MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: July 31, 2026, 8:31 AM ET

Late-Game Heroics and Trade Buzz Dominate MLB Landscape

Kody Clemens with two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the ninth inning, powering the Minnesota Twins to a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals. The Twins had been held hitless through the first six innings by Royals pitcher Noah Cameron before Clemens' heroics quelled the sting of a previous selloff. In other roster moves, the last-place New York Mets, sending left-handed relief pitcher A.J. Minter to the Twins in exchange for prospects Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick, sources told ESPN. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles, facing catcher injuries from the Detroit Tigers for minor league right-hander Zane Barnhart.

Injury Concerns and Star Absences Surface

Shohei Ohtani was absent from the Dodgers' lineup for their 5-2 win against the Seattle Mariners due to lingering soreness in his left knee, though manager Dave Roberts for Friday's game. The Dodgers also remain confident that Ohtani will eventually return to pitching despite his current knee issues. Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan against the Texas Rangers in the fourth inning with back tightness and is considered day-to-day. Newly acquired Red Sox infielder Curtis Mead will be reevaluated in four weeks after a non-displaced fracture in his left wrist was diagnosed. Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz on his forearm after being hit by a pitch and leaving Wednesday night's game.

Trade Deadline Strategy and Team Needs

With the trade deadline just days away, teams are evaluating their needs and potential moves. The Yankees and Mets are among the teams that could benefit from significant overhauls. Several clubs, including the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, and Cubs, are identified as needing to make impactful deals. MLB Power Rankings among wild-card contenders as the deadline approaches, with the top 10 remaining relatively stable. Yankees manager Aaron Boone is confident in his team's ability to get injured stars back and is hopeful the front office will improve the roster.

Player Milestones and Injury Updates

Tarik Skubal, in what could be his final start for the Tigers after recording his 1,000th career strikeout against the Orioles. Twins outfielder Byron Buxton has returned to the injured list with the same hip impingement that caused him to miss the All-Star Game. Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly acknowledged his team's recent struggles, stating they have "got to do better" after dropping nine of their last 12 games. Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino was placed on the 10-day injured list with a sore right wrist.

Miscellaneous MLB News

A rare 1-of-1 Shohei Ohtani Dual Gold Logoman autographed card was pulled by a collector and subsequently sold for $11 million. The AL-worst Angels, with a 42-66 record, traded away reliever Chase Silseth and catcher Logan O'Hoppe to the Rangers for minor league infielder Angel Arredondo. Fantasy baseball managers are advised on closer stock, with Edwin Diaz. A podcast episode titled "The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani" is available, detailing the unraveling of his relationship with his former interpreter amid a sports betting scheme.