The Daily Diamond Buzz Show

We’ve got thirteen games still to come today, with nothing final and nothing in progress right now. My first stop is San Francisco, where the Dodgers send Blake Snell against Matt Wilkinson and the Giants. That rivalry carries its own electricity, and Snell gives this matchup a clear headliner. In Detroit, Justin Verlander gets the ball against Pittsburgh and Kirby Yates. The Tigers edged the Pirates yesterday, Detroit Tigers 8, Pittsburgh Pirates 7, so now we get the veteran right-hander trying to set a different tone from the mound. I’m also watching St. Louis at Milwaukee, with Quinn Mathews facing Dustin May. The Brewers took yesterday’s meeting, Milwaukee Brewers 8, St. Louis Cardinals 4, and now the Cardinals get another crack at them. One more pitching name to circle: Nathan Eovaldi goes for Texas at Minnesota against Bailey Ober. It’s a full Saturday, but those are the matchups pulling me in first.

Did You Know? On August 10, 1944, Boston Braves pitcher Red Barrett threw a 58-pitch complete-game shutout against the Cincinnati Reds, allowing two hits with no walks or strikeouts in a game that lasted 75 minutes.

Dean's Take: MLB should preserve unique outfield dimensions instead of standardizing ballparks

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

Nothing is underway yet, and we don’t have any finals on the board, so all sixteen games remain ahead of us. The schedule starts with doubleheader intrigue in two classic ballparks. The Cubs visit the Red Sox twice, with Clay Holmes facing Alec Gamboa in one matchup and David Peterson drawing Brayan Bello in the other. The Orioles and Yankees also have two scheduled in the Bronx. Trevor Rogers gets Brendan Beck in one, while Brandon Young is listed for Baltimore in the other with New York’s starter still to be determined. My pitching matchup of the day is in Minnesota, where Jacob deGrom and the Rangers face Joe Ryan and the Twins. That’s the kind of late-September pairing that gets my attention immediately. I’m also watching Tampa Bay at Philadelphia, with Freddy Peralta opposing Cristopher Sánchez. No scores yet, no games in progress, but there is plenty waiting to unfold.

Did You Know? On May 18, 1912, Allan Travers made his only Major League appearance for the Detroit Tigers and pitched an eight-inning complete game, allowing 26 hits and 24 runs in a 24-2 loss to the Philadelphia Athletics. Detroit used replacement players because its regular roster had gone on strike.

Dean's Take: Keep the one hundred sixty-two-game regular season

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

There are no games underway and no finals on the board yet, so the entire twelve-game slate is still coming. My eyes go straight to San Diego at Los Angeles, where Nick Pivetta faces Tyler Glasnow. Padres-Dodgers late in September already brings its own electricity, and that pitching matchup gives the nightcap real bite.

I’m also circling Milwaukee at Philadelphia. Bryse Wilson gets the ball for the Brewers, while Andrew Painter goes for the Phillies. Painter pitching on a September stage is reason enough to tune in, especially in a matchup carrying this kind of name recognition.

And in Pittsburgh, Paul Skenes opposes Kyle Leahy and the Cardinals. Skenes is the attraction whenever his turn arrives, and St. Louis gets the challenge of dealing with him on the road. Those are my three windows tonight: a premium West Coast rivalry, a fascinating assignment for Painter, and another chance to watch Skenes attack a big-league lineup.

Did You Know? On May 2, 1917, Cincinnati’s Fred Toney and Chicago’s Hippo Vaughn both held the opposing team hitless through nine innings. Vaughn allowed two hits and a run in the tenth, while Toney completed a 10-inning no-hitter as the Reds won 1-0.

