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MLB News & Moments: Tatis Leaves the Yard

The great Fernando Tatis Jr. drought of 2026 is officially over!

Pablo Figueroa
MLB Morning News 3 Hours Ago

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Despite the many recent headlines for things like the upcoming CBA battle, the dominance of teams like Atlanta, the Dodgers, and the Yankees, one of the most pressing issues around MLB had certainly become the lack of homers by one Fernando Tatis Jr.

As a young superstar who has hit at least 20 homers over every full season of his career, it had become really hard to explain just how Tatis had failed to hit a single long ball in 2026, entering Saturday’s action with a .307 slugging percentage that almost reads like a misprint. However, with the Padres becoming one of the best teams in the NL, Tatis’ drought was not as damaging, leaving some pressure off him as he continued to search for his power stroke.

Playing the Nationals proved to be the ultimate antidote, as Tatis not only hit his first homer, he really crushed it. With this major monkey off his back, don’t be surprised if he finds a way to go on a power bender as the calendar turns to June.

 

Today’s Headlines

 

Do Like Edmundo

In a battle of NL heavyweights, the Phillies showed they are one of the big boys of the league, picking up an impressive comeback win over the Dodgers. While starters Jesús Luzardo (two runs allowed over 5.1 innings) and Roki Sasaki (one run and seven Ks over 5.1 frames) kept the game close, LA seemingly scored an insurance run in the seventh, which gave them a 3-1 lead heading into the eighth. As Tanner Scott entered and worked two quick outs after a lead-off single, it seemed that the Dodgers would cruise to another win. Instead, Bryce Harper cut into the deficit with an RBI single, setting up the stage for Edmundo Sosa, who had entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the sixth. The light-hitting Sosa, owner of only 38 career homers over eight seasons, timed a Scott fastball expertly to hit a two-run blast that turned the deficit into a lead. Philadelphia’s bullpen would hold that final score, as Jhoan Duran earned his 12th save of 2026.

The 40 Club

As other contenders like the Rays, Yankees, and Dodgers have hit some rough patches through the season, it seems that Atlanta is simply immune to that, taking another commanding win to become the first 2026 squad to reach 40 wins. Despite starting crafty veteran Martín Pérez on hitter-friendly Cincinnati, Perez made enough pitches to limit the Reds to only two runs over five innings, as he earned his third win of the season. The 35-year-old lefty allowed three of his four hits for extra bases and also gave out three free passes, but Cincinnati could not capitalize on those early chances, becoming an afterthought as soon as the bullpen entered. As usual, Atlanta closed the game early, with four scoreless frames from its relief corps, with only one hit allowed. Meanwhile, Atlanta’s offense showed its usual blend of power and patience, working five walks and also hitting four solo homers, including a multi-dinger day for Ronald Acuña Jr. that led to a 5-2 final.

Running Up That Hill

After starting the season 3-2 by March 30, the Seattle Mariners had not been above .500 since, with a season defined by a lack of consistency and injuries. Riding a season-best five-game winning streak, Seattle is now finally on the green side of the ledger, as a masterful Bryan Woo performance and plenty of solo homers were enough to earn a dominant 5-1 win over Arizona. Woo, who has shown flashes of ace-like potential but also a knack for uneven starts, was at his best, pitching seven scoreless innings in which he allowed only two hits, while striking out nine. After consecutive innings that featured two solo homers in the second and third, Seattle was in full control, with a 4-0 lead against starter Ryne Nelson. With the win, the Mariners are now the first AL West team to reach 30 wins.

A’s+++

The A’s entered last night’s action having lost six of their past seven games, with both the offense and pitching scuffling at the same time. For one game, it was all forgotten, as the A’s reminded us how dangerous they can be with just enough run prevention. Starter J.T. Ginn kept the Yankees at bay by allowing only an unearned run over six innings. His performance was not really dominant, but he kept the ball in the park and made the most of an offense who maximized their damage via power. While Yankee starter Ryan Weathers struck out ten over 6.2 frames, he also allowed five runs by the way of three homers, with Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom, and Nick Kurtz tagging him for a weird stat line. Even as New York threatened late in the contest, a three-run ninth was not enough, with the A’s knotting up the series with a 6-4 final score.

