Issue #536
Around this time each year I like to remind myself of which hitters and pitchers ended the previous season really hot. Who did well in September in particular? Or had a strong second-half more broadly?
This article will give the hitters and pitchers that jumped out to me when reviewing the data at Stathead. I’ll start with 15 hitters who had really strong September numbers.
Hitters
NYY Aaron Judge
1.292 OPS with a .370 BA and .527 OBP
10 HR, 17 RBI, and an amazing 27 runs
Great season overall, finished with a great September, and then hit .500 (13-26, though only 1 HR) in the postseason
WAS Daylen Lile
1.212 OPS with a .391 BA and .440 OBP
Power surge with 6 HR and an impressive 7 triples in the final month of the year, to go with 19 RBI and 20 runs
Overall on the season had a .299/.347/.498 slash line with 9 HR and 8 SB over 91 games
LAD Shohei Ohtani
1.165 OPS with a .312 BA and .423 OBP
10 HR, 17 RBI, 22 runs
Another great season for Ohtani of course. He struggled (1-18) in the NLDS, but then had 3 HR in the NLCS and 3 in World Series.
TOR George Springer
1.097 OPS with a .347 BA and .434 OBP
8 HR, 16 RBI, 22 runs
Overall he had a great age-35 comeback season, with a .309/.399/.560 slash line, 32 HR, and 18 SB.
PIT Spencer Horwitz
1.089 OPS with a .333 BA and .455 OBP
Fewer September games played than others I'm listed here, but still worth noting as he finished strong with 4 HR, 7 doubles, 12 RBI, and 13 runs in 17 games.
TBR Yandy Díaz
1.057 OPS with a .400 BA and .495 OBP
3 HR, 9 RBI, 16 runs
His age-33 year was arguably the second best season of his career, ending with a .300/.366/.482 slash line, with 25 HR and 83 RBI
SEA Cal Raleigh
1.030 OPS with a .278 BA and .391 OBP
10 HR, 18 RBI, 22 runs
Raleigh finished his historic regular season strong, and then went 14-46 (.304) with 5 HR in 12 postseason games.
NYM Juan Soto
1.022 OPS with a .309 BA and .404 OBP
8 HR, 21 RBI, 18 runs, and an impressive 12 SB
An interesting first season with the Mets, in that he led the NL in OBP with .396, but surprisingly also tied for the lead in SB with 38, after never having had more than 12 in a season before. His BA was a bit down at .263, but he still had 43 HR, 105 RBI, and 120 runs.
SEA Jorge Polanco - now on the Mets!
1.015 OPS with a .329 BA and .380 OBP
4 HR and an impressive 13 doubles
Overall had a strong comeback in his age-31 season, batting .265 (vs. .213 in 2024) with 26 HR and 78 RBI. Struggled some in the postseason (.208 BA in 48 AB), but also hit some key homers.
ATL Matt Olson
1.008 OPS with a .292 BA and .373 OBP
8 HR, 18 RBI, 21 runs
A good ending to a fine season overall, with a .272/.366/.484 slash line, 29 HR, 95 RBI, and 41 doubles which tied for the NL lead
PHI Brandon Marsh
1.003 OPS with a .338 BA and .400 OBP
3 HR, 13 RBI, 15 runs
Not a huge September, but a nice uptick with his overall season numbers being a .280/.342/.443 slash line with 11 HR in 133 games
SEA Josh Naylor
.982 OPS with a .364 BA and .398 OBP
4 HR, 7 SB, 19 RBI, 16 runs
Finished a strong year split between Arizona and Seattle with a .295/.353/.462 slash line, 20 HR, 92 RBI, and 30 SB (a huge increase over his previous career-high of 10)
Also did great in the ALCS, going 10-24 with 3 HR
ARI Geraldo Perdomo
.973 OPS with a .315 BA and .407 OBP
5 HR, 13 RBI, 13 runs
A good finish to his best season so far, ending with a .290/.389/.462 slash line, 20 HR, 100 RBI, and 27 SB
TBR Junior Caminero
.969 OPS with a .319 BA and .386 OBP
6 HR, 16 RBI, 13 runs
A good finish to his first full season that provided a .264/.311/.535 slash line, 45 HR, and 11 RBI
STL Iván Herrera
.969 OPS with a .276 BA and .394 OBP
8 HR, 16 RBI, 18 runs
Came through after being given the starting catcher duties, providing a .284/.373/.464 slash line, 19 HR, 66 RBI, and 8 SB
Without repeating any of the guys listed above, here are three more that had strong overall second halves in 2025, including:
ATH Shea Langeliers
1.018 OPS with a .328 BA and .367 OBP
19 HR, 20 doubles, 41 RBI, 45 runs
Set a new career high with 31 HR, and had by far his highest BA with a .277 mark
NYY Giancarlo Stanton
1.006 OPS with a .283 BA and .356 OBP
20 HR, 52 RBI
Cooled off during the postseason, going 5-26 with no homers
TOR Bo Bichette ... now on the Mets!
