MLB (Non Phillies) News and Discussion 2025 Season

[Philsmania]

Some interesting all-contender series this coming week.

Marlins @ Phillies. Phillies have a slim chance of reeling in the Brewers for NL HFA (elimination number 3) and try to nail down the second bye or in a bad case scenario HFA in a WC round (magic number 2 for both) while the hot Marlins (winners of 6 straight and 9 out 10) play for their lives (elimination number 3 for the last NL WC spot).

Brewers @ Padres. Brewers seeking to nail down HFA (magic number 3 over the Phillies) possibly all the way through the WS (magic number 1 over the Blue Jays) while the Padres need to nail down a berth (magic number 1 for that) and possibly reel in either the Cubs for HFA in the WC (elimination number 4) round or even the Dodgers for the division (elimination number 3).

Dodgers @ Diamondbacks. Dodgers trying to nail down the NL West (magic number 3) and possibly reel in the Phillies for a bye (elimination number 2) while the Diamondbacks are playing for their lives.

Mets @ Cubs. Mets playing for their lives while Cubs try to wrap up HFA for WC round (magic number 4)

Red Sox @ Blue Jays. Blue Jays have clinched a berth but try to wrap up both AL East and AL HFA (magic number 4 for both, elimination number for WS HFA against Brewers 1, against Phillies 4 with Phillies owning tiebreaker), Red Sox trying to nail down a berth (magic number 4).

Tigers @ Guardians. Now this is a good old-fashioned September divisional showdown with both teams playing for the AL Central title AND their Postseason lives. This race is reminiscent of the 2007 NL East race as the Tigers have swooned (5-12 so far in September) like the Mets did while the Guardians have surged (16-4) like the Phillies did.

Otherwise, Reds host the Pirates (who've swept the Phillies, Mets and Tigers in series this season), the Cardinals host the Giants (both teams pretty much on life support), the Mariners host the Rockies, the Yankees host the White Sox, Astros play at the Athletics, the Rangers on life-support host the Twins and the even more on life-support Royals play visit the Angels.

Only 2 of this week's midweek series--Rays @ Orioles and Nationals @ Braves--are meaningless matchups of teams just playing out the string.

[BostonRoss]

I think the Mets are playing at Wrigley

[zambonir]

they are.

we probably can't catch the Brewers but may as well try to stay ahead of all the AL teams.

[phillychuck]

Mets/Cubs fixed

[Philsmania]

Mets/Cubs fixed

Thanks! I posted thar on my phone having to go back and forth between one app with schedule and my browser with this site). I missed one.

I updated my post to spell out the Postseason scenarios as best i could and I added the Phillies-Marlins to the list of interesting series.

[bkox]

Upon further review, the ABS Challenge System has been confirmed for the 2026 MLB season.

The Joint Competition Committee voted Tuesday afternoon to bring the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, powered by T-Mobile, to the big leagues following several years of experimentation in the Minor Leagues and use in MLB Spring Training and the All-Star Game this year.

https://www.mlb.com/news/abs-challenge-system-mlb-2026

[zambonir]

When will we have our first ABS Challenge System outage, powered by T Mobile?

Only two challenges per team, don't think it will be huge change (nor time-consuming). Definitely a good thing. Teams will be judicious about when to use the, and not wanting to run out if they're wrong.

You get one for every extra inning in the playoffs, if needed.

[bkox]

Only two challenges per team, don't think it will be huge change (nor time-consuming)

IMO it should be two lost challenges per team. As long as the players are right they should get to continue challenging. Still has strategy of when to use it then but how many times have we seen umps have a terrible full game.

[andyb]

I just wonder what electronic aids will be used to aid the players in their split second decisions.

I think we end up with full robo umps within 5 years as people try to game the system or are unsatisfied with the results.

[zambonir]

It is two lost challenges per team

[jimbomill]

Upon further review, the ABS Challenge System has been confirmed for the 2026 MLB season.

The Joint Competition Committee voted Tuesday afternoon to bring the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, powered by T-Mobile, to the big leagues following several years of experimentation in the Minor Leagues and use in MLB Spring Training and the All-Star Game this year.

https://www.mlb.com/news/abs-challenge-system-mlb-2026

This is good news.

