TORONTO, ON - JULY 18: The Toronto Blue Jays' World Series Commissioner's Trophy is seen before an MLB game between the Chicago White Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays on July 18, 2026, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Mathew Tsang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Postseason baseball is back, and unfortunately the Detroit Tigers aren’t part of it. For some, that really kills the interest level, and I get it. On the other hand, sports are amplified by the bright lights of the playoffs and World Series, and there is little better than postseason baseball in my opinion. So, pick a team or just see whose bandwagon you feel like jumping on along the way. Even without the Tigers, it’s going to be a really fun month of baseball, and potentially instructive towards the challenges before the Tigers to get back.
All four Wild Card series will begin on Tuesday, September 29th. Each one is a best-of-three, with the two top teams in each league waiting for their divisional round opponents. The home team stays the home team for the whole series, and there are no off days to try and get to the full rounds without putting the top teams on the shelf for more than a few days.
Here are the times for both Game 1 and Game 2 of each series. If necessary, Game 3 schedules will be announced as required to take advantage of prime time.
2:00 p.m. ET Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves
The Toronto Maple Leafs are probably the heaviest team in terms of the headlines and storylines going into opening night. They just acquired Kirill Marchenko in a blockbuster deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets, they have nearly an entire new roster compared to last year, and many more.
But what can't be lost is that Tuesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena marks Gavin McKenna's NHL debut. It's clear that the 18-year-old oozes confidence, but he has continued to put that attribute on display on the morning of the biggest game of his hockey career so far.
The Maple Leafs held an optional morning skate on Tuesday, featuring 12 players, many of whom were veterans. However, in preparation for his NHL debut, McKenna did not take the ice for the team's optional skate, which is something pretty routine for a young player, let alone a rookie gearing up for his first game in the league.
"He's got some swag," defenseman Chris Tanev said of McKenna after the session. "You know, he's very confident, very good player. So, I mean, I'm super excited for him. I mean, he's got - I think his parents are coming in tonight, and I'm sure he's got some other people. So, first NHL game, it's something that you should enjoy, and I'm sure he will tonight."
Left winger Easton Cowan, who made his NHL debut last year, laughed about McKenna's decision when asked about it.
"I can't comment on that," the 21-year-old said. "Maybe ask the older guys."
Even Leafs bench boss Jim Hiller got a kick out of McKenna not taking the ice for the morning skate. He admitted that he loved the decision he made, saying it truly speaks to how confident he is in himself.
"Yeah, you know what - I actually thought it was great," Hiller said. "I really did, because that's an optional skate. It's optional if you think you need it to get ready to play tonight. And when I heard he didn't go out, it didn't surprise me. He just has that way. He knows who he is. He knows what he has to do. And I think how he's adapted in a short amount of time just speaks to who he is and the confidence that he has in himself."
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Dylan Harper is heading into his sophomore season with one thing on his mind — earning a spot in the San Antonio starting lineup.
During a recent GQ interview with his teammate and friend Stephon Castle, Harper spoke candidly, making his stance with the Spurs clear.
When asked whether he expected to return to his sixth-man role next season, Harper said “I ain’t coming off no bench.”
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) goes up for a shot during the second half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, Saturday, June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
During his rookie campaign, the former No. 2 overall pick averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 22 minutes per game.
The 19-year-old stepped up in the playoffs, averaging 14.1 points while shooting 51 percent from the field—all while starting just two games for the Spurs.
Yet, Harper’s limited number of starts frustrated him, and his teammates took notice.
“He was upset with playing time and different roles that he was in,” Devin Vassell said after Game 5 of the NBA Finals, a loss to the Knicks that clinched the series.
Harper’s goal of winning Sixth Man of the Year also offers a glimpse into how he views his current role with the Spurs.
San Antonio is loaded with guards, with Devin Vassell, De’Aaron Fox and last season’s Sixth Man winner, Keldon Johnson, rounding out the backcourt.
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper participates in a media interview during the team’s NBA basketball media day event Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in San Antonio. AP Photo/Darren Abate
Throughout the playoffs, Fox started at point guard for the Spurs despite struggling during the Finals.
He averaged 15.6 points, 6.0 assists and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 41 percent from the field and 29 percent from 3-point range in 33.1 minutes per game.
As Harper continued to show he could score, conversations began to emerge about moving him into the starting lineup.
Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper of the San Antonio Spurs pose for photos during San Antonio Spurs Media Day at the Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Texas, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. Getty Images
Fox is set to make $53 million next season, the second year of his four-year, $229 million contract extension with the Spurs.
Castle sought to reassure the young star, telling him he knew where he would be come October.
“Bro, all you got to know is you going to be in the starting lineup,” Castle said. “Be ready to hoop.”
Harper’s presence will make lineup decisions an interesting challenge for head coach Mitch Johnson this season as the Spurs look to get over the championship hump with Victor Wembanyama.
The Spurs open the 2026-27 NBA season at home against the Thunder in a rematch of the Western Conference finals.
But there’s a difference between looking ready for the NHL and being ready to stay there.
For Suniev, starting the season with the Calgary Wranglers doesn’t have to be viewed as a setback. In fact, it could be an important part of making sure he’s ready when his next opportunity comes.
“I just try to do my best every game, obviously work hard on the ice, do what my coaches need from me and also, not forgetting to play my game and using my shot,” Suniev explained about his approach during preseason.
Now, entering his second professional season, he has already shown he can produce at the AHL level and that his offensive skill can translate against NHL competition.
The next step is consistency.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The Flames aren’t sending Suniev to the AHL because he lacks talent. If anything, his preseason made it pretty clear that the talent is there.
Rather than sitting in the NHL lineup and potentially playing limited minutes, Suniev can go to Calgary’s top affiliate, play a major role, work on the details Huska and the coaching staff want to see and continue developing his offensive game.
That doesn’t mean the door to the NHL is closed.
Quite the opposite.
If Suniev continues to produce while becoming more reliable without the puck, the Flames will have another decision to make. And considering the offensive holes on this roster, it’s hard to imagine the organization ignoring a player who is producing and showing he’s ready.
Suniev is close. Very close.
But being close and being ready to stay in the NHL are two different things.
The Flames are likely betting that a little more development now will give Suniev a better chance of making a permanent impact when his next opportunity arrives.
After the preseason he just had, there’s plenty of reason to believe that opportunity won’t be far away.
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We’ve already got goosebumps.
For the seventh time in MLB history, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are meeting in the playoffs.
This time around, the Bronx Bombers and BoSox will go toe-to-toe in the Wild Card round in a best-of-three series that determines who gets to take on the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS.
