MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: May 24, 2026, 11:50 AM ET

Yankees, Cubs, Astros Gerrit Cole returned with six shutout innings after a 569‑day elbow reconstruction, tightening New York’s rotation as the team seeks to solidify a sub‑3.00 ERA average. In Chicago, the Cubs gave Ian Happ a rest and promoted Pete Crow‑Armstrong to the leadoff spot, hoping the shift will spark a lineup that struggled to reach 3.5 runs per game. Houston’s response was hampered when designated hitter Yordan Alvarez departed with a back spasm in the sixth of a 3‑0 win over the Cubs and will miss the series finale, leaving the Astros to rely on depth in the middle of the order.

Guardians, Cardinals, Blue Jays Gavin Williams matched Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez with eight scoreless innings before Kyle Manzardo delivered a ninth‑inning pinch‑hit homer that secured a 1‑0 victory for Cleveland, highlighting the Guardians’ reliance on late‑inning power. St. Louis celebrated Bryan Torres’ emotional debut home run at age, a rare late‑blooming story that adds depth to a Cardinals roster already featuring three players with double‑digit homers this season. Meanwhile, Toronto’s George Springer hit his 65th career leadoff homer as the Blue Jays handed Paul Skenes his second consecutive loss, underscoring the difficulty of maintaining momentum for the rookie pitcher.

Dodgers, Nationals, Braves Teoscar Hernández matched a career‑high six RBIs in Los Angeles’ 11‑3 rout of Milwaukee, contributing to a 5.2‑run average per game for the Dodgers over the weekend and reinforcing their push for the NL West lead. Washington’s Jake Irvin tossed five hitless innings in a 2‑0 win over Atlanta, earning his first victory in nearly two months despite feeling tightness on his final pitches, a sign that the Nationals’ rotation may be stabilizing. Jackson Holliday snuck a 337‑foot two‑run homer under the left‑field foul pole in Detroit’s 7‑4 triumph, a blast that lifted the Tigers above the .500 mark for the first time since early May.

Injuries, Transactions, Analytics Arizona’s Lourdes Gurriel Jr. exited with left‑hamstring tightness after a sliding catch, prompting the Diamondbacks to consider roster flexibility as they chase a playoff spot. New York’s Mets designated Craig Kimbrel for assignment following 14 appearances, signaling a shift toward younger bullpen options amid a 3.85 ERA for the relievers this season. Finally, an early review of baseball’s “ABS” challenge system outlined initial metrics, indicating that the new framework could influence player evaluation and contract negotiations as teams adapt to data‑driven scouting.