MLB Player News

The Mets claimed Arias off waivers from the Guardians on Friday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Arias was removed from the Guardians' 40-man roster earlier this week after collecting a .244/.284/.386 slash line with five homers and a 42.5 percent strikeout rate in 134 plate appearances this season. The 26-year-old does not have minor-league options remaining, so he will join the Mets' active roster. New York will have to make a corresponding transaction when Arias reports to the club.

Brubaker will get the start in Friday's bullpen game against the Tigers, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The former starter has been used exclusively in relief this season by the Giants, though he has logged three-plus innings in five of his 34 appearances. Brubaker will be pitching on two days' rest after yielding one run in one inning of work in Tuesday's loss to the Rangers, so his pitch count is likely to be very limited.

Cruz (hand) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Cruz has finally been cleared to test things out in a game setting after missing two months with a fractured left hand. The center fielder would ideally be given a handful of rehab contests to knock the rust off, but the Pirates might not have the luxury of taking things slowly as they fight for a playoff spot. Cruz slashed .264/.350/.472 with 14 home runs and 21 stolen bases in 64 games for Pittsburgh before getting hurt.

Petty will start for the Reds in Friday's bullpen game against the Nationals, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Petty has not started a game since early June and shouldn't be expected to cover more than three innings Friday. The right-hander has collected a 4.50 ERA and 14:8 K:BB over 30 innings covering 15 appearances (two starts) for the Reds this season.

Alvarez is slated to start Saturday's game against the Reds at Nationals Park.

After being called up from Triple-A Rochester on Monday, Alvarez will wind up getting a two-start week. The 27-year-old southpaw delivered a quality start Monday against the Phillies with two earned runs allowed over 6.1 innings, and he's compiled a 3.94 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 63:31 K:BB over 64 innings through his first 16 appearances (eight starts) with Washington. Alvarez should have a good chance at sticking around in the rotation spot for the rest of the season after the Nationals designated right-hander Zack Littell for assignment earlier in the week.

Stock is listed as the Mets' probable starting pitcher for Saturday's game in Pittsburgh.

The 36-year-old righty will be awarded another turn through the rotation after a solid showing last Sunday, when he held the Marlins to one run on three hits and no walks while striking out four over five innings in his first big-league start since 2021. The Mets thinned their starting depth by dealing away Clay Holmes (fibula) and Freddy Peralta at the trade deadline, and with prospects Jonah Tong and Jack Wenninger struggling of late at Triple-A Syracuse, Stock doesn't appear to be facing any imminent threats for his spot in the rotation.

Perales is a pitcher the Nationals believe is nearly ready to make his big-league debut, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.

Acquired from Boston in the offseason, Perales had a bumpy start to the season after completing his recovery from Tommy John surgery, but over his last eight starts for Triple-A Rochester he's put together a 2.79 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 41:25 K:BB in 38.2 innings. The 23-year-old right-hander is still working to improve his control and his stamina, but Perales has elite raw stuff headlined by a four-seamer that averaged 98.5 mph and a split-finger pitch that's generated a 42.2 percent whiff rate in 2026. A late-season stint with the Nationals would put Perales on track to win a spot in the rotation next spring.

Early (elbow) will not be sent for an MRI after he felt some minor forearm tightness during a live batting practice session Tuesday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.

Manager Blake Butera indicated the organization wasn't overly concerned about Early's health, but the setback might have been the only excuse the Nationals needed to rule the southpaw out from pitching in the majors again this season. Acquired in the Curtis Mead (wrist) deal, Early had a 3.44 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 93:34 K:BB through 91.2 innings for the Red Sox earlier this year. He last saw game action June 30 before landing on the IL with elbow inflammation.

Semien went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Thursday's win over the Guardians.

The veteran second baseman got the Mets on the board in the second inning with a solo shot off Foster Griffin, Semien's fourth long ball in the last 14 games and his 13th of the season. During that stretch, he's compiled a strong .262/.347/.571 slash line with two steals, eight RBI and 10 runs, as Semien tries to salvage his first campaign for New York. Despite the recent success at the plate, his .633 OPS on the season is still tracking toward being the worst mark of his career.

Benge went 3-for-6 with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI in Thursday's win over the Guardians.

The rookie outfielder looks increasingly comfortable in the majors. Benge has hit safely in nine of the last 10 games, batting .351 (13-for-37) over that stretch with two doubles, a triple, two homers, a steal, four RBI and six runs.