Leave it to the Orioles. With just fifteen games left in this season, and the postseason most probably out of reach, this team has come up with one new, creative way to make headlines: on September 10, word came down that Matt Blood, vice president of player and staff development (and one of Mike Elias’s longest-tenured and most trusted lieutenants), was out. The Sun’s headline called it a “mutual” parting. MASN reported that Blood was at the ballpark for Wednesday’s homestand, and now today, he’s gone.
So what happened? Nothing is on the record just yet. But there are several possible explanations (plus other likely ones I haven’t thought of).
Recall that Matt Blood was one of Elias’s first hires back in September 2019. Seven years a scout with St. Louis, Blood brought in to run the minor leagues from the ground up. He was promoted in October 2023 to vice president of player development and domestic scouting, and again in November 2025 — less than a year ago — to vice president of player and staff development, a title that explicitly expanded his job to include supporting new manager Craig Albernaz and overseeing major-league staff development, not just the farm system. That is a potentially relevant detail: as recently as last winter, Blood was getting promoted, an expression of trust in his judgment, not a demotion. So, something may have changed in ten months.
Was the front office unhappy with the farm system? This doesn’t seem to hold water. Yes, Baltimore’s system tumbled from No. 1 for three straight years (2022–24) to 14th by last season. But arguably that’s the life cycle of a loaded system finally cashing in on its prospects—Connor Norby, Kyle Stowers, Joey Ortiz, Caden Bodine, Slater de Brun, and others shipped out in trades—not to mention guys like Jackson Holliday, Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Colton Cowser, Heston Kjerstad, Coby Mayo, and Cade Povich all aging out of prospect eligibility.
Besides, not much has happened in the span of this season to give a reason to think Blood lost favor for that—if anything, the farm system has gotten healthier at the last two trade deadlines, with last year’s deadline bringing new faces like Boston Bateman or the power-hitting Victor Figueroa, and this year’s Rutschman trade bringing in prospects like Anthony Eyanson, who immediately became Baltimore’s new No. 1 prospect, and Enddy Azocar. A thin farm system just isn’t the smoking gun.
Was the front office unhappy with player development, full stop? This could have some merit. Blood’s November 2025 promotion tied his name directly to the major-league product for the first time—and in the last two seasons, that product has looked rather suspect.
Currently Baltimore sits 71-76, 16.5 games back of the first-place Rays, looking likely to miss the playoffs for the second year in a row. It’s not just bad luck; all season we’ve been complaining of recurring lapses on the bases and in the field, plus the fact that plenty of former top prospects aren’t hitting (Gunnar and Colton Cowser come to mind), and that Elias’s administration has yet to develop a homegrown starter other than Brandon Young. If ownership was looking for someone to answer for any of that, it could have been Blood.
Could the split be about Blood himself—friction with the new staff, or wanting a different job than the one he got? I can’t verify this hunch either way, and neither has anyone else writing about it so far. The “mutual” framing in the Sun’s headline could cover everything from an amicable split to a forced-out executive being handed a soft landing.
Was this just fallout from a miserable, dissent-filled season? The organizational mood certainly supports it. This was the summer the Orioles looked at a roster sitting 2½ games from a Wild Card spot and sold anyway: Adley Rutschman to Boston, Dean Kremer to Minnesota, Taylor Ward to Seattle, Tyler Wells to Tampa Bay. Elias himself called the moves ones that “require some short-term heartache,” and said he wished “some of these seasons hadn’t gone the way that they had.” National graders were harsher: CBS Sports handed the deadline a C and suggested Elias’s own job security was now in question. The sell-off felt like an admission of sorts that Plan A had failed, and that seemed an indictment of the Orioles leadership.
None of this tells us definitively why Matt Blood is gone. But it tells us the Orioles may have a real morale problem in the back of the house. In sum, the team enters the 2026–27 offseason with a GM under pressure for the first time in his tenure, a roster that can’t crack the playoffs ceiling, and a player-development pipeline about to be led by someone other than the person who ran it for seven years. Whatever is going on in the Orioles organization, we’ll probably find out the same way we found out about this—quietly, unofficially, and only once someone else is already gone.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 6: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after hitting a three run home run in the top of the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 6, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Braves defeated the Phillies 5-4. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today is a big day for me. Well, not for me but in my orbit. It’s the first time in seven and a half years that both of my spawn are at some semblance of school. It means that I can sit and write this post without someone trying to crawl over me. It’s a feeling akin to not knowing what to do with your hands when someone is taking a photo of you, but more relaxing. Anyway…
Today is also a big day for the Braves. Kinda. After splitting four games in Philadelphia last weekend such that a four-game lead stayed a four-game lead… albeit with four games off the dwindling calendar and the tiebreaker secured (which is kind of like a one-game lead in and of itself), the Braves now take on those same Phillies at home in a three-game set. Even if they get swept, they’ll retain a one-game (but kinda two-game) lead. If they win a game, it’s a three-game (but kinda four-game) lead. If they win or sweep the series, well, that’ll be even more metaphorical weight off our shoulders.
