2026 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #11

Noah Cameron earned the win, while Aroldis Chapman navigated a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to secure his 13th save. Justin Verlander took the loss after surrendering three home runs.

Final Score: Chicago 5 – Tempe 4

Win: Noah Cameron 5-1 (3.44)
Loss: Justin Verlander 4-7 (5.35)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #13

The game was tied 3–3 in the bottom of the seventh when Riley Greene launched a go-ahead, two-run home run off Kenley Jansen. Chicago added an insurance run later that inning when Willy Adames singled home Nate Eaton. Tempe’s offense was led by J.P. Crawford, who hit a two-run homer in the seventh, but they couldn’t overcome Chicago’s bullpen. Aroldis Chapman closed the door in the ninth to earn his 14th save.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Tempe 3

Win: Jesus Luzardo 7-3 (3.89)
Loss: Kenley Jansen 3-2 (2.67)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #14

Brent Headrick earned the win in relief, while Garrett Cleavinger handled the ninth to close out the game. Despite a solid seven-inning start from Logan Gilbert, the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead, leaving the Tempers to rue missed opportunities.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Tempe 3

Win: Brent Headrick 1-0 (2.08)
Loss: Andrew Kittredge 1-1 (2.16)

The Mobsters’ offense relied on timely hitting; Xavier Edwards opened the game with a triple and scored on an Alex Bregman groundout. In the seventh, Yordan Alvarez delivered the decisive blow, a two-run single that broke a 2–2 tie. Though Tempe pulled within one in the eighth on a J.P. Crawford double, Aroldis Chapman closed the door in the ninth to secure his 15th save.

Final Score: Chicago 4 – Tempe 3

Win: Trevor Rogers 6-0 (2.97)
Loss: Isaac Mattson 2-1 (0.82)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #15

The Mobsters’ offense broke through in the fourth inning. After loading the bases, Julio Rodríguez laced a two-run single, followed by a Riley Greene sacrifice fly to make it 3–0. Greene later added an insurance run with a solo home run in the seventh. Freddy Peralta took the loss for Tempe, who struggled to capitalize on Jose Ramirez’s two stolen bases and finished with only three hits.

Final Score: Chicago 4 – Tempe 0

Win: Hunter Brown 7-4 (2.61)
Loss: Freddy Peralta 7-3 (2.41)

While Tempe’s J.P. Crawford and Jose Ramirez flashed brilliance, the Tempers’ bullpen ultimately buckled under Chicago’s relentless pressure, particularly during a stunning eighth-inning comeback in game three. The Mobsters capped off the performance with a masterful complete-game shutout by Hunter Brown, punctuating a series where Chicago’s pitching staff, anchored by Aroldis Chapman’s three saves, proved impenetrable in high-leverage moments. This sweep propels the Mobsters forward as they solidify their status as top-tier title contenders in the 2026 MWBL season.

W: J. Flaherty (4-4) 7IP 5H 2R 12K
L: D. Rasmussen (3-3) 3.2IP 5H 7R 5ER 5K

W: T. Mahle (5-0) 7IP 2H 3K
L: M. Kelly (3-6) CG (8IP) 8H 2R 7K
S: M. Svanson (15)

W: L. Roupp (5-3) 6IP 7H 4R 5K
L: L. Evans (2-5) 4IP 6H 6R 3K

W: D. Coulombe (3-1)
L: J. Hader (0-1)

starter lines:
HOL M. McGreevy 6.1IP 6H 1R 2K
GST Z. Gallen 6.2IP 9H 3R 2ER 6K

W: Y. Matsui (2-2)
L: D. May (3-5) .2IP 2H 6R 0ER 1K

GST starter T. Gonsolin 4.2IP 6H 4R 2K

W: J. Flaherty (5-4) 7IP 6H 1R 9K
L: D. Rasmussen (3-4) CG (8IP) 3H 2R 7K
S: M. Svanson (16)

DIRT BAGS 8 / 11 / 2
COMETS 11 / 17 / 0
WP – Wrobleski (1-2)
LP – Cecconi (4-6)

