MLB Player News

Bader isn't in the Mets' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Giants.

Bader will get a day off after going 0-for-3 with a strikeout during Monday's win in the series opener. Brandon Nimmo will slide over to center field in his place, moving Jeff McNeil into left and allowing Joey Wendle to start at second base, batting eighth.

The Phillies assigned Ortiz (ankle) to Single-A Clearwater on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment.

Ortiz suffered an ankle sprain in his season debut March 30 but is now ready for game action. The right-hander could make a few appearances in the minors before being cleared to join the Phillies.

The Mets reinstated Kranick (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Kranick has been on the injured list since the start of the season due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain he suffered during spring training. He made four total rehab appearances between the Mets' Single-A and Double-A affiliates, allowing five earned runs across 7.2 innings, and he'll now move up to Triple-A as he comes off the IL. The 26-year-old right-hander owns a 5.56 ERA across 43.2 big-league innings and hasn't pitched in the majors since 2022.

Happ (hamstring) is starting in left field and batting second Tuesday against the Astros, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 29-year-old sat out Saturday and Sunday with hamstring soreness after exiting Friday's contest, but he's ready to retake the field following Monday's team off day. Happ has been in a slump over his past nine games, going 4-for-35 after he posted a .933 OPS in his first 40 at-bats of the campaign.

Mervis was recalled from Triple-A Iowa and is batting eighth as the designated hitter Tuesday against the Astros, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 26-year-old was called up as expected Tuesday and will immediately make his way into the starting nine. Michael Busch has earned an everyday role at first base with his hot start to the season, so Mervis is likely to see most of his playing time at designated hitter, especially while Seiya Suzuki (oblique) remains sidelined.

The Cubs recalled Little from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Little was just returned to Iowa on Monday after serving as the team's 27th man during Sunday's doubleheader against the Marlins, but he's been rerouted back to the big-league bullpen. He'll give manager Craig Counsell another lefty option in relief.

The Cubs placed Smyly on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right hip impingement, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Smyly last pitched Sunday against the Marlins and must have suffered an injury during the outing. He'll be eligible to return May 7, although it's not clear at this point whether he will be ready at that time.

The Cubs placed Hendricks on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a lower-back strain, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Hendricks will be out of the Cubs rotation for at least the next couple weeks while he recovers from the injury. With Justin Steele (hamstring) perhaps on track to beat him back from the IL, Hendricks may not have a rotation spot waiting for him when he's ready to go. The veteran right-hander has posted a 12.00 ERA over five starts this season.

Manager Rob Thomson said Walker (shoulder) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday against the Padres, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The veteran right-hander allowed four runs over 6.1 innings during his third minor-league rehab start Sunday, and a successful bullpen session Tuesday was his final hurdle before being cleared to return. Walker posted a 4.38 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 138:71 K:BB across 172.2 innings last season for the Phillies.

The Diamondbacks acquired Alcantara from the Pirates on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.

It marks the fifth time Arizona has acquired Alcantara. The veteran infielder will be assigned to Triple-A Reno, where he will give the team added depth with Geraldo Perdomo (knee) on the shelf.