Ian Happ bats season-low seventh versus lefty

Closing the season strong, Garcia paced the Royals in this win. He got the scoring started with a two-run single in the first inning and laced the game-winning double in the seventh. In the end, he never made an out and now has a .278/.366/.417 slash line in the second half.

Cruz righted the ship here after blowing the save and taking the loss in his last appearance. He went very fastball heavy, throwing it 13 times out of 15 total pitches, and it handled the bottom of the White Sox’s order in a one run game. It’s been a bit of a rocky road, but Cruz has eight saves in nine chances after taking over as the Royals’ closer in a part-time capacity during the second half.

Intending to play spoiler against the White Sox, Lugo did not do his part. His lineup spotted him a four run lead after the first inning, yet he could not hold it. Everything came crashing down in the third inning when Lugo let up five hits and hit a batter. That turned the Royals’ four run lead into a tie game. When he let up two more hits in the fourth, he was pulled. Struggling to miss bats all season, Lugo forced just three whiffs in this game and closed a disappointing season with a 5.17 ERA.

Attempting to avenge a mostly lost season, Teel got the White Sox comeback started here. After falling behind 4-0 in the first inning, Teel’s two-run single cut that lead in half and he came around to score the tying run two batters later. They’d wind up blowing the game later on, but it’d be a huge boost to this lineup if Teel could find his form.

Smith was one of three White Sox pitchers to go at least two innings in this game along with Erick Fedde and Sean Newcomb, but none lasted for three. It was a valiant, all-hands on deck effort though as they held the Royals to just one run after Bryan Hudson let up four in the first as an opener while recording just one out. Smith did give up the winning run on a double from Maikel Garica after he’d been lights out to start his big league career. He will remain in this swing man type role through the White Sox postseason push before hopefully reverting back to being a starter in 2027.

Rafaela said after the game that he felt much better. He was playing in his first game back from a quad strain when he was forced to depart Wednesday.

Moreno is hitting .385 with four homers in his last 17 games. His season average is up to .310, giving him a legitimate shot of overtaking Luis Arraez at .312 for the NL batting title. He just needs to avoid running out of energy; he’s caught eight straight games now.

Kelly struck out just two tonight. Unless the D-backs somehow remain in contention until Sunday, Kelly’s season is likely over at 10-14 with a 4.94 ERA. Although his velocity held steady at age 37, his four percent home run, 16 percent strikeout, 10 percent walk and 40 percent groundball rates are all career worsts. That doesn’t bode well for the second season of his two-year, $40 million contract with the D-backs.

Loáisiga saved Arizona’s sixth game of the season and now has his second in game No. 158. He’s sporting a 2.22 ERA this season, which isn’t quite as surprising as the fact that he’s managed to pitch 65 innings. The oft-injured 31-year-old totaled 51 1/3 innings for the Yankees over the three previous seasons.

Zac Veen’s latest outfield miscue on a liner from Ketel Marte fueled a four-run first inning that ruined Adams’ night. Adams went on to strike out eight and walk none to finish his six-start stint in the majors with a 4.03 ERA and a 31/12 K/BB in 29 innings. He should certainly be in the running for a spot in Colorado’s rotation next spring.