Athletics outfielder Zack Gelof has filed a lawsuit against the Detroit Tigers, Ilitch Holdings and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority for damages after his right knee slammed into a Comerica Park fence during a game last summer.

“We are aware of the lawsuit and do not comment on pending litigation,” the Tigers said in a statement on Tuesday.

Gelof was hurt in the third inning of a 4-1 loss to the Tigers on July 9 while making a sliding catch in foul territory and colliding with a metal fence. The 26-year-old infielder immediately grabbed his knee in obvious pain, a tear in his uniform pants showed where his leg made contact with the fence. He was left with a deep cut under his right knee cap, just missing the tendon, and didn’t play again until Aug. 10.

“This injury could have easily been prevented through the most basic and inexpensive design,” said Gelof’s attorney, Jon Marko. “It doesn’t take a stadium design expert to realize that sharp metal fencing in an area where players are required to slide and play around is a recipe for disaster like the one that occurred here.

“All they had to do was put cheap padding up like they did after Zack was injured and this entire incident could have been avoided. My son’s little league diamond is safer.”

Gelof hit .256 with 22 homers and 55 RBIs — both career highs — in 111 games during his fourth season. The A’s finished the season 64-98, putting them ahead of only the Los Angeles and the Colorado Rockies in the majors.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Welcome to “In The Pocket” — my opportunity to take you on a tour around college football and highlight the quarterbacks driving the conversation across the sport.

This week, I’m taking a look at some of the quarterbacks who are back for another season of college football, but wearing different uniforms: same faces, new places. These are signal-callers who have already proven they can play at this level, and now they’re making an impact at their new schools.

Whether you like it or not, the transfer portal is here to stay. But some of the sport’s top signal-callers are proving that sometimes, a fresh start is exactly what a quarterback needs.

Same Faces, New Places

Darian Mensah, Miami (FL)

Miami QB Darian Mensah has thrown more touchdown passes (14) than interceptions (12) through four games. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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The former Tulane and Duke signal-caller left Durham, North Carolina, for greener pastures in sunny Miami this spring. Former Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck — also a transfer. Notice a trend here? — exhausted his college eligibility, which left a void in the team’s QB room. My guess is it wasn’t just about the money for Mensah, but also the opportunity to showcase his skills for a blue-blood program that gave him the best chance to win a national championship.

Oh, and by the way, it doesn’t hurt to have one of the best wide receivers in the nation to throw the ball to in Malachi Toney. The two have already developed a chemistry that would even make 2 Live Crew jealous.

Mensah’s physical gifts allow him to be a dual-threat quarterback, but he often resists the temptation to scramble, only doing so when necessary. What makes him a true game-changer is his lethal accuracy from the pocket. If there was a component missing from Miami’s offense last season, it was the quarterback’s ability to extend plays. That’s quite the opposite with Mensah. He’s a smooth operator under pressure.

Mensah provides offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson with a veteran presence and the command to utilize the entirety of his playbook. One of the most ridiculous stats to showcase through four weeks of the season is that Mensah currently has more touchdown passes (14) than incompletions (12), and he has yet to throw an interception.

Another notable stat: Mensah has now started 31 games in his collegiate career, which seems to be a theme among recent national championship-winning quarterbacks — Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, Ohio State’s Will Howard and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. In fact, you’d have to go back to former Alabama star Mac Jones in 2020 to find a quarterback with fewer than 20 starts who won a national championship.

Keep in mind, Miami has not played a ranked opponent to date, and it won’t until its clash with my Fighting Irish in November. But that road win over Wake Forest is looking better with each week.

Mensah has all the ability to ace the remaining tests, starting this week when the Hurricanes head to Death Valley looking to build on their 4-0 start to the season.

Sam Leavitt, LSU

LSU QB Sam Leavitt is at his third school in four years with previous stops at Michigan State and Arizona State. (Photo by Derick Hingle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Limited playing time and a head coaching change led Sam Leavitt to initially transfer from Michigan State back to his West Coast roots. He committed to play for Kenny Dillingham and an Arizona State team that was looking for a spark at the quarterback position. In his first year starting, Leavitt led the Sun Devils to a Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoff berth, taking the Texas Longhorns to the wire in the CFP quarterfinals. A disappointing encore, which included a foot injury that required season-ending surgery, opened the door to the Bayou.

