MLB Player News

The Cardinals activated Nootbaar (heels) from the 60-day injured list Friday.

Noobaar is ready to make his season debut after recovering from offseason surgery to correct deformities in both heels. He looked good during a 12-game rehab stint, slashing .257/.409/.543 with three home runs and a 9:6 BB:K. The Cardinals will likely mix in some extra off days initially so they don't overload Nootbaar, but he's poised to be the team's everyday left fielder. Nootbaar is batting leadoff in Friday's game versus the Reds.

Karros is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers.

Karros started at third base each of the previous four contests but will take a seat in Friday's series opener. Willi Castro will man the hot corner for the Rockies.

Jimenez is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Rays.

Jimenez had started two of the last three games versus right-handed pitching, but he'll take a seat in this one as the Rays send righty Drew Rasmussen to the bump. It will be Javier Sanoja handling third base in the series opener.

Norby is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays.

Norby is in a 3-for-34 slump at the plate, so he will get a day to regroup. Kyle Stowers will cover first base for the Marlins, and Esteury Ruiz is getting the call in left field.

Vesia was charged with a blown save Thursday versus Arizona, as he allowed an inherited runner to score while giving up one hit over two-thirds of an inning.

Vesia has been very reliable this season, and he was called upon in the eighth inning with the Dodgers up a run with one out and runners on first and second. The lefty was able to retire the first batter he faced before Geraldo Perdomo stroked a single to center field to tie the game up. It was the first blown save of the season for Vesia, though he still managed to extend his streak of scoreless outings to 10 since the run wasn't charged to him. With Edwin Diaz sidelined due to an elbow injury, Tanner Scott has taken over as Los Angeles' top closer, but Vesia is tied for the team lead with eight holds and has notched two saves while posting a 2.14 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 28:10 K:BB over 21 innings spanning 27 appearances.

Machado went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Thursday in a loss to Philadelphia.

Machado struck out twice in the contest, but he also provided half of the Padres' runs with his blast in the seventh inning. The star third baseman began the campaign very slowly, batting .198 with just two home runs over his first 25 games. However, Machado has picked up the pace in the power department since then, going deep nine times across his subsequent 34 contests. He's otherwise still looking for his swing, though, batting just .157 during that span, and his .174 batting average on the season is the second-worst mark among qualified MLB hitters.

Herz (elbow) was sent to the FCL Nationals on Friday to begin a rehab assignment.

Herz is ready to pitch in a game for the first time since undergoing April 2025 Tommy John surgery. The left-hander will need to use most, if not all, of his allotted 30 days on a rehab assignment, and it's not a given he'll rejoin the major-league club immediately after being activated. Herz is an intriguing long-term arm, however, after striking out 106 over 88.2 innings covering 19 starts for the Nationals in 2024.

Mathews struck out nine while yielding just one hit and one walk over six shutout innings in a start for Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.

It's the best start of the season for Mathews, who faced just one over the minimum and induced 16 whiffs on 80 pitches. Mathews' major control problems have persisted this season at Memphis with a 17 percent walk rate, but he's also sporting a 30.5 percent strikeout rate and has been able to hold his velocity deep into outings. He could reach St. Louis at some point in the second half if he can get the walks down to an acceptable level.

The Giants recalled Seymour from Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Seymour has collected a 4.04 ERA and 42:17 K:BB over 49 innings in 11 appearances (nine starts) with Sacramento this season. He will provide some length in the Giants' bullpen.

The Giants optioned Ramos to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Ramos received his first big-league promotion this week but was knocked around for five runs with a 1:4 K:BB over two innings. He's being replaced in the bullpen by Carson Seymour.