MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: May 23, 2026, 5:59 AM ET

Returns & Comebacks

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole tossed six shutout innings in his first start since elbow ligament reconstruction, ending a 569-day absence that had cast doubt on his readiness for the rotation. His performance came the same night Shohei Ohtani delivered a superstar night against the Padres, launching a leadoff home run before pitching five scoreless innings in the Dodgers' victory. Across the American League, the Guardians' Kyle Manzardo slugged a pinch-hit homer in the ninth to cap Gavin Williams' dominant eight-inning performance, in which the young righty matched Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez with eight scoreless frames and 11 strikeouts. Jackson Holliday quietly hit a 337-foot two-run shot that sneaked just under the left-field foul pole in Baltimore's 7-4 win over the Tigers, his bat providing early consistency for the franchise in its rebuilding year.

Injuries and Roster Shakeups

The injury front remained busy as multiple teams adjusted lineups. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. left the Diamondbacks game with a tight left hamstring after making a sliding catch against Colorado, while Max Muncy exited the Dodgers-Brewers matchup with a bruised right wrist after being hit by a pitch in the eighth inning. On the Yankees side, Trent Grisham received reassuring news that his left knee had no structural damage following an MRI, and shortstop José Caballero was activated from the injured list with Anthony Volpe sliding into second base duties. The Phillies welcomed back Kyle Schwarber to the lineup after a three-game absence for gastrointestinal illness, the slugger batting second and designated hitter against Cleveland, while Philadelphia's early season power numbers have raised questions about a potential 60-homer season. The Reds activated Eugenio Suárez from the 10-day IL to bolster a struggling offense, and the Cubs called up Triple-A infielder Pedro Ramirez, who had been hitting .312 with nine home runs, after placing Matt Shaw on the injured list with back tightness. The Angels opted struggling left fielder Josh Lowe to Triple-A and placed Yoán Moncada on the 10-day IL with right knee inflammation, and the Mets designated 37-year-old reliever Craig Kimbrel for assignment after just 14 appearances.

Young Arms and Drug Policy

Two marquee pitching matchups highlighted the weekend's action. Trey Yesavage outdueled Cam Schlittler in a head-to-head showdown between young AL aces, lifting the Blue Jays past the Yankees 2-1 on Wednesday. Separately, Mariners minor leaguer Jose Zerpa was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for Stanozolol, the second PED suspension of the season affecting Seattle's organization. On the rehab front, Mets starter Kodai Senga made his first minor league rehab start as he works back from lower back pain, while the Marlins prospect Robby Snelling will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery after his major league debut. The Blue Jays suffered a bigger blow when José Berríos underwent full Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, sidelining the veteran starter well into the 2027 season. Athletics right-hander Gunnar Hoglund is out for the season following hip surgery after a rough rookie campaign in which he went 1-3 with a 6.40 ERA in six starts.

Prospects and Power Rankings

MLB's prospect landscape shifted with the updated top-50 rankings showing a shake-up at the top, while Week 8 power rankings reflected significant movement for playoff hopefuls. Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford signaled openness to moving to third base after rookie Colt Emerson was promoted from Triple-A Tacoma, a development that could reshape Seattle's infield. The Marlins have drawn attention for their unconventional approach to pitch calling and batting practice routines, earning a reputation as baseball's most experimental organization. Jake Chisholm's batting slump ended in an unusual way after borrowing pants from Giancarlo Stanton, who is seven inches and 61 pounds larger than Chisholm, a quirk that seemingly unlocked the shortstop's timing. ESPN analyst Tristan Cockcroft pointed to Seattle as a trade target for teams seeking help, suggesting the Mariners' underperformance has made their assets available at a discount.

League-Wide Context

Early data on baseball's automated ball-strike system is beginning to show its impact on calling patterns, giving umpires and front offices their first tangible evidence of how challenge decisions have shifted. The Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong called his recent errors "genuinely laughable" after botching routine plays in two straight games, including a ball that scooted under his glove in Wednesday's 5-0 loss to the Brewers. On the facilities front, the Athletics' $2 billion domed stadium in Las Vegas remains on track to open before the 2028 season, with the lower bowl taking shape on the Strip. Ronald Acuna Jr. left Thursday's game as a precaution with left thumb pain, a concern for the Braves' MVP-caliber lineup, while the Athletics' Denzel Clarke will miss at least until after the All-Star break with a significant left hamstring strain. Edward Cabrera exited his start against the Brewers in the fourth inning with a blister on his right middle finger, adding to Chicago's early pitching instability.