid results on the mound — he’s running a 2.11 ERA over his last seven starts — but his peripherals are just as bad as ever — his FIP is up at 5.43 during this stretch.

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Yusei Kikuchi5322.9%9.7%11.7%38.9%4.754.20
George Kirby165.119.9%5.6%11.2%43.9%4.253.85
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam40.7%41.4%95.7101961120.287
Cutter6.9%7.4%90.276
Splitter20.4%7.4%86.710594750.336
Curveball10.8%9.3%79.297861510.310
Slider21.1%34.4%87.393841100.361

Yusei Kikuchi missed nearly four months of the season with a shoulder injury. He returned to the majors towards the end of August and resumed his brand of effectively wild pitching. After a slight dip in velocity last year, his heater is back to averaging close to 96 mph. It’s the eighth hardest four-seamer from the left side among all starting pitchers this year. He continues to mix in a hard slider and a curveball as his primary secondary pitches, but he’s replaced his changeup with a true splitter and added a cutter this season. The split has been an excellent pitch but the cutter has been hit pretty hard.

The Big Picture:

TeamW-LW%Games BehindRun DiffRecent Form
Astros75-750.500—-53L-W-L-L-L
Rangers74-760.4931.0-44L-L-L-W-W
Mariners70-800.4675.0-58W-W-L-W-L
Athletics61-890.40714.0-203L-W-W-L-W
Angels56-930.37618.5-76W-W-L-L-L
TeamW-LW%Games BehindRun DiffRecent Form
Yankees86-630.577+10.5+125W-W-W-L-W
Red Sox82-680.547+6.0+88L-L-L-W-W
Guardians76-740.507—-7W-L-W-L-W
Blue Jays75-750.5001.0-31W-L-L-W-W
Rangers74-760.4932.0-44L-L-L-W-W

Academically, baseball continues elsewhere. Houston hosts Kansas City, because other teams get really mad if you flake on games you committed to a year ago that you never really thought would materialize until it’s this week. Texas hosts the Red Sox, the winner gets to keep the red, blue, and white color scheme for the rest of the year, the other has to wear a city connect of the opponent’s choosing. 

The White Sox face the Guardians and the Cubs take on Atlanta if you’d like to prioritize baseball from clubs who might respect your time better the rest of this year.

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Arizona Diamondbacks Series Preview #49 : Diamondbacks vs Marlins

Deyvison De Los Santos. (Photo by Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Wild Card Race.

As of Monday morning, the Marlins are 5 games back from the Diamondbacks in the NL Wild Card race.

The Diamondbacks have chances of winning a NL Wild Card. As of Monday morning, they were 2.5 games back from the third Wild Card. They need to win this series, and a sweep would be really nice.

The Obvious. Diamondbacks bats will live-like-kings in this series.  In September (through the 10th), the Marlins allowed an average of 7 runs per game.   

The Subtle. Although this season the Diamondbacks allowed an average of 4.41 runs per game (much less than 7), in 20% of their games they allowed 7 or more runs.

The Difference that Matters. Winning games is the difference that matters.

Royals Players to Watch.

Former Diamondback Deyvision De Los Santos at first base.  In 2022, he was a Dbacks minor league All-Star. In 2024, he was traded to the Marlins. This season is his MLB debut.  His OPS+ of 133 is outstanding, but his .444 BABIP suggests that his batting is not sustainable. He is a bench player and may not play in every game.

Pitching Matchups.

Announced Diamondbacks Pitchers:

Corbin Burnes.  His first game back he pitched three scoreless innings (2 hits and 2 walks).  His results were excellent!  With the caveat of only 9 batted balls (and zero ground balls), his underlying statistics tend to show he only pitched average (4.39 xERA, 3.79 FIP, 7.27 xFIP).  Nevertheless, I’m confident he will again have excellent results.

Michael Soroka.  His first game back he pitched 4 innings with 3 earned runs (3 hits and 1 walk).  With the caveat of 11 BIPs, his underlying statistics show that possibly he pitched better than each of Burnes and Gallen in their first game back (3.04 FIP, .319 xOBP, .407 xSLG).