[Philsmania]

Lady Luck seems to be smiling on the Mets and Tigers right now. Mets lose but neither the Reds nor Diamondbacks can take advantage and the Tigers have list eight straight and probably the AL Central but the Astros have lost five straight and, likewise, have failed to take advantage and take the last AL WC.

Pirates have been good spoilers this year

[Philsmania]

Magic & elimination number update:

Dodgers magic number over Padres for NL West is 1.

Cubs magic number over Padres for WC HFA is 2.

Padres clinched at least 5 seed

Mets magic numbers over both Reds and Diamondbacks is 4.

Marlins elimination number 1.

Brewers magic number over Phillies for HFA 1. Brewers HFA would be absolute as they've already clinched it over all AL teams.

Guardians magic number for AL Central 4 and for a berth over Astros 2.

Tigers magic number for a berth 3 (over Astros).

Red Sox elimination number for both AL East and WC HFA 2 against Yankees, 1 against Blue Jays, magic number for a berth 1 (over Tigers and Astros).

Astros elimination number 3 (Tigers).

Mariners magic number for a bye 1 (Red Sox) and elimination number for AL HFA is 4 (Yanks & Jays).

Yankees and Blue Jays TIED for AL East lead (but Jays hold the tiebreaker giving them a magic number of 4 and the Yankees a magic number of 5 and a lack of control over their own destiny for the division). Blue Jays magic number for AL WC HFA is 1 (Red Sox), when the Yankees is 2 (Red Sox). Both teams have an elimination number of 1 for a possible WS matchup against the Phillies.

Since I last posted this, the Royals, Rangers, Cardinals and Giants all were eliminated with the latter 2 taking turns knocking each other out. This weekend's meaningless play-out-the-string series will be Cardinals @ Cubs, White Sox @ Nationals, Pirates @ Braves, Royals @ Athletics and Rockies @ Giants.

[EastFallowfield]

Diamondbacks eliminated last night, oh darn.

[zambonir]

So, Reds just have to win both their games, if Mets win both their games, still doesn't matter. We still have to win both of ours for #1 in that scenario though.

Cincinnati hasn't been more than seven games above .500 at any point this season and has gone 15-18 over its past 33 games. Yet, the Reds have still played well enough to catch the Mets, who have lost 16 of their past 25 games.

The Mets were 45-24 and had the best record in the majors June 12, but they have gone 37-54 since.

Reds tie Mets for NL's 3rd and final wild-card spot

[Philsmania]

Yankees and Blue Jays (tied) going punch-for-punch in the AL East. Both teams winning so far today. Jays hold the tiebreaker so should those scores hold up, the Jays' magic number would be 1.

Red Sox still have not clinched the 5th seed in the AL (magic number is 1 for that). Red Sox were eliminated from both the AL East and AL top wild card last night.

Guardians magic number for the AL Central is 2 over the Tigers, to clinch a berth over Astros 1.

Tigers magic number to clinch berth is 1

Cubs magic number for WC HFA is 1 over Padres.

Mets & Reds tied for last WC with Reds holding the tiebreaker and, as a result, Reds magic number is 2 while the Mets magic number is 3.

And, the Brewers magic number for NL HFA over the Phillies remains 1.

[Philsmania]

Brewers clinch NL HFA.

Tigers clinch a berth.

Guardians tied with Rangers in 6th if they win, they clinch a berth and the AL Central goes down to the last day like THE AL East, though both teams would be assured of a trip to October. Can't say I would mind seeing the Astros out.

Reds up 6-2 in the 6th on Brewers who are now playing out the string until October. Last NL wildcard will come down to tomorrow as well.

[Philsmania]

Guardians win and clinch a berth. Astros eliminated. Tigers and Guardians will face each other in WC round. Guards' magic number to win HFA for that round is 1, Tigers magic number is 2. IOW, they need to win and for the Guardians to lose to host as AL Central Champs.

Same for Yankees in AL East--need a win and a Blue Jay loss for AL East, bye and AL HFA or they host Red Sox in WC round.

Astros run of 8 straight Postseason appearances snapped.

[Philsmania]

Reds win. NL WC #3 comes down to Game 162. Reds need either a win or a Mets loss. Mets need both a win and a Reds loss.

[zambonir]

So, what do we want if the low seed can knock off the Dodgers? Revenge/possible challenge of returning to Citi against a struggling but dangerous team with a clean slate or a decent Reds team that also played us well. Ironically it's the Dodgers we have the best record against, narrowly.