Week of September 21, 2026 – September 27, 2026
Alonso mashes five homers as Astros take the AL West lead
Pete Alonso launched five homers in five games for the Orioles, while the Astros outscored opponents 46-19 and slipped past Texas atop the AL West. The Brewers, already the NL's runaway, added a 5-1 week and a Cardinals sweep.
The Week at a Glance
- Milwaukee went 5-1 (30 runs scored, 18 allowed), stretched a win streak to five, and sits at 103-59.
- Houston went 4-2 with 46 runs scored and 19 allowed, moving into first in the AL West at 81-81.
- Baltimore went 4-1, swept Toronto in three, and got five homers from Pete Alonso.
- Los Angeles Dodgers went 4-2, swept the Giants, and reached 100 wins.
- Jared Jones threw 11.0 innings across two starts with 14 strikeouts, zero walks, and a 0.18 WHIP.
- Eury Pérez spun a one-hit shutout: 9.0 innings, eight strikeouts, in Miami's 3-0 win over Atlanta.
Player of the Week
Pete Alonso turned a five-game week into a highlight reel, going 7-for-18 with five home runs, eight RBI, and eight runs for the Orioles. The .389/.500/1.222 slash (1.722 OPS) came with three walks and matched Baltimore's 4-1 surge and series sweep of Toronto.
Pitcher of the Week
Jared Jones needed only two starts to own the week: 11.0 innings, 14 strikeouts, zero walks, two hits, and zero earned runs. The Pirates right-hander posted a 0.00 ERA and 0.18 WHIP with a win, including seven scoreless on one hit against St. Louis.
Game of the Week
MIA 3, ATL 0 (Friday)
Eury Pérez went the distance, allowing one hit and one walk over 9.0 innings with eight strikeouts in a 3-0 Marlins win. It was the cleanest full-game pitching line of the week and capped a 4-2 stretch for Miami.
Standings Pulse
- Houston flipped the AL West, climbing into first at 81-81 (4-2 week) while Texas fell to 80-82 after a 2-4 slide.
- Cleveland held the AL Central at 85-77, one game ahead of the White Sox; both went 4-2.
- New York Yankees went 4-2 and cut the Tampa Bay lead to 4.5 games; the Rays were 3-4 and stayed first at 98-64.
- Milwaukee's 5-1 week and sweep of St. Louis padded an NL Central cushion already at 14 games over Chicago.
- Los Angeles Dodgers swept San Francisco, won three straight to close the week, and sit at 100-62 in the NL West.
- Baltimore swept Toronto and jumped the Blue Jays into fourth in the AL East on the strength of a 4-1 week.
Moves & Call-ups
- Los Angeles Dodgers activated RHP Roki Sasaki from the 15-day injured list and CF Andy Pages from the 10-day injured list.
- New York Mets activated RHP Devin Williams from the 15-day injured list; they also placed RHP Christian Scott on the 15-day IL with left knee inflammation.
- Toronto Blue Jays placed RHP Dylan Cease on the 15-day injured list retroactive to September 20 with right shoulder inflammation and designated LHP Joe Mantiply for assignment.
- Texas Rangers placed DH Joc Pederson on the 10-day injured list retroactive to September 19 with a left wrist fracture.
- Houston Astros placed CF Jake Meyers on the 60-day injured list and saw P Josh Hendrickson debut on September 23.
- Pittsburgh Pirates designated RHP Camilo Doval for assignment and activated RHP Kirby Yates from the 15-day injured list.
- San Francisco Giants placed RF Jung Hoo Lee (groin contusion) and RHP Blade Tidwell (right UCL sprain) on the IL.
- Alexander Cornielle debuted for the Yankees on September 25.
— Ninety games, four sweeps, and a new AL West leader—check the waiver wire before the final week bites.