After one start during the regular season, Justin Verlander landed on the injured list with a hip injury. It’s one of several injury-related notes from the second Saturday of the 2026 MLB season, a list that also includes an update on injured Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts.
Verlander put on IL
Before the Tigers’ game on April 4, Justin Verlander landed on the injured list for Detroit.
Per the team, Verlander is dealing with left hip inflammation. It is retroactive to April 1.
Betts leaves game against Dodgers
Dodgers infielder Mookie Betts left the game early on April 4. After one plate appearance, he was removed from the team’s contest against the Nationals and is dealing with lower back pain.
Manager Dave Roberts stated after the game that Betts’ injury isn’t all that severe. However, he is set to miss the next few days.
Donovan sits against Angels
Mariners infielder Brendan Donovan did not play on April 4 after he left the game a day earlier, thanks to groin soreness.
The good news for the Mariners & Donovan was that imaging came back clean and that the infielder felt good (h/t Seattle Times).
Updates on Kirk and Soto
The Blue Jays placed Alejandro Kirk, who left Toronto’s game on April 2 thanks to a thumb injury, on the IL. Kirk was found to have suffered a dislocated thumb.
As for Juan Soto, he was diagnosed with a minor right calf strain. Soto is optimistic that he won’t need an IL stint, although time will tell whether he can avoid it (h/t New York Post).
Rehab assignments
Padres pitcher Griffin Canning struck out four over 2.1 IP with Triple-A El Paso. Canning averaged 94 MPH on the fastball, on par with where he was last season. In that same game, Yuki Matsui threw a scoreless inning.
Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki went 1-4 for Double-A Knoxville. He was the DH for the Smokies.
Other news
Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick left action against the Royals thanks to side tightness.
Twins outfielder Byron Buxton did not play on April 4 after he was hit by a pitch on his forearm.
Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (hip) did not play on the 4th.
Rockies pitcher McCade Brown (right shoulder inflammation) was transferred to the 60-day IL.
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