On the flip side, the current playoff format renders the three and four seeds pretty similar, in that both host a three-game series at home. Sure, you’d probably play the Diamondbacks or Padres rather than the Cubs, but in three games, the difference between those teams (and really any teams in MLB) isn’t very large in terms of what you should expect as far as advancement likelihood. So even if the Braves do somehow collapse out of the division lead, it’s functionally not very different, just kind of annoying.
Both the Braves and the Phillies are 4-5 so far in September. The Braves are once again June-ing, albeit in a different way, with the league’s worst offensive and position player performance by both outputs and inputs over these nine September games. But, the Phillies aren’t really much better, as they’re bottom ten in both inputs and outputs, and fourth-worst once you add defense into the mix in terms of value. The pitching is one place these teams are differentiated — the Phillies are sixth in fWAR in September, while the Braves are 23rd. (Phillies are fourth by xFIP-, Braves are 16th.) But, all of that just gets to the point where, again — the Braves keep winning mucho games on and above their production. If they keep doing that — and they haven’t stopped yet — they’ll probably coast to the division title, though it won’t look pretty.
One thing that might make you feel better is that the Braves lined up Chris Sale and Tyler Mahle for this series, while the Phillies had to use Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler in their prior series. The Braves will still have to contend with Jesus Luzardo, who dominated on Monday, and I hope they’re cooking up a completely different approach against him than anything they’ve tried while he’s been in his Phillies uniform.
Me, I’m hoping they actually turn around the offense in a way they can build on going forward, but that’s unlikely to happen considering they’ve spent the last three-ish months wandering in the proverbial wilderness of offensive strategies, and their most recent win came as a result of bleeders through the infield while they got outhomered.
But, all that said, how are you feeling about this series?
COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 26: Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. speaks during the 2026 National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum induction ceremony at Clark Sports Cente on Sunday, July 26, 2026 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Earlier this week, ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote about the possibility of MLB expansion, noting that there are already a few cities in the lead to possibly receive new franchises. Those cities are Salt Lake City, Nashville, Raleigh, Portland, Orlando, and Montreal.
Of course, the impending fight over a new collective bargaining agreement will be an obstacle to expansion, but it’s something that both the owners and players likely align on. More teams means more revenue for the league and more job opportunities for players. The rest of the CBA will be contentious, but this plank feels like something that could be agreed upon quickly.
Passan notes that commissioner Rob Manfred has stated that he wants two new expansion teams, one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast, before his planned retirement in January of 2029. That means the process would likely begin in earnest as soon as a new CBA is ratified.
Each of the six cities listed above have their own unique case for why they should receive a team, but Nashville is one that should particularly be of interest in regard to the Phillies. If you remember, Dave Dombrowski was a large part of an effort to begin building a baseball infrastructure in Nashville before he was hired to be the Phillies president of baseball operations. It’s likely that Dombrowski will receive a new contract with the Phillies soon, as his current one expires following 2027. However, one cannot be sure that he won’t feel the pull of building something completely new again if Nashville does indeed win the expansion sweepstakes.
In any case, it certainly appears as though we will see two new MLB teams in our near future. So, where do you think the possible expansion teams will be?
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 05: b99during the round 20 NBL match between New Zealand Breakers and Illawarra Hawks at Spark Arena, on February 05, 2025, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Sixers are bringing in four players on Exhibit 10 contracts: Dillon Jones, Saint Thomas, Jameer Nelson, Jr. and, easily the most recognizable of all, Tacko Fall.
As a refresher, an Exhibit 10 contract is essentially a camp invite where the signee is financially incentivized by the signing team to join its G League affiliate. It’s not the norm for a player to parlay this type of contract into a roster spot, but it’s far from impossible.
Let’s break down all four players and rank them as far as intrigue to earn a spot with the Sixers.
Saint Thomas
Thomas is a Swiss Army knife wing with great size at 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds. He finished his college career at USC after two seasons at Loyola and one at Northern Colorado. He spent last season with the Delaware Blue Coats after going undrafted in 2025. He was also with the Sixers in the Vegas summer league.
There’s nothing that really jumps out about Thomas’ raw numbers. He stuffs the stat sheet, posting above-average rebounding and assist numbers for a big wing. Like most big wings, shooting is the swing skill. He shot 33.1% from deep in 36 G League games last season.
Barring a serious shooting improvement that he flashes at camp, Thomas is the most likely of this bunch to spend the year in Delaware. He’s interesting enough that it makes sense to keep him in the pipeline.
Jameer Nelson, Jr.
Like his dad, Jameer Nelson, Jr. is trying to make it in the NBA as an undersized guard. After two years each at George Washington and Delaware, Nelson finished his collegiate career at TCU. He’s spent the last two seasons playing in the G League and leagues in Canada, Puerto Rico and China.
