MLB Player News

The Mets optioned Herget to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.

Herget will cede his spot on the active roster to Jonah Tong. Herget was called up Wednesday and threw 2.2 scoreless innings against the Marlins on Thursday. The 34-year-old has a 2.00 ERA in 27 innings with Syracuse in 2025.

The Mets selected Tong's contract from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.

Tong is set to make his major-league debut Friday against the Marlins at Citi Field. The 22-year-old posted a 1.43 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 179 strikeouts in 113.2 innings covering 22 starts between Double-A Binghamton and Syracuse. Tong isn't guaranteed any starts beyond Friday's debut, but a strong performance could convince the Mets he should stick around alongside fellow rookie Nolan McLean.

The Cardinals will place Pozo on the 7-day concussion injured list prior to Friday's contest in Cincinnati, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Pozo was examined by the trainer after taking a foul tip off his mask Thursday. and while he stayed in and finished the game, he subsequently displayed symptoms of a concussion. Jimmy Crooks is being called up from Triple-A Memphis to take Pozo's spot on the active roster and split catching duties with Pedro Pages.

The Cardinals will place Burleson (wrist) on the 10-day injured list prior to Friday's game in Cincinnati, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Burleson missed one game last week with a right wrist injury and had to be pulled early from Thursday's contest after the issue flared up on him again. He will be eligible for activation Sept. 8, but it's unclear whether he'll be ready to go on that date. The Cardinals will roll with Lars Nootbaar, Nathan Church and Jordan Walker as their primary outfielders for now, though Victor Scott (ankle) should be back next week to displace Church from that group.

Pozo will be evaluated for a possible concussion Friday after taking a foul tip off the mask during Thursday's win over the Pirates, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Pozo was checked out by the Cardinals' training staff Thursday and stayed in to finish the contest, but that doesn't preclude concussion symptoms from surfacing later. Catcher Jimmy Crooks is expected to be promoted from Triple-A Memphis, which could point to Pozo being placed on the 7-day concussion injured list.

Burleson had to be removed from Thursday's game against the Pirates after the seventh inning due to nagging soreness in his right wrist, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Burleson had to miss a game last week due to his wrist, and it flared up on him again Thursday. The Cardinals are expected to promote both Jimmy Crooks and Cesar Prieto from Triple-A Memphis on Friday, and Burleson going on the 10-day injured list is one of the possible corresponding transactions.

The Pirates placed Kiner-Falefa on outright waivers Friday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Kiner-Falefa will remain with the Pirates if he goes unclaimed on waivers. The utility player is in the second year of a two-year, $15 million contract he signed with the Blue Jays in 2023. Kiner-Falefa has been Pittsburgh's everyday third baseman since Ke'Bryan Hayes was traded to the Reds near the deadline. He's still eligible to play for Pittsburgh while on waivers.

The Cardinals will select Prieto's contract from Triple-A Memphis on Friday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Prieto will be making his MLB debut when he gets into a game. A previous report had indicated the 26-year-old second baseman would join the team Thursday against the Pirates, but he'll be called up in time for a three-game weekend road series against the Reds instead. Prieto has slashed .296/.358/.453 with 10 home runs and 11 stolen bases in 450 plate appearances with Memphis this season

The Cardinals will call up Crooks from Triple-A Memphis prior to Friday's game against the Reds, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Crooks is ready for an opportunity at the major-league level after slashing .274/.337/.441 with 14 home runs this season with Memphis. The 24-year-old has been red hot in August, producing a .337/.404/.518 line with three long balls. It's not clear what the corresponding move will be to get Crooks on the active roster, but Yohel Pozo was shaken up by a foul tip off the mask Thursday. If Pozo needs to miss time, Crooks could share catching duties with Pedro Pages.

Chourio (hamstring) has gone just 1-for-19 with an 8:2 K:BB in five rehab games with Triple-A Nashville.

The results at the plate for Chourio on his rehab assignment have not been there, but the good news is he played through the top of the 10th inning of Nashville's extra-inning loss to Charlotte on Wednesday. That could be the final step he needed to take before being reinstated from the 10-day injured list, as he was off Thursday and is expected to rejoin the Brewers for their weekend series in Toronto. Chourio has been shelved since late July with a strained right hamstring.