With less than three weeks to go in MLB's regular season, our editors Bryan Mcwilliam, Tom Ruminski, and Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb break down some of the biggest topics around the league.
What's the most compelling individual storyline down the stretch?
Yordan Alvarez's Triple Crown chase: The Astros slugger is vying to become the first Triple Crown winner since Miguel Cabrera in 2012, but it won't be an easy task. While Alvarez leads the American League in batting average and is second in both home runs and RBIs, he'll need a strong finish to pass Pete Alonso for the RBI lead and Junior Caminero in homers. Lately, Alvarez has struggled at the plate, hitting just .240 with three homers over his last 30 games. Although MLB doesn't recognize it as an official honor, Alvarez also has a shot at winning the slash-stat triple crown, as he also leads the AL in OBP and slugging, in addition to OPS. - Mcwilliam
Can Cam Schlittler hold on for AL Cy Young? The Yankees right-hander has been locked in a battle with Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease for the award for the majority of the season. The two are close in fWAR (5.7 for Schlittler and 5.5 for Cease). Schlittler has an edge in traditional stats such as ERA (2.01) and WHIP (0.92), which should give him the upper hand over Cease, who has a better K/9 (12.7), FIP (2.40), and batting average against (.177). Schlittler ended up watching Cease start the All-Star Game, as the AL was managed by John Schneider. Yet, Schlittler could end up getting the last laugh with some prestigious hardware. - Ruminski
Rookie of the Year races: We haven't seen both leagues have rookie races this tight in a long time. The AL class is headlined by Munetaka Murakami's 30-homer season, Kevin McGonigle's two-way brilliance (at multiple positions no less), and Parker Messick's Cy Young-caliber campaign. But they're hardly alone: Payton Tolle, Walbert Ureña, Chase DeLauter, Tristan Peters, and Spencer Miles, among others, have also made compelling cases and can't be ignored. In the NL, Sal Stewart, JJ Wetherholt, Nolan McLean, and Logan Henderson are probably the leaders, with Carson Benge, TJ Rumfield, Esmerlyn Valdez, Bradgley Rodriguez, and Didier Fuentes, to name a few, close behind. Both Rookie of the Year votes are going to come down to Game 162, and it's nearly impossible to predict how they'll end. - Sharkey-Gotlieb
Which team in playoff contention should be most concerned by their play?
White Sox: Chicago needs to wake up a little, or it could find itself in a tight battle for the AL's final wild-card spot. After losing seven of their last nine contests while getting swept by the Pirates, the White Sox are now only 1.5 games up on the Guardians for the AL Central lead. A crucial three-game set between the clubs from Sept. 14-16 will determine the tiebreaker between the division foes and potentially decide which one will have to try to fend off the Blue Jays, Rangers, and Orioles for the last playoff spot. - Ruminski
Braves: On May 22, Atlanta held a 10.5-game lead in the NL East and appeared to be cruising toward a division title. That cushion's been whittled down to just four ahead of this weekend's critical series against the Phillies at Truist Park. The Braves' rocky start to September has included splitting a four-game set in Philadelphia last week and then dropping a home series to Tampa Bay. That's left them with no room for error amid a tough stretch that includes facing the Cubs and Astros on the road next week. Hanging in the balance is a division title, home field in a wild-card series, and potentially even a bye. If the Braves aren't careful, it could cost them dearly. - Sharkey-Gotlieb
Orioles: Baltimore sits three games back of the final AL wild-card spot after losing seven of its last nine contests. The team has scored just 33 runs thus far in September and faces some stiff upcoming competition, taking on the Blue Jays, Brewers, and Yankees in 12 of its final 15 games. If the Orioles hope to meet the huge expectations they entered the season with, they need to generate a lot more offense down the stretch. - Mcwilliam
Which non-playoff team can make the biggest impact on the postseason picture?
