The playoff picture is taking shape, but a few of October’s biggest names are still working their way back from injury, and the timing could matter a lot.
For the Cubs, the latest blow came in the strangest possible way. Third baseman Alex Bregman was hit in the face by a foul ball on Sunday after drifting out of the on-deck circle and into the path of a ball off the bat of teammate Michael Busch.
He was diagnosed with multiple facial fractures, though the Cubs did not place him on the injured list. Bregman even posted a photo on Instagram showing what happened immediately after the injury.
The loss stings because Bregman has been one of the hottest hitters in the league over the last two months. Since the start of August, he has been one of only five players with at least 15 homers, and his bat has been a major reason the Cubs are virtually assured of a postseason berth while still battling for the top wild-card spot in the NL.
There is at least a chance he’s back soon. The Cubs are heading into a crucial season-ending series against the Red Sox in Boston, and Bregman told reporters yesterday he planned to take the field this weekend.
He even said he hoped to get a pinch-hitting chance in last night’s game, though he ultimately didn’t play. With a nor’easter also bearing down on Boston, the Cubs are staring at a messy finish.
The Dodgers got a much-needed boost yesterday when Shohei Ohtani came off the injured list after missing the last two weeks with right biceps inflammation. He went back into his usual DH spot, then finished 1-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts in a 5-1 loss to the Padres.
Getting Ohtani back is one thing. Getting the version of Ohtani the Dodgers expected all along is another.
He has an .821 OPS since the beginning of July, a noticeable dip from the .954 mark he carried through the end of June and the 1.025 he posted in his first two seasons with the Dodgers. His offensive downturn started around the same time he was shut down from pitching because of the right biceps injury and a left knee issue.
The Yankees, meanwhile, already have the top wild-card spot in the AL locked up. The question now is when Aaron Judge will return. Judge missed more than three months earlier this season because of a stress fracture in one of his ribs, came back briefly, then strained a muscle in his calf on Sept. 16 and went back on the IL.
The team has kept the details of that latest injury close to the vest. Manager Aaron Boone declined to say what grade of strain Judge had been diagnosed with, though he did say Monday that the Yankees were not expecting him to play in the wild-card round.
Judge, though, said yesterday that he plans to play in the opening series, which starts Tuesday in the Bronx. Boone did not shut the door on the possibility that Judge could be cleared.
The roster release next week should answer the question.
Boston may have a weapon of its own waiting in the wings. Garrett Crochet, the 2025 Cy Young runner-up, has been out since late April with a shoulder injury, but he threw live batting practice for the first time on Tuesday and is expected to do it again this weekend.
If he makes it back, the Red Sox do not expect him to rejoin the rotation. They’d like him available as an extra bullpen arm, especially with a likely opening-round matchup against the Yankees and their lineup full of left-handed bats.
There were plenty of notable moments around the league last night, too. A young Orioles fan made an impressive catch on a home run.
Brett Baty delivered a pinch-hit grand slam for the Mets against the Rangers. Josh Naylor hit a walk-off single for the Mariners against the Astros, keeping Seattle barely alive in the AL West, four games behind Houston and Texas.
Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana made a diving hustle play to get the out at first. Cubs pitcher Kevin Gausman also made a diving effort to tag a runner trying to reach third, though he had to leave the game with a shoulder injury.
Elsewhere, Michael Penix Jr. is set to make his season debut for a Falcons team that scored just eight points in its first two games with Cooper Rush at quarterback. The Packers are trying to rebound from a sloppy start and win their home opener.
Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell, who spent six seasons on Coastal Carolina’s staff, will return to Brooks Stadium in the first meeting between those teams since 2020. And in the postseason race, Minnesota has already clinched the No. 1 seed, while Indiana can lock up a first-round matchup with Atlanta by winning; a loss could send the Fever into an opening series against defending champion Las Vegas.
In Other News...
Former Bears Are Giving Fans Fresh Ammo In The Ryan Poles Debate
The early part of the NFL season has offered Bears fans a familiar kind of uncomfortable spotlight: a look back at former players now trying to make their mark elsewhere. Through two weeks, several ex-Chicago contributors have already shown up in meaningful ways, with Gervon Dexter Sr. making noise as a pass rusher for the Atlanta Falcons and Jaquan Brisker drawing attention for a mixed start in coverage with the Pittsburgh Steelers. For a fan base still measuring the roster-building era under Ryan Poles, those updates land with a little extra sting.
The larger point is less about one player's success or another's inconsistency than what these early returns say about the Bears' recent personnel decisions. Some former Chicago players have stepped into bigger roles, some have battled through uneven stretches, and all of it adds fuel to the ongoing debate over how Poles has managed talent and turnover. It is still early, but the way these ex-Bears are performing elsewhere is already giving Chicago supporters plenty to chew on. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Have A New Opening In Any Future Maxx Crosby Pursuit
Maxx Crosby has been on the Bears radar before, and the conversation around him has only grown a little more interesting after his recent comments about Caleb Williams. Chicago reportedly inquired about the Raiders star last season, and now there is at least one more layer to file away: Crosby said on a recent podcast that he has respect for Williams, a small but notable detail for a player who has already been tied to trade speculation.
For the Bears, any future pursuit would still hinge on much more than mutual admiration. Crosby once sought a trade out of Las Vegas, but he remains with the Raiders as they opened the season 2-0, which means there is no immediate opening. Still, when a player of his caliber is already on Chicagos list and speaks positively about the quarterback, it is the kind of thread front offices tend to remember. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Suddenly Have A Week 3 Question They Couldnt Afford
The Bears first Week 3 injury report brought an immediate dose of concern after a practice week that already had the feel of a squeeze. Caleb Williams appeared on the report with a hamstring injury and did not practice, while backup quarterback Tyson Bagent also sat out as he remains in concussion protocol. Chicago had already been navigating a roster with other names popping up on the report, including Kyle Monangai, Cairo Santos and Tyrique Stevenson, leaving the team with several moving parts at once.
For a Bears offense still trying to find its rhythm, the quarterback situation is the part that matters most. Williams availability will drive the entire weeks conversation, but Bagents status adds another layer because it affects the depth behind him if the team needs insurance. With so many players either out or limited, Week 3 is suddenly less about game plan and more about whether Chicago can get enough bodies back on the field to feel comfortable going into Sunday. [Read more 🡒]