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Here we are. The final seven days of the MLB regular season. It isn’t as crazy as it could have been, which is saying something as it is still chaotic. There is a scenario in which a team currently holding a first-round bye could completely miss the postseason, albeit unlikely. Will a gruesome injury from Sunday’s action have an impact on playoff seeding? Take a deep breath today as there are only three games, with only one having a slight chance of having an impact on who makes the playoffs. Tuesday begins the real final sprint.
Today’s Headlines
AL West Is (Poorly) Muddled Entering Final WeekÂ
In order to avoid making some unwanted MLB history, either the Texas Rangers will have to go 4-2 or the Houston Astros 5-1 this week. Considering how they AL West has played out this season, neither of those seem plausible. Possible? Always. That is why we play 162 games a season. Sunday was just another chapter in that sorry AL West story, which could make history as the first team (non-pandemic edition) to have a .500 or losing record and make the postseason. The Rangers fell to the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2 and lead the division at 78-78. The second-place Houston Astros were beaten by Atlanta 4-2 to complete a three-game sweep that saw Houston fall to 77-79. Making things spicier is the Astros have the tiebreaker over the Rangers. Technically, the Seattle Mariners (73-83) are still in this race, trailing the Rangers by five games with six to play after toppling the Colorado Rockies 2-1, losing the tiebreaker to the Rangers but having the edge on the Astros. A wild-card spot, mathematically possible, doesn’t appear realistic as the Astros and Blue Jays are tied three games behind the Cleveland Guardians. One team in each league in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season had losing records.
Red Sox In, Atlanta Claims NL East
Two more tickets were officially punched, not that there was much question coming down the stretch about these teams or their postseason seeding. The Boston Red Sox, who fired manager Alex Cora in late April, rebounded under interim skipper Chad Tracy to clinch a spot in the AL postseason despite losing to the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1. The Red Sox, who were at one point 32-46, got in when the Astros lost to Atlanta 4-2. In a scenario that has been clear for weeks, the Red Sox are the probable No. 2 AL wild card and will face the rival New York Yankees in an AL Wild Card Series for the second year in a row, both at Yankee Stadium. Meanwhile, Atlanta already had secured its trip to the postseason Friday and now officially has the NL East title back. The Philadelphia Phillies had won the East the last two seasons after Atlanta had reeled off six straight. Mike Yastrzemski hit a three-run homer in the sixth that helped not only his current club, but his former team and that of his grandfather Carl Yastrzemski, the Red Sox, lock up their seeding. Atlanta will be the No. 3 seed in the AL as the worst of the three division champions. Journeyman left-hander MartÃn Pérez turned in a solid start to keep the Astros at bay.
Guardians Remain 1 Up On White Sox
How slim are the margins this time of year? Just ask the Chicago White Sox. The South Side upstarts just took three of four from the Detroit Tigers and lost a game in the AL Central standings to the Cleveland Guardians. Now, there are only six games to make that up. After waiting out a 3-hour, 50-minute rain delay, the White Sox dumped the Tigers 8-1 thanks to a two RBIs each from Sam Antonacci and Chase Meidroth. Losers of at least 100 games each of the last three seasons, including a record 121 in 2024, the White Sox trail the Guardians by one game. They play the Kansas City Royals on the road, then host the Colorado Rockies to finish, while the Guardians — who beat the A’s 1-0 behind right-hander Gavin Williams‘ nine strikeouts over seven shutout innings — are on the road vs. the Red Sox and Royals. The final AL wild-card spot is now looking like whoever doesn’t win the division will get that consolation prize. The division winner is virtually assured of the AL’s No. 2 seed and a first-round bye as the AL West-leading Rangers trail the Guardians by three games.
Sanchez Keeps Phillies Afloat
The Phillies needed every ounce of what left-hander Cristopher Sánchez gave them in the series finale against the New York Mets. Their ace, still hoping to pull out the NL Cy Young Award, notched his MLB-leading 18th victory, striking out six over 6⅓ innings as the Phillies topped the Mets 7-2. After splitting their last six games, including four with the Mets, the Phillies are left holding the No. 3 NL wild-card spot, four games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres are tied for the NL wild-card lead, with the Cubs having the tiebreaker, one game ahead of the Phillies. Scuffling Trea Turner was on base three times with a double and two walks, Luis Arraez drove in a pair and rookie Justin Crawford had a bases-loaded triple in the top of the ninth to seal this one for the Phillies. Despite their recent woes, the Phillies can clinch a playoff spot as early as Tuesday as they begin a final week facing the probable top seeds in each league, the Brewers and Rays, while playing at home.
Snakes Alive — BarelyÂ
The D’backs haven’t had the finishing kick they have needed. But they aren’t dead yet (cue the Monty Python skit). After losing six of eight, the D’backs have kept their season going by winning the last two, including an 8-4 victory in the finale. Nolan Arenado hit a grand slam as the D’backs kept their tragic number at three (Arizona losses and Philadelphia wins). The bullpen bailed out a tough start from right-hander Corbin Burnes, who allowed four runs on five hits and two walks but couldn’t escape the third inning. D’backs relievers went 6â…“ shutout innings, allowing three hits and no walks with six strikeouts.
