Daily Double Play: Your MLB Update

September 18, 2025 • Sports

Hosted by Big Dill

About This Episode

Generated sports podcast with host Big Dill based on prompt: Daily MLB news. Game scores, highlights and general news

Transcript

Welcome back to Big Dill Sports! I'm Dillon, your host, bringing you the latest baseball action in our segment, "Daily Double Play: Your MLB Update." Yesterday’s jam-packed slate of 15 games gave us plenty to talk about, with major playoff implications and standout performances. So, let’s dive right in!

Starting with the Chicago Cubs, who are celebrating their first postseason berth since 2020 after an 8-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ian Happ was a force, smashing a homer and driving in three runs. Nico Hoerner kept things moving with two hits, scoring three times to ensure Chicago’s wild-card spot.

In the American League, the Cleveland Guardians shut down the Detroit Tigers, 4-0, making it their sixth straight win. Gavin Williams was electric, striking out nine in five shutout innings. Bo Naylor and George Valera provided the offensive punch, tightening the AL Central race.

The Cincinnati Reds kept their wild-card hopes alive, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2. Spencer Steer stole the show with a three-run homer and totaled five RBIs. Brady Singer also did his part, allowing just two runs over nearly six innings.

Over in Minnesota, the Yankees powered past the Twins 10-5. Trent Grisham had a standout night with two homers and four RBIs, while Cody Bellinger added to the scoreboard with a solo and a two-run shot.

In New York, the San Diego Padres avoided a series sweep by the Mets with a 7-4 victory. Manny Machado was the hero, belting a grand slam, his 14th career slam, while Juan Soto added a solo homer.

Shifting to the Kansas City Royals, they pulled off a dramatic 7-5 win against the Seattle Mariners. Adam Frazier’s seventh homer was the catalyst in a huge rally, with Salvador Pérez also contributing a three-run bomb.

Now for some quick hits: The Baltimore Orioles edged the White Sox 3-1, backed by a two-run blast from Dylan Beavers. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants needed 11 innings to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-1, spoiling a near no-hitter by Brandon Pfaadt. In Atlanta, the Braves completed a season sweep of the Nationals with a 9-4 victory, thanks to Marcell Ozuna’s three RBIs and Matt Olson’s big bat.

Let's spotlight some stellar performances. Ian Happ, our Cubs star, went 2-for-4 with a homer. Spencer Steer’s five RBIs powered the Reds, and Dylan Beavers put Baltimore ahead with his timely homer. Gavin Williams’ nine strikeouts helped the Guardians, and Manny Machado’s grand slam couldn’t be ignored. And let’s not forget Trent Grisham with two multi-homer games this season.

Now, which player is the 'big dill' today? Without a doubt, it's Manny Machado. His grand slam puts him at the top for career slams among active players, showcasing his enduring impact in the lineup.

As for postseason implications, the Cubs are leading the NL Wild Card standings, while the Guardians are closing in on the AL Central. The Yankees are right in the hunt, trailing just two games in the AL East.

We also witnessed a few notable milestones. The Mets used a record 46 pitchers this season, and the Orioles tied their franchise record with seven stolen bases in a single game.

Injury concerns did arise as Kyle Isbel exited with hamstring discomfort, and Martín Pérez will undergo an MRI after leaving with shoulder soreness.

That wraps up today's update. As we gear up for the final week of regular-season games, every pitch counts. Stick with Big Dill Sports for all the exciting developments, and don’t forget to follow the races as they heat up. Thanks for tuning in! Stay sharp, and I'll catch you on the next episode of Big Dill Sports.

## Overview

Yesterday’s full 15-game slate saw pivotal matchups with major playoff and divisional implications. The Chicago Cubs clinched their first postseason berth since 2020, while the Cleveland Guardians rolled to their sixth straight win, closing the gap in the American League Central race ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=401697179)). Meanwhile, high-octane offenses lit up ballparks coast to coast, and several players delivered career milestones and standout performances.

## Game Scores and Summaries

- Chicago Cubs 8, Pittsburgh Pirates 4
Ian Happ homered and drove in three runs as Chicago sealed an 8-4 victory to clinch a wild-card berth. Nico Hoerner added two hits and scored three times, and Michael Busch’s sac fly provided a key insurance run in the sixth inning ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=401697179)).

- Cleveland Guardians 4, Detroit Tigers 0
Gavin Williams struck out nine over five shutout innings in Detroit. Bo Naylor’s two-run single and George Valera’s RBI base hit highlighted a balanced Guardians attack in their season-best sixth consecutive win, narrowing their AL Central deficit to 4½ games ([espn.ph](https://www.espn.ph/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401697180)).

- Cincinnati Reds 6, St. Louis Cardinals 2
Spencer Steer launched a three-run homer and finished with five RBIs to power the Reds past St. Louis in the rubber game. Starter Brady Singer (14–10) allowed just two runs over 5⅔ innings in a bid to help Cincinnati remain in wild-card contention ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401697186)).

