Samwise MLB Newsletter
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Rays Clinch Postseason Berth as Caminero Walks Off Astros with 40th Homer
Junior Caminero hit a two-run walk-off homer in the ninth inning Saturday night, clinching a 2026 MLB playoff berth for the Tampa Bay Rays in dramatic fashion. The 23-year-old slugger drove a 97 mph fastball from Houston's Bryan Abreu into left-center for his 40th home run of the season, giving Tampa Bay a 3-1 victory and making the Rays the first team in the majors to secure a postseason spot. Drew Rasmussen delivered seven solid innings, allowing just one run on eight hits with four strikeouts. Tampa Bay improved to 88-59, the best record in the American League.
Mariners Rout Athletics 19-1 in Franchise-Record Margin of Victory
The Seattle Mariners set a franchise record with a 19-1 shellacking of the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, their largest margin of victory in team history. Randy Arozarena, J.P. Crawford, Dominic Canzone, and Cole Young all hit home runs, with rookie Michael Arroyo adding a solo shot for his first career major league homer. Weston Wilson went 5-for-5 with three runs scored, and Seattle totaled 23 hits — its most in a single game since 2004. Bryan Woo improved to 12-9, allowing one unearned run over six innings, while Oakland starter Gage Jump lasted just two innings before leaving with left shoulder soreness.
Lindor Hits Leadoff Homer and Grand Slam as Mets Pound Yankees 12-2 in Subway Series
Francisco Lindor hit a leadoff homer and added a grand slam in the eighth inning as the New York Mets demolished the crosstown Yankees 12-2 in the Bronx. Lindor's eighth career grand slam made him the third Met to hit a grand slam at Yankee Stadium, joining Mike Piazza and Carlos Delgado. Rookie Zac Thornton earned the win, allowing two runs over seven innings on his Subway Series debut. Gerrit Cole allowed five runs in 4⅓ innings and fell to 8-9. The Mets slugged six home runs, totaling 13 hits in the rout.
Acuna Powers Eight-Run Inning as Braves Rout Phillies 12-2, Extend NL East Lead to Six Games
Ronald Acuna Jr. homered to ignite an eight-run fourth inning as the Atlanta Braves routed the Philadelphia Phillies 12-2 on Saturday night, extending their NL East lead to six games. Tyler Mahle was brilliant in his seventh start with Atlanta, allowing only a first-inning Bryce Harper home run over seven innings while improving to 3-1 with a 1.25 ERA. Michael Harris II went 4-for-5 with his 25th home run and two runs scored, and Acuna finished 3-for-3 with two RBI. A Bryson Stott throwing error contributed to five unearned Atlanta runs in the decisive fourth inning.
Grichuk Ninth-Inning Homer Lifts White Sox Past Cardinals 6-5, Extends AL Central Lead
Randal Grichuk delivered a two-run, two-out homer off Riley O'Brien in the ninth inning Saturday night, lifting the Chicago White Sox past the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 and snapping a four-game losing streak. Grichuk entered the game as a pinch hitter in the fourth inning and drove his 13th homer of the season down the right-field line on an 0-2 count. St. Louis had led 5-4 after Leo Bernal's eighth-inning homer. Bryan Hudson retired the Cardinals in order for his eighth save. The White Sox improved to 76-72, maintaining a 1.5-game lead in the AL Central.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Mitchell Leads Brewers to 13-9 Win Over Reds; Milwaukee Scores 33 Runs in Two-Game Set
Garrett Mitchell went 4-for-5 with a home run and four RBI as the Milwaukee Brewers poured it on early in a 13-9 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. All 13 Milwaukee runs came in the first five innings, with William Contreras delivering a tiebreaking three-run homer in the fourth and Brice Turang adding his 19th home run — a new career high. Combined with Friday's 20-0 rout, the Brewers totaled 33 runs over two games against Cincinnati. Chad Patrick earned the win, striking out four in 1⅓ scoreless innings of relief.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
American League
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL East | |||
| Tampa Bay Rays | 89 | 59 | — |
| New York Yankees | 85 | 63 | 4.0 |
| Boston Red Sox | 81 | 68 | 8.5 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 74 | 75 | 15.5 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 72 | 77 | 17.5 |
| AL Central | |||
| Chicago White Sox | 76 | 72 | — |
| Cleveland Guardians | 75 | 74 | 1.5 |
| Minnesota Twins | 70 | 78 | 6.0 |
| Detroit Tigers | 69 | 79 | 7.0 |
| Kansas City Royals | 66 | 83 | 10.5 |
| AL West | |||
| Houston Astros | 75 | 74 | — |
| Texas Rangers | 73 | 76 | 2.0 |
| Seattle Mariners | 70 | 79 | 5.0 |
| Athletics | 60 | 89 | 15.0 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 56 | 92 | 18.5 |
National League
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL East | |||
| Atlanta Braves | 88 | 61 | — |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 82 | 67 | 6.0 |
| Miami Marlins | 73 | 76 | 15.0 |
| New York Mets | 69 | 79 | 18.5 |
| Washington Nationals | 69 | 81 | 19.5 |
| NL Central | |||
| Milwaukee Brewers | 93 | 56 | — |
| Chicago Cubs | 83 | 66 | 10.0 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 74 | 75 | 19.0 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 73 | 76 | 20.0 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 69 | 79 | 23.5 |
| NL West | |||
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 90 | 58 | — |
| San Diego Padres | 80 | 68 | 10.0 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 79 | 70 | 11.5 |
| San Francisco Giants | 62 | 87 | 28.5 |
| Colorado Rockies | 55 | 93 | 35.0 |
Every newsletter preserved and searchable
Curated by JD · samwise.agency