Baseball Roundtable June Wrap Up … Cycles, A Maddux, A Two-Homer Inning, Matching Muncy(s), An Ultimate Grand Slam & More

It’s July 1, and that means it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s June 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.  Just a few of this month’s highlights that you will find in this post:

• The end of a streak of 54 2/3 scoreless innings pitched (Cristopher Sanchez);
• A batter successfully challenging three strike calls in a single plate appearance;
• Freddie Freeman moving into the top 100 all-time in base hits;
• The youngest player ever to hit an “Ultimate Grand Slam” (Braden Montgomery);
• Max Scherzer‘s 3,500th strikeout;
• Perhaps the most dominant “Maddux” ever thrown (Jacob Misiorowski);
•  A game which featured two (unrelated) Max Muncy‘s who share an April 25 birth date – each playing third base and batting seventh for their respective teams;
• 2026’s first “cycle”  (Pete Crow-Armstrong);
• George Springer‘s and Mookie Betts‘ 300th career homers;
• A game in which one team had one player hit two homers in an inning (Kyle Schwarber) and another hit for the cycle (Bryce Harper);
• A player collecting 15 RBI in two days (Dansby Swanson); and
• Much more.

For the stories and stats, read on.

—–BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE PLAYERS AND PITCHERs OF  THE MONTH (JUNE)—–

AMERICAN  LEAGUE

Pitcher of the Month – Drew Rasmussen, RHP, Rays

Okay, it’s unusual to see a pitcher who goes 3-2 recognized as Pitcher of the Month, but the Rays’ Drew Rasmussen had an exceptional June. His 0.82 earned run average was the lowest in the AL (among pitchers with at least 25 June innings) and second only to the Giants’ Logan Webb’s 0.71  (again, among MLB pitchers with 25 June innings).  (It should also be noted that the Rangers’ Jacob deGrom was the only AL pitcher to reach four wins in June.)

In five starts (33 innings), Rasmussen gave up just 16 hits and four walks, while fanning 39. His WHIP of 0.61 and average against of .142 were the best among AL pitchers with at least 25 June innings.

In Rasmussen’s two June losses, the Rays scored a total of one run (he was the losing pitcher in a 1-0 and a 2-1 game).

Honorable Mentions: The Rangers’ Jacob deGrom led the AL in June wins, going 4-1, 3.00 in six starts. He led the AL in strikeouts with 45 (in 36 innings) and walked just eight.  The Red Sox’ Sonny Gray went 3-0, 2.14 in five starts, fanning 34 and walking just seven. The Mariners’ Logan Gilbert went 3-1, 2.84 in five starts, fanning 38 and walking six. Rangers’ closer Jacob Latz notched 11 saves in 11 opportunities, fanned 19 in 16 innings and recorded a 1.13 June ERA.

Player of the Month Dillon Dingler, C, Tigers

Wow! The Rays’ Yandy Diaz’ .385 average was one of those bright and shiny things that catch The Roundtable’s eye. But I looked a little deeper and went with Tigers’ C Dillon Dingler. He had just two fewer hits than Diaz, and had more home runs, RBI and runs scored.  Dingler went .333-8-25. His 25 RBI led the AL, as did his 22 runs scored. (The three walks versus 24 strikeouts were a bit troubling, but the overall production was there.) Dingler, who had eleven multi-hit games in June, was one of only three AL players to have 20 or more RBI and 20 or more runs scored in the month.  (The others were the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez and A’s Nick Kurtz.)

Honorable Mentions:  I have to include Rays’ DH Yandy Diaz and his .385 June average. Diaz led the AL in hits with 37.  He had one home run, 15 RBI and 15 runs scored. Tampa Bay 3B Junior  Caminero led the AL lead with ten June home runs and put up a .327 average with 24 RBI.  Royals’ RF Jac Caglianone went .309-9-19  for the month.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Pitcher of the Month

Tie:  Logan Webb, RHP, Giants; Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Brewers; Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Marlins

Okay, this is wishy-washy, but I could find good reasons to honor all three.  So, I’ll declare a tie and forgo “Honorable Mentions.”

Logan Webb went 3-1 in five starts and pitched to a tidy 0.71 earned run average in 38 innings (second most in ther NL).  That ERA was the lowest in MLB among pitchers with at least 25 June innings. Webb gave up just 19 hits and four walks, while fanning 29. His June WHIP of 0.61 was the best among NL  pitchers with 25 June innings and his average against (.148) was the NL’s third-best. I n his lone loss, he pitched a complete game in a 2-1 loss to the Giants.

Jacob Misiorowski of the Brewers keeps lighting up radar guns and pitched to a 3-1 record in four June starts.  Among NL pitchers with at last 25 June innings, his 0.96 ERA was second- best and a 0.71 WHIP third.  His .128 average against was best in MLB. In his four June starts, he fanned 38 batters and walked eight in 28 innings. Misiorowski’s month included a “Maddux” – a complete game shutout in less than 100 pitches. In that game, he set a record for strikeouts in a Maddux, fanning 15 Phillies in a 6-0 win.   

Sandy Alcantara’s numbers were not as flashy as a few others the NL, but he clearly pitched well enough to win – running up a 6-0, 3.35 record in six starts. Like his six wins, his 40 1/3 June innings pitched topped all of MLB.  Those six victories were one of those bright and shiny things that The Roundtable could not ignore. Alcantara pitched into the seventh inning in all but one of his starts.

Player of the Month – Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF, Cubs

Nothing wishy-washy here.  Pete Crow-Armstrong (PCA) did it all. Hit for average – his .381 average led all NL players with at least 75 June at bats and his 40 June hits led MLB.  Hit for power – his eleven home runs tied for second in the NL. Flash some speed – his eight June steals tied for second in the NL.  Armstrong also drove in 20 runs, scored 21 and put up a .468 on-base percentage. His month include 12 multi-hit games and  a 14-game hitting streak, during which he went .441-6-14).

