Monday's Major League Baseball slate delivered several memorable moments, including a dramatic finish in Seattle and significant career achievements for established stars. For those who missed the action, this recap covers the biggest highlights from the previous night's games.

Mariners Edge Yankees in Seattle as Undefeated Streaks End

Cal Raleigh provided the decisive hit for the Seattle Mariners, securing a narrow 2-1 walk-off victory against the New York Yankees. This loss marked the first defeat of the young 2026 season for New York.

Raleigh's Late Heroics

Raleigh, who set catcher home run records last season, entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning with the score tied 1-1. He ultimately came through in the bottom of the ninth inning against reliever Paul Blackburn.

Raleigh singled to right field, driving in shortstop Luis Rivas for the winning run. This result was part of a larger trend: every team that began the season undefeated lost on Monday, leaving MLB without any perfect records less than a week into the season.

Luis Castillo Reaches Career Strikeout Milestone

Before Raleigh's heroics, Mariners starter Luis Castillo delivered an excellent performance against the Yankees. Castillo threw six scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and two walks while striking out seven batters.

The final strikeout of the night was the 1,500th of Castillo's career, moving him into 14th place on the active strikeout leaderboards, surpassing Nathan Eovaldi. Castillo, acquired by Seattle in a 2022 midseason trade, has been a model of consistency, consistently throwing between 175 and 197 innings with ERAs ranging from 3.34 to 3.64 in the three full seasons since.

Pitching Highlights and Debut Surprises

Monday featured several notable pitching performances, including a major debut for a former ace and a record-setting outing for a new Diamondback.

Verlander's Return to Detroit

Tigers fans welcomed Justin Verlander for his 2026 debut with Detroit, the team that drafted him in 2004. Verlander, a former Rookie of the Year and seven-time Cy Young vote recipient with Detroit and Houston, returned to the Tigers after spending 2025 with the Giants.

The 43-year-old right-hander struggled initially, surrendering five runs on six hits over just 3.2 innings against the Diamondbacks, recording only one strikeout and two walks.

Soroka's Record-Breaking Diamondbacks Debut

In the same game, Michael Soroka made his team and 2026 debut for Arizona after signing as a free agent this offseason. The 6-foot-5 righty was dominant over five innings.

Soroka struck out 10 batters, setting a team record for the most strikeouts in a debut. Furthermore, he achieved an immaculate inning—nine pitches resulting in three strikeouts—while allowing just four hits, no runs, and one walk before the bullpen took over for the 9-6 victory.

Offensive Feats and Defensive Gems

Other notable moments included historic on-base streaks, massive offensive explosions, and incredible defensive plays across the league.

Joey Wiemer's Historic Start

Nationals outfielder Joey Wiemer reached base in his first 10 plate appearances of the season, tying an MLB milestone last achieved by Carlos Delgado in 2002. This streak ended after his tenth trip to the plate.

Despite the streak ending, Wiemer is off to a phenomenal start, batting .800/.846/1.600, leading MLB in several categories early on. He has already accumulated 5 runs, a triple, 2 homers, 4 RBIs, and 3 walks in his first three games.

Altuve's Multi-Homer Night in Houston Rout

Jose Altuve, back at second base for the Astros in 2026, had a massive offensive showing against the Red Sox, recording four hits and two home runs in an 8-1 Houston win. This marked the 42nd four-hit game of his 16-season career.

His first home run of the year came in the seventh inning, followed immediately by a second solo shot in the eighth, both off reliever Johan Oviedo. Altuve is currently hitting .412/.565/.824 to start the season.

Other Notable Highlights

  • The White Sox offense erupted against the Marlins, highlighted by Miguel Vargas's bases-loaded grand slam in the fourth inning, leading to starter Chris Paddack exiting without recording an out in the frame.
  • Reds secured a 2-0 victory over the Pirates, despite Eugenio Suarez hitting a ball with an exit velocity of just 4 mph that stayed fair, which was quickly fielded by catcher Henry Davis.
  • Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth made an outstanding defensive play ranging into short right field and falling backward while still managing an accurate throw for an out in San Diego's 3-2 loss to the Giants.

The Athletics remain the only winless team in 2026 at 0-4 after being shut out by the Braves, while the Marlins suffered their first loss, moving to 3-1.