Author: DN19 Newsroom

Guardians’ Young Talent Aims to Secure Postseason Berth

As the Cleveland Guardians enter the final month of the regular season, they remain in contention for a postseason berth for the third consecutive year. Their push toward October is being powered by the young-player development strategy the organization established during the offseason.

Guardians executives repeatedly said last winter that they wanted to give the organization’s young talent an opportunity to make an impact at the Major League level. That approach was especially evident among the position players. After Cleveland’s disappointing 2025 offensive season, the club made few additions beyond signing first baseman Rhys Hoskins to a Minor League contract.

The Guardians rank 28th in MLB with a .686 OPS, although their offense improved significantly in August, when they posted a .722 OPS. The additions of Adell and Lowe were logical moves, but Cleveland’s season has remained closely tied to the players the club expected to contribute from the start.

Young players giving Cleveland a postseason chance

Despite the team’s ups and downs and unexpected challenges, including an extended injured-list absence for superstar José Ramírez, Cleveland’s young players have helped keep its playoff hopes alive.

Chase DeLauter deserves consideration in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. He has become a focal point of the lineup, recording 24 doubles and 13 home runs with an .819 OPS over 115 games. Those totals represent career highs at any level.

Angel Martínez has established himself in the Guardians’ outfield mix, while Brayan Rocchio has taken over as Cleveland’s starting shortstop. Martínez has hit 13 home runs, and his .712 OPS in 94 games would be a career high. After missing five weeks through mid-July with a nondisplaced fracture in his left foot, he delivered a strong August, batting .324 with an .859 OPS in 22 games.

Rocchio batted .276 with a .751 OPS in 94 games before the All-Star break. His role became particularly important after DeLauter, Martínez and Ramírez were injured on June 13. Since the break, however, Rocchio has hit .184 with a .483 OPS in 37 games.

Infielder Angel Genao, ranked the Guardians’ No. 1 prospect and No. 29 overall by MLB Pipeline, and outfielder Petey Halpin are also part of a group of homegrown young players who make up nearly one-quarter of Cleveland’s active roster.

Prospects still waiting for their opportunity

The organization’s young-player group also includes several players who are not currently contributing at the Major League level.

George Valera and CJ Kayfus helped the Guardians down the stretch last season. Valera was designated for assignment on June 14 before being outrighted to Columbus. Kayfus made Cleveland’s Opening Day roster but was optioned to Columbus on April 13. He underwent season-ending surgery on his right ankle on July 17.

Juan Brito appeared in 15 games, including his MLB debut on April 7. Cleveland designated him for assignment on Aug. 3 and traded him to the Reds. Cooper Ingle received a seven-game introduction to the Majors after making his debut on June 26.

The Guardians went 9-19 after the All-Star break before finishing August with a 9-3 run. Their postseason fate is now in their own hands. Cleveland’s September schedule features crucial series against fellow contenders, including the Blue Jays from Tuesday through Thursday, the Orioles from Sept. 7-9 and the White Sox from Sept. 14-16.

The Guardians’ offseason outlook should become clearer in four weeks. For now, the players on the roster must lead Cleveland to the postseason.

“We continue to be confident in the group of guys that are there,” Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said over the weekend. “We feel we’re capable of playing good baseball and running off a bunch of wins in a row, or at least winning more than our share.

“… Hopefully our best baseball is still in front of us.”

10/13/2020
Rockies General Manager Josh Byrnes Discusses Team’s 2026 Performance Outlook

Rockies GM Josh Byrnes Addresses Mounting Losses and Path Forward

DETROIT — As losses accumulate, the instinct may be to shift focus toward the future. However, Colorado Rockies general manager Josh Byrnes insists that sanity isn’t the objective.

“I mean, you can’t be so future-focused that you’re not trying to win every day,” Byrnes said on Sunday morning. “This last month has been very frustrating, because we certainly could have and should have won more games. And in terms of progress, 100 losses is a sightline. It means something, but the White Sox [who entered Sunday leading the American League Central] lost 100 last year.

“I don’t ever think it’s good — in the Minor Leaguers, in the Major Leagues — to rationalize losing, ever. We’re trying to win. Yeah, in terms of how young our team is and some of the players we brought in, there’s talent and there is progress. But it’s about winning, and we’re not there yet.”

Byrnes spoke a day after a game slipped away in the Detroit Tigers’ final at-bat. Sunday’s 8-1 loss completed a three-game sweep and an 0-6 road trip, extending the losing streak to seven and pushing the season loss total to 94 with 13 games remaining. The defeat was cemented when rookie Gabriel Hughes required 70 pitches to navigate just two innings while allowing five runs.

