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Game 1 of the Wild Card round is in the books, and Chicago, we have some serious problems. The Cubs’ vaunted offense did nothing against Padres pitching, narrowly avoiding being no-hit in the first of the three-game series. Admittedly, Michael King dominated, throwing pitches that looked out of the zone only to dart back in to an unhittable corner of the plate. It completely disrupted a Cubs offense that is defined by taking walks, forcing pitchers to the big part of the zone and then doing damage. If Nick Pivetta is able to execute a similar strategy tonight the Cubs’ Postseason will end unceremoniously tonight.

It’s also unclear how many people in Chicago actually were able to watch the game (whether you think that’s a blessing or a curse is debatable). The Wild Card round was hosted on NBC, which decided to put both of the Chicago games on its streaming platform Peacock and a lesser carried channel, NBC Sports Network. If you subscribe to Comcast/Xfinity, YouTube TV or Fubo, you had the game via those services. If you subscribe to Peacock (more on that in a second) you had the game. If you either get cable through Astound (previously RCN) or DirecTV, you were out of luck, as they don’t carry NBCSN. This was also true if you use a live TV streaming option other than YouTube or Fubo. As reported in the Sun-Times:

To watch Games 1 and 2 of Cubs-Padres and White Sox-Astros, fans must watch on Peacock, which costs $12.99 per month, or NBCSN, which is available on Comcast’s Xfinity system and streamers Fubo and YouTube TV. Though Xfinity and YouTube TV are two of the largest pay-TV providers in the country, NBCSN is missing from services such as DirecTV and Astound/RCN.

A couple of notes here: I am one of the people impacted by this as I use Sling and despite having multiple sports add-ons had no way to access NBCSN through that platform. Additionally, not to quibble with the Sun-Times, but when I looked at the cost of adding Peacock for the game yesterday it was $19.99 a month and there was no option for a free trial through NBC. I did some digging and found that I could add a 7-day Peacock trial through Amazon Prime, and if I didn’t cancel in seven days the charge would be an additional $19.99 a month. I have also since heard on social media that if you have some cable packages, Peacock is a $5 add-on, for others it’s $9.

Got it?

The current maze of streaming, cable and pay-TV options is exhausting. Admittedly, I am taking people’s word on the price they are charged for Peacock right now, and didn’t devote even more hours trying to figure out their pricing tiers and deals. And that’s just Peacock. This season MLB had a handful of deals with multiple streamers who all have their own deals with different providers, etc.

Major League Baseball deliberately partitioning off a handful of games here and a handful of games there is designed to extract the maximum amount of money from their most engaged fans at a time most Americans feel stretched economically. Want to watch the Home Run Derby? Better have Netflix. Want to watch teams all over the country (except your local team)? Better sign up for MLB.TV. Want to watch your local team? Better pay them for streaming too, and/or pray your cable or pay-TV option has a deal with them. You can shell out $19.99 a month to subscribe to Marquee Sports Network, right? Want to watch your local team in the playoffs? That’s another $19.99 a month, either to NBC or through an add-on via some other nonsense Subscription as a Service (SAAS) designed to ensure you NEVER pay for just one thing. You’re always shelling out a few dollars here, a few dollars there, and from a company perspective, hopefully forgetting you signed up for that free trial so they can milk you for $19.99 until you figure it out.

Oh, and it doesn’t stop there. Not only are they hoping you forget you are paying them every month, they can and will raise those rates with as little notice as legally possible until you figure out that what you used to spend $64 a year for has somehow ballooned to $122 in less than two years. Streamflation is real, as reported this month by Nerdist:

Last year, we set out to chronicle the number of price hikes we’d see across streaming platforms. It had started to feel like every day, a streaming platform would raise its prices and increase its costs to subscribers. And that turned out to be… basically true. In 2025, we saw a total of SIX streaming price hikes — averaging out to about one cost increase every other month. While in a vacuum, streaming price increases can feel immaterial, taken altogether, the constant cost hikes are INTENSE. So this year, we’re doing it again. Join us as we take a look at every streaming price hike and cost increase in 2026. Will we be over or under the 2025 total? We’re already tied at 6 streaming price hikes in 2026 and 2025… So under is off the table… And over is looking likely.

My apologies for screenshotting the table of contents to summarize this article, there are so many increases, with so much individual nuance, the table of contents is the best way to get a sense of the scope of the changes. You really should read the whole thing to get an idea of actual increases and then take a close look at your bill to tally what you’re actually paying for TV and streaming):

Spoiler alert: they are all just really hoping that you never notice it or do the tally. That $7 becoming $9 becoming $14.99 just doesn’t register in the slew of other cost increases that are more in your face each day. It’s hard to escape the conclusion that one-off events like the MLB Wild Card round being on a niche streaming service that’s losing the platform wars are designed to artificially increase their market share. Here is the list of top streaming services in the United States by subscribers according to FlixPatrol:

There are any number of fans who are just tired of this discourse. I don’t blame them, it’s a complaint about the new media reality that probably isn’t changing anytime soon. Someone is always going to lose. Get over it and either sign up for the free trial, remember to cancel, pay $5 (or $9, or $12.99 or $19.99) and watch the game or choose to miss it.

However, the answer to an increasingly labyrinthine and opaque system for charging baseball fans the maximum they’ll agree to pay for games is not to just sigh and open your wallet. Especially not while corporate fingers are crossed behind CEO backs as they secretly hope you forget you added their service. It’s a textbook example of why people despise big business. Don’t take my word for it, Gallup polls these things:

Fifteen percent of Americans say they have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in big business, far below the 70% who say they have confidence in small business, as of June 2025. Separately, an August 2025 poll found that 37% of Americans have a positive view of big business, while 95% have a positive view of small business. Perceptions of small business have generally been steady in recent years, while views of big business have worsened.

