#wild-card-race

#wild-card-race

Trout chasing 400: belted the 399th home run of his illustrious career last night, placing him just one round-tripper shy of becoming the 59th plate in MLB history to reach the 400 milestone. Trout, currently in a three-way tie with Andres Galarraga and Al Kaline on the all-time leaderboard, is hitting .235/.368/.426 (119 wRC+) and has already secured the tenth 20-homer season of his career (plus 17 homers during the shortened 2020 season).

Almost halfway through September, the 2025 playoff picture is taking shape -- but it might not be as set as it seemed just a couple of weeks ago. No team has secured a postseason berth or even clinched a division, though a number of contenders have more than a 99% chance of making the playoffs. But races that seemed as if they might be over at the end of August are heating up again.

That aside, though, it's at least marginally interesting to think about final win totals that will or won't be sufficient to make the playoffs this year. 86 was the magic number last year for both the Tigers and Royals; the Diamondbacks somehow made the playoffs with 84 wins in 2023. In the inaugural season of this stupid playoff system, it was again 86 wins, in benefit of the Rays.

The Royals placed starter Michael Wacha on the seven-day concussion injured list before tonight's game against the Guardians. The move is retroactive to September 8. Jonathan India is back after a minimal 10-day IL stay for a sprained wrist as the corresponding move. Wacha was injured in an off-field accident, manager Matt Quatraro told reporters (including MLB.com's Anne Rogers). The Royals believe it's a minor issue but it will cost him at least one start.

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza remains uncertain if Kodai Senga will get the ball for the next turn in his rotation, which is supposed to come on Sunday in Cincinnati against the Reds. Everything's on the table, Mendoza said prior to his team's series finale in Detroit against the Tigers. Whether he makes his next start, there's a lot going on right now. We just have to wait and see after we get through today.

Bello (10-6) allowed singles to Ben Rice, Trent Grisham and Austin Wells and permitted four baserunners in his third scoreless start this season and second against the Yankees. After giving up Grisham's hit, the right-hander got Rice to ground into a double play to end the third. Wells was doubled off first in the sixth on a line drive by Grisham.

Mike Trout will miss his second consecutive game due to illness, currently listed as day-to-day, after going 1-for-4 against the Texas Rangers last Thursday.

The Angels have been mired in mediocrity for more than a decade now, despite employing both and Shohei Ohtani at the peak of their powers in that time.

Cleveland doesn't play a single opponent with a winning record between now and July 31, providing a solid opportunity for the Guardians to add more wins and enhance their Wild Card chances.

The Cincinnati Reds have been a sleeper team, currently in fourth place in the National League Central, but only 2 1/2 games back in the Wild Card race at 50-47.

The Giants are 52-45 coming out of the All-Star break and have positioned themselves to at least be in the mix for one of three NL wild-card spots.