We’ve rolled from the Dog Days of August into the Pennant Push of September and that means it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s August Wrap up – a look at the stats and stories that caught The Roundtable’s attention over the past month, as well as The Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the Month, Trot Index and more.
Here are just a few of this month’s highlights that you will find in this post:
- the first player ever to homer three times in his MLB debut game (Joshua Baez);
- the sixth and seventh players to hit a lead-off and walk-off homer in a game (Pete Crow-Armstrong & Randy Arozarena);
- an Immaculate Inning (Taj Bradley);
- the first 2026 plate appearance for the Nationals for a player 29-years-old or older (Miles Mikolas);
- a new record for consecutive errorless games for a shortstop (Jacob Wilson);
- the first shutout since 2014 that did not include a single strikeout (Tigers);
- 2026’s fourth cycle (JJ Bleday);
- the first player to hit two homers in one inning in a game he didn’t start (Austin Wells);
- a rookie homering in a rookie-record five consecutive MLB games (Travis Peters); and
- much more.
Read on for the stories, as well The Roundable’s usual Players and Pitchers of the Month, stat leaders, Trot Index (and, of course, as always, trivia(l) tidbits).
—-BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE PLAYERS AND PITCHERS OF THE MONTH—-
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Player of the Month … Joe Caglianone, RF, Royals
Okay, I admit it. There are certain “bright and shiny things” that attract The Roundtable’s attentions and sway my opinions. One of those is a .400 batting average. Royals’ 23-year-old RF Joe Caglianone (No, I don’t know how to pronounce it) hit .411 for the month August … highest by nearly 30 points over the next best among hitters with at least 75 June at bats (the Rays’ Chandler Simpson at .383). Caglianone finished second to Simpson for the MLB lead in August hits (39 to Simpson’s 41) and led the AL with 26 RBI (to go with six home runs). If there was one thing that gave me a bit of a pause in this selection, it was the fact that Caglianone walked just twice, while fanning 18 times, during the month. Thus, his on-base percentage of .429 was third in the AL among players with at least 75 August at bats.
Caglianone, who came into August hitting .251 on the season, started the month with a 13-game hitting streak (August 1-15), during which he went .431-5-18, with nine runs scored. Caglianone was held hitless in only three of 24 August games. He had 11 multi-hit games during the month, including an August 6 contest (versus Toronto) in which he went five-for-six, with a double, a home run, six RBI and three runs scored.
Honorable Mentions: Orioles’ 1B Pete Alonso tied (Cal Raleigh) for the AL lead in August home runs (9), with a .333 average and 22 RBI (second in the AL). He also tied for third in the AL in hits (35). The Rays’ LF Chandler Simpson led the AL (and MLB) with 41 August hits for a .383 average and his eleven stolen bases were the August AL best. Those hits, however, produced just eight runs scored and eleven RBI (zero home runs). I also should mention Royals’ SS Bobby Witt, Jr., who led the AL with 26 runs scored (.306-3-10, with six steals) and Guardians’ LF Steven Kwan – .347-1-8, with 25 runs scored (to go with 35 hits and a .450 on-base percentage).
Pitcher of the Month … Tie: Zebby Matthews, RHP, Twins & Noah Cameron, LHP, Royals
This was a month, from the Roundtable’s point of view, to go “Old School” and recognize a pitcher who pitched well enough to win … and stayed around long enough for a decision in each outing.
I may be being a bit of a “homer” here (being from Minnesota), but Zebby Matthews started five games for the Twins (who went 10-17 in August) and won all five, putting up a solid 2.90 earned run average and walking six and fanning 24 in 31 innings. His August numbers were a bit of a surprise, as he came into the month 4-8, with a 5.02 earned run average in 14 games. His best start came on August 30, when he held the high-scoring White Sox offense to one run over 8 1/3 innings.
I’ll go a little more “new school” for the second half of this tie. Royals’ southpaw Noah Cameron went 4-0 in five starts for the Royals, with a tidy 1.87 earned run average (fourth-lowest among AL pitchers with at least 25 August innings). His 0.80 WHIP was the lowest among AL hurlers with at least 25 innings. He fanned 24 and walked nine in 33 2/3 innings.
Honorable Mentions: Rays’ righty Drew Rasmussen also gets a shoutout, as the only MLB pitcher besides Zebby Matthews to log five August wins (5-0, 2.57 in six starts). Rasmussen fanned 37 and walked eight over 35 innings. Rangers’ righthander Cal Quantrill went 2-2 for the month, but put up a 1.45 earned run average (lowest among AL pitchers with at least 25 August innings) and fanned 29 batters, while walking just four, in 31 innings. While Blue Jays’ righty Dylan Cease only went 2-0 in five starts, he pitched to a 2.03 earned run average and fanned 43 batters, in 31 innings. Rays’ southpaw Ian Seymour went 2-3, 3.85 for the month, but I have to mention that he fanned an MLB tops 48 batters (35 innings), while walking only four. Finally, I have to give a nod to Yankee reliever Paul Blackburn. A bit of a “victory vulture,” Blackburn pitched in 14 August games, going 4-1 with a 0.00 earned run average in 16 2/3 innings. He also was credited with five holds. The only run he surrendered during the month was a placed runner in the tenth inning of a 2-l loss to the Braves on August 9.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Player of the Month … Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF, Cubs
No contest here. While Pete Crow-Armstrong hit “only” .280 in August, he led MLB in August home runs (14) and runs scored (29); was third in RBI (28); and stole six bases in six attempts. In addition, his .7o3 August slugging percentage led MLB (player with 75 August at bats). PCA had four multi-homer and seven multi-RBI games in August … including an August 29 game (versus the Reds) in which he went four-for-six with three home runs, six RBI and four runs scored. Also, on August 17, PCA became just the sixth player to hit a lead-off and walk-off home run in the same game.
