MLB Player News

Liberatore didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 7-6 extra-inning win over the Nationals, giving up four runs on nine hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out six.

The southpaw was tagged for homers by James Wood in the third inning and Curtis Mead in the fifth and exited the game with the Cardinals in a 4-2 hole, but the offense bailed him out late. Liberatore tossed 59 of 92 pitches for strikes and has lasted at least five innings in all three of his starts to begin the year, posting a 3.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 10:5 K:BB over 16 frames. He'll look for his first win of 2026 in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Guardians.

Matsui (groin) has turned in two scoreless rehab appearances at Triple-A El Paso, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Matsui got a late start to the season due to a groin strain that caused him to miss the entire Cactus League slate, but he's looked sharp on his rehab assignment thus far. It's unclear what the Padres' target date is for Matsui's activation from the 15-day injured list, but it could come any day now.

Englert (0-1) took the loss Tuesday, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk over 3.2 innings as the Rays were downed 9-2 by the Cubs. He struck out two.

Tampa Bay rolled out a bullpen game after Drew Rasmussen (personal) was a late scratch, with Englert getting the start and lasting 65 pitches (48 strikes). The right-hander won't be available for long-relief duties for a few days as a result, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he were optioned to Triple-A Durham for a fresh arm. Through four appearances this season, Englert has a 9.45 ERA, 1.95 WHIP and 4:1 K:BB over 6.2 innings.

Walters (lat) was charged with two runs on one hit and one walk over an inning of work in his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday.

Walters averaged 94 mph with his four-seamer, which is down 2.4 mph from his average with the Guardians last season prior to lat surgery. The velocity could come back as he further distances himself from the operation, but if it doesn't, the Guardians might opt to keep Walters at Columbus for a while rather than stick him back in the big-league bullpen.

The Phillies will hold Realmuto (foot) out of the starting nine for Wednesday's game in San Francisco, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

After being struck in the right foot by a foul tip while catching in the bottom of the first inning in Tuesday's 6-0 loss to the Giants, Realmuto was lifted from the game when his turn in the lineup came up in the top of the second. Fortunately for Realmuto, X-rays came back negative, but he'll receive at least one game off while he contends with bruising and soreness to the foot. Rafael Marchan will draw the start behind the dish Wednesday, but with a team off day on tap Thursday, Realmuto could be ready to resume catching in Friday's series opener versus the Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks re-signed Ross to a minor-league contract Tuesday.

Ross elected free agency earlier this week after being removed from the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster, but he's now back in the organization on a new deal. The veteran swingman allowed eight runs on seven hits and four walks over 3.2 frames during his brief time with the big club.

Griffin signed a nine-year, $140 million contract extension with the Pirates on Wednesday.

Per Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the 19-year-old Griffin's deal is the richest in franchise history and includes a $12 million signing bonus and an additional $10 million in salary escalators. The first teenage position player to debut in the majors since Juan Soto achieved the feat in 2018 with the Nationals, Griffin has gone 3-for-17 (.176 average) with two walks and four strikeouts through his first five games with Pittsburgh. With the long-term deal now finalized, Griffin will be under club control through the 2034 season.

Patrick is slated to make his next start Friday against the Nationals at American Family Field, Hunter Baumgardt of Fox Sports 920 Milwaukee reports.

After Patrick last pitched Saturday in Kansas City in Game 1 of a doubleheader, Milwaukee had previously been listing the right-hander as its starter for Wednesday's series finale in Boston. However, rather than having Patrick pitch on three days' rest against the Red Sox, the Brewers will turn to the newly recalled Shane Drohan to start Wednesday in his MLB debut. Through two outings on the season, Patrick has gone 1-0 while striking out seven and allowing one earned run on nine hits and four walks across 9.1 innings.

Soto struck out one without allowing a baserunner across one inning of work to earn a hold Tuesday against the Padres.

Soto entered Tuesday's game in the eighth inning with the Pirates holding a one-run advantage. He continued his strong start to the season and has now allowed only one earned run across 7.1 innings. Dennis Santana was likely to work the ninth inning of Tuesday's game before the Pirates scored five runs in the home half of the eighth, eliminating the save opportunity.

Albies went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in a 7-2 win against the Angels on Tuesday.

Albies went deep in the eighth inning to give Atlanta a 5-2 lead. It was the veteran second baseman's third long ball through 12 games after he went deep just 16 times over 157 regular-season contests last year. Albies also has four RBI and is slashing .277/.333/.468 so far in 2026 as he looks to bounce back from a pair of subpar campaigns.