Merrill Kelly. Two of his last three starts were quality starts. The non-quality start was 4.1 innings with only 1 eanred run, and the Diamondbacks won that game.

Anounced Marlins Starters:

Sandy Alcantara.  The Marlins lost the last six games that he was the starting pitcher.  That increased my confidence that the Diamondbacks will win this game.

Janson Junk.  In September, his 10.13 ERA (2 games) shows that the Diamondbacks will have chances to score runs.  Will they win this game?

Ryan Gusto. In June, he pitched well against the Diamondbacks (0 earned runs in 4 innings).  On the other hand, in his latest start against the Cubs, he allowed 5 earned runs in 4.2 innings.  Will he pitch with Gusto?

Game start times follow:

Monday, 6:40 PM MST.

Tuesday, 6:40 PM MST.

Wednesday, 6:40 PM MST.

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NBA veteran blames Kawhi Leonard for derailing career, demands $50 million payback

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Kawhi Leonard attends the Public School New York SS27 show at Starrett-Lehigh in New York City, Image 2 shows New York Knicks' Danillo Gallinari reacts after hitting a three-point shot to give the Knicks

Danilo Gallinari has sent Kawhi Leonard a bill for his career detour.

The total: $50 million.

The proposed recipient: charity.

New York Knicks’ Danillo Gallinari reacts during the third quarter of a game against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, February 2, 2011, at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

The supporting evidence is considerably less tidy.

Speaking on the “A Cresta Alta” podcast, Gallinari blamed Leonard for ending his Clippers tenure in 2019, when Los Angeles included him in the blockbuster trade that brought Paul George from Oklahoma City.

“He changed the trajectory of my career,” Gallinari said. “He should pay all $50 million, not just $700,000.”

The $700,000 refers to the fine Leonard received after the NBA determined that salary-cap rules had been violated through arrangements involving the Clippers. The franchise received a record $30 million fine, lost five first-round selections and watched owner Steve Ballmer receive a one-year suspension.

Gallinari’s attempt to connect that scandal to his own exit is stranger still. The cap case centered partly on a $28 million Aspiration endorsement agreement under which Leonard reportedly performed no promotional work—an arrangement made years after Gallinari had been traded.

Kawhi Leonard attends the Public School New York SS27 show at Starrett-Lehigh in New York City on Thursday, September 10, 2026. Madison McGaw/BFA.com/Shutterstock

Whatever the no-show scheme says about Leonard and the Clippers, it did not cost Gallinari his roster spot. Turning a later salary-cap violation into restitution for an earlier personnel decision requires combining two controversies that have little to do with each other.

This seems to be Gallinari’s preferred punishment for a player he believes wielded enough power to redirect his life. Leonard wanted another star before joining the Clippers, prompting the front office to acquire George in a mammoth package that also included Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, five first-round picks and two swaps.

There is something understandable beneath Gallinari’s grievance. Players routinely learn they have been traded after executives make cold calculations. Having another player effectively initiate the process might sting differently.

New York Knicks’ Danillo Gallinari reacts after hitting a three-point shot to give the Knicks the lead late in the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Calling the move responsible for Gallinari’s subsequent career, however, requires some imaginative accounting.

He averaged 18.7 points and 5.2 rebounds during his lone Thunder season, shot 40.6 percent from 3-point range and helped Oklahoma City reach the playoffs. He then signed a three-year, $61.4 million contract with Atlanta.

That is a strange definition of financial ruin.

Gallinari was also 31 during his Oklahoma City season. His eventual decline arrived at an age when most NBA careers begin bending downward, and only after he secured another enormous payday.

Leonard is hardly innocent in the Clippers scandal, but the cold reality of winning in modern sports is not another offense to add to his ledger.

