MLB Week in Review (July 20–26, 2026): CJ Abrams Hits 6 HR, Marlins Lose 12 Straight

MLB Week in Review: July 20–26, 2026

The MLB week spanning July 20–26, 2026, delivered extreme statistical outliers across both leagues. The Miami Marlins endured a brutal 12-game losing streak to fall to 52-54, the Tampa Bay Rays extended their win streak to 3 games to solidify their AL East lead at 62-43, and Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams posted a historic 6 HR, 1.939 OPS week. Meanwhile, five different MLB starting pitchers posted 0.00 ERA outings over 7.0+ innings, headlined by Cam Schlittler's 12 strikeouts in 7.1 innings.

AL Division Standings Snapshot

The American League saw notable shifts this week, with the AL Central leading White Sox (55-49) gaining separation as the Guardians fell into a 5-game losing streak. The AL West remains a tight three-team race, with the Rangers (53-52) holding a slim 1.5-game lead over the Mariners (52-54) and a 2.0-game lead over the Astros (52-55).

Team	W-L	GB	Run Diff	Streak	Trend
AL East
Tampa Bay Rays	62-43	0.0	+42	W3	—
New York Yankees	59-46	3.0	+84	L1	—
Boston Red Sox	54-50	7.5	+46	W1	—
Baltimore Orioles	51-55	11.5	-14	L1	—
Toronto Blue Jays	48-58	14.5	-62	L1	—
AL Central
Chicago White Sox	55-49	0.0	+46	W1	—
Cleveland Guardians	54-53	2.5	-18	L5	↓ 5
Minnesota Twins	53-54	3.5	-27	W2	↑ 2
Detroit Tigers	50-56	6.0	+28	L2	↓ 2
Kansas City Royals	45-62	11.5	-96	W2	↑ 2
AL West
Texas Rangers	53-52	0.0	-25	L1	—
Seattle Mariners	52-54	1.5	+12	W1	↑ 1
Houston Astros	52-55	2.0	-47	L1	—
Athletics	44-61	9.0	-125	L2	↓ 2
Los Angeles Angels	42-64	11.5	-65	W1	↑ 1

NL Division Standings Snapshot

In the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers (66-39) and Los Angeles Dodgers (67-39) continue to dominate their respective divisions with identical .630+ win percentages. The Atlanta Braves (62-43) maintain a 5.5-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies (57-49) in the NL East, while the Marlins' 12-game losing streak has dropped them to 52-54, 10.5 games back of first place.

Team	W-L	GB	Run Diff	Streak	Trend
NL East
Atlanta Braves	62-43	0.0	+107	W1	—
Philadelphia Phillies	57-49	5.5	-11	W1	—
Washington Nationals	54-52	8.5	+30	W2	↑ 2
Miami Marlins	52-54	10.5	+2	L12	↓ 12
New York Mets	44-62	18.5	-62	W1	↑ 1
NL Central
Milwaukee Brewers	66-39	0.0	+142	W2	↑ 2
Chicago Cubs	59-46	7.0	+76	L1	↓ 1
Pittsburgh Pirates	54-52	12.5	+40	W1	↑ 1
St. Louis Cardinals	53-52	13.0	-1	L1	↓ 1
Cincinnati Reds	49-55	16.5	-66	W1	↑ 1
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers	67-39	0.0	+155	L1	—
Arizona Diamondbacks	55-51	12.0	-3	L2	↓ 2
San Diego Padres	53-53	14.0	-21	W3	↑ 3
San Francisco Giants	44-61	22.5	-57	L1	↓ 1
Colorado Rockies	42-65	25.5	-110	L2	↓ 2

Biggest MLB Stories This Week

CJ Abrams' Historic Power Surge

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams was the undisputed offensive player of the week. Abrams smashed 6 home runs, drove in 12 runs, and posted a staggering 1.939 OPS alongside a .577 batting average. His 6 HR week provides massive fantasy baseball value and anchors the Nationals' push in the NL East, where they currently sit at 54-52.

Jeremy Peña and Dillon Dingler Carry the AL

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña crushed 5 home runs with a 1.577 OPS and 8 RBI, keeping Houston within 2.0 games of the AL West-leading Rangers. In Detroit, Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler matched Peña's 1.577 OPS, hitting 3 home runs with 8 RBI and a .500 average, providing a rare offensive bright spot for a Detroit squad that went on a 2-game losing streak to fall to 50-56.

