Samwise MLB Newsletter
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Phillies Survive Final-Week Collapse to Clinch NL Wild Card Spot
The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 Sunday, clinching the final National League wild card berth on the last day of the regular season. Starter Zack Wheeler pitched well as the Phillies overcame a week players described as ‘living hell.’ J.T. Realmuto snapped an 0-for-34 slump with an RBI double, and Kyle Schwarber’s two-out double pushed the lead to 4-0. Bryce Harper homered in the fifth. Philadelphia had held a four-game lead over Arizona with five games left before losing four straight, putting their season in jeopardy. Sunday’s win gives the Phillies their fifth straight postseason appearance. They face the Braves in the Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday.
Sources: CBS Sports
Astros Win AL West at 81-81, First Team With Non-Winning Record to Take Division Title
The Houston Astros clinched the American League West on Sunday, finishing 81-81 to become the first team with a non-winning record to win a division in a 162-game MLB season. Houston secured the title after Texas lost, then won its own game 9-0 over the Oakland Athletics. Astros righty Tatsuya Imai struck out Denzel Clarke to close the season. The mark breaks the previous low set by the 2005 San Diego Padres, who went 82-80. Manager Joe Espada called it “a roller coaster of a season” and said “the crown is back” in Houston. The Astros open the Wild Card Series at home against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.
2026 Wild Card Series Begins Today: Four Matchups, Times and How to Watch
The 2026 MLB postseason gets underway Tuesday as four Wild Card Series begin simultaneously. In the American League, the Yankees host the Boston Red Sox at 8 p.m. on NBC, while the Houston Astros host the Chicago White Sox at 5 p.m. on Peacock. In the National League, the Atlanta Braves host the Philadelphia Phillies at 2 p.m. on NBC, and the San Diego Padres host the Chicago Cubs at 10 p.m. on Peacock. All four series are best-of-three, with the higher seeds hosting all three games if necessary. The two AL division winners — Tampa Bay and Cleveland — and NL leaders Milwaukee and Los Angeles received first-round byes.
Sources: CBS Sports
Aaron Judge Calf Injury Casts Shadow Over Yankees Wild Card Opener vs. Red Sox
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is uncertain to play in the Wild Card Series after being placed on the injured list Friday with a right calf strain. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Judge has been taking batting cage swings and running on an anti-gravity treadmill, but has not yet attempted outdoor running. Boone has said he does not know if Judge will be available for the series, while Judge himself has said he plans to be ready. New York opens its Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, with Judge’s availability still unresolved heading into the postseason.
Luis Arraez Ruled Out for Phillies Wild Card Series; Otto Kemp Named to Roster
Three-time batting champion Luis Arraez will not appear on the Philadelphia Phillies’ Wild Card Series roster against the Atlanta Braves, interim manager Don Mattingly confirmed Monday. Arraez sprained his left ankle avoiding a tag at first base against the Brewers and has not played since. Mattingly said there is daily improvement but “not enough” for the Wild Card round. Triple-A Lehigh Valley utility player Otto Kemp will take Arraez’s spot. Arraez batted .310 this season, finishing second in the National League. There is a chance he could return if Philadelphia advances to the Division Series. The Phillies open at Atlanta on Tuesday.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors
Arizona Diamondbacks Eliminated After Phillies Survive Final-Day Scare
The Arizona Diamondbacks were eliminated from postseason contention Sunday when the Philadelphia Phillies survived a late-season scare to clinch the third National League wild card spot. Arizona had been chasing Philadelphia for the final wild card berth, trailing by four games with five to play. When the Phillies lost four consecutive games, Arizona’s playoff hopes stayed alive heading into the final day. Philadelphia’s 7-3 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday closed the door. Arizona finished 86-76, two games behind the Phillies. It marked the end of the Diamondbacks’ season as the Phillies claimed the last playoff spot.
Sources: NBC Sports
Red Sox Head Into Wild Card Without Catcher Mickey Gasper, Pitcher Tyron Guerrero
The Boston Red Sox are heading into their Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees without catcher Mickey Gasper and right-hander Tyron Guerrero. Gasper was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right biceps strain, an injury suffered while swinging a bat during a doubleheader. His 2026 season is over. Guerrero was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain after feeling discomfort during a warmup session. Nate Eaton and Wyatt Olds were recalled to fill their roster spots. The Red Sox open their three-game Wild Card Series against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors
2026 Playoff Field Set After Drama-Packed Final Day in Both Leagues
The 2026 MLB postseason field is set after Sunday’s final regular-season games produced dramatic conclusions in both leagues. Milwaukee, at 103-59 the No. 1 overall seed, earned a first-round bye alongside Los Angeles (100-62), Tampa Bay (98-64) and Atlanta (94-68). All four Wild Card Series open Tuesday. The 12 playoff teams are the Brewers, Dodgers, Rays, Braves, Guardians, Astros, Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox, Phillies, Padres and Cubs. The AL West title was decided by a Texas Rangers loss that cleared the way for the 81-81 Astros, while the final NL wild card came down to a Phillies win on Sunday over Tampa Bay.
Sources: CBS Sports
American League — Final
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL EAST | |||
| Tampa Bay Rays† | 98 | 64 | — |
| New York Yankees† | 93 | 68 | 4.5 |
| Boston Red Sox† | 87 | 75 | 11.0 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 79 | 82 | 18.5 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 79 | 83 | 19.0 |
| AL CENTRAL | |||
| Cleveland Guardians† | 85 | 77 | — |
| Chicago White Sox† | 84 | 78 | 1.0 |
| Minnesota Twins | 77 | 85 | 8.0 |
| Detroit Tigers | 76 | 86 | 9.0 |
| Kansas City Royals | 69 | 93 | 16.0 |
| AL WEST | |||
| Houston Astros† | 81 | 81 | — |
| Texas Rangers | 80 | 82 | 1.0 |
| Seattle Mariners | 76 | 86 | 5.0 |
| Oakland Athletics | 64 | 98 | 17.0 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 62 | 100 | 19.0 |
| † Postseason qualifier | |||
National League — Final
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL EAST | |||
| Atlanta Braves† | 94 | 68 | — |
| Philadelphia Phillies† | 88 | 74 | 6.0 |
| Miami Marlins | 80 | 82 | 14.0 |
| Washington Nationals | 77 | 85 | 17.0 |
| New York Mets | 74 | 88 | 20.0 |
| NL CENTRAL | |||
| Milwaukee Brewers† | 103 | 59 | — |
| Chicago Cubs† | 89 | 73 | 14.0 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 82 | 80 | 21.0 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 77 | 85 | 26.0 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 75 | 87 | 28.0 |
| NL WEST | |||
| Los Angeles Dodgers† | 100 | 62 | — |
| San Diego Padres† | 91 | 71 | 9.0 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 86 | 76 | 14.0 |
| San Francisco Giants | 65 | 97 | 35.0 |
| Colorado Rockies | 58 | 104 | 42.0 |
| † Postseason qualifier — Source: MLB.com, Sep 28 | |||
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