#wild-card-race

#wild-card-race

The Padres clinched a playoff berth with a 5-4, 11-inning win against the three-time NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night. Freddy Fermin, acquired from Kansas City at the trade deadline on July 31, drove the first pitch he saw from Grant Anderson to center field with one out in the 11th, singling in automatic runner Bryce Johnson and setting off a wild celebration in front of a sellout crowd of 42,371 at Petco Park.

The Giants officially announced the previously reported promotion of top first base prospect Bryce Eldridge. San Francisco optioned outfielder to clear a spot on the big league roster. They designated utility infielder Brett Wisely for assignment to open the necessary 40-man roster spot. Eldridge, who is still a month away from his 21st birthday, steps right into the fire in a pennant race.

Silver Boot series kicks off with huge implications: The American League west is the tightest division in the majors. The Mariners took over the top spot this weekend and currently sit one game clear of the Astros. That leaves Houston in possession of the final A.L. Wild Card spot but the Rangers are just two games behind them. The Rangers are in Houston for three games starting tonight for a series that should play a huge role in the A.L. playoff picture.

Trout chasing 400: belted the 399th home run of his illustrious career last night, placing him just one round-tripper shy of becoming the 59th plate in MLB history to reach the 400 milestone. Trout, currently in a three-way tie with Andres Galarraga and Al Kaline on the all-time leaderboard, is hitting .235/.368/.426 (119 wRC+) and has already secured the tenth 20-homer season of his career (plus 17 homers during the shortened 2020 season).

That aside, though, it's at least marginally interesting to think about final win totals that will or won't be sufficient to make the playoffs this year. 86 was the magic number last year for both the Tigers and Royals; the Diamondbacks somehow made the playoffs with 84 wins in 2023. In the inaugural season of this stupid playoff system, it was again 86 wins, in benefit of the Rays.

The Royals placed starter Michael Wacha on the seven-day concussion injured list before tonight's game against the Guardians. The move is retroactive to September 8. Jonathan India is back after a minimal 10-day IL stay for a sprained wrist as the corresponding move. Wacha was injured in an off-field accident, manager Matt Quatraro told reporters (including MLB.com's Anne Rogers). The Royals believe it's a minor issue but it will cost him at least one start.

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza remains uncertain if Kodai Senga will get the ball for the next turn in his rotation, which is supposed to come on Sunday in Cincinnati against the Reds. Everything's on the table, Mendoza said prior to his team's series finale in Detroit against the Tigers. Whether he makes his next start, there's a lot going on right now. We just have to wait and see after we get through today.

Bello (10-6) allowed singles to Ben Rice, Trent Grisham and Austin Wells and permitted four baserunners in his third scoreless start this season and second against the Yankees. After giving up Grisham's hit, the right-hander got Rice to ground into a double play to end the third. Wells was doubled off first in the sixth on a line drive by Grisham.

Mike Trout will miss his second consecutive game due to illness, currently listed as day-to-day, after going 1-for-4 against the Texas Rangers last Thursday.

The Angels have been mired in mediocrity for more than a decade now, despite employing both and Shohei Ohtani at the peak of their powers in that time.

Cleveland doesn't play a single opponent with a winning record between now and July 31, providing a solid opportunity for the Guardians to add more wins and enhance their Wild Card chances.

The Cincinnati Reds have been a sleeper team, currently in fourth place in the National League Central, but only 2 1/2 games back in the Wild Card race at 50-47.

The Giants are 52-45 coming out of the All-Star break and have positioned themselves to at least be in the mix for one of three NL wild-card spots.