MLB Newsletter — September 4, 2026

Samwise MLB Newsletter

Friday, September 4, 2026

Recaps  ·  Standings  ·  Transactions  ·  Analysis
MLB news, carefully curated and summarized daily
RECAP

Hernández Walk-Off Double Saves Dodgers in 3-2 Win Over Cardinals

Teoscar Hernández hit a two-run walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals and preventing a series sweep. With one out and the score tied, Tommy Edman singled and stole second before Mookie Betts drew a walk. Hernández then worked a full count and sent a pitch from reliever Riley O’Brien into center field to score both runners. The Dodgers had been 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position before the rally. It was Los Angeles’s eighth walk-off win of the 2026 season.

Sources: ESPN · Yahoo Sports

RECAP

Rutschman Homers Twice in Emotional Return to Camden Yards, Red Sox Win 6-5

Adley Rutschman hit two solo home runs in his return to Camden Yards as a member of the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, delivering one of the most memorable homecomings of the 2026 season. The catcher, traded from Baltimore at the deadline, received a standing ovation before his first-inning drive gave Boston a 1-0 lead. The Orioles led 3-1 after fourth-inning homers from Luis Robert Jr. and Pete Alonso, but Nick Sogard’s two-run blast in the eighth broke a 3-3 tie. Roman Anthony added an insurance homer in the ninth. Boston won 6-5 as Luis De León (0-2) took the loss.

Sources: ESPN · SI.com · Boston.com · Yahoo Sports

RECAP

Gausman Fans Nine as Cubs Spoil Brewers’ Series with 2-1 Victory

Kevin Gausman struck out nine batters over seven innings Thursday, helping the Chicago Cubs split a four-game series with the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers with a 2-1 victory. Pete Crow-Armstrong supplied the offense with his 39th home run of the season, placing him among the NL leaders. Gausman (9-11) allowed only one run — a solo homer by Andrew Vaughn in the fourth — while holding Milwaukee to five hits, his split-fingered fastball generating a 60 percent whiff rate. Chicago remains eight games behind the Brewers with 22 games remaining. The split prevents Milwaukee from extending its divisional lead.

Sources: MLB.com · Fox Sports

RECAP

Athletics Strike Out 18, Defeat Mariners 7-4 in Oakland

Athletics pitchers combined for 18 strikeouts — a season high — as Oakland defeated the Seattle Mariners 7-4 on Thursday night. Lawrence Butler drove in the go-ahead runs with a two-run single in the fifth inning off rookie starter Kade Anderson (0-1). Zack Gelof hit a solo homer in the first, and Scott Blewett (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win. The Mariners, who struck out 18 times themselves, fell six games behind the American League West-leading Houston Astros with 21 games remaining. Henry Bolte, Butler, Jeff McNeil, and Gelof each had two hits for Oakland.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal · The Sports Leader (KNBR)

ANALYSIS

Yordan Alvarez Leads All Three AL Triple Crown Categories Entering September

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez entered September leading or tied for the lead in all three American League Triple Crown categories. Alvarez is batting .316 to top the AL, has 37 home runs tied with Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, and has accumulated 94 RBIs. If he finishes atop all three, Alvarez would become the first hitter to win the Triple Crown since Miguel Cabrera in 2012. Caminero is his nearest rival for the home run title. Alvarez carries a 1.036 OPS into the season’s final month and holds a commanding edge in batting average.

Sources: CBS Sports · SI.com

INJURY

Garrett Crochet Scheduled for First Bullpen Session Since April Shoulder Injury

Boston Red Sox starter Garrett Crochet, sidelined since April 29 with left shoulder inflammation, is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session in more than two months on September 4 at Fenway Park. The Red Sox acquired Crochet from the Chicago White Sox in an offseason deal, and he emerged as one of the top young starters in the American League before the injury. Manager Chad Tracy indicated a bullpen session could come this weekend depending on Crochet’s readiness. The plan is for Crochet to return as a reliever for the final stretch of the regular season.

Sources: SI.com · MLB.com

STANDINGS

MLB Playoff Picture: Six Division Leaders Emerge as September Opens

Major League Baseball’s postseason picture is coming into sharper focus as September begins with 30 games or fewer remaining for most clubs. The Tampa Bay Rays (83-56) lead the AL East, followed by the New York Yankees at 80-60. The Chicago White Sox (73-66) lead the AL Central over the Cleveland Guardians (70-69), while the Houston Astros (71-69) hold a slim AL West edge over the Texas Rangers. In the National League, the Atlanta Braves (83-57) lead the NL East by four games, the Milwaukee Brewers (87-53) lead the NL Central, and the Los Angeles Dodgers (82-57) top the NL West.

Sources: CBS Sports · ESPN

MLB Standings — September 3, 2026

AL East

TeamWLGB
Tampa Bay Rays ★8356—
New York Yankees80603.5
Boston Red Sox75658.5
Toronto Blue Jays697114.5
Baltimore Orioles697114.5

AL Central

TeamWLGB
Chicago White Sox ★7366—
Cleveland Guardians70693.0
Minnesota Twins67736.5
Detroit Tigers64759.0
Kansas City Royals627811.5

AL West

TeamWLGB
Houston Astros ★7169—
Texas Rangers69712.0
Seattle Mariners66745.0
Oakland Athletics548617.0
Los Angeles Angels538718.0

NL East

TeamWLGB
Atlanta Braves ★8357—
Philadelphia Phillies79614.0
Miami Marlins716912.0
Washington Nationals677517.0
New York Mets637720.0

NL Central

TeamWLGB
Milwaukee Brewers ★8753—
Chicago Cubs78629.0
St. Louis Cardinals707017.0
Pittsburgh Pirates687219.0
Cincinnati Reds677320.0

NL West

TeamWLGB
Los Angeles Dodgers ★8257—
Arizona D-backs74679.0
San Diego Padres73679.5
San Francisco Giants588224.5
Colorado Rockies548628.5
Browse All Past Newsletters

Every newsletter preserved and searchable