MLB Player News
-
Gavin Sheets RF | SD
Padres' Gavin Sheets: Sitting second straight vs. lefty
Sheets is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Sheets sat against Boston lefty Connelly Early on Saturday and will do so again Sunday versus southpaw Ranger Suarez. Sheets' only start against a lefty came on Opening Day. The 29-year-old has a .636 OPS through 21 plate appearances this year, though he's been more productive over his past three contests, going 5-for-10 with two doubles, a steal, two RBI and three runs.
-
Moises Ballesteros C | CHC
Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Playing time trending down
Ballesteros is out of the lineup for the first game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Guardians.
Ballesteros will hit the bench for a third straight game after he started the first five contests of the season. The previous two absences came against a lefty starter, but right-hander Slade Cecconi is taking the ball for Cleveland in the first game of Sunday's twin bill. Alex Bregman is resting his legs but staying in the lineup at designated hitter while Matt Shaw handles the hot corner.
-
Billy Cook OF | PIT
Pirates' Billy Cook: Back in big leagues
The Pirates recalled Cook from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
The 27-year-old was sent to Indianapolis on Thursday but will quickly return to the majors with Jared Triolo (knee) landing on the injured list. Cook made the Pirates' Opening Day roster but registered just six plate appearances during the first week of the season, and he's unlikely to have a significant role while Pittsburgh's outfield is in good health.
-
Hye Seong Kim 2B | LAD
Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: Getting call to big leagues
The Dodgers recalled Kim from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.
Mookie Betts landed on the injured list with an oblique strain, so Kim will join the Dodgers to split playing time at shortstop with Miguel Rojas. Kim missed out on Los Angeles' Opening Day roster in order for him to get everyday reps at Triple-A, but he'll now have a chance at a regular role in the majors. In his first taste of the big leagues last season, he posted a .280/.314/.385 slash line with three homers, 13 steals, 17 RBI and 19 runs in 71 games.
-
Rainiel Rodriguez C | STL
Cardinals' Rainiel Rodriguez: Makes start at first base
Rodriguez made his first career professional start at first base with High-A Peoria on Saturday.
After starting at catcher and homering in the season opener Friday, Rodriguez was used at first base Saturday and went 0-for-3 with a walk. All indications are that the Cardinals will continue to develop Rodriguez as a catcher, but they have lots of organizational depth at the position and it's the 19-year-old's bat that will carry him. If Rodriguez does eventually move to first base or another less physically taxing position, it could accelerate his ascension to the big leagues.
-
Tanner Franklin SP | STL
Cardinals' Tanner Franklin: Dynamite in season debut
Franklin fanned nine batters while allowing two unearned runs across 3.2 innings in his season debut with High-A Peoria on Friday.
Franklin was electric, striking out nine of the 16 hitters he faced while topping out at 100.3 mph on the radar gun. A closer at Tennessee before being selected with the 72nd overall pick in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, Franklin is being given an opportunity to start in the Cardinals system. The 21-year-old still needs to show he can handle the workload and has the repertoire to turn a lineup over, but he has major breakout potential if he does.
-
Mookie Betts RF | LAD
Dodgers' Mookie Betts: IL bound with oblique strain
Manager Dave Roberts announced Sunday that Betts was diagnosed with a right oblique strain and is being placed on the 10-day injured list, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
Betts exited Saturday's contest with the injury, which was originally labeled as lower-back pain. An MRI revealed it's actually an oblique issue, which carries an expected recovery timeline of 4-to-6 weeks, per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. Hyeseong Kim is joining the Dodgers in a corresponding move and is expected to split time at shortstop with Miguel Rojas while Betts is unavailable.
-
Jurrangelo Cijntje SP | STL
Cardinals' Jurrangelo Cijntje: Impresses in organizational debut
Cijntje struck out seven across 5.2 scoreless frames in his season debut with Double-A Springfield on Friday.
Cijntje yielded just one hit and two walks while throwing 81 pitches. It was the organizational debut for the 22-year-old, who was traded from the Mariners to the Cardinals over the offseason in the Brendan Donovan (leg) deal. The switch pitcher is focusing on pitching right-handed in his starts, though it's unclear whether he's completely ditched pitching left-handed.
-
Jared Triolo 3B | PIT
Pirates' Jared Triolo: Out with knee injury
The Pirates placed Triolo on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a patellar tendon injury in his right knee, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
The 28-year-old apparently suffered the injury during Friday's win over the Orioles and was held out of the lineup Saturday. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington indicated Sunday the injury is "more of a weeks-long thing," per Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com, so Triolo doesn't look like he'll be back from the injured list in the near future. Nick Gonzales and Nick Yorke should fill in at third base while Triolo is sidelined.
-
Michael McGreevy P | STL
Cardinals' Michael McGreevy: Working on regaining velocity
McGreevy plans to work on his hip movement during his between-starts bullpen session in the hope that it will help him regain some lost velocity, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
McGreevy has managed a 2.53 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 9:2 K:BB through his first 10.2 innings covering two starts. However, his velocity has been down across the board, with the righty averaging 90.8 mph on his four-seamer (down from 93 mph in 2025) and 89.7 mph on his sinker (down from 91.8 mph). McGreevy has a favorable matchup next week on the road against the Nationals, but he's a risky fantasy proposition without those extra ticks on his fastballs.