Episode 185 of Tablesetters is LIVE!

Pete Alonso is back at Citi Field, only this time he’s wearing an Orioles uniform. The Mets’ all-time home run leader received an emotional welcome back to Queens, and then gave us a moment we couldn’t have scripted any better: career home run No. 300, live while we were recording the show.

We open with Alonso’s first trip back to Citi Field since signing a five-year, $155 million deal with Baltimore. Mets fans welcomed him back with chants, a tribute video and huge ovations throughout the night. After seven seasons in Queens, a franchise-record 264 home runs and countless unforgettable moments in a Mets uniform, Alonso returned as an opponent sitting on 299 career homers. Then, right in the middle of the episode, he hit No. 300 and we got to react to it in real time.

From there, we get into the Padres and Diamondbacks fighting it out in the National League Wild Card race. San Diego has won eight straight, but Arizona refuses to go away after Corbin Carroll crushed a 423-foot walk-off home run against Miami. With the Diamondbacks finishing the regular season in San Diego, this race could come down to the final weekend.

We also break down what has gotten into Reid Detmers. The Angels left-hander owns an MLB-best 1.65 ERA since the All-Star break with 76 strikeouts against just 11 walks over 65 1/3 innings. He’s delivered seven consecutive quality starts and sits one strikeout away from 200 on the season. After all the ups and downs of the last few years, what changed for Detmers and how real is this version of him?

Take a Pitch/Swing Away returns with three debates: Is Cam Schlittler really the American League MVP over Yordan Alvarez? Has Kazuma Okamoto put together a better MLB debut season than Munetaka Murakami? And is Rafael Devers still one of the five best pure hitters in baseball?

Plus, we’re Coming Around 3rd to close things out with the games, pitching matchups and storylines we’re watching heading into the weekend.

🎧 Listen to Episode 185 now.

Episode 184 of Tablesetters is LIVE!

The MLB postseason picture is taking shape, but the American League bracket is exposing one of the biggest flaws in the current playoff format. Aaron Judge is finally back in the Yankees lineup after a 99-day absence, Jesús Luzardo just threw himself even deeper into a loaded NL Cy Young race and some recent Josh Donaldson comments have us asking just how much influence Jomboy really has on Aaron Boone.

We open the show with a look at MLB’s fixed playoff bracket and whether it’s finally time to re-seed after the Wild Card Series. If the season ended today, Tampa Bay, New York and Boston — the three best teams in the American League by record — would all be stuck on the same side of the bracket, while the other path to the ALCS would feature teams with considerably worse records. Winning your division should matter, but should a No. 1 seed really be rewarded with a potentially more difficult path than the No. 2 seed? We break down the format, what re-seeding could look like and whether MLB has created an unnecessary postseason problem.

We also get into Aaron Judge’s long-awaited return to the Yankees lineup after missing nearly 100 days with a rib injury. New York survived without its captain, but the underlying offensive numbers tell a much different story about just how badly this lineup missed him. With less than three weeks remaining and the Yankees still chasing Tampa Bay, we discuss what Judge’s return could mean for the stretch run.

Then there’s the National League Cy Young race, which somehow keeps getting more interesting. Jesús Luzardo delivered a complete-game shutout against Atlanta and has forced his way into a conversation that already includes Chris Sale, Cristopher Sánchez and Jacob Misiorowski. There are dominant rate stats, massive strikeout totals, innings arguments and now a signature late-season performance to sort through. Who actually deserves the award right now?

Take the Pitch/Swing Away returns with three debates: Is Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 2026 season actually more impressive than Ronald Acuña Jr.’s historic 40/70 campaign? Will the Angels become contenders quickly once Stan Kroenke takes over the franchise? And after Josh Donaldson’s recent comments, does Jomboy have more influence over Aaron Boone and the Yankees lineup than anyone realizes?

Plus, Red Hot Ice Cold returns as we check in on some of the hottest and coldest players in baseball without giving away who landed where.

And, as always, we’re Coming Around 3rd to close it out.

🎧 Listen to Episode 184 now.

Episode 183 of Tablesetters is LIVE!

Tarik Skubal returned to Detroit in Dodger blue and apparently took a piece of the Tigers clubhouse with him, Will Flemming is under fire for comments during the Yankees’ demolition of the Red Sox, Ketel Marte is back with Arizona after a bizarre absence and Chris Sale, Michael Wacha and Max Scherzer are turning back the clock.

We open the show with the Phillies and Braves both surging into September and seven head-to-head games still looming between them. Atlanta has maintained control of the NL East despite Philadelphia’s recent run, but when we look beyond the standings and dig into how these teams are actually constructed, their strengths, some interesting underlying trends and what the latest projections tell us, the question of which one is truly more built for October gets a lot more complicated.

