MLB Player News

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Swanson is absent from the lineup versus the Padres due to a right knee issue, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Counsell added that Swanson tweaked the knee on a slide during an April 25 contest against the Astros. He's considered day-to-day. The Cubs have a scheduled off day Thursday, so Swanson will look to return to action Friday in Pittsburgh. Nico Hoerner is sliding over to shortstop Wednesday, while Miles Mastrobuoni is getting a start at second base.

Herrera will serve as the Cardinals' designated hitter and cleanup batter in Wednesday's game against the Mets.

Though he'll be included in the lineup in a non-defensive role Wednesday, Herrera is expected to serve as the Cardinals' primary backstop for the foreseeable future after Willson Contreras was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured forearm, an injury that will likely keep him out for 6-to-8 weeks. Pedro Pages was called up from Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move and will start behind the plate Wednesday, but Herrera should see the bulk of the work at catcher while Contreras is on the shelf. Herrera has logged 76 plate appearances so far this season, hitting .232 with three home runs, 11 RBI and seven runs.

Marte is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Marte had started each of the Mets' first seven games of May, going 6-for-30 (.200 average) with one extra-base hit (a double) and one stolen base. His absence Wednesday looks to be little more than a maintenance day as the Mets and Cardinals wrap up their series with a day game after a night game.

McNeil is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil is likely just sitting out as part of a planned rest day, as he had started each of the Mets' last 30 games dating back to April 5. Joey Wendle will fill in for McNeil at the keystone.

Nido is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Nido will get a breather for the day game after he started behind the dish in both of the first two contests of the series. Omar Narvaez will form a battery with starting pitcher Jose Quintana on Wednesday.

Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.

The Dodgers are playing a day game after a night game, so it makes sense for manager Dave Roberts to give Smith the afternoon off to rest his legs. Austin Barnes will handle the catching duties Wednesday as the Dodgers go for the series sweep.

Delay (knee) caught a bullpen session Wednesday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

It would appear to be the first time he's done so since undergoing surgery in mid-April to repair the meniscus in his right knee. Delay is expected to miss most, if not all, of the rest of the first half as he recovers.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Cruz's recurring left ankle issues are not believing to be a long-term concern, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Cruz played just nine games before a fractured left ankle ended his 2023 season. The ankle has since bothered him off and on during the 2024 season, including most recently during Monday's game versus the Angels. He's been able to mostly play through it, but you have to wonder whether it could be contributing to Cruz's disappointing .244/.293/.382 batting line. However, at least at this juncture, it does not appear the team is worried about Cruz's ankle problems becoming chronic.

Kelenic went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Red Sox.

His third-inning shot off Kutter Crawford got Atlanta on the board, and gave Kelenic his first long ball of the season. Despite the lack of power, the 24-year-old has generally been hitting well in his strong-side platoon role, slashing .280/.333/.373 in 81 plate appearances. Only one of those PAs has come against a southpaw, but with Adam Duvall scuffling so far (.220/.310/.380 in 58 PAs), Kelenic might get more opportunities against same-handed pitching if he heats up.

Iglesias struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his ninth save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Red Sox.

The right-hander topped out at 97.1 mph as he bounced back from a blown save in his last appearance Friday. Iglesias hasn't been as dominant as usual to begin the season, managing a 10:3 K:BB through 14.1 innings, but his 1.88 ERA and 0.98 WHIP have been stellar. With his velocity finally getting back to normal as the weather warms up, more strikeouts could soon follow.