Perhaps the billionaires who own baseball teams and the people who direct MLB’s front offices to make these decisions don’t care about any of that. Netflix offered more than Peacock, who offered more than Amazon, and some consultant with a spreadsheet figured out a way to maximize all of that at the cost of our growing anger and frustration. Fans have dealt with that angst in housing, food costs and the rising cost of everything else, so we’ll probably tolerate it from baseball too. Even if the powers that be in MLB’s front offices believe fans will always come back and they don’t need to worry about losing their most loyal fans, they should worry about the constraints they are inadvertently putting on growing the next generation of fans. How many kiddos out there won’t even have the chance to fall in love with baseball because they never saw the big moments in the first place?

MLB should be more than a corporation. It should be more than profit and loss statements. The type of loyalty, love and heartbreak that was on display at our watch party last night in Wrigleyville is a priceless asset MLB and team owners hold in trust. The endless carousel of streaming complications making it difficult for fans to watch the most important games of the year is a violation of that trust. MLB is playing a dangerous game leaving their fans disgruntled with these arrangements, especially with a labor battle looming that threatens the viability of the sport in 2027 and beyond.

The Mets began the final two weeks of the season with four straight losses, in which they only scored more than one run in one of those four games. Things picked up a little bit after that, but the Mets only won one series in the final two weeks of 2026, playing spoilers to a Rangers team that would just miss the playoffs in a weak AL West. This was mostly a team just playing out the string, but the bright side is NL Rookie of the Year candidate Carson Benge finished the season hot, which may get him a few extra votes.

Player	Last week	This week
Francisco Alvarez, C
Brett Baty, UTIL
Carson Benge, OF
Bo Bichette, 3B
A.J. Ewing, OF
Francisco Lindor, SS
Ronny Mauricio, INF	—
Nick Morabito, OF
Christopher Morel, 1B/DH
Cristian Pache, OF		—
Marcus Semien, 2B
Juan Soto, OF
Luis Torrens, C
Mark Vientos, 1B/3B
Jared Young, 1B/DH

Since I mentioned Carson Benge, we’ll start with him. He was by far the Mets’ best hitter over the final two weeks of the season, putting up a blistering 201 wRC+ in 59 plate appearances and making another “splendiferous” catch in the outfield in the season’s final series in DC. He led the team in hits by a large margin with 21—six more than anybody else. He also led the team in runs scored with ten and RBIs with eight. He racked up six extra base hits, including three home runs. The final of those three home runs was his 20th, making him the first Mets rookie to have a 20-20 season. It’s possible that Benge still doesn’t end up beating out Sal Stewart’s sexy run production totals, but going 21-for-57 in the season’s final two weeks in a sprint to the finish certainly helped bolster his case.

When Jared Young’s very good 2026 season came to an extremely unfortunate end, Ronny Mauricio was called up to take his spot on the roster and had an incredible power surge to make his case to remain in the Mets’ future plans. In the Mets’ only victory against the Nationals in DC on Saturday, Mauricio went deep from both sides of the plate in his first multi-home run game of his career. Overall, Mauricio had four hits in 12 plate appearances, but three of those four hits were home runs. He drove in six runs and also walked twice.

The Mets’ other young player more on the fringes Nick Morabito also logged 12 plate appearances in the season’s final two weeks, but did not produce as many fireworks as Mauricio. He had three hits—two singles and a double—two runs scored and no RBIs. He also struck out six times and didn’t draw any walks, which is not a ratio you want to see. The future for both him and Mauricio on the team is uncertain, but unlike Morabito, Mauricio is out of options.

The future is also uncertain for both Mark Vientos and Brett Baty, who you could argue are borderline non-tender candidates in the offseason. However, the latter showed some spark in the form of a hot streak in the season’s final month that the former did not. Though Baty was not quite as red hot as in the first half of September, he is still one of the few Mets’ hitters to receive a positive grade for racking up ten hits in 38 plate appearances, including a home run—good for a very strong 147 wRC+ to finish out his season. Baty scored five runs, drove in six runs, and walked six times. He even expanded his repertoire to include the shortstop position in the season’s penultimate game, making his first career start there while Francisco Lindor served as the DH. Vientos’ season did not end on quite as high a note; he put up a 23 wRC+ in 25 plate appearances, notching just four hits—two singles and two doubles. He drove in two runs and walked once, while striking out seven times. While Baty made the case that he still belongs on the Mets’ roster next year, one can’t confidently say the same for Vientos based on his performance after returning from the injured list.

Francisco Lindor’s final two weeks were rather mediocre overall, but he did finally reach the milestone he had been chasing on the season’s final day, going deep for his 300th career home run. In doing so, he became the first shortstop in MLB history to hit 300 home runs and steal 200 bases. That home run was one of ten hits for Lindor over his final 63 plate appearances of 2026 and one of four extra-base hits. Lindor scored seven runs—second only to Benge for the team lead—and drove in two runs. He also walked seven times, which is the second-most on the team, but led the team in strikeouts with 14. Overall, he posted a 59 wRC+ in the second half of September.

By contrast, Juan Soto put up a much more solid 123 wRC+ in the final two weeks of the season. His eight RBIs match Benge for the team lead and his 15 hits are the second-most on the team. Soto also led the team in walks with nine and that is before including the five times he was walked intentionally, including three times in a single game during the Rangers series. Soto even stole a base for good measure, bring his total up to nine steals for the season—a far cry from last year’s total, but at least a good indicator that he is feeling healthy and hopefully ready to contribute a fully healthy season next year. Even though he played in only 111 games, the lowest of any full season in his career, he still amassed 3.0 bWAR in 2026.

The only other hitter to get a positive grade in the season’s final meter is A.J. Ewing, who joined his fellow Mets rookies in finishing strong with a 110 wRC+ in 51 plate appearances. Of course, his numbers aren’t as flashy as Benge’s, but 12-for-45 with six walks and two stolen bases is perfectly adequate production from a center fielder of his caliber defensively. Two of those 12 hits were home runs and Ewing scored five runs and drove in six runs.