.989 OPS with a .370 BA and .423 OBP
6 HR, 19 doubles, 41 RBI
Missed part of the postseason, but went 8-23 with 1 HR and 6 RBI in the World Series
Pitchers
Now here are some pitchers with particularly strong performances in September, 2025:
SDP Mason Miller
0.00 ERA, 26 K and 1 H in 12.1 IP
Only 1 save, as he wasn't in the closer role once he joined the Padres. Presumably he will be in 2026.
ATL Raisel Iglesias
0.00 ERA, 12 K and 3 H in 10.2 IP
Six saves, and he is back with the Braves for his age-36 season
NYM Edwin Díaz... now with the Dodgers!
0.61 ERA, 19 K and 6 H in 14.2 IP
Only 4 saves, but he should get plenty of save opps with the Dodgers in 2026
LAD Yoshinobu Yamamoto
0.67 ERA, 34 K and 7 hits in 4 starts and 27 IP
Other than one poor NLDS start, he was outstanding in the postseason, with a 1.45 ERA and 33 K in 37.1 IP
BAL Dean Kremer
1.10 ERA, 14 K and 5 H in 16.1 IP over 4 games (3 starts)
Good finish to a middling season overall with a 4.19 ERA and 142 K in 171.2 IP
CLE Tanner Bibee
1.30 ERA, 26 K and 16 H in 27.2 IP over 4 starts
Similar to Kremer, a good finish to his 2025 campaign that included a 4.24 ERA with 162 K in 182.1 IP
PIT Paul Skenes
1.31 ERA, 29 K and 15 H in 20.2 IP over 4 starts
Finished well to bring home the NL Cy Young Award
CIN Connor Phillips
1.35 ERA, 19 K and 2 H in 13.1 IP over 11 relief appearances
A strong ending for his brief, second season in the majors (2.88 ERA over 25 IP)
CHC Cade Horton
1.40 ERA, 16 K and 9 H in 19.1 IP over 4 starts
Nice ending to a strong rookie campaign
LAD Emmet Sheehan
1.42 ERA, 35 K and 11 H in 25.1 IP over 5 games (4 starts)
Struggled as a reliever in the postseason, so it will be interesting to see where he slots in the Dodgers loaded pitching staff in 2026
MIN Kody Funderburk
1.46 ERA, 17 K and 7 H in 12.1 IP over 13 appearances
Nice conclusion to his year that included a 3.51 ERA and 40 K in 41 IP over 39 appearances
PIT Dennis Santana
1.46 ERA, 13 K and 5 H in 12.1 IP over 12 appearances
5 saves in September, as he stepped up after closer David Bednar was traded to the Yankees at the deadline
Overall had a 2.18 ERA, 16 saves, and a 0.867 WHIP over 70.1 IP on the year
CHC Jameson Taillon
1.54 ERA, 17 K and 16 H in 23.1 IP over 4 starts
Finished strong and overall had a 3.68 ERA over 129.2 IP and 23 starts
CLE Joey Cantillo
1.55 ERA, 28 K and 20 H in 29 IP over 5 starts
Was a mixed reliever/starter for the year, with a 3.21 ERA and 108 K in 95.1 IP
NYY David Bednar
1.59 ERA, 15 K and 6 H in 11.1 IP
Notched seven saves in September, and was the most consistent of the Yankees late-inning relievers down the stretch
PHI Cristopher Sánchez
1.65 ERA, 31 K and 22 H in 32.2 IP over 5 starts
Had his best season so far, coming in second in the NL Cy Young Award vote after going 13-5 with a 2.50 ERA and 212 K in 202 IP
CLE Gavin Williams
