MLB Player News

Ramirez is hitting .300 with three home runs, three steals and a 13.6 percent strikeout rate in 10 games for Triple-A Iowa.

The athletic switch hitter has always made contact at a strong clip and has typically been better than league average while being a little young for his levels, but this is a notable power breakout in the early going. Ramirez hit eight home runs in 129 games last year while logging a 49 percent groundball rate, and while he's hitting for more power this year, his 51.5 percent groundball rate is still too high. The versatile infielder has split time between third base (six starts) and second base (three starts).

Yorke went 3-for-3 with a walk, a double and a run scored in Wednesday's 8-2 loss to the Padres.

Getting the start at third base before shifting across the diamond to first in the eighth inning, Yorke accounted for half of the Pirates' hits on the afternoon, including a leadoff single in the seventh that left his bat at 109.8 mph. The 24-year-old worked hard this offseason to improve the quality of his contact, both by getting physically stronger and by tweaking his swing mechanics, and so far it seems to be paying off. Yorke has begun 2026 by batting .381 (8-for-21) with two doubles, three runs, two RBI and more walks (five) than strikeouts (four). He's currently splitting starts at the hot corner with Nick Gonzales while Jared Triolo (knee) is on the shelf, but Yorke could push for a bigger share of the playing time if he keeps scalding the ball.

Keller didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 8-2 loss to the Padres, allowing three hits and a walk over six scoreless innings. He struck out four.

The veteran right-hander was masterful over 75 pitches (49 strikes), but manager Don Kelly elected to lift Keller to begin the seventh inning in a scoreless tie and watched his bullpen immediately implode. Keller has begun the season with three straight quality starts but has won only one of them, delivering a 1.00 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 11:5 K:BB through 18 innings. He'll look for more run support in his next trip to the mound, which is set to come at home early next week against the Nationals.

Lopez's suspension has been reduced from seven to five games after he reached a settlement with Major League Baseball, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Lopez had been handed a seven-game ban after throwing a pitch near the head of the Angels' Jorge Soler in Tuesday's game that led to a benches-clearing brawl. Between the successful appeal and a team off day Thursday, Lopez will not have to miss a start. He's lined up to take the ball Tuesday at home against the Marlins.

Cronenworth went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Pirates.

The veteran infielder helped the Padres break open a scoreless tie when he turned on a Justin Lawrence fastball in the seventh inning and parked it in the seats in right-center field. It was Cronenworth's first homer of the year, and after a sluggish 4-for-32 (.125) start to the season, he's gone 3-for-9 over the last three contests with two walks, three RBI and his first two extra-base hits of the season.

Laureano went 2-for-5 with a run scored and two stolen bases in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Pirates.

The Padres took advantage of Pittsburgh catcher Joey Bart on the basepaths, going 6-for-6 on steal attempts, and Laureano led the track meet from the leadoff spot. The veteran outfielder has a tepid .244/.277/.422 slash line through 11 games to begin the season, but he's chipped in two homers, three stolen bases, five runs and six RBI.

Slater out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.

Owen Caissie will slot back into right field in place of Slater, who had started each of the last four games while going 2-for-11 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored. All six of Slater's starts this season have come against left-handed pitching, and the veteran outfielder appears likely to remain a strict short-side platoon player moving forward.

King (1-1) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over six-plus innings in an 8-2 victory over the Pirates. He struck out four.

The right-hander found himself locked in a duel with Mitch Keller through six innings, but the Padres broke out for four runs in the top of the seventh. King then put the first two batters in the bottom of the frame aboard before getting the hook after 95 pitches (57 strikes) and watched both come around to score after he left the mound. The quality start was King's first of the year in addition to the win, and he'll take a 3.24 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 15:8 K:BB through 16.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Mariners.

Sanoja is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.

Sanoja will hit the bench after he had been included in the lineup at third base in each of the Marlins' last four games -- all against left-handed starting pitchers. Graham Pauley will settle back in at the hot corner Wednesday in place of Sanoja, who is likely to remain stuck in the short side of a platoon.

Lopez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Reds.

Lopez had been listed in the Marlins' initial lineup, but that was a clerical error as he had been scheduled for a day off, per Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. Leo Jimenez will cover shortstop and bat eighth for Miami.