MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: May 22, 2026, 2:49 PM ET

Player Performance Shohei Ohtani returned spectacularly to the Dodgers' lineup, launching a leadoff home run before delivering five scoreless innings in a victory over the Padres. Meanwhile, Marlins Jazz Chisholm resorted to extreme measures to break out of his slump, borrowing pants from Giancarlo Stanton who is seven inches and 61 pounds larger, an unconventional approach that apparently helped him get back on track.

Injury Updates The Braves pulled Ronald Acuna Jr. from Thursday's game as a precaution due to pain in his left thumb, while the Yankees received positive news on Trent Grisham after tests revealed no structural damage to his left knee a day after he exited a game. On the injury front, Athletics outfielder Denzel Clarke suffered a significant left hamstring strain and will miss at least the next two months until after the All-Star break in July. Tigers ace Tarik Skubal completed his third bullpen session since elbow surgery, with manager A.J. Hinch calling it a "great step," though his return timeline remains uncertain. The Mets announced Kodai Senga will begin a rehab assignment on Friday as he works back from lower back issues, while Marlins prospect Robby Snelling undergoes season-ending Tommy John surgery after his major league debut.

Team News This week's MLB Power Rankings featured the highest rankings in years for several playoff hopefuls, with significant movement at the top of the standings. In Oakland's future, the Athletics' $2 billion domed stadium remains on schedule to open before the 2028 season, with officials confirming the lower bowl is taking shape on the Las Vegas Strip. The Cubs received poor defensive play from center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who described his errors as "laughable" after allowing a ball to scoot under his glove in Wednesday's loss to the Brewers. Meanwhile, the Marlins continue to establish themselves as MLB's most innovative team, whether it's calling pitches from the dugout or radically rethinking batting practice approaches, proving Miami isn't afraid to experiment with unconventional methods.

League Systems & Prospects Baseball's automated ball-strike system showed early results with umpires implementing the challenge system, though initial numbers suggest there may be adjustments needed as the season progresses. The latest top 50 MLB prospect rankings featured a shakeup at the top, with a new No. 1 emerging as baseball's next wave of stars begins to establish themselves at the highest level.