The trio of games will all take place at the Bronx’s Yankee Stadium. They’re slated go down:
Game 1Tuesday, Sept. 29 8 p.m. Payton Tolle (9-6, 3.03 ERA) vs. Cam Schlittler (14-6, 1.95 ERA)
If you’d like to be there, the lowest price we could find on tickets for any one games was $129 including fees on Vivid Seats.
Prices start at $131 and $135 including fees for the other two contests.
Over the course of the regular season, New York and Boston met 13 times; the Yankees took seven of those showdowns. In their final battle, the Yankees walloped the Sox 16-1 on Aug. 30. Heliot Ramos, Paul Goldschmidt, José Caballero and Austin Wells all homered for the Bombers that afternoon.
Both teams went 5-5 in their last ten games of the regular season.
As for this series, manager Aaron Boone left Aaron Judge off the Wild Card round roster but activated Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham after both have been inactive for months and weeks at a time, respectively.
“[I’m] real confident if we play our game and pitch like we’re capable of, we got a chance to move on,” Boone said. “We got to play our best starting Tuesday.”
See you there, Bleacher Creatures.
For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about the Yankees vs. Red Sox 2026 AL Wild Card series below.
How much are tickets for the Yankees vs. Red Sox Wild Card series at Yankee Stadium?
A complete breakdown of all the best prices on tickets for the three AL Wild Card series games at Yankee Stadium can be found here:
Yankees vs, Wild Card game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 1 Tuesday, Sept. 29 8 p.m.
$135(including fees)
Game 2 Wednesday, Sept. 30 8 p.m.
$129(including fees)
Game 3 Thursday, Oct. 1 8 p.m.
$131(including fees)
Are Yankees tickets available for later rounds?
Starry-eyed fans looking to get ahead of themselves can procure potential ALDS, ALCS and World Series tickets before the postseason even begins.
To grab seats for the game of your choosing, all potential hypothetical Yankees playoff tickets can be found here.
How to watch the Yankees in the 2026 playoffs
Fans that prefer to watch on the tube, you can catch Yankees playoff contests on ESPN.
All of these providers can be found on DIRECTV.
Huge 2026-27 NYC shows
The Yankees aren’t the only huge attraction in The Big Apple these next few months.
Here are just five of the biggest acts headed to New York City in the near future.
• Stevie Wonder
• Buddy Guy with Eric Clapton
• Death Cab For Cutie
• Gnarls Barkley
• Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band
Plus, Bernie Williams is making his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning show “Buena Vista Social Club” from Oct. 22 through Nov. 29. Don’t miss the star centerfielder from yesteryear under the spotlight today.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 27: Cole Carrigg #16 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates with teammates in the dugout hitting a home run during the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on September 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Major League Baseball announced today that Colorado Rockies IF/OF Cole Carrigg has been selected as the National League’s Rookie of the Month for September. He joins TJ Rumfield, who won back-to-back awards in May and June.
Carrigg burst onto the scene in June — quite literally, with a triple in his very first at-bat. He’s had some ups and downs, but overall finished on a high note with a home run in the final game against the Chicago White Sox.
In 24 games in September, Carrigg slashed .327/.340/.571 with four doubles, a triple, six home runs and 17 RBI. He led qualified rookies in at-bats (98), home runs (6), RBI (17) and slugging percentage (.571) while being among NL rookie leaders in runs scored (12, T-3rd), doubles (4, T-3rd), stolen bases (3, T-2nd), average (.327, 2nd) and OPS (.911, 3rd).
Carrigg joins Josh Rutledge (July 2012), David Dahl (August 2016) and Nolan Jones (September 2023) as the only Rockies rookies to bat at least .300 and record at least 11 extra-base hits and three stolen bases in a calendar month.
Carrigg also becomes the 10th Rockies player to receive the Rookie of the Month Award, joining TJ Rumfield (May/June 2026), Nolan Jones (September/October 2023), Antonio Senzatela (April 2017), Trevor Story (April 2016), Ian Stewart (July 2008), Troy Tulowitzki (August 2007), Garrett Atkins (June 2005), Clint Barmes (April 2005), and Jason Jennings (August 2002).
Finally, Carrigg and Rumfield are just the second pair of Rockies teammates to win the award in the same season alongside Barmes and Atkins in 2005. Colorado is now the only National League franchise to have a pair of teammates win the award in the same season on multiple occasions.
The lefty ace, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury, was included on the Red Sox roster Tuesday morning ahead of Game 1 of the AL wild-card series against the Yankees.
On Saturday, Crochet threw his second live batting practice of the week.
Boston Red Sox’s Garrett Crochet throws a pitch during the first inning of a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Red Sox seemingly did and now will have Crochet up their sleeve in the best-of-three series.
The 27-year-old last pitched on April 25 against the Orioles, allowing three hits and zero runs across six innings of a 17-1 win.
He has spent the past five months rehabbing and working his way back from the left lat strain, which was longer than initially anticipated.
Boston Red Sox left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet continues his comeback from left shoulder inflammation during a side session at Polar Park on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
“It was obviously a lot longer than I expected. Been busting my tail just to kind of give myself a fighting chance, and I feel like I did that,” Crochet said prior to the playoffs. “Now it’s just waiting for the roster to come out. I hope that I’m able to contribute, but regardless, I’m here, and I think that we have put ourselves in a great position to walk away from the Series with a win.”
In the 2025 wild-card series against the Yankees, Crochet started and grinded out a 3-1 win for the Red Sox in Game 1.
He allowed four hits and tallied 11 strikeouts across 7 ⅔ innings.
This year, Crochet could be used as a reliever as he works his way back to his prime form.
The Tennessee product has reliever experience from college and he served out of the bullpen early in his career with the White Sox. In his first 72 appearances, he held a 2.71 ERA as a reliever.
Crochet was converted to a starting hurler in 2024.
The Red Sox travel to The Bronx for Game 1 at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
J.R. Smith was arrested on a charge of family violence on Tuesday in Texas, according to Hunt County jail records.
J.R. Smith was arrested on a charge of family violence on Monday in Texas, according to Hunt County jail records.
Smith, two-time NBA champion guard with the Cavaliers and Lakers, was arrested on one charge of assault causing bodily injury family violence.
He remains in the Hunt County Detention Center, per TMZ, and jail records show no bond has been set.
J.R. Smith was arrested on a charge of family violence on Tuesday in Texas, according to Hunt County jail records. Hunt County Sheriff
Smith was arrested while pulled over for a traffic stop in Texas — during which police checked his license plate and discovered Earl Joseph Smith III (his real name) had an active warrant out of the Southlake Police Department for a charge of family violence assault causing bodily injury, Royse City Police Department said in a statement to The Post.
