# 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:** 5
### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/81 "2026-09-20T22:01:49Z")
No, the save situation must exist at the moment you enter the game.
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2026, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/82 "2026-09-20T22:24:11Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#):
>
> On the Red Sox, I actually said above that they’d already clinched the playoffs.
What I read online said as of this morning they still had a magic number of 1, but today (even though they lost) they have now clinched a playoff spot. So three teams in the AL East have clinched, and no one else in the AL.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2026, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/83 "2026-09-21T04:55:57Z")
Milwaukee and the Dodgers both won today, so the Brewers maintain their 2-game lead over LA for the best record in the NL – though it’s actually a 3-game lead, as far as getting the #1 seed, as the Brewers won the head-to-head series over the Dodgers for the season.
In winning today, the Brewers set the franchise record for wins in a season at 98; they only have to win 2 out of their final six to make it to 100 for the first time. Jacob Misiorowski only pitched three innings today - intentionally, as the Brewers wanted to give him a light outing as they start to prepare for the playoffs. He only gave up one single, lowering his ERA to 1.86, and his WHIP to 0.803.
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2026, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/84 "2026-09-21T13:26:07Z")
Alex Bregman of the Cubs, who is having a stellar season, was struck in the face by a foul ball while taking a practice swing in the on-deck circle. No word yet on how long he’ll be out.
A nasty photo, along with a video, can be found in the linked Yahoo story.
> **[Cubs' Alex Bregman shares gruesome photo after being hit in face by foul ball...](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/cubs-alex-bregman-shares-gruesome-124416178.html)**
>
> Bregman was taken to a local hospital after taking a foul ball to the face from teammate Michael Busch.
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/85 "2026-09-21T19:44:57Z")
With Fifth Third Bank taking over Comerica Bank, the renaming of Comerica Park was inevitable.
Today they announced the new name of the home of the Detroit Tigers and it will be…Fifth Third Park.
I guess the stadiums/arenas named Fifth Third in Toledo and Spartanburg and Cincinnati and Georgia weren’t enough.
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2026, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/86 "2026-09-21T20:04:11Z")
Best part is when a Mud Hen gets called up he can go from Fifth Third to Fifth Third. No need to learn a new name!
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/87 "2026-09-21T20:06:39Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#):
>
> I guess the stadiums/arenas named Fifth Third in Toledo and Spartanburg and Cincinnati and Georgia weren’t enough.
So now Comerica Park will become the fifth Fifth Third park.
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2026, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/88 "2026-09-21T20:08:32Z")
Which was the third? 😁
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/89 "2026-09-21T20:12:44Z")
Who’s on first?
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### Author:  [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2026, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/90 "2026-09-21T21:23:25Z")
> [@Railer13](#):
>
> Alex Bregman of the Cubs, who is having a stellar season, was struck in the face by a foul ball while taking a practice swing in the on-deck circle. No word yet on how long he’ll be out.
>
> A nasty photo, along with a video, can be found in the linked Yahoo story.
>
> [Cubs' Alex Bregman shares gruesome photo after being hit in face by foul ball - Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/cubs-alex-bregman-shares-gruesome-124416178.html)
Multiple facial fractures. Hopeful for postseason.
[Cite](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/50000561/sources-cubs-bregman-suffered-facial-fractures-foul-ball).
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### Author:  [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/91 "2026-09-21T21:53:32Z")
Yeah, the confusion can come because if whoever enters with a five run lead but puts two runners on will cause a save situation for someone who comes in to clean up their mess.
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2026, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/92 "2026-09-22T13:31:46Z")
With about 6 games remaining for most teams, there are still several post-season spots still in contention.
In the AL East, TB, NYY, and BOS are all through. TB needs just a single win to clinch the division over NYY, who in turn need a single win to clinch at least the top WC spot. BOS has clinched a WC spot but right now it could be any one of them. TOR and BAL aren’t yet eliminated but don’t control their own destiny for the final WC spot.
In the AL Central CLE holds a narrow 1 game lead over the CWS, but the White Sox hold the tie-breaker so CLE has to win outright. Both teams are likely to make a WC spot if they don’t win the division, but it’s not guarenteed.
In the AL West TEX holds a 1 game lead over HOU, with the Astros holding the tie breaker. While not impossible, it’s an uphill battle for either team to get the remaining WC spot if they lose the division. SEA isn’t eliminated but the path to the AL West title requires TEX and HOU to collapse completely and SEA to win out.
In the NL East, ATL has clinched and PHI is sitting in the 3rd WC spot. PHI has the tie breaker over the Padres.
In the NL Central, MIL has clinched and CHC is sitting in the top WC spot with the tie breaker over PHI and SD.
In the NL West, LAD have clinched and SD is in the second WC spot, but loses the tie breaker against CHC and PHI. AZ still has a slight mathmatical path that requires them to win out and PHI/SD to crash.
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2026, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/93 "2026-09-22T13:58:50Z")
> [@Telemark](#):
>
> With about 6 games remaining for most teams, there are still several post-season spots still in contention.
Excellent summary, and thanks.
Regarding two tight AL divisional races:
White Sox have 3 games in KC and then host Colorado for the final 3. Cleveland is in Boston for 3 and then finishes in KC for the last 3. Schedule would appear to favor the ChiSox.
Rangers host the Mets for 3 and then travel to Minnesota for the last series. Houston is on the road for their last 6 games, at Seattle for 2 and then at the A’s for four. Rangers probably have a slightly easier schedule than the Astros.
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### Author:  [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2026, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/94 "2026-09-22T15:20:34Z")
> [@Railer13](#):
>
> Houston is on the road for their last 6 games, at Seattle for 2 and then at the A’s for four. Rangers probably have a slightly easier schedule than the Astros.
Now that Seattle is essentially out of it, my remaining hope is to sweep the Astros for those two games and knock them out of the playoffs.
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### Author:  [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2026, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/95 "2026-09-22T15:20:55Z")
> [@Telemark](#):
>
> SEA isn’t eliminated but the path to the AL West title requires TEX and HOU to collapse completely and SEA to win out.
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMRrNY0pxfM)
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2026, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/96 "2026-09-22T16:21:32Z")
BOS and CHC play the last three games of the season in Fenway. Don’t trust weather forecasts in New England more than a few days out, but right now those games are going to be hard to play in that weather. Those games might be critical for the NL seedings.
> **[Red Sox-Cubs Nightmare Boston Weather Forecast Could Disrupt Playoff Schedule](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/red-sox-cubs-nightmare-boston-140751466.html)**
>
> The Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs have an odd end to the regular season. The weather could make it way weirder.
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### Author:  [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2026, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/97 "2026-09-23T00:03:28Z")
This may be old news to many, but I was delighted to learn tonight that the Marlins have a pitcher named “Junk”.
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2026, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/98 "2026-09-23T00:39:02Z")
As a Miamian, I can’t imagine any other team better suited to collecting MLB’s junk.
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2026, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/99 "2026-09-23T10:34:41Z")
Guardians and White Sox both won last night, so Cleveland maintains its one-game lead over Chicago in the AL Central.
Houston won and Texas lost last night, so the teams are tied with five games to play. Both have records of 78-79.
White Sox have a lead of 3 games over Astros/Rangers in the wild-card race.
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2026, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2026/1032786/100 "2026-09-24T02:46:11Z")
The Blue Jays were eliminated today after losing a doubleheader to Baltimore.
Seattle and Baltimore each have a tragic number of 1, with SEA still playing tonight.
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