MLB Player News

Paul Goldschmidt is in the lineup as the DH on Monday, but it’s the first time Goldschmidt has done anything but play 1B this year. As a result, it seems as though Burleson is the team’s backup first baseman, which gives him added value for his ability to move around the field. The 25-year-old is hitting .263/.323/.351 on the team with one home run and five RBI in 62 plate appearances. With Goldschmidt struggling, perhaps Burleson could earn a few more chances in the near future.

Hodge will get his first taste of the majors after being drafted by the Cubs in the 13th round back in 2019. He had a 6.55 ERA with 18 strikeouts and 11 walks in 11 innings at Triple-A this season.

No word yet on a corresponding move. Mushinski has an 11.25 ERA in four appearances with the Astros this season. The 28-year-old has appeared in 24 games with Houston over the past three years and has a 5.88 ERA.

Festa had been pitching with their Triple-A affiliate in El Paso. The 31-year-old spent parts of four seasons with the Mariners after they drafted him in the seventh round back in 2016. Festa heads to the open market with a career 4.32 ERA.

With Seiya Suzuki getting the day off, Happ will occupy the No. 2 spot in the order for the Cubs. He hit a solo home run on Thursday, but now draws a tough assignment against Pirates top pitching prospect Paul Skenes on Friday afternoon.

Suzuki started and batted second against the Pirates on Thursday. Pete Crow-Armstrong will get to start in center with Cody Bellinger shifting to right field. Suzuki is hitting .282 with an .826 OPS this season.

The deal is pending a work visa and physical. The outfielder had been with Guerreros de Oaxaca in the Mexican League, where he had a ridiculous 19 home runs in only 107 plate appearances. The 26-year-old came up with the Marlins, but was outrighted off their roster last season. The Giants have four outfielders currently on the injured list so it’s not hard to see why they might give Encarnacion another chance in the majors soon.

Heyward was with the team at Dodgers Stadium on Thursday and manager Dave Roberts told reporters he will be activated soon. It remains a question what the corresponding move for Heyward’s activation will be. Enrique Hernandez and Chris Taylor have both struggled this season, but they can also play multiple positions and Taylor is owed $13 million in 2025. James Outman was a revelation last year, but he has options remaining and is hitting .147 this year. Outman could be the de facto choice. Heyward slashed .269/.340/.473 in 124 games with the Dodgers last year.

“He’s going to play, a lot,” manager A.J. Hinch said. Baez has the lowest OPS (.422) among qualified hitters by nearly 100 points. The Tigers still owe Baez $72 million after this season. Something has to give at some point, but the Tigers will keep playing him for now.

Hall is scheduled to start for the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Sunday. Acquired in the trade with the Orioles for Corbin Burnes this past offseason, the 25-year-old left-hander has been on the injured list since late April with a left knee sprain.

De La Cruz might break the century mark in the stolen base department, if he sustains this surreal pace. He was thrown out attempting a fifth steal in the seventh inning of Thursday’s showdown at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The 22-year-old burgeoning fantasy superstar is still striking out 30 percent of the time, but some improved plate discipline has enabled him to reach base more frequently this season and show off his field-tilting speed. He’s batting .277/.378/.516 with 35 runs scored, nine homers, 22 RBI and 30 steals following the first four-steal performance of his career out in Los Angeles. There’s still some room for improvement, but De La Cruz is rapidly evolving into one of the premier five-category impact contributors in the entire fantasy landscape.