MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: April 7, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Pitching Injuries & Player Safety Concerns

The early stretch of the season continued to be marred by high-profile pitching injuries, as Max Scherzer exited Monday's 14-2 defeat for the Blue Jays with right forearm tendinitis, adding to the rotation concerns for Toronto. Similarly, Texas ace Jacob de Grom experienced discomfort in his right knee during his start, forcing him to be limited to just five innings and 78 pitches in a win against the Mariners. The injury woes extend beyond aces, with the Astros placing Hunter Brown on the 15-day injured list due to a shoulder strain, while the Tigers shelved veteran Justin Verlander with hip inflammation, threatening to derail key rotation outlooks across the league.

Pitcher health also dominated headlines in the batter's box, as Willson Contreras issued a stern warning to the Brewers after being plunked for the 24th time by the team on Monday, asserting that "next time they hit me again, I'm going to take one of them out," a clear escalation of tensions. This incident followed slightly less severe, though still concerning, HBP incidents involving other stars; Mike Trout left the Angels' 8-7 victory over Seattle after being struck on the left hand, though X-rays were not immediately disclosed, and Mookie Betts landed on the IL with a strained right oblique after exiting Saturday's game early with back pain. Adding to the chaos, umpire Ron Kulpa was sidelined for at least a week after sustaining a concussion from a pitch hitting his mask.

Roster Moves & Injured List Updates

Roster churn accelerated over the weekend, with several clubs making significant moves to manage their suddenly depleted pitching staffs. The Cubs placed starter Cade Horton on the 15-day IL for further testing on his right arm, compounding the earlier placement of left-hander Matthew Boyd due to a biceps strain. Meanwhile, the Mets sidelined outfielder Juan Soto for an expected two-to-three weeks after he sustained a minor right calf strain running the bases Friday. Further impacting outfield depth, the White Sox placed Everson Pereira on the 10-day IL with a left ankle sprain, while the Brewers' Sal Frelick exited early Saturday with left side tightness.

In less dire team news, the Mets announced they will retire Carlos Beltrán's No. 15 jersey on September 19 before their home game against the Phillies, inducting him into the team's hall of fame. The Blue Jays bolstered their bullpen depth by selecting right-hander Austin Voth and lefty Joe Mantiply to the major league roster over the weekend. Furthermore, the Rays celebrated their long-awaited return to Tropicana Field—their first home game in 561 days following Hurricane Milton damage—with a victory over the Cubs.

Offensive Milestones & Statistical Anomalies

While injuries dominated the upper echelon of the league, several players reached significant milestones and produced standout performances. Cleveland's Jose Ramirez set a new franchise record for games played, reaching 1,620 appearances in the team's Monday night contest. On the power front, Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh finally broke his season-opening 10-game drought by hitting his first home run of the year, a welcome development for the slugger who led the majors with 60 homers last year. In contrast, rookie Rhett Lowder continued his stellar start for the Reds, lowering his career earned run average to an impressive 1.30, the lowest mark for a Reds pitcher through eight career starts since 1913.

Defensively, Jo Adell produced a spectacular outing for the Angels, robbing the Mariners of three home runs, including a ninth-inning grab where he crashed into the right-field seats to secure a narrow 1-0 victory. The Padres rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat the Red Sox 8-6 on Sunday, spurred in part by Manny Machado, who intentionally kicked aside a pickoff attempt to help facilitate two crucial runs. Offensively, the Yankees' 9-7 win over the Marlins on Saturday night clocked in at 3 hours and 49 minutes, marking the longest nine-inning game played since the pitch clock was implemented in the 2023 season, according to Elias Sports Bureau data.

Managerial Ejections & Off-Field Developments

Managerial frustration boiled over in San Francisco, where first-year manager Tony Vitello was ejected for the first time in his major league career during the Giants' 5-2 loss to the Mets on Sunday, extending San Francisco's losing streak to three games. In a unique scheduling situation, Marlins reliever Pete Fairbanks made a rare start Sunday afternoon to allow the 32-year-old closer to join his family for the birth of his child, throwing 27 pitches in the first inning before handing the ball over. Meanwhile, the Mariners listed highly-touted prospect Colt Emerson, who recently signed an eight-year, $95 million extension, as day-to-day after exhibiting foot discomfort, though X-rays returned negative results.