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MLB News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Wednesday, September 23

Mike Trout Hits 22nd Home Run of the Season in Loss to Athletics

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Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a 7-3 loss to the Athletics. Trout's solo shot marked his 22nd homer of the year, though he has hit just two over his last 39 contests. He is batting .273 in that recent span compared to .247 overall, bringing his season totals to an .815 OPS, 54 RBI, 85 runs, and 11 stolen bases across 139 games, his highest game total since 2018.

Joe Musgrove Continues Playing Catch With Return Timeline Still Uncertain

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San Diego Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove has been regularly playing catch as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery undergone in October 2024, but his exact return timeline remains unclear. Musgrove has yet to pitch this season, having been shut down from a minor-league rehab assignment in August due to recovery issues between starts. If activated by San Diego, he would reportedly be limited strictly to a bullpen relief role for the remainder of the season.

Shohei Ohtani Shows Progress in Injury Return During Dodgers Loss

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Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani returned from the 15-day IL after missing 13 games due to right biceps inflammation and left knee soreness. Batting second, he went 1-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts in a 5-1 loss to San Diego. Ohtani showed improved plate discipline and hit a 384-foot drive with a 103.4 mph exit velocity in the seventh. Manager Dave Roberts and president Andrew Friedman expressed optimism about his health and rhythm as the postseason approaches.

Julio Rodríguez Delivers Strong Performance in Mariners' Win

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Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodríguez delivered a positive impact in a 6-5 victory over the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park, adding 0.46 Win Probability Added to help propel the Mariners forward as they navigate the final stretch of the 2026 regular season.

Maikel Garcia Collects Three Hits and Three RBI in Royals Win

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Maikel Garcia went 3-for-3 with three RBI, a run, and a double in Wednesday's 5-4 win against the Chicago White Sox, driving home the game's first two runs before hitting a go-ahead double off Hagen Smith in the seventh inning. Having missed significant time over the past three months due to hand and hamstring injuries, this marked Garcia's first three-RBI game since June 14. He is batting .263 with 38 RBI and 20 doubles across 80 games this year.

Nolan McLean Concludes Stellar Rookie Campaign With Mets

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New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean concluded an impressive rookie campaign by pitching four perfect innings before running into trouble in the fifth against Texas, ultimately finishing his year 12-10 with a 3.16 ERA across 31 starts. McLean was the only Mets starter to not miss a single start this season, earning high praise from manager Andy Green, who called him the best rookie pitcher in the National League following a heavy workload that began at the World Baseball Classic.

Ben Rice Crushes 40th and 41st Home Runs in Yankees' 9-2 Win

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New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice hit his 40th and 41st home runs in a 9-2 win over the Rays, joining Aaron Judge and Joe DiMaggio as the only Yankees to hit 40 within their first three seasons. Going 3-for-4 with two solo shots, Rice tied for the AL home run lead with 41. "It’s a cool milestone," Rice said. His breakout season features a .263/.362/.537 slash line, 97 RBI, and 103 runs, helping the Yankees weather extended absences from Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Athletics Catcher Brian Serven Exits Game After Taking Ball to Face

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Athletics catcher Brian Serven left Wednesday's game early in the bottom of the sixth inning after taking a 94 mph changeup off the bat of Angels pitcher José Fermin directly to his left cheekbone on a foul bunt attempt. Serven fell to the dirt and remained down for several moments before slowly getting up under his own power, signaling to manager Mark Kotsay and the training staff that he was okay while receiving immediate sportsmanship checks from opponents.

Dansby Swanson Drives in Two Runs in Cubs' Narrow Loss to Marlins

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Dansby Swanson drove in both runs for the Chicago Cubs with a broken-bat single into left field during the sixth inning of a 3-2 loss to the Miami Marlins. The defeat prevented the Cubs from clinching an NL wild-card berth for the second consecutive night, though they remain on the verge of securing a postseason spot. Swanson continues to anchor the Chicago lineup as they head into the final stretch of the regular season.

JJ Wetherholt Records Three Hits and RBI in Cardinals Win

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St. Louis Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, reaching base four times to provide a steady offensive presence. Wetherholt has gone 6-for-20 (.300) since being activated from the injured list on September 16 following a wrist injury. He is closing out a productive rookie campaign featuring a .710 OPS, 17 home runs, 14 stolen bases, 51 RBI, and excellent defense over 136 games.

