# MLB September 2026
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786
**Category:** The Game Room
**Tags:** baseball-mlb
**Created:** [September 3, 2026, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786 "2026-09-03T03:17:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2026, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/61 "2026-09-19T10:55:32Z")
They set a record this year for most blown saves in a season. I’d be surprised if their bullpen isn’t the first worst.
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### Author:  [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2026, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/62 "2026-09-19T12:47:50Z")
don’t feel too bad–my Cards are #2 in BS, even though closer also leads in saves
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2026, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/63 "2026-09-19T13:19:47Z")
White Sox lost last night and now trail Cleveland by a game with 8 to play. Guardians have won 3 in a row. Sox still lead the race for the last WC spot, but their lead is just a game over the Rangers/Astros. Rangers and Astros are tied for the AL West lead; both teams are 77-77.
In the National League, the Cubs, Phillies, and Padres all hold identical records of 85-69 and are tied for the 3 wild-card slots. D-Backs trail by 5 games and are probably out of the race, although their last 6 games are against the Rockies and Padres.
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### Author:  [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/64 "2026-09-20T12:02:16Z")
Brewers get win 97, tying last year as most wins, with 7 or 8 games to go so beating that seems probable.
Brian
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### Author:  [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/65 "2026-09-20T12:10:18Z")
I wonder how often this happens. Riley Cornelio got both the win and a blown save for the Nats last night.
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/66 "2026-09-20T12:17:27Z")
IMO (and I’m _not_ a baseball stats expert), the traditional pitching stats are more historical accident from a pre-numerate era than well thought-out performance monitoring.
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### Author:  [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/67 "2026-09-20T13:04:32Z")
Not only did the front office not invest in a closer, they didn’t acquire any established relievers in the offseason. The bullpen was/is composed entirely of castoffs from other teams and unproven youngsters. It’s indeed been a source of much consternation for fans.
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### Author:  [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/68 "2026-09-20T13:08:03Z")
I think it happens more often than one might think. It’s why mediocre relievers sometimes end up with double digit wins.
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### Author:  [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/69 "2026-09-20T13:10:52Z")
## **American League Standings**
(all teams with 7 games left, except Yanks/Ray with 8)
_AL East_
- Rays are leading by 5 over the Yanks and have clinched the playoffs, but not the Division
_AL Central_
- Guardians are leading by 1 over the White Sox, Tigers are 7 back
_AL West_
- Rangers are leading by 1 over the Astros, Mariners are 6 back
_AL WildCard_
- Yankees +10.5 - clinched playoff
- Red Sox +5 - clinched playoff
- White Sox 0
- Astros -2
- Blue Jays -3
- Orioles -4
- Tigers -6
- Mariners -7
- Twins -7
The only teams eliminated are the Royals, Athletics, and Angels.
## **National League Standings**
(all teams with 7 games left)
_NL East_
- Braves are leading by 6 over the Phillies
_NL Central_
- Brewers have clinched the Division
_NL West_
- Dodgers have clinched the Division
_NL WildCard_
- Cubs +1
- Padres +1
- Phillies 0
- Diamondbacks -4
- Pirates -7
All other teams eliminated
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/70 "2026-09-20T13:23:57Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#):
>
> That is very bad news.
Given how he was playing I’d argue at least the DL stint is good news. He was off and more time off can only help. The Yankees will be in the wild card series and a capable Judge would help.
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/71 "2026-09-20T18:52:11Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#):
>
> - Red Sox +5 - clinched playoff
I think their magic number is still 1.
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### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/72 "2026-09-20T19:20:20Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#):
>
> I wonder how often this happens.
Pretty often. It’s usually when a guy comes at the top of an inning in with a 1 run lead, gives up a run, and his team bails him out in the bottom.
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/73 "2026-09-20T19:59:33Z")
I think you can also pitch yourself into a Save. Like down by five, give up four runs and then get the last out.
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/74 "2026-09-20T20:51:35Z")
> [@hajario](#):
>
> I think you can also pitch yourself into a Save.
Don’t think so.
From the [MLB rulebook](https://mktg.mlbstatic.com/mlb/official-information/2026-official-baseball-rules.pdf): (bolding mine)
The Official Scorer shall credit a pitcher with a save when such pitcher meets all four of the following conditions:
(a) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his team;
(b) He is not the winning pitcher;
(c) He is credited with at least 1/3 of an inning pitched; and
(d) He satisfies one of the following conditions:
(1) **He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs**
**and pitches for at least one inning;**
(2) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the
potential tying run either on base, or at bat or on deck
(that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or
is one of the first two batters he faces); or
(3) He pitches for at least three innings.
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### Author:  [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/75 "2026-09-20T21:12:32Z")
> [@Telemark](#):
>
> I think their magic number is still 1.
You could be right. I went off a tracker website.
Which also says the Braves have NOT clinched the playoffs even though the Braves/Braves fans have sent out social media post saying they have.
🤷♂️
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/76 "2026-09-20T21:16:31Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#):
>
> Which also says the Braves have NOT clinched the playoffs
As of right now, Braves have clinched the division.
Also as of right now, Red Sox have clinched a wild-card slot.
That’s according to the standings on ESPN.
> **[MLB Standings - 2026 season - ESPN](https://www.espn.com/mlb/standings)**
>
> Visit ESPN for the complete 2026 MLB season standings. Includes league, conference and division standings for regular season and playoffs.
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### Author:  [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/77 "2026-09-20T21:30:03Z")
> [@Railer13](#):
>
> As of right now, Braves have clinched the division.
>
> Also as of right now, Red Sox have clinched a wild-card slot.
>
> That’s according to the standings on ESPN.
On the Braves, yes, _now_. They are six up with 6 to play and own the tie-breaker. This morning, they were six up with SEVEN to play and, thus, still had a chance to lose the Division AND miss the playoffs (mathematically - realistically they’ve been in the playoffs for a while).
On the Red Sox, I actually said above that they’d already clinched the playoffs.
> [@Zakalwe](#):
>
> ## **American League Standings**
>
> (all teams with 7 games left, except Yanks/Ray with 8)
>
> _AL WildCard_
>
> - Red Sox +5 - clinched playoff
Also, after today, the Pirates are out. Leaving the Diamondbacks as the last “looking-in, but outside the bubble” team in the NL.
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/78 "2026-09-20T21:32:42Z")
I was wrong. Thanks.
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/79 "2026-09-20T21:33:41Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#):
>
> I actually said above that they’d already clinched the playoffs.
Correct, but that was disputed by another poster.
But we’re all good now.
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### Author:  [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/80 "2026-09-20T21:34:34Z")
> [@Railer13](#):
>
> Correct, but that was disputed by another poster.
>
> But we’re all good now.
Gotcha. I missed that.
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