Samwise MLB Newsletter
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
2026 MLB Trade Deadline Reshapes Pennant Race With Over 40 Deals
The 2026 MLB trade deadline, which passed Monday at 6 p.m. ET, reshaped the pennant race with more than 40 deals. The Los Angeles Dodgers made the biggest splash, acquiring two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers for outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-handers River Ryan and Brady Smith. Boston acquired three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman from Baltimore, though Rutschman remains on the injured list with left wrist inflammation. The Philadelphia Phillies added second baseman Luis Arraez, the Chicago Cubs landed reliever Clay Holmes, the Tampa Bay Rays acquired Freddy Peralta from the Mets, and the Twins added starter Dean Kremer and reliever A.J. Minter.
Sources: ESPN · CBS Sports
Cardinals Rally Past Yankees 13-7; Burleson Hits Three Home Runs
Alec Burleson became the first Cardinals player to hit three home runs in a game since Ivan Herrera in April 2025, powering St. Louis to a 13-7 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night. Burleson homered off Cam Schlittler in the first, again off Tim Hill in the fourth to give the Cardinals a 6-0 lead, then capped a seven-run eighth inning with a 418-foot shot into the second deck off Angel Chivilli. Rookies Nathan Church and Jimmie Crooks also went deep in the eighth. St. Louis matched their season high with five home runs as the Cardinals improved to 56-58.
Cubs Top Dodgers 5-1 in Tarik Skubal’s First Start for Los Angeles
Tarik Skubal allowed two runs over six innings in his first start as a Dodger, but Chicago handed him a loss Tuesday night as the Cubs beat Los Angeles 5-1 at Wrigley Field. Acquired from Detroit on Saturday, Skubal gave up Dansby Swanson’s solo homer in the third and a Kyle Tucker home run for the Dodgers’ only run. Nico Hoerner and Pete Crow-Armstrong each contributed RBI singles for Chicago, which won for the third time in four games. The Dodgers, now on a five-game losing streak, managed only four hits total in front of 40,584 fans at Wrigley.
Sources: ESPN · CBS Sports
Red Sox Blow Out White Sox 14-2, Extend Winning Streak to Six Games
Caleb Durbin hit a grand slam and Wilyer Abreu launched two solo homers as the Boston Red Sox routed the Chicago White Sox 14-2 on Tuesday, extending their winning streak to six games. Boston erupted for six runs in the first inning, with Durbin doing the bulk of the damage. The Red Sox, who have won 24 of their last 27 games, hit four home runs for the second consecutive contest. Patrick Sandoval earned his first major league win in more than two years. Boston improved to 61-51 as they continue a dominant stretch following their acquisition of catcher Adley Rutschman from Baltimore.
Sources: ESPN · CBS Sports
Tigers Blank Mariners 8-0; Melton Throws Seven Shutout Innings Post-Skubal
Troy Melton delivered seven dominant shutout innings Tuesday night as the Detroit Tigers blanked the Seattle Mariners 8-0, a strong performance that demonstrated the organization still carries significant rotation depth even after trading ace Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers at the deadline. The 25-year-old right-hander scattered just three hits and two walks while striking out four batters, lowering his season ERA to 1.59 across 73 and two-thirds innings pitched. Colt Keith highlighted the Tigers offense with a key two-run single. Detroit improved to 55-58 with the dominant shutout victory at T-Mobile Park.
Sources: NBC Sports · ESPN
Mets Defeat Guardians 6-2; Torrens Goes 3-for-3 With Three-Run Homer
Luis Torrens went three for three with a three-run homer in the second inning and drove in four runs total as the New York Mets defeated the Cleveland Guardians 6-2 on Tuesday at Progressive Field. Bo Bichette and Carson Benge also homered to back starter Sean Manaea, who worked effectively for New York. The Mets snapped a three-game losing streak with the win before a crowd of 24,636 in Cleveland. An early error by Cleveland shortstop Gabriel Arias contributed to New York’s offensive success in the game’s opening frames. The Mets moved to 48-66.
