Samwise MLB Newsletter
Friday, May 29, 2026
Acuña Grand Slam Leads Braves Past Red Sox 10–2; Atlanta Posts Best Record in Baseball
Ronald Acuña Jr. crushed a 417-foot grand slam over Fenway Park’s Green Monster in the sixth inning, capping a five-run frame as the Atlanta Braves routed the Boston Red Sox 10–2 Thursday. Acuña went 1-for-3 with two walks and two stolen bases, connecting after pinch-hitter Mike Yastrzemski drew a bases-loaded walk to break a 2–2 tie. Chris Sale struck out eight over five innings to improve to 8–3, going 3–0 since Boston traded him to Atlanta before the 2024 season. Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies added home runs. The Braves, at 38–19, hold the best record in the majors.
Sources: CBS Sports, MLB.com
Happ’s Five RBI Power Cubs Past Pirates 7–2; Skenes Suffers Third Consecutive Loss
Ian Happ drove in five runs, including a two-run homer in the eighth inning, as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 7–2 Thursday at PNC Park. Happ, who grew up near Pittsburgh, has reached base safely in 41 consecutive games at PNC Park. Seiya Suzuki contributed two hits and two RBI for the Cubs. Paul Skenes suffered his third consecutive loss despite striking out 10 batters in 5 1/3 innings; throwing errors from third baseman Tyler Callihan and shortstop Jared Triolo helped Chicago build a 3–0 lead in the sixth. Bryan Reynolds homered for Pittsburgh. Colin Rea earned the win, improving to 5–3.
Sources: CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated
Dodgers Hit with Double Injury Blow: Both Hernández Players Placed on Injured List
The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a significant roster blow Thursday as both Kiké Hernández and Teoscar Hernández were placed on the injured list. Kiké, who had just returned from a 60-day IL stint for offseason elbow surgery, left his second game of 2026 with a left oblique strain; an MRI revealed a significant tear projecting a six-to-eight-week absence. Teoscar Hernández, who posted a 1.018 OPS over his previous 18 games, strained his left hamstring and faces a mid-June return at the earliest. Ryan Ward was recalled in a corresponding move. The Dodgers remain atop the NL West at 36–20.
Sources: ESPN, MLB Trade Rumors
Martin’s Gem Clinches Series; White Sox 6, Twins 2 — Chicago Posts First Winning Month Since 2023
Davis Martin allowed one run on two hits over six innings as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Minnesota Twins 6–2 Thursday to clinch the four-game series. The win secured Chicago’s first winning month since 2023. Martin improved to 8–1 with his sixth consecutive winning decision. Randal Grichuk hit a bases-clearing double during a four-run third inning that proved decisive. The Twins were forced to adjust when starter Kendry Rojas was scratched before first pitch with posterior elbow soreness; right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson stepped in and fell to 0–7. Chicago is 29–27 on the season.
Sources: CBS Sports, MLB.com
Piñango Walk-Off Walk in Eighth Lifts Blue Jays Past Orioles 2–1
Yohendrick Piñango drew a pinch-hit bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning to lift the Toronto Blue Jays past the Baltimore Orioles 2–1 on Thursday. George Springer led off the eighth with a double and was bunted to third. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. intentionally walked, Anthony Nunez then walked Daulton Varsho to load the bases before Piñango ended it. Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman burned two replay challenges during the plate appearance; both were unsuccessful. Andrés Giménez homered in the third for Toronto; Coby Mayo went deep for Baltimore in the fourth. Jeff Hoffman won (4–3); Louis Varland earned his eighth save. Toronto has won 10 of its last 14 games.
Sources: CBS Sports, ESPN
Angels Rout Tigers 7–1; Trout Two-Run Double Caps Scoring as Los Angeles Wins Series
The Los Angeles Angels overcame an early deficit to rout the Detroit Tigers 7–1 on Thursday. Wenceel Pérez homered in the second to put Detroit up 1–0, but the Angels answered with three runs in the fifth. A Zach Neto double and Vaughn Grissom’s sacrifice fly — set up by an intentional walk to Mike Trout that loaded the bases — pushed Los Angeles ahead 3–1. Grissom, who drove in eight runs over the series, added an RBI double in the eighth. Trout capped the scoring with a two-run double in the ninth. Grayson Rodriguez struck out five in five innings, improving to 2–1; Jack Flaherty fell to 0–7.
Sources: CBS Sports, ESPN
Arrighetti Improves to 7–1 as Astros Top Rangers 5–1; Houston Ace Carries 1.34 ERA
Spencer Arrighetti improved to 7–1 with a 1.34 ERA as the Houston Astros defeated the Texas Rangers 5–1 Thursday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington. Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes each homered in the first inning to stake Houston to an early 2–0 lead. Arrighetti, whose 1.34 ERA ranks among the best marks in the American League, held Texas to one run through his outing. Nathan Eovaldi absorbed the loss, falling to 5–6 with a 3.93 ERA. The Astros improved to 26–32, while the Rangers dropped to 25–31 as both teams jockey for position in a tight AL West race.
Sources: CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated
American League
AL East
1. Tampa Bay Rays — 34–19, —
2. New York Yankees — 34–22, 1.5 GB
3. Toronto Blue Jays — 28–29, 8 GB
4. Baltimore Orioles — 26–31, 10 GB
5. Boston Red Sox — 23–32, 12 GB
AL Central
1. Cleveland Guardians — 33–25, —
2. Chicago White Sox — 29–27, 3 GB
3. Minnesota Twins — 27–30, 5.5 GB
4. Kansas City Royals — 22–34, 10 GB
5. Detroit Tigers — 22–35, 10.5 GB
AL West
1. Seattle Mariners — 28–29, —
2. Athletics — 27–29, 0.5 GB
3. Houston Astros — 26–32, 2.5 GB
4. Texas Rangers — 25–31, 2.5 GB
5. Los Angeles Angels — 22–35, 6 GB
National League
NL East
1. Atlanta Braves — 38–19, —
2. Philadelphia Phillies — 29–27, 8.5 GB
3. Washington Nationals — 29–28, 9 GB
4. Miami Marlins — 26–31, 12 GB
5. New York Mets — 23–33, 14.5 GB
NL Central
1. Milwaukee Brewers — 33–20, —
2. Chicago Cubs — 31–26, 4 GB
3. St. Louis Cardinals — 29–25, 4.5 GB
4. Cincinnati Reds — 29–26, 5 GB
5. Pittsburgh Pirates — 29–28, 6 GB
NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 36–20, —
2. Arizona Diamondbacks — 31–24, 4.5 GB
3. San Diego Padres — 31–24, 4.5 GB
4. San Francisco Giants — 22–34, 14 GB
5. Colorado Rockies — 20–37, 16.5 GB
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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