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Giants-Cardinals Series Preview

Sep 27, 2020; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals fans celebrate across the street after The Cardinals defeated the Milwaukee Brewers and clinched a postseason spot at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

A lot has changed in a week! The Cardinals were longshots to sneak into the postseason but after getting swept by the San Francisco Giants, they’re effectively eliminated (just 5 games, per MLB.com). The Giants looked certain to be 100-game losers, but after the sweep, they need just 1 more win to avoid triple digit losses. They’re sure to win that game at some point over these final 12, but they’ll need to do it without their best player(s). Meanwhile, the Cardinals are trying to avoid back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1994 & 1995.

Losing Rafael Devers will surely make it difficult to win on the road, where the Giants have gone just 26-49 (.347). That 3-game sweep in San Francisco was the first time the Giants had done that to the Cardinals since 2001; however, the last time the Giants swept the Cardinals in St. Louis in a 3-game series was just in 2023. Still, I don’t think a case could be made that the 2023 & 2026 squads have many similarities.

So, what is there to care about with this series? Oh, I know, I know, we’re all clinging to the 1-for-4s of a lot of guys with options or are just warm bodies, but there are a few small things that tie back to the rest of the season:

  • Alec Burleson leads the majors with 109 RBI and is tied with Rafael Devers for the MLB lead in doubles (36). Wilyer Abreu and Bryan Reynolds also have 36, so, it was going to be a battle down the stretch with a healthy Devers, but for now, it’d be enough to hold Burleson double-less in the series (won’t happen lol).
  • The Giants are at least considering shutting down Logan Webb, in which case they might continue their history-making roster size this season with a 68th player, possibly in this series!
  • Landen Roupp is the 19th Giants starting pitcher in the last decade to hit the 150 IP mark (150.2). If he can make it through 2 innings, he’ll surpass Justin Verlander’s 152 IP last season. He also might be able to surpass Logan Webb’s 160.2 IP this season. Roupp, a famous bigot, is about average relative to the other pitchers on this list in terms of mound performance. His hits per 9 and homers per 9 are right near the top. His strikeout rate is fine. But the walks (4.3 BB/9) separates him from the pack.
  • Drew Gilbert has 3 triples this season and has never had more than 4 in a season (once in college, and last season in the minors). The Cardinals haven’t allowed many triples this year (14 — 5th in MLB). Also worth point out: since June 14th — so, the past 3 months — he’s slashed .239/.338/.391 (70 G, 216 PA). A very useful player.
  • With three games this week in the toughest place for a left-handed batter to homer this season (seriously. Busch Stadium’s 73 Park Factor is lower than the Giants’ 77), Bryce Eldridge might not get to 20 home runs this year, but he’s just 4 away and is already just 1 of 8 Giants in the history of the franchise to hit at least 15 home runs at age 21 or younger. What a list:
    • Mel Ott, 1929 (age 20) — 42 HR
    • Orlando Cepeda, 1959 (age 21) — 27 HR
    • Orlando Cepeda, 1958 (age 20) — 25 HR
    • Mel Ott, 1930 (age 21) — 25 HR
    • Willie Mays, 1951 (age 20) — 20 HR
    • Whitey Lockman, 1948 (age 21) — 18 HR
    • Mel Ott, 1928 (age 19) — 18 HR
    • Bryce Eldridge, 2026 (age 21) — 16 HR
  • Although Jung Hoo Lee — who has now completed exactly 2 years of MLB service time as of yesterday, according to Baseball Reference — has settled into being a platoon/fourth outfielder type, he went 3-for-9 in San Francisco against the Cardinals with an extra base hit — a double, which he does have 29 of already. He’s 11-for-30 in his career at Busch Stadium (.367/.387/.500 in 31 PA). One more double and he’d have 30+ doubles in consecutive seasons and would be the 50th Giant to hit at least 30 doubles in a season in the Oracle Park era. The most recent 10 years is an interesting list:
    • Rafael Devers, 2026 (36)
    • Jung Hoo Lee, 2025 (31)
    • Matt Chapman, 2024 (39)
    • Mike Yastrzemski, 2022 (31)
    • Brandon Crawford, 2021 (30)
    • Kevin Pillar, 2019 (37)
    • Brandon Belt, 2019 (32)
    • Brandon Crawford, 2017 (34)
    • Buster Posey, 2017 (34)
    • Denard Span, 2017 (31)

The Giants have won just 4 road series all year and they were all before June 18th. And, keep in mind, it’s only been a week, and all that stuff I wrote last week about the young players on the St. Louis side still applies. They’re a dangerous team even if they have a losing record at home in 2026.

