For the first time in three years, the Atlanta Braves are NL East champions. Atlanta wrapped up that on the 20th, and that victory also helped the Red Sox clinch a postseason berth after Boston lost to the AL-leading Rays.
Braves win first NL East crown in three years
The Braves clinched the NL East division title on the 20th, as Atlanta defeated the Astros 4-2 to sweep Houston.
Houston scored both of their runs via solo home runs, one from Jose Altuve and the other from Yainer Diaz. Sandwiched in between those two homers were four runs from the Braves. Ozzie Albies made it 1-1 with an RBI single in the sixth. Mike Yastrzemski belted a three-run shot later that frame.
Astros pitcher Hunter Brown struck out 10 in the loss over five scoreless innings.
Blue Jays salvage series with Texas
The Blue Jays will enter the final week three back on the final AL Wild Card spot, as Toronto won 7-2 over the Rangers.
Jake Burger tied the game at two with a two-run shot in the fourth. But from that point forward, it was all Blue Jays. Kazuma Okamoto drove in the game-winning run in the fifth, and Nathan Lukes and Charles McAdoo helped pad the lead. Lukes drove in one in the seventh, while McAdoo brought in two with a double later that inning.
Thanks to the Astros’ loss, the Rangers remained one game ahead of Houston in the AL West.
Rays win, Boston clinches
The Red Sox lost 5-1 in St. Pete against the Rays. However, thanks to that Astros loss, Boston clinched a postseason berth for the second straight year.
Six pitchers limited Boston to one run. The lone Red Sox run came via a Trevor Story solo shot off Ty Johnson. Chandler Simpson drove in two for the Rays, while Victor Mesa Jr. hit his 14th home run in the fourth off Red Sox starter Patrick Sandoval.
Tampa Bay is now six games ahead of the Yankees with seven games left. The Rays will face the Yankees for four games starting on September 22.
D-Backs take series with Yankees
Arizona defeated the Yankees 8-4, in a game that the D-Backs had to have. Chicago (NL), Philadelphia, and San Diego all won on the 20th.
Corbin Burnes allowed three home runs in the third, one each to Heliot Ramos, George Lombard Jr., and Spencer Jones. However, Arizona mounted a swift comeback, highlighted by a Nolan Arenado grand slam off Brent Headrick in the fifth. It was Arenado’s 27th home run of the year.
The Yankees are 5.5 games ahead of the Red Sox for the first AL Wild Card spot.
Williams sharp yet again
The Guardians won 1-0 over the Athletics after a two-hour rain delay. Gavin Williams, as he has for much of 2026, was simply dominant.
“The Big Rig” struck out nine over seven scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 3.63, and earned his 14th win along the way. Cleveland’s lone run came off a Jo Adell RBI single off Jack Perkins.
Cleveland’s win kept them ahead of the White Sox. Chicago (AL) defeated the Tigers 8-1.
Everything else
- Phillies def. Mets 7-2
- Pirates def. Royals 4-3
- Cubs def. Reds 9-1
- White Sox def. Tigers 8-1
- Cardinals def. Nationals 5-3
- Mariners def. Rockies 2-1
- Twins def. Angels 8-0
- Dodgers def. Giants 3-1
- Padres def. Marlins 7-3
- Brewers def. Orioles 3-0
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