MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: August 20, 2026, 3:39 AM ET

Injuries & Roster Moves

The Pirates will skip Paul Skenes' next scheduled start, pushing the struggling ace's next outing back three days amid the worst stretch of his young career. Skenes' ERA ballooned to 3.95 after his latest rocky outing, more than double his career mark of 1.96 when the season began. The Orioles activated catcher Samuel Basallo from the injured list before Wednesday night's game against the Yankees, while the Athletics placed outfielder Tyler Soderstrom on the 10-day IL for a left hip impingement that will require season-ending surgery. Soderstrom, batting .245 with 19 homers and 56 RBIs in 109 games, will undergo the procedure The Diamondbacks placed Ketel Marte on the restricted list after the All-Star infielder failed to show up for Monday night's game against the Red Sox. Marte remains in Phoenix for tests on his knee while dealing with a personal matter, and his agent confirmed he is "not thrilled" about CJ Abrams' move to second base for the Nationals but emphasized his priority is winning games. The Yankees activated Carlos Rodon for Tuesday's game against the Orioles while placing starter Max Fried on the 15-day IL due to a left elbow bruise.

The Dodgers placed Edwin Diaz on the injured list, where the right-hander owns a 2-2 record with an 11.85 ERA and seven saves in 11 opportunities across 16 games. Los Angeles also placed starter Justin Wrobleski on the injured list with forearm inflammation, dealing a blow to their rotation. Wrobleski, 11-5 with a 3.56 ERA, will be replaced in the rotation while Shohei Ohtani continues his comeback, hitting two home runs and reporting his knee feels good after his most recent bullpen session.

The Cubs will be without shortstop Dansby Swanson for at least four weeks due to a left oblique strain, while the Rockies designated starter Michael Lorenzen for assignment after a season in which he went 3-11 with a 7.08 ERA. Cody Bellinger could begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton as early as Thursday, and Orioles reliever Félix Bautista along with utility player Blaze Alexander may begin rehab assignments by week's end. The Athletics activated lefty Jeffrey Springs from the 15-day IL and will start him Wednesday night against Kansas City after the southpaw recovered from an injured right hip.

Game Highlights & Key Performances

The Brewers equaled baseball's modern-era record for the largest shutout with a 22-0 rout of the Mariners, powered by three-run homers from Christian Yelich, David Hamilton, and Luis Lara along with a two-run shot by Jak. Jo Adell delivered a career night for the Guardians with a 455-foot, three-run homer and six RBIs, though his performance ended when he left Cleveland's 8-1 victory over the Giants before the eighth inning due to a knee injury. Fernando Tatis Jr. reached over the right-field wall to rob Francisco Lindor of a grand slam and also launched two home runs, leading the Padres to a 5-2 win over the Mets.

Noah Cameron threw a complete-game one-hit shutout against the Angels, keeping the bid for perfection alive until the seventh inning before finishing the contest with a flourish. Elly De La Cruz delivered his first career walk-off hit in the 10th inning after Dane Myers hit a tying pinch-hit homer in the ninth, lifting the Reds past the Cardinals 6-5. Pete Crow-Armstrong became the first player since 2010 to hit both a leadoff homer and a walk-off homer in the same game, leading the Cubs to a 7-5, 10-inning victory over the White Sox at Wrigley Field.

Mets rookies Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing combined to throw out three runners at the plate in the first two innings, including two by Benge, showcasing the arm strength of the young outfield. The Dodgers' offense finally woke up behind Ohtani, who jolted the lineup with two home runs and confirmed his knee is feeling good after his most recent bullpen session. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts openly criticized his club's struggles after a 6-2 loss to the Brewers cost Los Angeles a significant tiebreaker in the race for home-field advantage.

Standings & League News

MLB team owners unanimously approved the $3.9 billion sale of the Padres to an investor group led by private equity billionaire José E. Feliciano and his wife and business partner, Kwanza Jones. The transaction clears the final hurdle for the franchise's new ownership group, which has pledged to invest heavily in player development and facility upgrades. Jorge Polanco's challenging first season with the Mets likely ended when he was placed on the 10-day IL with left ankle bursitis, prompting season-ending surgery that will sideline the veteran infielder for the remainder of the year.

The Pirates added veteran catcher Christian Bethancourt from the Yankees for cash considerations, bolstering their backup depth behind the plate. The Athletics, already playing without Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers, suffered another blow when they placed Soderstrom on the IL, leaving them shorthanded in the outfield for the final weeks of the season. Chase DeLauter exited Sunday's game against the Padres before the third inning due to mild left hamstring tightness, adding to Cleveland's injury concerns in the outfield.

MVP Race & Player Stories

The battle for the National League's biggest honor continues to intensify, with Shohei Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong emerging as the primary contenders for MVP honors. MLB players weighed in on the heated award race, with many praising PCA's consistency and Ohtani's historic two-way impact. Trey Mancini, a cancer survivor who made a remarkable comeback to play for the Angels this season, announced his retirement, bringing an inspiring chapter of perseverance and resilience to a close.

Broadcast & Fan Experience

MLB's return to the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville, Iowa, averaged 1.66 million viewers on Netflix on Thursday night, marking a strong showing for the league's signature regular-season event. Baseball games are noisier than ever these days, with teams turning up the volume at ballparks to engage fans and create a more electric atmosphere throughout the league.

Fantasy Baseball Focus

The top players you should consider claiming off the fantasy baseball waiver wire this week include Jonathan Caglianone and Javier Baez, among others, as managers look to bolster their rosters heading into the final stretch. Fantasy owners are weighing pickup options carefully, with several impactful names available on the market.

Historical Perspective

Never-before-seen footage unearthed from a debate between Ted Williams and a Hall of Fame teammate reveals how the greatest hitter ever discussed the art of hitting. A modern star examined how those timeless principles hold up in today's MLB environment, bridging generations of baseball wisdom. An all-Chicago World Series this October is highly unlikely, but historically speaking, it's practically a slam dunk given the current trajectories of both the Cubs and White Sox.