MLB Player News

The Pirates designated Valdez for assignment Friday.

The club needed to free up a spot on its 40-man roster for the addition of Konnor Griffin. Valdez has managed just a .230/.288/.392 batting line over parts of three major-league seasons.

Mateo slugged a two-run home run in his only at-bat during Thursday's 17-2 rout of the Diamondbacks.

The utility infielder pinch hit for DH Dominic Smith in the ninth inning and took position player James McCann deep. Mateo has been used sparingly early in the year, appearing in just three of Atlanta's first seven games and getting only four plate appearances, and it'll likely take an injury or two to put him in a fantasy-friendly role.

The Pirates selected Griffin's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.

Griffin is set to make his major-league debut Friday during the Pirates' home opener. The expectation is that he will also receive a nine-year, $140 million contract extension, per Buster Olney of ESPN, though that has not been finalized. Griffin will take over as the Pirates' everyday shortstop after collecting a .336/.420/.530 batting line with 21 home runs and 68 stolen bases in his first 127 minor-league games.

Dubon went 2-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and two additional runs scored in Thursday's win over the Diamondbacks.

His sixth-inning homer off Joe Ross was one of four Atlanta long balls in a 17-2 rout. It was Dubon's first time leaving the yard in 2026, but he's come flying out of the gates while handling starting shortstop duties in place of Ha-Seong Kim (finger), batting .429 (9-for-21) with four runs and six RBI in six games.

Baldwin went 1-for-6 with three runs scored and an RBI in Thursday's rout of the Diamondbacks.

Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, in the process Baldwin became just the third player in franchise history to score at least one run in each of the first seven games of a season, joining Hall of Famers Jimmy Collins (who accomplished the feat in 1900) and Hank Aaron (1957). Baldwin's had a blistering start to 2026, slashing .286/.375/.643 in 32 plate appearances with a double, three homers, eight RBI, nine runs and a 4:3 BB:K.

Hoskins is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.

The Guardians have faced all right-handers so far, but Hoskins has still been in the lineup four times in eight tilts. Kyle Manzardo will cover first base Friday and Chase DeLauter is getting a start at designated hitter.

DeLauter (foot) will start at designated hitter and bat second in Friday's game versus the Cubs.

DeLauter had to depart Tuesday's game against the Dodgers after fouling a ball off his foot. X-rays came back clean, and he's feeling well enough to serve as the DH as the Guardians kick off their first homestand of the season.

Conine (illness) will start in left field and bat eighth in Friday's game against the Yankees.

Conine wasn't available for the Marlins' last game Wednesday versus the White Sox due to illness, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in the Bronx. The 28-year-old Conine is 4-for-10 with one home run and a 1:2 BB:K in his first 11 plate appearances this season.

Rodon (elbow/hamstring) hopes to throw off a mound Saturday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

The mound session would be in a controlled environment like a live batting practice session. If Rodon gets through that with no issues, he could be cleared to begin a rehab assignment next week. The veteran southpaw has been working his way back from offseason elbow surgery and hit a speed bump recently when he came down with right hamstring tightness. The hamstring issue does not seem to have set him back much, as Rodon could still be ready for his season debut before the end of April.

Pereira (ankle) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays.

Pereira was removed from the White Sox's last game Wednesday versus the Marlins due to left ankle soreness. It's unclear whether the injury is still lingering or if manager Will Venable simply preferred Tristan Peters in right field for Chicago's home opener. Pereira has started five games in right field this season, while Peters has made six starts in total (four in center field, two in right field).