Honorable Mentions: Cardinals’ 1B Alec Burleson went .311-6-29 for the month. He also scored 23 runs. Reds’ 22-year-old catcher Sal Stewart, a favorite in the NL Rookie of the Year race, hit .301-8-21, with 21 runs scored. His 35 August hits were second in the NL. Cubs’ 3B Alex Bregman went .284-12-30, with 23 runs scored. He was second in the MLB in August HR and first in RBI. He had a big final day, going three-for-six with three home runs and six RBI in a Cubs’ August 31 17-3 win over the Brewers.
Pitcher of the Month …. Jesus Luzardo, LHP, Phillies
This was a close one. The top three candidates all started five or six August games, all won either three or four (3-0, 3-0, 4-1), all pitched between 34 1/3 and 36 2/3 innings, all fanned between 45 and 47 batters and all walked between 10 or 11 hitters. But I had to pick someone, so here goes.
Phillies’ lefty Jesus Luzardo went 3-0, 1.31 in five starts … posting the lowest August earned run average in MLB among pitchers with at least 25 August innings. His 46 strikeouts were second in the NL (nine walks) and third in MLB. His 34 1/3 innings pitched were eighth in the NL. He was one out shy of averaging seven innings per start.
Honorable Mentions: The fact is, I’d be comfortable with any of these as Pitcher of the Month, It was that close. Cade Cavalli tied for the NL lead in wins, going 4-1, 1.75 in six starts. His 1.75 ERA was the fourth-lowest among NL pitchers with at least 25 August innings. His 47 strikeouts (ten walks) led the NL, and his 36 innings pitched were sixth in the NL. Over his last four starts of the month, he gave up just two earned runs in 24 innings. Philly southpaw Cristopher Sanchez, went 3-0, 1.72 in five starts. His earned run average was the second-lowest in the NL (again, among pitchers with at least 25 innings pitched) and his 45 strikeouts third. His 36 2/3 innings pitched tied for fourth the NL. Brewers’ closer Trevor McGill deserves a shoutout for going eight-for-eight in converting save opportunities and putting up a 0.00 earned run average in 12 appearances.
SURPRISE PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Royals’ RF Jac Caglianone
The Roundtable’s first-ever double winner. Royals’ 23-year-old RF Jac Caglianone is both The Roundtable’s AL Player of the Month and MLB Surprise of the Month. As you read earlier, Caglianone put together a .411-6-26 month of August. More about Caglianone in the AL Player of the Month section. Caglianone came into August with a .252-17-40 line on the season and a .217-24-58 line over is two MLB seasons (2025-25). To The Roundtable, a .400 month seemed a surprise.
Not a total surprise, though. The Royals were waiting for a Caglianone break out. He was the sixth overall pick (Royals) in the 2024 MLB Draft (our of The University of Florida, where he hit .355-75-189 over three seasons/165 games). And, in two minor-league seasons, Caglianone went .308-22-86 in 95 games. Still a .400 month … that had to open some eyes.
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THE TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE FEATURE
Through August 31, 35.1% of the MLB season’s 156,555 plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). (This compares to 34.6% through August of the 2025 season). We’re talking about strikeouts, home runs, walks, hit by pitch and catcher’s interference – all outcomes that are, basically, devoid of action on the base paths or in the field. Here’s the breakout: strikeouts (22.1%); walks (8.9%); home runs (3.0%); HBP (1.1%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). These numbers, notably, have been relatively stable over the past few seasons.
I also looked into full-year Trot Index figures for the years I have been a fan: 34.9% in 2024; 30.3% in 2010; 29.9% in 2000; 31.7% in 1990; 23.1% in 1980; 27.0% in 1970; 25.1% in 1960; and 22.8% in 1950.
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The Phillies were the juggernauts of August, playing .750 ball (21-7) and truly hitting on all cylinders. The starting pitching was led by Cristopher Sanchez (3-0, 1.72), Jesus Luzardo (3-0, 1.31) and Aaron Nola (3-1, 2.65). Closer Jhoan Duran had a wion, five saves and a 0.60 earned run average and fellow relievers Tim Mayza and Alex McFarlane went a combined 5-1 and put up ERAs of 0.84 and 0.96, respectively.
At the plate, Bryce Harper went .333-5-14 and would have had gaudier numbers if anyone would have pitched to him (an MLB-highest 31 walks in August). Kyle Schwarber had seven homer and 20 rBI and, in fact, eight Phillies drove in more than ten runs during the month. Overal,l the Phillies scored the second-most August run in the NL and gave up the third-fewest.
——-Team Statistical Leaders August 2026 ———-
RUNS SCORED
National League – Cubs (178); Phillies (147); Brewers (134)
American League – Red Sox (155); Rays (136); White Sox (133)
The fewest runs in August were scored by the Mariners (95). In the National League, it was the Pirates (97).
AVERAGE
National League – Cubs (.271); Phillies (.270): Brewers (.257)
American League – Rays (.268); Red Sox (.266); Guardians (.264)
The lowest team average for August belonged to the Pirates, Reds and Mariners each at .217.
HOME RUNS
National League – Cubs (62); Reds (42); Mets (36)
American League – Orioles (40); White Sox (38): Yankees (35); Red Sox (340
The fewest home runs in August were hit by the Angels (16). In the National League, it was the Marlins at 22.
TOTAL BASES
National League – Cubs (506); Diamondbacks (407); Rockies (390)
American League – Red Sox (440); Rays (394); White Sox (389)
The Cubs led MLB in August Slugging Percentage at .514. The Red Sox led the AL (.443)
DOUBLES
National League – Phillies (51); Braves (49); Cubs (49); Rockies (49)
American League – Red Sox (59); Blue Jays (49); White Sox (49)
TRIPLES
National League – D-backs (10); Rockies (5); Mets (5); Nationals (5)
American League – Astros (7); Red Sox (6); three with five
STOLEN BASES
National League – Marlins (26); Brewers (25); Nationals (24)
American League – Rays (34); Yankees (29); Royals (23)
The Astros stole the fewest sacks in August at four – in nine attempts. The Dodgers stole the fewest bags in the NL – 11 in 14 attempts.
The Cubs were successful on 24 of 26 SB attempts, a 92.3% success rate.
WALKS DRAWN
National League – Phillies (122); Brewers (117); Cubs (110)
American League – White Sox (122); Red Sox (115); Mariners (101)
The Phillies led MLB in August on-base percentage at .353. The Red Sox led the AL at .348. The Angels had MLB’s lowest August OBP at .273. The Reds anchored the NL at .294.
BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS
National League – Reds (277); Pirates (270); Brewers (268)
American League – White Sox (273); Angels (264); Orioles (262)
Rays’ batters fanned the fewest times in August (172). The Phillies fanned the fewest times in the NL at 173.
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EARNED RUN AVERAGE
National League – Padres (3.04); Phillies (3.06); Braves (3.11)
American League – Angels (3.10); Yankees (3.17); Blue Jays (3.27)
The Mariners had the highest August ERA at 5.97. The Reds had the highest ERA in the NL at 5.42. The only other teams at 5.00 or worse were the A’s (5.91) and Rockies (5.36)
STRIKEOUTS
National League – Phillies (288); Brewers (266); Dodgers (263)
American League – Guardians (254); Angels (252); Yankees (251); Red Sox (251)
The Phillies averaged an MLB-best 10.29 strikeouts per nine innings in August. The Guardians averaged an AL-best 9.85. Seven teams averaged nine whiffs per nine or better.
FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED
National League – Cubs (79); Padres (8 Braves (88)
American League – Rays (51); Orioles (88); Yankees (89)
The Rays walked an MLB-lowest 1.80 batters per nine innings in August. The Nationals walked an MLB-worst 4.26 batters per nine frames.
SAVES
National League – Brewers (11); Reds (10); three with nine
American League – Blue Jays (12); Rays (11); Orioles (11)
The Nationals blew the most saves in August – eight (in ten opportunities).
Walks+ Hits/Innings Pitched (WHIP)
National League – Padres (1.17); Phillies (1.20);Dodgers (1.20); Brewers (1.20)
American League: Rays (1.12); Yankees (1.19); Angels (1.22)
Bonus Stats:
- The Mariners gave up an MLB-high 48 home runs in August. The Braves gave up an MLB-low 21 home runs.
- Pirates’ pitchers held opponents to an MLB-low .218 average in August. The Mariners’ staff was torched for an MLB-high .282 average.
—-AUGUST 2026 HIGHLIGHTS—-
It’s About Time
The Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) opened it inaugural season August 1, with the Los Angeles Queens topping the New York Heights 10-8 in eight innings (games are slated for seven frames) at sold-out (more than 4,000 fans) Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. The star of the game may have been on the losing squad, as New York Heights’ catcher Denae Benites went four-for-four, with a home run (the first in the new league), three runs scored and two RBI.
A few other noteworthy highlights: Los Angeles’ CF Mo’ne Davis (first girl to throw a shutout in the Little League World Series) scored the league’s first run, with the first RBI going to LF Maggie Fox. P Rakyung Kim (New York Heights) recorded the first strikeout and the first pitching victory went to the Queens’ Meggie Meidlinger. The first, 1,000 fans got a Mo’ne Davis bobblehead.
Old Guys Rule … At Least for a Moment (Thanks to MLB.com’s Mike Petriello for catching this one.)
On August 5, the Nationals came up in the top of the 11th inning tied 4-4 with the Phillies. Nationals’ CF Jacob Young opened the inning (with 3B Brady House the placed runner at second base) by drawing a six-pitch walk from Caleb Kilian. Next up was SS CJ Abrams, who tripled home House and Young.
Now, thanks to a number of lineup changes in the tight game (pinch runners, pinch hitters and, most specifically, the moving of the DH Andres Chaparro to a defensive position), the Nats had lost the DH position. By the top of the eleventh inning, Nats’ manager Sal Butera … with a pretty much empty bench … found his team with a 4-3 lead, no outs, a runner on third and pitcher Clayton Beeter coming to the plate. So, he turned to 37-year-old veteran right-handed hurler Miles Mikolas, who last came to the plate in 2021 and who had a .127 career average. Mikolas delivered a successful squeeze bunt to bring the runner home. (Side note: Butera used a total of 21 players in the game.)
Why a highlight? Mikolas was the first player age-30 or older to come to the plate for the Nationals this season. In fact, he was the first player age-29 or older to have a plate appearance for the Nats this season. Sadly, a week later. Mikolas was Designated For Assignment, as 23-year-old pitching prospect Jeff Kent was called up to the Nationals. (In his article for MLB.com, Mike Petriello included a chart indicating that, as of Mikolas’ plate appearance, no other team had fewer than 50 2026 plate appearances by players 29 or older.
Four For One
On August 5 Guardians’ 22-year-old rookie Angel Genao made his MLB debut starting at 3B., batting ninth, against the Mets (in Cleveland). He acquitted himself well, with four singles, one run scored and one RBI in five at bats – as the Guardians squeezed past the Mets 6-5 in ten innings. Genoa’s four hits tied the MLB record for hits in a debut game (a feat accomplished 26 times in MLB history).
#InBaseballWeCountEverything … Maybe Too Much
On August 5, as the Dodgers faced the Cubs in Chicago, left-handed swinging Shohei Ohtani (DH) was leading off for the Dodgers and left-handing swinging Pete Crow-Armstrong (DH) was leading off for the Cubs. The starting pitchers were southpaws Shota Imanaga for the Cubs and Eric Lauer for the Dodgers.
