MLB Player News

Eldridge is hitting .360 with one home run, a 15.9 percent walk rate and a 30.2 percent strikeout rate in 13 games for Triple-A Sacramento.

The Giants are last in the majors in home runs hit (eight) and have scored the second-fewest runs per game (3.19) in MLB, per Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline, so Eldridge, who hit 25 homers in 102 minor-league games last year, fills a clear need. They will need to keep Eldridge at Triple-A until early May if they want to gain a seventh year of club control, as he spent the final two weeks of last season in the big leagues as the youngest hitter in the majors. Like many young sluggers, Eldridge will run higher strikeout rates for the foreseeable future, but he's well ahead of schedule and should eventually settle in as a four-category force, especially in OBP leagues.

Naylor went 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI in Monday's 6-2 win over the Astros.

It was the sixth career multi-homer effort by Naylor, who went deep for the first time this season with his first-inning three-run jack. Naylor also racked up at least five RBI for the seventh time in his career. The first baseman still has plenty of room for improvement, batting .127 with the aforementioned two homers, seven RBI and six walks across his first 63 at-bats.

Clemens is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox.

With southpaw Garrett Crochet on the bump for Boston, the left-handed-hitting Clemens will hit the bench while Victor Caratini steps in for him at first base. Clemens has now been excluded from the lineup in six of the last eight games, though the Twins have faced five lefty starters during that stretch.

The Orioles placed Mountcastle (foot) on the 60-day injured list Monday.

Mountcastle was diagnosed with a fractured fourth metacarpal in his left foot following his exit from Saturday's game against the Giants. His placement on the 60-day IL means the earliest he can return to major-league action is mid-to-late June, though it wouldn't be surprising to see Mountcastle on the shelf until the All-Star break in mid-July. With Mountcastle being moved off the 40-man roster, the Orioles acquired Christian Encarnacion-Strand from the Reds and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Reds traded Encarnacion-Strand to the Orioles on Monday in exchange for cash considerations.

Encarnacion-Strand failed to make the Reds' Opening Day roster and was DFA'd by the team this past Wednesday. He'll get a new opportunity with the Orioles, and while he's been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk, Encarnacion-Strand could see some major-league action at first base due to the absence of Ryan Mountcastle (foot). Across 10 games in Triple-A this season, Encarnacion-Strand has gone 8-for-36 (.222) with five runs scored, two homers and eight RBI.

The Guardians optioned Kayfus to Triple-A Columbus on Monday.

Kayfus has slashed just .182/.280/.364 in nine games this season and has played sparingly lately, so he will head to Columbus where he can get more regular reps. George Valera (calf) was reinstated from the injured list and will take Kayfus' spot on the active roster.

Manzardo is not in the lineup for Monday's contest in St. Louis.

The Guardians are facing a lefty for the sixth time in their last eight games, and Manzardo has been out of the lineup for five of those tilts versus southpaws. Rhys Hoskins will play first base and David Fry will serve as the designated hitter against Matthew Liberatore.

Rice is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.

Lefty Yusei Kikuchi is on the bump for the Halos in Monday's series opener, marking the third time in four contests versus southpaws this season that the lefty-swinging Rice has been absent from the lineup. Paul Goldschmidt will hold down first base and bat leadoff for the Yankees.

Velazquez is slashing .344/.432/.594 with two home runs, one steal and 4:4 K:BB in eight games for Double-A Akron.

Velazquez has a 174 wRC+ as a 20-year-old at Double-A, picking up where he left off last year -- he had a 188 wRC+ in 28 games at Double-A in 2025. Given his extreme command of the zone and impactful power, Velazquez shouldn't be waiting long before getting a bump to Triple-A Columbus. He played 12 games in left field last year, but Velazquez has only started at first base so far this season.

Hoskins went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 13-1 loss to Atlanta.

Hoskins accounted for the Guardians' lone run with a sixth-inning blast, his first home run of the season. Following a bumpy start, Hoskins has RBI in four consecutive contests, while going 5-for-16 with four extra-base hits. He's slashing .231/.333/.436 over 12 games played.