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The American League Wild Card race remains wide open, and the potential for a mind-boggling four-way tie for the two playoff spots remains on the table, entering the final day of the 2021 regular season; thanks in large part to an epic offensive performance from Brandon Lowe, who launched three homers and tallied seven RBI on Saturday afternoon, leading the Rays to their franchise-record 100th victory with a 12-2 blowout win over the Yankees. The 27-year-old burgeoning slugger set the tone early with a three-run homer to right field off southpaw Jordan Montgomery with two outs in the opening frame. He followed it up with another three-run blast against Montgomery in the third inning to record his fourth multi-homer effort of the season. He capped off the herculean effort with a solo shot against righty reliever Mike King in the seventh inning. Despite his deficiencies against left-handed pitching, Lowe has blossomed into the Rays’ primary offensive catalyst, slashing .247/.340/.525 with 97 runs scored, a career-high 39 home runs, 99 RBI and seven stolen bases across 611 plate appearances. He’ll be an early-round selection in fantasy drafts next spring.
The stage is set for a hectic conclusion to the 2021 campaign on Sunday evening, with all 15 games starting at the exact same time, and a pair of junior circuit playoff spots still up for grabs. Here are the AL Wild Card standings entering the final day of the regular season: Boston (91-70), New York (91-70), Seattle (90-71) and Toronto (90-71).
Here’s an oversimplification: the Red Sox and Yankees have the clearest paths to the postseason. If both teams win on Sunday, the Red Sox will host the Yankees on Tuesday evening at Fenway Park in the AL Wild Card game. The Red Sox erupted for four runs in the ninth inning on Saturday afternoon to escape with a narrow 5-3 victory over the Nationals, pulling into the lead for the top Wild Card spot in the process. The Red Sox or Yankees losing on Sunday would complicate matters, but both teams could still could make it in with some additional help, which could include a tiebreaker on Monday. Despite a colossal disappointment on Saturday afternoon, the Yankees can still punch their ticket to additional October baseball with a victory over the Rays on Sunday afternoon. A Yankees’ victory combined with a Red Sox loss would enable them to host the AL Wild Card contest on Tuesday night.[[ad:athena]]
Things are a bit more complicated for the Blue Jays and Mariners, who find themselves each one game back entering the final afternoon of the regular season. Both teams need to emerge victorious on Sunday afternoon and get some help with losses by the Red Sox and Yankees to keep their seasons alive. The Blue Jays, who sit one game behind the Red Sox and Yankees after a blowout win over the Orioles on Saturday afternoon, are going to need some help to extend their season beyond Sunday’s season finale against the Orioles. If both of their division rivals win on Sunday afternoon, their season is over. Meanwhile, the Mariners are attempting to end the longest postseason drought in North American professional sports, having not made the playoffs since the 2001 campaign. It was Mitch Haniger who came through on Saturday night, going 4-for-5 with a two-run homer and five RBI to defeat the Angels and keep the possibility of a four-way tie for the two AL Wild Card spots intact. Let the chaos ensue.
While most of the attention is understandably focused on the AL Wild Card race, there is still one National League playoff variable left to be decided on Sunday afternoon as the Giants and Dodgers will go down to their final contests to determine the winner of the NL West division title. The Giants can finally clinch with a win over the Padres on Sunday afternoon. If they lose, the Dodgers can force a one-game tiebreaker on Monday with a victory over the Brewers in their regular season finale.
Starting Pitchers with an EDGE
Alek Manoah vs. Orioles
7.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
39% CSW, 21 swinging strikes
With everything on the line for the Blue Jays, Manoah stepped up on Saturday afternoon, reeling off seven brilliant frames in a win over the Orioles. The electrifying 23-year-old right-hander allowed just a pair of baserunners, induced an eye-popping 21 swinging strikes and finished with a sublime 39 percent CSW (called strikes plus whiffs). It was his fourth double-digit strikeout performance of the year. He closes out an extremely impressive rookie campaign with a sparkling 3.22 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 127/40 K/BB ratio across 111 2/3 innings (20 starts). He’ll play a huge role for the Blue Jays in the postseason if they manage to get there.
