Aaron Judge hasn’t played a game for the New York Yankees since the final day of May. Since then, the Bronx Bombers have been able to tread water in the American League despite a less-than-impressive offense over the past three months. However, on Monday night, the Yankees activated their captain with hopes that it will be the difference-maker for the team.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman talk about the return of Aaron Judge to the Yankees lineup, why opting not to do a rehab stint works out for him with the Colorado Rockies in town, and whether the team will be able to stave off a Boston Red Sox team right on their tails in the Wild Card race.

The guys then get into the controversial umpiring from Doug Eddings after he told St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Hancel Rincon to fix his hat, recap an entertaining series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves, and talk about Shohei Ohtani admitting to probably not pitching again this season.

1:11 - The Opener: Aaron Judge returns
22:11 - We Need To Talk About: Doug Eddings goes too far
37:43 - Around The League: Phillies-Braves recap
49:20 - Corbin Burnes is back
52:30 - Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch again in 2026

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When the Los Angeles Dodgers started the 2026 campaign, their hopes of becoming the first MLB team to three-peat since the ’90s New York Yankees dynasty seemed pretty good. While their team features All-Stars scattered throughout their roster, a lot of their strength revolved around their two-way superstar, Shohei Ohtani. Now, just weeks away from the postseason, he finds himself on the injured list.

On this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss if the back-to-back defending champions fumbled the injury situation with the four-time MVP winner and if Ohtani will be ready for the NLDS. They then get into Los Angeles calling up top prospect Josue De Paula and if his impressive showing in the minors will be able to translate this early in his career to the big leagues.

Later in the show, Jake and Jordan revisit their bold predictions for the 2026 season from March and see how many they’ve gotten right, which ones are still in play, and which have hopelessly fallen by the wayside. The guys then make their selections for this week’s edition of The Good, The Bad and the Uggla before highlighting the importance of baseball on the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

1:15 - The Opener: Shohei Ohtani to the IL
28:43 - Dodgers call up top prospect
33:47 - Re-examining bold predictions
1:00:00 - The Good
1:05:37 - The Bad
1:11:17 - The Uggla
1:14:54 - Weekend Preview

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With two weeks left in the regular season, the postseason picture is starting to become a little clearer. However, in the American League, the picture is still a little murky, with multiple teams still in the mix in the division and Wild Card races. As five teams look to finish the season strong, which two will be the ones to get the coveted trip to the October dance?

On this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman take a look at the current state of the MLB postseason picture in the American and National Leagues. Will the Chicago White Sox be able to close out the AL Central, or will the Cleveland Guardians swoop in and take it from them? Can the Toronto Blue Jays, with a strong finish, find a way to make it four AL East teams in the postseason as they sit one game back in the Wild Card?

Later in the show, Jake and Jordan examine the case for New York Yankees ace Cam Schlittler to win the AL Cy Young and AL MVP. After Yankees captain Aaron Judge made a comment about pitchers having their own award, is the MVP an award that pitchers should win? Also, can Cam hold off other strong candidates like the Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez and the Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero?

1:59 - The Opener: AL postseason update
32:56 - Who will miss out in the NL?
48:30 - We Need To Talk About: Schlittler for MVP?
58:26 - Turbo Mode: Weekend recap

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Pete Alonso returned to his old digs on Monday night in Queens, greeted by New York Mets fans giving a rousing ovation to show their appreciation for his time with the team. On Tuesday night, though, he paid it back to the fans by hitting his 300th career home run in the top of the ninth to tie the game. And the fans continued to cheer.

On this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss the warm welcome home that the Polar Bear received at Citi Field for his first visit since joining the Baltimore Orioles. They get into how Alonso nailed the moment, despite Mets players not being too thrilled with how fans responded to his heroics, as well as how David Stearns has failed the club so far in his tenure, which has given fans of the Amazin's a sour taste in their mouths.

Later in the show, Jake and Jordan talk about the two series they attended this week, including the Los Angeles Dodgers at Cincinnati Reds, where Freddie Freeman is reinventing himself and finding success. They also talk about the Cleveland Guardians taking two of three games from the Chicago White Sox and further improving their chances of possibly leapfrogging into first place in the AL Central. The guys close the show out by looking at Junior Caminero's MVP odds, Elly De La Cruz's monster home run and the Milwaukee Brewers winning the NL Central.

1:53 - The Opener: Alonso Hits 300
21:18 - Mets Fans' Fury Toward Stearns
29:58 - Field Report: Dodgers in Cincinnati
44:52 - Guardians Eye Division After White Sox Series
48:48 - Around the League: Caminero for MVP?
51:38 - Luzardo to the IL
52:55 - Brewers Clinch the NL Central

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Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman take a final look at the MLB award races. Which awards—like Pete Crow-Armstrong’s historic run for NL MVP—are all but locked up, and which others are still hotly contested? They also debate the tight AL MVP race between Yordan Alvarez and Junior Caminero, spotlight the surge of reliever Mason Miller, ace Jacob Misiorowski and more.