Police confirmed the warrant and Smith was taken into custody and as transported to the Hunt County Detention Center.
Smith’s brother was with him at the time of the arrest and the vehicle was released to him.
Knicks alum JR Smith is seen on celebrity row during Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The polie statement did not include his brother’s name.
Smith, who played 16 seasons in the NBA, was named the Sixth Man of the Year with the Knicks in 2013, and won his first championship with the Cavaliers alongside LeBron James in the 2015-16 season.
Game 3 of that Finals between the Lakers and Heat on Oct. 4, 2020 was the last time Smith played in an NBA game.
Knicks guard J.R. Smith (8) drives to the basket as Wizards guard Glen Rice Jr. (14) defends during the second quarter of a game in Brooklyn, N.Y., Nov. 4, 2014. Anthony J. Causi for NY Post
He has yet to formally announce his NBA retirement.
Smith — who went straight from high school the pros — graduated in May with a Liberal Arts degree from North Carolina A&T, where he was a walk-on for the men’s golf team.
Alas, the NHL lost a great rivalry. | Getty Images
Hi, I got tired of seeing every hockey site posting “BOLD predictions for each NHL team” that weren’t very bold. Truly, they were mostly just lists of “this completely realistic thing could happen but my editor required that I make it sound bold,” and then they slapped “bold” on the headline for some rote, click-baity reason.
So I made my own list, for catharsis. Kindly disregard.
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks: Pat Verbeek is such a tough salary negotiator that he spends the entire season trying to fit his 23-man roster under the cap.
Calgary Flames: The Flames miss the playoffs. Bold!
Edmonton Oilers: After being suspended for projecting individual players’ TikToks on the hot tub big screen, Mike Babcock is replaced as head coach by Mark Messier, who promptly awards himself with the Mark Messier Leadership Award.
Los Angeles Kings: Pete Laviolette is fired by his seventh franchise, replaced by Darryl Sutter who guides them to a Stanley Cup.
San Jose Sharks: Ryan Warsofsky is replaced by Pete Laviolette.
Seattle Kraken: Jordan Eberle remains captain, but laments that his best-performing years were when he was required to be clean shaven before showing up to work.
Vegas Golden Knights: Praised for always going above and beyond, Vegas puts a bunch of guys on LTIR and acquires Connor Hellebuyck. But this achievement pales in comparison to ensuring Bruce Cassidy remains unemployed.
Vancouver Canucks: With performance and attendance dwindling, the Canucks announce a rebrand based around a new logo featuring an orange and black orca whale skating downhill in the shape of a hockey rink.
Atlantic Division
Detroit Red Wings: Dylan Larkin is traded. Bold! But the Wings still extend their franchise-record playoff drought to 11 seasons.
Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres miss the playoffs, because Buffalo is a cruel, cursed sportstown.
Boston Bruins: Warning that he won’t re-sign when his ELC expires in three years, James Hagens requests a trade. Also: Mired in a five-game losing streak, Hampus Lindholm and Elias Lindholm get in a bloody fight in practice, tearing the locker room apart.
Montreal Canadiens: Noah Dobson wins the Norris Trophy.
Florida Panthers: Brady and Matthew Tkachuk combine for 50 goals and 200 PIM. Bold!
Ottawa Senators: The LeBreton Flats arena plan falls through yet again, and the Senators announce a plan to share a state-of-the-art arena in Hamilton with the Hammers.
Tampa Bay Lightning: The Lightning make the playoffs.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews and his teammates return from their Phoenix preseason junket without harassing any security guards.
Metropolitan Division
New Jersey Devils: Sunny Mehta — not to be confused with the late, longtime Alfred A. Knopf publisher Sonny Mehta — is fired as GM and replaced by Lou Lamoriello. Chris Lamoriello is named assistant GM, Martin Brodeur is named interim head of player nutrition.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Every single American on the team demands a trade to a U.S. market where there is less pressure.
Washington Capitals: Alex Tuch outscores Jordan Kyrou by four goals, but they are separated by 26 in plus/minus.
New York Rangers: After years of disappointing everyone by simply existing, the sadsack Rangers franchise finally folds. All their historical statistics are transferred to the Winnipeg Jets, except for the 1994 Stanley Cup, which is returned to the Edmonton Oilers franchise.
Philadelphia Flyers: Kevin Kurz files multiple articles about the team in the opening week, including another “Why I Joined The Athletic” thought piece.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Egged on by local media, Penguins fans spend the entire 84-game season complaining that Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang do not get enough respect, while Mario Lemieux laments that he needs to rethink whether he wants to be a part of it all.
New York Islanders: The Drive for Five…regular season wins continues into November.
Carolina Hurricanes: NHL fans are reminded that this team won the Stanley Cup, and it turns out it’s their second in this century.
Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Kane returns to one of his old franchises and manages to avoid a drunken tussle with a cab driver.
St. Louis Blues: With both franchises in self-deluding late-season playoff pushes, the Blues swap a 7th defensemen to the Islanders for a fourth-line forward, each team raving about the new acquisition’s “veteran presence.”
Colorado Avalanche: ESPN names Ray Bourque the Most Inspiring Sports Story of the 21st Century.
Winnipeg Jets: What prediction can you possibly give a team who already has everything?
Utah Mammoth: Anders Lee reaches 20 goals for the 10th time in his career at age 36.
Dallas Stars: Despite doing almost everything right for about a decade, GM Jim Nill continues to have to push the rock uphill.
Minnesota Wild: Not getting quite enough media praise, Bill Guerin is awarded an Emmy for his performance as Jimmy McNulty on The Wire.
Nashville Predators: Former GM Barry Trotz looks at the current Predators and looks at the current Islanders and mutters, through tears, “Why…why did we ever do any of this?”
Dansby Swanson shrugs after his grand slam against the Padres July 1 | | Getty Images
Well, here we go again — for the second straight season, the Cubs and Padres meet in a Wild Card Series. Last year, the Cubs won it in Wrigley Field. This year, they’ll have to do that in San Diego.
If the regular season results are any indication, they can do it. The Cubs took the season series from the Padres five games to one, winning two of three in Petco Park in April and sweeping them in Wrigley Field at the end of June/beginning of July.
The Cubs fell behind 3-0 in the first inning, hut homers by Seiya Suzuki (in the second) and Moisés Ballesteros (a grand slam in the third) put the Cubs up 5-3 after three.