Bo Bichette certainly didn’t end his season with a bang in a fashion that would make one confident he is opting out of his contract. He posted a rather pedestrian 84 wRC+ in 61 plate appearances in the last two weeks of the season. Of his 13 hits, only three went for extra bases, but he did go deep twice. He scored four suns, drove in five runs, and walked five times across these 13 games. Perhaps most notably, Bichette grounded into four double plays in the final two weeks of the season while nobody else in the team grounded into more than one; while this is small sample size theater like everything we do here with the meters, I can’t help but feel it is a microcosm of how this season has gone where so often Juan Soto gets on base ahead of Bichette—either because he gets a hit or because teams are pitching around him—and Bichette fails to deliver. Bichette has mentioned Andy Green as his favorite manager he’s ever played for in recent remarks, so the Mets installing him in the role permanently may sway Bichette to stay in New York rather than gamble on trying to get another big contract after an underwhelming season.

In the meantime, in his 2026 postmortem presser, David Stearns would not commit to Marcus Semien as the everyday second baseman next year and it’s easy to see why. Semien put up a 48 wRC+ in 46 plate appearances over the final two weeks of the season and ends his season with a 74 wRC+ overall for 2026. The Mets could have potentially lived with that if he was still playing Gold Glove caliber defense, but he also took a step (more like several steps, if we’re being honest) back defensively this year. Semien collected seven hits, three of which went for extra bases, including a home run. He scored five runs, drove in three runs, and walked four times. He also was caught stealing once.

Meanwhile, it was a rough week for the Mets’ catching tandem in more ways than one. Francisco Alvarez had an ugly game in the series opener in DC, grounding into a double play with the bases loaded in the first, making an errant throw in the second inning, and being behind the plate for three wild pitches in the third, two of which allowed a run to score. Overall, his numbers with the bat weren’t awful; he posted an 81 wRC+ in 37 plate appearances to finish out the season. He amassed nine hits, including two doubles and a home run. He scored six runs and drove in six runs, but he walked only once and struck out 11 times. Meanwhile, the numbers are garish for Luis Torrens, who finished the season 2-for-18 with a -28 wRC+. Torrens scored two runs, drove in a run, and walked just once while striking out seven times. I think it’s safe to say that the August power surge for Torrens petered out over these final couple of weeks.

There were no notable moments in the last two weeks of the season from the final two bench players Christopher Morel and Cristian Pache. Morel had eight plate appearances across three games and did not reach base in any of them. Pache does not get a grade because he only appeared in one game, but did not take an at-bat.

That’s a wrap on the position players for 2026 and we’ll get the final meter for the pitchers tomorrow. As always, I appreciate the community taking the time to read and engage with these fun meter posts every season!

Cristopher Sánchez and the Phillies take on Tyler Mahle in Atlanta.

Sean Burke and the White Sox try to finish off Hunter Brown and the Astros in Houston.

Sonny Gray and the Red Sox try to stay alive against Max Fried and the Yankees in New York

Kevin Gausman leads the Cubs’ rallying efforts against Nick Pivetta and the Padres in San Diego.

Go nuts everybody

There were a lot of positive things to come out of the 2026 season for the Nationals. The offense exploded, starters like Cade Cavalli and Andrew Alvarez broke out, and the farm system is in a great place. However, the bullpen was a nightmare for the Nats this season. They aimlessly cycled through arms and repeatedly blew games.

The bullpen made history, but not in a good way. The 2026 Nationals set the all time blown saves record with 42 blown saves this season. They set the record on September 8th, when they blew their 38th save and did not look back from that. It was an ugly year, especially late in games.

The Nationals have blown 38 saves this season, setting the MLB single-season record.pic.twitter.com/KWcNTz84Bn

— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) September 9, 2026

Honestly, this record was a bit of a perfect storm. It is unusual to have such a good offense paired with a very bad pitching staff, but that is what happened with the 2026 Nationals. That meant the bullpen had a lot of leads to protect, and inevitably they blew a lot of them.

When you look at the raw ERA total, the 2026 bullpen was actually better than 2025. Last season, the Nats posted a 5.59 bullpen ERA, the worst in baseball. This season, that number actually dropped to 4.99. However, due to all the leads the offense gave them, the Nats bullpen blew more games this year.

George Lewis on X actually tracked every blown save for the Nats. Most of them actually did not come in the 9th inning, interestingly. That chart shows a lot of interesting trends. It also gives you a visual of how unreliable the unit is.

On September 8th, the Nats bullpen blew its MLB-record 38th save. As someone who can objectively appreciate an epic collapse, I gave myself a mission: rewatch them all.

Here they are chronologically. More importantly, I ranked all 38 from least to most worst. Link below! pic.twitter.com/XAjftHkGCZ

— George (@georgerlewis) September 10, 2026

What this tells me, is the Nats need a sure fire option at the back end of the bullpen. We will see how much money the Nats spend this offseason, but a lot of that budget needs to go to the bullpen. You can argue about the merits of throwing big money at bullpen arms, but the Nats do not have much of a choice. Once you have a true alpha in the bullpen, it helps the rest of the bullpen settle into a more appropriate role.

In my opinion, the Nats need to either sign a big money reliever or make a trade for a big time arm. Spencer Nusbaum wrote about how there was no guarantee the Nats sign a big fish in the bullpen. I think it should be at the top of their wish list though.

The Nationals will almost certainly add bullpen help this winter. It is no guarantee they sign a big fish with ninth-inning experience.

More, including the case for and against that philosophy and how the bullpen is shaping up ahead of 2027: https://t.co/e4WEtqt680

— Spencer Nusbaum (@spencernusbaum_) September 26, 2026

I do not necessarily need the arm to have closing experience, but I want someone who has proven they can produce at a high level. My dream option actually does not have 9th inning experience. 

It would be far-fetched, but Adrian Morejon would be such a perfect fit for this team. He checks just about every box. Morejon is a very young free agent, not turning 28 until February. He also has absolutely insane stuff, with a savant page that is about as red as it gets. The market for Morejon will be bonkers, so I would not hold my breath there.

The other big name at the top of the market is David Bednar. He has proven he can handle the spotlight and has thrived as the Yankees closer. Bednar has a filthy three pitch mix, but again, the market will be intense. If Mark Lerner and the front office want to make a statement, that would be a great signing to make.

