MLB Player News

Ekness has a 1.48 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 34:8 K:BB and zero homers allowed through 24.1 innings for Double-A Pensacola this season.

Selected in the 12th round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Houston, Ekness could be a future high-leverage bullpen arm for the Marlins as he features a fastball that can touch triple digits and a potentially plus slider that he's still learning to command. After posting an 11.1 percent walk rate at High-A Beloit in 2024, Ekness has cut that mark to 7.6 percent with Pensacola this year, and the 23-year-old right-hander seems likely to get a promotion to Triple-A over the summer.

Freeman is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals.

Freeman had started each of the previous six tilts, but he will begin the series finale on the bench. Brenton Doyle will get a start at designated hitter, and Mickey Moniak will start in right field as the Rockies go for the sweep.

Estrada (hand) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Nationals.

Estrada will miss a second straight start after exiting Tuesday's 10-6 win when he was hit by a pitch on the right hand. He will be hoping to return to the lineup when the Rockies return home Friday to begin a series against the Diamondbacks. Orlando Arcia will handle second base and bat eighth Thursday.

Hays (foot) resumed a running progression Thursday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Hays was shut down from running last week due to lingering soreness in his injured left foot. He's ready to ramp back up again, but the Reds will bring him along more slowly this time. Hays has been shelved since late May with a bone bruise in his foot.

Reds manager Terry Francona said that Marte (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment Friday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Marte has been hitting without issue in recent days and was cleared to play in rehab games after an MRI on his left oblique came back clean. The young infielder has been sidelined since early May but should be ready for activation from the 10-day injured list following a handful of rehab contests. Marte has slashed .294/.342/.515 this season and could step back in as the Reds' primary third baseman upon his return.

Fraley is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins.

The Reds typically hold the left-handed-hitting Fraley out of the lineup against southpaws, but after starting in each of the last four contests, the veteran outfielder will hit the bench while a righty (Chris Paddack) takes the mound for the Twins. Fraley will give up his spot in the lineup to Santiago Espinal, who starts at third base while Christian Encarnacion-Strand shifts across the diamond to first base and Spencer Steer picks up a start in the corner outfield.

Burns struck out seven over seven innings while allowing one run on three hits and zero walks Wednesday for Triple-A Louisville.

Burns, arguably the top pitching prospect in baseball, has allowed more than one earned run in just two of his 13 starts this year. Wednesday's outing was his second start at Triple-A and one of his best starts of the season. Wade Miley is currently operating as the Reds' fifth starter while Hunter Greene (groin) is on the 15-day injured list. It's unclear when the Reds might promote Burns, but he's a must-stash in fantasy leagues where possible.

The Mets will recall Hagenman from Triple-A Syracuse to serve either as a starting pitcher or bulk reliever in Friday's game in Philadelphia, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

With Tylor Megill (elbow) landing on the 15-day injured list this week and Frankie Montas (lat) and Sean Manaea (oblique) not quite ready to return, the Mets are in need of a spot starter. Hagenman pitched well in a bulk-relief appearance earlier this season with the Mets, striking out four over 3.1 frames of one-run ball. He's made six starts and four relief appearances this season with Syracuse, collecting a bloated 6.21 ERA but an impressive 39:8 K:BB over 33.1 innings.

Mazur (0-1) took the loss Wednesday, giving up four runs on five hits and four walks over 5.2 innings as the Marlins were downed 4-2 by the Phillies. He struck out five.

Making his Miami debut and his first big-league start of 2025, Mazur held the visitors off the board for three innings before running into trouble in the fourth, a frame capped by Bryson Stott's three-run homer. Mazur did give the Marlins some length however, tossing 97 pitches (59 strikes), and he may have showed enough to remain in the big-league rotation beyond Wednesday. If the 24-year-old righty does stick around, he'll likely take the bump next week in a road series against the Giants.

Stott went 2-for-3 with a walk, a three-run home run and a stolen base in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Marlins.

The second baseman capped a four-run fourth inning for the Phillies by launching a first-pitch fastball from Adam Mazur over the fence in right-center field. Stott ended a 26-game homer drought with the blast, a stretch in which he slashed just .181/.238/.202 with three RBI and seven runs. On the season, the 27-year-old sports a career-worst .642 OPS with five homers, 12 steals, 30 RBI and 32 runs in 68 contests.