MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: April 7, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Pitching Injuries & Durability Concerns

The slate of games over the past few days brought significant injury setbacks for several high-profile pitchers, raising immediate concerns for playoff aspirations. Texas Rangers ace Jacob de Grom managed only five innings and 78 pitches in Monday’s victory after feeling discomfort in his right knee, describing the joint as "tender" ahead of his outing. Compounding the high-end attrition, three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer was forced to exit the Blue Jays' 14-2 defeat against the Dodgers due to right forearm tendinitis, adding another veteran arm to the medical tent. Further impacting rotations, the Houston Astros placed their ace Hunter Brown on the 15-day injured list, citing a strain in his pitching shoulder, while the Detroit Tigers shelved veteran Justin Verlander with hip inflammation, delaying his highly anticipated season home debut.

The injury bug also hit the Chicago Cubs hard, as they placed starting pitcher Cade Horton on the 15-day IL to return to Chicago for right arm evaluations, marking the second Cubs starter sidelined after left-hander Matthew Boyd landed on the 15-day IL with a left biceps strain. In Cincinnati, rookie Rhett Lowder continues to defy expectations, however, as he lowered his career earned run average to 1.30, establishing the lowest mark for any Reds pitcher through eight starts since 1913, offering a bright spot amid the pitching turmoil. Meanwhile, on the West Coast, umpire Ron Kulpa must also take time off after sustaining a concussion from a ball striking his mask, resulting in a mandatory sidelining of at least one week, impacting game management.

Position Player Injuries & On-Field Incidents

Star power was diminished across multiple contests as position players faced their own injury woes and confrontations. Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts exited Saturday’s contest in the first inning due to right lower back pain, and the team subsequently confirmed his placement on the injured list Sunday with a strained right oblique. In Anaheim, Angels center fielder Mike Trout was forced from Sunday's 8-7 win after being struck on the left hand by a pitch in the eighth inning, though manager Kurt Suzuki offered no immediate prognosis. The rash of hit-by-pitches also led to on-field tensions, as Brewers catcher Willson Contreras issued a stark warning following Monday’s game, stating that if Milwaukee pitches inside on him again, he would retaliate by removing one of their players from the game; Contreras had already endured his 24th career hit-by-pitch from the Brewers.

The injury list expanded further with the White Sox placing outfielder Everson Pereira on the 10-day IL due to a left ankle sprain sustained last week, and the Mets sidelined left fielder Juan Soto for an expected two to three weeks after he suffered a minor right calf strain running the bases Friday. On a positive note for Seattle, catcher Cal Raleigh, who led the majors with 60 homers last season, finally broke his early-season slump by hitting his first home run of the year Monday after going hitless through his first 10 games.

Franchise Milestones & Off-Field Matters

While injuries dominated headlines, several players marked personal milestones, and organizational matters moved forward. Cleveland's Jose Ramirez officially became the franchise leader for games played on Monday night, surpassing the previous record with his 1,620th appearance since joining the organization. In Queens, the Mets organization announced plans to retire Carlos Beltrán's No. 15 jersey, scheduling the ceremony for September 19 before the home game against the Phillies, when he will also enter the team’s hall of fame. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays celebrated a long-awaited return home, securing a victory over the Cubs on Monday in their first game back at Tropicana Field in 561 days following the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Milton.

Beyond the box scores, the specter of international player acquisition remains a major point of contention for the league. The increasing desperation to scout and sign Dominican baseball talent has brought systemic failures into sharp focus, exemplified by the recent tragic death of a teenager, leading to renewed calls that Major League Baseball must implement an international draft to address widespread fraud, abuse, and broken promises within the current unregulated system.

Game Action & Managerial Discipline

On the field, the weekend featured dramatic finishes and displays of frustration. San Diego third baseman Manny Machado created a crucial run-scoring opportunity Sunday by kicking aside a pickoff attempt, helping the Padres rally from a four-run deficit to defeat the Red Sox 8-6. In a game that lasted 3 hours and 49 minutes Saturday night, the New York Yankees secured their longest victory since the institution of the pitch clock, beating the Marlins 9-7 according to Elias Sports data. Managerial discipline was swiftly applied in San Francisco, where first-year manager Tony Vitello, 47, was ejected for the first time in his big-league tenure during the Giants' 5-2 Sunday loss to the Mets, marking the team's third consecutive defeat. Furthermore, the Miami Marlins executed an unusual strategy Sunday, giving reliever Pete Fairbanks, 32, a rare start to allow him to attend the birth of his child, with Fairbanks throwing 27 pitches in the first inning before exiting. Finally, the Milwaukee Brewers, embracing team oddities, have adopted a "rally tortoise" mascot after manager Pat Murphy's preferred "pocket pancakes" were banned by a local reporter.