MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: April 12, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

AL Central & West Injury Woes Mount

The American League saw significant injury setbacks across the division Saturday, with the Astros losing two key players in their 8-7 defeat to Seattle. Shortstop Jeremy Pena felt tightness in his right knee and is scheduled for an MRI, compounding the club's issues as rookie pitcher Tatsuya Imai returned to Houston for immediate evaluation regarding right arm fatigue, a development manager Joe Espada described as "just not good news." Further north, the Blue Jays suffered a major blow when outfielder George Springer exited their 7-4 loss to the Twins after fracturing the big toe on his left foot; Springer has struggled this season, batting just .189 with two home runs entering the contest.

NL East Defensive Crises & Roster Moves

Defensive lapses continue to plague the New York Mets as shortstop Francisco Lindor committed his third miscue in two days during an 11-6 drubbing by Oakland, prompting manager Carlos Mendoza to state the uncharacteristic errors were "hard to explain." To address bullpen depth, the Mets recalled reliever Craig Kimbrel while designating left-hander Richard Lovelady for assignment to maintain their 26-man limit. Meanwhile, the division-leading Baltimore Orioles placed catcher Adley Rutschman on the 10-day injured list prior to their game against the Giants due to inflammation in his left ankle, forcing a key lineup shift.

Pitching Instability & Broadcast Notes

Pitching injuries also marred the weekend slate, as Angels rookie right-hander George Klassen departed his start against Cincinnati in the third inning after striking his right index finger, resulting in a bruised nail requiring immediate assessment. In non-game news, the league announced that Sunday night's Major League Baseball coverage on NBC will feature an opening segment headlined by the three-time Grammy Award-winning Southern rock group, the Zac Brown Band.