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Boston Red Sox manager Chad Tracy indicated that Curtis Mead is a long shot to be available for the postseason. Mead has been sidelined for nearly two months with a fractured left wrist suffered shortly after joining Boston. Although he began hitting off a tee, his slow overall progress means he is likely to run out of time.
JR Ritchie delivered one of his best outings as a major leaguer for the Atlanta Braves against the Cincinnati Reds, showing strong command through the early frames. Whether he secures a spot on the postseason roster depends on franchise preferences and the recovery status of relievers like Robert Suarez.
As the Atlanta Braves evaluate their pitching depth and bullpen configuration heading into the postseason, Ray Kerr emerges as a strong candidate for one of the final remaining relief spots, competing alongside bubble options and returning arms.
Dillon Dingler has been officially recognized as the Detroit Tigers' winner of this season's Heart and Hustle Award, acknowledging his relentless effort, dedication, and standout contributions on the field for the Tigers throughout the 2026 Major League Baseball campaign.
As the 2026 Major League Baseball regular season enters its final week and postseason races heat up, standout performances across the league put players like Bobby Witt Jr. squarely into the spotlight for ongoing MVP discussions and accolades.
Edward Cabrera endured a rough outing in a wild 12-inning 8-2 loss to the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field, getting pounded in relief and walking multiple batters in an ugly extra-inning frame. Cubs manager Craig Counsell indicated the performance ensures Cabrera will not be included on any Chicago Cubs postseason roster.
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Esteban Mejia endured a disastrous 2026 season with Low-A Delmarva, finishing 0-9 with a 9.80 ERA. After skyrocketing up prospect lists in 2025 with a 102 mph fastball, Mejia was plagued by control issues, issuing 70 walks in 52.1 innings for an alarming rate of 12.0 walks per nine innings. He spent a month on the development list and faces a crucial offseason of mechanical work to rebuild his prospect status heading into 2027.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Ranger Suarez is lined up to start Game 3 of the Wild Card series. Over his last three starts, the lefty has allowed just two earned runs across 19.2 innings, holding righties to a .190 average. Suarez made notable changes in September, slashing his changeup usage to 8%, increasing sinker and slider usage, and boosting his first-strike percentage to 68%. The adjustments have proved effective as the Red Sox approach their postseason run.
Bryson Stott hit a clutch tiebreaking single with two outs in the eighth inning to help propel the Philadelphia Phillies to a 6-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Stott's late-game heroics helped the Phillies inch closer to officially clinching a postseason berth during the final week of the regular season.
Drew Anderson was saddled with the loss despite tossing a quality start as the Detroit Tigers dropped the second of a three-game series 3-1 to the visiting Washington Nationals on Tuesday night at Comerica Park. The Tigers' offense struggled to generate momentum throughout the contest, leaving Anderson to take a hard-luck defeat despite his strong performance on the mound.
Carlos Rodón pitched an eight-inning masterpiece Tuesday, capping a brilliant stretch with a 1.89 ERA in seven starts since returning from the IL. Despite posting a 2.67 ERA across 16 starts despite multiple injuries, his postseason role remains heavily debated. The Yankees must decide whether to use the hot hand in a Wild Card series, deploy him as a multi-inning relief weapon, or hold him in reserve for a potential ALDS against Boston.
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, and two runs scored in a 9-7 loss to the Athletics. Trout has hit .273 with 14 walks over 19 games in September, notching four multi-hit efforts this month. For the entire season, he is batting .245 with an .808 OPS, 21 home runs, 53 RBI, 84 runs scored, 26 doubles, and 11 stolen bases across 138 total contests.
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto went 1-for-4 with a walk, two stolen bases, and two runs scored in a 9-7 loss to the Athletics. Neto snapped an 0-for-13 skid over his previous four games and made an impact on the basepaths to reach 23 steals on 34 attempts this year. Playing primarily out of the leadoff spot across 152 contests, he is batting .238 with a .756 OPS, 26 home runs, 74 RBI, and 100 runs scored.
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Edwin Díaz is thrusting himself back into high-leverage October plans. After an injury-plagued season and a nearly 12.00 ERA, Díaz has tossed three consecutive scoreless appearances with six strikeouts since returning. Following mechanical adjustments in the minors, manager Dave Roberts noted it is 'certainly possible' the three-time All-Star could reclaim ninth-inning duties, adding intrigue behind Tanner Scott and Roki Sasaki.
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is activated from the 15-day IL after missing time since Sept. 7 with knee and bicep issues. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed Ohtani will return to the lineup with five games left to ramp up before the postseason. Ohtani will return as the primary designated hitter and will not pitch again this year, carrying a .277/.380/.522 slash line with 30 homers and 80 RBIs as the Dodgers prepare for October baseball.
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman went 2-for-4 with three RBI in a 7-0 win over the San Diego Padres. Freeman produced his second straight multi-hit performance with three singles, though he remains without an extra-base hit in his past 15 games. Having dealt with a knee issue earlier this month that caused him to miss a couple of games, Freeman has started the past seven contests and appears mostly healthy, aside from a current lack of pop in his bat.
San Diego Padres right-hander Michael King (12-10) took the loss against the Dodgers, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks over four innings while striking out five. The poor outing snapped a four-start win streak and marked his first time allowing more than three earned runs since July 28. King tentatively lines up to pitch the regular-season finale Sunday versus the Diamondbacks, though San Diego will prioritize his availability for the wild-card series.
Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, an RBI single, and a walk in a 7-0 win over the Mariners, bringing his season totals to 41 homers and 102 RBIs. Alvarez, who recently voiced frustration during a team meeting, leads the majors with a 1.032 OPS and trails Pete Alonso by six RBIs in the Triple Crown race. Ken Rosenthal believes Alvarez deserves American League MVP consideration amid his stellar offensive campaign.
Seattle Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert took the loss against the Houston Astros, allowing four runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out three over four innings. Gilbert has allowed 14 runs over 15.2 innings across three home starts in September and lost four of his last five outings overall, bringing his season record to 12-11 with a 3.81 ERA and 1.10 WHIP through 182 innings as Seattle nears postseason elimination.
The New York Yankees activated Jazz Chisholm from the 10-day injured list following a two-week absence due to a right thumb sprain, optioning Max Schuemann in a corresponding move. Returning for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rays, Chisholm went 1-for-3 with a single and a walk. However, he made a key defensive blunder by failing to cover first base on a safety squeeze in the 6-1 loss. He now faces an infield playing time competition at second base with Anthony Volpe.