The Padres hit Matthew Boyd, Ben Brown, Phil Maton and Jacob Webb pretty hard, including a home run by Gavin Sheets off Webb, to take a 9-5 lead going to the ninth.
Mason Miller, the Padres’ supposedly unhittable closer, entered to finish up. The Cubs hit him. Matt Shaw, Dansby Swanson and Pete Crow-Armstrong singled to load the bases with nobody out. Nico Hoerner hit into a force play at second, scoring Shaw and sending Swanson to third. Dansby scored on a wild pitch, bringing Michael Busch to the plate as the tying run. But Miller got Busch to ground out and struck out Alex Bregman to end the game.
The game went 2-2 into the sixth. Dansby Swanson had doubled in the two runs in the second.
The Cubs took a 4-2 lead in the sixth on a two-run double by Nico Hoerner. One of the runners who scored was Nicky Lopez. Yes, he played for the Cubs this year. That was the only run he scored as a member of the 2026 Cubs. The Padres closed to within one in the bottom of the inning off Edward Cabrera, who then departed the game having allowed three runs, striking out seven.
Then the Cubs blew the game open in the seventh. Seiya Suzuki led off with a walk and advanced to second on a groundout. Michael Busch was hit by a pitch and Carson Kelly hit into a force play, with Suzuki taking third. Alex Bregman singled in Kelly to make it 5-3 and then Pete Crow-Armstrong hit this three-run homer [VIDEO].
Ryan Rolison finished up with two scoreless innings, just his third appearance as a Cub.
Miguel Amaya’s RBI single in the second gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead and that was extended to 3-0 on a Pete Crow-Armstrong two-run homer in the fourth.
But Miguel Andujar (solo) and Nick Castellanos (two-run) homered off Jameson Taillon in the fifth to tie the game 3-3.
Now that’s an interesting sentence. Not one of those players is on either team at this time. Andujar fractured his wrist and has been out since July (though has been on a rehab assignment and might return). Castellanos was released by the Padres in June. Taillon was released by the Cubs in July, caught on with the Blue Jays, then was injured and hasn’t pitched since early September.
The Cubs took the lead back in the sixth. Michael Busch led off with a walk and was forced by Michael Conforto. Conforto went to third on a double by Matt Shaw and scored on a PCA groundout.
Shaw then homered in the eighth to make it 5-3. In the bottom of the eighth the Padres got that run back on a sac fly by Fernando Tatis Jr. off Ben Brown.
Brown remained in the game in the ninth. He struck out Xander Bogaerts and got Ty France on a ground ball.
Then the two managers started playing the platoon game we rarely see in modern baseball. Craig Stammen sent Gavin Sheets up to bat for Andujar. Craig Counsell brought in left-hander Hoby Milner, so Stammen countered with Ramon Laureano.
The Padres took a 2-0 lead off Shōta Imanaga with single runs in the third and fourth, but the Cubs tied it up on single runs in the fourth (RBI single by Michael Conforto) and fifth (sac fly by Seiya Suzuki).
Imanaga threw well in this game, not allowing a home run and striking out four in 6.2 innings.
The game remained at 2-2 into the bottom of the ninth. Jason Adam, who had retired the Cubs 1-2-3 in the eighth on just 10 pitches, remained in the game to start the ninth. Dansby Swanson and Pete Crow-Armstrong singled off Adam, so Craig Stammen summoned Mason Miller.
The Cubs hit him again. Alex Bregman singled to load the bases with nobody out. Unfortunately, Michael Busch then hit into a double play. He flied to short left and Swanson tried to score, but was thrown out at the plate [VIDEO].
The Cubs got payback of sorts for the 9-7 Padres win in San Diego in April by defeating them by the same score at Wrigley Field two months later.
Fernando Tatis Jr. led off the game with a home run off Matthew Boyd, but the Cubs got that run right back on an RBI single by Carson Kelly in the bottom of the inning.
Then the Cubs exploded for four in the second. With one out, Dansby Swanson homered. Then Kevin Alcántara singled and Pete Crow-Armstrong walked, and Alex Bregman smashed a three-run homer to make it 5-1 Cubs.
It became 5-3 in the third when Manny Machado hit a two-run homer off Boyd. Michael Busch homered off JP Sears in the fifth to make it 5-3, and after Ian Happ singled, the Padres brought in Ron Marinaccio. Swanson homered again, his second of the game, to make it 8-3. PCA added a homer in the sixth to put the Cubs up by six.
Easy peasy, right? Well, nothing’s been that way for the Cubs this year. Javier Assad threw a scoreless seventh, but then gave up four in the eighth, including a three-run homer by Gavin Sheets and a solo shot by Tatis.
That was it for the Padres, though, and Tyler Ferguson and Ryan Rolison finished up.
This game began as a blowout and then turned into silly season.
Seiya Suzuki began the fun with a three-run homer in the first. Dansby Swanson homered in the second to make it 4-0, and after Miguel Amaya hit a two-run single in the third, Swanson homered again, a three-run job that made it 9-0.
The Padres scored a pair off Colin Rea in the fifth, but the Cubs increased their lead in the bottom of the inning. Michael Conforto homered with one out, and after Amaya walked and Swanson reached on an error, Pete Crow-Armstrong smacked a three-run homer to make it 13-2.
If you’re counting, that’s five home runs for the Cubs, and they were far from being done. Conforto homered again in the sixth with Ian Happ on base to make it 15-2.
The Padres brought in backup catcher Rodolfo Durán to throw the bottom of the inning. He retired the Cubs in order and San Diego scored one in the eighth.
Durán remained in the game to “pitch” in the eighth and I put that in quotes because, well, some of those “pitches” were thrown at ridiculously slow spees, in particular this one, hit for a grand slam by Swanson:
The Cubs scored eight in that inning and won 23-3. That was the most runs scored by any Cubs team since Aug. 18, 1995, when they scored 26 at Colorado, and the most at Wrigley Field since May 17, 1977, when they won 23-6 over… the Padres.
Nevertheless, all those homers and runs count, and the Cubs thus outscored the Padres 55-28 in the six games. That’s not likely to be repeated in this Wild Card Series, but three Cubs did have monster seasons against the Padres.
Dansby Swanson: .647/.667/1.647 (11-for-18) with two doubles, five home runs, 13 RBI and eight runs in five games Pete Crow-Armstrong: .364/.481/.909 (8-for-22) with four home runs, five walks, 10 RBI and eight runs in six games Seiya Suzuki: .500/.520/.864 (11-for-22) with two doubles, two home runs and eight runs in six games
Overall the Cubs hit 18 home runs against the Padres this year and allowed nine.
