MLB Player News

The Cardinals placed Nootbaar on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to May 30, with a left oblique strain.

Nootbaar suffered the injury on a check swing during Wednesday's win over the Reds. It's the outfielder's second stint on the IL this season, as he previously missed time with two fractured ribs. The timing is poor, as Nootbaar was slashing .313/.418/.552 with four home runs over his last 79 plate appearances. With Nootbaar out, Alec Burleson will play more in the outfield and Matt Carpenter will see time at designated hitter.

Winn (forearm) threw a 45-pitch bullpen session Monday, and Giants manager Bob Melvin said that the right-hander could be available to start when his next turn in the rotation comes up, MLB.com reports.

The bullpen session was the second that Winn has thrown since he was diagnosed with a mild right forearm strain following his May 14 start against the Dodgers, before he was placed on the 15-day injured list three days later. The Giants haven't officially decided whether or not Winn will require a rehab assignment prior to being activated, and the club may wait and see how he's feeling over the weekend before making that call. If Winn is cleared to immediately rejoin the rotation, he would likely take the ball Monday or Tuesday in Arizona.

Busch is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Reds.

It sounds like the Cubs plan to play Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field more often after they recalled him from Triple-A Iowa on Thursday. That will mean more Cody Bellinger in right field and at first base, where he is playing Friday. Busch could have his playing time dip as a result. The rookie infielder had a stretch in mid-April when he homered in five straight games, but in 37 contests since then he's slashed just .202/.296/.316 with two homers and a 38.6 percent strikeout rate.

Hurtubise is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.

Hurtubise made eight straight starts from May 21-28 and batted leadoff every time the Reds faced a righty over that stretch. However, this now marks two straight games since TJ Friedl returned from the injured list that Hurtubise will begin the contest on the bench. Will Benson has shifted over to left field to accommodate Friedl in center.

Brewer (back) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Brewer has missed the last couple weeks with a lower-back injury. Because he hasn't been sidelined long, his rehab assignment figures to be brief. Brewer has posted a 3.09 ERA and 12:4 K:BB over 11.2 innings with the Cubs this season.

Vientos is expected to serve as the Mets' everyday third baseman after the club optioned Brett Baty to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Baty had started at third base in four of the Mets' previous five matchups versus right-handed pitchers, but the 24-year-old was unable to break out of his extended slump at the plate. He ends his time on the Mets' 26-man active roster having hit just .132 over his last 15 games, leaving Vientos as the big club's top option at the hot corner against both right- and left-handed pitching. Though he's an inferior defender compared to Baty, Vientos has been the far more effective hitter of the two at the big-league level this season, posting a .945 OPS over 48 plate appearances for the Mets. With Baty at least temporarily removed from the mix and a path to regular at-bats having been cleared up, Vientos makes for a worthy pickup for fantasy managers seeking an infusion of power.

The Mets acquired Torrens from the Yankees on Friday in exchange for cash considerations and purchased his contract from Triple-A Syracuse, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

The Mets have designated Omar Narvaez for assignment and will replace him with Torrens. The 28-year-old has hit .279/.339/.468 with five home runs this season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Torrens should back up Tomas Nido for the time being but might only be around until Francisco Alvarez (thumb) returns.

Ferrer (shoulder) recently extended his throwing distance from flat ground to 120 feet, MLB.com reports.

Ferrer has been making slow progress in his recovery from a teres major strain in his left shoulder, an injury that first cropped up during spring training. He's been limited to playing catch for nearly a month, though he could soon be ready to resume throwing off a mound. Ferrer is likely at least a couple of weeks from heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment and probably won't be a realistic option to return from the 60-day injured list until the second half of June.

The Mets recalled Nunez from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Nunez has allowed three runs while boasting a 13:3 K:BB over 8.1 innings out of the Mets' bullpen this season. He will operate in middle relief.

The Mets designated Narvaez for assignment on Friday, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.

Narvaez's two years in New York have been a disaster, as he posted a .580 OPS over 49 games in 2023 and has a .154/.191/.185 slash line in 28 games this year. Even with Francisco Alvarez (thumb) not yet back from the injured list, the Mets will look elsewhere for catching depth.