• This year’s Braves outfield looks much different than the one that helped them win a World Series last year. But with Ronald Acuña Jr. and Eddie Rosario back to doing what they do, it appears the Atlanta outfielders might once again be a group of difference makers.
• The Cardinals feel they are an infinitely better team when Paul DeJong is starting at shortstop and thriving at the plate. Case in point: His go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning to beat the Yankees.
• In the best start of his Phillies tenure, Kyle Gibson carried a perfect game into the seventh inning as Philadelphia won for the eighth time in nine games, improving to a season-high 10 games over .500.
• Julio Rodríguez is set to test his right wrist by swinging a bat this weekend and could be back in the lineup next week. Learn more about the Mariners phenom’s recovery and other injury updates.
The regular season is wonderful. But let’s not kid ourselves: Ultimately, you’ve got to get yourself in the playoffs. That’s where the magic happens. October is what it’s all about.
But you’ve got to get in. No team has clinched a playoff spot, but four seem to be locks to make the postseason. Which means there are eight spots open for 14 teams: the Blue Jays, Braves, Brewers, Cardinals, Giants, Guardians, Mariners, Orioles, Padres, Phillies, Rays, Red Sox, Twins and White Sox.
That means six of these teams aren’t going to make it. And a lot of these teams really need to make the playoffs. Thus, with two months left, we take a look at the Playoff Urgency Rankings, weighing just how much these 14 teams need to make the postseason this year.
Elly De La Cruz has made a habit of showing up on highlight reels with his tape-measure home runs, but his latest dinger allowed him to showcase a pair of other tools — speed and creativity.
Listen to the inaugural episode of “Fielding Questions,” a podcast in which hosts Sarah Langs and Mandy Bell share their love of the game by tackling the mysteries of our national pastime.