Samwise MLB Newsletter
Monday, April 27, 2026
Rockies Sweep Doubleheader at Citi Field, Push Mets to 14 Losses in 16 Games
The Colorado Rockies swept a doubleheader at Citi Field on Sunday, defeating the New York Mets 3-1 and 3-0 to clinch their third series win of the year. Jose Quintana earned his first victory of 2026 in Game 1, aided by an ABS challenge that converted a bases-loaded walk into an inning-ending called third strike. Troy Johnson drove in two runs and Jake McCarthy added an RBI single. In Game 2, Hunter Goodman’s two-run homer off Kodai Senga highlighted a three-run third inning. The Mets, without injured shortstop Francisco Lindor, dropped to 9-18 — their 14th loss in 16 games — amid a deepening early-season collapse.
Sources: CBS Sports, ESPN
Diamondbacks Rally from Five-Run Deficit to Beat Padres 12-7, Split Mexico City Series
Tim Tawa’s first career grand slam ignited a six-run seventh inning as the Arizona Diamondbacks overcame a 7-2 deficit to defeat the San Diego Padres 12-7 on Sunday, splitting the two-game Mexico City Series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu. With Arizona trailing in the seventh, Tawa’s slam off the San Diego bullpen shifted the contest entirely, with Ryan Thompson earning the win in relief. Manny Machado homered twice for San Diego but could not prevent the collapse. The Padres bullpen surrendered 10 runs in the final three innings after holding a comfortable lead, sending Arizona home from Mexico City with a series split.
Sources: AP / ABC News, CBS Sports
Dodgers Shut Out Cubs 6-0 to Take Series; Wrobleski Wins First Four Starts
Justin Wrobleski became the first Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher since 2009 to win his first four starts of a season, tossing six scoreless innings in a 6-0 shutout of the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. Wrobleski held the Cubs to three hits and zero runs, retiring the side in order four times as Los Angeles completed a decisive series win. Chicago went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 baserunners — a stark contrast to the explosive offense that powered their 10-game winning streak earlier this month. The Dodgers improved to 19-9 in the NL West while the Cubs dropped to 17-11, two games off the division lead.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Athletics Edge Rangers 2-1 as Kurtz Sets A’s Franchise Walk Record at 16 Games
Nick Kurtz’s ninth-inning intentional walk set an Athletics franchise record of 16 consecutive games with at least one walk, surpassing Rickey Henderson’s 1993 mark, as Oakland edged the Texas Rangers 2-1 on Sunday. Carlos Cortes delivered a two-run triple in the first inning to provide all the offense the A’s needed. Reliever Justin Sterner escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the sixth, and Jack Perkins delivered a perfect ninth for his second save. Rangers starter Grayson Rocker allowed six hits and two runs in six innings. Kurtz’s 16-game walk streak is the longest in the majors since Barry Bonds’ 17-game run with San Francisco in 2007.
Sources: Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports DFW
Phillies Snap 10-Game Losing Streak in Extras as Wheeler Makes Strong 2026 Debut
The Philadelphia Phillies ended their longest losing streak of the 21st century Saturday, defeating the Atlanta Braves 8-5 in 10 innings with Zack Wheeler making an encouraging return from thoracic outlet decompression surgery. Wheeler, sidelined since August, struck out six in five innings while touching 96.5 mph and keeping Ronald Acuña Jr. hitless in three plate appearances. Bryce Harper and Brandon Marsh each delivered two-run singles in the 10th inning to seal the victory. The 10-game skid was Philadelphia’s first since 1999, dropping the club to 8-17 before this breakthrough win — their first in nearly two weeks and a boost heading into the final week of April.
Sources: NBC Sports Philadelphia, Washington Post (AP)
Paul Skenes Carries Perfect Game Into the Seventh Inning, Pirates One-Hit Brewers 6-0
Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes retired the first 20 Milwaukee Brewers he faced before Jake Bauers singled with two outs in the seventh inning to end a perfect game bid, as the Pittsburgh Pirates won 6-0 on Friday. Skenes (4-1) struck out seven without issuing a walk in 93 pitches, while Konnor Griffin homered on his 20th birthday to pace Pittsburgh’s offense. Mason Montgomery and Isaac Mattson completed the one-hitter. Skenes has been dominant through the early weeks of 2026, leading a Pittsburgh rotation that has kept the Pirates in the thick of the NL Central race despite modest preseason expectations.
Sources: CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated
Francisco Lindor Placed on IL with Calf Strain, Compounding Mets’ Miserable Start
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a left calf strain confirmed by MRI to be more serious than the calf issue that recently sidelined Juan Soto for 15 games. Lindor will wear a protective boot for one week and faces re-evaluation in three weeks, with no firm return date set. Infielder Ronny Mauricio was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to fill the roster spot. The loss of the five-time All-Star compounds a miserable stretch for New York, which entered Sunday at 9-18 — among the worst marks in the National League — after dropping both ends of a doubleheader to Colorado.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors, NBC Sports
White Sox Rookie Murakami Sets Japanese-Born HR Record, Co-Leads MLB with 11 Homers
Munetaka Murakami has become one of baseball’s most compelling early-season stories, hitting 11 home runs in his first 26 games for the Chicago White Sox — a record for any Japanese-born player through that point in MLB history. The 26-year-old first baseman, who signed a two-year, $34 million deal before the season, also homered in five consecutive games, tying the White Sox franchise record. Murakami co-leads the major leagues in home runs alongside Houston’s Yordan Alvarez and has quickly exceeded expectations for a rebuilding franchise. His power production has brought national attention to a White Sox team that finished last in the AL Central in 2025.
Sources: CBS Sports, NBC Sports
American League
AL East
1. New York Yankees — 17–10, —
2. Tampa Bay Rays — 13–11, 3.0 GB
3. Baltimore Orioles — 12–13, 4.5 GB
4. Toronto Blue Jays — 11–14, 5.0 GB
5. Boston Red Sox — 9–16, 7.0 GB
AL Central
1. Detroit Tigers — 14–12, —
2. Cleveland Guardians — 14–13, 0.5 GB
3. Minnesota Twins — 12–13, 1.5 GB
4. Chicago White Sox — 10–15, 3.5 GB
5. Kansas City Royals — 8–17, 5.5 GB
AL West
1. Oakland Athletics — 14–12, —
2. Texas Rangers — 13–13, 1.0 GB
3. Los Angeles Angels — 12–14, 2.0 GB
4. Seattle Mariners — 11–15, 3.0 GB
5. Houston Astros — 11–17, 4.0 GB
National League
NL East
1. Atlanta Braves — 18–9, —
2. Miami Marlins — 12–13, 5.0 GB
3. Washington Nationals — 11–15, 6.5 GB
4. Philadelphia Phillies — 9–17, 8.5 GB
5. New York Mets — 9–18, 9.0 GB
NL Central
1. Cincinnati Reds — 16–9, —
2. Chicago Cubs — 17–11, 0.5 GB
3. Pittsburgh Pirates — 15–11, 1.5 GB
4. St. Louis Cardinals — 14–10, 1.5 GB
5. Milwaukee Brewers — 13–12, 3.0 GB
NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 19–9, —
2. San Diego Padres — 18–9, 0.5 GB
3. Arizona Diamondbacks — 15–12, 3.5 GB
4. San Francisco Giants — 11–14, 6.5 GB
5. Colorado Rockies — 12–16, 7.0 GB
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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