No history was made last night, but the box scores still talked: José Tena hit his first home run of the season — in his game No. 21 ▶︎ watch; Paxton Schultz earned his first career save ▶︎ watch.
Historic Chases · 2026-04-26 RECONSTRUCTED
Nightly briefing
Baseball last night
Ernie Clement has 13 doubles — projecting to 78, +2 vs Earl Webb's 67 pace. That pace would be the most doubles in any season since 1901. Needs 37 more to reach 50.
Ildemaro Vargas sits at .367 — the last .400 season was Ted Williams in 1941.
The so-what: Oneil Cruz is on a 40/40 pace — 8 HR and 10 SB, projecting to 46/58. Only five players have ever done it: Canseco, Bonds, A-Rod, Soriano, and Ohtani. Power and speed in the same season is the whole story from here.
History movers: Mike Trout, after homering — Franchise Home Runs: 9 now, pace 50.3, record 47 (Troy Glaus, 2000).
Lines of the night: The Arizona Diamondbacks came back from 6 runs down to win 12-7, and the San Diego Padres blew a 6-run lead; The Kansas City Royals came back from 6 runs down to win 11-9, and the Los Angeles Angels blew a 6-run lead; Tim Tawa hit his first home run of the season — in his game No. 16 ▶︎ watch; Graham Pauley hit his first home run of the season — in his game No. 22 ▶︎ watch.
Sweep watch: the Rays swept the Twins (3 games) — their 3rd sweep in 17 days. 3 other clubs were swept the same night.
That morning's stakes
What we were watching
MUST TRACK: Oneil Cruz is on a 40/40 pace — 8 HR / 10 SB, projecting to 46/58. Every game matters from here.
The .400 burndown: Ildemaro Vargas carries a .367 average into today; a .400 finish takes a .408 clip the rest of the way (161-for-395). A 3-for-4 tonight lowers the requirement to .404; an 0-for-4 raises it to .412.
Wild-card watch: the AL's last wild-card spot belongs to a losing record — the Mariners (14-15) hold it, with the Orioles (13-15) a game back.
On this date in 1997, Roberto Alomar hit 3 home runs in one game.
30/30 watch: Oneil Cruz sits at 8 HR / 10 SB — 22 homers and 20 steals short of a 30/30 season, projecting to 46/58.
Historical intelligence
How the night stacked up
Yordan Alvarez versus the great home-run seasons
Yordan Alvarez has 11 home runs through 29 team games, 3 behind Barry Bonds's 2001 pace at the same checkpoint (14). Comparable chases finished with a median of 34 (95% CI 33-35); 5.3% reached 50 (3.7-7.7% at 95% confidence), from 488 comparable seasons.
Retrosheet · verified play-by-playA projected top-1 season
If Taylor Ward finishes at the current projection of 75, it would be the most doubles in any season since 1901 — no season on record has finished higher.
SABR Lahman Baseball Database · through 2025A franchise record is under pressure
The single-season record is 52 home runs, set by George Foster in 1977. Sal Stewart projects to 52 and would tie it.
SABR Lahman Baseball Database · through 2025Yordan Alvarez is building a rare combination
At his current pace, Yordan Alvarez would reach at least 60 HR, and 125 RBI. Only 10 completed seasons in the configured historical cohort reached every mark. The recent company includes Cal Raleigh (2025), Aaron Judge (2022), Barry Bonds (2001).
SABR Lahman Baseball Database · through 2025Closest to .400
.367AVG
5 consecutive hits needed to reach .400
LONG SHOT
Home Run Leader
11HR
61 projected HR · 3 behind Bonds's 73 pace
Hits Leader
38H
212 projected H · 9 behind Suzuki's 262 pace
Stolen Base Leader
13SB
73 projected SB · 10 behind Henderson's 130 pace
Doubles Leader
132B
78 projected 2B · +2 vs Webb's 67 pace
Triples Leader
43B
24 projected 3B · 2 behind Wilson's 36 pace
Triple Crown Watch (MLB)
.358· 11 HR · 26 RBI
2 / 1 / 2 in AVG/HR/RBI league ranks — full board on the Watch page
30/30 Club Pace
8/10HR/SB
46/58 projected HR/SB · team-game pace · 10 others in the hunt
ON PACE
Wins Leader (Team)
Braves
20W
112 projected wins · record 116
NEAR PACE
Run Differential Leader
Dodgers
+67
+388 projected run differential