The PCA Game

As one of the most divisive players in MLB, it seems that every week brings a new referendum regarding Pete Crow-Armstrong’s status in baseball. While some will point to his defensive wizardry and athleticism, others will mention his uneven offense and streaky type of play. In any case, it is at least evident why the league continues to market him as a young, exciting star. Last night gave us a glimpse of the good PCA, as he hit leadoff and was a key cog in the Cubs’ 6-1 win over the Cardinals. After striking out in his first at-bat, Crow-Armstrong collected a hit in each of his next four trips to the plate, including a solo homer in the eighth as part of a 4-for-5 effort with two runs and two RBI. As starter Ben Brown dominated St. Louis with only one run allowed over seven frames, the Cubs controlled every aspect of the affair.

 

By The Numbers

 

394 Fernando Tatis Jr. broke the spell and finally hit his first homer of the season. Before doing it, 394 different players had hit at least one long ball in MLB during the 2026 season.

10 After homering for a third straight game, Julio Rodríguez reached 10 homers during the month of May. It is the first time in his career reaching double-digit homers within a calendar month.

34 After taking another loss in Colorado, the Giants scored three or fewer runs for the 34th time in 58 games this season. In those games, they have gone a pitiful 5-29.

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

Polar Opposites

Saying that Trey Yesavage was off his game on Saturday would be a massive understatement, as Toronto’s ace had somehow allowed only one run over five innings despite an ugly seven-walk performance. A couple of key double plays limited the damage and left Yesavage in line for an unlikely win, especially as Toronto’s offense increased an early 2-1 lead to enter the ninth with a comfortable 5-1 score. However, the Jays used Louis Varland in the eighth and trusted Jeff Hoffman for the ninth, and that’s when the game went haywire. Hoffman was back to his erratic self, needing 24 pitches to record only one out, as the Orioles worked two walks and three hits off him. As Connor Seabold mercifully relieved Hoffman with the score already tied and the bases loaded, he could not escape Pete Alonso’s heroics, as the Polar Bear delivered a walk-off single to complete the shocking 6-5 comeback. Despite being limited to seven hits, the Orioles ultimately made the most of the 11 walks they were gifted by Toront0’s staff.

Get Carter

Through most of Saturday, Carter Jensen was having a great day against the Texas Rangers. As the Royals overcame an early 3-0 deficit to turn it into a 6-3 lead, Carter hit his seventh homer of the season and then made this spectacular diving catch on a failed bunt attempt, preserving Kansas City’s lead as the game dwindled. Alas, the bullpen could not match Jensen’s excellence, coughing up the lead as closer Lucas Erceg failed to record an out, allowing five hits and three runs as Texas walked it off with a 7-6 win.

Vintage Trout

On a day in which the Angels flexed their muscles on one of the best teams in the AL, the greatest power display came from their most iconic player. Staked to an early lead after a Wade Meckler grand slam, Mike Trout took his turn to remind us of his sweet swing and massive power, hitting a ball that almost hit the Tropicana Field roof. It all came as part of an 11-hit, 14-run effort from LA, as the Halos cruised to a 14-3 win over the Rays. Trout finished his day with three runs and that impressive dinger.

 

Injuries and Other Moves

 

⚾ The White Sox have placed Munetaka Murakami on the 10-day IL with a grade 2 hamstring strain. He had left Friday’s game with the injury, and it appears to be serious enough to warrant an absence between four and six weeks. Murakami had been the front-runner for AL MVP, and his presence is a big part of Chicago’s surprise performance to start 2026. The team recalled infielder Jordan Gonzalez to take his roster spot. 

⚾ The A’s have placed starter Luis Severino on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder strain. He had left Friday’s game against the Yankees after only 23 pitches, and the team opted to be cautious to guarantee a full recovery. Severino has improved in 2026 after a rough debut season in Sacramento, and his status could prove key for an A’s team that continues to battle at the top of the AL West. 

⚾ Adding injury to San Francisco’s insult of a season, the Giants placed outfielder Harrison Bader on the 10-day IL due to plantar fascitis. This is the second IL stint for Bader in 2o26, as he has been unable to add consistency to a weak outfield. In his absence, the team recalled Will Brennan from the minors.

 

Articles You Should Read

 

Keibert Ruiz Rises From the Ashes — Jake Mailhot, Fangraphs

Young Fan Drives Hard Bargain for Milestone HR — Zach Worden, MLB.com

 

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Pablo Figueroa

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Pablo Figueroa is a Baseball Writer here at Pitcher List, with experience as a writer since 2013. He lives in Aguascalientes, Mexico - proud home of Los Rieleros. When he´s not thinking about baseball , he's a husband, owns two dogs, watches random episodes of The Sopranos , plays padel, and works on his day job to pay the bills.

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