MLB postseason race intensifies as players return from injury

As the 2026 Major League Baseball regular season nears its conclusion, several storylines are emerging regarding the postseason race and player returns. The Milwaukee Brewers currently hold the best record in baseball, while the Tampa Bay Rays have clinched a postseason spot. In the National League, the race for the final wild-card position remains a contest between the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In St. Louis, rookie prospect Leo Bernal has made franchise history, recording 12 RBIs in his first 10 big-league games—the most by a Cardinal since 1920. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are monitoring the recovery of JJ Wetherholt from wrist tendinitis, with hopes he may return during the current home stand.

In the American League, the Houston Astros are looking toward a potential late-season boost if Carlos Correa returns from ankle surgery. Reports suggest Correa could potentially play second base during the final week of the season to assist the team's playoff push in the AL West.