MLB Wrap — Week Ending Sunday 9 August 2026 · The Brewers pulled clear of the Dodgers as MLB’s best. The Cubs surged within striking distance of Milwaukee. The Rays extended their AL East lead. The Padres kept climbing. Full week and where to watch this coming week.
Every MLB game with AEST times & broadcastersOpen the TV Guide →
Big shifts across the top of the standings this week. The Milwaukee Brewers have pulled clear of the Dodgers as MLB’s best team — they’re now four games ahead of Los Angeles. The Chicago Cubs have surged to 69-50 and are within five games of Milwaukee. The Tampa Bay Rays have extended their AL East lead over the Yankees. And the San Diego Padres, who spent mid-July at .500, keep climbing. Here’s the state of the league heading into mid-August.
National League: Brewers rampage, Cubs close, Dodgers slip
NL Central — Milwaukee’s lead cut in half
The Brewers at 74-44 are now the clear best team in baseball. Since our last wrap they’ve gone 5-2 and pulled clear of the Dodgers by four full games. The rotation continues to be dominant. William Contreras remains a top-five MVP candidate. But the story now is the Cubs at 69-50 — they’ve gone 6-1 in the past week and cut Milwaukee’s NL Central lead from seven games to five. This division race is genuinely alive again.
NL West — Dodgers slip from the top
The Dodgers at 70-48 are now second-best in MLB, four games behind the Brewers. Their winning percentage has fallen slightly. Los Angeles remain a comfortable ten games clear in the NL West but they’re no longer the clear title favourites they looked six weeks ago. The Padres at 61-57 continue their late-season surge. And the Diamondbacks at 63-56 have also been playing well — the NL West is now a genuine three-team wild-card fight.
NL East — Braves hold on
The Braves at 71-47 have maintained an 8-game lead over the Phillies (63-56). Same story as it has been all summer — Atlanta is the class of the division. The Marlins at 60-59 have quietly stayed close to .500 and remain a mild wild-card possibility.
American League: Rays extend lead, AL West coin flip
AL East — Yankees losing ground
The Rays at 71-46 have opened a 5-game lead over the Yankees (66-52). Tampa Bay has been the AL’s most consistent team all season and continues to look like the East’s most likely division winner. The Yankees at 66-52 haven’t collapsed but they haven’t gained on Tampa Bay either. The Red Sox at 64-53 hover as a wild-card possibility.
AL West — genuinely too close to call
The Astros at 60-58 lead by just one game over the Rangers (59-59). Houston’s surge has stalled slightly. Behind them, the Mariners at 56-63 have slipped further out of contention. The AL West is now the closest race in baseball at the top and none of the three contenders look particularly convincing.
AL Central — White Sox holding on
The White Sox at 61-56 lead the AL Central. Cleveland at 58-61 and Minnesota at 58-61 are tied at three games back. Detroit at 58-60 is right there too. Four teams within three games — the AL Central is one of the most competitive divisions in baseball.
This week’s must-watch on Kayo
MLB coverage continues on Kayo Sports throughout mid-August. Marquee matchups:
- Brewers vs Cubs (weekend) — NL Central race in a single series
- Yankees at Rays (mid-week) — AL East race defining series
- Astros at Rangers — AL West coin flip
For the full weekly schedule with AEST times and confirmed broadcasters, use our live TV Guide. Apple TV+ continues to run Friday Night Baseball weekly.
📺 Get tomorrow’s MLB in your inbox
One email per day at 7:00pm AEST. Tomorrow’s schedule with confirmed Australian broadcasters and the pick of the day. Free.Subscribe free →
Storylines to follow into late August
Can the Brewers hold off the Cubs? Milwaukee’s lead over Chicago has been cut from seven games to five in a fortnight. The remaining Brewers-Cubs series in September will be defining.
Will the Dodgers rally? Los Angeles have looked ordinary since our last wrap. Their season is far from over but the “best team in baseball” tag has moved north to Milwaukee.
What happens in the AL West? With no team having pulled clear, this is the division most likely to be decided in the final week.
What’s next?
- Live US Sports TV Guide
- How to Watch MLB in Australia 2026
- Previous MLB Wrap — 2 August 2026
- Apple TV+ Friday Night Baseball
Standings accurate as of Sunday 9 August 2026 US time. All times AEST. Mac Johannson covers US sports for Australian fans.
