MLB Player News

Alexander told reporters his calf is feeling much better after undergoing treatment and he expects to be available off the bench this weekend. The versatile 26-year-old was scratched from Friday’s lineup with calf tightness. It’ll be Jeremiah Jackson at second base with Coby Mayo at the hot corner on Saturday evening in his place.

Halpin, 24, has struggled in his limited action with the Guardians this season, slashing .170/.185/.226 with zero homers, one RBI, two swipes and a 16/1 K/BB ratio in 56 plate appearances. He’ll return to an everyday role at the Triple-A level until his services are needed once more.

The 24-year-old outfielder returns after missing a couple of weeks due to a right rib fracture. The rookie sensation returns to a .263/.337/.408 slash line with seven homers and two steals in 270 plate appearances across 66 games. Petey Halpin was optioned to Triple-A Columbus in a corresponding move on Sunday.

Friedl was optioned out at the beginning of June after flailing to a miserable .179/.259/.256 slash line with just two homers and five steals through his first 178 plate appearances. He appears to have gotten back on track at the Triple-A level where he hit .271/.370/.471 with three homers, five RBI and a pair of stolen bases over 81 plate appearances in 18 games. He’ll have a chance to see every day at-bats against right-handers with Blake Dunn (elbow) landing on the injured list on Sunday. He’s starting in center and batting eighth against Mitch Keller and the Pirates on Sunday afternoon.

Dunn was pulled from Saturday’s game after experiencing discomfort in his elbow. Still no word from the Reds on how long they expect the 27-year-old outfielder to miss, but it’ll be at least a week and a half. TJ Friedl was recalled from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move to take his place on the club’s active roster.

The 28-year-old backstop struggled in his limited action with the Orioles, hitting .174/.174/.261 with zero homers, one RBI and a cringe-inducing 11/0 K/BB ratio in just 23 plate appearances. Given the lack of quality catching depth around the league, it’s possible that another team takes a chance on Huff on waivers.

Rutschman missed a week’s worth of action after being hit in the helmet by an errant throw from Colt Emerson. He has cleared the concussion protocol and will be back behind the dish for Sunday’s series finale against the Nationals. Sam Huff was designated for assignment in a corresponding move on Sunday.

Beavers had been sidelined since mid-May due to an oblique strain. He’s starting in right field and batting sixth for the O’s against Nationals’ right-hander Zack Littell on Sunday afternoon in Baltimore.

With Dylan Beavers returning from the injured list on Sunday, someone needed to get the boot from the Orioles’ bench and Jackson drew the short straw this time. The 26-year-old started out the season strong for the Orioles, but has hit just .232/.245/.316 with one homer, eight RBI and a 16/2 K/BB ratio over 98 plate appearances since the start of May.

Chicago’s closer is progressing in his recovery from a minor flexor strain in his right elbow, but the club is going to take a cautious approach and not push him too quickly. Expect the Cubs to continue to patch together the ninth inning in his absence with Jacob Webb the most likely candidate to accrue saves.

As reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Saturday evening, the 40-year-old slugger joins the Braves on a minor league deal. He’ll report to Triple-A Gwinnett where he’ll function as insurance in the even that Dominic Smith’s recent struggles continue. Santana was just 2-for-24 (.083) with eight strikeouts in his limited action with the Diamondbacks before being released on Friday.