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With just two weeks, 13 games, in some cases 12, there is still plenty to decide for the MLB playoffs. Only two teams, the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL and Milwaukee Brewers in the NL, have locked up postseason invites. More champagne will be popped this week, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees the next ones likely and Atlanta after that. The AL is still the most chaotic, some of which is explained just below. Will there be a .500 team or one with a losing record that makes the postseason? The chances of that historic happening in a non-pandemic season grow with each passing day, especially in the AL West.
Today’s Headlines
Guardians Just Half-Game Behind White Sox
See, this is what September baseball is all about. With the Cleveland Guardians pounding out a 9-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins and the skidding Chicago White Sox dropping a 3-1 decision to the St. Louis Cardinals, the AL Central is as close as it can get without being tied. The underdog White Sox, fresh off three straight 100-loss seasons (including a record 121 in 2024), have a half-game lead over the Guardians, who have won the Central the last two years. Now, the two teams will square off in a three-game series in Cleveland that could determine who wins the division. The White Sox will play the extra game, coming Thursday to begin a four-game set against the Detroit Tigers. There is a backup plan for whoever doesn’t win the division, but even that is tight. The Guardians currently hold the No. 3 AL wild card, one game ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays and two ahead of the Texas Rangers.
Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee struck out seven over 6⅓ innings and Steven Kwan hit a leadoff homer for Cleveland, which has won six of its last 10 to tighten the gap. The White Sox, meanwhile, gave up a bases-loaded double to Alec Burleson in the bottom of the sixth en route to its five loss in six games and 10th in 14.
Rangers Hang Around, D’backs Lose Key Ground
With nine games at home, this was the time where the Arizona Diamondbacks could possibly make some noise and solidify their position in the NL wild-card chase. After three games, the opposite has happened. With Corey Seager continuing his power binge, the Texas Rangers won a rare road series, beating the D’backs 7-6. Right-handed closer Jacob Latz nailed down his 29th save during a shaky ninth in which he allowed two runs. But Seager’s fourth homer in seven games, a 458-foot two-run blast in the top of the first, got the Rangers on their way to the series victory. The Rangers, who won their first road series in two months, are within one game of the AL West-leading Houston Astros entering the final two weeks despite being 74-76. Texas is also two games behind the Guardians for the third and final AL wild-card spot. The D’backs, meanwhile, fell 2½ games behind the San Diego Padres for the No. 3 wild card after the Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 6-4.
A Little Hope For Phillies After Recent Woes
While their NL East hopes have all but disappeared over the last 10 days, the Philadelphia Phillies are hoping not to lose grasp on a postseason spot. Thanks to a seven-run eighth inning in a 9-4 victory over Atlanta, the Phillies are still showing a little fight in avoiding being swept. Kyle Schwarber had two hits in the eighth, including a two-run single, and Alec Bohm added a two-run double to highlight the game-changing inning. The victory pulled the Phillies, who have lost seven of their last 11, back into a tie with the Chicago Cubs for the NL’s top wild-card spot following the Cubs’ 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Phillies and Cubs are just 1½ games up on the Padres, who have the No. 3 spot. Phillies right-handed starter Andrew Painter allowed one run over five innings, but he did walk four while allowing six hits.
An Immaculate Start For Tolle
Throwing nine straight strikes in a row isn’t too unusual. Doing it after waiting nearly 2 hours during a rain delay that had already pushed the start time back another 2 hours was perhaps a sign of his patience. But doing so on the first nine pitches of the game? And smiling before the last one, knowing what he was about to do? Chalk up another one for Boston Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle, who tossed an immaculate inning to begin another standout start in a 4-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals. Tolle went six shutout innings, striking out seven, giving up four hits and walking one. Roman Anthony singled home the go-ahead run in the seventh, Caleb Durbin homered and Trevor Story added two insurance runs with an eighth-inning single for the Red Sox. The Red Sox remained 4½ games behind the New York Yankees, who lead the AL wild-card race, and six games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians, who hold the third and final AL wild-card spot.