Having dropped 20 of their last 25 games, the Rockies have exposed persistent weaknesses and revisited familiar ones. Here is an assessment of the club’s shortcomings — and one area of strength — from a front office that acknowledges the misery but promises clear-eyed remedies.

Offensive Production Stalls Despite Improved WAR

The Rockies’ cumulative offensive wins above replacement (WAR) of 8.2 entering Sunday, per FanGraphs, represents a significant improvement over last year’s -3.0 mark. That uptick should translate to a better record, yet offense remains a frequent reason the team falls short.

“Most of the year, until the last month, we did well with men on base — we cashed in runners from third and were opportunistic,” Byrnes said. “We produce offense against righties and lefties. But lately we’ve just left a lot of runs on the board.”

Defensive Lapses Compound Problems

Defensive miscues have been costly during the recent skid. On Friday, Riley Greene’s triple to center field would have required a standout play from rookie Cole Carrigg. On Saturday, a two-run deficit ballooned to four when right fielder Jordan Beck became entangled attempting a play on Hao-Yu Lee’s eighth-inning triple.

Carrigg and Beck belong to a young group capable of highlight-reel plays — Beck has delivered two outstanding throws recently — but they need to demonstrate a more consistent knack for game-changing defense. While range exists with Jake McCarthy and Zac Veen in the mix, and Mickey Moniak has been steady, thrown balls to wrong bases and other mistakes continue to prove expensive.

Byrnes emphasized that a blend of internal growth and external talent infusion is necessary.

“Some teams, their defense kind of carries their pitching,” Byrnes said. “The Cubs this year, their defense is more their run prevention than their actual pitching. Tampa [Bay] has really good outfield defense — the value they provide is at a premium. There are more plays and more bases that are in play in Colorado.”

Starting Pitching Struggles Early and Late in Games

Adael Amador, excelling in his trial at second base, gave the Rockies an early lead with a home run as the second batter of Sunday’s game. Yet after recording two outs in the bottom of the inning, Hughes surrendered a Colt Keith double and a Greene home run, never found his secondary pitches, and lasted only one more frame.

“Part of being a Major League pitcher is recognizing what you have that day and what you don’t, and working to fight through it to get to where you find whatever it is that you are consistently missing — and getting there quicker,” said Hughes, who fell to 0-8 in his first 12 Major League starts and exemplified one of the club’s core problems on Sunday.

Like Tanner Gordon, who lasted four innings on Saturday, Hughes could not put away hitters with two strikes due to a lack of early sharpness.

“We’ve gotten bitten most in the first and second innings — we give up way too many runs,” said Byrnes, whose team actually leads the Majors in runs allowed in each of the first four innings. “And the third time through the order, we give up way too many runs [6.13 ERA, ahead of only the Athletics’ 6.25]. So that is in our face.”

Byrnes indicated improvement could come from development among pitchers new to the rotation — such as Hughes, Mason Adams, and Gordon — and from identifying experienced arms who can serve as difference-makers. The front office is also examining relief staff models that could better support starters.

Manager Warren Schaeffer’s Approach and Front Office Remedies

Asked how the Rockies move forward, manager Warren Schaeffer struck a positive tone, citing the effort while acknowledging, “sometimes it’s just a bad stretch.”

Byrnes praised Schaeffer’s adaptability, whether maximizing matchups — a strategy that worked during stronger stretches — or adjusting bullpen usage, such as the addition of Jordan Romano prompting a less matchup-dependent late-inning relief corps. Schaeffer publicly backs his players and projects positivity, yet that does not signal a retreat from the ultimate goal.

“He sets a great tone, demands a lot of the players — we’re trying to build winning habits and standards of winning,” Byrnes said. “Even though we’re not winning enough.”

10/13/2020
Padres’ Winning Streak Ends in Loss to Rockies

The San Diego Padres saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end Tuesday night with a 9-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The defeat carries significant weight in a tight National League Wild Card race and exposed the cumulative cost of recent bullpen management.

Winning Streak Snapped at Season-High Mark

The eight-game streak matched the season high the Padres previously set in April. It marks the first time in franchise history that San Diego has produced multiple winning streaks of at least eight games in a single season. However, for the second time this year, the team failed to extend a streak to nine games.

