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The MLB regular season is in the books. There were plenty of thrills and chills (yes, and spills), with plot twists and dominance throughout the 162-game season. There were two 100-win teams and two that lost 100. Check out the final standings here. But now is the part of the season that we remember the most: the postseason. After a six-month marathon, we now have a one-month sprint to determine the World Series champion. The No. 1 storyline will be the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ quest to become the third franchise to win three straight championships. Will the Dodgers have an NL Championship Series rematch with the Milwaukee Brewers, who look much more dangerous and complete this year? Or will another team from the NL pull a surprise? On the AL side, the Tampa Bay Rays lead a cast of three teams from the East Division that posted the three best records in the league. One will be out after the Wild Card Series as the Boston Red Sox pay a visit to the rival New York Yankees. It will be interesting to watch the Chicago White Sox in their return to the postseason following back-to-back 100-loss seasons. They face a Houston Astros team that made history for the wrong reasons, but are nonetheless in the dance. Game 7 of the World Series is scheduled for Halloween. A lockout will follow in December and the business side of the game will dominate headlines in the ensuing months, so enjoy these final 34 days until then.
WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-three)
Times for Games 1 and 2 (Tuesday and Wednesday). Game 3 times will depend on how many games will be played.
NL: No. 6 Phillies at No. 3 Atlanta, 2 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)
AL: No. 6 White Sox at No. 3 Astros, 5 p.m. ET (Peacock, NBCSN)
AL: No. 5 Red Sox at No. No. 4 Yankees, 8 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)
NL: No. 5 Cubs at No. 4 Padres, 10 p.m. ET (Peacock, NBCSN)
Today’s Headlines
Astros Get To .500, Make History As AL West Champ
The Houston Astros are going into the history books. By virtue of their 9-0 victory over the A’s in Game 162, the Astros finished 81-81 and won the AL West title. They are the first team in MLB history to make the playoffs with a .500 record or worse in a full season. (Two teams made it with losing records in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.) They fought the Texas Rangers down to the final day, but the Rangers lost to the Minnesota Twins 6-4. Credit is also due the Astros, who rallied from a 20-31 start. Against the A’s, six pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout, Christian Walker homered and Lucas Spence drove in a pair of runs.
Phillies Survive Freefall, Claim Last NL Berth
The other unknown going into Game 162 was who would claim the final NL wild-card spot. The Philadelphia Phillies had been on the verge of clinch a postseason spot since Wednesday, but then lost their next four to make the finale a do-or-die situation, with the Arizona Diamondbacks ready to play spoiler. But the Phillies stepped up on the final day, with right-handed starter Zack Wheeler dominating for six innings and the offense coming alive for at least a game in a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays to claim the last NL wild card. The D’backs, meanwhile, fell to the San Diego Padres 9-4 and couldn’t exercise their tiebreaker over the Phillies had it come down to that. The Phillies’ reward is a showdown with NL East rival and champion Atlanta in the NL Wild Card Series. Bryce Harper and Edmundo Sosa homered, while Kyle Schwarber had two hits and two RBIs for the Phillies. Wheeler went six innings, striking out five and allowing one run.
Wilson Out As Mariners’ Manager
After a thrilling run to the AL Championship Series a year ago, the magic was not there this season for the Seattle Mariners. In a division that made history for not the right reasons, the Mariners finished 76-86, third in the AL West, five games behind the Astros. With that, manager Dan Wilson was fired, a move made official after Sunday’s game. Wilson, a former catcher, is in the team’s Hall of Fame. While the Mariners’ have had terrific starting pitching for the last few years, the offense has not clicked. Catcher Cal Raleigh, who hit a surprising 60 homers in 2025 and finished second in AL MVP voting, hit 23 in 125 games while posting a .177/.293/.365 slash line. Superstar center fielder Julio Rodríguez had a .249/.310/.404 slash line with 22 homers and 71 RBIs. Wilson is the fourth manager fired this season, while another, Kurt Suzuki of the Los Angeles Angels, had a one-year contract in his first managerial assignment.
