MLB Player News

Nevermind, Nick Morabito; it’s going to be Slater replacing the soon-to-be DFA’d Tommy Pham as a spare right-handed outfielder in Queens. Slater, 33, was just cut by the Marlins after opening the season 4-for-23. He’ll start in left or right against lefties.

Thomson becomes the second manager fired this month after the Red Sox fired Alex Cora over the weekend. In fact, many reports suggest that Thomson’s firing could be directly tied to that, since Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations for the Phillies, has a close relationship with Cora from their time together in Boston. A potential manager swap was made easier with the Phillies’ getting out to a 9-19 start to the season, tied with the Mets for the worst record in baseball. Thomson ends his Phillies career with a record of 355-270 for a .568 winning percentage, which is fifth-best in franchise history. He took the Phillies to the World Series in 2022, but the team then lost in the NLCS in 2023, the Division Series in 2024, and the Division Series in 2025. Thomson will likely get another chance to manage, if he wants one.

Congrats to Dylan and his growing family. He should be out for the opening series of the week and then return before the weekend.

The Braves have moved Reynaldo Lopez to the bullpen, but that was to accommodate JR Ritchie in the rotation. They also have Spencer Strider (oblique) likely to return this weekend, so this seems like a short-term addition with Fuentes pitching multiple innings out of the bullpen while Dylan Lee is on Paternity Leave.

It looks like this might become a thing, which would take a significant toll on Ohtani’s value as a hitter, even if he’s never been as productive at the plate on days that he pitches. The Dodgers didn’t announce who would DH in his place, but we imagine they’ll take the opportunity to have both Will Smith and Dalton Rushing in the lineup.

Murakami’s homer off Drew Pomeranz gave the White Sox a 7-5 lead in the seventh. Miguel Vargas then made it back-to-back blasts, and the White Sox held on from there despite giving up two runs in the ninth. Murakami is alone in first in the majors with 12 homers. He’s also tied for third with 41 strikeouts and tied for last with zero doubles, so it’s hard to know exactly what to make of him at this point. The White Sox, though, are probably wishing they had signed him for three or four years, instead of two.

Kay allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out two while seeing his ERA rise to 6.12. He might soon find himself bumped to middle relief if the White Sox want to give Tanner McDougal a look or try Shane Smith again. For now, though, he’s in line to face the Padres on Sunday.

Colson Montgomery made an error to start the ninth in an 8-5 game, and Taylor went on to give up three hits before the White Sox lifted him with two outs. Bryan Hudson came in at that point and retired Adam Frazier for his first save. Taylor had the chance to close tonight because Seranthony Domínguez had pitched three of the previous four days. It would have been his first save, but he settled for his second hold instead.

Kochanowicz departed with a 5-1 lead in the seventh, but that went away as soon as the Angels bullpen got involved. Still, it was a nice outing for the lefty, who struck out five and walked one. Last year, he had four quality starts in 23 tries. This year, he already has three and two others in which he was pulled just one out shy of qualifying. He’s still not recommended in mixed leagues, but he’s definitely an improved pitcher. He’ll likely face the Mets on Sunday.

The first was a three-run shot from Munetaka Murakami, but since both runners were inherited, Pomeranz was charged with only two earned runs. Still, he’s now given up three homers in two days, which won’t help his chances for picking up saves in a wide-open Angels bullpen. He has an 8.74 ERA in 11 1/3 innings, and while it’d make sense for the Halos to stick with him, there’s the chance they’ll give him the Jordan Romano treatment.

Fairbanks has Reynaud’s Syndrome, which leads to poor blood flow to his fingers in cold weather, but no word yet if tonight’s issue was related to that. Fairbanks wound up being charged with three runs in one-third of an inning and took his second loss tonight. If he’s forced to the IL, then Tyler Phillips, Calvin Faucher and Anthony Bender could be candidates for saves.