The Opener usually takes the weekends off but today is a good day for an exception. It is Game 162, the final day of the regular season, with still a lot to be determined. In order for no team to have an advantage of a later start potentially altering their strategic decisions, all games will begin at essentially the same time, shortly after 2pm Central. Here are some of the things still at stake…
1. One last playoff spot in the National League:
The National League playoff field is mostly set. The Brewers have clinched the top seed, followed by the Phillies, Dodgers, Cubs and Padres. The Brewers and Phillies each get a bye through the first round. The Cubs will host the Padres in the Wild Card round. The Dodgers will be hosting the other Wild Card matchup but their opponent has not yet been determined. The Reds and Mets are currently tied for the final spot with identical 83-78 records, though the Reds hold the tiebreaker.
The Reds can get into the playoffs with a win or a Mets loss. For the Mets to get in, they need to win and have the Reds lose. In Milwaukee, the Reds are sending Brady Singer to the mound to face Freddy Peralta of the Brewers. The Mets are in Miami and are giving the ball to Sean Manaea against Edward Cabrera of the Marlins.
2. American League seeding:
The American League playoff field has been set, though the seeding is still largely up in the air. The six teams will be the Blue Jays, Yankees, Mariners, Guardians, Red Sox and Tigers. However, the Mariners are the only team locked into a seed. They have won the West and will be the #2 seed, getting a bye through the first round. The five other clubs still don’t have a seed locked in.
The Jays and Yankees are currently tied atop the American League East, though the Jays are technically ahead since they hold the tiebreaker. One of those two clubs will win the East and be the top seed, securing a bye. The Jays could get that spot with a win or a Yankees loss, whereas the Yankees need to win and have the Jays lose. Whoever comes up short in that battle will get the #4 seed as the top Wild Card team, squaring off against the #5 seed. The Jays are hosting the Rays with Kevin Gausman squaring off against Ian Seymour. The Yanks send Luis Gil to the mound as they host Kyle Bradish and the Orioles.
Similarly, the Guardians and Tigers are tied atop the Central, with the Guards holding the tiebreak. However, there’s no bye at stake here. The winner will just get home field advantage in the Wild Card round and will face the #6 seed. The Guardians are hosting the Rangers with Logan Allen facing Patrick Corbin. The Tigers are in Boston and will send Chris Paddack to the mound. The Red Sox had Lucas Giolito lined up to pitch if today was meaningful but he may be held back for the playoffs now that they have clinched. If Giolito doesn’t get the ball, Boston may do a bullpen game.
Boston is currently in the #5 spot but they could get bumped down to #6. If they lose to the Tigers and the Guardians win, those three clubs would all finish at 88-74. In that scenario, the Guards win the Central and are the #3 seed. The Tigers hold the tiebreaker over the Red Sox and would jump to #5.
3. Individual achievements:
Today is also the last chance for players to pad their stats for awards consideration. The A.L. MVP debate has been an ongoing talking point for months. Aaron Judge has better offense than Cal Raleigh on the whole but Raleigh’s production from the catcher position is unprecedented. The baseball industry seems divided on who should get the nod and we won’t know the answer for a few more weeks. For now, it’s one more chance to put up some numbers. Raleigh has already hit the 60-homer plateau but could tie Judge’s A.L. record if he can hit a couple more today.
There are lots of other milestones which could be hit today and races which could still be determined. Eugenio Suárez has 49 home runs, the same amount he hit back in 2019. Can he get to 50? Oneil Cruz has 38 stolen bases, tied for the N.L. lead with… Juan Soto? Bobby Witt Jr. leads the majors in hits with 183, two ahead of Bo Bichette and Luis Arráez. Bichette is on the injured list, so he won’t be a factor in that race. If you’re watching out for some specific achievement today, comment below!
Photo courtesy of Aaron Doster, Imagn Images
I would like to hear José Ramírez’s name mentioned in the MVP conversation. I’m not saying he should win it, but I would like to see him mentioned. That’s all I’m looking for.
Jose Ramirez was nearby when the MVP conversation was held… hint, the AL winner plays catcher.
judge is the mvp, cool season from cal but judge is still a clear step ahead of everyone else.
Might be best player of the year (probably is), but we’re talking Most Valuable Player here. You’re in a different conversation!
Based on WAR Judge is by far the most valuable player lol. If you take either player off their team both teams will stink
If you want to hear him talked about in MVP conversations, you should tell him to play better.
Judge and Raleigh are head and shoulders above everyone else. Bobby Witt Jr. and Julio Rodriguez will probably get some honourable mentions love.
J-Ram is part of the next group below those 4. Don’t get me wrong, he’s had some great years, but this year has been more of a pretty good year for him and not a great year.
So, we’re really talking about best season in the league, and clearly not about the most valuable player to his team. Where were the Yanks when Judge was hurt? About the same. Raleigh has led the Mariners to a place they haven’t been in a quarter century! Slam dunk, I’m afraid…
Cal will be known as the Big Slumper in the playoffs. Judge is by far the MVP choice as the Bronx Bombers are en route to their 28th World Series championship. He’s best in most offensive categories and will finish just a few HRs behind. I mean, have you compared their OPS numbers?
