MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: July 22, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

AL East Race Heats Up, Red Sox Extend Streak

The Boston Red Sox with a 6-1 victory over the Rays on Sunday, extending their winning streak to 13 games, the second-longest in franchise history. Caleb Durbin provided the go-ahead run with a clutch eighth-inning homer, and Sonny Gray, allowing just one run over six innings. The Red Sox with this surge, positioning themselves as playoff hopefuls. Meanwhile, the Orioles placed catcher Adley Rutschman on the 10-day injured list Monday due to left wrist inflammation Sunday's game with shoulder discomfort.

AL Central Standings and Injuries

The Guardians hammered the Twins with seven home runs in a decisive 13-4 victory on Monday. Cleveland, which had the majors' third-fewest homers entering the game, saw a significant power display. Third baseman José Ramírez was activated from the injured list Wednesday after a five-week absence following left hand surgery. The Tigers placed right-hander Jack Flaherty on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right flexor inflammation as he deals with discomfort.

AL West Battles and Transactions

Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has been placed on the injured list for the first time in his career with lower back tightness. He exited Monday's game against the Giants with the same issue according to reports. Salvador Perez tied George Brett's franchise record with his 317th career home run on Wednesday in a Royals victory. The Athletics placed rookie infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer on the 10-day injured list Tuesday following emergency surgery for a ruptured testicle by a foul ball.

NL East Division Updates

The Cubs' Trent Thornton is day-to-day with a bruised left heel after being struck by a comebacker on Monday, but he avoided a fracture, crediting his cleats for mitigating the impact. The Brewers are carefully monitoring Jacob Misiorowski's workload after his layoff; he in his return Monday. The Pirates' rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez continues to impress, hitting his 12th home run in just his 31st game, putting him fourth in MLB history for that mark with 31 RBIs.

NL Central and Wild Card Contenders

The Brewers are cautiously managing Jacob Misiorowski's workload after his layoff, as he in his recent outing. The Cubs' Trent Thornton is day-to-day with a bruised left heel, having avoided a fracture thanks to his cleats by a batted ball. Pirates rookie Esmerlyn Valdez is on a historic pace, hitting his 12th homer in his 31st game and driving in 31 runs in a strong start.

NL West Race and Dodgers News

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani threw about 30 pitches in a bullpen session prior to Wednesday's game, a positive sign for his potential return to pitching, though no timetable has been set. He will not make his scheduled start against the Phillies due to irritation in his left knee as his return to the mound is stalled. The Dodgers also from the Rockies on Monday in exchange for two minor league players.

National League Individual Milestones and Performances

Nolan Arenado, recording his 2,000th career hit with a double on Monday night. Rockies slugger Hunter Goodman had his second three-homer game of the season on Sunday, breaking out of a slump and setting a Rockies club record. In a game against the Mets, the Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski worked just four innings in his first appearance since July 7 as his workload is being monitored.

MLB Draft and Labor Negotiations

The MLB Players Association has called for the preservation of the current amateur draft system after MLB proposed significant changes, including reducing rounds and slashing signing bonuses. Discussions surrounding a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) continue, with complex issues like salary caps being addressed in ongoing negotiations. There is also a focus on player representation at the bargaining table, with concerns raised about the underrepresentation of Latino players in labor discussions.

Prospect Rankings and Future Outlook

Kiley McDaniel has updated the top 10 prospect rankings for all 30 MLB teams, evaluating players' ascents and descents in farm systems following the MLB draft as evaluated. Fantasy managers can look ahead with dynasty rankings for the top 300 players over the next five years for future drafts. The Miami Marlins are set to sign Rintaro Sasaki, forgoing a professional career in Japan to join the club.

Player Injuries and Roster Moves

The White Sox catcher Kyle Teel is expected to miss 6-12 weeks after being placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a high ankle sprain. Rangers third baseman Josh Jung exited Tuesday night's game with left calf tightness as he deals with the issue. Marlins All-Star right-hander Max Meyer was placed on the 15-day injured list with a neck strain a specialist. Mets outfielder Luis Robert Jr. has been activated from the injured list after nearly three months away with a back issue returning to the lineup.

Yankees and Pirates Eruptions

Yankees shortstop José Caballero was charged with a pitch clock violation in the sixth inning Wednesday, which led to a strikeout and the ejection of hitting coach James Rowson during the game. In an earlier game Monday, benches cleared between the Yankees and Pirates after Jose Caballero was involved in an incident that irked Pirates player Santana. The Yankees' offense did awaken with eight runs in a win over Pittsburgh after a slump.

Other Notable MLB News

The Reds' strategy to load the bases against Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh backfired spectacularly when Raleigh hit a grand slam on the first pitch, leading to an 8-0 Mariners victory on Monday as the plan failed. Duane Ward, a key reliever for the Blue Jays' back-to-back World Series championship teams in the early 1990s, has died at the age of 62 according to reports. The Twins and Phillies will wear throwback uniforms for their upcoming Field of Dreams game on August 13 in a special event.