Shohei led off the game for the Dodgers with a home run to right and Crow-Armstrong started things in the bottom of the first with a home run to right-center. Post-game coverage indicated it was the first MLB game in which both teams got first-inning leadoff home runs from left-handed batters hitting against left-handed pitchers. If you’re interested, the Cubs prevailed 7-6 and Shohei drove in three runs, while Crow-Armstrong drove in four.
Happy Birthday, Mike
On August 7, the Angels’ CF Mike Trout celebrated his 35th birthday with a first-inning home run off the Marlins’ Tyler Phillips … part of a 4-3 Angels’ win in Miami. It was Trout’s 19th home run of the year and, more important for Highlights’ purposes, tied him with Alex Rodriguez and Mark Reynolds for the most career MLB homers hit by a player on his birthday (six).
Joe Caglianone … Four X Four = 12
On August 8, as the Royals bested the Cubs 6-3 in KC, Royal’s 1B Jac Caglianone went four-for-four with a two home runs, two doubles, two runs scored and four RBI. That four-for-four made Caglianone both the youngest Royal ever with four extra-base hits in a game and just the seventh in player in franchise history with four XB hits in a single contest (the first since 2015).
Jacob Makes Opponent Miz-ereable
On August 9, as his Brewers beat the Twins 4-3 in ten innings, Milwaukee flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski got a no-decision, giving up three runs over six innings. For the sake of these highlights, he also fanned nine batters, giving him 204 Ks over his first 133 innings this season. In the process, he reached 200 strikeouts in 129 1/3 frames, the second-fewest innings to reach the 200-mark in a season on record. (The Braves’ Spencer Strider reached 200K in 123 1/3 innings in 2023.)
Spotless
On August 9,as the A’s beat the Red Sox 4-3 at Fenway, the Athletics’ 24-year-old shortstop Jacob Wilson set an MLB record by playing his 111th consecutive error-free game at shortstop (surpassing the Orioles’ Mike Bordick). Wilson stretched the streak (still active) 115 games before a shoulder injury ended his 2026 season.
A Tigers’ Tail … No Runs, No K’s
On August 13, Tigers’ hurlers Keider Montero, Tyler Holton, and Kenley Jansen combined to shutout the Guardians 3-0 in Detroit. Why a Highlight? They did it without striking out a single batter. (The first shutout completed without a strikeout since 2014 and only the seventh time it has happened since the 2000 season. ) Side note: Such games used to be more common; more than 550 in MLB history.
We Got A Man There
On August 11, 1942. The Tigers and Indians played to a 0-0 tie in which Tommy Bridges (Tigers) and Al Milner (Indians) both went the distance and neither notched a single strikeout.
Ashcraft Displays His Craft
On August 13, Pirate’s righty Braxton Ashcraft (a name right out of Downton Abbey) coasted to his twelfth win of the season in a 13-1 victory over the Marlins in Miami. And , he did it in royal fashion, tossing his first MLB complete game (he’s only in his second MLB season) and doing it in just 85 pitches (just the third nine-inning complete game under 100 pitches this season). Ashcraft allowed one run on three hits and one walk, while fanning ten. Ashcraft threw 24 of his 85 pitches in the first two innings; went to a three-ball count on only two batters all game; did not allow a baserunner in innings four through eight; and threw nine or fewer pitches in five of the nine frames.
Now that’s a Nice Round Number
On August 15, the Guardians topped the Padres 6-1 in Cleveland, with the victory going to Joey Cantillo (his ninth win of the season), who gave up one run on one hit and three walks (seven strikeouts) over six innings. Of Highlights significance is that it was the Cleveland franchise’s 10,000th victory – making them just one of three Modern Era franchises to reach that mark (joining the Yankees and Red Sox.)
Three Is Company – and a Record
On August 16, Cardinals 23-year-old LF Joshua Baez made his major-league debut – and made major-league history. Baez went three-for-four, with three runs scored and five RBI. He hit the first MLB pitch he ever saw for a two-run home run. More important, he homered in his next two plate appearances, becoming the first-ever player to homer in his first three MLB plate appearances. For more on Baez’ “opening” day, click here.
30-30 Vision
On August 17, Cubs’ leadoff hitter and CF Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a pair of homers as the Cubs topped the crosstown White Sox 7-5 at Wrigley Field… and they were meaningful in more ways than one.
Not only did they provide the difference in the Cubs’ 7-5 win, the first was a lead-off homer in the bottom of the first inning and the second was a walk-off, game-winner in the bottom of the tenth. That also made Crow-Armstrong just the sixth MLB player (per the Elias Sports Bureau) to hit a lead-off and a walk-off home run in the same game.
Players with a Lead-Off and Walk-Off Homer in the Same Game: Vic Power, Athletics (May 7, 1957); Darin Erstad, Angels (June 25, 2000); Reed Johnson, Blue Jays (June 15, 2003); Ian Kinsler, Rangers (July 19, 2009); Chris Young, Diamondbacks (August 7, 2010); Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs (August 17, 2026). Read on, a seventh player joined this shortly after Pete Crow-Armstrong.
The pair of August 17 dingers were also PCA’s 29th and 30th of the 2026 and, with his 31 stolen bases at the time, gave him his second consecutive 30-30 (HR-SB) season. PCA ended August at .254-38-91, with 32 steals. Just 24-years-old and in his third full MLB season, PCA may be on a path to reach the record five career 30-30 seasons, shared by Bobby and Barry Bonds.
