MLB Baseball 8 Hours

Last updated: July 23, 2026, 11:31 AM ET

AL East Race Heats Up

The Boston Red Sox with a recent surge, sparking hope for their playoff aspirations. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees faced a pitch-clock controversy as shortstop José Caballero was called for a violation in the sixth inning, leading to a strikeout and the ejection of hitting coach James Rowson in a crackdown.

AL Central Shake-ups and Milestones

The MLB Power Rankings following the All-Star break, with one team's impressive win streak coming to an end. In Kansas City, Salvador Perez with his 317th career home run on Wednesday. However, the Royals also received concerning news as shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was placed on the injured list for the first time in his career due to lower back tightness.

Injuries and Roster Moves

Beyond the Royals, other teams are dealing with injuries. The Oakland Athletics placed right-hander J.T. Ginn on the 15-day injured list with a blister on his pitching hand. These roster moves highlight the ongoing challenges teams face throughout the long MLB season.

Player Union Focuses on Draft

The MLB Players Association has called to preserve the current draft system after MLB proposed significant changes, including cutting the draft from 20 to 12 rounds, reducing amateur signing bonuses by over $150 million, and restricting high school players' entry. This issue is part of the broader ongoing negotiations between owners and players regarding a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and other league matters.