We head into the final weekend of the 2024 MLB regular season — which might actually leak into Monday now — with playoff spots to be decided and seedings to be determined. There are statistical races up for grabs, historic numbers to reach and the Chicago White Sox improbably trying not to lose more games than the 1962 Mets.
The National League wild-card race has the most intrigue, with three teams fighting for two spots — the Arizona Diamondbacks at 88-71, the New York Mets at 87-70 and the Atlanta Braves a game back at 86-71. This race, of course, was thrown into even more turmoil when the final two games of the Mets-Braves series on Wednesday and Thursday were rained out due to heavy rains from Hurricane Helene in Atlanta, creating a rescheduled doubleheader for Monday. One reason MLB eliminated tiebreaker games a couple of years ago was so there would be no games on Monday before the postseason starts … yet, here we are.
Starting with the series involving those teams , let’s dig into what to watch this weekend.
The good news for the Mets is they control their own destiny: Win and they’re in. Of course, Mets fans can remember two years ago when they had a one-game lead over the Braves with six to play and promptly got swept in a three-game series in Atlanta. The teams ended up tied for the NL East title, but the Braves won it on the tiebreaker, and the Mets were relegated to a wild-card series (which they lost).
The Monday doubleheader also creates the possibility of a travel nightmare for the Mets: They play the Brewers this weekend, head to Atlanta for the doubleheader on Monday, and then could go back to Milwaukee for the start of the wild-card series on Tuesday. Meanwhile, they’ve likely taxed their bullpen just to get into the playoffs andSean Manaea, the Mets’ top starter of late (they’ve won his past eight starts and 15 of his past 17), pitches Friday, which means he wouldn’t be ready to go until Game 2 of the wild-card series.
It does at least look like Francisco Lindor will be back in the lineup. He has just one at-bat since Sept. 13 but was penciled in to hit leadoff before Wednesday’s game was washed out. Rookie Luisangel Acuna has hit well in making his MLB debut in Lindor’s absence, but the Mets will be happy to have their best player back in the fold.
In one sense, though, the Mets caught a break with the rainouts: They would have faced Chris Sale and Max Fried; now they won’t have to. The Brewers are also locked into the 3-seed, so there isn’t any incentive for them to go all out and burn through their best relievers against the Mets over the weekend.
It’s possible the Braves could be eliminated by Monday — for example, if the Royals sweep the Braves while the Mets and Diamondbacks win out. All that unfolding is unlikely, however, and the doubleheader might be played even if it’s just for seeding purposes for the fifth and sixth wild cards.
The rainouts certainly disrupted Atlanta’s pitching rotation. Sale was supposed to start on Wednesday and Fried on Thursday, which would have lined them up for the first two games of the wild-card series. For now, the Braves have announced only that Fried is scheduled to start Friday, with pitchers for Saturday and Sunday still TBA. It seems they’re holding Sale until they absolutely have to use him — preferably in the doubleheader against the Mets, even if that means he won’t be available for the wild-card series. That’s not necessarily a worst-case scenario. Using Sale against the Mets obviously improves the Braves’ chances of getting into the postseason, especially since they have won the past eight games Sale has started. And while they’d have to win the wild-card series without him, that would line him up to start Game 1 of the division series — and make two starts in that best-of-five series.
Michael Harris II has been hot for the Braves recently with an eight-game hitting streak and five straight multihit games in which he has gone 14-for-24 (.583) with three home runs. Ozzie Albies has gone 3-for-19 in his four games back since missing two months with a fractured wrist. However, the switch-hitter is limited to batting from just the right side, although that has been his stronger side throughout his career.
The Braves currently lead the Mets 6-5 in the season series, so that tiebreaker remains up for grabs. There’s certainly a scenario in which the Diamondbacks clinch the fifth seed and the Mets win the first game of the doubleheader, setting up Game 162 between the Mets and Braves to see who gets in — and who goes home.
The important thing to know here is that the Diamondbacks lost the season series to both the Mets and Braves, so they lose out on both a head-to-head tiebreaker and a three-team tiebreaker. Arizona rolls out Merrill Kelly, Jordan Montgomery and Eduardo Rodriguez for the final series of the season, as it has Zac Gallen lined up to start the first game of the playoffs.