Dean's Take: MLB should allow teams to trade amateur draft picks

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

Everything on today’s board is still to come. Nothing is in progress, and nothing has gone final yet, so let’s circle three matchups that have my attention. Toronto and Baltimore are scheduled for two, with Max Scherzer listed to start one of those games for the Blue Jays while Baltimore’s pitcher remains to be determined. A doubleheader this late in September can test every corner of both rosters. Out west, San Diego visits the Dodgers with Robbie Ray matched against Yoshinobu Yamamoto. That is the kind of lefty-righty pitching contrast that can make every early at-bat feel important. And in Seattle, Houston sends Ethan Pecko against George Kirby. The Astros and Mariners rarely need much help creating tension, and a late-season meeting between them deserves the spotlight. With all sixteen games still ahead, this is one of those days when the entire baseball story is waiting to be written.

Did You Know? Ed Porray is the only player in Major League history whose birthplace is officially listed as “at sea.” He was born on December 5, 1888, aboard a ship in the Atlantic Ocean and pitched for the Buffalo Buffeds of the Federal League in 1914.

Dean's Take: Keep the universal designated hitter in Major League Baseball

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

Nothing is underway yet, and there are no finals on the board, so all sixteen games are still waiting for us. The Rays and Yankees have two scheduled in the Bronx, and New York is lining up Carlos Rodón and Max Fried against Nick Martinez and Drew Rasmussen. That’s a long day with serious September energy. In Baltimore, the Blue Jays send Max Scherzer against Chris Bassitt and the Orioles. Baltimore Orioles 4, Toronto Blue Jays 3 was yesterday’s final, so Toronto gets an immediate chance to answer. My late-game pitching matchup is Houston at Seattle, where Cristian Javier faces Logan Gilbert. That one has the feel of a game where every baserunner could matter. And if you’re staying up, Michael King gets the ball for San Diego at Dodger Stadium, while Los Angeles has not yet named its starter. There’s plenty on the menu, but those are the matchups pulling me in first.

Did You Know? On September 16, 1975, Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Rennie Stennett went 7-for-7 in a 22-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs, becoming the only player in modern Major League history with seven hits in a nine-inning game.

Dean's Take: MLB should keep its limits on defensive shifting

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

It’s a light Monday around the majors, with no games underway and no finals in the book yet. Toronto visits Baltimore behind Trey Yesavage, while the Orioles counter with Shane Baz. The Blue Jays arrive after beating Texas yesterday, Toronto Blue Jays 7, Texas Rangers 2. Baltimore is trying to rebound after Milwaukee Brewers 3, Baltimore Orioles 0. Washington and Detroit also meet after both clubs lost Sunday. DJ Herz gets the assignment for the Nationals against River Ryan for the Tigers. The nightcap sends Minnesota to San Francisco, with Zebby Matthews matched against Blade Tidwell. Minnesota carries the best immediate momentum of these six teams after Minnesota Twins 8, Los Angeles Angels 0. The Giants, meanwhile, are coming off Los Angeles Dodgers 3, San Francisco Giants 1. Only three games tonight, but I like a short slate sometimes. Every matchup gets a little more room to breathe, and every starting pitcher gets the stage.

Did You Know? On August 24, 1919, Cleveland pitcher Ray Caldwell was struck by lightning during the ninth inning, recovered to finish the game, and then threw a no-hitter against the New York Yankees 17 days later.

Dean's Take: MLB should repeal the three-batter minimum for relief pitchers

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

Nothing is underway yet, and there are no finals on the board, so all fifteen games are still coming today. I'm starting in New York, where the Phillies send Cristopher Sánchez against Mets right-hander Jonah Tong. Any late-September meeting between Philadelphia and New York carries a little extra juice, and that pitching matchup gets my attention. Out in Arizona, the Yankees face Corbin Burnes, while New York counters with Will Warren. Burnes is the kind of opponent who can turn a Sunday game into a serious examination for any lineup. And in Baltimore, we've got Jacob Misiorowski for Milwaukee against Brandon Young and the Orioles. That matchup follows yesterday's tight game between those clubs, and Misiorowski brings the kind of power arm that makes you stop flipping channels. One more worth circling is Toronto at Texas, with Jacob deGrom starting for the Rangers against Spencer Miles. That's plenty of premium pitching spread across a full Sunday slate.

