MLB Player News

Cruz was promoted to High-A Wilmington on Monday after beginning the season by slashing .333/.460/.627 over 14 games with three homers and 15 steals in 18 attempts for Single-A Fredericksburg, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.

The Nationals have a logjam of top infield prospects in the low minors, but a breakout for Cruz could allow him to climb the ladder a little quicker than his peers. The 19-year-old shortstop was acquired from the Cubs at the trade deadline last year as part of the package for Michael Soroka, and in his first two games for Wilmington he's gone 2-for-9 with a homer.

Hartman is hitting .306 with six home runs, eight steals and a 27.9 percent strikeout rate in 15 games for High-A Rome.

A Canadian prep pick in the 2024 draft, Hartman played 83 games at Single-A last year but won't turn 20 until June, making him one of the youngest hitters at High-A. Hartman's .387 ISO is the seventh-highest mark at High-A and his 180 wRC+ ranks 16th at the level.

House is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus Atlanta.

House has a modest five-game hitting streak going, but he will get some rest during Thursday's matinee. Jorbit Vivas will occupy third base and bat eighth for the Nationals.

Heim went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Wednesday's win over the Nationals.

The 30-year-old got the start at catcher and hit ninth for Atlanta, and Heim did an effective job of flipping the lineup over in an 8-6 victory. Heim quietly has a six-game hitting streak dating back to April 7, batting .304 (7-for-23) over that stretch with three doubles, two RBI and a run. Heim isn't guaranteed to lose his spot on the 26-man roster when Sean Murphy (hip) gets healthy, given Atlanta's tendency to keep Drake Baldwin's bat in the lineup at DH when he isn't catching.

Olson went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's win over the Nationals.

Atlanta racked up eight runs and four homers in the first four innings of the contest, all off Zack Littell, with Olson's fourth-inning blast capping the offensive eruption. The first baseman is up to seven long balls in 25 games on the season to go along with a .265/.348/.582 slash line, 20 runs and 22 RBI.

Canning (Achilles) yielded two earned runs on three hits and two walks across 1.2 innings in his rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A El Paso. He didn't record a strikeout.

Making the fourth start of his rehab assignment, Canning was expected to get further stretched out after tossing 67 pitches and 2.2 innings his last time out for El Paso on Thursday. The right-hander ended up throwing just 45 pitches (24 strikes) in Wednesday's outing before being lifted midway through the second inning. Canning has now turned in a 5.40 ERA, 2.10 WHIP and 14:11 K:BB in 10 innings for El Paso over his four outings, so in addition to increasing his pitch count, he'll likely need to show improved form with the Triple-A club in order to secure a spot in the San Diego rotation once he returns from the 15-day injured list.

Baldwin went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's win over the Nationals.

The second-year backstop took Zack Littell deep in the first inning, kicking off an eight-run, four-homer barrage by Atlanta. Baldwin has left the yard in back-to-back games and seven times in his first 25 contests this season while compiling a stellar .320/.391/.563 slash line, 23 RBI and an MLB-leading 26 runs.

Soto (1-0) earned the win in relief Wednesday against the Rangers despite allowing two runs on three hits over an inning while striking out three.

Soto entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning when the Pirates had a 4-2 lead, but he surrendered that advantage after allowing a two-RBI single to Jake Burger, scoring Andrew McCutchen and Brandon Nimmo. However, the Pirates responded with four runs in the top of the ninth -- headlined by a three-run homer from Oneil Cruz -- which allowed Soto to walk away with the win. That said, this was far from his finest outing. It also ended a streak of seven scoreless appearances for the veteran, who nonetheless should continue to have an important role in the Pirates' bullpen going forward.

Winn "continues to undergo preventative care" for a lower-back issue, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Winn spent some time on the injured list last season with back spasms, and he's also missed time this year with hip and shin issues. The shortstop isn't currently hurt, but the Cardinals "are seeking ways for him to reduce mileage," which could mean more days off like he had Wednesday in Miami. Winn got off to a slow start offensively this season but has been superb lately, slashing .387/.429/.645 during an eight-game hitting streak.

Ashcroft didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Rangers after tossing seven innings of two-run ball, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out five.

Had Ashcraft received a little more support from an offense that woke up to score four runs in the top of the ninth inning, he could've easily earned the win after a solid outing. Ashcraft continued his strong start to the campaign with a fifth straight start in which he allowed two or fewer earned runs, and he's pitched at least six innings three times in that stretch. The right-hander will take his 2.43 ERA and 1.01 WHIP across 29.2 innings into his next start, which is tentatively scheduled for next week at home against the Cardinals.