THIS. IS. IT.

THE REGULAR SEASON FINALES ARE TODAY

Sep 28, 2025

STARTING WITH A THANK YOU

I would like to begin with a brief thank you to all my subscribers. This was my first season of the new and improved Billy-Ball, and you have made it a wonderful experience for me. For those of you who have been paying subscribers, I’m particularly grateful to you. It is so nice to feel valued.

Billy-Ball will not only continue all through the postseason, but also all year long. Thank you again for being there. I look forward to providing more fun in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Let’s get to work.

IT’S NOT A MARATHON IT’S A ONE GAME DASH

EVERY GAME TODAY BEGINS AT 3 PM EASTERN

HERE’S WHERE WE STAND

NL EAST

The Phillies have won the division with a record of 95-66. They have won the NL East for the second straight year. They have a bye in the Wild Card round.

NL CENTRAL

The Brewers have won the division. Their record of 96-65 will give them home-field advantage throughout the entire postseason. It is their third straight NL Central title. They have a bye in the Wild Card round.

NL WEST

The Dodgers (92-69) have won the division for their 12th time in the last 13 seasons. They are the number three seed and will host the number six seed in the Wild Card round. Who their opponent will be won’t be decided until the end of action today.

AL EAST

The winner of this division will be decided today. The Blue Jays, with a record of 93-68, own the tiebreaker over the Yankees, who also have a record of 93-68. The equation is very simple today. If the Blue Jays beat the Rays today, it doesn’t matter what the Yankees do against the Orioles. If the Blue Jays lose and the Yankees win, the Yanks are the division winners. If both teams lose, the Jays win. The winner of this division will get a Wild Card bye and own the best record in the American League through the ALCS. The loser will be the number three seed and will host the number six seed in the Wild Card round. Who their opponent will be won’t be decided until the end of action today. No matter what, both teams are in the postseason. The winner here will have a bye, and the loser will host the Wild Card series.

AL CENTRAL

The winner of this division will be decided today. The Guardians (87-74) can clinch the AL Central with a win over Texas or a loss by the Tigers to the Red Sox. The Tigers (87-74) can clinch the AL Central with a win and a loss by the Guardians. Regardless, both teams are in the postseason and will play in the Wild Card series.

AL WEST

The Mariners (90-71) have won the division for the first time since 2001. They are the number two seed and will have a bye in the Wild Card round.

NL WILD CARD

The Cubs (91-70) will make their first playoff appearance in a full-length season since 2018. They have clinched home-field advantage in their wild-card series with the Padres.

The Padres (89-72) will head to Wrigley to face the Cubs in the best-of-three Wild Card series.

After all the fuss and bluster of the Tigers’ collapse this season, only one team is left with the possibility of crashing and burning: the New York Mets. It’s the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets for all the marbles today, and the Reds hold the tiebreaker. The Reds (83-78) can clinch the final NL wild-card spot with another win against the Brewers or a Mets loss. The Mets (83-78) can clinch the final NL wild-card spot with a win against the Marlins and a Reds loss. If both teams win, the Reds are in. If both teams lose, the Reds are in. Whomever gets in will head to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers in the Wild Card round. The loser heads home.

AL WILD CARD

The loser of the AL East race will be the number one Wild Card seed and fourth seed overall. The Red Sox, who have clinched a postseason berth, hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Guardians. That means they are currently the number two Wild Card seed. As it stands now, the Yankees will host the Red Sox, and the Guardians will host the Tigers. Check in again at 6 pm.

THERE IS NO GAME 163

Unless you are Rafael Devers. There are no longer regular-season playoff games. That’s what all these tiebreakers are about. Rafael Devers, on the other hand, has played 73 games for the Red Sox and 89 games for the Giants. If he plays today, that will be game number 163 for him. If he plays, he will join a unique group of players who played in at least 163 games in a season in which there were no ties or playoffs.

He will join Frank Taveras, who played in 164 games in 1979; Todd Zeile, who played in 163 in 1996; and Willie Montanez, who played in 163 games in 1976. Like Raffy, each of these guys was traded mid-season.

THERE HAVE BEEN 1917 HIT BY PITCHES THIS SEASON

Last evening, we had our first walkoff HBP of the season, and it was significant. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th inning, Texas reliever Robert Garcia hit Cleveland’s C.J. Kayfus with a pitch, allowing Petey Halpin to score the game-winning run for the Guardians that clinched a Wild Card spot for the Guardians. Now, if you are wondering who those guys are that I just mentioned, I can assure you that I spend way more time following baseball than the average lunatic, and I have no clue who those guys are. Can you imagine how the Astros must feel being eliminated from postseason contention by an HBP victory? The Astros will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Earlier in yesterday’s action, the Yankees experienced the fear of the final days when Jazz Chisholm Jr. left the Yankees/Orioles game after being hit in the left forearm with a pitch. He was examined at the Stadium by Dr. Christopher Ahmad. Initial x-rays were negative. He also underwent a CT scan, which proved to be negative (which is positive news).