Lastly, the Cubs handled Padres closer Mason Miller pretty well. It’s a very small sample size — three games and 13 plate appearances — but the Cubs had five hits and a walk off Miller, and struck out just twice. That’s an encouraging sign, and I’d think this should be a close and competitive series.
TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks speaks to the media during New York Knicks Media Day at the Knicks Training Facility on September 28, 2026 in Tarrytown, New York. 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 Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here’s the second Bulletin covering Media Day with everything else that I couldn’t find yesterday.
Apologies in advance for any repeated quotes, but hey, y’all can’t have it all.
Here’s the latest before training camp gets going today, with the first preseason game less than a week away.
On playing through his left wrist injury during the playoffs:
“It was painful. I played through it. I did what I had to do to make sure I was right. I didn’t think I needed surgery. If I had known, I maybe would have got it done sooner.”
On not being satisfied after winning the championship:
“Not being satisfied, I think, is the biggest takeaway moving forward. You still want to figure out how you can grow as a person and as a player. So I will use that experience. As a group, we figured out that we need each other to win, obviously. We need each other to be all on the same page.”
On his confidence in his teammates, with a joke about Josh Hart:
“I have all the confidence in the world in my teammates. Not so sure about Josh Hart; we’ll see how he acts.”
On the confidence and danger that come with being defending champions:
“I think we have the confidence knowing that we did do it. That’s going to help us, but that can also hurt us. So it’s all about how we go into training camp and how we go into these first few weeks to see where we are as a team, and then we’ll be able to adjust or continue to grow.”
On the opening weeks revealing the new Knicks’ identity:
“The first couple of weeks or whatever of the season is going to show us who we are and where we are.”
KAT: "In the offseason I always lose a lot of the weight"
“I made it known I want to play here. I’ve been a fan since I was young. I would like to get one done, of course. Obviously I would like to get it done so I can feel as comfortable as possible.”
On what it will take for the Knicks to repeat as champions:
“To repeat is gonna take an even higher sense of discipline and execution. And we’re gonna have to be even better than what we showed in the playoffs. All of us are aware that we’re gonna have to bring a whole other level to the table if we expect to have a chance to repeat.”
On the lack of progress on a contract extension and wanting to remain a Knick:
“Are things going to get done? There hasn’t really been much movement or conversation with that, so I don’t think it will get done. But I would love for it to get done. Once the season starts, I’ll probably have that mentality of ‘I don’t really wanna deal with this, I want to try and focus on playing the season.’ I’m sure there will probably be a little extra weight to the jersey. You don’t know the certainty of your situation and obviously it affects home life. There are certain things that you might want to do, but you’re like ‘I can’t, because I have no idea what the situation will be in two months, three months, four months, in a year, if I’m gonna be here or not.’ You don’t know. But hopefully, like I said, I’m a Knick, I’d love to be a Knick and I love the city.”
On the human impact of unresolved contract situations:
“I would hope that that stuff gets done. At the end of the day, we’re humans and I think what sometimes gets lost is that we are people, that we all have lives and things that we have to deal with and fix. I wish I could sit there and say it wouldn’t have any weight or any bearing, but you never know. Some people can handle it great and some people can really struggle with it and that can kill their performance. I hope it gets done, but we’ll see.”
On Jalen Brunson’s “Saturday Night Live” performance:
“I think his performance was fine. I don’t think he has a future in acting.”
On whether Brunson’s $113 million pay cut is still available:
“Is that money still up for grabs?”
On returning to work after the championship summer:
“The weight of the jersey was extremely light this summer. This morning, it was a bit heavier. I think we’re all excited for the opportunity to do it again. We’re not satisfied to just get one.”
On the Knicks’ shot at breaking the no-back-to-back champion trend in the NBA:
“We write our own history.”
On the significance of the CBA and second apron in the league’s lack of repeat champions:
“Obviously, it probably shows the significance of the [collective bargaining agreement], the second apron, all those kinds of things. At the end of the day, that’s the past. It has no precedent on what the future is going to hold. For us, we’re not really worried about it. We’re worried about etching our own stories and our own legacies.”
On the Knicks’ hunger to repeat:
“I think we’re all excited for the opportunity to do it again. I think you guys will see that with how we conduct ourselves, with how we play, that we’re not satisfied with getting one and that hungriness that we’re gonna have.”
Q "Do you ever think about the fact that you did something iconic that will be remembered forever?"
OG "I mean, yeah, I don't think really about it that much. But I know it was a big play. Makes me happy that I brought joy to everyone. Hopefully do something like that again" pic.twitter.com/3HuUh7UVcF
“We’ll be hunted, but we’re going to be hunting other teams as well.”
Wemby on sitting with the emotions of the Finals loss: “It’s been hard to fall asleep sometimes. Hard emotions. But there is a point where you accept that you have to go through it. You have to feel all of it. We don’t want to hide from anything.” pic.twitter.com/Yhh1CJOtCn
On struggling to sleep after losing the NBA Finals to the Knicks:
“I’ve had a few sleepless nights. It’s been hard to fall asleep sometimes. Hard emotions. But there is a point where you accept that you have to go through it. You have to feel all of it. We don’t want to hide from anything.”
Lebron on almost signing with the Knicks:
"I had visions of definitely playing in the Garden, finishing my career in the Garden. One of the best places I've ever played. I think it's the No. 1 arena in the world, as far as for a basketball player. But after they beat San… pic.twitter.com/vWcx9WTYTm
On envisioning finishing his career at Madison Square Garden till the Knicks win it all:
“I had visions of playing in [Madison Square] Garden and finishing my career in the Garden. One of the best places I’ve ever played.
“I was like, ‘Hey, I can’t.’ I couldn’t do it.”
On the Knicks and Jalen Brunson:
“Much respect to the Knicks, obviously. An unbelievable team, unbelievable players. Shout out Jalen Brunson. I love that guy, he’s unbelievable.”
Celtics TV: "What else is in the bag? Are they asking you to expand?"
Mitchell Robinson: "Yeah…they have me kind of far away from the basket, I'm like 'OK maybe I can show a little something here & there,' so that's what we've been working on––touches, shots, all kind of stuff" pic.twitter.com/SGfrSUsBZ2
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 12: Ronald Acuna, Jr. (13) of the Atlanta Braves celebrates his solo home run as he runs past Alec Bohm (28) of the Philadelphia Phillies on the base path during the Saturday evening MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves on September 12, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Phillies barely made the playoffs. They went 10-14 in September, losing four of their last five games and had to wait until the last day of the season to claim the National League’s third and final Wild Card spot. They had a run differential of only +15, the offense was just 19th in runs scored, the defense was shaky, and the middle relief situation was a mess all season.
