MLB faces a watershed moment as a high-spending era collides with calls for a salary cap. Dodgers’ half-billion payroll and CBT penalties anchor the debate, while owners insist cap-and-floor reforms could lift franchise values. The RSN collapse, shifting TV rights talks, and a polarizing 2027 horizon keep players wary. Parity cases like Brewers and Rays fuel the argument that money isn’t the only path to success, even as fans clamor for fairness.

Closer Report recap: Chapman and Muñoz pace Tier 1 with crisp holds and high K rates, while Duran and Díaz juggle wins and blown saves. Suárez still NL-best with 39 saves; Bednar, Fairbanks and Jansen show bounce-back form amid late-season churn. Iglesias and Uribe anchor mid-tier saves; multiple teams (Royals, Reds, Cubs, Cardinals, Marlins, etc.) deploy committees, and rookie Chase Burns adds depth in Cleveland, fueling late-season fantasy decisions.

The New York Mets shattered MLB’s pitcher-use record in 2025, deploying 46 pitchers and signaling a season derailed by injuries, misfit gambles, and a scrambling front office. Dom Hamel’s debut offered a glimmer, but the rotation meltdown — Senga to Triple-A, Canning’s Achilles, Manaea’s bullpen shift, Montas’ UCL — left Stearns chasing innings. Youth stepped in—Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, Jonah Tong—yet the club remains in a tight wild-card chase two games back of Arizona and Cincy. Offseason work looms large.

David Peterson’s slide lands Mets in a tight spot as Manny Machado’s grand slam propels the Padres to a 7-4 win at Citi Field, evening the series at 1-1. Pete Alonso and Starling Marte homer to spark a late Mets rally, but the Padres bullpen locks it down behind Robert Suarez. The Mets’ bullpen usage becomes a footnote in a six-run sixth that tilts the game, and Dom Hamel debuts as the 46th pitcher this season. Mets cling to wild-card hopes as the standings tighten.

Alvarez powers through pain, back in the Mets lineup after a scary scare from a 100 MPH pitch. He’s dealing with a sprained right-thumb UCL requiring offseason surgery and a broken left pinky, yet he’s set to start again. Luis Torrens returns behind the plate, while Hayden Senger heads down; Tyrone Taylor nears a rehab assignment as New York pushes for October. In the minors, Tong, Benge, Peña and Calvo earned awards, underscoring a deep Mets pipeline. Yedlimar De Jesus makes history at Monroe University as the first Puerto Rican woman to play college baseball with men.