MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: May 14, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

NL East Turmoil & League Leaders

The Atlanta Braves secured MLB's best record at 30-13 after rallying for three runs in the eighth inning to defeat the Cubs 4-1, continuing their dominant stretch fueled by the potent offense of veteran Matt Olson and reigning Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin. However, the division leader faces immediate hurdles as catcher Sean Murphy was placed on the IL with a fractured left middle finger, potentially sidelining him for eight weeks. Meanwhile, the injury woes continue to plague the New York Mets, who saw catcher Francisco Alvarez require surgery for a meniscus tear, sidelining him for six to eight weeks, though superstar Juan Soto returned from a foot scare to homer on Thursday after exiting Wednesday's game. The Mets' front office acknowledged a need to reevaluate their evaluation process for injury-prone free agents, as they also called up their No. 2 prospect, A.J. Ewing, to address the struggling offense.

Slumping Stars & Injury Report

Major offensive struggles are gripping several high-profile players, most acutely felt by Corey Seager, who is mired in an 0-for-27 slump, marking the worst stretch of his major league tenure as he seeks an immediate "figure it out" moment. Shohei Ohtani, suffering through his longest homerless drought as a Dodger, managed to break the slump with a home run on Thursday night, adding to a performance that also included a walk and a single, though he was robbed of another hit; this followed a Wednesday where he continued his mound dominance with seven scoreless innings and eight strikeouts in a 4-0 victory, while the team previously hoped time off would help him "reset". The injury bug also bit the American League West, as Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh landed on the 10-day injured list for the first time in his career due to a right oblique strain; Raleigh's IL stint follows a game where he finally ended a streak that was the longest in the majors this season, logging his first hit since April 27.

CBA Talks & Stadium Developments

Official collective bargaining talks commenced this week between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association, meeting Tuesday to begin negotiations roughly six months before the expiration of the current agreement, with industry observers anticipating discussions on issues like a potential salary cap. On the business side, the Tampa Bay Rays announced a tentative $2.3 billion agreement with local officials for a new ballpark in Tampa, utilizing a funding mix derived from both public and private sources. In other team personnel moves, former Dodgers outfielder Jason Heyward was hired as a special assistant in the baseball operations department less than two months after announcing his retirement as a player.

Pitching Performances & Roster Changes

Pitching highlights included Pirates ace Paul Skenes having his no-hit bid broken up in the seventh inning Tuesday by a single from Mickey Moniak, while Padres-bound starter Jacob Misiorowski exited another dominant outing after seven innings due to cramping in his right quadriceps, the second time in three starts he has departed with a physical issue. In Chicago, the White Sox confirmed that a fan who tumbled approximately 10 feet into the visiting bullpen during Wednesday's 6-5 victory over Kansas City appeared to be doing well following the incident, which briefly delayed the game. Roster shuffling saw the Minnesota Twins send struggling outfielder Matt Wallner to Triple-A while promoting right-handed pitcher Zebby Matthews to start Thursday, and the Cleveland Guardians completed a trade with the San Francisco Giants, acquiring an elite defensive catcher in a surprising swap.

American League Oddities & Player Returns

The American League standings present a "weird" state, prompting analysis of the Junior Circuit's current configuration, even as bullpen volatility continues to plague teams, making reliable closers scarce across the league. The Yankees saw ace Max Fried pulled from his Wednesday start after only three innings due to elbow soreness, prompting further testing, while shortstop José Caballero is being monitored for a sore right middle finger that may necessitate an IL trip. Conversely, the Yankees welcomed back Anthony Volpe from the minors on Tuesday, and the Milwaukee Brewers activated Christian Yelich, who had missed a month due to an adductor strain. Furthermore, the Texas Rangers were encouraged after Nathan Eovaldi threw a bullpen session Wednesday, feeling positive about his progress following a scratch from his start two days prior due to left side tightness.

Defensive Feats & Minor League Moves

In a rare defensive highlight, Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy recorded the first unassisted double play by an outfielder since 2015 during Wednesday's contest against the Pirates. The Pirates themselves made further adjustments, placing catcher Joey Bart on the 10-day IL with a foot infection, while the Marlins prospect Robby Snelling was also placed on the 15-day IL after suffering a UCL sprain in his left elbow immediately following his major league debut. Veteran reliever Liam Hendriks agreed to a minor league contract with the Cubs, providing the former closer an opportunity to work his way back to the majors, while the Oakland Athletics placed shortstop Jacob Wilson on the 10-day IL with a dislocated left shoulder.