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MLB News & Moments You Should Know: 9/17/2025

Just an excuse to write BIG DUMPER!!!

Pablo Figueroa
MLB Morning News 9/17/2025

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Today’s Headlines

 

The Biggest Dumper

Dominic Canzone just picked a bad day to have the best game of his career. The unheralded DH had a monster 5-for-5 game in Kansas City, including three homers, four runs, and four RBI. Having said that, it became an afterthought when Cal Raleigh put on his own fireworks show in a record-setting way. The famous Big Dumper started the evening with a booming double, and then followed it up with homers in the third and fourth frames, as the Mariners opened a huge lead and would cruise to their tenth straight victory with a 12-5 final score. The pair of dingers gave Raleigh sole possession of the all-time record for homers in a season by a switch hitter, while also tying Ken Griffey, Jr. for the Seattle franchise record. Whenever you can add your name to a list with those guys, you know you have done something special.

 

Houston, We Solved the Problem

Using a scheduled bullpen game, the Houston Astros had everything going their way for seven innings. The offense opened a 6-0 lead on the strength of situational hitting and clutch pitching, with the top of the order combining for six hits and opener AJ Blubaugh striking out seven Rangers over three scoreless frames. However, Texas showed some late life in a furious comeback attempt in the eighth, as a Jonah Heim homer and a Josh Jung double would cut the deficit to only one run. The Rangers had the tying runner at third base at one point in the eighth, but failed to bring him home, and then had two runners on base in the ninth, but also sputtered at the worst possible time, leading to a tight 6-5 win for the Astros, who remain pretty much in play for the division or at least a wild card spot. Meanwhile, the Rangers are seeing their hopes vanish, as they now stand 3.5 games back of the final AL wild card spot.

 

A Bronx Tale (of Two Halves)

As the beleaguered Anthony Volpe hit an RBI single to make the score 10-1 in favor of the Yankees in only the fourth inning, New York stood with a 99.1% probability of winning the game, according to MLB’s model. By that point, it had all gone perfectly for the Bombers, as they displayed a rare balanced offense that erupted to 14 hits and scored ten times despite only getting one homer and three doubles. The massive run support should have been enough for starter Cam Schlittler to earn his fourth win of the season, but the Twins decided to put up a fight. A three-run fifth chased Schlittler from the game, and that was followed by a rough Ryan Yarbrough outing, as he allowed four runs while only recording one out, as Minnesota closed the gap to 10-8 by the sixth. The much-maligned Yankee bullpen settled from there, though, with Mark Leiter Jr. and Devin Williams combining for 2.2 scoreless innings, followed by a David Bednar save that included some drama, as a Trevor Larnach solo homer closed the gap for the 10-9 final score. With the win, the Yankees remain atop the AL wild card standings, albeit still far from the Blue Jays in the East.

 

Steady Freddy 

On a day that saw Paul Skenes look human against the Cubs, an unheralded division mate reminded us why he will be getting Cy Young votes this offseason. The perennially underrated Freddy Peralta delivered yet another gem to earn his 17th win of the season, limiting the Angels to one run with two hits and two walks over six innings, while striking out 10. The Brewers scored early and often, opening a 5-0 lead that allowed Peralta to cruise, as Milwaukee got its MLB-leading 92nd win with a 9-2 rout. Even as the Cubs also won by defeating the aforementioned Skenes, the Brewers still have a comfortable five-game lead atop the NL Central, but they will continue to battle the Phillies for the top record in the league. Meanwhile. Peralta should get a final start to push him over the 200-K mark, as he now stands with 195 for the season.

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

All in the Family

With the Mets hanging on to the NL’s final playoff spot, a nice family moment emerged before last night’s game even started. Francisco Lindor’s wife was the artist featured to play the national anthem, which she crushed on the violin to much fanfare. It was also a catalyst for an offense that came swinging from the get-go, with none other than Lindor getting the first of four consecutive hits that set up a five-run opening frame. It was all smooth sailing from there, as the Mets played what has to be their most complete game during this tumultuous month. Lindor would add a solo homer as part of the team’s four-homer day, with Pete Alonso, Brett Baty, and Cedric Mullins being part of the power display. On the pitching side, the decision to piggyback Clay Holmes and Sean Manaea worked to perfection, as the pair limited the Padres to three solo dingers in what would become a convincing 8-3 win. With the W, paired with a Cincinnati loss and Arizona winning their fourth straight, the Mets retained their 1.5-game lead in the wild card standings.

