Team News
‘This one definitely hurt’: Diamondbacks waste Brandon Pfaadt’s gem, fall to Giants “Unbelievable game,” Diamondbacks third baseman Blaze Alexander said of Pfaadt. “One of the best games I’ve played defense behind. It sucks. You want to get a run or two for him, try to get him the win there. But it’s on to the next one. There’s really no time to sulk. It’s do or die. On to the next one.” https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2025/09/17/arizona-diamondbacks-vs-san-francisco-giants-news-latest-matchups/85979812007/
Pfaadt’s potential Maddux spoiled in crushing extra-inning loss
“We unfortunately could capitalize on an unreal start by Brandon Pfaadt,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “He’s never pitched that deep into a baseball game, but didn’t let it affect him. He went out there and executed an unbelievable game plan and just got into a great rhythm with [catcher James] McCann.”
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“It felt good to accomplish it, and it was unfortunate that we couldn’t get a win,” Pfaadt said. “But you know, we’re playing good baseball, and a series victory over the Giants at this point in the season is awesome, and hopefully we can keep it rolling.”
https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/brandon-pfaadt-throws-nine-scoreless-innings-in-loss-to-giants?t=pitching-decisions
Diamondbacks’ miraculous playoff push hit after failing to support Brandon Pfaadt, sweep Giants
https://arizonasports.com/dan-bickley/diamondbacks-giants-push/3596355/
Diamondbacks move to 4-man starting rotation for playoff push
Arizona Diamondbacks rotation order for the rest of the 2025 season
– Wednesday: Pfaadt vs. San Francisco
– Friday: Nelson vs. Philadelphia
– Saturday: Gallen vs. Philadelphia
– Sunday: Rodriguez vs. Philadelphia
– Tuesday: Pfaadt vs. Los Angeles
– Wednesday: Nelson vs. Los Angeles
– Thursday: Gallen vs. Los Angeles
– Friday: Rodriguez at San Diego
– Saturday: Pfaadt at San Diego
– Sunday: Nelson at San Diego
https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/rotation-order-2/3596310/
Diamondbacks’ brand of baseball post deadline better suits club, GM Mike Hazen explains
“I think when you’re pressing contact and speed, I think that adds a different element and gives defenders more things to have to worry about,” Hazen said. “I think that’s what this offense does. We know that we like this brand of baseball. I think we’re better suited to play this brand of baseball than wait for the three-run home run.”
https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/hazen-brand/3596306/
Brandon Pfaadt Gave Credit to Teammate for Nine-Inning Shutout
When asked what he had working Wednesday, Pfaadt said, “A little bit of everything, but before, I just want to shout out McCann back there.”
“A lot of that credit goes to him. He had me dialed in all day and he was calling all the pitches back there, so I just had to execute it. Big shoutout to him. Mostly everything was working today, and we were able to get ahead, get some crucial double plays and defense made some great plays as well.” https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/arizona-diamondbacks-news/brandon-pfaadt-credit-teammate-mccann-nine-inning-shutout
Other Baseball
Geno’s big night (4 hits, HR) an encouraging sign despite Mariners’ loss
“Obviously, it feels great. After that first at-bat [where] I was able to hit that fastball up and away really well, that’s when I started feeling that, ‘OK, that’s all I need,’” Suárez said. “It’s not something that I have to make an adjustment [on]. I just need one hit and I’m very sure that they’re going to come by. Today was one of those days that you just start to feel better.”
https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/eugenio-suarez-logs-four-hits-in-mariners-loss-to-royals
MLB Abandons Plans For 2026 London Series
The series will no longer occur because of a scheduling conflict. London Stadium is the home venue of West Ham United F.C., the city’s Premier League club. The Premier League runs through the final week of May. West Ham’s last home match is on May 24. MLB did not feel that left enough time to convert the venue to a baseball field. Fox, which was scheduled to carry the game, could not accommodate any delays because of its commitments to broadcasting World Cup matches later in the month.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/09/mlb-abandons-plans-for-2026-london-series.html
Mets set MLB record with 46 different pitchers used this season
MLB labor: How fight over salary cap will shape negotiations
“How do we compete?” one midsized-market team president said. “We try to do everything right. We draft well. We develop well. And then we get the s— kicked out of us by clubs that buy their players. It feels like the game is rigged.”
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46294140/mlb-labor-negotiations-salary-cap-baseball-talks-2027-season-lockout
Cubs secure first trip to postseason since 2020 (* Justin)
“You don’t get to do this in regular jobs, where you get to celebrate and throw champagne on each other,” Counsell said. “You just don’t get to do it, right? So you take advantage of it, have fun with it, enjoy each other and celebrate each other.”
https://www.mlb.com/news/cubs-clinch-2025-postseason-berth
Rookie Randy O’Neal finally receives his Tigers World Series ring … 41 years later
“Obviously, it’s from a long time ago, [and it] should’ve been righted a long time ago,” said Hall of Famer Alan Trammell, who joined fellow ‘84 Tigers Lance Parrish and Dan Petry in a quiet ring presentation ceremony in the Champions Club before Wednesday’s game. “But it’s done.”
https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/randy-o-neal-receives-1984-tigers-world-series-ring
Anything Goes
This day in history:
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/september-18
This day in baseball:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/September_18
Only 6 people died in the Great Fire of London. The great fire of 1666 apparently traced its way to a baker’s oven and caused massive damage across the city of London. However, despite destroying over 13,500 houses and displacing 80,000 people, it only claimed the lives of 6 unlucky Londoners.
Count Dracula was inspired by a real person. The titular Count was based on none other than history’s own Vlad the Impaler. As the monarch of Wallachia, a Romanian region of Transylvania, Vlad soon made a fearsome reputation for himself by killing and impaling the still-twitching bodies of his enemies on long sticks which he planted outside his castle.
