MLB Player News

Cruz (illness) is starting in center field and batting leadoff Tuesday against the Cardinals.

The 27-year-old was scratched from the lineup for Monday's series opener due to an illness but is good to go for Tuesday's contest. Cruz has gone 0-for-10 with five strikeouts in his past two games but overall has been productive during the first month of the campaign with eight home runs, 10 steals, 24 RBI, 19 runs and an .838 OPS in 27 games.

Realmuto (back) took batting practice on the field and did agility in the outfield Tuesday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Realmuto is eligible to return Saturday and it appears that he is trending toward a return then. The catcher landed on the 10-day injured list April 22 due to back spasms after initially tweaking his back the prior week.

The Phillies optioned Hoffman to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.

The right-hander was called up by the Phillies on Thursday and will head back to Triple-A after firing 1.1 scoreless frames in his lone appearance. That strong showing combined with Hoffman's 2.35 ERA across seven outings for Lehigh Valley this season -- assuming he maintains that form -- should help him to get another look in the majors later this year.

Steele (elbow) suffered a setback in his rehab program and was shut down from throwing Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

The specifics of the setback aren't yet clear, but any shutdown of more than a few days would likely remove any hope for a return from the 60-day injured list in late May when Steele is first eligible. The left-hander is working his way back from the UCL revision surgery he underwent last April, and his return timeline is now murky.

Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Tuesday that Schwellenbach (elbow) has yet to begin a throwing program and will not make his season debut until after the All-Star break, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.

Schwellenbach underwent surgery in February to remove bone spurs from his right elbow. The right-hander is making good progress, per Weiss, but there's no word yet on when he will be cleared for throwing. Schwellenbach was also sidelined for the final three months of the 2025 campaign with a small fracture in his elbow, so the club is proceeding extra cautiously with the hurler's rehab.

Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Tuesday that Waldrep (elbow) will throw a bullpen session in about a week and could be ready to rejoin the team in June, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.

Any timetable is approximate, as Waldrep has multiple boxes he needs to check. The young right-hander is working his way back from an arthroscopic procedure Feb. 23 to remove loose bodies from his pitching elbow. Waldrep is currently on the 15-day injured list but could shift to the 60-day IL if Atlanta needs the 40-man roster spot, as he will not be ready to return within the 60-day window.

Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Tuesday that Iglesias (shoulder) has resumed throwing, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.

Weiss added that he expects Iglesias back from the 15-day injured list when first eligible May 5 or shortly after. It's unclear whether Atlanta will ask Iglesias to go out on a brief rehab assignment first. Iglesias landed on the IL a week ago with right shoulder inflammation.

Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Tuesday that Strider (oblique) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to make his season debut this weekend in Colorado, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.

A report earlier Tuesday said that Strider would make one more rehab start, but that turned out to be inaccurate. Weiss did not reveal the specific day Strider would make his season debut, but if he pitches on four days' rest as he has been on his rehab assignment, he'd start Friday. Strider threw 82 pitches over five innings Sunday with Triple-A Gwinnett, so he should be ready for a relatively normal workload against the Rockies. He's missed the first month of the season with a left oblique strain.

Soto will remain limited to designated hitter for now due to right forearm tightness, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

Soto reported forearm tightness last Friday and underwent an MRI, which came back negative. He will continue to serve as the Mets' DH for now, but the hope is that Soto will be ready to return to the outfield "in the next few days," manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday. Soto is 3-for-15 with zero RBI and a 6:2 BB:K in five contests since coming back from a calf strain.

Robert is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Nationals due to lower-back tightness, Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv reports.

Robert's absence from the lineup is his third in the past four games, so it's not a surprise to find out he's managing an injury. The veteran outfielder isn't scheduled to undergo any medical testing at this point, but that could change if there's no improvement in the next 48 hours. For now, Robert should be considered day-to-day.