Honorable Mentions: Nationals’ 1B Luis Garcia led MLB with 27 June RBI, to go with a .306 average, 11 homers and 17 runs scored. Brewers’ LF Jackson Chourio hit .319-10-25, with 23 runs scored. He was one of just four MLB players to hit double-digit dingers in June and his 37 June hits were second only to Crow-Armstrong.   Rockies’ C Hunter Goodman led MLB with 13 June home runs, to go with a .250 average, 25 RBI and 19 runs scored.

 

——SURPRISE PLAYER OF THE MONTH—

Jacob Latz, LHP, Rangers

Okay, maybe the Rangers saw this coming, but I was surprised to see southpaw Jacob Latz leading MLB in June saves – with 11 saves in 11 opportunities; allowing just two runs in 16 innings, while fanning 19 and walking four.  Latz was a fifth-round pick (Rangers) in the 2017 draft (out of Kent State University – although he did not play here). He was drafted first in 2014 (Blue Jays, eleventh round), after a 10-0, 0.23 high school season as a senior, but chose instead to attend Louisiana State University.  At LSU, he missed the 2015 season due to elbow issues (medical redshirt ) and pitched in just seven games in 2016 (0-1, 7.56). Latz transferred to Kent State University for 2017, but had to sit out the season due to transfer rules. He then signed with the Rangers in 2017.

Leading up to 2026, he played in eight minor-league seasons, going 23-17, 3.94 (132 games/62 starts) and saw action with the Rangers in three seasons (4-4, 3.08, one save in 83 games, nine starts).  This season started with Latz filing a middle-relief role, but he earned a shot at the closer role by mid-April – and he has run with it. Since April 15, he is 1-0, 1.71, with 18 saves in 20 opportunities and 33 strikeouts to just six walks in 31 2/3 innings.

Honorable  Mention: Twins’ LF Trevor Larnach, a 2018 first-round pick (Twins) out of Oregon State University, is in his sixth MLB season.  From 2021-2025, he went .241-52-198 in 442 games for the Twins. This season looked similar.  Through May, Larnach was .253-3-16 in 48 games. Then came the June surprise, with Larnach raking at  a .342 pace (23 games), with two homers, 11 RBI, and 13 runs scored.

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THE TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE FEATURE

Through June  30,  35.3% of the MLB season’s 97,000  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 (22.1%); walks (9.0%); home runs (3.0%); HBP (1.1%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). 

The 35.3% is up slightly from the 34.5% through June  in 2025. I have 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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——-Team Statistical Leaders June  2026 ———-

RUNS SCORED

National League:  Brewers (162); Phillies (153); Dodgers (147)

American League:  Twins (146); Athletics (142); Royals (140)

The fewest runs in June were scored by the Braves (77). In the American League, it was the Guardians (87).    

AVERAGE

National League:  Brewers (.281); Rockies (.274); Dodgers (.271)

American League:  Twins (.271); Royals (.264); Rangers (.262)

The lowest team average for June belonged to the Braves at .213 – the Guardians were at the bottom of the AL at .218.

HOME RUNS

National League:  Phillies (42); Pirates (40); Rockies (40)

American League:  Tigers (49); Athletics (46); Twins (43)

The fewest home runs in June were hit by the Braves (19). The Guardians were at the bottom of the AL at 21.

TOTAL BASES

National League:  Brewers (447); Rockies (437); Pirates (420)

American League:  Twins (435); Tigers (418); A’s (398)

The Rockies led MLB in June Slugging Percentage at .487. The Tigers led the AL (.476)

DOUBLES

National League:  Rockies (59); Brewers (52); Pirates (52)

American League:  Royals (53); Angels (47); White Sox (46)

TRIPLES

National League:   Cubs (8); Nationals (8); Marlins (8)

American League:  Tigers (7); Orioles (6); Red Sox (5); Angels (5)

 STOLEN BASES

National League:  Nationals (31); Padres (30); Marlins (26)

American League:  Yankees (32); Royals (28); Mariners (23)

The Dodgers and Astros stole the fewest sacks in June at seven – in 11 attempts for the Dodgers and nine for the Astros.   

WALKS DRAWN

National League:  Cubs (117); Brewers (115); Dodgers (111)

American League:  Rays (96); A’s (94); Orioles (93); Astros (93)

The Brewers led MLB in June on-base percentage at .359. The Rays led the AL at .343. The Braves had MLB’s lowest June OBP at .270.  The Guardians anchored the AL at .285. 

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League:  Phillies (257); Reds (254); Pirates (254)

American League:  Orioles (261); Angels (251); A’s (248)

Diamondbacks’ batters fanned the fewest times in June (169). The Twins fanned the fewest times in the AL at 176.

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EARNED RUN AVERAGE

National League:  Marlins (3.01); Brewers (3.82) Padres (3.98)

American League:  Tigers (3.14); Red Sox (3.55); Yankees (3.71)

The A’s had the highest June ERA at 6.20.  The Rockies had the highest ERA in the NL at 6.17. Also over 5.00 were the Royals (5.60) and Twins (5.59)

STRIKEOUTS

National League:  Brewers (278); Phillies (273); Pirates (241)

American League:  Astros (254); A’s (253); Angels (249)

The Phillies averaged an MLB-best 10.32 strikeouts per nine innings in June. The Mariners averaged an AL-best 9.47.  Ten teams averaged nine whiffs per nine or better.

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED

National League:  Cardinals (73); Marlins (79); Braves (79)

American League:  Rays (55); Rangers (61); Tigers (62)

The Rays walked an MLB-lowest 2.18 batters per nine innings in June.  The Reds walked an MLB-worst 4.47 batters per nine frames.

