MLB Morning Lineup Podcast

The Dodgers clinched their record-tying 14th straight postseason berth with a victory over the Reds, and the Yankees are October-bound for the ninth time in 10 years as a Blue Jays loss punched their ticket during a comeback win vs. the Twins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Brewers and Rays are in. Friday night, both clubs punched their playoff tickets. Celebrations were somewhat muted and that’s probably not surprising as they both have much bigger goals -- including winning their divisions and earning No. 1 seeds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Rays had a chance to be the first team this season to clinch a playoff spot with a win and some help, but the Braves rallied late to up their NL East lead to four games heading into a showdown with the second-place Phillies tonight in Atlanta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jose Altuve smacked a 3rd-inning double to become the 102nd MLBer to reach the 2,500-hit threshold. But it was Kyle Schwarber's 6th-inning slam that turned the tide for the Phillies vs. the Astros. Also, Shohei Ohtani sat for the 6th time in 7 games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Judge was back in action after missing three months with a rib stress fracture, going 0-for-3. But his presence in the lineup and clubhouse was a huge boost for the Yanks, who got another stellar start from Cam Schlittler to beat the Rockies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A huge weekend series in Philly between NL East rivals ended in a split as the hosts rode an eighth-inning homer from Kyle Schwarber and a masterful complete-game performance from Jesús Luzardo to a 1-0 win over the first-place Braves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Padres hit back-to-back-to-back home runs -- off Gerrit Cole -- marking the second time in franchise history San Diego has opened a game with three straight homers. And Cole is the only pitcher to have that happen more than once in his career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fans gave Adley Rutschman a standing ovation prior to his first at-bat. The former Oriole promptly homered. He then went deep again to propel the Red Sox. At Wrigley Field, Pete Crow-Armstrong blasted homer No. 39 as the Cubs edged the Brewers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ronald Acuña Jr. homered in the Braves' win over the Nats, thereby becoming the fastest player in MLB history to combine 200 homers and 200 steals. Elsewhere, the Wild Card races in both leagues continued to heat up, and they can't get much tighter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For most of the year it appeared the Braves would run away with the NL East title. But after a hot August and six straight wins, the Phillies have pulled within three games of their division rival. Meanwhile, Gavin Williams continued his strikeout artistry in Cleveland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Bregman went deep three times for the second time this season, and the Cubs totaled a team-record nine homers on the night to simply overpower the first-place Brewers at a rainy Wrigley Field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Max Scherzer entered yesterday's series finale vs. the Mariners looking to give the Jays a boost in their Wild Card chase. He did that and more, throwing seven one-hit innings and fanning 10 to move into ninth place on the all-time strikeouts list. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three of the National League's top aces bolstered their resumes as Chris Sale pitched a five-hit shutout to win a 1-0 duel against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Jacob Misiorowski won in the Big Apple to run his record to 14-5 with an MLB-best 1.73 ERA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A year ago, Cleveland caught fire en route to a historic comeback in the AL Central race. The Guardians are making a late-season surge again this season -- they've won 7 straight -- and this time they don't have nearly as much ground to make up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dodgers and Braves could meet in the postseason. Their game in Atlanta had a playoff feel to it, a taut affair that ended with Shohei Ohtani stranded on third and the Braves celebrating. Also, the Astros and Yankees renewed their tense rivalry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cal Raleigh – 2025's MLB HR leader – hasn't had the season he or Mariners fans had hoped for. But last night he broke out with three homers in front of the Seattle faithful as the M's crushed the Phillies and put an end to their nine-game win streak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Phillies were down four runs with two outs in the ninth against the Cards. No problem. Kyle Schwarber's MLB-best 39th homer of the season -- the Phils' first walk-off blast since June 9, 2023 (also Schwarber) -- sealed an incredible comeback. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gerrit Cole was fantastic again for the Yankees, passing Roger Clemens to move into 12th on the club's all-time K list. Not to be outdone, the Rangers' Jacob deGrom became second-fastest pitcher in history to reach 2,000 strikeouts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pete Alonso thought he had hit his second homer of the game and pulled the Orioles in front of the Yankees. So did a raucous Camden Yards home crowd. The third-base umpire and replay officials saw it differently. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the start of play last night, seven teams were within two games of the third and final AL Wild Card spot. Three of them were tied at the top. The Rangers have broken ahead of the pack, for now, after winning while the Orioles and Tigers both lost. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In what felt like a potential World Series preview at Wrigley, Pete Crow-Armstrong reached 30-30 AND became the first player in 16 years with a leadoff homer and walk-off homer in the same game. Meanwhile, the other NL MVP frontrunner had a night of his own, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cards prospect Joshua Báez made quite the impression in his MLB debut Saturday, homering on the first pitch he saw against the rival Cubs, then following that with two more homers to become the first player to go deep in his first three at-bats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The evening truly had it all, from 26 Hall of Famers emerging from the cornfield as part of the pregame ceremonies, to Phillies slugger and Major League home run leader Kyle Schwarber going deep twice into the Iowa sky. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Smack in the middle of what's at least a five-team battle for two NL Wild Card spots, the Padres took down the NL-leading Brewers, capping a sweep with a nail-biter of a walk-off. Elsewhere, the scorching-hot Rays won their 9th straight on the road. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blake Snell flashed Cy Young-like stuff in his first start in three months before the Dodgers walked off the Royals. Meanwhile, the Rays keep rising and the Tigers are playing themselves into the postseason picture despite trading Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize at the Deadline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want excitement down the stretch? Look no further than the bunched-up NL Wild Card race, where three contenders -- the Phillies, Padres and D-backs -- all secured wins to open the week. Elsewhere, Tarik Skubal made his home debut with the Dodgers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Saturday, Max Scherzer passed one of the all-time greats, Walter "Big Train" Johnson, for 10th on the career strikeout list. On Sunday, Jacob Misiorowski, the premier modern fireballer, became the second fastest to reach 200 K's in a season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Down to their final strike, the red-hot Red Sox rallied to force extras then got a Caleb Durbin single up the middle in the 13th inning to plate the winning run against the White Sox and send Fenway Park into a frenzy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shohei Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong each hit two homers, but it was the Cubs who had the last laugh as Chicago handed the defending champs their sixth straight loss. Elsewhere, the red-hot Red Sox and Braves each won their seventh straight game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tarik Skubal was sharp in his Dodgers debut, but the Cubs handed L.A. its fifth straight defeat in a game that sure had a postseason feel. Plus, Luis Arraez made an immediate impact for the Phillies and a baseball family had a day they'll never forget. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With 48 deals in the final 28 hours leading up to the Trade Deadline, the MLB landscape, and particularly the chase for postseason spots, underwent a major shakeup. What does everything across the league look like now? Let us fill you in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dodgers are stacked. We knew that. But now they're even more loaded after acquiring Tigers' two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal in a blockbuster trade Saturday night. Will there be more deals today? For sure. But they can't top that one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If Tarik Skubal is traded, a trio of teams look like the favorites. The Dodgers might need another starter with Shohei Ohtani's knee a concern. The Rays also need a starter. And the Brewers have plenty of prospect depth to include in a deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If the drama of Tarik Skubal's final start before the Trade Deadline wasn't enough, the Tigers ace became the fifth-fastest left-hander to reach 1,000 career strikeouts before the Orioles rallied from seven runs down for a stunning victory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two series with big NL Wild Card implications got underway Monday and met the moment with dramatic finishes. Plus, a look at the AL playoff picture and a must-follow series that could significantly shape the trade market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is a day many dream about but only a select few achieve. Yesterday in Cooperstown, three players were enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Outfielders Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones along with second baseman Jeff Kent took their place in baseball lore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After being one of the best to never win a Cy Young until taking home the hardware in '24, Chris Sale looks ready to give favorite Jacob Misiorowski a run for his money this season, too, with 11 K's over 6 frames in Atlanta's win vs. San Diego. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a win in Game 1 of their doubleheader at Fenway, the Red Sox historic run came to an end thanks to a four-run first inning by the Orioles. The Sox, who hadn't lost since July 1, matched the franchise record with their 15 consecutive wins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If there was any question about Fernando Tatis Jr.'s power ... the Padres outfielder launched a prodigious blast 474 feet in Atlanta, MLB's longest homer this season. Also, we saw the season's first triple play -- and it happened in only 5 seconds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Something had to give Monday when the Red Sox put their 13-game winning streak at stake against the Orioles, who had won seven in a row. And the matchup more than met the moment as an 8th-inning homer was the decisive blow in a back-and-forth battle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Red Sox – who looked totally out of it in late June – are right back in it. They’ve gone on an 18-2 tear and won 13 in a row, their second longest win streak ever. Boston is now 6 games back of the Rays for first and has the third Wild Card spot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cody Bellinger (MVP) drilled a 2-run single in the first and Ben Rice followed with an RBI knock, and that was largely it as the AL made it 23 of the past 29 All-Star Games, 4-0, in Philadelphia. AL pitchers allowed only three hits and struck out 15. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jordan Walker homered on each of his last six swings in the final to power past hometown hero Kyle Schwarber and become the first Cardinals player to win the Home Run Derby. Up next? Tonight's All-Star Game! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we hit the break, it's time to assess where things stand in the chase for postseason spots. Can the White Sox keep it up? Who will take control in the AL West and NL East? Want more? We also recap the Draft and tee things up for tonight's Derby. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After spending the first couple months of the season among baseball's biggest disappointments, the Red Sox and Tigers each find themselves within 3 1/2 games of a playoff spot after Boston won its sixth straight and Detroit made it five in a row. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This might come as quite the surprise, but after yesterday's shutout of the Mariners, the Marlins are an MLB-best 25-8 since June 1 and are now nine games over .500 for the first time since July 2023. They’ve also won 15 of their last 17 home games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shohei Ohtani crushed his 300th career homer. That's one. Ryan O'Hearn hit three homers in becoming the first Pirate to total 10 RBIs in a game. That's two. And the Royals' Tyler Tolbert tied an all-time MLB record with hits in 12 straight at-bats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Facing a four-game deficit in the AL East to open the week, the Yanks got right to work vs. the first-place Rays, riding eight innings from a motivated Cam Schlittler. Plus, Shohei Ohtani belted his 19th homer of the year -- the 299th of his career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Braves, Dodgers and Phillies will each send 5 players to the Midsummer Classic. The Angels' Mike Trout leads all players with a 12th All-Star selection, while the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman and Braves ace Chris Sale will each make their 10th trip. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brayan Rocchio's two-run shot off the first pitch he saw in the ninth was the difference as the Guardians edged the White Sox in the opener of their four-game series. It also pulled Cleveland into a tie with Chicago atop the AL Central. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices