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The first series of the 2026 MLB season are complete. Don’t panic if your favorite team is 0-3 and don’t get too high and mighty if your team is 3-0. There are five of each. Rookies have certainly made an impact to begin the season, with Chase DeLauter (Cleveland Guardians), Kevin McGonigle (Detroit Tigers) and Munetaka Murakami (Chicago White Sox) standing out. Whether they are able to keep up their hot starts is another thing. There were only 12 games Sunday as the season-opening schedule gave teams an option to have the day off, which felt weird.
Today’s Headlines
Brewers Doing Brewers Things Already
If you are doing a game-by-game comparison of seasons, the Milwaukee Brewers are already plus-3 in the win column from last season. You remember that, don’t you? Torpedo bats and all, the Crew were embarrassed by the New York Yankees in a three-game sweep 36-14 (and beaten by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth game 11-1). But thanks to Christian Yelich doing something he had never done before, the Brewers have reversed their start of 2025. Yelich came off the bench to hit a go-ahead three-run homer during a six-run eighth inning as the Brewers upended the Chicago White Sox 9-7. The Brewers completed a three-game sweep by erasing a 7-2 deficit in the third inning. The pinch-hit homer was the first of Yelich’s career. The comeback put a damper on White Sox rookie first baseman Munetaka Murakami becoming the fourth player in MLB history to homer in each of his first three games. Chase DeLauter of the Cleveland Guardians accomplished it the night before (four homers in three games), while Trevor Story of the 2019 Colorado Rockies and Kyle Lewis of the 2019 Seattle Mariners also did the deed.
Challenges Pay Dividends For Orioles
There is a debate about when to use the automatic ball-strike challenges. The Baltimore Orioles might have provided all the evidence needed to save them for late-game situations. Clinging to a two-run lead in the ninth inning vs. the Minnesota Twins and the tying run at the plate, the Orioles TWICE used an ABS challenge and won both, turning a would-be walk (both times) into a strikeout for the second out in what wound up an 8-6 Baltimore win. Catcher Adley Rutschman called for the first challenge on a 3-0 pitch that was called a ball, then closer Ryan Helsley pulled the rare pitcher challenge when his 3-2 offering was ruled a ball. By the way, those were the ninth and 10th challenges between the Twins and Orioles in the game. Pete Alonso singled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and Tyler O’Neill hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning as the Orioles overcame an early 4-0 deficit.
Caissie’s Hot Marlins Start Includes Walk-off HR
It felt like it was going to be tough for Owen Caissie to crack the Chicago Cubs‘ outfield. So he was traded to the Miami Marlins along with two others for starting pitcher Edward Cabrera. Caissie is showing early that the Marlins made a good move, capping a three-hit game with a two-run walk-off homer to give Miami a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies. Caissie went deep off right-hander Victor Vodnik to give the Marlins their first 3-0 start since 2009. Caissie is 5-for-10 with two doubles, a homer and four RBIs.
Mariners’ Hancock Struts In Season Debut
The first “Sunday Night Baseball” game of the season on a new carrier, NBC-Peacock, surely lived up to the billing of two of last year’s playoff teams. At least it did for Emerson Hancock. The Seattle Mariners right-hander struck out nine over six hitless innings in an 8-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. Brendan Donovan hit his second homer with his new team, and Randy Arozarena doubled and drove in a pair of runs. Hancock, the No. 6 starter in a very good rotation, got the opportunity due to Bryce Miller’s injury. He did walk one, which was the only blemish on his night. Right-hander Cooper Criswell replaced Hancock, who had thrown 97 pitches, to begin the seventh and gave up a leadoff single to Chase DeLauter.
By The Numbers
50 The Toronto Blue Jays pitchers struck out 50 over the first three games, setting an MLB record.
8 Joey Wiemer of the Washington Nationals has reached safely in his first eight plate appearances with his new team, tying the record of the expansion era (since 1969). Wiemer went 3-for-3 and walked once in a 6-3 win over the Cubs.
5 Yandy Díaz of the Tampa Bay Rays matched his career high with five hits in an 11-7 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
10 Cincinnati Reds rookie first baseman Sal Stewart became the third-youngest player in MLB history to reach base 10 times in the first three games of a season. Stewart is 22 years and 112 days old.
Best Moments From Yesterday
How To Handle A Troll
New Texas Rangers outfielder Andrew McCutchen, who played three years with the Philadelphia Phillies, hit a three-run homer against Philly. He had a simple response to a fan at Citizens Bank Park who didn’t appreciate the blast.
64 For Springer
It is easy to name Rickey Henderson as the player who hit the most career leadoff homers (he did it 81 times). But did you know that George Springer of the Blue Jays is No. 2? He crushed his 64th leadoff homer to begin a 5-2 win over the A’s.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ The Marlins acquired infielder Leo Jiménez from the Blue Jays for minor-league infielder Dub Gleed and $250,000 in international bonus pool money. Jimenez had been designated for assignment after failing to make Toronto’s Opening Day roster. Right-hander Garrett Acton was DFA’d to make room for Jimenez on the 40-man roster.
⚾ Outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez was traded by the Cleveland Guardians to the Orioles for minor-league right-hander Carter Rustad. Rodriguez had been DFA’d after not making the Opening Day roster. The O’s also acquired left-hander Jayvien Sandridge, who was also DFA’d, from the Los Angeles Angels for cash.
⚾ The Minnesota Twins signed a pair of right-handed relievers, John Brebbia and Drew Smith, to minor-league contracts.
Articles You Should Read
Could slumping Giants use advice from Bonds? — John Shea, San Francisco Standard
New-look Ortiz shines for Brewers with bat and glove — Michael Trzinski, Brewer Fanatic
Red Sox have a plan to get Yoshida more playing time — Tim Healey, Boston Globe
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