Early returns this season have been mixed. Leavitt led the Tigers to a pair of impressive wins over Clemson and Texas A&M, but he threw three picks in the team’s Week 2 win over Louisiana Tech, and then went 16-of-27 for 158 yards with a touchdown and an interception in LSU’s loss to Ole Miss.

When Leavitt is at his best, LSU can beat anyone in the country. The question is, can Charlie Weis Jr. and Lane Kiffin unlock his full potential and get that version of Leavitt every week?

A 6-foot-2, 216-pound junior with flowing locks, Leavitt looks as if he’s casting for a “Remember the Titans” reboot, playing the role of Ronnie “Sunshine” Bass. He has the ability to take off and run, creating a dilemma for defenses and leading to some incredible plays at times. The issue is that he’s often too reliant on his ability to scramble when his first read isn’t there.

I’m always hesitant to be overly critical of a quarterback playing in his first year in a system. There are a lot of moving parts, not to mention he’s still developing chemistry with his receivers. The issue is, there seems to be a pattern dating back to Leavitt’s time at Arizona State. When he gets pressured or the game is moving too fast, he looks to escape the pocket instead of keeping his eyes downfield and working through his next read.

This past week was a better example of the ceiling Leavitt can offer. He was efficient, took what the defense gave him, got the ball out on time and delivered it to the right read. The offensive staff clearly coached up the mistakes from the previous two weeks, when Leavitt seemed hesitant to pull the trigger. He threw with anticipation and demonstrated why so many were high on him as a transfer quarterback and as a potential NFL Draft prospect.

The small things, like stepping up in the pocket and keeping his eyes downfield, allow the Tigers’ offense to take shape. Leavitt’s connection with Winston Watkins Jr. is evident and should only get better as the season continues. There won’t be much to take away from this week’s matchup with McNeese State, but it does give Leavitt another opportunity to develop a rhythm and get more comfortable in this system.

Dylan Raiola, Oregon

Oregon QB Dylan Raiola threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns in the Ducks’ Week 4 win over USC. (Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

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The best backup quarterback in college football has to get some love after stepping in for an injured Dante Moore at a crucial moment and leading the Ducks to a huge win in the Coliseum. The former Nebraska quarterback transferred to Oregon knowing he would back up Moore in 2026, with the idea that the Ducks would be better positioned to compete for championships and help improve his NFL draft stock after a lackluster couple of years with the Cornhuskers. At the end of the day, it may be a blessing in disguise for both.

Raiola is now needed in a big way for an Oregon team with national championship aspirations after Dante Moore made the surprising decision to return for another year. Moore’s status is now in question after taking a brutal hit to the head from USC LB Desman Stephens II. Head coach Dan Lanning has stated that Moore is “doing much better” and in “recovery mode,” but the Ducks are being cautious with his return. Oregon has a bye before taking on one of the surprises in the Big Ten this season: a 4-0, Top 25-ranked UCLA team.

Raiola’s arm talent has never been in question. The concern was throwing off balance when it wasn’t necessary. It’s a small sample size, but it appears that the issue has been addressed, with Raiola only utilizing that ability when necessary.

What makes Raiola special, besides his arm talent, is his vision downfield. He processes at a level that allows him to anticipate windows and stretch the field vertically while also knowing when to check the ball down. We may not see him for a while after this past week’s win, but when we do, the Duck won’t miss a beat.

One Name To Know …

Kamario Taylor, Mississippi State

Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor leads all SEC QBs with 14 touchdowns through four games. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

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Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor came into the season as an under-the-radar quarterback, but that has quickly changed. The true sophomore signal-caller has led the Bulldogs to a spot in the AP Top 25 Poll for the first time since the end of the 2022 season.

The Macon, Mississippi, product is the next phenom in college football, standing at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, and blessed with the type of athleticism that makes opposing defensive coordinators sleepless at night. Somehow, his smooth release generates more RPMs than a Dodge Challenger. 

After a true freshman season in which he didn’t see much playing time until the final weeks, Taylor has led his team to a perfect 4-0 record this season, including road wins over Minnesota and South Carolina and a top-25 upset of Missouri last week. If that didn’t get your attention, maybe this week will.

