MLB Player News

Alvarez is slashing only .191/.286/.265 over his last 20 games with one home run and three RBI, but the Mets believe he's close to emerging from his slump, Tim Britton of the Athletic reports.

The 23-year-old catcher began revamping his swing mechanics in the offseason, but a fractured hamate bone this spring derailed Alvarez's progress, and he's struggled to get comfortable at the plate since coming off the IL. "The past week, I feel like he's hitting the ball in the air, hitting the ball hard - something we didn't see early on when he got back from the injury," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday. "I like some of the takes with some of the breaking balls. I know he's working." The team has had internal discussions about optioning Alvarez to Triple-A until he turns things around, but a lack of catching depth in the organization makes that tricky, especially while he's still contributing defensively. Should that prove to be necessary, Luis Torrens would take over as New York's No. 1 catcher until Alvarez regains his confidence as a hitter.

The Cardinals recalled McGreevy from Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.

McGreevy will be the 27th man for Thursday's doubleheader against the White Sox and is slated to be the starting pitcher for the second game. The Cardinals are expected to return McGreevy to Memphis after the doubleheader, but he could be recalled next week to make another start if St. Louis wants to keep a six-man rotation in place during a busy portion of its schedule. McGreevy has yielded four runs with a 10:1 K:BB over 11.2 innings with the Cardinals this season and holds a 2.51 ERA and 64:12 K:BB across 61 frames in 2025 with Memphis.

Pages is absent from the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the White Sox.

Ivan Herrera will start at catcher and Alec Burleson will serve as the designated hitter for the Cardinals in the first game of Thursday's twin bill. Pages is a good bet to be behind the dish for the second contest.

Norby went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Phillies.

The third baseman hadn't left the yard since May 24th, stretch of 19 games in which he'd slashed just .174/.230/.217. Norby has a somewhat disappointing four homers, six steals, 20 RBI and 25 runs and .673 OPS in 51 contests, but his 27.6 percent strikeout rate is a step up from last year's 33.0 percent mark.

Donovan is not in the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the White Sox.

The Cardinals will go with Nolan Gorman at second base in the first game of the twin bill. Donovan should be back in the lineup for the second game of the day.

Chapman (hand) is expected to continue wearing his splint through the end of the week, but he is now participating in light conditioning and baseball activities, per MLB.com.

Chapman was placed on the injured list June 10 due to sprained ligaments in his right hand. The third baseman saw a hand specialist, and his X-rays came back negative. However, he could still end up being unavailable for at least the rest of June, according to Buster Olney of ESPN. Casey Schmitt is expected to continue starting at third base while Chapman is sidelined.

Gray won't pitch in Thursday's doubleheader against the White Sox and instead lines up to start this weekend versus the Reds, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The veteran right-hander was presumed to start in the twin bill after his scheduled start Wednesday in Chicago was rained out, but St. Louis will instead turn to Erick Fedde and Michael McGreevy for the doubleheader. Gray surrendered six runs over 4.1 innings against the Brewers in his last start, but he had a 1.07 ERA and 30:2 K:BB in 25.1 innings across his four prior outings.

The Pirates recalled Suwinski from Triple-A Indianapolis to serve as their 27th man for Thursday's doubleheader versus the Tigers.

Suwinski will provide the Pirates with some extra outfield depth for the twin bill while Bryan Reynolds (personal) is away from the team on paternity leave. Though he's not included in the lineup for the first game of the day while southpaw Tarik Skubal toes the rubber for Detroit, the left-handed-hitting Suwinski could enter the lineup for Game 2, when right-hander Keider Montero is expected to work in bulk relief behind an opener. The Pirates are likely to return Suwinski to Indianapolis following the doubleheader.

Cruz is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Tigers.

Cruz had been scheduled to sit out Wednesday against Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, but that contest was ultimately postponed due to inclement weather. With Skubal now set to take the hill for the first game of Thursday's twin bill, Cruz will hit the bench, but he'll likely return to the starting nine for the second contest of the day.

Acuna went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's win over the Mets.

The superstar right fielder led off the bottom of the first inning by taking Paul Blackburn deep, giving Chris Sale all the support he would need in a 5-0 win. Acuna has hit safely in eight straight games, batting a gobsmacking .577 (15-for-26) over that stretch with a double, four homers, a steal, seven RBI and 11 runs.