Historic Chases · 2026-07-28

Kyle Schwarber (PHI) has struck out 157 times, projecting to 236. 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 11.7 at-bats. The strikeouts are the price of the power.

The AL Central is a coin flip: Sox (55-51) lead Guardians by 1.5. The Nationals' single-season record is 46 home runs, set by Alfonso Soriano in 2006. James Wood (WSH) projects to 45 and would finish 1 short.

History movers: Yordan Alvarez (HOU), after homering — Franchise Home Runs: 35 now, pace 52, record 47 (Jeff Bagwell, 2000).

Lines of the night: Shohei Ohtani (797) passed Jackie Robinson (734) on the Dodgers' all-time RBI list; Yordan Alvarez (653) passed Doug Rader (600) on the Astros' all-time RBI list; Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD) had a perfect day: 5-for-5 ▶︎ watch; One night, three Rays up the franchise RBI list: Jonathan Aranda (222) past Julio Lugo; Junior Caminero (263) past Toby Hall; Yandy Díaz (546) past Ben Zobrist; Tommy White — a bench bat with 10 games played — went a perfect 4-for-4.

Also last night: Jose Franco earned his first career win ▶︎ watch; Gerardo Carrillo earned his first career win ▶︎ watch; Austin Wynns hit his first home run of the season — in his game No. 23 ▶︎ watch.

What changed from last season: Jackson Merrill (SD) — stolen bases up from 1 in 115 games in 2025 to 21 in 104 this season; Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC) — walk rate up from 4.7% to 12.1% (29 in 620 plate appearances in 2025, 55 in 455 this season). 2 of 314 rate comparisons across 62 men on this season's leaderboards, corrected for having looked that many times.

Start streaks: Gavin Williams (CLE) has struck out 8 or more in each of his last four starts (11, 11, 11, 12).

The so-what: Yordan Alvarez (HOU) has 35 home runs through 109 team games, a 52-homer pace — 11 behind Bonds's 2001 total at the same point (46 of his eventual 73). Keep watching that number — it separates a run at the record from a very good season.