MLB Player News

The Cubs optioned Barnes to Triple-A Iowa on Monday.

Barnes was called up for the second time of the season Sunday, but he did not pitch in the Cubs' 6-0 loss to the Dodgers. The Cubs reinstated Phil Maton (knee) from the 15-day injured list Monday, and the big club will send Barnes back to Triple-A, where he has appeared in five games (two starts) with a 3-0 record and a 3.24 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB across 16.2 innings.

Smith (back) will start at catcher and bat third in Monday's game versus the Marlins.

Smith missed both of the previous two contests with back tightness, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in Monday's series opener. The veteran catcher has slashed .266/.337/.392 with three home runs across his first 89 plate appearances this season.

The Cubs reinstated Maton (knee) from the 15-day injured list Monday.

Maton landed on the 15-day injured list April 10 due to right knee tendinitis, but he has recovered enough to return to the majors despite just one rehab outing with Triple-A Iowa on Friday, when he allowed two hits and zero walks while striking out two across two scoreless innings. Matton gave up six earned runs across his three outings prior to landing on the IL, but the hope from the Cubs is the rehab was enough for the right-hander to return to his 2025 form, when he posted a 2.79 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 22 holds, five saves (in 10 attempts) and an 81:23 K:BB across 61.1 innings with the Cardinals and Rangers. Charlie Barnes was optioned to Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.

The Marlins optioned Hernandez to Triple-A Jacksonville on Monday, Isaac Azout of FishOnFirst.com reports.

Hernandez will head to the minors after producing a .159/.284/.190 batting line across 74 plate appearances on the season. His roster spot will be absorbed by Christopher Morel (oblique), who was reinstated from the injured list.

The Marlins activated Morel (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Monday.

Morel is finally ready to make his Marlins debut after going down with a left oblique strain in late March. He participated in four rehab contests with Triple-A Jacksonville, going 3-for-14 with a 2:5 BB:K. Morel was slated to be Miami's primary first baseman before getting hurt, but it's unclear if he'll have as clear of a path to an everyday role now that he's healthy again. He'll face competition for reps at the position from Connor Norby, who will start at first base in Monday's series opener against the Dodgers while Morel is relegated to the bench.

Duran will start at second base and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Yankees.

Though he looked to be a candidate to move into a full-time role after Wyatt Langford (forearm) was placed on the injured list Wednesday, Duran has started in just one of the Rangers' ensuing three matchups versus right-handed pitching. Duran will be back in the lineup Monday while southpaw Max Fried takes the hill for New York, but the Rangers appear set to prioritize the left-handed-hitting Alejandro Osuna over him in the corner outfield when the team faces righties.

Jansen is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.

Jansen will be rested Monday after he picked up starts behind the plate in the final two games of the Rangers' weekend series versus the Athletics. Kyle Higashioka will handle catching duties in the series opener against New York.

Smith is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.

Texas will send the left-handed-hitting Smith to the bench while southpaw Max Fried toes the rubber for New York in the series opener. Ezequiel Duran will cover second base in Smith's absence.

Pederson is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.

As per usual, the left-handed-hitting Pederson will hit the bench while the Rangers match up with a southpaw starter (Max Fried) for the series opener. Andrew McCutchen will step in for Pederson as the Rangers' designated hitter and will bat fifth.

Osuna is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.

Since being promoted from Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday, the left-handed-hitting Osuna has drawn starts in three of the Rangers' ensuing six games. Two of Osuna's three absences have come against left-handed pitching, so the 23-year-old looks like he could be deployed in the strong side of a platoon in left field with either Sam Haggerty or Ezequiel Duran until Wyatt Langford (forearm) is ready to return from the injured list.