MLB Player News

Azocar elected to become a free agent Friday, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.

It's the second time this month that Azocar has chosen free agency after clearing waivers following his removal from Atlanta's 40-man roster. He re-signed on a minor-league contract the last time and could do so again.

Leahy will have his start pushed back after Friday's contest against the Reds was postponed due to inclement weather.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Saturday, and Leahy should draw a start in one of those tilts. He's collected a 3.94 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 34:20 K:BB through 45.2 innings this season in his transition to the Cardinals' rotation.

Paddack will have his start pushed back after Friday's game against the Cardinals was postponed by inclement weather.

The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader Saturday, and Paddack should take the ball in one of those contests. Paddack allowed two runs over five innings against the Guardians last week in his first start for the Reds.

Story underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia Thursday and will be sidelined 6-10 weeks, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Story was placed on the 10-day injured list last weekend and was seeking medical opinions for his hernia. He's opted for surgery and will miss far more than the minimum 10 days as a result. Andruw Monasterio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa have been handling shortstop duties in Story's place this week, but the longer absence could prompt the Red Sox to shift Marcelo Mayer back to his original position. In 41 games this season, Story has slashed an unimpressive .206/.244/.303 with three home runs, 19 RBI, 16 runs scored, four stolen bases and an 8:57 BB:K across 176 plate appearances.

The Cardinals placed Church on the 10-day injured list Friday with a left shoulder strain.

Church had to be scratched from Thursday's lineup against the Pirates because he was "just a little beat up," per manager Oliver Marmol. While it's now known that the injury is focused on his shoulder, it's unclear how long Church might be out. Lars Nootbaar (heels) is due back June 1, so Church could see a dip in playing time when he does return to the active roster.

Brown (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Brown threw live batting practice earlier this week and is ready for game action as he recovers from a shoulder strain. The right-hander isn't eligible to return from the 60-day injured list until the end of May, but a June return might be more plausible given the length of his layoff. Brown last pitched March 31 and posted a 0.84 ERA and 17:6 K:BB across 10.2 inning in his first two starts of the season before being shut down.

Matthews is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.

Matthews is slashing just .197/.242/.328 with a 27.3 percent strikeout rate in May, and though the Astros lost Jose Altuve (oblique) to the injured list Monday, the recent activation of Jake Meyers has resulted in the struggling Matthews losing out on some playing time in center field. The 24-year-old will hit the bench for the second time in three games while the Astros go with Braden Shewmake at second base. In addition to the keystone and center, Matthews remains a candidate to see playing time in left field, though Houston also has Zach Cole and Zach Dezenzo as options there.

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

Torres is receiving his first big-league promotion a little more than a month shy of his 29th birthday. He's posted excellent numbers in the Cardinals' minor-league system the last three years, including a .336/.454/.477 slash line with two homers, 10 steals and a 29:25 BB:K in 2026. Capable of handling all three outfield spots and also second base, Torres could see some action in left field while Nathan Church (shoulder) is out.

The Mariners optioned Joe to Triple-A Tacoma on Friday.

With Victor Robles (pectoral) back from the injured list, Joe loses his spot on the 26-man roster. Joe has slashed .182/.308/.333 with one home run, three RBI, two runs scored, two stolen bases and a 6:11 BB:K across 39 plate appearances with Seattle.

Dezenzo is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.

The Astros will go with Zach Cole and Cam Smith as their corner outfielders for the series opener, ending Dezenzo's streak of six consecutive starts in left field during which the 26-year-old went 5-for-19 with a double, a walk and run. Though the Astros recently lost Jose Alutve (oblique) to the injured list, the returns of Jake Meyers and Jeremy Pena from the IL has left five players competing for three spots in the Houston lineup. Dezenzo, Cole, Smith and Brice Matthews are all in the mix for starts in the corner outfield, although Matthews is also battling Braden Shewmake for starts at second base.