Honestly, there are plenty of options on the market, and the Nats need to come away with at least one or two of these guys. Some names that intrigue me are Evan Phillips, Raisel Iglesias and Alex Vesia. Those three are more realistic than the first two in my opinion.

Based on what we know about Paul Toboni, it does not seem like throwing major resources at the bullpen is something he wants to do. However, I do not think he has much of a choice right now. He tried to build a bullpen through shrewd waiver claims, internal development and minor trades. That simply did not work. We found a few nice arms, but no future closers.

If the Nats do acquire one or two heavy hitters, I think the bullpen would be in a nice spot. Over the last couple months of the season, some depth started to emerge. I like Erik Tolman, Jack Sinclair, Will Dion, Orlando Ribalta, Yovanny Cruz, Riley Cornelio and Brad Lord. However, I do not like any of those guys pitching in the 9th inning.

Once you find that alpha in the back of the bullpen, things begin to take shape. This offseason, Paul Toboni needs to swing big at the top of the relief market, instead of looking for quantity. With the right closer to spearhead this unit, I think the Nats bullpen could surprise people in 2027.

Now that the minor league seasons are over for Cleveland’s affiliates, it’s time to take a look back and see which players made a name for themselves in 2026 and should be monitored to make an impact on the 2027 Guardians’ team.

Prospects who Debuted and Ended the Season on the Guardians:
Chase DeLauter, Travis Bazzana, Angel Genao, Daniel Espino, Parker Messick, and Austin Peterson: From your rookie of the year candidates – DeLauter and Messick – to your AL All-Star – Bazzana – to a guy throwing 100 mph out of the bullpen – Espino – to your solid longman/fifth starter – Peterson, this was a special group of Guardians’ rookies without a doubt.

Columbus Clippers:

Hitters:
Cooper Ingle, LH C/LF – 151 wRC+, 23/18 (.371 wOBA/.351 xwOBA in August-September) – Ingle is clearly going to be a good hitter, but it’s his defensive home that’s the trouble. Can he stick at catcher? Will he be able to adjust to left field (after a disastrous few games there in Cleveland)? At the plate, he clearly sold out for some more power this season, leading to an uptick in strikeouts. Was the trade-off worth it? All questions the Guardians have to answer, but I do wonder if Ingle isn’t Kwan’s eventual replacement in left.

Ralphy Velazquez – 133 wRC+, 21/11 – (.481 wOBA/.396 xwOBA in Aug-Sep). For those wondering, in Ralphy’s last two months he put up a .491 wOBA on off-speed pitches, a .355 wOBA on curveballs, and a .355 wOBA on sliders. His wOBA on fastballs was a ridiculous .561. Basically, he is steadily figuring each kind of pitch out and doing damage on them. I believe he should be plan-A to start 2027 at first base for the Guardians.

Kahlil Watson, LH CF – 116 wRC+, 27/13 (.348 wOBA/.344 xwOBA in Aug-Sep) – Watson is such a fun player and competitor but I just can’t see him making it as a big leaguer with his chase and whiff issues.

Kody Huff, RH C/1B – 131 wRC+, 20/14, .362 wOBA/.311 xwOBA in Aug-Sep) – This was a breakout year for Huff at the plate, who hit lefties extremely well. Zack Meisel of the Athletic has repeatedly mentioned how much the Guardians love him, and I would assume he is next in line if anything should happen to injure on the Bailey-Hedges tandem in Cleveland. I see little reason to doubt Hedges will be back in 2027. Huff is Rule-5 eligible and looks like he will be a needed add this offseason.

Note: George Valera, LH OF/DH ended 2026 with a .544 wOBA for August-September, but only a .364 xwOBA. I suspect Gorgeous George will see time with a major league team again, but it may not be in Cleveland, if only because of his horrible defense in the corner outfield spots.

Pitchers:
Rorik Maltrud, RHP – 3.90 ERA/4.58 FIP, 7.86/3.27 K/BB/9 (Aug-Sept: .262 wOBA/.263 xwOBA allowed). Maltrud looks like a functional emergency starter option for MLB games next season.

Justin Campbell, RHP – 2.08 ERA/3.31 FIP, 8.83/3.12 K/BB/9 (Aug-Sept: .269 wOBA/.270 xwOBA allowed). Campbell being healthy and looking special this season is probably the best news for the organization’s pitching group aside from Messick and Espino. He needs to increase his strikeout numbers at Triple-A, but I think we can be reasonably confident that with additional reps, he will do so. Hopefully, Campbell has a smooth offseason in recovery and training and arrives for Spring Training ready to compete for a major league spot, making himself an option during the 2027 season. Campbell is Rule-5 eligible and will have to be added to the 40-man prior to the lockout.

Steven Perez, LHrP – 4.78 ERA /4.79 FIP, 9.72/5.40 K/BB/9 (Aug-Sept: .262 wOBA/.235 xwOBA allowed). Perez had a rocky season in the tough pitching environment of Triple-A (especially in Columbus), but he finished strong and still has major league left-handed specialist ceiling. He lowered that walk-rate about 2 walks per 9 for August-September which is the key for making this ceiling attainable.

Rubber Ducks:

Hitters:

Ryan Cesarini, LH RF/LF – 162 wRC+, 13.6/10.3 K/BB%, .298 BABIP – Don’t sleep on Cesarini. Over the past two seasons, he has had mostly even splits as a hitter (hitting LHP slightly BETTER than RHP) and showed an impressive jump in power to accompany his excellent contact abilities. This is the kind of player who makes his way into organizational top 10 prospect lists if he starts 2027 hot in Columbus.

Nolan Schubart, LH 1B/DH – 145 wRC+, 34/18 K/BB% – Is Schubart capable of being Joey Gallo – good for a lot of strikeouts, a lot of walks and a lot of home runs? That’s the path to the majors for this likely-DH with prodiguous power. But, it’s an uncertain one because of his immense swing-and-miss issues.

