Diamondbacks News
Corbin Burnes explains his frustrating September: Will he be ready for next season? by Alex Weiner [Arizona Sports]
“The shoulder didn’t hold up,” Burnes explained during locker clean-out day at Chase Field on Monday. “The teres (major) is completely healed, looks great, got that positive news to lead into the other news. But basically it’s presenting itself as an overuse, inflammation, no real new injury, basically just chronic inflammation that built up and was shutting the shoulder down.
“For me,
I guess, was good news because I couldn’t figure out what was going on, why the ball wasn’t coming out. Just needs time to calm down, and unfortunately it came at a time when I needed to be out there helping the team the best I could.”
How Diamondbacks Players Really Feel About Manager Torey Lovullo by Alex D’Agostino [SI]
Certainly, Lovullo had plenty to navigate. Beyond the day-to-day adversity already in the job description, he had to deal with a strange few weeks of drama surrounding Ketel Marte.
“I think Torey’s great,” said third baseman Nolan Arenado. “I think he had some tough days he had to deal with this year, and I thought he did a great job with it.”
Alonso, Arenado win Player of the Week honors with epic finishes by Linus Lawrence [MLB]
The D-backs couldn’t complete their bid for the third NL Wild Card spot, but their veteran third baseman did just about everything he could to will them there. A game after hitting a go-ahead grand slam against the Yankees on Sept. 21, he finished a triple shy of the cycle at Coors Field on Tuesday to commence the ninth Player of the Week campaign of his career. Over the Snakes’ final six games in Colorado and San Diego, Arenado went 10-for-23 (.435) with three homers, two doubles and 5 RBIs.
With a two-run home run in San Diego on Friday, the 35-year-old notched his eighth 30-homer season and his first since 2022 with the Cardinals. The only players with more 30-homer seasons as primary third basemen are Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt (12) and Eddie Mathews (10).
Around the League
What you need to know about the Wild Card Series matchups [MLB]
(5) Cubs at (4) Padres
Season series: The Cubs went 5-1 against the Padres in 2026, taking two of three in late April at Petco Park and sweeping a three-game set from June 29-July 1 at Wrigley Field. The final contest between the two clubs was a 23-3 Chicago rout.
Postseason history: This is a rematch of the 2025 NL Wild Card Series, which featured the Cubs and Padres squaring off at Wrigley Field. The Cubs pulled out the win in a tense, low-scoring series, winning Game 1 and Game 3 by identical scores of 3-1 around a 3-0 loss in Game 2.
Keys to the matchup: This series likely hinges on whether the Padres’ starting pitchers can safely deliver leads to their bullpen. With Bradgley Rodriguez, Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller on the back end, San Diego has a strong chance of holding onto any late edge. But can Michael King, Nick Pivetta (recently returned from a lengthy injury absence) and Co. hold down the Cubs’ offense? Chicago leads MLB in OPS at .765 and leads the NL with 218 home runs, so it won’t be an easy task for Padres pitching. Cubs starters have had their own issues, though — the rotation’s 4.27 ERA is tied for 18th in MLB — and Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill are among the key Padres hitters getting hot at the right time.
Best 2026 World Series matchups for every type of MLB fan by David Schoenfield[ESPN]
If you want long-suffering fanbases to feel joy: Guardians vs. Padres
The San Diego Padres haven’t won a World Series since joining the NL in 1969 and have been knocking on the door since 2020, making the playoffs five times in seven seasons — but their fans’ suffering is nothing compared to that of the Cleveland Guardians‘ fans. Cleveland hasn’t won the World Series since 1948, the longest drought in the majors.
If we do get this matchup, one request: Both teams must wear 1970s throwback uniforms for one game. The same game. And we mean the Guardians wearing those all-red uniforms they wore from 1975 to 1977 and the Padres wearing those mustard yellow uniforms they wore in 1972 and 1973. It would be the all-time ugly uniform matchup … and absolutely glorious.
The Clash of the Craigs: Padres vs. Cubs NL Wild Card Series Preview by Davy Andrews [FanGraphs]
Thanks to the nor’easter dumping rain up and down the Eastern Seaboard, the Cubs have traveled from Chicago to Boston to St. Petersburg and finally all the way across the country to San Diego in the past five days, but they don’t sound daunted by the challenge. “Just tell us where to play,” manager Craig Counsell told reporters on Friday. “We’ll show up and play.” Well, on Tuesday, the Padres and Cubs face off in the Wild Card Series between the National League’s top two non-division winners. Both teams have plenty of offense, a great defense, and some question marks on the mound. You’re playing in San Diego, Craig. Get yourself one of those burritos with French fries in it and get to the ballpark.
The other Craig – that would be Padres manager Craig Stammen – is in his first season skippering a major league club. Or any club, for that matter. You could view his inexperience as a liability, or you could view his long, recent playing career as a reliever as a tactical advantage for pulling the right bullpen strings in a short series. Either way, you should also probably get yourself a California-style burrito before the game, Other Craig. They’re so good.
Rays Outright Jake Woodford by Darragh McDonald [MLB Trade Rumors]
The Rays have sent right-hander Jake Woodford outright to Triple-A Durham, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. That indicates he cleared waivers after being designated for assignment last week.
It’s not a surprise that Woodford cleared. He has been an innings-eating journeyman for a long time now. Teams mostly add him to the roster when they want to spare their other arms from being overworked. Dating back to the start of 2023, Woodford has pitched for the Cardinals, White Sox, Pirates, Diamondbacks, Brewers, Cubs and Rays, posting a combined earned run average of 7.00 across 146 2/3 innings. Woodford wouldn’t be postseason eligible with any claiming club and the regular season is done, so there are no more innings that need eating.