The Bulldogs host No. 7 Alabama, and Taylor will go head-to-head with another top quarterback from the 2025 recruiting class in Keelon Russell. Given the porous pass defenses on both sides, this game should have all the fireworks and splash plays that leave us clamoring for more — and NFL teams salivating while having to wait until the 2028 NFL Draft. Enjoy!

What I’m Watching …

I could give you a list of games that have my attention this weekend, but one off the beaten path that deserves consideration is the surprising, undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats heading to Tucson to take on a 3-1 Arizona team that suffered a tough road loss to BYU earlier this season.

Arizona may be more spoiler than contender in the Big 12 this season, but quarterback Noah Fifita is always a pleasure to watch. The four-year starter is off to another solid start, leading the Big 12 in completion percentage, tied for the lead in touchdown passes and third in passing yards.

On the other side is Cincinnati transfer quarterback JC French IV, who arrived from Georgia Southern. Another quarterback who has assimilated well, French has helped fill a huge hole left behind by Brendan Sorsby. French has been the consummate pro this season. A three-year starter who has yet to throw an interception and is completing almost 75% of his passes, he has complete command of the offense.

Look for some big plays downfield in this game.

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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is leaving little doubt that he believes errors in game management by his coaching staff in the final seconds of a 34-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens cost his team the victory.

Speaking on his radio show Tuesday, Jones was asked what explanations there were for leaving enough seconds on the clock after a tying field goal for a defensive breakdown to put the Ravens in position for the winning kick.

“There is no explanation you’re satisfied with. None,” Jones said. “Let’s be sure that we all understand that. They [coaches] don’t have one that they’re satisfied with. We made mistakes during that time. There’s no question about it. So there is no explanation. But there’s an evaluation of how not to make the same mistakes again.”

Trailing 31-28, the Cowboys had a first down at the Baltimore 2-yard line with 23 seconds left when Dak Prescott threw incomplete into the end zone.

After a false-start penalty against tight end Luke Schoonmaker, Prescott scrambled to the Baltimore 5, and coach Brian Schottenheimer called his final timeout with 14 seconds remaining.

The Cowboys are 8-11-1 under head coach Brian Schottenheimer. (Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images)

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The coach, who is also the playcaller, instructed Prescott to either throw a quick out to wide receiver George Pickens or throw the ball away, based on the amount of time left, with no ability to stop the clock. Prescott didn’t wait long to choose the throwaway, and the play lasted just four seconds.

There were seven seconds remaining after Brandon Aubrey’s field goal, and the Dallas defense left a gap at just about the exact spot of the target line for a Baltimore field goal. Lamar Jackson completed a 27-yard pass to Zay Flowers, got the timeout called with a second to go, and Tyler Loop made the 56-yard field goal.

Schottenheimer is in his second season as a head coach after 25 years as an NFL assistant. Christian Parker is a 34-year-old making his debut as a defensive coordinator. Both will be under considerable scrutiny from fans and pundits going forward, and perhaps from their own front office.

“We will be better from this experience that we had with Baltimore and what happened to us at the end of the game,” Jones said. “A win would have given you another way of couching it as far as having growth and enthusiasm for having won a game like that, because we did come back, and we came back in an impressive way. All of that makes us realize we really are just at the beginning of what I hope is an exciting year for us.”

The Cowboys (1-2) got a break in the NFC East when two-time defending champion Philadelphia lost to the Chicago Bears and backup quarterback Case Keenum on Monday night.

Dallas visits the Houston Texans (0-3) Sunday. The New York Giants, who will be without quarterback Jaxson Dart for the rest of the regular season because of a knee injury, are tied with the Eagles atop the division at 2-1.

“We are very much in the hunt, and I say that principally based upon the way I feel about our team, as much or more than what’s happening with the other teams,” Jones said. “Philadelphia has things that they want to work on just as the Giants do, just as we do. It makes you see how health is a factor. Availability is a factor. And we’re just getting started.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Veteran right-hander Joe Musgrove is on the San Diego Padres ‘ roster for their NL Wild Card Series nearly two full years after his most recent appearance in a major league game.

Musgrove was a surprise addition to manager Craig Stammen’s 26-man roster Tuesday before the Padres hosted the Chicago Cubs.

Musgrove hasn’t played for his hometown team since Oct. 2, 2024, when he left the Padres’ clinching Wild Card Series victory over Atlanta with a right elbow injury. He underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the 2025 season, and he subsequently missed the entire 2026 regular season when his recovery progressed much more slowly than expected.