Aaron Walton, RH CF – 132 wRC+, 26/13 K/BB% – Walton is one of the most exciting prospects from 2026 for me. He managed to cut his whiff JUST enough to make his hitting look potentially viable at a higher level, and he appears to be an excellent defender in center. He’s also RIGHT-HANDED which is a miracle in the Guardians’ system.

Dean Curley, RH IF – 122 wRC+, 32/13 K/BB% – Curley is an interesting player with some fun power and plate discipline, but also prone to taking WAY too many strikes and swing-and-miss. He’s also not a very good defender, and I’d expect him to get more time at third base than shortstop in the near future.

Welbyn Francisca, SH SS – From Aug.-Sept: 132 wRC+, 26/10 K/BB% – In case you forgot about this latest, switch-hitting Guardians’ shortstop project, Francisca put up an insane last two months at Double-A at the age of only 20. I’ll be interested if they get Francisca some centerfield reps (a la Kahlil Watson) or if they keep him at short where he looks viable. He pulls the ball in the air extremely consistently, but the whiff is a little high.

Additional names: Jaison Chourio (Rule-5 eligible), Bennett Thompson, and Jake Fox are names to continue to monitor, but none have put themselves into the upper echelon of Guardians’ prospects with their 2026 seasons. The outfielders Chourio and Fox and catcher Thompson all rely on heavy contact-over-power tools. Hope is not entirely lost for Jace LaViolette, who had a strong end to his Double-A season… but the clock is ticking for him to show that some swing adjustments can help him alleviate his SIGNIFICANT whiff issues.

Pitchers:

Izaak Martinez, LHP – 2.06 ERA/4.15 FIP, 11.84/3.32 K/BB/9. Did not go well in seven innings at Columbus, but looks to still have potential as a left-handed specialist

Matt Jachec, RHP – 2.05 ERA/3.83 FIP, 12.3/3.4 K/BB/9. Jachec is rule-5 eligible, for what that’s worth. I think he will be a decent major league reliever soon, at the age of 25.

Jack Jasiak, RHP – 3.02 ERA/3.48 FIP, 11.75/2.54 K/BB/9. Didn’t go well in Columbus in eight innings. Also rule-5 eligible, Jasiak will get a prompt chance to show what he can do with prolonged time in Columbus should he still be in the Guardians’ organization come Opening Day there.

Khal Stephen, RHP – 3.44 ERA/4.55 FIP, 8/3.8 K/BB/9. Stephen got to 55 innings until he had to go to the operating table for Tommy John, but his potential to be a mid-rotation starter was clear. Hopefully, he can return to the mound sometime in 2027 and be ready to help in 2028.

Franklin Gomez, LHP – 3.78 ERA/4.92 FIP, 7.56/4.32 K/BB/9. Gomez put up some great numbers in High-A and then Double-A was a struggle as he dealt with his own arm issues. He was able to return and be healthy by the end of the year, so we can have some optimism that he will take the next steps forward in 2027 (if he can pitch, as he has to be added to the 40-man this offseason).

In summary, there were some very encouraging performances from many players in the upper and lower levels of the Guardians’ farm system in 2026. The players listed above have the highest degree of probability to impact the Major League team in 2026, and, for likelihood to do that, I would look at Ingle, Velazquez, Campbell, Perez and Gomez as the highest potential to do so.

These are the days where legends are made. It’s one thing to win a random Tuesday night regular season contest during the month of May against the lowly Angels. It’s another thing to stave off elimination and extend a playoff series. That will be the task today for Hunter Brown, who will be opposed by Sean Burke. There have been plenty of memorable Game Two’s throughout Astros history.     

The 1980 NLCS was high drama. The Phillies would eventually capture their first ever World Series, but they’d have to go through the Astros first. Game Two of the NLDS would be remembered as a victorious extra inning affair thanks in part to Jose Cruz’ clutch RBI in the 10th inning. All told, Houston would tag Phillies reliever Ron Reed and the Phillies bullpen for 4 runs to bust things open during sudden death. Nolan Ryan would go into the 7th, striking out six, but the day belonged to Joaquin Andujar as he closed the door.    

In 1986, the Astros were riding high after Mike Scott’s tossed a complete game 1 shutout, striking out 14. They appeared to be well on their way to their first ever World Series, handing the ball to Nolan Ryan the next night. Early on, Nolan would rack up 5 K’s, but the day would belong to Bob Ojeda who pitched a complete game, allowing only 1 run. Ojeda would come back to haunt the Astros a week later in Game 6.   

Crushing moments wouldn’t end there. Remember the walk-off winner in the bottom of the 11th at Turner Field in 2004? Rafael Furcal’s two-run homer off Dan Miceli was heartbreaking.   

However, 2017 would be a reversal of fortune. As exciting as George Springer’s performance was in the deciding Game 7 at Dodger Stadium, the gem of the series was actually in Game Two. This back-and-forth duel would last 4 hours and 19 minutes. It would feature a record 8 home runs, 6 of which came in the 9th inning or later.    Trailing 3-1, Marwin Gonzalez would tie things up off Kenley Jansen, who at the time was considered one of the best closers in the game. In the 10th, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa would leave the yard, but the contest would be decided in the 11th on Springer’s 2 run blast.     

Five years later, Game Two of the 2022 World Series swung momentum back to Houston, in route to eventually capturing their second championship crown. Alex Bregman’s two run home run in the 5th inning put the game out of reach.    

Of course, the Astros and White Sox have their own playoff history. Game Two of the 2021 ALDS featured Houston exploding in the 7th inning thanks to huge hits from Tucker and Correa in a 9-4 win.

Will more favorable history be made today? Will Astros fans actually show up? Will Hunter Brown recapture his “ace” status on the mound? Will the Astros live to play tomorrow?  

Diamondbacks News

Michael Soroka Expresses Interest in Return to AZ
It is a no-brainer that Michael Soroka will opt-out of the mutual option for 2027. The revitalized right-hander is already saying all the right things to pump up the payday.

