MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: June 12, 2026, 8:55 AM ET

Injury Updates

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani exited Thursday's game against Pittsburgh in the seventh inning due to knee inflammation, with manager Dave Roberts calling the removal precautionary as the team prepares for a potential playoff run. The same contest saw Ohtani regret a missed ABS challenge that contributed to the Dodgers squandering a five-run lead before ultimately falling 9-8 to the Pirates. Meanwhile, catcher Will Smith was placed on the 10-day injured list with neck inflammation, adding to the Dodgers' injury concerns as they continue to rely heavily on their pitching staff. In Pittsburgh, outfielder Oneil Cruz landed on the injured list after X-rays revealed non-displaced fractures between his ring finger and pinky, further depleting the Pirates' outfield depth just days after they watched Adolis Garcia leave a game with shoulder issues.

Milestone Achievements

Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer reached 3,500 career strikeouts when he caught Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber looking at an 86 mph changeup to open Wednesday night's game, becoming just the 18th pitcher in major league history to reach that plateau. The veteran ace accomplished the feat in his first season with Toronto after signing a one-year deal this winter. Tarik Skubal will rejoin the Tigers' rotation on Saturday against Cleveland, making an unexpectedly quick return less than six weeks after undergoing elbow surgery, providing Detroit with a significant boost to their starting pitching corps heading into the final months of the regular season.

Trade Deadline Moves

Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman stated publicly that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman would need to apologize to him before any potential return to New York, citing unresolved feelings about how his previous tenure with the club concluded. The Phillies acquired outfielder Derek Hill from the White Sox to address their outfield depth concerns following Garcia's shoulder injury, giving Philadelphia an additional option in the corner outfield positions. Multiple teams are reportedly circulating trade proposals for Skubal as the Tigers weigh whether to move their ace before the July 31 deadline, with contending clubs eager to add frontline starting pitching for the stretch run.

Team Performance & Rankings

Boston Red Sox president Sam Kennedy called his team's performance "embarrassing and unacceptable" while simultaneously confirming that chief baseball officer Craig Breslow's job remains secure despite the club's disappointing season that has them well outside playoff contention. The latest MLB Power Rankings show several clubs rising and falling as the playoff picture continues to shift, with teams like the Blue Jays and Padres making moves in opposite directions as the trade deadline approaches. Analysts suggest that teams face critical decisions over the next few weeks that could determine whether they become buyers or sellers at the deadline, with the AL East and NL Central particularly volatile.

CBA Negotiations & Salary Cap Discussion

Major League Baseball's ongoing collective bargaining negotiations are examining salary cap structures used in other professional sports leagues to determine potential frameworks for baseball's future financial landscape. The discussions come amid growing concern about competitive balance and spending disparities between large-market and small-market clubs, though any significant changes would likely require extensive negotiation between ownership and the players' union. While the current CBA expires after the 2026 season, both sides continue monitoring how other sports have implemented spending limits and luxury tax mechanisms that could potentially translate to baseball's unique economic structure.

Celebrations & Fantasy Outlook

The debate over pitcher celebrations has intensified as hitters continue to showcase elaborate routines following home runs, with some arguing that pitchers should be allowed similar expressive moments on the mound. Fantasy baseball analysts project that Byron Buxton could reach the 50-home run plateau this season while Hunter Goodman breaks National League rookie records, though both players face questions about durability and playing time. These projections come as fantasy managers make final roster adjustments before the trade deadline, weighing which players represent genuine breakout candidates versus statistical outliers likely to regress in the season's second half.