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MLB News & Moments You Should Know: 9/24/2025

The ABS system is coming to a park near you. Also... CLEVELAND!!!

Pablo Figueroa
MLB Morning News 9/24/2025

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Today’s Headlines

 

Check Out These ABS

Right before MLB entered its critical final stretch, the league announced what had been seen as a foregone conclusion for months – the ABS system will be part of official games entering the 2026 season. While MLB had already experienced a trial run of these challenges during this year’s Spring Training and the All-Star Game, it will now become part of the game and join some of the most dramatic rule changes in Rob Manfred’s tenure. Just like we got used to the ghost runner in extra innings, the three-batter minimum rule, and the pitch clock, the ABS system will pit the traditional structures of baseball against a more modern approach towards fairness. The initial system will give each team two challenges per game (with an additional one if the game goes to extras), and can only be triggered by the hitter, catcher, or pitcher, as the pitch will then be shown on the stadium’s big screen before making a decision. Many think pieces will devote plenty of analysis regarding this change, as catcher framing and umpire tendencies will become less important than ever before, but the sport should be in good health, as it has been with most rule changes of the past decade.

 

BelieveLand

Once 15.5 games back, the Cleveland Guardians are now in first place in the AL Central. The amazing and unbelievable turnaround added another chapter of improbability last night, as Cleveland managed to do it against Tarik Skubal, turning an early 2-0 deficit into pure home-crowd exhilaration. The game turned on a truly chaotic sixth frame that saw Skubal unravel in uncharacteristic fashion. A Steven Kwan bunt single started the inning, followed by a throwing error on an Angel Martínez bunt attempt from Skubal himself that allowed both runners to be in scoring position. José Ramírez cut the deficit with a single, but things would get even worse for the Cy Young favorite, as he allowed the tying run on a wild pitch and then was clearly rattled by a freak play as David Fry was hit in the face while fouling off another bunt attempt. A Skubal balk moved Ramirez to third, and he would score on a groundout to give Cleveland a lead they would not lose, as they ended the contest with a 5-2 score. The win also secured the season series for the Guardians, as they now have the edge in the Central. Meanwhile, Detroit at least holds the final wild card spot at the moment, staying a game above the Astros while holding that tiebreaker, if needed. However, things are not looking good for a Tigers team trying to avoid a truly embarrassing collapse.

 

Raise the Trident

Gifted with the chance of clinching a playoff spot at home against the dreadful Rockies, the Seattle Mariners were on the verge of disappointing their fans. A rare strong performance of Colorado starter McCade Brown (he of the 7.54 ERA) limited the Mariners to only a run over five innings, while the Rockies’ offense scratched and clawed a couple of runs to open a 3-1 lead late into the game. With only two hits and two walks to their name, the M’s faced ignominy on their way to October, but then came the fateful eighth inning. Juan Mejia came in relief and delivered a truly Rockies-like experience, hitting Luke Raley and walking J.P. Crawford to put the tying runs on base, only to somehow strike out Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh in succession. A second hit-by-pitch ensued to load the bases, forcing Colorado to turn to Victor Vodnik, one of its few reliable bullpen arms. Josh Naylor was not impressed, turning a 2-0 fastball into a bases-clearing double that gave Seattle the lead, as they would go on to win 4-3 despite having only three base knocks to their name. The win ensured the M’s will play in October, and the ensuing Houston loss to the A’s inched them closer to their first division title since 2001.

 

Stayin’ Alive

With the Cubs having not much to play for, they welcomed the desperate Mets as they opened the day on the outskirts of the playoffs. And yet, it was Chicago who looked ready to play from the get-go, opening a 5-1 lead by the second inning. With flashbacks of previous September collapses hovering over the organization, the Mets were handed a rare piece of good luck, as Cubs starter Cade Horton was forced to leave the game after only three innings due to a minor injury. Forced to use their bullpen earlier than expected, Chicago committed a crucial error in the fifth, leading to four unearned runs and the sudden revival of the Mets. With both teams trading runs to tie the game at seven runs apiece, Francisco Alvarez hit a truly clutch two-run homer in the eighth, allowing his team to finally breathe. Manager Carlos Mendoza showed the necessary urgency and sent Edwin Diaz for a rare two-inning save, as Diaz struck out five over two perfect frames to secure the critical W by a 9-7 final score. With the Reds dropping a crucial game to the Pirates, the Mets are now back in the third wild card spot, only a game ahead of Cincinnati and Arizona.

