MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: September 6, 2026, 6:30 AM ET

Around the Horn

Tempers flared across MLB over the past 24 hours, starting in St. Louis where players from both the Cardinals and Rockies tilted their caps in apparent protest of umpire Doug Eddings, one day after he ordered rookie Hancel Rincon to straighten his hat. That initial dispute led Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol to get ejected shortly after Rincon's major league debut. In Baltimore, the Orioles and Red Sox saw benches clear in the eighth inning after Blaze Alexander's hard slide.

Injury Fallout

The Athletics placed right-hander J.T. Ginn on the 15-day IL with an elbow impingement, a blow to their rotation. The Yankees similarly placed Trent Grisham on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. Jameson Taillon of the Blue Jays left a start against the Royals after just two innings due to right elbow discomfort.

Dodgers' Ohtani Watch

Los Angeles continues to manage Shohei Ohtani carefully, holding him out of the starting lineup for a second straight game due to biceps and neck issues. The star hasn't pitched in two months, and the club is wrestling with whether his value as a postseason pitcher is worth risking his bat. The team remains "hopeful" no IL stint is needed.

History & Scheduling

Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio became just the sixth player ever to hit a grand slam and walk-off homer in a single game. That rare heroics carried Cleveland to a win. Elsewhere, MLB has set the spring training start for Feb. 19, though that date hinges on labor peace as CBA tensions remain unresolved.

Analysis

Amid the injuries and drama, a broader look at 2026's fallen stars shows a dozen players whose declines—from bad gameplay to injuries—have reshaped their teams' fates this year. The impact of a single player's absence is proving pivotal across the standings, as teams scramble for flexibility before the postseason push.