We also break down the fallout from Flemming’s heated reaction to Jazz Chisholm Jr. running with the Yankees comfortably ahead and discuss where the line should exist between passionate hometown broadcasting and going too far. We get into the increasingly strange Jeff Bagwell situation in Houston following Dana Brown’s departure and what his growing presence around the organization means for an Astros team still trying to navigate the AL West race.

Age is apparently just a number for some of baseball’s veteran arms, as Sale, Wacha and Scherzer each delivered performances that looked like they belonged to much younger versions of themselves. We dig into the remarkable longevity behind all three outings and what made this particular stretch stand out.

In What’s the Word, George Lombard Jr.’s sudden defensive woes have us wondering what exactly is happening to the Yankees’ highly regarded young shortstop, while Marte’s return raises a much different question about whether Arizona can truly repair everything that happened during his absence. Then there’s Skubal, who returned to Comerica Park less than a month after being traded to Los Angeles, showed plenty of love to his former teammates and staff, but apparently decided one particular clubhouse amenity was leaving Detroit with him. We have a word for that too.

Plus, Red Hot Ice Cold.

🎧 Listen to Episode 183 now.

Episode 182 of Tablesetters is live!

Pete Alonso’s controversial foul ball has the Orioles questioning MLB’s replay technology, Kyle Tucker’s first season with the Dodgers has turned into a disaster, Ketel Marte has landed on the restricted list and the Mariners are calling up top pitching prospect Kade Anderson.

We break down the Alonso controversy after his potential go ahead 410 foot home run was ruled foul and the call stood after replay, raising questions about whether MLB needs better technology around the foul poles.

We also examine Tucker’s struggles after signing a four year, $240 million contract with Los Angeles, including his .232 average, 11 home runs, .695 OPS, 0 for 25 stretch, defensive issues and enormous home road splits.

We get into the uncertainty surrounding Marte after he failed to show up for Arizona’s game in Boston and was placed on the restricted list while also dealing with a left knee issue. In Seattle, Anderson is heading directly from Double A to the rotation after going 10 and 1 with a 1.06 ERA, 135 strikeouts and just 13 walks in 93⅓ innings.

In Take the Pitch or Swing Away, we discuss Joshua Báez becoming the first player in MLB history to homer in each of his first three Major League at bats, where his historic debut belongs among the greatest ever, Aaron Nola’s recent turnaround with Philadelphia, Kevin McGonigle moving beyond the Rookie of the Year conversation and into the AL MVP discussion, and the NL Rookie of the Year race between Sal Stewart, JJ Wetherholt and Carson Benge, including Stewart’s offensive production and Wetherholt’s massive defensive advantage.

Plus, Red Hot Ice Cold.

🎧 Listen to Episode 182 now.

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Welcome to Episode 181 of Tablesetters!

The trade deadline is behind us, but the baseball conversation is only getting more interesting as August starts separating the contenders from the teams beginning to run out of time.

We begin with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have suddenly lost eight of their last nine games and 15 of their last 24. Despite sitting at 70-48 and adding Tarik Skubal at the deadline, the Dodgers have shown some legitimate cracks. We break down an offense that has fallen to a 93 wRC+ since July 1, their struggles against fastballs, the recent production from Mookie Betts, Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernández, and whether Edwin Díaz's 10.80 ERA and 2.50 WHIP should create real concern about the bullpen.

From there, we revisit the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline one week later. The Dodgers remain our biggest winner after landing Skubal, but San Diego, Chicago, Boston, Toronto and several others made moves that could reshape October. We also look at the teams that left us wanting more, including Atlanta, Cincinnati, Texas, Milwaukee and the Yankees.

Then we get into what has become a legitimate NL MVP debate between Pete Crow-Armstrong and Shohei Ohtani. PCA has 26 home runs, 30 stolen bases, a 155 wRC+ and 8.0 WAR while providing elite defense and baserunning. Ohtani continues producing elite offense and also gave the Dodgers 85.2 innings with a 1.79 ERA before his injury. Has PCA actually done enough to take the MVP away from Ohtani?

Plus:

We close by looking ahead to a weekend that could tell us plenty about the American League playoff picture, particularly for a Seattle team sitting seven games under .500 but somehow still within striking distance of the AL West.

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The Mariners entered 2026 with World Series expectations after reaching Game 7 of the American League Championship Series last season. Instead, they've spent much of the year searching for answers. Despite an inconsistent first four months, Seattle remains firmly in the American League playoff race with the trade deadline quickly approaching.

On Episode 180 of Tablesetters, we welcome back Brady Farkas, host of the Refuse to Lose Mariners podcast and writer for Roundtable Sports. Brady first joined us on Episode 39 in November 2024 and returned on Episode 105 during Seattle's division race last season. Now, he becomes the first three-time guest in Tablesetters history as we dive into one of baseball's most fascinating teams.

From Jerry Dipoto's deadline plans and the futures of Randy Arozarena, Luis Castillo and Emerson Hancock to the regression of Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez, Brady breaks down where the Mariners stand, what's gone wrong in 2026 and whether this club still has what it takes to make a postseason run.

