MLB Player News

Merrill is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest against the Athletics.

It's the first day off this season for Merrill, who homered Sunday for his third long ball in 10 games. Brandon Lockridge is starting in center field and batting eighth in Monday's series opener.

The Brewers acquired Cameron and cash considerations from the Orioles on Monday in exchange for left-hander Grant Wolfram, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

After being outrighted off the Orioles' 40-man roster in February, Cameron remained in the organization and began the season at Triple-A Norfolk, where he slashed .222/.333/.278 with three RBI across five games. He'll get a fresh start in the Brewers organization and will likely be assigned to Triple-A Nashville.

Kershaw (toe/knee) said Monday that his arm is "ready to go," but his surgically repaired left big toe "isn't all the way there," David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

The veteran lefty also had offseason surgery on his left knee, but it sounds like the toe is the bigger obstacle he needs to overcome. Kershaw faced hitters at the Dodgers' spring training complex in Arizona last Thursday and will do so again this Thursday. He is already on the 60-day injured list and thus not eligible to return until late May. There is no timetable for Kershaw's season debut.

Thomas is not in the Diamondbacks' starting lineup against the Orioles on Monday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Thomas started in the Diamondbacks' last two games and went 3-for-8 with a triple and two RBI, but he'll begin Monday's contest in the dugout. Jake McCarthy will get the start in center field and bat eighth against Orioles right-hander Zach Eflin.

Saggese will start at third base and bat sixth against the Pirates on Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Saggese wasn't initially in the Cardinals' starting nine, but he's a late addition due to Nolan Arenado being scratched due to an illness and general soreness. Saggese went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, one home run and four RBI across the Cardinals' doubleheader against the Red Sox on Sunday.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that Contreras is not a candidate to move back to catcher in the wake of the Ivan Herrera (knee) injury, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Contreras will be available as an emergency third catcher, but he is set to remain the team's primary first baseman. Pedro Pages will receive the bulk of the reps at catcher for St. Louis while Herrera is out, and Yohel Pozo has been called up to serve as Pages' understudy.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Wrobleski will be called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to start Tuesday's game against the Nationals in Washington, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Wrobleski and Landon Knack will both join the Dodgers this week to fill the two openings in the rotation caused by Blake Snell (shoulder) landing on the 15-day injured list and by the team electing to add a sixth starter to the mix. The 24-year-old lefty previously made eight appearances (six starts) for the Dodgers in 2024, going 1-2 with a 5.70 ERA,1.38 WHIP and 26:16 K:BB across 36.1 innings. Wrobleski was sharp in his lone outing for Oklahoma City this season, striking out three over 5.2 scoreless innings last Tuesday.

The Pirates recalled Cheng from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.

Cheng will head to the big leagues for the first time, joining the Pirates as a replacement for utility man Jared Triolo (back), who was placed on the injured list. The 23-year-old is capable of playing second base, third base and shortstop, but he's not included in the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals and may not be in store for regular playing time during his stint with the big club.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that Arenado was scratched from the lineup for Monday's game against the Pirates due to an illness and soreness, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The illness isn't believed to be anything significant, but Arenado will need at least one day off to recover. With Arenado out of the lineup for the first time this season, Thomas Saggese will pick up a start at third base and will bat sixth.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that Herrera will miss at least four weeks after being diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Testing on Herrera's knee came back negative for structural damage, but the bone bruise is going to cost the young catcher a month of action, at minimum. Pedro Pages will take on the primary catcher duties for the Cardinals while Herrera is out, and Yohel Pozo has been called up from Triple-A Memphis to serve as Pages' backup.