Big Wheel keeps on turnin' as Phillies get back on winning track originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

WASHINGTON – This was a game the Phillies had to win. They had lost eight of 12 coming in. The losing prompted Kyle Schwarber to deliver a postgame pep talk through the media the night before. The Phils had one of their aces on the mound. They were facing a cast of relievers from the Washington Nationals, a team 10 games under .500 with the second-worst bullpen in the majors.

Repeat: This was a game the Phillies had to win.

And that’s just what they did. It wasn’t the prettiest win, at least from an offensive standpoint, but the Phillies did manage to beat the Nationals, 3-0, on Wednesday night to earn a split of a quick, two-game series before heading off to New York for four games with the Mets.

In need of something to feel good about in the starting rotation after Jesus Luzardo was placed on the injured list Tuesday and Cristopher Sanchez struggled in a 6-3 loss hours later, the Phils got it from Zack Wheeler. The 36-year-old right-hander was efficient and effective in firing seven shutout innings.

Wheeler has fully recovered from the second-half slump that saw him pitch to a 8.51 ERA in a six-start span from July 27 to August 24. In four starts since then, he has allowed just three runs in 26 innings. The Phillies have won all four games.

The victory left the Phillies at 84-68 with 10 games to play. They will open their series in New York on Thursday night no worse than second in the NL wild-card race.

Wheeler, who is 13-5 with a 2.99 ERA, is scheduled to make two more starts before the regular season ends. His final start would come on the last day of the regular season. The Phils would love to sew up a playoff spot before then so he could skip that start and take the mound for the playoff opener two days later.

Wheeler scattered four hits and a walk. He struck out five. He finished his night with a strikeout of Dylan Crews on a 96.6 mph fastball. He threw an economical 91 pitches. Jose Alvarado and Jhoan Duran completed the shutout.

The Nationals started rookie Jared Simpson in a bullpen game. He walked four batters and gave up a hit in the first inning as the Phillies ran out to a 2-0 lead. Alec Bohm had an RBI single and Bryson Stott drew a bases-loaded walk in the inning. Luis Arraez followed a Bryce Harper single with an RBI double in the seventh to complete the scoring. In all, Washington pitchers walked an obscene total of 13 batters. The Phillies could have done more — they should have done more — but they had only five hits. They were 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position and left 13 men on base.

(More coming…)

The Tigers’ winning streak ended at six as they lost to the Jays 5-1.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Tigers were hoping to continue their winning streak by sweeping the Blue Jays. To get the job done, they had new dad Keider Montero on the mound, up against old friend Max Scherzer for the Jays.

Colt Keith got things going for the Tigers with a two-out double in the top of the first. A Riley Greene single then brought Keith home and put the Tigers on the board nice and early.

In the home half Brett Bateman singled to start the inning. With one out, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled. Two outs then followed, ending the threat and leaving two men stranded.

Heading into the second, Brett Callahan took a two-out walk, but the Tigers weren’t able to convert the run. In the bottom of the inning, Brandon Valenzuela singled, followed by a Myles Straw single. A third out ended the inning with no runs scored.

Kevin McGonigle got a leadoff single to start the third. However, with one out, McGonigle tried to steal second and was tagged out for the second out of the inning. Colt Keith then walked, but a Riley Greene out ended the inning. In the home half, Guerrero Jr. got a one-out walk, but George Springer hit into a double play to end the inning.

In the top of the fourth, Spencer Torkelson took a two-out walk, but the Tigers weren’t able to extend their lead. In the bottom of the inning, Kazuma Okamoto got a leadoff single, then Josh Smith doubled, sending Okamoto to third. An Ernie Clement sac fly scored Okamoto and tied up the game 1-1. With two outs, Smith had advanced to third, then Straw singled, bringing in another run and putting the Jays in the lead. Straw was then caught stealing to end the inning.

The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth. The day was done for Montero after the rough showing in the fourth. His final line was 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K on 89 pitches. He was replaced by Tyler Holton. Bateman singled, then advanced to second thanks to a sac bunt by Nathan Lukes. The Jays got runners on the corners after Guerrero Jr. hit into a force out that got Lukes out at second but advanced Bateman to third. Springer then singled to bring in another run. Okamoto grounded into a double play to end the inning. The Jays were leading 3-1 at the end of five.

