Baseball Roundtable July Wrap Up – A Triple Play, Immaculate Inning, a cycle, an Ultimate “Ultimate Grand Slam,” a 12-Plate Appearance Hitting Streak and Much More

The calendar has turned over to August, and that means it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s July 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.  (Note: Regular readers know I usually publish this post on the first of the month, but family obligations took precedence.) I should add right up front that I slightly lowered at-bat and innings-pitched minimums to make the monthly leader lists to reflect the All Star break.

Here are just a few of this month’s highlights that you will find in this post:

• The season’s first triple play (Marlins);
• A player with a record-tying  12 consecutive hits (Tyler Tolbert);
• An Ultimate “Ultimate Grand Slam” (Kody Clemens);
• A cycle (Tristan Peters);
• A team (Tigers) scoring in every inning in a game in which they didn’t allow the opposition to score in any inning;
• Nolan Arenado‘s 2,000th hit;
• A catcher (Kyle Higashioka) on the mound, pitching to a pitcher (Victor Mederos);
• An Immaculate Inning (Gavin Williams);
• An $11-million-dollar baseball card (Shohei Ohtani);
• A 15-game winning streak (Red Sox); and
• Much more.

Read on to the Highlights Sections stories.

—Roundtable Players and Pitchers of the Month for July—

National League 

Player of the Month – CJ Abrams, SS, Nationals

Some tough choices here.  I took a long look at  the Pirates’ Nick Gonzalez’ .388 average and 40 July hits  (both highest among NL players with at least 60 July at bats), as well as Cardinals’ RF Jordan Walker and and Nationals’ RF James Wood  (the only MLB players to both score and drive in at least 20 runs during the month).  Ultimately, I went with National’s SS CJ Abrams, who put together an all-around solid month.

Abrams hit  .348 in July, his ten July roundtrippers led MLB, as did his .742 slugging percentage (among players with at least 60 July at bats). He also drove in 23 July runs, third-best in MLB. His line for the month was .348-10-23, with 17 runs scored and six stolen bases (in seven attempts). When you can get that kind of production out of your SS (and iu a short month … All Star break), you’ve got to be happy. In the course of the month, Abrams had seven multi-hit and seven multi-RBI games.  Just 25-years-old, Abrams is already in his fifth MLb season (and is a two-time All Star).

Honorable Mentions.  Pirates’ infielder Nick Gonzales led MLB with 40 hits in July (in 25 games), going .388-3-14, with 17 runs scored. His .388 average was highest among National  Leaguers with at least 60 July at bats. He recorded a base hit in all but three July games and had 15 multi-hit games.   As noted earlier a pair of NL right fielders each notched at least 20 runs scored AND 20 RBI in the month. The Nationals’ James Wood went .293-9-20, with an NLB -topping 26 July runs scored; while the Cardinals’ Jordan Walker went .260-4-21, with 20 runs scored.

Pitcher of the Month – Chris Sale, LHP, Braves

Going with the 37-year-old veteran (and 2024 Cy Young Award winner) Chris Sale  here. Sale tied for the MLB lead in July wins with four (no losses). In his five starts, he put up a 2.00 earned run average and his tidy 0.81 WHIP was fourth-best among NLers with at least 20 July innings. He fanned 34 batters in 27 innings, walked only four and held hitters to a .186 average.   In his final two starts of the month, he fanned 20 batters in 12 innings, while walking just one.

Honorable Mentions: The Cubs’ Matthew Boyd went 3-0, 1.67 in five starts, put up a 0.99 WHIP and .198 average against.  I cannot leave out the Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski, who just keeps breaking velocity records for starting pitchers and, in July, put up a 0.67 WHIP, .171 average against and fanned 39 batters, while walking (read carefully here) just one. The Miz’ final line was 2-1, 2.14 in four starts.  I also looked a the Phillies Jesus Luzardo, who went 3-1, 2.59 in five starts – and fanned 41 (third-highest in the NL), while walking just eight. Zack Wheeler (2-1, 3.90) deserves a mention for leading the NL in strikeouts 49 (in 27 2/3 July innings), while walking just four.

American League

Player of the Month – Yordan Alvarez, DH, Astros

Yordan Alvarez’ July stat line was .360-9-22. He led the AL in home runs, RBI (the oly AL player to reach 20) and total bases (54). Alvarez was also  second in the AL hits (31). Alvarez had 11 multi-hit games during the month and, from July 10 through July 24, had a 10-game hitting streak during which he went .486 (18-for-37), with five home runs and ten RBI.

Honorable Mentions: Guardians’ LF Steven Kwan put up the highest July average (among players with at least 60 July at bats (.390) – going 30-for-77. Surprisingly, Kwan drove in just six runs and scored only ten during the month. Red Sox’ CF Ceddanne Rafaela led the AL in hits (33), put up a .303 average, and tied for second in RBI (19), as well as swiping five bases in five tires. Astros’ SS Jeremy Pena, went .381-6-13, with 17 runs scored in just 15 games.

A Little Extra

I want to mention a couple of players who had less than the 60 at bats the Roundtable set as a floor for consideration in this section. Royals’ SS Tyler Tolbert had just 40 at bats in 18 games, but he collected 17 hits (.425 average), with three homers and seven RBI.  Astro’s 3B Joshua Kuroda-Grauer went 22-for-53 in 14 games – for a .415 average, with one homer, three RBI and seven runs scored. 

Pitcher of the Month – Dylan Cease, RHP, Blue Jays

Another veteran here, the 30-year-old Dylan Cease went 3-1 for the Blue Jays (who went 11-13 on the month), averaging just over seven innings per start. Cease’s 1.00 earned run average was second in the AL among pitchers with at least 20 July innings; his 0.72 WHIP was also second; and his .1125 average against was third. His 36 innings pitched were second in MLB. On July 25, he threw a complete game, one-hit shutout against one of the hottest teams in baseball – the Red Sox, who were 21-4 in July. 

Honorable Mentions: The Twins Taj Bradley went 3-1, 2.92 in July. His 37 July innings led MLB and his 48 strikeouts were third. He held hitters to a .189 average over the month.  Red Sox’ closer Aroldis Chapman made 12 appearances in July and came away with ten saves (in ten opportunities) amd two wins, pitching to a 0.75 earned run average.

