{"id":228712,"date":"2025-09-15T12:34:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T12:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/228712\/"},"modified":"2025-09-15T12:34:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T12:34:09","slug":"september-and-everything-after-san-diego-union-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/228712\/","title":{"rendered":"September and everything after \u2013 San Diego Union-Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

Luis Arraez sat at his locker Sunday afternoon as he scrolled through his phone when he came across an MLB-related social media account celebrating the Phillies clinching a spot in the NL\u2019s postseason field. He looked up at the reporter standing nearby and displayed the photo.<\/p>\n

The Brewers had already clinched the first spot in the NL.<\/p>\n

Arraez wondered aloud if a good week in New York would lock up the Padres\u2019 spot.<\/p>\n

Not likely, but perhaps sometime this weekend in Chicago.<\/p>\n

Taking three of four against the Rockies over the weekend improved the Padres\u2019 lead to five games over the Mets, the NL\u2019s current third wild-card and more importantly their lead over the Giants \u2014 the closest team on the outside looking in \u2014 to 6\u00bd games with 12 left on the schedule.<\/p>\n

The Padres can also still catch Cubs, who have a 3\u00bd-game hold on the NL\u2019s top wild-card spot, and have an even better shot of closing the Dodgers\u2019 2\u00bd-game lead in the NL West.<\/p>\n

But one thing at a time, and that begins Tuesday at Citi Field after the off-day.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t wait,\u201d Padres designated hitter Gavin Sheets said. \u201c \u2026 It\u2019s going to be a hostile environment, great environment for baseball and two teams that are going to try to collect as many wins as possible. We\u2019re in a sprint right now. It\u2019s what September baseball is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

1\u00a0\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0 Milwaukee Brewers (91-59, Last week: 1)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first team to clinch a postseason spot, the Brewers begin the penultimate week of the season with a 5\u00bd-game cushion on the Cubs in the NL Central.<\/p>\n

2\u00a0\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0 Philadelphia Phillies (89-61, LW: 2)<\/strong><\/p>\n

With a 12-game lead on the Mets in the NL East, the Phillies\u2019 magic number to clinch the division is down to 1 with two weeks left in the season and they are just two wins behind the Brewers in the race for home-field advantage in the NL.<\/p>\n

3\u00a0\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0 Toronto Blue Jays (87-62, LW: 6)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Only the Phillies (51) have more wins at home than the Blue Jays (50), who have a four-game lead on the Yankees in the AL East and a two-game lead on the Tigers in the race for the AL\u2019s No. 1 seed.<\/p>\n

4\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0 Chicago Cubs (85-64, LW: 4)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Cubs have two weeks to get Kyle Tucker (left calf tightness) back in the lineup and back up to speed for the postseason.<\/p>\n

5\u00a0\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0 New York Yankees (83-66, LW: 3)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Already? Aaron Judge\u2019s 362 homers have passed Joe DiMaggio, placing him fourth in Yankees history, behind Babe Ruth (659), Mickey Mantle (536) and Lou Gehrig (493).<\/p>\n

6 \u00a0\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0 Los Angeles Dodgers (84-65, LW: 8)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now it\u2019s Will Smith\u2019s turn to take a seat on the IL with a bone bruise in his right hand as baseball\u2019s richest team can\u2019t buy a break when it comes to injuries.<\/p>\n

7\u00a0\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0 Detroit Tigers (85-65, LW: 5)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whew: Tarik Skubal exited his start on Friday with side tightness, but all checked out OK and he\u2019s expected to make his next start.<\/p>\n

8\u00a0\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0 Boston Red Sox (82-68, LW: 7)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Garrett Crochet won a must-win game on Sunday and is delivering for the Red Sox in September, adding a strong narrative to very-worthy AL Cy Young credentials (16-5, 2.63 ERA).<\/p>\n

9 \u00a0\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0 Seattle Mariners (82-68, LW: 13)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Catching on: Cal Raleigh\u2019s 43rd homer as a catcher on Sunday passed Javy Lopez\u2019s record for the position (2003), while his 54th for the whole season tied Mickey Mantle (1961) for the most as a switch-hitter.<\/p>\n

10\u00a0\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0 San Diego Padres (82-68, LW: 9)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Taking care of business: The Padres scored nine runs on Sunday in improving to 10-3 this year against the Rockies. Their 95 runs against the 109-loss Rockies are the most by any team against one opponent this season.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The rest<\/p>\n