MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: September 12, 2026, 10:43 PM ET

Brewers, Rays Punch Playoff Tickets

The majors' best team is headed to the postseason. Milwaukee clinched a playoff spot in emphatic fashion, routing the Reds 20-0 behind four homers, including Garrett Mitchell's first grand slam of the season. The Rays got there first, becoming the initial club to secure a berth when Junior Caminero launched a walk-off, two-run homer to beat the Astros 3-1. With spots filling up, the playoff tracker lays out clinching scenarios, current matchups and the full postseason schedule.

Injury Front: Luzardo, Freeman, Valdez, Cabrera

Philadelphia received encouraging news on Jesús Luzardo, whose MRI showed no serious damage in his left shoulder, though the star left-hander will pause throwing for a couple of days to manage stiffness. The Dodgers welcomed Freddie Freeman back to the lineup on Saturday after a right knee issue cost him two games during the playoff push. Pittsburgh lost rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez, who limped off with a hamstring injury while running to first base Friday, and was subsequently placed on the IL. The Cubs activated Edward Cabrera from the 15-day injured list, with Craig Counsell moving him to the bullpen for now.

Cole Struggles, Martinez Makes History

Gerrit Cole endured another rough outing, unable to adjust in a 12-2 loss to the Mets, afterward admitting the cause was "tough to pin down." In Arizona, reliever Justin Martinez produced the sixth immaculate inning in Diamondbacks history, striking out Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Jake Burger on nine pitches Friday night.

Yankees Honor 9/11 Victims

Derek Jeter reunited with the daughter of a 9/11 victim as the Yankees paid tribute in a ceremony at Yankee Stadium, with members of the 2001 team on hand and first pitches thrown by Brielle Saracini and Sean McGuire.

Star Power and Breakout Seasons

Which clubs boast the deepest reservoir of talent? New core rankings weigh Dodgers versus Brewers and Red Sox versus Yankees, grading star power under control through 2028. A separate look at the 10 players who leveled up this season — from Cam Schlittler to Miz and PCA — explains how their leaps fueled their clubs' success.

Labor, Expansion and Free Agency

With the CBA looming, more than two dozen major leaguers went unfiltered on a salary cap, the negotiations and whether a 2027 season will arrive on time. Once a new agreement is signed, an expansion committee won't be far behind, and six candidates — led by Salt Lake City's western bid — are jockeying for a franchise. Front offices are already peeking ahead to the offseason, with early free agency intel flagging Tarik Skubal and Japanese stars as names to watch.