—Surprise Player Of the Month—

Jake Bennett, LHP, Red Sox 

The 25-year-old rookie lefthander tied for the MLB lead in July wins, going 4-1, 2.20 in five starts, showing considerable mound savvy. He didn’t fan that many hitters (21 in 32 2/3 innings), but he walked only four and gave up just one home run. Bennett was probably less of a surprise to BoSox fans than to The Roundtable.  He was  2022 second-round draft pick (Nationals) out of the University of Oklahoma, where he went 17-7, 4.30 over three seasons.   Bennett spent two years in the Nationals’ farm system (had Tommy John Surgery in 2023) before being acquired by the Red Sox in a trade of prospects last December. He was called up to make his  his MLB debut May 1 (at the time he was 3-2, 1.60 at Triple-A).   In May and June, he went 2-3, 3.27 in six starts for the Red Sox. Then, in June, he found himself tied atop the MLB victory leaderboard.  Looking like a very good trade.

Honorable Mentions: Let’s just say that I was surprised to see that the only two players to reach 25 RBI in July were both rookies: Reds’ 22-year-old 1B  Sal Stewart (.250-7-25) and  Pirates’ 22-year-old RF Esmerlyn Valdez (.250-08-25).  Another surprise was Royals’ RH Randy Dobnak, putting up a 1.04 earned run average over 26 July innings. Coming into 2026 Dobnak had a 9-12, 4.86  record over five MLB seasons (2019-21, 2024-25). In his professional career (2017-25), he had had spent one full season and parts of four seasons in the major leagues (all with the Twins) and all or part of eight seasons in the minor leagues.  He had pitched in just six MLB games since 2021.  He started the 2026 season in the Mariner’s system and was 5-5, 4.24 at Triple-A  before being sent to the Royals for cash considerations, The Royals called the 31-year-old up to the majors after two start at Triple-A Omaha.  He made his debut for the Royals July 2 and finished the month at 1-0, 1.04, allowing just three runs over 26 innings,  The Roundtable applauds that perserverane and wishes this former Twinm the besstd goinmg forward as a Royal.

 ____________________________________________________

THE TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE FEATURE

Through July 31,  35.1% of the MLB season’s 125,041  plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). 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 (22.4%); walks (8.9%); home runs (3.1%); HBP (1.1%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). 

The 35.1% is up  from the 34.4% through July of 2025. 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.

_____________________________

 

Red Sox Ready To Rumble

The most remarkable performance of the month came from the Red Sox, who went 21-4 and whose .840 winning percentage was the best for any calendar month in franchise history.  At the plate, the charge was led by CF Ceddanne Rafeala (.303-5-19, with 17 runs scored) and 1B Willson Contreras (.323-4-14, with 14 runs scored). Overall, the Red Sox had five players with ten or more RBI, five with 10 or more runs scored; and three with at least five home runs.  LF Jarren Duran drove in 17 runs, despite a .210 average and only one home run; while RF Wilyer Abreu hit only .186 in 25 games, but made it count, with six home runs and 14 RBI.  On the mound, rookie Jake Bennett went 4-1, 2.20  in five starts; veteran Sonny Gray went 4-1, 3.60; and Aroldis Chapman appeared in 12 games, picking up ten saves and two wins (0.75 earned run average for the month.)

The Red Sox surge was built around a 15-game winning streak (July 3-22) – tying the longest  unbeaten streak in franchise history. For those with an interest in such things, the run of victories included: nine away and ten home games; three one-run victories; three shutouts; and just one  extra-inning contest. During the streak the Red Sox scored five or more runs in 12 games and gave up two or fewer run in ten. Overall, the Red Sox outscored their opponents 88-32.   They dominated on the mound and at the plate.  During the streak, the pitching staff put up a 2.37 earned run average to the opponents’ 5.40, and fanned 125 batters to the opponents’ 119. At the plate BoSox hit .327, with 23 home runs to the opponents’ .201 and 11 homers.

An Anomoly

In July, the Nationals led the  National League in: batting average; home runs; stolen bases; total bases; walks; on-base percentage; and slugging percentage.  (They were second in runs scored.) Still, they only went 11-13.  Ah, there was that pesky NL-worst 5.22 earned run average (5.22). 

——-Team Statistical Leaders July  2026 ———-

RUNS SCORED

National League – Braves (144); Nationals (142); Cubs (139)

American League – Red Sox (128); Tigers (126); Astros (119)

The fewest runs in July were scored by the Angels (75). In the National League, it was the Phillies (94).    

AVERAGE

National League – Nationals (.279); Padres (.269); Pirates (.267)

American League – Rangers (.253); Red Sox (.252); Tigers (.252)

The lowest team average for July belonged to the Mariners and Cardinals, both at .216.  

HOME RUNS

National League – Nationals (50); Braves (42); Reds (39)

American League – Astros (38); Rangers (35); Rays (34); Tigers (34)

The fewest home runs in July were hit by the Angels (16). The Cardinals were at the bottom of the NL at 22.

TOTAL BASES

National League – Nationals (442); Braves (407); Pirates (375)

American League – Rays (378); Tigers (361); Rangers (355); Red Sox (355)

The Nationals led MLB in July Slugging Percentage at .532. The Rangers led the AL at .443. The Nat’s were the only team to slug at least .500.

DOUBLES

National League – Brewers (59); Cubs (48); Nationals (46)

American League – Royals (49); White Sox (46); Red Sox (44)

TRIPLES

National League – Brewers (8); Rockies (7); Nationals (7)

American League – Tigers (7); Twins (6); Rays (5)

 STOLEN BASES

National League – Nationals (34); Brewers (29); Padres (27)

American League – Guardians (33); Rays (29); Royals (19); Yankees (19)

The Tigers stole the fewest sacks in July at four  – in an MLB-low seven attempts. The Braves were at the bottom of the NL with seven – in eight attempts.

WALKS DRAWN

National League – Nationals (108); Brewers (104); Padres (97)

American League – Orioles (102); Red Sox (88); Guardians (82)

The Nationals led MLB in July on-base percentage at .363. The Red sox led the NL at .337. The Yankees had MLB’s lowest July OBP at .281.  The Cardinals were at the bottom of the NL at .285. 

