Samwise MLB Newsletter
Monday, June 8, 2026
Harris Pinch-Hit Double Completes Braves Sweep of Pirates as Atlanta Reaches 45-21
The Atlanta Braves completed a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 3-2 victory Sunday, improving to 45-21 — the best record in the majors. The Braves trailed 2-0 entering the seventh inning when pinch hitter Michael Harris II, facing Evan Sisk with the bases loaded and one out, drove the first pitch into the right-field corner for a three-run double. Reynaldo López earned the win with a scoreless seventh, Tyler Kinley ended a bases-loaded threat in the eighth, and rookie Didier Fuentes stranded two runners in the ninth for his first career save. Atlanta has won eight of its last 10 games.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Backup Catcher Rivero Goes 5-for-5 with 6 RBI as Angels Rout Dodgers 13-5
Backup catcher Sebastián Rivero went 5 for 5 with six RBI, leading a dominant performance from the Los Angeles Angels’ bottom four batters as the Angels defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 13-5 Sunday. Jo Adell was 4 for 5 with a two-run homer in the seventh and scored four times. The bottom four batters in the Angels’ order combined for 10 runs and 10 RBI. Starter José Soriano improved to 7-4, allowing five runs — four earned — on eight hits in six innings. The NL West-leading Dodgers won five of six games in the Freeway Series, outscoring the Angels 46-18 overall.
Bellinger’s Tiebreaking Homer Caps Five-Run 8th as Yankees Top Red Sox 6-1
Cody Bellinger’s tiebreaking home run sparked a five-run eighth inning as the New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 6-1 Sunday, improving to 38-26 — within percentage points of first-place Tampa Bay at 37-25. Bellinger drove a cutter from Justin Slaten into the right-center seats for a 2-1 lead. Trent Grisham added an RBI single, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. connected on a cutter from Joe La Sorsa for a three-run home run. Tim Hill earned the win with a perfect eighth inning. The Yankees remained shorthanded, with Aaron Judge (fractured rib), Giancarlo Stanton (calf strain), and Austin Wells (cervical headaches) all on the injured list.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Marsh Homers for Third Straight Day as Phillies Top White Sox 9-5
Brandon Marsh homered for the third consecutive day and drove in two runs as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago White Sox 9-5 Sunday, moving to 35-30 — five games above .500 for the first time this season. Marsh connected for his eighth home run in the third inning off David Sandlin and added an RBI single in the sixth. Rafael Marchán hit a two-run homer in the second. The Phillies went ahead for good in the fifth against Tyler Davis, with Alec Bohm doubling to tie the score before Bryson Stott’s RBI single put Philadelphia in front. José Alvarado earned the win, improving to 3-1 with a scoreless sixth.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Piñango Homer Opens Five-Run Sixth as Blue Jays Rally Past Orioles 6-4
The Toronto Blue Jays rallied from a deficit with a five-run sixth inning Sunday to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 6-4. Yohendrick Piñango opened the sixth-inning surge with his fourth home run of the season off Shane Baz, and pinch hitter Nathan Lukes drove in Andrés Giménez with an infield single to give the Blue Jays the lead. Brandon Valenzuela added a solo home run in the eighth. Adam Macko (2-0) earned the win in relief, and Louis Varland recorded the final four outs for his 11th save in 11 chances. For Baltimore, Taylor Ward hit a two-run home run and Colton Cowser added a solo shot.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
McGonigle Walks Off Mariners with Two-Run Single in 9th as Tigers Rally from 4-1
Trailing 4-1 through six innings, the Detroit Tigers rallied to beat the Seattle Mariners 5-4 Sunday on Kevin McGonigle’s walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs and runners at second and third, McGonigle lined a pitch from All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz off the glove of leaping second baseman Cole Young. Wenceel Pérez had sparked the comeback with a two-run triple in the seventh. McGonigle also hit a 420-foot home run in the fourth inning to tie the game at 1-1. Will Vest (2-4) earned the win as Detroit took two of three from Seattle.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Moreno’s Two-Run Homer Leads Diamondbacks Past Nationals 5-1 to Avoid Sweep
Gabriel Moreno’s two-run home run powered the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 5-1 win over the Washington Nationals on Sunday, preventing a three-game sweep. After falling in the first two games of the series, Arizona salvaged the finale behind Moreno’s long ball, the key blow in the Diamondbacks’ five-run offensive effort. The win moved Arizona to 33-31. The Nationals dropped to 33-32. Arizona remains 8.5 games back of the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, who sit at 42-23. The Diamondbacks needed the win to keep pace in a competitive NL West race.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Padres Release Nick Castellanos After Career-Worst .191 Average in 39 Games
The San Diego Padres officially released outfielder Nick Castellanos on Friday after designating him for assignment earlier in the week. San Diego had signed the veteran outfielder following his release by the Phillies during Spring Training, but Castellanos posted a career-worst .191/.221/.339 slash line in 39 games, striking out 34 times in 122 plate appearances — a 28 percent strikeout rate. In the same roster moves, the Padres placed reliever Jeremiah Estrada on the 15-day injured list with right knee inflammation, reinstated pitcher Jhony Brito from the 60-day IL, and transferred outfielder Ramón Laureano to the 60-day IL after hip surgery.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors, SI.com
American League
AL East
1. Tampa Bay — 37–25, —
2. NY Yankees — 38–26, 0.0 GB
3. Toronto — 32–34, 7.0 GB
4. Baltimore — 31–35, 8.0 GB
5. Boston — 27–36, 10.5 GB
AL Central
1. Cleveland — 37–29, —
2. Chicago White Sox — 34–31, 2.5 GB
3. Minnesota — 30–37, 7.5 GB
4. Kansas City — 27–39, 10.0 GB
5. Detroit — 26–39, 10.5 GB
AL West
1. Seattle — 34–31, —
2. Texas — 31–33, 2.5 GB
3. Athletics — 31–34, 3.0 GB
4. Houston — 30–37, 5.0 GB
5. LA Angels — 24–40, 9.5 GB
National League
NL East
1. Atlanta — 45–21, —
2. Philadelphia — 35–30, 9.5 GB
3. Washington — 33–32, 11.5 GB
4. Miami — 31–35, 14.0 GB
5. NY Mets — 28–35, 15.5 GB
NL Central
1. Milwaukee — 39–23, —
2. St. Louis — 34–28, 5.0 GB
3. Chicago Cubs — 34–31, 6.5 GB
4. Pittsburgh — 34–32, 7.0 GB
5. Cincinnati — 31–32, 8.5 GB
NL West
1. LA Dodgers — 42–23, —
2. Arizona — 33–31, 8.5 GB
3. San Diego — 32–30, 8.5 GB
4. San Francisco — 26–39, 16.0 GB
5. Colorado — 24–41, 18.0 GB
Curated by JD · samwise.agency