More #InBaseballWeCountEverything
After bashing lead-off and walk-off home runs on August 16, Pete Crow-Armstrong led off the bottom of the first (of a 4-3 Cubs win over the ChiSox) with a home run off Bryan Hudson, becoming the lucky 13th player (in the Modern Era) to hit a leadoff home run for his team in the very next game after ending a game with a walk-off home run.
Ouch!!!
On August 18, the high-flying Milwaukee Brewers trounced the Seattle Mariners (in Milwaukee) 22-0 … tying the record for the most lopsided MLB shutout in the Modern Era. Surprisingly, the game score was just 1-0 after four innings (and, of course, the Brewers did not bat in the bottom of the ninth, which means Milwaukee tallied 21 of its 22 runs in a four-inning span).
The Brew Crew racked up 22 hits in the game (four home runs) and were aided by four Seattle errors. A lot of the damage was done against Mariners’ infielder Leo Rivas, who pitched the eighth inning and gave up nine runs (seven earned) on seven hits, a walk and one Seattle error. For the Brewers, DH Christian Yelich, RF Luis Lara and 3B David Hamilton each had four RBI.
Other 22-0 shutouts since 1900 include: the Indians over the Yankees (August 31, 2004) and the Pirates over the Cubs (September 16, 1975).
For those who like to know such things, the most lopsided MLB shutout of all time took place on August 21, 1883, when the Providence Grays toppled the Philadelphia Quakers 28-0. The Quakers, by the way, finished that season in the National League basement, with a 17-81 record. Over the course of the season, they scored 437 runs and gave up 887.
A Little Shohei News
Been awhile since Shohei Ohtani appeared in the Highlights, so I’ll toss this in. In a 7-5 loss to the Rockies on August 18, Ohtani (at DH) popped his 30th home run of the 2026 season, giving him his sixth consecutive season of 30 or more homers (he has two of fifty or more and another two of 40 or more in that span). For those who like to know such things, the record for consecutive seasons of 30 or more home runs is thirteen: shared by Barry Bonds (1992-2004 … 561 total homers in that span) and Alex Rodriguez (1998-2010 … 549 in that span).
Off To A Good Start
The most consecutive seasons of 30 or more home runs from a player MLB debut season is 12, held by Albert Pujols. From his debut in 2001 through his twelfth season (2012) he hit 475 roundtrippers, on his way to a career total of 703.
I Love A Good Nickname
On August 19, 23-year-old, 6’ 1”/250 lb. southpaw Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson made his MLB debut for the San Francisco Giants. He started on the mound and threw two scoreless innings.
Wilkinson was a 10th-round pick (Guardians) in the 2023 MLB Draft and was traded to the Giants in early May. In 2026, he played in the minors with the ACL Giants (Rookie Level), Richmond Flying Squirrels (Double-A), Akron Rubber Ducks (Double-A) and Sacramento Kings (Triple-A) … Don’t you love those minor-league team names? … going a combined 6-6 3.40.
What made this a highlight for me was the “Tugboat” nickname (reflecting his stature) – which, it’s been reported, goes all the way back to his T-ball days. (There just aren’t enough good nicknames in baseball anymore.) Side note: Wilkinson’s fastball also has its own nickname: “Invisiball.”
My current “fantasy” matchup? Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson pitching to Cal “The Big Dumper” Raleigh. My favorite past nickname? Lou Gehrig’s early nickname of “Biscuit Pants.” For more on The Rountable’s favorite nicknames, click here.
deGrom Bests 2,000, Williams Tops 200
On August 20, Rangers’ 38-year-old righty Jacob deGrom (the 2014 NL Rookie of the Year and 2018 and 2019 NL Cy Young Award Winner – all with the Mets), picked up his ninth win of 2026 (9-8, 3.77), as his Rangers topped the Nationals 2-0. deGrom went six scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and one walk, while fanning ten. Notably, he opened the game by striking out the Nationals’ first two batters (RF Daylen Lile and DH Abimelec Ortiz) on eight pitches. For Highlights purposes, those marked deGrom’s career strikeouts numbers 1,999 and 2,000. A five-time All Star, deGrom (in his 13th MLB season) finished August with a career record of 106-74, 2.69 and 2,018 strikeouts in 1,677 innings pitched.
Also, on August 20, Guardians’ 27-year-old righty Gavin Williams, fanned 11 Giants in just 5 2/3 innings, as Cleveland topped San Francisco 5-2 in Cleveland. The tenth strikeout in his outing – Giants’ SS Willy Adames to close out the fifth inning – was Williams’ 200th strikeout of 2026 – marking his first MLB 200 strikeout season. Williams is in his fifth MLB season. At the close of August, Williams record on the year was 12-7, 3.98, with 204 strikeouts in 156 innings pitched this campaign
Consistent Power
On August 21, as the Orioles topped the Rays 5-3 in Baltimore, Orioles’ 1B and number-two hitter Pete Alonso went two-for-three with one home run and three RBI. The long ball was his thirtieth of the season, giving Alonso his seventh season of 30 or more dingers. In fact, since his rookie season (a rookie-record 53 home runs), Alonso had topped 30 homers in all but the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. (In 2020, Alonso hit 16 long balls in 57 games.)
2026’s Fourth Cycle
On August 22, Reds’ LF and number-three hitter, JJ Bleday, hit for the cycle, as the Reds topped the Diamondbacks 11-5 in Arizona. In a four-for-six, two-run, three-RBI outing, Bleday hit: an RBI double in the first inning; an RBI triple in the third; a single in the fourth; and a solo home run to lead off the sixth. In his final two plate appearances, he flied out to center and struck out.
Bleday’s was the fourth cycle this MLB season, following: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (June 15); Bryce Harper, Phillies (June 20); and Tristan Peters, White Sox (July 15).
For those who like to know such things, the record for cycles in an MLB season is eight (1903 & 2009).
