MLB Player News

Ewing will start in center field and bat leadoff in Friday's game versus Atlanta.

Ewing has mostly batted between fifth and eighth in the Mets' lineup since being called up in mid-May, but he will get his first chance in the leadoff spot Friday. Normal leadoff man Carson Benge will bat fifth in the series opener.

Walker (back) is batting fourth and playing first base Friday against the Rays.

Walker was removed from Wednesday's game against the Twins with lower-back stiffness, but Thursday's off day provided enough rest for the slugger. Walker is slashing .239/.310/.469 with 19 homers, 56 RBI, 45 runs scored and a 30:81 BB:K across 361 plate appearances this season. However, after a hot start to the campaign, Walker is batting .210 with a .702 OPS and 93 wRC+ since the beginning of May.

Young is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates.

It's a routine day off for Young, who had started the last four contests. Dylan Crews will slide over to center field for the Nationals, and Jose Tena will grab a start at designated hitter.

Mead is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest against the Pirates.

Mead will begin this one on the bench after starting at third base in each of the Nationals' last four games. Jorbit Vivas will occupy the hot corner in Friday's series opener.

Middleton will be sidelined for the remainder of the season following internal brace surgery on his right elbow, Eli Whitney of Blake Street Banter reports.

Middleton has been sidelined since late April with elbow problems, and he was ultimately unable to avoid surgery. Having internal brace surgery rather than a full Tommy John repair gives Middleton a chance to return before the end of the 2027 season.

The Guardians optioned Espino to Triple-A Columbus on Friday.

He'll swap places with Franco Aleman, who was summoned from Columbus in a corresponding move. The 25-year-old Espino made his major-league debut last month and allowed three runs on five hits and three walks with nine strikeouts across his first five big-league innings out of Cleveland's bullpen.

May (ankle) will not be placed on the injured list prior to Friday's game against the Cubs, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

May recorded only two outs in Thursday's start in Atlanta before being forced from the outing after taking a comebacker off his right ankle. X-rays were clean and he reported improvement with the ankle Friday, which was enough for May to avoid the IL for the time being. May is tentatively scheduled to make a start during Tuesday's doubleheader against the Brewers, though he'll need to get through a bullpen session first before being cleared to pitch that day.

The Cardinals optioned Graceffo to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

Graceffo has managed a 3.35 ERA and 1.12 WHIP out of the St. Louis bullpen this season but an 18:19 K:BB over 40.1 innings suggests rocky days could be ahead. He's being sent out in order to make space on the roster for the return of Ryne Stanek from paternity leave.

The Astros transferred Sousa (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The move was made in order to activate Cristian Javier (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list. Sousa hasn't pitched since May 4 and this doesn't alter his timeline, as he's still expected to rejoin the Houston bullpen following the All-Star break in a couple weeks. He's working his way back from elbow inflammation.

The Astros activated Javier (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Javier will work out of Houston's bullpen after missing the past three months with a shoulder strain. The right-hander operated as a starter during his rehab assignment, but the Astros are going to use the veteran out of the bullpen, at least initially. Manager Joe Espada said it's not necessarily a permanent move.