We also discuss the organization's offensive philosophy, Dominic Canzone's emergence, Dan Wilson's future, clubhouse culture, the strength of Seattle's farm system led by Kade Anderson, Ryan Sloan and Laz Montes, and why Jimothy has become one of the best stories in baseball.

If you're a Mariners fan or simply love trade deadline conversations and playoff races, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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Welcome to Episode 179 of Tablesetters!

Today's guest is DiNardo of North Shore Nine, one of the most respected independent voices covering the Pittsburgh Pirates. We first welcomed DiNardo back on Episode 44 in December 2024, and with Pittsburgh sitting right in the middle of the National League Wild Card race as the trade deadline approaches, there was no better time to catch up.

For nearly a decade, Anthony has helped grow North Shore Nine from a fan blog into one of the premier destinations for Pirates coverage, featuring podcasts, postgame shows, prospect analysis, videos and in-depth reporting. We begin by looking back on North Shore Nine's recent 10-year anniversary before turning our attention to one of baseball's biggest surprise teams.

We discuss how the Pirates have transformed last year's lowest-scoring offense into one of the best in baseball, leading the majors in hits while ranking among the National League leaders in runs scored, RBI, batting average and home runs. We also examine whether seven blown late leads are the only thing standing between Pittsburgh and a playoff spot, or if they expose larger roster issues that still need to be addressed.

From there, we dive into the biggest storylines surrounding the club, including Ben Cherington's deadline strategy, reports surrounding payroll, the possibility of listening to offers for Oneil Cruz, and why the bullpen remains the organization's biggest priority as the stretch run begins.

Plus:

Before we wrap up, DiNardo reflects on what's next for North Shore Nine, shares his outlook on the trade deadline and gives his prediction for how the Pirates' postseason chase will unfold.

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Episode 178 of Tablesetters is LIVE!

The MLB Trade Deadline rumor mill is in overdrive, and it's time for Mock Trade Palooza.

Every contender is searching for the missing piece. Every seller is weighing its future. Across baseball, insiders, analysts and fans are proposing blockbuster deals that could reshape the pennant race, but which ones actually have a chance of happening?

In this episode, we react to some of the most fascinating mock trades making the rounds across the baseball world. Using proposals from MLB insiders, national writers, analysts and baseball fans on social media, we break down which deals are grounded in reality, which teams should seriously consider pulling the trigger and which ideas simply are not happening.

Along the way, we discuss the biggest buyers and sellers, examine how prospect value, years of team control, payroll flexibility, organizational direction and division rivalries shape negotiations, and debate which clubs are best positioned to make the boldest moves before the deadline.

We also compare insider predictions with fan created trade packages, highlighting where public opinion matches industry thinking and where it completely misses the mark. Some proposals feel surprisingly realistic. Others would send shockwaves across baseball if they ever became more than just an idea.

If you have been following every rumor, every report and every mock trade leading up to the deadline, this episode brings all of the biggest ideas together and gives our take on which scenarios could actually become reality.

🎧 Listen to Episode 178 now.

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Welcome to Episode 177 of Tablesetters.

The White Sox were baseball's biggest cautionary tale just one year ago. Today, they're tied atop the American League Central, fresh off selecting the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft, and facing a question few expected to ask this quickly: has the rebuild already given way to a legitimate contender?

To help answer that, we're joined by Josh Nelson of Sox Machine. As the host of the Sox Machine Podcast, a contributor to 670 The Score, and lead writer for SoxMachine.com, Josh has documented every step of Chicago's transformation, from a 121-loss season to one of the biggest surprises in baseball.

In Episode 177, we examine:

From draft room decisions to clubhouse culture, roster construction to playoff expectations, Josh offers an inside look at one of the most fascinating stories unfolding across Major League Baseball.

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Episode 176 of Tablesetters is LIVE!

The 2026 MLB All-Star Game has arrived, and we're breaking down everything surrounding baseball's biggest week.

We kick things off with our 2026 MLB All-Star Draft Challenge, where every All-Star has been assigned a value based on fWAR. Position players are divided into five pricing tiers, while starting pitchers and relief pitchers each have their own tiered salary structure. With a limited budget, we build our ultimate All-Star rosters, debate the biggest bargains, identify the toughest roster decisions, and see who can assemble the best team.

From there, we break down the official American League and National League starting lineups, discussing the players who earned the honor, the biggest surprises, and whether the fans got it right.

Next, we preview the 2026 Home Run Derby, looking at the field, our favorites to win, potential dark horses, and which sluggers are built to put on a show under the bright lights.

Plus, we wrap up the episode by looking at the biggest storylines from the first half of the season, discussing which teams have positioned themselves for a strong second-half run and what we're watching most closely as baseball heads into the unofficial second half.

🎧 Listen to Episode 176 now