Tanner Houck vs. Nationals
5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
47% CSW, 10 swinging strikes
Houck drew the starting assignment on Saturday afternoon and came through with a herculean effort, matching a career-high with eight strikeouts over five perfect frames in a no-decision against the Nationals. The dynamic 25-year-old righty relentlessly pounded the strike zone, throwing 39 of 53 pitches for strikes and finishing with a stratospheric 47 percent CSW. He’ll be a versatile weapon for Red Sox manager Alex Cora to deploy in the postseason if they manage to make it past the AL Wild Card game.
Jesus Luzardo vs. Phillies
5.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 11 K
34% CSW, 15 swinging strikes
Luzardo authored his strongest performance of an extremely disappointing 2021 campaign on Saturday evening, recording a career-high 11 strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings in a win over the Phillies. The 24-year-old left-hander sat in the mid-to-upper 90’s with his fastball, generated 15 swinging strikes and finished with a 34 percent CSW. Perhaps more importantly, he didn’t hand out a free pass in this one. It was the type of throwback outing that certainly inspires confidence for fantasy managers moving forward. He finishes with a lackluster 6.61 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 98/48 K/BB ratio across 95 1/3 innings (18 starts) between the Marlins and Athletics.
Hitters with an EDGE
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. vs. Orioles
2-for-5, R, HR (47), 2 RBI
George Springer vs. Orioles
4-for-5, 2 R, HR (20), 3 RBI
Springer tallied a season-high four hits, including a three-run homer to left field -- his 20th long ball of the season -- off lefty John Means in the second inning; powering the Blue Jays to a much-needed blowout victory on Saturday afternoon against the last-place Orioles. Meanwhile, Guerrero Jr. scalded the first pitch he saw from Means into the upper deck in left field for his 47th round-tripper of the season. He wound up eventually leaving the one-sided affair early for precautionary reasons due to lower body discomfort, but not before tying Eddie Matthews’ single-season record for homers by a hitter 22-years-old or younger. He’s just one big fly shy of Royals slugger Salvador Perez for the major leagues coveted home run crown this season.
Mitch Haniger vs. Angels
4-for-5, R, HR (39), 5 RBI
Haniger hoisted the Mariners on his back, keeping their postseason hopes alive on Saturday evening, with a monster offensive effort in a must-win contest against the division-rival Angels. The 30-year-old slugger kicked off the scoring with an RBI single in the third inning, blasted a two-run homer -- his career-high 39th round-tripper of the season -- off lefty Jhonathan Diaz in the fifth inning and also delivered a go-ahead two-run single with two outs in the eighth inning. He’s gone deep 10 times over 28 games since September 1.
Oneil Cruz vs. Reds
2-for-5, R, RBI
Cruz made quite an impression on Saturday night in his highly-anticipated major-league debut against the Reds, smashing a pair of singles, including an RBI single in the fifth inning and a 118.2 mph laser to right field in the seventh inning. The highly-touted 22-year-old shortstop is listed at a towering 6-foot-7 and 210 pounds, possesses big-time over-the-fence power potential, and slashed a robust .310/.375/.594 with 17 home runs and 19 stolen bases across 302 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A this season. He’s one of the most intriguing prospects in the entire game and fantasy managers will get one final glimpse of him at the highest level on Sunday afternoon to close out the 2021 campaign.
Closing Time
Mark Melancon vs. Giants
1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (39th save)
Melancon fired a perfect 10th inning on Saturday evening, protecting a one-run lead against the Giants to collect his major league-leading 39th save of the year. The 36-year-old righty has converted 39 of 45 save opportunities this season.
Liam Hendriks vs. Tigers
1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (38th save)
Hendriks struck out a pair of batters and needed just nine pitches (eight strikes) to slam the door on the Tigers on Saturday night to collect his 38th save of the season. The 32-year-old righty has converted 38 of 44 save chances.
Hansel Robles vs. Nationals
1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (14th save)
Robles worked around a two-out walk by Ryan Zimmerman to toss a scoreless ninth inning on Saturday evening, protecting a two-run against the Nationals to notch his 14th save. The 31-year-old righty has come through of late for the Red Sox, reeling off 15 consecutive scoreless appearances since August 30.
Dylan Floro vs. Phillies
1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (14th save)
Floro scattered a two-out single from Freddy Galvis to spin a scoreless ninth inning on Saturday night, guarding a two-run lead against the Phillies to register his 14th save of the season. The 30-year-old righty has converted 14 of 20 saves chances this year.