Wild Card Lead Shrinks Amid Missed Opportunities

The loss dramatically altered the playoff picture in a matter of hours. Late Monday night, the Padres were on the verge of expanding their lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final NL Wild Card spot to 3½ games. Instead, a walk-off home run by Corbin Carroll lifted Arizona over Miami, and San Diego’s own defeat Tuesday trimmed the advantage to just two games, pending the result of Arizona’s late contest.

Compounding the damage, both the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies lost on Tuesday, presenting a prime opportunity for the Padres to pull even in the loss column for coveted home-field advantage in the Wild Card round. Instead, San Diego trails the Cubs by 1½ games and the Phillies by one game—without the tiebreaker over either club.

High-Leverage Bullpen Usage Extracts a Price

The Padres have relied heavily on their high-leverage relievers during the winning streak, a strategy that earned eight consecutive victories but carried an inevitable cost. Over the previous four games, San Diego grabbed early leads only to endure stressful late innings each night. The bill came due against Colorado.

Starter Walker Buehler required 92 pitches to navigate just 4⅔ innings, forcing the Padres to turn to lower-leverage options for the middle frames. Wandy Peralta escaped a jam in the fifth but unraveled in the sixth, allowing four of the first five batters to reach base as the Rockies seized the lead. Randy Vásquez then engaged Cole Carrigg in a 13-pitch duel with two outs; Carrigg fouled off 10 pitches before launching a belt-high fastball into the right-field seats for his second home run of the night, pushing Colorado’s advantage to four runs.

The lone silver lining: the decisive deficit allowed the overworked high-leverage arms a much-needed night off.

Platoon Strategy at No. 2 Shows Early Promise

Manager Craig Stammen deployed Austin Hays in the No. 2 spot against Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland, a matchup Hays has historically dominated. The move paid immediate dividends when Hays led off the fifth inning with a solo home run off Freeland, giving San Diego a 3-2 lead and chasing the starter from the game.

The decision highlighted the roster’s platoon flexibility. Had Colorado countered with right-hander Ryan Feltner, Stammen was prepared to counter with Dustin Harris, who has excelled against right-handed pitching. This approach ensures a favorable matchup whether facing the starter multiple times or attacking the opposing bullpen early—a “win-win” dynamic.

Critics argue the optimal strategy is simply slotting the four best hitters—Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Ty France, and Jackson Merrill—in the top four spots to maximize their at-bats. Yet the Padres have thrived with the current configuration: Tatis leading off, a versatile No. 2 hitter separating him from the three middle-order mashers. Without a permanent solution at No. 2, playing for daily matchup advantages remains a sound tactical choice, one that could gain further traction if Miguel Andújar and Gavin Sheets return from the injured list in the coming weeks.

10/13/2020
Corbin Carroll Hits Walk-Off Home Run as Diamondbacks Beat Marlins

The Arizona Diamondbacks rallied for a dramatic 8-7 walk-off victory over the Miami Marlins at Chase Field on Monday night, keeping their National League Wild Card hopes alive. Corbin Carroll delivered the decisive blow, a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning that capped a comeback from a 7-4 deficit after seven innings.

Carroll’s Clutch Homer Shifts Momentum

The win carries significant weight in the tight NL Wild Card race. The San Diego Padres, who currently hold the final spot, defeated the Colorado Rockies earlier in the evening. Had Arizona lost, they would have fallen 3½ games behind San Diego with a crucial three-game series in San Diego looming to close the regular season. Instead, the victory may have shifted momentum in the Diamondbacks’ favor.

Manager Torey Lovullo described the win as a potential catalyst.

“We kept plowing away at it, and it was a great win,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We know what was going on around us. We haven’t been playing great baseball, and to win a game like that today is, in my opinion, one of those catalyst type of games that pushes you forward and gets you ready for the next day.”

Ninth-Inning Drama Unfolds

The rally began in the eighth inning when Jordan Lawlar launched a two-run homer to cut the Marlins’ lead to 7-5. In the ninth, Miami closer Pete Fairbanks walked Gabriel Moreno to start the inning. Fairbanks threw one pitch to Geraldo Perdomo before exiting with an injury, bringing Jack Ralston into the game.

Perdomo laid down a bunt to advance pinch-runner Tommy Troy to second base, setting the stage for Carroll. During the extended warm-up period for Ralston, Carroll prepared a specific approach.

“I had a lot of confidence Perdomo was going to do his job,” Carroll said. “So I had an idea that there would be a runner on second, and was just kind of thinking through his pitches and what he might be likely to go with.”

With first base open, Carroll stayed patient, hunting a pitch in the middle of the zone. On a 2-1 count, Ralston left a splitter up, and Carroll crushed it to right field for the game-ending home run.

