MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: April 21, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

NL East Injury & Incident Report

The Braves confirmed negative X-rays for superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. after he was plunked twice by the Nationals, though the reigning MVP remains day-to-day heading into the week. Meanwhile, the division's pace-setters, the Dodgers, lost key reliever Edwin Diaz to surgery for loose bodies in his right elbow, an operation expected to sideline him for several months. In team management news, Cubs manager Craig Counsell publicly labeled the MLB rule enabling the Dodgers to roster 14 pitchers because of Shohei Ohtani as "bizarre," suggesting roster construction flexibility remains a point of contention league-wide Counsell called Ohtani rule bizarre.

AL Teams Navigate Travel & Personnel Shifts

Logistical issues plagued the Toronto Blue Jays, who were forced to bus from Phoenix to Orange County late Sunday after a mechanical failure grounded their charter flight, disrupting their travel schedule. In contrast, the Texas Rangers dealt with an in-game setback when starter Sonny Gray exited Monday's Patriots' Day game against the Tigers in the third inning due to right hamstring tightness. The St. Louis Cardinals also saw their rotation suffer a blow, as right-hander Mick Abel was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Twins due to right elbow inflammation Twins sidelined Abel with inflammation.

Injury Carousel Continues Across Both Leagues

The injury bug continued to bite several contenders, necessitating multiple roster moves across the circuit. The Seattle Mariners moved Brendan Donovan to the 10-day IL with a left groin strain, retroactive to Saturday, while the Houston Astros also made a corresponding move, placing outfielder Joey Loperfido on the 10-day IL with a right quad strain Astros lost Loperfido to quad strain. The National League East saw the Philadelphia Phillies designate closer Jhoan Duran for the 15-day injured list with a strained left oblique Phillies starter Duran shelved with oblique strain, and the New York Mets added struggling DH Jorge Polanco to the 10-day IL due to a sore right wrist Mets placed Polanco on IL.

Diamondbacks See Mixed Injury News & Activated Players

Arizona's Diamondbacks experienced both caution and cause for celebration regarding their walking wounded over the weekend. Outfielder Corbin Carroll exited Sunday's contest versus the Blue Jays due to low back tightness, although manager Torey Lovullo expressed confidence that the issue was not serious Carroll exited game with tightness. However, the team simultaneously activated Lourdes Gurriel Jr. from the injured list, marking his return less than eight months after suffering a torn right ACL, a swift recovery for the outfielder Gurriel Jr. activated after ACL tear.

Off-Field Drama & Personal Moments

Away from the diamond action, the New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox rivalry provided some off-field tension, as Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler disclosed that he and his family had received threats ahead of his scheduled start at Fenway Park, though he maintained excitement for his debut there Yankees pitcher received threats. In more positive personal news, Kansas City Royals catcher Austin Hedges celebrated a major milestone after the team’s victory when he became engaged on the field following his contribution to the scoring effort. Meanwhile, Royals manager Matt Quatraro navigated internal communication issues after a prior social media post by catcher Salvador Perez, confirming that the two had "cleared the air" regarding the catcher seeking a "mental breather" Perez & Quatraro cleared air, following Quatraro’s ejection from Saturday’s game for arguing with umpires Quatraro ejected arguing calls.

Roster Moves & Trade Speculation

Teams continued to shuffle personnel ahead of the busy summer months, with the Los Angeles Dodgers placing first baseman Freddie Freeman on the paternity list Sunday, recalling prospect Ryan Ward in his stead Dodgers shuffled roster for Ward. The Miami Marlins prepared for the season debut of All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers, who was set to be activated Sunday after recovering from a hamstring strain Marlins activated Stowers Sunday. speculation about potential mid-season adjustments is already circulating, with analysts identifying the top player most likely to be traded for every one of the 30 MLB franchises, including various prospects and established major leaguers who might be available by August Trade candidates for all 30 teams analyzed. For fantasy managers seeking immediate help, the Twins and Astros were flagged as prime sources for claiming available starting pitching talent off the waiver wire Waiver wire pitching targets identified.