MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: March 29, 2026, 11:35 AM ET

MLB Power Surges & Historic Starts

The early MLB slate provided dramatic finishes, highlighted by historic rookie performances and massive late-inning rallies. Cleveland rookie Chase DeLauter extended his remarkable power surge by hitting his fourth home run in his first three games, a feat accomplished by only one other player in MLB annals, driving in the decisive run during a 6-5, 10th-inning victory over Seattle. In stark contrast to DeLauter’s immediate success, the New York Mets staged their own comeback, with Luis Robert Jr. delivering a walk-off three-run blast in the bottom of the 11th, securing a 4-2 win against the Pirates. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves completed an even larger ninth-inning comeback, overcoming a 2-0 deficit by erupting for six runs, capped by Dominic Smith’s grand slam that resulted in a 6-2 final against the Royals.

Walk-Off Tributes & Unusual Plays

Atlanta’s dramatic victory carried significant emotional weight, as Dominic Smith connected for the game-winning slam in his team debut just days after the passing of his mother, leading the veteran to admit he became choked up during the celebration. While Smith provided the heroics in Atlanta, a peculiar defensive moment occurred in Los Angeles where Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was tagged out by Ketel Marte in a unique play, as Freeman, having nowhere else to go on the basepaths, approached Marte who applied the tag with a celebratory hug to end the second inning. Elsewhere, the Yankees have reportedly achieved early success utilizing the new Automated Ball-Strike System, a result manager Aaron Boone attributed to "obsessive" preparation protocols implemented by the coaching staff.

Injury Updates & Roster Moves

The league also saw several significant personnel shifts due to injury and trade activity across the weekend. The Texas Rangers scratched ace Jacob de Grom from his planned start versus Philadelphia due to reported neck stiffness, adding concern to their rotation outlook. Furthermore, the Miami Marlins placed infielder Christopher Morel onto the 10-day injured list, citing a left oblique strain that will sideline him for at least the next stretch of games. In transactional news, the Washington Nationals bolstered their depth by acquiring utility player Curtis Mead from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for catcher Boston Smith. Finally, the Toronto Blue Jays experienced an alarming injury scare when lefty reliever Mason Fluharty was struck twice by batted balls—consecutive infield singles—forcing him to exit the seventh inning of their contest against Oakland.