Overcoming a Prolonged Slump

The home run was a significant moment for Carroll, who has been grinding through a difficult stretch at the plate while managing a lower back issue. Entering the at-bat, he was just 8-for-59 (.136) in his previous 65 plate appearances. Lovullo praised the outfielder’s resilience and commitment.

“We know what Corbin’s been grinding through,” Lovullo said. “We watch it every single day, you guys included. But he continues to fight, and he commits. He commits to what he’s going to do in the box. He commits to being present and engaged in the box, he commits to being a great teammate and coming through, and it was a good moment for him.”

Carroll Unaware of Padres Result

In a testament to his singular focus, Carroll revealed after the game that he was unaware the Padres had won earlier in the night.

“Honestly, I didn’t know they won,” Carroll said. “I didn’t know they won today. I missed that one.”

The hanging splitter, however, he did not miss. The walk-off keeps Arizona within striking distance in the Wild Card race and provides a much-needed confidence boost heading into the final stretch of the season.

10/13/2020
Cody Bellinger’s Three-Run Homer Helps Yankees Beat Mets

NEW YORK — The weight of September 11 permeated Yankee Stadium on Friday, visible in the first-responder caps resting on locker shelves and the memorial wreath that manager Aaron Boone, captain Aaron Judge, and ace Gerrit Cole carried into Monument Park during the early afternoon.

Subway Series Victory on a Day of Remembrance

A stirring pregame ceremony brought together members of the 2001 Yankees, who shared memories of a season when baseball helped a grieving city heal. In a Subway Series contest that belonged to New York, Cody Bellinger delivered the decisive blow, belting a three-run homer to power the Yankees to a 6-4 victory over the Mets.

“It’s a special day,” Bellinger said. “Today was a day where it felt bigger than the game, bigger than yourself. It’s a day to be grateful, for sure.”

Bellinger launched his 14th home run of the season against rookie right-hander Nolan McLean in the second inning, marking the first homer McLean has surrendered on a curveball in the major leagues.

Personal History Adds Weight to the Moment

Wearing pinstripes and an FDNY cap on this date carried profound personal significance for Bellinger. His father, Clay, played for those 2001 Yankees and became a firefighter in Gilbert, Arizona, after his playing career ended.

“He was here with the team; went to Ground Zero with the team when they went,” Bellinger said. “We were in New York at the time, so it’s a pretty surreal day now to be here. He talked about the World Series, how important it felt.”

The connection deepened when Bellinger was chosen to catch the ceremonial first pitch from Brielle Saracini. Her father, Victor Saracini, was the captain of United Flight 175, which was flown into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

“[Baseball] was definitely what the country needed and what the country united around,” Saracini said. “It became this special thing that healed me. It healed 10-year-old Brielle.”

“It was just a nice little touch to be able to swing that one,” Rice said. “It started with the ‘U.S.A.’ chants you heard right after the anthem; I mean, there’s nothing cooler than that. Everybody being so proud to be Americans, watching a baseball game between New York’s teams.”

Luis García Jr. contributed three hits in the win, extending the Yankees’ winning streak to four games.

“I’ve got to say, seeing the fans, seeing how much they were into the ceremony before the game, seeing the emotions from them was special,” García said through interpreter Marlon Abreu.

Rodón Delivers Longest Outing of the Season

Calling it a “heavy” assignment to pitch on this particular date, Carlos Rodón allowed two runs — one earned — over 6 1/3 innings, marking his longest outing of the year. The left-hander surrendered three hits, walked one, and struck out eight.

“It was cool to be a part of,” said Rodón. “It’s sad, but it’s an honor to be able to pitch tonight.”

Boone praised Rodón’s performance, noting the life on his four-seam fastball as well as the effectiveness of his changeup and slider. Rodón allowed a run-scoring groundout by Christopher Morel in the second inning, and an RBI single by A.J. Ewing off reliever Paul Blackburn in the seventh brought in an inherited runner.

“Not only was his stuff really good, but he was efficient, too,” Boone said.

Bednar Escapes Jam for Five-Out Save

David Bednar recorded a five-out save, navigating a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the eighth inning by surrendering only a sacrifice fly to Marcus Semien. Ewing homered off Bednar in the ninth, but the closer recovered to induce a game-ending double-play grounder from Juan Soto.

“It was great,” Boone said. “Obviously as a club, you’re playing for a lot, but having some of the people involved today back and part of the pregame ceremonies – it felt special. The energy in the crowd was special. It felt like you’d want a ballgame to feel like.”

