MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: July 3, 2026, 5:31 PM ET

AL East Shakeup and Rising Stars

The Tampa Bay Rays have climbed to the top of the American League power rankings, unseating the New York Yankees, who have struggled recently. The Yankees' woes were compounded by placing lefty Carlos Rodón on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation on Friday. Their losing streak reached a season-long six games following a 9-3 loss to the Tigers, with an offense that managed just four hits again. Captain Aaron Judge is also awaiting more scans on an injured rib stress fracture. Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins have entered the top 10 of the power rankings, buoyed by a franchise-best June that saw them secure their 20th win of the month by defeating the Rockies 14-3. Rays' slugger Junior Caminero, has become the youngest player since at least 1900 to homer in six straight games, a feat that began after he committed to participating in the Home Run Derby.

Pitching News and All-Star Snubs

Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski's status for the All-Star Game is in doubt due to the schedule. He is slated to start the Sunday before the All-Star break, which would make him ineligible to pitch in the game two nights later as per league rules. The Cubs recalled left-hander Drew Pomeranz from Triple-A Iowa before Friday's game against the Cardinals, while optioning lefty Jordan Wicks to the farm club for development. For the Cardinals, right-hander Ryne Stanek was reinstated from the paternity list ahead of their game against the Cubs, and righty Gordon Graceffo was sent to Triple-A Memphis as roster moves. Padres right-hander Randy Vasquez was in stable condition after fainting following his abbreviated start Thursday night against the Dodgers, according to manager Craig Stammen after medical evaluation. 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 scrum during a heated exchange. Pirates ace Paul Skenes lasted only four innings against the Phillies, allowing a season-high seven earned runs in a 10-6 loss, and he expressed frustration with his execution.

Managerial Milestones and Player Awards

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts became the fastest manager in MLB history to reach 1,000 career wins after the Dodgers defeated the Athletics 9-3 on Tuesday night setting a new record. With the All-Star break approaching, discussions are heating up regarding MVP and Cy Young award leaders, with PCA and Shohei Ohtani frequently mentioned for the NL MVP award as the season progresses. The Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani will be in the lineup when he makes his pitching start Friday against the Padres, with Dalton Rushing slated to catch him for the outing. Ohtani's pitching start was moved to Friday as the Dodgers cited rest, with him skipping his scheduled start Wednesday against the Athletics to get some extra rest per manager's decision.

Trade Deadline Buzz and Player Movement

As the trade deadline looms, players such as Tarik Skubal, Luis Arraez, and Freddy Peralta could be on the move to different teams by season's end. The Braves signed former NL MVP outfielder Andrew McCutchen to a minor league contract on Friday, continuing their search for a veteran who can provide offensive help to the lineup. The Braves also recalled infielder Jim Jarvis from Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday and designated veteran first baseman Rowdy Tellez for assignment to free up a roster spot.

Injuries and Player Health

Athletics prospect Ryan Lasko is facing a "lengthy" recovery after breaking his back in a collision with a minor league teammate on Tuesday, though he posted on social media Thursday that he hopes to return to the field. Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez was removed from Thursday's game against the Angels in the third inning after being hit in the back of the helmet by a thrown ball as he slid into second base during the play. Giants third baseman Matt Chapman was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to an abdominal strain, having left Tuesday's loss to Arizona because of the injury sustained in game action. Rangers shortstop Corey Seager was removed from Tuesday's game before his at-bat in the first inning with back discomfort, the team announced following the incident. Reds outfielder Dane Myers was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a bruised left shoulder, one day after crashing into an outfield wall during a play. Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried took another step in his recovery from a bone bruise in his left elbow, throwing about 30 pitches in a two-inning simulated game Tuesday as part of his rehab.

Special Events and League Initiatives

All MLB teams will don newly designed uniforms with special stars-and-stripes themes during games on July 4 celebrating the holiday. Ballparks across the league are offering unique food items for the Fourth of July, with notable offerings from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Washington Nationals among the selections. Bobby Bonilla Day saw the former infielder receive his annual $1.19 million paycheck from the New York Mets on Wednesday, despite not having played for them since 1999 as per his contract. Major League Baseball and the MLB Players' Association announced a joint $1 million donation Tuesday to aid in recovery from the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week providing humanitarian relief.

Futures and Prospects

The MLB All-Star Futures Game will feature Nationals shortstop Eli Willits, the top overall pick in last year's amateur draft, among the 50 players selected for the event at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park on July 12 as top prospects gather. Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong will not participate in the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game next month, having declined the opportunity last year as well choosing not to compete.

Other Notable News

The Cleveland Guardians secured a dramatic 6-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Brayan Rocchio's walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, opening a four-game series between the two clubs with a late surge. Guardians rookie left fielder Cooper Ingle lost track of the number of outs in the seventh inning Tuesday night and casually tossed the live ball into the stands as a souvenir, allowing the Rangers to score due to the miscue. Milwaukee honored Bob Uecker with a 80x100-foot mural in downtown Milwaukee, a tribute to the longtime broadcaster who died last year in a public ceremony. Mets owner Steve Cohen stated Wednesday that he is not considering dismissing president of baseball operations David Stearns, who is in the third year of a five-year contract, despite the team's performance this season. The Major League Baseball Players Association's latest labor proposal includes increased roster sizes and protection against the number of demotions during the season aiming for player benefits.