SAVES

National League:  Marlins (9); Phillies (9); Dodgers (8)      `

American League:  Rangers (15); Astros (11); Blue Jays (10)

The Nationals blew the most saves in June  – ten (in 17 opportunities).  The Padres went five-for-five in converting save opportunities.   

Walks+ Hits/Innings Pitched (WHIP)

National League:  Marlins (1.15); Brewers (1.18); Mets (1.21); Dodgers (1.21)

American League:  Rays (1.11); Tigers (1.13); Mariners (1.16)

Bonus Stats:

• The A’s gave up an MLB-high 50 home runs in June. The Marlins gave up an MLB-low 22 home runs.
• Marlins’ pitchers held opponents to an MLB-low .220 average in June. The Rockies’ staff was touched for an MLB-high .295 average.
• The Mariners’ strikeouts-to-walks ratio for June topped MLB at 3.96. The Royals had MLB’s worst ratio at 1.83.

—–JUNE 2026 HIGHLIGHTS—–

 

Happy Birthday To You (and me)

June 1, was three-year-old Nolan deGrom’s third birthday.  It just so happens his dad Jacob deGrom was on the mound that day (facing the Cardinals in St. Louis), making his fourth attempt to move from 99 career victories to the century mark. Well, happy birthday father and son!  Jacob threw five shutout innings on Nolan’s day, giving up four hits and one walk while fanning eight and running his career record to 100-69.

All Good Things Must Come To An End

In the seventh inning of the Padres’ 3-2 loss to the Phillies on June 3, Padres’ SS Jackson Merrill poked a ground ball, RBI single off Phillies’ southpaw Cristopher Sanchez. This makes the highlights list because it halted Sanchez’ streak of scoreless innings at 54 2/3 – dating back to   the first inning of a game on April 30.   Per the Elias Sports Bureau, Sanchez’ streak is the fifth longest since 1893 (when the mound was moved to its present distance from home plate) and the longest over that period by a southpaw. Ahead of Sanchez are: Orel Hershiser, 1988 Dodgers (59 IP); Don Drysdale, 1968 Dodgers (58); Walter Johnson, 1910 Nationals (55 2/3); and Jack Coombs, 1910 Athletics,  (53).

Leave Me In Coach, I’m Ready To Play!

Don Drysdale’s 1968 streak of 58 consecutive scoreless innings, included a record six consecutive complete-game shutouts (May 14, 1968 through June 4, 1968).  Despite that streak, he finished  the season at 14-12, but with a 2.15 earned run average (sixth-lowest in the National League). Eight of Drysdale’s 14 wins were shutouts.

The Dodgers scored two or fewer runs in 18 of Drysdale’s starts. They finished seventh that season (76-86), scoring the NL’s fewest runs (470, 2.9 per game).

Off To A Good Start

On June 6, in the top of the ninth inning, Royals’ SS Bobby Witt, Jr., in just his fifth MLB season and 691^st career game, drove in what proved to be the winning run in a Royals’ 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Twins.  Notably, it was Witt’s 400^th career MLB RBI, making the 25-year-old just the fifth MLB player with 400 or more RBI and 150 or more steals before his 26^th birthday (joining Mike Trout, Cesar Cedeno, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ben Chapman).

Witt closed June at .290-12-36, with 44 runs scored 28 steals line on the season. In his first four MLB seasons (2022-2025), Witt stole 30 or more bases four times and hit 20 or more home runs four times. He logged 30-30 (HR.SB) seasons in 2023 & 2024.

That’s A Little Bottom Heavy

On June 7, as the Angels topped the Dodgers 13-5 at Dodger Stadium, the bottom of the order more than earned it halos. The bottom of the order (6-7-8-9 spots) – RF Jo Adell, 3B Nick Madrigal, CF Jose Siri and C Sebastian Rivero – went a combined 13-for-15, scoring ten runs and driving in ten. In the spirit of #InBaseballWeCountEverything,” the Elias Sports Bureau reported that the Angel quartet’s combined .867 average for the game was the highest by a group of bottom-four lineup members in the Modern Era (since 1900).

More Baseball News To Challenge My Patience

On June 8, in a Reds’ 6-2 loss in San Diego, Reds’ SS Matt McLain had a challenging at bat in the eighth inning.  He came up versus Padres’ reliever Jason Adam with two outs, no one on and the Reds down 3-2. On a 1-0 count, McLain challenged the  strike call. It was reversed, sending the count to 2-0. On 2-0, McLain again challenged the strike call.  It was reversed, sending the count to 3-0. On 3-1, McLain again challenged the strike call and it was again reversed, giving him a walk.  It made McLain the first MLB hitter to successfully challenge three pitches in a single at bat. I guess that deserves a tip of the cap (I guess).  Side note: Going into the game, McLain had challenged only one call this season.

Boom. Boom. Boom-Boom!

The Athletics introduced themselves to Las Vegas (their future home) with a grand display of fireworks.  Whether it was the minor-league Las Vegas Ballpark, the quality of the pitching, the spirit of the moment or the hot high-roller air, the first-ever Athletics’ MLB contest in Las Vegas was a big “hit.” (The A’s will move from Sacramento to a new ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip in  2028.) The June 8 game was part of a special six-game “homestand” in Las Vegas.

The final score of the 12-inning Las Vegas contest was 15-14 in favor of the visiting Brewers.  Fans were treated to plenty of flying horsehides – 34 combined hits, 11 home runs (seven by the losing Athletics).

It was A Challenging Game to Watch

The June 8 Athletics/Brewers contest saw an MLB single-game record 16 ABS (Automated Ball-Strike) challenges – with 11 umpire’s calls overturned.

