Samwise MLB Newsletter 2026/07/23

Samwise MLB Newsletter

Thursday, July 23, 2026

Recaps  ·  Standings  ·  Transactions  ·  Analysis
All your morning news, carefully curated and summarized daily
RECAP

Red Sox Tie 80-Year Franchise Record With 15th Straight Win, Then Watch Streak End in Nightcap

Boston Red Sox tied their franchise-record winning streak Wednesday, defeating the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 in the opener of a Fenway Park doubleheader to reach 15 straight wins — matching the 1946 American League champions and baseball’s longest streak since the Cardinals won 17 straight in September 2021. The run lifted Boston from 37-48 on July 1 to wild-card contention. Baltimore responded in the nightcap with Kyle Bradish allowing one run over six innings in a 5-1 victory, ending the streak. Interim manager Chad Tracy: “We just won 15 games in a row, and I think all of us knew it was going to end at some point.”

Sources: CBS Sports  ESPN   ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

RECAP

Salvador Perez Ties George Brett's Royals All-Time Home Run Record With 317th Career Blast

Salvador Perez tied the Kansas City Royals’ franchise home run record Wednesday, connecting for his 317th career homer to draw even with Hall of Famer George Brett as the club’s all-time leader. Perez hit his 14th home run of the season in the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants. The blast ended right-hander Landen Roupp’s afternoon and ignited a Kansas City comeback that finished 5-4 on Lane Thomas’s tiebreaking two-run single after the Royals loaded the bases with two outs. Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Perez: “I love that guy. The guy’s a Hall of Famer, and you’re getting to witness it.”

Sources: ESPN  NBC Sports   ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

RECAP

Braves Rally for Seven Runs in Eighth Inning to Stun Padres 7-6, Survive Wild Ninth

Rookie Jim Jarvis drilled a run-scoring double into the right-field corner to ignite a seven-run eighth inning as the Atlanta Braves rallied from a 1-0 deficit to defeat the San Diego Padres 7-6 Wednesday night. Brewer Hicklen then doubled to left to drive in Jarvis, and Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and Dominic Smith added run-scoring singles against relievers Wandy Peralta and Randy Vasquez. Dylan Lee (5-0) earned the win. The Padres threatened in the ninth as Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a two-run triple and Luis Rengifo added a two-run homer, but Raisel Iglesias retired the final two batters for his 20th save.

Sources: ESPN  CBS Sports   ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

RECAP

Keider Montero Fans Eight in Four-Hitter as Tigers Blank Cubs 5-1, Win Five of Last Six Series

Keider Montero and four relievers combined on a four-hitter as the Detroit Tigers beat the Chicago Cubs 5-1 Wednesday night, extending Detroit’s run to five series wins in their last six. Montero (7-5) struck out eight and allowed one run on three hits, with Seiya Suzuki’s first-inning homer accounting for Chicago’s only score. Spencer Torkelson tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning with his 19th homer of the season. Hao-Yu Lee then crushed a three-run shot 389 feet to left in the fourth to put Detroit ahead 4-1. Kenley Jansen closed out the victory with a hitless ninth.

Sources: ESPN  CBS Sports   ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

INJURY

Bobby Witt Jr. Placed on IL for First Time in Career With Lower Back Tightness

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday for the first time in his five-year major league career, sidelined by lower back tightness. The placement was retroactive to Tuesday. Witt, 26, is batting .279 with 13 home runs, 39 RBIs, and an American League-leading 30 stolen bases. He exited Monday’s game against the San Francisco Giants with the issue and did not play Tuesday. Infielder Andrew Velazquez was called up from Triple-A Omaha to fill the roster spot. Witt told reporters: “I couldn’t even be 50% of myself.” The Royals provided no timetable for his return.

Sources: ESPN  MLB Trade Rumors   ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

TRANSACTIONS

Royals Acquire Nate Pearson from Astros as August 3 Trade Deadline Market Heats Up

The Kansas City Royals acquired right-hander Nate Pearson from the Houston Astros on Wednesday, sending pitching prospect Max Martin to Houston in return. Pearson, 26, was designated for assignment by the Astros on Sunday and has posted a 1-0 record with a 3.60 ERA in 16 appearances this season. The transaction came 12 days before the August 3 trade deadline, a market rapidly heating up across all 30 clubs. Detroit’s Tarik Skubal — the reigning two-time Cy Young winner — has emerged as the biggest potential name available, though the Tigers are currently leaning toward keeping the ace as they chase a playoff berth.

