MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: May 18, 2026, 5:54 AM ET

PHILLIES' RESURGENCE

The Philadelphia Phillies surged over .500 for the first time since April 7, improving to 24-23 behind interim manager Don Mattingly's remarkable 15-4 record since taking over. Kyle Schwarber powered the offense by smashing two two-run homers to boost his season total to 20 during Philadelphia's victory over Pittsburgh. Dusty Wathan made history as the fill-in manager for the team's 6-0 win when Mattingly attended his son Trevor's graduation from Purdue University, showcasing the organization's depth during their current hot streak.

DRAFT PROSPECTS & RANKINGS

MLB teams are finalizing draft boards with an intriguing decision potentially at the top of this July's draft, creating debates between tools versus production and college pitchers versus prep aces. The first 40 picks could shake out with various scenarios that could reshape franchise futures, while the MLB power rankings saw a new team claim the No. 1 spot in Week, replacing the Los Angeles Dodgers thanks to a red-hot offense that has propelled them to the top of the standings.

INJURY UPDATES

The injury list continued to grow across the league with Houston's Altuve headed to IL with a left oblique strain after he exited Sunday's game with soreness on his left side. The Dodgers placed Dreyer on IL with shoulder discomfort while also acquiring left-hander Eric Lauer, and added Blake Snell for surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. In Toronto, Jose Berrios set for elbow surgery on Wednesday, with a recovery timeline unknown until after the procedure, while Boston's Trevor Story went on IL with a sports hernia.

RECENT GAME HIGHLIGHTS

The Chicago White Sox took two of three from their crosstown rival thanks to Edgar Quero's walk-off home run in the 10th inning, which he revealed he had "visualized" the night before. New York's Mets swiped the Subway Series with two wins to close out their matchup with the Yankees, while Juan Soto homered Thursday after an injury scare for the injury-riddled Mets. In Los Angeles, Shohei Ohtani had a five-RBI night with two hits, including a wild two-run triple in which he scored following a throwing error, during the team's 15-2 victory over the Angels.

EMERGING TRENDS

A new trend emerged at Busch Stadium as dozens of shirtless fans, led by a college baseball team from Alton, Illinois, sparked back-to-back wins for the Cardinals, with the team officially endorsing the movement. Meanwhile, the Pirates rookie ball affiliate dominated with an 18-hit attack, taking advantage of seven errors to defeat an Orioles affiliate 28-1 in just seven innings, showcasing the depth of talent in the minor leagues.

RETURNING PITCHERS

Several pitchers are making progress toward returns from injuries. Gerrit Cole reached 99.6 mph in his likely penultimate injury rehabilitation start, throwing 86 pitches while showing velocity that suggests he's nearing a comeback to the Yankees' rotation. For fantasy managers, Eric Karabell provided insights into emerging players, suggesting Pages could become the best bat on the Dodgers while Vargas develops into a top hitter in the near future.

ROSTER MOVES & PROSPECTS

The Mariners called up top prospect Colt Emerson, the No. 6-ranked overall prospect, who made his major league debut in Sunday's loss to the Padres. In Pittsburgh, the Pirates activated Jake Mangum and placed Ryan O'Hearn on the 10-day IL with a strained quad. Texas Rangers second baseman Josh Smith hospitalized with meningitis and is expected to be hospitalized for at least a week to be treated for viral meningitis, creating a significant gap in the team's infield.

LABOR RELATIONS

The MLB and MLBPA met this week, with discussions focused on topics that will dominate the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations, including player compensation, service time, and competitive balance issues that could shape the league's future structure.

STADIUM DEVELOPMENTS

The Tampa Bay Rays reached a tentative deal for a new $2.3 billion ballpark in Tampa, funded by both public and private money, providing a potential long-term solution for the team's stadium situation and securing their future in the region.