Here’s our weekly look at 10 mind-blowing notes from the last week in baseball (April 10-16).
Top of the top
When the Angels-Yankees series began on Monday, there was a ton of power in the lineup. The top four active leaders in home runs all played -- Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Trout, Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt. It was the first time since at least 1900 that the top four active players in home runs entering that day all played in the same game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
MVP power
Of course, they didn’t all just play. Two of them put on a show. Three-time MVPs Trout and Judge each hit two home runs in the game. It was the fourth game in which two players who were already multi-time MVPs hit multiple home runs, per Elias. They joined Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle (July 3, 1962), Maris and Mantle (July 6, 1962) and Roy Campanella and Stan Musial (June 21, 1956). For more on the superstar duo in the series, read here.
Multi homers across the board
Trout and Judge were two of nine players who hit multiple homers on Monday. That’s tied for the second-most players with multihomer games on a single day in MLB history, behind 10 on Sept. 10, 2019. It was the most on a day before July in history. There were 10 MLB games on Monday, averaging 14.4 runs per game. That’s the most runs per game on a single day with at least 10 games since July 18, 1936 (14.6). The only other April or March days in MLB history with 10-plus games and as many runs per game were April 21 (15.7) and April 19 (14.4) in 1890.
Back-to-back-to-back
Trout started a streak of three straight homers in the first inning on Tuesday, with Jo Adell and Jorge Soler hitting the other two. It was the sixth time Trout was involved in a back-to-back-to-back home run sequence. That ties Henry Aaron, Adrian Beltre, J.D. Drew and Frank J. Thomas for the most such instances by a player since at least 1900, per Elias.
Two Bucks
Byron Buxton had four hits on Tuesday, including two home runs. It was his 18th career multihomer game, tying Roy Sievers and Tony Oliva for third-most in Twins/Senators franchise history, behind only Harmon Killebrew (45) and Justin Morneau (20).
What a start
Nolan McLean made his 12th career start on Tuesday, and now has 85 strikeouts and just 20 runs allowed. He’s the third pitcher since at least 1900 with 80 or more strikeouts and 20 or fewer runs allowed in his first 12 career appearances, joining 2024 Paul Skenes and 2012-13 Matt Harvey.
Young Sal
Sal Stewart racked up two homers and six RBIs in the first two innings on Wednesday. At 22 years and 129 days old, Stewart became the second-youngest Reds player with at least six RBIs in a game (RBI official since 1920), older than only Elly De La Cruz (21 years 224 days on Aug. 23, 2023). Stewart’s six RBIs tied for the most by a Reds player in the first two innings of a game in at least the divisional era (1969), with Nick Castellanos (Sept. 1, 2021).
The Greatest Sho
Shohei Ohtani made his third pitching start of the season on Wednesday and finally allowed an earned run, ending his streak without an earned run at 32 2/3 innings dating to last regular season. That was the longest stretch of his career. He also extended his on-base streak Tuesday to 48 games dating to last regular season, the longest active on-base streak in MLB. It’s the fourth-longest on-base streak by a Dodgers player since 1900, behind 1954 Duke Snider (58), 2000 Shawn Green (53) and 1900-01 Willie Keeler (50).
Miller time
Mason Miller has been on another level this year. Through his appearance on Thursday, he’s thrown 30 and 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings dating to last season. That’s the longest active streak in MLB and the second-longest streak in Padres history, per Elias. He trails only 2006 Cla Meredith (33 2/3 IP). Miller has 23 strikeouts in 30 batters faced this season. That 76.7% strikeout rate is the highest by a pitcher in his first nine appearances of a season in the last 120 years.
Current Ironman
Matt Olson has played 801 consecutive games entering Friday, dating to May 2, 2021. His streak is the 11th-longest in MLB history. The only other streaks of at least 700 consecutive games to begin in the divisional era (1969) are, of course, 1982-98 Cal Ripken Jr. (2,632 games), as well as 1975-83 Steve Garvey (1,207), 2000-07 Miguel Tejada (1,152), 1978-83 Pete Rose (745) and 1981-86 Dale Murphy (740).