What is the story about?
Good morning.
It seems like Fangraphs
is instituting a paywall for the playoffs. I don’t believe it has started yet, but it may by the time you read this. I’m unclear whether or not it will be permanent or just for the postseason. They do vow to always have one free article a day. But I just wanted you to know in case you’re locked out of something. Of course, you could just sign up for Fangraphs. They do good work.- You have probably heard this, but the Chicago White Sox clinched a spot in the postseason. It was just about two minutes after the better Chicago team clinched.
- Jon Greenberg looks at how the White Sox have gone from a bad joke to a playoff team in just two years. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Also of note: The White Sox Colson Montgomery tied the record for most strikeouts in a season at 223, last accomplished by Mark Reynolds in 2009. He’s still got three games to break the record.
- Matt Snyder has three reasons the White Sox can win the World Series. (CBS is doing this for every playoff team when they clinch. Here’s their one on the Cubs.)
- The Guardians also clinched their spot in the playoffs.
- Zach Meisel has more on the Guardians season and their playoff clinch. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Dayn Perry has three reasons the Guardians can break their 78-year dry spell.
- The Brewers won 100 games for the first time in franchise history.
- The Phillies got some bad news in that loss to the Brewers as Luis Arraez left that game with a sprained ankle. X-rays were negative, so that’s good news for Philly at least.
- Andrew Baggarly explains all the playoff tiebreaker scenarios. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Injured Yankees star Aaron Judge is hopeful he can return for the Wild Card Series, although the team isn’t counting on it.
- The Yankees are also dealing with weather issues as their Saturday game against Baltimore has been moved to a Friday doubleheader. Of course, that game means nothing for either team.
- David Schoenfield hands out final grades for all 30 teams.
- The ESPN writers make some “bold” predictions for the postseason.
- Kristie Ackert has an “x-factor” for every team in the playoffs.
- Mitch Bannon looks at how the Blue Jays fell from almost winning the World Series to not even making the playoffs. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. defended his big contract after a poor year, saying he’s being paid for what he has done and not what he will do. Yeah, that’s not how it works, Vladito. And even if it was, it’s not a good idea to say that out loud.
- Jordan Schusterman asks and answers “What went wrong with the Mariners?”
- Ken Rosenthal and C. Trent Rosecrans answers Reds owner Bob Castellini’s question of why aren’t the Reds the Brewers? (The Athletic sub. req.) Quick answer is that the problem is you, Bob.
- Alden Gonzalez examines how the Padres have become a talking point for both sides of the upcoming CBA talks.
- Russell Dorsey has some players who had great seasons but flew under the radar.
- Anthony Castrovince has some “bonkers” stats that defined the 2026 season.
- Davy Andrews is pulling for the Rays’ Chandler Simpson to join the increasingly rare club of players who qualify for a batting title without hitting a home run. Myles Straw is the only one to do it since 2012.
- Karl Rasmussen has nine players who shook off bad starts to have a great second half.
- Dan Szymborski runs the numbers and determines that players who played in the World Baseball Classic have performed equally to players who didn’t. So no, Paul Skene’s season probably wasn’t because of the WBC. And it’s not exactly like Skenes was bad or injured this year.
- The CBS baseball writers have their picks for all the end-of-the-season awards.
- Jordan Shusterman looks at the great crop of 2026 rookies.
- Ben Clemens explains how he evaluates the candidates for National League Rookie of the Year.
- Michael Baumann looks at the current state of pinch-running, including why slow backup catchers are being put in games to pinch run.
- The Giants claimed reliever Camilo Doval off of waivers from the Pirates, which, LOL. Are they hoping Doval is the missing piece that gets them to 68 wins?
- And finally, enjoy this “slide” from Yankees rookie George Lombard Jr. that scores a run. I think such plays should be called “El Magos.”