Series Overview

Who: San Francisco Giants (62-88) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (74-76)
Where: Oracle Park | San Francisco, California
When: Monday & Tuesday at 4:45pm PT, Wednesday at 10:15am PT
National broadcasts: None

Projected starters
Monday: Landen Roupp (RHP 9-13, 4.00 ERA) vs. Quinn Mathews (LHP 1-3, 4.11 ERA)
Tuesday: Blade Tidwell (RHP 0-2, 4.82 ERA) vs. Andre Pallante (RHP 12-6, 3.45 ERA)
Wednesday: TBD vs. Matthew Liberatore (LHP 5-14, 5.53 ERA)

Prediction time

Christian Koss has slashed .281/.337/.438 over his last 30 games (108 PA) with 4 homers, 3 doubles, and 4 stolen bases. The prediction is that he will have a multi-hit game in this series.

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Jays/Tigers Series Preview

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 13, 2026: A view of the batting helmet worn by Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians prior to a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

The Jays start a three-game series with the Tigers tonight.

The Jays are one game back of the Guardians for the last Wild Card spot. The Tigers are eight games back, not officially eliminated, but effectively eliminated.

Starting pitchers:

  • Tonight, 7:00 Eastern: Troy Melton (8-4, 2.42) vs. José Soriano (12-7, 3.48).
  • Tuesday, 7:00 Eastern: Drew Anderson (4-6, 3.80) vs. TBD.
  • Wednesday, 3:00 Eastern: TBD vs. Max Scherzer (2-8, 6.38).

I try not to be an ‘old man’, but I’m tired of bullpen days. I know we are going to see a few more this year, but I’d love it if, next year, we could roll out real starting pitches every game, every series. I know we are doing well in those games, but without any way to prove it, I think it adds a lot of strain on the arms of the bullpen guys.

On offence, the Tigers are sixth in the AL with 4.47 Runs per game (the Jays are tied for last with 4.05).

On the pitching side, the Tigers are third best at 4.00 runs per game (the Jays are sixth at 4.26). So, ummmm, why are the Tigers so far back in the race?

The Tigers have scored 70 more runs than they have given up (the Jays have allowed 31 more runs than they have scored). Detroit’s Pythagorean record is 81-68 (their real record is 12 games worse); the Jays 72-78 (their real record is 3 games better). So the Tigers have been very unlucky?

The Tigers are on a four-game win streak and are 7-5 in September. This won’t be an easy series.

The Tigers have some excellent offensive players:

  • SS Kevin McGonigle is hitting .272/.373/.425, with 17 home runs, 88 walks and 89 strikeouts, with 12 steals and a 6.3 bWAR.
  • C Dillon Dingler is hitting .244/.304/.456 with 27 home runs, 32 walks and 131 strikeouts for a 3.9 bWAR. He’s also thrown out 27.3% of base stealers.
  • LF Riley Greene is hitting .283/.370/.484 with 20 home runs, 64 walks and 145 strikeouts with a 2.8 bWAR.
  • 2B Gleyber Torres is hitting .268/.370/.381 with 8 home runs, 51 walks and 74 strikeouts, with a 2.4 bWAR in 88 games.

