Samwise MLB Newsletter
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Schlittler Fans Career-High 13 as Yankees Blank Reds 5-0
Cam Schlittler struck out a career-high 13 Cincinnati Reds batters in six dominant innings Friday night, leading the New York Yankees to a 5-0 shutout at Yankee Stadium. Schlittler issued zero walks and allowed just four hits, as the Reds finished the night with 17 total strikeouts. Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a solo home run and Ben Rice launched a three-run shot in the second inning off Cincinnati starter Rhett Lowder, while Anthony Volpe added a late RBI single. The outing continued Schlittler’s case for the AL Cy Young Award, with the right-hander maintaining one of the sport’s lowest ERA marks among starting pitchers this season.
Sources: CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated
Braves Beat Brewers 3-2 in NL Division Leaders Showdown
Atlanta took the opening game of a marquee series between the National League’s two division leaders Friday, beating Milwaukee 3-2 as Jacob Misiorowski suffered his first loss in two months. The Brewers ace allowed two runs in six innings; his league-leading ERA climbed to 1.45. Martín Pérez (6-3) earned his fourth straight win for the Braves, giving up one run over six innings with five strikeouts. Mauricio Dubón singled home two runs in the sixth inning to give Atlanta a 2-1 lead, and Mike Yastrzemski added a solo home run in the seventh. Raisel Iglesias earned his 15th save.
Sources: CBS Sports, MLB.com
A’s Erase Seven-Run Deficit, Walk Off Angels 12-11 in 10th
The Las Vegas Athletics erased a seven-run deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Angels 12-11 in 10 innings Friday night, completing one of the most dramatic comebacks of the 2026 season. The Angels led 11-4 with just 12 outs remaining and had slugged five home runs, but the A’s answered with eight consecutive runs across the final five frames. Jonah Heim hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to tie the game at 11. In the 10th, reliever Kirby Yates walked Nick Kurtz with the bases loaded to end it, capping a stunning reversal that cut Los Angeles’ AL West division lead.
Sources: CBS Sports, ESPN
Kelly Grand Slam Ignites Cubs’ 16-2 Rout of Reeling Blue Jays
Carson Kelly hit his second career grand slam in a seven-run first inning and finished with a career-high six RBIs as the Chicago Cubs routed the Toronto Blue Jays 16-2 at Wrigley Field on Friday. Pete Crow-Armstrong extended his career-best on-base streak to 22 consecutive games, batting .409 during the stretch. Justin Dean, recalled from Triple-A before the game, drove in three runs with a triple in Chicago’s five-run seventh — his first career hit. Seiya Suzuki and Nico Hoerner each had three hits in Chicago’s 18-hit attack. Ben Brown (4-2) allowed two runs over six innings to earn the victory.
Sources: CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated
Dodgers Rally for Three Ninth-Inning Runs to Walk Off Orioles 6-5
The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-5 on Friday night, winning their fourth consecutive game. Mookie Betts led off the ninth with a solo home run off closer Ryan Helsley, cutting Baltimore’s lead to 5-4. Dalton Rushing then singled home pinch-runner Alex Call to tie the game at 5, and Ryan Ward scored the go-ahead run when Tyler O’Neill’s throw to the plate sailed wide of catcher Samuel Basallo on a two-out error. Blake Treinen (4-1) pitched the ninth inning to earn the win in relief. The Dodgers remain among the NL’s best teams.
Sources: CBS Sports, MLB.com
Altuve, Peña Homer as Astros Power Past Guardians 9-3
Jose Altuve hit a three-run home run and Jeremy Peña slugged two solo shots to power the Houston Astros past the Cleveland Guardians 9-3 on Friday night. Altuve’s blast landed in the Crawford Boxes in left field, sparking a big inning for the Houston offense. Peña finished 3 for 5 with three RBIs, and his two-homer night was the third multi-homer game of his career. Tatsuya Imai struck out a career-high 11 batters over six innings, allowing three runs on six hits without issuing a walk, delivering the best strikeout total of his MLB career. The Astros improved their AL West positioning.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Caglianone Homers, Lugo Returns as Royals Edge Cardinals 6-5
Jac Caglianone hit his 10th home run of the season and Seth Lugo returned from the injured list to lead the Kansas City Royals past the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 on Friday night, clinching the three-game series and snapping a three-series losing streak. Lugo (3-4), sidelined since June 10 after being struck on the forehead by a line drive, allowed two runs on five hits over six innings. Isaac Collins drove in two runs with a pair of doubles. The Cardinals scored three runs in the ninth off Matt Strahm before Alex Lange entered to earn his fifth save and preserve the victory.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
American League
AL East
1. New York Yankees — 43–27, —
2. Tampa Bay Rays — 41–28, 1.5
3. Toronto Blue Jays — 34–38, 10.0
4. Baltimore Orioles — 34–39, 10.5
5. Boston Red Sox — 29–40, 13.5
AL Central
1. Chicago White Sox — 38–32, —
2. Cleveland Guardians — 39–33, 0.0
3. Minnesota Twins — 34–40, 6.0
4. Detroit Tigers — 30–42, 9.0
5. Kansas City Royals — 29–44, 10.5
AL West
1. Seattle Mariners — 37–36, —
2. Las Vegas Athletics — 36–36, 0.5
3. Texas Rangers — 35–37, 1.5
4. Houston Astros — 33–41, 4.5
5. Los Angeles Angels — 29–44, 8.0
National League
NL East
1. Atlanta Braves — 46–25, —
2. Philadelphia Phillies — 39–33, 7.5
3. Washington Nationals — 38–35, 9.0
4. Miami Marlins — 36–37, 11.0
5. New York Mets — 32–40, 14.5
NL Central
1. Milwaukee Brewers — 43–26, —
2. St. Louis Cardinals — 39–31, 4.5
3. Chicago Cubs — 38–35, 7.0
4. Pittsburgh Pirates — 36–37, 9.0
5. Cincinnati Reds — 33–37, 10.0
NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 46–27, —
2. San Diego Padres — 37–34, 8.0
3. Arizona Diamondbacks — 37–35, 8.5
4. San Francisco Giants — 29–43, 16.5
5. Colorado Rockies — 27–46, 19.0
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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