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With a lack of games Monday as MLB begins the final week of the regular season, I will take this opportunity to lay out the tiebreakers that could decide playoff spots for the four races that are still in play. In all but one case, the tiebreaker is the season series. The second tiebreaker is how a team performed within its own division. As a reminder, here are the standings.
NL wild-card tiebreakers: Chicago Cubs over San Diego Padres (5-1), Philadelphia Phillies over Padres (6-0), Phillies over Cubs (6-1), Arizona Diamondbacks over Phillies (3-3, better division record), Cubs over Diamondbacks (4-2), Padres and Diamondbacks tied (5-5 with three head-to-head games remaining).
AL Central tiebreaker: Chicago White Sox over Cleveland Guardians (7-6).
AL West tiebreakers: Houston Astros over Texas Rangers (9-4), Rangers over Seattle Mariners (8-5), Mariners over Astros (9-2, two games remaining).
AL wild-card tiebreakers: Astros over White Sox (5-2), White Sox over Rangers (4-2), White Sox over Mariners (3-3, better division record), Astros over Guardians (4-2), Rangers over Guardians (4-2), Guardians over Mariners (4-3).
Today’s Headlines
Pair Of Birthday Blasts Put Alonso At 40
A year ago Monday, Pete Alonso and wife Haley welcomed their first child, a boy named Teddy. What do you get the kid whose dad is an MLB star? You hit two home runs for him. Alonso smashed a pair of long balls to reach 40 for the season, which was a two-run go-ahead shot in the eighth inning, as the Baltimore Orioles edged the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3. The Orioles (76-81) kept their faint postseason hopes alive, pulling within 4½ games of the idle White Sox for the third and final AL wild-card spot, while the Jays (77-80) fell 3½ back. Both teams have a tragic number of two. Alonso boosted his AL-leading RBI total to 108, nine clear of Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, who is trying for the Triple Crown. This is the fourth time Alonso has hit 40 homers in a season, first since 2023, with his 40 this year now second in the AL behind the 41 of Tampa Bay star Junior Caminero.
Pete Alonso now has 108 RBI, nine more than anyone else in the ALHe led the NL (and tied for MLB lead) in 2022No player has had a season leading each league in RBI in his career (RBI since 1920)Yet!
— Sarah Langs (@slangsonsports.bsky.social) 2026-09-22T02:03:26.951Z
Ryan Makes Tigers Debut With 3 Shutout Innings
Seven weeks after trading away two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, the Detroit Tigers tasted the first fruits of that deal. Right-hander River Ryan, one of three prospects picked up in the deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, made his Tigers debut with three shutout innings in Detroit’s 9-2 victory over the Washington Nationals. Javier Baez, Ben Malgeri and Spencer Torkelson each hit home runs for the Tigers. Ryan made only two starts for the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate due to a hamstring injury, then threw three zeroes up on the scoreboard, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out three. It was his first MLB game since 2024. Baez hit a two-run homer in the fourth, his third of the season and first since May. Malgeri’s fourth homer of his rookie season was a three-run shot and Torkelson’s 25th a two-run blast, both coming in the fifth inning.
Gilbert Powers Giants
Say what you will about how bad the San Francisco Giants‘ season has been, they are certainly showing some fight at the end of the year. Drew Gilbert homered as part of a three-hit night and drove in three runs, while five pitchers combined on a five-hitter as the Giants dropped the Minnesota Twins 5-2. Brett Harris had two hits and two RBIs for the Giants. Giants right-handed starter Blade Tidwell allowed three hits over 3⅓ innings before exiting with an apparent right elbow injury and four relievers allowed just one more hit, Emmanuel Rodriguez’s solo homer in the eighth, over the final 5⅔ innings.
