MLB Player News

Gilbert will start in center field and bat eighth Sunday against the Nationals, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Gilbert appears to have seized a regular role against right-handed pitchers while San Francisco is without Harrison Bader (hamstring). Since being called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday, the 25-year-old has been included in the lineup in five straight games. Over his first four starts, Gilbert has gone 3-for-12 with a home run, two walks, two RBI and an additional run scored.

The Pirates recalled Dotel from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The 23-year-old has surrendered 10 earned runs with a 13:7 K:BB over 14.1 innings to begin the season with Indianapolis, but he'll get his first opportunity in the major leagues anyway. Dotel was working out of the rotation at Triple-A but will shift to the bullpen to provide some depth for the Pirates after Saturday's 13-inning loss to the Rays.

The Dodgers recalled Ward from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.

With Freddie Freeman going on the paternity list in a corresponding move, the 28-year-old Ward will receive his first call-up to the majors. The Dodgers added Ward to the 40-man roster over the winter after he slashed .292/.382/.558 with 36 home runs and 16 stolen bases in 143 games at Oklahoma City last season on his way to claiming Pacific Coast League MVP honors. He's gotten off to another strong start with the Triple-A club in 2026 (1.020 OPS, three steals in 18 games) and could end up serving as the Dodgers' main option at first base while Freeman is away from the team for the next 1-to-3 days.

The Dodgers placed Freeman on the paternity list Sunday, Jon Paul Hoornstra of Newsweek.com reports.

Freeman has played in all 20 of Los Angeles' games this season but will now step away from the team for a few days to be with his growing family. The veteran first baseman should rejoin the club during the upcoming three-game series in San Francisco this week. Ryan Ward was called up Sunday to round out the Dodgers' 26-man roster.

The Nationals recalled Alvarez from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.

The left-hander has a 4.66 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 27:10 K:BB across 19.1 frames in four starts for Rochester and will now get a look in the big-league bullpen. The Nationals are starting PJ Poulin as an opener Sunday before turning to primary pitcher Miles Mikolas, after which Alvarez could be called upon to provide some more length.

Pauley (oblique) is starting at third base and batting ninth Sunday against the Brewers.

The 25-year-old picked up a minor oblique injury Friday versus Milwaukee and was held out of Saturday's contest, but he'll return to the lineup Sunday for the series finale. Pauley has yet to get on track at the plate this season with no homers, a 1:13 BB:K and .174/.191/.304 slash line through 68 plate appearances.

Mikolas is scheduled to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher PJ Poulin in Sunday's game against the Giants, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

The Nationals will pair Mikolas with Poulin for a second straight turn through the rotation. After turning in a 12.41 ERA, 2.35 WHIP and 11:7 K:BB in 12.1 innings over his first three starts this season, Mikolas didn't fare dramatically better coming out of the bullpen Tuesday, as the Pirates tagged him for three earned runs on three hits and two walks across 3.1 innings. Despite the favorable matchup against a weak Giants offense, Mikolas hasn't provided reason for fantasy managers to include him in lineups with any level of confidence.

Poulin will serve as the Nationals' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Giants, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Poulin will draw his third start of the season as an opener, again working in front of Miles Mikolas. The Nationals rode the Poulin-Mikolas pairing to a win over the Pirates on Tuesday, though the two pitchers combined to allow four earned runs over 4.1 innings. Poulin is unlikely to pitch more than an inning or two Sunday before turning the game over to the veteran right-hander.

The Marlins reinstated Stowers (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Sunday. He'll start in left field and bat cleanup in the Marlins' series finale versus the Brewers.

Stowers strained his hamstring during the closing days of spring training after dealing with a similar injury earlier in camp, but he'll make his 2026 MLB debut Sunday after completing a five-game minor-league rehab assignment. The 28-year-old is expected to see the bulk of his reps in left field and could also get some looks at first base. Regardless of where he's playing in the field, he should have plenty of RBI opportunities batting in the heart of Miami's lineup.

The Marlins optioned De Los Santos to Triple-A Jacksonville on Sunday.

With Kyle Stowers (hamstring) returning from the injured list Sunday, De Los Santos will head back to Triple-A in order to get regular playing time. Over his two abbreviated stints in the majors this season, the 22-year-old has gone 2-for-7 with a double and a 0:3 BB:K.