This week's Good, Bad, Uggla covers a little bit of everything: from the Chicago Cubs team bonding at the race track, to Ichiro’s 127-pitch shutout against high schoolers, to a bizarre saga involving a Brewers owner and some sand.

Plus, key playoff races and a preview of the biggest matchups of the upcoming weekend slate.

(2:17) One last MLB awards check-in

(29:31) The Good

(39:10) The Bad

(44:40) The Uggla

(53:32) What to watch this weekend

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As the 2026 MLB regular season enters its final week of games, there is still so much that needs to be decided before the postseason can officially begin. Between who will win the American League Central, which team will be the third and final AL Wild Card participant, and which team from Texas will win the AL West, there are quite a few situations we can’t wait to see how they turn out. And that’s only in the American League!

On this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman take a look at the current postseason picture and try to make sense of the AL scene, as well as figure out how things will play out in the National League Wild Card situation. Will the Arizona Diamondbacks figure out a way to slither in, or will the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies deny their entry into the postseason dance?

Later in the show, Jake and Jordan ask one big question for every postseason team that has stamped its ticket to the playoffs, including how healthy the Los Angeles Dodgers are, whether we’ll see Aaron Judge play another game this season and how hot Ronald Acuña Jr. can stay for the Atlanta Braves. They then go Around the League to discuss the Detroit Tigers’ new ballpark name, Alex Bregman’s brutal face injury and the San Francisco Giants’ bad luck with their roster this season.

2:07 - The Opener: Where things stand in the AL
20:47 - Where things stand in the NL
27:55 - One question for every postseason team
55:34 - Around the League: Tigers’ new stadium name
1:05:12 - Alex Bregman’s injury
1:09:20 - Giants’ IL issue

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Adley Rutschman returned to his old stomping grounds on Thursday night to face off against the team that traded him a little over a month ago. Donning the colors of the Boston Red Sox now, the All-Star catcher hasn’t exactly gotten off on the right foot with his new club. However, with his return to Baltimore, Adley showed his old and new teams why he can be a dangerous hitter when he’s going right at the plate.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman highlight Adley’s two-home-run performance against the Baltimore Orioles, which helped propel the Red Sox to a 6-5 win over their division rival. The guys sink their teeth into the turnaround Boston has had this season and why Adley can be such an important piece of the lineup. They then look at other players who were moved before the deadline last month and try to determine which moves were winners and which were losers.

Later on the show, Jake and Jordan take a look at the curious case surrounding Shohei Ohtani, his injuries and the Los Angeles Dodgers. After getting an extremely rare night off from playing, are injuries catching up to the two-way superstar, and if so, can the team get him right before the postseason? The guys then close the show by making their weekly picks for The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.

2:15 - The Opener: Adley returns to Baltimore
14:22 - Trade deadline winners & losers
29:05 - We Need To Talk About: Shohei Ohtani’s injuries
41:54 - The Good
48:35 - The Bad
53:59 - The Uggla

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On Tuesday, the baseball world was shocked to learn that longtime Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno had agreed to sell the franchise to Stan Kroenke, and fans of the Halos are ecstatic. After cries from the fanbase to sell the team, Moreno did just that — and to someone who has a pedigree of winning. Is the future bright for Angels fans?

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss the $4 billion deal that sees the owner of the Los Angeles Rams, Arsenal FC, the Denver Nuggets and other professional franchises take over a bewildered baseball team that has been longing for success. They highlight some of Kroenke’s championship wins, whether the Angels will remain in Anaheim and what the future could mean for franchise star Mike Trout.

Later on the show, Jake and Jordan welcome former MLB player and current broadcaster Ryan Spilborghs to talk about the exciting Friday Night Baseball watch-along on Apple TV that the guys will be doing starting this Friday. Ryan then talks about his time playing in Japan, why the Seattle Mariners are such a disappointment and the incredible game-saving catch by Colton Cowser. The guys then end the show by talking about the latest in the Los Angeles Dodgers-Mark Walter situation, the San Diego Padres calling up top prospect Ethan Salas and the Baltimore Orioles claiming Luis Robert Jr. from the New York Mets.

1:16 - The Opener: Angels get sold
29:51 - Ryan Spilborghs joins the show
47:01 - What is wrong with the Mariners?
58:41 - Around The League: Orioles claim Luis Robert Jr.
1:02:11 - Padres promote Salas
1:04:45 - Latest in Dodgers-Walter drama

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