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

A Snake in my Boot!

With the Dodgers still needing a few wins to secure yet another NL West title, they turned Shohei Ohtani loose on the mound, and he delivered the best and longest outing of his season. The former and future MVP twirled a gem, with six scoreless innings that included eight strikeouts, as LA stormed to a 4-0 lead. But as has happened many a time in the final month, the Dodger bullpen imploded in spectacular fashion. It started with Jack Dreyer and Edgardo Henriquez allowing three runs to let Arizona back into the game, and it ended with beleaguered closer Tanner Scott adding another chapter to the worst season of his career. Scott hit a batter and then walked the next one to allow the Dbacks to play small ball, with a sac bunt and sacrifice fly that tied the game without the benefit of a hit, but that would change when Geraldo Perdomo stepped up to play hero. Perdomo, who will receive plenty of MVP votes himself, worked the count full before delivering the walk-off single that kept the dream alive by the desert, as the Dbacks remain only one game back of the last wild card spot. Meanwhile, the loss paired with San Diego’s win over Milwaukee has narrowed LA’s lead to only 1.5 games in the division, although the Dodgers have the benefit of owning the tiebreaker.

 

A Knight’s Tale

The Yankees were all but assured of making the playoffs, but they still have the goal of winning the division and earning a first-round bye. Facing the lowly White Sox at home appeared to be the perfect scenario to aim closer to this objective, but game one was much tougher than expected. With Chicago starter Shane Smith and three relievers combining for eight innings of one-run ball, the Sox were close to delivering an untimely upset in the Bronx. Closer du jour Brandon Eisert spoiled the effort, though, as the Yanks battled back to earn a win and secure a playoff spot, inching one game closer to the division lead as the Blue Jays lost a pivotal game to Boston. The hero came from an unlikely source, as mid-season addition José Caballero came through with two outs to deliver the first walk-off hit of his career. The clip below illustrates Caballero’s exhilaration after the winning hit, while also showing a more tempered Gerrit Cole handling traffic to ensure that no one got too excited. Veteran move, Gerrit.

 

U Can’t Touch This 

On a day full of dramatic playoff chases and memorable comebacks, the best play may have come from a meaningless contest. With the Twins beating the Rangers 4-1, both teams know they only have five games to go before closing up shop for 2025. And yet, 31-year-old rookie Ryan Fitzgerald reminded us that these guys play to win at all times, regardless of the big picture. With Fitzgerald, who has all of 36 MLB career plate appearances to his name, coming in to pinch run late in the contest, Rangers pitcher Chris Martin executed a perfect pick-off play and had him dead to rights at second. Instead of simply accepting his fate, Fitzgerald contorted his body in a way that would make most of us break into a thousand pieces, avoiding the tag by the thinnest of margins to remain safe. He would not score, and the play did not really matter in the end, but it was still spectacular to watch.

 

Injuries and Other Moves

 

⚾ Young phenom Roki Sasaki will be activated by the Dodgers later today, following a four-month absence due to a shoulder impingement. He will work out of the bullpen initially, but he is set to provide plenty of flexibility for the team as they prepare for the playoffs. While Sasaki’s first MLB season has not lived up to the hype, he will have a chance to prove himself on the biggest stage.

⚾ After being on the IL since June due to right elbow inflammation, Mets starter Tylor Megill underwent Tommy John surgery, as he was not able to avoid the procedure. This means that Megill will be unavailable for all of next season, with a likely timetable suggesting early 2027 for his return. The right-hander still has two years of arbitration with New York, but this injury could derail his contract status with the organization as he recovers. 

⚾ Presumptive NL Rookie of the Year Cade Horton was removed from last night’s game due to back tightness. While he was effective through three innings, the Cubs decided to play it safe, as they have already wrapped up their playoff positioning. Initial reports suggest that Horton should be fine and available for the postseason. 

 

Articles You Should Read

 

Checking in on Pythagoras — Ben Clemens, Fangraphs

The Largest Game of Catch – Honoring Yogi — Dan Cichalski, MLB.com

 

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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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