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Reds (245); Pirates (238); Braves (226)

American League – Yankees (250); Guardians (217); Angels (217)

Blue Jays’ batters fanned the fewest times in July (150). The Nationals fanned the fewest times in the NL at 185.

__________________________________________________

EARNED RUN AVERAGE

National League – Cubs (3.74); Diamondbacks (3.74);  Reds (3.81)

American League – Red Sox (2.91); Yankees (3.03); Tigers (3.04)

The A’s had the highest July ERA at 6.61.  The Nationals had the NL’s highest ERA at 5.22.  Also over 5.00 were the Rangers (5.70) and Rockies (5.02).

The seven lowest July ERAs belonged to AL teams. 

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Phillies (246); Pirates (239); Brewers (237)

American League – Yankees (249); Guardians (236); White Sox (233)

The Phillies averaged an MLB-best 10.63 strikeouts per nine innings in July (the only team to average in double digits). The Yankees averaged an AL-best 9.79.  Eleven teams averaged nine whiffs per nine or better.

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED

National League –   Brewers (63); Cubs (68); Diamondbacks (70)

American League – Mariners (52); Red Sox (60); Rays (61)

The Mariners walked an MLB-lowest 2.25 batters per nine innings in July.   The Athletics walked an MLB-worst 4.92 batters per nine frames.

SAVES

National League –Braves (10); Cubs (9); three with eight

American League – Red Sox (13); Rays (11); Orioles (10); Yankees (10)

The Braves blew the most saves in July  – seven (in 17 opportunities). 

Walks+ Hits/Innings Pitched (WHIP)

National League – Brewers (1.13); Dodgers (1.25); Reds (1.26)

American League:  Rays (1.02); Yankees (1.12); Tigers (1.13)

Bonus Stats:

• The A’s gave up an MLB-high 45 home runs in July. The Cardinals gave up an MLB-low 18 home runs.
• Rays’ pitchers held opponents to an MLB-low .209 average in July. The Rockies’ staff was touched for an MLB-high .291 average.
• The Brewers’ strikeouts-to-walks ratio for July topped MLB at 3.76. The Athletics had MLB’s worst ratio at 1.87.

—–JULY 2026 HIGHLIGHTS—–

Out Of order, But Deserving

Okay, The Roundtable usually presents these highlights in date order, but this is one I really felt deserved to be moved to the top of the list. It involves the Royals’ 28-year-old utility player/pinch runner Tyler Tolbert. Tolbert came into the season (his second on the big-league roster), with a .280 average over 64 MLB games (and a .245 average over six minor-league seasons). Tolbert started this season with the Royals, but was sent back down to Triple-A on April 19 (after just five plate appearances) and then called back up to the Royals on May 22. Long story short, he looked to serve primarily as a pinch runner and defensive replacement.

As of July 1, he had appeared in 29 games for the Royals this season, hitting .200-0-1 in 35 at bats. But Tolbert was about to unleash some offensive fireworks … starting appropriately with a game on the Fourth of July.

Here’s a run down:

• July 4, in a Royals 6-1 loss to the Phillies (in Kansas City), Tolbert started RF, batting ninth. He beat out an infield single in the bottom of the third inning; recorded a groundball single in the hole to RF in the fifth; was removed for a pinch hitter in the seventh.
• July 5, did not play in a 5-2 win over the Phillies.
• July 6, as the Royals swamped the Phillies 15-1, Tolbert, at SS and batting seventh: Beat out a groundball single (to SS) in the first inning; lashed a double to CF in the third; led off the fifth with a home run; added an infield single in the sixth; and a single to center in the eighth.
• July 7, as the Royals topped the Mets 16-12 in New York, Tolbert, in RF batting ninth; hit a two-run homer in the second; rapped a single to right field in the fourth; beat out a groundball single (to 3B) in the fifth; recorded another groundball single (to SS) in the sixth; collected another groundball single (to SS) in the seventh; flied out to right in the ninth.

Now, if you were reading closely, you will see that Tolbert, again hitting just .200-0-1 gaining into the July 4 game, ran off a string of 12 consecutive hits in 12 plate appearances. Tolbert’s hits-in-consecutive-plate-appearances streak tied the MLB record – a feat achieved only twice before in MLB history (Walt Dropo, Tigers, 1952 and Johnny Kling, Cubs, 1901).  Jose Miranda (2024 Twins) and Pinky Higgins (1938 Red Sox) also collected 12 hits in 12 consecutive at bats (but not 12 consecutive plate appearances).

At the end of the July 7 game, Tolbert’s stat line was .396-2-5.  He finished July at .333-6-14 on the season.

Oh, Come On!!!

On July 5, Marlins’ righty Eury Perez was cruising to a win over the Athletics (in Sacramento). After seven innings, The Marlins were up 8-0 … AND Perez had fanned eight and was yet to allow a baserunner.  He was 92 pitches and seven innings into a perfect game. And, this point, Marlins’ Manager Clayton McCullough decided to pull Perez (in his third start since coming back from a leg strain) from the game.

MLB.com reported it was just the third time in the Modern ERA that a pitcher had been pulled from a game with a perfect game intact after at least seven innings.  The other two were the Dodgers’ Rich Hill (September 19, 2016) and Clayton Kershaw (April 13, 2022). In both previous cases, the manager was Dave Roberts (so at least, McCullough took Roberts a little off the hook).

I was at the Kershaw game (April 13, 2022 against my Twins at Target Field). As I reported on this blog then, I joined both Twins and Dodgers fans in voicing my displeasure with the move by  Dodger Manager Roberts. The reason given was a desire to protect Kershaw ‘s arm early in the season after a lockout and short Spring Training. (I should note that in none of these three games resulted a combined perfecto – or even a no-hitter – being completed.  In fact, in the Perez’ game, the Marlins had to hang on for a 9-8 victory.)

Here, I will repeat my comment after witnessing the pulling of Kershaw with a Perfecto intact “I found myself trying to imagine what would have happened  in the same situation with the likes of Jack Morris, Bob Gibson or Don Drysdale on the bump.”

Do We Get Overtime For This?

On July 6, The Dodgers played their 92nd game of the season, picking up their 60th win. But that game and victory were different in all that went before them in 2026. That 60th victory took 11 innings, ending on a walk-off single by C Dalton Rushing – and it marked an end to the Dodgers’ first extra-inning game of the season.

