MLB Player News

Melendez is not in the lineup for Friday's contest against the Marlins.

After getting off to a hot start for the Mets, Melendez is just 2-for-35 across his last 18 games. The Mets will go with Jared Young at designated hitter against Marlins right-hander Max Meyer.

Ryan fired six scoreless innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City against Sugar Land on Thursday, striking out eight and giving up four hits and no walks.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said in mid-May that there was a "slim chance" of the 27-year-old joining the big-league rotation in place of Blake Snell (elbow), and Ryan has remained with Oklahoma City for the past three turns through the rotation. The right-hander has been dominant through five Triple-A starts this year with a 2.05 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 29:3 K:BB across 22 innings. After giving up just three earned runs across four outings in his first taste of the big leagues last year, it's likely only a matter of time before Ryan gets another look in 2026.

Gorman is out of the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

St. Louis will leave Gorman out of Friday's lineup against lefty Shota Imanaga. Thomas Saggese will take over at third base for Gorman and hit eighth in the batting order.

The Cardinals selected Velazquez's contract from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

Velazquez nearly won an Opening Day roster spot with a big spring but then got off to a slow start at Memphis. However, the 27-year-old earned a promotion after slashing .308/.418/.600 with five home runs for Memphis in May. The right-handed slugger is starting at designated hitter and batting cleanup against Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga on Friday.

The Cardinals optioned Prieto to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

Prieto was promoted in early May and didn't play much, going hitless in 17 plate appearances. He'll see more regular reps at Memphis, where he's slashed .311/.357/.566 this season.

The Cardinals recalled Crooks from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

The 24-year-old will join the big-league roster after posting a .262/.412/.567 slash line with 13 homers in 39 games for Memphis. Yohel Pozo was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. It's not clear how much playing time Crooks will get, as Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages have split most of the starts at catcher this season, but Pages' .622 OPS in 125 plate appearances could make him the odd man out.

The Cardinals optioned Pozo to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

Pozo has played sparingly this season as the team's third catcher, going 8-for-33 at the plate. His spot on the roster is being filled by Jimmy Crooks.

Wicks is slated to start Sunday's game against the Cardinals in St. Louis, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Wicks will be making a second turn through the rotation, but he'll receive the start mainly due to the Cubs' dwindling pitching depth rather than merit. The southpaw made his 2026 debut for the Cubs on Tuesday, taking a loss in Pittsburgh after yielding eight earned runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out five over 4.1 innings. Wicks hadn't pitched especially well at Iowa prior to his promotion either, logging a 4.44 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 20:12 K:BB in 26.1 innings across seven starts.

The Pirates activated Jones (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Friday.

Jones is set to make his season debut for the Pirates on Friday just over one year after undergoing UCL surgery on his right elbow. The 24-year-old pitched well in five rehab starts, logging a 2.89 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 24:6 K:BB across 18.2 innings. Jones threw 76 pitches in his last outing, so he should be capable of a workload of 85-90 pitches versus Minnesota.

The Reds placed Ashcraft on the 60-day injured list Friday with a UCL sprain in his right elbow, Charlie Clifford of NBC 5 Cincinnati reports.

Ashcraft felt discomfort following his last appearance Monday versus the Mets, and an MRI revealed UCL damage. The reliever will not undergo surgery at this point, but he will be given an injection and is expected to miss multiple months. It's a major blow to the Cincinnati bullpen, as Ashcraft has logged a 3.33 ERA and 32:16 K:BB over 27 innings while notching one save.