Bookends for Arozarena – Lucky Number Seven
On August 22, as the Mariners edged the Cubs 5-4 in Seattle, LF and lead-off hitter Randy Arozarena became just the seventh player to hit a lead-off and walk-off home run in the same game … homering (off David Peterson) leading off the bottom of the first and then hitting a three-run homer, with two out in the bottom of the ninth to give Seattle a 5-4 win (that’s right they needed all three runs). This also marked the first time two players had a lead-off and walk-off home runs in the same season. The other this year: the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong, who did it earlier this month, and who was in CF for Arozarena’s accomplishment. Side note: Arozarena was indeed the star of the game. In addition, to the pair of long balls, he had made a home run-robbing catch (off the bat of Cubs’ C Miguel Amaya) in the third inning.
The Yellow Jersey of Cycles
On June 18, 2000, Colorado Rockies’ second baseman Mike Lansing completed MLB’s fastest-ever cycle – completing the task in just four innings.
Raleigh Rising
Mariners’ catcher Cal Raleigh, who last season became the first MLB backstop to hit 60 home runs in a single season, has been having a tough year. Going into Seattle’s August 24 matchup with the Phillies, he was hitting just .159. with 14 home runs and 47 RBI in 98 games. On August 24, however, we saw a glimpse of the 2025 Raleigh, who finished second in the AL MVP voting. In Seattle’s 9-2 win, “The Big Dumper” went three-for-three, with a walk, three runs scored and four RBI.
More Highlight-worthy, each of his three safeties was a home run. It was his first MLB three-homer game, the first Mainer three-homer game in T-Mobile Park, and also tied Raleigh with Jay Buhner and Edgar Martinez for the second-most career multi-homer games as a Mariner (22). Hall of Famer Ken Griffey, Jr. holds the Mariner record at 40. Also, of some interest, Raleigh is only the second Mariner catcher with a three-homer contest, the other such game belongs to the person who wrote Raleigh’s name into the lineup – Seattle manager Dan Wilson.
An Immaculate Inning
On August 25, Twins’ right-hander Taj Bradley fanned 11 batters in 6 2/3 innings as the Twins lost to the Athletics 4-2 in Sacramento. Bradley gave up four runs on seven hits and a walk in the outing.
Still, there was a Highlight for the Twins’ starter. In the bottom of the fifth, Bradley threw the third Immaculate Inning (three up-three down, three strikeouts, nine pitches) of the 2026 season. It was the first “Immaculate” frame in franchise history (I see a bobblehead in the future). The victims were the numbers eight, nine and one hitters (LF Carlos Cortes, C Brian Serven and CF Henry Bolte. Bradley’s record (this season) through August was 10-6, 3.89.
Walk-Offs Are Becoming “”A Thing”
On August 25, Diamondbacks’ 23-year-old rookie outfielder rookie Ryan Waldschmidt was called on to pinch hit with one on and two out in the bottom of the ninth, with Arizona trailing the Cubs 4-3. Waldschmidt delivered a two-run, walk-off, game-winning home run on a 2-1 pitch from Jacob Webb. It was just Waldschmidt’s third MLB homer (in 68 games, 242 plate appearances), but also his second walk-off. His first walk-off came earlier this month (August 7), a two-run shot off Dodgers’ closer Edwin Diaz in a 4-3 Diamondbacks’ win. #InBaseballWeCountEverything: Per the Elias Sports Bureau, Waldschmidt is now one of just five MLB players with two walk-off homers among their first three MLB homers and just one of four MLB rookies to hit two walk-off homers, while trailing (gotta love those qualifiers), in a season.
Forty – Ho-Hum
On August 26, as the Phillies topped the Mariners 6-0 in Seattle, Phillies’ DH Kyle Schwarber became the first major leaguer to reach 40 home runs this season. It was Schwarber’s fourth season of forty or more long balls in five seasons with the Phillies, tying Schwarber with Ryan Howard for the Phillies’ franchise record for the most seasons of 40 or more home runs. (Before joining the Phillies, Schwarber’s season-high – over seven seasons – was 38.)
In 1999, Kyle Schwarber hit just .197, but slugged 47 home runs, scored 108 runs and drove in 104 – the most home runs, runs scored and RBI ever for an MLB player hitting under .200 for the season. His 277 total bases were also the most ever in an under .200 campaign … as, on the other hand, were his 215 strikeouts. His 160 games played tied for the most in an under .200 season. (In 2012, the Rays’ Carlos Pena, player 160 games and went .197-19-61).
Going Bananas Over This One
On August 26, as the White Sox topped the Rangers 10-4 (in Chicago), White Sox rookie left fielder Tristan Peters (a Savannah Banana in 2021) went three-for four, with two runs scored and two RBI. One of those hits was Peters’ 12th home run of the season – and marked his fifth consecutive game with a dinger. This ties the White Sox’ franchise record for consecutive games with a home run., Note: White Sox rookie 1B Munetaka Murakami also homered in five consecutive games this year, joining Paul Konerko (2017); Carlos Lee (2017); A.J. Pierzynski (2012); Frank Thomas (1994); Ron Kittle (1983); and Greg Luzinski (1983).
Peters’ five-game streak also tied the MLB rookie record for consecutive games with a home run and made the White Sox the first team to have two rookies reach the mark in the same season.
Peters’ steak ended on August 28, as he logged a single in four at bats in a 7-4 win over the Twins. During his five-game homer streak, Peters hit .556 (10-for-18), with five homers, two doubles, seven runs scored, nine RBI, three walks and three strikeouts.
Drake Can Rake
On August 27, Braves C Drake Baldwin found himself in a rare spot (for a backstop) in the lineup, batting leadoff, as the Braves took on the Dodgers (in Atlanta). Baldwin warmed to the task, leading off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run off the first pitch of the inning (from Yoshinobu Yamamoto … say that three times fast). The dinger, Baldwin’s 22nd of the season, proved to be the only run in a 1-0 Atlanta win.
