The Boston Red Sox clubhouse was spraying the bubbly after defeating the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park in Boston on Fri Sep 26, 2025 to advance to the playoffs. (AP News photo)
MLB The Show podcast Bruce Magowan:
# 1 Did the Red Sox’s walk‑off clincher on Friday finally end their postseason drought?
#2 Can the Astros still salvage a wild‑card spot after their gut‑punch loss to the Angels?
#3 Will Shohei Ohtani’s jersey stay at No. 1 in MLB sales—for a 4th straight year?
#4 Is Aaron Judge being shortchanged in AL MVP debates?
#5 How many more teams will the Red Sox or Yankees displace in the AL wild‑card race today?”
Concession stands service employees at Oracle Park could be replaced by auto robots according to Local 2 Unite Here employees (photo by On Labor)
By Stephen Ruderman
SAN FRANCISCO–Aramark, the official food and concessions supplier for the San Francisco Giants, is reportedly set to add more kiosks and other self-serve technology at concession stands throughout Oracle Park next season, according to sources at UNITED HERE Local 2, the union that represents employees of Aramark at Oracle Park.
At the start of this season, Aramark introduced Mashgin AI self-checkout kiosks for fans to access at Oracle Park. They were established at a new Doggie Diner Express stand on the promenade level behind section 112, as well as at nine Bayside Brews beverage markets located throughout the ballpark.
It now appears that this technology will expand to other locations in the ballpark next season. If it goes through, it could put the jobs of many of Aramark’s employees in jeopardy.
Aramark replaced Bon Appetit as the official food supplier for the Giants in 2024. However, UNITED HERE Local 2 and its employees have been a consistent presence serving Giants’ fans at Oracle Park for many years. Many of the workers were serving food at the ballpark, even for Bon Appetit’s predecessor, Center Plate.
Self-technology has been a contentious issue for the union and its workers going back to the fall of 2021. In September 2021, then-Bon Appetit workers authorized a strike over the working conditions at Oracle Park, following the return of fans to the park during the Covid Pandemic. A strike was averted, and another collective bargaining agreement was reached in March 2024.
We had a chance to interview Rhonda Mitchell Unite Here Union Local 2 who talked about the auto robots who are planned to replace food service workers at Oracle Park. Mitchell says that if this comes to fruition there could be a work stoppage that could threaten the Giants home opener in 2026.
In an interview with Local 2 Unite Here Oracle Park Shop Steward Rhonda S Mitchell she discussed the possibility of using auto robots to replace food service workers at Oracle Park:
#1 How much of the food services is being earmarked for auto replacement of the food service people.
#2 Aramark says they refuse to agree on future limits on automation. If that’s going to be iron clad what recourse does the union have.
#3 Under Bon Appetit same union Local 2 that last time the union had to call for a work stoppage. An alleged offer of a 25-cent raise to San Francisco Giants’ concession workers is outdated information from September 2021. The offer was rejected by unionized workers, who authorized a strike against the food service contractor, Bon Appétit Management, and the Giants over wage and safety issues. The dispute was ultimately settled with a more substantial agreement. The food service workers actually blocked an aisle at Oracle Park to demonstrate the Bon Appetite 25 cent raise.
#4 How much influence or how much say does the Giants have in the idea of having robot auto food servers or what they expect from labor at the park?
#5 If Aramark were to get their way and install the auto robots talk about how much this impact workers and their families and benefits. I’m sure when the Oakland A’s moved from Oakland a lot of those workers were impacted by losing those jobs?
Luis Morales #58 of the Athletics walks off the field after being pulled during the top of the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Sutter Health Park on September 27, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Scott Marshall/Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO — After a thrilling walk-off on Friday night and a Mark Kotsay ejection on Saturday, the Royals got the best of the A’s by a 4-2 in game two of the series.
Luis Morales got the ball for the A’s on Saturday night in his final start of his rookie season. Morales, who has experienced a number of growing pains this year in the big leagues, pitched well to close out his season. He tossed four and two-thirds innings of three-run (two earned) baseball while giving up five hits and walking two Royals batters.
Kotsay was impressed by Morales after his final start of the season.
“I think there’s a lot of excitement that surrounds Luis and I have a full offseason now to prepare for next year and like you said, from starting out in AA to come to the big leagues and have some success and really show what he’s capable of doing in a really short time and make progress…”
“I just thank God…,” Morales said after his start in the clubhouse. “I worked really hard. To go from Double A and finish in the big leagues, for me, it’s a big win to be here.”
The bullpen
Elvis Alvarado was the first out of the pen for Kotsay and the A’s. Alvarado got the last out of the fifth inning and tossed a clean sixth, allowing a walk as his only baserunner.
In the seventh, Michael Kelly came in to relieve Alvarado. Kelly pitched a clean frame with his only blemish being a walk that he worked around with no issues.
The eighth inning belonged to Tyler Ferguson, who pitched a scoreless frame while giving up a two-out walk and a hit that he stranded.
In the ninth inning, Hogan Harris got the ball for the A’s. Harris wasn’t sharp, allowing two hits and a run, but he was able to limit the damage in his one inning of work.
Kotsay was ejected in the ninth inning after a foul tip was called by the home plate umpire that did not appear to hit the bat. This followed a hit by pitch earlier in the game that did not strike Salvador Perez but was ruled a hit by pitch.
The bats
The A’s struggled against Royals starter Michael Wacha and subsequent bullpen arms prior to the seventh inning. They began to build some offensive momentum in the seventh when Carlos Cortes hit an RBI double to get the A’s on the board, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
In the eighth inning, Shea Langeliers pulled the A’s within one with an RBI double that scored Nick Kurtz, who had walked earlier in the inning.
The A’s wouldn’t score again as they failed to mount a comeback in the ninth. They tallied six total hits and three walks on Saturday night.
Up next
The A’s will finish the 2025 season on Sunday as they take on the Royals at 12:05 p.m. PST in West Sacramento. The Royals are scheduled to start Cole Ragans (3-3, 5.02 ERA) in their season finale, while the A’s have yet to announce a starter.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
The latest look at the developments of the A’s Las Vegas ballpark located at the former Tropicana Casino and Hotel. Pilons and cement has been poured this still was taken at 5:52 on Fri Sep 26, 2025 (still photo from Athletics live stream camera)
Sacramento A’s relocation podcast Daniel Dullum:
#1 Daniel, so far no public disclosure or reporting indicates a completed “$100 million” payment in isolation.
#2 The pledge structure is more complex (equity, debt, public funds) rather than a simple lump sum.
#3 The reported pledges and financial commitments are much larger and intended to cover the full project cost, rather than a $100 million tranche.
#4 So, in short: No — there is no verified record that Fisher has made a standalone $100 million payment for the ballpark construction, at least not publicly disclosed.
#5 Fisher is working on raising additional capital via minority investors and private sources, which could reduce the Fisher-family share. But as of latest reports, the Fisher family is still expected to carry the bulk of the private financing.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
Justin Verlander #35 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning at Oracle Park on September 27, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
SAN FRANCISCO — In what was most likely Justin Verlander’s last start in orange and black, the Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 4-3 in game two of their three-game series to close out the season.
Justin Verlander pitched very well in what was likely his final start for the Giants. Verlander tossed six innings of two-run ball, giving up five hits and a walk while striking out seven. He walked off the mound after the sixth inning to a nice ovation from Giants fans who understood it could be the last time they see him.
Bob Melvin spoke after the game on Verlander’s final start.
“It’s nice to get him a win. You look up at his 3.85 ERA… knows where it’s going, pitched consistently every time out. We don’t give him a ton of run support but just enough today.”
The bullpen
The Giants turned to Joel Peguero for the seventh inning, and he tossed a scoreless frame, allowing only a lone walk.
In the eighth inning, Tristan Beck pitched a perfect frame to keep the Rockies off the board and from mounting any sort of comeback.
However, in the ninth inning Ryan Walker came on to close things out and ran into trouble. Walker managed just one out as he gave up a walk, two hits, and a run before Melvin had seen enough and went to Spencer Bivens to finish things off. Bivens came in, retired both batters he faced, and secured the 4-3 victory for the Giants.
The bats
The Giants didn’t get much offense going, but it was just enough to secure the win. They collected only four hits against the Rockies and scored a total of four runs while walking twice.
Three of the Giants’ runs came in the second inning thanks to a three-run home run from Casey Schmidt. Schmidt’s blast was hit to straightaway center field and left the bat at 104.5 mph before coming to rest 422 feet away on top of the center field netting.
The Giants scored one more run in the eighth inning on a Rafael Devers RBI double that went past the diving Rockies center fielder to give San Francisco a 4-2 lead.
Up next
The Giants will play their final game of the season on Sunday at 12:05 p.m. PST at Oracle Park in San Francisco. A sellout is expected for the season finale as Logan Webb (14-11, 3.30 ERA) is slated to go for the Giants. The Rockies are scheduled to send McCade Brown (0-4, 7.54 ERA) to the hill. If the Giants can complete the sweep, they will secure a .500 season at 81-81. They currently have 80 wins heading into Sunday’s game.
On the San Francisco Giants scoreboard Giants second baseman Willy Adames (right) receives the Jose Uribe Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame Museum Award from author and vice president of the Museum Amaury Pi Gonzalez at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Sep 24, 2025 (photo by NBC Radio)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum honors Giants Willy Adames
Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum honors Giants Willy Adames
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
On Wednesday, September 24, prior to game #159 of the regular season, Willy Adames, shortstop of the San Francisco Giants, received the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame plaque honoring him with the José Uribe Award.
Amaury Pi-González, Vice President and Co-Founder of the museum, presented Adames with the plaque. Michael Friedman and Michael Gama, also representing the museum, were in attendance. This award is presented by the museum to the most outstanding Hispanic player on the San Francisco Giants each year.
In 2024, Wilmer Flores was the recipient. Two days later on Friday September 26, the Giants honored Adames with the Willie McCovey Award, Felicidades Willy this is your year!
This is the inscription on the José Uribe plaque. The Jose Uribe Sportsmanship Award has been awarded to a San Francisco Giants player who best exemplifies the character and Sportsmanship of the late Jose Uribe, a former San Francisco Giants Shortstop from the Dominican Republic who was a member of the 1989 National League Champion San Francisco Giants, who went on to play the Oakland Athletics during the Loma Prieta Earthquake-stricken World Series.
The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame wants to thank Bertha Fajardo of the San Francisco Giants for her cooperation in coordinating this event. Over 30% of all players in Major League Baseball are Hispanic, according to most statistics. https://hhbmhof.com/
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
Sacramento A’s Lawrence Butler (left) steals second base as the Kansas City Royals second baseman Jonathan India (6) tries to put the tag on too late in the bottom of the second inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Fri Sep 26, 2025 (AP News photo)
Athletics Walk Off Royals in Dramatic Finish
By Mauricio Segura
WEST SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Athletics finished Friday night’s game into a cinematic thriller, clawing back from an early three-run hole and delivering a walk-off 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
For eight innings, it felt like a strategic chess game with the pawns wearing spikes. Long stretches of scoreless ball punctuated by flashes of daring baserunning and systematic pitching changes. In the end, the Green and Gold found a way to finish what they started.
Kansas City struck first, roughing up the A’s starter in the top of the fourth with a three-run burst that briefly silenced the Sacramento crowd. The A’s offense had been held quiet until the bottom of the fifth, when the lineup finally cracked the Royals’ early momentum.
Lawrence Butler, a sparkplug all season, set the tone with his 22nd stolen base. That moment of aggression on the bases rattled the visitors and seemed to wake up the dugout. A series of timely swings and a wild pitch by Taylor Clarke brought three runs across, tying the game and wiping out the Royals’ early advantage.
Managerial maneuvering became the story from that point forward. The A’s sent Carlos Cortes up as a pinch-hitter in the fifth, and when he stayed in the game as the right fielder, it signaled Sacramento was not content to just trade zeroes.
The Royals countered with a carousel of relievers, including Hogan Harris, Jonathan Bowlan, and finally Angel Zerpa, trying to keep the home side in check. The Athletics kept matching those moves, using pinch-hitters like Max Muncy in the eighth and defensive substitutions in the late innings to keep fresh legs on the field.
From the sixth inning on, the scoreboard barely budged. Both bullpens locked in, each frame turning into a tense exercise in stranded runners. The outfield even got a late-game shuffle with Mike Yastrzemski moving from center to right, while the Royals inserted John Rave to cover center field. Every pitch after that felt like it carried the weight of the night.
By the time the ninth inning rolled around, the game was still knotted at three. That is when the home side decided to settle things. With Luinder Avila now on the mound for Kansas City, the A’s capitalized on a perfectly timed pinch-runner swap, Max Schuemann replacing Brett Harris, to inject speed and pressure. The gamble paid off as Sacramento pushed across the decisive run, sending the crowd into a frenzy and sealing a satisfying 4-3 walk-off victory.
The box score might tell you it was a game of four runs and a handful of substitutions, but the feel inside Sutter Health Park told a different story. It was a night defined by raw grit and refusal to play standard baseball in hopes it would pay off. No, tonight, Mark Kotsay put all the pieces in place unsing outside the box strategy and declared checkmate because of it.
The Green and Gold left the field to the roar of fans who have quickly made Sacramento feel like home for big-league baseball. For a franchise carving a new chapter in a new city, moments like this walk-off win offer a taste of the drama and energy they will need to keep the momentum rolling.
Starting pitchers for Saturday: For the Royals RHP Michael Wacha (9-13 ERA 4.00) for the A’s RHP Luis Morales (4-2 ERA 3.07) first pitch 1:05pm PT at Sutter Health Park.
Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.
San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman gestures after hitting a single against the Colorado Rockies during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
By Lincoln Juarez
SAN FRANCISCO – Another Oracle Park sellout crowd watched the Giants take down the Rockies 6-3 behind the big swings of Willy Adames and Heliot Ramos. Trevor McDonald recorded the first ten strike out game of his career in his 7.0 inning performance, earning him his first big league win.
