MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: July 21, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Impressive Streaks and Milestone Hits Light Up MLB

The Boston Red Sox to 14 games Monday, a remarkable run that is the second-longest in franchise history. Caleb Durbin provided the heroics, hitting a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning against Baltimore. The Red Sox also over the Rays on Sunday, with Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray leading the charge, marking their 13th consecutive win at that point. Nolan Arenado, becoming the sixth active player to reach 2,000 career hits with a double Monday night.

Player Movement and Injury Updates Across the League

The Los Angeles Dodgers from the Colorado Rockies in a trade for two minor league prospects. Meanwhile, the White Sox are likely to place catcher Kyle Teel on the injured list after he on Monday. The Marlins have placed All-Star right-hander Max Meyer on the 15-day injured list with a neck strain, while infielder Otto Lopez was out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. The Orioles also due to left wrist inflammation.

Key Player Returns and Notable Performances

The Mets activated outfielder Luis Robert Jr. from the injured list after a nearly three-month absence due to a back issue. The Twins welcomed back All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton, who had missed nine games with a hip strain, and he is sixth in the majors with 25 home runs. Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña returned to the lineup for Monday's series opener, though first baseman Christian Walker remained absent from the starting lineup for the second straight game.

Offensive Fireworks and Unexpected Plays

The Cleveland Guardians, who had been struggling with home run power in a dominant 13-4 rout of the Minnesota Twins. In a surprising turn of events, the Reds' strategy to load the bases to face struggling Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh backfired spectacularly when Raleigh on the first pitch, leading Seattle to an 8-0 victory. Rookie Esmerlyn Valdez of the Pirates continues to impress, now with 12 home runs and 31 RBIs in his first 31 games, a feat matched by only three other players in major league history. Hunter Goodman of the Rockies had his second three-homer game this season on Sunday.

Transactions and International Signings

Rintaro Sasaki will sign with the Miami Marlins, forgoing a professional career in Japan.

Tribute and League News

Duane Ward, a key reliever for the Toronto Blue Jays' back-to-back World Series championship teams in the early 1990s, has died at the age of 62. In other news, the Twins and Phillies will feature throwback uniforms for their upcoming Field of Dreams game on August 13. Shohei Ohtani will not pitch in Philadelphia as scheduled due to left knee irritation. The MLBPA player leadership has only one Latino representative, highlighting an underrepresentation at the bargaining table.