Week of August 31, 2026 – September 6, 2026
Saggese piles up extra bases as Red Sox sweep Baltimore
Thomas Saggese put up a 1.718 OPS for the Cardinals while the Red Sox took all four from the Orioles and cut into the AL East gap. Elsewhere, Gavin Williams punched out 24 over two Guardians starts and Chicago hung 17 on Milwaukee on Monday.
The Week at a Glance
- Boston went 5-2 and swept a four-game set from Baltimore, who finished 1-6 and on a six-game losing streak.
- Thomas Saggese hit .526 with 3 homers, 8 RBI, and 9 runs in 6 games for St. Louis; Rafael Devers hit 6 homers with 13 RBI for San Francisco.
- Gavin Williams struck out 24 in 13.0 innings across two starts; Bryan Woo threw 14.0 innings with a 0.64 ERA and two wins for Seattle.
- The Dodgers went 4-2, swept a three-game set from Washington, and closed on a four-game winning streak.
- Alex Bregman homered three times in Chicago's 17-3 win over Milwaukee on August 31.
- Houston allowed 18 runs in a 4-3 week and held the AL West lead; Texas stayed 2 back at 4-3.
Player of the Week
Thomas Saggese spent the week rearranging Cardinals lineups from left field, going 10-for-19 with 3 home runs, 8 RBI, and 9 runs scored. He added 2 stolen bases and 4 walks against 4 strikeouts, good for a .526 average and a 1.718 OPS over 6 games. St. Louis went 4-2 and scored 47 runs while he was doing it.
Pitcher of the Week
Gavin Williams owned the strike zone in two Guardians starts, working 13.0 innings with 24 strikeouts, 6 hits, and 4 walks. He allowed 2 earned runs for a 1.38 ERA and 0.77 WHIP, picking up one win. The headline outing was 7.0 scoreless with 13 strikeouts against Toronto on September 1.
Game of the Week
CHC 17, MIL 3 (Monday)
The Cubs opened the week by burying the Brewers under a 14-run margin at home. Alex Bregman went 3-for-6 with 3 home runs, 4 RBI, and 3 runs in the middle of it. Milwaukee still leads the NL Central, but Chicago trimmed a game off the deficit with the statement on the scoreboard.
Standings Pulse
- Tampa Bay remains first in the AL East at 85-58; the Yankees sit 4 back, and the Red Sox are 6.5 back after a 5-2 week and a four-game winning streak.
- Baltimore's 1-6 week and six-game skid dropped them 16.5 back in the East after the four-game sweep by Boston.
- Chicago White Sox hold the AL Central at 75-68; Cleveland is 2.5 back after a 4-3 week that gained a game.
- Houston leads the AL West at 73-71; Texas is 2 back at 71-73, both clubs 4-3 on the week.
- Milwaukee still runs the NL Central at 88-56; the Cubs are 7 back after gaining a game at 4-3.
- Los Angeles Dodgers sit alone atop the NL West at 86-57 after a 4-2 week and a three-game sweep of the Nationals.
Moves & Call-ups
- Philadelphia Phillies traded LF Tommy Pham to Chicago White Sox for cash; Tampa Bay Rays traded RF Jake Cave to Chicago White Sox for cash.
- Toronto Blue Jays traded RHP Sebastian Rodriguez to Los Angeles Dodgers for RHP José Rodríguez.
- Boston Red Sox placed 1B Willson Contreras on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain.
- Tampa Bay Rays placed LHP Shane McClanahan on the 15-day injured list with left forearm tightness and RHP Manuel Rodríguez on the 15-day IL with a low back strain.
- Miami Marlins placed 2B Xavier Edwards on the 10-day injured list with a left thumb sprain.
- Arizona Diamondbacks activated 2B Ketel Marte from the 10-day injured list; New York Mets activated 1B Mark Vientos from the 10-day IL.
- Cesar Perdomo debuted for the Giants; Dylan Ross debuted for the Mets; Luis De León debuted for the Orioles.
— September is for scoreboard watching; the Red Sox just made the AL East worth another look.