MLB Player News

Soto (back) will serve as the Mets' designated hitter and bat third Thursday against the Cubs.

Back tightness prevented Soto from playing in either game of Wednesday's doubleheader, and although the Mets are still holding off on returning him to the field, the fact that he's been cleared to work as the DH is an encouraging sign that the injury isn't bothering him too much. Soto was enjoying a hot streak at the plate before getting hurt, slashing .395/.509/.744 with four homers, eight RBI, eight runs and a 10:4 BB:K across his last 13 games.

Suzuki isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets.

Suzuki will get a chance to regroup Thursday after playing in both games of Wednesday's twin bill and going 0-for-10 at the plate with six strikeouts. Pedro Ramirez will fill in as Chicago's designated hitter and bat seventh.

Shaw isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets.

Shaw will get a breather Thursday after going 8-for-31 with a homer, eight RBI and seven runs scored across his first 10 games back from the injured list. While he sits, Michael Conforto will pick up a start in right field and bat second.

Kepler is starting in left field and batting fifth versus the Cardinals on Thursday.

Kepler was added to Arizona's active roster Thursday after completing his 80-game suspension for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. The starting outfielders for the Diamondbacks on Thursday are Kepler, Tommy Troy and Corbin Carroll, with Lourdes Gurriel slotted as the designated hitter.

The Phillies reinstated Rojas (elbow) from the restricted list Thursday and placed him on the 60-day injured list.

Rojas received an 80-game suspension at the start of the season after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, and he's set to miss the entire 2026 campaign after tearing the UCL in his right elbow while ramping up his activity. He was given a 6-to-8-month recovery timeline after undergoing surgery earlier this month, so he could be ready to go by the time spring training begins next year.

Frias went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in a game with Single-A Wilson on Wednesday.

A sizzling stretch that included a 6-for-6 night with Milwaukee's Arizona Complex league club earned Frias a promotion to the Single-A level, and after swiping three bags in his Wilson debut Tuesday, he went yard for the first time a day later. The 18-year-old has firmly put himself on the prospect map, and he has the potential to keep rising up the ranks.

The Diamondbacks will option Tawa to Triple-A Reno prior to Thursday's contest versus the Cardinals, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

His roster spot will be filled by Max Kepler, who is returning from an 80-game PED suspension. Tawa has had multiple stints with the Diamondbacks this season but has played sparingly, putting up a .536 OPS across 76 plate appearances.

Lee went 2-for-4 with a double in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Athletics.

Lee lined a double to right field in the second inning and singled in the seventh, recording his fourth multi-hit performance over the last five games. The 27-year-old outfielder has been highly productive over 20 appearances in June, batting .408 with 16 runs scored, eight RBI, five stolen bases and two long balls in 81 plate appearances during that span. Overall, he's slashing .333/.367/.474 with 40 runs scored, 27 RBI, five home runs and five stolen bases across 289 plate appearances this season.

The Diamondbacks will add Kepler (suspension) to their active roster before Thursday's game in St. Louis, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Upon completing his 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, Kepler will go directly onto the Diamondbacks' roster. The outfielder slashed .333/.474/.567 with two home runs and a 7:6 BB:K in 10 minor-league games, though much of that production came at the lower levels. Kepler gives the Diamondbacks another option in the corner outfield or at designated hitter against right-handed pitching, though he isn't guaranteed a regular role.

Hill went 1-for-1 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Nationals.

Hill represented the Phillies final out when he entered the game as a pinch hitter for Justin Crawford in the ninth. He'd proceed to launch a go-ahead, two-run blast off Richard Lovelady, his fifth homer of the year and first since joining Philadelphia. In 10 games since he was traded from the White Sox, Hill has gone 7-for-21 (.333) with an .857 OPS while filling the short side of a center-field platoon with Crawford.