Chris Stratton vs. Reds
1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (8th save)
Stratton was called upon to guard a two-run lead in the ninth inning and tossed a perfect frame to slam the door. The 31-year-old righty has converted eight of 13 save opportunities this season.
Rowan Wick vs. Cardinals
1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (5th save)
Wick worked around a leadoff walk to Jose Rondon to pick up his fifth save of the season on Saturday night against the Cardinals. The 28-year-old righty has converted five of eight save chances this year.
Jacob Webb vs. Mets
0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K (1st save)
Webb was summoned after Richard Rodriguez allowed a pair of runs to cross the plate and recorded just two outs to open the ninth inning. He walked Michael Conforto and Pete Alonso to load the bases before coaxing a game-ending ground ball off the bat of Jonathan Villar.
Drew Steckenrider vs. Angels
1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (14th save)
Steckenrider was called upon to guard a two-run lead in the ninth inning after a furious Mariners’ comeback in the eighth inning and worked around a two-out double from David Fletcher to slam the door. The 30-year-old righty has converted 14 of his 17 save chances this season.
EDGE Priority Pickup
Reiver Sanmartin, SP, Reds
If you’re searching for an intriguing streaming option for the final weekend of the 2021 campaign, there aren’t a ton of enticing options. Yet, Reds rookie lefty Reiver Sanmartin makes sense on the heels of a solid major-league debut against the Pirates earlier this week. He allowed one run on five hits with five strikeouts and only one walk in his big-league debut earlier this week and is lined up for a rematch against Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon. The 25-year-old southpaw recorded a solid 3.32 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 112/28 K/BB ratio across 100 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A this season prior to his late-season promotion. There’s some risk here, but Sanmartin is a worthy gamble in deeper fantasy formats.
American League Quick Hits: Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that DJ LeMahieu (hip) has been playing through a sports hernia, which will require core surgery at the conclusion of the season … Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters that Garrett Whitlock (pectoral) could be activated for Sunday’s season finale against the Nationals … Lourdes Gurriel (hand) returned to the Blue Jays’ starting lineup for Saturday’s matchup against the Orioles … Jose Siri has been diagnosed with a small fracture in his right pinkie finger … Mariners activated Andres Munoz from the 60-day injured list … Teoscar Hernandez, Bo Bichette and Danny Jansen homered in the Blue Jays’ blowout win over the Orioles … Mike Zunino went 3-for-5 with a solo homer and Randy Arozarena posted three hits and also stole a pair of bases in the Rays’ lopsided win over the Yankees … Enrique Hernandez walloped a two-run homer and Rafael Devers also went deep in the Red Sox’ victory over the Nationals … Jonah Heim slugged a three-run homer and Willie Calhoun added a solo blast in the Rangers’ blowout win over Cleveland … Josh Donaldson left the yard in the Twins’ shutout victory over the Royals … Yoan Moncada went 3-for-4 with a go-ahead two-run homer and three RBI in the White Sox’ comeback win over the Tigers … Jose Altuve collected four hits while Yordan Alvarez, Jason Castro, Yuli Gurriel and Kyle Tucker homered in the Astros’ blowout victory over the Athletics … Anthony Rizzo clubbed a solo homer in the Yankees’ blowout loss to the Rays … Jared Walsh went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer in the Angels’ loss to the Mariners … Trey Mancini doubled and scored a run in the Orioles’ lopsided defeat at the hands of the Blue Jays … Myles Straw scalded an RBI double in Cleveland’s loss to the Rangers … Robbie Grossman went 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in the Tigers’ loss to the White Sox … Tony Kemp went 4-for-5 with a pair of RBI in the Athletics’ loss to the Astros … Jordan Lyles posted eight strikeouts over seven innings of one-run ball in a win over Cleveland … Griffin Jax tossed five scoreless innings in a win over the Royals … Shane Baz registered four strikeouts and yielded one run over 2 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Yankees … Matt Manning notched seven strikeouts over five scoreless innings in a no-decision against the White Sox … Lucas Giolito yielded one run over five innings in a no-decision against the Tigers … Jake Odorizzi allowed three runs over 4 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Athletics … Chris Flexen allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the Angels … Jhonathan Diaz gave up three runs over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the Mariners … Triston McKenzie walked four batters and was shelled for four runs over four innings in a loss to the Rangers … John Means was charged with seven runs (six earned) over two innings in a loss to the Blue Jays … Jordan Montgomery was obliterated for seven runs over 2 2/3 innings in a loss to the Rays … Kris Bubic was charged with three runs (two earned) over 6 2/3 innings in a loss to the Twins … Paul Blackburn was shelled for six runs over two innings in a loss to the Astros … James Kaprielian gave up two runs (one earned) over 3 1/3 innings in a relief appearance against the Astros … Dallas Keuchel recorded only two outs and gave up three runs in a relief appearance against the Tigers … Luis Patino notched three strikeouts over two perfect innings to pick up a win in relief against the Yankees.