10/13/2020
Eugenio Suárez and TJ Friedl Placed on Waivers, Source Says

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez and outfielder TJ Friedl cleared waivers and will remain with the team, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon on Thursday. The Reds have not confirmed the report.

By placing Suárez and Friedl on waivers, Cincinnati gave the other 29 clubs an opportunity to claim either player before the waiver period expired.

Eugenio Suárez remains with the Reds

Suárez returned to Cincinnati on a one-year, $15 million contract after spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Reds. However, the 35-year-old has struggled this season, posting a .705 OPS in 103 games while hitting 19 home runs.

TJ Friedl enduring career-worst season

Friedl has experienced an even more difficult campaign, recording a career-worst .476 OPS in 76 games. That is the lowest OPS among the 274 hitters with at least 250 plate appearances this season.

The figure is well below Friedl’s career .725 OPS and the .742 OPS he posted over 152 games last season. The outfielder also spent much of June in the Minors while working through his struggles.

Source: www.mlb.com

10/13/2020
Most Exciting MLB Statistical Races to Watch in 2026

With just under five weeks remaining in the 2026 regular season, Yordan Alvarez remains in position to become the American League Triple Crown winner. However, several challengers are keeping the race tight.

Alvarez holds a narrow lead in AL home runs with 36 and is tied for the league lead in RBIs with 91. He also leads the AL in batting average as the season enters its final stretch.

Those are not the only statistical races worth watching. Here are 10 compelling MLB leaderboards to follow over the next few weeks. All statistics are through play on Wednesday.

1. AL Triple Crown and home run race

Alvarez could become the first Triple Crown winner since Miguel Cabrera in 2012. Entering play Thursday, the Astros slugger leads the American League in home runs and batting average while sharing the RBI lead.

The achievement will not be easy, particularly because Alvarez has struggled to produce power recently. He has hit only one home run in August, leaving an opening for two young sluggers. The 23-year-old Caminero could surpass the 45 home runs he hit last season, while the 27-year-old Rice has already established a single-season career high with 35 home runs.

2. AL RBI race

Contenders: Yordan Alvarez, 91 (HOU); Pete Alonso, 91 (BAL)

If Alonso has anything to say about it, Alvarez will not win the AL Triple Crown. Known as the Polar Bear, Alonso has been one of the league’s hottest hitters and has raised his production another level in recent weeks.

Alonso’s 22 RBIs since Aug. 1 lead the American League. He matched Alvarez with a four-RBI game Tuesday and a two-RBI game Wednesday. Alvarez is entering unfamiliar territory as he pursues his first 100-RBI season since 2021, while Alonso has already recorded four seasons with at least 100 RBIs.

3. NL RBI race

A quartet of unheralded sluggers is competing to lead the National League in RBIs. No player has driven in more runs this season than Stewart, who is seeking to become the third rookie—and the first in 76 years—to lead the Majors in RBIs since the statistic became official in 1920.

The NL Central rivalry is also playing a role, with two overlooked Cardinals sluggers close behind Stewart. Abrams should not be overlooked, either, as he powers the second-highest-scoring offense in the Majors.

4. Strikeout race

Cease’s bid for the AL Cy Young Award has been fueled in large part by his remarkable strikeout totals. This is already his sixth consecutive season with at least 200 strikeouts, and he has recorded nine games with double-digit strikeouts this year.

Williams has matched that total and is suddenly striking out hitters at a historic rate. He has narrowed the gap since the All-Star break, recording nine more strikeouts than Cease during that span.

Schlittler is slightly outside the main battle, but the hard-throwing right-hander belongs in the conversation because he has the fourth-highest strikeout rate among qualified MLB starters.

5. AL ERA race

Contenders: Schlittler, 2.16 (NYY); Cease, 2.37 (TOR); Parker Messick, 2.50 (CLE)

Cease has the edge in strikeouts, but Schlittler is leading the race for the AL ERA title. That is one reason he is the frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award, according to the latest poll.

Schlittler’s 2.16 ERA would be the lowest by a Yankees pitcher in a season in which he qualified for the ERA title since Ron Guidry posted a 1.74 ERA during his Cy Young-winning 1978 season. Messick, a rookie left-hander, has also been impressive, recording the fourth-best ERA in the Majors since July 1.

6. AL batting average race

Contenders: Alvarez, .322 (HOU); Chandler Simpson, .308 (TB)

This race is not especially close, but it remains important for several reasons. It is the final statistical category connected to Alvarez’s pursuit of the AL Triple Crown, and it highlights the contrasting styles of the two leaders.

