Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney

David Schoenfield joins Buster to discuss their worst preseason predictions, the Cardinals clinching a playoff spot, the Mariners coming up clutch, the Yankees creating some breathing room, the feeling of 2011 for the Red Sox, AL Rookie of the Year and the Braves’ chances in the playoffs. Plus, Hembo on his worst preseason prediction, the definitive MVP case for Bryce Harper, the impact of the Giants losing Brandon Belt and why he thinks the Cardinals won’t make waves in the playoffs.

Sarah Langs joins Buster to discuss the Mariners hovering around the back of the AL Wild Card pack, Brandon Belt’s broken thumb, Joey Votto’s bombs, Juan Soto on the edge of a batting title and Bradley Zimmer homering off his brother Kyle. Then, Jessica Mendoza and Melanie Newman stop by to talk about calling Dodgers-Padres together on Wednesday as the first all-women broadcast duo for an MLB game on ESPN, the Dodgers still fighting for the NL West crown, if the Padres will play spoiler or roll over, Giancarlo Stanton’s swing and Shohei Ohtani’s comments about winning.

Tim Kurkjian joins Buster to discuss the exceptionally dangerous Rays clinching the AL East, why Kevin Cash should be AL manager of the year, the Brewers looking to surprise in the postseason, Juan Soto vs. Bryce Harper for NL MVP, the Yankees sweeping the Red Sox over the weekend and which teams they think make the AL Wild Card with a week left to play. Plus, Buster talks to Giancarlo Stanton after a Yankees victory on Sunday Night Baseball. And, Boog Sciambi chats with Alex Cora.

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Karl Ravech joins Buster to discuss this weekend’s Yankees-Red Sox series, Boston’s favorable schedule going forward, New York controlling its fate, the White Sox clinching the AL Central and how dangerous they’ll be in the playoffs, Craig Kimbrel’s disappointing play since being traded, the Cardinals ripping off a 12th-straight win, Juan Soto’s second half explosion, and MLB experimenting with pre-tacked baseballs. Later, Todd Radom has the Forgotten Franchise and weekly quiz.

Matt Vasgersian joins Buster to discuss the lamest bench clearing ever between the Rays and Blue Jays, the big Yankees-Red Sox series over the weekend, St. Louis rising from the ashes and if the Angels could be players for Max Scherzer in free agency. Sarah Langs plays The Numbers Game with notes on two notable 22-year-olds knocking 40 home runs, Juan Soto and the Cardinals’ 11-game winning streak.

David Schoenfield joins Buster to discuss the Cardinals storming into the playoffs like Smarty Jones, the Padres’ official turn down Bitter Boulevard, Kevin Kiermaier scooping up the Blue Jays’ data card on the field and the need for a pitch clock to speed up the game. Then, Hembo stops by to talk about Connor McGregor’s first pitch, the Phillies flailing down the stretch, not betting on San Diego’s future, Salvador Perez’s historic season and why Shohei Ohtani should unanimously win the AL MVP.

Cats are making cameos all over sports right now, from a stray at Yankee Stadium to a dangling feline in Miami. But ESPN’s Liz Merrill has the original wild and twisting tale of the St. Louis Cardinals’ Rally Cat. When the kitten crawled onto the field during the bottom of the sixth in a 2017 game against the Kansas City Royals, Yadier Molina proceeded to hit a go-ahead grand slam on the very next pitch. Hear the story of the all-out search that followed for the Rally Cat, and the heated fight over where it should live.

Sarah Langs joins Buster to discuss if Jon Lester if a Hall of Famer, if 200 career wins for pitchers is the new 300 wins, Shane Baz debuting for the Rays with a dominant performance and the challenges for the White Sox with the postseason on the horizon. Then, author and columnist George Will stops by to talk about why he thinks the game of baseball is boring, the need to consider all possible rule changes to bring young people back into the fold, his friendship with Tony La Russa, the Cubs’ squandering further success with its World Series-winning core and what he expects from labor talks this winter.

Jeff Passan joins Buster to discuss the AL MVP conversation shifting to Vlad Guerrero Jr. and how absurd that is with the way Shohei Ohtani is playing, Bryce Harper as the NL MVP, the confrontation between Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. in the dugout and the offseason reckoning facing the Padres, possibilities for the Mets GM job, if Aaron Boone could be fired if the Yankees miss the playoffs, and Andrew McCutcheon supporting improved conditions for minor leaguers. Plus, Buster goes rapid fire with J.T. Realmuto.

Karl Ravech joins Buster to discuss Steve Cohen getting wild on social media (again), the AL MVP, Bryce Harper and the Phillies, the Yankees’ regretful record against the Orioles, and Karl’s landing spots for the class of free agent shortstops. Later, Todd Radom stops by with the Forgotten Franchise and the weekly quiz.