Sources: MLB Trade Rumors  CBS Sports   ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

RECAP

Andrew Wetherholt Solo Homer in Sixth Sinks Detmers as Cardinals Blank Angels 1-0

Max Wetherholt hit his 15th home run of the season in the sixth inning Wednesday as the St. Louis Cardinals shut out the Los Angeles Angels 1-0, spoiling a dominant start by Reid Detmers. Detmers, coveted at the August 3 trade deadline, blanked the Cardinals on one hit through five innings before Wetherholt’s solo blast knocked him from the game. Hunter Dobbins (2-1) earned the win for St. Louis, and Roli O’Brien recorded his 26th save. The defeat dropped Detmers to 3-7. The Angels are considered surefire sellers, with Detmers and starter Jose Soriano both expected to be moved.

Sources: ESPN  CBS Sports   ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

RECAP

Yordan Alvarez, Isaac Paredes Hit Back-to-Back Homers as Astros Complete Three-Game Sweep of Marlins

Yordan Alvarez and Isaac Paredes hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning Wednesday night to complete the Houston Astros’ 5-2 victory over the Miami Marlins, capping a three-game series sweep at Minute Maid Park. The consecutive blasts provided the decisive runs for Houston in an otherwise tightly contested game through seven innings. The sweep kept the Astros two games behind the division-leading Texas Rangers in the AL West. The Marlins have now dropped nine of their last ten games, falling to 52-51 and in danger of falling out of NL East wild-card contention.

Sources: ESPN  CBS Sports   ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

RECAP

Sal Stewart's Three-Run Homer Gives Reds 5-3 Win Over Mariners, Tightens AL West Race

Sal Stewart’s three-run home run in the seventh inning lifted the Cincinnati Reds past the Seattle Mariners 5-3 Wednesday, handing Seattle its second straight loss in the three-game series. Stewart connected off Mariners reliever Eduard Bazardo (3-3) on a first-pitch sinker with two outs to give Cincinnati a 5-3 lead, his team-leading 21st homer of the season. JJ Bleday also went deep for the Reds with a solo shot off starter Emerson Hancock in the fourth inning to tie the game at 2. Emilio Pagan pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his ninth save, second in as many days, to close out the victory.

Sources: ESPN  CBS Sports   ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

American League

AL East

1. Tampa Bay Rays — 59–42, —

2. New York Yankees — 57–45, 2.5 GB

3. Boston Red Sox — 52–49, 7.0 GB

4. Baltimore Orioles — 50–53, 10.0 GB

5. Toronto Blue Jays — 46–56, 13.5 GB

AL Central

1. Chicago White Sox — 54–47, —

2. Cleveland Guardians — 54–49, 1.0 GB

3. Minnesota Twins — 50–53, 5.0 GB

4. Detroit Tigers — 48–54, 6.5 GB

5. Kansas City Royals — 43–60, 12.0 GB

AL West

1. Texas Rangers — 51–51, —

2. Seattle Mariners — 51–52, 0.5 GB

3. Houston Astros — 50–54, 2.0 GB

4. Oakland Athletics — 43–59, 8.0 GB

5. Los Angeles Angels — 41–62, 10.5 GB

National League

NL East

1. Atlanta Braves — 59–42, —

2. Philadelphia Phillies — 56–47, 4.0 GB

3. Miami Marlins — 52–51, 8.0 GB

4. Washington Nationals — 52–51, 8.0 GB

5. New York Mets — 43–60, 17.0 GB

NL Central

1. Milwaukee Brewers — 64–38, —

2. Chicago Cubs — 57–45, 7.0 GB

3. Pittsburgh Pirates — 53–50, 11.5 GB

4. St. Louis Cardinals — 52–49, 11.5 GB

5. Cincinnati Reds — 47–54, 16.5 GB

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 65–38, —

2. Arizona Diamondbacks — 53–49, 11.5 GB

3. San Diego Padres — 50–52, 14.5 GB

4. San Francisco Giants — 42–60, 22.5 GB

5. Colorado Rockies — 41–63, 24.5 GB

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