Alvarez is a complete hitter with few weaknesses, but his power is his defining strength. He leads the Majors with a .614 slugging percentage. Simpson, by contrast, is the only qualified hitter without a home run this season.

Despite the gap, Simpson is applying pressure with a .373 batting average since July 1. Gaining ground is difficult, however, because Alvarez is hitting .337 over the same span.

7. NL doubles race

The NL doubles race is crowded, with seven players recording between 30 and 33 doubles this season. Several familiar names are in contention.

Since the start of the 2021 season, only three players have hit more than 210 doubles: Freeman with 235, Olson with 216 and Devers with 211. Those established doubles leaders are all chasing Burleson, whose 33 doubles already represent the highest single-season total of his career.

8. NL hits race

Contenders: Luis Arraez, 161 (PHI); Lopez, 160 (MIA)

While pursuing his fourth batting title, Arraez is also trying to lead the NL in hits for the third consecutive season. This year, he is coming from behind. Arraez has collected 25 hits in August, moving ahead of Lopez, who has 22 hits this month.

Arraez would become the first player to lead his league in hits in at least three straight seasons since Jose Altuve led the American League in hits for four consecutive years from 2014 through 2017.

9. AL stolen base race

After going 30 games without a stolen base earlier this season, Simpson is running aggressively again. His 13 stolen bases since the All-Star break lead the Majors.

Witt has recorded 183 stolen bases since the start of the 2022 season, his rookie year, which is 20 more than any other player during that span. Yet he has never led the AL in steals.

Chisholm entered Spring Training with ambitions of a 50-50 season. Although he will not reach 50 home runs, he could still steal 50 bases and took the AL lead Wednesday.

10. NL saves race

Miller is not leading the NL in saves, despite what many might have expected. O’Brien, a 31-year-old journeyman and first-time All-Star, has established a role at the back end of the Cardinals’ bullpen.

O’Brien entered the season with only 52 big league appearances, and his save total could end up close to that number. Miller’s 32 saves are already his highest single-season total, and he should have more opportunities down the stretch as the Padres compete for a postseason berth.

10/13/2020
2026 MLB Playoff Picture and Bracket
The 2026 postseason race is approaching its decisive stage. As teams battle for playoff position, the standings will determine the field, potential tiebreakers and the clinching scenarios for each contender.

Who is in playoff position?

Here is how the postseason field is shaping up entering Tuesday, with teams listed by seeding:
- American League playoff teams: Rays (AL East), White Sox (AL Central), Astros (AL West), Yankees (Wild Card), Red Sox (Wild Card) and Guardians (Wild Card)
- National League playoff teams: Brewers (NL Central), Dodgers (NL West), Braves (NL East), Cubs (Wild Card), Phillies (Wild Card) and Padres (Wild Card)
For the full playoff bracket, see the top of this page.

Each best-of-three Wild Card Series is scheduled to begin on Sept. 29. The best-of-five Division Series are scheduled to start on Oct. 3.

What are the tightest playoff races?
- AL Wild Card: Guardians lead the Orioles by 0.5 games for the final berth
- NL Wild Card: Padres lead the D-backs by 0.5 games for the final berth
- AL West: Astros lead the Rangers by two games
- AL Central: White Sox lead the Guardians by three games
Who owns the playoff tiebreakers?

Since 2022, all MLB playoff tiebreakers have been determined mathematically rather than through tiebreaker games. Ties for division titles, postseason berths and playoff seeding are decided first by head-to-head record between the teams during the regular season, with additional tiebreakers used when necessary.

MLB.com is tracking the relevant tiebreaker scenarios for contenders, defined here as teams within five games of a playoff spot.

American League

Rays (first in AL East; 4.5 games ahead of NYY): The Yankees might be the only team within striking distance of the Rays in the standings. Tampa Bay would hold the tiebreaker over New York unless the Yankees sweep all four games in the Bronx from Sept. 22-24.

Yankees (first in AL Wild Card; three games ahead of BOS): By taking three of four games from Boston from Aug. 28-30, the Yankees secured the tiebreaker against their longtime rival.

Red Sox (second in AL Wild Card; 5.5 games ahead of CLE): If Boston fades down the stretch and finishes tied for the final Wild Card spot, its remaining games against Cleveland and Baltimore could become significant.

Orioles (0.5 games behind CLE for third AL Wild Card): Baltimore still has several important tiebreakers to settle in September, including its tiebreaker against the Twins, which will be determined by division record.