Would Keeping Hazen and Lovullo Be Best for Club?
With the impending lockout, it is difficult to see how firing either member of the team would produce a positive outcome at this point. Lovullo is in search of a multi-year contract, something there is zero doubt he will be offered by other clubs. Hazen is only signed through 2028, the season that will be the very first under the new CBA-approved framework.

Three Areas of Roster Construction Arizona Cannot Ignore
The team still needs the same help it needed at the trade deadline, just in greater quantities now.

Diamondbacks Outright Jesus Sanchez
Some more roster-related housekeeping from the Diamondbacks.

Other Baseball News

MLB Attendance Up for Fourth Straight Year, Boosted by Rays
Amazing what the Rays being both good and having returned to a stadium large enough for a Major League crowd will do to attendance figures.

Padres Take Game One from Cubs
The hottest team in baseball remains hot.

FERNANDO TATIS JR. ARE YOU SERIOUS?! pic.twitter.com/hsHlrxILZk

— MLB (@MLB) September 30, 2026

White Sox Show Poise in Wild Card Win
After limping into the playoffs with a .500 record, the Astros are now one loss from elimination to a team that lost 102 games last season.

MLB is so dumb. Kids are in school, adults are at work, and they schedule an entire series at 2:00pm on week days. This isn’t the NFL where people will sit and watch every game so they need their own time. They games should start at 5, 6, 7, and 8. People will watch their team,…

— ThePhilliesPod (@ThePhilliesPod) September 28, 2026

The Arizona Fall League Begins October 3rd
This is just a refresher to get ready for the upcoming showcase league.

The Chicago White Sox were the only team in Tuesday's four wild-card openers to win on the road. That shouldn't really have come as a surprise since they did have a better regular-season record (84-78) than their opponent, the AL West champion Houston Astros (81-81).

The Sox will go for the sweep Wednesday afternoon in Houston with their top starting pitcher, right-hander Sean Burke (11-7, 3.34 ERA) going against Astros ace Hunter Brown (6-4, 3.19 ERA).

Chicago took advantage of a bullpen game for Houston in Game 1 by jumping out to an early lead and holding on for a 6-3 victory.

The Astros, who've lost their past eight postseason games at home, will need to snap that streak to keep their season alive.

USA TODAY Sports will follow all the action with updates and analysis.

White Sox vs. Astros live scoreboard

Cam Smith HR cuts further into White Sox lead

06:05 PM ET, September 30 2026, Danielle Lerner

HOUSTON – The Astros might slowly be inching toward a comeback. Outfielder Cam Smith deposited a two-out solo home run into the Crawford Boxes and whittled the White Sox's lead to 4-2 after two innings. Smith, a 23-year-old playing in his first MLB postseason, gestured excitedly to the Astros dugout as he rounded the bases.

Cam Smith homers to the train tracks 😯 pic.twitter.com/CnLJ6U9Xeq

— MLB (@MLB) September 30, 2026

Jeremy Peña hits leadoff HR to get Astros on the board

05:51 PM ET, September 30 2026, Danielle Lerner

HOUSTON – Jeremy Peña gave Astros fans something to cheer about when he pounced on a middle-of-the-plate slider and crushed a leadoff homer in the top of the first. Jose Altuve struck a two-out hit but was left stranded when Yainer Diaz struck out swinging. Houston remains in a 4-1 hole with another bullpen day looming after Hunter Brown's disastrous start. 

The H-Town homer belongs to Jeremy Pena! 💥

📺 MLB Wild Card on Peacock + NBCSN pic.twitter.com/WI4NHRuPiS

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) September 30, 2026

White Sox grab early lead (again)

05:38 PM ET, September 30 2026, Danielle Lerner

HOUSTON – Hunter Brown allowed four or more runs in just three games this regular season. Today, he gave up four runs in the opening frame and failed to finish the first inning. Five pitches in, the White Sox were on the board after Sam Antonacci's leadoff double and Kyle Teel's RBI single. They added three more runs and cycled through the batting order before the Astros decided to pull Brown off the mound. 

Brown secured just two outs on 36 pitches and was hailed with a mix of boos and cheers as he walked to the dugout. He left the bases loaded for reliever AJ Blubaugh, who had a rough outing as Houston's opener in Game 1. 

Although Brown didn't deliver his best stuff, the Astros defense behind him didn't help matters. Yordan Alvarez missed Antonacci's leadoff double in left field, and replacement third baseman Nick Allen and center fielder Lucas Spence both committed errors.

Not exactly a full house at Daikin Park

05:17 PM ET, September 30 2026, Danielle Lerner

HOUSTON – At first pitch, large sections of the Daikin Park stands remain empty. Announced attendance for Game 1 was 34,011 fans, about 7,000 below official capacity.

Sparse crowd at first pitch pic.twitter.com/mF7IhTWN5V

— Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) September 30, 2026

Where to watch Astros vs White Sox today

05:15 PM ET, September 30 2026

• Time: 5 p.m. ET
• TV channel: NBCSN
• Live stream: Peacock

Watch MLB playoffs on Peacock

Astros vs White Sox schedule

04:35 PM ET, September 30 2026

Game 3 time subject to change

• Game 1, Tuesday: White Sox 6, Astros 3
• Game 2, Wednesday: White Sox at Astros – buy tickets  – 5 p.m. ET, NBCSN & Peacock
• Game 3*, Thursday: White Sox at Astros – buy tickets – 5 p.m. ET, NBCSN & Peacock

Astros lineup for Game 2 vs White Sox

04:21 PM ET, September 30 2026, Danielle Lerner

Yordan Alvarez will start Game 2 in left field for the Astros while Isaac Paredes moves from third base to designated hitter. Houston's lineup was released less than an hour before first pitch because the team was waiting on the status of Paredes, who fouled a ball of his left knee during a Sept. 26 game against the A's. Although Paredes has played multiple games since then, including Game 1 against the White Sox, he said before the wild card series began that his knee was still sore. 

Utility infielder Nick Allen, who has played mostly at shortstop and second base this season, will start at third base in Paredes' place and bat ninth. 

