MLB Player News

Pratt is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates due to illness, Sophia Minnaert of Brewers.tv reports.

Pratt manned shortstop for the past nine contests for the Brewers but will take a seat in Tuesday's series opener because he's under the weather. Consider him day-to-day. Joey Ortiz will play shortstop and will bat eighth.

The Mets claimed Cairo off waivers and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Philadelphia designated Cairo for assignment over the weekend, and he'll now join a division rival. The 25-year-old was added to Philadelphia's 40-man roster at the end of spring training but stayed at Triple-A Lehigh Valley all season, where he had a .224/.376/.296 slash line and 90:76 BB:K in 128 games.

De La Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 4-1 loss to the Dodgers.

De La Cruz mashed his sixth homer and 10th extra-base hit in the last nine games, which is the latest in a longer stretch of offense from the shortstop. Over the last 21 contests, De La Cruz has a .419/.468/.767 slash line with nine doubles, seven home runs, three steals, 15 RBI and 21 runs scored.

Saggese went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 2-1 win over the Giants.

Saggese is up to four steals on the year, including three over his last 10 games. He has gone 12-for-36 (.333) in that span, and he got a look in the leadoff spot Monday while Bryan Torres received a day off. Saggese is now batting .268 with a .738 OPS, four home runs, 12 RBI, 23 runs scored, five doubles and one triple over 140 plate appearances in the majors this season.

The Padres optioned McCoy to Triple-A El Paso on Monday.

He's clearing off the roster to make room for the return of Ty France from paternity leave. McCoy was in the majors for only a few days and did not see any action.

Willits went 4-for-6 with a double, a home run, a second run scored, three RBI and two stolen bases for Double-A Harrisburg on Saturday.

Per Brendan Samson of MLB.com, Willits became the youngest player to collect a hit this season at Double-A when he singled Thursday, and his long ball Saturday made him only the eighth 18-year-old over the last two decades to homer at the level -- a list that includes Bryce Harper and Fernando Tatis, as well as current top prospects Jesus Made of the Brewers, Leo De Vries (shoulder) of the A's and Sebastian Walcott of the Rangers. Willits sports a .265/.406/.463 slash line in 114 games across three levels of the minors this season with 14 home runs and 62 steals, and while the Nationals won't rush him, his elite package of skills, athleticism and baseball IQ could land him in the majors sometime next summer.

The Phillies designated Cairo for assignment Sunday.

A spot on the 40-man roster was needed for the return of Tanner Banks from the 60-day injured list. Cairo was added to the Phillies' 40-man roster just before Opening Day but has yet to make his major-league debut. The 25-year-old infielder has slashed .227/.378/.298 with four home runs, 25 stolen bases and a 90:76 BB:K over 128 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season.

Koss went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and two steals in Sunday's 6-4 loss against San Diego.

Koss collected a pair of singles, swiping second and third base after his knock to lead off the fifth inning. The 28-year-old has seen regular playing time at shortstop with Willy Adames (elbow) sidelined and has taken advantage of the opportunity, slashing .359/.419/.590 with three homers, six RBI, 13 runs and three stolen bases over his past 12 games. His season-long numbers are much more pedestrian, as Koss is hitting .235/.283/.340 with four homers, 10 RBI, 25 runs and five stolen bases in 59 total contests.

Ortiz went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Reds.

Ortiz opened the scoring with a two-run blast off Chase Burns in the second inning. The performance continued an excellent second half for the 28-year-old, who's hitting .331 with six home runs, 22 RBI, 20 runs scored and four steals over 42 games since the All-Star break. On the season, he's slashing .264/.324/.401 with nine homers, 44 RBI, 44 runs scored and nine stolen bases across 378 plate appearances.

Tovar is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Tovar started the previous three contests and will hit the bench Sunday after going 3-for-8 with a walk, a solo homer and two additional runs scored during that span. Cole Carrigg will play shortstop in the series finale.