MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: April 20, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Player Transactions & Injuries

The injury bug continued to bite across the league over the weekend, forcing several key roster moves, most notably in the pitching corps. The Philadelphia Phillies placed closer Duran on the 15-day IL due to a strained left oblique, while the San Francisco Giants starter Butto faces a five-to-six month recovery after undergoing arm surgery on Friday. Further compounding bullpen woes, the Cubs sidelined Daniel Palencia with an oblique strain and saw starter Cade Horton undergo his second career Tommy John surgery, while the Mets designated hitter Jorge Polanco landed on the 10-day IL with a sore wrist.

Roster shuffling continued across the diamond as teams adjusted to nagging issues. The Astros sidelined outfielder Loperfido on the 10-day IL with a right quadriceps strain, while the Marlins prepared to activate All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers for his season debut following a hamstring issue. In the infield, the Dodgers optioned veteran Freddie Freeman to the paternity list and summoned longtime prospect Ryan Ward, and the Mariners reinstated infielder Rob Refsnyder from the paternity list while sending outfielder Patrick Wisdom to the IL with a 10-day designation.

Major comebacks were also on the docket as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. made his return to the Diamondbacks lineup; the outfielder was activated less than eight months after tearing his ACL. Meanwhile, the Marlins experienced simultaneous discomfort, as third baseman Graham Pauley exited Friday’s contest early nursing right oblique tightness, though Arizona manager Torey Lovullo expressed confidence that Corbin Carroll’s departure Sunday due to back tightness was not a serious concern for the D-backs.

Team Dynamics & League News

Off-field drama briefly surfaced in Kansas City before being quickly resolved; Royals catcher Salvador Perez and manager Matt Quatraro publicly reaffirmed they were aligned after a social media post by Perez generated speculation over the weekend. This followed a tense Saturday for Quatraro, who was tossed from the first inning's contest against the Yankees after vehemently arguing with the umpiring crew. Elsewhere, the Mets are attempting to weather an early slump, with team president David Stearns publicly vouching for manager Carlos Mendoza despite the club currently sitting on a nine-game losing streak.

The league witnessed a sobering moment with the news of the passing of former Angels star Garret Anderson; the two-time All-Star and team Hall of Famer died at 53. On the business front, the San Diego Padres are reportedly nearing a sale that would set a new standard for franchise valuations, with sources indicating the deal is for a staggering $3.9 billion.

Weather continued to interfere with schedules in the Northeast and Rockies. Boston rescheduled Sunday’s game against Detroit to a 4:35 p.m. start after initial forecasts predicted heavy rain, following a 4-1 loss to the Tigers the previous afternoon. In Denver, the Dodgers and Rockies endured a frigid start to their series as an unexpected mid-April storm blanketed Coors Field with three inches of snow.

Waiver Wire & Trade Block Speculation

As the calendar progresses, front offices are beginning to assess needs, prompting speculation about which players might become available ahead of the trade deadline. For teams seeking pitching reinforcements, both the Minnesota Twins and Houston Astros boast attractive arms available on the waiver wire for fantasy managers looking to bolster immediate performance. Furthermore, across all 30 franchises, analysts have begun projecting the most likely candidate to be moved by August, ranging from established stars to necessary prospects for teams facing inevitable sell-offs.

Weekend Highlights

A peculiar offensive surge provided a late boost for the Yankees on Friday; Ryan McMahon, who had been practicing in the batting cage, was summoned as a defensive replacement and promptly launched a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning to secure a 4-2 victory. Meanwhile, Cleveland’s Austin Hedges enjoyed a personal milestone after contributing to a win, as he celebrated a post-game on-field engagement proposal.