MLB Player News

Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that he expects Smyly (hip) to begin a rehab assignment with High-A South Bend sometime next week, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.

Counsell did not specify how many appearances Smyly will make in the minors, though the lefty figures to require multiple outings given he's been on the shelf since April 23 with a hip impingement. The 34-year-old put up a 4.97 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 12.2 innings before getting hurt, and he will likely return to a multi-inning relief role once he rejoins Chicago.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said Friday that Musgrove (elbow) is "in a great spot" to return to the team's rotation Sunday in Atlanta, Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan reports.

Musgrove has thrown two bullpen sessions since going on the injured list with right elbow inflammation May 5 and doesn't appear to need a rehab assignment. The right-hander played catch Friday, and if he recovers well from that, there's a good chance he'll take the mound for Sunday's matchup in Atlanta. Musgrove has struggled with a 6.37 ERA and 1.51 WHIP through 41 innings this season, though he pitched well in his most recent start prior to landing on the IL, allowing two runs and striking out nine batters over six frames against Cincinnati on May 1.

De Los Santos registered a hold against Atlanta on Friday, striking out one batter over a perfect two-thirds of an inning.

De Los Santos entered in the seventh frame with the tying run at the plate and struck out Zack Short before getting Ronald Acuna to fly out to escape the danger. The hold was the first this month for the right-hander hurler, who had given up a homer in three of his previous four outings prior to Friday. The long ball has been an issue for De Los Santos this season -- of the six earned runs he's allowed, five have come on solo homers -- but he's otherwise been solid, posting a 3.12 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 23:4 K:BB while collecting five holds across 17.1 innings.

The Rays traded Belge to the Cubs on Saturday in exchange for Richard Lovelady.

Belge has spent all of 2024 at Double-A Montgomery while putting up a 4.20 ERA and 1.13 WHIP across 15 innings out of the bullpen. The 26-year-old southpaw will presumably remain in Double-A as he moves into the Cubs' farm system.

Suarez earned a hold against Atlanta on Friday, allowing two hits and striking out two batters over one inning.

Suarez has been one of the best closers in baseball this season with 12 saves (in 12 chances) and a 0.47 ERA, so his usage in the eighth inning against Atlanta was not a demotion. Rather, the right-hander was called upon to face the heart of Atlanta's formidable lineup, and though he gave up singles to Marcell Ozuna and Chadwick Tromp, Suarez managed to emerge from the outing with his 16-game scoreless streak intact. The 33-year-old should see most of his work in the ninth inning going forward, though Friday's usage is an indication that manager Mike Shildt won't hesitate to use Suarez in the highest-leverage situations prior to the ninth if the situation calls for it.

Matsui earned a hold against Atlanta on Friday, walking one batter and striking out two over two-thirds of an inning.

Matsui was called upon with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning with the trying run at the plate, and he struck out Michael Harris to end the frame. The lefty reliever then struck out Orlando Arcia to begin the seventh before walking Adam Duvall, which got him the hook. Interestingly, usual closer Robert Suarez was deployed in a high-leverage spot in the eighth frame Friday, but Matsui -- who was expected to compete for the ninth-inning role after working mostly as a closer during his 10-year career in Japan -- wasn't available to close since he had already been used. If Suarez sees more work before the ninth, it's possible Matsui gets an occasional save chance, though he's mostly struggled in May, allowing four runs on five hits while posting a 6:6 K:BB over 4.2 innings covering six appearances.

Bogaerts went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases Friday in a 3-1 win against Atlanta.

Bogaerts doubled his season stolen-base total with a swipe of second in both the fifth and eighth innings. Prior to Friday, the second baseman's most recent theft took place April 22. Bogaerts has had a subpar start to the season with a .220/.268/.319 slash line through 194 plate appearances, but he's begun to come on of late, batting .350 with two homers and two RBI during his current five-game hitting streak.

Fortes went 2-for-3 with a walk, a three-run home run and two additional runs scored in Friday's 8-0 romp over the Mets.

The catcher turned on a Christian Scott sweeper up in the zone and drove it over the wall in left-center field to cap a four-run second inning for the Marlins. It was only Fortes' second homer of the season, and while he tied his career high by reaching base four times in the victory, his .159/.198/.256 slash line on the season keeps him far from fantasy consideration. It's his work behind the plate that's kept him in the lineup -- Miami's produced three straight shutouts, and Fortes has caught all of them.

Luzardo (1-3) picked up the win Friday, allowing five hits over six scoreless innings in an 8-0 victory over the Mets. He struck out seven without walking a batter.

After a couple first-inning hits got Francisco Lindor to second base, Luzardo locked in and retired 11 straight batters. All five hits off the southpaw were singles, and he fired 59 of 89 pitches for strikes in his second quality start of the year. After a bumpy first few weeks to the season and then an IL stint, Luzardo appears to be back in form, delivering a 15:1 K:BB in 11.2 innings over two starts since rejoining the rotation. He'll carry a 5.02 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 42:14 K:BB through 37.2 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Brewers.

Scott (0-2) took the loss Friday as the Mets fell 8-0 to the Marlins, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out three.

All the damage off the rookie right-hander came in the second inning, with a three-run homer by light-hitting catcher Nick Fortes accounting for most of it. Scott left the mound after throwing 84 pitches (55 strikes), and after a strong big-league debut against the Rays, he's run into trouble against NL East foes. The 24-year-old will stick in the rotation for now, but if his struggles begin to mount, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Mets sent him back to Triple-A. Scott will carry a 4.32 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB through 16.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Cleveland.