MLB Player News

Burleson is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.

The Cardinals are facing a left-handed starting pitcher (Tyler Anderson) for the first time this season, so the lefty-hitting Burleson will retreat to the bench after going 2-for-11 with a double, a walk, two runs and two RBI during the team's recent three-game series versus the Twins. Luken Baker will enter the St. Louis lineup Monday as the club's designated hitter.

Nootbaar will remain in the leadoff spot for Monday's game versus left-hander Tyler Anderson and the Angels.

Nootbaar occupied the leadoff spot in all three contests against the Twins' right-handers over the weekend and he'll stay there Monday even versus a southpaw. The 27-year-old doesn't have notable splits in his career, having put up a .786 OPS against righties and .753 OPS versus lefties. Nootbaar has reached base eight times in the first three games of the 2025 season.

Winn is hitting ninth again for the Cardinals on Monday versus Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson.

Winn was in the nine spot for all three games against the Twins' righties in the opening series, and he will remain there Monday even as the Halos send a southpaw to the hill. The shortstop was just 4-for-50 at the plate during spring training and is still looking for his first hit of the regular season. The left-handed hitting Lars Nootbaar is again occupying the leadoff spot Monday.

Baker will start at designated hitter and bat third in Monday's game versus the Angels.

Baker didn't play in any of the Cardinals' three games during their opening series against the Twins, but he's in the lineup Monday versus lefty Tyler Anderson and is occupying a prime spot in the batting order. The 28-year-old is expected to play regularly against southpaws.

Freeman is tending to a sore left wrist after being hit by a pitch in the sixth inning of Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Rays, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Making his first start of the season Sunday, Freeman played second base and grounded out in his first at-bat in the top of the third inning before taking his base on the hit-by-pitch in the sixth. Freeman came around to score a game-tying run and then went back out in the field for the bottom of the sixth, but he was lifted for a pinch hitter the next time his turn in the batting order came up in the top of the seventh. Fortunately for Freeman, X-rays on his wrist came back negative, but he's considered day-to-day while he waits for the soreness and swelling to subside. Kyle Farmer will start at second base in Monday's series opener in Philadelphia.

DeJong went 3-for-3 with two doubles in Sunday's win over the Phillies.

After an 0-for-6 start to his Nationals tenure with five strikeouts, DeJong broke out with two-baggers off Aaron Nola and Jose Ruiz. The veteran infielder is just a placeholder at third base for Washington, but he slugged 24 homers in 139 games last year between the White Sox and Royals and he could provide some thump from the bottom half of the order. DeJong isn't likely to do much more than that, however -- he's posted a strikeout rate north of 30 percent in each of the last three seasons, leading to a .205/.263/.372 slash line in 1,119 plate appearances.

Turner reported improvement with his lower-back spasms Monday and is aiming to return to the Phillies' lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Rockies, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Turner is missing a third straight game Monday, but he fielded grounders pregame and is feeling better. He'll get a fourth day of rest Tuesday on the Phillies' off day before shooting to return to action Wednesday for the second game of the series against Colorado.

Dunn is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals.

Milwaukee will face a left-handed starting pitcher (Kris Bubic) for the third time in four games, and the left-handed-hitting Dunn has found himself on the bench for each of those contests. Vinny Capra will get another start at third base, but Dunn still looks to be in line for the bulk of the playing time at the position as the strong-side platoon option.

Atlanta selected Chavez's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.

Chavez has seen action with nine different teams over parts of 17 seasons in the big leagues, but Atlanta has been a familiar stop for the 41-year-old. Currently in the midst of his fourth stint in the Atlanta organization, Chavez didn't break camp with the big club but didn't have to wait long for an opening in the bullpen to emerge after right-hander Hector Neris was designated for assignment Monday. Chavez is likely to work in middle relief after he turned in a 3.13 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 55:19 K:BB across 63.1 innings with Atlanta in 2024.

Atlanta designated Neris for assignment Monday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Neris had a disastrous first series of the season in San Diego, giving up five runs over two appearances while recording just three outs. The 35-year-old should get an opportunity in another organization, but he might have to go to the minor leagues first to get straightened out.