MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: September 25, 2026, 2:23 PM ET

Playoff Picture

The Chicago Cubs are heading back to October, clinching their second straight postseason berth with a 2-1 win over the Marlins. Chicago’s surge has been powered by Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is receiving MVP-level praise after his historic campaign. One scout called it "the best position player season" he's ever seen, as Crow-Armstrong also became the seventh player in MLB history to join the 40-40 club. The San Diego Padres clinched their third consecutive playoff berth after a September surge, while the Cleveland Guardians secured their third straight postseason trip following a win. The Chicago White Sox also punched their ticket, becoming the first team to rebound from consecutive 100-loss seasons by making the playoffs. With the final weekend approaching, multiple races for division titles and MVP honors remain undecided. A full breakdown of pressure rankings shows which contenders face the most urgency. This week’s Power Rankings assess where all playoff hopefuls stand entering October. For the complete picture, regular-season grades are in for all 30 teams.

Injury Report & Roster Moves

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he spoke with Aaron Judge after the star outfielder’s frustration over a calf strain became public. Judge, for his part, said he intends to be available for Game 1 of the wild-card series. Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras cast doubt on his availability for the wild-card opener. Boston also saw Ceddanne Rafaela injure his hamstring in his return from the IL, and he is set to undergo an MRI. Phillies second baseman Luis Arraez left Thursday’s game against Milwaukee with a sprained ankle while chasing the batting title. However, Philadelphia got positive news as All-Star lefty Jesús Luzardo threw a bullpen and expressed confidence he could return for the playoffs. The Braves placed Martín Pérez on the 15-day IL with lower back inflammation; he is likely out until the NLCS. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said his team is at a disadvantage after a schedule change moved up their game against the Red Sox amid storm threats.

Player Highlights & Milestones

Lucas Spence of the Astros became the third player ever to hit his first three career homers in the same game, keeping Houston’s playoff pace alive. Yankees rookie Ben Rice surpassed Boone’s spring prediction of 39 homers, slugging his 40th and 41st. Pirates ace Paul Skenes reflected on his third season, calling 2026 "not a failure" despite falling short of expectations.

Off-Field News & Comments

Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled down on his contract comments, insisting "what I said is the way I feel." Meanwhile, Jays teammate Max Scherzer said a decision on his future will likely come within the next day or two.