MLB Baseball 3h Briefing
×Last updated: March 25, 2026, 2:30 PM ET
MLB Roster Moves & Player Updates
With the 2026 baseball season commencing, several key personnel decisions shaped Opening Day rosters across the league, though star absences remain a concern for championship contenders. In the Bronx, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole landed on the 15-day IL ahead of Wednesday's opener against San Francisco, a move avoiding the more restrictive 60-day designation, offering a glimmer of hope for a quicker return. Contrastingly, the Astros confirmed Jeremy Pena avoided the injured list, allowing the shortstop to start despite a recent fingertip fracture sustained before the World Baseball Classic. Meanwhile, the Phillies are debuting rookie Justin Crawford, son of former major leaguer Carl Crawford, who will take the starting center field job to open the year.
World Series Futures Market
Despite the early health scares for marquee pitchers and position players, oddsmakers have already established a clear frontrunner for the upcoming championship chase. Sportsbooks widely view the Los Angeles Dodgers as the overwhelming favorite to secure a third consecutive World Series title. The Yankees and the Seattle Mariners currently sit as the next tier of contenders, according to betting markets, placing them squarely behind the Dodgers in the early futures calculations as the season officially gets underway.