MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: April 18, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

MLB Injury Updates & Roster Moves

The wave of injuries continued across the league, hitting several contenders hard over the last three days. The San Francisco Giants sustained a major blow when veteran reliever Jose Butto underwent arm surgery Friday, an operation expected to sideline him for five to six months. Meanwhile, the New York Mets are navigating a rough patch, placing struggling designated hitter Jorge Polanco on the 10-day injured list due to a right wrist contusion, shortly after learning utility man Jared Young will miss six to eight weeks with a torn meniscus in his left knee. Further complicating the NL East picture, the Chicago Cubs placed closer Daniel Palencia on the 15-day IL with a left oblique strain, while starter Cade Horton underwent his second Tommy John surgery.

The Miami Marlins battled their own physical setbacks, as third baseman Graham Pauley exited Friday's game with right oblique discomfort, though the team prepared for positive news by planning to activate All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers on Sunday following a stint on the IL due to a hamstring strain. In other roster adjustments, the Seattle Mariners brought back infielder/outfielder Rob Refsnyder from the paternity list while sending outfielder Patrick Wisdom to the 10-day IL. The Colorado Rockies also saw movement, placing left-hander Kyle Freeland on the 15-day IL with throwing shoulder inflammation, contrasting with the Cincinnati Reds' relative relief that closer Emilio Pagan "dodged" a serious hamstring injury after Tuesday's contest.

Team Performance & Managerial Issues

Early season struggles prompted firm backing from management in Queens, as Mets president David Stearns publicly supported manager Carlos Mendoza despite the club plummeting to a nine-game losing streak. This difficult stretch followed Shohei Ohtani's dominant pitching performance Wednesday, where he channeled his focus into an eight-inning outing featuring ten strikeouts in an 8-2 victory over the Mets, while intentionally skipping his scheduled batting practice. On the field, the Kansas City Royals endured an early outburst Saturday when manager Matt Quatraro was ejected in the first inning after fiercely arguing umpire calls during the contest against the Yankees.

Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres extended their impressive run to seven victories, capped by Jackson Merrill's heroic performance where he robbed Julio Rodriguez of a potential home run before smashing a walk-off, two-run double. However, the Padres also face injury concerns, as Nick Pivetta is projected to miss "weeks and maybe months" after an MRI revealed a flexor strain in his right elbow. Elsewhere, the New York Yankees secured a narrow 4-2 win over the Rockies on Friday, thanks to Ryan McMahon, who went from the batting cage to delivering the go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning after entering as a defensive replacement.

League Milestones & Off-Field Developments

Major League Baseball dedicated Wednesday to honoring the legacy of Jackie Robinson, with all players, coaches, and umpires donning his No. 42 for the 79th anniversary of the color barrier being broken. This solemn occasion was briefly marred by an incident in Chicago where a singer leading festivities before the White Sox-Rays game suddenly collapsed and required hospitalization. In transactional news, the Los Angeles Dodgers finalized a trade Thursday, acquiring righty Chayce McDermott from the Orioles in exchange for right-hander Axel Perez.

The San Diego Padres are reportedly poised to finalize a sale that would set an MLB record, with sources confirming the franchise is nearing an agreement valued at an unprecedented $3.9 billion. This massive valuation comes as the Los Angeles Dodgers themselves set a spending benchmark for the 2025 season, reporting a combined payroll and luxury tax burden that surpassed $515 million last year. Off the field, the Major League Baseball Players Association took disciplinary action, firing two top executives with cause following an internal investigation.

Weather Delays & Prospect Watch

The start of the Rockies' homestand was hampered by extreme weather, as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies were met with three inches of snow at Coors Field on Thursday, leading to a frigid beginning for their four-game set. Furthermore, the unusual weather brought security concerns, as a spate of unauthorized drone sightings over the stadium during the initial homestand forced local law enforcement to scramble to locate the operators.

In player development news, the Pittsburgh Pirates are taking note of the maturity displayed by Konnor Griffin, currently the youngest player in MLB, who is earning high praise from teammates as the team focuses on its future. The Cleveland Guardians narrowly held onto a 4-2 victory over the Orioles on Friday, after rookie Parker Messick had his bid for the first no-hitter of the season broken up in the ninth inning. Finally, the Chicago White Sox continued to inject youth into their roster, calling up top prospect Sam Antonacci from Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday. The league also mourned the loss of former Angels All-Star MVP Garret Anderson, who passed away Thursday at the age of 53.