MLB Player News

Kepler isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Reds.

Kepler's playing time has begun to dwindle recently, as he's started just four of Arizona's last 12 games, and that trend may continue now that Jordan Lawlar has returned from the injured list. Both players will begin Saturday's contest on the bench while Lars Nootbaar, Ryan Waldschmidt and Corbin Carroll form the D-backs' outfield trio.

The Dodgers placed Pages on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a left hand fracture.

Pages suffered a hand fracture after getting hit by a pitch during Friday's game against Pittsburgh, and manager Dave Roberts said after the game that the outfielder is expected to miss roughly 4-to-5 weeks while he recovers. The Dodgers believe Pages will be able to play again this year, but whether he does so in the regular season remains to be determined. In the meantime, Alek Thomas will come up from Triple-A to replenish Los Angeles' outfield depth and figures to contend with Tommy Edman and Alex Call for reps in center field.

Manager Pat Murphy said Saturday that he expects Frelick (shoulder) to return from the injured list during Milwaukee's upcoming series against the Mets, Hunter Baumgardt of Fox Sports 920 Milwaukee reports.

Murphy said Friday that Frelick would be activated from the injured list in the near future, and although he still doesn't have a firm return date, it's been narrowed down to sometime between Tuesday and Thursday. The 26-year-old outfielder has spent the past couple of weeks on a rehab assignment at Triple-A, going 9-for-32 with two homers, five RBI, seven runs scored and a steal across nine contests.

The Dodgers recalled Thomas from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday.

With Andy Pages set to miss 4-to-5 weeks with a fractured hand, the Dodgers will turn to Thomas to bolster their outfield depth. Since joining the organization in May, the 26-year-old has slashed .296/.362/.493 with seven home runs, 40 RBI, 33 runs and four steals across 249 plate appearances at Triple-A. He'll likely be in the mix with Alex Call and Tommy Edman to start in center field.

The Cardinals fear Pereira suffered a fractured left hand during Friday's loss to the Phillies, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Pereira was struck on the hand by an Orion Kerkering fastball in the top of the eighth inning. He initially stayed in the game to run the bases but did not take the field for the bottom of the frame. Initial testing seems to have revealed bad news, but the Cardinals should offer official word on Pereira later Saturday. If he has indeed suffered a fracture, Pereira's season could be over.

Friedl entered Friday's game to play left field after Michael Toglia was removed with a dislocated shoulder. The former went 1-for-2 in a 9-0 loss to Arizona.

Friedl recently lost playing time to others in the outfield but may benefit from the injury. The initial reaction to the injury was that Toglia could miss significant time, but X-rays came back negative, and there's hope he could avoid a stint on the injured list. The Reds will get by at corner outfield with some combination of Friedl, JJ Bleday and Hector Rodriguez.

Beck went 2-for-4 against the Guardians on Friday.

Beck has had a tough season, spending the majority of his time either in the minors or on the injured list. However, he's settled into a short-side platoon role, and he's started three of Colorado's last four games with the team facing a heavy dose of lefties. Beck's multi-hit performance Friday was his first since April 20.

Walker went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and a second run scored in Friday's 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Phillies.

The young slugger took Jesus Luzardo deep in the sixth inning to briefly give the Cardinals a 4-3 lead in a wild, back-and-forth affair. Walker has homered in three straight games while extending a hit streak to seven games, a blistering stretch in which he's batting .467 (14-for-30). That surge has pushed his slash line on the season up to .291/.350/.513 with 28 doubles, 27 home runs, 17 steals, 81 runs and an MLB-leading 96 RBI, tied with the Reds' Sal Stewart.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Pages was diagnosed with a left hand fracture following his early exit from Friday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Pirates, and the outfielder is expected to miss 4-to-5 weeks, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Pages was plunked in the hand by a 100-mph sinker from Bubba Chandler in the third inning, prompting the Dodgers to send the 25-year-old in for X-rays, which confirmed the fracture. Per Kirsten Watson of Spectrum SportsNet LA, Roberts said that he expects Pages to play again in 2026, but the injury will keep the outfielder on the shelf for most, if not all, of what remains in the regular season. Tommy Edman, Enrique Hernandez and Alex Call are candidates to see added reps in center field while Pages is out.

Cruz went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and two walks in Friday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Dodgers.

Cruz went deep in the eighth inning to force the extra frame. He's gone 3-for-9 with a pair of homers, five RBI and a stolen base over three games since he returned from a fractured left hand. Cruz has hit fifth in all of those contests after primarily serving as the Pirate's leadoff hitter prior to his injury. On the year, he's batting .266 with an .846 OPS, 16 homers, 49 RBI, 47 runs scored, 10 doubles and 22 stolen bases over 67 contests.