MLB Player News

Skenes (0-1) took the loss Thursday against the Mets, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning.

It was a nightmare opener for the 23-year-old ace, who struggled heavily with command and was chased before the end of the first inning for the first time in his young career. The rough frame started off with a quick walk to Francisco Lindor and was propelled by a bases-clearing triple from Brett Baty that gave New York a lead it never relinquished. While the result is alarming on the surface, it's likely just a blip given Skenes' track record, as the right-hander recorded a 1.97 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 216 strikeouts, winning the NL Cy Young unanimously in 2025. Skenes will look to return to his normal dominance in his next scheduled outing.

Hoerner and the Cubs agreed to terms on a six-year, $141 million contract extension Thursday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Hoerner's extension further solidifies the Cubs' commitment to their current core after the club signed Pete Crow-Armstrong to a six-year deal Monday. Since becoming a regular starter for the Cubs in 2022, Hoerner has established himself as one of the premier second basemen in baseball while slashing .284/.339/.389 and averaging roughly 58 RBI, 83 runs scored and 31 stolen bases per season.

Stewart (shoulder) will begin throwing live batting practice Friday, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

Stewart is lined up to throw a second round of live BP on Tuesday, and if he gets through both sessions without any problems, the Dodgers may send him out on a rehab assignment. Once healthy, the 34-year-old righty could take on a high-leverage role after finishing 2025 with a 2.63 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 37.2 regular-season innings.

The Rockies transferred Petit (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Petit will miss the entire 2026 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery with an internal brace on his right elbow last week. Valente Bellozo was selected to the 40-man roster and optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move.

The Rockies selected Bellozo's contract Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Albuquerque, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Bellozo didn't make the cut for Colorado's Opening Day roster after giving up 11 earned runs in 15.2 Cactus League innings, but he will claim a spot on the team's 40-man roster. The 26-year-old right-hander owns a 4.20 ERA and 1.32 WHIP through 150 innings in his big-league career and could earn a spot in the Rockies' poor starting rotation if he returns to form in Triple-A. RJ Petit (elbow) was placed on the 60-day IL in a corresponding move.

Marte (leg) will start at second base and bat leadoff in Thursday's season opener against the Dodgers.

Marte had to be scratched from the Diamondbacks' final exhibition contest due to lower-leg soreness earlier in the week, but the minor injury won't keep him from suiting up Opening Day. The switch hitter batted second against right-handers last season, but he'll get a turn in the leadoff spot versus righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Thursday.

Tauchman underwent surgery Thursday to repair the torn meniscus in his left knee, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Tauchman is expected to miss the first six weeks of the season while he recovers from his operation. He'll report to Triple-A Syracuse once he's healthy but could be bumped up to Queens during the season if Carson Benge struggles during his first season in the bigs.

Birdsong underwent successful UCL reconstruction surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Birdsong was diagnosed with a sprained UCL in mid-March and elected to go under the knife. The right-hander will miss the entirety of the 2026 campaign and likely at least the first couple months of 2027.

The Rockies reassigned Bellozo to minor-league camp Monday.

After compiling a 4.65 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 54:23 K:BB over 81.1 innings as a swingman for Miami in 2025, Bellozo didn't perform well enough in his first spring training with the Rockies to win a spot on the Opening Day roster as a starter or long reliever. He's expected to open the upcoming season at Triple-A Albuquerque.

Milias will begin the season on the Nationals' 26-man roster, Jessica Camerato and Paige Leckie of MLB.com report.

The 28-year-old beat out Harry Ford and Riley Adams for the job of backing up Keibert Ruiz, giving the Nats a rare combo -- two switch-hitting catchers. Milias has seen brief action in the majors in each of the last three seasons but has never seen more than 62 plate appearances in a campaign, amassing a more-than-respectable .276/.340/.396 slash line with two homers and six steals in 49 games.