Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney

Jesse Rogers joins to recap the wild White Sox-Guardians series that saw the AL Central lead change for the first time since July 4. He discusses Cleveland's postseason chances, the White Sox collapse, the tight AL West race, the case for a unanimous PCA NL MVP vote, and why the Brewers have their eyes set beyond the Cubs.

Hembo then joins to talk about Sandy Alcántara's unique feat, Jesús Luzardo's injury and what that means for the Phillies, why the Brewers didn't trade for Tarik Skubal, the Yankees historic pitching staff, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto's crazy season.

Plus Sarah Langs and Bleacher Tweets!

0:00 Intro

1:05 Dodgers clinch NL West; White Sox, Red Sox, Padres win

4:16 White Sox-Guardians series with Jesse Rogers

6:25 Cleveland is scary in the postseason

8:55 White Sox pitching staff is crumbling

10:22 Tommy Pham's surprise impact

13:11 White Sox season a success if they miss playoffs?

14:16 Astros-Rangers AL West battle

15:00 PCA unanimous MVP case

17:37 Brewers are better positioned than last year

19:50 Hembo joins, Sandy Alcántara's feat

22:26 The impact of Jesús Luzardo's injury

23:43 Blake Snell's injury; Dodgers showing cracks

25:54 Yordan Alvarez should be AL MVP

28:11 Yankees might have their best pitching staff ever

30:25 Why the Brewers didn't trade for Tarik Skubal

33:11 Skubal's best trait

35:28 Yoshinobu Yamamoto is out-of-this-world

38:34 Sarah Langs plays the numbers game

39:40 Bleacher Tweets: PCA, Brewers/Cubs rivlary
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David Schoenfield and Buster Olney discuss the Phillies body blow with Jesús Luzardo heading to the IL, the Brewers winning a fourth straight NL Central, the poetry of Pete Alonso’s 300th career home run at Citi Field, and a slew of possible managerial and front office changes in 2027. Then, Jorge Castillo stops by to talk about Alonso’s return to New York and miffed Mets fans, if Bo Bichette will opt-out of his contract, the state of baseball in Puerto Rico, and Aaron Judge’s first week back. Later, Buster answers your questions during Bleacher Tweets.



0:00 Welcome

4:55 David Schoenfield joins

5:37 Guardians-White Sox battling in AL Central

7:30 Phillies Jesús Luzardo to IL

9:41 Brewers win fourth straight NL Central

12:53 Orioles Pete Alonso hits 300th career HR

16:10 Possible managerial & front office changes

16:11 Mets need new manager in 2027

18:51 Still Alex Cora to Philadelphia smoke

19:53 Will the Mariners retain Jerry Dipoto?

22:57 AL MVP race between Àlvarez, Caminero, Schlittler

27:36 Jorge Castillo joins

27:51 More on Pete Alonso’s return to Citi Field

35:02 Will Bo Bichette opt-out of his contract?

47:50 State of baseball in Puerto Rico

47:22 Evaluating Aaron Judge first week back

48:18 Bleacher Tweets



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Tim Kurkjian and Buster Olney discuss Pete Alonso’s return to Citi Field and if the Mets regret letting him go, whether Mike Elias will lead the Orioles again in 2027, Dodgers rookie Josue De Paula stepping up, Aaron Boone advocating for Cam Schlittler as an AL MVP candidate, Tony Vitello’s first season as an MLB manager, and Justin Verlander set to make one more start for the Tigers. Then, voice of the Cleveland Guardians Tom Hamilton stops by to talk about Cleveland’s sustained success, if they have the best rotation in the big leagues, players stepping up in José Ramírez’s absence, and the Chicago White Sox’s ascension. Later, Buster answers your questions during Bleacher Tweets.

0:00 Welcome

0:42 Top of the First

3:43 Tim Kurkjian joins

5:57 Pete Alonso returns to Citi Field

8:36 Will Mike Elias return as Orioles president?

13:34 Dodgers Josue De Paula stepping up

16:07 Yankees Cam Schlittler for AL MVP?

