Samwise MLB Newsletter
Monday, July 20, 2026
Red Sox Win 13th Straight, Sweep Rays to Reach .500
Sonny Gray delivered his ninth consecutive quality start and Willson Contreras hit a two-run home run as the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 on Sunday to win their 13th game in a row. The streak is tied for second-best in franchise history, matching a 13-game run in July 1948. Manager Chad Tracy's club swept Tampa Bay in four games to complete one of the most stunning second-half surges in memory. Gray improved to 12-1 on the season, holding the Rays to five hits and stranding seven runners over six innings while allowing just one run. Boston, now 50-48, has gone from deep in last place to within striking distance of a wild card.
Shohei Ohtani Removed from Dodgers Rotation Indefinitely with Knee Soreness
Shohei Ohtani will not start Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies and has been removed from the Dodgers rotation indefinitely as he continues to manage persistent left knee soreness, manager Dave Roberts announced Sunday. Ohtani's knee first flared during a June 11 game in Pittsburgh, and he was scratched from his last scheduled first-half start on July 10 before receiving a lubricant injection during the All-Star break. Roberts stated the situation is not going to be day-to-day and that the team will give the knee the best chance to heal. Ohtani continues to serve as Los Angeles's leadoff hitter and designated hitter. The Dodgers hold baseball's best record at 63-37.
Sources: Sports Illustrated NBC Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Paul Skenes Strikes Out 8 as Pirates Beat Guardians 7-1
Paul Skenes struck out eight and allowed just one run over seven innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-1 on Sunday to take two of three in the series. Skenes threw 100 pitches in another dominant outing that highlighted the growing gap between Cleveland's offense and its bullpen. Steven Kwan went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Guardians, who managed little beyond isolated contributions against Pittsburgh's pitching staff. The win lifted Pittsburgh to 52-48 and 10.5 games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. Cleveland falls to 52-48, one game back of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central title race.
Sources: Sports Illustrated ESPN Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Padres Rout Royals 19-2 as Tatis, France, and Merrill Combine for Offensive Explosion
The San Diego Padres exploded for 19 runs in a 19-2 rout of the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, with Fernando Tatis Jr., Ty France, and Jackson Merrill each providing power. France launched a grand slam and a solo home run while Merrill went deep twice. Tatis also homered as San Diego piled on late, scoring five in the eighth and six more in the ninth after Kansas City turned to position player Tyler Tolbert on the mound. The Padres moved to 49-50, still trailing Los Angeles by 13.5 games in the NL West. The Royals fell to 40-60, the worst record in the American League.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. Go-Ahead Homer Lifts Yankees Over Dodgers in Sunday Night Finale
Jazz Chisholm Jr. crushed a tiebreaking home run off Evan Phillips in the eighth inning to lift the New York Yankees to a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Sunday Night Baseball finale at Yankee Stadium, preventing a series sweep. Cody Bellinger put New York ahead early before Tommy Edman tied the game with a pinch-hit home run for Los Angeles. Chisholm's blast off the veteran reliever proved decisive. The Yankees earlier dropped an 8-2 decision to Los Angeles in a doubleheader opener that served as a makeup game. New York sits at 55-44, trailing division-leading Tampa Bay by 1.5 games.
Sources: MLB.com NBC Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Shota Imanaga Throws 7 Shutout Innings as Cubs Rout Twins 10-1
Shota Imanaga threw seven shutout innings and Nico Hoerner drove in four runs with a bases-loaded triple as the Chicago Cubs routed the Minnesota Twins 10-1 on Sunday at Wrigley Field to win their first series of the second half. Alex Bregman added a two-run homer in the first inning to give Imanaga early support, and the Cubs offense kept rolling as Pedro Ramirez and Carson Kelly also contributed RBIs. Imanaga, who improved to 6-8, allowed six hits and one walk while working 99 pitches. Chicago improved to 56-43, moving 13 games above .500 and maintaining second place in the NL Central, six games behind Milwaukee.
Sources: Sports Illustrated Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Mets Signal Major Deadline Sell-Off with Nearly Entire Roster Available
The Mets have told rival clubs that nearly their entire roster is available ahead of the August 3 trade deadline, kicking off what could be one of the deepest sell-offs in recent memory. A rival executive confirmed the Mets told teams the sale is on, with only young core players Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Christian Scott, Nolan McLean, and Juan Soto off the table. Veterans Francisco Lindor and Bo Bichette are among those available, though both carry full no-trade clauses and may be difficult to move. The Mets already traded pitcher David Peterson to the Cubs. New York stands at 42-58, 16 games behind Atlanta in the NL East.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors CBS Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Austin Riley and Drake Baldwin Each Hit Two Home Runs as Braves Beat Rangers 8-5
Austin Riley and Drake Baldwin each homered twice as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Texas Rangers 8-5 on Sunday at Truist Park to take the three-game series. Baldwin went 5-for-5 at the plate with two home runs in a standout individual effort. Atlanta improved to 57-41 and maintained their three-game lead over Philadelphia in the NL East. The win came against a Texas team fighting to hold first place in the AL West – the Rangers fell to 50-49 and now lead Seattle by just a half game. Riley contributed key power in a matchup that featured two contending clubs.
Sources: NBC Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Tarik Skubal Trade Sweepstakes Intensify with August 3 Deadline Approaching
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal remains the centerpiece of a rapidly intensifying trade deadline sweepstakes with the August 3 deadline approaching. The Braves, Cubs, Rays, and Dodgers have all been connected to the right-hander, who is pitching in his walk year with little expectation of an extension in Detroit. Skubal has publicly advocated for the Tigers to be buyers rather than sellers, telling a local radio show the team should add at the deadline. Detroit, sitting at 46-53 and 6.5 games behind the AL Central-leading White Sox, faces a critical decision on whether to remain competitive or rebuild.
Sources: CBS Sports NBC Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
American League
AL East
1. Tampa Bay Rays — 56-42, —
2. New York Yankees — 55-44, 1.5 GB
3. Boston Red Sox — 50-48, 6 GB
4. Baltimore Orioles — 49-51, 8 GB
5. Toronto Blue Jays — 46-53, 10.5 GB
AL Central
1. Chicago White Sox — 52-46, —
2. Cleveland Guardians — 52-48, 1 GB
3. Minnesota Twins — 49-51, 4 GB
4. Detroit Tigers — 46-53, 6.5 GB
5. Kansas City Royals — 40-60, 13 GB
AL West
1. Texas Rangers — 50-49, —
2. Seattle Mariners — 50-50, 0.5 GB
3. Houston Astros — 47-54, 4 GB
4. Oakland Athletics — 42-57, 8 GB
5. Los Angeles Angels — 39-61, 11.5 GB
National League
NL East
1. Atlanta Braves — 57-41, —
2. Philadelphia Phillies — 55-45, 3 GB
3. Miami Marlins — 52-48, 6 GB
4. Washington Nationals — 50-50, 8 GB
5. New York Mets — 42-58, 16 GB
NL Central
1. Milwaukee Brewers — 62-37, —
2. Chicago Cubs — 56-43, 6 GB
3. St. Louis Cardinals — 51-47, 10.5 GB
4. Pittsburgh Pirates — 52-48, 10.5 GB
5. Cincinnati Reds — 45-53, 16.5 GB
NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 63-37, —
2. Arizona Diamondbacks — 51-48, 11.5 GB
3. San Diego Padres — 49-50, 13.5 GB
4. San Francisco Giants — 42-57, 20.5 GB
5. Colorado Rockies — 40-61, 23.5 GB
Curated by JD · samwise.agency