MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: May 18, 2026, 11:48 PM ET

Injury Updates & Roster Moves

The Atlanta Braves cleared Ronald Acuña Jr. from the 10‑day injured list, enabling him to rejoin the lineup for Monday’s series opener against the Miami Marlins; the right fielder, who had missed three games with a sore wrist, is now slated to start as the team seeks to rebound from a 4‑2 loss in the previous series opener. Simultaneously, the Baltimore Orioles reinstated infielder Jackson Holliday from the 10‑day injured list, but the 22‑year‑old was not activated for the 16‑6 defeat to the New York Yankees, leaving the club to shuffle its infield lineup as it battles for a playoff berth. The New York Yankees, meanwhile, are weighing whether to fast‑track Gerrit Cole’s return from rehab, opting instead for a scheduled debut at Yankee Stadium if his recovery progresses as expected. The decision hinges on whether the club prefers a short, high‑risk rehab start or a clean, full‑strength return that could secure a late‑season push.

Pitching Turbulence Across the League

Tyler Glasnow of the Los Angeles Dodgers was abruptly removed from his throwing program after a flare‑up of a previously quiet shoulder condition, prompting the Dodgers’ front office to reassess his workload as the team juggles a congested schedule. In a parallel move, the Tampa Bay Rays’ Blake Snell is slated to undergo the same Nano Scope procedure that successfully treated the Dodgers’ – and future – pitcher, clearing the way for a potential return to the mound in the second half of the season. Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers’ starting rotation suffered a setback when Mac Kenzie Gore exited the game at Coors Field after a single inning due to back tightness, and shortstop Corey Seager was subsequently placed on the 10‑day injured list with lower back inflammation, further thinning the Rangers’ infield core.

Veteran Presence and Transition

Toronto Blue Jays legend Max Scherzer, now, is conducting a brief bullpen session of roughly 22 pitches at Yankee Stadium as part of his ongoing comeback from right forearm tendinitis, a move that signals the club’s intent to keep the veteran on a path toward a full season appearance. Across the league, infielder Gio Urshela has announced his retirement after a decade of play with eight teams, a decision that underscores the broader theme of veteran turnover as franchises recalibrate their rosters for the next competitive window. The Cubs’ Pete Crow‑Armstrong also faced scrutiny after a heated exchange with a fan, prompting the club to issue a public apology for his “choice of words,” a reminder of the heightened scrutiny on player conduct in the modern game.

Seasonal Outlook and Power Rankings

The Philadelphia Phillies have surged under interim manager Don Mattingly, posting a 15‑4 record since his takeover and moving the club above the .500 mark for the first time since early April, a swing that has positioned the team as an unexpected playoff contender in the Eastern Conference. This late‑season rally has propelled the Phillies to the top of the current MLB Power Rankings, dethroning the Los Angeles Dodgers and highlighting the volatile nature of the standings as the regular season winds down. Meanwhile, early postseason projections suggest that several teams—many of which were not expected to contend at the start of the 2026 season—have emerged as dark‑horse candidates, a trend that reflects the unpredictable dynamics of player development and mid‑season acquisitions.

Fan Conduct and League Policies

In a rare disciplinary action, the Washington Nationals have identified and banned a spectator who displayed a banner supporting a white nationalist website during a Sunday game, a move that reinforces MLB’s zero‑tolerance policy toward hate symbols and underscores the league’s commitment to maintaining a safe environment for players and fans alike. The incident prompted the Nationals’ security staff to conduct a thorough review of crowd surveillance protocols, ensuring that future events are monitored more closely for extremist activity.