MLB Player News

Pitre is batting .300 (9-for-30) with two doubles, one triple, one steal and a 4:4 BB:K over eight games since being promoted to Triple-A Syracuse on Aug. 18.

Part of the package the Mets received from the Rays for Freddy Peralta, Pitre's elite contact skills and plate discipline have fueled a breakout campaign that saw him produce a .335/.437/.465 slash line in 47 Double-A games between Montgomery and Binghamton prior to his promotion. The 23-year-old has primarily played second base this season, but New York has another top keystone prospect racing up the ladder in Mitch Voit. Pitre's lack of power creates questions about whether his profile can survive as an everyday player in the majors a la Luis Arraez, or whether he'll eventually have to settle for a utility role.

Tong's recent turnaround with Triple-A Syracuse has made him a candidate to replace Robert Stock in the Mets' rotation when rosters expand in September, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Tong has struggled this season to maintain his extreme over-the-top arm angle while incorporating new pitches into his arsenal, primarily a cutter, but the 23-year-old right-hander may have finally figured things out. He's allowed one run or fewer in five of his last six starts for Syracuse, posting a 2.48 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 34:15 K:BB over 29 innings during that stretch. Stock will stay on turn Monday -- the final day of August -- for a road start against the Rays, but if Tong maintains or even improves on his current form when he takes the mound Saturday at Triple-A, his next start will likely come in the big leagues.

Suarez (elbow) could begin throwing off a mound Monday, MLB.com reports.

The right-hander threw on flat ground from 120 feet Thursday as he continues to recover from elbow inflammation. Suarez last pitched for Atlanta on June 19, so activation from the IL isn't imminent, but if he avoids any setbacks he could still boost the team's playoff push sometime in September.

Walker allowed two hits while striking out one in a scoreless inning during Thursday's 6-1 win over Arizona.

Walker struggled during his previous stint in the big leagues, but he was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Monday and hasn't surrendered a run in any of his three appearances since. The 30-year-old right-hander has allowed four hits and one walk while striking out three in 3.2 innings over that three-game stretch. Overall, he owns a 6.60 ERA, 1.77 WHIP and 22:16 K:BB across 30 innings with San Francisco this season.

The Cubs activated Shaw (hand) from the 10-day injured list Friday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

A sprained left hand has kept Shaw sidelined since late June, but the 24-year-old has been cleared to return after going 10-for-33 with two doubles and two stolen bases in nine rehab games at Triple-A Iowa. Shaw will contend primarily with Michael Conforto and Pedro Ramirez for playing time, but as the only purely right-handed hitter of the group (Ramirez is a switch hitter) he could be relegated to reps versus lefties.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Thursday that Pereira (hand) is "making progress" and is "in a good spot," Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Pereira landed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a left hand contusion. While the Cardinals have not revealed a timeline for the outfielder's return to the active roster, Pereira's absence is likely to be relatively brief.

Winn (thumb) is expected to resume swinging a bat Friday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Winn was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a small fracture in his left thumb, an injury he suffered Aug. 18 while sliding into second base. The Cardinals are optimistic that Winn will be able to return soon, perhaps as early as Sept. 1 when he's first eligible, but how things go when he swings a bat Friday will go a long way in determining his timeline.

The Cubs optioned Alcantara to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday.

Alcantara's most recent stint in the majors lasted a week and a half, and he went 1-for-4 at the dish. The Cubs will make a corresponding roster move prior to Friday's game versus the Reds.

Young went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two stolen bases in Thursday's 7-1 win over Colorado.

Young's been heating up at the plate, going 5-for-14 (.357) with three doubles and three steals in his last four games. The outfielder has gone 17-for-20 in stolen base attempts this season while slashing .249/.314/.399 with 10 homers, 43 RBI and 49 runs scored across 408 plate appearances.

The Diamondbacks are expected to recall Drake from Triple-A Reno to start Friday's game against the Giants in San Francisco.

Arizona will add a new starter to the rotation for the second day in a row, as Jose Cabrera was previously summoned from Reno to get the start Thursday. Drake will be up with Arizona for the third time this season, after turning in a 5.40 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB in 16.2 innings across four starts during his prior two stints in the majors.