Samwise MLB Newsletter
Friday, May 1, 2026
Phillies Rally for Back-to-Back Walk-Off Wins, Sweep Giants Doubleheader
The Philadelphia Phillies swept a split doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, rallying for back-to-back walk-off victories — the first time since July 24, 1998. Bryson Stott tripled and scored on Justin Crawford’s two-out infield single in Game 1 for a 3-2 win. In Game 2, Kyle Schwarber tied the game with a ninth-inning double and Alec Bohm delivered in the 10th for a 6-5 victory. Schwarber homered in the first inning of both games, including his 350th career homer. Philadelphia, now 13-19 under interim manager Don Mattingly, has swept consecutive series for the first time this season.
Sources: NBC Sports, ESPN
Cardinals Complete Four-Game Sweep of Pirates; Wetherholt Homers Off Skenes
The St. Louis Cardinals completed a four-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 10-5 victory Thursday, capping one of the more one-sided series of Paul Skenes’ young career. JJ Wetherholt, who grew up in Pittsburgh’s suburbs, hit a leadoff home run off Skenes three pitches into the game, and Jordan Walker followed with another homer to put St. Louis ahead early. Skenes fell to 0-5 all-time against the Cardinals after allowing five runs, four earned, in five innings. Giovanni Graceffo earned his second win of the season. The Cardinals return home this weekend to face the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Brewers Pound Diamondbacks 13-1; Contreras Goes 4-for-4 With Four RBI
William Contreras went 4-for-4 with a home run and four RBI as the Milwaukee Brewers routed the Arizona Diamondbacks 13-1 Thursday. Sal Frelick also homered, and Tyler Black and Luis Rengifo each drove in three runs for Milwaukee, which took two of three from Arizona. Arizona right-hander Michael Soroka (4-1) gave up eight runs in three-plus innings, seeing his ERA soar from 2.60 to 4.70. Contreras delivered an RBI double in the first, a two-run homer in the third, and an RBI single in the fourth. The Brewers have now won four of their last five games.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Tigers Rally Past Braves 5-2, Return to .500 on Torres Sacrifice Fly
The Detroit Tigers rallied past the Atlanta Braves 5-2 Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep, improving to .500 at 16-16. Trailing 2-1 in the eighth, Kerry Carpenter tripled and Matt Vierling’s RBI double tied the game. With the bases loaded, Gleyber Torres lofted a sacrifice fly to give Detroit a 3-2 lead. The Tigers added two more runs in the ninth when Wenceel Pérez scored on a Mike Yastrzemski error and Dillon Dingler plated Vierling with a double. Joel Payamps (0-2) and Aaron Bummer allowed the eighth-inning rally, while José Suárez surrendered the ninth-inning runs for Atlanta.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Reds Secure Fifth Straight Series Win as Abbott Earns First Victory of 2026
The Cincinnati Reds secured their fifth consecutive series victory with a 6-4 comeback win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday. Andrew Abbott earned his first win of the 2026 season, working six innings and allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts, reversing a slump that saw him post a 6.54 ERA across his first six starts. Colorado’s Michael Lorenzen (2-3), a former Red, surrendered four runs — including two home runs — in five-plus innings as the Rockies squandered an early lead. Cincinnati improved to 19-10, sitting atop the NL Central heading into a May weekend homestand.
Sources: ESPN, Sports Illustrated
Nationals Take Series From Mets With 5-4 Thursday Victory
The Washington Nationals defeated the New York Mets 5-4 Thursday at Citi Field, taking the three-game series two games to one. New York’s MJ Melendez hit a three-run home run and went 2-for-2, but the Mets could not hold on. Mets starter Freddy Peralta allowed three runs — one earned — on four hits in six innings with six strikeouts, but did not factor in the decision. Washington improved to 16-17 with the victory. The Mets, who had opened the series with a blowout win, dropped back-to-back games and head into May mired well below the .500 mark.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Twins Win 7-1 as Springer Returns From Injury for Blue Jays
The Minnesota Twins defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 Thursday at Target Field behind home runs from Byron Buxton and Ryan Jeffers. Minnesota’s pitching dominated, holding Toronto to minimal offense over nine innings. The game’s biggest subplot was the return of Blue Jays DH George Springer, who pinch-hit in the fifth inning and singled in Toronto’s lone run — his first game action since fracturing his left big toe on April 11. Springer is expected to increase his playing time as the Blue Jays look to turn around a slow start to the 2026 season.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Braves Closer Raisel Iglesias Trending Toward IL Return As Early As Next Week
Atlanta Braves closer Raisel Iglesias is trending toward a return from the injured list as early as next week, according to manager Walt Weiss. An MRI confirmed no structural damage to his right shoulder, and Iglesias has since thrown off a mound. Weiss said the right-hander could be reinstated when first eligible on Tuesday, potentially bypassing a rehab assignment entirely if he continues to progress. Iglesias was placed on the 15-day IL after feeling shoulder discomfort that developed over the weekend. Left-hander Dylan Dodd was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill his roster spot while he is out.
Sources: CBS Sports, MLB Trade Rumors
NL Central Is Only MLB Division With All Five Teams Above .500 Entering May
The NL Central stands as the only MLB division in which every team holds a winning record as April ends. Per Sportradar data cited by NBC Sports, it is the second-latest calendar date in any season that all clubs in a division have been above .500 simultaneously, trailing May 29, 2004 in the then-six-team NL Central. Cincinnati leads the 2026 race at 19-10, followed by Milwaukee at 18-11 and St. Louis at 19-13. Chicago and Pittsburgh are also above the .500 mark. If all five finish the season with winning records, it would be unprecedented in the post-1969 divisional era.
Sources: NBC Sports, CBS Sports
American League
AL East
1. New York Yankees — 20–11, —
2. Baltimore Orioles — 16–15, 4.0
3. Tampa Bay Rays — 15–16, 5.0
4. Toronto Blue Jays — 14–17, 6.0
5. Boston Red Sox — 13–18, 7.0
AL Central
1. Cleveland Guardians — 18–14, —
2. Detroit Tigers — 16–16, 2.0
3. Minnesota Twins — 15–17, 3.0
4. Kansas City Royals — 14–18, 4.0
5. Chicago White Sox — 10–22, 8.0
AL West
1. Oakland Athletics — 18–14, —
2. Texas Rangers — 16–16, 2.0
3. Seattle Mariners — 15–17, 3.0
4. Houston Astros — 13–19, 5.0
5. Los Angeles Angels — 12–20, 6.0
National League
NL East
1. Atlanta Braves — 21–11, —
2. Washington Nationals — 16–17, 5.5
3. Philadelphia Phillies — 13–19, 8.0
4. Miami Marlins — 12–20, 9.0
5. New York Mets — 10–22, 11.0
NL Central
1. Cincinnati Reds — 19–10, —
2. Milwaukee Brewers — 18–11, 1.0
3. St. Louis Cardinals — 19–13, 1.5
4. Chicago Cubs — 17–12, 2.0
5. Pittsburgh Pirates — 16–17, 5.0
NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 20–11, —
2. San Diego Padres — 19–11, 0.5
3. San Francisco Giants — 15–16, 5.0
4. Arizona Diamondbacks — 14–17, 6.0
5. Colorado Rockies — 8–23, 12.0
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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