MLB Player News

Acuna went 2-for-4 with a walk, two doubles and a run scored in Wednesday's win over the Angels.

The star outfielder has had a slow start to the season, but Acuna may be finding his rhythm. He's collected five hits over the last four games, inching his slash line on the season up to .204/.310/.265 with three doubles, two RBI, three runs and two steals. Acuna's still looking for his first homer of 2026.

The Marlins optioned Gusto to Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday.

Gusto was up for a few days while Pete Fairbanks was on paternity leave, but he'll head back to the minors now as Fairbanks rejoins the active roster. The 27-year-old Gusto picked up a hold with a scoreless inning Wednesday in his lone appearance with the big club.

Double-A Amarillo placed Crisantes on the 7-day injured list April 3 with a hamstring injury, Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline reports.

He is expected to miss between six and eight weeks with what is presumably a strain. Crisantes was given an aggressive assignment to Double-A after missing most of 2025 following a significant left shoulder injury. He isn't a big-time athlete, but when healthy, Crisantes has been one of the better pure hitters in the lower levels of the minors. He hit an unlucky (.257 BABIP) .252 with a .358 OBP, four home runs, six steals and more walks (21) than strikeouts (19) in 34 games at High-A as a 20-year-old.

The Marlins activated Fairbanks from the paternity leave list Thursday.

Fairbanks missed the first three games of the series against the Reds as he welcomed a new addition to the family, but he'll be available for the series finale Thursday. The veteran closer has permitted three runs with a 6:1 K:BB over his first four innings this season, collecting a pair of saves along the way.

Strider (oblique) threw a bullpen session Tuesday without issue, and he'll work a live batting practice session before beginning a rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.

The right-hander suffered an oblique strain at the tail end of spring training, but the issue doesn't appear as though it will cost him too much time. Strider had built up to 61 pitches prior to being shut down in late March, so he should only need one or two rehab starts before being ready to come off the IL. Martin Perez will remain in the Atlanta rotation until Strider is cleared for his 2026 debut.

Petersen earned the save Wednesday against the Reds with a scoreless inning, giving up two hits and striking out two.

Petersen entered the game with a three-run lead, and while he allowed back-to-back singles to Tyler Stephenson and Noelvi Marte, he ultimately got the job done. Petersen recorded the final out with runners on second and third when he struck out Matt McLain for his first save of the season. The 31-year-old right-hander has a 5.40 ERA and 6:4 K:BB through five innings to begin the season, and he'll revert to lower-leverage usage once closer Pete Fairbanks (personal) returns to the Marlins.

Norby is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Reds.

Norby popped his first home run of the season Wednesday but will get a breather in Thursday's matinee. Liam Hicks will be utilized as the Marlins' first baseman and cleanup man.

Perez (1-1) earned the win Wednesday against the Reds after allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks across five innings. He struck out six and also hit a batter.

Even though Perez finished just three outs away from recording a quality start, this was still a solid showing for the right-hander -- and more importantly, it was a bounce-back effort compared to his previous start. However, Perez has yet to pitch more than five innings after doing so in his first turn of the season against the Pirates. Through three starts, Perez has a 5.06 ERA with a 1.38 WHIP and a 18:9 K:BB across 16 frames. His next start is scheduled for next week on the road against Atlanta.

Soriano could be considered for high-leverage chances in the Cardinals' bullpen moving forward, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Soriano earned his first win as a Cardinal in his last appearance Tuesday versus the Nationals, retiring all six batters he faced (three via strikeout) in the eighth and ninth innings in St. Louis' extra-inning win. The righty's velocity is up throughout his repertoire -- which includes a changeup that topped out at 92.8 mph Tuesday -- and he's incorporated a new gyro slider. Soriano was acquired via trade from the Nationals just before the start of spring training.

Norby went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's win over the Reds.

Norby went yard for the first time this season with a blast off Connor Phillips in the seventh inning. Norby's fantasy production has been limited this season, however; through 11 games and 42 plate appearances, he's hitting just .206 with a .710 OPS, adding a homer, two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored. Even though third base isn't known for being one of the deepest positions in terms of fantasy talent, Norby's current production makes him a middling fantasy option at the moment.