MLB Player News
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Not in lineup Monday
Steer is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Guardians.
With Steer getting the night off against Cleveland right-hander Luis L. Ortiz, Christian Encarnacion-Strand will man first base and bat cleanup. Santiago Espinal is at third base and batting seventh. Steer is slashing .226/.294/.327 with four home runs, 20 RBI, 24 runs scored and three stolen bases across 238 plate appearances this season.
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A.J. Smith-Shawver SP | ATL
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
Atlanta announced Monday that Smith-Shawver (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2025 season.
This was the expected outcome after Smith-Shawver was diagnosed with a torn UCL in his pitching elbow, which he suffered May 29. Smith-Shawver was placed on the 60-day injured list the following day and is looking at a lengthy rehab. Prior to his injury, Smith-Shawver (3-2) made nine starts for Atlanta this season, registering a 3.86 ERA and 42:21 K:BB across 44.1 innings of work. Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder round out Atlanta's rotation behind Chris Sale, Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach. Fellow starter Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder) remains on the 60-day IL.
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Justin Garza RP | NYM
Mets' Justin Garza: Promoted to MLB
The Mets selected Garza from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Garza was acquired from the Giants in exchange for cash considerations over the weekend and will join the big club, taking the roster spot of fellow reliever Brandon Waddell. The 31-year-old Garza appeared in 19 games at Triple-A with San Francisco's organization and posted a 6.11 ERA and 10.2 K/9 across 17.2 innings out of the bullpen.
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Brandon Waddell RP | NYM
Mets' Brandon Waddell: Sent back to Triple-A
The Mets optioned Waddell to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Waddell pitched in two games for the Mets since his latest promotion and has appeared in four contests overall this season, registering a 3.38 ERA and 7:2 K:BB across 10.2 innings of relief. In a corresponding move, the Mets recalled Justin Garza, whom they just acquired in a trade with the Giants over the weekend.
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Mookie Betts SS | LAD
Dodgers' Mookie Betts: Swats homer Sunday
Betts went 1-for-5 with a solo home run Sunday in a 7-3 win against the Cardinals.
Betts hit the only long ball of the game on either side, belting a solo shot to left field in the seventh inning. It was his first home run since he went deep twice against Arizona on May 19. Betts seems to be picking things up at the plate, going 9-for-16 with three extra-base hits, three runs and two RBI with just one strikeout over his past four games.
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Wandy Peralta RP | SD
Padres' Wandy Peralta: Logs one-pitch hold
Peralta earned a hold against Milwaukee on Sunday, retiring the only batter he faced on one pitch.
Peralta entered in the bottom of the seventh inning with San Diego up 1-0 and with runners on first and second base. The southpaw threw a 94 mph sinker to Brice Turang, who lined out to shortstop to end the frame. Peralta thus notched his first hold since April 16 against the Cubs. He has a mediocre 3.81 ERA and has struggled with his control this season, issuing 14 walks over 28.1 innings, but take away a six-run blowup against the Yankees in early May and Peralta would have a 1.95 ERA across 27 games.
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Manny Machado 3B | SD
Padres' Manny Machado: Remains hot with homer Sunday
Machado went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in a 1-0 win against the Brewers on Sunday.
Machado accounted for the only run by either team with his 425-foot solo blast in the seventh inning. The star third baseman has found his power stroke of late, clubbing three homers over his past four games and seven across his past 16 contests. Machado is also in the midst of a six-game hitting streak during which he's posted a 1.352 OPS with six RBI.
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Josiah Gray SP | WAS
Nationals' Josiah Gray: Throwing bullpen sessions
Gray (elbow) has recently progressed to throwing bullpen sessions of 30 pitches at the Nationals' spring training facility in Florida, MLB.com reports.
Gray isn't expected to resume pitching in games until late in the 2025 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure July 24, 2024, but he seems to making good progress in his recovery. He'll likely remain in Florida for at least a few more weeks to conduct his rehab and will eventually move on to facing hitters in live batting practice before he's cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment.
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Nate Lowe DH | CLE
Nationals' Nathaniel Lowe: Three hits in Sunday's loss
Lowe went 3-for-4 with a double in Sunday's loss to the Rangers.
The first baseman produced his first three-hit performance since May 3, accounting for half of the Nationals' knocks on the day. Lowe's homer drought stands at 19 games, but his bat may be coming around -- over the last 10 contests, he's batting .289 (11-for-38) with two doubles and six RBI.
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Alex Call LF | LAD
Nationals' Alex Call: Goes yard again Sunday
Call went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Rangers.
Starting in right field and batting leadoff with CJ Abrams getting a breather, Call took southpaw Jacob Latz (hand) deep in the fourth inning to get the Nationals on the board. Call has two homers on the season in 43 contests, and both came in the weekend series against Texas. The 30-year-old outfielder should continue to serve on the short side of a platoon with Robert Hassell in right field.