MLB Player News

Perkins is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mets.

Perkins started in center field Friday and finished 1-for-4 with one strikeout. Sal Frelick will get the start in center field Saturday and bat in the leadoff spot against Mets right-hander Luis Severino.

Ortiz isn't in the Brewers' lineup for Saturday's game against the Mets.

Ortiz started at second base Friday against left-handed starter Jose Quintana, but he will begin Saturday's contest in the dugout with righty Luis Severino on the mound for New York. The left-handed bats of Brice Turang and Oliver Dunn will cover second and third base, respectively.

Gurriel went 1-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run in Friday's 7-3 win over the Rockies.

Gurriel went deep for a second straight game to start the season, hitting the first of back-to-back home runs in the first inning. After a production dip in 2022 while with Toronto, Gurriel has found a home in the desert. After his bounce-back season in 2023, the Diamondbacks inked him to a three-year deal. He'll toggle between left field and DH while batting mostly third in a lineup that's already scored 23 runs.

Ginkel allowed one hit over a scoreless ninth inning in Friday's 7-3 win over Colorado.

It wasn't a save situation, but Ginkel was given a soft entry to a ninth-inning role he's expected to occupy while closer Paul Sewald (oblique) is on the shelf. Sewald can come off the injured list April 9, but at the time of his setback, manager Torey Lovullo described the pitcher's absence as "weeks, not days," per Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. Ginkel, who has closing experience, is the most logical fill-in candidate. Nothing should be read into him pitching in a non-save situation; Ginkel's previous outing was a week ago in a Cactus League game against the Giants.

Marte went 3-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 7-3 win over the Rockies.

Marte picked up where he left off after a scorching spring with two consecutive three-hit games to open the regular season. The second baseman slashed .370/.424/.574 with eight extra-base hits in 57 spring plate appearances.

Grichuk (ankle) started in center field and went 1-for-3 with a run scored in Friday's rehab game for Triple-A Reno.

Grichuk tested out the ankle for the first time, playing five innings in center field and scoring from first base on a double. His right-handed bat could be useful as a regular platoon mate in center field once he's ready to join the major-league club.

Thomas went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 7-3 win over Colorado.

Thomas broke open the game with his first home run as part of a four-run sixth inning. He's started in center field in both games thus far, but his well-documented struggles against left-handers could affect his playing time once Randal Grichuk (ankle) is ready to go. Grichuk began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Reno on Friday and started in center field.

Walker went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 7-3 win over the Rockies.

Walker hit the second of back-to-back home runs on the first inning after Lourdes Gurriel went deep before him. It was the first homer for Walker, who has a hit in both games to start the season. He's locked in as Arizona's primary first baseman and cleanup batter.

Atlanta placed Murphy on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a strained left oblique, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Murphy suffered the injury following a swing during Friday's win over the Phillies and had to be removed from the game. He'll now sit down for at least the next 10 days while Travis d'Arnaud takes over as Atlanta's starting catcher. Chadwick Tromp was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move and will serve as d'Arnaud's backup while Murphy is out.

Puk dropped to 0-1 in Friday's 7-2 loss to the Pirates, giving up four runs on three hits and six walks over two-plus innings. He struck out one batter.

Making his first career start in the majors after 142 relief appearances, Puk's nerves may have gotten the better of him as he managed to throw only 33 of 68 pitches for strikes. Things went completely off the rails for the left-hander in the third inning, when he put the first four batters aboard with a walk, a double, a wild pitch, another walk and a single before getting the hook. The Marlins are strapped for healthy rotation options to begin the season, so Puk likely won't head back to the bullpen just yet, but he'll need to regain his focus quickly if he wants to keep his current role when the likes of Braxton Garrett (shoulder) and Edward Cabrera (shoulder) are ready to make their 2024 debuts.