- New York Yankees 10, Minnesota Twins 5
Trent Grisham hit two homers—his fifth multi-homer performance of the season—and drove in four runs. Cody Bellinger chipped in an RBI single and a two-run homer as the Yankees surged in the middle innings to pull away in Minnesota ([mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/stories/game/776284)).

- San Diego Padres 7, New York Mets 4
Manny Machado belted a grand slam—his 26th of the year and the most among active players—to break open the game in the fifth inning. Juan Soto added a solo shot, and Robert Suárez notched his 39th save as San Diego salvaged the series finale in Queens ([mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/stories/game/776288)).

- Kansas City Royals 7, Seattle Mariners 5
Adam Frazier’s go-ahead seventh homer capped a seven-run Kansas City rally. Salvador Pérez earlier crushed a three-run shot and Eugenio Suárez added a two-run blast, but the Royals bullpen hung on for the win as Carlos Estévez recorded his 40th save ([mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/stories/game/776289)).

## Additional Results

- Baltimore Orioles 3, Chicago White Sox 1
Top prospect Dylan Beavers drilled a two-run homer, and Tyler Wells pitched six solid innings in his return from elbow surgery. The Orioles tied a franchise record with seven stolen bases in the contest ([espn.ph](https://www.espn.ph/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401697185)).

- San Francisco Giants 5, Arizona Diamondbacks 1 (11 innings)
In a wild extra-innings affair, the Giants rallied for five runs in the 11th against a one-hit, nine-inning performance by Brandon Pfaadt. Christian Koss’s two-run double ignited the comeback, spoiling Pfaadt’s near no-hitter and snapping Arizona’s four-game win streak ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401697192?utm_source=openai)).

- Atlanta Braves 9, Washington Nationals 4
Marcell Ozuna drove in three runs, and Matt Olson launched his 28th homer to help Atlanta complete a four-game season sweep in Washington. Hurston Waldrep struck out eight over five strong innings before the bullpen closed it out ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401697178?utm_source=openai)).

## Standout Performances

Wednesday’s Player of the Game honorees spanned the league:
- Ian Happ (CHC): 2-for-4, HR, BB, 3 RBI ([mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/stories/player-of-the-game-september-17-2025?utm_source=openai))
- Spencer Steer (CIN): 3-for-4, HR, 5 RBI ([mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/stories/player-of-the-game-september-17-2025?utm_source=openai))
- Dylan Beavers (BAL): 1-for-3, HR, BB, 2 RBI ([mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/stories/player-of-the-game-september-17-2025?utm_source=openai))
- Gavin Williams (CLE): 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 9 K ([mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/stories/player-of-the-game-september-17-2025?utm_source=openai))
- Manny Machado (SD): 3-for-5, HR, 4 RBI ([mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/stories/player-of-the-game-september-17-2025?utm_source=openai))
- Trent Grisham (NYY): 2-for-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI ([mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/stories/player-of-the-game-september-17-2025?utm_source=openai))

Additional honorees included Brandon Pfaadt’s nine-inning gem (AZ), Marcell Ozuna’s three-RBI day (ATL), and several other one-off heroics across the diamond.

## Postseason Implications

- The Cubs (88–64) now lead the NL Wild Card standings and have locked up at least a one-game playoff, ending a four-year drought ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=401697179)).
- Cleveland (80–71) sits 4½ games back in the AL Central but has won 11 of 12, forcing Kansas City and Detroit into must-wins in the final week ([espn.ph](https://www.espn.ph/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401697180)).
- New York’s win keeps the Yankees in the AL East hunt, trailing Boston by two games with a tiebreaker edge over Toronto after a crucial divisional victory ([mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/stories/game/776284)).

## Notable Milestones and Records

- Manny Machado’s grand slam marked his 14th career slam, the most among active players, passing Giancarlo Stanton’s 11 ([mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/stories/game/776288)).
- The Mets set a major-league record by using their 46th different pitcher (Dom Hamel) this season, surpassing the 2024 Marlins ([mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/stories/game/776288)).
- Eugenio Suárez hit his 46th homer, the second-most for a player who has donned multiple uniforms in one campaign ([mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/stories/game/776289)).
- Orioles matched a franchise record with seven stolen bases in a single game, highlighting their renewed aggressiveness on the basepaths ([espn.ph](https://www.espn.ph/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401697185)).

## Injury and Roster Notes

- Kyle Isbel (Royals) exited in the second inning with left hamstring discomfort; further tests are pending ([mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/stories/game/776289)).
- Martín Pérez (White Sox) left his start with left shoulder soreness and will undergo an MRI exam Thursday ([mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/stories/game/776285)).
- Tyler Wells (Orioles) has excelled in his third start since returning from elbow surgery, lowering his ERA to 4.05 in limited action ([espn.ph](https://www.espn.ph/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401697185)).

Wednesday’s outcomes have set the stage for a thrilling final week of the regular season, with postseason positions all but locked for some and races heating up for others. As teams head into their penultimate games, every pitch and swing carries playoff weight.

Daily Double Play: Your MLB Update