Now 34 years old, Musgrove made four rehab appearances in August, but he said his postgame recoveries continued to be difficult. Musgrove has been throwing in instructional league games this month, and the Padres apparently liked what they saw.

San Diego chose Musgrove for its 11-man postseason pitching staff over several possible candidates, including dependable right-hander Randy Vasquez, lefty reliever Wandy Peralta, trade deadline acquisition Casey Mize and Griffin Canning.

Outfielder Miguel Andújar also was a surprising inclusion on the Padres’ roster. He hasn’t played since July 19 because of a broken wrist, but he took at-bats at Petco Park on Monday.

Ethan Salas, the Padres’ 20-year-old catcher, made the Wild Card Series roster as expected. If Salas plays in this series, he will become the youngest catcher ever to appear in the MLB postseason.

Salas was called up Sept. 1, becoming the youngest player to catch a major league game since Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez in 1991. After a slow start, Salas finished the regular season with 10 hits in his last 24 at-bats.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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New users can join Kalshi before the MLB postseason gets underway in the American League. Use the promo code ‘FOXSPORTS55’ to grab a $55 bonus before first pitch between the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox.

The White Sox enter the best-of-three series with Hagen Smith starting Game 1 against Houston’s A.J. Blubaugh.

Chicago returns to the postseason for the first time since 2021 with a 84-78 record, while Houston finished 81-81 but won the AL West. The Astros won five of seven regular-season meetings between the teams, with Yordan Alvarez leading Houston after hitting 42 home runs and 106 RBIs.

Chicago’s home run leader, Minetaka Murakami, finished with 35 homers and 77 RBIs.

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Astros vs. White Sox Wild Card Schedule

Tuesday, Sept. 29
Game 1: White Sox @ Astros (5 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)

Wednesday, Sept. 30
Game 2: White Sox @ Astros (5 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)

Thursday, Oct. 1
Game 3: White Sox @ Astros (5 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock, if necessary)

   White Sox And Astros Team Stats

Houston has a 39-42 record in home games and an 81-81 record overall. The Astros have the fourth-best team slugging percentage in the majors at .418.

Chicago has a 36-45 record in road games and an 84-78 record overall. White Sox pitchers have a collective 4.13 ERA, which ranks eighth in the AL.

The teams meet Tuesday for the eighth time this season. The Astros are up 5-2 in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Yordan Alvarez leads the Astros with 42 home runs while slugging .601. Jeremy Pena is 15 for 47 with a double, a triple, three home runs and seven RBIs over the past 10 games.

Miguel Vargas has 33 home runs, 101 walks and 93 RBIs while hitting .250 for the White Sox. Chase Meidroth is 15 for 37 with four doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 5-5, .277 batting average, 3.33 ERA, outscored opponents by 22 runs

White Sox: 7-3, .256 batting average, 4.15 ERA, outscored opponents by 22 runs

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The verdict has been delivered in the seismic case between the Premier League and Manchester City.

City was found guilty of nearly all of the 115 financial charges laid by the Premier League, the competition said Tuesday in an explosive statement.

City faces a severe punishment, potentially even expulsion from the world’s most popular league, but has vowed to appeal.

Here is a timeline of events in one of the biggest scandals in English soccer history:

2018

November — German outlet Der Spiegel publishes internal emails from City which it claimed detailed schemes by the club to allegedly cover up true sources of income in a bid to comply with financial fair play regulations. 

The information published by Der Spiegel was unearthed by the “Football Leaks” website, whose founder is Rui Pinto — a Portuguese computer hacker. City did not dispute the authenticity of any emails but said it would not be providing comment on “out-of-context materials purportedly hacked or stolen from City Football Group and Manchester City personnel and associated people.” 

City said it is an “organized and clear” attempt to damage its reputation. UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, starts to conduct a review of the case, which also sparks a Premier League investigation.

2019

March 7 — As Der Spiegel continues to publish internal City documents from “Football Leaks,” UEFA opens a formal investigation into whether the club violated financial rules. City says it welcomes the opening of the investigation, adding it is “an opportunity to bring to an end the speculation resulting from the illegal hacking and out-of-context publication of City emails.”

