Baseball - Chattanooga Times Free Press

Empty seats dot ballparks in Atlanta, Houston for afternoon playoff games

Austin Riley delivered the first clutch moment of the 2026 Major League Baseball playoffs Tuesday at Truist Park, where there were plenty of open seats.

By DAVID BRANDT / The Associated Press September 30, 2026

The Atlanta Braves host the Philadelphia Phillies in an MLB playoff game Tuesday at Truist Park. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

MLB regular-season attendance rises for fourth consecutive year

Major League Baseball's total regular-season attendance rose for the fourth straight year to 71.75 million, reaching its highest figure since 2017.

By The Associated Press September 30, 2026

Players for the Chicago Cubs, left, and the host Tampa Bay Rays line the field for pregame introductions at Tropicana Field on April 6 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Austin Riley’s 3-run homer off Jhoan Duran rallies Braves past Phillies in NLWCS opener

Austin Riley hit a three-run homer off All-Star closer Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning and the Atlanta Braves rallied past the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 on Tuesday in the opener of a best-of-three National League Wild Card Series.

By CHARLES ODUM / AP Sports Writer September 29, 2026

Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley hits a three-run home run off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) in the eighth inning during Game 1 of baseball's National League Wild Card Series Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

White Sox strike first in AL wild card, beating Astros in Game 1

Colson Montgomery hit a solo homer and Sam Antonacci drove in two runs to lead the Chicago White Sox over the Houston Astros 6-3 in Game 1 of an AL Wild Card Series on Tuesday.

By KRISTIE RIEKEN / AP Sports Writer September 29, 2026

Chicago White Sox's Colson Montgomery (12) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Braves put trust in Sale to anchor depleted rotation in NL Wild Card Series against Phillies

The Atlanta Braves battled through a long list of pitching injuries that left their rotation depleted for their National League Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

By CHARLES ODUM / AP Sports Writer September 28, 2026

Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale (51) delivers to a Cincinnati Reds batter during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Phillies avoid total collapse, clinch final NL wild card, will face Braves

The Philadelphia Phillies survived their perilous five-day scare and are indeed headed to the Major League Baseball playoffs for the fifth straight season.

By DAN GELSTON / The Associated Press September 27, 2026

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran reacts after closing out Sunday's 7-3 win against the Tampa Bay Rays, which clinched the National League's final wild card in the MLB playoffs. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Braves close regular season with loss to Marlins in Miami

The Atlanta Braves dropped two of three games in a weekend series with the Miami Marlins, but now the NL East champions will turn their full attention to the MLB playoffs.

By The Associated Press September 27, 2026

Atlanta Braves batter Mike Yastrzemski looks up as he watches his foul ball during the second inning of Sunday's regular-season finale against the Miami Marlins. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Close of regular season sets MLB statistical leaders for 2026

Teams around Major League Baseball played game 162 on Sunday, and so went another regular season into the books, along with its statistics and category leaders.

By RONALD BLUM / The Associated Press September 27, 2026

Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski pitches during Sunday's regular-season finale against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

MLB announces TV times for playoffs; Phillies-Braves in afternoon

The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, old rivals who compete in the same division, will get prime-time exposure in the opening round of the 2026 MLB posteason.