MLB Player News

Fried (4-2) earned the win over the Cubs on Wednesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits in a complete game. He struck out nine.

Fried dominated the Cubs' lineup in his second complete game of the season, retiring the first 15 batters he faced before surrendering a leadoff double to Ian Happ to open the bottom of the sixth. The lefty produced 18 whiffs in the contest and finished with a season-high nine strikeouts, while also not issuing any walks for first time in his last five starts. He's now gone at least seven innings in three of his last four outings, posting a 23:9 K:BB over that stretch.

Realmuto went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, two additional RBI and an additional run scored during Wednesday's 11-4 win over the Rangers.

Realmuto has generated a hit in 12 consecutive games and has reached via hit multiple times in six of those contests. However, Wednesday's solo homer off Dane Dunning was his first of that stretch and his three RBI were his most since April. Realmuto is batting .377 with three doubles and 11 runs scored during his hit streak.

Sosa went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run during Wednesday's 11-4 win over the Rangers.

The shortstop tagged Jonathan Hernandez for a round-tripper in the fourth inning, plating Nick Castellanos and Brandon Marsh. The long ball was Sosa's second of the campaign and his first in 51 at-bats, dating back to April 7. Since Trea Turner (hamstring) was placed on the injured list May 4, Sosa is 11-for-37 (.297) with 12 runs and nine RBI.

Smith-Shawver will be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Thursday's game against the Cubs, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Smith-Shawver will be making his first big-league start of 2024 on Thursday after logging a 6.10 ERA and 1.52 WHIP through 31 innings across eight starts in Triple-A. He appeared in six games for Atlanta last season with mixed results, though he could find some success against a Cubs offense that ranks 10th in the National League with a .683 OPS.

Walker didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against Texas, allowing three runs on six hits and four walks across 4.2 innings. He struck out five.

Walker issued a season-high four walks Wednesday, two of which came in the fifth inning before he was yanked. After taking a comebacker off the foot in his last start end exiting early, Walker threw 86 pitches and didn't seem to be limited in any capacity. Although the 31-year-old owns a 5.06 ERA across 26.2 innings, he holds a 3-0 record and hasn't allowed more than three runs in a start since his 2024 debut. He's projected to make his next start Monday at the pitcher-friendly Oracle Park.

Manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday that Kelly will undergo an MRI later this week to see how his strained right shoulder is progressing, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Kelly's shoulder has kept him out of action since April 23, though he may be able to begin a throwing program in the near future if his MRI results come back clean. If the 35-year-old righty is cleared to begin throwing, a more defined return timeline may emerge, although he isn't eligible to return to Arizona's rotation until June 22.

Marte (suspension) recently reported to the Reds' facility in the Dominican Republic to continue participating in exhibition games before the start of the Dominican Summer League, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Marte is continuing to serve the 80-game suspension he was handed down in March for violating MLB's joint drug prevention and treatment program, but he's been able to stay in playing shape of late by appearing in extended spring training games in Arizona and now in the Dominican Republic. According to team president Nick Krall, the Reds plan to have Marte participate in games in the Dominican Republic for about a week to 10 days before he returns to the United States to begin an official rehab assignment in the minors. Marte, who hit .316 with three home runs and six stolen bases in 35 games for the Reds in 2023 following his late-season promotion to the big leagues, is eligible to make his 2024 debut for the big club June 27 in St. Louis.

Smyly (hip) struck out five over three perfect innings in his rehab start Tuesday with High-A South Bend.

Pitching in a game for the first time in a month after landing on the 15-day injured list April 23 with a right hip impingement, Smyly looked about as good as possible while tossing 40 pitches. The lefty had been working exclusively as a reliever prior to landing on the shelf, but with the Cubs moving the struggling Kyle Hendricks to the bullpen earlier this week, Smyly could be under consideration to step in as the team's No. 5 starter if he makes it back from the IL before Jordan Wicks (forearm). If the Cubs intend to bring Smyly back in a starting role, he'll still need to get stretched out a bit further, so it wouldn't be surprising if he stuck around at South Bend or joined a higher-level affiliate for another rehab outing. Regardless of whether Smyly serves as a starter or reliever upon his return to the Cubs, manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that he expects the 34-year-old to be activated at some point next week, per MLB.com.

Freeland (elbow) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

It's a significant step in Freeland's rehab program, as it's the first time he's thrown off a mound since he landed on the injured list in mid-April with an elbow strain. The left-hander now needs to build up his arm strength before facing live batters and embarking on a rehab assignment, so he's likely still about a month away from rejoining Colorado's rotation.

Liberatore threw a bullpen session ahead of Wednesday's action against the Orioles, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Following last weekend's start against the Red Sox, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Liberatore wasn't likely to start Saturday versus the Cubs. However, the left-hander's bullpen session could indicate a change of plan, since it wouldn't make much sense to have a regular reliever make himself unavailable on a day during which St. Louis had to complete Tuesday's suspended game in addition to Wednesday's regularly scheduled contest. It remains to be seen who actually starts for the Cardinals on Saturday, but Liberatore seems to still be in the mix, at least.