The odds are against him at 6-foot-1, but the younger Nelson has clear skills, including the ability to create his own shot. He led the CAA in scoring his final year with the Blue Hens and was second on the Horned Frogs in his lone season there. He’s also displayed quick hands, notching over two steals a game throughout his NCAA career.
The chances of Nelson cracking the Sixers’ roster feel low, especially when you factor in depth at guard. But like Thomas, Nelson is an interesting guy to keep around who can help keep the Blue Coats competitive and guide the players on the team.
Dillon Jones
Jones comes with the best pedigree of any of the four players. He starred all four years at Weber State — he won the conference’s ROY as a freshman and POY as a senior. Despite his bulky frame (6-foot-5, 235 pounds), Jones was an outstanding playmaker with an impressive bag throughout his college career. He was a first-round pick (26th overall) of the Washington Wizards and was eventually traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He saw action in 55 games as a rookie, but wasn’t a consistent part of the Thunder’s loaded rotation. He was traded back to the Wizards the following season, was subsequently waived, and then picked up by the New York Knicks on a two-way deal. That means Jones has won a championship in each of his first two NBA seasons. Here’s hoping for a third!
It’s been a weird NBA road for Jones, but there’s talent here. He was used as an offensive hub in college, a role he won’t be afforded at the NBA level, but his passing and ability to create shots are intriguing at his size. He’s also an outstanding rebounder. The concerns with Jones are a lack of elite athletic ability to guard on the wing and below average shooting at the NBA level.
Despite the Sixers fortifying their depth at the four, Jones should still be a candidate for that final two-way slot. He’s a versatile player, and his passing and rebounding could be nice traits for this current roster.
Tacko Fall
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re aware of Tacko Fall. The 7-foot-6 Senegalese big man enjoyed a four-year career at UCF, famously playing a hard-fought game against Duke in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. He finished with 15 points, six rebounds and three blocks before fouling out.
Fall went undrafted, but signed — you guessed it — an Exhibit 10 contract with the Boston Celtics, which was converted to a two-way spot. After two seasons in Boston, Fall signed a two-way deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He didn’t get much NBA time, appearing in only 37 contests across three seasons. He’s spent most of his time since playing in China, save for an 18-game stint in Australia.
Fall’s strengths and weaknesses are obvious. His size makes him an elite rim protector and rebounder, but he’s also extremely limited offensively. He’ll finish everything around the rim, but has no other real offensive skill. He’s also still a rough free throw shooter.
I have him as the most intriguing because backup center is the biggest question mark on a deep Sixers roster. Is Fall better than Ariel Hukporti or Adem Bona? Probably not — there’s a reason he’s been in China — but having a guy like Fall as an extra option on a two-way wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. He has experience, he’ll rebound, block shots and finish lobs. That might be enough to get the Sixers through a Tuesday night against the Kings.
It was was an exciting day for a set of siblings who mean a whole lot to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
On Thursday, Phil and Amanda Kessel were both named to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Amanda is currently the Penguins' Director of Minor League Operations and the Assistant General Manager for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins and won three Olympic medals during her prolific women's hockey career, while Phil played for the Penguins from 2015-19, registered 110 goals and 303 points in 328 games during that time, and won back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships with the team in 2016 and 2017.
The other three 2026 inductees were forward T.J. Oshie, defenseman Ryan Suter, and athletic trainer Stan Wong, who has been working with the NHL and USA hockey for more than 40 years.
"This is a great honor," Phil said to reporters during the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame call Thursday, "You know me, I loved playing for USA Hockey over the years. Enjoyed my time, enjoyed all the friends I made. It was always a great honor to play for the team. I'm just happy to be included.
"This is a great class. Obviously, I'm excited to go in with my sister. She was a great player."
And a great player she was. Aside from her dominant play for the University of Minnesota - she recorded 46 goals and 101 points in 46 games for the the team in 2012-13 and led them to three National Championship titles in 2012, 2013, and 2016 - she brought home seven gold medals for USA Hockey on the international stage and had 26 goals and 74 points in 60 combined games for Team USA internationally, which doesn't even include her 10 goals and 30 points in 10 World Junior Championship (WJC) appearances.
In her four seasons with the Penguins' hockey operations staff, the 35-year-old has helped rebuild the prospect pipeline along with the front office under General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas, with the Wheeling Nailers - former ECHL affiliate of the Penguins - and WBS Penguins each going to the Eastern Conference Final in 2026.
Phil was drafted fifth overall by the Boston Bruins in 2006 and played in 17 NHL seasons between the Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Penguins, Arizona Coyotes, and Vegas Golden Knights. In addition to three Stanley Cups - he won with Vegas in 2023 - Kessel had 413 goals and 992 points in 1,286 career games and owns the NHL's all-time iron man streak for consecutive games played at 1,064.
He represented Team USA at the WJC twice, at the World Championship three times, and the Olympic games twice, winning a silver medal for Team USA in 2010.
The Mets open a three-game Subway Series against the Yankees in the Bronx on Friday night at 7:05 on PIX11.
