Samwise MLB Newsletter
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Nationals Rally on James Wood’s Inside-the-Park Grand Slam to Top Mets 9–6
James Wood hit the majors’ first inside-the-park grand slam since 2022, powering the Washington Nationals to a 9-6 comeback win over the New York Mets on Tuesday. Trailing 5-0 after one inning, Washington loaded the bases in the second; Wood lofted a first-pitch sweeper to deep left that glanced off an outfielder’s arm and caromed to center, racing home in 15 seconds. CJ Abrams scored the go-ahead run on a catcher’s passed ball, and Jorbit Vivas added a sacrifice fly. José Tena also homered for Washington, which avoided a three-game losing streak. Bo Bichette hit two homers and drove in four runs in a losing effort for New York.
Sources: CBS Sports · CBS Sports (Wood profile)
Misiorowski’s 24⅓-Inning Scoreless Streak Powers Brewers into NL Central Lead
Jacob Misiorowski threw six scoreless innings, extending his scoreless streak to 24⅓ innings, and Brice Turang hit a two-run homer as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2 on Tuesday to move into first place in the NL Central. At 28-18, Milwaukee holds a half-game lead over the 29-20 Cubs, who have lost four straight and eight of their last ten. Misiorowski struck out eight and walked one while allowing only three singles. Jake Bauers drove in a run and Garrett Mitchell added another for Milwaukee, winners of ten of their last twelve games.
Sources: Sports Illustrated · CBS Sports
Freeman Breaks Slump with Two Homers, Pages Delivers Walk-off as Dodgers Top Padres 5–4
Freddie Freeman broke a 4-for-29 slump with his first multihomer game of the season, and Andy Pages delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly off Mason Miller in the ninth as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 5-4 on Tuesday. Freeman homered twice, including a tying solo shot in the sixth off Jeremiah Estrada. Alex Call slid home on Pages’ fly against Miller, who had been dominant in 20 of 21 appearances this season. Shohei Ohtani led off with a double and scored on Freeman’s first homer. The Dodgers have won six of their last seven games.
Sources: ESPN · CBS Sports
Acuña Returns from IL and Scores Three Times as Braves Rout Marlins 8–4
Ronald Acuña Jr. returned from a left hamstring strain that had sidelined him since May 2, doubling, walking twice, and scoring three times as the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 8-4 on Tuesday. Batting leadoff as designated hitter in his first game back, Acuña provided an immediate spark for the NL East-leading Braves. Matt Olson had two hits and drove in three runs, while Michael Harris II homered. Mauricio Dubón delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the eighth after three consecutive walks loaded the bases. Starter Martín Pérez struck out a career-high ten batters in five innings.
Sources: ESPN · CBS Sports
Herrera’s Walk-off Homer in 10th Lifts Cardinals Past Pirates 9–6
Iván Herrera hit a three-run walk-off homer in the 10th inning — one of four Cardinals home runs — as St. Louis rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-6 on Tuesday night. Herrera’s 410-foot blast off Mason Montgomery (1-1) was his first career walk-off RBI. JJ Wetherholt, Nolan Gorman, and Alec Burleson also homered for St. Louis, which improved to 7-1 in extra-inning games this season and 5-0 against Pittsburgh in 2026. Matthew Liberatore struck out a career-high nine but allowed four runs in 4⅔ innings. George Soriano (2-0) worked a perfect 10th for the win. The Cardinals move to 28-19.
Sources: ESPN · CBS Sports
Kurtz Drives In Five as Athletics Rout Angels 14–6, Extending Historic On-Base Streak
Nick Kurtz drove in five runs on three hits, Brent Rooker and Zack Gelof each homered and drove in three apiece, as the Athletics routed the Angels 14-6 on Tuesday. Kurtz, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, sparked a six-run third with an RBI single, added a two-run single in the sixth, and a two-run double in the eighth. The A’s scored 12 of 14 runs with two outs, extending Kurtz’s historic on-base streak that has drawn comparisons to Ted Williams-era records. Mike Trout hit his 12th homer for Los Angeles, which has lost 22 of 28 games since an 11-10 start.
Sources: Sports Illustrated · CBS Sports
Ben Rice’s 16th Homer Ties Judge as Yankees Survive Blue Jays 5–4
Ben Rice hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to break a tie, and the New York Yankees held off the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Tuesday in the Bronx. Rice’s 16th homer ties Aaron Judge for the team lead. Will Warren (6-1) went five innings for the win. Ryan McMahon had tied it earlier with a three-run shot off Dylan Cease following two walks. Camilo Doval allowed a sacrifice fly in the ninth but retired Kazuma Okamoto on a game-ending grounder to Anthony Volpe with two runners in scoring position. New York has won 11 of its last 12 home games.
Sources: CBS Sports
C. Burns Stifles Phillies with 18 Swing-and-Misses as Reds Snap Five-Game Win Streak
C. Burns allowed three hits, no walks, and generated 18 swings and misses over six innings as the Cincinnati Reds snapped the Philadelphia Phillies’ five-game winning streak, 4-1, on Tuesday. Burns has allowed two or fewer runs in nine of his ten starts this season. Elly De La Cruz hit a leadoff triple in the fourth and drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh. Spencer Steer singled and Sal Stewart walked to set up sacrifice flies by Dane Myers and JJ Bleday. Tony Santillan worked the ninth for his second save. Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, leading the majors with 20 homers, missed a second straight game with an illness.
