MLB Player News

Kelenic is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs.

The lefty-hitting Kelenic will retreat to the bench for the series opener versus the Cubs with ace lefty Shota Imanaga taking the bump for Chicago. The right-handed-hitting Adam Duvall will fill in for Kelenic in left field.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Smith (shoulder) could return from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, Smith's minor-league rehab assignment is considered complete, so the Mets will merely need to decide which player will come off the 26-man active roster to create room for the right-handed reliever. Before hitting the shelf April 27 with shoulder inflammation, Smith logged three holds and one save over his 10 appearances out of the Mets bullpen while pitching to a 2.70 ERA and 1.70 WHIP across 10 innings.

Sosa went 1-for-3 with a triple, a walk, a stolen base, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Marlins.

Sosa has been getting the job done as the primary replacement at shortstop for Trea Turner, who was placed on the 10-day injured list May 4 with a left hamstring strain. While starting in seven of the last eight games, Sosa has gotten on base at a .444 clip while contributing three extra-base hits (one triple, two doubles) and two stolen bases. He'll remain in the starting nine once again Monday against the Mets, manning shortstop while batting sixth.

Stubbs will start at catcher and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Mets.

Stubbs will make a second straight start while J.T. Realmuto is day-to-day with a knee injury. The Phillies expect Realmuto to avoid a stint on the injured list, but with Tuesday's game beginning at 1:10 p.m. ET, the team could opt to hold him out for another contest while giving Stubbs another turn behind the plate.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that he hasn't yet committed to including Megill (shoulder) in the rotation once he's activated from the 15-day injured list, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Megill, who has been on the IL since April 1 with a shoulder strain, has been building up as a starter during his rehab assignment. In his fourth rehab start this past Sunday with Triple-A Syracuse, Megill struck out six over 5.1 scoreless innings while tossing 74 pitches, but with the big-league rotation looking crowded at the moment, the right-hander may have to settle for a multi-inning relief role upon his reinstatement. The Mets could have Megill make another rehab start in order to bide more time in deciding what his role may look like prior to activating him.

McCarthy is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.

The lefty-hitting McCarthy will sit in the series opener Monday, despite Cincinnati bringing a right-hander in Graham Ashcraft to the hill. Pavin Smith will step in as the starting right field in place of McCarthy, who hit his first home run of the season in Sunday's 9-2 win over the Orioles.

Riley is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs and is slated to undergo an MRI on his injured left side, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Riley was lifted in the bottom of the fourth inning of Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Mets after experiencing left side tightness, which reportedly first surfaced during batting practice earlier that day. While Atlanta remains hopeful that Riley isn't dealing with a long-term injury, more will be known once the MRI results are in later Monday. Zack Short will pick up a start at the hot corner Monday while Riley exits the starting nine for the first time all season.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Almonte is getting imaging done on his right shoulder Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Almonte had been placed on the the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right shoulder strain, but the Cubs apparently still want to glean more information on the extent of the injury. The right-handed reliever had posted a 3.45 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over 15.2 innings out of the Chicago bullpen while gathering one win, one save and six holds prior to landing on the IL.

Wicks (forearm) threw a bullpen session Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Wicks has been throwing off a mound for about a week after he had been placed on the 15-day injured list April 28 with a left forearm strain. The Cubs haven't yet offered up a concrete target date for his return from the IL, but if Wicks is able to resume facing hitters within the next few days, he'll likely require just one minor-league rehab start -- if any at all -- before being activated. Wicks had gone 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 28:9 K:BB across 23 innings over his five starts before being shut down with the forearm injury.

Smyly (hip) threw another bullpen session Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Smyly continues to work his way back from a right hip impingement, which prompted his placement on the 15-day injured list April 23. The 34-year-old southpaw will need to advance to facing live hitters in batting practice and will likely require a rehab assignment before being activated.