Samwise MLB Newsletter
Friday, August 28, 2026
Chris Sale Throws Complete Game Shutout to Cap Atlanta’s Sweep of Dodgers
Chris Sale struck out 11 and did not allow a walk in a five-hit, 1-0 complete game shutout Thursday night as the Atlanta Braves completed a three-game series sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park. Drake Baldwin launched a leadoff home run off Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the first inning to supply Sale all the run support he needed. Sale improved to 13-9, earning his 17th career complete game and first since 2019. The Braves won the season series 5-1 against the Dodgers and solidified their grip on first place in the NL East.
Dodgers Place Roki Sasaki on 15-Day IL With Blister on Right Middle Finger
The Los Angeles Dodgers placed right-hander Roki Sasaki on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a blister on his right middle finger. Sasaki left his Wednesday start against the Atlanta Braves in the fourth inning after suffering a complete skin tear on the affected finger. The pitcher said the blister emerged suddenly while he faced Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies to start the fourth inning. Sasaki had allowed just one run through three innings before being charged with four runs in 3⅓ total. The Dodgers expect him to miss at least until September 11, a significant blow to their rotation.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors, NBC Sports
Jac Caglianone’s Career-Best Night Powers Royals Past Blue Jays 13-2
Jac Caglianone had the best game of his career Thursday night, collecting a career-best five hits and a career-high six RBI to lead the Kansas City Royals past the Toronto Blue Jays 13-2. The right fielder went 5-for-6 with a home run and a double, scoring three times. Key moments included a two-run single in the second inning, an RBI single in the sixth and a 409-foot two-run homer in the ninth. Starting pitcher Noah Cameron worked six strong innings to earn the victory. The commanding win dropped Toronto to 65-69 on the season.
Sources: NBC Sports, CBS Sports
Chourio Hits Two Home Runs as Brewers Defeat Mets 8-2
Jackson Chourio turned in a dominant performance Thursday at Citi Field, going 4-for-5 with two home runs, four RBI and four runs scored as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the New York Mets 8-2. Chourio’s two-homer game gave him 20 home runs on the season. Jacob Misiorowski threw 89 pitches with 53 strikes in his starting role for Milwaukee. The victory keeps the Brewers rolling atop the NL Central with the best record in baseball. The Mets fell to 60-73 on the season, dropping 18 games back of Atlanta in the NL East.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Walker and Peña Homer as Astros Down Yankees 5-1
Christian Walker hit a two-run home run off Gerrit Cole in the sixth inning and Jeremy Peña added a solo shot as the Houston Astros beat the New York Yankees 5-1 Thursday night at Yankee Stadium. Hayden Wesneski earned the win, improving to 4-1, after allowing one run on three hits and two walks over five-plus innings while striking out six. Walker finished with three hits on the night. The loss dropped New York to 75-57 in the AL East, while Houston improved to 66-67 in the competitive AL West.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Cardinals Deny Baltimore Sweep, Win 7-5 Behind Jordan Homer
The Baltimore Orioles missed their chance for a series sweep Thursday as the St. Louis Cardinals rallied for a 7-5 victory at Busch Stadium. Blaze Jordan hit a three-run home run and former Oriole Ramón Urías added a two-run shot to pace the Cardinals’ offense. Cardinals opener Gordon Graceffo threw three hitless innings on just 38 pitches before handing off to the bullpen in the fourth. Baltimore’s Trevor Rogers allowed six earned runs on seven hits over five innings. The Orioles drop to 65-69, complicating their AL wild-card push with one month left in the regular season.
Sources: ESPN, Sports Illustrated
Gilbert Homers, Roupp Pitches Giants Past Diamondbacks 6-1
Drew Gilbert homered and drove in the go-ahead run as the San Francisco Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-1 on Thursday night, snapping a four-game home losing streak against Arizona. Landen Roupp pitched five solid innings for San Francisco to earn the win. The Diamondbacks entered the game at 71-63 in the NL West, 9.5 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers with just over one month remaining in the regular season. The Giants, who entered Thursday at 54-79 and had lost three straight, claimed an important NL West divisional win.
Sources: ESPN, Sports Illustrated
Giants Designate Buddy Kennedy for Assignment, Reinstate Bryce Eldridge
The San Francisco Giants designated infielder Buddy Kennedy for assignment Thursday and reinstated first baseman Bryce Eldridge from the bereavement list as the corresponding move. Kennedy batted .116/.224/.140 on the 2026 season and went 13 games for the Giants after being reclaimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners earlier this month. Kennedy had been designated for assignment by San Francisco in June before being traded to Seattle, then reclaimed again in August. Eldridge, a top San Francisco prospect, had been away from the team to attend a funeral. The move gets the prospect back for the final month.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors
American League
AL East
1. Tampa Bay Rays — 79–54, –
2. New York Yankees — 75–57, 3.5 GB
3. Boston Red Sox — 73–60, 6.0 GB
4. Baltimore Orioles — 65–69, 14.5 GB
5. Toronto Blue Jays — 65–69, 14.5 GB
AL Central
1. Chicago White Sox — 70–63, –
2. Cleveland Guardians — 68–66, 2.5 GB
3. Minnesota Twins — 64–70, 6.5 GB
4. Detroit Tigers — 62–71, 8.0 GB
5. Kansas City Royals — 59–75, 11.5 GB
AL West
1. Houston Astros — 66–67, –
2. Texas Rangers — 66–68, 0.5 GB
3. Seattle Mariners — 64–70, 2.5 GB
4. Athletics — 53–81, 13.5 GB
5. Los Angeles Angels — 52–82, 14.5 GB
National League
NL East
1. Atlanta Braves — 78–55, –
2. Philadelphia Phillies — 74–60, 4.5 GB
3. Miami Marlins — 68–66, 10.5 GB
4. Washington Nationals — 63–73, 16.5 GB
5. New York Mets — 60–73, 18.0 GB
NL Central
1. Milwaukee Brewers — 82–51, –
2. Chicago Cubs — 76–58, 6.5 GB
3. St. Louis Cardinals — 67–68, 16.0 GB
4. Pittsburgh Pirates — 65–70, 18.0 GB
5. Cincinnati Reds — 63–71, 19.5 GB
NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 80–53, –
2. San Diego Padres — 72–62, 8.5 GB
3. Arizona Diamondbacks — 71–63, 9.5 GB
4. San Francisco Giants — 54–79, 26.0 GB
5. Colorado Rockies — 52–82, 28.5 GB
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