GOOD NEWS: Schwarber Makes Phillies History

Kyle Schwarber added another milestone to his outstanding 2026 campaign on Sunday, becoming the first player in Major League Baseball to reach the 30-home run mark this season while setting a new Philadelphia Phillies franchise record in the process.

Why Kyle Schwarber Deserves More Credit for the Phillies Success

Schwarber’s go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning powered the Phillies to a dramatic 5-4 comeback victory over the New York Mets at Citi Field, extending Philadelphia’s impressive run of form as the club continues to strengthen its postseason position.

The veteran slugger launched a 408-foot blast to center field off Mets right-hander Kodai Senga, breaking a 4-4 tie after Philadelphia had watched an early three-run lead disappear. The home run not only secured the win but also marked Schwarber’s 30th long ball of the season in just the Phillies’ 84th game, making him the fastest player in franchise history to reach the milestone.

The achievement further cements Schwarber’s place among baseball’s premier power hitters. He has now hit at least 30 home runs in six consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in Major League Baseball, while reaching the 30-homer plateau for the eighth time in his career—more than any other active player.

Philadelphia built an early 3-0 advantage in the third inning with contributions from several key hitters. Bryce Harper opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly before Alec Bohm drove in another run with an RBI double. Brandon Marsh followed by lining a run-scoring single to cap the inning and give the Phillies early control.

However, the Mets battled back throughout the middle innings, eventually erasing the deficit and taking a 4-3 lead before Schwarber delivered the decisive swing in the seventh.

Reliever Kyle Backhus picked up the first victory of his major league career after recording the final two outs of the sixth inning, helping stabilize the bullpen after New York’s rally.

Closer Jhoan Duran handled the ninth inning with authority, retiring the Mets without allowing a hit to earn his 21st save of the season and preserve another crucial victory for Philadelphia.

The win continued the Phillies’ remarkable turnaround after a difficult start to the year, with Schwarber once again serving as the catalyst. His consistent power production has helped transform Philadelphia into one of the National League’s hottest teams while strengthening his case as one of the game’s leading MVP candidates.

Across the league, several other teams also enjoyed dramatic victories on Sunday.

The St. Louis Cardinals snapped a four-game losing streak by edging the Miami Marlins 2-1 behind Bryan Torres’ two-run homer and a strong outing from Kyle Leahy.

The Chicago Cubs survived a tense 10-inning battle against the Milwaukee Brewers, winning 4-3 after Seiya Suzuki delivered a clutch two-run single before Jordan Wicks escaped a bases-loaded jam to record the save.

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-2 thanks to Freddie Freeman’s bases-loaded walk and Mookie Betts’ two-run single in the fifth inning.

San Francisco’s Robbie Ray outdueled Atlanta ace Chris Sale as the Giants earned a 3-2 victory over the Braves, while Ryan O’Hearn’s two-home run performance led the Pittsburgh Pirates past the Cincinnati Reds 9-4.

In the American League, the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Athletics 4-1 behind Josh Lowe’s first career grand slam, while the Houston Astros rallied for a 7-5 extra-inning win over the Detroit Tigers thanks to Christian Walker’s three-run homer.

The Cleveland Guardians staged another late comeback to beat the Seattle Mariners 6-5, the Texas Rangers completed a four-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 3-2 victory, and the Boston Red Sox finished an impressive four-game sweep of the New York Yankees by rallying for a 5-4 win in 10 innings.

Phillies Take On the World Series With Kyle Schwarber in the Lead |  FanGraphs Baseball

Elsewhere, the Kansas City Royals ended a four-game skid with a 5-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox behind rookie Carter Jensen’s franchise-record 19-game hitting streak.

In interleague action, Luis Garcia Jr. homered twice and drove in five runs as the Washington Nationals defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-4, while Junior Caminero homered for a fourth consecutive game to help the Tampa Bay Rays complete a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 5-1 win.

The Minnesota Twins also edged the Colorado Rockies 3-2 behind a career-high 10 strikeouts from Connor Prielipp and a go-ahead seventh-inning home run from Ryan Kreidler.

Despite several standout performances across Major League Baseball, Sunday’s biggest headline belonged to Schwarber, whose historic home run not only lifted the Phillies past a division rival but also placed his name firmly in the franchise record books.

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