MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: July 3, 2026, 11:33 AM ET

National League Standings & MVP Race

The Tampa Bay Rays have surged to the top of the American League Power Rankings, knocking the New York Yankees out of the top spot. This ascent is fueled in part by the continued success of Junior Caminero, who homered in his sixth straight game, becoming the youngest player since at least 1900 to achieve this feat. Caminero has also committed to participating in the All-Star Home Run Derby in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins cracked the top 10 in Week, capping off their best month in franchise history with a dominant 14-3 victory over the Rockies, featuring three-run homers from Javier Sanoja and Owen Caissie and a two-run shot by Joe Mack. On the National League MVP watch, Shohei Ohtani is a contender for the Dodgers. Ohtani's pitching start on Friday against the Padres will see Dalton Rushing catching him as he makes his start. However, Ohtani's scheduled start on Wednesday against the Athletics was moved to Friday to allow for additional rest according to manager Dave Roberts.

Player Performance & Injuries

Dansby Swanson had a historic offensive outburst for the Cubs, hitting three home runs and driving in eight runs in a resounding 23-3 win over the Nationals. His performance included a grand slam and the most RBIs by a Cubs player since Sammy Sosa's nine in 2002. In contrast, Pirates ace Paul Skenes struggled against the Phillies, lasting only four innings and allowing a season-high seven earned runs in a 10-6 loss, lamenting a lack execution. The Milwaukee Brewers face uncertainty regarding their ace Jacob Misiorowski's All-Star Game status, as his projected start the Sunday before the break would make him ineligible to pitch two nights later. The Athletics are facing a lengthy recovery for prospect Ryan Lasko, who broke his back in a collision with a minor league teammate on Tuesday. For the Guardians, Brayan Rocchio delivered a dramatic walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning, securing a 6-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez was forced to exit Thursday's game against the Angels after being hit in the back of the helmet by a thrown ball while sliding into second base. Padres right-hander Randy Vasquez was taken to the hospital in stable condition after fainting following his abbreviated start against the Dodgers on Thursday night. Giants third baseman Matt Chapman has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained abdomen, an injury that forced him to leave Tuesday's game against Arizona on Wednesday. Corey Seager of the Rangers was removed from Tuesday's game before his first at-bat due to back discomfort as reported by the team. Reds outfielder Dane Myers landed on the injured list with a bruised left shoulder after crashing into an outfield wall on Tuesday. Yankees captain Aaron Judge is awaiting further scans on a stress fracture in his right rib before providing an update.

Team News & Roster Moves

The Braves recalled infielder Jim Jarvis from Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday, while simultaneously designating veteran first baseman Rowdy Tellez for assignment as part of roster adjustments. Mets owner Steve Cohen stated Wednesday that he is not considering firing president of baseball operations David Stearns, who is in the third year of a five-year contract, despite the team's ongoing struggles and a second straight losing month. The Yankees' offensive struggles continued, with the team losing its sixth consecutive game in a 9-3 defeat to the Tigers on Tuesday, managing only four hits amidst a cold spell. The Major League Baseball Players Association's latest labor proposal includes provisions for increased roster sizes and protections against frequent demotions during the season as part of negotiations.

All-Star Game & Future Outlook

The All-Star break is approaching, with discussions around potential trade deadline moves intensifying. Players such as Tarik Skubal, Luis Arraez, and Freddy Peralta are mentioned as potential trade candidates as the deadline nears. Fantasy baseball managers are advised to watch for developments like the Rays' two top-10 hitters and the surge of pitcher Tarik Skubal in future projections. For the All-Star Futures Game on July 12 at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park, Nationals shortstop Eli Willits, the top overall pick in last year's amateur draft, was among the 50 players selected on Wednesday. Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong will not participate in the Home Run Derby, having declined the invitation last year as well and for this year's event.

Special Events & League Initiatives

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players' Association announced a joint $1 million donation to support recovery efforts following devastating earthquakes in Venezuela last week. All MLB teams will wear specially designed uniforms featuring stars-and-stripes themes during games on July 4th to commemorate the holiday. Ballparks across the league are also preparing special food offerings for the Fourth of July, from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Washington Nationals as part of the festivities. A unique bobblehead featuring Bobby Bonilla, in a red, white, and blue theme, is among the notable Fourth of July merchandise available this season. The tradition of "Bobby Bonilla Day" continues, with the New York Mets still paying the former infielder $1.19 million on July 1st, despite him not having played for the team since 1999 as part of a deferred contract. Milwaukee honored longtime broadcaster Bob Uecker with a large downtown mural, measuring 80x100 feet, during a dedication ceremony on Tuesday.

Managerial Milestones & League Policies

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts became the fastest manager in MLB history to reach 1,000 career wins after the team defeated the Athletics 9-3 on Tuesday night achieving the milestone. In a peculiar incident, Guardians rookie left fielder Cooper Ingle lost track of the outs in the seventh inning and casually tossed the live ball into the stands as a souvenir, allowing the Rangers to score due to the lapse in awareness. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied MLB's request to trademark the phrase "Play Ball," citing that the phrase is too commonplace for exclusive use. Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli has apologized for shouting "sit down, boy" at Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras, an incident that instigated a benches-clearing altercation during the game. The Dodgers are considered the favorites to win the 2026 World Series, with the Phillies and Brewers also showing strong odds according to projections.