• Jeremy Peña SS
• Yordan Alvarez LF
• Isaac Paredes DH
• Jose Altuve 2B
• Yainer Diaz C
• Christian Walker 1B
• Lucas Spence CF
• Cam Smith RF
• Nick Allen 3B

MLB payrolls

03:52 PM ET, September 30 2026

While eight of MLB's final 12 teams are in the top 10 end-of-season payrolls, based on figures from the MLB Labor Relations Department and obtained by USA TODAY, the remaining four are among baseball’s lowest spenders.

That includes the teams with the best records in each league, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Brewers’ payroll entering the postseason is $143.5 million, good for 19th in MLB. The Rays’ $98.3 million total is No. 25.

USA TODAY Sports' Jared Beilby takes a closer look.

White Sox vs Astros starting pitchers Game 2

03:39 PM ET, September 30 2026

• White Sox — Sean Burke went 11-7 with a 3.34 ERA in 27 starts (32 games); 185 strikeouts in 172⅓ innings.
• Astros — Hunter Brown went 6-4 with a 3.19 ERA in 20 starts; 124 strikeouts in 107⅓.

Munetaka Murakami, Tatsuya Imai and Kazuo Matsui chat before Game 2

03:06 PM ET, September 30 2026, Danielle Lerner

HOUSTON - White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami stood on the field at Daikin Park on Wednesday with Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai and former big leaguer Kazuo Matsui, the three chatted before Game 2.

All three came to the majors from Japan's top league, Nippon Professional Baseball. Murakami starred for the Yakult Swallows, and Imai pitched for the Seibu Lions. Matsui played seven seasons in the majors with the Mets, Rockies and Astros. He later managed Imai in Seibu.

White Sox infielder Munetaka Murakami, Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai and former MLB player Kazuo Matsui (who played for the Astros from 2008-10) have a pregame chat at Daikin Park surrounded by Japanese media pic.twitter.com/mnuFvNomw5

— Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) September 30, 2026

Joe Espada responds to Astros fans booing

02:43 PM ET, September 30 2026

After the home crowd at Daikin Park vehemently booed the Astros during Tuesday night’s Game 1 loss, Houston players Bennett Sousa and Christian Walker denounced their fans’ reaction in comments to The Athletic.Astros manager Joe Espada addressed the tension before Game 2, saying he spoke to players about it and adding that he loves the franchise’s fans.“I understand both sides,” Espada said. “There's frustration. Our players and the fans have the right to also show their emotions, and I get it. But one thing I do know is that our players love our fans. We respect our fans. We need our fans. We need the energy from our fans. We feed off that.But I did talk to the players and we're going to move on. But I do want our fans to know that we love them and we need them.”

White Sox players climb up to Daikin Park train before Game 2

02:25 PM ET, September 30 2026

Before Game 2, a troupe of White Sox players visited the train above left field at Daikin Park. The field trip perhaps indicates how relaxed the White Sox are feeling with a chance to end the series tonight.Manager Will Venable said he and the front office have tried to balance setting high expectations with eliminating stress for players.“We want to create an environment where people can be themselves,” Venable said. “We have some of the best personalities in the league in that room, and at the same time, you know, having real clarity on where our vision for winning looks like, and the expectations that help us get there.

White Sox lineup for Game 2 vs Astros

02:15 PM ET, September 30 2026

Chase Meidroth went 2-for-4 with an RBI from the No.8 spot in the White Sox win Tuesday. On Wednesday, the second baseman moved up a spot.

White Sox manager Will Venable swapped Meidroth and rookie right fielder Braden Montgomery for Game 2 of the AL wild-card series against the Houston Astros. The rest of the order is the same as in Tuesday's 6-3 win. One more win and CHicago advances to the Division Series.

The White Sox are facing a real starter this time. Hunter Brown is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA against them this season.

Game 2 🔜 pic.twitter.com/p1xFYET8dV

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 30, 2026

• Sam Antonacci LF
• Kyle Teel C
• Miguel Vargas 3B
• Munetaka Murakami 1B
• Andrew Benintendi DH
• Tristan Peters CF
• Chase Meidroth 2B
• Braden Montgomery RF
• Colson Montgomery SS

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: White Sox vs Astros LIVE updates: Cam Smith, Jeremy Peña HRs cut into ChiSox lead

Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.

The first day of the post-season is in the books, and most of the games were pretty dull. The only excitement came in Atlanta, where the Braves came back late to take their opener. But elsewhere, the White Sox took the lead in the first inning, and never led by less than three from the middle of the second. The evening games were then totally uncompetitive, with the Yankees and Padres winning in blowouts, each holding their opponents to just three hits. Let’s hope for something a bit more attention keeping in today’s batch. Here’s the schedule which, in a very helpful way, is exactly the same as yesterday!

• Philadelphia Phillies @ Atlanta Braves (0-1): 11:00 am, NBC
• Chicago White Sox @ Houston Astros (1-0): 2:00 pm, Peacock
• Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees (0-1): 5:00 pm, NBC
• Chicago Cubs @ San Diego Padres (0-1): 8:00 pm, Peacock

Welcome to the 2026 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at every player to log playing time for the Rockies in 2026. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context. The “Ranking” is an organizing principle that’s drawn from Baseball Reference’s WAR (rWAR). It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll begin with the player with the lowest rWAR and end up with the player with the highest.

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No. 53, Michael Lorenzen (-1.7 rWAR)

I was genuinely intrigued when the Rockies signed Michael Lorenzen last winter.

The expectation was never that Lorenzen would suddenly become an ace — or even necessarily a No. 2 or No. 3 starter. The hope was that an established veteran could give the Rockies rotation plenty of reasonably league-average work.

There was some track record behind that hope. Lorenzen had spent most of his career around league average, and he wasn’t far removed from a strong 2024 season in which he posted a 3.31 ERA and 117 ERA+ over 130.1 innings between Texas and Kansas City.

He brought experience starting and relieving, a seven-pitch arsenal, a willingness to experiment and a preexisting relationship with new Rockies pitching coach Alon Leichman, his longtime friend and workout partner.

