Samwise MLB Newsletter
Monday, September 21, 2026
Brewers Set Franchise Record with 98th Win, Blank Orioles 3-0 to Complete Sweep
The Milwaukee Brewers set a franchise record with their 98th victory on Sunday night, blanking the Baltimore Orioles 3-0 to complete a three-game sweep. William Contreras homered and Cooper Pratt drove in two runs for Milwaukee, which now owns the best record in the majors at 98-58. Jacob Misiorowski, working in a planned abbreviated outing, surrendered just one hit and struck out four in three innings. The 24-year-old right-hander leads all major-league starters with a 1.86 ERA and 247 strikeouts this season. The Brewers have already clinched their fourth consecutive NL Central title and surpassed last year’s franchise-best 97 wins.
Sources: NBC Sports
Sanchez Earns MLB-Leading 18th Win as Phillies Salvage Split with 7-2 Win over Mets
Cristopher Sanchez earned his major-league-leading 18th victory, guiding the Philadelphia Phillies to a 7-2 win over the New York Mets that salvaged a split of their four-game series. Sanchez allowed six hits, including Bo Bichette’s sixth-inning homer, and struck out six over 6 and one-third innings, snapping a tie with Boston’s Sonny Gray for the big-league lead in wins. Justin Crawford broke the game open with a bases-loaded triple in the eighth inning, finishing with three RBI. Luis Arraez added two RBI, while Kyle Schwarber drew four walks, tying a career high. The Phillies (86-70) remained one game behind the Cubs and Padres in the NL wild-card standings.
Braves Clinch NL East Title with Sweep of Astros, Complete Remarkable Comeback
Atlanta completed a stunning turnaround Sunday, clinching the NL East division title with a 4-2 victory over the Houston Astros that swept the three-game series. Mike Yastrzemski delivered a three-run homer during a four-run sixth inning, providing the decisive blow. The win gave Atlanta its seventh division title in the last nine years, capping a comeback from a 10.5-game deficit earlier in the season. The Braves’ postseason clinch was secured Friday in a 6-2 win when Michael Harris II, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Matt Olson each homered. Ronald Acuna added a grand slam Saturday. Atlanta now awaits its postseason opponent.
Crow-Armstrong Hits 45th Homer, Tied for MLB Lead, as Cubs Rout Reds 9-1
Pete Crow-Armstrong blasted his 45th home run and Chicago routed Cincinnati 9-1 Sunday, pushing the Cubs’ magic number to one for clinching a postseason berth. Left-hander David Peterson delivered seven strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out seven. The Cubs improved to 87-69, tied with San Diego for the top NL wild-card spot. Crow-Armstrong is now tied with Kyle Schwarber for the MLB lead with 45 home runs, a remarkable milestone for the 23-year-old center fielder. Alex Bregman was struck in the face by a foul ball in the fourth inning and exited early.
Gavin Williams Fans Nine, Improves to 14-8 as Guardians Shut Out Athletics 1-0
Gavin Williams was dominant in Cleveland’s 1-0 shutout win over Oakland on Sunday, striking out nine batters over seven innings while allowing just three hits. Closer Cade Smith worked 1.1 scoreless innings to earn a four-out save, extending his streak of consecutive scoreless outings to ten. The Guardians, clinging to a narrow lead over the White Sox in the AL Central, have been leaning heavily on their pitching staff down the stretch. Williams improved to 14-8 on the season, and Cleveland’s rotation has been critical in managing the tight division race with a week remaining.
Sources: Sports Illustrated
Red Sox Clinch Playoff Berth via Braves Win, Join Rare MLB Comeback Club
The Boston Red Sox clinched a postseason berth Sunday without even playing a deciding game, as their magic number expired when Atlanta defeated Houston. The Red Sox celebrated in their clubhouse after becoming the fourth team in MLB history to earn a playoff spot after being 14 or more games below .500 at some point during a season. Earlier, Tampa Bay defeated Boston 5-1 as Griffin Jax threw five shutout innings for the Rays. The Rays (91-59) continue their run toward the AL East division title, their first since 2021, while the Red Sox will enter the postseason as a wild-card team.
Sources: CBS Sports
Yordan Alvarez’s Triple Crown Bid Enters Final Week With Three Gaps to Close
Houston’s Yordan Alvarez continues pursuing one of baseball’s rarest achievements, entering the final stretch of the 2026 season as a realistic Triple Crown contender. Alvarez leads the American League with a .311 batting average but trails Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero by two in home runs (38 to 40) and Baltimore’s Pete Alonso by four in RBI (96 to 100) with seven games remaining. A right ankle injury has slowed Alvarez in September, limiting him to a .212 average with one homer over his first nine September games. The last Triple Crown winner was Miguel Cabrera in 2012. Seven games remain.
Sources: CBS Sports
NL Wild Card Race Razor-Thin as Cubs, Padres, Phillies Enter Final Week
The National League wild-card race remained tightly bunched entering Monday, with the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres deadlocked at 87-69 for the top two spots and the Philadelphia Phillies one game behind at 86-70. The Cubs hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Padres, giving them a slight edge in seeding scenarios. Chicago’s magic number dropped to one after Sunday’s win over Cincinnati, meaning they could clinch as early as Monday. The Arizona Diamondbacks, who entered September as a factor, have faded and are now four games back. The winner of the top wild-card spot earns home-field advantage for the wild-card round.
Sources: CBS Sports
American League
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL East | |||
| Tampa Bay Rays ★ | 91 | 59 | — |
| New York Yankees | 88 | 64 | 3.5 |
| Boston Red Sox ★ | 82 | 69 | 9.0 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 75 | 77 | 16.5 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 74 | 78 | 17.5 |
| AL Central | |||
| Cleveland Guardians | 79 | 74 | — |
| Chicago White Sox | 77 | 75 | 1.5 |
| Detroit Tigers | 72 | 79 | 6.5 |
| Minnesota Twins | 71 | 81 | 8.0 |
| Kansas City Royals | 66 | 85 | 12.5 |
| AL West | |||
| Houston Astros | 76 | 76 | — |
| Texas Rangers | 75 | 76 | 0.5 |
| Seattle Mariners | 70 | 82 | 6.0 |
| Oakland Athletics | 61 | 91 | 15.0 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 58 | 93 | 17.5 |
National League
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL East | |||
| Atlanta Braves ★ | 90 | 64 | — |
| Philadelphia Phillies ★ | 86 | 70 | 4.0 |
| New York Mets | 80 | 75 | 10.0 |
| Miami Marlins | 62 | 92 | 28.0 |
| Washington Nationals | 58 | 96 | 32.0 |
| NL Central | |||
| Milwaukee Brewers ★ | 98 | 58 | — |
| Chicago Cubs ★ | 87 | 69 | 11.0 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 72 | 80 | 25.5 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 67 | 85 | 30.5 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 65 | 87 | 32.5 |
| NL West | |||
| Los Angeles Dodgers ★ | 94 | 60 | — |
| San Diego Padres ★ | 86 | 69 | 8.0 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 82 | 74 | 12.5 |
| San Francisco Giants | 76 | 78 | 18.0 |
| Colorado Rockies | 47 | 107 | 47.0 |
★ = Playoff-clinched GB = Games Behind division leader
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency