Samwise MLB Newsletter
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Alonso Hits 300th Career Homer Against Former Club; Orioles Win 7-5 in 11 Innings
Pete Alonso made an emotional return to Citi Field count in the biggest possible way, drilling his 300th career home run off Kodai Senga in the ninth inning to tie the game 3–3. The milestone blast — his 36th of the season in his first year with Baltimore — made Alonso the 20th player in AL/NL history to reach 300 homers against his former club. Baltimore went on to win in 11 innings when Coby Mayo launched a three-run inside-the-park home run, his 24th of the year, to break it open at 7–4. Marcus Semien added a game-tying double in the 10th.
Yankees Clinch 2026 Playoff Berth as Aaron Judge Returns, Homers in 8-1 Win Over Twins
The New York Yankees are heading to October. Aaron Judge, activated from the 60-day injured list just hours before first pitch, welcomed himself back with a home run as New York clinched a 2026 postseason berth with an 8–1 rout of the Minnesota Twins. Max Fried delivered seven strong innings and Spencer Jones crushed a three-run homer. Cody Bellinger added a two-run blast and José Caballero also went deep. The Yankees became the first American League team to lock up a playoff spot in 2026, improving to 88–63 with 11 games remaining.
Sources: CBS Sports
Braves Rally from 3-0 Deficit Behind Acuña, Albies, Baldwin HRs to Defeat Cubs 6-3
Trailing 3–0 through five innings, Atlanta erupted for six unanswered runs to take down Chicago 6–3 at Wrigley Field. Ronald Acuña Jr. started the comeback with a two-run homer in the sixth inning, then Ozzie Albies delivered the go-ahead two-run shot in the seventh to put the Braves up 4–3. Drake Baldwin capped the scoring with a two-run blast in the ninth for insurance. Raisel Iglesias closed out the ninth for his 33rd save. Atlanta improved to 89–63, maintaining a 5.5-game lead over Philadelphia in the NL East with 10 games remaining.
Yamamoto Allows One Hit Over 7 Innings as Dodgers Blank Reds 4-0; Magic Number Drops to 2
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was untouchable Monday in Cincinnati, allowing just one hit — an Elly De La Cruz leadoff double in the second — over seven shutout innings while striking out nine in a 4–0 Dodgers victory. Yamamoto lowered his second-half ERA to 1.98 and has not surrendered more than two earned runs in any start since mid-July. Teoscar Hernández provided the offense with a two-run homer, Alex Freeland added a solo shot, and Hunter Feduccia drove in another run. Los Angeles reduced its NL West magic number to two, improving to 92–59.
Bazzana Slugs Two HRs as Guardians Take AL Central Lead with 7-6 Win Over White Sox
The AL Central standings flipped Monday in Cleveland. Travis Bazzana hit two home runs, including a go-ahead two-run blast in the seventh inning, as Cleveland edged Chicago 7–6 to seize sole possession of first place. Bazzana, the Guardians’ 2024 first-overall pick, drove in two runs while Jo Adell and Brayan Rocchio each contributed RBIs. Miguel Vargas drove in three runs for Chicago, but it was not enough. The win moved Cleveland to 78–75 and a half-game ahead of the White Sox (77–75) at the top of the AL Central with just 10 games remaining.
Brown Fans 10 in 5 Innings, Peña Homers Twice as Astros Stay Atop AL West with 4-2 Win
Hunter Brown put on a strikeout clinic Monday in Houston, fanning 10 Kansas City batters in five innings as the Astros held off the Royals 4–2 to stay atop the AL West race. Jeremy Peña was the offensive star, launching two home runs and driving in two, while Yordan Alvarez added a solo homer. Josh Hader worked the ninth for the save. For Kansas City, Vinnie Pasquantino went deep and Michael Wacha gave up four earned runs in six innings despite only two strikeouts. Houston (76–75) leads Texas (75–76) by one game with 11 to play.
Lile Homers, Drives in Three as Nationals Upend Phillies 6-3
Washington dealt a damaging blow to Philadelphia Monday night, rallying past the Phillies 6–3 at Nationals Park behind a big night from Daylen Lile. Lile hit a home run and drove in three runs while Andrés Chaparro added a solo blast. Jackson Kent pitched five solid innings for the win. Philadelphia starter Cristópher Sánchez was roughed up for five earned runs in 6.1 innings and absorbed the loss. Kyle Schwarber homered for the Phillies, who remain 5.5 games behind Atlanta in the NL East. Erik Tolman closed out the game for the Nationals.
Rays Place Tyler Wells on IL with Forearm Tightness; Yankees Activate Aaron Judge
Monday’s transaction wire featured two significant moves. The Tampa Bay Rays placed righty Tyler Wells on the 15-day injured list with right forearm tightness (retroactive to Sept. 13), a potential postseason concern as Tampa Bay protects its AL East lead. The Rays simultaneously reinstated outfielder Jake Fraley from the 60-day IL and recalled righty Alex Cook from Triple-A Durham. Jacob Melton was shifted to the major-league 60-day IL. In New York, the Yankees activated three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge from the 60-day IL — he responded by homering in his return to help clinch a playoff berth.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors
American League
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL EAST | |||
| ★ Tampa Bay Rays | 91 | 59 | — |
| ★ New York Yankees | 88 | 63 | 3.5 |
| Boston Red Sox | 82 | 69 | 9.5 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 75 | 77 | 17.0 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 74 | 78 | 18.0 |
| AL CENTRAL | |||
| Cleveland Guardians | 78 | 75 | — |
| Chicago White Sox | 77 | 75 | 0.5 |
| Detroit Tigers | 72 | 79 | 5.0 |
| Minnesota Twins | 70 | 81 | 7.0 |
| Kansas City Royals | 66 | 85 | 11.0 |
| AL WEST | |||
| Houston Astros | 76 | 75 | — |
| Texas Rangers | 75 | 76 | 1.0 |
| Seattle Mariners | 70 | 82 | 6.5 |
| Oakland Athletics | 61 | 90 | 15.0 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 58 | 93 | 18.0 |
National League
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL EAST | |||
| Atlanta Braves | 89 | 63 | — |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 83 | 68 | 5.5 |
| Miami Marlins | 75 | 77 | 14.0 |
| Washington Nationals | 71 | 81 | 18.0 |
| New York Mets | 69 | 82 | 19.5 |
| NL CENTRAL | |||
| ★ Milwaukee Brewers | 94 | 57 | — |
| Chicago Cubs | 84 | 68 | 10.5 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 75 | 76 | 19.0 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 75 | 77 | 19.5 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 70 | 81 | 24.0 |
| NL WEST | |||
| ★ Los Angeles Dodgers | 92 | 59 | — |
| San Diego Padres | 82 | 69 | 10.0 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 80 | 72 | 12.5 |
| San Francisco Giants | 63 | 89 | 29.5 |
| Colorado Rockies | 56 | 95 | 36.0 |
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