David Schoenfield, ESPN Senior Writer
It's not usually that we get a ultimate week of the MLB common season with this a lot at stake — and with this many of the groups in the combine taking part in one another. Unlike over the weekend, a number of of this week's head-to-head matchups function video games with groups battling for a playoff spot, preventing for playoff seeding or just making an attempt to remain alive.
All of which meant Tuesday evening was the largest evening of the baseball season — to this point anyway. Now that we're in the ultimate days, it creates a playoff-like, must-win depth to those video games. Some knock the expanded playoffs, and it is a cheap argument that too many groups get in, but it surely provides us a enjoyable few nights of must-watch TV.
On Tuesday, I began the night targeted on the Mets-Braves showdown in Atlanta however ended up flipping to numerous video games. I tuned in to MLB Network's “MLB Big Inning” (which broadcasts 4 video games concurrently), had different video games on my cellphone (Mariners-Astros, Angels-White Sox) then closed out the evening with Padres-Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
The better part is, we'll do all of it once more Wednesday. (Catch the highlights on ESPN2's “Squeeze Play” present from 7 to 10:30 p.m. ET.) Here are the finest matchups forward of us, plus what we realized from Tuesday's video games.
What's at stake: The Astros clinched the American League West title with their win Tuesday, and so they're locked in to host a wild-card sequence as the third seed. The Mariners nonetheless have a slim likelihood of a wild-card spot, however they should win — and get some assist.
What occurred Tuesday: The Mariners entered the day 1½ video games behind Detroit and Kansas City, however that was actually 2½ video games again as a result of they lose the tiebreaker to each groups. (As die-hard Mariners followers will keep in mind, they do not maintain the tiebreaker in opposition to Kansas City as a result of they misplaced a recreation in June through which they led 8-0.)
They beat the Astros on Monday and led this recreation 3-1 with ace Logan Gilbert on the mound, however they misplaced it when the Astros' Jason Heyward — lately picked up after the Dodgers let him go and solely taking part in as a result of Yordan Alvarez is resting a sore knee — popped a go-ahead, two-run dwelling run in the backside of the fifth.
The Mariners had their possibilities. Second and third, one out in the sixth — could not rating. First and third, one out in the eighth — could not rating. Josh Hader got here on for a four-out save and struck out three batters, together with Julio Rodriguez to finish it. In a season through which they weren't all that nice, the Astros received their seventh division title in eight years.
I acquired a textual content from a Mariners fan buddy after the loss (a protracted screed that I will not repeat right here). Then he despatched a publish pointing this out: “Division titles since John Fisher — arguably the worst current in major American professional sports — bought the Oakland A's: Oakland 4, Seattle 0.”
Baseball ain't simple, particularly in case you're a Mariners fan.
What to observe Wednesday A fantastic matchup right here between George Kirby and Yusei Kikuchi. Kirby is coming off back-to-back gems in opposition to Texas, however Kikuchi has been even hotter: The Astros have received all 9 of his begins since selecting him up from the Blue Jays at the commerce deadline.
What's at stake: The Tigers management their very own future as they appear to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
What occurred Tuesday: It's at all times enjoyable when an out-of-nowhere group makes the playoffs. But what's superb about the Tigers is that they have been out of it — deader than Bernie — simply 5 weeks in the past. They have been 55-63 on Aug. 10, 11 video games behind the Twins and 10 video games behind the Royals. They're 28-11 since then, finest in the majors, and have allowed simply 116 runs, lower than three per recreation.
This recreation was moved to the afternoon on account of anticipated rain in Detroit, and the inevitable occurred: The Tigers received, as a result of Tarik Skubal began. He allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings. He's 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA and he'll win the AL Cy Young Award. (My finest prediction of the season: Skubal successful the Cy Young Award.) Beau Brieske gave up a two-out dwelling run in the ninth however pitched two innings for his first save of the season. A.J. Hinch continues to tug all the proper strings with guys reminiscent of Brieske, Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter, Jason Foley, Will Vest — an absolute no-name bullpen that has been terrific of late.
I used to be a bit stunned on Monday when the Tigers designated Shelby Miller for project and referred to as up prime prospect Jackson Jobe. It appears like unhealthy mojo to chop a veteran reliever who had been with the group the whole season in the ultimate days, however the good vibes are so sturdy proper now in Detroit, I suppose it does not matter.
What to observe Wednesday: Rookie Keider Montero begins for Detroit. He gave up 4 dwelling runs in his final begin in opposition to the Orioles however had back-to-back scoreless outings earlier than that, together with a complete-game shutout through which he confronted the minimal 27 batters. Could we see the flame-throwing Jobe make his MLB debut in reduction?
