All articles tagged with #american league
Ray Ratto argues September in the American League is a chaotic scramble: the White Sox led the AL Central briefly thanks to pope-themed theatrics and Tommy Pham's three-run homer, but Cleveland surged to the division lead as the rest of the league's contenders remain muddled, with Houston and Texas in meh territory and the Blue Jays and Orioles still in wild-card contention.
The American League rode a dominant pitching performance—15 strikeouts and only three NL hits—to a 4-0 shutout of the National League in the 96th MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia, with Dylan Cease striking out the side in the first and Cody Bellinger driving in two runs on back-to-back hits to earn MVP honors, while Miguel Vargas homered for the AL.
The 2026 MLB All-Star Game opened in Philadelphia with the American League taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a rally that included Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice; NL starter Cristopher Sánchez struggled as Michael Wacha started for the AL. Dylan Cease pitched a scoreless first for the NL, and Juan Soto later broke the no-hitter with the NL’s first hit, a leadoff single off Joe Ryan. Caminero left after being hit by a pitch and was replaced by Miguel Vargas, and several AL substitutions followed as the game progressed, while the NL had yet to record a hit through three innings.
Lineups for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia were announced: NL will start Schwarber-DH, Soto-LF, Freeman-1B, Abrams-SS, Muncy-3B, Albies-2B, Marsh-RF, Pages-CF, Baldwin-C, with Cristopher Sanchez starting for the NL against AL ace Dylan Cease; AL's lineup features Trout-CF, Yodan Alvarez-DH, Shea Langeliers-C, Junior Caminero-3B, Bobby Witt Jr.-SS, Cody Bellinger-RF, Ben Rice-1B, Riley Greene-LF, Ernie Clement-2B. Fan voting left Pete Crow-Armstrong out of the starting lineup in favor of Pages, per Michael Cerami.
New York owns a 26–12 record atop the American League and looks like October favorites, powered by a potent lineup led by Ben Rice (.343/.455/.759, 1.214 OPS) alongside Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger, with Giancarlo Stanton sidelined by a calf strain. The rotation has been elite even without two top starters, posting a 3.04 ERA and leading in fewest barrels per plate appearance (4.1%) and balls in the air (52.1%), and the bullpen should improve as Ryan Weathers slots in. With Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón nearing returns and the rest of the AL showing cracks, New York stands as the team to beat this season.
Lookout Landing’s 2026 MLB predictions crown the Mariners as the AL West winner and No. 1 seed, with the Tigers favored in the Central and the Blue Jays edging the Red Sox/Yankees in the East; the crowd largely agrees but with notable caveats, and the piece closes with bold staff predictions and crowd hype about wild-card frays and possible midseason moves.
Blue Jays miss out on Kyle Tucker as he signs with the Dodgers, but insiders say Toronto remains a top AL favorite thanks to heavy offseason spending and a solid outfield, while Bo Bichette’s future with the team remains in question with Phillies interest.
Cal Raleigh set the Seattle Mariners' single-season home run record with his 57th homer, surpassing Ken Griffey Jr., during a game against the Houston Astros. He leads MLB in home runs and RBIs, and has broken multiple records this season, including tying Mickey Mantle’s switch-hitter record and hitting 20 homers from each side of the plate. Raleigh is a top contender for AL MVP and has signed a six-year extension with the Mariners.
As the MLB trade deadline approaches, American League contenders like the Yankees, Tigers, Blue Jays, Astros, and Mariners face critical needs such as upgrading their pitching staff, filling key infield positions, and strengthening their bullpens to enhance their playoff chances. The Yankees need a third baseman, the Tigers seek relief pitchers, the Blue Jays require another starter, the Astros want more pitching depth, and the Mariners aim to upgrade their corner infield spots.
New York Yankees' pitcher Luis Gil narrowly won the American League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award, edging out Baltimore Orioles' Colton Cowser by five points in one of the closest elections since the BBWAA adopted a three-player ballot in 1980. This victory marks the 10th time a Yankees player has received this honor, the most in the AL. Gil is the fifth Dominican-born player to win the award and the second pitcher, following Neftali Feliz in 2010.
Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer in the All-Star Game, becoming the first Dodger to do so since 1996, but his National League team lost 5-3 to the American League. Despite his impressive performance, including a walk and a strong at-bat against Tanner Houck, Ohtani's team fell short, and Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran was named MVP. The American League has now won 10 of the last 11 All-Star Games.
The American League defeated the National League 5-3 in the 2024 MLB All-Star Game, resuming their dominance with big hits from Juan Soto, Jarren Duran, and David Fry. Jarren Duran earned MVP honors with a go-ahead two-run homer. Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer for the NL, but the AL bullpen held firm for the win.
The American League won the 2024 MLB All-Star Game 5-3 against the National League, led by Jarren Duran's two-run homer and Shohei Ohtani's three-run homer for the NL. The AL has now won 22 of the last 27 All-Star Games. Key moments included a showdown between Aaron Judge and Paul Skenes, Mason Miller's 103.6 mph pitch, and Trea Turner's slick defensive play while mic'd up.
The American League defeated the National League 5-3 in the 2024 MLB All-Star Game, resuming their dominance with big hits from Juan Soto, Jarren Duran, and David Fry. Jarren Duran earned MVP honors with a go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth inning. Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer for the NL, but the AL bullpen held firm for the win.
The MLB All-Star Game starting lineups have been announced, with Corbin Burnes of the Baltimore Orioles and rookie Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates set to start on the mound for the American and National Leagues, respectively. The lineups feature a mix of seasoned stars and first-time All-Stars, promising an exciting game.