#InBaseballWeCountEvreythuing. The Elias Sports Bureau reports that this is the second-most games before an extra-inning contest in any season. On July 25, 2005, the Red Sox lost to the Devil Rays (they were the Devil Rays back then) 4-3 in ten innings, their first extra-inning game (and 99th game) of the season. The Red Sox, by the way, went extra innings again, the very next game, a 10-inning 10-9 win over Tampa. They, in fact, played eight extra-inning games in their last 63 contests that season (after zero extra innings in their first 98 games).

An Exercise in Futility

On June 6 and 7, while splitting a pair of Games to the Rays in Tampa, the Yankees set a new franchise record for strikeouts in two consecutive games (34) – fanning 17 times in each one.  Key among the culprits were 1B Paul Goldschmidt (seven strikeouts in eight plate appearances over the two games), LF Cody Bellinger (five strikeouts in eight PA), SS Jose Caballero (four strikeouts in seven PA) and 2B Jazz Chisholm, Jr. (four strikeouts in seven plate appearances).

In the first game, a 5-1 Yankees’ win, Caballero was the only Yankee starter not to whiff at least once, and six of the starters recorded multiple strikeouts. In the second game, a 6-4 Yankee loss, Goldschmidt and Caballero each fanned four times in four plate appearances.

More (Sho)hei Time

On July 7, as the Dodgers lost to the Rockies by a 4-3 score (in LA), DH Shohei Ohtani rapped his 20th home run of the season, a solo shot of Mike Lorenzen, leading off the bottom of the first inning. While it didn’t lead to a Yankee win, it was a significant blow – Ohtani’s 300th MLB career homer.  The blast came in his 1,102st career MLB game.  The Elias Sports Bureau indicated the only players to get to 300 faster are: Aaron Judge (953 games); Ralph Kiner (1,086); Ryan Howard (1,091) and Juan Gonzalez (1,093).

It also made Ohtani just the second player to leadoff a game for this team with a 300th career blast (joining Steve Finley). And, of course, one must keep in mind that Ohtani also has recorded 755 strikeouts as a pitcher. Only one other player with at least 300 home runs has at least 500 punchouts as a pitcher (Babe Ruth at 501). Third on the list is Jimmie Foxx with 11 strikeouts as a moundsman.

Coming Out Hot

On July 7, as the Pirates crushed the Braves 12-4 in Pittsburgh, Pirates’ 1B Ryan O’Hearn came out hot.

• In the bottom of the first, he hit a Grand slam off Braves’ starter Hurston Waldrep;
• In the third frame, he took Waldrep deep again, a three-run shot this time;
• In the fourth, he grounded out (off reliever Connor Thomas), with two on and one out;
• In the sixth, he torched Thomas for his second three-run dinger of the game.

At this point, O’Hearn had driven in all ten Pirate runs (they led 10-2). And, with three innings left to play, the MLB records of four homers in a game and 12 RBI in a game were a possibility.  He got one more hit – a single of Jorge Mateo in the eighth – but still an unforgettable day at the plate.

For those who like to know such things, 17 players have recorded ten or more RBI in a game and, of those, 11 hit three or more home runs in the contest.  Mark Whiten’s is the most notable of these offensive outbursts. On September 7, 1993, Whiten had a game in which he tied the record for homers in a game (4) AND the record for RBI in a game (12). He’s the only player to reach both those marks in the same contest.

Feel Good Story For July

On July 9, 26-year-old, Eduardo Valencia made his MLB debut – pinch-hitting for Tiger’s DH Kerry Carpenter, leading off the bottom of the seventh inning, with his Tigers ahead of the Athletics 3-1. It was a BIG moment for Valencia, in his eighth professional season (he signed with the Tigers, out of Venezuela, as an 18-year-old in 2018), having hit .273-52-262 in 439 minor-league games . When he weas called up, the C-1B was hitting .267-16-49 at Triple-A Toledo (following a breakout .311-24-95 season at Double-A and Triple-A in 2025). His trip to The Show has not been an easy one, interrupted by hamstring injuries, Tommy John surgery and hand surgery.

Well, if making the BIGs, was BIG, Valencia made it even BIGGER. In that first MLB  plate appearance, he hit a 2-1 pitch from the Athletics Hogan Harris for a 425-foot home run to center field He came up once more in the game, with two out and one on in the eighth, and got a different kind of introduction to the major leagues – being hit by a pitch from Mark Leiter, Jr.

Getting A Running Start

On July 12, Rockies’ RF Jake McCarthy popped his tenth home run of the 2026 season.  He did not, however, enjoy a leisurely trot around the bases.  The four-bagger was an inside-the-parker, leading off the game (top of the first), on a 0-1 pitch from the Giants’ Trevor McDonald. (It would be the only run plated by the Rockies, who dropped a 3-1 decision  to the Giants.  But that’s not what made the running four-bagger a highlight.  The roundtripper was McCarthy’s second lead-ff inside-the-park home run of the season.  One June 20, He led off the bottom of the first (of  a 2-1 Rockies’ home win over the Pirates) with an inside-the-park home run off a 2-1 pitch from Pirates’ ace Paul Skenes. It made McCarthy the first player to notch a pair of leadoff inside-the-park homers in the same season since Edd Roush (yes, it has two d’s) in 1929. Side Note: McCarthy indicated he had not had an inside-the-park homer at any level until this season. That, indeed, makes it a Highlight.

A Bicycle with a Banana Seat

On July 10, as the White Sox rippled the Athletics 14-1 in Chicago. ChiSox CF Tristan Peters (hitting in the nine-hole), had quite the day. Peters, who played for the Savannah Bananas in 2021, delivered like this:

• Bottom of the third inning … Double to CF off Aaron Civale;
• Bottom of the fifth … Groundball single (Civale);
• Bottom of the seventh … Two-run home run off Justin Sterner AND an RBI-triple off Mason Barnett.

Yep, a four-for-four day, with a cycle.  It was, by the way, the third cycle of 2026: Peters; Bryce Harper, Phillies (June 20); and Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (June 15).

