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Not sure about the rest of you, but I just loved the Game 163 tiebreakers. Settle it on the field. Team vs. team. Not some willy-nilly tiebreaker. I get it, though. Make the rest of the regular season mean something. But I like sports drama and tiebreaker games were the ultimate to me. Win and you’re in. Maybe go all the way. Lose and you are bitter that you didn’t win one more game in April. This year would be amazing for tiebreaker games in the AL. A tiebreaker could decide the AL Central champion (Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians). The team that loses that could be involved in another tiebreaker for the third and final AL wild card with a team from the AL West that might have lost a tiebreaker to decide that division (Houston Astros and Texas Rangers). Now imagine the two AL Central and two AL West teams dueling it out over two days to determine which three teams advance to the postseason. Pure drama (and more TV time, too).
Today’s Headlines
Murakami HR Has White Sox Tied For First
Munetaka Murakami did it all for the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a four-game series vs. the Detroit Tigers. It was much-needed after the White Sox fell out of first place by losing two of three to the Cleveland Guardians to begin the week. Power will be always be Murakami’s calling card and he did what he does best, blasting a three-run homer in the first inning that stood up in a 3-1 victory over the Tigers. The win pulled the White Sox into a tie with the Guardians for first place in the AL Central with nine games remaining. The White Sox hold the tiebreaker over the Guardians. The Guardians hold a two-game lead over the Texas Rangers in the fight for the third and final AL wild card following the Rangers’ 4-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Murakami now has 32 homers in his rookie season. He also made a terrific throw to nail a runner at third base and then hit his first MLB triple.
Dodgers Secure 5th Straight NL West Crown
What has felt like a mere formality since June, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the NL West champion for the fifth consecutive season and 13th time in 14 years. Kyle Tucker, perhaps awakening from his seasonlong slumber, homered among his four hits in an 8-2 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds. The two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers, in the postseason for a record-tying 14th straight year, are two games behind the Milwaukee Brewers, who have the best record in MLB, for the No. 1 seed in the NL and are four games clear of NL East-leading Atlanta. The Brewers and Dodgers are the only teams to have wrapped up their divisions. Tucker fell a triple shy of the cycle and had three RBIs. His two-run homer in the first inning off right-hander Brady Singer was his 16th of the season. The homer was Tucker’s fourth in eight games.
Alvarez Crushes 40th, Astros Go Up 1 in AL West
The Houston Astros have their eye on four races as the regular season winds down. Three have to do with their postseason chances. The other concerns their superstar slugger and the Triple Crown. Yordan Alvarez clubbed his 40th homer of the season as the Astros pulled away from the Kansas City Royals for a 6-2 victory. The Astros, also battling for a first-round bye, are one game ahead of the second-place Texas Rangers in the AL West after the Texas lost to the Boston Red Sox 4-3. Whoever doesn’t win the West — the Astros hold the tiebreaker — is hoping for the final AL wild-card spot. The Astros and Rangers are one game behind the Guardians, who technically hold the No. 3 AL wild card as they lost the tiebreaker to the White Sox despite the two teams being tied for first in the AL Central. Alvarez is second in the AL in homers, one behind Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays, leads by percentage points in batting average at .311 over Chandler Simpson of the Rays and three RBIs behind the 102 of Baltimore Orioles star Pete Alonso. Alvarez followed LaMonte Wade Jr.’s solo shot in the fifth inning by demolishing the first pitch he saw to extend his career high for homers.
Story, Red Sox Steal One From Rangers
It is nights like this one that the Rangers are thankful to have a tiebreaker advantage as they battle for the final AL wild-card spot. Trevor Story hit his first homer since May, a three-run shot in the eighth inning that sent the Red Sox to a 4-3 victory over the Rangers. The Rangers, also knocked into second place in the AL West a game behind the Astros, are now two games behind the Guardians for the final wild-card berth and hold the tiebreaker over the Guardians. The Rangers had built an early 3-0 lead on a Josh Jung homer and two more runs in the second. A bullpen game was working out well for the Rangers until left-hander Robby Ahlstrom gave up a run in the seventh. Right-hander Jakob Junis started the eighth and walked Wilyer Abreu and hit Willson Contreras, who had to leave the game. One out later and with All-Star right-hander Jacob Latz now in, Story connected for his game-changing homer that solidified the Red Sox’s grasp on the No. 2 AL wild card and knocked the Rangers back.
Phillies Tie Cubs Atop NL Wild-Card Standings
While left-hander Jesús Luzardo’s status up in the air after being placed on the injured list, the Philadelphia Phillies need every big-time pitching performance they can get. Right-hander Aaron Nola turned in a vintage outing, tossing seven shutout innings in a 3-0 victory over the New York Mets to open a four-game series. The win allowed the Phillies to tie the idle Chicago Cubs for the top NL wild-card spot, although the Phillies lose the tiebreaker, with nine games remaining. The game was marred by a collision between Mets first baseman Jared Young and right-hander Nolan McLean in the sixth inning, with Young having to be transported to a hospital for further evaluation. Nola allowed just three hits while also walking three and striking out four. Bryce Harper had three hits, including one courtesy of Trea Turner’s hustle on a fifth-inning grounder that, after replay review, brought in a run instead of ending the inning. Luis Arraez and Justin Crawford added sacrifice flies in the seventh and eighth innings before Jhoan Duran closed the game out for his 32nd save.
By The Numbers
4 San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts had a homer and a triple in a seven-run second inning in a 9-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Bogaerts finished a single shy of the cycle, striking out in his final two at-bats. The Padres, winners of 10 of their last 11, have a firm grip on the NL’s No. 3 wild-card spot, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks by four games.
5 Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen threw five scoreless innings and four players each drove in a pair of runs in a 10-1 victory over the A’s. The Rays, already with a postseason spot secured, now lead the AL East by five games.
16 Los Angeles Angels rookie right-hander Walbert Ureña struck out nine over seven shutout innings and Wade Meckler singled home the winning run with one out in the bottom of the 10th in a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Meckler now has 16 starts this year in which he has allowed zero or one run, tying for the third-most by a pitcher 22 years old or younger.
Best Moments From Yesterday
The Good Hands Guy
Tigers shortstop Javy Baez is versatile — on the field and in the dugout.
Bubblegum or baseballs, Javy Báez isn't letting it touch the groundHe's got a decade-long highlight reel to prove it 😤
Cool And Refreshing
Rays third baseman Junior Caminero ran a long way in a failed pursuit of this foul ball. Thankfully, a member of the A’s bullpen offered him a little water.
Junior Caminero had to stay hydrated 🤣
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ The Phillies claimed right-hander José Urquidy off waivers from the Chicago White Sox. Urquidy can cover innings during the regular season, but is ineligible for the postseason.
Articles You Should Read
Sorting out Ohtani and the rest of the Dodgers’ injuries before the playoffs — Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic
Red Sox took great pains to build depth last offseason and the results are payin off — Alex Speier, Boston Globe
Why Moreno’s Angels sale may be unlike anything we have ever seen — Brittany Ghiroli and Sam Blum, The Athletic
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
