What is the story about?
Happy Friday, everyone! Lots of little news bites to keep you busy this morning while you’re pretending to do work, or just enjoying your coffee. We look at some of the Mets’ woes, from terrible offseason choices, to their fanbase missing Pete Alonso, to a new and rough-looking injury. We also check in on some injured superstars, as Shohei Ohtani is feeling a little closer to normal, while Aaron Judge was pulled from a game. Uh oh.
We’ll also see which MLB managers might want to start refreshing their
resumes, update you on the WPBL postseason, and share the cutest first pitch ever.
Let’s just get right into it.
- Davy Andrews has a fun article that aims to help the TV action character Reacher find better baseball aliases to use at shady motels. Fans of the show will get a kick out of this.
- Tom Verducci spotlights Tarik Skubal and how he’s going to be a difference-maker for the Dodgers this postseason.
- Verducci also looks at a change the Dodgers made to Skubal’s approach on the mound.
- It’s not time to start worrying about Jesus Luzardo’s arm… yet. Story by Michael Baumann.
- The Dodgers have clinched their 13th NL West title in 14 years. Story by Sonja Chen.
- Jessica Camerato reports that the Nationals are in extension talks with Cade Cavalli.
- Fabian Ardaya shares that Shohei Ohtani is feeling “normal…ish”. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Karl Rasmussen breaks down seven terrible offseason moves the Mets made that could ruin their future.
- Food for thought, what if divisions were arranged by payroll?
- The return of Pete Alonso to Citi Field has Mets fans turning against their own team. Story by Jay Jaffe.
- Kiri Oler keeps us up to date on the advancing WPBL postseason.
- Keith Law admits which prospects he was wrong about. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- The Phillies have claimed Jose Urquidy off waivers from the White Sox. (MLB)
- Brian Murphy looks at six numbers that have defined the Rays’ tremendous season.
- Karl Rasmussen looks at the 10 biggest breakout stars of the 2026 season.
- The Yankees pulled Aaron Judge in the sixth inning of Thursday’s game against the Twins due to lower leg tightness. (ESPN)
- Ken Rosenthal thinks these six managerial positions are the ones most at risk right now. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Most adorable first pitch EVER.
- Jared Greenspan shares that A’s prospect Ryan Lasko, who was paralyzed in an outfield collision, has been released from his rehab facility, receiving a standing ovation from the clinic’s staff.
- Davy Andrews explains why we won’t be seeing a pitcher join the 120 club this season.
- Ben Clemens tries to make sense of Fernando Tatis Jr’s up and down season.
- Keegan Matheson looks at the personal connection behind George Springer’s Clemente Award nomination.
- How Tommy Pham made a literal elevator pitch to get activated by the White Sox and then immediately made it worth their while. Story by Karl Rasmussen.
- Mets’ Jared Young was carted off the field last night following a collision with one of his teammates. (ESPN)
- Brittany Ghiroli and Sam Blum explain why the sale of the Angels will be unlike anything else we ever see again. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- This is tremendous.
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.
