MLB Player News

Polanco (Achilles) will serve as the designated hitter and bat third against the Giants on Saturday.

Polanco's Achilles tendinitis has limited him to working mostly as a DH to begin the regular season, and manager Carlos Mendoza said that the 32-year-old infielder began experiencing renewed discomfort Thursday. Polanco now appears to be feeling well enough to return to his role as New York's DH, though he may not be ready to start every day quite yet.

Soto was diagnosed with a minor strain in his right calf Saturday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

The Mets will hold Soto out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Giants, but no decision has been made yet on whether to place him on the injured list. The 27-year-old outfielder is optimistic that he'll be able to avoid a trip to the IL, but the team could end up putting him on the shelf if he isn't feeling better within a few days.

The Brewers returned Zastryzny (shoulder) from his rehab assignment Saturday after he suffered a setback in his recovery, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

It's unclear whether Zastryzny's setback is related to his strained left shoulder or some other issue, but it will extend his stay on the injured list all the same. He's slated to undergo further testing in Milwaukee within the next few days, at which point more details regarding his new return timeline should emerge.

Vargas went 2-for-2 with two walks, two doubles, two runs scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Blue Jays.

The third baseman was a constant thorn in the side of Toronto pitching as he continued an impressive start to the season. Through eight games, Vargas is batting .280 (7-for-25) with three doubles, a homer, six RBI, eight runs and a surprising three steals -- already halfway to the career-high six he swiped in 2025.

Manager Kevin Cash said Saturday that Walls (oblique) has progressed to playing in games at extended spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The next step for Walls is presumably to head out on a rehab assignment in the minors, but the Rays don't have a timetable in place for when that might happen. Once he's cleared to return to the active roster, the 29-year-old could compete with Carson Williams for starts at shortstop, as the latter has slashed just .130/.167/.174 during his first seven games of the season.

Dominguez gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his first save of the season in a 6-3 win over the Blue Jays. He struck out one.

The 31-year-old right-hander needed 24 pitches (14 strikes) to get the job done, but Dominguez came away with his first save since signing a two-year, $20 million contract this winter to be the White Sox closer. Over four appearances to begin the season, he sports a 1-1 record with a 4.91 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 3:2 K:BB over 3.2 innings.

Kay didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Blue Jays, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks over 4.1 innings of relief. He didn't strike out a batter.

Facing the team he made his big-league debut with back in 2019, the southpaw took the mound as a bulk reliever after Grant Taylor worked a scoreless first inning. Kay kept the goose eggs coming until Vladimir Guerrero touched him up for a two-run shot in the sixth, and he exited after 76 pitches (46 strikes). Kay is still looking for his first MLB win since 2021 after spending the last two seasons in Japan, and he'll take a 4.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 5:6 K:BB through nine innings into his next outing, which is set to come on the road next week in Kansas City.

Contreras isn't in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Royals.

Contreras went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored during Game 1 of the twin bill, and he'll now watch Saturday's finale from the dugout. Gary Sanchez will start behind the plate instead and bat fifth.

Guerrero went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the White Sox.

After just missing a homer in the top of the fourth inning on a ball that Austin Hays caught with his back up against the left-field wall, Guerrero left no doubt during his next at-bat in the top of the sixth as he crushed an Anthony Kay slider 437 feet over Hays' head. It was the 27-year-old slugger's first long ball of the year, and through eight games Guerrero's batting .286 (8-for-28) with three runs, four RBI and a 6:3 BB:K.

Donovan (leg) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game versus the Angels.

Donovan injured his left leg while attempting beat out an infield hit, and the Mariners will hold him out of Saturday's game to give him a chance to recover. Leo Rivas will man the hot corner in Donovan's stead and bat ninth.