21:37 Giants Rafael Devers season ends early

23:20 Grading Tony Vitello’s first season as manager

24:37 Justin Verlander to make one more start

28:05 Tom Hamilton joins

29:28 Guardians sustained success

32:18 Best rotation in the league?

33:55 Wild AL playoff race

34:59 Steve Kwan is Steven Kwan again

37:20 Travis Bazzana’s relaxed approach

39:09 Chase DeLauter’s unusual swing

40:21 White Sox’s ascension

41:53 Most likely AL World Series winner

43:39 Bleacher Tweets



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NEXT PODCAST OUT TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 15



David Schoenfield and Buster Olney discuss the Dodgers’ promotion of top prospect Josue De Paula, what it signals about Shohei Ohtani’s injury, Aaron Judge unhappy that he was pulled early in his first two games back, Elly De La Cruz’s crazy assist and what’s next for the Mariners. Then, Braves analyst Peter Moylan stops by to talk about why the Brewers are the team to beat in the National League, the Dodgers bleeding, Kyle Schwarber on pace to lead the league in homers, and why Chris Sale is the ultimate teammate. Next, Buster and Michael Kay share their memories of 9/11 on the 25th anniversary and reflect on what baseball meant after the tragedy. Later, Sarah Langs plays The Numbers Game. Finally, a listener shares a personal 9/11 story during Bleacher Tweets.



0:00 Welcome

2:26 David Schoenfield joins

3:08 Dodgers promote top prospect Josue De Paula

6:08 More concern: Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani?

7:03 Judge unhappy he was pulled early

8:40 Elly De La Cruz’s crazy assist

12:11 What’s next for the Mariners?

16:41 Braves analyst Peter Moylan joins

16:11 How players are feeling at the end of the season

19:03 Shohei Ohtani's injury

21:30 Brewers are team to beat in NL

23:12 The Dodgers bleed

24:07 Most important for the Braves headed into October

25:19 Kyle Schwarber hits 484th career HR

26:40 Chris Sale is the veteran teammate Braves needed

28:04 Buster & Michael Kay on baseball after 9/11

28:59 “We didn’t know if baseball would continue”

30:20 Mets legend Al Leiter shows up at Kay’s door

33:19 Everyone was rooting for the Yankees

34:33 Kay struggling to be himself during broadcasts

36:59 What baseball’s return meant to people

40:03 George W. Bush’s World Series first pitch

41:40 Sarah Langs plays The Numbers Game

42:43 Special edition of Bleacher Tweets



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Tim Kurkjian and Buster discuss Yankees slugger Aaron Judge returning, what New York can expect, if Judge and Shohei Ohtani can start hitting before the postseason, Ohtani not expected to pitch again in 2026, Jesús Luzardo’s domination of the Braves, and umpire Doug Eddings going fashion police on Cardinals pitcher Hancel Rincon. Then, Hembo stops by to talk about why the Phillies are the most dangerous team in a three-game series, the White Sox becoming the first team this season with three 30 home run hitters, whether the Giants should trade or build on Rafael Devers, and what Roman Anthony does at the plate that no other Red Sox hitter can replicate. Later, Buster answers your questions during Bleacher Tweets.



0:00 Welcome

0:10 Top of the First

3:55 Tim Kurkjian joins

4:50 What can the Yankees expect from Aaron Judge?

6:00 Should MLB reseed after the Wild Card? 

9:55 Shohei Ohtani most likely won’t pitch again in 2026

12:14 Will Judge or Ohtani hit again before the postseason? 

14:38 Jesús Luzardo dominates Braves 

17:41 Ump calls out Hancel Rincon for sideways cap

22:38 Hembo joins

23:25 Braves-Phillies rivalry

24:26 Scariest potential NL Wild Card team

26:19 White Sox have three 30 HR hitters

29:06 Rafael Devers: Building block or trade piece?

34:39 Roman Anthony’s return is what the Red Sox needed

38:48 Padres catcher could make history

41:15 Bleacher Tweets



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Follow The Baseball Tonight Podcast on…

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHeL6O-A-ASmSMwbSCFvPKEq1Cslo_lrw

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5FG6xCcd338SgZjZ9urHRI

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/baseball-tonight-with-buster-olney/id137699414
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