MLB Player News

The Reds activated Diaz (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

Diaz has been shelved with a strained hamstring that threw his mechanics out of whack, but he's been deemed ready to go after making five rehab appearances with Triple-A Louisville. The reliever was tagged for four runs (three earned) on six hits and four walks while striking out eight over five innings during the stint, so the Reds might not entrust Diaz with the closer job right out of the chute. That said, manager Terry Francona has indicated a desire for Diaz to regain his closer job, so the 28-year-old looks like the best bet for saves in the Reds' bullpen over the long haul.

The Marlins activated Sanchez (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday.

Sanchez got a late start to the season after suffering a left oblique strain during spring training, but he's ready to return to action following a three-game rehab stint with Triple-A Jacksonville. The 27-year-old slashed .252/.313/.417 with 18 homers and 16 steals last season and should be an everyday player for Miami, rotating between the outfield and designated hitter.

The Pirates recalled Shugart from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Shugart has tossed 3.2 scoreless frames during his time in the big leagues this season. The right-hander will operate in middle relief out of the Pirates' bullpen.

The Pirates placed Rodriguez on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a right index finger laceration, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez took a deflected pitch off the finger during Monday's game against the Nationals and needed stiches to close the wound. He will need time for the cut to heal and it's not clear if Rodriguez will be ready to return when first eligible. Joey Bart (back) is also banged up, but the Pirates are not replacing Rodriguez on the roster with another catcher, suggesting Bart is close to returning to action.

Blackburn (knee) is scheduled to throw two innings in a live batting practice session Tuesday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Blackburn checked out fine after throwing a one-inning live BP session in Brooklyn on Friday, prompting the Mets to clear him to repeat the activity while increasing his pitch count. If all goes well Tuesday, Blackburn will then head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Manager Carlos Mendoza said that the goal is to have Blackburn build up to around 65-to-70 pitches before coming off the 15-day injured list, so the right-hander will likely be in line for at least two starts on the farm.

McNeil (oblique) will continue his rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie through Thursday before his assignment is shifted to Triple-A Syracuse, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

McNeil will presumably remain with Syracuse through the weekend before the Mets decide whether he's ready to return from the 10-day injured list at the beginning of next week. The veteran infielder is bouncing back from a right oblique strain and has already played two games for St. Lucie, going 2-for-5 with a walk and a run.

Acuna went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base in Monday's 5-1 win over the Twins.

The 23-year-old made an impact from the bottom of the batting order, continuing a hot streak in which he has gone 6-for-14 over his last four games with three steals and six runs scored. After the game, manager Carlos Mendoza essentially confirmed that Acuna has pulled ahead of Brett Baty in the battle for playing time at second base, with the skipper noting that Acuna will start against another right-handed pitcher (Bailey Ober) on Tuesday, per Tim Healey of Newsday. Jeff McNeil (oblique) is closing in on a return from the 10-day injured list and will eventually take over as the Mets' primary second baseman, but Acuna's ability to play center field will likely improve his odds of sticking around in the big leagues since Jose Siri (tibia) appears headed for a lengthy absence.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that Mauricio (knee) is scheduled to serve as the designated hitter in an extended spring training game Tuesday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Mauricio will be participating in his first game action since December 2023, when he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee while playing in the Dominican Winter League. The 24-year-old infielder has faced a longer recovery than initially anticipated, as he required a follow-up procedure July 30, 2024 to remove scar tissue from the knee. He was eased along slowly this spring, but Mauricio is finally ready to test himself in a competitive environment, albeit in a controlled setting and in a non-defensive role. Mauricio could still be multiple weeks away from being ready to play the infield, and the Mets haven't yet offered a concrete timeline for him to be fully cleared.

White went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double and two runs scored in Monday's win over the Blue Jays.

The 30-year-old utility player has started two straight games as Atlanta tries to find some production in its outfield, but White's window for playing time is likely to close quickly. Alex Verdugo is expected to join the big-league roster at some point this week, while Ronald Acuna (knee) remains on track for an early-May season debut. If White keeps his spot on the 26-man roster, his best route to at-bats would likely come as a short-side platoon partner for Verdugo.

Allen went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Monday's win over the Blue Jays.

The 26-year-old continues to make his case to be Atlanta's starting shortstop ahead of Orlando Arcia. Allen is batting .313 (10-for-32) through 10 games with four steals in four attempts, while Arcia is batting just .208 (5-for-24) in his seven outings.