MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: September 4, 2026, 10:44 PM ET

Dodgers’ Ohtani Ailing, Dueling Priorities

Shohei Ohtani was held out of the Dodgers' starting lineup for a second straight game on Friday, sidelined by biceps, neck and knee issues. The two-way star got the day off Thursday after appearing uncomfortable while striking out four times in a 10-inning loss to the Cardinals. The team says he is hopeful no injured-list stint is needed. The deeper question remains whether the Dodgers will let him pitch in October, given he hasn't thrown in two months and his bat has been so valuable. Meanwhile, the rotation took another hit as starter Eric Lauer headed to the IL with left elbow inflammation after a rough outing.

Historical Feats and Milestones

Cleveland shortstop Brayan Rocchio etched his name in the history books Friday, becoming just the sixth player ever to hit a grand slam and a walk-off home run in the same game. Across the field in San Diego, Padres top prospect Ethan Salas made his own mark when he debuted at age 20 years, 93 days old, making him the youngest catcher to appear in an MLB game since Ivan Rodriguez. Over in Baltimore, former Orioles star Adley Rutschman returned to Camden Yards in a Red Sox uniform, and the reception was warm—but he made it doubly memorable by decorating the scoreboard with two home runs.

Injuries, Returns, and Activations

The Pittsburgh Pirates got a boost with rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin expected to be activated as their series opener vs. the Angels approaches. He says he feels good after a rehab assignment and was officially moved off the injured list a day later. On the South Side, the White Sox welcome back catcher Kyle Teel, who returns after a lengthy absence from a high ankle sprain. He was activated off the IL.

MLB Business, Owners, and the Labor Calendar

The biggest story off the field: After 23 years at the helm, Arte Moreno has agreed to sell the Los Angeles Angels to Stan Kroenke in a deal sources say is worth a record $4 billion. We break down what the sale means for Mike Trout, the franchise and all of MLB. Meanwhile, with collective-bargaining talks looming, the MLB has announced a tentative start to spring training on Feb. 19, but that assumes there is labor peace. We also broke down which of July's trade deadline deals have pulsed well and which have flatlined, evaluating all 30 teams about a month later.

Playoff Races and Power Rankings

With September dimming and the race tightening, our playoff tracker has the current matchups, clinching scenarios and full schedule. Our first September edition of Power Rankings is loaded—the top-10 teams remain much the same but the fringe teams are fighting. In fantasy, we provide a list of must-claim waiver-wire options that can break your playoff slale.

Fallen Stars and Silliness

Perhaps the most striking piece: we reviewed the twelve most impacted "fallen" stars of 2025—players whose performance dipped, got injurious or both—and how their team either mixed it up or fell apart. From catcher Cal to universal names, the profound impact is obvious. For the lighter side, the upcoming season of "Dancing With The Stars" was announced, and it includes amber Glenn and Ezra Frech, alongside a Savannah Bananas player. Given athletes have won 12 of the past seasons, these castings might be considered entertainment gold.