MLB Player News

Steer is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Rangers.

Steer has now started three of the first five games this season, as the Reds don't want to overload him as he comes back from his right shoulder injury. All three of Steer's starts have been at designated hitter, and it's not clear when he might be ready to play the field. Gavin Lux is at DH on Tuesday while Blake Dunn covers left field.

Encarnacion-Strand (hand) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rangers.

The 25-year-old departed Monday's series opener after being hit by a pitch on the right hand and will be absent from the starting nine for at least one game. Encarnacion-Strand already had X-rays come back negative and could be available off the bench, per Reds manager Terry Francona, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports. Jeimer Candelario is shifting to first base Tuesday while Santiago Espinal receives a start at the hot corner.

Gorman is starting at designated hitter and batting fifth in Tuesday's contest versus the Angels.

It's just his second start in the Cardinals' first five games, but Gorman had three hits -- including a home run -- in his first start. Willson Contreras is getting a day off in this one, as Alec Burleson will shift from DH to first base.

Herrera is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Angels.

Herrera -- who sports a 1.055 OPS in the early going -- has now drawn three starts to Pedro Pages' two in the first five games. Pages will do the catching for Matthew Liberatore on Tuesday.

Contreras is absent from the lineup in Tuesday's game versus the Angels.

Contreras is still looking for his first hit of the season, having gone 0-for-18 with eight strikeouts in the Cardinals' first four games. Alec Burleson will cover first base and Nolan Gorman will be the DH on Tuesday while Contreras regroups.

Atlanta designated Chavez for assignment Tuesday.

The veteran right-hander inked a minor-league deal with Atlanta last week and had his contract selected from Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday, and he pitched later in the day versus the Dodgers, giving up a run on two hits and two walks over two innings. Chavez had a 3.13 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 55:19 K:BB across 46 appearances for Atlanta last season, but his stay on the big-league roster early this year was brief.

Atlanta selected Thompson's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Atlanta is in need of a reliever capable of eating innings and Thompson is a theoretical fit since he totaled nine frames in two Grapefruit League appearances. The 31-year-old missed the entirety of the 2024 season while recovering from flexor tendon surgery and hasn't pitched in the big league since 2022.

Mears (illness) was sent to Triple-A Nashville to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday.

Mears got a late start to the season due to an illness he caught during spring training that resulted in some weight loss. He's got his strength back now and should have a good shot to be activated from the 15-day injured list April 8 when first eligible.

The Rockies placed Estrada (wrist) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

After suffering a non-displaced fractured right wrist when he was hit by a pitch in a Cactus League game March 20, Estrada is likely to require 4-to-8 weeks of recovery time. With Estrada on the shelf, Kyle Farmer has started at second base in three of the Rockies' first four games, while Tyler Freeman has manned the keystone in the other contest.

The Rockies placed Criswell (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Criswell is slated to miss the entire 2025 season and likely the early part of the 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery March 14. He'll likely be shifted to the 60-day IL later on in the season when Colorado needs to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for another player.