MLB Player News

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday that Soto (back) is still being evaluated and it's possible the outfielder could need a stint on the injured list, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

Soto was forced to depart Tuesday's game versus the Cubs with tightness in the left side of his back, and he is not in the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader. A decision on a possible trip to the IL for Soto is expected to be made later Wednesday.

Matsui tossed 2.1 innings in relief against Atlanta on Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out three batters.

Matsui has gone at least two frames seven times through 18 appearances so far this season after doing so in just five instances across 61 regular-season outings last year. The shift in role has been working well for the southpaw, as he carries a 1.67 ERA and 1.07 WHIP through 27 total innings. Matsui doesn't have any holds, wins or saves, which severely dents his fantasy utility, though he has been more effective at missing bats this season. The Japanese reliever has fanned at least one batter in every one of his appearances thus far, and his 29.0 percent strikeout rate is a vast improvement over his 22.4 percent mark last season.

Boyd (shoulder/knee) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Thursday's game against the Mets, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell previously noted that Boyd would rejoin the rotation this week, and now the specific date has been confirmed. Boyd has been sidelined since early May, first due to meniscus surgery and later because of shoulder soreness. He threw 59 pitches over four innings in his final rehab start, so Boyd will likely be somewhat limited Thursday from a workload perspective.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday that Senga will be moved to the bullpen, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Senga's demotion to a relief role comes after he walked five batters and allowed seven earned runs in just 3.2 innings during Tuesday's loss to the Cubs, bringing his record to 0-6 and inflating his ERA and WHIP to 10.08 and 1.92, respectively, over his seven starts on the season. Though the right-hander will be available to make his debut out of the bullpen during this weekend's series versus Philadelphia, he could be needed to fill a bulk-relief role behind an opener while the Mets still have a couple of holes in the rotation. The Mets aren't necessarily closing the door on Senga re-emerging as a starter at some point, but he'll presumably need to show improved form while working out of the bullpen for an extended period before the team goes down that road again.

The Cubs selected Velasquez's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Velasquez will give the Cubs' bullpen some length during Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets. The veteran hurler spun 2.1 scoreless frames in his lone appearance in the majors earlier this season.

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

Ferguson will serve as the 27th man on the Cubs' roster for Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets. The righty reliever gave up one run over 1.1 innings in his lone appearance for the Cubs earlier this season. Ferguson will likely be sent back down to Iowa after the twin bill.

The Cubs placed Cabrera on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a strained left hamstring, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Cabrera injured his hamstring during Tuesday's start versus the Mets when he did the splits while extending to catch a throw to first base. He will undergo an MRI on Wednesday to determine the severity of the strain. An update on Cabrera's timeline could be available later Wednesday.

Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that Lindor (calf) will be activated from the 10-day injured list prior to the second game of the Mets' doubleheader Wednesday with the Cubs, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

The Mets weren't planning on having Lindor play both ends of the twin bill after he played eight innings at shortstop Tuesday in his third and final rehab game with Triple-A Syracuse, so the five-time All-Star will remain off the roster for the early contest of the doubleheader to give the team some more flexibility. Lindor should return to the lineup for the nightcap in what will be his first appearance for the Mets since April 22. Before straining his left calf, Lindor slashed just .226/.314/.355 over 105 plate appearances for New York, with the fractured right hamate bone he sustained in February likely contributing to his slow start.

Vivas went 2-for-3 with a walk, a three-run home run and a second run scored in Tuesday's loss to the Phillies.

Getting the start at second base and batting fifth while Nasim Nunez shifted to shortstop to cover for CJ Abrams (side), Vivas appeared to have the game won when he took Orion Kerkering deep in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Nationals an 8-6 lead, only for the visitors to stage an improbable eight-run rally with two outs in the top of the ninth. The homer was only Vivas' second of the season in 161 plate appearances, but that still establishes a new career high for the light-hitting infielder, who sports a .259/.340/.353 slash line on the year.

The Nationals will recall Palmquist from Triple-A Rochester prior to Wednesday's game versus the Phillies, Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan reports.

Palmquist will give the Nationals some length in the bullpen after the club needed seven relievers to get through Tuesday's loss to Philadelphia. The left-hander was acquired from the Rockies last month and has collected a 6.00 ERA and 30:22 K:BB over 36 innings at the Triple-A level in 2026.