MLB Baseball 8 Hours

Last updated: April 14, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

National League Power & Injury Updates

St. Louis outfielder Jordan Walker continued his torrid start, launching his major league-leading eighth home run, cementing his place as only the fifth player in Cardinals franchise history to reach that home run total within the first 16 games of a season. Shifting focus to the East, the Baltimore Orioles completed a trade acquiring first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 26, from the Cincinnati Reds just as their manager, Craig Albernaz, was cleared of serious injury after taking a liner off the face from Jeremiah Jackson during Monday's matchup against the Diamondbacks suffered no major damage. Meanwhile, Mets All-Star Juan Soto, sidelined since April 3 with a strained right calf, is reportedly nearing a return, expected to begin running activities within the next 48 hours.

American League Pitching & Roster Moves

Pitching news dominated activity across the American League, highlighted by the struggles of a top Boston starter as Garrett Crochet was shelled by the Twins, surrendering 11 runs—10 earned—over just 1.2 innings Monday night. In contrast, the Yankees await two major arms as Gerrit Cole and Nestor Rodón near the commencement of their respective rehab assignments, a boost welcomed as shortstop Anthony Volpe has been cleared to start his own minor league rehabilitation stint. Adding depth immediately, the Cleveland Guardians activated two players from the injured list, bringing back right-handed reliever Hunter Gaddis and outfielder George Valera to bolster their roster depth.

Pitching Outlook & Support

Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes indicated his performance has become noticeably easier this year, attributing the change to improved run support from the Pirates' offense, which contrasts sharply with last season when he felt every pitch carried immense pressure aware of razor-thin margins. The improved offensive cushion allows Skenes to pitch with less concern about a single mistake swinging the balance of the game, providing a significant psychological advantage for the young starter making it easy.