MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: September 5, 2026, 2:48 PM ET

Dodgers' Ohtani Dilemma

Shohei Ohtani remained out of the starting lineup for a second straight game as the Dodgers hold him out over biceps and neck issues, with the club optimistic he won't need an IL stint. The two-way star is day-to-day after appearing visibly uncomfortable while striking out four times in Wednesday's 10-inning loss to the Cardinals. With October looming, the Dodgers face a pitch-hit dilemma: he hasn't pitched in two months, and the question is whether risking his bat for postseason mound value is worth it.

Key Performances

Brayan Rocchio etched his name into the record books, becoming just the sixth player in MLB history to hit both a grand slam and a walk-off home run in the same game, as his heroics powered Cleveland to victory. In Baltimore, Adley Rutschman greeted his former teammates with two homers in his Camden Yards return, going deep in the first and sixth innings while playing for the Red Sox. The game itself wasn't without fireworks—the Red Sox and Orioles benches cleared in the eighth after Blaze Alexander's hard slide.

Injury Updates

The Yankees lost Trent Grisham to right hamstring discomfort in their game against the Padres. Toronto's Jameson Taillon left Friday's start against the Royals after just two frames due to elbow discomfort. In Pittsburgh, rookie Konnor Griffin said he feels good and is hopeful for a Friday return from the 60-day IL when the Pirates open a three-game series against the Angels. The White Sox activated catcher Kyle Teel from the injured list, returning from a high ankle sprain that had sidelined him since July.

Milestones and Transactions

Padres top prospect Ethan Salas made history Wednesday, becoming the youngest catcher since Ivan Rodriguez to appear in an MLB game at 20 years, 93 days old. A 2026 season that has been defined by attrition: from poor performance to injuries, a dozen projected stars have fallen across the league, dramatically reshaping the standings and the fortunes of their clubs.

Angels, Schedule, and Playoff Picture

After the reported agreement for Stan Kroenke to buy the Angels, Anaheim's future now looms over Mike Trout and the entire league. Major League Base has set spring training to begin Feb. 19, though that timeline depends on labor negotiations culminating in a new CBA. With the season racing toward October, our playoff tracker details every clinching scenario, potential matchup, and the full postseason schedule as the races tighten.

Final

The Dodgers' situation with Ohtani remains the most critical subplot, but the ripple effects of injuries and sales are being felt across both the league and its standings. As the first week of September wraps up, the division races are as tight as ever, with only a handful of games separating contenders in the wild-card chase. The playoff bracket is a dynamic fixture that will continue to shift as teams jockey for position over the final stretch of the regular season.