Samwise MLB Newsletter
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
John Sterling, Beloved Yankees Broadcaster, Dies at 87
John Sterling, the legendary voice of the New York Yankees for 36 seasons, died Monday at age 87 following heart bypass surgery. Sterling called 5,426 regular-season Yankees games from 1989 until his 2024 retirement, never missing a game for decades and becoming synonymous with the franchise’s championships. He was celebrated for his booming “Theeeeee Yankees win!” victory cry and personalized home run calls, including “An A-bomb from A-Rod!” and “It is high, it is far, it is gone!” On Tuesday, the Yankees announced that players will wear a jersey patch in Sterling’s honor for the remainder of the 2026 season.
Sources: CBS Sports, NBC Sports
Astros 2, Dodgers 1: Peter Lambert Outduels Ohtani, Ends His No-Homer Streak
Peter Lambert pitched seven scoreless innings Tuesday night as the Houston Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 2–1, ending Shohei Ohtani’s dominant stretch to begin 2026. Christian Walker led off the second inning with a solo home run, and Braden Shewmake hit an opposite-field shot in the third — the first home runs surrendered by Ohtani this season. The two-time NL MVP had entered the start 2–1 with a 0.60 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 30 innings. Lambert tied his career high with seven innings and 104 pitches as Houston took game two of the three-game series at Daikin Park.
Sources: MLB.com, CBS Sports
Yankees 7, Rangers 4: Chisholm Jr. Homer Off deGrom Fuels 5th Straight Win
Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a go-ahead two-run home run off Jacob deGrom in the sixth inning Tuesday as the New York Yankees defeated the Texas Rangers 7–4, extending their winning streak to five games and improving to 15 victories in their last 17 contests. David Bednar retired Josh Jung with the bases loaded in the eighth before recording the final five outs for his 10th save. The Yankees, 19–10 on the season, continued honoring the late John Sterling, the legendary broadcaster who passed away Monday at 87, with players wearing tribute patches throughout the game.
Sources: CBS Sports, ESPN
Two-Time Cy Young Winner Tarik Skubal Needs Elbow Surgery, Out 2-3 Months
Two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal will undergo surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow and is expected to miss two to three months, a devastating blow to the Detroit Tigers rotation. Skubal said he noticed something different from his usual arm irritation on the day of his scratch and quickly consulted manager A.J. Hinch and the training staff. He joins Casey Mize, Justin Verlander, and Reese Olson on Detroit’s injured list, with Olson already sidelined for the entire 2026 season. Ty Madden is expected to fill Skubal’s rotation spot in the short term.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors, CBS Sports
Cubs 3, Reds 2: NL Central Rivals Battle in Historically Competitive Division
The Chicago Cubs edged the Cincinnati Reds 3–2 on Tuesday night, taking game two of their NL Central series in a matchup between two of baseball’s hottest early-season stories. The Reds, who lead the NL Central and are on pace to surpass 100 wins, fell to the Cubs in a tight contest. All five NL Central teams have remained above .500 through the first month-plus of the 2026 season — an unprecedented achievement in the divisional era. The Cubs’ victory keeps them in contention in one of the tightest and most competitive division races in recent baseball memory.
Sources: CBS Sports, ESPN
San Francisco Giants Promote No. 1 Prospect Bryce Eldridge to Boost Offense
The San Francisco Giants promoted top prospect Bryce Eldridge, 21, along with catcher and infielder Jesus Rodriguez before Tuesday’s game against the Padres, as the struggling club seeks offensive reinforcements. Eldridge, the organization’s No. 1 prospect and No. 20 overall on MLB Pipeline, slashed .333/.445/.518 with five home runs and 22 RBIs over 30 Triple-A Sacramento games this season. San Francisco has scored the fewest runs in baseball and has been shut out seven times in 2026, making the 2023 first-round pick’s promotion an urgently needed injection of power potential into a lineup that has failed to generate consistent offense.
Sources: ESPN, MLB Trade Rumors
Braves Trade Jonah Heim to Athletics After Sean Murphy Returns from IL
The Atlanta Braves traded backup catcher Jonah Heim to the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations Monday after activating Sean Murphy from the injured list, where Atlanta’s starting catcher had been recovering from hip labrum surgery. Heim, 30, had signed a one-year, $4 million deal with Atlanta in the offseason to back up reigning NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin, but Murphy’s return made the veteran catcher expendable. In 12 games and 45 plate appearances for the Braves, Heim batted .231/.311/.410 with one home run. Oakland placed Shea Langeliers on the paternity list to clear a roster spot.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors, ESPN
Braves Hold Majors-Best 8.5-Game Division Lead, Reclaim MLB No. 1 Ranking
The Atlanta Braves hold the largest division lead in baseball, sitting 8.5 games ahead in the NL East behind a dominant start fueled by multiple players performing at elite levels. Matt Olson, Drake Baldwin, Ozzie Albies, and Michael Harris II have all delivered career-best or near-career-best offensive starts in 2026, powering Atlanta to the top spot in MLB’s weekly power rankings as of May 3 — the first time the franchise had claimed that position in more than three years. The Braves also returned Sean Murphy to the lineup this week, giving them a fully healthy and dangerous roster heading into May.
American League
AL East
1. Yankees — 19–10, —
2. Rays — 17–13, 2.5 GB
3. Red Sox — 15–15, 4.5 GB
4. Blue Jays — 12–15, 6.0 GB
5. Orioles — 13–17, 6.5 GB
AL Central
1. Guardians — 17–15, —
2. Tigers — 16–15, 0.5 GB
3. Royals — 15–15, 1.5 GB
4. White Sox — 14–16, 2.5 GB
5. Twins — 13–17, 3.5 GB
AL West
1. Athletics — 18–13, —
2. Mariners — 16–15, 2.0 GB
3. Rangers — 15–16, 3.0 GB
4. Angels — 14–17, 4.0 GB
5. Astros — 13–18, 5.0 GB
National League
NL East
1. Braves — 25–10, —
2. Marlins — 16–18, 8.5 GB
3. Phillies — 14–20, 10.5 GB
4. Mets — 13–21, 11.5 GB
5. Nationals — 11–24, 14.0 GB
NL Central
1. Reds — 22–12, —
2. Cardinals — 20–13, 1.5 GB
3. Cubs — 18–15, 3.5 GB
4. Pirates — 17–15, 4.0 GB
5. Brewers — 17–16, 4.5 GB
NL West
1. Dodgers — 20–11, —
2. Padres — 19–11, 0.5 GB
3. Diamondbacks — 17–15, 3.5 GB
4. Giants — 12–20, 8.5 GB
5. Rockies — 11–22, 10.0 GB
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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