Montgomery had been relegated to the bullpen for a spell but has made two starts since returning to the rotation — allowing three runs in each game in short outings of 4⅔ and 4⅓ innings, respectively — so that feels like a quick-hook game and a lot of bullpen work. Rodriguez has a 5.56 ERA in nine starts after missing the first four months. The Diamondbacks didn’t get much this season from their big investments in Montgomery and Rodriguez as free agents, but that can be forgotten if both come up big here.
Arizona’s offense has been on fire in the second half, but the hottest hitter in September has been Eugenio Suarez, who is hitting .341 with eight home runs this month. Ketel Marte missed some time with a sprained ankle, but since coming off the injured list, he has hit .263/.391/.579 in 17 games.
American League wild card
The AL wild-card race has a little more clarity than the NL one, with the Royals and Detroit Tigers both sweeping their midweek series to remain tied for the final two spots and the Twins now three games behind. The Royals hold the tiebreaker over the Tigers, so they get the fifth seed if the two teams end up tied. The Twins do hold the tiebreaker over both the Royals and Tigers, but they’ll need some help to get there. Each team’s season-ending series:
Royals at Braves
White Sox at Tigers
Orioles at Twins
The key for both the Royals and Tigers is wrapping up that playoff spot before Sunday. The Royals have Cole Ragans scheduled to start the final game, and the Tigers would have Tarik Skubal in line, but both teams obviously are hoping they don’t have to use them and can instead have those pitchers ready for Game 1 of the wild-card series.
Battles for the best record and top seed
In the NL: The Los Angeles Dodgers have 95 wins, one more than the Philadelphia Phillies, with the Phillies holding the tiebreaker. The Dodgers finish at Colorado while the Phillies play the Nationals.
In the AL: The New York Yankees have a one game lead over the Cleveland Guardians and hold the tiebreaker. The Yankees host the Pirates (and will face Paul Skenes on Saturday) while the Guardians host the Astros.
Did you think we were done with Ohtani milestones after he cleared 50/50? No way. Ohtani keeps on doing impossible things and is up to 53 home runs and 56 stolen bases. On Thursday night, he also reached 400 total bases. Next up: Maybe he can get to 100 extra base hits, he’s currently at 97. The last time somebody got there was 2001, back when the hitting environment was a little more conducive to big offensive numbers. Indeed, only three players had reached 400 total bases in seasons outside of the 1920/30s and late 1990s/early 2000s: Stan Musial in 1948, Henry Aaron in 1959 and Jim Rice in 1978.
Other statistical races at play
Can Aaron Judge get to 60 home runs? His streak of five straight games with a home run this week suddenly puts 60 back in play after he had that 16-game homerless streak earlier in the month. He’s sitting on 58 home runs while also slugging .708. The last player to slug .700 was Barry Bonds in 2004, and the last AL player to get there was Mark McGwire in 1996. The last player to do so outside of that 1994-2004 window when offense exploded was Ted Williams in 1957.
Oh, and Judge also has a chance at 400 total bases too. He’s sitting on 392.
Sale and Skubal are looking to lock up the pitching Triple Crown in their respective leagues — leading in wins, ERA and strikeouts (the last pitcher to do it was Shane Bieber in 2020 and the last to do it in a full season were Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw in 2011). Skubal has a five-strikeout lead over Ragans, so that will come into play only if Ragans has to start on Sunday and Skubal doesn’t. Sale has a one-strikeout lead over Dylan Cease, but Cease isn’t scheduled to pitch.
Will Bobby Witt Jr. hold on to the AL batting title? He has held the lead all summer, and when he peaked with a .352 average on Aug. 16, he held a comfortable 19-point lead over Judge (and 33 points over Vladimir Guerrero Jr.). After going 1-for-4 on Thursday, Witt is down to .332, with Guerrero and Judge at .325, close enough that any of the three could win. If Judge pulls it out — admittedly, not too likely — then he also wins the Triple Crown.
Will Luis Arraez capture a third straight batting title? Arraez led the AL with a .316 average in 2022 and the NL at .354 last season. He has a two-point advantage over Marcell Ozuna at .312 to .310, so it’s definitely up for grabs — and won’t be settled until Ozuna’s Braves play that doubleheader on Monday. The last player to win three consecutive batting titles: Miguel Cabrera, who did it from 2011 to 2013, part of a run in which he won four in five years.
Jose Ramirez needs two home runs to join the 40/40 club. Sure, this milestone has lost a little luster after Ohtani created the 50/50 club, but it is still an impressive feat in its own right — especially for a player listed at 5-foot-9, 195 pounds.
