Top News:
Paul Casella / MLB.com:
4 big takeaways from the Phillies-Braves back-and-forth WC opener — ATLANTA — What started as a Game 1 pitchers' duel devolved into a back-and-forth battle of clutch hits and wild moments on Tuesday afternoon at Truist Park. — Austin Riley ultimately got the last — and biggest …
Discussion:
USA Today, The Athletic, sports.yahoo.com and The Good Phight
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Ty Daubert / Phillies Nation:
Playoff mailbag: How long can Jesús Luzardo go for Phillies in Game 1? Could bench bat play a role after months in minors?
Discussion:
The Philadelphia Inquirer, USA Today, The Good Phight, sports.yahoo.com, The Athletic and BaseballNow.com
Jesús Cano / The Athletic:
Braves Bulletin: JR Ritchie another option as postseason pitching picture takes shape
Discussion:
sports.yahoo.com, Forbes and Battery Power
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Phillies put tumultuous week behind them to punch playoff ticket
Discussion:
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Battery Power, Crossing Broad, New York Post, Yahoo Sports and Phillies Nation
Jaylon Thompson / Kansas City Star:
Alec Zumwalt out as KC Royals hitting coach, reassigned to new role: Reports — Key Takeaways — AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom. — The Royals reassigned hitting coach Alex Zumwalt to a different role Tuesday. — Zumwalt will keep his directorial role next season but leave on-field coaching.
Discussion:
Royals Review, MLB Trade Rumors and Yahoo Sports
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Jaylon Thompson / Kansas City Star:
‘It was failure’: Royals lament 2026 season that fell short of expectations — Key Takeaways — AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom. — Pasquantino called the 2026 season a failure after KC missed the playoffs. — Injuries ravaged the pitching staff and exposed major bullpen problems.
Jaylon Thompson / Kansas City Star:
Michael Wacha reaches career milestone, but Royals fall to Guardians at The K
Discussion:
MLB.com
Patrick Mooney / The Athletic:
Matthew Boyd will start Game 1 for the Cubs. Everything else is TBD. — SAN DIEGO — As Kevin Gausman deals with a lingering shoulder issue, the Chicago Cubs will start Matthew Boyd in Game 1 of their best-of-three Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
Discussion:
cubsinsider.com, Chicago Sun Times, MLB.com, Yahoo Sports, Gaslamp Ball, Sports Mockery, BaseballNow.com and On Tap Sports Net
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Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Padres pummel Cubs behind Tatis' leadoff blast, King's gem in Game 1 — SAN DIEGO — In the wake of a mad dash that took him from a stolen-base attempt to scoring from second on a throw that landed in shallow left-center field, Fernando Tatis Jr. felt he might pass out as he made his way through the dugout in Tuesday's seventh inning.
Discussion:
MLB.com, FanGraphs Baseball, Bleacher Report, sports.yahoo.com, Sportsnet.ca, New York Post and Sports Mockery
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
MLB playoff bracket: The 12 teams fighting for a World Series title — The MLB playoffs are set to begin. First up, the wild card round. — Everything starts with postseason quadruple-headers on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the action doesn't stop until the final out of the World Series.
Discussion:
The Ringer and Yahoo Sports
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Jon Krawczynski / The Athletic:
Karl-Anthony Towns had the last laugh. And he's not done smiling yet — NEW YORK — Karl-Anthony Towns stepped out of the elevator and walked into a cocktail room at his Manhattan high-rise, a smile of vindication stretching from cheek to cheek. — It was four days after the New York Knicks captured …
Discussion:
New York Post, Bleacher Report and sports.yahoo.com
Barry Jackson / Miami Herald:
Marlins' Bendix dishes on various players, starters in pen. McCullough to return — The Marlins are retaining manager Clayton McCullough and are open to using their starting pitchers in save situations again next season if they're interested in doing that.
Discussion:
MLB.com and MLB Trade Rumors
James Fegan / Chicago Sun Times:
After a prospect path marked by injury, White Sox starter Sean Burke is grateful for postseason opportunity — After being the team's best starting pitcher in the regular season, Burke will get the nod to start Game 2 and attempt to deliver the White Sox to the ALDS.
Discussion:
sports.yahoo.com, FanGraphs Baseball, MLB.com and Bleacher Report
MLB.com:
MLB Gameday: Cubs 0, Padres 8 Final Score (09/29/2026) — Follow MLB results with FREE box scores, pitch-by-pitch strikezone info, and Statcast data for Cubs vs. Padres at Petco Park
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Sportsnet.ca
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Aaron Judge out for AL wild-card series in crushing blow to Yankees — NEW YORK — The New York Yankees will have to survive their American League wild-card series against the Boston Red Sox without Aaron Judge. — The reigning American League MVP will not play in the best-of-three set …
Discussion:
Associated Press, sports.yahoo.com, Sportsnet.ca and New York Post
Brendan Kuty / The Athletic:
This time, Yankees' Cam Schlittler is prepared for social media hate from Boston fans — NEW YORK — This time, Cam Schlittler will be ready. As the American League Wild Card Series nears, the New York Yankees strikeout machine said he expects the social media hate he's frequently experienced …
Discussion:
MLB.com, Yahoo Sports, Bleacher Report and BaseballNow.com
