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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
The Houston Astros activated outfielder Taylor Trammell from the paternity list prior to Thursday's series finale against the Kansas City Royals. In a corresponding roster move, outfielder Joey Loperfido was optioned back down to Triple-A Sugar Land after making a brief two-day appearance with the major league club. Trammell's return restores depth to Houston's outfield as the team battles tightly for the AL West division title.
Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson is missing his fifth consecutive game due to a small fracture in his left hand suffered when he was hit by a pitch last Saturday. Although Pederson is attempting to play through the injury, he remains sidelined because he is not yet feeling well enough to face right-handed pitching like Sonny Gray. Josh Jung is filling in at designated hitter for Texas in the interim.
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen improved to 15-5 on the season by throwing five scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out three in a victory over the A's. Rasmussen has been stellar, yielding only five runs over 31 innings across his last five starts. His ERA has dropped to 2.72 over 165.1 innings with a 0.93 WHIP and 163 strikeouts, lining him up to face the Yankees on the road next.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Kyle Harrison suffered his 10th loss after allowing five runs in just 1 2/3 innings against the Pirates. Over his last four appearances, Harrison has surrendered 21 earned runs across nine innings, inflating his season ERA to 4.25 and a 1.34 WHIP. Given his recent struggles, the southpaw is all but certain to miss the Brewers' postseason roster and figures to return to the bullpen down the stretch.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is working through a slump at the plate as the team navigates a middling September hampered by strikeouts. After returning to the majors with early success, Anthony is unfazed by his current struggles, emphasizing that failing now provides valuable experience to grind out at-bats and prepare for what the team hopes will be a deep postseason run. Boston continues relying on its overall depth down the stretch.
Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino is absent from the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the Houston Astros. After going 1-for-7 with a home run through the first two games of the series, Pasquantino is receiving a routine day of rest. Salvador Perez is slated to slot in at first base for the Royals in his absence as the team plays out the rubber match in Houston.
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Kyle Leahy prepares to take the mound for Friday night's series opener against the Washington Nationals as the team enters the final homestand of the season. Leahy holds a 10-4 record with a 3.33 ERA and 128 strikeouts. The Cardinals host Washington while sitting eight games out of the final Wild Card slot with nine games remaining, navigating late-season roster shifts and minor injuries heading into the weekend.
Kyle Tucker went 4-for-5 with a two-run home run, two doubles, three RBI, and two runs scored to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, securing their 13th NL West division title in 14 years. Tucker launched his 16th homer of the season off Brady Singer in the first inning. He has turned a corner down the stretch, going 12-for-29 with four homers in his last eight games to raise his slash line to .232/.331/.387.
The Washington Nationals officially reinstated Josiah Gray from the 60-day injured list, marking his return from a grueling two-and-a-half-year recovery process that included Tommy John surgery and a flexor strain. Gray, who last pitched in April 2024, posted a 3.00 ERA across 12 rehab innings and will join the club in St. Louis to pitch out of the bullpen for the final nine games of the season, carefully monitoring his arm before a planned return to the rotation next year.
Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery is out of the starting lineup for Thursday's series opener against the Detroit Tigers due to a left wrist contusion. Montgomery sustained the injury after being hit by a pitch during Wednesday's contest against the Cleveland Guardians. Although subsequent X-rays returned negative, Luisangel Acuna will step in to play shortstop for the White Sox while Montgomery recovers from the impact.
Houston Astros infielder Christian Walker is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Kansas City Royals, receiving a scheduled day off to reset. The breather comes after Walker endured a difficult stretch at the plate, going 0-for-16 with five strikeouts over his last five games. LaMonte Wade will fill in at first base and bat ninth in his absence as the Astros look to get their veteran slugger back on track.
Marcus Semien celebrates his 36th birthday amid a difficult season with the New York Mets following a trade from the Texas Rangers. Over his 14-year MLB career, Semien boasts a .251/.319/.429 slash line with 267 home runs and a 49.9 bWAR. His standout 2021 campaign with the Blue Jays featured a .265 average, 45 home runs, 15 steals, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards, and a third-place finish in American League MVP voting before signing a major contract.
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso celebrated a remarkable return to Citi Field, hitting his 300th career home run during a three-game sweep of the New York Mets. Even Mets owner Steve Cohen applauded Alonso's milestone, which helped push Tuesday's game to extra innings. Alonso homered again in a 7-1 victory to cap the sweep. He signed a five-year, $155 million deal with Baltimore last winter after spending seven seasons in New York.
Philadelphia Phillies star left-hander Jesús Luzardo landed on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation and is effectively unavailable until at least the final day of the regular season. The team does not yet know when he will be cleared to throw, as he must be pain-free before resuming baseball activities. Luzardo's absence forced Philadelphia to claim José Urquidy and rely on bullpen games down the stretch.
Max Fried bounced back from a previous rough outing by throwing seven strong innings on just 88 pitches against the Minnesota Twins. Utilizing precise breaking ball command and an economical pitch count, Fried navigated tough situations—highlighted by a masterful sequence against Austin Martin. The performance provided a major positive for the Yankees as they monitor his recovery from a left elbow bone bruise and finalize their postseason rotation plans.
Tanner Gordon gets the start for the Colorado Rockies facing the San Diego Padres, looking to solidify his role in the rotation. Holding a 1-4 record with a 5.55 ERA, Gordon has experienced mixed results since rejoining the rotation on August 21, allowing nine runs over his last two outings. While he avoids walks and throws strikes, he will need to limit hard contact and induce more groundballs to tame a potent Padres lineup.
Alex Bregman powered the Chicago Cubs to an 8-4 win over the Atlanta Braves by going deep for his 26th home run of the year and collecting a triple during a multi-hit performance. Bregman has enjoyed a phenomenal second half, boasting a 5 fWAR season in his first year with Chicago. His recent surge in power, highlighted by improved isolated slugging and a stellar wOBA, has cemented him as one of baseball's top hitters down the stretch of the 2026 season.
David Bednar was noted as a key potential opponent in critical late-game scenarios during upcoming high-stakes regular-season action. As teams push for Wild Card spots and division positions in the final week of the season, late-inning matchups against sluggers will prove decisive for game outcomes and postseason eligibility.
New York Yankees rookie outfielder Spencer Jones has turned his season around since returning on July 22, batting .261/.326/.472 with eight home runs, 30 RBIs, and eight steals in 179 plate appearances. Jones features elite contact metrics, including a 19.4% barrel rate and 51.5% hard-hit rate. Despite high swing-and-miss numbers (19.5% SwStr%, 77% zone contact rate), his elite exit velocities position him as an everyday starter.
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski will take the mound as the starter for Thursday's series finale against the Cincinnati Reds, opposing Brady Singer. Wrobleski enters the assignment after throwing 25 pitches over two scoreless innings in relief against Miami on Saturday. The young southpaw looks to provide valuable length as the Dodgers lean on a bullpen game to close out the series.
