MLB Player News

Johnston will start in right field and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.

The 28-year-old will stick in the starting nine for a third straight game and will move to the top of the lineup while normal table setter Jake McCarthy receives his first day off of the season. With an .818 OPS through his first four games with Colorado, Johnston appears to have at least temporarily taken control of a regular spot in the lineup against right-handed pitching at the expense of Edouard Julien, who will hit the bench for the third time in four contests.

McCarthy is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.

McCarthy will get a breather Wednesday after he had started in the outfield and batted leadoff in each of the Rockies' first five games, going a collective 2-for-18 with an RBI and three stolen bases over that stretch. The left-handed-hitting McCarthy could be left out of the lineup against southpaws, but he looks like he'll be a regular presence atop the batting order versus right-handed pitching.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Suzuki (knee) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Knoxville on Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Counsell expects the rehab assignment to last 3-to-7 days, setting Suzuki up to make his season debut next week, either on the road against the Rays or at home versus the Pirates. Suzuki is working his way back from a strained PCL in his right knee, an injury he suffered in mid-March while playing for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said that Conine won't start Wednesday against the White Sox due to an illness, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Conine could still be available for a pinch-hitting appearance, but the ailment is serious enough to keep the left-handed-hitting batter out of the lineup against a righty starter (Shane Smith). Heriberto Hernandez will take Conine's spot in the starting nine, manning left field and batting seventh.

Walker is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Mets.

Walker will get his first day off this season after going 5-for-17 with one home run and a 3:3 BB:K in his first five contests. Nathan Church will slide over to right field and Thomas Saggese will play left field for the Cardinals in Wednesday's series finale.

Veen (knee) went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his first rehab game with Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday.

Veen served as the designated hitter for the Isotopes in what was his first game action in three weeks as he works his way back from a right knee contusion. The 24-year-old created some buzz early in spring training with his new physique and a couple home runs before the knee issue sidetracked him. Veen is likely to remain at Albuquerque once his rehab assignment is over, but he could push for a role with the Rockies at some point this season.

Conine went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a second run scored in Tuesday's 9-2 win over the White Sox.

Getting the start in right field and batting eighth while Owen Caissie handled DH duties, Conine took Jedixson Paez deep in the eighth inning for his first long ball of the season. Conine has found his way into the lineup in some fashion in all five of Miami's games so far but he's started only two of them, going 4-for-10 with a double, a homer, a steal, two RBI and three runs.

Gurriel (knee) continues to get at-bats and lightly run out of the batter's box in simulated games at Arizona's training camp, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday that more intense game action in the Arizona Complex League could come at some point in early-to-mid April. That's when Gurriel will test at full speed. Lovullo reiterated that late April is the earliest the outfielder could return, and that Gurriel will operate as the designated hitter initially upon his activation.

Bauers went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a steal and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 6-2 win versus the Rays.

The 30-year-old got the start Tuesday even though Tampa Bay sent out a southpaw in Shane McClanahan, against whom the lefty-hitting Bauers went 0-for-2. The first baseman got back on track once the Rays turned to the bullpen, however, as he reached on an infield single, stole second and scored in the sixth inning before launching a solo homer in the eighth. With Andrew Vaughn (wrist) expected to be sidelined until mid-May after undergoing hamate bone surgery, Bauers should be a lineup regular for the time being, especially if he can build upon his hot start to 2026.

Goodman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Tuesday's 5-1 loss to Toronto.

Goodman supplied the Rockies their lone run of Tuesday's loss with a solo homer off Max Scherzer in the sixth inning. Goodman has logged a hit in each of his first five games of the regular season, going 7-for-20 (.350) with two RBI in that span. The 26-year-old catcher is looking to build off a strong 2025 campaign in which he posted an .843 OPS with 31 home runs, 91 RBI, five triples and a steal across 579 plate appearances.