Sources: CBS Sports
Snell Undergoes NanoScope Elbow Surgery; Dodgers Now Short Two Rotation Spots
Blake Snell underwent a NanoScope procedure Tuesday to remove loose bodies from his pitching elbow, with the Dodgers optimistic he can return before season’s end. The minimally invasive surgery, the same type used by Tarik Skubal, allows for faster recovery than traditional elbow procedures. Los Angeles is also without Tyler Glasnow, who suffered a setback in his own rehab, leaving the NL West leaders short two rotation spots. Snell had struggled in limited action before landing back on the injured list. The Dodgers entered Tuesday at 30-19 with the best record in the NL West, though their rotation depth is a clear concern heading into late May.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors · CBS Sports
Corey Seager Placed on 10-Day IL with Back Inflammation After 0-for-27 Slump
The Texas Rangers placed shortstop Corey Seager on the 10-day injured list with lower back inflammation, retroactive to May 15, removing one of the AL’s most productive bats. Seager had gone 0-for-27 with 11 strikeouts during a prolonged slump before being shut down. The two-time World Series MVP was batting .179 with seven home runs and 20 RBI in 42 games. President of baseball operations Chris Young said Seager could return by May 25 when Texas begins its next homestand. Infielder Michael Helman was recalled as the corresponding move. The Rangers sit at 22-25 in the AL West.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors · CBS Sports
Paredes Homer and Alexander’s Six Scoreless Lead Astros Past Twins 2–1
Isaac Paredes hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and Jason Alexander bounced back from a rough start to the season with six scoreless innings as the Houston Astros edged the Minnesota Twins 2-1 on Tuesday night. Jeremy Peña singled off Zebby Matthews (1-1) to open the game, and Paredes crushed his fifth homer on a 3-2 pitch for a 2-0 lead. Alexander (1-0) walked one and struck out four, a stark turnaround from his first two outings in which he allowed ten runs in 6⅓ innings. Houston improved to 20-30 in the AL West.
Sources: CBS Sports · CBS Sports (Paredes)
Carroll Sparks Diamondbacks Above .500 for First Time Since May 1 with 5–3 Win Over Giants
Corbin Carroll hit a triple and scored on a fielding error in the first inning as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the San Francisco Giants 5-3 on Tuesday, climbing above .500 for the first time since May 1. Arizona, now 24-23, has won four of its last six games after falling to 19-23. Carroll’s triple was one of ten Diamondbacks hits in the win. San Francisco dropped its fourth loss in five games, falling to 20-29 and 10.0 games behind the NL West-leading Dodgers. The win keeps Arizona’s postseason hopes alive in an NL West crowded at the top by Los Angeles and San Diego.
Sources: CBS Sports
White Sox Win 2–1 in Seattle, Remain 1.5 Games Back in AL Central at 25–23
The Chicago White Sox continued their surprising 2026 campaign with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park, improving to 25-23. Chicago sits 1.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians (27-22) in the AL Central. The White Sox, once viewed primarily as a rebuilding team, have quietly built one of the better records in the American League. Seattle fell to 23-27 with the loss. The 2-hour, 48-minute game was played before 28,837 fans. The White Sox have won three of their last four road games and face Seattle again Wednesday in the series finale.
Sources: CBS Sports
Altuve Placed on IL with Grade 2 Oblique Strain, Expected Out at Least a Month
The Houston Astros placed second baseman José Altuve on the injured list with a Grade 2 left oblique strain, a blow that could sideline the veteran for at least a month. Altuve was removed from a game after feeling pain in his side on a swing, then missed multiple games before the formal IL placement. He had not been on the injured list for nearly three years before this setback. Oblique strains often take longer to heal than initially projected. The Astros, struggling at 20-30, now face their AL West schedule without one of their most important bats from a lineup already dealing with injuries.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors · CBS Sports · NBC Sports
American League
AL East
1. Tampa Bay Rays — 31–15, —
2. NY Yankees — 30–19, 2.5 GB
3. Toronto Blue Jays — 21–27, 11.0 GB
4. Baltimore Orioles — 21–27, 11.0 GB
5. Boston Red Sox — 20–28, 12.0 GB
AL Central
1. Cleveland Guardians — 27–22, —
2. Chicago White Sox — 25–23, 1.5 GB
3. Minnesota Twins — 22–27, 5.0 GB
4. Detroit Tigers — 20–28, 6.5 GB
5. Kansas City Royals — 20–28, 6.5 GB
AL West
1. Athletics — 24–24, —
2. Texas Rangers — 22–25, 1.5 GB
3. Seattle Mariners — 23–27, 2.0 GB
4. Houston Astros — 20–30, 5.0 GB
5. LA Angels — 17–32, 7.5 GB
National League
NL East
1. Atlanta Braves — 33–16, —
2. Philadelphia Phillies — 25–24, 8.0 GB
3. Washington Nationals — 24–25, 9.0 GB
4. Miami Marlins — 22–27, 11.0 GB
5. NY Mets — 21–27, 11.5 GB
NL Central
1. Milwaukee Brewers — 28–18, —
2. Chicago Cubs — 29–20, 0.5 GB
3. St. Louis Cardinals — 28–19, 0.5 GB
4. Cincinnati Reds — 25–24, 4.5 GB
5. Pittsburgh Pirates — 24–24, 5.0 GB
NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 30–19, —
2. San Diego Padres — 29–19, 0.5 GB
3. Arizona Diamondbacks — 24–23, 5.0 GB
4. San Francisco Giants — 20–29, 10.0 GB
5. Colorado Rockies — 19–29, 10.5 GB
Curated by JD · samwise.agency