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Clayton Kershaw to retire at the end of the season

History is about to be made.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have announced that Clayton Kershaw, who enjoyed a legendary 18-season career with the California club, will not be going forward for a 19th campaign.

He will finish the season and then retire.

Which means that tomorrow night, for the last time in his regular-season career, Kershaw will make a start at Dodger Stadium. There will undoubtedly be some emotion in the air.

We know that the veteran had been wondering for a few seasons whether to return, retire or pitch for the Rangers in his hometown of Texas. Now he’s made up his mind.

This season, he missed a few games to recover from back surgery… and these days, he’s going full speed ahead. It’s a good thing he’s here, because in 2025, he really wasn’t a pushover for his team.

No telling how important he’ll be in the playoffs, though.

Kershaw has had a decorated career that will take him straight to Cooperstown as soon as he can. Three Cy Young trophies, two World Series rings, a Triple Crown and an MVP: he’s got nothing to be ashamed of.

Note that he is the first of the “big line” of pitchers to announce his retirement. Justin Verlander has announced his intention to pitch in 2026, but we don’t yet know Max Scherzer’s intentions for the future.

If Verlander does pitch in 2026, he won’t be able to enter the Hall at the same time as Kershaw.

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  • 41 seconds later, he’s on base.

  • The Guardians get closer to the playoffs.

  • 100 runs scored for Juan Soto.

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MLB in brief: Wilyer Abreu, imminent return | Trey Yesavage to pitch Sunday

Wilyer Abreu’s imminent return?

That’s the word on the street at the moment.

Tomorrow’s game also on Sportsnet

The Blue Jays can make the playoffs tomorrow, and the game was just on Apple in the first place.

Paul Sewald returns

The Tigers have taken him off the injured list.

Eddie Romero as GM of the Nationals?

He’s been interviewed. He’s an assistant in Boston right now.

Max Scherzer to pitch Friday

The rest of the rotation: Shane Bieber on Saturday and Trey Yesavage on Sunday.

The impending labour dispute

The salary cap issue is the talk of the town.

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Three Blue Jays prospects to watch in the Arizona Fall League

The Toronto Blue Jays are in the thick of the race for the American League’s Eastern Section title, and are hoping to make good ground at the autumn dance.

However, let’s look a little into the future. As key players on the roster begin to age or become as free as air shortly, the Toronto staff must already be thinking about replacements.

And some of the prospects sent to the Arizona Fall League will be looking to make an impression in the coming weeks. Here are three to keep an eye on, starting with Kai Peterson, the Blue Jays’ 20th-round pick in the 2023 draft.

Although the left-handed pitcher isn’t one of the Jays’ top-30 prospects, a good performance in the Arizona desert could change that.

He has maintained a 3.78 ERA in 78 outings out of the bullpen and is known for his ability to retire opposing batters, but will have to lower his on-base rate if he hopes to one day play in Ontario.

Still on the mound, Alex Amalfi could also turn heads, although he too is not one of Toronto’s top-30 prospects. The 24-year-old right-hander is under contract as an undrafted free agent in July 2022 and can play both reliever and starter, although his stats tend to tip the scales in favor of the starting rotation.

Finally, let’s take a look at Josh Kasevich, the thirteenth-ranked prospect in the Blue Jays organization.

Limited to just 36 games due to a back injury, Kasevich had a disappointing season in 2025, unable to repeat his exploits of the previous year when he posted a .325 batting average and .815 OPS at Triple-A level.

But he’ll have a chance to put all that behind him soon.

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Passion MLB’s state of play: Mariners on the rise

Just over a week separates us from the real season, and there are still a few races in the standings to keep us on our toes.

So, without further ado, here’s the latest version of Passion MLB’s state of play. You’ll find last week’s rankings in brackets.