Blue Jays (1.5 games behind CLE for third AL Wild Card): Toronto’s series against the Guardians from Tuesday through Thursday in Cleveland could help the Blue Jays close the gap and determine a key tiebreaker.

White Sox (first in AL Central; three games ahead of CLE): Chicago needs one win in its final series against Cleveland from Sept. 14-16 to secure a critical tiebreaker against its division rival.

Guardians (third in AL Wild Card; 0.5 games ahead of BAL): Most of Cleveland’s key tiebreakers remain undecided, but the Guardians have secured the tiebreaker against Seattle if the teams finish tied for a Wild Card spot.

Twins (3.5 games behind CLE for third AL Wild Card): Any tiebreaker between Minnesota and Baltimore for a Wild Card spot would be decided by intradivisional record.

Astros (first in AL West; two games ahead of TEX): Houston would win the tiebreaker against Texas if the teams finish tied atop the AL West.

Rangers (1.5 games behind CLE for third AL Wild Card): Texas is in strong position among AL Wild Card contenders, although the Rangers would lose a head-to-head tiebreaker to the Astros.

National League

Braves (first in NL East; four games ahead of PHI): Atlanta has already secured the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Dodgers. The Braves need two wins in their final seven games against the Phillies to secure another important tiebreaker.

Phillies (tied for first in NL Wild Card; five games ahead of SD): Philadelphia does not hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Cubs, its closest competitor for the top NL Wild Card position.

Marlins (four games behind SD for third NL Wild Card): Consecutive road series in Arizona from Sept. 14-16 and San Diego from Sept. 18-20 will be crucial to Miami’s postseason hopes.

Brewers (first in NL Central; seven games ahead of CHC): If Milwaukee and Atlanta finish the regular season tied, the higher seed will go to the team with the better division record.

Cubs (tied for first in NL Wild Card; five games ahead of SD): Chicago is in excellent position and could secure all relevant tiebreakers by sweeping the Braves during their Sept. 14-16 series at Wrigley Field.

Cardinals (five games behind SD for third NL Wild Card): St. Louis remains on the edge of the playoff race. The Cardinals would win a head-to-head tiebreaker against San Diego but would lose one to Arizona or Miami.

Dodgers (first in NL West; 9.5 games ahead of SD): Los Angeles has lost head-to-head tiebreakers against both the Braves and Brewers, which could become important in the race for a first-round postseason bye.

Padres (third in NL Wild Card; 0.5 games ahead of AZ): San Diego currently does not hold any postseason tiebreakers. The Padres can secure two by winning one of three games against Miami from Sept. 18-20 or by winning their series against Arizona from Sept. 25-27.

D-backs (0.5 games behind SD for third NL Wild Card): Arizona will finish the regular season against San Diego at Petco Park. The pivotal series will determine the clubs’ head-to-head tiebreaker and could decide a playoff spot.

Source: www.mlb.com
10/13/2020
Payton Tolle Hugs Dominic Canzone During Play at First Base

Payton Tolle turned a routine baseball play into one of the most memorable moments of Boston’s 9-8 win over the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park on Monday night, hugging Josh Canzone as he tagged him out at first base.

Tolle’s hugs are usually reserved for his teammates, particularly Garrett Whitlock, when he returns to the dugout between innings. This time, the 23-year-old pitcher showed some affection in the middle of a play.

Payton Tolle hugs Josh Canzone during play

With one out in the top of the third inning, Canzone hit a 51 mph chopper in front of the mound. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Tolle charged the comebacker and sprinted toward the first-base line to cut Canzone off.

Tolle stepped in front of Canzone a little more than halfway down the line, bringing both players to a stop. He then opened his arms wide and wrapped them around Canzone while tagging him out at the same time.

Canzone placed his right arm around Tolle and smiled before heading back to the dugout.

“It just kind of happened,” said Tolle. “I was right there in front of him, and I was like, ‘Bring it in for the big one.’”

Did Tolle ever meet Canzone before the hug?

“No, but we do [know each other] now,” Tolle said.

Canzone must have been caught by surprise, right?

“I mean, probably for a second,” Tolle said. “But then it’s like, ‘Yeah, this is just going to happen.’”

Tolle brings energy after allowing homer

The hug came moments after Tolle surrendered a towering home run to Randy Arozarena, cutting Boston’s lead to 3-2. Tolle quickly shook off the adversity and shared a lighthearted moment with Canzone.