National League Quick Hits: Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller said Saturday “no decision” has been made on Jayce Tingler‘s employment status yet … Clayton Kershaw told reporters late Friday that he was experiencing discomfort in his left elbow and is unlikely to pitch for the Dodgers in the postseason … Braves manager Brian Snitker said Saturday that Charlie Morton will start Game 1 of the NL Division Series … Rockies officially named Bill Schmidt the franchise’s next general manager … Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Saturday that Stephen Strasburg (neck) will begin a throwing program on November 2 … Giants activated Jake McGee from the 10-day injured list … Kyle Farmer (abdominal) will not play on Sunday against the Pirates … Willson Contreras left Saturday’s game against the Cardinals with right hip tightness … Yadier Molina (shoulder) and Edmundo Sosa (wrist) went 0-for-4 on Thursday in their respective returns to the Cardinals’ lineup … Justin Turner went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer, AJ Pollock hit a two-run homer and Trea Turner extended his hitting streak to 18 consecutive games in the Dodgers’ blowout win over the Brewers … Manny Machado collected two RBI in the Padres’ extra-inning victory over the Giants … Jazz Chisholm Jr. drilled a three-run homer in the Marlins’ win over the Phillies … Bryan Reynolds went 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in the Pirates’ victory over the Reds … Joc Pederson and William Conteras went deep in the Braves’ win over the Mets … Ian Happ delivered a go-ahead two-run homer and Trayce Thompson went 3-for-4 with a grand slam in the Cubs’ comeback victory over the Cardinals … Pavin Smith had two hits and three walks in the Diamondbacks’ one-sided win over the Rockies … Willy Adames swatted his 25th homer of the season in the Brewers’ loss to the Dodgers … Harrison Bader drilled a solo homer in the Cardinals’ loss to the Cubs … Nick Castellanos clobbered a two-run homer in the Reds’ loss to the Pirates … Michael Conforto went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the Mets’ loss to the Braves … Austin Slater hit a pinch-hit solo homer in the Giants’ extra-inning loss to the Padres … Andrew Stevenson went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the Nationals’ loss to the Red Sox … J.T. Realmuto went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the Phillies’ loss to the Marlins … Sam Hilliard and Dom Nunez went deep in the Rockies’ loss to the Diamondbacks … Julio Urias recorded seven strikeouts and yielded one run over 6 1/3 innings in a win over the Brewers … Zac Gallen surrendered two runs over six innings in a win over the Rockies … Josiah Gray recorded seven strikeouts and allowed just one run over six innings in a no-decision against the Red Sox … Kevin Gausman allowed one run over seven innings in a no-decision against the Padres … Joe Musgrove gave up one run over five innings in a no-decision against the Giants … Tyler Mahle was tagged for six runs over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the Pirates … Max Kranick was charged with four runs (three earned) over four innings in a no-decision against the Reds … Jon Lester coughed up four runs over five innings in a no-decision against the Cubs … Adrian Sampson posted seven strikeouts and yielded one run over four innings in a no-decision against the Cardinals … Corbin Burnes was tagged for three runs over two innings in a loss to the Dodgers … Carlos Carrasco was lit up for five runs over five innings in a loss to the Braves … Hans Crouse coughed up three runs over four innings in loss to the Marlins … Antonio Senzatela recorded only two outs and surrendered six runs in a loss to the Diamondbacks … Drew Smyly spun three scoreless frames to collect a win in relief against the Mets.
