MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: May 22, 2026, 8:53 PM ET

Injuries & Roster Moves

The Mets designated veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel for assignment Friday after just 14 appearances, ending a brief tenure for the 37-year-old who struggled with a 5.40 ERA during his stint in Queens. Meanwhile, the Phillies reinstated slugger Kyle Schwarber to the lineup after a three-game absence due to gastrointestinal illness, with Schwarber returning to the DH spot and batting second in Friday's matchup against Cleveland. The Yankees activated infielder José Caballero from the injured list Friday, providing depth in the infield as Anthony Volpe is expected to see time at second base. Cincinnati activated designated hitter Eugenio Suárez from the 10-day injured list, giving their struggling offense a potential boost as they look to climb out of the NL Central basement. Boston announced shortstop Trevor Story underwent sports hernia surgery, with the struggling infielder potentially facing several weeks on the sidelines. The Cubs placed top prospect Matt Shaw on the injured list with back tightness and promoted Pedro Ramirez from Triple-A, where he was hitting .312 with nine home runs before the call-up.

Stadium Development & Technology

Las Vegas officials confirmed the Athletics' $2 billion domed stadium project remains on schedule to open before the 2028 season, with the lower bowl structure now taking shape on the Las Vegas Strip. The project represents one of the most ambitious stadium developments in recent baseball history, with the retractable roof facility expected to anchor the team's relocation from Oakland. In other baseball operations news, early data from the automated balls and strikes challenge system revealed mixed results through the first month of implementation, with roughly 60% of challenges being overturned while managers adjust to the new technology.

Player Performance & Discipline

Mariners minor league pitcher Jose Zerpa received an 80-game suspension Friday following a positive test for Stanozolol under baseball's minor league drug program, dealing a blow to Seattle's pitching depth at the organizational level. In Atlanta, Ronald Acuna Jr. exited Thursday's game with thumb pain, though the Braves characterized the removal as precautionary. Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong publicly criticized his recent defensive miscues as "laughable" after committing multiple errors over the past two games, including a misplay that led to Brewers runs in Wednesday's 5-0 loss.

Standout Performances

Shohei Ohtani delivered a dominant two-way performance in his return to the Dodgers' lineup, leading off Friday's game against San Diego with a home run before pitching five scoreless innings to earn the victory. The performance reinforced Ohtani's status as baseball's premier two-way player and provided a much-needed boost for Los Angeles in their series against the Padres.

Season Analysis & Rankings

ESPN's weekly power rankings reflected significant movement in Week 8, with several playoff hopefuls reaching their highest positions in years while bottom-dwelling teams continue to shuffle. Analyst Tristan H. Cockcroft identified trade opportunities in Seattle as the Mariners look to address their underperforming roster heading into the summer months. In Detroit, Tarik Skubal's return timeline remains uncertain following his third bullpen session since elbow surgery, with manager A.J. Hinch calling the progress "a great step" while noting the Tigers will take a cautious approach with their ace left-hander.