Well, That’ll Turn Your Season Around

Nationals’ 1B Andre Chaparro came into the Nats’ July 17 game against the Athletics (in Sacramento), hitting .167-1-7 on the season (31 games) and with just  five hits and three RBI since July 1 (19 games.) Then, as the Nationals trounced the Athletics 23-4, Chaparro (oddly, still batting in the three-hole), went four-for-five, with two home runs, a walk,  four runs scored and eight RBI.  So, to that point in the season, that one game saw Chaparro collect: 23.5% of his total hits on the season; 23.5% of his total runs scored; 66.6% of his total home runs; and 53.3% of  his total RBI.  Not a bad day at the office.  (Of course, it was  at Sutter Health Park.)

A Little Role Reversal or “DH? I don’t need no stinkin’ DH”

On July 17, with the Braves leading the Rangers 12-0 in the top of the eighth (in Atlanta), Braves’ skipper Walt Weiss decided to give his All Star position players a little “time off.”  So, C Joey Bart (batting in the leadoff spot) replaced All Star C Drake Baldwin; Jorge Mateo (batting in the two-hole) replaced All Star 2B Ozzie Albies and starting DH Dominic Smith (staying in the six-hole) moved over to 1B, replacing All Star Matt Olson at 1B. That third move  (Smith’s move from DH) meant the Braves lost their DH and new pitcher Victor Mederos took a spot in the batting order (Olson’s number-three spot).  Fate stepped in to make it a memorable move.

It was a lopsided game and the Rangers brought in a position player (catcher Kyle Higashioka) to pitch the bottom of the eighth. (It was Higashioka’s third “pitching” appearance of the season. ) As fate would have it, Maderos was slated to bat sixth in the inning and the Braves went: home run, (Austin Riley); groundout (Jim Jarvis); walk (Brewer Hicklen); line out (Bart); ground rule double (Mateo).  This brought Mederos to the plate with runners on second and third and two out.  So, we now had a catcher on the mound and a pitcher at the plate. Maderos responded (using Olson’s bat and batting gloves) to this role reversal by hitting a 42 MPH,  1-1 offering from Higashioka past Rangers’ 3B Josh Jung for a two-run single.

Champions Are Always Ready

On July 18, the Chicago Cubs invited member the Cubs 2016 World Series Champion team to take part in the christening of a new Champions Gate” monument outside Wrigley Field – and then, later, the champion teammates settled in to enjoy the game (versus the Twins) in the right field bleachers. In the bottom of the first inning, Cubs’ 1B Michael Busch blasted a homer to deep right field off Twins starter Taj Bradley. Who should catch the long ball? None other than Anthony Rizzo, first baseman for that 2016 World Series Championship team. Rizzo held the ball aloft – along with his toddler son – as his 2016 teammates and Chicago fans cheered and applauded his effort. Seem like a highlight to me.

Oh, and the Cubs won the game 6-2.

Complete Game, Always A Highlight

On July 19, Dodgers’ righty  Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw his first-ever MLB Regular season  complete game, tossing a four-hitter (two runs, no walks, seven strikeouts), as the Dodgers topped the Yankees 8-2 in New York.  Yamamoto used 102 pitches (69 strikes ) to complete the gem, which came in his 66^th MLB regular-season start. It ran his 2026 record to 10-6, 2.78 in 18 starts. As July closed out, MLB had seen a total of 12 complete games this season.

Why did I use the modifier regular-season to describe Yamamoto’s  July complete game? Notably, last year, Yamamoto pitched a complete game in the National League Championship and another in the World Series, making him just one of two pitchers (the other is Josh Beckett) to throw their first two MLB complete games in the post-season.

Hunting The Long Ball

On July 19, Rockies’ C Hunter Goodman went three-for-four, with three runs scored and five RBI, as Colorado lost to the  Reds 9-6 in Colorado. Notably, three of his hits were home runs, giving him 30 on the season and marking his second three-homer game of the season (the first was in an 8-5 win over the Twins at Target Field) on June 27. The July 19^th performance made him the first Rockies’ player with two three-homer games in a season. Hunter finished July with a .251-31-60 stat line on the season. Notably, despite Coors Fields reputation as a hitters’ paradise, 18 of Goodman’s 31 2026 long balls have come on the road.

2,000 for Nolan

On July 20, in Diamondbacks 5-2 loss to the Athletics, Arizona 3B Nolan Arenado collected a fifth-inning  double off Jeffrey Springs (it was Arenado’s only hit in a one-for-four performance). It makes the highlights because it was the 2000^th hit in Arenado’s 14-season MLB career. It also made Arenado one of only six players to amass the combination of at least 2,000 hits, 350 homers and ten Gold Gloves. The other five, by the way, are all in the Baseball Hall of Fame: Willie Mays, Johnny Bench, Al Kaline, Mike Schmidt and Ken Griffey, Jr. Not bad company. For those who like to know such things, Arenado was a Gold Glover at third base in each of his first ten MLB seasons (2013-2022).  Over his first ten seasons, Arenado hit .289, with 1,520 hits,  299 home runs and 968 RBI.

First Triple Play Of The 2026 Season

On July 21, the Miami Marlins turned the first tuple play of the 2026 MLB season – and it was a true around-the-horn triple killing. In came in the bottom of the eighth with the Astros up 5-3 and Zach “Password” Brzykcy on the  mound for Miami. Astros’ DH Yordan Alvarez led off with a groundball single between first and second (on an Brzykcy’s first pitch).  3B  Isaac Paredes then singled  to center on a 2-2 pitch. Next up was 2B  Jose Altuve, who grounded a 1-0 pitch to Miami third basemen Leo Jimenez, who stepped on the bag for out number-one and then fired to 2B Xavier Edwards for out number-two. Edwards pivoted and fired to  1B Kyle Stower and the triple killing was compete. The Astros, by the way, prevailed in the game 5-3.

