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The playoff races might be decided by which teams perform better against the last-place teams with nothing else to play for. By the looks of things in recent weeks, the bottom-dwellers aren’t just going to roll over and be trampled on.
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Today’s Headlines
Opening Statement: Vlad, Jays Drill Yankees
It is just one game of a big three-game September series between contenders. But sometimes statements can be sent, especially in a series opener and especially when a superstar player comes up big. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered as part of a four-hit night as the Toronto Blue Jays opened a three-game set with a decisive 7-1 victory over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. It extended the first-place Blue Jays’ AL East lead over the second-place Yankees to four games in the final series of the regular season between the teams. The Jays, who also own the tiebreaker over the Yankees, have a 4½-game lead over the third-place Boston Red Sox, who lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-5. Bo Bichette had three and drove in two runs, while Nathan Lukes also drove in a pair. Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman turned in an ace-like performance, allowing one run on four hits over eight innings. Guerrero, who scored three times, hit a solo homer in the fifth inning for a 5-1 Jays lead. It was his 23rd of the season and 16th in 46 games at Yankee Stadium.
Shoestring Win: Diaz, Mets Escape Vs. Reds
While the NL playoff field is nearly set, there are still a few teams on the edges of the chase still holding out hope. The New York Mets pushed one team a bit closer to the point of no return. Mark Vientos homered and drove in a pair as well as scored twice and Edwin Diaz danced in and out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth as the Mets turned back the Cincinnati Reds 5-4. The Reds fell to six games behind the Mets, who hold down the third and final NL wild-card spot, four games ahead of the San Francisco Giants. The Mets remained six games behind the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies, who beat the Miami Marlins 9-3. After Ke’Bryan Hayes led off the bottom of the ninth with a single, Diaz walked Matt McLain and TJ Friedl to load the bases. Diaz called timeout and changed his cleats, then struck out Noelvi Marte and Elly De La Cruz before getting Gavin Lux to ground out to second baseman Luisangel Acuña, with Diaz having to cover first to get the final out. Vientos had an RBI single in a three-run first inning, then hit his 16th homer of the season in the third inning to make it 4-1. The Reds have lost 11 of their last 14.
Emergency Ohtani Dazzles, But Dodgers Fall Again
In case of emergency, break glass. But when you do that, it usually isn’t Shohei Ohtani who comes to the rescue. But that was the situation that arose as Ohtani was called in to start for the Los Angeles Dodgers after Tyler Glasnow was scratched due to back soreness. All Ohtani did was pitch 3⅔ scoreless innings and hit 100 mph 11 times. But even that wasn’t enough to get the Dodgers out of their funk. That is because rookie Samuel Basallo hit a two-out solo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Dodgers 2-1. It was the fourth straight loss for the Dodgers, who were coming off being swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Still, the Dodgers haven’t lost any of their NL West lead as the second-place San Diego Padres lost to the lowly Colorado Rockies 3-0. Orioles right-handed starter Dean Kremer left after three innings due to right forearm discomfort. The Dodgers, already without starting catcher Will Smith this weekend due to injury, saw backup Dalton Rushing leave the game after fouling a ball off one of his legs.
Homer-Happy Giants Stay Hot
If there is hope for a Cinderella to emerge in the NL playoff chase, it is … the San Francisco Giants? Thought to be dead just a couple of weeks ago, the Giants continued their homer binge and won for the 11th time in 12 games, 8-2 over the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the fifth straight win for the Giants, who are four games behind the Mets for the final NL wild-card spot. Rafael Devers and Willy Adames went back-to-back in the top of the first inning, not only staking the Giants to a 3-0 lead but making it 18 straight games with a homer, the longest stretch since the team moved to San Francisco and one shy of the club record set in 1947. Giants rookie right-hander Carson Seymour allowed one run on two hits over five innings.
