We’re back after a little Labor Day break! Things are starting to get interesting at the end of August and the start of September. Playoff-seeking teams pull out all the stops to win every game possible, and teams that are far from the playoffs are calling prospects up to preview next year. This recap covers in-game and off-field action from August 24-September 6.
AL West Hot: Hunter Brown extends Cy Young-worthy campaign Brown has been nothing short of elite this season, and his last two games are
proof that he’s more than merely eligible for the AL Cy Young this year. He earned a win against the Angels, holding the Halos to three hits, a run, and five strikeouts in six innings. In his latest start, Brown blanked the Rangers in six frames, allowing just four runs and eight strikeouts. He’s a Top 10 pitcher in ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts across all of MLB.
Not: Nathan Eovladi gets shut down
A strained rotator cuff will likely end Eovaldi’s dominant season. The veteran starter has an 11-3 record, 1.73 ERA and sub-1.00 WHIP in 22 starts while earning quality starts in over half his games pitched. Unfortunately, Eovaldi’s Cy Young hopes were halted in late August. It’s a shame to see such a fun pitcher end his season early, but it’s an even bigger blow to the Rangers, who are just 1 1/2 games out of the playoff race.
AL Central
Hot: Byron Buxton joins the 20/20 club
For the first time in his career, Buxton has bagged 20 bases and popped 20 home runs in a single season. He reached the career milestone in Minnesota’s 7-4 victory over the Padres on August 29 in the third inning with a steal of third. Buxton is the sixth player in Minnesota history to earn this accolade, as his name may now be mentioned in the same breath as Kirby Puckett and Torii Hunter. While the Twins may have been underwhelming this year, Buxton has impressed.
Not: Bobby Witt Jr. will miss time
Kansas City finds itself in some trouble after losing its star shortstop for an unexpected amount of time. Witt exited the game early on September 5 due to lower back spasms, and an expected timeline for return hasn’t been announced. Losing Witt’s stellar bar (.294/.352/.503) for most, if not the rest, of September jeopardizes the Royals’ playoffs chances, as they still remain a game back from the Mariners for the final wild card spot.
AL East
Hot: Payton Tolle shines in MLB debut
Boston’s No. 2 prospect and MLB’s No. 27 overall prospect became the first pitcher in the franchise to strike out at least eight hitters in his MLB debut since Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2007, according to MLB.com’s Ian Browne. Tolle ended his start with three hits and two runs allowed over 5 1/3 innings in Boston’s 4-2 loss to the Pirates. Although he didn’t win the pitching duel against Paul Skenes, Tolle’s strong appearance in the majors a year after being drafted is impressive.
Not: Colton Cowser struggles to hit
Cowser’s year has been quite uneventful, and his last two weeks at the plate perfectly embody such dull offensive production. His .182 batting average and league-high 25 strikeouts in 13 games offered little to Baltimore’s surprising wins over the Dodgers and Giants. With a .209 season batting average, Cowser’s rough year leaves much to be desired, as does the rest of the Orioles lineup.
NL West
Hot: Giants gain wild card ground
Hot-hitting has landed San Francisco in a competitive position in the playoff race. Thanks to strong offensive performances from Rafael Devers (.395 BA, 14 RBIs, 5 HRs) and Wily Adames (.343 BA, 11 RBIs, 4 HRs), the Giants have gone 9-1 in the last two weeks. With a team slash line of .316/.376/.548, the Giants have been the best offense at the turn of the month and are now only four games back from the final wild card spot.
Not: Dodgers fall fast
Los Angeles is in a costly slump. The Dodgers have lost seven of their last 10 games, which includes a sweep by the Pirates and two shutouts. Their most devastating loss was against the Orioles on Saturday, when Yoshinobu Yamamoto fell one out short of recording the first no-hit game of 2025 by allowing a solo home run to Jackson Holliday. Instead of letting Yamamoto finish the game, the Dodgers pulled him, ultimately leading to a Baltimore walk-off win. San Diego has gained several games on LA in the division lately, as the danger sirens are going off.
NL Central
Hot: Brice Turang caps off a stellar August
Milwaukee’s second baseman was named August’s NL Player of the Month after demonstrating an impressive slug: 10 home runs, 24 RBIs and 23 runs. He just needs three home runs to join the 20/20 club, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he achieved this feat with the remaining games in the team’s schedule.
Not: Reds lose wild card momentum
Cincinnati’s hot streak evaporated quickly. After losing their last eight of 12 games, the Reds fell five games back from the Mets for the final NL wild card opening. With only 20 games remaining in the season, the Reds have little room for error as they have three series scheduled against the Padres, Cubs, and Brewers.
NL East
Hot: Andrew Alvarez sets a franchise record
Tolle wasn’t the only rookie who impressed in his debut. Washington’s Alvarez pitched a shutout in his first start against the Marlins, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out four in five frames. Alvarez not only earned his first win, but he also became the first player in team history to throw at least five scoreless innings in an MLB debut. Welcome to the show, Andrew.
Not: Aaron Nola continues to stumble
Nola has been far from his All-Star self. He’s allowed at least three runs in his last six starts, and his most recent appearance against the Brewers ended poorly: six runs off five hits in five innings in Philly’s 6-3 loss to the Brewers. That outing raised his season ERA to 6.78. While one game doesn’t cost the Phillies too much right now, the real issue with Nola’s sour pitching will be whether he’s able to go the distance in the postseason.
