MLB Player News

Vargas is not in the lineup for Thursday's tilt against the Dodgers.

Vargas had started each of the previous four contests at first base, but he'll begin Thursday's festivities on the bench. Tim Tawa is handling first base and batting eighth for the Diamondbacks in the series finale.

McCann is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Dodgers.

McCann has served as the Diamondbacks' primary catcher lately while Gabriel Moreno occupies the designated-hitter slot. However, it will be Moreno at catcher and Adrian Del Castillo at DH for Thursday's matinee.

Sasaki notched a hold against Arizona on Wednesday, striking out two batters in a perfect seventh inning.

Sasaki was the first reliever Dodgers manager Dave Roberts used after Blake Snell allowed just one run over six innings. The appearance was Sasaki's first out of the bullpen in the majors after beginning his career with eight starts. The right-hander not only got through a clean inning, he looked dominant in doing so, striking out two of the three batters he faced and notching three whiffs on 13 pitches. Roberts is seeking answers to patch up a beleaguered bullpen that blew its 27th save of the season Wednesday, so Sasaki could be handed a pretty prominent high-leverage role in the playoffs if he's able to consistently pitch the way he did in his initial relief appearance.

The Pirates recalled Shugart from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

Shugart will be able to offer some length out of the Pirates' bullpen. He's posted a 3.50 ERA and 29:17 K:BB over 43.2 frames this season and has gone multiple innings in 14 of 34 appearances.

The Pirates optioned Moreta to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

Moreta has pitched well in 18 appearances out of the Pirates' bullpen this season, collecting a 3.24 ERA and 19:7 K:BB over 16.2 frames. He'll be replaced on the roster and in the bullpen by Chase Shugart.

Arenado said Wednesday that he will be willing this offseason to expand his list of teams to which he would approve a trade to, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Arenado told the Cardinals last winter that he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to join the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, Padres or Astros. However, he wound up blocking a potential deal to Houston and remained in St. Louis for the 2025 season. Being more open-minded to potential trade destinations helps the possibility of a deal going down, but Arenado's declining performance and the roughly $40 million he's still owed remain major roadblocks. Arenado remains a plus defender at third base, but he's slashed just .236/.289/.371 with 11 homers in 105 games this season and will turn 35 next April.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Thursday that he's discussed with Greene the possibility of pitching out of the bullpen during Sunday's game in Milwaukee, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Greene threw 96 pitches over six innings in Wednesday's extra-innings loss to the Pirates, so he would be pitching on three days' rest Sunday and would be making his first-ever relief appearance. Francona said that Greene is "open" to the idea, though it will ultimately come down to how the righty feels Sunday and also whether the Reds still have something to play for.

Bart (wrist) will start at catcher and bat sixth in Thursday's game against the Reds.

Bart had to be scratched from the lineup Tuesday and didn't play Wednesday because of a wrist issue, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in Thursday's series finale. The 28-year-old Bart will enter action Thursday having homered in two straight contests.

Cruz (ankle) is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Cincinnati.

Cruz departed Wednesday's game with left ankle discomfort, though he probably wasn't going to start Thursday, regardless, with southpaw Nick Lodolo on the bump for the Reds. He's considered day-to-day for the time being. Alexander Canario is in center field and batting seventh for the Pirates in Thursday's series finale.

Merrill went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Merrill accounted for San Diego's only run with a 344-foot solo shot to left field in the sixth inning. The second-year outfielder has picked up his power of late, belting six home runs over his past 12 games. Merrill is batting .306 during that span with 11 runs scored and eight RBI, although he's also struck out at a 29.4 percent clip.