MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: April 5, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

MLB Injury Report: Star Shortstops & Shoulder Woes Dominate

The league is grappling with a wave of significant injuries, most notably sidelining two premier shortstops. Dodgers star Mookie Betts exited Saturday's game in the first inning due to right lower back pain, a condition that rapidly escalated, leading to his placement on the injured list Sunday with a strained right oblique. In other key defensive areas, White Sox outfielder Everson Pereira landed on the 10-day IL with a left ankle sprain, retroactive to Thursday. Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners are monitoring top prospect Colt Emerson, who signed a massive eight-year, $95 million extension last week; the 20-year-old underwent negative X-rays Sunday after a foot issue and is currently day to day.

Pitching staffs across the majors faced immediate setbacks, with multiple rotations taking major hits. The Houston Astros placed ace Hunter Brown on the 15-day IL Sunday, citing a strain in his pitching shoulder, immediately impacting their front line. Similarly, the Chicago Cubs shuffled Cade Horton to the 15-day IL for further evaluation on his right arm following his placement Sunday. Adding to the list of ailments, Mets right fielder Juan Soto was diagnosed with a right calf strain following his MRI results. In better news for the Reds, rookie Rhett Lowder established a franchise benchmark, achieving the lowest ERA (1. through eight career starts for the team since 1913, providing a rare bright spot amid the injury reports.

Roster Moves & Game Peculiarities

Teams finalized several roster adjustments as the injury bug spread; the Toronto Blue Jays selected right-hander Austin Voth and lefty Joe Mantiply to the major league roster following a series of transactions Sunday. Despite the general trend toward quicker contests, the Yankees' 9-7 victory over the Marlins on Saturday registered as the longest nine-inning affair since the pitch clock was instituted in 2023, clocking in at 3 hours and 49 minutes, according to Elias Sports data. Compounding the unusual nature of that game, plate umpire Ron Kulpa departed in the fourth inning after absorbing a foul ball directly off his mask with two outs.

Defensive brilliance provided necessary highlights amidst the medical concerns. Angels outfielder Jo Adell delivered a spectacular performance, robbing the Mariners of three home runs in a tight contest, including a ninth-inning grab where he crashed into the right-field seats to secure a narrow 1-0 victory. However, other outfielders experienced less fortunate exits; Brewers right fielder Sal Frelick had to exit early during the second game of Saturday's split doubleheader in the fourth inning due to left side tightness.