MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: June 12, 2026, 5:56 AM ET

Injury Updates

The Dodgers received concerning news when star Shohei Ohtani exited early in the seventh inning of Thursday's win at Pittsburgh due to knee inflammation, though manager Dave Roberts characterized the move as precautionary. Meanwhile, catcher Will Smith landed on the 10-day injured list with neck inflammation, further depleting Los Angeles' depth. Pittsburgh outfielder Oneil Cruz was placed on the IL after tests revealed non-displaced fractures in his left hand between the ring and pinky fingers. The Phillies added outfield depth by acquiring Derek Hill from the White Sox, a move necessitated by Adolis Garcia's shoulder injury that forced him out of Wednesday's game. Ohtani's early exit came after he cruised through six innings before a missed ABS challenge in the seventh helped fuel Pittsburgh's 9-8 comeback victory.

Pitching Milestones & Trades

Max Scherzer reached a historic milestone on Wednesday night, recording his 3,500th career strikeout when he caught Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber looking at an 86 mph changeup to open the game. Tarik Skubal will return to Detroit's rotation on Saturday against Cleveland, marking his comeback less than six weeks after undergoing elbow surgery. The Tigers' ace has drawn significant trade interest as contending clubs explore blockbuster proposals before the July 30 deadline. Across the league, teams are evaluating their trade deadline needs as the next few weeks could determine playoff fates, with several clubs seeking pitching upgrades or depth additions.

Team Dynamics & Management

Red Sox president Sam Kennedy called his team's performance "embarrassing and unacceptable" amid a disappointing season, yet confirmed there's been no discussion of removing chief baseball officer Craig Breslow from his role. If the Yankees were to pursue free-agent closer Aroldis Chapman, he demanded an apology from New York GM Brian Cashman for how his previous tenure with the team ended. MLB's ongoing CBA negotiations have sparked discussions about implementing a salary cap, with analysts examining how such structures function in the NFL, NBA, and NHL to assess potential impacts on baseball's economic model.

Power Rankings & Other News

ESPN's latest MLB Power Rankings reflect shifting playoff races as several unexpected contenders climb while established teams stumble in the second half. Mookie Betts made a guest appearance on Disney Junior's "Bluey" as part of his off-field endeavors, adding another chapter to his multifaceted public profile. A growing debate about pitcher celebrations has emerged, with some arguing that hitters shouldn't monopolize the spotlight when it comes to post-performance revelry. Fantasy baseball managers received projections for players like Byron Buxton potentially reaching 50 home runs and Hunter Goodman breaking NL rookie records, offering insight into possible second-half storylines.