No Surgery For Bregman
In hopes of returning for the postseason, star Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman will let the multiple facial fractures after getting drilled in the left cheek by a foul ball Sunday heal on their own instead of having surgery. With not having surgery, Bregman is hopeful to return for the postseason. Bregman was hit when a ball came off Michael Busch’s bat in the fourth inning and bounced into his face. After a moment holding his face on the field, Bregman immediately went into the clubhouse. The Cubs are still battling to maintain the top NL wild-card seed. They enter the final week tied with the Padres, but holding the tiebreaker over San Diego. The Philadelphia Phillies are one game behind the two teams.
By The Numbers
2 Blue Jays right-handed starter Trey Yesavage started for the first time since Aug. 4, throwing two innings and 40 pitches. The only hit he allowed was a solo homer to Pete Alonso in the first inning and he struck out three.
17 Nationals left-hander DJ Herz was back on the mound after 17 months away due to Tommy John surgery. After soaking in the fact he was back on a big-league mound before going out to the bullpen to warm up, his first pitch of the game went over the leadoff hitter’s head.
70 With two players making their Giants debut Monday, the team has now used 70 players this year, one shy of the MLB record Atlanta set last year. Only two of the Giants’ players on their 26-man Opening Day roster are currently active.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Bo Knows
Bo Davidson made his MLB debut and battled through nine pitches in his first plate appearance, notching career hit No. 1, with his family enjoying his arrival. The first inning was eventful for Davidson, who played right field and had the first two Twins batters hit balls his way. Then, after his first hit, Davidson stole second and scored his first run.
This reaction means everything ❤️
Rays Have New Road Unis
The Tampa Bay Rays are leaning into their cool color scheme from their Devil Rays days for their new primary road uniforms for next season.
Hope They’re The Right Size
Twins infielder Royce Lewis gifted a fan in San Francisco a pair of his cleats.
Not Original, Meat
Not being able to hear Giants analyst Mike Krukow after this week will be a loss for the game. He was on the mic when Drew Gilbert not only ambushed a first pitch for a homer, but Krukow as well.
Mike Krukow with the home run call! 🤣
Off The Top Of His Mind
Tigers TV play-by-play man Jason Benetti is a treasure for many reasons. But you have to hand it to the production crew for the quick cut after Benetti made a very good, yet very obscure, reference.
Jason Benetti gets absolutely roasted by his own production crew with the camera cut after his Austro-Turkish War reference. 🤣
— Rob Friedman (@pitchingninja.com) 2026-09-22T01:22:02.719Z
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Federal prosecutors will focus on 18 pitches from Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase when his gambling trial begins Nov. 2. Clase and teammate Luis Ortiz are facing several charges. Both players are currently suspended and face banishment from MLB. The original list of suspect pitches was 48.
⚾ Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease has inflammation in his right shoulder that may not allow him to start this week. Meanwhile, Jays outfielder Brett Bateman left Monday’s game with right hip discomfort.
⚾ With the Blue Jays activating right-hander Trey Yesavage off the 15-day injured list, right-hander Chad Dallas was also promoted from Triple-A. To make room for the pair, left-hander Joe Mantiply was designated for assignment and right-had Spencer Arrighetti was optioned to Triple-A.
⚾ The Giants activated infielder Marcelo Mayer off the 10-day IL (stress reaction in left ulna) and called up prospect outfielder Bo Davidson to make his MLB debut. Mayer made his Giants debut after being acquired at the trade deadline from the Boston Red Sox. First baseman Bryce Eldridge went on the seven-day concussion list, while outfielder Jung Ho Lee went on the 10-day IL with a groin contusion.
⚾ Twins catcher Alex Jackson was DFA’d as first baseman Aaron Sabato was promoted to make his MLB debut.
⚾ The Tigers’ home stadium, Comerica Park, will be renamed Fifth Third Park beginning next season. Fifth Third Bank and Comerica Bank merged this year.
Articles You Should Read
Giants’ Krukow opens up about life in and after baseball — Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle
As Padres close in on postseason berth, which starting pitchers can the trust? — Dennis Lin, The Athletic
Changing pitching coaches has produced results for Angels — Jeff Fletcher, Orange County Register
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
