MLB Baseball 8 Hours

Last updated: June 11, 2026, 11:45 PM ET

Injury Report

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost two key players to injury within 24 hours as catcher Will Smith hit the 10-day injured list with neck inflammation and two-way star Shohei Ohtani exited Thursday's win at Pittsburgh in the seventh inning due to knee inflammation. While manager Dave Roberts called Ohtani's exit precautionary, the reigning MVP's early departure came after the team blew a five-run lead in a 9-8 defeat to the Pirates, where Ohtani later regretted not challenging a pivotal call that helped spark Pittsburgh's rally. The Pirates also placed outfielder Oneil Cruz on the injured list with non-displaced fractures in his left hand between the ring finger and pinky, adding to the National League Central leaders' injury concerns.

Trade Market Heats Up

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman faces an unusual demand if the Bronx Bombers pursue Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman, as the veteran reliever wants a public apology for how his previous Yankees tenure ended before any deal would be considered. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies acquired outfielder Derek Hill from the Chicago White Sox to address outfield depth concerns after Adolis Garcia exited Wednesday's game with a shoulder injury, giving manager Rob Thomson another option as the Phillies chase down the Mets in the NL East.

Pitching Milestones

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer joined elite company Wednesday night, recording his 3,500th career strikeout when he caught Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber looking at an 86 mph changeup to lead off the game. The future Hall of Famer became only the 19th pitcher in major league history to reach the milestone, doing so in his first season with Toronto after signing a one-year deal this winter. In Detroit, Tarik Skubal will rejoin the Tigers' rotation Saturday against Cleveland, making an improbably quick return less than six weeks after undergoing elbow surgery that was initially expected to end his season.

Front Office Stability

Boston Red Sox president Sam Kennedy publicly backed chief baseball officer Craig Breslow despite calling the team's performance this season "embarrassing and unacceptable," stating there's been no consideration of removing Breslow from his role even as the club sits near the bottom of the AL East. The vote of confidence comes amid ongoing questions about Boston's rebuilding timeline and whether the front office's analytical approach is properly translating to on-field results.

League-Wide Movement

Major League Baseball's power structure continues shifting as several unexpected contenders climb the rankings while traditional powers struggle, with the trade deadline approaching and teams positioning for playoff pushes. Off the field, league officials are studying salary cap models from the NFL and NBA as part of ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations, though any major structural changes remain unlikely before the current deal expires. Despite the Dodgers' recent injury setbacks, their championship odds remain strong as they sit atop the NL West standings with baseball's best record.