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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Boston Red Sox southpaw Ranger Suarez took the loss Thursday against Cleveland, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out five over five innings. The lone blemish was a second-inning solo homer by Angel Martinez. Suarez concludes his debut regular season with the Red Sox sporting a strong 3.22 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 140:46 K:BB across 148.1 innings in a sharp tune-up start ahead of the postseason.
Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Luis Arraez exited Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers with a sprained left ankle after attempting to avoid a tag at first base in the sixth inning. The National League batting average leader was called out for running out of the baseline. He is undergoing further evaluation to determine the injury's severity and his status as the team battles for a wild card spot with three games remaining.
Giancarlo Stanton is trending toward a Yankees postseason return after facing velocity from a machine at Yankee Stadium and running the bases at Double-A Somerset. Sidelined for over five months by severe calf strains in both legs, the veteran slugger is aiming for a potential pinch-hit role in the wild-card round. Manager Aaron Boone noted Stanton's encouraging progress, though roster decisions loom regarding his readiness following limited action since April 24.
Athletics right-hander Mason Barnett (1-4) is scheduled to take the mound against the Houston Astros and right-hander Peter Lambert to begin a four-game series at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. The matchup marks the final series of the regular season between the two clubs as the Athletics wrap up their campaign.
Houston Astros right-hander Peter Lambert has been the club's most consistent starter this season, leading the team in wins (8), starts (27), innings pitched (151.0), and strikeouts (147). He has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 19 of his 27 starts, including 11 of his last 14 outings, as the Astros battle the Rangers for the AL West title in the final week of the regular season.
Chicago Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong made history by becoming the seventh MLB player to join the exclusive 40-40 club, recording his 40th stolen base alongside 45 home runs during a 2-1 win over Miami that clinched a wild-card berth. The 24-year-old frontrunner for NL MVP is batting .280 with 107 RBIs, 119 runs, and a .949 OPS over 158 games, anchoring his historic season with elite defense and widespread praise from teammates and executives alike.
New York Mets rookie left-hander Zac Thornton concluded a stellar season by allowing two runs over five innings against the Texas Rangers, meeting his goal of making every start. Over 15 starts, Thornton recorded a 3.42 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. Beginning the year in Double-A Binghamton, he debuted May 20 and established himself as a key part of the Mets' young rotation core heading into next season.
Atlanta Braves left-hander Martín Pérez was placed on the 15-day injured list with lower back inflammation, backdated to Sept. 21, making him eligible to return for Game 3 of the NLDS on Oct. 6. Pérez felt discomfort during Sunday's win over Houston, capping a strong bounce-back season where he posted a 3.09 ERA across 142 innings. Elieser Hernández was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to take his active roster spot as Atlanta manages its pitching depth.
San Francisco Giants contact-speed threat Jonah Cox has drawn attention following swing adjustments implemented on August 23, slashing .329/.386/.461 with 3 homers and 9 stolen bases across his first 23 games. However, his recent performance has been hampered by heavy swing-and-miss issues, including 12 strikeouts in 25 plate appearances. Despite high strikeout rates totaling 60 in 157 plate appearances, his speed and defense provide notable upside for the rebuilding San Francisco squad.
Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Cruz hit his 30th home run of the season during Thursday's series finale against the Atlanta Braves, a 402-foot shot off former teammate Tyler Mahle. With the blast, De La Cruz joined Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, and Brandon Phillips as the only players in franchise history to record a 30-homer, 30-steal season. The milestone homer sparked a third-inning rally that temporarily flipped a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead for the Reds.
Ian Happ went 1-for-3 with a walk, a triple, and a run scored in a 2-1 win over the Marlins, extending his hitting streak to four games with his third triple of the season. Although batting just .228 in September, the veteran outfielder maintains a strong .353 on-base percentage for the month, above his .330 full-season mark. With the Cubs officially clinching a playoff spot, Happ may receive rest over the coming days before returning as a regular for the postseason.
Miguel Vargas went 2-for-5 with two RBI, two runs, a walk, a stolen base, and three strikeouts in a 9-1 win over the Royals, extending his hitting streak to six games. He has recorded a base hit in 12 of his last 13 contests. Vargas opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first and added another in the second. On the season, the 26-year-old is slashing .252/.363/.479 with 33 homers, 92 RBI, 98 walks, and 21 stolen bases in 695 plate appearances.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday after missing nearly three weeks due to right elbow discomfort. The 25-year-old will return to the major-league roster to provide an immediate offensive and defensive boost off the bench as the primary reserve option behind starting catcher Will Smith, bolstering the Dodgers' depth ahead of the postseason stretch.
San Diego Padres first baseman Ty France has emerged as the team's most consistent hitter in 2026, thriving in a platoon role. Returning to the franchise where he made his debut in 2019, France has set career highs in batting average, slugging percentage, OPS, and home runs. Through 129 games, he is slashing .299/.364/.513 with 21 homers, 70 RBI, and an .877 OPS, providing critical offensive production during the Padres' strong second-half push.
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno has put together an exceptional campaign, serving as an offensive engine while batting .308 with 16 homers and 81 RBI in 128 games. His .871 OPS is tied for 11th in baseball. Moreno has set career highs across nearly every major offensive category and leads all MLB backstops with 5.2 fWAR this season, building significantly upon his stellar contributions during the team's 2023 World Series run.
Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli has put together a stellar breakout campaign, going 13-5 with 200 strikeouts across 32 starts, becoming the first Nats starter to reach the milestone since 2019. Cavalli's strong performance earned him a four-year, $47 million contract extension last week. The former first-round pick has anchored the rotation during Year 1 of the Nationals' rebuild, cementing his status as a key foundational piece for the franchise's future success.
Salvador Perez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a strikeout during a 9-1 loss to the White Sox. Perez launched his first homer since Sept. 6, taking David Sandlin deep in the fourth inning to put the Royals on the board. This year, the 36-year-old has slashed .228/.272/.378 with 20 homers and 75 RBI across 615 plate appearances, continuing to provide veteran presence and power in the middle of the Kansas City lineup despite the team's struggles.
The Houston Astros placed outfielder Daulton Varsho on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Wednesday due to left wrist inflammation. Varsho will miss the AL Wild Card Series if the Astros win their division, but he will be eligible to return for the ALDS. In corresponding moves, the Astros selected Jorge Barrosa from Triple-A Sugar Land and designated Jason Alexander for assignment, impacting their roster depth heading into the crucial final stretch of the regular season.
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes closed out his campaign by allowing one run on three hits across 6.1 innings while striking out eight Cardinals. His strikeout of Leo Bernal marked his 200th of the year. Skenes finishes an up-and-down sophomore campaign with a 10-11 record, 3.82 ERA, and 1.12 WHIP over 174.1 innings across 32 starts. Skenes stated after his final start that he does not view the 2026 season as a failure despite falling short of expectations.
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided a cautiously optimistic update regarding outfielder Trent Grisham, stating he feels really good and is trending in a good way ahead of the postseason. Grisham was placed on the 10-day IL on Sept. 6 after tweaking his hamstring into a Grade 2 strain. Prior to his injuries this season, the 29-year-old slashed .211/.308/.395 with -7 DRS and -6 OAA following a career-best year featuring 34 home runs.