Mets Notes
To honor the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, the Mets and Yankees will wear first responder caps with team logos during batting practice and in the game
A.J. Ewing is hitting .424/.474/.606 with a homer and three doubles in 38 plate appearances over his last nine games
Nolan McLean has a 1.87 ERA in 72.1 innings over his last 12 starts
Today's Lineups
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The league phase has begun. From Olise’s brilliance to Sabah’s pub cleaner turned quiz contestant turned manager, there was plenty to talk about
The league phase has been previewed as Barcelona’s first step toward reclaiming a crown last lifted in 2015, with disappointments aplenty since. Lionel Messi claiming just one Champions League title in the last decade of his time at Camp Nou is the starkest statistic. The player anointed as Messi’s successor, Lamine Yamal, is already a European and world champion for Spain, so this is the next frontier. A soggy Wednesday evening at Camp Nou saw Hansi Flick’s team show their attacking chops remain of the highest quality in a 5-1 defeat of Feyenoord. The club presidential regime of Joan Laporta continues to pull levers to confound financial experts, with Gabriel Jesus, one of the summer’s arrivals, scoring his first Barca goal. Yamal got on the scoresheet via a scruffy free-kick after Raphinha had reminded there are further dimensions to that all-star attack, his first goal of his pair two sending Feyenoord defenders skidding.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Fans hold a flag during 9/11 remembrance pre-game ceremonies prior to the game between the the Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
Tyler Kepner wrote about how the Mets have kept their 9/11 promise 25 years later.
Mike Lupica discussed how the lifeline the Mets and Yankees threw New York City after 9/11 is a powerful, indelible memory.
Matt Monagan shared the story of a Mets shirt flying from a 9/11 memorial in Ireland.
Will Sammon spoke with those who shared the booth with Howie Rose to find out what they learned from the radio legend.
Jon Heyman explained why the Mets’ managerial search could hinge on the Phillies’ World Series chances, as Don Mattingly could be a person to watch.
Jonathan Santucci turned in his best start at the Triple-A level to reclaim a share of the Minors K lead.
“When America Took the Field”, which was produced by MLB Network and former Met Todd Zeile, debuted last night on MLB Network. The two-hour documentary is also streaming on MLB.tv and MLB+.
Around the National League East
The Braves scored three in the eighth and held on to beat the Rays 3-1, which helped them cushion their lead in the NL East race.
The Phillies fell 2-1 to the Astros, as their chase habits led to their untimely series loss to Houston.
Around Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball will mark the 25th anniversary of September 11th with tributes and services.
Jeff Passan provided some early MLB free agency intel. Among the tidbits in his article, he thinks Bo Bichette will opt out, but thinks it’s a coin flip.
The Dodgers have placed Shohei Ohtani on the injured list to rest his left knee and right biceps injuries. To take his place, Los Angeles is calling up top prospect Josue De Paula.
The Yankees are placing Jazz Chisholm on the IL and calling up Anthony Volpe.
Mark Feinsand looked at 11 intriguing trade candidate for the offseason.
Dennis Lin analyzed how Fernando Tatis Jr. found his swing, which could prove to be the difference for the Padres come October.
The Cubs have the best hitting and best defense in baseball, but Mike Petriello wonders if it’s enough to overcome their pitching, which is their biggest weakness.
Brandon Sproat was sent back down to Triple-A after he allowed four runs in the ninth inning against the Cubs.
Salvador Perez is going “year by year” with his meajor league career.
Jacob deGrom turned in a vintage performance, striking out 12 over six one-hit innings, but the Mariners came back to beat the Rangers 4-3.
The Yankees put up a six-spot in the seventh to defeat the Rockies 10-3 and complete a sweep. Volpe, who was in the Yankees’ lineup when he was unsure if he would ever make it back, had a grand return.
The Pirates blanked the White Sox 2-0. After getting punched in the mouth by Pittsburgh in the form of a three-game sweep, the White Sox, who have seen their AL Central lead shrink to 1.5 games over the surging Guardians, are prepared to fight back.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 17: Francisco Alvarez #4 and Nolan McLean #26 of the New York Mets walk in from the bullpen before the game against the San Diego Padres at Citi Field on August 17, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good teams win the games they should win, and the Yankees certainly looked the part early this week. In a three-game set against the lowly Rockies, New York swept ‘em winning by multiple runs in all three contests. Solid ball over the last month has allowed the Yankees to stay within striking distance in the East, and maintain a healthy lead in the American League’s crowded wild card race.
After their set with the last-place squad in the NL West, they’ll continue a gettable stretch by hosting the fourth-place team in the East, the Mets. While the Mets have been playing better baseball of late, the Bombers will have every chance to take a couple of games in the Subway Series.
Friday: Carlos Rodónvs. Nolan McLean (7:05 p.m. EST)
The series opens with the Yankees sending Carlos Rodón to the bump, set to make his 14th start of the 2026 season. After a bumpy patch through the middle of June, the lefty has been excellent since returning on August 18th, a stretch that has seen him pitch to the tune of a 2.55 ERA in four starts, while striking out 18 batters in 17.2 innings. On the whole, the 33-year-old has put together a very solid fourth season in pinstripes when healthy, and will undoubtedly be a significant part of his team’s October run. He’ll look to continue his solid post-injury run on Friday.