Mason Fluharty replaced Scherzer after five innings of solid work from the veteran. Fluharty got the Tigers out in order. Drew Sommers came out to pitch in the home half. Clement reached on a fielding error by John Peck. Valenzuela then reached on a fielder’s choice and a throwing error by Peck allowed Clement to score and Valenzuela to end up safely at second. Myles Straw then reached on a fielding error by McGonigle, and three errors in a row is some pretty inexcusable fielding for a team hoping to make a last-ditch bid for the postseason, just saying. Bateman hit into a force out that eliminated Straw. Lukes then hit a soft single right back at Sommers, allowing Valenzuela to score. A third out finally ended the inning, but it was a rough one for the Tigers.

Spencer Miles was the next reliever out of the Jays’ pen. Torkelson got a one-out single, but the Tigers were not able to bring him home, as two outs followed. Tyler Kinley came in for the Tigers in the home half, and for the first time in the game, got the Jays out in order.

McGonigle singled to start the eighth. Then Gleyber Torres got a one-out single to bump McGonigle over to third. But despite being in a good position to score, the Tigers weren’t able to capitalize. Valenzuela got a one-out walk, but a double play then ended the inning.

Max Clark singled to start the ninth, followed by a walk from Torkelson. Louis Varland replaced Miles. He got three outs in a row to end the inning and the game, unfortunately shutting down the Tigers’ opportunity for a rally. Thus endeth the winning streak.

Final: Jays 5, Tigers 1

Yesterday, the Athletics opened their final road-trip of the season with a 2-1 walk-off loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Despite the tough defeat, right-hander Jack Perkins’ quality start gave the team a positive take away heading into today’s middle game of the series.

Injury Update

Before the game, the A’s received promising news concerning minor league outfielder Ryan Lasko, who suffered a serious spinal cord injury earlier this season. He fractured the C6-C7 vertebrae in his neck after colliding with teammate Devin Taylor while chasing a fly ball in a game a few months ago.

Game Preview

Shifting back to the contest, left-hander Brady Basso will start this evening for the A’s. The 28-year-old left-hander enters his 24th appearance and sixth start of the season with a 1-2 record, a 3.86 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 37 1/3 innings.

Basso has been stretched out over his last three appearances, serving as the opener in two of them. In his most recent outing against the Toronto Blue Jays, the southpaw effectively functioned as the Athletics’ starter, tossing a season-high four scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

Basso pitched in one game when the A’s faced the Rays in Sacramento, allowing one run on three hits over two innings of relief. The Athletics would welcome another strong outing from Basso in his second appearance and first start against Tampa Bay.

However, if Basso struggles and winds up only pitching an inning or two, the A’s have a relatively well-rested bullpen ready to pick him up and pitch the rest of the game. Hard-throwing right-handers Luis Medina and Elvis Alvarado only threw three pitches last night, with Alvarado allowing Junior Caminero’s walk-off home run.

Here’s the Athletics’ lineup for tonight’s matchup:

Having lost their 90th game of the season in the series opener, this lineup offers little hope for a bounce-back win. The quality of the lineup falls off dramatically after the top five, but that is unsurprising for this injury-plagued club playing out the remainder of its fifth straight losing season.

Shortstop Donovan Walton has been a nice find. Is the journeyman infielder’s level of success sustainable, or will he find himself on the fifth different team of his career next season? Also haven’t the A’s seen enough of left fielder Carlos Cortes and first baseman Tommy White lately to know that they do not bring enough to the table on either side of the ball?

White’s prospect pedigree has failed to show up through his first 45 MLB games, as he has gone from a defensively challenged slugger in college to an improving, but still defensively limited singles hitter in professional baseball. At least center fielder Denzel Clarke, who is sitting on the bench once again, has a standout glove in his toolbox.

Given the players starting and the Rays’ pitcher tonight, it would not be surprising if the A’s struggle offensively for a second consecutive night. If the A’s want a series-evening victory, the team will need its regulars at the top of the lineup to lead the way.

The Rays, meanwhile, have right-hander Nick Martinez taking the ball. The 36-year-old has been a revelation in his first season with Tampa Bay, playing a major role in the team’s league-best performance. Martinez enters his 29th start of the season with a 14-4 record, a 2.92 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP and 98 strikeouts over 166 1/3 innings. While the veteran does not rack up the strikeouts, he does an excellent job of inducing soft contact and limiting baserunners.

The right-hander pitched a complete game, helping the Rays sweep the Athletics when these teams met in Sacramento last month. Martinez has had plenty of success against the Green and Gold throughout his career, going 5-5 with a 2.90 ERA and 52 strikeouts in his first 17 appearances against the A’s.

