MLB Player News

Contreras (back) is starting at first base and batting second Friday against the Tigers, Chris Henrique of BostonSportsJournal.com reports.

Contreras' back tightened up on him Tuesday, and he was out of the lineup Wednesday against the Twins ahead of Thursday's off day. Contreras has been one of baseball's best hitters over the last couple weeks, as he's slashing .378/.500/.676 with three home runs, 10 RBI and eight runs scored over the last 15 days.

The Pirates optioned Urquidy to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.

Urquidy has been knocked around in a middle relief role, allowing 10 runs (six earned) on 15 hits with a 6:2 K:BB across 6.1 innings. He could get stretched back out at Indianapolis as rotation depth. Cam Sanders was called up from Triple-A to take Urquidy's spot in the Pittsburgh bullpen.

Chapman went 1-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored in Thursday's 3-0 win over the Reds.

After going 1-for-12 with a single and a run scored over his previous three games, Chapman delivered an RBI double in the seventh inning before coming around to score. The veteran third baseman has logged at least one hit in eight of his last 10 appearances, batting .333 with six runs scored, five RBI, three doubles and a triple across 41 plate appearances in that span. Overall, he's slashing .270/.316/.392 with 10 runs scored, eight RBI and a home run in 79 plate appearances this season.

Winn earned a hold while striking out two in a scoreless inning during Thursday's 3-0 win over the Reds.

Winn picked up his third hold of the season, throwing nine of his 12 pitches for strikes. The right-hander hasn't allowed a hit over his last four outings, striking out four in four innings during that span. Overall, he owns a 3.24 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 11:2 K:BB across 8.1 innings in nine appearances.

The Cubs placed Palencia on the 15-day injured list Friday with a left oblique strain.

It's unclear when Palencia -- who hasn't pitched since Sunday -- was hurt, but the injury will knock him out at least for the next couple weeks and likely longer. The Cubs are also currently without Hunter Harvey (triceps) and Phil Maton (knee), so their late-inning bullpen depth is thin. Caleb Thielbar could be the next man up for saves, with Ben Brown also an option.

Wells struck out the only batter he faced Thursday in a 4-2 loss to the Guardians.

Wells missed the majority of 2024 and 2025 due to an elbow injury, starting seven big-league games over those two years. The 31-year-old righty excelled in four September starts to end last season, posting a 2.91 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 18:2 K:BB across 21.2 innings, and the expectation was that Wells would be a part of the Orioles' rotation to kick off 2026. Instead, he's exclusively been used as a relief option, working 11 innings in nine appearances with a 4.91 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB while picking up four holds.

Soto (calf) continues to progress with his baseball activities and remains on track to return from the 10-day injured list next week, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.

Soto will undergo another MRI just to make sure his right calf strain has sufficiently healed, and as long as that comes back clean he could be activated Tuesday at the beginning of the Mets' next homestand. The 27-year-old outfielder has been sidelined for the past two weeks.

Vientos is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Cubs.

For the second straight game, the Mets will utilize Brett Baty at first base and MJ Melendez at designated hitter. Vientos is hitless over his last seven games and has seen his season OPS drop from 1.236 all the way down to .596 over that span.

Holton gave up his first earned run of the season Thursday in a 10-9 win over the Royals, allowing a solo home run in a third of an inning.

The southpaw has been a stalwart member of the Detroit bullpen the past three seasons, collecting 48 holds since 2023 with a 2.61 ERA and 0.89 WHIP while averaging 65 appearances a year. The seventh-inning shot by Salvador Perez was the first home run that Holton has given up in 7.1 innings this season after he served up 15 homers over 78.2 frames in 2025.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday that the Mets are awaiting the results of an MRI on Polanco's right wrist as the veteran infielder remains sidelined due to a sore Achilles, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

Mendoza said that Polanco is in a "better place" with the left Achilles issue he's been battling, but now he has a new injury to deal with. There's a good chance Polanco will be placed on the 10-day injured list, but the club will make that decision after the imaging results come in. If Polanco does have to miss additional time, MJ Melendez could get regular starts at designated hitter against righties, while Ronny Mauricio would be a candidate to return to the big-league roster.