He’ll square off with the Mets’ excellent rookie Nolan McLean. After an impressive eight-start debut in 2025, the righty has backed it up with a 3.06 ERA in over 160 innings this season. Relying mostly on his sinker and a pair of breaking balls to get the job done, the righty has been dominant over his last five outings, allowing just four earned runs in 31 stellar innings of work. He has also completed at least six innings in 13 of his last 14 outings, so the Mets will likely be leaning heavily on their talented young starter in this one.
Saturday: Gerrit Cole vs. Zac Thornton (1:35 p.m. EST)
Saturday will see Gerrit Cole taking the mound, hoping to bounce back from what has been a rough few starts. He still is posting a respectable season, despite missed time to start the year, with a 3.70 FIP in 11 innings. But, over his last three outings, the six-time All-Star has surrendered 10 earned runs in 18.1 innings. His most recent was the worst of the bunch, a seven-inning start in which he gave up four solo homers to the Padres. The Cole Train will look to get back on the rails in the second game of the series.
The Mets are slated to start a second consecutive rookie this weekend, with lefty Zac Thornton getting the nod on Saturday. He made his debut on May 20th this season, and has been a solid addition to the rotation much of the way through. His worst outing, however, was his latest, when he gave up six earned runs to the Giants, including four long balls. Both starters on Saturday will be trying to shake the homer bug.
Sunday: Cam Schlittler vs. Christian Scott(1:35 p.m. EST)
The Subway Series will conclude with Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler on the mound. As if the righty needed much to bolster his case, he’s allowed one run or less in each of his last six starts, and with another good outing on Saturday, could drop his ERA below 2.00 for the season. Schlittler has been a treat to watch in 2026, and he’ll be in prime position to keep the good times rolling to close out the season. He most recently struck out ten in seven strong innings against the Rockies.
Right-hander Christian Scott will close things out for the Mets on Sunday. In his most substantial big league season to date, he’s been good, striking out nearly 28 percent of opposing batters across 21 starts for the Metropolitans. In his most recent outing, against the Giants, Scott failed to complete five innings, allowing a pair of earned runs to score, though he did strike out seven in the start. With Judge back and the Yankees coming off of a sweep Scott and the entire Mets staff could very well have their hands full in the weekend series.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 04: Lane Thomas #20 of the Atlanta Braves slides into home plate in the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on September 04, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Atlanta Braves outfielder Lane Thomas was scratched from Thursday’s lineup and is headed to the injured list. Manager Walt Weiss called it an intercostal strain and noted that Thomas could be out for the remainder of the season.
Thomas, who has averaged .171 for Atlanta in 21 games, makes the second Brave to hit the injured list this week. Thomas’ absence could lead to some playing time for Brewer Hicklen as the Braves navigate the final stretch of the regular season.
The first-place Atlanta Braves are priced as a massive 63% favorite tonight against their NL East rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies, in the series opener at Truist Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.
Chris Sale has already carved up Philly several times this season, so my Phillies vs. Braves predictions back the hosts to take the first game of this three-game set.
Who will win Phillies vs Braves today: Braves (64%)
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
Aaron Nola has been solid lately, posting a 3.10 FIP over the last month, but his road profile is more vulnerable with a 4.60 FIP this season.
The Atlanta Braves also have plenty of familiarity, hitting .285 across 410 at-bats against him, and tagged him for six earned runs earlier this year.
Chris Sale gives the Braves the stronger starting edge. He owns a 2.36 FIP at home and a 2.77 xERA over his previous four outings with minimal home-run damage.
Sale also has a 1.42 ERA against the Philadelphia Phillies in 2026 across three starts and has held current Phillies hitters to a .221 average over 154 career at-bats.
Take Atlanta. Play up to 65%, but look to the run line if it moves higher.
COVERS INTEL: Sale has allowed just 0.33 BB/9 over the last month. That's compared to his season average of 1.74 BB/9. The left-hander is consistently pounding the strike zone.
Phillies vs Braves Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (48%)
I expect both starters to hold their own, but the bullpen profiles are hard to ignore.
While the Phillies and Braves aren’t exactly flourishing at the plate — Atlanta’s wRC+ sits at 45 over the last week, while Philadelphia’s is at 82 — both bullpens are struggling.
The Braves’ bullpen has a 5.23 FIP over its last 24 frames with 2.22 HR/9 allowed. Philadelphia’s pen also owns an FIP above five over the last seven days with significant home-run damage.
It’s not a slam-dunk angle because of the offensive form of these two teams, but the late-game pitching vulnerabilities are difficult to overlook.
Play this pick up to 50%.
Phillies vs Braves home run prediction: Kyle Schwarber (24%)
Sale may be dominant, but Kyle Schwarber has four homers in his last seven games, and the slugger also has two career home runs off the left-hander.