Rangers Top Astros In 12, Within Half-Game Of M’s
The Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners have failed to put any space between themselves and the Texas Rangers in the AL West. So the Rangers are taking advantage. The Rangers continued their unexpected push toward a playoff spot, beating the Astros 4-3 in 12 innings on rookie pinch-hitter Dustin Harris‘ walk-off double down the right-field line. With the win — the Rangers’ 10th in the last 13 games — Texas pulled within four games of the first-place Astros in the AL West and a half-game behind the second-place Seattle Mariners, who hold the last AL wild-card spot. The Mariners lost to Atlanta 4-1. Harris was called up on Friday when outfielder Adolis García went on the 10-day injured list with a strained right quadriceps, just more than a week after returning from the IL.
Mariners’ Slide Continues
The road has been very unkind to the Mariners on this last-season trip. Matt Olson had a tiebreaking single, and Ozzie Albies tripled and scored all as part of a three-run bottom of the eighth inning as Atlanta knocked off the Mariners 4-1. The Mariners have lost six of their first seven games of this nine-game road trip, including the last four. Not only do the Mariners only have a half-game lead over the Rangers for the last AL wild-card spot, but they are up by just one game over the Kansas City Royals and two over the Tampa Bay Rays. The game opened as a duel between Mariners ace Logan Gilbert and Atlanta’s Chris Sale, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner. Sale turned in the slightly better outing, going 6⅔ innings with one run on four hits, no walks, and nine strikeouts. Gilbert also allowed just one run, his coming on five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. Atlanta broke through against Mariners left-hander Gabe Speier. Jurickson Profar led off with a double and scored on Olson’s single to snap a 1-1 tie. Albies then tripled in Profar and scored on Drake Baldwin’s single to make it 4-1.
By The Numbers
⚾ Outfielders Max Kepler, Brandon Marsh, and Harrison Bader each hit homers as the Phillies beat the Marlins 9-3. It was the first time since the second game of an Oct. 1, 2022, doubleheader that all three starting outfielders homered in the same game for the Phillies. Marsh and Bader went back-to-back in the fourth inning, the seventh time the Phillies have hit consecutive blasts this season.
⚾ The Rays, credited with the origin of the opener, used an opener for the first time this season, but the strategy didn’t pay off as the Cleveland Guardians scored five runs in the second inning en route to a 7-1 victory, snapping the Rays’ seven-game winning streak.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Standing Up
The Pirates did their own Stand Up To Cancer Night at PNC Park, much like what is done during the All-Star Game and World Series.
Flashing Speed
Jackson Holliday of the Orioles showed off his speed in scoring from second base on a wild pitch against the Dodgers.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Royals star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. left the game against the Twins due to lower back spasms.
⚾ Struggling Mets right-handed starter Kodai Senga, once the leader of the rotation, agreed to be optioned to Triple-A following a rough last eight starts.
⚾ Tigers right-handed closer Kyle Finnegan went on the 15-day injured list with a strained right adductor. Outfielder Parker Meadows (strained quadriceps) was activated from the 10-day IL.
⚾ Brewers right-handed reliever Nick Mears was placed on the 15-day IL with back tightness in the latest blow to Milwaukee’s bullpen.
⚾ Twins right-hander Pablo López was activated from the 60-day IL to start vs. the Royals. Lopez has been out since May due to a strained teres major in his right shoulder.
⚾ St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras had his suspension reduced from six games to four following an appeal. He began serving it on Friday.
⚾ Padres left-handed starter Nestor Cortes went on the 15-day IL with a strained left biceps.
⚾ Los Angeles Angels minor-leaguer Rio Foster was in critical condition following a car accident. The 22-year-old outfielder plays for the High Class A Tri-City Dust Devils in Pasco, Wash. Their game Friday was canceled.
⚾ MLB said that the bat Astros outfielder Taylor Trammell had confiscated during Thursday’s game violated regulations, but Trammell did not give him any advantage. He is not facing any penalties (suspension or fine) for using the bat.
Articles You Should Read
Top 35 Dominican Summer League prospects in 2025 — Josh Norris, Baseball America
A line drive 11 years ago off face sparked bond between Chapman, Perez — Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic
30 years later, Ripken feels every emotion from 2,131 — Jake Rill, MLB.com
Red Sox are stretched thin with the loss of Anthony — Jay Jaffe, FanGraphs
Rockies have lost more than 100 games for three straight years. How do they dig out? — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times
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