May 14 — City says the club has provided “comprehensive proof” that it did not break financial regulations and that the accusations are “entirely false.” It came as reports say City has not been cooperating with investigators and is facing a one-season ban from the Champions League for violating financial monitoring rules.

2020

Feb. 14 — City is banned from the Champions League for two seasons by UEFA for “serious breaches” of spending rules and failing to cooperate with investigators. City also is fined 30 million euros (then $33 million). City says UEFA’s investigation was “flawed” and announces plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

July 13 — City successfully overturns its ban from the Champions League after CAS upholds the club’s appeal, saying some UEFA allegations were not proven and others were “time-barred.” CAS imposes a 10 million euro ($11.3 million) fine on City for failing to cooperate with independent investigators.

2023

Feb. 6 — City is referred to an independent commission by the Premier League, which alleges more than 100 breaches of financial rules by the club. City is accused of providing misleading information about its finances from 2009-18 and a subsequent failure to co-operate with the league’s investigation. City says it is “surprised” by the allegations and claims there is a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” to counter the allegations.

May 24 — City wins the Premier League for a fifth time in six seasons and manager Pep Guardiola says he wants the financial charges to be dealt with “as soon as possible.”

Sept. 11 — Rui Pinto is given a suspended prison sentence of four years after being convicted by a Lisbon court of nine crimes: five counts of unauthorized entry into computer systems, three counts of intercepting correspondence for accessing emails, and one count of attempted extortion. During his trial, Pinto admitted to being behind the information published on the website that was set up in 2015 but argued he is a whistleblower, not a criminal.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, stepped down from his position this May after 10 years at the helm. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

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2024

Sept. 16 — An independent commission, comprising three judges, begins the hearing into the Premier League charges against City at a secret location in London.

Dec. 6 — The hearing ends after 12 weeks, with no announcement over the expected date for the verdict.

2026

Sept. 25 — The Athletic reports that City has been found guilty of all but one of the charges laid by the Premier League.

Sept. 29 — The Premier League releases the verdict of the independent commission, confirming City is guilty of “all charges related to the serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period and the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the league’s investigation.” 

The league says the commission found that City “clearly intended to circumvent” the financial rules with what it described as “sham” contracts whose purpose were “found to have been to artificially inflate the club’s revenues, and reduce its costs, by more than £900 million.” City says it is innocent and will be “relentless” as the club pursues avenues to appeal.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Depth over the marathon of a 162-game season helped 12 teams reach the postseason. Now, it’s the stars and standouts who will take center stage. 

Here are the 26 players who will define the 2026 MLB playoffs, whether through their talent, their storylines entering October, their importance to their clubs or all of the above. 

In other words, here are the people we will remember — for better or worse: 

The most valuable all-around player in baseball this season, Crow-Armstrong did it all for the Cubs in a 40-40 season. It was, by fWAR, the best season by a Cubs player since Rogers Hornsby in 1929. He personifies the Cubs, who had the highest OPS and the best defense in the sport this year. They’ll need that defense to mask their pitching concerns. 

He was, without question, the best hitter in baseball this year, leading all qualified players in every slash line category. And he was, without question, the reason the Astros made it to the playoffs, despite an 81-81 record. The worst playoff team in MLB history will go as far as the AL MVP favorite can carry it. 

Even if he won’t be the MVP of his league for the first time since 2022, the baseball world still revolves around him. Will MLB’s modern marvel get back to looking otherworldly? Or will the injuries to his left knee and right biceps continue to make him look like a shell of himself at the plate? More than anything else, Ohtani’s health will have the biggest impact on a potential Dodgers three-peat.

Yes, he throws incredibly hard. Historically so. But Misiorowski, who’s learning how to harness his extraordinary stuff, is more than the novice flamethrower he was a year ago. He cut his walk rate nearly in half from his rookie season while leading all qualified starters in strikeouts, strikeout rate, ERA and WHIP and surrendering the lowest batting average in MLB history, transforming into the best pitcher in baseball while becoming arguably the most important piece to the Brewers’ World Series hopes. 

That Caminero even made the AL MVP conversation a debate speaks to what an exceptional talent he is. On a Tampa Bay team built for contact and speed, he is the exception. Caminero led the Rays with 42 homers — 20 more than the next closest players on the team (Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Díaz each hit 22). The Rays will be relying on Caminero’s power to make a deep run. 