Atlanta’s bullpen has been vulnerable lately as well, giving Schwarber another path once Sale exits.
Schwarber’s ISO sits at .444 over the last week, supported by a 50% hard-hit rate and 20% barrel rate. He may not be hitting for average right now, but the quality of contact remains elite.
Play this pick up to 25%.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 68-77, -18.24 units
Over/Under bets: 78-63, +3.51 units
Phillies vs Braves weather
Weather could be a factor tonight at Truist Park, with warm, humid conditions and possible thunderstorms around first pitch. Rain chances sit around 50% early on, before gradually easing later in the evening, so there is some delay risk. Winds look fairly light, limiting any major carry impact.
Phillies vs Braves odds
Moneyline: Phillies 38% | Braves 63%
Run line: Phillies +1.5 (57%) | Braves -1.5 (44%)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (49%) | Under 7.5 (52%)
Phillies vs Braves trend
The Philadelphia Phillies have hit the Game Total Under in 30 of their last 50 away games (+10.40 Units / 19% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Braves.
How to watch Phillies vs Braves and game info
Location
Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
Date
Friday, September 11, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports Philadelphia, BravesVision
Phillies starting pitcher
Aaron Nola (6-10, 4.76 ERA)
Braves starting pitcher
Chris Sale (14-9, 2.10 ERA)
Phillies vs Braves latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Nick Martinez #28 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts with teammates after being pulled from the game during the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on September 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Rays have to figure it out against left-handed pitching or with the bases loaded, ideally both, or it will be another quick exit in October.
With how well Tampa Bay right-hander Nick Martinez threw today, going 6.1 IP and only allowing two hits and no runs, the offense appeared to have had too much Waffle House before the matinee in Atlanta.
In the top of the first, the Rays offense had their chance at an All-Star Special early on Braves lefty Martin Perez.
Bases loaded, one out, and Chandler Simpson grounds out into a rare 3-2-3 double play to end the inning.
From the bottom of the first through the bottom of the fifth, both the Rays and Braves traded off frames of five batters or less with nothing to show for it. Scoreless and steamy on an 83-degree, partly cloudy day in Cobb County, we fast forward to the eighth.
Good old-fashioned BABIP luck came to bite Kevin Kelly, as an Ozzie Albies triple and an Austin Riley backside single gave the Braves a 1-0 lead, and who other than Ha-Seong Kim to provide the insurance with a two-run RBI single.
Tampa Bay would threaten in the ninth with a Victor Mesa Jr. solo shot off Raisel Iglesias followed by a Chandler Simpson walk, but it went all for naught as the Rays drop the finale from Truist Park.
Tampa bay returns home to face the AL West-leading Astros with a magic number of 1 to clinch a playoff spot.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 14: Edwin Díaz #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium on August 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers bullpen contains pitchers who’ve bounced back after a rough first season in Los Angeles— i.e. Tanner Scott— and those who have struggled since first donning the Dodger blue— i.e. Edwin Díaz.
For a closer signed to a three-year, $69 million over the offseason, Díaz has come nowhere near close to meeting expectations, as the right-hander has an ERA at 11.85 over just 13 2/3 innings when he’s been healthy. The majority of his season was lost after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies elbow in April that kept him out for three months and being placed on the injured list in August due to neck inflammation.
Jared Greenspan of MLB.com notes that Díaz is starting to reach the finish line for his rehab assignment, as he appeared in back-to-back games for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, but he will not return to the closer role once he rejoins the big league club.
When Díaz does eventually return to the big league club, he is not expected to slot right into the closer’s role. He will be eased back into lower leverage situations where he can continue to refine his mechanics, like raising his arm angle that has fallen significantly from last season.
Shohei Ohtani’s goal of being a two-way player for a full season came crashing down on Wednesday with the news of him landing on the 15-day IL, as he continues to nurse injuries to his left knee and right biceps.
Although Ohtani was in the lineup on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds, it was the only game he played in the three-game set, and an awkward swing was a key culprit for the Dodgers’ decision to place him on the IL, notes Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times.
“It was more just really huddling up and saying, ‘Hey, how are you going to feel on Friday? How are you going to feel on Saturday, talking to the doctors and training staff?’” Roberts said. “There was not much certainty that he’d be in a much better place. With that, just taking it off the table seemed like the best course of action.”
In place of Ohtani on the active roster is the Dodgers’ no. 1 prospect, 21-year-old outfielder Josue De Paula, who will make his big league debut on Friday against the Miami Marlins. Jack Harris of the California Post gives an insight to what fans can see out of De Paula, who has received high praise from the Dodgers brass after a star-studded season with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers.
“We’ve seen him in camp for two or three years. He doesn’t run from velocity. He controls the strike zone,” Roberts said. “I think this is just a good opportunity for him to kind of cut his teeth in the big leagues … We can get him some major league at-bats and see how that looks.”