Royals: It feels like the Royals have been playing spoiler since the middle of last month, and it looks like they'll continue to try to ruin opponents' seasons. Every remaining series on Kansas City's schedule is against a squad contending for the playoffs (Red Sox, Astros, Pirates, White Sox, and Guardians). After winning 13 of 16 games to end August, the Royals could find themselves crossed off many opposing teams' holiday card lists if they maintain that level. - Mcwilliam
Rockies: Colorado could play a pivotal role in deciding whether the Padres or D-Backs secure the NL's final wild-card spot, as it has four games remaining against San Diego and three against Arizona. With just a half-game separating the contenders, every matchup carries huge weight for them. Meanwhile, the Rockies are looking to avoid becoming just the fifth team in MLB history with four straight 100-loss seasons. - Ruminski
Marlins: Miami's remaining schedule consists entirely of NL contenders, with home series against the Dodgers and Braves and a road trip through Arizona, San Diego, and Wrigley Field. A late-season surge from the Marlins could turn the entire NL playoff picture upside down, whether it's a division or wild-card race. This plucky young group has already overachieved in 2026, so it has nothing to lose by playing hard and spoiling things down the stretch ... and Miami is somehow just 6.5 games out of a wild-card spot with 15 games left. So you're telling me there's a chance? - Sharkey-Gotlieb
Which trade-deadline acquisition has been the most disappointing?
Taylor Ward: Seattle traded three players for Ward to help spark a listless offense. While he did come with some risk - his power numbers dropped dramatically this year - Ward maintained a solid .383 OBP in 506 plate appearances with the O's. In Seattle, however, he's been virtually unplayable, slashing .115/.225/.141 while managing just one extra-base hit in 25 games. And after taking 87 walks in Baltimore, the 32-year-old has only 10 in 89 plate appearances since the trade. The Mariners only needed Ward to be a glue-guy bat at the bottom of the order against lefties, but he hasn't even been able to do that. - Sharkey-Gotlieb
Casey Mize: The Padres were desperate for starting pitching and acquired the former first overall pick from the Tigers in a four-player deal ahead of the trade deadline. However, Mize has been a massive disappointment since joining the Padres, posting a 6.34 ERA and a career-low 6.1 K/9 in seven starts. He's also allowed nine homers in 32 2/3 innings after giving up just five in 86 2/3 innings in Detroit. - Mcwilliam
Luis Castillo: The three-time All-Star was supposed to provide veteran experience to a young rotation, yet his struggles worsened after heading to the White Sox from the Mariners. Castillo has a ghastly 7.52 ERA with a 1.71 WHIP over six starts in Chicago, surrendering eight homers in just 26 1/3 innings. To make matters worse, the 33-year-old righty is still owed $22.75 million in 2027 and has a $25-million vesting option for 2028. - Ruminski
Which manager or GM needs a great September to save their job?
Dan Wilson and Jerry Dipoto: These two should have their fates tied together. Wilson did a better-than-expected job last season when he guided Seattle to its first division title since 2001 and Game 7 of the ALCS, but he's looked in over his head at times in 2026. The Mariners lost control of a division they were clearly favored to win and now need a miracle to make the playoffs in a year when the AL is incredibly weak. Dipoto, meanwhile, has built just two playoff teams and hasn't won an AL pennant in his 11 years running Seattle's front office. He also controversially hired Wilson in 2024 despite the former catcher's lack of managerial experience. If Dipoto's handpicked skipper is going to take the fall for this disastrous campaign, then he has to go too. - Sharkey-Gotlieb
Mike Elias: It looked like Elias was in the process of building one of the AL's best and deepest teams after the Orioles won 101 games and a division title in 2023. But things haven't gone well since, with the team's win total dropping in three straight seasons. Some of Elias' decisions have come into question during that time, notably his failure to add capable starting pitching and his choice to draft Jackson Holliday first overall. If Baltimore misses the postseason after dishing out $223 million for Alonso and Shane Baz, Elias might be looking for a new job this winter. - Mcwilliam
Ben Cherington: How much leniency will Pirates owner Bob Nutting have after potentially missing the playoffs again despite finally opening up his wallet? Cherington, now in his seventh season running the Bucs, added several key pieces last winter, including Ryan O'Hearn and Brandon Lowe, as part of the team's increased payroll. However, the moves haven't paid off, and a poor second half has diminished the Pirates' hopes of returning to the postseason for the first time since 2015. As a result, Cherington could be the fall guy. - Ruminski
