Samwise MLB Newsletter
Monday, July 13, 2026
Tigers Legend Justin Verlander Announces Retirement After 2026 Season
Justin Verlander, the 43-year-old Detroit Tigers ace and three-time Cy Young Award winner, announced that 2026 will be his final season. Verlander has not pitched since March 30 due to hip and hamstring injuries and remains on the 60-day IL. The announcement closes a 21-year career featuring 266 wins, 3,554 strikeouts, two World Series rings, and an AL MVP Award. One of six pitchers in history to throw three no-hitters, Verlander was named a Legend Pick by Commissioner Rob Manfred for a 10th All-Star selection. “I wanted the game to tell me when it was time,” he said. “Over the last several months, I’ve realized that time has come.”
Sources: ESPN CBS Sports NBC Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Red Sox Extend Win Streak to Nine on Lindor Error, Siegler Walk-Off Fly
Francisco Lindor misplayed a potential game-ending double-play grounder for an error in the ninth inning, allowing two runs to score and tie the game, and Anthony Siegler hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th as the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Mets 3-2 on Sunday to extend their winning streak to nine. Boston (46-48) completed a 9-0 road trip, just the second such perfect road trip in franchise history — matching one from July 29 to Aug. 7, 1977. The Red Sox enter the All-Star break on their longest winning streak since taking 10 in a row from July 4–13 last season.
Sources: ESPN CBS Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Diamondbacks Complete Three-Game Sweep of MLB-Best Dodgers with 5-3 Win
The Arizona Diamondbacks completed a three-game sweep of the MLB-best Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, winning 5-3 at Dodger Stadium to finish off a series in which they also won 9-3 on Friday and 9-2 on Saturday. Ryan Thompson earned the win, Edgardo Henriquez took the loss, and Paul Sewald recorded his 22nd save. Tim Tawa homered for Arizona. The Dodgers (61-36) enter the All-Star break having lost three straight, while the Diamondbacks (49-47) ride a four-game winning streak into the break and have narrowed the NL West deficit to 11.5 games behind Los Angeles.
Sources: CBS Sports MLB.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Skenes Ends Nine-Start Slump as Pirates Score 10 in One Inning, Sweep Brewers
Paul Skenes snapped a nine-start winless streak as the Pittsburgh Pirates buried the Milwaukee Brewers 14-5 on Sunday, heading into the All-Star break on a three-game sweep. Skenes (8-8) allowed two runs and three hits over 5 1/3 innings, striking out seven — including four of his final five batters. Pittsburgh blew the game open with a 10-run fourth inning, a 36-minute frame in which every player in the lineup scored. Robert Gasser (2-4) allowed seven runs and eight hits in three-plus innings for Milwaukee. The Brewers (59-37), despite the sweep, remain the NL Central leaders and second-best team in the National League.
Sources: ESPN MLB.com Sports Illustrated Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
James Wood Sets Nationals Leadoff HR Record in Loss as Yankees Rally for 5-3 Win
James Wood hit a 434-foot leadoff home run — his 28th of the season and his record-setting 10th leadoff shot — but the Washington Nationals still fell to the New York Yankees 5-3 on Sunday. Wood’s 10th leadoff home run broke the franchise record he had shared with Alfonso Soriano, who hit nine leadoff home runs in 2006. Ben Rice broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run triple in the top of the eighth inning to give New York its third straight come-from-behind victory over Washington. The Yankees (54-42) enter the All-Star break on a four-game winning streak.
Taveras Blasts 448-Foot Career-Longest Homer as Orioles Sweep Royals 8-2
Leody Taveras hit a two-run homer off Seth Lugo measuring 448 feet — the longest of his 45 career home runs — then added a tiebreaking single in a five-run sixth inning as the Baltimore Orioles rolled to an 8-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep. Samuel Basallo added a 404-foot solo shot in the seventh. The Royals (38-59) were swept for the eighth time this season, the most in the majors, extending their losing streak to five games and falling a season-high 21 games below .500. Baltimore (46-51) has won four straight entering the break.
Wheeler Shuts Out Tigers 5-0, Outdueling Skubal in Ace Matchup
Zack Wheeler (10-1) was dominant as the Philadelphia Phillies blanked the Detroit Tigers 5-0 on Sunday at Comerica Park in a showcase matchup of two of baseball’s top starters. Wheeler outdueled Tarik Skubal, who took the loss. The Phillies broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning to put it out of reach. Philadelphia (54-43) takes two of three in the series and remains 2.0 games behind the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves entering the All-Star break. Wheeler’s 10-1 record strengthens his case as one of the National League’s leading Cy Young contenders heading into the second half.
Braves Salvage Series Finale 4-3 at St. Louis, Stay Atop NL East
The Atlanta Braves salvaged the final game of their series at St. Louis on Sunday, defeating the Cardinals 4-3 to avoid a three-game sweep. Atlanta had dropped consecutive games — 2-1 on Friday and 4-1 on Saturday — before winning the finale to close out the road trip. The victory keeps the Braves (55-40) atop the NL East with a 2.0-game cushion over the Philadelphia Phillies (54-43) as both clubs enter the All-Star break among the National League’s top contenders. The Cardinals (50-45) remain 8.5 games behind the NL Central-leading Brewers but hold a spot in the NL wild-card picture.
Sources: MLB.com CBS Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
American League
AL East
1. Tampa Bay Rays — 56-38, Leader
2. New York Yankees — 54-42, 3.0 GB
3. Boston Red Sox — 46-48, 10.0 GB
4. Baltimore Orioles — 46-51, 11.5 GB
5. Toronto Blue Jays — 45-51, 12.0 GB
AL Central
1. Chicago White Sox — 50-45, Leader
2. Cleveland Guardians — 51-46, Leader
3. Minnesota Twins — 48-49, 3.0 GB
4. Detroit Tigers — 44-52, 6.5 GB
5. Kansas City Royals — 38-59, 13.0 GB
AL West
1. Texas Rangers — 49-47, Leader
2. Seattle Mariners — 48-49, 1.5 GB
3. Houston Astros — 47-51, 3.0 GB
4. Athletics — 41-55, 8.0 GB
5. Los Angeles Angels — 38-59, 11.5 GB
National League
NL East
1. Atlanta Braves — 55-40, Leader
2. Philadelphia Phillies — 54-43, 2.0 GB
3. Miami Marlins — 52-45, 4.0 GB
4. Washington Nationals — 48-49, 8.0 GB
5. New York Mets — 40-57, 16.0 GB
NL Central
1. Milwaukee Brewers — 59-37, Leader
2. Chicago Cubs — 54-42, 5.0 GB
3. St. Louis Cardinals — 50-45, 8.5 GB
4. Pittsburgh Pirates — 50-47, 9.5 GB
5. Cincinnati Reds — 43-52, 15.5 GB
NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 61-36, Leader
2. Arizona Diamondbacks — 49-47, 11.5 GB
3. San Diego Padres — 48-48, 12.5 GB
4. San Francisco Giants — 41-55, 19.5 GB
5. Colorado Rockies — 39-59, 22.5 GB
Curated by JD · samwise.agency