Sep 7, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Robert Gasser (54) hands the ball to manager Pat Murphy during a pitching change in the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
I think the Brewers are now officially close enough to clinching a postseason berth — they can do so as soon as this weekend — that we can start talking about plans for the postseason without jinxing anything.
So, who is going to pitch? What is going to be the plan? I’m going to take a look first at the starting rotation, then the bullpen.
First: a quick reminder on postseason roster rules. Anyone who was either on the Brewers’ 40-man roster or their 60-day injured list as of September 1 (at 12 p.m. ET, technically) is eligible for the postseason roster. Players who were in the minor league system but not on the 40-man roster on August 31 need to be injury replacements, and they need approval from the league, but are likely also postseason eligible (for example: the Dodgers are calling up Josue De Paula from Double-A today, and presumably the league would approve him for postseason eligibility because he’s replacing Shohei Ohtani on the active roster). The Brewers haven’t added anyone since September 1 (aside from minor leaguer Ben Moore, who will not be eligible), so they don’t have to worry about this. Rosters in the postseason are 26 players, and teams can replace players who are injured within a round with approval from the commissioner’s office (though the injured player then cannot return during that round).
The Starters
The Brewers would need four starters (with caveats about bullpen games) in both the NLDS and the NLCS; the schedule is such that in both series, the first four games happen within five days. There are two guys who we will unquestionably see start games this postseason: Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson. After that, things get murky.
If we’re assuming that Brandon Sproat’s adventure on Wednesday night eliminated him from any real consideration for the rest of the season (he was optioned on Thursday morning), that means that there are four healthy players currently on the Brewers who could conceivably pitch in a postseason starting rotation. Here are those players’ numbers since the trade deadline on August 3:
When three of the four options for your number three starter have an ERA above 5.60, that’s not ideal. Harrison in particular doesn’t look like an option right at this moment — after he returned from about a month on the injured list in early August, he allowed just four earned runs in his first four starts back. In his last two, he’s been crushed: nine earned runs in 3 2/3 innings against the Cubs on August 31 and six runs (four earned) in 3 2/3 innings against the Reds on September 6. Even in his good outings earlier in August, he was routinely struggling with velocity and command.
The Brewers might like Drohan more as a multi-inning bullpen guy. As a starter this season, Drohan has allowed a .777 opponent OPS. His command is better. His WHIP is way better — 1.414 as a starter versus 0.975 as a reliever. He has a 4.83 ERA in 87 2/3 innings as a starter and a 1.69 ERA in 26 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Drohan has been valuable as an innings-eating starter this season, but he’s pretty clearly more effective as a reliever.
May has been an enigma as a Brewer. His first two starts were excellent: he combined for 13 innings and three runs allowed. Then he gave up seven runs in two innings against the Mariners, took a line drive off his back on the first pitch in his next outing and left early, then had two shaky outings in which he couldn’t complete five innings against the Rangers and Reds, combining for eight innings and six runs allowed between them.
At times this season, May has looked like a guy who could start in the postseason, but right now, it doesn’t look that way. He has very little experience out of the bullpen, though: he’s only got 14 appearances out of the bullpen in his entire career, and 12 of those came in 2019 and 2020, when he was a brand-new major leaguer.
The last guy here is Gasser. His overall numbers this season are mediocre; he owns a 92 ERA+ and a FIP and ERA that are exactly the same (a pedestrian 4.43). But while his numbers since the trade deadline are overall not great (even if they’re better than any of these other options), he’s trending in the right direction. Over his last three outings, Gasser has a 2.51 ERA and 3.38 FIP in 14 1/3 innings, and as we reach the end of the season, his velocity is actually going up.
Based on the data we have here, Gasser is the one who has looked the best lately. Of course, we could see some shifts in how we feel about any of these guys between now and the end of the regular season. Right now, I’d expect Misiorowski and Henderson to be the one and two guys and Gasser and May as three and four, though with extremely short leashes on the latter two.
The Relievers
A big part of the reason why the Brewers can afford to be aggressive with their somewhat shaky back end of the rotation in the postseason is that they’ve got a lot of options, particularly amongst pitchers who could go more than an inning. As we saw during last year’s postseason, this type of reliever is critical in the way the game is played these days.
If we assume that Miz, Henderson, Gasser, and May all make the postseason roster, that leaves nine more openings for pitchers. Here’s who we’ve got as options:
Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe are obvious no-brainers at the back of the bullpen.
Aaron Ashby is also a no-brainer, and DL Hall has pitched well enough lately that he’s also moved into the “no-brainer” category. Both players could pitch two innings if you needed them to.
Antonio Senzatela’s numbers haven’t been great since he came to the Brewers, but he seems certain to have a role in this bullpen in the postseason; if nothing else, he’s an extreme groundball pitcher who could be used in a spot where you really need a double play.
JoJo Romero has only pitched five times for the Brewers, but he’s a veteran, and he’s been fine. I wouldn’t categorize him as “high-leverage,” but I think he’s got a spot.