Padres Rout Diamondbacks 9-4; Machado Drives In Four as Wild-Card Race Tightens
Manny Machado had three hits and drove in four runs while Randy Vasquez threw six scoreless innings as the San Diego Padres defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-4 Tuesday night. The Padres moved one game behind Arizona for the third and final NL wild-card playoff spot with the victory. San Diego has now won nine of their last eleven games, sitting at 59-55. Vasquez was particularly dominant before the bullpen took over, and Machado’s performance fueled an early big lead. The Diamondbacks fell to 60-54 as the NL West wild-card race tightens significantly heading into August.
Sources: CBS Sports · NBC Sports
Yankees Call Up Lombard Jr., Option Volpe and Dominguez After Deadline Moves
The New York Yankees made several roster moves following the trade deadline, calling up top outfield prospect George Lombard Jr. and activating newly acquired outfielder Heliot Ramos, who was obtained from the San Francisco Giants. To clear 26-man roster space, New York optioned shortstop Anthony Volpe, outfielder Jasson Dominguez, and reliever Angel Chivilli to Triple-A. Chivilli had allowed the three-run Nathan Church homer and Jimmie Crooks home run in Tuesday’s collapse against the Cardinals. The moves signal New York’s intent to leverage younger talent alongside deadline acquisitions as they chase a playoff position at 64-50.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors
James Wood, Grayson Rodriguez Among Notable Post-Deadline IL Additions
Several notable players moved to the injured list in the wake of the trade deadline. Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood, one of the game’s brightest young stars, was placed on the 10-day IL with a mild oblique strain, with Andrew Pinckney selected from the minors to replace him. The Los Angeles Angels placed right-hander Grayson Rodriguez on the 15-day IL with low back inflammation and designated lefty Drew Pomeranz for assignment. The Athletics placed first baseman Nick Kurtz on the IL with a strained right thumb, and lefty Jeffrey Springs with right hip discomfort, both significant blows to Oakland’s lineup and rotation.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors · NBC Sports
American League
AL East
1. Tampa Bay Rays — 67–46, —
2. New York Yankees — 64–50, 3.5 GB
3. Boston Red Sox — 61–51, 5.5 GB
4. Baltimore Orioles — 55–58, 12.0 GB
5. Toronto Blue Jays — 53–61, 14.5 GB
AL Central
1. Chicago White Sox — 59–53, —
2. Cleveland Guardians — 57–57, 3.0 GB
3. Minnesota Twins — 56–58, 4.0 GB
4. Detroit Tigers — 55–58, 4.5 GB
5. Kansas City Royals — 47–67, 13.0 GB
AL West
1. Houston Astros — 59–56, —
2. Texas Rangers — 56–58, 2.5 GB
3. Seattle Mariners — 55–59, 3.5 GB
4. Athletics — 45–68, 13.0 GB
5. Los Angeles Angels — 43–70, 15.0 GB
National League
NL East
1. Atlanta Braves — 68–45, —
2. Philadelphia Phillies — 61–53, 7.5 GB
3. Miami Marlins — 58–56, 10.5 GB
4. Washington Nationals — 55–60, 14.0 GB
5. New York Mets — 48–66, 20.5 GB
NL Central
1. Milwaukee Brewers — 70–43, —
2. Chicago Cubs — 65–49, 5.5 GB
3. Pittsburgh Pirates — 57–58, 14.0 GB
4. St. Louis Cardinals — 56–58, 14.5 GB
5. Cincinnati Reds — 54–58, 15.5 GB
NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 69–45, —
2. Arizona Diamondbacks — 60–54, 9.0 GB
3. San Diego Padres — 59–55, 10.0 GB
4. San Francisco Giants — 48–66, 21.0 GB
5. Colorado Rockies — 45–69, 24.0 GB
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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