The final day of the regular season is here, and while all of the postseason spots have been claimed, there’s still plenty at stake. From historic home runs to team win milestones, Wednesday is bound to have its fair share of action. Here’s what to look out for as another epic season draws to a close.
Dodgers chase 111
The Dodgers are looking to add to what’s already a franchise-best regular season in their finale against the Rockies. The Boys in Blue became the first team ever to win 106 games in three consecutive full seasons — their 111th win would put them in a tie for 4th-most in modern AL/NL history.
Yanks go for 100
With one game remaining on the schedule, the Yankees sit at 99 wins. A victory against the Rangers would make them the fifth team to win 100 games in 2022 — and it would be the 22nd such season in Yankees franchise history.
Freeman vs. McNeil
It looks like Mets utility man Jeff McNeil will win the NL batting title, but anything can happen. McNeil sits at .326 heading into the final day while Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman looms behind him with a .322 batting average. A multi-hit game for Freeman and an off night from McNeil could make things interesting.
A first for Freeman
While we’re on the subject of Freeman – the potential NL batting title winner and owner of a .298 career average has never had 200 hits in a season. In fact, no one has since 2019, and his 196 hits in 2022 are a career high. He’d need a four-hit effort to get there, but considering his 56 multi-hit games are tied for the most in the Majors this season, it’s not out of the question.
Arraez vs. Judge
The gulf between Luis Arraez and Aaron Judge has grown over the past week, and it’s likely that Arraez will be the AL batting champ, denying Judge the Triple Crown. But likely isn’t definite – should the playoff-bound Yankees start Judge in game 162, he would need at least three hits, and a multi-hit game from Arraez would put him out of range.
Pujols’ last (regular season) hurrah
It’s been an incredible 2022 season for King Albert. He’s up to 24 home runs, his most since 2016. Pujols passed Alex Rodriguez for fourth on the all-time home run list and crossed the 700-home run mark. Now, sitting at 703 homers heading into what is likely going to be his final regular-season game, it’d be great to see him close it out with one more and head into the postseason on a high note.
An unlikely 40th homer
Forty home runs wouldn’t be uncharted territory for Mike Trout, but it would be incredibly impressive considering what he’s dealt with in 2022. The back injury that kept him off the field for a little over a month looked for a time like it might threaten his entire second half, and Trout has appeared in just 118 games — should he hit his 40th on the final day of the season, in his 119th game, he’d have the third-fewest games played in a 40-HR season in AL/NL history. Only Ken Griffey Jr., who hit 40 homers in 111 games, and Matt Williams, who launched 43 in 112 contests, did it in fewer games during the strike-shortened season of 1994.