MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: May 24, 2026, 8:46 PM ET

Injury Updates

The Dodgers are poised to activate Kiké Hernández for Monday’s season debut after his left elbow surgery recovery, while the Rockies suffered a setback when Jose Quintana exited Sunday’s start with elbow discomfort after two innings. The Yankees’ Aaron Judge ended an 11-game homer drought with a walk-off two-run shot against the Rays, a crucial offensive spark. Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres will pause swinging due to an unhealed left oblique strain, and Nationals right-hander Jake Irvin landed on the IL with a right shoulder strain he considered positive news. Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease left with hamstring tightness in the fifth inning, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also exited after taking a pitch to the elbow. Mets slugger Juan Soto was scratched from the lineup pregame with an illness, while Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet is set to throw BP as he returns from shoulder inflammation. The Brewers optioned Robert Gasser amid concerns he may have been tipping pitches, and the Rays placed Jonny DeLuca on the IL with a hamstring strain. Tigers reliever Brant Hurter joined the IL with lumbar spine inflammation.

Game Highlights

Gerrit Cole delivered a masterful return for the Yankees, tossing six shutout innings in his first start since elbow ligament reconstruction, a 569-day absence. The Cubs gave Ian Happ a day off and promoted Pete Crow-Armstrong to the leadoff spot, while Astros DH Yordan Alvarez left with back spasms mid-at-bat against Chicago. The Guardians secured a 1-0 win on Kyle Manzardo’s pinch-hit homer, saving a gem from Gavin Williams, who struck out. St. Louis rookie Bryan Torres, 28, homered in his emotional debut four years after considering retirement. George Springer hit his 65th career leadoff homer as the Blue Jays handed Paul Skenes his second straight loss. The Nationals combined on a 1-hitter to blank the Braves, with Jake Irvin throwing five hitless frames before feeling tightness. Teoscar Hernández drove in six runs to power the Dodgers’ 11-3 rout of Milwaukee.

Player Performances & Notes

The early numbers on baseball’s ABS challenge system reveal a mixed start, with a slight increase in pitch challenges but no clear offensive impact yet. Beyond the box scores, the narratives of perseverance—from Torres’ long road to the majors to Cole’s arduous comeback—underscore the physical and mental toll of a 162-game season. The flurry of injuries to key players like Quintana, Cease, and Soto highlights the wear-and-tear phase of the schedule, while performances like Judge’s clutch homer and Hernández’s six-RBI night provide the season’s defining moments. The strategic moves, such as the Cubs reshuffling their lineup and the Brewers’ roster tweak, reflect teams’ constant adjustments in the sport’s long grind.