What!  Someone Upstaged the “Sho”

Okay, this a little of #InBaseballWeCountEverything. On July 23, as the Blue Jays lost to the Red Sox 6-4 in Fenway Park, Blue Jays ‘ 3B Kazuma Okamoto went two-for-five, with one run scored and three RBI. One of his hits was a seventh-inning, three-run homer, his 23rd home run of the season. That gave Okamoto sole possession of the record for home runs by a Japanese-born player in his rookie MLB season (surpassing Shohei Ohtani’s 22 in 2018.   Okamoto signed with the Blue Jays this January, after 11 seasons in Japan, where he topped 30 home runs in six campaigns, a high of 41 in 2023

Immaculate Inning, But Not Quite Enough

On July 23, Guardians righty Gavin Williams had swing-and-miss stuff, fanning 11 batters (no walks) in seven innings versus the Twins (in Cleveland). In the fourth inning, with the game still tied 0-0, he threw 2026’s second Immaculate Inning (three up- three down – three strikeouts -nine pitches) – fanning Twins’ CF Byron Buxton, C Ryan Jeffers and DH Josh Bell on nine pitches.  He  fanned Buxton on a four-seam fastball, Jeffers on a sweeper and Bell on a sinker (all three went down swinging). Despite Williams’ sterling performance, the Twins prevailed, winning 3-1 in 12 innings. Williams gave up just one run in his seven-inning stint.

Movin’ On Up … with Salvy

On July 25, as the Royals edged the  Tigers 3-2 in Kansas City, Royals’ C/DH Salvador Perez hit his 15th home run of the 2026 season, a solo shot off Kyle Finnegan leading  off seventh (and tying the game at 2-2). For highlights purposes, it was his 318th career home run (all as a Royal), moving him past George Brett for the most career homers by a player in a Royals’ jersey. The 36-year-old Perez, in his 15th MLB season, ended July with a .214-15-45 stat line on the season.

A National(ly) Recognized Figure

On July 26, as the Nationals topped the Diamondbacks 10-7 ats Nationals Park, Nationals’ SS CJ Abrams went three-fo- five with two runs scored and three RBI. Two of his hits were home runs, giving him 27 on the season and the franchise record for the most homers in a season by a SS (previously held by Ian Desmond, with 25 in 2012).

Here We Go Again – Another Bobblehead Day Saga

It seems like every month we find a player delivering on their Bobblehead Day.  This time it was White Sox’ 1B Munetaka  Murakami, who delivered a three-for-five day, with two homers and six RBI July 26, when the White Sox gave away bobblehead commemorating Murakami’s Opening Day home run in Milwaukee. The White Sox, by the way, won the game 12-3.

Murakami signed with the White Sox this pasts off-season after eight seasons in in Japan, where he was a two-time Most Valuable Player and won the Japanese Triple Crown with a .318-56-134 season in 2022.

The Miz Strikes Again

On July 26, in a Brewers 11-2 win over the Rockies, Brewers’ flamethrowing right Jacob Misiorowski fanned the first seven batters he faced (and 12 of the first thirteen). In the five-inning outing, “The Miz” relied on his four-seam fastball (using it on 66 of 83 pitches) – and every single four-seamer reached at least 100 MPH, beating his own record (in the pitch tracking era) of 58 pitches of 100 MPH or more in a single outing.  Misiorowski got the win, running his record to 11-4, 1,58.

Really Small Ball

On July 27, the Astros came to the plate in the top of the ninth trailing the Angels 4-2.  They then mounted a comeback that saw them plate four runs on just one hit.  It went like this:

• CF Taylor Trammell… hit by an 0-1 pitch from Jose Fermin, goes to second on a passed ball, while 1B Christian Walker is at bat;
• Walker singles to center, Trammell goes to third;
• Nick Allen runs for Walker;
• CF Lucas Spence safe on an error by Angels’ second baseman Vaughn Grissom, Trammell scores, Allen to third;
• C Christian Vazquez out (bunting) on a flyball to 1B;

Sam Bachman replaces Fermin on the mound.

• SS Jeremy Pena grounds to third, reaches first base (fielder’s choice) as Allen is retired at home;
• DH Yordan Alvarez is intentionally walked, loading the bases;
• 3B Isaac Parades is hit by a pitch, forcing in a run;
• RF LaMonte wade Jr. walks, forcing in a run, Cam Smith pinch runs for Wade;
• 2B Jose Altuve is safe on an error by the pitcher, another run scores;
• Trammel bats for the second time in the inning and strikes out.

Total: Four runs; one hit; two hit by pitch; two walks; two errors; one passed ball.

The Angels did not score in the bottom of the ninth, with the Astros winning 6-4.

Another Feel Good Story … The Travels, Travails and Trials Of A Ballplayer 

Twenty-nine-year-old Yankees’ catcher Ali Sanchez, who began his professional career in 2014 (as a Mets” farmhand), has been around.  He toiled (Catchers do toil, don’t they?) in the Mets’ farm system until 2020, when he saw action in five MLB games. In 2021, he found himself in the Cardinals’ farm system, seeing  action in just two major-league games. In 2022, he was claimed (off waivers) by the Tigers in June and spent the year at Triple-A (in the Cardinals’ and Tigers’ systems).

In October, after the 2022 season, the Pirates selected him off waivers (from the Tigers) and then in December, he was selected off waivers by the Diamondbacks and spent the 2023 season at Triple-A.

In November 2023, he was again granted free agency and signed with the Pirates in December.

In March of 2024, he was granted free agency and signed with the Cubs, who sold him to the Marlins in June. He spent most of the season at Triple-A, but did take the field for 21 MLB games for the Marlins.

In October 2024, he was again a free agent and, in December,  he signed with the Blue Jays, who granted him free agency June 5, 2025 and then resigned him June 6. In August of that season, he was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox and 13 days later again granted free agency.  Two days after that (August 23), he signed as a free agent with the Mets, who traded him to the Red Sox on August 31. On the season, he appeared in 57 minor-league games and 12 MLB contests (eight for the Blue Jays and four for the Red Sox).

On October 6, 2025, he was again granted free agency and in signed with the Yankees.   At this point in his professional career, he had appeared in just 50 MLB games (for five different teams) and had a stat line of .183-0-4.

The Yankees started Sanchez at Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre and called him up to the big club in early June, with C Austin Wells facing health issues.  Sanchez was hitting  .227-6-11 at Triple-A at the time.) Long story short. Oh never mind, it’s already a long story. On June 27, in his 13^th pro-season and after  737 minor-league games and 75 MLB games, Ali Sanchez hit his first MLB home run in a Yankees’ 9-5 win over the White Sox in Chicago. It was a three-run shot, off a 3-2 pitch from Sean Newcombe, in the top of the eighth inning – a moment Sanchez has waited a long time for and one he’ll never forget. Clearly, Sanchez is a feel-good story of perseverance.

