Samwise MLB Newsletter
Friday, September 11, 2026
Volpe’s Grand Slam Sparks Six-Run Inning as Yankees Complete Sweep of Rockies
Anthony Volpe capped a rousing return from Triple-A with a grand slam and career-high five RBI as the New York Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 10-3 win Thursday night. Recalled to replace injured second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., Volpe went 3-for-4 and drove a seventh-inning grand slam off Jimmy Herget to break the game open. Spencer Jones added three hits, including a two-run single, while Luis García Jr. hit a two-run homer. The sweep moved New York within 3.5 games of Tampa Bay atop the AL East with 16 games to play.
deGrom’s Near-Perfect Start Undone by Rodríguez Homer as Mariners Edge Rangers 4-3
Jacob deGrom retired the first 15 batters and struck out 12, but Julio Rodríguez’s three-run homer in the seventh inning spoiled the gem as the Seattle Mariners rallied past the Texas Rangers 4-3 Thursday afternoon. Cole Young snapped deGrom’s perfect bid with a single off the pitcher’s glove in the sixth, and Seattle exploded against reliever Jakob Junis in the seventh. Rodríguez lined a first-pitch sinker over the left-field bullpen for a three-run blast that put the Mariners ahead for good. Starter Logan Gilbert earned the win and closer Andrés Muñoz recorded his 27th save.
Cam Smith’s Ninth-Inning Homer Powers Astros Past Phillies 2-1 for Series Win
Cam Smith hit a tiebreaking solo home run in the ninth inning off Phillies closer Jhoan Duran to give the Houston Astros a 2-1 victory over Philadelphia on Thursday, completing a series win. Smith launched his 20th homer of the season on a first-pitch splitter over the right-center field wall, powering a game that starter Cristian Javier largely controlled. Javier allowed one run on three hits over six innings with five strikeouts, and Bryan Abreu earned the win. Josh Hader needed only eight pitches to close out the Phillies and remained perfect in 25 save opportunities.
Sources: CBS Sports
Three-Run Eighth Lifts Braves Over Rays as Atlanta Avoids Series Sweep
Martin Perez delivered seven shutout innings and Atlanta’s offense broke through in the eighth as the Braves avoided a sweep against Tampa Bay with a 3-1 victory Thursday. Through seven innings, Perez and Rays pitching kept things scoreless, each team managing just two hits. The Braves broke through against Tampa Bay reliever Kevin Kelly when pinch hitter Ozzie Albies tripled off the right-field wall, Austin Riley singled him home, and Ha-Seong Kim followed with a two-run single. Tampa Bay answered with a ninth-inning run but it wasn’t enough. Atlanta salvaged the series finale to deny the Rays a sweep.
Jared Jones Carries No-Hit Bid Into Seventh as Pirates Complete Sweep of White Sox
Jared Jones had a no-hitter through six innings before Colson Montgomery broke up the bid with a two-out double in the seventh, and the Pittsburgh Pirates completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox with a 2-0 shutout Thursday. Jones and two relievers combined for a two-hit gem, and Oneil Cruz drove in both Pittsburgh runs. The series sweep shrinks Chicago’s lead in the AL Central to one and a half games, tightening one of the most competitive division races in September. Pittsburgh has now won three straight games as the playoff chase enters its crucial final weeks.
Dodgers Place Shohei Ohtani on 15-Day IL; Top Prospect Josue De Paula Called Up
The Los Angeles Dodgers placed two-way star Shohei Ohtani on the 15-day injured list Thursday, after weeks of nagging pain in his left knee and right biceps. Ohtani, who has not pitched since early July, also missed six of the team’s last seven games as a designated hitter while dealing with the ailments. To fill the roster spot, Los Angeles called up top prospect Josue De Paula. As a two-way player, Ohtani is required to use the longer 15-day IL rather than the standard 10-day period, making September 23 his earliest possible return to action with the Dodgers.
Sources: CBS Sports
American League
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL EAST | |||
| Tampa Bay Rays | 87 | 59 | — |
| New York Yankees | 83 | 62 | 3.5 |
| Boston Red Sox | 80 | 67 | 7.5 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 73 | 74 | 14.5 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 71 | 76 | 16.5 |
| AL CENTRAL | |||
| Chicago White Sox | 75 | 70 | — |
| Cleveland Guardians | 74 | 73 | 2.0 |
| Minnesota Twins | 69 | 77 | 6.5 |
| Detroit Tigers | 67 | 79 | 8.5 |
| Kansas City Royals | 65 | 82 | 11.0 |
| AL WEST | |||
| Houston Astros | 74 | 72 | — |
| Texas Rangers | 72 | 74 | 2.0 |
| Seattle Mariners | 68 | 78 | 6.0 |
| Athletics | 59 | 88 | 15.5 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 56 | 90 | 18.0 |
National League
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL EAST | |||
| Atlanta Braves | 86 | 61 | — |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 82 | 64 | 3.5 |
| Miami Marlins | 72 | 75 | 14.0 |
| New York Mets | 68 | 78 | 17.5 |
| Washington Nationals | 67 | 81 | 19.5 |
| NL CENTRAL | |||
| Milwaukee Brewers | 91 | 56 | — |
| Chicago Cubs | 81 | 66 | 10.0 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 73 | 73 | 17.5 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 72 | 75 | 19.0 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 69 | 77 | 21.5 |
| NL WEST | |||
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 89 | 57 | — |
| San Diego Padres | 78 | 68 | 11.0 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 78 | 69 | 11.5 |
| San Francisco Giants | 62 | 85 | 27.5 |
| Colorado Rockies | 55 | 90 | 33.5 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency