MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: July 3, 2026, 5:31 AM ET

MLB Player News & Suspensions

The league has handed down seven-game suspensions to both Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli and Red Sox catcher Willson Contreras for their roles in a benches-clearing incident Tuesday night at Fenway Park. Contreras received the lengthy ban after Cavalli shouted "sit down, boy" at the catcher during the altercation, remarks Cavalli has since apologized for, stating no ill will was meant. Miles Mikolas also received a five-game suspension as part of the fallout from the brawl. In other player news, Athletics prospect Ryan Lasko posted Thursday that he faces a "lengthy" recovery after breaking his back in a collision with a teammate earlier in the week, while Padres right-hander Randy Vasquez was in stable condition after fainting during his abbreviated start Thursday night against the Dodgers. Injury Updates & Roster Moves

The Milwaukee Brewers may be without ace Jacob Misiorowski for the All-Star Game, as his scheduled start the Sunday before the break would make him ineligible to pitch two nights later. The Mariners saw outfielder Julio Rodriguez removed from Thursday's game against the Angels in the third inning after he was hit in the back of the helmet by a thrown ball while sliding into second base. In roster moves, the Braves recalled infielder Jim Jarvis from Triple-A Gwinnett and designated first baseman Rowdy Tellez for assignment. The Oakland Athletics will be without two-time All-Star Brent Rooker for the remainder of the season, as he is set to undergo surgery for a torn cartilage in his left knee.

Team Performance & Future Outlook

The Cleveland Guardians stunned the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, with Brayan Rocchio hitting a walk-off, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to secure a 6-5 victory in the opener of a four-game series. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees' struggles continued, dropping their seventh consecutive game, their longest skid in three years, with a 6-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, has etched his name in the record books by homering in six straight games, becoming the youngest player since at least 1900 to achieve the feat. In a historic offensive outburst, Dansby Swanson crushed three home runs and drove in eight runs in the Cubs' 23-3 rout of the Pirates, marking the most RBIs by a Cubs player since Sammy Sosa in 2002. Pirates ace Paul Skenes struggled against the Phillies, lasting only four innings and allowing a season-high seven earned runs in a 10-6 defeat.

Trade Buzz & Fantasy Forecasts

With the trade deadline approximately one month away, speculation is mounting about potential moves for prominent players such as Tarik Skubal, Luis Arraez, and Freddy Peralta, who could finish the season on different teams. Fantasy baseball analysts are with insights suggesting that the Tampa Bay Rays may boast two top-10 hitters and that Skubal's performance is surging. The Dodgers remain the favorites to win the 2026 World Series, with the Phillies and Brewers also showing strong momentum.

Front Office & League Initiatives

Mets owner Steve Cohen stated Wednesday that he has no plans to dismiss president of baseball operations David Stearns, despite the team's disappointing performance this season. The Major League Baseball Players Association has submitted a labor proposal that includes potential increases to roster sizes and protections against player demotions during the season. MLB teams will be sporting newly designed uniforms with special July 4th themes for all games on the holiday.