It’s not a coincidence that the Padres had the worst offense in MLB before the break and one of the best in the second half. Tatis didn’t hit his first home run until May 30 and had just three homers through his first 82 games; then he blasted 22 homers over his next 72 games. Meanwhile, after a slow start, the Padres posted the best record in MLB from July 24 through season’s end. The Padres will go as Tatis goes. 

Rotation depth is the biggest concern on Atlanta’s roster entering the postseason. There’s a lot riding on the success of their ace, Sale, who ranked third in MLB in ERA and recorded 200 strikeouts at 37 years old. 

Surprise, surprise: The Dodgers won the sweepstakes for the best pitcher available at the deadline. Was it worth it? That will all depend on how much the reigning back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner helps them over the next month. 

Contreras is right up there with Alvarez as one of the most important hitters in baseball to his team’s success this season. That’s not hyperbole. Contreras finished the year with a 151 wRC+, a tally that ranked third in MLB behind only Alvarez and Crow-Armstrong. The next closest qualified Red Sox hitter was Wilyer Abreu at 112. Needless to say, his health after getting hit by a pitch on the hand a couple weeks ago will be something to monitor.

Harper wasn’t pleased last October when Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski questioned if the two-time MVP would be elite again. He claimed Dombrowski’s comments wouldn’t serve as motivation, but a year later, you have to wonder if those words still stick with him. The Phillies, who had the lowest OPS in the National League in September, need him to be an impact player. 

 It’s not October yet, but Bregman’s face looked more like a Halloween mask after he got hit by a foul ball on Sept. 20.  Despite suffering facial fractures, he was back in the lineup days later. And in the regular season finale, a week after the incident, he went 4-for-4 with two home runs. Bregman was the best hitter in baseball in the season’s second half, and that performance erased any doubts about what he might be able to do going forward. 

He didn’t make the wild-card roster after straining his calf, so he can’t be top 10 on this list. But could he be back for the ALDS if the Yankees advance? And if he is, what version will the Yankees get? They were 41-25 with Judge in the lineup and 52-43 when he wasn’t. Obviously, the health and availability of the three-time MVP will be one of the biggest storylines of the postseason. 

Is there a pitcher in October you trust more with in a must-win game or series? It’ll be fascinating to see how he builds on his postseason reputation after his heroics last October — he pitched back-to-back complete games in Game 2 of the NLCS and Game 2 of the World Series, then pitched on consecutive days in Games 6 and 7 of the World Series — earned him World Series MVP honors. 

Schlittler announced his presence on a national stage last October with 12 strikeouts in eight scoreless innings against the Red Sox. A year later, he has proven himself as the best pitcher in the American League as he gets set to face Boston in the postseason once again. He’s the star of a Yankees rotation that will be their key to a deep run. 

Limited again by injury, Acuña had a largely forgettable 2026 season…until late August. Over his final 26 games, Acuña slashed .337/.393/.604 with seven homers and six doubles, looking like a superstar once again. After missing the postseason during Atlanta’s 2021 World Series run and again during the 2024 wild-card series, he might be especially motivated to demonstrate what he can do on the biggest stage. 

Arguably MLB’s biggest All-Star snub, Turang launched 21 homers, knocked in 100 runs and stole 19 bases this season. By fWAR, he was the fifth-most valuable position player in the sport. After a knee issue sapped much of his power in August, he bounced back in September to slash .361/.475/.602 in the season’s final month. While Milwaukee didn’t do much to change their offense after last year’s NLCS disappointment, Turang’s ascension as a star talent is a big reason why this year’s team might be different. 

 He’s the best reliever in baseball, and he pitches on the best bullpen in the sport. The Padres will need Miller and their relief group to be electric, given the concerns in their rotation. 

The Red Sox paid a massive price to make the surprise deal of the deadline, sending three of their top prospects to Baltimore to acquire Rutschman. He’ll need to be a difference-maker for Boston to make that price worth it. After a rough August (.500 OPS), he certainly looked like a player who could swing a game or a series in September (.845).

Is it fair to put Messick, Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana all in one spot? Well, I make the rules here. Messick will get Rookie of the Year consideration and down-ballot Cy Young votes. DeLauter will also likely find himself on some Rookie of the Year ballots. Whatever happens to Cleveland over the next month, their rookies will play a significant role. 