In the bullpen:

  • Kenley Jansen is their closer. He has a 3.51 ERA, with 19 saves and 6 blown saves. Batters are hitting .168/.280/.329 against him.
  • Drew Anderson has a 3.80 ERA with 7 holds and 6 blown saves. Batters are hitting .239/.323/.407. He spent the last four years pitching in Japan and then Korea.
  • Tyler Holton is a lefty; he has a 2.74 ERA, with 14 holds and 2 blown saves. Batters are hitting .259/.318/.395 against him.
  • Kyle Finnegan has a 3.79 ERA with 14 holds and 9 blown saves. Batters are hitting .275/.372/.450 against him.

We still aren’t in ‘must rule the table’ territory, but we have to win one more than the Guardians. That would be easier to do if we keep winning each series.

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Clock Ticking on Simon Edvinsson Extension as New CBA Set to Change Contract Rules Tuesday

On Monday, more and more contract extensions appear to be coming through across the NHL, while fans of the Detroit Red Wings anxiously await word on a Simon Edvinsson deal. If it doesn't happen by Tuesday night, the Red Wings will be operating under an entirely new set of standards when it comes to contracts.

That's because Tuesday marks the moment the NHL's new collective bargaining agreement officially kicks in, bringing with it several significant changes to how contracts can be structured. If you've noticed a flurry of eight-year deals getting done across the league over the past few days, that's because under the new CBA eight-year contracts will be replaced with seven years as the new maximum for a player re-signing with his own team, and six years for a player signing with a new organization. 

Also changing under the new deal, teams will no longer be able to defer salary on new contracts, and front-loading deals will be significantly more restricted, closing off two mechanisms clubs have used to artificially lower cap hits.

So if Detroit wants to use the current rules to its advantage in getting an Edvinsson extension done, whether that means tacking on an eighth year or structuring the deal with deferred or front-loaded money, the window is closing fast, and the price tag isn't getting any cheaper while they wait. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.

The market for young defensemen shifted dramatically when the Vancouver Canucks signed 20-year-old Zeev Buium to an eight-year, $75.04 million extension carrying a $9.38 million annual cap hit. With Edvinsson holding a stronger NHL track record than Buium at a similar stage of his career, it's fair to expect Detroit's young blueliner could command a deal in a similar range, and possibly a cap hit well into eight figures.

Beyond the contract-length changes, the new CBA brings several other notable shifts that will shape the league going forward. Players further down NHL lineups stand to benefit as well, with the league minimum salary climbing from $775,000 to $850,000 in 2026-27, with further bumps to $900,000, then $950,000, and eventually $1 million by the final year of the deal.

The regular season is also expanding from 82 to 84 games, while teams must now ice a cap-compliant roster for playoff games, closing a loophole where clubs used long-term injured reserve during the regular season to build rosters that would've otherwise exceeded the cap. 

Other changes include a new AHL recall rule requiring a player to play at least one minor-league game before being recalled, closing a "loan" loophole, and a provision allowing teams to assign one 19-year-old CHL graduate per season directly to their AHL affiliate instead of back to junior, though 18-year-olds remain ineligible.

Rounding out the changes, any player making his NHL debut in 2026-27 or later will be required to wear cut-resistant neck protection, and teams can no longer mandate a specific dress code like suits and ties. 

The Red Wings have a rare, closing window to lock up a promising young defenseman on terms that simply won't exist once the calendar flips and once the new CBA takes hold, Detroit will be negotiating under a new set of rules.

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Monday Morning Minnesota: The “It’s Dinamita Time!” Edition

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 12: Emmanuel Rodriguez #21 of the Minnesota Twins hits a solo home run in the first at-bat of his MLB debut against the Cleveland Guardians during the third inning of the game at Target Field on September 12, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The youth movement is continuing to progress, with Emmanuel “Dinamita” Rodriguez making his major league debut this past weekend, hitting a homer in his first big-league at-bat. Unfortunately for Rodriguez, he’s joining the team just as they are all but mathematically eliminated from making it to the playoffs. There’s a chance, but with the way the Twins played against the division the past two weeks, it seems unlikely the team could make a miracle push in the last couple of weeks of the season, especially since they no longer face any in-division opponents for the rest of the season.

