MLB Player News
-
Nasim Nunez 2B | WAS
Nationals' Nasim Nunez: Strong June continues
Nunez went 2-for-3 with a stolen base in Sunday's loss to the Rays.
The second baseman has hit safely in seven straight games and 12 of his last 13, slashing .419/.468/.558 over the latter stretch with two doubles, two triples, eight runs, eight RBI and a 6-for-6 performance on the basepaths. That surge has bumped his OPS above .600 for the first time since March 31, and Nunez has moved back into a tie with Bobby Witt (knee) for the major-league lead in stolen bases with 28.
-
Tyler Stephenson C | CIN
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Goes yard in win
Stephenson went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Yankees.
Stephenson erased New York's early lead and then some with a three-run blast in the fourth inning. It was the sixth homer of the season for the catcher, who is having a sub-standard season at the plate overall but is showing life in June. Stephenson, who entered June with a .199 average and .625 OPS, is batting .250 with .707 OPS this month.
-
Pierce Johnson RP | CIN
Reds' Pierce Johnson: Returning Monday
Johnson (elbow) is set to be activated from the 15-day injured list Monday, MLB.com reports.
Johnson rejoined the Reds on Sunday and will be available out of the bullpen this week after making a lone rehab appearance at Triple-A Louisville. The right-hander threw 17 pitches for Louisville on Friday, allowing one run on two hits while striking out one batter.
-
Christian Scott SP | NYM
Mets' Christian Scott: Set for sim game Monday
Scott (hip) is scheduled to throw a simulated game Monday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
The 27-year-old right-hander has been dealing with a hip impingement, but he's feeling much better after receiving a shot last week. A timeline for Scott's return to the rotation should come into focus after the sim game, but he could bypass a rehab assignment and potentially returning from the 15-day injured list as soon as this weekend. Through nine starts for the Mets this season, Scott has produced a 3.10 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 47:19 K:BB through 40.2 innings.
-
Francisco Lindor SS | NYM
Mets' Francisco Lindor: Closing in on return
Lindor (calf) is expected to play a simulated game Monday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
The star shortstop played a full nine innings in the field Sunday in a rehab game with Triple-A Syracuse, going 0-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run. He'll pick up some more at-bats Monday, then is likely to get a day off before potentially being activated from the injured list Wednesday. Even if Lindor needs a little more time beyond Wednesday to recover, he's tracking toward a return to the big-league lineup this week. Through his first 105 plate appearances this season prior to straining his left calf April 22, Lindor had a .226/.314/.335 slash line with two home runs, two steals, five RBI and 14 runs.
-
Tommy Troy LF | ARI
Diamondbacks' Tommy Troy: Needs work to learn CF
Troy will work with Diamondbacks outfielders coach Dave McKay to learn defending center field, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Troy started the last two games in left field, while Jorge Barrosa replaced the injured Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) in center field, but Troy is considered the better hitter of the two. While he's played some center field in the upper minors and for Arizona, Troy is more comfortable in left. Given that left fielder Lourdes Gurriel is back from injury, finding a home for Troy in center field makes sense.
-
Michael Petersen RP | MIA
Marlins' Michael Petersen: Collects hold No. 10
Petersen tossed a perfect eighth inning Sunday to record his 10th hold of the season in a win over the Giants. He didn't strike out a batter.
Tasked with handling the top of the San Francisco order, Petersen allowed some hard contact to Bryce Eldridge and Casey Schmitt, but the balls found Miami gloves. Petersen leads the Marlins in holds on the season, with five of his 10 coming in June as he's posted a 2.45 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB over 11 innings on the month.
-
Michael Burrows SP | HOU
Astros' Mike Burrows: Back in rotation Wednesday
Burrows is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
After having his turn in the rotation skipped over the weekend, Burrows was available out of the bullpen for the Astros' three-game series with the Guardians and tossed a scoreless inning in his lone relief appearance Friday. He'll now move back into a starting role during the upcoming week, but Burrows may need a strong showing in Toronto in order to maintain his spot in the rotation on a more permanent basis. Cristian Javier (shoulder) completed his fourth rehab start Sunday and could be ready to return from the 60-day injured list as soon as next weekend, which would appear to leave Burrows or Kai-Wei Teng most in danger of shifting to the bullpen.
-
Jorge Barrosa CF | ARI
Diamondbacks' Jorge Barrosa: Makes second straight start
Barrosa started in center field and went 0-for-2 in Sunday's 4-2 loss to Minnesota.
Barrosa made a second consecutive start in center field after the club placed Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list Saturday. He's projected to miss between four and six weeks, which means an opportunity for the light-hitting Barrosa, who is slashing .181/.252/.352 over 119 plate appearances. Prospect Tommy Troy is also an option, but manager Torey Lovullo wants him to work with outfielders coach Dave McKay before entrusting him to center field, per Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports.
-
Yimi Garcia RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Return delayed by soreness
Garcia (elbow) experienced renewed elbow soreness following his most recent rehab appearance June 18 and hasn't pitched since, MLB.com reports.
The Blue Jays had been anticipating having Garcia pitch Sunday for Triple-A Buffalo, but that didn't end up happening. Per Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca, Garcia's fastball was sitting about 93 mph in his last rehab appearance, down from the 95-to-96-mph range he typically sat before he underwent surgery in September to remove scar tissue from his elbow. The 35-year-old right-hander's return date will remain murky until he's able to get back on a mound and demonstrate he's ready to be activated from the 60-day injured list.