What's at stake: Per week in the past, the Royals appeared like they may begin printing playoff tickets. Now they're desperately making an attempt to carry off the fading Twins and attain the postseason for the first time since the World Series title in 2015.
What occurred Tuesday: The Royals started the day tied with Tigers for the second and third wild playing cards, with the Twins a recreation behind. Ok.C. had misplaced seven in a row, together with three to the Tigers, had scored 4 runs of their previous 5 video games and have been coming off consecutive shutout losses to the Giants. Those sorts of dropping streaks, when the offense simply cannot do something, are simply as powerful to take as these when the bullpen blows a bunch of late leads. It feels such as you're by no means going to attain once more.
And once more, the Royals did not rating for 9 innings. Cole Ragans and the bullpen saved the Nationals off the scoreboard. That's when CJ Abrams may need saved the Royals' season (as one of my editors would put it in a textual content). Wait, what? Abrams wasn't even in the ballpark (lengthy story). With a ghost runner on second, Bobby Witt Jr. hit a slower chopper to shortstop Nasim Nunez, taking part in for the demoted Abrams, and he double clutched on the throw after which threw it away. The run scored. The official scorer gave Witt a really beneficiant hit and an error on the throw, so Witt added to his MLB-best common with runners in scoring place. In the backside of the inning, Joey Gallo (sure, he is on the Nationals) simply missed a walk-off dwelling run off a Lucas Erceg hanger, the ball curling about 10 ft foul, almost giving Royals followers a coronary heart assault. Erceg then acquired the strikeout. Whew.
What to observe Wednesday: Michael Lorenzen is off the IL after a hamstring harm and making his first begin for the Royals since Aug. 27. A commerce deadline pickup, he was 2-0 with a 1.85 ERA in 5 begins with Ok.C. But can the Royals rating a run? The offense has gone three straight video games with out scoring a non-ghost runner and 6 straight video games with out hitting a house run.
What's at stake: The Yankees are battling the Cleveland Guardians for the prime seed in the AL — and have a shot at the prime general seed as effectively. The Orioles are in however seeking to lock up the fourth seed and home-field benefit for the wild-card sequence.
What occurred Tuesday: Aaron Judge blasted his 56th dwelling run, however the Orioles received and earned a playoff spot (formally clinching when the Twins misplaced). The largest play of the recreation got here in the backside of the seventh, when Juan Soto singled on a line drive to attain one run to make it 4-3. Gleyber Torres, on second base, held up at third, however Soto dashed for second on the throw dwelling. Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman threw all the way down to second, Torres took off for dwelling and Torres was caught in a rundown — a 9-2-6-2-5 putout. Nicely executed by the Orioles, however the Yankees have had these sorts of blunders all season, and so they're the type of errors that would loom giant in October.
What to observe Wednesday: Zach Eflin goes for the Orioles, and he is been stellar for them: 5-2, 2.31 ERA in eight begins. He's additionally been very efficient in opposition to Aaron Judge, who's 3-for-17 off Eflin with 10 strikeouts and one stroll (throughout the previous two seasons).
What's at stake: The Mets are a half-game forward of the Arizona Diamondbacks for second wild-card spot. The Braves are a half recreation behind the Diamondbacks for the third.
What occurred Tuesday: This felt like the largest recreation of the evening, and a must-win sort of contest for the Braves. Except that the Braves have Chris Sale scheduled to begin Wednesday, Sale goes to win the National League Cy Young and the Braves have received his previous eight begins, so the Mets actually type of wanted to win this recreation as effectively.
The Braves scored three in the third off Luis Severino, and that will be all they wanted. The rally began with an infield hit, and there have been a pair of groundball singles — only one of these rallies in baseball the place you scratch throughout some runs just by placing the ball in play. Marcell Ozuna later homered and, wow, the place would the Braves be with out him? He's hitting .310 with 39 dwelling runs. Michael Harris II doubled and homered and has 5 straight multihit video games. Ozzie Albies simply acquired again, though he is solely hitting right-handed (which has at all times been his higher facet anyway).
Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach was excellent for the Braves, going seven innings. He's been one of the under-the-radar tales of the season. Primarily a shortstop at Nebraska, he additionally pitched in reduction and the Braves drafted him in the second spherical in 2021 — yet one more unbelievable scouting discover for the Braves. He missed all of 2022 with Tommy John surgical procedure and started this season in High-A — there was no approach he was anticipated to be half of the Atlanta rotation. He's now 8-7 with a 3.47 ERA in 20 begins.
What to observe Wednesday: Heavy rains from potential Tropical Cyclone Nine/Hurricane Helene postponed Wednesday and Thursday's recreation, which doubtless means the Braves — one would suppose — will pitch Sale and Max Fried this weekend in opposition to the Royals. That could possibly be a break for the Mets … besides it means a make-up doubleheader in Atlanta on Monday. What might go improper?
