MLB Player News

The Phillies optioned Kemp to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.

Kemp has gone just 2-for-25 with a 1:10 BB:K over 13 games during his time with the big club this season and will head back to Lehigh Valley to try to get back on track. Steward Berroa will grab Kemp's spot on the roster.

Pena is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

It appears to be a routine day off for Pena, who had made 10 straight starts since returning from the injured list. He's gone 10-for-39 (.256) with two homers, six RBI, seven runs scored, one stolen base and a 1:7 BB:K during that span. Braden Shewmake is making the start at shortstop and batting sixth for Houston on Friday.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol indicated Pages will see a downturn in playing time following the promotion of Jimmy Crooks, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Pages leads the team with 34 starts at catcher this season, but he appears in line to serve as the third catcher moving forward behind Crooks and Ivan Herrera. The 27-year-old Pages is a quality defensive catcher but sports a career .230/.273/.366 slash line over parts of three big-league seasons.

Leasure (forearm) said Friday that he will be shut down from throwing for four weeks, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

Leasure said his UCL is intact, but he's dealing with a lot of inflammation and has been diagnosed with a right flexor strain. Leasure was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday but is looking at an extended absence into July.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol indicated Friday that Crooks is set to receive the lion's share of playing time at catcher, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Ivan Herrera will continue to serve as the personal catcher for Michael McGreevy and Andre Pallante, but it will be Crooks unseating Pedro Pages as the team's primary catcher for the rest of the rotation. Crooks earned a promotion Friday after slashing .262/.412/.567 with 13 home runs this season with Memphis. The left-handed-hitting Crooks is not in Friday's lineup against the Cubs -- southpaw Shota Imanaga is starting for Chicago and Herrera is doing the catching for Pallante -- but he should be in the lineup Saturday.

Wesneski (elbow) has progressed to throwing live batting practice this week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Both Wesneski and Ronel Blanco (elbow) are throwing live BP at the Astros' spring training complex in West Palm Beach. Wesneski underwent Tommy John surgery in May of last year and could be an option for activation at some point later this summer.

Blanco (elbow) has progressed to throwing live batting practice this week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Both Blanco and Hayden Wesneski (elbow) are throwing live BP at the Astros' spring training facility in West Palm Beach. Blanco is working his way back from June 2025 Tommy John surgery and could return to the Astros later this season if his rehab goes smoothly.

Uribe was suspended one game by Major League Baseball for his inappropriate celebration during an appearance Wednesday versus the Cardinals, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Uribe did a crotch-chopping celebration directed toward the Cardinals' dugout following an inning-ending strikeout. He is appealing the suspension and will be available to pitch out of the Brewers' bullpen until the appeal is heard or a settlement is reached. Uribe has logged a 4.19 ERA and 21:8 K:BB over 19.1 innings for Milwaukee this season and ranks second on the team with five saves.

The Orioles optioned Weston to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday.

Weston made his big-league debut with Baltimore in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays, walking one with one strikeout in a hitless and scoreless ninth inning.

Manaea is taking David Peterson's spot as a starting pitcher/bulk reliever for the Mets, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Peterson will move to the bullpen. Manaea has struggled for much of the season but has been better in May, posting a 3.75 ERA and 15:5 K:BB over 12 innings. His first opportunity either as a traditional starting pitcher or bulk reliever following an opener could come as soon as Monday on the road in Seattle.