MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: May 23, 2026, 2:48 PM ET

Return from the Recliner

The past three days produced some of the most compelling performances of the season, with multiple stars re-entering the lineup and delivering immediately. Yankees ace Gerrit Cole tossed six shutout innings on Friday in his first start since elbow ligament reconstruction that forced a 569-day absence, giving New York a dominant pitching performance at a critical juncture. Across the country, Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff home run and pitched five scoreless innings in the Dodgers' win over the Padres, marking a rare two-way showcase from baseball's transcendent talent. The Guardians also received a timely boost when Kyle Manzardo launched a pinch-hit homer in the ninth to lift Gavin Williams' eight-inning, 11-strikeout gem to a 1-0 victory over Philadelphia. Jackson Holliday added to the weekend's highlight reel with a 337-foot shot that sneaked under the left-field foul pole, driving in two runs in the Diamondbacks' 7-4 win over Detroit. Cincinnati welcomed back designated hitter Eugenio Suárez from the injured list on Friday, though the Reds' offense has struggled to generate consistent production.

Injury Updates and Roster Shuffling

Injury news dominated the front pages from New York to Arizona. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. exited the Diamondbacks' game Friday with left hamstring tightness after making a sliding catch, raising immediate concerns about his availability. Max Muncy left the Dodgers' game against Milwaukee after a pitch struck his right wrist in the eighth inning, while Ronald Acuna Jr. was pulled from Thursday's game with left thumb pain as a precaution. The Athletics sustained a double blow when Denzel Clarke suffered a significant left hamstring strain and will miss at least until after the All-Star break, and outfielder Gunnar Hoglund underwent hip surgery and is out for the entire 2025 season after posting a 6.40 ERA in six starts as a rookie. On the positive side, Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham received reassuring news that tests showed no structural damage to his left knee a day after he exited in the fifth inning, and shortstop José Caballero was activated off the injured list with a broken finger, with Anthony Volpe expected to see some reps at second base.

The Cubs continued a wave of roster adjustments. Manager Craig Counsell sit Peter Crow-Armstrong in the leadoff spot for Saturday's game against the Astros while giving Ian Happ the day off, a move that followed Crow-Armstrong calling his recent errors "genuinely laughable" after allowing a ball to scoot under his glove in Wednesday's 5-0 loss to Milwaukee. Matt Shaw was placed on the injured list with back tightness and infielder Pedro Ramirez was called up after hitting .312 with nine home runs in Triple-A. Edward Cabrera exited Wednesday's start against the Brewers in the top of the fourth inning with a blister on his right middle finger. The Angels optioned Josh Lowe to Triple-A and placed third baseman Yoán Moncada on the 10-day injured list with right knee inflammation, while the Mets designated 37-year-old reliever Craig Kimbrel for assignment after 14 appearances and began Kodai Senga's rehab assignment in the minors.

Pitching and Power Rankings

Pitching storylines intensified across the league. The Toronto Blue Jays edged the Yankees 2-1 on Wednesday night after Trey Yesavage outpitched Cam Schlittler in a marquee matchup between young aces, while José Berríos underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Wednesday, sidelining the veteran starter well into the 2027 season. Mariners prospect Jose Zerpa was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for Stanozolol under baseball's minor league drug program. Philadelphia slugger Kyle Schwarber returned to the lineup as designated hitter batting second after sitting out three games with a gastrointestinal illness. The updated top 50 prospect rankings featured a major shake-up at the top as baseball's next wave of stars continues to reshape draft boards. MLB Power Rankings showed significant movement in Week 8, with several playoff hopefuls reaching the highest rankings in years.

Front Office and Futures

The Athletics' $2 billion domed stadium project remains on schedule to open before the 2028 season as the lower bowl takes shape on the Las Vegas Strip. Marlins prospect Robby Snelling will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery after his major league debut was cut short by a ULC injury, while Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford said he recently discussed playing third base with manager Dan Wilson after rookie Colt Emerson was promoted from Triple-A Tacoma. Tristan Cockcroft urged fantasy owners to target Seattle trades amid the team's underperformance, and Marlins hitters experimented with extreme measures including borrowed pants from Giancarlo Stanton in an effort to break a slump. Meanwhile, the A's continued to struggle at the major league level with multiple injuries compounding roster depth issues.