Will Martinez continue to dominate A’s batters, or will the Athletics’ offense find a way to score runs against the crafty veteran?

Tampa Bay’s starting nine:

The Rays are rolling with a lineup loaded with right-handed hitters to counter Basso. That means first baseman Ryan Vilade, center fielder Jonny DeLuca, second baseman Nick Madrigal and catcher Nick Fortes all get their first starts of the series.

Should the A’s replace Basso with a right-hander, it is highly likely that left-handed hitters Liam Hicks and Jonathan Aranda will come off the bench to pinch-hit, especially in late-game or run-scoring situations. Until then, Basso and the rest of the Athletics’ pitching staff must be particularly careful with Yandy Díaz and Caminero, who has hit two walk-off home runs in a span of five days.

Time to beat the Rays for the first time this season. Let’s go A’s!

Follow the Game:
Watch:
Athletics – NBCSCA

Listen:
Athletics – Talk 650 KSTE, A’s Cast

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, September 16, 2026, 6:40 p.m. ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates are hosting the NL Central rival Milwaukee Brewers for the second contest of a three-game set at PNC Park.

The Brewers are going with Logan Henderson, who is making his 17th start of the season. In his first full season in the major leagues, he is making quite an impact for the Brewers.

Henderson went five innings, giving up two hits in his last start on August 9 against the Chicago Cubs. The Brewers came out on top in an 8-6 victory. He also pitched against the Pirates earlier this season on August 4, going six innings, giving up four hits and two runs in a 4-2 victory at American Family Field.

Meanwhile, the Pirates are going with Jared Jones, who is making his 19th start of the season. Jones has been electric in September, pitching 13 innings without giving up a run. He picked up the victory on August 4 at home against the Los Angeles Angels and was the winning pitcher against the Chicago White Sox on August 10 in his last start, when he gave up just one hit in seven scoreless innings. Jones also pitched in the aforementioned August 4 game at PNC Park, giving up eight hits and three runs in four innings of work as the Pirates lost 4-2.

Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA

Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh

Pitching Matchup: Logan Henderson (10-3, 2.34 ERA) vs. Jared Jones (4-6, 4.10 ERA)

BD community, this is your game thread against the Milwaukee Brewers. Chime off in the comments section below.

The Yankees were walked off by the Twins, 5-4, in the 13th inning of Wednesday's series finale at Target Field.

Here are some takeaways...

-- The Yanks continue to be plagued by the injury bug. In just his seventh game back from his long IL stint, Aaron Judge was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth due to right lower leg tightness. The captain went 0-for-2 in his two at-bats before leaving, striking out both times.  

-- To make matters worse, the Yanks offense wasn't able to solve Twins starter Zebby Matthews. The right-hander came into the day with nine runs allowed over his past two starts, but he limited New York to four baserunners (two BB, two hits) while striking out eight across six scoreless innings.  

-- Carlos Rodon did a good job of keeping New York in it. The left-hander had to battle through traffic in a couple of innings, but held the Twins to two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five across six frames. He's now down to a 2.95 ERA through 15 starts this season. 

-- Clarke Schmidt had an up-and-down first outing back at the big-league level. The right-hander struck out two batters but allowed a pair of singles in between, leaving with two in scoring position and two outs. Brent Headrick entered and struck Ryan Jeffers out to strand the pair. 

-- The Yankees wasted a big opportunity in the eighth, but finally broke through in the ninth. Anthony Volpe continued swinging a hot bat, lifting a two-run double off the right-center fence, evening things up and handing Twins closer Yoendrys Gomez his first blown save of the season. 

-- Both teams converted the free runner in the 10th and the 11th. David Bednar did a tremendous job of keeping this game alive for the Yanks, escaping a first-and-second nobody-out jam in the 10th, then stranding the winning run in scoring position in the bottom of the 11th. 

-- New York wasted a bases-loaded threat in the 12th, but kept Minnesota off the board. The Yanks were held scoreless again in the 13th, and then the Twins made them pay. A Victor Caratini single snuck under George Lombard Jr's glove leading off the frame, bringing home a run and ending the marathon series-finale.

-- The two teams went a combined 7-for-30 with runners in scoring position on the afternoon. 

Highlights

Brand new ballgame 👏@Volpe_Anthony 🦊 pic.twitter.com/kDBrm6d8wm

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 16, 2026

What's next

The Yanks are off on Thursday, but continue their road trip Friday against the Diamondbacks. 

Arizona hasn't announced a starter, but Gerrit Cole will take the ball for New York with a 9:40 first pitch.