Then came the World Baseball Classic.

Pitching for Team Italy, Lorenzen looked sharp against a loaded United States lineup shortly before the regular season began. It provided one more reason to be curious about how Lorenzen might fit in Colorado.

The Rockies didn’t need greatness. They needed innings, stability and something close to average.

Instead, Lorenzen’s season unraveled almost immediately.

The numbers

The traditional numbers are every bit as ugly as the season felt.

Team	G	GS	W-L	IP	ERA	WHIP	H	HR	BB	SO
Rockies	26	25	3-11	115.2	7.08	1.88	168	19	49	82
Blue Jays	6	0	0-2	11.2	8.49	1.97	18	4	5	8
2026 totals	32	25	3-13	127.1	7.21	1.88	186	23	54	90

Colorado gave Lorenzen 25 starts and 115.2 innings to find something that worked. He finished his Rockies tenure with a 7.08 ERA and 1.88 WHIP, allowing 168 hits while striking out only 82 before being designated for assignment on August 17. 10 days later, Lorenzen signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The move to Toronto didn’t provide a reset. Used exclusively out of the bullpen, Lorenzen allowed 11 earned runs in 11.2 innings, including four home runs, for an 8.49 ERA and 1.97 WHIP before being DFA’d again on September 18.

The lack of length was also a problem. 19 of Lorenzen’s 25 Rockies starts lasted 5.0 innings or fewer, repeatedly leaving the bullpen to cover four or more innings. He recorded only two quality starts all season.

What actually happened

The Rockies showed their faith in Lorenzen immediately.

After making his Colorado debut on the road in Miami, Lorenzen was given the ball for the home opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 3.

It went about as badly as possible.

Philadelphia scored seven runs in the first inning, and Lorenzen was gone after 3.0 innings having allowed nine runs on 12 hits. Brandon Marsh and Bryce Harper both homered as the Phillies turned the afternoon into a rout before the Rockies ever really had a chance to settle into their home opener.

Five days later, Lorenzen held the Houston Astros to one run over 5.2 innings.

On April 24 against the Mets, he was even better, working 7.0 innings while allowing one run without issuing a walk.

That became the frustrating rhythm of Lorenzen’s season. He could produce a respectable start, sometimes two, only for another blowup to follow.

He allowed seven runs over 5.0 innings against the Mets on May 6. Less than a week later, he held Pittsburgh to two runs over 5.0 innings. Five days after that, Arizona tagged him for six earned runs in 4.2 innings.

June offered an even starker example.

The Angels battered Lorenzen for eight runs in 3.1 innings on June 3, collecting eight singles, a double and a home run against him.

A week later, Lorenzen looked like a different pitcher.

He held the Cubs to one run over 5.0 innings on June 10, striking out seven while allowing just two hits. He generated a whiff on 25% of Chicago’s swings and produced some of the weakest contact against him all season.

Five days later in Chicago, he again allowed one run over 5.0 innings, this time striking out five.

For a moment, that looked like the kind of stretch Lorenzen had spent the first two months searching for.

But even his better stretches require some perspective.

June was one of Lorenzen’s two best months of the season. He still posted a 5.92 ERA.

July was technically better. His 5.48 ERA was his lowest monthly mark of the year.

That was as good as it got.

By August, whatever hope remained was gone. Lorenzen allowed 16 earned runs in 13.0 innings during the month, while opponents hit .393/.471/.607 against him and his WHIP climbed to 2.46.

His final five Rockies starts lasted 3.2, 4.0, 3.0, 4.1 and 3.2 innings.

His final start came August 15 in San Francisco, when Lorenzen allowed six runs over 3.2 innings.

Two days later, his Rockies tenure ended.

Searching for an answer

Lorenzen did not spend the season repeating the same approach.

Early in the year, he spread his workload fairly evenly across a seven-pitch arsenal. As the season progressed, the sinker and changeup became more prominent, while his curveball and slider usage fell. His first-pitch sequencing changed as well, with heavier doses of sinkers and cutters later in the year.

There were a few pieces that worked better than others, and the changeup stands out.

Lorenzen threw it 20.8% of the time with Colorado and generated a whiff on 28.4% of swings against it. When hitters put it in play, they averaged 85.5 mph in exit velocity, with a 30.3% hard-hit rate.

His four-seam fastball was almost the opposite.

Hitters whiffed on only 8.5% of their swings against the pitch. When they put it in play, the average exit velocity was 94.9 mph and 58.2% of those balls were hit at least 95 mph.

That is a brutal combination for any fastball: very little swing-and-miss and extremely loud contact.

The broader Statcast picture was just as ugly.

Lorenzen finished near the bottom of baseball in Pitching Run Value, expected ERA, expected batting average, average exit velocity, chase rate, strikeout rate and hard-hit rate.

The individual pitches reflected that same problem. None of Lorenzen’s seven pitches finished with a positive Pitch Run Value overall. There were a couple of matchup-specific exceptions: against right-handed hitters, his cutter produced a plus-five Pitch Run Value and his four-seamer finished at plus-two. But neither carried that success across platoons.

Against left-handed hitters, the cutter finished at minus-eight and the four-seamer at minus-15. In fact, none of Lorenzen’s seven pitches produced a positive Pitch Run Value against left-handed hitters.

Lorenzen changed his pitch mix and sequencing throughout the season, but none of those changes produced sustained improvement.

Where things stand

Lorenzen’s time with the Rockies is over, and his $9 million club option for 2027 is no longer part of the picture.

There was plenty of logic behind the original signing. Lorenzen had recent starting experience, a broad arsenal and an existing relationship with Leichman. The Rockies were looking for innings and stability, and neither materialized.

Off the field, Lorenzen appeared to embrace the veteran role. Ahead of the club’s trip to Las Vegas, he bought suits for the team’s minimum-service-time players.

On the mound, though, the innings and stability the Rockies signed him to provide never came.

Signing Lorenzen was a worthy risk. It just didn’t work out.

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