MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: May 17, 2026, 5:45 PM ET

Injuries & Roster Shuffling

A wave of medical absences rippled through multiple ballparks over the weekend. The Dodgers placed left-hander Jack Dreyer, 27, on the injured list with left shoulder discomfort while simultaneously acquiring left-hander Eric Lauer, 30, in a bullpen reshuffle that underscores how thin L.A. is becoming as the trade deadline approaches Dodgers acquire Lauer, place Dreyer on IL. Across the National League, Blake Snell is scheduled for elbow surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow on Tuesday, though the Dodgers remain optimistic he can return this season Snell surgery scheduled. The Mets' Clay Holmes said he most likely won't need surgery on his fractured right fibula, though he stopped short of ruling it out entirely, leaving New York further depleted in its high-stakes run Holmes surgery unlikely. The Rangers' Josh Smith was hospitalized with viral meningitis and is expected to miss at least a week, a blow to a Texas lineup already battling consistency Smith hospitalized with meningitis. The Mariners placed catcher Cal Raleigh on the 10-day IL with a right oblique strain, marking the first such stint of his six-year career just months after he finished as the AL MVP runner-up Raleigh placed on IL. The Blue Jays confirmed right-hander Jose Berrios will undergo elbow surgery on Wednesday, with a recovery timeline still unknown Berrios set for elbow surgery. And the Orioles' Jordan Westburg had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Wednesday, dooming him to miss the entire 2026 season Westburg out for 2026.

Mets & Yankees Faceoff

With the first Subway Series of the season on the horizon, the Mets and Yankees represent two starkly different philosophies heading into their matchup. New York entered the week under mounting pressure to end its championship drought, yet captain Aaron Judge maintained his sky-high expectations without flinching Judge keeps expectations high. The Mets, meanwhile, are navigating a roster in transition — Juan Soto returned to the lineup Thursday and homered to spark a win after an earlier injury scare Soto homers after injury scare, while Trevor Story was placed on the 10-day IL with a sports hernia and shortstop Nick Sogard was promoted in his place Story placed on IL. The Mets' Holmes injury adds another layer of uncertainty, and the team's front office is still weighing how much to invest in a reshaped roster against a Yankees team that is determined to run it back Mets-Yankees Subway Series preview.

Ohtani's Dual Threat

Shohei Ohtani continued to defy any narrative of decline, delivering a five-RBI night on Saturday with two hits, including a wild two-run triple that scored on a throwing error, in a 15-2 rout of the Angels Ohtani's 5-RBI night. Two days earlier, with his bat flat amid a prolonged slump, Ohtani took the mound and dominated the Giants, striking out eight in seven scoreless innings for a 4-0 victory Ohtani dominates on mound. The Dodgers' recent acquisition of Lauer Dodgers acquire Lauer further strengthens a rotation that still counts Snell among its arms despite the looming surgery, creating one of baseball's most versatile rosters heading into the second half.

Phillies Surge

The Phillies extended their hot stretch behind Kyle Schwarber, who smashed a pair of two-run homers to push his season total to 20 in a wild victory Schwarber hits 20th HR. Managerial continuity was also on display when Dusty Wathan took the helm on Saturday in place of Don Mattingly, who attended his son Trevor's graduation from Purdue, guiding Philadelphia to a 6-0 win over the Pirates Wathan fills in as manager. The bullpen adjustments have paid off: Eric Karabell flagged rising fantasy value for breakout arms like Pages and Vargas as the rotation stabilizes Fantasy breakout arms.

Stadium & Draft Buzz

On the business front, the Tampa Bay Rays and local officials announced a tentative $2.3 billion agreement for a new ballpark, funded by a mix of public and private capital that could reshape the franchise's long-term viability in the Sunshine State Rays tentative $2.3B stadium deal. Meanwhile, the July draft looms large, with ESPN's mock projecting an intriguing top pick and a deep conversation among front offices about whether to prioritize raw tools or on-field production MLB mock draft projections. Scouts are also debating whether college pitchers or prep-position players represent the better value at the top of the board, a question that will dominate draft-night analysis Draft prospect valuation debate.

Miscellaneous

Several other stories punctuated the week. Jose Altuve exited a 4-1 Astros win over the Rangers with soreness on his left side and will undergo an MRI on Sunday Altuve to have MRI. Umpire Brian O'Nora was struck by a foul ball in the fourth inning of Saturday's Cubs-White Sox game and left the field, while the White Sox confirmed that a fan who tumbled roughly 10 feet into the visiting bullpen at Guaranteed Rate Field appeared to be uninjured Umpire struck by foul ball. The Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski dominated the Padres for seven innings before leaving with a quadriceps cramp, the second time in three starts he has been forced off the mound by the issue Misiorowski exits with cramp. Corey Seager, the two-time World Series MVP, continued a brutal 0-for-27 slump and said he is trying to "figure it out" at the plate Seager in 0-for-27 slump. The Twins sent struggling right fielder Matt Wallner to Triple-A and promoted pitcher Zebby Matthews to start against the Marlins Wallner sent to minors. And in the minor leagues, the Pirates' rookie affiliate overwhelmed an Orioles affiliate 28-1 behind 18 hits and seven opponent errors Pirates affiliate wins 28-1.