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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced Anthony Volpe will test out playing third base over the final five games of the regular season to address hot-corner struggles before the postseason. Volpe took pregame grounders at third and stated he is ready if needed, while hitting .263 with seven RBI in 11 games since his recall. The team weighs defensive flexibility with Ryan McMahon and potential options like Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. is expected to return to the lineup Thursday after being held out Wednesday for rest. Acuña, who suffered a left shin contusion after fouling a ball off his leg, tried to convince manager Walt Weiss to play him after walking without a limp. X-rays were negative, revealing a minor bone bruise. Acuña has been hot since late August, hitting .348 with a 1.049 OPS over his past month.
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet is not expected to pitch during the remainder of the regular season as he recovers from left shoulder inflammation. Sidelined since April 25, Crochet recently hit 96 mph in a live batting practice session. He is scheduled to throw another live BP session this weekend in hopes of earning a spot on Boston's Wild Card Series roster out of the rotation or bullpen.
Washington Nationals rookie Yohandy Morales hit a 422-foot, opposite-field home run to left-center during a 4-2 win over the Detroit Tigers. Morales has impressed since his September call-up, batting .279 with a .930 OPS over his first 15 games while showing consistent hard contact and providing a major boost to the Nats' late-season surge.
The Baltimore Orioles recalled Trey Gibson from Triple-A Norfolk to start the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays. Gibson faces a high-risk assignment following a difficult major league stint with a 7.61 ERA and 1.91 WHIP, stepping in after Toronto was eliminated from postseason contention.
Cincinnati Reds infielder Spencer Steer will undergo right wrist surgery next Wednesday after missing most of the second half with a partial tear of the tendon sheath. Steer attempted a rehab assignment and ramped up baseball activities, but ultimately could not avoid the operation. He is expected to recover in time for spring training.
Clayton Kershaw was referenced in discussions surrounding retiring pitching legends after hanging up his cleats following last season. His career conclusion parallels ongoing veteran milestones and farewells for contemporaries like Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
Veteran pitcher Justin Verlander is set to make the final start of his illustrious career against Pittsburgh before retiring. Verlander discussed his reaction to Kate Upton’s viral 2016 Twitter defense after narrowly losing the Cy Young. A.J. Hinch confirmed he is ready following a strong bullpen session. Verlander expressed gratitude to fans as he sits just four strikeouts behind Max Scherzer on the all-time list heading into his farewell weekend in Detroit.
Chicago White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters returned to the starting lineup, starting in center field and batting sixth against the Royals. Peters had missed three consecutive starts after crashing into the outfield wall and suffering a left shoulder and rib contusion, though he previously appeared off the bench twice.
Nationals ace Cade Cavalli has been shut down for the season after recording a 13-5 record, 3.02 ERA, and 200 strikeouts over 169.2 innings. Cavalli concludes a stellar year that earned him a contract extension and a $4 million signing bonus shielded from lockout losses, solidifying his role as the team's ace.
Brewer Hicklen drew the start in right field for the Atlanta Braves against the Cincinnati Reds, batting lower in a lineup that also featured Mauricio Dubón in left field. Hicklen stepped in as star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. received a day off to recover after fouling a ball off his left shin.
Boston Red Sox reliever Erik Miller is facing heavy scrutiny as his career-long control problems resurface ahead of the postseason. After displaying an elite stretch early in his tenure with Boston, Miller has struggled recently, issuing nine walks over his last seven innings and contributing to recent late-game losses against Kansas City and Texas. With postseason pressure mounting, analysts and fans are questioning whether the left-hander can be trusted in high-leverage late-inning situations.
New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger was left out of the starting lineup Wednesday against the Rays for a breather ahead of the postseason. Bellinger has enjoyed a strong finish to the year, recently clubbing his 17th home run during Tuesday's doubleheader. While he has cooled off slightly with three hits in his last 20 at-bats, he brings a stellar .308/.339/.635 slash line and a scorching early-September stretch into October contention for the Yankees.
Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras remained out of the starting lineup Wednesday against the Guardians, marking his fifth consecutive absence after being hit on the right hand last Thursday. Although initial X-rays were negative for a fracture and he is currently listed as day-to-day, he has not appeared off the bench. Acquired in the offseason, Contreras has been a vital catalyst and emotional leader, launching a team-high 27 home runs across 129 games in his debut year.
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz is absent from the starting lineup for Wednesday's contest against the St. Louis Cardinals. The lefty-swinging slugger retreats to the bench as the Cardinals send left-hander Matthew Liberatore to the mound. Filling in for Cruz, Jake Mangum will patrol center field and bat in the ninth spot for the Pirates in this matchup.
Richard Lovelady is scheduled to take the mound as the starting left-handed pitcher for the Washington Nationals in their game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Lovelady carries a 3-4 record and a 3.86 ERA into the matchup, facing off against Tigers starter Framber Valdez as both clubs play out the remaining games of the 2026 Major League Baseball regular season.
Yordan Alvarez went 2 for 4 with his 41st home run and three RBIs in a 7-0 win over Seattle, tightening the AL Triple Crown race. Alvarez hit an RBI single, was intentionally walked for a franchise-record 33rd time, and belted a 386-foot homer at 109.5 mph. He leads the AL in batting average at .314, slugging (.601), OPS (1.032), total bases (329), walks (106), and is tied for the home run lead with 41.
Chicago Cubs infielder Alex Bregman is successfully avoiding the injured list and could return during the final weekend of the regular season despite suffering multiple facial fractures from a foul ball. After being struck by a check-swing foul ball in Cincinnati, Bregman has made swift progress through light workouts. The three-time All-Star is batting .262 with 26 homers and 89 RBIs over 153 games in his debut season with Chicago.
Cal Quantrill was moved from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list, officially ending his 2026 season and ruling him out for any potential playoff series. Quantrill had been sidelined with a lat strain, an injury that typically sidelines a pitcher for a couple of months. The roster move cleared a 40-man spot for Michael Helman, who was activated from the 60-day injured list following hand and finger fractures.
The Texas Rangers placed outfielder Joc Pederson on the 10-day injured list due to a broken bone in his hand suffered on September 12. It ends a solid season where he slashed .235/.329/.487 in 432 plate appearances as the primary DH against right-handed pitching. The Rangers delayed the IL move hoping he could resume hitting, and they hope he could return on a potential playoff roster if the team advances.