1.88 ERA, 30 K and 18 H in 24 IP over 4 starts
Ended his best season so far with 12-5 record, 3.06 ERA, and 173 K in 167.2 IP
There were several other starters who did well in September and deserve brief mention:
NYY Max Fried - 1.88 ERA, 35 K and 26 H in 33.1 IP
KCR Stephen Kolek - 2.00 ERA, 18 K and 16 H in 27 IP
TEX Jacob Latz - 2.01 ERA, 15 K and 17 H in 22.1 IP
SFG Justin Verlander - 2.08 ERA, 23 K and 24 H in 30.1 IP (currently a free agent)
LAD Blake Snell - 2.25 ERA, 34 K and 18 H in 24 IP
SEA Logan Gilbert - 2.30 ERA, 29 K and 24 H in 27.1 IP
WAS Andrew Alvarez - 2.31 ERA, 20 K and 16 H in 23.1 IP... his first five major league starts!
BOS Connelly Early - 2.33 ERA, 29 K and 17 H in 19.1 IP
MIN Simeon Woods Richardson - 2.33 ERA, 36 K and 13 H in 27 IP
BAL Kyle Bradish - 2.42 ERA, 37 K and 19 H in 26 IP
And as I noted for the hitters, without repeating any of the guys listed above, here are some additional relievers that had strong overall second halves in 2025 (ERA under 1.50):
CHC Brad Keller - 0.33 ERA, 35 K and 8 H in 27.2 IP over 28 games (now on the Phillies!)
BOS Garrett Whitlock - 0.34 ERA, 34 K and 19 H in 26.2 IP over 27 games
ATL Tyler Kinley - 0.59 ERA, 32 K and 13 H in 30.1 IP over 29 games
MIL Abner Uribe - 0.62 ERA, 30 K and 17 H in 29 IP over 29 games
ATH Sean Newcomb - 0.96 ERA, 27 K and 19 H in 28 IP over 21 games (now with the White Sox!)
STL Matt Svanson - 1.05 ERA, 44 K and 20 H in 34.1 IP over 22 games
TEX Shawn Armstrong - 1.13 ERA, 32 K and 16 H in 32 IP over 31 games (now with the Guardians!)
BOS Aroldis Chapman - 1.16 ERA, 27 K and 9 H in 23.1 IP over 26 games
BAL Kade Strowd - 1.23 ERA, 21 K and 12 H in 22 IP over 22 games
HOU AJ Blubaugh - 1.29 ERA, 29 K and 12 H in 28 IP over 10 games (two starts)
ARI Andrew Saalfrank - 1.33 ERA, 17 K and 17 H in 27 IP over 27 games
LAA/WSN Luis Garcia - 1.44 ERA, 19 K and 20 H in 25 IP over 27 games (now with the Mets!)
TEX Cole Winn - 1.46 ERA, 24 K and 11 H in 24.2 IP over 20 games
LAA Kenley Jansen - 1.48 ERA, 22 K and 7 H in 24.1 IP with 13 saves in 24 games (now with the Tigers
Among starters, here are a few others who did well over the second half (some in limited playing time):
BAL Trevor Rogers - 1.94 ERA, 71 K and 51 H in 74.1 IP over 12 starts
NYM Nolan McLean - 2.06 ERA, 57 K and 34 H in 48 IP over 8 starts
TEX Nathan Eovaldi - 2.08 ERA, 35 K and 27 H over 39 IP over 6 starts
Did you know? I wrote a 600+ page book with the same title as this newsletter/blog? Now Taking the Field: Baseball’s All-Time Dream Teams for All 30 Franchises was published in early 2019, by ACTA Sports. It is available at Amazon and most other major booksellers.
This newsletter was produced with beehiiv.
New to Now Taking the Field? Become a subscriber and get each article in your email inbox so that you don’t miss anything!