Did You Know? On June 23, 1917, Babe Ruth walked Washington’s first batter, Ray Morgan, and was ejected. Ernie Shore relieved him, Morgan was caught stealing, and Shore retired all 26 batters he faced to complete a combined no-hitter for the Boston Red Sox.

Dean's Take: Make the Division Series best of seven

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

Right now, nothing has started and nothing is final, so all fifteen games remain ahead of us. My first stop is New York, where the Phillies send Andrew Painter against Christian Scott and the Mets. New York took Friday’s meeting, New York Mets 6, Philadelphia Phillies 3, and now Philadelphia gets another crack at its division rival. Out west, the Giants visit the Dodgers in a matchup with one major certainty and one big unknown. San Francisco’s starter remains to be determined, while Los Angeles is scheduled to hand the ball to Tarik Skubal. The Dodgers opened the series with a decisive result, Los Angeles Dodgers 8, San Francisco Giants 2. I’m also watching Miami at San Diego because Eury Pérez against Casey Mize is a fascinating pitching matchup on its own. Pérez has the kind of electric arm that makes every start worth circling, while Mize gets the assignment for the Padres. No live action yet, but there’s plenty coming.

Did You Know? In 1952, Detroit Tigers pitcher Virgil Trucks finished with a 5-19 record, but two of his five victories were no-hitters: against the Washington Senators on May 15 and the New York Yankees on August 25.

Dean's Take: MLB should not bring back August waiver trades

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

I’m going to play this one straight with you. The live scoreboard provided for today’s show does not contain any verified matchups, probable pitchers, start times, scores, or game situations. So I’m not going to manufacture a Friday slate or pretend I know which clubs are taking the field. That’s especially important in September, when one wrong score or made-up pitching matchup can completely distort the picture for listeners. The Daily Diamond Show gives you the baseball we can verify, not a confident guess dressed up as news. If the board had two heavyweight matchups or a late game carrying major significance, those would be right here at the top of the rundown. Today, they aren’t available in the feed. So there’s no scoreboard hype from me, no invented drama, and no fake update. We’ll stay disciplined, leave the unverified slate alone, and turn our attention to a legendary arm and a debate that could affect every starting pitcher in the game.

Did You Know? On August 1, 1972, San Diego Padres slugger Nate Colbert hit five home runs and drove in 13 runs in a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves. Colbert had attended the May 2, 1954, doubleheader in which Stan Musial became the first major leaguer to hit five home runs in a twin bill.

Dean's Take: MLB should reject a mandatory six-inning minimum for starting pitchers

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

Nothing has started yet today, and there are no finals on the board, so the entire nine-game schedule is still coming. My first stop is Philadelphia at New York, where Aaron Nola faces Nolan McLean. The Phillies enter after Philadelphia Phillies 3, Washington Nationals 0, while the Mets are trying to answer after Baltimore Orioles 7, New York Mets 1. That gives this matchup a little extra edge. In Cincinnati, the Dodgers send Justin Wrobleski against Brady Singer. These clubs just met yesterday, and the line was Los Angeles Dodgers 2, Cincinnati Reds 6. Now Los Angeles gets an immediate chance to respond. I’m also watching Milwaukee at Pittsburgh. Kyle Harrison gets Wilber Dotel, one day after Milwaukee Brewers 5, Pittsburgh Pirates 4. A one-run finish followed by a fresh pitching matchup is exactly the kind of September follow-up I want. No live action yet, but those three games give today’s slate plenty of juice.

Did You Know? On September 14, 1951, St. Louis Browns outfielder Bob Nieman became the first player in Major League history to hit home runs in each of his first two career at-bats.

Dean's Take: Keep the golden at-bat out of Major League Baseball

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network