MLB Player News

The Phillies activated Kerkering (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Kerkering got a late start to the season after straining his right hamstring during spring training, but he's ready to roll after four rehab appearances. The 25-year-old will settle into a setup role for the Phillies, though he could be eased back into high-leverage situations following the layoff.

The Phillies optioned Backhus to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

He's clearing out to make room on the active roster for Orion Kerkering (hamstring), who is returning from a stint on the 15-day injured list. Backhus has yielded three runs with a 4:1 K:BB over three innings out of the Phillies' bullpen this season.

Herrera has served as the personal catcher for Michael McGreevy and Andre Pallante and is expected to continue doing so at least through the end of April, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The goal in having Herrera attached to two specific starters allows the Cardinals to simplify his game-planning duties and also ease his catching burden following offseason elbow surgery and a spring training knee issue. Additionally, with Herrera catching the team's two best groundball pitchers, it frees up the designated-hitter spot for Nolan Gorman and third base for a better defender in Ramon Urias. The Cardinals have been pleased with Herrera's work at catcher so far, as well as the health of his knee. If those things continue trending in a positive direction, Herrera will eventually take on additional catching responsibilities. If McGreevy and Pallante remain on the same schedule, Herrera should reach 10 games at catcher on April 24, which is the in-season eligibility threshold on most fantasy platforms.

Horton (forearm) will get a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister in Texas on Tuesday after an initial MRI did not yield favorable results, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Horton exited his last start and was subsequently placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right forearm strain. It sounds like the initial prognosis points to a long-term injury and perhaps surgery, but more will be known after the hurler gets a second opinion Tuesday. The Cubs have yet to announce who will take Horton's spot in the rotation Wednesday against the Rays, but Colin Rea is one candidate.

Benson started in right field and went 1-for-4 in Monday's 2-0 win over the Marlins.

Benson and Noelvi Marte have alternated starts in right field since Opening Day; neither has started consecutive days there, although Benson did make one start in left field. It's worked out so that the righty-hitting Marte was in the lineup whenever the Reds faced a lefty, but right field has been a true job share between the two. Benson is batting .238 (5-for-21) with two extra-base hits and one RBI through nine games played.

Freeman went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, a walk, two total runs and three total RBI against the Blue Jays in a 14-2 victory Monday.

Freeman was one of seven Dodgers with multiple hits in the offensive explosion. His homer was a no-doubter that traveled an estimated 438 feet in the third inning. Freeman began the campaign by going 3-for-14 over his first four games. However, he's now in the midst of a six-game hitting streak during which he's batting .308 (8-for-26) with three home runs, three doubles, 10 RBI and six runs scored.

Ohtani went 2-for-6 with a solo home run and an additional run scored Monday in a 14-2 rout of Blue Jays.

Ohtani launched a 414-foot solo shot to center field in the sixth inning to give Los Angeles a 7-1 lead. After beginning the season with no homers through his first six contests, the two-way star has now gone deep three times over his past four games. Ohtani has exactly two hits in each contest during that span and has produced seven RBI while scoring five times.

Harper went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, a run and three RBI in a 6-4 win against the Giants on Monday.

Harper led a late Phillies comeback, knocking in a run on a double in the fifth inning and tying the game with a two-run single in the seventh. It was just the second multi-hit game of the season for the veteran slugger, who entered Monday having gone 0-for-8 over his previous two games. Harper does have a pair of homers and seven RBI through 10 contests on the campaign, but he's still slashing just .200/.273/.425.

Chandler (0-1) took the loss Monday against the Padres, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks while striking out four over 4.1 innings.

After walking six batters in 4.1 no-hit innings in his season debut, free passes remained an issue in this outing, as Chandler struggled to consistently locate despite flashing elite velocity, touching 101 mph with his fastball. Following finding the zone with just 48 of his 83 pitches Monday, the right-hander expressed frustration postgame, noting "Hits are fine, it's stuff that's going to happen, but not competing in the zone is just pathetic," Chandler told SportsNet Pittsburgh. Walks weren't an issue during his brief 2025 stint, when the 23-year-old issued just four across 31.1 innings of work. Chandler will look to regain that level of control in his next scheduled start against the Cubs.

Houser allowed four runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out three batters over six innings in a no-decision against Philadelphia on Monday.

The Giants staked Houser to a four-run lead through four frames, but he couldn't protect the advantage. The right-hander allowed a pair of runs in the fifth, then got through a scoreless sixth before yielding singles to the first two batters he faced in the seventh. Houser was lifted after the latter of those two hits, and both runners he left on base eventually came around to score. The veteran hurler has given up five runs while posting a 7:3 K:BB through 11.1 innings across his first two starts, and he lines up to next take the mound on the road versus Baltimore.