MLB Player News

Church (leg) will start in left field and bat seventh against the Padres on Thursday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Church was taken out of Wednesday's game against Milwaukee after taking a pitch off his leg in the second inning, but the incident won't end up costing him a start. The 25-year-old outfielder has slashed .248/.284/.436 through 109 plate appearances this season and has hit safely in each of the last five contests in which he logged multiple at-bats.

The Athletics traded Ferguson to the Cubs in exchange for cash considerations on Thursday.

Ferguson was designated for assignment by the Athletics on Wednesday, but he will now fill the spot of Corbin Martin on the Cubs, who was also recently designated for assignment. Ferguson pitched 1.1 innings in one appearance for the Athletics in 2026, during which he allowed four earned runs on four hits, including two home runs.

Betts (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday.

Betts landed on the injured list April 5 due to a strained right oblique, and his time on the shelf was slightly extended due to a setback he suffered in late April. He was cleared to play in a sim game Thursday and is now ready to test his oblique in a competitive setting. The Comets confirmed that the eight-time All-Star will play for them Friday and Saturday, leaving the door open for him to return to the Dodgers' lineup by the end of their weekend series against Atlanta. Otherwise, he could be activated ahead of Los Angeles' four-game series versus San Francisco.

Mangum was scratched from Thursday's lineup against the Diamondbacks due to left hamstring discomfort, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Mangum was scratched just before first pitch, so he might have tweaked something pregame. The Pirates could have more on his status after the game.

Mangum was a late scratch from the lineup for Thursday's game in Arizona, Jose Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.

There's no word yet on the reason for Mangum being pulled from the lineup, but the Pirates should have an update shortly. Billy Cook took over in center field in Mangum's stead.

Edwards isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Orioles.

Edwards' seven-game hit streak ended with an 0-for-4 performance in Wednesday's contest, and the Marlins will now get the second baseman some rest during Thursday's series finale. Leo Jimenez will get the nod at the keystone and bat eighth.

Lowder was removed from Thursday's game against the Cubs with right shoulder discomfort, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Lowder was able to make it through three innings Thursday, giving up one earned run on a solo homer from Michael Conforto. Lowder came out for the start of the fourth but was visited on the mound by a trainer after walking the first two batters he faced in the inning. The severity of his injury remains unknown, but the Reds may send the right-hander in for imaging to determine whether he's dealing with a structural issue.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, two runs, an RBI and a stolen base Wednesday in a 12-2 rout of the Astros.

Ohtani entered the game having gone 0-for-17 across his previous five contests. He struck out in his first plate appearance to extend that cold spell to 0-for-18 -- one shy of his career-worst 0-for-19 stretch -- before hitting a double in the third inning. Ohtani subsequently scored on a wild pitch, and he reached twice more before the end of the contest. The two-way star has been uncharacteristically quiet at the dish so far this season, slashing .248/.389/.442 with just six home runs and 15 RBI along with a more productive 25 runs scored and five stolen bases across 162 plate appearances. On the flip side, he's been outstanding on the mound, producing an MLB-best 0.97 ERA with an 0.81 WHIP (ranked second in the league) and a 42:9 K:BB over 37 innings spanning six starts.

Triple-A Louisville placed Aguiar on its 7-day injured list April 9 due to an unspecified injury.

Aguiar missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from Oct. 11, 2024 Tommy John surgery, but he received a clean bill of health coming into spring training. He secured a spot in Louisville's season-opening rotation and posted a 9.28 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and 12:8 K:BB in 102. innings over three starts before hitting the shelf. Aguiar owns a spot on the Reds' 40-man roster, but he's buried on the organization's starting pitching depth chart and has now been out of action for nearly a month, which makes it unlikely that he contributes to the big club anytime soon.

The Phillies claimed Holman off waivers from Detroit on Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Holman will join his fifth organization in just three months after previously spending time with the A's, Diamondbacks, Dodgers and Tigers. His move to Philadelphia will put him back on a 40-man roster, though he will begin his tenure with the club in the minors after giving up three earned runs in four innings with Detroit's Triple-A affiliate.