MLB Baseball 8 Hours

Last updated: April 16, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

Injury Woes Mount Across MLB

The National League West continues to be beset by pitching setbacks, as the Padres confirmed that starter Nick Pivetta will miss "weeks and maybe months" after an MRI showed a flexor strain in his right elbow, a significant blow to San Diego's rotation. This injury wave follows the Rockies placing left-hander Kyle Freeland on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to inflammation in his throwing shoulder, limiting their starting options further crippling the rotation. In addition to pitching concerns, the Mets utility man Jared Young was sidelined for an estimated six to eight weeks after a tear was found in the meniscus of his left knee, prompting his placement on the IL during a tough stretch for New York. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants rostered two position players onto the injured list: Harrison Bader is out with a left hamstring strain, and Jared Oliva is dealing with a left wrist hamate fracture, landing both on the 10-day list as the West Coast teams struggle.

Star Power & League Observances

Major League Baseball observed the 79th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier, with every player, coach, and umpire uniformly donning the iconic No. 42 across the slate of games. However, the on-field celebrations were marred by an unforeseen medical emergency when a singer leading the pre-game Jackie Robinson Day festivities before the Chicago White Sox contest against the Tampa Bay Rays suddenly collapsed and required hospitalization during the solemn pre-game ceremony. Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Dodgers' dual-threat superstar Shohei Ohtani took the mound for his scheduled start against the Mets but was intentionally left out of the batting order, marking the first time in five years that he has pitched without also hitting in the lineup as the team manages his workload.

Discipline & Front Office Shifts

In disciplinary news, the league granted Jorge Soler a reduction in his suspension stemming from last week's altercation against the Atlanta Braves and pitcher Reynaldo Lopez; reports confirmed the ban was trimmed down to four games, down from the initial seven-game penalty. On the administrative side, the Major League Baseball Players Association unexpectedly terminated two senior executives with cause Wednesday following the conclusion of an internal investigation into unspecified matters earlier this month. Finally, the rebuilding Chicago White Sox continued to cycle talent, officially calling up top prospect Sam Antonacci from Triple-A Charlotte to bolster their roster amid ongoing team evaluation. In a small measure of good news for the Cincinnati Reds, closer Emilio Pagan reported that he "dodged" a major setback, as playing catch on Wednesday suggested his hamstring injury was less severe than initially feared following Tuesday night's victory over the San Francisco Giants.