To that, I say: So what?
Once you reach the playoffs, what you did in the regular season doesn’t matter aside from home field advantage. Everyone’s stats have reset to zero, and runs don’t get added or deducted based on how well you did during the season. All that matters is that the Phillies will be taking on the Atlanta Braves in a three-game series, and whichever team wins two games advances to the next round.
With that in mind, I will preview this series with a little help from Philadelphia native Pink and her hit song “So What.”
Na-na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na!
I’m gonna drink my money
It seems like fan opinion was split on whether or not the Phillies should have celebrated after clinching the playoffs on Sunday.
Jayson Stark on the Phillies being criticized for celebrating
"Why should they not be allowed to celebrate? You are not celebrating that you staggered in. You are celebrating 6 months of grinding. Winning matters. Appreciating what you did matters."
Every other team that made the playoffs celebrated the accomplishment. You think the Phillies should have declined to do so just because they didn’t make it as convincingly as you would have liked? If they had actually backed in by still qualifying after losing their final five games, then I could see being a bit more subdued. But they actively clinched by winning the game.
As for the slow finish to the season, history has shown that like just about every factor, finishing the season strong is very predictive of a playoff run…except when it isn’t. For example, from 2022 to 2025, the Phillies’ worst month of September came in 2022, which happened to be their best postseason performance. And in September 2025, the Phillies went 17-8 – including winning four of their final five – and it didn’t help them win more than a single playoff game.
I got a brand new attitude, I’m gonna wear it tonight
The Phillies have not endeared themselves to the fans lately, and the nadir came on Saturday night when it looked like they might have actually quit. Fortunately, Zack Wheeler and the offense showed up on Sunday to propel the team to victory. If that version of the Phillies shows up, they can win this series. If the Phillies we saw for most of last week is what we get, it will likely be a short stay.
I don’t know where he went
Chris Sale is scheduled to start game one for the Braves. Theoretically this is a huge advantage for the Braves as Sale is one of the best pitchers in baseball. But that dominance hasn’t always showed up in the postseason. Sale has a career postseason ERA of 6.35 with a couple of really bad outings in there. He also hasn’t pitched in the playoffs since 2021.
Sale faced the Phillies four times this season. He undeniably did well against them, but familiarity often works against a pitcher come playoff time. If they don’t hit well against him, it won’t be because they don’t have a good scouting report or were taken by surprise.
The waiter just took my table
The Phillies’ trade deadline has turned out to be somewhat of a disaster with all the players they acquired having disappointed, gotten injured, or both. On the other hand, the Braves acquired starting pitcher Tyler Mahle from the Giants on August 2, and somehow, the guy who had an ERA of 5.13 with the Giants, has gone 4-1 with a 1.99 ERA in nine starting with the Braves.
Atlanta's deadline was widely criticized, but Tyler Mahle quickly changed that narrative with a dominant stretch after joining the Braves.
Those numbers include him giving up five runs in five innings in his final start. But that was also a low-pressure tune up for the playoffs, so it’s hard to know if that actually means anything.
Mahle has spent most of his career as a cromulent mid-rotation starter, and certainly not a sub-2.00 ERA type of pitcher. It seems likely that there’s some regression due, and ideally, that regression would come on Wednesday afternoon when he’s scheduled to start game two of the series.
I’m still a rock star
One of the reasons the Phillies didn’t have a great September record is because their supposed star position players didn’t play well.
Kyle Schwarber had a drastic drop in production in the second half, and after a terrific August, Bryce Harper has been just okay over the last month. It feels like there have been a lot of pitches that he would have destroyed earlier in the season that have ended up being foul balls.
Then there’s Trea Turner and J.T. Realmuto who both endured the worst seasons of their careers. Turner’s drop off from a guy who won the batting title and finished in the top five of MVP voting might be the biggest reason the Phillies’ win total dropped by seven. As for Realmuto, he finally ended his long hitless streak on Sunday. It seems clear that he can’t handle such a heavy workload anymore, but sadly, the backup catchers are somehow much worse.
For better or worse, these guys have all been here before. While the narrative seems to be that they’ve repeatedly failed in the playoffs, they’ve also had a lot of big moments in the playoffs as well. A strong run in the postseason can do wonders for flipping the narrative about how the season went.
And you’re a tool
I recently called Braves fans the softest in baseball, and sure enough, they’ve been at it again.
Booing your own team when they desperately need some support. I won’t ever understand it. Like kicking someone when they’re down. These “fans” don’t deserve October baseball. https://t.co/MPfdyDXu2a
Let’s go over what the fans on Saturday night were enduring:
Rainy weather
A team that looked to be in full collapse mode
A team that seemed incapable of scoring a run
Falling behind early and eventually by double digits
Yes, they deserved to be booed! Any fan that didn’t boo was probably too numb to care. I’m fairly certain that just about every fanbase in America would have booed them. But probably not Braves fans. They would have left to watch college football or thrown garbage on the field.
A fans base that litters the field when the Braves underform criticizing Phillies fans for booing is peak lack of self awareness. pic.twitter.com/Yz8Nt7o9EK
Remember that Braves fans whined endlessly about how unfair it was that they had to sit for a couple of days when they earned a bye through the Wild Card series in 2022 and 2023. Now it’s unfair that they actually have to play in the series?
It’s like they don’t understand or appreciate the very concept of playoffs. I guess if they had their way, we would just crown the regular season champion Brewers as the champions of baseball. (That might be the only way the Brewers ever get a title!)
You weren’t there, you never were
When these teams met in Philadelphia earlier in the month, the main character of the series was Ronald Acuña, Jr. He hit two key home runs and then did his celebratory home run trot, and for some reason, Braves fans acted like Zack Wheeler went on a hysterical tirade about it, even though he clearly did not.
Zack Wheeler basically said Ronald Acuña Jr.’s home run doesn’t bother him but it really does 😭 pic.twitter.com/QAwJu5eieB
The Phillies will need to do better against Acuña this time around, although shutting down Acuña in the playoffs hasn’t been all that much of an issue in the past. (He was a combined 7-29 in the 2022 and 2023 NLDS) The one year the Braves actually did make a run was 2021 when Acuña, coincidentally or not, missed the playoffs due to injury.
Two stats to watch before the MLB Playoffs begin:
Ronald Acuña has not homered in a playoff game (with fans in the crowd) since 2019
Christian Yelich hasn’t had an RBI in the postseason since 2018
Based on recent history (“Atta boy!”), there does seem to be some legitimate bad blood between these teams, which usually adds a degree of fun to a playoff series. I doubt there are going to be any “message pitches” or physical alterations, but it feels like the players would get a little extra pleasure from winning this series.
I gave you life, I gave my all
The Phillies have been carried by their starting rotation for most of the season. Can that strength carry them through this round of the playoffs?
Jesus Luzardo will start game one. He was dominant against the Braves this year, but after missing three weeks with shoulder inflammation, it’s unclear how long he’ll be able to pitch. Andrew Painter will follow him, and it’s tough to know what to expect from the rookie after his inconsistent season.
Presumably, Cristopher Sanchez will start game two. Sanchez was 0-2 against the Braves, but that’s more of an indictment of the defense (three unearned runs in 12 innings) and offense (three total runs scored in support in the two games).
Aaron Nola is scheduled for game three. (No, I don’t think they should start Zack Wheeler on short rest.) He faced the Braves three times, and based on how his overall season went, it shouldn’t surprise you that his start against them in April went poorly, while his two starts in September went well. (Three earned runs in 13.1 innings.)
Much like with Sale against the Phillies, nothing these guys do should surprise the Braves.
You let me fall
The Phillies have one of the best starting rotations in baseball. They also have a top closer. But it’s the guys who pitch in between them that has everyone understandably worried. Who among the setup relievers do you trust in this bullpen to hold a lead right now? Anyone?
The bullpen was probably the primary reason the Phillies exited the playoffs in 2023 and 2024, and those teams seemed to be in better shape entering the postseason than this year’s edition. The 2026 bullpen has a bunch of questionable arms, and a manager who hasn’t shown much of a knack for handling them.
Phillies relievers have allowed 84 runs in 106⅓ innings this season to the Braves, Cubs, Dodgers and Brewers, the teams they’d have to beat in the NL playoffs.
The bullpen has 7 losses and 6 blown saves in those games. Phils have gone 7-21.
The Phillies may need to pull from the 2019 Nationals’ playbook and use their starters in off-day relief appearances. But they will need to use some actual relievers at some point. Hopefully guys like Alex McFarlane, Jonathan Bowlan, and whatever lefthanders Don Mattingly trots out on a given day can come through.
I don’t want you tonight
The television schedule makers have made it clear that they don’t consider Phillies vs. Braves to be a marquee matchup since they’ll be relegated to the 2PM slot every game. It makes some sense. Yankees vs. Red Sox gets the 7 PM slot 10/10 times and the other two matchup feature western teams. (Although they certainly could have swapped them with the White Sox vs. Astros.)
6 months. 162 games. 8 teams. 3 days. It all comes down to this.
Most of us are working at 2 PM, so hopefully, you’ll be able to either watch it somehow, avoid spoilers until you can watch, or just have to follow along remotely. Since I work from home, it isn’t a major problem for me, unless I’m unfortunately scheduled for a meeting during that time.
Braves vs. Phillies at 2pm Tuesday
I understand the desire for a 2pm, 5pm, 8pm and 10pm start, but very few fans will watch 10-11 hours straight on a Tuesday afternoon/night.
Also, even a 5pm timeslot is tough for families after work/school, during dinner, bedtime routine, etc. pic.twitter.com/qgGp1vW2p9
The final trivia answer of the season: In the first game the Phillies ever played at Tropicana Field, future Hall of Famers Scott Rolen, Fred McGriff, and Wade Boggs all played. Dirkniblick got it right.
Thanks for everyone who played this season!
I’m gonna show you tonight
Braves fans can talk a big game, but considering the history between the teams, you know they can’t be pleased about having to face the Phillies in the playoffs again.
“I am so tired of watching Rhys Hoskins slamming his bat off an injured and wounded Spencer Strider.” – @scottcoleman55
The Braves have everything lined up in their favor. Scott says it’s time to exorcise some postseason demons. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/HTa1A6Rk6o
Will history repeat itself? I honestly don’t know. I think the starting pitching will at least keep them in every game, but after that, it’s hard to predict much with this team. They’ve gone through stretches where they consistently get on base and then get hits with runners in scoring position. They also have stretches where every hitter seems to want to be the hero and pops up the first pitch as soon as a runner gets aboard.
It may come down to how well the bullpen performs, and that’s not a reassuring thought. But worse bullpens than this one have won playoff series, and the Phillies’ best hope might be that if the Braves find themselves trailing in the late innings, those past playoff failures start weighing on them, and they’re the ones who start pressing at the plate.
For what it’s worth, the Phillies seem to view themselves as a battle-tested team who has been there before. It’s time for them to back that up and show they have what it takes.
Every generation has its random breakout journeyman, the guy who comes up, thrusts himself into the limelight with some big performances in key spots, and then, in time, fades into relative obscurity. In the late ‘90s and early 2000s, it was Shane Spencer. For the mid-2010s, Yangervis Solarte and Prestone Claiborne briefly locked down the hot corner and a middle relief spot, respectively. During the Baby Bomber years, Greg Bird, Mike Tauchman, and Oswaldo Cabrera each took a turn in this role, becoming — at least for a time — fan favorites.
Once upon a time, that flash-in-the-pan star was Shelley Duncan, now the manager for the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton (no longer) RailRiders.
David Shelley Duncan Born: September 29, 1979 (Tucson, Arizona) Yankees Tenure: 2007-09
On this day in 1979, Duncan was born into a baseball family. The son of former A’s catcher Dave Duncan and brother of the late 2006 Cardinals champion Chris Duncan, he played ball at Canyon del Oro High School in the Tucson suburb of Oro Valley, alongside future All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler. From there, he went on to the University of Arizona, where he was named an All-American first team outfielder by Baseball America as a freshman and a Pac-10 All-Star the following year. Based on his performance, he was drafted by the Yankees in the second round of the 2001 draft.
Upon joining the Yankees organization, Duncan began to slowly but steadily climb through the ranks: he spent 2003 and 2004 in High-A Tampa, broke out with Double-A Trenton in 2005, then reached Triple-A Columbus in 2006. He began the 2007 season with Triple-A Scranton (the Yankees swapped minor league affiliates that winter), before he got the call to the Show on July 20, 2007; with the team 7.5 games behind the first-place Red Sox in the standings and barely sitting up above .500, the Yankees were looking for a jolt — and fortunately, the hard-hitting outfielder provided.
Batting ninth and DHing during his first career start, Duncan went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth, capping off a rally that made a 13-1 Yankees deficit into a not-quite-as-awful-but-still-bad 13-4 loss. The next day, he hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth for his first career home run, helping lead the Bombers past the Devil Rays. Two games later, he had his first multi-homer day, driving in four runs as the Yankees absolutely obliterated Tampa Bay 21-4.
