The 2026 MLB season is off to a blazing start, and history has already been made just a few weeks in.
We’re keeping track of all the major milestones reached and records broken across the league this season.
Here’s the latest:
Cincinnati Reds Continue Historic Start In Tight Games
The Reds sit atop the National League Central with a 13-8 record to start the season, and the early success comes on a historic note. The Reds are now the fourth team in history to win each of their first 10 games decided by one or two runs in a single season. That places them in rare company alongside the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers, the 1966 Cleveland Indians and the 1946 Boston Red Sox.
Under manager Terry Francona, the Reds have now consistently found ways to close out tight games in the late innings. The pitching staff has helped drive that success. They’ve posted a 3.46 ERA to keep games within reach this season, while the offense has struggled to a .203 batting average. Even so, the Reds have still managed to find ways to win, turning a steady run of close games into one of the most unusual starts in franchise history.
Munetaka Murakami’s Historic Early MLB Power Surge
The Chicago White Sox are already seeing an immediate impact from their offseason signing of infielder Murakami. He has now reached seven home runs, the most by any Japanese-born player through his first 21 MLB games.
The milestone also includes surpassing Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, who hit five home runs in his first 21 MLB games. Murakami is hitting .209 on the season with seven home runs, 14 RBIs and a .909 OPS. His early production has put him in rare company among Japanese-born players and highlights how quickly he has adjusted to MLB pitching.
Los Angeles Dodgers Break Their Own Record
The defending back-to-back World Series-champion Dodgers are 15-4, marking the first time in 49 years that they’ve started a campaign with said record. As of Apr. 18, that record (78.9% winning percentage) is the best in MLB.
Moreover, Los Angeles has won five of its first six series, including a road series against the Blue Jays, whom they defeated in the 2025 World Series. Regarding individual standouts, outfielder Andy Pages has driven in 21 runs, while boasting a .412/.453/.691 slash line; catcher Will Smith owns a .300 batting average; as a pitcher, two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani has posted a 0.50 ERA through his first three starts.
As a collective, the Dodgers are first in the sport in home runs (35), batting average (.287), on-base percentage (.364), slugging percentage (.499), opponent batting average (.193) and WHIP (1.05) and are second in combined team ERA (3.07). The last time that Los Angeles got out to a 15-4 start, the 1977 season, it reached the World Series. Granted, the Dodgers lost the 1977 World Series to the Yankees.
José Ramírez Homers Against All MLB Teams
Ramírez has officially made more baseball history. The iconic third baseman and 13-year veteran is now the first Guardians player to hit a home run against all 29 other MLB teams.
He accomplished the feat against Braves starter Martin Perez at Truist Park on Saturday, April 11. Ramírez pulled the 82-mph pitch down the left-field line, clearing the stadium’s fence on a 403-foot solo shot. No other slugger in the Guardians organization has at least one homer against every other team, per The Sporting News.
“Proud of myself,” Ramírez said, per MLB.com. “Thank God for that, but I’m really proud of that accomplishment.”
Ramírez’s 287 career home runs, all with the Guardians’ franchise, rank second behind Jim Thome (337). The four teams that Ramírez has homered against the most are the Tigers and White Sox (35 HRs), Royals (32) and Twins (27).
That was just the second history-making moment Ramírez had that week. On Monday, April 6, the 33-year-old appeared in his franchise-best 1,620th career game, snapping a mark held by Terry Turner for nearly 108 years.
Stay tuned for updates.