Saying goodbye
Joey Votto, who didn’t play in the majors this season after signing a minor league contract with the Blue Jays, announced his retirement a few weeks ago, and his next stop will eventually be a Hall of Fame plaque in Cooperstown. Two longtime outfielders have also officially announced their retirements at the end of the season:
Los Angeles Dodgers CF Kevin Kiermaier: It’s not clear whether Kiermaier will make the Dodgers’ playoff roster as a backup outfielder (he has hit .164 with the Dodgers and has started just two games in September), so this could be it for one of the best defensive center fielders of all time. Yes, all time. Kiermaier has won four Gold Gloves, displaying incredible lateral range during his heyday with the Tampa Bay Rays. His 38 defensive runs saved in 2015 is the best single-season total for a center fielder since DRS began in 2003, and his career total of 173 is the most for any outfielder since 2003 (and third most at any position, behind only Andrelton Simmons and Adrian Beltre). Kiermaier’s defensive excellence is reflected in his career WAR of 36.1. Not bad for a 31st-round pick from Parkland Community College.
Colorado Rockies DH/OF Charlie Blackmon: Blackmon has spent his entire 14-year career with the Rockies. It took him a while to get situated in the big leagues — his first full season didn’t come until he was 27 years old — but he went on to become a four-time All-Star and finished fifth in the 2017 NL MVP voting after leading the league in batting average (.331), hits (213) and runs (137). His power declined after that 2016-2019 peak, but he’s one of the most popular players in Rockies history and will finish with more than 1,800 hits in the majors.
There might be a few other veterans playing their final games who just haven’t yet announced their retirements. Matt Carpenter comes to mind here. Kyle Hendricks wants to pitch in 2025, but he heads into free agency and his start on Saturday at Wrigley Field will likely be his final one after 11 seasons with the Chicago Cubs. Let’s hope Andrew McCutchen returns to the Pittsburgh Pirates for another season after he put up solid numbers in 2024. If these guys don’t return — thanks for the memorable careers.
Finally … will the White Sox ever lose again?
The White Sox tied the ’62 Mets on Sunday with their 120th loss, the modern major league record. History appeared inevitable. Then, against all odds, they swept the Los Angeles Angels in a three-game series, including a three-run rally in the eighth inning on Tuesday to win 3-2 and a huge seven-run rally in the fifth inning on Thursday. Keep in mind, the Mets played only 160 games, so they finished 40-120. If the White Sox were to sweep the Tigers, Chicago would finish 42-120 … which, it seems, would mean the Mets retain their title.
Why he could win: Olson is a late replacement for Acuna as the home team’s representative at this year’s Derby. Apart from being the Braves’ first baseman, however, Olson also was born in Atlanta and grew up a Braves fan, giving him some extra motivation. The left-handed slugger led the majors in home runs in 2023 — his 54 round-trippers that season also set a franchise record — and he remains among the best in the game when it comes to exit velo and hard-hit rate.
Why he might not: The home-field advantage can also be a detriment if a player gets too hyped up in the first round. See Julio Rodriguez in Seattle in 2023, when he had a monster first round, with 41 home runs, but then tired out in the second round.
2025 home runs: 36 | Longest: 440 feet
Why he could win: It’s the season of Cal! The Mariners’ catcher is having one of the greatest slugging first halves in MLB history, as he’s been crushing mistakes all season . His easy raw power might be tailor-made for the Derby — he ranks in the 87th percentile in average exit velocity and delivers the ball, on average, at the optimal home run launch angle of 23 degrees. His calm demeanor might also be perfect for the contest as he won’t get too amped up.
Why he might not: He’s a catcher — and one who has carried a heavy workload, playing in all but one game this season. This contest is as much about stamina as anything, and whether Raleigh can carry his power through three rounds would be a concern. No catcher has ever won the Derby, with only Ivan Rodriguez back in 2005 even reaching the finals.
2025 home runs: 24 | Longest: 451 feet
Why he could win: He’s big, he’s strong, he’s young, he’s awesome, he might or might not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. This is the perfect opportunity for Wood to show his talent on the national stage, and he wouldn’t be the first young player to star in the Derby. He ranks in the 97th percentile in average exit velocity and 99th percentile in hard-hit rate, so he can still muscle the ball out in BP even if he slightly mishits it. His long arms might be viewed as a detriment, but remember the similarly tall Aaron Judge won in 2017.