Sorry Ms fans … Ralley really is a catcher only about 60% of the time since he DHs so much. Judge is the clear MVP. He has set the record for most HRs by a batting champion with highest avg as Big Lumper hits in 240s and strikes out nearly 40% of the time. Judge also is much better with the glove.
Case closed.
OK… Hitting the most HRs by a catcher in MLB history is going to count way more than your stat oriented, “homer” mind can apparently fathom. Surprise.. Case open.
Raleigh has generated 7.2 bWAR for the season. His teammate Julio Rodriguez has generated 6.8 bWAR. fWAR has them farther apart, Cal 9 to Julio’s 5.7.
Judge has 9.5 bWAR to the 2nd best Yankee, Bellinger’s 5.0 bWAR. Judge has 10.1 fWAR to Cody’s 4.9 fWAR.
Judge is actually the player who has the single biggest impact on his team.
Cal has a Robin to his Batman. Judge has more of a really good Alfred.
If I had a vote, I’d vote for Cal, but let’s not pretend that Raleigh has no support around him, or that Judge is some run of the mill player.
will – You can support Dumper without bashing Judge.
“Where were the Yanks when Judge was hurt?”
The Yanks went 4-6 without him, Will.
And they got swept in a 3-game series by the lowly Marlins for God’s sake.
2 games under without him.
27 games over with him.
That’s hardly “about the same” Will.
Even most of the players surveyed favor Judge for MVP!!!
Doesn’t change the fact that Judge has far better numbers than Raleigh and Yankees have a better record.
MVP is decided after the World Series, isn’t it?
It’s decided at the conclusion of the regular season.
Playoff MVP is decided after the playoffs.
MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, Gold Gloves, and Silver Sluggers are all voted on shortly after the conclusion of the regular season (probably tomorrow). They aren’t announced until November, however.
It’s announced at some point after the World Series, but all votes have to be sent in and postmarked by Monday before the postseason starts on Tuesday.
Boone and Marmol are tied for the 2025 elections lead with 6 each. This is their last chance to get to 7 and take the season title!
Took me two reads to realize you meant ejections.
I was trying to figure out what position they were running for.
MVP voting is done based on regular season results,.the official announcements about award winners will be made after post season in November.
Mets love to twist the knife in their fans. Both teams losing today seems appropriate.
A loss by NYM to Miami would put Cincinnati into the postseason no matter what.
Always wild when after 162 games 2 teams have identical records. Never would’ve thought the Mets needed the last day of the season to get into the playoffs.
If the Mets were managed by Tito, they would’ve locked up a playoff spot 2 weeks ago
Hoping to see Tito in the playoffs ⚾
Yes!
Kyle Schwarber can tie Ryan Howard’s Phillies single-season record for home runs with a couple of bombs today, and it’s been under-covered but Trae Turner at one time recently was the only National Leaguer batting over .300 (.305, I think). Kind of sad, I believe, but in an era of launch angle, exit velocity, and reading slash lines to calculate OPS, hits matter less than ever. Still, kudos to Trae!
I forgot: Chicks dig the long ball!
Actually, chicks dig HBP’s. Ron Hunt was a babe magnet.
“Where’s Maaaarrrk ?”
The Fightin’s are activating Turner off the IL because he could be pipped to the NL batting title by Nico Hoerner of the Cubs.
Aaron Judge has the AL batting title locked down — and that could be the tipping point in the MVP race.
So I looked over Raleigh’s career numbers.
We know Judge, he has done it over 50 four times.
Since I dont watch Raleigh regularly, somebody please explain how a guy doubles his career season average home run total?
What did he do differently this season to hit homers in a notoriously poor home run-hitting park?
Safeco Field / T-Mobile Park is actually neutral for homers. It’s roughly in the middle. What it does is crush batting averages. Singles and doubles are much harder to come by.
Cal has always been a power guy, but yes this year has been beyond his norm.
Well Cal has used a torpedo bat from 1 side of the plate this year. Not saying it’s the biggest reason for his power surge…but I vividly remember earlier this season when people were up in arms over some of the Yankees using them.
Mets collapsing is a lifelong tradition
Like christmas every december
Thanksgiving every november
Independence day every july
Mets collapse every september
The first 3 are full of joy fun food family great memories
That last 1 makes you wanna throw up then drive off a cliff
Boston seems better served to play the bench guys to not mind losing/drop to 6 seed if chips fall. Playing the ALC winner and potentially Seattle later bracket portion is more appealing than NYY right away if Gausman seals deal for Toronto.
Not necessarily. I’d rather play a better team in a 3 game series than a 7 game series. In a short 3 game series, anything can happen.
The Mets are starting Manaea. So even if the Reds manage to lose a game that is meaningless for the Brewers, the Mets will lose too. Manaea can’t possibly be their best chance right now. He’s been awful as both a starter and reliever.
My mighty Angels have a chance to avoid 90 losses today! Wooo hoooo!