Tyler Kepner

In a system stacked against them, the Guardians double down on their identity — with no apologies Despite one of MLB's lowest payrolls, the Guardians are expected to once again be in the mix for an AL Central title.

In a system stacked against them, the Guardians double down on their identity — with no apologies www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Rick Rizzs, ever-faithful voice of Seattle baseball, will retire after one last pennant chase 'He is Mariners, through and through,' said Dave Sims. 'If he could snap his fingers, that franchise would have five or six rings.'

'He is Mariners, through and through': Rick Rizzs, ever-faithful voice of Seattle baseball, will retire after one more pennant chase www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

Carlos Beltrán, a man of many hats, ponders a career-capping question in Cooperstown

Carlos Beltran, a man of many hats, ponders a career-capping look for Cooperstown

Knuckleballer Wilbur Wood, a tireless titan of the 1970s, dies at 84 In 1972, Wood worked 376 ⅔ innings, the most by any pitcher since Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1917.

Farewell to Wilbur Wood, a knuckleball legend for the White Sox

Tyler Kepner's HOF Ballot: Beltrán, Andruw, Pettitte, Rollins, Utley, Wright

Ballot #204 is from Tyler Kepner. No adds, drops or first-year selections. With more than half the ballots still remaining, David Wright has his 40th vote (received 32 all of last cycle). Pettitte has 119 (110 last year).

Kepner's column: www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...

In the Tracker: tracker.fyi

There won’t be a new pitcher in Cooperstown in 2026. But King Félix and Cole Hamels are warming up Both pitchers will eventually prove to be a case study on Cooperstown's evolving standards for starting pitchers.

There won't be a new pitcher in Cooperstown this summer. But Felix Hernandez and Cole Hamels are warming up. www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...

I don't think so. I'd bet about 90% of the position players in Cooperstown slid like that!

How Chase Utley’s surging support reflects an evolution in Hall of Fame voting

Chase Utley's Hall case is gaining momentum among public ballots. Here's what it signifies as voting evolves.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...

It’s the most wonderful quiz of the year: The Athletic’s annual MLB trivia extravaganza! In Major League Baseball, 2025 was the year to run it all back. Let's see how well your mind can do that with these 50 questions.

It’s the most wonderful quiz of the year: The Athletic’s annual MLB trivia extravaganza!

These are the 12 newcomers to the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. Here’s our salute to each one Alex Gordon, Matt Kemp, Ryan Braun and Cole Hamels are among the dozen new players up for consideration in Cooperstown.

These are the 12 newcomers to the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. Here’s our salute to each one www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...

Why the Dodgers and Blue Jays just played the greatest Game 7 in World Series history What made it so compelling was not a standout moment or singular performance but a confluence of chaos.

The case for 2025: Why the Dodgers and Blue Jays just played the greatest Game 7 in World Series history www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...

Gangster. Gutsy. Greatness. Yoshinobu Yamamoto authors a World Series for the ages The Dodger pitcher's three-win MVP effort left his teammates astounded.

Gangster. Gutsy. Greatness. Yoshinobu Yamamoto authors a World Series for the ages

After missing their Joe Carter moment, these Blue Jays are set for a Game 7 classic all their own

After missing their Joe Carter moment, these Blue Jays are set for a Game 7 classic www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

After dominant Game 5, the Blue Jays head home for a moment 32 years in the making Nobody in the Blue Jays’ lineup for Game 5 of the World Series, an emphatic 6-1 thumping of the Dodgers, was alive in 1993.

After dominant Game 5, the Blue Jays head home for a moment 32 years in the making

A Game 4 loss leaves the Dodgers no choice: As usual, they’ll have to clinch a title on the road The Dodgers may still celebrate again this postseason, but it'll have to be at Rogers Centre this weekend.

A Game 4 loss leaves the Dodgers no choice: As usual, they’ll have to clinch a title on the road www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

Will Klein, the Dodgers’ last resort, is their latest World Series hero

Will Klein, the Dodgers’ last resort, is their latest World Series hero

In a star-studded Dodgers lineup, ‘silent assassin’ Will Smith quietly gets the job done Smith, the 32nd pick in the 2016 draft, has provided almost three times as much value as any other first-rounder in his class.

In a star-studded Dodgers lineup, ‘silent assassin’ Will Smith quietly gets the job done www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

Toronto’s Daulton Varsho tries to hit grounders to the pitcher. The Dodgers wish he would The Blue Jays outfielder tied Game 1 with a 109-mph missile over the center-field fence, much higher and farther than its intended target.

Toronto’s Daulton Varsho tries to hit grounders to the pitcher. The Dodgers wish he would.

Blue Jays' Don Mattingly, a superstar servant to the players, finally gets his World Series moment

Blue Jays’ Don Mattingly, a superstar servant to the players, finally gets his World Series moment

How the World Series complete game went missing for a decade – and why the Dodgers might revive it

How the World Series complete game went missing for a decade – and why the Dodgers might revive it www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

After reaching new peak, the Mariners find new depth of agony as a pennant slips away

After reaching new peak, the Mariners find new depth of agony as a pennant slips away www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...

World Series opportunity knocks, but Mariners can’t break down the door in Game 6 The Mariners now get one final chance this season to advance to win the first American League pennant in World Series history.

World Series opportunity knocks, but Mariners can’t break down the door in Game 6 www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...

Eugenio Suárez’s ‘Grand salami’ puts Mariners one win from World Series Eugenio Suárez made everyone in the Seattle area a little more hungry in Game 5 of the ALCS.

Grand slams always have special resonance in Seattle. When Geno Suarez connected in Game 5, there was only one place to be — with the great Rick Rizzs, the trident and the fans. On a team that’s one win from the World Series: www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

A ‘cruel’ homecoming for the Mariners, whose pitchers are meeting their match The Mariners’ vaunted rotation has an 8.04 ERA because the aggressive Blue Jays are pouring it on in the ALCS.

A ‘cruel’ homecoming for the Mariners, whose pitchers are meeting their match www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

Smacked down in Seattle, the Mariners reinforce an October truth: There’s no place like road

Smacked down in Seattle, the Mariners reinforce an October truth: There’s no place like road

Mr. October? Maybe not. But the Mariners’ Jorge Polanco is Mr. Go-Ahead Hit

Mr. October? Maybe not. But the Mariners’ Jorge Polanco is Mr. Go-Ahead Hit

For Mariners, a fresh Miller is plenty filling in Game 1 After giving up a home run on the first pitch he threw, Miller gave up just one more hit in his six innings of work.

For Mariners, a fresh Miller is plenty filling in Game 1 www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

Party like it’s 1977! For the Blue Jays and Mariners, an ALCS meeting is finally in the cards When the expansion rosters were announced before the first year of each team's existence, Topps had to get creative with their cards.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

‘It just continues’: A new generation of Mariners heroes craft a baseball classic in Seattle Still seeking the first pennant in team history, the Mariners are headed to the ALCS for the first time since 2001.

‘It just continues’: A new generation of Mariners heroes craft a baseball classic in Seattle

www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Ghosts of bullpens past haunt the Mariners, who missed an anniversary but still have life

Ghosts of bullpens past haunt the Mariners, who missed an anniversary but still have life www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...