1 – Milwaukee Brewers (1)
2 – Philadelphia Phillies (2)
3 – Toronto Blue Jays (3)
4 – Chicago Cubs (6)
5 – Los Angeles Dodgers (7)
6 – Detroit Tigers (4)
7 – New York Yankees (5)
8 – Seattle Mariners (12)
9 – San Diego Padres (9)
10 – Boston Red Sox (8)
11 – Houston Astros (10)

12 – Texas Rangers (13)
13 – New York Mets (11)
14 – Cleveland Guardians (17)
15 – San Francisco Giants (15)
16 – Kansas City Royals (14)
17 – Cincinnati Reds (16)
18 – Arizona Diamondbacks (18)
19 – Tampa Bay Rays (19)
20 – St. Louis Cardinals (20)
21 – Baltimore Orioles (21)
22 – Sacramento Athletics (22)
23 – Miami Marlins (25)
24 – Los Angeles Angels (24)
25 – Atlanta Braves (23)
26 – Pittsburgh Pirates (26)
27 – Minnesota Twins (27)
28 – Washington Nationals (28)

29 – Chicago White Sox (29)
30 – Colorado Rockies (30)

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Astros: Isaac Paredes could be back this weekend

After finally making a return to the Houston Astros lineup following a prolonged absence due to a hand injury, Yordan Alvarez reminded the entire baseball world what a dangerous hitter he is.

However, the big left-handed hitter had to leave Monday’s game with a sprained ankle, which will keep him sidelined for some time. The injury was deemed significant and could cause him to miss the entire playoffs should the Texans qualify for the fall dance.

While bad news doesn’t usually come alone, the opposite is true for Houston.

Indeed, in an interview with local radio station SportsTalk790, general manager Dana Brown gave an update on the Isaac Paredes situation and declared that the Astros could reclaim the services of their colt for their huge weekend series against the Seattle Mariners.

We’re talking about Paredes coming back this weekend. We’re still working on it. There’s a chance he’ll be back this weekend for the series against Seattle. He’s doing well in Florida right now, and we’re optimistic.

It’s a complete game-changer for Houston, as Paredes was arguably the team’s best hitter before suffering what was thought to be a season-ending injury. The 26-year-old posted a .259 batting average with 19 home runs, 35 RBIs, 50 runs batted in and an OPS+ of 128 at the time.

Paredes will be the hitter of choice in his return to action, with Carlos Correa taking over at third base and Jose Altuve being used more often at second base.

With Houston’s offense struggling, he’ll be a major boost in this offensive role as the campaign’s toughest baseball gets underway.

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Another Mets defeat: the club doesn’t help itself

Will the Mets miss the playoffs?

The more time passes, the more we realize that the Mets like to shoot themselves in the foot. Yesterday again, the pitchers didn’t get the job done and the club lost a game that was quite important.

David Peterson was at the heart of a 7-4 loss to the Padres. He gave up six runs in five innings of work.

With a payroll of $340 million, the New York club’s lead in the Nationals’ final playoff spot is getting slimmer and slimmer. Right now, we’re talking a game and a half over the DBacks and two games over the Reds and Giants.

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I think the Mets will find a way to stay in the picture between now and next Sunday. However, the fact remains that it’s not assured… especially if the club continues to drop games at this rate.

Two wins in their last 10 games… they’re not helping themselves, let’s say.

With three clubs already qualified (Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Chicago) in the Nationals and teams like Los Angeles and San Diego soon to do so, there are clearly five better clubs than the Mets in this league.

If New York makes the playoffs, it won’t last long, let’s say.

In the American League, the Houston Astros have managed to regain sole possession of first place in the West. As a result, the Seattle Mariners have slipped to the last playoff spot.

The Guardians are 2.5 games out of the playoffs and I don’t see them catching any of the six teams currently in the playoff picture.

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  • Good listening.

  • Blake Snell is ready for the playoffs.

  • Champagne absorbs through the skin. What a great quote.

  • Wow.

  • Trey Yesavage as a starter this weekend?

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Passion MLB – The Podcast, Episode 80

In this 80th episode of the Passion MLB podcast, Sébastien Berrouard and Charles-Alexis Brisebois discuss Trey Yesavage and Bo Bichette with the Toronto Blue Jays, the baseball IQ of Canadian fans and Shohei Ohtani, to name but a few.

Enjoy!

We remind you that people who want to listen to us live can do so every Wednesday at 8 p.m. on Facebook, on X and on YouTube. We record live to answer everyone’s questions.

However, those who want to listen to us in a more traditional podcast format can also do so by visiting all the good podcast platforms at any time.

SpotifyYouTubeApple PodcastAmazon Music

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Shohei Ohtani open to playing outfield in playoffs

In 2021, Shohei Ohtani began pitching and hitting at the same time. Previously, the Angels didn’t use him at bat on the days he pitched.

So on the days the Japanese was on the mound, Joe Maddon had no choice but to manage “a Nationals game” by giving up the preferred hitter’s position to have his pitcher hit.

Remember: the DH position isn’t a right, it’s an option. It’s just that, normally, everyone takes it every day…

The result? In 2021, when Ohtani wanted to keep hitting after he finished pitching, he had to go finish the game in the outfield. He did so a few times that year.

Then, in 2022, pinch-hitting became universal and MLB created the Shohei Ohtani rule: a DH who pitches can leave the mound as a starting pitcher, but stay in the game as a pinch-hitter.

Since then, Ohtani has never returned to the outfield in the Majors.

However, as he prepares to pitch in the playoffs for the first time in the MLB in the coming weeks, Ohtani has admitted that he is willing to consider stepping out of his comfort zone and playing in the outfield in October for the Dodgers.

He has had discussions on the subject.

What you need to know is that Ohtani wouldn’t be an outfielder to start a game instead of just playing as a pinch-hitter. That’s not the game plan.

In fact, it would be a plan used only if he’s used as a reliever.

The “Shohei Ohtani rule” applies only to a starting pitcher. However, a reliever can’t leave the mound and set himself up as a pinch-hitter afterwards. That would be illogical.

So if the Dodgers were to use the Japanese reliever, he’d leave the DH’s job and Dave Roberts would have to manage a game like in the old days, i.e. without a choice hitter. And then, leaving the mound, Ohtani could tamp down an outfielder to finish the game defensively and not leave the game.

Will that happen? I don’t know. After all, it would take a situation where the Dodgers would agree to send Ohtani up in relief and on defense, something he hasn’t done on a regular basis in years.

But if the timing is right, it’s an option on the table. And since Ohtani wants to win at all costs, he’s willing to consider it…. even if, deep down, he can’t be comfortable playing in the outfield in the playoffs.

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MLB in brief: The Cubs in the playoffs | Bo Bichette does what he can to come back

The Cubs in the playoffs

It’s official.

Trea Turner back for the playoffs?

Could be.

Speaking of the Phillies: watch out for their rotation in October.

Willson Contreras injured

Doesn’t change much, at this point.

Bo Bichette does what he can to come back

No one doubts it.

Yordan Alvarez, meanwhile, may not be able to return at all.

Cal Raleigh’s impressive season

Turning heads.

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Yankees have the worst bullpen of any playoff team

At the trade deadline, the Yankees opted to upgrade their bullpen. They acquired Jake Bird, David Bednar and Camilo Doval. The last two guys are capable of ending games.

So, with Bednar, Doval, Luke Weaver and… Devin Williams (for what it’s worth), the Yankees had four closers. On paper, it was a very good bullpen.

Jake Bird quickly moved up to AAA. Camilo Doval lost all his bearings when he arrived in New York. And Williams… continued to bog down, being a nuisance to the club.

In fact, it’s quite symptomatic of the state of the bullpen in general. Why is that? Because since the trade deadline, the bullpen has had an average of 5.71. That’s the worst in the league.

Bednar (it’s a good thing he’s here) and Tim Hill are the only regulars to have averaged less than 5.71 over that span.

The problem is, even if the club has good starters and Aaron Judge exists, we know that in the playoffs, the bullpen is where the series can be won – and lost.

And in New York, right now, the level of optimism isn’t great on this subject.

Unless you trust the Diamondbacks to make the playoffs this season, we see that the Yankees have the worst bullpen, year-to-date, among the teams that will make the playoffs in 2025.

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The Phillies are right up there… but let’s not forget that Jhoan Duran didn’t start the season in Pennsylvania. So the Phillies’ bullpen is better than the Yankees’ right now.

Will this sink the Bombardiers in the playoffs? Because if it does, the club’s ugly defense will go through the butter and we’ll only be talking about the relievers…

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