Jacob Misiorowski's 18-Strikeout Dominance

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski delivered the most dominant strikeout performance of the week. Misiorowski racked up 18 strikeouts across 9.0 innings, posting a 1.00 ERA and a 0.67 WHIP. This elite swing-and-miss stuff solidified Milwaukee's rotation as they extended their NL Central lead to 66-39 with a 2-game win streak.

Cam Schlittler's 12-Strikeout Shutout

New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler put together a masterful 7.1-inning outing, striking out 12 batters while allowing zero earned runs and a minuscule 0.41 WHIP. Despite the Yankees' 59-46 record and 3.0-game deficit in the AL East, Schlittler's emergence provides a crucial stabilizing force for the Bronx rotation down the stretch.

Marlins' 12-Game Losing Streak

The Miami Marlins fell apart over the last two weeks, enduring a franchise-altering 12-game losing streak. Dropping to 52-54 and 10.5 games back in the NL East, Miami's +2 run differential indicates they have been fundamentally outmatched, forcing front-office conversations about selling off assets at the upcoming trade deadline.

Hunter Brown and Gavin Williams Post 0.29 WHIP

Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown and New York Yankees right-hander Gavin Williams each threw 7.0 innings of scoreless baseball with a 0.29 WHIP. Brown struck out 7, while Williams struck out 11. Both pitchers completely shut down opposing lineups, offering two of the most efficient starts of the 2026 MLB season.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand Drives in 9

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand posted a 1.322 OPS this week, hitting 3 home runs and driving in 9 runs across the week. With a .409 batting average, CES powered the Reds to a 49-55 record, though they remain 16.5 games back of the Brewers in the NL Central.

Statcast Standouts

*Note: Baseball Savant and Statcast exit velocity, barrel, and sprint speed data for the week of July 20–26 was not available in this dataset pull. The following recaps reflect the available 2026 MLB Stats API figures. Future editions of the Legends Deck MLB Week in Review will incorporate precise Statcast metrics (exit velocity in mph, launch angle in degrees, and sprint speed in ft/sec) directly into our browser-based baseball card stat engine.*

While we omit fabricated Statcast figures, the raw statistical dominance of this week's top performers translates directly to high-tier Legends Deck card ratings. CJ Abrams’ 6 HR week guarantees a massive power rating spike, while Jacob Misiorowski's 18 strikeouts in 9.0 innings will push his swing-and-miss metrics to the top of the Legends Deck pitching leaderboard.

MLB Trades, Transactions, and DFA News

July 20 marked a busy day for minor league signings and organizational depth additions across Major League Baseball. These moves provide critical inventory for fantasy baseball players tracking deep dynasty leagues and potential September call-ups.

• Arizona Diamondbacks: Signed RHP Blake Bryant, RHP Andrew Wertz, and RHP Andrew Evans.
• Atlanta Braves: Signed free agent IF Joan Hernandez to a minor league contract.
• Kansas City Royals: Signed three arms to bolster their pitching depth: RHP Jack Slightom, RHP Dylan Alonso, LHP Justin LeGuernic, and LHP Cooper Corkrean.
• New York Mets: Signed free agent SS Danny Melendez to a minor league contract, alongside signing LHP Zach Crotchfelt.
• Colorado Rockies: Signed LHP Josh Swink and 1B Ryan Niedzwiedz.

Week Ahead in MLB

• AL East Showdown: The Tampa Bay Rays (62-43, W3) look to extend their division lead against the New York Yankees (59-46, L1), who desperately need Cam Schlittler and Gavin Williams to replicate their 0.00 ERA outings to close the 3.0-game gap.
• AL Central Watch: The Chicago White Sox (55-49) face a critical test maintaining their 2.5-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians (54-53), who must snap a 5-game losing streak to avoid falling further out of the race.
• NL West Matchups: The Los Angeles Dodgers (67-39) hold a massive 12.0-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks (55-51). The D-backs' recent 2-game skid and roster additions of RHP Blake Bryant and RHP Andrew Wertz signal a shift toward 2026 season development.
• Pitching Matchups to Watch: Fantasy managers should monitor Jacob Misiorowski's next start following his 18-strikeout, 9.0-inning gem, as well as Noah Cameron (0.00 ERA, 8 K in 7.0 IP) and Andre Pallante (0.00 ERA, 8 K in 7.0 IP) taking the mound.
• Marlins Turnaround Attempt: The Miami Marlins (52-54) enter the week looking to snap a disastrous 12-game losing streak. With a +2 run differential, they remain a statistical anomaly and a prime candidate for sell-off moves at the trade deadline.