MLB Player News

Garcia is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

The Nationals will hold out the left-handed-hitting Garcia for the third time in three matchups versus a southpaw starter through the club's first six games of the season. Curtis Mead will pick up his first start with Washington, filling in for Garcia at first base while the Nationals face off against Cristopher Sanchez.

Ruiz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

The Nationals have divvied up the work evenly between their two catchers to begin the season, with both Ruiz and Drew Millas drawing three starts apiece. Ruiz has gotten on base in just two of his first 12 plate appearances, though he delivered a two-run home run in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Cubs.

The Dodgers acquired Eder from the Nationals on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.

Eder had been designated for assignment by the Nationals and is now headed to a new organization. The left-hander has minor-league options remaining and is likely to be assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Eder has made nine relief appearances at the big-league level, allowing 11 runs with a 16:10 K:BB over 20.1 innings.

O'Neill is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.

O'Neill had started in four of the Orioles' first five games but will hit the bench for the series finale as Baltimore goes with Taylor Ward at designated hitter and Colton Cowser in right field. Though Baltimore is at full strength in the outfield, O'Neill will be a regular presence in the lineup against left-handed pitching and should play at least semi-regularly against right-handers so long as he's swinging the bat reasonably well.

Taveras will start in center field and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Rangers.

Taylor Ward will serve as the Orioles' designated hitter Wednesday, but his absence from the outfield will open up a spot for Tavares, who will make his first start of the season. The 27-year-old's playing time will likely remain sporadic throughout the 2026 campaign while the Orioles are at full strength in the outfield.

Ponce will visit Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Monday to determine whether he needs surgery to repair a sprained right ACL, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

Ponce suffered the injury during his first start of the season Monday against the Rockies. He will have an outside chance to return later this season if surgery is not required, but if he does need an operation, he'll be shelved until 2027. In either scenario, Ponce appears safe to drop in most redraft fantasy leagues.

Jackson will start at second base and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Rangers.

Occupying second base for the fourth time in five games, Jackson appears to have the early edge in playing time at the position over Blaze Alexander. However, with just three hits and a 0:6 BB:K through 12 plate appearances, Jackson hasn't run away with the job. Both Jackson and Alexander will see their opportunities at the keystone dwindle once Jackson Holliday (hand) returns from the injured list, likely at some point around the middle of the month.

Mountcastle is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.

Mountcastle has found playing time difficult to come by in the early going; he's started just once in the Orioles' first six games and has logged five plate appearances in total. With Samuel Basallo serving as the Orioles' primary designated hitter and offseason pickup Pete Alonso handling an everyday role at first base, Mountcastle likely won't have a path to steady at-bats unless either of the former two players misses time at some point.

Rutschman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.

Samuel Basallo will handle the catching duties while Taylor Ward receives a start at designated hitter as Rutschman rests for the Wednesday matinee game. While starting in four of Baltimore's first six games, Rutschman has gone 4-for-14 with three doubles, three walks, one RBI and one run.

Kerkering (hamstring) will make the second of back-to-back rehab appearances Wednesday at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Kerkering is eligible for activation from the 15-day injured list April 6, and making back-to-back appearances points to him being ready to go on that date. He's been working his way back from a strained hamstring that knocked out most of his spring training.