Chad Patrick was excellent out of the bullpen last postseason. He hasn’t been great this season, but he’s been fine, and I think he’s certain to be included.
That’s seven, and then we have to address the two guys who were chopped from the rotation. Drohan is almost certainly going to be in the bullpen if he’s not in the rotation. That leaves a question mark for Harrison. He could probably play a role out of the bullpen, but I think we need to see what happens with him between now and the end of the season — I could see him pitching well in a couple more starts and getting him back into the rotation conversation, or I could see him ending up on the injured list. Those two things seem about equally likely to me.
If it’s not Harrison, then we’ll have some question marks. Bryse Wilson is on the injured list, but even if he were healthy, ideally you don’t want to have a mop-up guy on your postseason roster. Grant Anderson has been part of the squad all year, but he’s on the injured list currently and hasn’t looked good lately. We’re likely to see a few options from Triple-A Nashville get cycled through between now and the end of the season, particularly in the wake of Sproat’s demotion on Thursday. Potential options could be a starter type, like Coleman Crow, Garrett Stallings, or Colton Gordon, who are all already on the 40-man roster, or a reliever. Potential options there:
Why not Jared Koenig? Koenig is also on the 40-man roster already, and he’s been good for the Sounds, to the tune of a 2.50 ERA in 18 innings. But his velocity is still way down — his fastball has averaged just 92.8 mph in the minors this season, compared to 95.9 mph last season. Not a lot of faith that this would go well.
Blake Holub, who has a 2.13 ERA in 50 2/3 innings out of the Nashville bullpen this season. He throws in the mid-90s and has some Brewers-y traits.
Cameron Wagoner started the season at Double-A Biloxi and earned a promotion after he had a 2.03 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings. He’s been good at Triple-A, too: just one run allowed in 10 outings that cover 11 1/3 innings, though his peripherals have taken a bit of a step back. Wagoner can reach the upper 90s, and he’s good at limiting walks, which is certainly a plus.
There could be a surprise, like Rob Zastryzny, who has been hurt all year but is currently on a rehab assignment with the Sounds.
If Holub or Wagoner were to be the option, the Brewers would have to get permission from the league (at least as far as I understand the rule) to include them on the postseason roster, since they weren’t on the 40-man on September 1. Zastryzny would require a 40-man slot — and I believe they could just leave him on the 60-day IL until the end of the season if they choose not to activate him, because he didn’t start his rehab assignment until there were fewer than 30 days (the maximum allowed for a rehab assignment) remaining in the season.
Guesses
This will probably change before the end of the season, whether that’s because some pitcher who has been poor shows us something or because someone gets hurt. But here’s my best mid-September guess at what the postseason pitching staff will look like:
Starters (4): Jacob Misiorowski, Logan Henderson, Robert Gasser, Dustin May
Middle Relievers (2): Antonio Senzatela, JoJo Romero
Long Relievers (3): Shane Drohan, Chad Patrick, Kyle Harrison
I’d also expect the hooks to be exceptionally quick for Gasser and May, with those games looking almost like bullpen games, just with a starting pitcher at the beginning. I’m thinking three-ish innings for each.
I’m least confident about the Gasser/May/Harrison situation. Harrison and May in their last couple of outings have looked essentially unusable in a postseason situation, but it seems likely that at least one of them will need to make a start or two for the Brewers this postseason. That’s the biggest spot to keep an eye on for me.
If one or both looks unplayable, then my attention turns to the likely revolving door of relievers (in the Sproat roster spot) that we’re likely to see over the next couple of weeks. Might one of those guys be able to make a big postseason impact?
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 27: A general view of Oracle Park as the San Francisco Giants play the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 27, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
The San Francisco Giants are playing a home series this weekend, which means it’s time to take a look at what Oracle Park has on deck for fans.
Oddly enough, they have no events or giveaways posted for tonight’s game. That’s kind of unusual. If I missed something, please feel free to weigh in down in the comments.
However, Saturday will feature Dog Days Part 2 as the special event for the day. Fans with special event tickets will be able to bring their canine buddies to the park to partake in an on-field parade. Also, I don’t know if I’m interpreting this wrong or if this is how it’s always been done, but their website says, and I quote, “All dogs must have a ticket to enter the ballpark and sit in the designated Dog Days section.” I kind of always assumed that the dogs got in on their owners’ ticket. (Since, you know, they are dogs and completely unaware of the concept of tickets and money.)
Anyway, there will be a giveaway for Saturday’s game as well. The first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive a Willy Adames long sleeve jersey giveaway.
Sunday is a big one, as it is Pediatric Cancer Awareness day at the park. This requires a special event ticket as well, and those attending with said tickets will receive a beanie giveaway for both themselves and for a child who is going through cancer treatment.
Additionally, the first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive a Logan Webb football jersey giveaway.
If you’re headed to a game this weekend, have fun!
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants begin this weekend series against the San Diego Padres tonight at 7:15 p.m. PT.
COVERS INTEL: Sale has allowed just 