More #InBaseballWeCountEverything: For trivia buffs, Baldwin became the first catcher (in the Modern Era) to hit a leadoff homer that proved the only run in the contest. Want to make this record harder to tie? It was also the first leadoff homer, by a catcher on the opposition’s first pitch of the game to be the only run in the game (lots of qualifiers there).
In that same game, Braves’ 37-year-old starter Chris Sale pitched his first shutout since 2019, scattering five hits and fanning eleven (zero walks). As August came to a close, there were only nine single-pitcher shutouts this season.
Sanchez Rolls a 200
On August 29, Phillies righty Christopher Sanchez pitched seven strong innings (to a no-decision) as Philadelphia topped the Angels 4-2 in ten innings (in Anaheim). Sanchez gave up just two hits and one walk in his seven frames, while fanning eight. The eight strikeouts ran Sanchez’ 2026 total to 202 (in 175 1/3 innings), giving him his second consecutive season of 200+ strikeouts. For those who like to know such things, Steve Carlton holds the Phillies’ franchise record for 200-strikeouts campaigns with seven.
Rookie Rage
On August 29. Reds’’ 22-year-old infielder (1B/2B/3B) Sal Stewart went two-for-four, with one run and two RBI as the Reds lost to the Cubs 17-5 in Chicago. The home run was Stewart’s 30th of the season; the RBI brought his league-leading total to 104. With his rookie status intact (he had just 55 at bats in his 2025 debut season), Stewart became the second Reds’ rookie to have a 30-HR season (joining Frank Robinson) and the first Reds’ rookie to have a 30-HR/100-RBI season. Side note: Since the Rookie of the Year Award was established in 1947 nine rookies have recorded a 30-100 campaign and all nine won the ROY Award.
Pretty Good Company
Brewers’ 22-year-old LF Jackson Chourio started the season on the IL, didn’t play his first game until May 5 and didn’t hit his first home run until May 16. Still, on August 29, as the Brew Crew topped the Rangers 5-3 in Milwaukee, Chourio smacked his 20th homer of the season (a solo short off Cal Quantrill in the first inning). It marked Chourio’s third consecutive season (he’s only been in the majors for three seasons) of 20 or more long balls, making him the 17th player with three MLB 20-homer seasons by their age-22 season (the others include Orlando Cepeda, Tony Conigliaro, Carlos Correa, Ken Griffey Jr., Bryce Harper, Bob Horner, Al Kaline, Mickey Mantle, Eddie Mathews, Mel Ott, Frank Robinson, Alex Rodriguez, Giancarlo Stanton, Juan Soto, Mike Trout and Ted Williams).
Austin Wells Takes Pinch “Hitting” Seriously
On August 30, the Yankees’ Austin Wells entered the game in the bottom of the sixth inning (as a pinch hitter for C Ali Sanchez, batting in the nine-hoke) with the Yankees up 5-0 over the Red Sox. Wells promptly delivered an RBI sacrifice fly to deep center. Wells then stayed in the lineup at catcher, which proved to be great news for Wells and Yankee fans.
In the bottom of the eighth, with one on and no outs, Wells delivered a two-run home run off Jovani Moran, running the score to 9-1. The Yankees kept hitting and, by the times Wells came up again in the inning (once again with one on), the score was 14-1 and Red Sox’ 2B Andruw Monasterio was on the mound. Wells hit a 3-2 offering from Monasterio for a two-run homer to RF … becoming the first MLB player to hit two home runs in an inning in a game in which he entered as a pinch hitter.
Closing In On a 20-20-20-20 Season
The Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll is closing in MLB’s fifth-ever 20-20-20-20 seasons (doubles, triples, home runs, stolen bases), closing out August with a .244 average to go with 28 doubles, 16 triples, 19 home runs and 20 steals. For more on 20-20-20-20 seasons click here.
Mad Max Climbing the Ladder
In six August starts, 42-year-old Blue Jays’ righty Max Scherzer (in his 19th MLB season) fanned 28 batters in 32 1/3 innings – bringing his career strikeout total to 3,535. That moved him past Walter Johnson (3,509) and Gaylord Perry (3,534) into ninth-place all time. Just ahead of him now are Justin Verlander (3,554) and Don Sutton (3,574).
Closing August With A Bang
On August 31, as the Cubs topped the Brewers 17-3 (at Wrigley). The Cubbies pounded out 20 hits -including a new franchise single-game record of nine home runs. Surprisingly, the red-hot Pete Crow-Armstrong, who led all MLB hitters with 14 August dingers, did not contribute to the home run parade. Third baseman Alex Bregman had three homers and LF Michael Conforto (who entered the game in the eighth), RF Seiya Suzuki, Tyrone Taylor (who started in left and moved to center), SS Nick Hoerner, C Carson Kelly and 2B Matt Shaw contributed one each.
For those who like to know such things, the record for home runs in a game by one team is ten (by the Blue Jays against the Orioles on September 18, 1987). Nine home runs by a team in a game has been achieved four times.
–INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS FOR AUGU36—
BATTING AVERAGE (at least 75 at bats)
American League: Jac Caglianone, Royals (.411); Chandler Simpson, Rays (.379); Chase DeLauter Guardians (.363)
National League: Geraldo Perdomo, D-backs (.336); Bryce Harper, Phillies (.323); Alec Bohm, Phillies (.327)
The lowest August average among players with at least 75 at bats belonged to Nationals’ 2B Nasim Nunez at .124 (11-for-89).
