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Every game is magnified, every home run that much more meaningful. We saw that play out Monday as two more teams clinched a spot in the postseason dance, while one may have avoided a virtual elimination with not one, but two dramatic homers. What more is in store over the final 13 days?
Today’s Headlines
18-Pitch Walk Inspires White Sox Rally, Victory
What do you think Pope Leo wished for when he blew out the candle on his birthday cake Monday? If you guessed a Chicago White Sox victory, you probably weren’t too far off. In a year of the resurrected White Sox, Chicago gave the 71-year-old pope the perfect gift. So there might have been a little divine intervention as Tristan Peters worked an 18-pitch plate appearance for a sixth-inning walk that ignited a six-run outburst that sent the White Sox to a 7-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians to open a crucial AL Central showdown. Kyle Teel delivered a two-run double and Miguel Vargas a two-run homer after Peters’ dramatic walk. Peters fouled off 12 pitches in the third-longest MLB plate appearance since 2000. The win gave the White Sox a 1½-game lead in the Central over the second-place Guardians with 13 days left in the regular season and also clinched the season series, which is the first tiebreaker should the teams be deadlocked after 162 games. The young White Sox had lost five of six and 10 of 14 to see their lead shrink to a half-game entering the three-game series. The Guardians also remained one game ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays, who lost to the Detroit Tigers 6-5, in the battle for the third and final AL wild card.
Tristan Peters!!18-pitch walkThat’s tied for the fifth-most pitches in a PA since pitch counts tracked (1988)It’s tied for the MOST in a PA ending in a walk in that span! (6/10/04 Adam Kennedy)
— Sarah Langs (@slangsonsports.bsky.social) 2026-09-15T00:49:28.697Z
Dodgers, Yankees Clinch Playoff Spots
It has been a mere formality for weeks, if not longer. But for the two teams that played in the 2024 World Series, they punched their tickets for the 2026 postseason. The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their record-tying 14th consecutive trip to the playoffs with a 4-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The New York Yankees became the second AL East team to head to the postseason when they beat the Minnesota Twins 8-3. (Technically, the Blue Jays’ 6-5 loss got the Yankees in a short time before New York’s game went final.) The Yankees extended their MLB record of postseason appearances to 61. The Dodgers are second with 40. L.A. tied Atlanta (1991-2005) with their 14th straight trip, an MLB record. Left-hander Tarik Skubal struck out nine over seven scoreless innings, while Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernández hit homers for the Dodgers, who are close to wrapping up the NL West title for the 13th time in 14 years. Meanwhile, Aaron Judge hit his first homer, a three-run shot, since coming off the injured list last week as part of a six-run eighth inning. José Caballero and Austin Wells also went deep for the Yankees.
Carroll’s Walk-Off HR Rescues D’backs
This is the type of night that saves a team’s season. Down 7-4 in the eighth and trailing by a run with one out in the bottom of the ninth, Corbin Carroll smashed a two-run homer to lift the Arizona Diamondbacks for a stunning 8-7 victory over the Miami Marlins. In the eighth, Jordan Lawlar hit a two-run homer with one out to pull the D’backs within 7-6. Marlins right-handed closer Pete Fairbanks issued a leadoff walk to Gabriel Moreno. After throwing the first pitch wide to Geraldo Perdomo, Fairbanks left the game with an apparent elbow injury. Right-hander Jack Ralston came on and Perdomo bunted pinch-runner Tommy Troy to second. That brought up Carroll, who turned on a 2-1 splitter and drilled it down the left-field line for his 21st homer of the season, one that kept the D’backs within striking distance of a playoff spot. The D’backs still trail the San Diego Padres by 2½ games, instead of falling 3½ back, for the third and final NL wild-card berth.
