MLB Player News

Backhus (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.

Backus has been sidelined since late April with left elbow inflammation but is finally ready to test things out in a game setting. Given how much time he's missed, the lefty reliever is likely to require a handful of rehab outings before rejoining the Phillies' bullpen.

Single-A Fort Wayne placed Kemp on the 60-day injured list April 22 with a left oblique injury, J.J. Cooper of Baseball America reports.

He suffered the injury right before he was set to make his first start of the year for the TinCaps. Kemp, 21, logged a 5.52 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 64 strikeouts in 77.2 innings in the lower levels last year.

Single-A Lake Elsinore placed Fountain on the full-season injured list May 29 after he had surgery to repair a separated shoulder, J.J. Cooper of Baseball America reports.

Fountain, who received an over-slot $1.7 million bonus after the Padres selected him in the fifth round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, is already 20 years old and has a career .191/.303/.281 slash line in 48 career games at Single-A. He will miss the rest of the season.

Smith (neck) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game in Pittsburgh.

Smith missed the final two games of the weekend series versus the Angels with neck stiffness, and he remains out of the lineup even after Monday's team off day. Dalton Rushing is catching and batting eighth for the Dodgers against the Pirates.

The Mets optioned Senger to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old was called up to serve as New York's backup catcher in mid-May after Francisco Alvarez (knee) landed on the injured list, but Senger will return to Triple-A with Alvarez coming off the IL on Tuesday. Senger played in just seven games while up in the big leagues and went 2-for-15 with one home run.

Solometo recently underwent left shoulder labrum surgery and is expected to be sidelined until at least April 2027, Mark Chiarelli of Baseball America reports.

The lanky southpaw has logged 12.2 innings since 2024 and has struggled to recapture his peak prospect form from 2022 and 2023. Solometo, who turns 24 in December, has spent time at Double-A in each of the past three seasons.

Triple-A Indianapolis placed Jebb on the 60-day injured list May 1 after he had surgery to repair a left thumb fracture and ligament damage, Mark Chiarelli of Baseball America reports.

Jebb last played April 26 and will require 12 weeks to recover, per the report. A second baseman turned center fielder, Jebb showed middling production across 136 career games at Double-A but hit .375 with two home runs and two steals in his first six games at Triple-A prior to suffering the injury.

Chace (elbow) is throwing bullpens and should return in the second half of the 2026 season, Josh Norris of Baseball America reports.

Chace needed Tommy John surgery in May 2025 and is progressing in his recovery. Already on the 40-man roster, Chace has logged a 3.47 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 54:19 K:BB in 36.1 innings across 10 career starts at Double-A.

The Mets reinstated Alvarez (knee) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports. He's starting behind the plate and batting ninth Tuesday against the Cardinals.

The 24-year-old was expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in mid-May, but he beat that initial recovery timeline by a mile and is back with the Mets less than one month later. Alvarez went 3-for-13 with a walk and two doubles during a four-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse. Prior to the injury, the young catcher had a .241/.317/.393 slash line with four home runs, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored through 37 games this season.

The Brewers agreed to a seven-year, $31 million contract extension with Lara on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The deal includes three club options, potentially locking Lara up through the 2035 season, and it can max out at $79 million. It's another pre-arbitration contract extension completed by the Brewers after they inked Cooper Pratt to an eight-year, $50.75 million contract extension in April. Lara entered the 2026 season without much hype but has particularly broken through from a power perspective, slashing .338/.447/.500 with seven home runs, 18 stolen bases and a 39:32 BB:K over 56 games with Triple-A Nashville. The 21-year-old will need to be added to the 40-man roster once the extension is official, which clears a potential hurdle to Lara being promoted to the majors. Lara could take over as the Brewers' primary center fielder at some point this summer.