June 23 marked a day of returns. Nolan Arenado was back in St. Louis for the first time since his offseason trade to the D-Backs, while two key pieces of the Marlins’ 2023 playoff team returned to Florida. But despite all of that, the Brewers and Dodgers — two of baseball’s best — continue to monopolize the top of the conversation.
Dodgers defeat Twins
The Dodgers took the first game of their series with Minnesota, 2-1. It gave the Dodgers their 50th win of 2026.
All three runs were scored via solo shots. Shohei Ohtani and Byron Buxton traded blows in the first. Buxton hit his 25th of the season, while Ohtani is up to 17 on the season and 297 in total for his career. Freddie Freeman drilled his 13th in the sixth to finish out the scoring.
Both bulk pitchers performed well. Zebby Matthews gave up the two home runs but struck out five over six innings. Eric Lauer, who came in to pitch after Will Klein‘s scoreless first, tossed six scoreless frames.
Brewers win in Woodruff’s return
The Brewers defeated the Reds in Cincinnati, 2-1, in 10 innings.
Brandon Woodruff‘s return from the IL was excellent, as he had a perfect game through five and struck out 10 over six scoreless. Milwaukee scored two runs in a scoreless game in the 10th, one via a Joey Ortiz sac fly and the other from a Tony Santillan wild pitch.
White Sox win wild game
Grant Taylor and Seranthony Dominguez gave up all five of the White Sox’s conceded runs against the Guardians. Chicago, though, found a way to win in the ninth.
Sam Antonacci drove in a run in the bottom of the seventh to give the Sox a 4-3 lead after a three-run top-half for the Guardians tied it up. But in the ninth, a Patrick Bailey single and a Kyle Manzardo sac fly temporarily gave Cleveland the lead.
Later in that inning, a two-run single from Sam Antonacci walked it off for the Sox.
Rangers break up Marlins’ streak
In Skip Schumaker and Jake Burger‘s return to Miami, the Rangers broke up the Marlins’ four-game win streak and defeated Miami 4-3.
Ezequiel Duran hit a two-run shot in the fourth to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead. However, Miami fought back and tied it. But in the eighth, an Alejandro Osuna double scored Brandon Nimmo, and an Elias Diaz sac fly scored Jake Burger to give the Rangers insurance that was badly needed.
The Marlins made it a one-run game in the eighth thanks to a Kyle Stowers double.
Everything else
- Tigers def. Yankees 5-3
- Royals def. Rays 2-1
- Nationals def. Phillies 4-1
- Blue Jays def. Astros 4-2
- Cardinals def. D-Backs 3-2
- Rockies def. Red Sox 3-2
- Orioles def. Angels 6-1
- Padres def. Braves 1-0
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