Padres Win 8th Straight
Some streaks are easier than others. Some you ride terrific pitching that shuts down the opponents. Others are fueled by an explosive offense that just drubs foes. But for the Padres, it hasn’t been an easy run to get where they are at — and they wouldn’t want it any other way. (Well, maybe a little easier.) Behind home runs from Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., the Padres won their eighth straight with an 8-7 victory over the Colorado Rockies. In matching their longest winning streak of the season, the Padres remain 2½ games ahead of the D’backs for the third and final AL wild card. It also pulled them within one game of the Phillies for the No. 2 wild card. The Padres built a 6-1 lead off Machado’s 28th shot and Tatis’ 22nd, only to see the pesky Rockies make San Diego use Mason Miller in the ninth, where he notched his 37th save of the year after a terrific defensive play by Machado to end it. Five of the Padres’ eight wins have been by one run and two by two runs.
Crow-Armstrong Closes In On 40-40
In a matchup that has a wide range of impacts, the player having a tremendous season at the plate made the biggest difference. NL MVP favorite Pete Crow-Armstrong hit his 42nd homer and stole his 37th base as part of a four-hit, four-RBI night during the Chicago Cubs‘ 7-3 triumph over Atlanta. The Cubs moved a half-game ahead of the idle Philadelphia Phillies in the battle for the top NL wild card, while Atlanta fell to 3½ games behind the Dodgers in the race to see who gets a first-round bye in the NL. Crow-Armstrong’s three-run blast in the sixth inning vaulted him over 100 RBIs for the first time in his brief MLB career.
Clemente Award Nominees Announced
With today being Roberto Clemente Day across MLB, the league revealed Monday the 30 nominees for the Roberto Clemente Award, considered the most prestigious award given outside of the performance awards. Today is the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. The Clemente Award honors players’ philanthropic endeavors and recognizes the efforts made by the former Pittsburgh Pirates star, who died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while on a mission to deliver supplies to Nicaragua following a massive earthquake. The winner will be announced at the World Series.
By The Numbers
33 Blue Jays rookie third baseman Kazuma Okamoto hit his 33rd homer of the season in a 6-5 loss to the Tigers. Okamoto passed Seiya Suzuki for the most home runs by a Japanese-born right-handed hitter.
23 Baltimore Orioles star Gunnar Henderson smacked his 23rd homer of the season in a 2-1 victory over the New York Mets. The Orioles are clinging to faint playoff hopes, three games out of the final AL wild-card spot.
110 St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson had a run-scoring single to boost his MLB-leading RBI total to 110 in a 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Polar Bear’s Return
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso played his first game back at Citi Field after leaving the New York Mets in free agency. Mets fans gave the slugger a very warm welcome, in pregame and then as he came to the plate for the first time.
The Polar Bear returns to QueensPete Alonso receives a thunderous ovation in his first game back at Citi Field 👏
A tip of the cap from the Polar Bear to the @Mets faithful 🫶
It Went Where?
Reds star Elly De La Cruz continues to astound with his power. Watch where this ball went.
De Paula’s Dance
Will we be talking about Dodgers rookie Josue De Paula and his walks like we do with Mets star Juan Soto? Possibly, but De Paula certainly has the Soto Shuffle down.
Josue De Paula looking like Juan Soto 👀He worked a walk and later stole his first career base after this pitch was confirmed a ball by ABS powered by T-Mobile(MLB x @TMobile)
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Dodgers right-handed closer Edwin Díaz has struggled so much during his rehab assignment that manager Dave Roberts said he might not be included on the postseason roster.
⚾ The D’backs claimed outfielder Jesús Sánchez off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. While Sanchez is eligible for the remainder of the regular season, he can’t be on the roster should the D’backs advance to the postseason.
⚾ Left-hander Bailey Falter was designated for assignment by Atlanta, which called up right-hander Owen Murphy from Triple-A.
Articles You Should Read
Curtis Pride turned MLB journey into lifeline for deaf and hard-of-hearing kids — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times
Jays’ Bateman, son of college coach, appreciates dad’s hands-off approach — Mitch Bannon, The Athletic
Freeman’s knee, Ohtani’s bat and the Dodgers’ October calculus — Joe Reedy, Associated Press
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