WATCHING CAL

Cal Raleigh still has 60 homers. He needs a three-homer day to break Aaron Judge’s AL record.

WATCHING AARON

There is always something wonderful to watch with Aaron Judge. There are a dozen players this season who have hit 20 homers, including Mookie Betts, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Josh Naylor. Aaron Judge has hit 20 homers in the 1st inning alone this season. The Yankees have hit 49 home runs in the 1st inning, which is an MLB record.

In 1956, Mickey Mantle led the majors with a .353 batting average. Ted Williams was second at .345. Hank Aaron led the NL, hitting .328. There has not been another Yankee to lead the majors in a full season in batting average since then. DJ LeMaheiu led in the COVID-2020 season. But Aaron Judge, hitting .331, will do it this year.

David vs. Goliath Gets an Update: It's Now Altuve vs. Judge - The New York Times

In the process, Judge at 6’7” will be baseball’s tallest batting champion ever. The shortest player ever to win a major league batting title is José Altuve. Standing at a normal-sized 5 feet 6 inches tall, Altuve won American League batting championships in 2014, 2016, and 2017 with the Houston Astros.

WATCHING CLAYTON KERSHAW, WHO DEBUTED ON MAY 25, 2008

Today, Clayton Kershaw will make his final regular-season start. From May 25, 2008, through September 28, 2025, the Dodgers are 1623-1142 (.587) in the regular season, the best record in Major League Baseball. The Yankees, 1582-1182 (.572), are second, 40 games behind.

In the postseason, the Dodgers are 72-63 (.533) in the Kershaw era. That’s third place in winning pct. in the NL behind the Giants 38-20 (.655) and the Phillies 47-30 (.610). The Dodgers lead with 135 games played, 56 more than the second-place Cardinals and 58 more than the Phillies. The Dodgers, with 72 wins, have 25 more wins than the second-place Phils in the NL and 10 more wins than the second-place Astros, to lead the majors.

WATCHING UNCLE CHARLIE

Charlie Morton was signed by the Atlanta Braves about a week ago for two reasons: the Braves wanted him to serve as an example and mentor to their young pitchers, and also so he could make the final start of his career in a Braves uni. That will happen today.

Morton enters action today with a career record of 147-134 and a 4.13 ERA. His record with the Braves is 49-42 with a 4.09 ERA.

WATCHING SAL

Salvador Perez now has 1016 RBI, which gives him second place on the all-time Royals’ franchise list.

George Brett - 1,596
Salvador Perez - 1,013
Hal McRae - 1,012
Amos Otis - 992

In a season in which catchers are truly being appreciated, Sal Perez is a really good one and has been for a long time.

WATCHING GIANCARLO

Giancarlo Stanton is having an outstanding season for the Yankees. In 76 games and just 246 AB, Stanton has hit 24 homers, driven home 65, and hit .272. He leads all active players with 453 homers after homering yesterday. That homer enabled him to pass Carl Yastrzemski for 40th place on the all-time home run list.

Additionally, because Judge also homered, it gave the two big guys 59 games in which they both homered and the Yankees a record of 52-7 in those games. The Yankees are 52-7 when Judge and Stanton homer in the same game. It also gives me the opportunity to mention players in my column that make me thrilled as a baseball writer.

MOST TIMES HOMERING IN THE SAME GAME AS TEAMMATES (including postseason)

Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews 76
Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig 75
Willie Mays, Willie McCovey 68
Duke Snider, Gil Hodges 68
Billy Williams, Ron Santo 64
Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones 61
Harmon Killebrew, Bob Allison 61
Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton 59
Jim Rice, Dwight Evans 57

THIS SEASON’S 30-30 PLAYERS

GAMES I’M WATCHING TODAY

Detroit Tigers vs Boston Red Sox - Chris Paddack [5-11] vs TBD
Baltimore Orioles vs New York Yankees - Kyle Bradish [1-1] vs Luis Gil [4-1]
Tampa Bay Rays vs Toronto Blue Jays - Ian Seymour [4-2] vs Kevin Gausman [10-11]
Texas Rangers vs Cleveland Guardians - Patrick Corbin [7-11] vs TBD
New York Mets vs Miami Marlins - Sean Manaea [2-4] vs Edward Cabrera [7-7]
Cincinnati Reds vs Milwaukee Brewers - Brady Singer [14-11] vs Freddy Peralta [17-6]

SUNDAY FUNNIES

Hat Trick (three strikeouts in a game) - James Wood (27)

Golden Sombrero (four strikeouts in a game) leaders - Rafael Devers and Ryan McMahon, five each

Billy-Ball