More #InBaseballWeCount(or measure)Everything

On June 9, the Yankees’ rookie RF Spencer Jones popped his first MLB home run.  The second-inning, two-run shot was crucial to the New York 3-2 win over the Guardians in Cleveland. The counting/measuring? Statcast reported the dinger’s 112.2 MPH off the bat made it the hardest hit first career MLB home run by a Yankee  since Statcast began tracking (2015).

Doin’ The Freddie

On June 9, Dodger 1B Freddie Freeman, batting third in the LA lineup, went two-for-four, with a walk , two runs scored and an RBI as LA topped Pittsburgh 12-3. The highlight came in the Dodgers’ ten-run seventh inning. Freeman walked (and later scored) in his first plate appearance of the inning. He came up again in the frame (after the Dodgers had put nine runs on the board) and rapped an RBI single to center on the first pitch he saw from Brandon Bidois. Why a highlight?  It was the 2,500^th base hit of the 36-year-old Freeman’s career.   The 2,500^th safety placed Freeman number 102 all-time in MLB base hits (by June’s end he had 2.523 hits, moving up to number 98).  That 2,500^th safety also made him the only active player with 2,500 hits. Considering Freeman ended June with a .293-13-46 stat line on the season, there should  be plenty of hits left in his bat.  Perhaps he can see 3,000 on the horizon.

Let’s Get This Party Started … How About With A Walk-Off?

On June 9, 23-year-old Braden Montgomery made his MLB debut in RF, batting sixth, as his White Sox topped the Braves 6-5 in Chicago.   Debut-Day was a big day for Montgomery, who was hitting .315-4-19 for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights (29 games), when called up.  He made it a bigger day, by  going two-for-five with one run and three RBI – including  a game-winning, walk-off, two-run, home run in the bottom of the tenth  (off Braves’ closer Raisel Iglesias) to give the ChiSox the 6-5 victory.

In the process, Montgomery (per the Elias Sports Bureau) became just the fifth player in MLB history to hit a walk-off home run in his MLB debut.

The others (with their career MLB stat lines) are: Billy Parker, 1971 Angels (.222-3-21 in three seasons/94 games); Josh Bard, 2002 Indians (.254-39-220 in 10 seasons/586 games); Miguel Cabrera, 2002 Marlins (.306-511-1,881 in 2,797 games/21 seasons); Carlos Perez, 2015 Angels (.218-17-78 in 278 games/five seasons).

For those who like to know such things, Montgomery was a 2024  first-round draft pick (Red Sox) out of Texas A&M (he also played at Stanford). In three college seasons, he hit .317-62-203 in 187 games). Note: He was among the players traded to the White Sox in the December 2024 trade that sent Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox. In two minor-league seasons, Montgomery  hit .284-22-109 in 177 games.

A Grand Walk (Off) In (and out of) The Park

On June 10, the Giants (playing at home) trailed the Nationals 9-1 going into the bottom of the eighth. They staged a remarkable comeback, scoring five in the eighth and five in the ninth for a 11-10 win.  The big blow came from rookie DH Bryce Eldridge. Eldridge came up with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and the Giants trailing by three (10-7). He delivered a walk-off Grand Slam (off an 2-0 pitch from Mitchell Parker) for the win. In baseball parlance, this was an “Ultimate Slam” – a walk-off, Grand Slam with your team trailing by three.

#InBaseballWeCountEverything, the blast made him the youngest MLB player ever to hit an Ultimate Grand Slam (21 years-233 days), besting Roberto Clemente (21 years-342 days). Clemente’s Ultimate Slam, by the way, it was more of a run-off than a walk-off. It was an inside the park Grand Slam, giving the Pirates a 9-8 win over the Cubs.

From May 23 through June 17, Giants rookie 1B Bryce Eldridge had a streak of 22 consecutive games getting on base. Over that time, Eldridge went 31-for-77 (.403) with 14 walks, five homers and 19 RBI.  In the process he raised his average from .139 to .319. On June 19, Eldridge took and O-Fer (four) against the Marlins, ending the streak.

The 21-year-old Eldridge was a First-Round pick (19th overall) in the 2023 MLB Draft.  When called up from Triple-A Sacramento in early May, he was hitting .333-5-22 (30 games).  Eldridge did see limited action with the Giants a year ago .107-0-4 in ten games, retaining his rookie status for 2026. In four minor-league seasons, he hit .285-59-216. 

3,500 For Mad Max

On June 10, the Blue Jays’ Max Scherzer got knocked around a bit by the Phillies in Toronto.  He gave up five runs in 3 1/3 innings (five hits, three walks, four strikeouts). Not exactly highlight material.  However, Scherzer did earn a spot here in the top of the first inning, fanning Phillies’ leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber  on a 1-2 changeup for his (Scherzer’s) 3,500th career strikeout, putting him at number eleven on the all-time K list (only nine whiffs out of the top ten).   Scherzer finished June with 3,503 career strikeouts,

The Second “Maddux” of 2026

On May 12, the Twins’ Bailey Ober threw a “Maddux” – a complete-game (at last nine innings) shutout of less than 100 pitches – using 89 pitches to shutout the Marlins 3-0 (two hits, no walks, seven strikeouts).   One month later, on June 12,  the Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski celebrated the one-year anniversary of his MLB debut by  throwing perhaps the most dominant Maddux ever, shutting out the powerful Phillies 3-0 on 95 pitches.  Why was this one special?

• The Miz fanned 15, the most strikeouts ever (since pitch counts have been tracked) in a Maddux (he walked none);
• 74 or his 97 pitches (77.9 percent) were strikes;
• Twelve of his strikeouts came on pitches of at least 100 MPH, 10 at least 101, eight at least 102, six at least 103 and two at least 104;
• He faced the minimum 27 batters, the only baserunner was erased on a double play;
• His 58 pitches of at least 100 MPH beating his own record for most pitches of at least 100 MPH in a game.
• He went to Ball Two on only five batters.

