MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: July 3, 2026, 2:31 AM ET

Major League Baseball News Briefing

Injuries and Suspensions

The baseball world was hit with several injury and suspension updates over the past three days. Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez was removed from Thursday's game against the Angels after being struck in the back of the helmet by a thrown ball during a slide. In a more serious incident, Athletics prospect Ryan Lasko faces a "lengthy" recovery after breaking his back in a collision with a minor league teammate. The Athletics also announced that two-time All-Star Brent Rooker will undergo season-ending surgery for a torn cartilage in his left knee. Meanwhile, Giants third baseman Matt Chapman was placed on the injured list with a strained abdomen, and Rangers shortstop Corey Seager returned to the IL with lower back inflammation. On the suspension front, Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli and Red Sox catcher Willson Contreras each received seven-game bans for their roles in a Fenway Park brawl, with Miles Mikolas getting a five-game suspension for his involvement. Cavalli later apologized for his remarks to Contreras during the incident.

Player Milestones and Performances

Several players achieved notable milestones, while others delivered standout performances. Cubs slugger Dansby Swanson had a historic day, hitting three home runs and driving in eight runs in a 23-3 rout, including a grand slam that marked the most RBIs by a Cubs player since Sammy Sosa in 2002 Swanson had 8 RBIs. Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, just 22 years old, became the youngest player since at least 1900 to homer in six consecutive games. Caminero also committed to participating in the Home Run Derby, having previously homered in his fifth straight game Caminero homered again. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts became the fastest manager in MLB history to reach 1,000 career wins after Los Angeles defeated the Athletics. In a concerning sign for the Yankees, their losing streak reached seven games, its longest in three years, with a 6-2 loss to the Tigers Yankees drop 7th straight. Their offense struggled again in a 9-3 loss to the Tigers on Tuesday night, managing only four hits Yankees bats cold.

Team Standings and Projections

The Tampa Bay Rays climbed to the top of the AL Power Rankings, knocking the New York Yankees out of the top spot, while the Miami Marlins cracked the top 10 in Week 14 Rays, Marlins lead Florida. The Marlins also closed out June with their franchise-best 20th win of the month, crushing the Rockies 14-3 Marlins best month. the Dodgers are the favorites to win the 2026 World Series, with the Phillies and Brewers also showing strong form 2026 World Series odds. Fantasy baseball managers are advised to watch for potential trade candidates like Tarik Skubal, Luis Arraez, and Freddy Peralta as the trade deadline approaches Potential trade targets. Eric Karabell also offered insights for fantasy managers, discussing potential future developments such as Skubal's surge and the Rays' strong hitting lineup Fantasy baseball insights.

Off-Field Developments and League News

Beyond the diamond, several off-field stories and league-wide announcements emerged. Major League Baseball and the MLB Players' Association jointly donated $1 million to aid recovery efforts following devastating earthquakes in Venezuela MLB donates $1M. In a quirky financial note, the New York Mets continue their annual tradition of paying former player Bobby Bonilla $1.19 million on July 1st, despite him not having played for the team since 1999 Bobby Bonilla Day. MLB's attempt to trademark the phrase "Play Ball" was denied by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which deemed the phrase too common MLB trademark denied. Special July 4th uniforms and caps will be worn by all teams during games on Independence Day July 4th uniforms. The All-Star Futures Game roster was announced, featuring Nationals shortstop Eli Willits and 49 other top prospects Futures Game picks.

Team Transactions and Roster Moves

Teams made roster adjustments to address injuries and strategic needs. The Braves recalled infielder Jim Jarvis from Triple-A Gwinnett and designated first baseman Rowdy Tellez for assignment Braves roster moves. The Reds placed outfielder Dane Myers on the injured list with a bruised left shoulder and activated reliever Pagan Reds IL move. Yankees pitcher Max Fried took a step forward in his recovery from an elbow bone bruise, throwing about 30 pitches in a simulated game Fried in simulated game.

Player Safety and Game Incidents

A concerning incident occurred during the Guardians' game against the White Sox when rookie left fielder Cooper Ingle lost track of outs and threw a live ball into the stands, allowing the Rangers to score. In a separate incident, Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez was hit in the helmet by a thrown ball while sliding, leading to his removal from the game. The Guardians managed to secure a walk-off victory over the White Sox on Brayan Rocchio's ninth-inning homer Rocchio's walkoff HR.

Managerial Notes and Player Status

Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani will skip his scheduled pitching start on Wednesday against the Athletics to get extra rest, with his next start now set for Friday with Dalton Rushing catching him Ohtani pitching Friday. Mets owner Steve Cohen stated that he is not considering firing president of baseball operations David Stearns, despite the team's struggles. Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has declined an invitation to participate in the Home Run Derby Crow-Armstrong won't participate.

League-Wide Analysis

The Milwaukee Brewers honored longtime broadcaster Bob Uecker with a large mural in downtown Milwaukee Uecker honored with mural. The analysis of player performance continues, with a deep dive into the statistic Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and its significance in baseball WAR stat analysis. Fantasy baseball waiver wire suggestions include players from the Rockies, among others, for managers looking to make additions Fantasy waiver wire pickups. Prospect stock watch also pointed to potential risers, with a focus on Brewers prospects fantasy managers should monitor Prospect stock watch.