

Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about the Cardinals, the Nationals, and the NL’s increasingly interesting playoff races, the pluses and minuses of expanded September rosters, a caveat about time-traveling to see Mike Trout’s final game, and Justin Verlander’s third no-hitter and the role of health in determining pitchers’ careers, then discuss the significance of five fun (and not-so-fun) facts: Oakland’s history of slow starts and fast finishes; Cleveland’s performance against good and bad teams, Buster Posey’s second-half swoons and the veteran stars having the most disappointing seasons; the Marlins’ attendance and baseball’s future as a remote viewing experience; and the Tigers’ lack of above-average hitters and the entertainment value of terrible teams (plus an update on Aristides Aquino and facts about fastest starts).

Audio intro: The Resonars, "Three Times Around"

Audio outro: John Doe and The Sadies, "The Cold Hard Facts of Life"

Link to Glanville on expanded rosters

Link to Sam on Stallings

Link to Sam on Statcast no-hitters

Link to article about Verlander’s low point

Link to Sam’s power rankings contributions

Link to Max Marchi on who’s ahead of whom

Link to Neil Paine on the terrible Tigers

Link to Aquino story

Link to Sam on Bellinger

Link to Sam on Yelich

Link to Ben on knuckleballs

Link to order The MVP Machine

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