 Unlucky 13 — Well, In Some Ways (Or Going So Far To Get So Close)

On June 13, Dodgers’ starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto (say or key that three times fast), had it all going his way (or so it seemed). With two out the eighth inning in his start against the White Sox (in Chicago), he was on the brink of MLB history. He had retired the first 23 batters in order. Then an error by SS Mookie Betts let White Sox’ 2B Chase Meidroth reach base (Perfect Game gone). Yamamoto got the next batter Jacob Gonzalez on a ground out (no-hitter and shutout intact, Dodgers up 7-0). In the bottom of the ninth, on an 0-1 count, on Yamamoto’s 109^th pitch, White Sox’ CF Tristan Peters homered to left (shutout gone, but chance for Yamamoto’s first MLB complete game still there). Yamamoto retired the next batter (C Edgar Quero) on a flyout to center and was then relieved by Alex Vesia.  At the close of Juine, Yamamoto was 8-5, 2.67 on the season.

Twenty-Three Skiddoo

On June 14, Rockies’ starter Tomoyuki Sugano was rocked for nine hits (two walks) and eight earned runs in just five innings of “work” (97 pitches). Still, he came away with his seventh win of the season – leaving the contest after five frames with the Rockies in front 14-8.  In the game, the Rox set a new franchise record for runs scored – charging to a 23-9 win over the Athletics. Colorado had 24 hits (six homers).  All of this, perhaps, should come as no surprise. Between June 8 and June 14, the A’s (who will move to a new ballpark in Las Vegas in 2028 and currently call Sacramento home) played six games as the Las Vegas minor-league park.  That park made Coors Field look like a pitcher’s  park.  In the six games in Vegas, a total of 96 runs were scored and 35 homers hit.

First Cycle of the Season – Something To Crow About

On June 15,  Cubs’ CF/leadoff hitter Pete Crow-Armstrong hit the first cycle (single, double, triple, home run in one game) of the 2026 season.  As the Cubs topped the Mets 5-4 in Chicago, Armstrong: homered off Mike Lorenzen to open the bottom of the first; tripled off Lorenzen leading off the bottom of the third; doubled (still Lorenzen) with one out in the fifth; singled (off Brennan Bernardino) to open the seventh; and hit a sac fly (off Victor Vodnik) with one out in the eighth. It was the sixth four-hit game of Crow-Armstrong’s four-season MLB career.  He finished June .284-18-46, with 20 stolen bases on the season.

Vengeance Is Mine

On June 15, Tigers’ 3B Colt Keith (great baseball name) came up in the bottom of the first inning, with two outs and the bases loaded. He was hit by a pitch on the first offering he saw from Astros’ starter Kai-Wei Teng.  (Side note: Teng’s first frame did not see a ball put into play:  walk-strikeout-strikeout-walk-hit by pitch- hit by pitch- strikeout.) The plunking seemed to wake up Keith’s bat. After hitting just one home run in his first 65 games played this season (.257-1-10), Keith went on to hit a two-run homer off Teng in the third inning; strikeout (versus Al Blubaugh) in the fifth; hit a two-run home run (off Jayden Murray) in the seventh; and hit a solo home run (off Bryan Abreu in the ninth).  Side note: Keith is now the second-youngest Tiger to homer three times in a game (at 24-years and 305-days old), second only to Tigers’ legend Al Kaline (20-years and 119 days).

Rolling A 300

On June 16, as the Blue Jays topped the Red Sox 6-1, Toronto DH/leadoff-hitter George Springer hit a two-run home run (off a 1-0 pitch from Ryan Watson) in the top of the ninth. It was Springer’s seventh dinger of the season and, more important (from a highlights perspective), the 300^th of his 13-season MLB career (2014-26 … Astros, Blue Jays). The four-time All Star has hit 20 or more home runs in nine seasons (a high of 39 in 2019) and stolen 15 or more bases in four campaigns.

1,000 for Freeland

On June 19, Rockies’ southpaw Kyle Freeland picked up his fourth win of the season, pitching 7 1/3 innings (four hits, two runs, no walks, eight strikeouts), as the Rockies topped the Pirates 4-3 in Colorado.  His seventh strikeout of the game (Marcell Ozuna on a 3-2 pitch in the seventh) inning was his 1,000^th career strikeout, making him just the second pitcher to record 1,000 K’s in a Rockies’ uniform. (The first was German Marquez, who fanned 1,069 in nine seasons  as a Rockie.)  Freeland is in his tenth season with the Rox.

Save Those Ticket Stubs

On June 20, as the Phillies topped the Mets 15-3, in Philadelphia,  43,402 fans at Citizen Bank Park were treated to two doses of MLB history, as Phillies’ DH Kyle Schwarber hit two homers in one inning and Phillies’ 1B Bryce Harper hit for the cycle.  So, save those ticket stubs – a great bit of memorabilia. Oh wait, electronic tickets! Well, if the Phillies are smart (or maybe just benevolent), they’ll offer to print tickets for those who attended the game.  Anyway, here’s how it went down.

Phillies’ power-hitting Schwarber, hitting in number-two slot, poked a pair of homers in the bottom of the third inning. He led off the inning with a blast to RF (off a 1-1 pitch from Freddy Peralta) and, later in the frame, hit a three-run homer to right (on a 2-1 pitch from Cionel Perez). Schwarber added a third roundtripper in the seventh. On the day, Schwarber was four-for-five (three homers and a double), with  four runs scored and six RBI. As June came to a close,  Schwarber’s stat line was .256-30-55.

In the same game, Harper (batting in the number-three spot):

• Hit a solo homer (off Peralta) with two out in the first;
• Doubled to right in the third (off Peralta), after Schwarber’s dinger leading off the inning;
• Added a two-out single (off Perez) when he came to the plate for the second time in the third inning (again after a Schwarber home run);
• Slashed a two-run triple in the fifth (off Tobias Meyers) – completing the cycle in five frames.