 It’s hard to know what to expect from Jesus Luzardo, who hasn’t made a full start since Sept. 7. Zack Wheeler, meanwhile, started Sunday in the regular season finale, putting his wild-card availability into question. The Phillies’ rotation should be its biggest strength, but that will only be the case if Sánchez looks like the Cy Young contender he was all season. 

King was the lone source of stability in the Padres’ volatile rotation. They’ll need his innings and dependability in the postseason to make sure their elite bullpen doesn’t get overworked. 

The Red Sox scored the fewest runs in MLB in September. If Contreras doesn’t look like himself at the plate after hurting his hand last month, they’ll need someone else to step up. Anthony, who missed nearly four months, had an OPS over 1.000 over his last eight games of the season and has the talent to be that star. 

The most valuable player on the team this year was Miguel Vargas. But the one who could decide how far they go? That might be Murakami, who led the White Sox with 35 homers in 127 games but also had the second-highest strikeout rate among all qualified MLB hitters. The former NPB star personifies Chicago’s all-or-nothing offense. If Murakami and Colson Montgomery launch balls out of Daikin Park, the White Sox could move on. If they struggle to put the ball in play, Chicago’s magical summer won’t continue deep into autumn. 

No Judge in the wild-card series means the Yankees need to find their power elsewhere. Rice, who hit 41 home runs this season, is their best source of it. Will they get the guy who had a .948 OPS in May, a .947 OPS in July and a 1.055 OPS in September? Or the guy who had a .657 OPS in June and a .641 OPS in August? 

The Brewers decided to hold onto Henderson at the deadline rather than include him in a potential Skubal deal. He rewarded them with a 2.22 ERA over 11 second-half starts. Given the uncertainty in the Brewers’ rotation after Misiorowski, Henderson’s success this October will be critical for Milwaukee. 

Tucker was a league-average hitter this season in the first year of a four-year, $240 million contract in Los Angeles. It was mostly a disaster. But he started to look like a difference-maker down the stretch, slashing .333/.406/.667 with five homers over his final 17 games. If he helps the Dodgers three-peat, it will wipe away the stench of his previous six months of mediocrity. 

(Honorable mention) Tyler Mahle, SP, Atlanta Braves: The Braves need a starting pitcher they can trust after Sale. Their options are limited and could be their downfall. Mahle, who had a 1.99 ERA in nine starts after getting traded to Atlanta at the deadline, is their best hope to eat up innings.

Also worth mentioning: Kyle Schwarber (DH, Philadelphia Phillies), Drew Rasmussen (SP, Tampa Bay Rays), Miguel Vargas (3B, Chicago White Sox), Hunter Brown (SP, Houston Astros), Jackson Chourio (OF, Milwaukee Brewers), Payton Tolle (SP, Boston Red Sox), Jackson Merrill (OF, San Diego Padres), Bryan Baker (RP, Tampa Bay Rays), Mookie Betts (SS, Los Angeles Dodgers), Drake Baldwin (C, Atlanta Braves), George Lombard Jr. (SS, New York Yankees), Didier Fuentes (RP, Atlanta Braves), Ethan Salas (C, San Diego Padres)

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South Carolina star pass rusher Dylan Stewart may not return to the field again this season for the Gamecocks.

Since officials missed the incident live, Stewart avoided ejection during Saturday’s loss to Alabama. However, the SEC and South Carolina have since issued a joint one-game suspension after a review confirmed Stewart threw multiple punches at Crimson Tide tight end Josh Ford.

Following the incident, head coach Shane Beamer suspended Stewart indefinitely. While Stewart has not been permanently dismissed from the football program , his return remains unknown at this point.

When asked by reporters about Stewart’s timeline, Beamer declined to say when—or if—the pass rusher would return to the team.

“No, he’s not with the team right now,” Beamer said. “And to answer your question and [as for] Jordan’s question, his role or involvement on this team will be decided going forward by me. But right now, he’s not with the football team this week.”

Stewart is projected as a top-10 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and may have played his final game in a Gamecocks uniform. Across his three seasons with the program, he has put up impressive production, recording 57 tackles, 11 sacks, and six forced fumbles.

While Beamer has had his struggles at South Carolina, landing Stewart was one of the program’s biggest recruiting wins. According to 247Sports, Stewart was a five-star recruit in 2024, ranking among the top 20 prospects nationally and coming in as the No. 2 edge rusher in his class.