Why he might not: His natural swing isn’t a pure uppercut — he has a pretty low average launch angle of just 6.2 degrees — so we’ll see how that plays in a rapid-fire session. In real games, his power is primarily to the opposite field, but in a Home Run Derby you can get more cheapies pulling the ball down the line.
2025 home runs: 20 | Longest: 479 feet
Why he could win: Buxton’s raw power remains as impressive as nearly any hitter in the game. He crushed a 479-foot home run earlier this season and has four others of at least 425 feet. Indeed, his “no doubter” percentage — home runs that would be out of all 30 parks based on distance — is 75%, the highest in the majors among players with more than a dozen home runs. His bat speed ranks in the 89th percentile. In other words, two tools that could translate to a BP lightning show.
Why he might not: Buxton is 31 and the Home Run Derby feels a little more like a younger man’s competition. Teoscar Hernandez did win last year at age 31, but before that, the last winner older than 29 was David Ortiz in 2010, and that was under much different rules than are used now.
2025 home runs: 16 | Longest: 463 feet
Why he could win: If you drew up a short list of players everyone wants to see in the Home Run Derby, Cruz would be near the top. He has the hardest-hit ball of the 2025 season, and the hardest ever tracked by Statcast, a 432-foot missile of a home run with an exit velocity of 122.9 mph. He also crushed a 463-foot home run in Anaheim that soared way beyond the trees in center field. With his elite bat speed — 100th percentile — Cruz has the ability to awe the crowd with a potentially all-time performance.
Why he might not: Like all first-time contestants, can he stay within himself and not get too caught up in the moment? He has a long swing, which will result in some huge blasts, but might not be the most efficient for a contest like this one, where the more swings a hitter can get in before the clock expires, the better.
2025 home runs: 23 | Longest: 425 feet
Why he could win: Although Caminero was one of the most hyped prospects entering 2024, everyone kind of forgot about him heading into this season since he didn’t immediately rip apart the majors as a rookie. In his first full season, however, he has showed off his big-time raw power — giving him a chance to become just the third player to reach 40 home runs in his age-21 season. He has perhaps the quickest bat in the majors, ranking in the 100th percentile in bat speed, and his top exit velocity ranks in the top 15. That could translate to a barrage of home runs.
Why he might not: In game action, Caminero does hit the ball on the ground quite often — in fact, he’s on pace to break Jim Rice’s record for double plays grounded into in a season. If he gets out of rhythm, that could lead to a lot of low line drives during the Derby instead of fly balls that clear the fences.
2025 home runs: 19 | Longest: 440 feet
Why he could win: The Athletics slugger has been one of the top power hitters in the majors for three seasons now and is on his way to a third straight 30-homer season. Rooker has plus bat speed and raw power, but his biggest strength is an optimal average launch angle (19 degrees in 2024, 15 degrees this season) that translates to home runs in game action. That natural swing could be picture perfect for the Home Run Derby. He also wasn’t shy about saying he wanted to participate — and maybe that bodes well for his chances.
Why he might not: Rooker might not have quite the same raw power as some of the other competitors, as he has just one home run longer than 425 feet in 2025. But that’s a little nitpicky, as 11 of his home runs have still gone 400-plus feet. He competed in the college home run derby in Omaha while at Mississippi State in 2016 and finished fourth.
2025 home runs: 17 | Longest: 442 feet
Why he could win: Chisholm might not be the most obvious name to participate, given his career high of 24 home runs, but he has belted 17 already in 2025 in his first 61 games after missing some time with an injury. He ranks among the MLB leaders in a couple of home run-related categories, ranking in the 96th percentile in expected slugging percentage and 98th percentile in barrel rate. His raw power might not match that of the other participants, but he’s a dead-pull hitter who has increased his launch angle this season, which might translate well to the Derby, even if he won’t be the guy hitting the longest home runs.
Why he might not: Most of the guys who have won this have been big, powerful sluggers. Chisholm is listed at 5-foot-11, 184 pounds, and you have to go back to Miguel Tejada in 2004 to find the last player under 6 foot to win.
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jake Fraley was activated from the 10-day injured list on Saturday.
He had injured his right shoulder while trying to make a diving catch June 23 against the New York Yankees.
An MRI revealed a partially torn labrum that will eventually require surgery. Fraley received a cortisone shot and will try to play through it for the rest of the season.