Harper had one more at bat, grounding out (again after a Schwarber home run)  in the seventh. For more on two-homer innings, click here.

A Milestone for Sandy

On June 23, Marlins’ pitcher Sandy Alcantara (the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner) reached a Marlins’ milestone in a 6-4 Marlins’ win over Texas (in Miami). Alcantara ran his 2026 record to 8-4, 4.01, going 6 2/3 innings, giving up just one run on five hits (three walks/four strikeouts). His final strikeout of the game, Rangers’ C Kyle Higashioka in the sixth inning, gave Alcantara 1,002 punchouts as a Marlin – making the franchise’s all -time strikeouts leader. (Alcantara, who started his career with the Cardinals, also recorded ten whiffs in a St. Louis uniform.)

Ouch! What A Way To End A Streak

The Athletics’  Zack Gelof – who has played at least ten games at 3B, 2B and center field this season – came into the A’s game of June 23 on a 24-game hitting streak. From May 25 through June 22, Gelof had gone .351 (33-for-94), with five homers, 12 RBI and 19 runs scored.  On June 23, Gelof flied out leading off the game (played in San Francisco).  In the bottom of the second Giants’ 3B Matt Chapman hit an RBI single  to left, but was thrown out attempting to stretch into double. The throw came from A’s left fielder Tyler Soderstrom to Gelof (playing second). On the play Chapman stepped on Gelof’s right hand (later diagnosed as a laceration and contusion – let’s s say bloody and bruised), knocking him from the game (and ending the hitting streak). The A’s lost the game 3-1 and Gelof  was listed as day-to-day. Gelof, who came into the 2026 season a .225-33-88 hitter over three seasons (237 games), was hitting .282-11-29 at the time of his injury.

The Great Dansby

A month worth of RBI in two days, that’s what Cubs’ SS Dansby Swanson produced on June 23-24. On the 23rd, Swanson went two-for-three, with a home run and four RBI, as his Cubs topped the Mets 9-6. In a double header the very next day, Swanson went two-for-four, with two home runs and seven RBI in Game One and three-for-five with four RBI in Game Two.  (The Mets won the two games by 10-3 and 10-5 scores, respectively.)  Two days, seven hits in 12 at bats, three homers, 15 RBI and four runs scored. Before the two-day RBI binge, Swanson had 41 RBI in 73 games this season.

It Ain’t Over ‘till It’s Over

On June 23, the Phillies, playing in Washington, found themselves down 8-6 to the nationals, with two outs, no one on and two balls and two strikes on Phillies’ SS Trea Turner.  They were literally down to their last strike.  Well, Turner kept things alive with a single off Brad Lord – and the next nine Phillies’ batters (including Turner once again, went: game-tying homer by  LF Brandon Marsh; single, single, go-ahead homer by 2B Bryson Stott, walk, single, double, walk before an inning-ending strikeout.  Outcome? Phillies, one strike away from defeat, went on to a 14-9 win.

But wait, there’s more. The very next day (June 24), the Phillies were again down to their last strike – trailing the Nationals 4-3, with two outs, on one and a 1-2 count on PH Derek Hill.  On the next pitch, Hill took reliever Richard Lovelady deep to right for a two-run go-head homer. (The Phillies won again, this time 5-4 as the Nats went down in order in the bottom of the ninth.)

Just slightly less drama the next night (June 25).  This time, the Phillies and Nats were tied 5-5 going into the ninth, when DH Kyle Schwarber led off with a single and 1B Bryce Harper hit a go-ahead, two-run homer. The Phillies went on to score three more run and take a 10-5 victory,

Elias Sports Bureau reports that the Phillies are the first team to hit a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning of three consecutive games. #InBasebeallWeCountEverything.

You Can Betts On It

On June 24, as the Dodgers topped the Twins 4-3 in Minneapolis, LA SS Mookie Betts (batting clean-up) went three-for-four with one run, one RBI and one home run. It’s the home run we are interested in.  It was Betts’ ninth of the season and his 300^th career roundtripper. Betts,m an eight-time All Star now in his 13th MLB season,  has eight seasons of 20 or more homers (four of 30+) on his MLB resume.

Okay, Now We’re Getting A Little Carried Away With These New Stats

Just read an MLB.com report that Giants’ OF Victor Bericoto  homered on June 24 and 25 and the two homers had identical exit velocities of 108.7 MPH, traveled an identical projected distance of 445 feet to left-center and had respective hang times of 5.2 and 5.3 seconds. For those who like to know such (more important) things, Bericoto’s June 24 long ball was a walk-off game-winner with two outs in the bottom of the ninth of a Giants’ 2-1 win over the A’s, while his June 25 blast was a two-run shot in the sixth inning of a Giants’ 9-6 loss to the A’s.

Rookie Closes June On A Roll

Pirates’ rookie RF Esmerlyn Valdez had a tough day on June 25 (despite a Pirates’ 5-1 win over Seattle). The 22-year-old, batting out of the six-hole, struck out swinging in the second and fourth innings and went down looking in the seventh. That dropped his  average on the season (12 games) to .152.  Then, a light seemed to go on, in the month’s last five games (June 26-30), he went ten-for-fifteen (.667), with two doubles, four homers, four walks, six RBI and only two strikeouts. In the process, he became just the third  Pirates’ rookie to go deep in four straight games (Dick Stuart & Garrett Jones).  (Side Note: Valdez was called up to the Pirates – from Indianapolis – on May 22, sent back down on May 28 and recalled on June 11. )  As we closed out June, Valdez MLB stat line was ,313-6-12 in 17 games.

