MLB Player News

The Phillies are unconvinced that Crawford is currently capable of playing average defense in center field, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Crawford's bat looks major-league ready after he slashed .334/.411/.452 with seven home runs and 46 stolen bases at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season as a 21-year-old. However, the Phillies aren't confident he can handle center field defensively at the big-league level, which makes him a more difficult fit on their roster. The 2022 first-round pick did play some left field in 2025 for the first time in pro ball and also got some starts at designated hitter. It's possible Crawford develops into a better defender, so depending on how the Phillies' offseason plays out, the club could give him a shot in center field in 2026 and hope his defense improves.

Chourio exited Thursday's game against the Dodgers after appearing to aggravate his right hamstring injury, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Chourio took an apparently normal swing in the seventh inning, but he immediately came up hobbling with what initially appeared to be a cramp. After he was unsuccessful in his attempts to get loosened back up, the young outfielder was quickly removed from the game in favor of Blake Perkins. Chourio should be considered day-to-day heading into Friday's Game 4 with the Brewers looking to avoid a sweep.

Alcantara will undergo core-muscle surgery Thursday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The expectation is that Alcantara will have a relatively normal offseason and report to spring training in full health. Alcantara has seen spot duty with the Cubs each of the last two seasons, going 5-for-21 at the dish. The 23-year-old slashed .266/.349/.470 with 17 home runs and 10 stolen bases over 102 contests in 2025 at Triple-A Iowa. Alcantara is out of minor-league options, so he's likely to make the Cubs' Opening Day roster in 2026, though it could be as a reserve outfielder.

Perkins isn't in the lineup for Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Perkins will miss out on the starting nine for a second consecutive game Tuesday, allowing Jake Bauers to start in left field and bat eighth.

Collins is starting in left field and batting eighth in Monday's Game 1 of the NLCS versus the Dodgers.

Collins entered two games off the bench during the NLDS against the Cubs, but this will be his first start of the postseason. To make room for Collins in left field, Jackson Chourio is sliding over to right field and Sal Frelick is playing center field.

Perkins is not in the lineup for Monday's Game 1 of the NLCS against the Dodgers.

Perkins started in center field in four of the five NLDS games versus the Cubs and participated in all five contests, but he will begin Monday's contest on the bench. Sal Frelick is shifting to center field and will be flanked by Isaac Collins in left field and Jackson Chourio in right field.

The Pirates designated Kreidler for assignment Monday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of waiver claim Will Robertson. Kreidler was a waiver claim of the Pirates himself in August but never saw any action with Pittsburgh.

The Pirates claimed Robertson off waivers from the White Sox on Monday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Robertson went just 9-for-70 with a 2:27 BB:K over 75 plate appearances between the Blue Jays and White Sox in 2025 in his first action at the big-league level. However, the 27-year-old slashed .289/.387/.571 with 20 homers at the Triple-A level this season and can play all three outfield spots, so the Pirates will hope he can nail down a job as a reserve outfielder.

Chourio said Monday that his right hamstring feels "close to 100 percent," Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Chourio missed most of August with a right hamstring strain and had to be removed from Games 1 and 2 of the NLDS after the hamstring flared up on him. While it appears Chourio is on the mend, the Brewers are still likely to ask the outfielder to take it easy on the basepaths so as not to aggravate the injury. Chourio is slashing .389/.421/.667 with one home run, two doubles and six RBI in five games this postseason.

Castellanos went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Dodgers on Thursday.

Castellanos started each of the final three games and went 2-for-15 with five strikeouts in the series. Despite the poor overall numbers, he delivered a key knock in Thursday's loss by doubling in the seventh inning to give the Phillies a lead. Castellanos is entering the final year of his current contract, but he could be a trade candidate or otherwise have a change of scenery this offseason after managing only a 90 wRC+ across 589 plate appearances in 2025.