MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: April 13, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

MLB Injury Report: Pitchers & Position Players Suffer Setbacks

A significant wave of injuries swept through Major League Baseball over the weekend, impacting contenders across the league and forcing several teams to raid their minor league systems for replacements. The Padres forced starter Nick Pivetta from his Sunday outing in the fourth inning due to stiffness in his pitching elbow during a 7-2 victory over Colorado, while the Astros starter Cody Bolton exited early in the second inning of their 6-1 defeat against the Mariners with mid-back tightness. Adding to the pitching woes, Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland was scratched mid-game due to soreness in his pitching shoulder, and Nationals reliever Ken Waldichuk sustained an arm injury while throwing in the seventh inning of an 8-6 win.

The injury bug also bit several key position players, particularly in the American League East and Central divisions. The Baltimore Orioles lost first baseman Ryan Mountcastle to a broken fourth metatarsal bone in his left foot, necessitating an IL stint, while teammate Adley Rutschman was previously placed on the 10-day IL with left ankle inflammation. Meanwhile, the struggling New York Mets, entering a five-game losing skid, confirmed they would call up outfielder Tommy Pham just as shortstop Francisco Lindor committed his third defensive miscue in two days. Furthermore, Brewers star Christian Yelich exited Sunday's contest with left hamstring tightness, leading the team to anticipate "bad news" regarding his status.

Several contenders faced further roster attrition, with multiple teams announcing IL placements before Sunday's games. The Astros placed two players on the IL Friday, sidelining right-hander Cristian Javier (shoulder) for 15 days and outfielder Jake Meyers (oblique) for 10 days, following shortstop Jeremy Pena exiting Saturday's game with knee tightness ahead of his imaging. The Orioles continued their injury woes by placing catcher Rutschman on the IL, while the Twins also shuffled two players to the injured list, sending infielder Royce Lewis and right-hander Cody Laweryson down. In Chicago, the Athletics saw their outfielder Brent Rooker hit the 10-day IL with an oblique strain, ending his 213-game streak.

Pitching news remained grim across the board, with one team dealing with immediate departures and another managing chronic issues. The Angels rookie right-hander George Klassen departed Saturday's start in the third inning due to a bruised nail on his right index finger, and the Blue Jays lost George Springer to a fractured left big toe during their 7-4 Saturday loss. In more concerning long-term news, Phillies rookie Andrew Painter, initially scratched Sunday due to a migraine, managed to throw five innings in relief in the club's 4-3 defeat, while former Orioles pitcher Zach Eflin, who underwent Tommy John surgery recently, is now setting his sights on a 2027 return.

Roster Moves & Player Milestones

Amid the injury chaos, teams made corresponding moves to fill roster spots, including the Mets bringing up a veteran arm and the Cubs activating a returning starter. The New York Mets called up reliever Craig Kimbrel and designated left-hander Richard Lovelady for assignment to adjust their 26-man roster, while Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows was confirmed to have suffered both a broken left arm and a concussion following a collision with a teammate. On a positive note for Chicago, outfielder Seiya Suzuki was activated from the IL and slotted into the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Pirates after missing time with a sprained knee.

Shohei Ohtani achieved a significant milestone while playing for the Dodgers, extending his on-base streak to 44 games with a fifth-inning single, surpassing Ichiro Suzuki’s record for a Japanese-born player. In franchise news, the Dodgers secured an exciting victory powered by Max Muncy, who crushed three home runs, capping the night with an 8-7 walk-off solo shot in the ninth inning against the Rangers. The league also saw a somber moment with the passing of Phil Garner, a three-time All-Star and former Astros manager, who died at age 76 after leading Houston to its first World Series appearance.

Off-Field Developments & League Business

Off-field discussions centered on franchise stability and league demographics, with Kansas City officials proposing a $600 million bond issuance to finance a new stadium aimed at retaining the Royals. In player representation news, Major League Baseball reported that the percentage of Black players on Opening Day rosters increased for the second consecutive year, marking the first time that has occurred in at least two decades. Meanwhile, the league is preparing for new Sunday broadcasts, as the Zac Brown Band will feature in the opening segment for NBC’s Sunday night coverage.

Other administrative and sentimental announcements included the White Sox answering fan demand by planning to distribute pope-themed hats at an August 11 game, and the Yankees designating pitcher Cade Winquest without him having played a single game for the club. The Seattle Mariners unveiled a statue of Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki on Friday, though the ceremony was briefly marred when a bat in the presentation broke. In historical reflection, the league recognized the 50th anniversary of the first free agent contract, prompting a ranking of the 8,340 deals signed over the past half-century.