Mad Max – All He Does Is Win

On June 26, Marlins’ righty Max Meyer twirled a gem picking up a win, tossing seven two-hit, no-run (two walks/five strikeouts) innings in a 4-0 win over the Cardinals in St. Louis. It makes the highlights because it ran Meyer’s 2026 record to 9-0 (2.60 earned run average) in 17 starts – and made  him the only pitcher left this season with at least ten starts and no losses.

Remember When They Called The White Sox The “Hitless Wonders”

On June 27, the White Sox put a “Big Hurt” (pun intended) on the Royals (in Chicago).  They collected 23 hits in a 22-1 win over Kansas City. The highlight or lowlight, depending on your point of view, was the third inning, when the ChiSox plated ten runs on eight hits and two walks. a few notes:

• CF Tristan Peters (6 RBI), 3B Miguel Vargas (5 RBI) and 1B Jacob Gonzalez (5 RBI) became just the second trio of White Sox batters to have at least five RBI in the same game. First trio? April 23, 1955 (Sherman Lollar Bob Nieman and Minnie Minoso).  Side note: Peters and Gonzalez contributed their ten RBI out of the number-eight and -nine spots in the batting order.
• Eleven batters had plate appearances for Chicago in the game and all 11 got on base at least once.
• Eight White Sox batters recorded at least two hits;

Goodman A Good Man With The Bat

On June 27, as Colorado rocked the Twins 8-5 in Minneapolis, Rockies’ C Hunter Goodman (who launched 31 homers last season) had his first career MLB three-homer day – driving in five of the Rox’ eight tallies (giving him 47 RBI on the season). The offensive outburst made him the fourth-fastest (in terms of team games) catcher to reach 25 homers in a season.  And, as the chart below shows, he’s in some pretty good company.

Okay, This Is Getting A little Repetitive

You’ve seen plenty of highlights focusing on player going deep on their Bobblehead Night. Well. It happened again. On June 27, as the Giants topped the Braves 5-0 in San Francisco (on Rafael Devers Bobblehead Night), Devers smacked a pair of home runs  (a solo shot in the second inning and a three-run blast in the third).  It was Devers’ first multi-homer game of 2026. Still, the prize for the “Best Bobblehead Day” remain in the hands (and bat) of the Twins’ Byron Buxton, who celebrated his 2025 Bobblehead Day (July 12) by hitting for the cycle: single in the first inning; triple in the second; double in the third; single in the fifth; home run in the seventh.

This One Isn’t Going Into The Spokes

Okay, it’s getting a little crazy out there.  It was reported that, on June 28, a 2018 Topps Ohtani Chrome SuperFactor Rookie baseball card sold at auction for a bit over $2.5 million dollars.

Favorite Coincidence of the Month … Muncy(s) To The Max

Regular readers know how The Roundtable likes a good coincidence. Well on June 29, as the Dodgers took on the Athletics in Sacramento, there was a double Max Muncy sighting. Playing third base and batting seventh for the Dodgers was a Max Muncy born on August 25, 1990.  Playing third base and batting seventh for the Athletics was a Max Muncy born on August 25, 2002. The Dodgers won the game 9-4 and also prevailed in the battle of the Muncy(s). The Dodgers’ Muncy went two-for-five with a homer, two RBI and a run scored.  The A’s Muncy went one-for-three with a walk and a run scored.  Oh, by the way, the two Muncy(s) are not related.

Another Wrigley Wal (off) In The Park

On June 29, the Cubs edged the Padres 3-2 (in Chicago) on a Seiya Suzuki walk-off, RBI single with two out in the bottom of the ninth. Why a highlight? It was the Cubs’ MLB-leading tenth walk-off win of the season. 1B Michael Busch is Cubs’ Walk-Off King – driving in the walk-off run in three of the ten games.  For those who like to know such things, the Cubs have just two walk-off losses on the season.

A Rookie’s June Shower of Hits

Royals’ Rookie C/DH Carter Jenson (he played 20 games for the Royals in 2025, so his rookie status is still intact for 2026) ran off a 20-game hitting streak from June 6 through June 30 – the still-active streak is the  longest ever for a Royals’ rookie. During the streak, Jenson went 28-for-81 (.351), with five home runs, 18 RBI and 16 runs scored. For those who like to know such things, the longest hitting streak ever by a rookie is 34 games (1987, Benito Santiago, Padres). Jenson ended June with a .251-11-45 line on the season.

Look Out, Going Deep … Again … Finishing With A Flourish

On June 30, as the Rays topped the Royal 5-1, the Rays’ 22-year-old 3B Junior Caminero went deep (and we need to add a key word) again. It was his fifth straight game (going back to June 25) with a home run.  During that run, Caminero went ten-for-twenty (.533), with seven homers and 15 RBI. The Rays, by the way, won all five. Caminero ended June hitting .294-23-52 on the season – following a .264-45-110 season as a 21-year-old in 2025.

Well, That’s The First 1,000

On June 30, the Padres topped the A’s 9-3 in Sacramento, running their season record to 43-41. From a Highlights’ perspective, it was Padres’ Manager Dave Roberts’ 1,000^th managerial victory, It came in his 1,606^th game as a manager, making Roberts the “fastest” manager to reach the 1,000-win mark.  That distinction was previously held by Cap Anson, who got to 1,000 wins in managerial game 1,641.

Let’s Try Something A Little Different

Going into their game against the Angels on June 30, the Mariners were the only team in MLB to score more than half (50.9 percent) of their 2026 runs via the home run. They closed June with a 8-3 win over the Angels in which the Mariners collected 13 hits – 12 singles and a double.

–INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS FOR JUNE—

BATTING AVERAGE (at least 75 June at bats)

American League: Yandy Diaz, Rays (.385); Yordan Alvarez, (.344); Trevor Larnach, Twins (.342)

National League: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (.381); Luis Arreaz, Giants (.354); Jung Hoo Lee, Giants (.340)

The lowest June average among players with at least 75 at bats belonged to the Red Sox’ Jarren Duran at .144 (14-for-97).

