Samwise MLB Newsletter
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Phillies 10, Dodgers 7 — Turner Hits Career No. 200, Drives In Five
Trea Turner became the 16th player in franchise history to hit 200 home runs as a Phillie, doing it in style with a two-run blast in the second inning and a foul-pole solo shot in the sixth. He finished with three hits and five RBI, also recording the 300th double of his career on the night's first at-bat. The Phillies jumped out to a 4-0 lead off Emmet Sheehan and never surrendered it despite Mookie Betts's two home runs for Los Angeles. Philadelphia improves to 55-44 and pulls within two games of division-leading Atlanta.
Red Sox 6, Orioles 5 — Boston Extends Win Streak to 14, One Shy of Record
Caleb Durbin hit a go-ahead solo home run over the Green Monster with two outs in the eighth inning Monday, lifting Boston to a 6-5 victory over Baltimore and extending the Red Sox winning streak to 14 consecutive games — one shy of the franchise record set in 1946 by a Ted Williams-led club. The comeback win snapped the Orioles' own seven-game winning streak and pushed Boston to 50-48. The Red Sox have not won 14 straight since 1946 and will have a chance to tie the franchise mark Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
White Sox 10, Rangers 3 — Murakami's Return Fuels Season-High Seven Over .500
Munetaka Murakami's return from injury continues to ignite Chicago's offense, as the White Sox demolished the Texas Rangers 10-3 Monday night to improve to 53-46 — their best mark of the season and a season-high seven games over .500. The win was Chicago's sixth in seven games since Murakami came back, keeping the White Sox atop the AL Central. The Japanese superstar has energized an already-improving roster that entered the second half as one of baseball's most surprising stories. Chicago leads Cleveland by a razor-thin margin in the division heading into Tuesday.
Yankees 8, Pirates 5 — Chisholm Clubs Two Home Runs
Jazz Chisholm Jr. delivered a vintage night for the Yankees, blasting two home runs to help New York to an 8-5 victory over Pittsburgh. Chisholm, one of the AL's most electric offensive weapons, also drove in three runs in the win. The Yankees (54-43) maintain their position 2.0 games behind AL East-leading Tampa Bay. New York's offense has been one of baseball's best all season, powered by Chisholm's consistent production from the middle of the lineup. Despite Aaron Judge's prolonged absence on the injured list, the Yankees continue to compete at a high level.
Braves 3, Padres 2 — Machado Reaches 20 Homers, Atlanta Leads NL East
Manny Machado hit his 20th home run of the season in Atlanta's 3-2 victory over San Diego, continuing the Braves' march atop the NL East. Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies also went deep in the win, combining for the other two Atlanta runs. The Braves moved to 56-41 on the season and maintained their 2.0-game cushion over the Philadelphia Phillies in the division. Machado returned to San Diego this past offseason on a major deal but is having a strong power season as the Padres sit below .500. The loss dropped San Diego to 48-50.
Brewers 8, Mets 3 — Pratt Hits First Career Homer, Peralta Roughed Up by Ex-Club
Cooper Pratt hit the first home run of his major league career Monday, providing a memorable moment in Milwaukee's 8-3 win over the struggling New York Mets. Third baseman Joey Ortiz added a three-run shot, and right-hander Freddy Peralta — recently sent to the Mets in a trade — was roughed up by his former team, allowing five runs in three-plus innings. The Brewers (62-37 after the win) continued their NL Central dominance. The Mets fell to 41-58 as front-office rumors of a complete deadline sell-off swirl around Flushing, with the team reportedly making everyone but a handful of young stars available.
Rays 6, Blue Jays 1 — Mesa Jr. and Mullins Homer in Tampa Bay Rout
Tampa Bay posted a dominant 6-1 road victory at Rogers Centre, with Victor Mesa Jr. leading off the second inning with his eighth home run of the year and outfielder Cedric Mullins adding a solo blast in the sixth. Jonathan Aranda drove in another run with an RBI single, and Toronto starter Dylan Cease struggled to limit the Rays' surging offense. Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero each added RBI singles in the fifth to put the game out of reach. Tampa Bay (56-41) continues to lead the AL East, maintaining healthy separation from the second-place New York Yankees.
Rutschman Placed on IL With Left Wrist Inflammation — Third Trip of 2026
The Orioles placed star catcher Adley Rutschman on the 10-day injured list Monday with left wrist inflammation, dealing a significant blow to Baltimore's fading playoff hopes. The move marks Rutschman's third trip to the IL this season, as the former No. 1 overall pick has been unable to stay healthy in what has turned into a disappointing campaign. Baltimore's offense has struggled to compensate for his absences, and with the team sitting nine games back of Tampa Bay in the AL East, the window for a second-half push is rapidly narrowing. A timeline for his return has not been established.
Source: MLB Trade Rumors Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Dodgers Acquire Flamethrower Halvorsen (99–100 mph) From Colorado
The Los Angeles Dodgers added bullpen depth Monday, acquiring flamethrowing right-hander Seth Halvorsen from Colorado in exchange for minor leaguers Nick Frasso and Landyn Vidourek. Halvorsen, 26, touches 99-100 mph on his four-seamer and posted a sterling 2.04 ERA with a 32.4% strikeout rate in Triple-A this season, though his major league numbers show the command issues that have dogged him (12.1% walk rate). The Dodgers will option Halvorsen to Triple-A initially. The move was widely seen as bullpen insurance as Shohei Ohtani's ongoing knee concerns have left Los Angeles' rotation in flux heading into the second half.
Source: MLB Trade Rumors Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
MLB Standings — Through July 20, 2026
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| TB | 56 | 41 | — |
| NYY | 54 | 43 | 2.0 |
| BOS | 49 | 48 | 7.0 |
| BAL | 48 | 51 | 9.0 |
| TOR | 46 | 52 | 10.5 |
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | 56 | 41 | — |
| PHI | 55 | 44 | 2.0 |
| MIA | 52 | 47 | 5.0 |
| WSH | 49 | 50 | 8.0 |
| NYM | 41 | 58 | 16.0 |
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| CWS | 51 | 46 | — |
| CLE | 52 | 47 | T |
| MIN | 49 | 50 | 3.0 |
| DET | 46 | 52 | 5.5 |
| KC | 40 | 59 | 12.0 |
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIL | 61 | 37 | — |
| CHC | 55 | 43 | 6.0 |
| STL | 51 | 46 | 9.5 |
| PIT | 51 | 48 | 10.5 |
| CIN | 44 | 53 | 16.5 |
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEX | 50 | 48 | — |
| SEA | 49 | 50 | 1.5 |
| HOU | 47 | 53 | 4.0 |
| OAK | 42 | 56 | 8.0 |
| LAA | 38 | 61 | 12.5 |
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAD | 62 | 36 | — |
| ARI | 50 | 48 | 12.0 |
| SD | 48 | 50 | 14.0 |
| SF | 42 | 56 | 20.0 |
| COL | 40 | 60 | 23.0 |
Samwise MLB Newsletter — Tuesday, July 21, 2026