MLB Player News

Oviedo (lat/elbow) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list and start Monday's contest versus the Giants at PNC Park, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Oviedo missed all of the 2024 season and the entirety of the 2025 campaign to date while recovering from December 2023 Tommy John surgery as well as a right lat strain sustained during spring training. The right-hander was cleared to begin a second rehab assignment June 30, and after six starts across stops in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, Single-A Bradenton, Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis, he's ready to make his 2025 debut in the majors. In his most recent outing with Indianapolis on Tuesday, Oveido allowed one run on two hits while striking out five batters over five innings. He tossed 62 pitches in that start, so he'll likely face a workload restriction in his first MLB appearance of the season.

Montas dropped to 3-2 on the season in Sunday's 12-4 loss to the Giants, coughing up seven earned runs on seven hits and two walks over four innings while striking out three batters.

The right-hander unraveled in his last two frames, conceding five or more runs for the third time in his seven starts this season. Montas allowed a three-run blast to Rafael Devers in a four-run third inning and was then chased from the game following a three-run, four-hit fourth inning. Across 33.2 total innings, Montas now sports a 6.68 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB while giving up seven long balls. The 32-year-old tentatively lines up to face the Brewers on the road next weekend for his eighth start of the season, though given his poor numbers on the season, it wouldn't be a major shock if the Mets elected to at least temporarily remove Montas from the rotation.

Rea did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 5-3 victory over the Orioles. He allowed two runs on five hits and one walk over 4.2 innings with four strikeouts.

The veteran right-hander permitted just one extra-base hit -- an Adley Rutschman two-bagger in the fourth -- as he produced 52 strikes out of his 77 total pitches. This outing was a welcome sight for Rea after he struggled in his two prior starts, coughing up 10 runs (nine earned) in nine innings. The 34-year-old now sports a 4.23 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 79:29 K:BB across 110.2 total frames while yielding 19 long balls. Rea is currently scheduled to make his next start in the Cubs' upcoming weekend series at the divisional-rival Cardinals.

Merrill went 1-for-3 with a three-run triple, a walk and a run scored in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Cardinals.

The All-Star break looks to have been exactly what Merrill needed to reset. He hit just .167 with a .560 OPS in his last 20 games before the break, but he's come out of the pause batting .279 with five extra-base hits and 15 RBI over his last 16 contests. The outfielder has a .266/.324/.418 slash line on the year while adding eight home runs, 47 RBI, 39 runs scored, one stolen base, 14 doubles and four triples over 79 games.

Laureano went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Cardinals.

Laureano has gone 3-for-12 with two extra-base hits and two RBI over his first three games with the Padres after he was flipped from the Orioles at the deadline. He's taken over as San Diego's starting left fielder, bumping Gavin Sheets and Bryce Johnson into full-time reserve roles. Laureano is up to 16 homers, 48 RBI, 48 runs scored, four stolen bases and a .288/.351/.535 slash line through 302 plate appearances this year. His power could take a hit in San Diego, but he's made enough contact this year to remain a productive part of his new team's lineup.

Cronenworth went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Cardinals.

Cronenworth opened the scoring when he took Andre Pallante deep in the fourth inning. This was Cronenworth's first home runsince July 5 versus the Rangers. Over the 23 games between long balls, he hit a mere .227 with a .623 OPS. The infielder has a .235/.344/.388 slash line with nine homers, 34 RBI, 38 runs scored and two stolen bases across 87 contests this season. The Padres were busy at the trade deadline but didn't acquire a middle infielder, so Cronenworth is likely to maintain a starting role at second base, though he made cede some at-bats to Jose Iglesias when the Padres face a left-handed pitcher.

Suarez allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Cardinals.

The Padres didn't appear to be in need of their closer for much of this game, but Adrian Morejon created a disaster in the ninth inning, allowing two runs while failing to record an out. Suarez took over with the bases loaded and allowed one inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly before slamming the door to earn his 32nd save of the year. Suarez has earned both of the Padres' saves since the trade deadline, so it looks like he's still ahead of Mason Miller in the closer hierarchy. On the year, Suarez has maintained a 3.28 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 48:12 K:BB, and he's been charged with just two runs over 12 innings since the start of July.

Cease (4-10) allowed a hit and a walk while striking out nine over five scoreless innings to earn the win over the Cardinals on Sunday.

Cease threw 59 of 90 pitches for strikes in this outing. While he wasn't particularly efficient, he put together a dominant effort to earn his first win since June 21. He showed no ill effects after taking a comebacker off the head in his previous start. The right-hander posted a 5.67 ERA over 27 innings across his five starts in July, one of which was a scoreless outing. Cease has posted a 4.60 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 162:48 K:BB through 123.1 innings over 23 starts this season. His next start is lined up to be at home versus the Red Sox.

Pallante (6-8) allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Padres.

Pallante posted seven innings of one-hit ball in his last start, but he wasn't able to replicate it Sunday. It was a decent outing, aside from the two-run home run Jake Cronenworth hit in the fourth inning to open the scoring. Pallante is now at a 4.57 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 80:40 K:BB through 122 innings over 22 starts this season. He's tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Cubs.

Blackburn (shoulder) struck out three and allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings Saturday in his rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse.

Blackburn has now compiled a 2.21 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB in 20.1 innings over four rehab starts between stops with Syracuse and the rookie-level Florida Complex League. He's been on the shelf since July 3 due to a right shoulder impingement but has been fully stretched out for over a week now, as he built up to 87 pitches in his previous rehab start before tossing 93 on Saturday. His delayed activation from the 15-day injured list seems to be a result of the Mets buying some time to decide whether he'll be part of the rotation or bullpen upon his return, and Blackburn's odds of returning as a starter may have increased after Sunday's 12-4 loss to the Giants. Frankie Montas was battered for seven earned runs in four innings in the loss and now holds a 6.68 ERA over seven starts on the season, perhaps putting him at risk of losing his spot in the rotation.