Bregman Takes Foul Off Face; PCA Nears 40-40
In a very scary incident, star Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman was drilled by a foul ball off the bat of teammate Michael Busch and immediately left the game, holding his face. For good reason as he posted a gnarly photo of the carnage on social media. The incident happened with two outs in the top of the fourth inning of the Cubs’ 9-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Bregman went to a hospital to have further testing done. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said it was too early to tell how long Bregman might be out. Meanwhile, Pete Crow-Armstrong hit his 45th homer and stole his 38th base of the season, inching him closer to a 40-40 season. The Cubs’ magic number for clinching a playoff spot is two. They are tied with the Padres for the NL wild-card lead, but hold the tiebreaker over San Diego for home-field advantage. Both teams are one game up on the Phillies.
Alex Bregman just posted from his Instagram and it indeed looks like some damage was done
— Casey Drottar (@caseydrottar.bsky.social) 2026-09-20T23:15:22.628Z
Brewers Win 98th As Chourio Gets 20-20 Again
Perhaps it was fitting that the Milwaukee Brewers played the final “Sunday Night Baseball” game of the regular season. After all, hasn’t everyone shifted to football mode anyway? Certainly not the Brewers. Their businesslike approach to this season has them in a similar situation as they were last year, when they posted MLB’s best record and set a franchise record for wins in a season. With a 3-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, the Brewers completed a three-game sweep and won for the fifth time in six games and 10th in 12 tries. Again possessing MLB’s best record, the Brewers eclipsed last year’s win total by posting their franchise-record 98th, virtually assured of 100 victories. This one came with an abbreviated start by probable NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob Misiorowski, who went just three innings and struck out four, giving him an MLB-best 247 K’s. William Contreras homered for the Brewers. Most notably, 22-year-old Jackson Chourio, in his third MLB season, surpassed 20 steals with a pair of thefts, giving him three straight seasons of 20 homers and 20 steals, the only player in MLB history to do so before the age of 23. Chourio has 24 homers and now has 21 steals.
By The Numbers
55 After going 41-40 at a minor-league stadium in 2025, the Rays concluded their regular-season home schedule by notching their 55th win at Tropicana Field, a 5-1 decision over the Red Sox. The Rays can clinch the AL East and the AL’s No. 1 playoff seed Tuesday with a win vs. the Yankees in a doubleheader.
14 Minnesota Twins right-hander Bailey Ober picked up a three-inning save in an 8-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. Ober is the 14th player to earn a save for the Twins this season, three shy of the MLB record set last year by the D’backs. The previous Twins record was nine players with a save.
2 Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth hit a pair of homers and drove in five, while Walker Buehler took a one-hit shutout into the seventh inning in a 7-3 victory over the Miami Marlins. The Padres lowered their magic number for clinching a playoff spot to two and remain tied for the NL’s top wild card, although they lose the tiebreaker to the Cubs.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Put It In The Books
While rain postponed a pregame retirement ceremony until next season, Howie Rose, the voice of the Mets since 1995, called his final game, ending his career in front of the home crowd at Citi Field. The salutes were plentiful.
Who Wore It Best?
How do your guys dress up? This is what the Twins rookies are wearing for the flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Rookie dress up day: 10/10 no notes 😂
— Minnesota Twins (@twinsbaseball.bsky.social) 2026-09-21T00:09:45.000Z
Not A Prank
In a matchup built for Bart Simpson and a phone call to Moe the bartender, we present the following:
"Hold on to your butts with a Seymour-Betts matchup." -Stephen Nelson
— Chad Moriyama (@chadmoriyama.bsky.social) 2026-09-20T21:50:16.509Z
Injuries and Other Moves
âš¾ As part of a previously announced deal, the Yankees are selling a 4% stake in the legendary franchise to Apollo Global Management, a private-equity firm, according to Sportico. Apollo and the Yankees had agreed to a $2.6 billion capital infusion this summer. MLB caps private-equity ownership interests in teams at 15%.
âš¾ Dodgers left-handed starter Tarik Skubal went on the bereavement list, with Emmet Sheehan and Kyle Hurt coming up from Triple-A. Right-hander Seth Halvorsen was optioned to Triple-A. Skubal is expected to make his start Friday vs. the San Francisco Giants.
âš¾ Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.. left Sunday’s game with tightness in his left lower back.
âš¾ Reds outfielder TJ Friedl was designated for assignment and right-handed starter Chase Burns was placed on the 15-day IL with a strained right groin.
âš¾ Giants TV play-by-play announcer Duane Kuiper, 76, said he is being treated for throat cancer. His longtime TV partner, Mike Krukow, 75, is retiring at the end of the season.
Articles You Should Read
It’s only fitting that White Sox, Cubs seasons come down to final week — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune
Baseball’s deaf pioneer gets Hall of Fame push century after changing the game — Daniel Brown, The Athletic
How Red Sox teammates kept Anthony connected during long rehab — Tara Sullivan, Boston Globe
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