Robert Suarez Activated by Braves After Missing Over Three Months

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Atlanta Braves reliever Robert Suarez was activated from the 60-day injured list after missing over three months due to right elbow inflammation, with Owen Murphy optioned to clear space. Manager Walt Weiss aimed to pitch Suarez Wednesday night and again Saturday to build momentum for the postseason. Before his injury, Suarez posted a stellar 0.56 ERA and 26:6 K:BB ratio across 32 innings, providing Atlanta's bullpen with a major late-season boost ahead of their playoff run.

Brandon Lowe Smashes 34th Home Run of Season in Pirates Loss

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Brandon Lowe went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, supplying the only offense for the Pittsburgh Pirates by crushing a pitch nearly into the Allegheny River. This marked Lowe's 34th home run of the year, his highest total since hitting 39 for the Rays in 2021. The 32-year-old has been red-hot in September, slashing .338/.413/.620 with six homers and 12 RBI over the course of the month.

Gabriel Moreno Drives in Two Runs in Diamondbacks' Win Over Rockies

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Gabriel Moreno went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored in the Arizona Diamondbacks' 5-3 win over Colorado, helping keep their postseason hopes alive. Moreno delivered an RBI single in the first inning and later added a sacrifice fly, bringing his career-high RBI total to 77. The breakout catcher boasts a .310 batting average, trailing only Luis Arraez for the NL batting title as he continues an exceptional second half at the plate for Arizona.

Mason Adams Dominates with Career-High Eight Strikeouts in Loss

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Colorado Rockies rookie pitcher Mason Adams delivered one of the best starts of his career, allowing zero earned runs and four unearned runs over 6.0 innings with a career-high eight strikeouts and zero walks against Arizona. Adams surrendered four runs in a rocky first inning but then retired 13 straight batters, relying heavily on a dominant curveball with a 41% whiff rate. The resilient performance provides a bright spot for the Rockies as they reach 101 losses.

Aaron Judge Aims to Return for Wild-Card Series Despite Calf Strain

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New York Yankees star Aaron Judge stated his intention to play in Game 1 of the Wild Card series next Tuesday despite a moderate right calf strain suffered September 16, contradicting manager Aaron Boone's plan to hold him until the ALDS. Judge, who recently reached 41 home runs this season, received a platelet-poor plasma injection Monday and insists he is working to get his body ready. Injuries have limited the three-time AL MVP to just 66 games played this year.

Josue De Paula Optioned to Triple-A But Remains in Playoff Plans

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Los Angeles Dodgers top prospect Josue De Paula was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room for Shohei Ohtani's return from the injured list. During his sensational 11-game stint replacing Ohtani, De Paula batted .323/.500/.581 with a home run and seven RBI across 42 plate appearances. Manager Dave Roberts is seriously considering him for the NLDS postseason roster, noting his incredible plate discipline, energetic presence, and eligibility to return for the series starting October 3.

Kevin Gausman Suffers Left Shoulder Soreness After Strong Outing

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Chicago Cubs pitcher Kevin Gausman struck out seven batters and allowed two runs over 5.2 innings in a no-decision against Miami. Manager Craig Counsell revealed Gausman is battling left shoulder soreness after extending awkwardly while diving to tag a runner at third base in the sixth. The Cubs will monitor his status over the next couple of days ahead of the wild-card round. He finishes the regular season with a 4.51 ERA and 184 strikeouts.

Marcus Semien Hits Go-Ahead Homer as Mets Defeat Rangers

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Marcus Semien blasted a go-ahead home run off his former team in the eighth inning, fueling the New York Mets' 7-2 victory over the Texas Rangers. The shot to left field dealt a blow to his former club's AL West title hopes. Semien's clutch hit highlighted a strong night for the Mets, complementing Juan Soto's 27th home run of the season and Brett Baty's ninth-inning grand slam as New York eyes a series sweep.

Kyle Stowers Cranks Two-Run Homer to Lead Marlins Past Cubs

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Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers went 1-for-4 with a decisive two-run home run in a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Stowers extended his hitting streak to four games and has left the yard in back-to-back contests as he attempts to finish a somewhat disappointing individual campaign on a high note. After posting a .912 OPS in 2025, he is currently slashing .240/.331/.460 with 21 long balls and 65 RBIs over 511 plate appearances.

Juan Soto Demolishes Two-Run Home Run in Mets Victory Over Rangers

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New York Mets star Juan Soto launched a 429-foot two-run home run—his 27th of the season—off Cody Bradford in the third inning to open the scoring in a 7-2 win over the Texas Rangers. Recognizing his immense threat, the Rangers intentionally walked Soto three times later in the game, twice to load the bases. The performance added 28% win probability added, helping the Mets secure the series victory and continue their late-season playoff spoiler run.