Dodgers Reach 100 Wins — Again
With no drama in the NL West, the Los Angeles Dodgers have, as little as they can, flown a bit under the radar this season. That changes when the two-time defending World Series champs enter the postseason next weekend. But they just chugged along this year and, for the fourth time in six years, have hit the century mark in victories. That came with a 5-1 victory in 10 innings over the rival San Francisco Giants. This is the fourth time in seven seasons — and first since 2023 — that the Dodgers have reached 100 wins. Alex Call had the tiebreaking double in the 10th and Andy Pages followed with a three-run homer. This is the sixth Dodgers team Dave Roberts has managed to 100 victories, tying Bobby Cox of Atlanta and Joe McCarthy of the Yankees for the most in MLB history.
By The Numbers
For a full list of statistical leaders, check out this article.
2 Cubs superstar third baseman Alex Bregman went 4-for-4 and hit a pair of homers in a 6-2 victory over the Red Sox. Bregman’s big game came one week to the day after taking a foul ball off the face, resulting in multiple facial fractures. He played in both games of Friday’s doubleheader, with Sunday’s game taking place at Tropicana Field, home of the Rays, due to a huge storm that slammed the East Coast.
84 The White Sox smashed the record for wins following back-to-back 100-loss seasons, posting an 84-78 record. The previous high for wins was 70. They are the first team to make the playoffs after consecutive 100-loss seasons.
3 Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara earned his third save of the final two weeks of the season in a 5-3 victory over Atlanta. He is the second pitcher in MLB history to lead the league in innings pitched and record at least one save, joining Atlanta’s Phil Niekro in 1978.
8 There were eight players who played in every game this season. Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson, the Rays’ Junior Caminero, the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Phillies’ Bryce Harper, the Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds and the Reds’ Sal Stewart played in 162 games, while the Orioles’ Pete Alonso was in 161, with Sunday’s finale canceled due to rain. The Cardinals’ Ivan Herrera missed one game.
300 Mets superstar Francisco Lindor cranked his 300th career homer in a 6-4 loss to the Nationals.
5 Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno became the fifth catcher to lead a league in batting average, finishing atop the NL at .311.
1 Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso became the first player in MLB history to lead each league in RBIs. Alonso, who led the NL (and MLB) in RBIs with the Mets in 2022, led the AL this year with 113.
7 First-year Giants manager Tony Vitello was ejected for an MLB-high seventh time, this one for arguing a checked-swing call on Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts.
100 The Angels became the last current MLB team to lose 100 games in a season in their 7-3 loss to the Mariners. The finished 62-100.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Emotional Finales
Game 162 might be the final time a few of the players below appear in an MLB game as a player.
In what could be the final start of his career, Max Scherzer takes the mound by himself to a standing ovation 👏
An emotional George Springer exits to a standing ovation from @bluejaysbot.bsky.social fans 🫶
Classic Scherzer
Did you think we were done with Max Scherzer? Of course not, because he is not done with us. (Well, maybe he is.)
Max Scherzer was NOT coming out of this game! 😤
Miz’s Final Statement
The probable NL Cy Young Award winner wrapped up his first full regular season. Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski struck out five to finish with an MLB-leading 252. His .157 opponent batting average is the lowest for a qualified pitcher in MLB history, surpassing the .167 by Pedro Martinez of the Red Sox in 2000.
Good luck trying to hit anything Jacob Misiorowski throws your way 😳
Grab Some Pine, Meat
Giants television analyst Mike Krukow called his final game Sunday, retiring after 36 years due to health concerns. There was a postgame ceremony in addition to a terrific video put out by the team. Krukow and play-by-play man Duane Kuiper have been a memorable team for Giants fans to enjoy.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Dodgers right-handed reliever Blake Treinen (right shoulder inflammation) was placed on the 15-day injured list and will miss the entire postseason. Right-hander Bobby Miller was called up from Triple-A.
⚾ Phillies left-hander Jesús Luzardo (left shoulder inflammation) was activated from the 15-day IL and was available out of the bullpen Sunday. Right-hander José Urquidy was designated for assignment.
⚾ Red Sox catcher Mickey Gasper (right biceps strain) was put on the 10-day IL and right-hander Tyron Guerrero (right shoulder strain) went on the 15-day IL. Right-hander Tanner Houck (Tommy John surgery) was activated from the 60-day IL.
Articles You Should Read
How the White Sox defied history, going from 121 losses to the postseason in 2 years — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune
AL playoffs will be imbalanced. Should that spark a format change? — Tim Britton, The Athletic
Dodgers can’t repeat without That Guy. But who is he? — Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
