MLB Baseball 8 Hours

Last updated: August 20, 2026, 11:38 PM ET

Injury Updates

Ketel Marte will be transferred to the 10-day injured list, GM Mike Hazen confirmed Thursday, three days after Marte failed to show up for a game in Boston. Maikel Garcia is likely headed back to the injured list just three days after returning from a nearly two-month stay, this time with a hamstring strain. The Nationals' CJ Abrams, who sprained his left ankle on an awkward slide during Wednesday night's win over the Rangers, is day-to-day, manager Blake Butera said. Mets shortstop Jorge Polanco had his challenging first season with the team likely ended Wednesday when he was placed on the 10-day IL with left ankle bursitis and surgery is planned.

Prospect Promotions

The Mariners are calling up left-hander Kade Anderson, the No. 1 pitching prospect in baseball, to start against the Cubs on Saturday, sources told ESPN. Anderson has been dominant at Triple Tacoma this season, posting a 2.70 ERA across 12 starts. The 22-year-old represents the latest high-end talent to reach the majors from Seattle's farm system.

Contract News

Former All-Star left-hander Nestor Cortes agreed to a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, a deal that will pay him $1.5 million while in the major leagues and $250,000 while in the minors. Cortes, who spent last season with the Yankees before being traded to the Padres at the deadline, brings veteran experience to Philadelphia's rotation.

Stadium Developments

The Athletics' stadium on the Las Vegas Strip is taking shape with the addition of a second steel truss arch, marking continued progress on the franchise's planned relocation. Meanwhile, the Royals' quest to move to a new downtown ballpark cleared a major hurdle Wednesday when the Kansas City city council approved a $600 million commitment toward the project.

On the Mound

Pirates ace Paul Skenes said he knows there remains plenty to work on after Wednesday's rocky outing bumped his ERA to 3.95, more than double his career mark of 1.96 when the season began. Skenes, the presumptive NL Rookie of the Year, allowed five runs on six hits over four innings. Rangers ace Jacob deGrom is set for another chance to become the second-fastest pitcher to 2,000 career strikeouts in his start Thursday night, sitting at 1,987 K's entering the game.

Team Success

The Brewers appear well on their way to earning an eighth playoff berth in nine seasons, but manager Pat Murphy said he doesn't think they've played great baseball recently. Despite owning the best record in the NL, Murphy emphasized that there's plenty of room for improvement as they push toward October.

League Standings

Atlanta jumps Tampa Bay to take the No. 3 spot in this week's MLB Power Rankings as the NL continues to dominate the top. The updated rankings reflect a shift in momentum with several NL East teams surging while AL wild-card contenders jockey for position in the final weeks of the regular season.

Technology Controversy

The Orioles criticized MLB for being behind on technology after Pete Alonso's deep fly to left was ruled foul and the call was upheld on review Wednesday night against the Yankees. Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde expressed frustration that the league's replay system failed to correct what he believed was a clear misjudgment on a potential home run.

Top Prospects

The latest MLB top 100 prospect rankings reveal which future stars have surged up the list following the draft and trade season. These rankings provide a snapshot of the most promising young talent across all 30 organizations heading into the second half of the season.