MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: April 6, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

MLB Injury Report & Roster Moves

The injury bug continued to plague several clubs over the weekend and into Monday, forcing significant shuffling across pitching staffs and outfields. The Chicago Cubs lost two key arms, placing left-hander Matthew Boyd on the 15-day injured list Monday with a left biceps strain, shortly after fellow starter Cade Horton was sidelined Sunday with right forearm discomfort and sent back to Chicago for further testing Cubs pitchers sidelined. The Houston Astros suffered a major blow as ace Hunter Brown landed on the 15-day IL due to a shoulder strain, while the Detroit Tigers saw veteran Justin Verlander’s return stalled, as he was placed on the 15-day IL with hip inflammation Verlander sidelined. Furthermore, the Los Angeles Dodgers dealt with a major absence when shortstop Mookie Betts was formally placed on the IL with a strained right oblique after initially exiting Saturday’s game early due to lower back pain Betts exits early.

The injury wave also swept through the National League East, where the New York Mets faced mounting losses. Outfielder Juan Soto, after exiting Friday’s game with right calf tightness, underwent an MRI which confirmed a right calf strain, sidelining him for an expected two to three weeks Soto diagnosed. In other minor injury news, White Sox outfielder Everson Pereira was placed on the 10-day IL with a left ankle sprain Pereira sidelined, and Twins outfielder Byron Buxton exited Friday’s home opener with a right forearm contusion Buxton exits Friday. Catcher Alejandro Kirk of the Blue Jays also sustained an injury, leaving the game Friday after his glove-hand thumb was struck by a foul tip Kirk struck.

Pitching Carousel & Milestones

Roster adjustments were numerous as teams managed their depleted ranks, including the Blue Jays who promoted a pair of arms, selecting right-hander Austin Voth and lefty Joe Mantiply to their major league roster Sunday. Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins afforded reliever Pete Fairbanks a unique opportunity Sunday, giving the 32-year-old closer a rare starting assignment to allow him to attend the birth of his child; Fairbanks managed a 27-pitch first inning in the unusual spot start Fairbanks starts paternity. On the prospect front, Reds rookie Rhett Lowder continued his spectacular start to the season, lowering his career earned run average to an exceptional 1.30 through eight starts, the lowest mark for a Reds pitcher since 1913 Lowder sets record. In Kansas City, the Royals were forced to recall right-hander Luinder Avila from Triple-A Omaha to open the series against Milwaukee after starter Wacha was unable to take the mound due to illness Royals recall prospect.

Player Honors & On-Field Incidents

In off-field news, the New York Mets announced a franchise honor for former star Carlos Beltrán, scheduling the retirement of his No. 15 jersey for September 19 before a home contest against the Phillies, where he will also enter the team's hall of fame. In a similar announcement, the White Sox confirmed they will retire Ozzie Guillén’s No. 13 in a ceremony slated for August. On the field, umpire Ron Kulpa was forced to exit games after receiving a blow to his mask, resulting in a diagnosis of a concussion that will keep him sidelined for at least a week Umpire concussed. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants’ mounting struggles—now sitting at 3-7—boiled over Sunday when first-year manager Tony Vitello, 47, was ejected for the first time during a 5-2 loss to the Mets.

Notable Sunday Performances & Team Dynamics

Sunday saw several stellar individual efforts, including Angels outfielder Jo Adell’s defensive masterpiece, robbing the Mariners of three potential home runs, one of which involved crashing into the right-field seats to preserve a tight 1-0 victory. The Angels later secured an 8-7 win, though center fielder Mike Trout exited the contest in the eighth inning after sustaining a contusion to his left hand after being hit by a pitch Trout exits hit. In San Diego, Manny Machado sparked a crucial rally by deliberately kicking aside a pickoff attempt, allowing two runs to score as the Padres overcame a four-run deficit to defeat the Red Sox 8-6. The Brewers secured a split doubleheader on Saturday, though right fielder Sal Frelick exited the second game early in the fourth inning with left side tightness Frelick exits early.

Offseason Work & League Interest

While the season is in full swing, attention remains on player development and league interest metrics. The Mariners’ 20-year-old shortstop prospect Colt Emerson, who recently signed an eight-year, $95 million contract extension, was listed as day-to-day after X-rays came back negative following a foul ball injury Emerson day-to-day. In the minors, Brewers prospect Cooper Pratt expressed that the security provided by his long-term contract should ease performance pressure as he nears the major leagues. For fans and analysts tracking team excitement, the league’s most entertaining squads were ranked, factoring in elements from young talent production to on-field theatrics like bobblehead nights. Fantasy baseball managers were also advised this week on which free agent pickups warranted claiming based on their real-world performance versus preseason expectations.

Game Length & League Oddities

The pace of play remains a talking point, though one specific contest bucked the trend set by the pitch clock rules. The Yankees’ 9-7 victory over the Marlins on Saturday night clocked in at 3 hours and 49 minutes, making it the longest nine-inning game recorded since the pitch clock was implemented for the 2023 season. Meanwhile, off-field antics in Milwaukee have seen manager Pat Murphy’s preferred "pocket pancakes" banned by a local reporter, leading the Brewers to adopt a 'rally tortoise' as their new good luck charm.