Challenges: You  Win Some, You Lose Some – and Sometimes You Even Lose the Ones You Win

In the first inning of a Guardians/Reds doubleheader (in Cincinnatti), the Guardians got off to a fast start, quickly loading the bases with one out in the top of the first (groundout, single, error, walk). A flyout to short centre was next and the Reds’ were so very close to escaping with no damage. That brought up Guardians’ 1B Kyle Manzardo to face Reds’ starter Chase Burns. Monzardo worked the count to 2-2, and appeared to be hit on the right hand by a high-and-inside 98.8 MPH  four-seam fastball, forcing in a run and leaving the bases loaded.  However, Reds’ manager Terry Francona challenged the umpire’s call, winning the challenge, sending the runner back to third base and bringing Manzardo (who came into the game hitting .211-11-32) back to the plate.  Manzardo hit the next pitch for his first career Grand Slam and the Guardiana went on to win 6.5. (Sweet justice in my book.)

Tigers Plate At Least  One Run In Every Inning

On July 28, the Tigers ended a three-game losing streak by toppin the Orioles 14-0 in Detroit. They gave the home town fans a treat, scoring in every inning and (per Elias Sports Bureau) becoming just the second team in the Modern Era to sore in every inning in a game in which the opposition did not score in any inning (joining the 1935 Pirates in a September 6 13-0 win over the Dodgers.   In the July 28, game,  the Tigers collected 19 hits (with two home runs from  C Eduardo Valencia and one long ball from 2B Gleyber Torres) and drew four walks.

Rumors Surround Skubal, As He Notches K Number 1,000 As A Tiger

On July 29, with trade deadline rumors flying surrounding his possible departure from Detroit, Tarik Skubal …. facing the Orioles in Detroit … placed an exclamation point on his Tigers’ career.  Skubal went 6 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on four hits (one walk), while fanning six. His first strikeout of the contest, Orioles’ leadoff hitter/LF Taylor Ward in the top of the first, was Skubal’s 1000^th strikeout as a Tiger.  As of July 31, had notched 1,005 strikeouts in 863 1/3 MLB innings.

Skubal left the game in the top of the seventh, with two men on,  one out and the Bengals leadings 7-1.  The Tigers, expected by many to be sellers at the seadine, went on to lose the game 10-9 in 12 innings.

100 For Torkelson … That Pairs Well With That

In the same game (July 29) that Tarik Skubal notched his 1,000th career MLB strikeout (see Highlight just above), Tiger 1B Spencer Torkelson hit his 20th home run of the season and the 100th of his five-season (1022-26) MLB career.

#InBaseballWeCountEverythning. Sarah Langs (MLB.com) reports that (per Elias Sports Bureau) it is the fourth time time MLB history that a team has seen a player hit his 100th home run and another (on the same team) notch his 1,000th strikeout in the  same game.  The other pairings: Mark Kotsay and Barry Zito, 2006 Athletics; Jay Johnstone and Dick Ruthven, 1983 Cubs; and Dwight Evans and Mike Torrez, 1979 Red Sox.

An Ultimate “Ultimate” Slam

On July 30, at Target Field, the Twins were paying a painful game against the Royals. The Twins hadn’t recorded their first hit until the seventh inning  (a single by C Ryan Jeffers), had surrendered a run on a fielding gaff in the fifth and were facing a 3-0 deficit with two out and no one on base in the ninth (and they still had just the one hit),  Then things took an historic turn. Jeffers was hit by a pitch by the Royals’ Lucas Erceg,

Next up was Twins 2B Royce Lewis, who  singled to shallow center  on a 2-2 pitch (one strike away from defeat).

Next up was DH Josh Bell, who fouled off a couple of pitches (again one strike away from defeat), before drawing a walk.

That brought Matt Strahm in from the bullpen to replace Erceg.

At the plate was RF Kody Clemens and Strahm quickly got ahead of him 0-2, putting the Twins again one strike away from a 3-0 loss.  Clemens, however, hit Strahm’s 0-2 offering to deep right-center for  a Grand Slam home run – known as an “Ultimate  Slam,” defined as a walk-off Grand Slam with your team trailing by three runs.

Thanks primarily to Elias Sport Bureau, it didn’t take long to understand the historic significance of this Ultimate Slam. The big blast:

• Was the 34^th Ultimate Slam in MLB history;
• Was the first Ultimate Slam, since pitch tracking began in 1988, to be hit on a two-out, 0-2 count;
• Was the first time ever that a team, after being held hitless for at least six-plus innings, won a game with a walk-off Grand Slam;
• Made the Twins only the third team in MLB history to hit a walk-off Grand Slam after having bases empty and two out in the final inning.

Icing on the cake. It was Twins’ Manager Derek Shelton‘s 56th birthday birthday.

Oh yes, and luckily, I was at the game, with my brother Bob and buddy Scotty  – a good time was had by all.

Okay, This Is Getting Out Of Hand … An $11 MIllion Baseball Card … And No Bubble Gum

Thanks to Bryan Horowitz (MLB.com) for this reporting. As July reached it’s 31st day, it was reported that a Shohei Ohtani (one-of-0ne) Topps Back to Back Gold Gold Logoman Autograph Relics baseball card (pulled from a Topps Chrome Pack in late July) was sold at auction for $11 million. This comes about eight months after an Ohtani Topps Chrome Logoman Autograph card was sold at auction for $3 million.  For a little background, the Logoman patch cards involve MLB major-award winners wearing a gold MLB logo patch on the back collar of their jerseys. When a player has a momentous game while wearing the patches, those patches are then embedded in a one-of-one Topps card which is autographed by the player. The $11 million card featured two patches:  one worn in an Ohtani two-homer game in September 2025 and another worn when he hit a leadoff homer at Dodger Stadium April 12 of this season.

Too much information. Only two sports cards have sold for more than $11 million: A 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection  Dual Logoman Auto (featuring Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant) at $12.9 million and a 1952 Mickey Mantle ($12.6 million).