DIRT BAGS 6 / 18 / 3
COMETS 7 / 14 / 0 14 innings
WP – Wrobleski (1-2)
LP – Cecconi (4-6)

DIRT BAGS 2 / 3 / 1
COMETS 1 / 3/ 0
WP – Crochet (6-4)
LP – Kerkering (0-3)

DIRT BAGS 11 / 13 / 1
COMETS 12 / 17 / 0 10 innings
WP – Halvorsen (1-1)
LP – Butto (0-1)

DIRT BAGS 11 / 11 / 1
COMETS 6 / 10 / 1
WP – Feltner (1-1)
LP – Tidwell (1-5)

DIRT BAGS 6 / 11 / 0
COMETS 2 / 6 / 0
WP – Cecconi (5-6)
LP – Zeferjahn (0-2)

Both pitchers trade zeroes until Victor Caratini leads off the third with a solo blast to put Dallas up 1-0. The Cougars get two more on but Ober is able to get out Frelick and Kurtz to end the danger. In the fourth, Elly de la Cruz walks and steals second. Mike Yastrzemski walks, then a double steal puts runners at 2nd and 3rd. It pays off when a Bo Naylor broken-bat single scores them both to put Fremont up 2-1.

The lead would be short lived as a Jarren Duran solo HR ties it up in the top of the fifth. Fremont gets two on in the bottom of the inning but ELDC grounds out. Another solo homer from the Cougars, this time from Carlos Cortes, gives the Cougars the 3-2 lead in the sixth. The Cougars aren’t done, as Caratini’s second home run of the game brings home two more, and a Sal Frelick RBI caps the scoring to put the Cougars up 6-2.

A Bo Naylor walk sets up Luis Urias’s first HR of the season in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 6-4. Dallas gets two in the ninth for insurance with some wildness from Tommy Kahnle and Garrett Whitlock, and the Cougars take game #1 by a score of 8-4. Duran goes 3-5 with a double and homer. Ober gives up 12 hits in the loss. Fremont stole 4 bases in this one, while Dallas was 0-2 in steal attempts.

W: Lucas Giolito (5-4)
L: Bailey Ober (0-2)

HR: DAL- Jarren Duran (7), Carlos Cortes (2), Victor Caratini 2 (6); FRE- Luis Urias (1)

It looks bad early for the Cannons as a double and error puts two on for Dallas with no outs in the first, but Senga is able to escape with no runs scored. Another iffy inning in the second sees the bases loaded, but again Senga wriggles out of the jam. A single from Elly de la Cruz in the bottom of the inning sets up Teoscar Hernandez for a 2-run HR to give Fremont the early lead.

A HBP in the third sends Vladimir Guerrero Jr. out for two days and puts two on, but the Cannons are unable to capitalize. A solo shot from Hernandez, his second homer of the game, gives Fremont the 3-0 lead in the fourth. Houser nails Luis Urias for a HBP and is tossed, but Urias is lost for 11 days, his fourth significant injury of the season. Fremont also has no one besides Gorman for coverage at both 1st and 2nd base, so they will be forced to play out-of-position for the rest of this game and the next two games.

The Cougars take advantage of the disarray and Ramon Laureano launches a 3-run HR in the fifth to tie it up. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Yoan Moncada, in the game due to injuries, singles home Teoscar Hernandez for the 4-3 lead.

In the seventh, Elly de la Cruz’s second error of the game starts a rally as Brooks Lee reaches first. A walk to Sal Frelick brings on Jared Koenig to replace Senga. Koenig gets an out at second off a Nick Kurtz grounder, but Ramon Laureano doubles and Andy Pages triples to put the Cougars on top 6-4. The nail in the coffin is Kyle Manzardo’s two run HR to make it 8-4 Cougars, and that’s what they go on to win by.

Laureano goes 3-4 with a double, homer, and 4 RBI. Dallas’s bullpen held Fremont to just 3 hits after Houser’s departure. Koenig’s ERA is inexplicably up to 6.66 on the year.

W: Justin Slaten (1-1)
L: Jared Koenig (2-2)

HR: DAL- Ramon Laureano (9), Kyle Manzardo (7); FRE- Teoscar Hernandez 2 (8)

Corbin comes out itchy, but Dallas helps him out with two runs in the first. Jarren Duran leads off with a single, and Miguel Rojas follows with a 2-run HR. Fremont gets one back when Shohei Ohtani leads off the bottom of the inning with a home run.

A single and HBP in the second sets up Andres Gimenez’s RBI double to put the Cougars up 3-1. Fremont again gets one back in the bottom of the inning, this time a Joey Bart RBI single after Carlos Correa’s double.

In third, Dallas gets runners on 2nd and 3rd when Andy Pages gets the intentional walk. Kyle Manzardo gets the RBI single and leaves the bases loaded. Victor Caratini follows with a sac fly, then Andres Gimenez brings the third run home as Dallas takes the 6-2 lead. Nick Kurtz adds a solo HR in the fourth and the route is on. A 2-run HR in the sixth from Sal Frelick makes it 9-2. Austin Hedges takes the mound for the final three innings and Dallas picks up two more runs to take game #3, 11-2,

Manzardo goes 4-5 and Gimenez picks up 3 RBI from the bottom of the order. Fremont has used a position player in relief in each of the first three games.

W: Patrick Corbin (4-2)
L: Sandy Alcantara (1-4)

HR: DAL- Miguel Rojas (4), Sal Frelick (4), Nick Kurtz (11); FRE- Shohei Ohtani (21)

Fremont turns to their ace to right the ship, but Bellozo showed he was up for the matchup. The Cannons get a runner on second in the first inning, but Bellozo gets the big strikeout of Elly de la Cruz. Fremont threatens again in the second, but Bellozo induces a pair of pop-outs to end that threat. A single and steal from Byron Buxton gives Fremont a chance in the third, but again Bellozo gets the K on ELDC.

A walk and single in the fourth give Dallas their first attempt to crack the scoreless tie, but Victor Caratini flies out to left. After five, it remains a scoreless tie and Bellozo begins to pick up confidence. He shrugs off a Mike Yastrzemski double in the sixth to get a strikeout of Carlos Correa. Dallas feeds off the big K with a double from Warming Bernabel in the seventh. Sal Frelick comes in to pinch-hit and delivers with an RBI single to give the Cougars the 1-0 lead. A steal from Frelick adds pressure to Skubal, but a strikeout of Brooks Lee ends the danger.

Nolan Gorman starts off the bottom of the inning with a single, but is thrown out by Andy Pages while trying to stretch it to a double. Bellozo feels some stiffness after the play but is good to keep pitching. He gets one more out before Adrian Morejon comes in for the lefty matchup and gets Shohei Ohtani to pop out. Skubal stays strong and gets the Cougars 1-2-3 in the top of the eighth. Things look bleak for the Cannons, but with two outs in the eighth, ELDC comes through with a game-tying home run.

Bernabel doubles again in the top of the ninth but is left stranded. The Cannons go 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning, so we head to extra innings. Robert Suarez gets three straight outs in the top of the tenth. Pinch-hitter Austin Hays comes on to lead off the bottom of the tenth and greets Daniel Palencia with a walk-off home run. Fremont wins 2-1 in 10!

The Cougars only picked up 4 hits in the game, 3 of them by Bernabel. Bellozo deserved better than the no-decision, striking out 8 in 6.2 scoreless inning pitched. Carlos Correa’s career as a second baseman is hopefully over as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. returns from injury next game.

W: Robert Suarez (4-0)
L: Daniel Palencia (1-2)

HR: DAL- none; FRE- Elly de la Cruz (7), Austin Hays (3)

Fremont gets on the board early as Shohei Ohtani walks and steals second. The steal doesn’t make a big difference as Elly de la Cruz brings him home with a home run for an 2-0 Cannons lead after one. Dallas gets right back on the attack in the top of the second with back-to-back homers by Luis Matos and Brooks Lee. Fremont continues the homer parade with a solo shot by Nolan Gorman to put the Cannons back up 3-2. Fremont continues to put the pressure on with a single and two walks to load the bases, but Byron Buxton grounds out to end the inning.

Fremont looks to tack on runs in the fifth with a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leadoff double. Elly de la Cruz strikes out but hustles down to first after a drop by Victor Caratini. A walk loads the bases with one out. Austin Hays flies out, then Andy Pages nails Guerrero Jr. at the plate to keep the inning scoreless. Fremont again loads the bases in the sixth and sees another groundout from Buxton with no runs scored.

Jarren Duran leads off the eighth with a walk, so Fremont goes to the bullpen for Garrett Whitlock. Whitlock has been good at coughing up the lead all year and continues to do so. A hit-and-run puts runners on the corners, then a double from Ramon Laureano flips it to a 4-3 lead. Andres Gimenez runs into an out at third trying to help along the runners. Andy Pages singles and attempts to steal second but is thrown out by Austin Hedges for the second baserunning out to end the inning.

Will Vest comes in for the ninth and gives up a double to Warming Bernabel. After a wild pitch moves him to third, Luis Matos drives him in for an insurance run. The heart of the lineup comes on for Fremont but is set down 1-2-3 by Daniel Palencia and Dallas takes it 5-3. Bubic gives up 10 baserunners but only 3 runs. The Cannons score 0 runs on three different innings with bases loaded. Joey Bart went 2-2 with a walk before being pulled for a defensive sub. Ohtani has two hits in five games.

W: Emmanuel Clase (1-0)
L: Garrett Whitlock (3-4)

HR: DAL- Luis Matos (2), Brooks Lee (9); FRE- Elly de la Cruz (8), Nolan Gorman (4)

Ober faced adversity right away with runners on 1st and 3rd in the first inning but is pumped after striking out Nick Kurtz to end the threat. Shohei Ohtani leads off the bottom of the first with a triple, just his third hit of the series. Giolito gets the next two outs, but Elly de la Cruz bruises the pole with his third homer in as many games to put the Cannons up 2-0.

Ohtani leads off the third with another triple, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. plates him with an RBI single. An ELDC single and a walk to Mike Yastrzemski loads the bases, but Carlos Correa flies out. Ober runs into trouble in the fourth as a walk to Kurtz and a Ramon Laureano single puts two on. Kyle Manzardo’s blooper down the line becomes a double, bringing in two to cut the Fremont lead to 3-2.

Nolan Gorman leads off the bottom of the fourth and Bo Naylor sacrifices him to second. An infield hit from Ohtani puts runners on the corners, and a hit-and-run leads to an RBI single for Guerrero Jr. That’s it for Giolito, and Justin Slaten comes on to get the big double play on Daylen Lile.

A single and HBP puts two on in top of the fifth for Dallas with no outs, but Ober gets Brooks Lee swinging and Sal Frelick grounds into a double play. With Kurtz leading off the sixth, Fremont goes to the bullpen and gets a 1-2-3 inning, Just like in the fourth inning, a Gorman single and Naylor bunt puts a runner on second in the bottom of the sixth. Ohtani scores him with a single and takes second on the throw. The Cannons are unable to bring him home but have the 5-2 lead.

Teoscar Hernandez doubles in the seventh but Emmanuel Clase shuts down the next two batters. Tommy Kahnle gets the first two outs in the top of the eighth but a Kurtz double and Laureano walk leads to an Andy Pages RBI single, cutting the lead to 5-3. Robert Suarez comes in to face pinch-hitter Carlos Cortes and gets him to pop out. Suarez shuts down the side in order in the ninth and Fremont comes away with the win 5-3 in the finale.

It seems like calling out Ohtani worked, as he goes 4-4 with walk, two triples, two runs scored and an RBI. ELDC went 3-4, homering in each of the last 3 games of the series. The Cougars were held homerless in this one. Fremont managed just 3 hits after Giolito left. With the solid outing, Ober’s ERA drops to 9.68.

W: Bailey Ober (1-2)
L: Lucas Giolito (5-5)
S: Robert Suarez (9)

HR: DAL- none; FRE- Elly de la Cruz (9)

Next week, Dallas heads home to host Cincinnati. Fremont heads to Hollywood for another tough AL West matchup.