MLB Player News

Tong is expected to pitch again Wednesday against the Reds, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

The Mets haven't officially announced their rotation plans past this weekend, but Tong's performance in his season debut Friday appears to have earned him another appearance. The 22-year-old right-hander followed Tobias Myers and Sean Manaea onto the mound Friday and tossed three scoreless, hitless innings in an eventual 2-1 loss to the Marlins. Kodai Senga (back) also threw 63 pitches in a rehab start for Single-A St. Lucie on Friday, so using Tong as a bulk reliever or as part of a tandem with Manaea on Wednesday would keep that spot in the rotation lined up for Senga's likely return in June.

The Cubs recalled Alcantara from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday.

Alcantara has spent the entire season up to this point at Iowa, slashing .242/.339/.567 with 15 homers, 32 RBI, 27 runs and three steals across 41 games. The 23-year-old prospect will now rejoin the big club to provide depth to Chicago's outfield group and give a break to some of the team's struggling hitters. Nicky Lopez was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Sogard started at shortstop and went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Friday's 8-6 loss to Minnesota.

Sogard made a fifth straight start and has hit safely in all five, going 6-for-17 with three walks, two RBI and a run scored. He's finding opportunities in the infield -- whether due to an injury or underperformance -- between shortstop, second base and third base. The Red Sox plan to transition Marcelo Mayer to shortstop in light of Trevor Story undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia, which leaves Sogard as part of a rotation at second and third.

Nardi struck out two in a perfect inning of relief Friday to record his seventh hold of the season in a win over the Mets.

With the Marlins ahead 2-1, Nardi took the ball from Eury Perez with one out in the seventh inning and got Juan Soto to ground out before fanning Mark Vientos and Tyrone Taylor. Nardi's seven holds lead Miami, a benefit of being the top southpaw in the bullpen, and over nine appearances in May he's delivered a 3.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 11:2 K:BB through nine innings.

Benson isn't in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals.

After going just 1-for-20 over his last 11 games, Benson will pick out a seat on the bench to begin the opening half of Saturday's twin bill. While he rests, JJ Bleday, Dane Myers and Blake Dunn will form the Reds' outfield trio.

Petersen gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless two-thirds of an inning Friday to record his fifth hold of the season in a win over the Mets.

The right-hander got the final two outs in the eighth inning with the Marlins clinging to a 2-1 lead, before he handed the ball off to closer Pete Fairbanks for the ninth. Petersen's five holds are second on the team behind lefty Andrew Nardi's seven, and Petersen has a 3.93 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 19:7 K:BB through 18.1 innings on the year over 17 appearances.

Friedl isn't in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals.

The first half of Saturday's twin bill will mark Friedl's third straight absence from the starting lineup. The 30-year-old has gone just 1-for-17 with eight strikeouts over his last six games, so he may have fallen down the depth chart as a result of his struggles. JJ Bleday, Dane Myers and Blake Dunn will start across the outfield while Friedl sits.

McLain isn't in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against St. Louis.

McLain will begin Saturday's festivities on the bench after going just 1-for-14 with five strikeouts during Cincinnati's last series against the Phillies. Spencer Steer will shift to second base in McLain's stead, opening up first base for Nathaniel Lowe.

Holliday went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, one walk and two runs scored in Friday's 7-4 win over the Tigers.

After batting seventh and then eighth in the order in his first two games of the season Tuesday and Wednesday, Holliday was in the nine hole Friday. He logged his first two hits of the 2026 campaign, singling and scoring in the third inning before popping a two-run homer off Jack Flaherty in the fourth. Through three contests, Holliday is 2-for-7 at the plate with a 1:3 BB:K across eight plate appearances.

Kirk (thumb) will be evaluated by the Blue Jays training staff this weekend as he prepares to take the next step in his rehab, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The backstop has been catching bullpens and taking live BP at the team's spring training complex in Dunedin. Assuming Kirk's surgically repaired thumb checks out OK, he could be cleared for a rehab assignment. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since April 3, and his return to the big-league lineup appears to be drawing close. Brandon Valenzuela and Tyler Heineman will continue to split duties behind the plate until Kirk is activated from the IL.