MLB Player News

Morgan (knee) began a throwing progression this week, per MLB.com.

Morgan has been on the IL since late June due to soreness in his left knee. The righty reliever had been pitching pretty well prior to getting hurt, posting a 2.08 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with an 11:2 K:BB over 8.2 innings spanning seven appearances since the calendar flipped to June. Morgan isn't expected to return to San Diego by the All-Star break, but he could be activated before the end of July.

Alcantara (10-5) took the loss Friday against the Guardians, allowing three runs on five hits across seven innings while striking out eight.

Alcantara gave up a two-run shot to Chase DeLauter in the top of the fourth and another run in the fifth on a Travis Bazzana sac fly. Despite the loss, Alcantara has been a reliable arm throughout the season. He's allowed two or fewer earned runs in four of his last five starts, and this loss snapped a streak of seven straight starts with a win for the 30-year-old. Alcantara has a 3.99 ERA in 130.2 innings this season and is lined up to make his next start against the Brewers on the road Friday, July 17.

Diaz (elbow) threw live batting practice Wednesday and is approaching a minor-league rehab assignment, per MLB.com.

The live BP was Diaz's second over a four-day span and marked another step forward in his recovery from the elbow surgery he underwent in late April. The expectation remains that Diaz will need to embark on a rehab stint before being activated from the 60-day IL, but even so he appears in line to return to the Dodgers' bullpen not long after the All-Star break.

Waldschmidt was removed from Friday's game against the Dodgers with an apparent hand injury, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Waldschmidt took a 99.6 mph sinker off his right hand while attempting to lay down a bunt in the sixth inning and was pulled from the game immediately afterward. The D-backs will presumably send him in for X-rays to determine whether he suffered a fracture, and an update on his status should come in the near future.

Baty went 3-for-4 with a steal, a solo home run and an additional run scored during the Mets' 6-2 loss to the Red Sox on Friday.

Baty made Friday's score look a little more respectable for the Mets by belting a solo home run in the ninth inning, his fourth long ball of the season and first since May 18 against the Nationals. His three hits were a season high and his most in a game since Sept. 17, 2025. Baty's hitting streak is up to 10 games, during which he has gone 13-for-38 (.342) with two steals, five RBI, five extra-base hits and eight runs scored.

McLean (6-6) took the loss against Boston on Friday, allowing two unearned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven across six innings.

It was a tough-luck loss for McLean, as both of the runs that the Red Sox scored in the first inning were unearned due to a throwing error by Juan Soto. McLean kept Boston off the board over the next five frames, but he didn't get enough run support from his New York teammates to avoid the loss, though he still came away with his third straight quality start (and 10th of the season). He'll enter the All-Star break with a 3.52 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 125:39 K:BB over 107.1 innings this season.

The White Sox traded Eisert and Jacob Gonzalez to the Pirates on Friday in exchange for minor-league reliever Jaden Woods and the 34th pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Eisert has struggled to find his footing in the big leagues this season, logging a 5.93 ERA and 1.24 WHIP through 27.1 innings with the White Sox. Unless a change of scenery sparks a significant turnaround, the 28-year-old southpaw is likely to remain in a middle-relief role with the Pirates.

The White Sox traded Gonzalez and Brandon Eisert to the Pirates on Friday in exchange for minor-league reliever Jaden Woods and the 34th pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

After sending him down to Triple-A earlier in the day, the White Sox will now send Gonzalez out to Pittsburgh to help bolster the Pirates' infield depth. The 24-year-old has slashed .244/.323/.360 across 97 plate appearances in the majors since making his MLB debut May 31, but he boasts a 1.040 OPS at the Triple-A level. With Konnor Griffin (finger) expected to miss multiple months and Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) also on the IL, Gonzalez could get an opportunity to contribute right away for the big club.

Imanaga (5-8) took the loss against the Reds on Friday, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out five across five innings.

Imanaga allowed at least one baserunner in each of the first four innings he pitched, but he did just enough to keep the Reds off the board. That scoreless effort came to an end on an Elly De La Cruz solo homer in the fifth, and while that was the only run Imanaga gave up Friday, he was still tagged with the loss as his Cubs teammates failed to score a run. Imanaga went through a rough patch from mid-May to early June, but he's given up two earned runs or less in five of his last six outings, posting a 2.81 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 32 innings in that span. He enters the All-Star break with a 4.17 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 105:27 K:BB across 108 innings.

Bleday went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run during Friday's 4-0 win over the Cubs.

Bleday capped off the Reds' three-run eighth inning with a two-run homer to center field, giving Cincinnati insurance runs to secure Friday's victory. Bleday has gone deep in two of his last three games and is up to 15 home runs on the season, surpassing his total from last year (14). He is also on track to eclipse the career-high 20 long balls that he hit in 2024 as a member of the Athletics. Bleday has an .838 OPS with four steals and 41 RBI across 276 plate appearances this season.