MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: May 23, 2026, 11:42 PM ET

Injuries & Roster Moves

The injury bug continued to bite several contending teams over the weekend, with Houston's Yordan Alvarez exiting Saturday's game against Chicago in the sixth inning due to back spasms and expected to miss the series finale. Meanwhile, Arizona's Lourdes Gurriel Jr. left Friday's game with left hamstring tightness after making a sliding catch, compounding the Diamondbacks' offensive concerns. The Cubs placed Matt Shaw on the injured list due to back tightness and promoted infielder Pedro Ramirez from Triple-A, where he was hitting .312 with nine home runs. Across town, the Angels demoted struggling outfielder Josh Lowe to Salt Lake while placing Yoán Moncada on the 10-day IL for right knee inflammation.

Starting Pitcher Updates

Several rotation arms made headlines for contrasting reasons over the weekend. Washington's Jake Irvin delivered five hitless innings in a 2-0 shutout of Atlanta, earning his first victory in nearly two months despite feeling tightness on his final few pitches in the fifth. On the injury front, Toronto's José Berríos underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, sidelining the veteran starter well into the 2027 season. The Mets announced Kodai Senga will begin a rehab assignment on Friday as he works back from lower back pain, while Chicago's Edward Cabrera exited Wednesday's start against Milwaukee in the fourth inning with a blister on his right middle finger.

Veteran Returns & Debuts

New York's Gerrit Cole made a triumphant return from a 569-day absence, tossing six scoreless innings in his first start since undergoing elbow ligament reconstruction. The Yankees' José Caballero was activated off the injured list for Friday's game against Tampa Bay, with Anthony Volpe expected to see time at second base to add infield depth. In more uplifting news, St. Louis' Bryan Torres homered in his MLB debut at age, four years after considering retirement. Cincinnati activated Eugenio Suárez from the injured list, providing a needed boost to their struggling offense.

Power Hitting Performances

George Springer led off Toronto's 2-1 victory with his 65th career leadoff home run, sending Paul Skenes to consecutive losses for the first time this season. Shohei Ohtani returned to the lineup with a flourish, hitting a leadoff home run before pitching five scoreless innings in the Dodgers' win over San Diego. Jackson Holliday provided the offensive highlight in Baltimore's 7-4 win over Detroit, launching a two-run shot that traveled just 337 feet but sneaked over the wall and under the foul pole in left field.

Prospect Development & Suspensions

Seattle's organizational depth took a hit when Jose Zerpa was suspended 80 games following a positive test for Stanozolol under baseball's minor league drug program. The Marlins lost pitching prospect Robby Snelling to season-ending Tommy John surgery after his major league debut, representing a significant setback for Miami's farm system. On the positive side, Toronto's Trey Yesavage outdueled Cam Schlittler in a marquee pitching matchup, helping the Blue Jays edge the Yankees 2-1 in a battle between young AL aces.

Lineup Adjustments & Strategy

Chicago's Pete Crow-Armstrong moved into the leadoff spot for Saturday's game against Houston as the Cubs gave struggling left fielder Ian Happ the day off. Crow-Armstrong later addressed defensive miscues as "genuinely laughable" after allowing balls to scoot under his glove in recent games. Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber returned to the lineup after missing three games with a gastrointestinal illness, batting second as the designated hitter. The Mariners explored position flexibility as J.P. Crawford discussed potentially moving to third base following Colt Emerson's promotion from Triple-A Tacoma.

Ballpark Development

The Athletics' Las Vegas stadium project remains on track for a 2028 opening, with officials confirming the $2 billion domed facility on the Las Vegas Strip is progressing according to schedule. The lower bowl construction continues to take shape as Oakland prepares for what will be their third city since arriving in 1968.

Prospect Rankings & Innovation

ESPN's updated top 50 prospect rankings featured a shake-up at the top, highlighting baseball's next wave of talent as teams evaluate their developmental pipelines. Miami's approach has drawn attention for unconventional methods including calling pitches from the dugout and radically rethinking batting practice routines, though critics question whether these innovations translate to wins.

Designated For Assignment

The Mets designated veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel for assignment after just 14 appearances, ending the 37-year-old's brief tenure with the club. Kimbrel posted a 6.75 ERA over 12 innings before the mutual decision to part ways, marking another chapter in his well-traveled career.

Injury Recovery Updates

New York's Trent Grisham avoided structural knee damage after exiting Thursday's game, providing relief to a Yankees team already managing multiple injuries. However, Oakland's Denzel Clarke suffered a significant left hamstring strain and will miss at least until after the All-Star break in July, dealing a blow to the Athletics' outfield depth. Los Angeles' Max Muncy left Friday's game after a pitch struck him around his right wrist in the eighth inning, creating uncertainty for the Dodgers' infield alignment.