HITS

American League: Yandy Diaz, Rays (37); Dillon Dingler, Tigers (35); Junior Caminero, Rays (32); Yordan Álvarez, Astros (32)

National League: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (40); Jackson Chourio, Brewers (37); six with 35

The Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong led MLB in June extra-base hits with 18 (five doubles, two triples and eleven home runs).

HOME RUNS

American League: Junior Caminero, Rays (10); Jac Caglianone, Royals (9); Nick Kurtz, Athletics (9)

National League:  Hunter Goodman, Rockies (13); Luis Garcia, Nationals (11); Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (11)

The Cubs Pete Crow-Armstrong led all players with at least 75 June at bats in slugging percentage at .781. The Rays’ Junior Caminero led the AL at .673.

RUNS BATTED IN

American League: Dillon Dingler, Tigers (25); Junior Caminero, Rays (24); Nick Kurtz, A’s (23); Pete Alonso, Orioles (23

National League: Luis Garcia, Nationals (27); Jackson Chourio, Brewers (25); Hunter Goodman, Rockies (25)

RUNS SCORED

American League:  Dillon Dingler, Tigers (22); Jac Caglianone, Royals (21); three with 20

National League: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (23); Jackson Chourio, Brewers (23); Trea Turner, Phillies (23)

DOUBLES

American League: Brandon Nimmo, Rangers (10); Carter Jensen, Royals (9); Willson Contreras, Red Sox (8);  Tristan Peters, White Sox (8)

National League: Manny Machado, Padres (9); TJ Rumfield, Rockies (9) Fernando Tatis, Jr., Padres (9)

TRIPLES

American League:  Leody Taveras, Orioles (3); five with two

National League: Luis Arreaz, Giants (4); Kyle Stowers (Marlins (3); 13 with two

STOLEN BASES

American League:  Bobby Witt, Jr., Royals (11); Jazz Chisholm, Yankees (10); Henry Bolte, A’s (7); Julio Rodriguez, Mariners (7)

National League: Nasim Nunez, Nationals (10); Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (8); Jackson Merrill, Padres (8); Esteury Ruiz, Marlins (8)

The Padres’ Jackson Merrill stole the most June bases without getting caught (8).

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

American League:  Nick Kurtz, A’s (41); Zach Neto, Angels (40); Colson Montgomery, White Sox (37)

National League: James Wood, Nationals (43); Brandon Marsh, Phillies (38); Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (38); Kyle Stowers, Marlins (38); Brice Turang, Brewers (38)

WALKS

American League:  Nick Kurtz, A’s (21); Yordan Alvarez, Astros (19); Kevin McGonigle, Tigers (19)

National League: Jake Bauers, Brewers (22); Juan Soto, Mets (21); Michael Busch, Cubs (20)

The highest on-base percentage among players with at least 75 June at bats was .468, by the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong. The AL leader was the Rays’ Yandy Diaz at .465.

PITCHING VICTORIES

American League:  Jacob deGrom, Rangers 4-1); 21 with three

National League:  Sandy, Alcantara (6-0); John King, Marlins (5-0); seven with four

The Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly led MLB with five June losses (0-5, 7.31 in five starts).

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (minimum 25 June innings)

American League: Drew Rasmussen, Rays (0.82); Slade Cecconi, Guardians (1.88);  Tanner Bibee, Guardians (1.89)

National League: Logan Webb, Giants (0.71); Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers (0.96); Foster Griffin, Nationals (1.15)

The highest ERA among pitchers with at least 25 June innings or at least four June starts was 10.00 by the Athletics’ Jeffrey Springs (0-2, 10.00 in six starts, 30 earned runs in 27 innings).

STRIKEOUTS

American League: Jacob deGrom, Rangers (45K  / 36 IP); Joe Ryan, Twins (43K / 33 IP); Cam Schlittler, Yankees (42K / 32 IP)

National League: Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies (41K / 37 2.3 IP);Chase Burns, Reds (40K / 27 1/3 IP); Paul Skenes, Pirates (39K / 27 2/3 IP)

INNINGS PITCHED

American League: Shane Baz, Orioles (36 2/3); Jacob deGrom, Rangers (36); Gage Jump, A’s (35)

National League: Sandy Alcantara, Marlins (40 1/3); Logan Webb, Giants (38); Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies (37 2/3)

WALKS + HITS/INNINGS PITCHED (at least 25 June innings)

American League: Drew Rasmussen, Rays (0.61); Tanner Bibee, Guardians (0.72); Logan Gilbert, Mariners (0.79)

National League: Logan Webb, Giants (0.61); Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers (0.64); Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers (0.71)

Among pitches with at least 25 June innings, the Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski held batters to the lowest average at .128.

SAVES

American League:  Jacob Latz, Rangers (11); Louis Varfland, Blue Jays (9); Josh Hader, Astros (8)

National League:  Jhoan Duran, Phillies (9); Riley O’Brien, Cardinals (7); Pete Fairbanks, Marlins (6); Raisel Iglesias, Braves (6); Tanner Scott, Dodgers (6)

Jacob Latz of the Rangers saved the most games without a blown save in June  (11).  

Bonus:

Among pitchers who faced at least 75 batters in June:

• The Astros’ Tatsuya Imai fanned the most batters per nine innings at 15.28;
• The Tigers’ Tarik Skubal had the best strikeouts-to-walks ratio at 15.0. (He walked two batters and fanned 30 in 22 1/3 innings.)

 

If the season ended June 30, your post-season teams would be:

American League:  Rays, White Sox, Rangers    WC: Yankees, Guardians, Mariners.

National League:  Dodgers, Brewers, Braves       WC: Phillies, Cardinals, Mets

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; MLB,com

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