MLB Player News

Sheets went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run, a walk and a stolen base in Wednesday's 5-0 win over the Mets.

Sheets doubled the Padres' lead with a two-run homer in the third inning and added a rare stolen base after drawing a walk in the fifth. It was a much-needed spark for the 29-year-old, who entered the game stuck in a 4-for-38 slump without an extra-base hit over 10 games since the All-Star break. On the season, he's slashing .249/.312/.423 with 15 home runs, 54 RBI, 39 runs scored and two steals across 394 plate appearances.

Kepler was scratched from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox due to triceps soreness, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The veteran outfielder was in the starting nine for Wednesday's series finale but ended up being scratched after a lengthy rain delay. The severity of the injury hasn't been disclosed, so Kepler should be considered day-to-day heading into Friday's series opener in Detroit.

Tucker went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, a run scored and two RBI in Wednesday's 10-3 win over the Brewers.

Tucker is still stuck on just one home run this month, but he looked dynamic in Wednesday's series finale. The outfielder posted only his second multi-hit performance in July and his first multi-RBI game since July 6. Tucker is too talented to not get going at some point, and Wednesday's effort could be the jump-start he needs for an extended hot streak.

Crow-Armstrong went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI in Wednesday's 10-3 win over the Brewers.

Crow-Armstrong's MVP-caliber campaign keeps rolling along, as he's now sporting an .868 OPS with 61 extra-base hits across 106 games. That total includes 27 home runs, and the young outfielder also has 29 stolen bases, making a 40-40 season within reach. This was his 11th game this season of three-plus hits.

Happ (shin) appeared as a pinch hitter and went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 10-3 win over the Brewers.

Happ suffered a bruised left shin during Tuesday's loss to Milwaukee, and while he didn't start Wednesday's game, the veteran was clearly healthy enough to play, as he launched his 15th home run of the season. The Cubs have an off day Thursday, which gives Happ another day to rest, and he should be in the starting lineup for Friday's contest against the Orioles.

Acuna was diagnosed with a Grade 1 lower right calf strain Wednesday following an MRI, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Earlier in the day, Atlanta placed Acuna on the 10-day injured list due to what the team referred to as right Achilles inflammation, but the MRI has since ruled out an Achilles injury. While the diagnosis of a mild calf strain amounts to good news for Acuna, he's still likely to be out beyond the minimum 10 days, with Mark Bowman of MLB.com previously relaying that the 27-year-old could return to action in 2-to-3 weeks. A clearer timeline for Acuna's return should become available once he's able to resume taking part in full baseball activities, but with Atlanta shaping up as non-playoff contenders, he's not expected to be rushed back from the IL until the team is fully confident that he's 100 percent recovered from the calf strain.

The Giants acquired Gilbert, Jose Butto and Blade Tidwell from the Mets on Wednesday in exchange for Tyler Rogers, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Gilbert has slashed a pedestrian .246/.349/.435 with 12 homers in 81 games this season with Triple-A Syracuse, though he has been swinging the bat better in July (.316/.388/.645). The 24-year-old's star has faded since he was considered a top-100 prospect, but he's still young enough to rediscover some mojo.

Fraley is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

The Dodgers are sending right-hander Shohei Ohtani to the hill Wednesday, but the left-handed-hitting Fraley will still hit the bench for the second time in the series. Noelvi Marte will get the start in right field for the series finale, and he could push Fraley for playing time moving forward after the Reds swung a deal Wednesday to acquire Ke'Bryan Hayes, who is expected to displace Marte as the team's everyday third baseman.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that he anticipates Soto (foot) returning to the lineup for Friday's series opener versus the Giants, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. "I think we dodged a bullet here," Mendoza said, in reference to the bruised left foot Soto suffered during Tuesday's 7-1 loss to the Padres.

Soto was forced out of Tuesday's game after fouling a ball off of his foot in the fourth inning, but X-rays came back negative, and the outfielder's soreness already seems to be subsiding a bit. Though Soto is out of the lineup for Wednesday's series finale in San Diego, he was scheduled to take some swings in the batting cage prior to the game and could be available off the bench, per Laura Albanese of Newsday. Even if the Mets choose to stay away from Soto on Wednesday, he's expected to make enough improvement after Thursday's off day to rejoin the lineup Friday.

Moniak is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.

With the Guardians sending a southpaw (Kolby Allard) to the mound for the second day in a row, the left-handed-hitting Moniak will be on the bench for a second consecutive game. Tyler Freeman will cover right field in Moniak's absence.