MLB Player News

Boston recalled Cheng from Triple-A Worcester and he will start at shortstop against the Yankees on Friday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Cheng will make his season debut for Boston with Marcelo Mayer hitting the injured list with a left forearm injury. The 23-year-old Cheng may see extended playing time with Boston being depleted at the shortstop position with Isiah Kiner-Falefa (forearm), Trevor Story (abdomen) and Nick Sogard (oblique) all on the injured list in addition to Mayer. With Worcester, Cheng slashed .254/.351/.424 with seven homers and 18 RBI in 240 plate appearances.

Kreidler is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Rockies.

Kreidler will hit the bench Friday after he went a collective 8-for-19 with a triple, a walk, six RBI and three runs while starting in the Twins' past five games. A lifetime .184/.257/.278 hitter in the big leagues, Kreidler's recent hot stretch at the plate is likely just a blip on the radar, but he could play ahead of Tristan Gray at shortstop more often than not until his bat cools.

Seager is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays.

According to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, manager Skip Schumaker said Seager will have regular off days after he was reinstated from the 7-day concussion injured list Thursday. Ezequiel Duran is starting at shortstop and batting sixth for Texas against Cleveland lefty Joey Cantillo.

Witt (knee) is batting second as the designated hitter Friday against the White Sox.

Witt is back in the lineup for the first time since June 18, when he exited with a sprained MCL against the Cardinals. After missing the past week, Witt appears to be healthy enough to swing the bat and run the bases. Josh Rojas is making the start at shortstop and batting seventh for Kansas City. Witt is slashing .294/.368/.465 with 10 homers, 32 RBI, 40 runs scored, 28 stolen bases and a 35:57 BB:K across 337 plate appearances this season. He leads the American League in steals.

The Pirates optioned Brannigan to Double-A Altoona on Friday.

Brannigan was on the major-league roster for just one day and did not play in Thursday's win over the Mariners. The 25-year-old has slashed .235/.333/.522 with eight homers in 31 contests during his time with Altoona in 2026.

The Pirates activated Griffin (elbow) from the 10-day injured list Friday.

Griffin has been sidelined for all of June after being diagnosed with a flexor strain. He played just one rehab game with Double-A Altoona, reaching base in all four plate appearances which included a home run and a triple. Griffin played shortstop in that contest, so it does not appear the Pirates will ease the rookie back into things at designated hitter. He's at shortstop and batting leadoff in Friday's game versus the Reds. The 20-year-old was slashing .270/.327/.402 with four home runs and 14 stolen bases in 51 games before getting hurt.

Adames went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Thursday's 9-6 loss to the Athletics.

The veteran shortstop scored the first run of the game in the fourth inning, launching a home run to left-center field off Jeffrey Springs. Adames also drew a walk in the sixth before coming around to score. Over 20 appearances in June, the 30-year-old is slashing .171/.232/.434 with 12 runs scored, nine RBI and six long balls across 82 plate appearances.

Mauricio went 1-for-5 with a double in Thursday's loss to the Cubs.

Called up earlier in the day when Marcus Semien (hip) landed on the IL, Mauricio produced the Mets' only extra-base hit off southpaw Matthew Boyd. The 25-year-old infielder got the start at shortstop while Francisco Lindor got the day off, but with Semien on the shelf and Bo Bichette shifted back to third base, Mauricio could end up seeing most of his playing time at the keystone, where he'll compete with Brett Baty for starts. Over 37 big-league plate appearances this season, Mauricio's batting .216 (8-for-37) with a 0:13 BB:K.

Caballero went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Thursday's loss to the Red Sox.

Caballero starred on offense for New York, cranking a solo homer in the fourth inning and also swiping a bag. It was the third time this season the utility man has homered and stolen a base in the same game. Caballero has produced as expected on the basepaths this year, tying for ninth in the majors with 18 thefts. However, he's also given New York an uncharacteristic amount of power, clubbing eight homers through 68 games. His career-best mark is the nine home runs he hit across 139 regular-season contests with Tampa Bay in 2024.

Lindor isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs.

Lindor went 0-for-5 during his first game back from the IL in the second half of Wednesday's doubleheader, and he'll now step out of the lineup as the Mets ease him back into regular playing time following the extended absence. Ronny Mauricio will fill in as New York's shortstop and bat seventh.