Continuing Coverage of Major League Baseball

September 1, 2026 MLB Players of the Day

American League

Gavin Williams struck out 13 and worked seven solid innings to lead the Guardians to a 6-1 win over visiting Toronto Tuesday night in Cleveland.

Williams tied Toronto’s Dylan Cease for the American League lead in strikeouts, with 217 on the year. The 6’6” right-hander struck out four of the first six batters he faced and fanned the last four before turning the ball over to the Cleveland relief staff. Williams allowed just two hits and a walk. The only run scored was unearned. He is 13-7 with a 3.81 ERA.

With the win, the Guardians continue to hold second place in the AL Central, three games behind the White Sox. They also hold the third wild card, 1 1/2 ahead of Baltimore and Texas. The game was the first of three between the Blue Jays and Guardians. Game two is Wednesday at Progressive Field.

AL Streaks: Twins, Rangers, won 3; A’s, Lost 5.

National League

The Marlins rode a second inning, two-run homer and a two-run triple in the seventh by Graham Pauley to a 6-3 road win at Kansas City Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series that may be crucial to Miami’s post-season hopes.

Pauley got the Marlins off to a solid start with his second homer of the season and put them up 6-0 when he tripled in a pair and scored in the seventh. The Marlins are just three games behind the Padres in the race for the final wild card spot.

The series continues Wednesday in Kansas City.

NL Streaks: Phillies, won 6; Diamondbacks, lost 3.