Samwise MLB Newsletter
Monday, May 18, 2026
Mets Stun Yankees 7-6 in 10th Inning to Win Subway Series
Tyrone Taylor's two-out, three-run homer in the ninth inning tied the score, and rookie Carson Benge grounded in a walk-off RBI in the 10th as the New York Mets outlasted the New York Yankees 7-6 Sunday at Citi Field, taking two of three in the Subway Series. Anthony Volpe delivered a tiebreaking two-run single and drew a bases-loaded walk as the Yankees built a 6-3 lead. Taylor then crushed a first-pitch curveball off David Bednar, who surrendered his second blown save in 12 chances, for the tying three-run shot. New York improved to 10-5 in May while the Yankees finished a difficult 2-7 road trip, falling to 28-19.
Sources: ESPN | CBS Sports
Phillies Sweep Pirates Behind Wheeler and Harper, Mattingly Improves to 15-4
Zack Wheeler threw seven shutout innings and Bryce Harper homered off reigning Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes as the Philadelphia Phillies completed a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 6-0 victory Sunday, improving to 15-4 under interim manager Don Mattingly. The Phillies, who fired Rob Thomson in April, have not lost a series since Mattingly took over. Saturday's game was managed by bench coach Dusty Wathan while Mattingly attended son Trevor's graduation from Purdue University. The sweep pushed Philadelphia over .500 at 24-23 for the first time since April 7, keeping the Phillies within eight games of first-place Atlanta.
Sources: ESPN | CBS Sports
Rays Reach 30 Wins, First AL Team to the Milestone in 2026
Junior Caminero hit his 12th home run of the season and Yandy Díaz also went deep as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Miami Marlins 6-3 Sunday, becoming the first American League team to reach 30 wins in 2026. Drew Rasmussen (4-1) allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings, and Bryan Baker earned his 12th save. Taylor Walls added a bases-clearing triple in the fourth inning. Tampa Bay, which has won 18 of its last 22 games, holds a commanding lead in the AL East at 30-15 and is on pace for one of the franchise's strongest regular-season runs in recent memory.
Sources: NBC Sports | CBS Sports
Sasaki Dominates, Dodgers Sweep Freeway Series with 10-1 Rout of Angels
Roki Sasaki delivered his best major league outing to date — seven innings, one run, eight strikeouts, zero walks on 91 pitches — as the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a Freeway Series sweep with a 10-1 rout of the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday at Angel Stadium. Kyle Tucker drove in three runs, and Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages each added two-run singles. The Dodgers outscored the Halos 31-3 across the three-game series. Grayson Rodriguez, who joined the Angels from Baltimore in the offseason, allowed seven runs in fewer than four innings in his Angels debut. Los Angeles extended its winning streak to five games.
Sources: ESPN | CBS Sports
Riley Homers, Holmes Shines as Braves Rout Red Sox 8-1
Austin Riley launched a 431-foot three-run homer to spark a five-run opening stretch, and Grant Holmes pitched six scoreless frames as the Atlanta Braves routed the Boston Red Sox 8-1 Sunday to win the series two games to one. Riley's seventh homer of the season got Atlanta rolling, and Mike Yastrzemski added a solo shot in the fourth. Brayan Bello (2-5), pitching on his 27th birthday, absorbed the loss for Boston. The Braves have won 13 of their 15 series this season and enter the week holding the best record in the National League at 32-15.
Sources: ESPN | CBS Sports
Guardians Club Season-High Six Home Runs in 10-3 Win Over Reds
The Cleveland Guardians blasted a season-high six home runs in a 10-3 series-finale victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday at Progressive Field. Kyle Manzardo homered twice, while Chase DeLauter, Angel Martinez, José Ramírez and Brayan Rocchio each added solo shots. Gavin Williams started and kept Cincinnati contained over his outing, as Cleveland finished with 12 hits and 31 total bases. The win gives the Guardians a 26-22 record and a 1.5-game cushion over the Chicago White Sox atop the AL Central, a division that has tightened considerably with several clubs hovering near or above the .500 mark entering the third week of May.
Sources: ESPN | Sports Illustrated
Giolito Shines in Padres Debut, Sheets Homers Twice in 8-3 SNB Win
Gavin Sheets homered twice and drove in four runs, and Lucas Giolito struck out eight batters over six innings of one-run ball in his San Diego debut as the Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 8-3 on Sunday Night Baseball, sweeping the entire six-game season series between the clubs. Sheets' big night on the national stage powered the offense while Giolito settled in after a shaky first inning to shut down Seattle's lineup. The victory pushed San Diego to 28-18, just half a game behind the Dodgers in the NL West. The Padres have now won eight of their last ten games after a sluggish April.
Sources: CBS Sports | NBC Sports
Dodgers Place Dreyer on IL with Shoulder Discomfort, Claim Lauer from Blue Jays
The Los Angeles Dodgers made several roster moves Sunday, placing left-hander Jack Dreyer on the injured list with left shoulder discomfort and claiming left-hander Eric Lauer off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. Dreyer, 27, felt discomfort while warming up; imaging revealed only inflammation, and manager Dave Roberts expects a minimal absence. The Dodgers also recalled right-handers Paul Gervase and Chayce McDermott from Triple-A Oklahoma City and shifted long-injured reliever Brusdar Graterol to the 60-day IL to clear 40-man roster space. Lauer, 30, will earn the prorated MLB minimum, with Toronto covering the remainder of his $3.2 million 2026 salary.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors | ESPN
American League
AL East
1. Tampa Bay Rays — 30–15, —
2. New York Yankees — 28–19, 2.0
3. Toronto Blue Jays — 20–25, 9.5
4. Baltimore Orioles — 20–26, 10.0
5. Boston Red Sox — 19–27, 11.0
AL Central
1. Cleveland Guardians — 26–22, —
2. Chicago White Sox — 23–22, 1.5
3. Detroit Tigers — 20–26, 5.0
4. Minnesota Twins — 20–26, 5.0
5. Kansas City Royals — 19–27, 6.0
AL West
1. Athletics — 23–22, —
2. Texas Rangers — 21–24, 2.0
3. Seattle Mariners — 22–26, 2.5
4. Houston Astros — 19–28, 5.0
5. Los Angeles Angels — 16–31, 8.0
National League
NL East
1. Atlanta Braves — 32–15, —
2. Philadelphia Phillies — 24–23, 8.0
3. Washington Nationals — 23–23, 8.5
4. New York Mets — 21–26, 11.0
5. Miami Marlins — 21–26, 11.0
NL Central
1. Chicago Cubs — 29–17, —
2. St. Louis Cardinals — 27–18, 1.5
3. Milwaukee Brewers — 26–17, 1.5
4. Cincinnati Reds — 24–23, 5.5
5. Pittsburgh Pirates — 24–25, 6.5
NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 29–18, —
2. San Diego Padres — 28–18, 0.5
3. Arizona Diamondbacks — 21–23, 6.5
4. San Francisco Giants — 19–27, 9.5
5. Colorado Rockies — 18–28, 10.5
Curated by JD · samwise.agency