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MLB Baseball 8 Hours

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13 articles summarized · Last updated: LATEST

Last updated: September 25, 2026, 2:24 PM ET

Playoff Picture

The Chicago Cubs clinched their second straight postseason berth with a 2-1 victory over the Marlins, propelled by Pete Crow-Armstrong’s MVP-caliber season. The Cubs’ center fielder, already a 40-40 club member, has been the driving force behind Chicago’s October push, with one analyst calling it “the best position player season I’ve ever seen.” The White Sox also punched their ticket, becoming the first team to rebound from consecutive 100-loss seasons by clinching a playoff spot, a remarkable turnaround from 324 losses over the previous three years. The San Diego Padres secured their third straight postseason berth after a September surge, while the Cleveland Guardians earned their third consecutive playoff appearance, with manager Stephen Vogt declaring, “We’re not done.”

Player Performances

Astros rookie Lucas Spence became the third player in MLB history to hit his first three career home runs in a single game, powering Houston to a win that kept pace in the AL West. Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong joined the exclusive 40-40 club as the seventh player to record 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season. Meanwhile, Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras cast doubt on his availability for the AL Wild Card opener due to an undisclosed issue.

Scheduling and Injury News

The Red Sox moved up the start time of their second game against the Cubs to 1:10 p.m. ET amid a storm threat, squeezing in the series finale before inclement weather. Yankees manager Aaron Boone addressed a reported discord with Aaron Judge after the star outfielder made comments about his calf strain, saying, “We’re all in this together.”

Final Weekend Storylines

With the regular season winding down, there remains plenty to watch in the final weekend, including playoff races, MVP debates, and goodbye ceremonies for retiring players. ESPN’s pressure rankings highlight which contenders face the most urgency to win now, with the Brewers topping the list. Finally, regular-season grades for all 30 teams are in, offering a comprehensive look at who delivered and who fell short heading into October.