Sitting 0-2 in SEC play and 2-2 overall entering Week 5, South Carolina is under mounting pressure. To avoid the hot seat, Beamer’s defining decision may come down to whether he welcomes a player of Stewart’s caliber back.

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The Chicago White Sox got some extra encouragement from a familiar fan before their playoff opener.

Ahead of their AL Wild Card Series game against the Houston Astros, the team announced that a letter from Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native and White Sox fan, arrived at Rate Field on Tuesday.

“Earlier today, a letter from Pope Leo XIV arrived at Rate Field. Go White Sox!” the team posted on X.

The letter, addressed to White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and dated Sept. 9 from the Vatican, thanks Reinsdorf for a note he sent following the Aug. 11 game at Rate Field. Leo wrote that he was “most grateful for this thoughtful gesture.”

The pope also tied the team to a message about sports from his Feb. 6 letter, “Life in Abundance,” in which he wrote that sport can be “a school of life.” He said he hopes the White Sox “will continue to foster bonds of friendship and solidarity among people.”

“With these sentiments, I willingly invoke the almighty’s abundant blessings upon you and your loved ones,” Leo wrote.

The letter comes days after Leo, asked whether he had a hand in Chicago’s postseason berth, answered “No comment,” adding that “great things happen in Chicago.” Chicago clinched its first playoff appearance since 2021 with a win over the Kansas City Royals on Sept. 24. 

Last month, the White Sox held a Pope Leo-themed cap giveaway and later sent the hat to the pope, who took a picture with it.

Leo became the Pope in May 2025. At the time, there was raging debate among Chicago baseball fans over whether Pope Leo, who’s from Chicago, was a Cubs fan or a White Sox fan. 

After some debate between the north and the south sides of Chicago, a picture surfaced of Pope Leo wearing a White Sox hat at the 2005 World Series, which was the team’s last championship win.

However, the Pope might have brought some luck to both sides of the rivalry as the Cubs also qualified for the postseason in the NL. The last both teams reached the playoffs were in 1906, 2008 and the expanded field in 2020. The 1906 season was the only in which there was a Windy City World Series, with the White Sox beating the Cubs.

The White Sox open game 1 of the AL Wild Card series in Houston against the Astros on Tuesday.

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The Braves and Phillies have become familiar postseason opponents, and they’re set to meet again in the NL wild-card round.

Atlanta enters as a slight favorite, but the odds suggest a close series between the NL East rivals.

Let’s check out the series odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 29, along with what to know about the matchup.

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NL Wild Card: Braves vs. Phillies

   Series Winner

Braves: -310 (bet $10 to win $13.23 total)
Phillies: +240 (bet $10 to win $34 total)

   Correct Score

Braves win 2-0: +210 (bet $10 to win $31 total)
Phillies win 2-1: +225 (bet $10 to win $32.50 total)
Braves win 2-1: +290 (bet $10 to win $39 total)
Phillies win 2-0: +380 (bet $10 to win $48 total)

   Game 1 — ATL 5, PHI 3

Spread: Braves -1.5 (ATL covers)
Moneyline: Braves -192, Phillies +158 (ATL wins)
O/U: 6.5 (Over hits)

   Game 2 (Sept. 30)

Spread: Phillies -1.5 (+148), Braves +1.5 (-180)
Moneyline: Phillies -121, Braves +100
O/U: 7

Here’s what to know about the Braves-Phillies odds:

Season Series: The Braves won the regular-season series against the Phillies 9-4, outscoring them 66-43 across 13 games. Atlanta swept a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park in April, then took two of three at Truist Park the following week. The teams split four games in Philadelphia in early September before the Braves won two of three in Atlanta to close the head-to-head schedule. Atlanta finished 5-2 in Philadelphia and 4-2 at home.

Game 1: Talk about a hot start to the postseason. In the first playoff game of the year, Atlanta and Philadelphia did not disappoint. After the Braves took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth, off an Ozzie Albies RBI triple, J.T. Realmuto returned the favor for Philly, hitting his own triple in the top of the seventh that drove in two runs, giving the Phillies a 3-2 lead. Realmuto was almost the hero of the day, but Austin Riley must have had other thoughts, because he hit a 3-run homer in the bottom of the eighth that put the Braves in front for good. Game 2 is set for Wednesday in Atlanta.

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