MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: April 7, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Injury Woes Plague Pitching Staffs

The rash of pitching injuries continued across the league as several key arms were sidelined over the weekend and early this week. Texas Rangers ace Jacob de Grom reported feeling discomfort in his right knee during Monday's start, forcing him to exit after just five innings and 78 pitches in a victory over the Mariners. Compounding the high-profile absences, three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer was removed from the Blue Jays' 14-2 Monday loss due to right forearm tendinitis, immediately raising concerns about the Toronto rotation's depth. Further south, the Houston Astros placed Hunter Brown on the 15-day IL with a shoulder strain, while the injury bug also caught the Chicago clubs, as the Cubs sidelined Cade Horton with right arm issues and the White Sox lost outfielder Everson Pereira to a left ankle sprain retroactive to Thursday.

The injury crisis extended to established veterans and key prospects alike, forcing significant roster shuffling. Detroit's Justin Verlander saw his highly anticipated season home debut cut short as he landed on the 15-day IL with hip inflammation, a blow to the Tigers' efforts. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers dealt a major blow when shortstop Mookie Betts was officially placed on the IL with a strained right oblique, following an exit from Saturday's game with lower back pain after only one inning. The Mets also faced setbacks, placing outfielder Juan Soto on the IL with a minor right calf strain, expecting him to miss two to three weeks, while the Cubs also placed starter Matthew Boyd on the 15-day IL with a left biceps strain.

Player Ejections, Warnings, and Milestones

Tensions flared on the field, leading to warnings and milestone achievements across the slate. Brewers catcher Willson Contreras issued a stern warning to the Milwaukee dugout after being struck by a pitch for the 24th time by the team on Monday, stating explicitly, "Next time they hit me again, I'm going to take one of them out". Separately, on the umpiring side, veteran official Ron Kulpa was diagnosed with a concussion after taking a blow to his mask, sidelining him for at least a week. On a more positive note for Cleveland fans, Jose Ramirez etched his name into franchise history by appearing in his 1,620th game, setting a new record for the most games played in Cleveland history.

Rallying performances and defensive heroics defined several weekend matchups. In San Diego, third baseman Manny Machado helped spark an eight-run comeback against the Red Sox by kicking aside a pickoff attempt, contributing to an 8-6 Padres victory on Sunday. Out in Anaheim, Jo Adell provided spectacular defense, robbing the Mariners of three potential home runs, including a ninth-inning crash into the right-field seats that preserved a narrow 1-0 Angels win. On the offensive side, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh broke a 10-game homer drought by hitting his first home run of the season against the two-time Cy Young contender, though his team still fell short.

Off-Field Issues & Team Updates

Off-field matters dominated headlines as the league grapples with systemic failures and administrative decisions. The tragic death of a teenager searching for a professional opportunity has intensified scrutiny on the current system, suggesting that Major League Baseball could be forced into an international draft to address widespread fraud and abuse within scouting pipelines, particularly in the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays finally returned home to Tropicana Field after 561 days following the extensive roof damage caused by Hurricane Milton, securing a victory over the Cubs in their long-awaited return.

Team honors and managerial frustrations also surfaced late in the period. The New York Mets announced plans to retire Carlos Beltrán's No. 15 jersey, inducting him into the team's hall of fame before the September 19th home game against the Phillies. Conversely, first-year San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello received his first career ejection during Sunday’s 5-2 loss to the Mets, marking the team's third consecutive defeat and signaling mounting frustration among the 3-7 Giants. Furthermore, the Marlins utilized reliever Pete Fairbanks in a rare starting role Sunday to accommodate his paternity leave, allowing the 32-year-old closer to witness the birth of his child after throwing just 27 pitches in the first inning.

Roster Moves & Prospect Security

Roster adjustments continued apace as teams managed their injured players and secured future talent. The Yankees’ Saturday night 9-7 victory over the Marlins became the longest nine-inning game of the pitch clock era, clocking in at 3 hours and 49 minutes. In prospect news, 20-year-old Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson, recently signed to an eight-year, $95 million contract extension, was listed as day-to-day Sunday after negative X-rays were returned following fouling a ball off his foot. In Milwaukee, prospect Cooper Pratt indicated that securing a long-term minor league contract has provided substantial financial security, relieving competitive pressure as he strives for the majors, while the team also embraced a new mascot, adopting a "rally tortoise" after local reports led to manager Pat Murphy banning his previous "pocket pancakes" tradition.

Cincinnati's rookie Rhett Lowder continues to impress with exceptional early performance metrics, as his career earned run average dipped to an astonishing 1.30 through his first eight starts, the lowest mark for a Reds pitcher dating back to 1913. The Blue Jays bolstered their bullpen depth by selecting right-hander Austin Voth and lefty Joe Mantiply to their major league roster on Sunday. For fantasy managers, available players on the waiver wire offer varying degrees of immediate value, as some preseason favorites have translated their promise into tangible real-world results.