MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: April 13, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

MLB Injury Crisis Deepens Across the League

The mid-season injury bug bit numerous contenders hard over the weekend and into Monday, with several key players landing on the Injured List, forcing teams to scramble for immediate replacements. The Houston Astros continue to struggle, placing shortstop Jeremy Pena on the list following hamstring tightness—after he also reported knee tightness the night prior—and rookie starter Tatsuya Imai due to significant arm fatigue, with manager Joe Espada confirming "just not good news" on the young pitcher's status. Adding to the woes in Toronto, the Blue Jays acquired infielder Lenyn Sosa from the White Sox after outfielder George Springer fractured his left big toe in Saturday’s loss, an unfortunate blow considering Springer was already batting just .189. Baltimore also faced mounting setbacks, placing star catcher Adley Rutschman on the 10-day IL with ankle inflammation, only to follow that move by placing first baseman Ryan Mountcastle on the 60-day IL with a broken left foot, an injury that may necessitate surgery.

Pitching staffs faced similar attrition, particularly in the American League West, as the Padres saw RHP Nick Pivetta exit Sunday's win in the fourth inning due to elbow stiffness, while the Angels rookie George Klassen departed early against Cincinnati with a bruised nail on his pitching index finger. In the NL East, the Mets were rocked when reliever Clay Holmes left Friday’s game with left hamstring tightness, compounding issues for a team that subsequently called up veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel. Meanwhile, Philadelphia rookie Andrew Painter, who was scratched Sunday due to a migraine, managed to throw five innings in relief during the club's loss, demonstrating resilience amidst the spate of physical issues.

Roster Moves and Trade Activity

In response to the mounting injuries, several clubs executed roster adjustments, including the Orioles making a significant trade move after placing Mountcastle on the 60-day IL. Baltimore acquired 26-year-old first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand from the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, a player originally drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the fourth round in 2021. Elsewhere, the Cleveland Guardians bolstered their bullpen and outfield depth by activating right-handed reliever Hunter Gaddis and outfielder George Valera from the injured list on Monday. Conversely, the Yankees reversed a recent acquisition, returning 25-year-old right-hander Cade Winquest to the Cardinals three days after designating him for assignment.

The injury bug also forced the Minnesota Twins to place infielder Royce Lewis and RHP Cody Laweryson on the injured list, according to manager Derek Shelton. The Oakland Athletics saw their streak of consecutive games played snapped as outfielder Brent Rooker landed on the 10-day IL due to an oblique strain, ending his run at 213 games. In Milwaukee, the Brewers are awaiting further diagnosis after Christian Yelich exited Sunday's contest with tightness in his left hamstring, with the team reportedly expecting "bad news".

High-Profile Returns and Off-Field News

The New York Yankees are nearing a substantial return to health for their pitching corps, as ace Gerrit Cole and starter Carlos Rodón are both reportedly close to starting rehab assignments, offering a major boost to the rotation hopes. Furthermore, shortstop Anthony Volpe is also said to be nearing his own rehab assignment as the team manages personnel issues. In other notable personnel news, the Mets called up outfielder Tommy Pham on Monday as they attempt to halt a five-game slide, particularly with Juan Soto currently sidelined on the IL. Manager Carlos Mendoza also publicly addressed the uncharacteristic errors from shortstop Francisco Lindor, who committed his third miscue in two days during a blowout loss to Oakland.

Shohei Ohtani continued his historic season by extending his on-base streak to 44 games with a fifth-inning single, surpassing Ichiro Suzuki’s long-standing record for a Japanese-born player. On the business and media front, the highly anticipated collision between the Dodgers and Mets this week will feature baseball's most expensive series ever played, putting the massive spending power of those two franchises on full display. Finally, the league mourned the loss of Phil Garner, the three-time All-Star infielder who later managed the Astros to their first World Series appearance; Garner passed away at the age of 76.