The Past Week on Twinkie Town:

  • Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!
  • We’re starting a new segment called Daily Questions! Provide your opinion on the Twins and debate with the community!
  • Game threads and recaps are back! Commiserate with your fellow fans as we experience the season together.
  • This past weekend was the 25th anniversary of September 11th, and Zach Koenig recaps the last Twins game before that fateful day.
  • Aidan O’Brien checks in on the Twins’ 2026 draft class in their first taste of professional baseball.

Elsewhere in Twins Territory:

In the World of Baseball:

  • We have our first playoff spot clinched! The Tampa Bay Rays are locked into a playoff spot and have a 4.0-game lead over the Yankees for the AL East and the AL #1 seed. Meanwhile, the White Sox and Guardians are only half a game apart. In the West, it’s just as close, with the Astros and Rangers separated by only one game. And in the wild card race, the Guardians, Blue Jays, and Rangers are all within two games of each other for the final spot.
  • The Brewers have joined the Rays as a lock for the playoffs, and currently hold a 2.5-game lead over the Dodgers. They have also almost clinched their division as well. It’s not much of a race in the other divisions either, with Atlanta holding a 5.0-game lead over the Phillies, and the Dodgers holding a 9.0-game lead over the Padres. The Wild Card race has also settled a bit, with the Diamondbacks now 2.5 games back from the Padres in the race for the final spot. It’s not insurmountable, but with less than 15 games left in the season, Arizona needs to pick up the pace.
  • Jeff Passan at ESPN shares some early intel on the offseason, and the questions facing teams and players with a lockout looming.
  • Jared Greenspan at MLB.com looks at how Ichiro is continuing to stay loose in retirement.
  • David Laurila at Fangraphs checks in with current major league starters and how they feel about the collective decline in workloads.

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Who’s in? Every MLB team that has clinched a 2026 playoff berth

It's once again clinching season in Major League Baseball.

The postseason is rapidly approaching, and the field for this year's World Series race is starting to take shape. While much of the National League picture appears close to being settled, several American League races remain wide open, with division titles, wild-card spots and postseason seeding still up for grabs.

Here's a look at every team that has clinched a playoff berth, which clubs are closing in and what the postseason bracket would look like if the season ended today.

MLB POWER RANKINGS: Can Vlad Jr., Blue Jays wake up in time for playoffs?

Which MLB teams have clinched playoff berths?

Which MLB teams have clinched divisions?

No teams have clinched their divisions through Sunday, Sept. 13.

MLB magic numbers

These are the teams closest to clinching divisions/playoff spots:

  • New York Yankees — 1 to clinch playoff berth
  • Los Angeles Dodgers — 2 to clinch playoff berth (4 to clinch NL West)
  • Milwaukee Brewers — 2 to clinch NL Central (8 to clinch first-round bye)
  • Atlanta Braves — 4 to clinch playoff berth (7 to clinch NL East)
  • Boston Red Sox — 6 to clinch playoff berth
  • Chicago Cubs — 8 to clinch playoff berth
  • Philadelphia Phillies — 9 to clinch playoff berth
  • Tampa Bay Rays — 10 to clinch AL East (10 to clinch first-round bye)

Projected MLB postseason bracket

This would be the playoff field if the season ended after games on Sunday, Sept. 13:

American League

  1. Tampa Bay Rays (East)
  2. Chicago White Sox (Central)
  3. Houston Astros (West)
  4. New York Yankees (Wild card No. 1)
  5. Boston Red Sox (Wild card No. 2)
  6. Cleveland Guardians (Wild card No. 3)

National League

  1. Milwaukee Brewers (Central)
  2. Los Angeles Dodgers (West)
  3. Atlanta Braves (East)
  4. Chicago Cubs (Wild card No. 1)
  5. Philadelphia Phillies (Wild card No. 2)
  6. San Diego Padres (Wild card No. 3)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who’s in? Every MLB team that has clinched a 2026 playoff berth