—–July 2026 Individual Stats—–

BATTING AVERAGE (at least 60 June at bats)

American League: Steven Kwan, Guardians (.390); Jeremy Pena, Astros (.381); Chandler Simpson, Rays (.365)

National League: Nick Gonzales, Pirates (.388); Curtis Mead, Nationals (.367); Gabriel Moreno, D-backs (.362)

The lowest July average among players with at least 60 at bats belonged to the Orioles’ Leody Taveras at .133 (8-for-60).

HITS

American League: Ceddanne Rafaela, Red Sox (33); Yordan Alvarez, Astros (31); Chandler Simpson, Rays (31)

National League: Nick Gonzales, Pirates (40); Gabriel Moreno, DibvaCks (34); Michael Harris II, Braves (34)

The Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong and Marlins’ Heriberto Hernandez led MLB in July extra-base hits with 16.  (Crow-Armstrong with eight doubles, two triples and six home runs); Hernandez with eight doubles and eight home runs.)

HOME RUNS

American League: Yordan Alvarez, Astros (9); Ben Rice, Yankees (8); Junior Caminero, Rays (7)

National League:  CJ Abrams, Nationals (10); James Wood, Nationals (9); Matt Olson, Braves (9)

The Nationals’ CJ Abrams led all players with at least 60 June at bats in slugging percentage at .742. The Astros’ Yordan Alvarez led the AL at .721.

RUNS BATTED IN

American League: Yordan Alvarez Astros (22); Ben Rice, Yankees (19); Ceddanne Rafaela, Red Sox  (19)

National League: Sal Stewart, Reds (25); Esmerlyn Valdez, Pirates (25); CJ Abrams, Nationals (23)

RUNS SCORED

American League:  Caleb Durbin, Red Sox (18); Wilyer Abreu, Red Sox (17); Randy Arozarena, Mariners (17);  Jeremy Pena, Astros (17); Miguel Vargas, White Sox (17)

National League: James Wood, Nationals (26); Matt Olson, Braves (21); Jordan Walker, Cardinals (20); JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals (20)

DOUBLES

American League: Miguel Vargas, White Sox 10); Ceddanne Rafaela, Red Sox (9); Lane Thomas, Royals (8); Andruw Monasterio, Red Sox (8)

National League: Alex Bregman, Cubs (10): Brice Turang, Brewers (9); Garrett Michell, Brewers (9)

TRIPLES

American League:  Kody Clemens, Twins (3); eight with two

National League: Otto Lopez, Marlins (3); Bryson Stott, Phillies (3); Elly De La Cruz, Reds (3)

STOLEN BASES

American League:  Chandler Simpson, Rays (8); Tyler Tolbert, Royals (7); Kahlil Watson, Guardians (7)

National League: Elly De La Cruz, Reds (10); Esteury Ruiz, Marlins  (9); Fernando Tatis, Jr., Padres (7);  Nasim Nunez, Nationals (7)

The Reds’ Esteury Ruiz stole the most July bases without getting caught (9).

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

American League:  Carter Jensen, Royals (39); Jazz Chisholm, Jr. Yankees (32); Cal Raleigh, Mariners (32)

National League: Eugenio Suarez, Reds (41); Austin Riley, Braves (40); Esmerlyn Valdez , Pirates (38)

WALKS

American League:  Taylor Ward, Orioles (20); Yordan Alvarez, Astros (17); Jackson Holliday, Orioles (16)

National League: James Wood, Nationals (25); Juan Soto, Mets (18); Drake Baldwin, Braves (17); Ell De La Cruz, Reds (17)

The highest on-base percentage among players with at least 60 July at bats was .488, by the Red Sox’  Willson Contreras. The NL leader was the Nationals’ Curtis Mead at .465.

PITCHING VICTORIES

American League:  Jake Bennett, Red Sox (4-1); Sonny Gray, Red Sox (4-1); 13 with three

National League:  Brandon Pfaadt, D-backs (4-0); Chris Sale, Braves (4-0); Foster Griffin, Nationals (4-1)

Three pitchers recorded four July losses: Athletics’ Gage Jump (1-4, 5.87); Padres’ Griffin Canning (1-4, 5.50); and Phillies’ Aaron Nola (0-4, 4.34).

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (minimum 20 June innings)

American League: Troy Melton, Tigers (0.92); Dylan Cease, Blue Jays (01.00); Randy Dobnak, Royals (1.04)

National League: Kyle Leahy, Cardinals (1.38); Shota Imanaga, Cubs (1.53); Matthew Boyd, Cubs (1.67)

STRIKEOUTS

American League: Gavin Williams, Guardians (51K / 31 2/3 IP); Taj Bradley, Twins (48K / 37 IP); Dylan Cease, Blue Jays (46K / 36 IP)

National League: Zack Wheeler, Phillies (49K / 27 2/3 IP); Paul Skenes, Pirates (42K / 31 2/3 IP): Jesus Luzardo, Phillies (41K / 31 1/3 IP)

INNINGS PITCHED

American League: Taj Bradley, Twins (37); Dylan Cease, Blue Jays ((36); Seth Lugo, Royals (33 1/3)

National League: Shane Drehan, Brewers (36); Sandy Alcantara, Marlins (35); Matthew Boyd, Cubs, (32 1/3)

WALKS + HITS/INNINGS PITCHED (at least 20 July innings)

American League: Paul Blackburn, Yankees (0.69); Dylan Cease, Blue Jays (0.72); Cam Schlittler,Yankees (0.73)

National League: Jared Jones, Pirates (0.63); Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers (0.67); Logan Henderson, Brewers (0.76)

Among pitches with at least 20 July innings, the Yankees’ Paul Blackburn held batters to the lowest average at .0.94.

SAVES

American League:  Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox (10); Bryan Baker, Rays (9); David Bednar, Yankees (7); Louis Varland, Blue Jays (7)

National League:  Raisel Iglesias, Braves (7); Mason Miller, Padres (7) ; Trevor McGill, Brewers (6)

Aroldis Chapman of the Red Sox saved the most games without a blown save in July (10).  

 

If the season had ended July 31, the playoff teams would have been:

National League

Dodgers, Brewers, Braves     Wild Cards: Cubs, Diamondbacks, Phillies

American League

Rays, White Sox, Astros       Wild Cards: Yankees, Red Sox, Twins  (Twins and Guardians had same record, Twins held tiebreaker edge.

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; MLB.com; Elias Sports Bureau

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT. Follow me there for post notifications and links.

Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.

P 1181