Schlittler Tosses More Zeroes
It doesn’t matter the era when you clearly are having a dominant season for the New York Yankees and you are well ahead of some legendary names. Right-handed starter Cam Schlittler continued to bolster his case for the AL Cy Young Award, not that it needs much more added to it at this point, in the Yankees’ 2-0 victory over the New York Mets. Schlittler allowed just one hit over six shutout innings, striking out eight. He took over the MLB ERA lead at 1.95, just barely ahead (1.945-1.952) of Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, the favorite for the NL Cy Young Award. This was Schlittler’s 21st start of the season with allowing one or zero runs, three clear of anyone else in Yankees history. He was struck on the right hamstring as the final out of the sixth inning was made, with his day likely over anyways. Ben Rice and Austin Wells homered for the Yankees, who are on the verge of clinching a spot in the postseason. The Yankees are four games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East and lead the AL wild-card race.
Most starts allowing 1 or 0 runs in a season, Yankees history:2026 Cam Schlittler: 211978 Ron Guidry: 181964 Whitey Ford: 181904 Jack Chesbro: 18
— Sarah Langs (@slangsonsports.bsky.social) 2026-09-13T19:49:35.337Z
De Paula Drills 1st, But Agustin Gets Walk-Off
The game will be remembered for Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Josue De Paula crushing the first homer of his career. And it was crushed. But also of note was the most important homer of the day. That came from pinch-hitter Agustín Ramírez, who belted a two-run shot with none out in the bottom of the ninth that gave the Miami Marlins a 6-4 triumph over the Dodgers. The loss delayed a potential postseason clincher for the Dodgers, the two-time defending World Series champion looking to become the first NL team to win three straight. The Marlins would need a miracle to make the postseason this season, but they will definitely play a role who does make it. They hit the road to play the D’backs and Padres this week, then finish at the Cubs and home vs. Atlanta. De Paula, the Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect, made his MLB debut and had gone 0-for-5 with three walks in his first two games. The 21-year-old walked again in his first plate appearance, then got his first MLB hit when he demolished a 2-2 four-seamer 416 feet into right field with an exit velocity of 108.2 mph. It was a three-run shot that gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead. The Marlins scored twice in the eighth and the Dodgers once in the top of the ninth before Miami rallied for four runs off left-hander Tanner Scott and right-hander Brock Stewart, who gave up Agustin’s fateful homer.
By The Numbers
7 San Diego Padres superstar Manny Machado hit a two-run homer off ace right-hander Logan Webb during a 6-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants, the Friars’ seventh win in a row.
1 Blue Jays superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finally hit his first home run in Toronto this year, a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth inning.
5 Rays right-hander Freddy Peralta threw five no-hit innings in a 14-4 victory over the Houston Astros, completing a three-game sweep of the AL West leaders. The Astros have a one-game lead over the Texas Rangers in the West.
2 A’s outfielder Lawrence Butler slammed his second homer of the game, a two-run shot with no outs in the bottom of the ninth for an 8-7 victory over the scuffling Seattle Mariners. The Mariners have lost five of seven to the A’s over the last 11 days. The Mariners are five games out of the AL West lead and six games from the third and final AL wild card.
Best Moments From Yesterday
MLB Obstacle Course
Atlanta’s Michael Harris II had to think quickly to avoid Phillies shortstop Trea Turner.
Hacky Sack?
Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease used his instincts to make this creative play.
Triple The Pleasure
If good things come to people who wait, Padres rookie Ethan Salas‘ MLB career should turn out just fine. After an 0-for-15 start to his career, Salas tripled vs. the Giants for his first MLB hit. At 20 years, 140 days, Salas is the youngest player to have his first hit be a triple since Manny Machado, Salas’ teammate, did it at 20 years, 34 days for the Baltimore Orioles.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers, one of MLB’s hottest hitters in recent weeks, went on the 60-day injured list with a core muscle injury. Devers may have surgery to repair the injury.
⚾ Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras came off the 10-day IL following his strained left hamstring, while Boston infielder Anthony Seigler went on the 10-day IL with inflammation in his right wrist.
⚾ Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards was activated from the 10-day injured list following a sprained left thumb. Outfielder Owen Caissie went on the 10-day IL due to a lumbar stress reaction.
⚾ Baltimore Orioles right-handed starter Kyle Bradish went on the 15-day IL due to lower abdominal discomfort.
⚾ Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was designated for assignment.
Articles You Should Read
Yankees’ Schmidt psyched to return following Tommy John surgery — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News
The perks and heartache of being an MLB player and a father — Stephen J. Nesbitt, The Athletic
How does Crow-Armstrong’s year rank in the last 40 seasons of Cubs lore? — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune
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