MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: September 12, 2026, 7:54 AM ET

Playoff Clinchings

The Milwaukee Brewers, owners of the best record in baseball, punched their postseason ticket in emphatic fashion Friday night, routing the Cincinnati Reds 20-0. Garrett Mitchell launched the club's first grand slam of the season, one of four Milwaukee homers in the blowout. The Tampa Bay Rays beat them to the punch, however, becoming the first team to clinch a playoff berth with a 3-1 win over the Houston Astros. Junior Caminero provided the dramatics, crushing a game-ending, two-run homer that sent Tropicana Field into a frenzy.

Injury Report

Pittsburgh rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez limped off the field in Friday's game against the Cubs after injuring his left hamstring while running to first base. The Pirates also placed All-Star right-hander Braxton Ashcraft on the 15-day injured list due to right arm discomfort; the 14-game winner had been a cornerstone of their rotation. Minnesota's Byron Buxton will undergo hip surgery on his right hip and miss the remainder of the season, a brutal blow for a Twins club that has leaned on him since Aug. 30, when he last appeared. Atlanta's Lane Thomas landed on the 15-day IL with an intercostal injury suffered in the batting cage before Thursday's game against the Rays. Chicago shortstop Dansby Swanson, sidelined by an oblique issue, could return to the Cubs' lineup within a week, manager Craig Counsell said before Friday's game with Pittsburgh. The Pirates, meanwhile, activated infielder/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn from the 10-day IL before Friday's game at Wrigley Field.

Dodgers Lose Ohtani

The Los Angeles Dodgers are placing Shohei Ohtani on the 15-day injured list and calling up top prospect Josue De Paula from Double-A to temporarily fill in at designated hitter, manager Dave Roberts said. It is a significant blow for a club chasing another deep October run.

On the Mound

Arizona reliever Justin Martinez carved up the Rangers' Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Jake Burger, striking out the trio on nine pitches Friday night for the sixth immaculate inning in Diamondbacks history. Milwaukee optioned pitcher Brandon Sproat to Triple-A Nashville after he surrendered four runs in the ninth inning of an 8-6 win over the Cubs — a performance the club deemed unacceptable.

Yankees Honor 9/11

Derek Jeter reunited with Brielle Saracini, the daughter of a 9/11 victim, as members of the 2001 Yankees gathered at Yankee Stadium for a pregame ceremony honoring those lost. The tribute concluded with first pitches from Saracini and Sean McGuire.

Volpe's Grand Return

Anthony Volpe smacked a grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs in his rousing return from Triple-A, powering the Yankees past the Colorado Rockies.

Around the League

Front offices are already plotting their offseason moves, with free agency intel pointing to Tarik Skubal and a wave of Japanese stars as the headline names to watch. Ten players leveled up this season — from Cam Schlittler to Miz and PCA — and their clubs' fortunes changed because of it. In the latest core rankings, we assess which clubs boast the most star power under control through 2028, with the Dodgers and Brewers jockeying for the top spot.

In Memoriam

Isao Harimoto, the Japanese baseball great who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and still holds Japan's all-time hits record, has died at 86. Known as the "Hit Machine," Harimoto was one of the most revered figures in the sport's history.