Duncan excelled in a part-time role down the stretch for the 2007 Yankees, slashing .257/.329/.554 with 7 homers in 83 plate appearances. While he wasn’t the main reason for the 44-22 finish to the season to secure a Wild Card spot, his ability to produce off the bench certainly helped ensure the Yankees finished the season with the best offense in the American League.
Duncan spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons bouncing between Scranton and the Bronx, slashing just .181/.250/.264 in 80 plate appearances in the Majors, but earning the 2009 International League MVP while leading the league in home runs and runs batted in. On the back of these performances, when he chose free agency after the season when outrighted to Scranton, signing a deal with Cleveland that January.
Duncan was a part-time player for the next three years in Cleveland, where he was teammates with future Yankee Jayson Nix. Splitting time between first base, left field, and the DH spot, he posted a .231/.309/.430 slash with 33 homers across three seasons. Following a brief spell with Tampa Bay in 2013, Duncan bounced between minor league systems for the first couple of months of 2014 before hanging up the cleats for good after being released by the Reds in June.
After finishing his undergraduate degree in 2014, Duncan embarked on a minor league coaching career in 2015. He spent four years working for the Arizona Diamondbacks organization as a minor league manager, then joined the Blue Jays front office as a Major League Field Coordinator and scout. After a couple years north of the border—and unfortunately personal hardship when his brother Chris passed away from brain cancer in 2019—Duncan worked as an analyst for the Chicago White Sox for two seasons. Soon, he was back in both the dugout and the Yankees family, as he took the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders managerial job in January 2023.
Duncan has spent the last four seasons in the role, leading the RailRiders to the league finals last season while earning the 2025 International League Manager of the Year Award. Happy 47th birthday, Shelley!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 25: Carter Jensen #22 of the Kansas City Royals hits a home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium on September 25, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Carter Jensen capped off a terrific rookie season with his best month in September. The catcher hit .338/.407/.788 with eight home runs in 20 games, leading all of baseball in month in ten doubles, 19 extra-base hits, slugging percentage, and OPS (1.194). The league recognized his performance, awarding him not only American League Rookie of the Month, but American League Player of the Month.
It is the second month in a row a Royals hitter has taken home the monthly award in the American League, with Jac Caglianone winning honors in August. The two young hitters combined for 50 of the team’s 170 home runs this year.
Jensen’s 1.194 OPS is the second-best ever by a Royals hitter with at least 20 games in September, behind only Danny Tartabull’s performance in 1987. He is the first Royals catcher to win American League Player of the Month. It is just the fifth time a Royals hitter has won American League Rookie of the Month since the award was created in 2001. Eric Hosmer won it in July and September of 2011, Brian Bannister won it in June and August of 2007, and Billy Butler won it in July of 2007. It is the 14th time that a player has won both Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month at the same time.
Jensen seems to enjoy hitting in the fall. Last year he hit .300/.391/.550 with three home runs in 16 games upon a September callup.
Overall, Jensen hit .239/.323/.467 this year with 27 home runs, 80 runs scored, and 81 RBI. His 3.7 fWAR is fourth among all MLB rookies, and his 116 wRC+ leads all qualified American League catchers.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Mauricio Dubon #14, Ozzie Albies #1 and Mike Yastrzemski #18 of the Atlanta Braves celebrate a three-run home run during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Joe Buvid/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Braves are going with a lineup that’s simultaneously surprising and not-so-surprising in Game 1 of their three-game playoff set against the Phillies:
The top half of the lineup isn’t that surprising. Sure, maybe you expected the Braves to start with Ronald Acuña Jr. given that the nominal starter they are facing today throws with his left hand, but they’ve chosen to alternate handedness while keeping Matt Olson ensconced in the third spot in the lineup.
This means that Mauricio Dubon, of the 317 wOBA, .308 xwOBA, 99 wRC+, with an 84 wRC+ and .290 xwOBA against southpaws this season, is hitting cleanup. Now, you might say, hold on — Dubon was one of the few guys hitting for this club in September. And, that’s true — he had a 131 wRC+. But, he also outhit his xwOBA by .064 in that month, so… the Braves are hoping it works anyway, I guess?
The rest of the lineup is surprising insofar as Mike Yastrzemski slots in at DH, despite said southpaw on the mound. The Braves are either hoping Jesus Luzardo doesn’t last long enough to get to the eighth spot in the lineup (or that if he does, there was a big early rally and it doesn’t matter), or afraid that they simply don’t have enough options to protect Yastrzemski against a lefty reliever later if they start someone else and then give the reins the Yastrzemski. After all, they’re not really awash in righty pinch-hitting options.
All of this means that Dubon starts in left, and Ha-Seong Kim gets the reins at shortstop. By carrying both Rowdy Tellez and Dominic Smith, the Braves have a lot of latitude to pinch hit for Kim whenever they feel like it, including early on — and move to Dubon to short in the process — we’ll see what happens, though.
While really anything can happen and something weird probably will, this game is more likely going to be about whether the Braves’ actual good bats can do stuff against Luzardo and/or whomever replaces him (Andrew Painter? I don’t know). From Dubon-onward, only Michael Harris II has actually hit at all well this year (and he’s been great, if kind of weird offensively with strong bookend months and a lot of luck in between), so either those guys all having bad seasons manage to show a scintilla of something positive, or it’s gonna be waiting for one of the mashers to mash.
The Phillies were kind enough to post their lineup right as I was ready for it, and it looks like this:
With Luis Arraez injured, the Phillies get to plug in an extra righty. Chief Ivan Annoyer Derek Hill hits fifth, former Brave and famed horse armor aficionado Bryan De La Cruz hits sixth, and Edmundo Sosa is hovering out there and will probably annoy Chris Sale and us out of the eight hole.
I won’t do batter-versus-pitcher stats against Luzardo since I have no idea how long he’s going to last, but for those that care about these guys versus Sale:
These numbers are neither good nor bad, really. They just kind of are. Alec Bohm’s gotten a bit lucky, and Sale has dominated most of the weaker hitters (except, of course, in seven PAs, Derek f’n Hill aargh). If you sum these all up, it bodes well with a .258 wOBA / .279 xwOBA in head-to-head matchups, but of course that means managing the mischief of Bohm, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber a bit, while avoiding tumbling off the Derek Hill, roo. Anyway, I can’t imagine batter-versus-pitcher has that much bearing here, but what else is there to talk about? I guess I could scratch my head about Dubon hitting cleanup some more.
