MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: August 21, 2026, 3:32 PM ET

MLB Baseball: The Week in Review

Power Rankings

The National League continues to dominate the top of ESPN's latest power rankings, where Atlanta leapt over Tampa Bay to seize the No. 3 spot as AL wild-card contenders keep climbing. On top of it all sit the Milwaukee Brewers, owners of baseball's best record and a likely eighth playoff berth in nine seasons, though manager Pat Murphy insists his club has not actually played great yet.

Historic Shutout

Milwaukee etched its name into the record books by tying baseball's largest modern-era shutout, demolishing Seattle 22-0 behind three-run homers from Christian Yelich, David Hamilton and Luis Lara plus a two-run blast.

Star Performances

Fernando Tatis Jr. delivered the week's signature highlight, reaching over the right-field wall to rob Francisco Lindor of a grand slam before adding two home runs of his own in San Diego's 5-2 win over the Mets. In Cleveland, Jo Adell crushed a 455-foot, three-run homer and drove in six runs before a knee injury ended his night early in the Guardians' 8-1 victory over the Giants. Across town in Chicago, Pete Crow-Armstrong became the first player since 2010 to homer leading off a game and finish it, launching a leadoff blast and a walk-off shot in the Cubs' 7-5, 10-inning triumph over the White Sox at Wrigley Field. On the mound, Cade Cavalli followed last outing's one-hitter with 11 strikeouts across six scoreless innings in Washington's 6-0 shutout of Texas.

NL MVP Race

The battle for the National League's biggest honor tightens by the day, with players around the league split over whether Shohei Ohtani or Crow-Armstrong has been more impressive. Ohtani strengthened his case Monday night with two home runs as the Dodgers' bats finally woke up, then declared his knee fully healthy after his most recent bullpen session.

Rotation Watch

Jacob deGrom gets another shot at history Thursday night, when the Rangers right-hander will try to become the second-fastest pitcher ever to reach 2,000 career strikeouts. DeGrom got the green light after checking out fine in a bullpen session, setting up a start against Washington one week after he lasted just two innings against the Angels. In Pittsburgh, ace Paul Skenes admitted plenty of work remains after Wednesday's rocky outing bumped his ERA to 3.95, more than double the 1.96 mark he carried into the season.

Prospect Pipeline

Seattle is handing the ball to its future, calling up left-hander Kade Anderson, the No. 1 pitching prospect in baseball, to start Saturday against the Cubs. His arrival comes as ESPN refreshed its top 100 prospect rankings, revealing which young stars surged up the board now that the draft and trade season have passed.

Roster Moves

Veteran left-hander Nestor Cortes agreed to a one-year deal with Philadelphia that pays $1.5M in the majors and $250K in the minors. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh added catching depth by acquiring Christian Bethancourt from the Yankees for cash considerations.

Injury Report

Arizona will transfer Ketel Marte to the 10-day injured list, GM Mike Hazen confirmed Thursday, three days after the second baseman failed to show up for a game in Boston. Kansas City's Maikel Garcia is likely headed back to the IL just three days after returning from a nearly two-month stay, this time with a hamstring strain. The Mets placed Jorge Polanco on the 10-day IL with left ankle bursitis, likely ending his difficult first season in New York and sending him to ankle surgery. The Dodgers shelved Edwin Diaz, who is 2-2 with an 11.85 ERA and seven saves in 11 opportunities, because of inflammation in the right side of his neck. Washington's CJ Abrams is day-to-day after spraining his left ankle on an awkward slide during Wednesday night's win over the Rangers.

Return Timeline

There was better news elsewhere, as Baltimore activated catcher Samuel Basallo before Wednesday night's game against the Yankees. Oakland brought back lefty Jeffrey Springs from the 15-day IL to start Wednesday against Kansas City after a right hip injury. Cody Bellinger could begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton as soon as Thursday, according to manager Aaron Boone. Orioles reliever Félix Bautista and utility man Blaze Alexander could start their own rehab assignments by the end of the week.

Ballpark Business

The Athletics' stadium on the Las Vegas Strip took visible shape with the addition of a second steel truss arch. Back in Missouri, the Royals' quest for a new downtown ballpark cleared a major hurdle when the Kansas City city council approved a $600M commitment on Wednesday.

Around the League

The Orioles ripped MLB for lagging on technology after Pete Alonso's deep fly to left was ruled foul and the call survived review Wednesday night against the Yankees. Off the field, Padres minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela was detained by ICE at El Paso International Airport early Sunday. In Washington, Abrams' agent said his client is "not thrilled" about moving to second base but remains committed to winning games as a team-first player. Finally, Trey Mancini, who came back from colon cancer for a brief stint with the Angels, announced his retirement Tuesday.

Features

Big leaguers also reflected on their roots this week, sharing the Little League advice that stuck with them and what they would tell today's young players. Rounding out the coverage, newly unearthed footage of a debate between Ted Williams and a Hall of Fame teammate prompted a modern star to explain how the greatest hitter's philosophy holds up in 2026.