Samwise MLB Newsletter
Sunday, June 21, 2026
Bryce Harper Hits for the Cycle, Schwarber Slugs Three HRs as Phillies Rout Mets 15-3
Kyle Schwarber homered three times and Bryce Harper hit for the first cycle of his career as the Philadelphia Phillies routed the New York Mets 15-3 Saturday night. Harper collected a solo home run in the first inning, a double and single in the third, then a two-run triple to left-center in the fifth to complete the cycle. Schwarber crushed a 456-foot shot in the third, added a second blast off reliever Cionel Perez in the same inning, then deposited his MLB-leading 28th home run in the seventh, finishing with four hits and six RBIs. New York starter Freddy Peralta allowed 10 hits and 10 earned runs in 2⅔ innings.
Sources: CBS Sports, MLB.com
Trevor Rogers Tosses 7-Hitter, Orioles Edge Dodgers 3-2 as Ohtani Homers in Return
Trevor Rogers allowed just one hit over seven scoreless innings as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 Saturday night. Rogers’ only blemish was a bloop single to center by Tommy Edman in the fifth. The left-hander struck out six, walked two, and earned just his second win in 11 starts. Blaze Alexander’s two-run double in the fourth provided the margin, with Samuel Basallo and Leody Taveras each collecting two hits. Shohei Ohtani — back after missing Friday’s game for the birth of his second child — led off the ninth with a home run, but Kyle Tucker struck out against Yennier Cano, who earned his first save.
Sal Stewart’s Six-RBI Night Leads Reds to 10-2 Rout of Struggling Yankees
Sal Stewart tied a career high with six RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds routed the New York Yankees 10-2 on Saturday, the Yankees’ most lopsided loss of the season. Stewart gave Cincinnati the lead with a two-run double off Will Warren in the third, added a sacrifice fly during a four-run fifth, then capped his day with a bases-clearing double in the eighth. Spencer Steer hit a three-run homer and Edwin Arroyo had four hits. Starter Andrew Abbott allowed one run over five-plus innings. New York went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position and has now gone 10-6 since Aaron Judge fractured a right rib.
Sources: CBS Sports, SI.com
Byron Buxton Grand Slam Caps 10-Run Inning as Twins Demolish D-backs 16-8
Byron Buxton slugged a grand slam during a 10-run fifth inning as the Minnesota Twins clobbered the Arizona Diamondbacks 16-8 Saturday night. Buxton’s grand slam — his 24th home run of the season — gave Minnesota a 12-0 lead and tied him with Houston’s Yordan Alvarez atop the American League home run race. It was the third career grand slam for Buxton. The Twins sent 14 batters to the plate in the fifth inning, with Brooks Lee, Victor Caratini, Luke Keaschall, and Ryan Kreidler each recording two hits during the outburst.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Rookie Travis Bazzana Sets Career Highs with 2 HRs and 5 RBIs in Guardians’ 8-1 Win
Travis Bazzana set career highs with four hits, two home runs, five RBIs, and three runs scored Saturday night as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Houston Astros 8-1. The 2024 first overall pick — who made his Major League debut April 28 — took Spencer Arrighetti deep on the first pitch of the game for his second leadoff home run of the season, then hit a three-run shot off Arrighetti in the fifth. Bazzana added an RBI single in the seventh. Kyle Manzardo chipped in a two-run home run in the third and an RBI single in the seventh, with Patrick Bailey adding three hits and two runs scored.
Blue Jays Score 8 Unanswered to Rally Past Cubs 8-6; Varsho Returns with Home Run
The Toronto Blue Jays rallied from a five-run deficit to beat the Chicago Cubs 8-6 Saturday at Wrigley Field, scoring eight unanswered runs to win for the fourth time in five games. Daulton Varsho, returning from the 10-day injured list, hit a three-run home run, and Kazuma Okamoto capped a five-run eighth inning with a three-run homer. Chicago’s Jacob Webb (1-2) entered with two on in the eighth and allowed consecutive RBI singles to Alejandro Kirk and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to tie the game at 5. Jeff Hoffman (5-4) pitched one inning of relief and Louis Varland earned his 15th save.
Sources: CBS Sports, MLB.com
De La Cruz and Johnson Begin Triple-A Rehab; Woodruff Set to Return to Brewers’ Rotation Monday
Two notable roster developments emerged Saturday around the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers. Shortstop Elly De La Cruz and pitcher Pierce Johnson both began Triple-A rehab assignments Friday, with the Reds expecting to activate both players within days. De La Cruz has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring strain on May 31, while Johnson has been on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. Separately, Brewers manager Pat Murphy confirmed that Brandon Woodruff will return to the starting rotation during the team’s upcoming series with the Reds beginning Monday, a significant development for Milwaukee as the NL Central leaders look to stay atop the division.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors, MLB.com
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. Chi. White Sox — 38-32, —
2. Cleveland Guardians — 39-33, E
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. 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, 10.5
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