MLB Baseball 8 Hours

Last updated: April 13, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

MLB Injury Updates Plague Contenders

A wave of pitching and position player injuries rippled across the league as several key starters exited contests early, compounding existing woes for struggling clubs. The New York Mets, reeling from a five-game skid, confirmed the promotion of outfielder Tommy Pham to inject life into the lineup following Juan Soto's placement on the injured list. Meanwhile, the injury bug bit the San Diego Padres when starter Nick Pivetta was removed in the fourth inning of a 7-2 victory over Colorado due to stiffness in his pitching elbow. Further west, the Houston Astros saw starter Cody Bolton depart in the second inning of their 6-1 defeat to the Mariners, citing mid-back tightness as the cause for his exit from the game.

The injury concerns extend beyond starting rotations, impacting both American League contenders and high-profile rookies. Baltimore's injury woes deepened as first baseman Ryan Mountcastle was officially placed on the IL after suffering a fracture in his left foot's fourth metatarsal bone. In Philadelphia, rookie right-hander Andrew Painter courageously battled through symptoms, managing five innings in relief during the Phillies' 4-3 defeat to Arizona after being initially scratched due to a severe migraine. Separately in Denver, the Rockies were forced to scratch southpaw Kyle Freeland from his scheduled start against the Padres after the game commenced, citing soreness in his pitching shoulder, while the Nationals reported that reliever Ken Waldichuk felt arm discomfort while delivering a pitch during their 8-6 Sunday win over Milwaukee.