What's at stake: The Twins at the moment are two video games behind the Tigers and Royals for a wild card (three groups for two spots). They've misplaced 5 of their previous six video games.
What occurred Tuesday: The Marlins scored 4 runs in the second inning off Bailey Ober, three of these with two outs, to beat Minnesota. The Twins are 6-14 since Sept. 3; this was their sixth straight recreation with no dwelling run. They have been presupposed to be higher when Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis all lastly acquired wholesome at the identical time this month, however as an alternative they've gone in the tank. They're now two video games again of the Tigers and Royals with 5 to play. They're going to want some assist. And some dwelling runs.
What to observe Wednesday: Simeon Woods Richardson will get the ball for the Twins, however he'll have a fast hook it doesn't matter what — he is pitched fewer than 5 innings in every of his previous 5 begins — which implies a Twins bullpen that has been a bit of shaky must chew up some innings. Miami starter Edward Cabrera walked 5 in his final begin, so a affected person strategy is advisable.
What's at stake: The White Sox stay tied with the 1962 Mets for the most losses in trendy baseball historical past at 120.
What occurred Tuesday: With the White Sox poised to set the report, I turned this one on in the backside of the eighth with the Angels up 2-0. My editor had already reported to me that the attendance included 17,606 followers and 375 canines, which is a reasonably respectable crowd — individuals needed to see historical past (though apparently the White Sox announcers have been just about ignoring that facet of this recreation).
Well … the followers must come again on Wednesday, as a result of the White Sox improbably rallied for three runs. The tying run scored with two outs when Angels second baseman Jack Lopez, a 31-year-old profession minor leaguer who had hit his first main league dwelling run earlier in the recreation, dropped a routine pop fly. Lost it in the swirling winds. (Checking the field rating, I see it was scored a success. Generous.) Andrew Benintendi then drove in the go-ahead run. For one evening, the baseball gods have been type to the White Sox.
What to observe Wednesday: It appears unfathomable that the White Sox might shut out with six straight wins, which might really give them a greater report than the '62 Mets, as a result of the Mets solely performed 160 video games and completed 40-120. But remember that the 2003 Tigers have been additionally chasing the Mets and received 5 of their ultimate six to complete with 119 losses. You by no means know!
What's at stake: The Diamondbacks sit in the third wild-card place, half a recreation behind the Mets and half a recreation forward of the Braves.
What occurred Tuesday: Didn't see this one as I used to be targeted on Padres-Dodgers, however the Giants beat up on Brandon Pfaadt and the Arizona bullpen in a 11-0 rout. This leaves the Mets at 87-70, the Diamondbacks at 87-71 and the Braves at 86-71. It feels acquainted to Arizona from final 12 months, once they managed to again into the wild card with an 84-78 report regardless of dropping their ultimate 4 video games. They will not be capable of again on this 12 months. They're a enjoyable group with the finest offense in the majors; I'd hate to see them miss the playoffs after such an explosive second half of mashing the baseball.
What to observe Wednesday: Zac Gallen has lengthy been the Arizona ace and whereas he has two scoreless outings in September, he is allowed seven runs and 4 dwelling runs over his previous two and has lasted simply 5 innings in every of his previous three begins. The Arizona bullpen — which helped blow an 8-1 lead in opposition to the Brewers on Sunday — might be concerned on this one.
What's at stake: The NL West title stays up for grabs, with the Dodgers' lead down to 2 video games. An L.A. win all however locks it up with a three-game lead with 4 video games left, however a Padres win makes it very, very attention-grabbing.
What occurred Tuesday: I imply … this didn't occur. But it did occur. The Padres led 4-1 coming into the backside of the ninth. The Dodgers get three straight hits off Robert Suarez to make it 4-2. No outs. Shohei Ohtani on deck. Miguel Rojas squares round to bunt on the first pitch. I did not thoughts the technique. Maybe the Padres stroll Ohtani, however that additionally places the successful run on base with Mookie Betts up. But Rojas misses the pitch. Then he swings away and rockets a grounder proper to Manny Machado at third base, who turns the game-ending 5-4-3 triple play. A triple play! AMAZING.
(Believe it or not, it is the third triple play to finish a recreation in the previous 30 seasons — though the first time in MLB historical past a group clinched a playoff spot with a game-ending triple play.)
What to observe Wednesday: It's Dylan Cease versus Jack Flaherty in a matchup of every group's doubtless Game 1 starter for the postseason. Keep in thoughts that the Padres have already clinched the season sequence over the Dodgers (they lead 8-3), so if the groups find yourself tied, the Padres win the division — which they final did in 2006. I'll be watching.
