MLB Player News

Heineman (back) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

Brandon Valenzuela will draw a fifth consecutive start at catcher while Heineman recovers from back spasms, but the Blue Jays' willingness to use Heineman off the bench in Tuesday's 9-7 extra-inning win suggests that he could soon be ready to catch a full game. Heineman caught the final three innings of Tuesday's contest and flied out in his lone at-bat.

The Brewers are expected to push Harrison's (knee/wrist) next turn through the rotation this weekend in Miami back a few days, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Harrison injured both his knee and left wrist during his last outing against the Nationals on Saturday. He's not expected to go on the injured list after additional imaging came back negative, but the Brewers look like they will give the 24-year-old southpaw additional time to recover. Robert Gasser is a candidate to be called up from Triple-A Nashville for a spot start this weekend. Harrison could be back in the Brewers' rotation next week on the road against the Tigers.

The Mets recalled Melendez from Triple-A Syracuse, and he will serve as the team's designated hitter and bat eighth against the Dodgers on Wednesday.

Melendez opened the season in Triple-A after failing to make the Mets' Opening Day roster, where he is slashing .216/.286/.431 with one steal (on three attempts), two home runs and three RBI in 56 plate appearances. He'll give the Mets depth in the outfield after Jared Young (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

Crawford isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres.

Crawford will grab a seat on the bench Wednesday after going 0-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch during Tuesday's series opener. Leo Rivas will fill the void at shortstop and bat ninth.

Gasser (biceps/triceps) struck out four and yielded four earned runs on seven hits and one walk across 3.1 innings Friday in his most recent start for Triple-A Nashville.

Gasser missed a turn through the Nashville rotation after experiencing muscle soreness in his left biceps and triceps following his season debut March 27, but he never required a stint on the injured list. Through his two starts, Gasser owns a 4.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 15:4 K:BB in nine innings. According to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, Kyle Harrison had been in line to start Friday in the Brewers' series opener in Miami, but he's expected to be pushed back a few days in the pitching schedule while he tends to a left wrist injury. Milwaukee thus looks like it will have a need for a spot starter this weekend, and Gasser should be a candidate to fill the opening.

The Mets placed Young on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, retroactive to Monday, due to a meniscus tear in his left knee.

Young reported discomfort in his left knee Tuesday, and further imaging revealed a more severe injury that will result in the 30-year-old undergoing surgery, per Will Sammon of The Athletic. It's a significant blow to the Mets' depth at first base and in the outfield, especially with Juan Soto (calf) still on the 10-day IL. Young is looking at a lengthy absence depending on the extent of the surgery needed to repair the tear, which could have him sidelined until the summer.

Andujar is not in the Padres' starting lineup against the Mariners on Wednesday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Andujar will ride the bench for a third consecutive game despite posting a .967 OPS with one steal, three doubles and four runs scored across eight games since April 3. Gavin Sheets will serve as the Padres' designated hitter while Ty France starts at first base.

Tatis is not in the Padres' starting lineup against the Mariners on Wednesday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Tatis is getting a rest day Wednesday, as the Padres are rolling with Nick Castellanos, Jackson Merrill and Ramon Laureano in the outfield from right to left. Tatis has reached base safely in nine of his last 10 games, and over that span he has gone 11-for-41 (.268) with two steals, five runs scored and five RBI.

Palacios will start at second base and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the White Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The left-handed-hitting Palacios has now drawn the last two starts at second base over the right-handed-hitting Ben Williamson when the Rays have faced right-handed pitchers. The two could form a loose platoon at the keystone until Tampa Bay gets Gavin Lux (shoulder/ankle) back from the injured list.

Rodon (elbow/hamstring) is slated to join Double-A Somerset and will face hitters in live batting practice Saturday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Though Rodon had already thrown 50 pitches over three simulated innings against live hitters Monday, the Yankees aren't yet ready to have him begin a rehab assignment and will instead have him pitch in a controlled setting once again this weekend. The veteran southpaw is recovering from October surgery to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur from his left elbow in addition to a tight right hamstring that cropped up a couple of weeks ago. He's without an official timeline to be activated from the 15-day injured list but appears to be trending toward an early May return.