Baseball Connection

With less than a week to go, several teams are still in the playoff hunt - thanks to MLB's new playoff format. Some races will go right down to the wire and very few teams can rest now. Where does each contender stand at this point? All this on today's episode.

Move over, Houston. The Oakland A's have clinched the AL West. As we enter the final week of the regular season, there are close postseason races to watch and individual accolades that are yet to be secured. We take a look at Alejandro Kirk, the 5'8", 265 lbs catcher for the Blue Jays. All this (and more) on today's episode.

Although the Red Sox farm system has churned out several quality hitters over the years, they haven't developed a solid pitcher in a very long time. Tanner Houck is looking to change that - he stifled the Yankees in his second career start. In what might have been his final home game with the Astros, George Springer hit two home runs. All this (and more) on today's episode.

Justin Verlander is getting Tommy John surgery. Verlander will miss the rest of the season and most likely all of next year. At 37, the future Hall of Famer might have thrown his final pitch with the Astros, but he wants to pitch for many more years. J.A. Happ led the Yankees to their 10th straight victory. The White Sox look dangerous. All this (and more) on today's episode.

The Minor Leagues are a rite of passage on a baseball player's journey to the MLB. Not for Garrett Crochet. Crochet made his MLB debut just 3 months after being drafted, and he never pitched in Minors. Albert Pujols is now alone at #5 on the all-time HR list after passing Willie Mays. Zach Plesac threw an immaculate inning. All this (and more) on today's episode.

The Bronx Bombers are firing on all cylinders. The Yankees hit 6+ homers in a game for the 3rd straight night. The White Sox and Rays clinched postseason spots. Josh Donaldson was ejected after homering and kicking dirt onto home plate in frustration with an earlier call. All this (and more) on today's episode.

Some milestones were accomplished last night as Gerrit Cole secured his 100th career win and Ryan Braun hit his 350th career home run. Might we be seeing the final moments of Ryan Braun's career? The NL Central race is tight. All this (and more) on today's episode.

Everything seems to be clicking for the White Sox this year. Rookie right-hander Dane Dunning has been sharp this year and he's making a strong case to be at the front of their postseason rotation. Luke Voit has created some space in the HR leaderboard as he went deep twice in the Yankees' rout of the Blue Jays. All this (and more) on today's episode.

The Padres made a statement with a 7-2 victory in their series-opening game against the Dodgers. San Diego is now 1.5 games within the Dodgers in an NL West race that should go down to the wire. Mike Minor and Trevor Bauer turned in dominant outings for their clubs. All this (and more) on today's episode.

Alec Mills tossed a no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers. Mills joins Lucas Giolito of the White Sox as the second Chicago pitcher to throw a no-hitter this year. A former 22nd rounder who was thrust from the bullpen to the starting rotation due to a teammate's preseason injury, Mills was one of the unlikeliest candidates to make history. Albert Pujols tied Willie Mays for 5th on the all-time HR list. All this (and more) on today's episode.