MLB Baseball 3h Briefing
×Last updated: May 18, 2026, 8:48 PM ET
Roster Moves & Injuries
The Yankees are debating an early Cole return espn.com for Gerrit Cole, who could skip his final rehab start and debut Friday at Yankee Stadium, while the Braves activated Acuña from IL espn.com ahead of Monday's opener in Miami. Acuña, out since May 15 with a left hamstring strain, was not in the starting lineup but is expected to pinch-hit. The Orioles reinstated infielder Jackson Holliday espn.com from the 10-day injured list, though the 22-year-old former No. 1 pick also did not start Monday's series opener. In a significant loss, the Rangers placed shortstop Corey Seager espn.com on the 10-day IL with lower back inflammation, retroactive to Sunday. The 30-year-old Seager is hitting .264 with 12 home runs this season. Veteran infielder Gio Urshela, announced his retirement espn.com after ten seasons with eight teams, including a key role in the Yankees' 2009 championship team.
Draft & Prospect Buzz
With the July draft approaching, ESPN's latest first-round projections espn.com have Louisiana State right-hander Aidan Haugh going first overall to the Phillies, while a separate updated top 150 list espn.com shows Oregon State shortstop Travis Bazzana surging up boards. The Tigers' ace Tarik Skubal, less than two weeks post-elbow surgery espn.com, is already throwing unrestricted bullpen sessions and could begin a minor league rehab assignment within three weeks. Meanwhile, outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong apologized for a heated fan exchange espn.com during Sunday's Cubs-White Sox game, calling his "choice of words" inappropriate after a confrontation in the outfield.