MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: August 14, 2026, 2:37 AM ET

Offensive Outbursts and IL Moves

Alex Bregman had a career night, hitting three home runs and driving in seven runs to lead the Cubs to a dominant 12-6 victory over the Nationals. This performance marks Bregman's first three-homer game and continues his torrid hitting stretch. In other news, the Red Sox placed reliever Garrett Whitlock on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation, recalling Greg Weissert from Triple-A Worcester. The Blue Jays bolstered their pitching staff by claiming veteran Paul Sewald, who was recently designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks. Meanwhile, the White Sox saw a massive turnout for their fan giveaway, drawing 40,000 attendees, partly inspired by the election of Pope Leo, a native Chicagoan and White Sox fan.

Player Health and Team Standings

The Twins are set to activate outfielder Byron Buxton from the injured list just in time for Thursday's Field of Dreams game against the Phillies. Buxton had missed the previous 14 games with a hip injury. In contrast, the Colorado Rockies placed third baseman Kyle Karros on the seven-day concussion injured list. Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman appears to have avoided serious injury after a frightening fall into the dugout while attempting to catch a foul popup. The Pittsburgh Pirates are now the No. 1 team in baseball, according to the latest MLB Power Rankings, marking the first time in nearly two months that the Dodgers have relinquished the top spot.

Pitching Performances and Debuts

Pirates prospect Paul Skenes was removed from his start after only 65 pitches, with concerns arising about a recent dip in his fastball velocity. The exact reason for his early exit remains unclear, fueling speculation about his health status. In his major league debut for the Washington Nationals, pitching prospect Jackson Kent pitched over four innings against the Chicago Cubs, though his performance was mixed.