The Giants opened up their final series of 2025 on the last Orange Friday of the year against the Colorado Rockies Friday night. It was Willie Mac Award night at the ballpark where the 45th anniversary of the award was celebrated by recognizing Giants shortstop, Willy Adames.
Adames was voted the most inspirational player on the Giants by his teammates, coaches, and fans. He earned the award in his first season as a Giant while batting .225 with 28 home runs and 84 RBIs and playing an integral role in the Junior Giants program for young boys and girls.
Right hander Trevor McDonald was set to make his second big-league start after allowing just one run through six great innings of work on September 21 against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
McDonald settled in, shutting the Rockies out through the first four while striking out seven in the process.
On the offensive side, the Giants got to work early on Rockies starter, German Marquez. Less than an hour after winning that award, Willy Adames sent a deep fly ball to left field that wrapped around the foul pole for a two-run homer. The Giants led 2-0 after the first.
In the second, the offense rallied for three more runs. Jung Hoo Lee tripled with one out and Grant McCray walked with two down. With two men on and two out, Heliot Ramos launched his 21st home run of the season into the left field bleachers. Ramos took a hanging slider 439 feet, 110mph off the bat for a 5-0 Giants lead.
Trevor McDonald didn’t get into trouble until the fifth inning when he allowed three runs, cutting the lead down to two. Brenton Doyle and Braxton Fulford both singled, setting up two on and two out for Ezequiel Tovar. Tovar smashed a first pitch curveball over the center field wall to put the Rockies on the board. His 9th homer of the season made it a two run game and ended up being Trevor McDonald’s only bad pitch of the night.
McDonald finished Friday night with 7.0IP, 5H, 3ER, 0BB, and 10K. An absolutely stellar performance set the Giants up to take game one of the series and earn McDonald his first career win.
The Giants added an insurance run in the home fifth but they wouldn’t end up needing it. Ryan Walker, who has struggled lately took the mound in the ninth with a 6-3 lead and a chance for the save. He struck out the first two batters he faced and got Brenton Doyle to ground out to the man of the night, Willy Adames to end the ballgame.
An exciting start to the weekend ended with Tony Bennett spreading the love through the yard as the Giants took game one of the series 6-3.
Game two will take place Saturday afternoon with the Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (5-16, 5.00) vs. the Giants RHP Justin Verlander (3-11, 3.88).
San Francisco Giant second baseman Willy Adames (2) receives the Willie McCovey Award on Fri Sep 26, 2025. On Wed Sep 24, 2025 Adames received the Jose Uribe Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame Museum Award at Oracle Park in San Francisco (San Francisco Giants X photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum honors Giants Willy Adames
Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum honors Giants Willy Adames
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
On Wednesday, September 24, prior to game #159 of the regular season, Willy Adames, shortstop of the San Francisco Giants, received the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame plaque honoring him with the José Uribe Award.
Amaury Pi-González, Vice President and Co-Founder of the museum, presented Adames with the plaque. Michael Friedman and Michael Gama, also representing the museum, were in attendance. This award is presented by the museum to the most outstanding Hispanic player on the San Francisco Giants each year.
In 2024, Wilmer Flores was the recipient. Two days later on Friday September 26, the Giants honored Adames with the Willie McCovey Award, Felicidades Willy this is your year!
This is the inscription on the José Uribe plaque. The Jose Uribe Sportsmanship Award has been awarded to a San Francisco Giants player who best exemplifies the character and Sportsmanship of the late Jose Uribe, a former San Francisco Giants Shortstop from the Dominican Republic who was a member of the 1989 National League Champion San Francisco Giants, who went on to play the Oakland Athletics during the Loma Prieta Earthquake-stricken World Series.
The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame wants to thank Bertha Fajardo of the San Francisco Giants for her cooperation in coordinating this event. Over 30% of all players in Major League Baseball are Hispanic, according to most statistics. https://hhbmhof.com/
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
The Houston Astros Carlos Correa swings for a double in the top of the seventh inning against the Sacramento A’s at Sutter Health Park on Thu Sep 25, 2025 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast with Lincoln Juarez:
#1 How did Framber Valdez’s pitching performance on Thursday compare to his recent outings — in terms of innings, strikeouts, and earned runs?
#2 Which offensive contributions (home runs, RBIs, multi-hit games) from Astros or A’s hitters had the biggest impact on the final 11–5 score?
#3 The Astros’ 11-5 win prevented a series sweep by the Athletics, and what was the series outcome?
#4 How did the result affect Houston’s position in the AL Wild Card race (especially vis‑à‑vis Detroit or Cleveland)?
#5 Talk about tonight’s starting pitchers for the Kansas City Royals LHP Noah Cameron (9-7 ERA 2.90) the A’s starter for tonight is RHP Mason Barnett (1-1 ERA 7.56) at Sutter Health Park.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
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