MLB Player News

Benge went 3-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base in Thursday's win over the Phillies.

The rookie outfielder set the table effectively for the Mets in a 6-4 victory, and his leadoff single in the seventh inning sparked a three-run rally that decided the contest. Over his last 18 games, Benge is slashing .293/.338/.533 with eight extra-base hits including four homers, two steals, six RBI and 14 runs.

Minter retired the only two batters he faced Thursday to record his first hold of the season in a win over the Phillies.

Entering the game with one on and one out in the seventh inning and the Mets ahead 6-3, Minter fired seven of eight pitches for strikes as he got Justin Crawford and Kyle Schwarber to fly out. Minter has been outstanding since making a belated season debut in late May after recovering from last summer's lat surgery, posting a 0.00 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB over eight innings and nine appearances. The 32-year-old should continue to work as one of the primary left-handed setup men for closer Devin Williams.

Atlanta activated Bart (foot) from the 10-day injured list Friday.

Bart was acquired via trade from the Pirates on Thursday and is ready to return from the foot infection that's shelved him since mid-May. The 29-year-old will serve as Atlanta's No. 2 catcher behind Drake Baldwin.

Perez (thigh) gave up one run on three hits over 3.2 innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The right-hander fired 51 pitches (37 strikes) in his first rehab outing since landing on the IL on May 29 after straining his right gracilis muscle. The initial estimate for Perez's recovery suggested he might be on the shelf until late July, but Thursday's performance was encouraging enough that a return before the All-Star break looks plausible. Perez was sitting 96-98 mph with his fastballs Thursday and topped out at 99.4 mph on a four-seamer.

The Cubs recalled Dean from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.

An offseason waiver claim, Dean has slashed .238/.369/.354 with three home runs, 14 stolen bases and a 36:58 BB:K over 56 contests with Iowa this season. The 29-year-old can handle all three outfield spots and should operate mainly in a reserve role.

Greene (elbow) struck out six over four scoreless frames Thursday in his first rehab start with the Reds' Arizona Complex League affiliate.

Greene yielded two hits, walked one and topped out at 101.1 mph on the radar gun, per Lance McAlister of 700 WLW Sports Talk. He got his pitch count up to 54, throwing 39 pitches for strikes. It's an encouraging first rehab outing for Greene, who is coming back from mid-March surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow. It's unclear when or where Greene's next rehab start will take place, but the Reds expect the right-hander to rejoin the rotation before the All-Star break.

Liberatore (3-4) allowed seven runs (five earned) on seven hits and no walks while striking out two batters over 1.2 innings to take the loss against Kansas City on Thursday.

Liberatore got an early lead when St. Louis scored twice in the top of the first inning, but he gave one run back in the bottom of the frame on a Bobby Witt (knee) solo homer. Things got much worse for Liberatore in the second, as the Royals swarmed him for six hits -- five of which were doubles -- en route to six runs. The left-hander ultimately gave way to a reliever after retiring only two batters in that disastrous frame. It was the shortest outing of the season for Liberatore, and he hasn't been providing much depth of late, completing fewer than five frames in three straight outings. He's had a few promising starts this season, but it's mostly been a struggle for the veteran pitcher, who now has an ugly 5.23 ERA and 1.56 WHIP along with a 67:27 K:BB through 72.1 innings spanning 15 appearances.

Atlanta designated Leon for assignment on Thursday.

With Atlanta acquiring Joey Bart (foot) from the Pirates, Leon loses his spot on the 40-man roster after going 4-for-44 at the plate with zero extra-base hits and a 0:18 BB:K across 21 games.

Atlanta acquired Bart (foot) from the Pirates on Thursday in exchange for Hunter Stratton.

Bart has spent the last month-plus on the injured list due to a foot infection, but he began a rehab assignment last week and appears ready to make his return to the big leagues with Atlanta, where he'll serve as the backup to Drake Baldwin while Sean Murphy recovers from a broken finger that is expected to sideline him until after the All-Star break. In just 62 trips to the plate this season with the Pirates, Bart slashed .259/.290/.379 with two homers, six RBI, nine runs scored and a 2:21 BB:K.

Soto went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs and a walk in Thursday's 6-4 win over the Phillies.

Soto opened the scoring with a solo homer off Aaron Nola in the first inning before taking the veteran right-hander deep again in his next plate appearance to record his second multi-homer performance of the year. Soto has looked locked in at the plate over his last eight games, batting 14-for-29 (.483) with three homers. The 27-year-old is now slashing .300/.398/.582 with 17 home runs, seven doubles, one triple, 38 RBI, 36 runs scored and six stolen bases across 249 plate appearances this season.