MLB Player News

Marte is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Cubs.

Marte almost always plays versus lefties but will begin this one on the bench as southpaw Shota Imanaga toes the rubber for the Cubs. Mark Vientos will start at designated hitter and Brett Baty will play third base.

McNeil is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Cubs.

The left-handed-hitting McNeil will take a seat as the Cubs send southpaw Shota Imanaga to the hill. Luisangel Acuna will start at second base and bat ninth.

Alvarez is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs.

After starting and homering in both of the first two games of the series, Alvarez will get a breather for Thursday's finale. Luis Torrens is catching and batting sixth for the Mets.

Ashcraft (4-4) took the loss Thursday against Cincinnati, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.

Ashcraft was sharp early, holding the Reds scoreless through his first four innings, but he stumbled in the fifth, allowing a pair of runs after giving up four straight hits to open the frame. While it didn't end on a high note, Ashcraft had a strong rookie campaign as a swingman in Pittsburgh, posting a 2.71 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 71:24 K:BB across 69.2 innings. He'll likely be in the mix to claim a rotation spot in 2026.

Pagan turned in a perfect ninth inning in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Pirates to earn his 30th save.

Thanks to Noelvi Marte's home-run robbery in the ninth inning, Pagan has now converted his last four save chances while holding opponents scoreless in his last eight innings -- he's allowed just four hits while striking out eight in that span. The veteran right-hander sports a 2.97 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP and 79 strikeouts across 66.2 innings this season.

The Blue Jays recalled Schultz from Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

With Jose Berrios on the shelf with elbow inflammation, the Jays will turn to Schultz to give the club another multi-inning relief option for the final few regular-season contests. The 27-year-old righty owns a 4.38 ERA and 1.42 WHIP across 24.2 innings with Toronto this season.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Thursday that Pereira (back) is unlikely to return this season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Pereira was forced to exit Thursday's game in Baltimore in the fourth inning with low-back tightness. While it does not seem to be a long-term injury, it will nonetheless prematurely end the outfielder's season. Pereira slashed .138/.219/.246 with two home runs in 23 games for the Rays in 2025.

Mayo went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Thursday's 6-5 win over Tampa Bay.

Mayo provided the big hit for the Orioles on Thursday with his two-out, 413-foot blast off Kevin Kelly in the eighth inning to tie the game 5-5, Mayo's 10th homer of the year. He's gone 15-for-38 (.395) over his last 13 games. Overall, the 23-year-old infielder is batting .216 with a .676 OPS, 27 RBI and 28 runs scored across 284 plate appearances this season.

The Blue Jays placed Berrios on the 15-day injured list Thursday with right elbow inflammation, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Berrios is slated to receive an MRI to determine the severity of his injury, but his move to the IL will keep him out for the rest of the regular season. Paxton Schultz was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Thursday that Diaz (groin) is day-to-day, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Diaz had to be lifted from Thursday's game in Baltimore in the fifth inning with right groin tightness. While the injury is considered minor, it's possible Diaz is held out of action this weekend in Toronto as a precaution.