MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: April 8, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

MLB Injury Report & Roster Moves

The injury bug continued to bite several contenders early this week, forcing multiple teams to utilize the 10-day injured list. The Cleveland Guardians sidelined infielder Gabriel Arias with a strained left hamstring Tuesday, promoting Juan Brito for his major league debut, while the Chicago White Sox lost outfielder Austin Hays to an identical right hamstring strain the same day. Further south, the Houston Astros placed ace Hunter Brown on the 15-day IL due to a shoulder strain, and the Los Angeles Dodgers lost shortstop Mookie Betts to a strained right oblique, creating immediate holes in their middle infields.

The injury woes extended to several starting pitchers across the league, dampening mid-week outlooks. Max Scherzer, the veteran right-hander for the Toronto Blue Jays, exited Monday's 14-2 loss with right forearm tendinitis, while Jacob de Grom needed to be limited to just 78 pitches across five innings in a Texas Rangers win due to noted discomfort in his right knee. Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs dealt another blow to their rotation, placing Cade Horton on the 15-day IL for further testing on his right arm, compounding the earlier placement of Matthew Boyd for a biceps strain.

Several other key players landed on the IL or exited games early following contact or strain incidents. The New York Mets confirmed outfielder Juan Soto would miss an estimated two to three weeks after suffering a minor right calf strain while running the bases on Friday. Furthermore, Mike Trout left the field Sunday after being struck by a pitch on his left hand during the Los Angeles Angels' victory over the Mariners, though manager Kurt Suzuki later indicated the injury was a contusion. In related news affecting game operation, umpire Ron Kulpa is expected to miss at least a week after sustaining a concussion from a hit to his mask.

Player Milestones & Off-Field Matters

As roster shuffling continued, a few players reached significant career milestones or made notable returns to the field. Jose Ramirez became the all-time leader for games played in Cleveland franchise history, surpassing the previous mark with his appearance on Monday night. The Tampa Bay Rays finally returned to Tropicana Field after 561 days of displacement due to Hurricane Milton damage, securing a victory over the Chicago Cubs in their long-awaited home opener. On a personal note for the Miami Marlins, reliever Pete Fairbanks made a rare start Sunday afternoon solely to allow him to travel home for the birth of his child, tossing 27 pitches in the first inning before heading out on paternity leave.

The New York Mets announced plans to honor franchise legend Carlos Beltrán, scheduling the retirement of his No. 15 jersey for September 19 before their home game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Elsewhere, the ongoing struggles in the Dominican Republic were brought into sharp focus, as reports detailed the tragic death of a teenager amid the search for the next elite prospect, leading to renewed calls for an international draft to address systemic failures in player development pathways in Latin America.

On-Field Drama & Standout Performances

Intense moments punctuated the weekend slate, including a direct confrontation involving Willson Contreras, who issued a stern warning to the Milwaukee Brewers after being plunked for the 24th time by the team on Monday, threatening retaliation if it occurred again. On the defensive side, Jo Adell put on a spectacular show for the Angels, robbing the Seattle Mariners of three home runs, including a dramatic ninth-inning grab into the right-field seats to preserve a tight 1-0 victory. Meanwhile, Manny Machado helped spur a Padres rally against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday by intentionally kicking aside a pickoff throw, contributing to San Diego overcoming a four-run deficit to win 8-6.

Pitching performances provided both record-setting highs and disappointing exits. Reds rookie Rhett Lowder continued his exceptional start, lowering his career earned run average to an incredibly low 1.30 through eight career starts, the best such mark for a Cincinnati Reds pitcher since 1913. Conversely, Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, who led the majors in home runs the previous year, finally broke his 10-game drought Monday by hitting his first homer of the season. In terms of game length, the New York Yankees' 9-7 Saturday victory over the Miami Marlins clocked in at 3 hours and 49 minutes, officially becoming the longest nine-inning contest played since the institution of the pitch clock in 2023.

Front Office & Prospect Updates

Front offices made adjustments amid the personnel churn, including the promotion of two arms by the Toronto Blue Jays as they selected right-hander Austin Voth and lefty Joe Mantiply to the major league roster on Sunday. While the Giants struggled to a 5-2 loss against the Mets, first-year manager Tony Vitello was ejected for the first time in his career during Sunday’s contest, reflecting mounting frustration with the team’s 3-7 record. Finally, the Mariners listed 20-year-old shortstop prospect Colt Emerson as day-to-day after he fouled a ball off his foot, though X-rays returned negative for the player who recently signed an eight-year, $95 million contract extension.