MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: July 20, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

American League East Shake-Up

The Boston Red Sox with a 13th consecutive victory, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 on Sunday. Willson Contreras contributed a two-run homer, and Sonny Gray pitched six innings, allowing just one run. The team's win streak now stands at 13 games, tying the second-longest in club history. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles on the 10-day injured list with left wrist inflammation. Rookie catcher Samuel Basallo also against the Astros with right shoulder discomfort.

Central Division Power and Pains

The Cleveland Guardians, hitting seven long balls in a rout of the Minnesota Twins. Six of those home runs came off Twins All-Star starter Joe Ryan. In Kansas City, Royals All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was forced to exit Monday night's 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants due to back tightness. The Detroit Tigers are aiming for a July surge to maintain their competitive standing and keep ace Tarik Skubal. The Toronto Blue Jays are mourning the loss of Duane Ward, a key reliever on their back-to-back World Series championship teams, who died at the age of 62.

National League Standings and Surprises

In a notable trade, the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for two minor league prospects. Rockies slugger Hunter Goodman of the season on Sunday, etching his name into an exclusive club. Pirates rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez is making a historic impact, becoming the fourth player in major league history with at least 12 homers and 31 RBIs in his first 31 games. The Miami Marlins have placed All-Star right-hander Max Meyer on the 15-day injured list with a neck strain, and All-Star shortstop Otto Lopez was out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive game.

Injury Bug and Activated Players

The New York Mets have activated outfielder Luis Robert Jr. from the injured list after he missed nearly three months with a back issue. The Minnesota Twins have also activated All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton, who had been sidelined for nine games with a right hip strain. Buxton is currently sixth in the majors with 25 home runs. Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña returned to the lineup for Monday's series opener against the Marlins, while first baseman Christian Walker was again out of the starting lineup. Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, returning from an oblique injury with a career-best five hits, including two home runs, in his team's 8-5 victory.

International Flavor and Future Stars

The Field of Dreams game is set to return on August 13th, with both participating clubs unveiling throwback-inspired uniforms. In a significant international signing, Rintaro Sasaki, forgoing a professional career in Japan.

Pitching Pains and Unusual Circumstances

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies due to irritation in his left knee.