HITS
American League: Jac Caglianone, Royals (39); Chandler Simpson, Rays (39); Pete Alonso, Orioles (35)
National League: Gerardo Perdomo, D-backs (36); Sal Stewart. Reds (35); Jake McCarthy, Rockies (34); Alex Bregman, Cubs (34)
The Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong led all MLBers in August extra-base hits with 21 – six doubles, one triple and 14 home runs.
HOME RUNS
American League: Pete Alonso, Orioles (9); Cal Raleigh, Mariners (9); Randy Arozarena, Mariners (8)
National League: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (14); Alex Bregman, Cubs (19); Fernando Tatis, Jr., Padres (9)
The Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong led all hitters with at least 75 at bats in August slugging percentage at .703. The Royals’ Jac Caglianone the AL at .684.
RUNS BATTED IN
American League: Jac Caglianone, Royals (26), Pete Alonso, Orioles (22); Jo Adell, Guardians (21); Junior Caminero, Rays (21)
National League: Alex Bregman, Cubs (30); Alec Burleson, Cardinals (29); Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (28)
RUNS SCORED
American League: Bobby Witt, Jr., Royals (26); Steven Kwan, Guardians (25); Wilyer Abreu, Red Sox (21)
National League: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (29); Seiya Suzuki, Cubs (25); Alex Bregman, Cardinals (23)
DOUBLES
American League: Miles Straw, Blue Jays (10); Wilyer Abreu, Red Sox (9); Nick Sogard, Red Sox (9)
National League: Michael Harris II, Braves (11); Gabriel Moreno, D-backs (10); Seiya Suzuki, Cubs (10)
TRIPLES
American League: Max Clark, Tigers (3); Cam Smith, Astros (3); four with two
National League: Corbin Carroll, D-backs (4); Jared Young, Mets (3); six with two
STOLEN BASES
American League: Chandler Simpson, Rays (11); Jazz Chisholm, Jr. , Yankees (10); Andres Gimenez, Blue Jays (7)
National League: Jake McCarthy, Rockies (9); A.J. Ewing, Mets (8); CJ Abrams, Nationals (7); Otto Lopez, Marlins (7)
The Nationals’ CJ Abrams and Marlins’ Otto Lopez tied for the most August bases stolen without getting caught (7).
BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS
American League: Colson Montgomery, White Sox (47); Munetaka Murakam1, White Sox (46); Julio Rodriguez, Mariners (37)
National League: Brandon Lowe, Pirates (44); Esmerlyn Valdez, Pirates (40); CJ Abrams, Nationals (38)
WALKS
American League: Miguel Vargas. White Sox (25); Wyatt Langford, Rangers (22); Munetaka. Murakami, White Sox (22)
National League: Bryce Harper, Phillies (31); Jake Bauers, Brewers (22); Bryson Stott, Phillies (20)
The Highest on-base percentage among players with at least 75 August at bats was .496, by the Phillies’ Bryce Harper. The AL leader was the Guardians’ Steven Kwan at .450.
PITCHING VICTORIES
American League: Zebby Matthews, Twins (5-0); Drew Rasmussen, Rays (5-0); Noah Cameron, Royals (4-0); Paul Blackburn, Yankees (4-1); Tyler Alexander, Rangers (4-1)
National League: Randy Vasquez, Padres (4-0); Braxton Ashcraft, Pirates (4-1); Cade Cavalli, Nationals (4-1); Logan Henderson, Brewers (4-1) ; Alex McFarlane, Phillies (4-1) ; Eduardo Rodriguez, D-backs (4-1)
The Cardinals’ Matthew Liberatore (0-5, 5;91) and Orioles Shan Baz (1-5, 4.11) led MLB in August losses.
EARNED RUN AVERAGE (minimum 25 August innings)
American League: Cal Quantrill, Rangers (1.45); Reid Detmers. Angels (1.50); Ryan Johnson, Angels (1.71)
National League: Jesus Luzardo, Phillies (1.31); Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies (1.72); Cade Cavalli, Nationals (1.75)
The highest ERA among pitchers with at least 25 August innings or four August starts was 10.03 by the Rockies’ Gabriel Hughes (0-3, 10/03 in five starts, 23 1/3 innings).
STRIKEOUTS
American League: Ian Seymour, Rays (48K 35 IP); Payton Tolle, Red Sox (44K / 36 IP); Dylan Cease, Blue Jays (43K / 31 IP)
National League: Cade Cavalli, Nationals (47K 36 IP) : Jesus Luzardo, Phillies (46K / 34 12 IP); Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies (45K / 36 2/3 IP)
WALKS + HITS/INNINGS PITCHED (at least 25 August innings)
American League: Noah Cameron, Royals (0.80); Michael Wacha, Royals (0.83); Cal Quantrill, Rangers (0.84)
National League: Randy Vasquez, Padres (0.64): Logan Henderson, Brewers (0.71); Braxton Ashcraft, Pirates (0.74)
Among pitches with at least 25 August innings, the Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease held batters to the lowest average at .144.
SAVES
American League: Bryan Baker, Rays (9); David Bednar, Yankees (8); Josh Hader, Astros (7); Luis Varland, Blue Jays (7)
National League: Trevor Megill, Brewers (8); Ryan O’Brien, Cardinals (8); Emilio Pagan, Reds (8)
Bryan Baker of the Rays saved the most games without a blown save in August (nine).
Bonus:
Among pitchers who faced at least 75 batters in August:
- The Guardian Gavin Williams fanned the most batters per nine innings at 14.29;
- The Braves’ Chris had the best strikeouts-to-walks ratio at 17.0. (He walked two batters and fanned 34 in 27 innings.)
If the season ended August 31, your post-season team would be:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Ras,y White Sox, Astros Wild Cards: Yankees, Red Sox. Guardians
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Brewers, Dodgers, Braves Wild Cards: Cubs, Phillies, Padres
Primary Resources: Stathead.com; MLB.com; Baseball-Almanac.com
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