MLB Player News

Soto went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and two total runs scored in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Cardinals.

Soto broke a 4-4 tie in the seventh inning with his 14th homer of the season, a 398-foot blast off a JoJo Romero two-strike sweeper. It was an encouraging day overall at the plate for Soto, who'd gone just 1-for-17 in his previous five games. Overall, he's slashing .277/.369/.537 this year with 31 RBI, 30 runs scored and six steals across 218 plate appearances.

Burleson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Mets.

With his 424-foot blast off Christian Scott in the first inning, Burleson extended his home-run streak to three games and his hit streak to 11. In those 11 contests, Burleson has gone 16-for-45 (.356) with a 1.119 OPS. He's boosted his slash line to .290/.356/.486 across 284 plate appearances this year with 11 homers, 48 RBI and 35 runs scored.

Scott did not factor into the decision in the Mets' 5-4 win over the Cardinals on Wednesday, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. He struck out six.

Scott struggled to keep the ball in the park Wednesday -- he surrendered four runs on three homers in the first two innings. Coming into the day, Scott had given up just one home run this season and none in his previous starts (29.2 innings) leading up to Wednesday, so the long ball isn't a major concern despite New York's power display. The right-hander now sports a 3.10 ERA with a 1.35 WHIP and 47:19 K:BB across 40.2 innings this season. Scott is tentatively lined up to face the Reds on the road in his next outing.

Williams earned the save in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Cardinals, striking out a pair in a perfect ninth inning.

Williams made quick work of St. Louis on Wednesday to close out the Mets' one-run victory, earning his ninth save this season. After a shaky start to the year, Williams has now converted his last seven save chances while holding opponents scoreless in 14 of his last 16 appearances. Overall, Williams sports a 5.32 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP and 35:14 K:BB across 22 innings this season.

The Phillies acquired Hill and international bonus pool money from the White Sox on Thursday in exchange for Dylan Campbell and Jose Colmenares, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Hill is effectively replacing Johan Rojas, who needs season-ending internal brace surgery on his right elbow. The right-handed-hitting Hill has a career .521 OPS versus right-handed pitching but boasts a .780 OPS against lefties. He will be used as a late-inning defensive replacement and should see occasional starts in center field against southpaws.

The Dodgers selected Robinson's contract from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday.

The 31-year-old will join the big club for the first time this season to make up for the loss of Will Smith, who landed on the injured list Thursday with neck inflammation. Robinson owns a .763 OPS through 84 plate appearances at Triple-A this season but isn't likely to receive many at-bats with the Dodgers while working as a backup to Dalton Rushing.

The Dodgers placed Smith on the 10-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to Monday, due to neck inflammation.

Smith has missed the Dodgers' last four games because of his injured neck, and manager Dave Roberts confirmed Wednesday that the All-Star backstop would require an IL stint and ramp-up period before returning to action. Dalton Rushing will fill in behind the plate most days while Smith is out, and Chuckie Robinson will join the big club from Triple-A to work as the backup catcher.

The Brewers returned Priester (shoulder) from his rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Thursday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Priester has struggled to gain any sort of momentum during his rehab outings, posting a 21.60 ERA in 10 innings across six appearances between Triple-A Nashville and High-A Wisconsin, and more recently allowing four earned runs on three hits and seven walks across six innings between two starts in rookie ball. The Brewers haven't outlined what Priester's next steps will be now that his rehab assignment has been paused, but he doesn't appear to be anywhere near a return to Milwaukee's rotation.

The Brewers signed Richardson to a minor-league contract Thursday, Jim Goulart of BrewerFanatic.com reports.

Richardson elected free agency last week after being booted off the Reds' 40-man roster. The 26-year-old holds a career 6.67 ERA and 46:39 K:BB over 56.2 innings covering parts of four seasons at the major-league level. Richardson will report to the Brewers' Arizona Complex League affiliate for now but should move up to Triple-A Nashville soon.

The Pirates recalled Valdez from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

Valdez went 2-for-16 with a pair of home runs during an earlier stint in the big leagues this season. The Pirates could give Valdez regular chances in the outfield while they deal with the fallout of the Oneil Cruz's absence due to a hand injury. Valdez, 22, has slashed .255/.388/.526 with 13 home runs across 237 plate appearances with Indianapolis this season.