 

Playing A’spoiler

With the Red Sox aiming towards a playoff spot, last night’s game had the makings of a banner game. Rookie Connelly Early had a strong encore to his first big league start, allowing only one run over 5.1 innings. Trevor Story stole two bases to reach a perfect 30-for-30 on the season, adding to his remarkable comeback story (no pun intended). And yet, that was not enough to overcome the buzzsaw the A’s have become, especially against playoff hopefuls. Despite allowing eight hits and five walks against four strikeouts, the middling Athletics pitching staff managed to limit Boston to only an unearned run, as the A’s cruised to their fifth straight win in a tight 2-1 affair. All of those wins have come against the Red Sox and Reds, showing some clear disdain for that particular color. The unlikely win was best represented by the unlikely hit obtained by Tyler Soderstrom in the eighth, who kept a swinging bunt fair by the slimmest of margins. Speaking of slim margins, Boston was dropped to the final AL wild card spot with the loss, and now carries a 2.5-game lead over the Guardians, who defeated the Tigers and have now won 10 of their past 11 contests.

 

Battle of the MVPs

In what has to be one of the weirdest, most fun games of the season, the Dodgers and Phillies delivered an instant classic. With Philadelphia probably a bit hungover (figuratively, of course!) after celebrating their NL East title, Shohei Ohtani blazed through their lineup with five no-hit innings, allowing only one walk. The Dodgers opened a 4-0 lead that seemed insurmountable at that point, but the game devolved into chaos once Ohtani left the mound. Justin Wrobleski pulled a reverse no-hitter by promptly allowing five hits and five runs while recording only one out, which was followed by a Max Kepler solo homer that gave the Phillies a shocking six-run sixth. Ohtani led the charge as the Dodgers came back in the eighth, hitting his 50th homer of the season while inaugurating a new 50/50 club, as he became the first player ever with 50 homers and 50 strikeouts recorded in the same season. LA tied the game at six, but its much-criticized bullpen went back to its failing ways, as Blake Treinen allowed light-hitting catcher Rafael Marchán to hit a three-run homer that won the game for Philly, as the 9-6 final score reflects the craziness of this game. Despite the loss, the Dodgers still carry a two-game lead over the Padres atop the NL West.

 

Injuries and Other Moves

 

⚾ The Blue Jays provided good news regarding the health status of shortstop Bo Bichette, as he is now expected to resume baseball activities later this week, with the goal of returning to the field come playoff time. Bichette was placed on the IL last week with a sprained left knee, but a recent evaluation provided the team with optimism; he still leads the AL in hits and will certainly be a coveted free agent next offseason.

⚾ Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez is now expected to be out for a significant amount of time, although the team has elected not to place him on the IL. Manager Joe Espada indicated that Alvarez has an important left ankle sprain, which was suffered during Monday’s game. As the Astros continue to fight for a playoff spot, the absence of their biggest power threat could be major, even as he has already missed a large part of the season due to various hand ailments. 

⚾ Kansas City ace Cole Ragans will be reactivated for today’s start against Seattle, ending a three-month absence due to a strained rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder. Even as the Royals are all but eliminated from playoff contention, having a chance to see Ragans get a couple of starts before the end of 2025 should be a nice bonus as they plan towards next year. 

 

Articles You Should Read

 

Kevin Gausman’s Secret Weapon — Davy Andrews, Fangraphs

A Prospect’s Connection to The Natural — Joey Robertson, MLB.com

 

Fantasy Baseball Coverage

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Pablo Figueroa

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Pablo Figueroa is a Baseball Writer here at Pitcher List, with experience as a writer since 2013. He lives in Aguascalientes, Mexico - proud home of Los Rieleros. When he´s not thinking about baseball , he's a husband, owns two dogs, watches random episodes of The Sopranos , plays padel, and works on his day job to pay the bills.

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