Historic Chases · 2026-07-26

Kyle Schwarber (PHI) has struck out 155 times, projecting to 237. Mark Reynolds' record is 223. That pace would be the most strikeouts in any season since 1901. But he's doing damage too: he is 2nd in MLB in home runs (33) — one every 11.5 at-bats. The strikeouts are the price of the power.

The AL West is a coin flip: Rangers (53-52) lead Mariners by 1.5. The Nationals' single-season record is 46 home runs, set by Alfonso Soriano in 2006. James Wood (WSH) projects to 46 and would tie it.

Lines of the night: Yordan Alvarez (647) passed Doug Rader (600) on the Astros' all-time RBI list; Shawn Ross hit his first career home run ▶︎ watch; One night, two Rays up the franchise RBI list: Junior Caminero (261) past Toby Hall; Yandy Díaz (546) past Ben Zobrist; Julian Garcia earned his first career save ▶︎ watch; Mitch Farris earned his first career save ▶︎ watch.

Milestones reached last night: James Wood (WSH) reached 30 HR.

What changed from last season: Jackson Merrill (SD) — stolen bases up from 1 in 115 games in 2025 to 20 in 103 this season; Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC) — walk rate up from 4.7% to 11.9% (29 in 620 plate appearances in 2025, 53 in 446 this season); Junior Caminero (TB) — walk rate up from 6.4% to 12.5% (41 in 643 plate appearances in 2025, 57 in 457 this season). 3 of 312 rate comparisons across 61 men on this season's leaderboards, corrected for having looked that many times.

Sweep watch: the Rays swept the Guardians (3 games) — their 3rd sweep in 31 days. 1 other club was swept the same night.

The so-what: Yordan Alvarez (HOU) has 34 home runs through 107 team games, a 51-homer pace — 11 behind Bonds's 2001 total at the same point (45 of his eventual 73). That gap is the whole story: it closes, or the chase does.