MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: April 13, 2026, 5:31 AM ET

MLB Injury Epidemic Continues

The league continues to grapple with an escalating number of player absences, with several key figures heading to the injured list over the weekend. The Baltimore Orioles sustained multiple blows, placing first baseman Ryan Mountcastle on the IL after confirming he suffered a broken fourth metatarsal bone in his left foot, compounding losses that already included catcher Adley Rutschman, who landed on the 10-day IL with left ankle inflammation before Saturday's game. In the AL Central, the Minnesota Twins also saw two players depart, placing infielder Royce Lewis and right-hander Cody Laweryson on the shelf, while the Oakland Athletics saw their everyday streak end, as Brent Rooker landed on the 10-day IL due to an oblique strain, halting his 213-game run.

Pitching staffs across the league faced immediate setbacks, exemplified by the San Diego Padres losing starter Nick Pivetta in the fourth inning of Sunday's 7-2 victory over Colorado due to stiffness in his elbow, while Houston Astros starter Cody Bolton exited his second inning of work Sunday with mid-back tightness during a 6-1 defeat to the Mariners forcing further rotation concerns. The Astros were further troubled when shortstop Jeremy Pena left Saturday’s 8-7 loss with right knee tightness and was scheduled for imaging, leading manager Joe Espada to state that rookie Tatsuya Imai returning to Houston for examination due to arm fatigue was "just not good news" indicating extensive pitching woes. The injury parade extended to Philadelphia, where rookie Andrew Painter, initially scratched Sunday due to a migraine, managed to throw five innings in relief during the club's 4-3 loss to Arizona demonstrating unexpected resilience.

The National League East proved particularly volatile, as the slumping New York Mets called up outfielder Tommy Pham to inject offense while enduring a five-game skid, even as Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor recorded his third fielding miscue in two days during an 11-6 loss to the A’s, prompting manager Carlos Mendoza to call the lapses "hard to explain" exposing organizational instability. Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals saw reliever Ken Waldichuk exit Sunday’s 8-7 win over Milwaukee after hurting his arm throwing a pitch in the seventh, and the Milwaukee Brewers suffered a significant blow when Christian Yelich departed their contest with tightness in his left hamstring, leading to expectations of "bad news" further challenging their playoff hopes. Adding to the attrition, the Detroit Tigers confirmed Parker Meadows suffered a broken bone in his left arm and a concussion following an outfield collision with teammate Riley Greene.

Offensive Notes & Roster Moves

In Los Angeles, Max Muncy provided a singular offensive highlight, blasting three home runs, including a game-winning, two-out solo shot in the ninth inning to propel the Dodgers past the Rangers 8-7. Shohei Ohtani continued his historic run, extending his personal on-base streak to 44 games with a fifth-inning single, thereby surpassing Ichiro Suzuki’s long-standing record for a Japanese-born player setting a new benchmark for consistency. On the transactional front, the Mets sought immediate relief by calling up veteran closer Craig Kimbrel and designating left-hander Richard Lovelady for assignment to manage their 26-man roster as they attempt to stabilize the bullpen. The Chicago White Sox responded to fan enthusiasm by announcing they would distribute pope-themed hats to attendees at their August 11 game following a viral promotion answering direct calls for unique stadium giveaways.

League Developments & Tributes

Major League Baseball released data Friday showing that the percentage of Black players on Opening Day rosters increased for the second consecutive year, marking the first such consecutive rise in over two decades. The league also mourned the passing of Phil Garner, a three-time All-Star infielder who later managed the Astros to their inaugural World Series appearance; he died at the age of 76. In Seattle, a ceremony unveiling a statue of Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki at T-Mobile Park was marred by a minor mishap when a bat on the statue broke during the unveiling. Furthermore, in non-playing news, Kansas City officials are actively pursuing a proposal that would involve issuing $600 million in municipal bonds to fund a new stadium for the Royals franchise.