MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: July 3, 2026, 11:33 AM ET

AL Standings Shake-Up & All-Star Snubs

The Tampa Bay Rays have ascended to the top spot in the American League power rankings, knocking the New York Yankees down a peg in Week. This surge by the Rays, who boast two hitters now cracking the top-10, coincides with a strong showing from Florida teams, as the Miami Marlins also entered the top 10 knocked New York out. The American League All-Star Game selection process is already generating controversy, with Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski's start date on the Sunday before the break rendering him ineligible for the midsummer classic two nights later ASG status doubt. Meanwhile, Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez was forced to exit Thursday's game against the Angels after a thrown ball struck him in the back of the helmet during a slide at second base in the third inning exits after throw.

National League Showdowns & Player News

In the National League, the Cleveland Guardians secured a dramatic 6-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox thanks to Brayan Rocchio's walk-off, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning stun White Sox. Padres right-hander Randy Vasquez was taken to the hospital in stable condition after fainting following a truncated start against the Dodgers on Thursday night taken hospital. The Braves recalled infielder Jim Jarvis from Triple-A Gwinnett, designating veteran first baseman Rowdy Tellez for assignment as they adjust their roster bring back IF Jarvis.

Player Milestones & Injury Concerns

Dansby Swanson delivered a historic performance for the Cubs, crushing three home runs and driving in eight runs in a dominant 23-3 rout of the opposing team Swanson stays hot. His grand slam contributed significantly to his RBI total, marking the most by a Cubs player since Sammy Sosa recorded nine in 2002. On the injury front, Athletics prospect Ryan Lasko is facing a "lengthy" recovery period after sustaining a back injury in a collision with a teammate during a minor league game prospect Lasko facing.

MVP Buzz & All-Star Uniforms

As the All-Star break approaches, discussions surrounding potential MVP candidates are heating up, with Paul Skenes and Shohei Ohtani emerging as leading contenders for the National League MVP award NL MVP buzz. Fans can anticipate a patriotic display during the July 4th holiday, as all MLB teams will be sporting specially designed uniforms and caps featuring stars-and-stripes themes for games played on that date special MLB July 4. Ballparks across the league are also preparing to offer unique culinary options to celebrate the Fourth of July, with establishments from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Washington Nationals rolling out special holiday fare ballparks serving up.

Trade Deadline Watch & Team Management

With the trade deadline just a month away, speculation is mounting about which players could be on the move. High-profile names like Tarik Skubal, Luis Arraez, and Freddy Peralta are among those who could find themselves on different teams by the end of the season Skubal Peralta Arraez. Fantasy baseball managers are also keeping a close eye on emerging trends, with Eric Karabell noting the possibility of Tarik Skubal's continued surge and the Rays' strong offensive presence Rays two top-10 hitters. In New York, Mets owner Steve Cohen stated he is not considering firing president of baseball operations David Stearns, who is in the third year of his five-year contract, despite the team's struggles Mets' Cohen firing.

Upcoming Games & Player Appearances

Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to make his pitching start on Friday against the San Diego Padres, and catcher Dalton Rushing is expected to be behind the plate for the Los Angeles Dodgers Rushing catch Ohtani. The Dodgers will be looking to build on their performance as they face the Padres, who recently had pitcher Randy Vasquez leave a game due to fainting Padres' Vasquez taken.