Historic Chases · 2026-04-27 RECONSTRUCTED

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Nightly briefing

Baseball last night

Games of 2026-04-27

No history was made last night, but the box scores still talked: Jake Eder earned his first career win.

Taylor Ward has 13 doubles — projecting to 75, +1 vs Earl Webb's 67 pace. That pace would be the most doubles in any season since 1901. Needs 37 more to reach 50.

Yordan Alvarez sits at .358 — 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 45/56. Only five players have ever done it: Canseco, Bonds, A-Rod, Soriano, and Ohtani. Neither half carries it alone; the season has to finish on both.

History movers: Chandler Simpson — Franchise Hits: 34 now, pace 196.7, record 198 (Aubrey Huff, 2003) · Oneil Cruz — Franchise RBI: 24 now, pace 134.1, record 131 (Paul Waner, 1927).

That morning's stakes

What we were watching

MUST TRACK: Oneil Cruz is on a 40/40 pace — 8 HR / 10 SB, projecting to 45/56. Every game matters from here.

Wild-card watch: the AL's last wild-card spot belongs to a losing record — the Rangers (14-15) hold it, with the Mariners (14-16) half a game back.

On this date in 2003, Kevin Millwood of the Phillies threw a no-hitter (one of 6 thrown on this date).

30/30 watch: Oneil Cruz sits at 8 HR / 10 SB — 22 homers and 20 steals short of a 30/30 season, projecting to 45/56.

Historical intelligence

How the night stacked up

Pace through history

Munetaka Murakami versus the great home-run seasons

Munetaka Murakami has 12 home runs through 29 team games, 2 behind Barry Bonds's 2001 pace at the same checkpoint (14). Comparable chases finished with a median of 37 (95% CI 35-39); 8.2% reached 50 (5.5-12% at 95% confidence), from 280 comparable seasons.

Retrosheet · verified play-by-play

If the pace holds

A projected top-1 season

If Ernie Clement 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 2025

Franchise pressure

A 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 2025

Only X seasons ever

Munetaka Murakami is building a rare combination

At his current pace, Munetaka Murakami 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 2025

Closest to .400