The spontaneous exchange reflected Tolle’s determination to enjoy the privilege of playing in the Major Leagues while bringing his distinctive personality to the game.

Trevor Story, who ended Boston’s victory with a walk-off single, had to think for a moment when asked about the hug.

“The guy gives hugs all the time, so I’m not sure which one you’re talking about,” quipped Story. “But yeah, that was funny, man. Payton’s just a special person. He plays the game like a little kid, which I feel like we all should.”

10/13/2020
Padres Manage Mason Miller’s Workload in Season’s Final Games

Workload management has remained a primary consideration for the San Diego Padres when deploying ace closer Mason Miller. The club has walked a fine line with their All-Star right-hander throughout the season.

Miller Embraces High-Leverage September Role

“It’s meaningful baseball in September, that’s all you ask for as a baseball player,” Miller said. “Regardless of what is happening and how we got here, this is the situation we’re in.”

With the Padres pushing for a postseason berth, the possibility of a fully unleashed Miller—one who regularly exceeds his standard one-inning save role or appears on consecutive days for the game’s most critical outs—has moved from hypothetical to reality. Recent usage patterns strongly suggest the coaching staff is leaning on their elite reliever at an elevated rate as the games gain magnitude.

Increased Usage Signals Trust

Miller’s last three outings occurred within a four-day window. That stretch included a two-inning appearance against the New York Yankees last Friday, where he secured the win in the 10th inning after entering in the ninth—just the second time he has pitched two full frames this season. He also logged four appearances in five days from Aug. 21–25, marking the second such instance this year (previously June 5–9). Prior to 2024, Miller had never endured a stretch of that intensity in his career.

Dominant Statistics Underpin Heavy Reliance

The heightened trust is hardly surprising given Miller’s absurd level of dominance. His 1.17 ERA leads the Majors, and his astronomical 48.5% strikeout rate is the highest in baseball by a margin of over 10% (minimum 60 innings pitched). Additionally, his 34 saves rank second in the National League, trailing only the Cardinals’ Riley O’Brien (36).

Innings Milestone Looms as Health Priority

However, an equally critical factor weighs on the decision-making process. Miller is approaching a career high in innings pitched, sitting just 3 2/3 frames shy of matching the 65 innings he threw in 2024. While he has appeared in more games overall both this season and last—following his acquisition from the Athletics at the 2023 Trade Deadline—he has yet to surpass that innings threshold. His current workload trajectory suggests he could exceed that mark before the regular season concludes.

Miller Reflects on Workload Evolution

“You take different years and you learn different things,” Miller said. “Two years ago was my career high in innings, but I only threw in 55 games. Last year I threw fewer innings, but I felt like I was pitching more, so it’s a little bit of a different animal. This year I feel like I’ve been able to keep my body feeling really good the entire season. It’s allowed me to pitch four out of five days for the first time, three days in a row.”

Bullpen Depth Provides Safety Net

San Diego’s ultimate priority remains keeping Miller healthy, and increased workload is rarely the optimal path to that goal. Padres manager Craig Stammen has spoken extensively about the challenges of preserving his All-Star right-hander while maintaining his dominance throughout the grueling season. Stammen has navigated a similar tightrope with left-handed setup man Adrian Morejon, who has already surpassed his previous career-high innings total and appeared in three consecutive games earlier this week.

Possessing one of the league’s most formidable bullpens has made distributing the workload significantly easier. Entering Friday, San Diego’s relievers ranked third in MLB with 618 2/3 innings pitched and fourth with a 3.42 ERA. Alongside current options such as Bradgley Rodriguez, Yuki Matsui, Wandy Peralta, and Kyle Hart, the Padres anticipate the return of rehabbing All-Star right-hander Jason Adam sometime over the final two weeks, further fortifying the group.

Miller on Bullpen’s Collective Mindset

“Sometimes it’s hard, you’re in a bullpen where guys are constantly getting the ball,” Miller said.

Given the team’s relief depth, the question arises: is it worth asking Miller to shoulder an even heavier burden during the pennant chase? Does it make strategic sense? Perhaps not. Yet, it is September, and the fundamental reality of this time of year is that teams need their best players on the field as much as physically possible. The rate at which the Padres have deployed Miller recently reflects that exact sentiment.

“We’ve kind of gotten here on the back of the bullpen, in a lot of ways,” Miller said. “It takes a complete team effort to win a game, but we’ve won a lot of close games, we feel comfortable playing in close games. I think we know more might be asked … but we’re prepared to go every night.”

10/13/2020