Six teams in MLB history have made the playoffs after putting together a 10-game losing streak in the same season, and this year the Cubs and Phillies both joined that group, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.
Francisco Lindor finally got to 300 on Sunday, and he did it with some style. The Mets shortstop, who had been sitting on 299 homers for two weeks, connected for No. 300 in the second inning against DJ Herz, going back-to-back with Ronny Mauricio.
Lindor also became the first shortstop to reach 300 home runs and 200 steals, according to the Mets on X. It came in a season that was interrupted by a two-month calf strain, one that limited him to 105 games - his fewest since his rookie year in 2015, not counting 2020.
Even so, he still cleared the 20-homer mark for the sixth straight season.
Max Scherzer delivered the kind of outing that fits his reputation. The Blue Jays right-hander worked seven innings and allowed just one run against the Reds on Sunday, throwing 114 pitches in what could be the final start of his career.
Scherzer had not offered much certainty about what comes next, and Toronto treated the moment like it might be a sendoff. His teammates stayed in the dugout as he started the game, and after he was pulled following a leadoff walk in the eighth, he walked off to a standing ovation.
The last pieces of the playoff bracket finally fell into place on Sunday. The Astros routed the Athletics to clinch the AL West, while the Phillies beat the Rays to avoid a collapse and grab the final National League Wild Card spot.
Philadelphia opens the postseason against Atlanta on Tuesday. The rest of the bracket features White Sox-Astros, Red Sox-Yankees, and Cubs-Padres.
In Other News...
Phillies Fans Are Livid And The Backlash Just Got Worse
The reaction around the Harry the Ks deck at Citizens Bank Park has only gotten louder since the Phillies moved to rename and sell the area to a corporate sponsor. What might have been a routine business decision quickly turned into a sore spot for fans, and the conversation spilled onto social media when Phillies supporters began directing their frustration at Dan Lourenco, the founder of Ghost Energy, even though the branding move was not directly initiated by his company.
Lourenco did respond to some of the criticism, but his later comments were taken by many fans as dismissive, which only deepened the backlash. For a fan base that is usually quick to defend the look and feel of its ballpark, the exchange has become about more than a deck sign, with the tone of the response now drawing as much heat as the rebrand itself. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Still Have One Major Game 1 Pitching Decision Left
The Phillies got the final-day push they needed to lock up a Wild Card spot, riding Zack Wheelers effort in a win over the Rays and setting the stage for a quick turnaround into October. With the postseason now here, the club is sorting through its Game 1 pitching plan, and the choice carries real weight because Philadelphia has already lined up Cristopher Sanchez for Game 2.
One possibility still on the table is a bullpen game that would lean on Jess Luzardo and Andrew Painter, while Aaron Nola is expected to take the ball on short rest. It is the kind of October decision that can shape an entire series, especially for a Phillies team that wants to get off to a strong start and avoid asking too much of its staff right away. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Rookies Just Made The Playoff Push Feel Bigger
The Phillies latest playoff push has also turned into a first taste of October for three young pitchers and hitters who have spent much of the season learning what it takes to stick. Justin Crawford, Andrew Painter and Alex McFarlane all found their way onto the postseason roster, a notable milestone for players who arrived with promise and then had to earn trust along the way. Crawford settled in after a midseason jump in performance and embraced his role, Painter sharpened his pitching after a minor league stint, and McFarlane emerged as a dependable bullpen option.
For a club built to chase a deep run, the rookie presence adds another layer to the story. These are not just extra bodies on the bench or in the bullpen, but players who helped the Phillies get here and now get to experience the postseason for the first time together. Their celebration reflected how much the moment meant, even if the bigger challenge is still ahead and the real test of what they can handle is only beginning. [Read more 🡒]