MLB Player News

Cruz went 2-for-6 with a double and a grand slam during Friday's 17-16 loss to the Rockies.

Cruz delivered the biggest swing in Pittsburgh's lengthy, nine-run first inning in which they sent 14 batters to the plate, smashing a 451-foot grand slam to center. The 26-year-old has showed he's quite dangerous when he can barrel up the ball, but his struggles to hit for average have been apparent as he's slashing just .220/.319/.448 on the season. He has 48 RBI on the season to go along with 18 home runs, but he's gone deep only three times since the start of July.

Stowers went 1-for-5 with a grand slam in Friday's 13-12 win over the Yankees.

The grand slam was Stowers' second of the season, and it was the fifth time this year that he's collected at least four RBI. The 27-year-old first-time All-Star has been one of fantasy's breakout hitters in 2025 as well as one of the hottest hitters in baseball since late June in particular -- Stowers is slashing an incredible .358/.452/.840 with 14 home runs, nine doubles and 33 RBI over his last 32 games (126 plate appearances).

The Giants recalled McCray from Triple-A Sacramento on Friday.

McCray has spent the entire 2025 season in Triple-A, where he is slashing .260/.338/.429 with 26 steals, five triples, 14 home runs and 63 RBI in 468 plate appearances. He appeared in 37 regular-season games for the Giants in 2024 and finished with a .617 OPS with five steals, five homers and 10 RBI in 130 plate appearances. McCray should see some starts in the outfield after the Giants traded Mike Yastrzemski to the Royals on Thursday and with Jerar Encarnacion (oblique) still on the 10-day IL.

The Brewers activated Lockridge ahead of Friday's series opener in Washington.

Lockridge had been playing at Triple-A El Paso prior to being traded to the Brewers on Thursday, but rather than reporting to Milwaukee's top affiliate, he'll begin his time in his new organization with the big club after Jackson Chourio (hamstring) was placed on the injured list in a corresponding move. Blake Perkins will likely serve as the primary replacement in center field for Chourio, but the right-handed-hitting Lockridge could become a regular in the Milwaukee lineup against left-handed pitching. With southpaw Mitchell Parker on the bump for Washington on Friday, Lockridge will occupy right field and bat leadoff in his Brewers debut.

The Padres designated Wade for assignment Friday.

Wade will lose his spots on the 26-man and 40-man rosters to help make room for the numerous additions San Diego made before Thursday's trade deadline. The 30-year-old utility man has slashed .206/.309/.252 through 127 plate appearances in the big leagues this season.

Chourio received a PRP injection in his injured hamstring, and manager Pat Murphy said Friday that the outfielder will be out beyond the 10-day minimum, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Chourio injured his right hamstring during Tuesday's win over the Cubs, and the skipper has since revealed that the issue is "a little more severe" than initially thought. While the Brewers have not offered up a timetable for Chourio's return, he will almost certainly miss more than the minimum required by his IL stint, and Murphy suggested the 21-year-old could be sidelined for a month or longer. Blake Perkins is in center field for Milwaukee on Friday against lefty Mitchell Parker.

Benson went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in Friday's 3-2 win over Atlanta.

He took reliever Dylan Dodd the other way in the seventh inning for his ninth long ball of the season, and his second off a left-handed pitcher. Benson remains a strong-side platoon player for the most part, but he's been struggling of late even in that role -- over 20 games since the beginning of July he's batting just .206 (13-for-63) with a 0:18 BB:K.

The Marlins selected Marsee's contract from Triple-A Jacksonville, and he's starting in center field and batting ninth Friday against the Yankees.

The 24-year-old is taking the roster spot of Jesus Sanchez, who was traded to the Astros on Thursday. Marsee will immediately make his MLB debut in center field and could receive regular playing time. It remains to be seen if he can get on base enough given his .243 average with Jacksonville, but Marsee could provide some value on the basepaths with 46 steals in 98 Triple-A games this season.

Soto (foot) is starting in right field and batting third Friday against the Giants.

Soto was withheld from the lineup Wednesday versus the Padres after fouling a pitch off his foot during Tuesday's contest, but he's good to go for Friday's series opener versus San Francisco. The veteran outfielder has an .870 OPS this season, though he scuffled a bit at the plate in July, going 17-for-81 (.210 average) with five homers, six steals and a 28.6 percent strikeout rate.

The Phillies optioned Rojas to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.

The 24-year-old will unsurprisingly be the odd man out in the Phillies outfield following the acquisition of Harrison Bader on Thursday. Rojas has yet to find his footing at the plate in the big leagues this season with a .569 OPS in 172 plate appearances.