The White Sox are turning 2026 into a full-blown statement season. Chicago moved to 71-63 on Friday with a 7-4 win over the Twins, and that number comes with a strange slice of history: as MLB.com’s Sarah Langs noted, those 71 victories are the most ever by a team coming off at least three straight 100-loss seasons. Add in the Guardians’ 3-0 loss to the Royals, and the Sox now sit 3.5 games up in the AL Central.
Tarik Skubal’s first trip back to Comerica Park as a Dodger brought a little bit of everything. He was greeted with cheers in Detroit less than a month after the blockbuster deal that sent him to Los Angeles, and he backed that moment up with another strong outing.
Skubal gave up one run on four hits, struck out seven, and finished six innings for his fourth quality start in five appearances with the Dodgers. It still went down as a no-decision, because Los Angeles didn’t grab the lead until Freddie Freeman’s RBI single in the eighth became the difference in a 2-1 win.
The Dodgers are now nine games ahead of the Padres in the NL West, while the Tigers keep sliding at 2-11 over their last 13 and sit 5.5 games out of the final AL wild card spot.
Philadelphia found another way to win late, and this one had a little extra flair. Wade Meckler, recently activated from the seven-day concussion IL, made a huge ninth-inning catch to take a three-run homer away from Bryson Stott in the Angels-Phillies game.
That looked like a near-miss for Los Angeles, especially with Stott as the second out of the inning. Then Edmundo Sosa stepped in two batters later and launched a pinch-hit grand slam that flipped the game in Philadelphia’s favor for good in a 5-3 win.
The Phillies have made a habit of these finishes, and The Athletic’s Jayson Stark pointed out that this was the fourth time this season they’ve hit a go-ahead home run with two outs in the ninth. They’re 11-2 in their last 13 and firmly in a wild card spot, though they still trail the Braves by five games after Atlanta won its fifth straight.
And yes, there are two doubleheaders on the board today. The Red Sox and Yankees will play twice, and the Diamondbacks and Giants are also set for a pair.
The Bronx nightcap is expected to bring Max Fried back from the 15-day injured list after he missed the minimum with a bone bruise in his left elbow. Boston and New York are both in wild card position, with the Yankees holding a three-game edge after Friday’s 1-0 win.
In San Francisco, Arizona beat the Giants 10-6 on Friday to improve to 9-2 against them this season, and the Diamondbacks enter the twin bill just a half-game behind the Padres for the final NL wild card spot.
In Other News...
Phillies Fans Are Mourning A Beloved Name From Franchise History
Larry Christenson, one of the more familiar names from a defining era in Phillies history, has died unexpectedly at 72. A right-hander taken third overall in the 1972 draft, Christenson spent his entire 11-season major league career in Philadelphia and became part of the fabric of the club during a time when the franchise was building toward its long-awaited championship breakthrough.
He was part of the 1980 World Series title team, and his passing has already prompted condolences from former teammates and other Phillies figures who remembered both what he meant on the mound and the way he carried himself away from it. For a fan base that still keeps close ties to its past, Christenson's death is another reminder of how many of the people who helped shape that title run remain deeply woven into Phillies memory. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Farm System Just Got A Rare Reason For Real Hope
The Phillies farm system has taken its share of hits lately, with injuries thinning the upper levels and recent trades shaving off more of the organizational depth. Even the deal that sent prospect Ramon Marquez to the San Francisco Giants fit the broader theme: Philadelphia has not exactly been collecting outside praise for what it has coming through the pipeline.
So the focus shifts to Francisco Renteria, who gave the organization something it badly needed in the Dominican Summer League. In his first professional season, he put together a strong enough showing to win DSL MVP honors, earn recognition as a top MLB prospect and push himself into the conversation as a rising five-tool player. Ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the Phillies system, Renteria is now one of the few reasons for real optimism in a group that has been short on it. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Still Have One Lineup Problem They May Regret Ignoring
The Phillies addressed two clear needs at the deadline by bringing in Luis Arraez and Brooks Raley, but they still left one familiar hole untouched: a right-handed hitting outfielder. It was a gap made harder to ignore by the clubs uneven production from right-handed bats, and it stood out as the kind of lineup imbalance contenders often try to fix before October arrives.
Jo Adell was one of the names tied to that need, and the fit made sense because of his right-handed power and ability to change a game in a hurry. Instead, he landed with the Cleveland Guardians, where he has opened hot with four home runs and 18 RBIs in his first 20 games, adding another layer to a career that has already included early struggles, injuries and plenty of projection. For the Phillies, the question now is whether passing on that type of bat will matter if the lineup keeps looking the same when the games get bigger. [Read more 🡒]