MLB Player News

Nothing too surprising among this first large batch of cuts for the Angels. MacGregor, 26, was in camp as a non-roster invitee after posting a respectable 3.82 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and an 84/31 K/BB ratio over 77 2/3 innings between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis for the Pirates in 2023. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him debut in Los Angeles during the upcoming season.

Gurriel’s day off means both Jake McCarthy and Alek Thomas are in the lineup at the same time for the first time, with Thomas in center. Those two had each started two games in center thus far. Gurriel is off to a 4-for-19 start as the D-backs’ No. 3 hitter.

That Aaron Judge, who hit second on Opening Day, prefers to bat third seems to have killed the Wells-as-leadoff-hitter experiment, even though it worked so well in the club’s first game. The problem now is that the Yankees have a righty batting third and want to keep alternating righties and lefties. With Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. taking precedence in the second and fourth spots, respectively, that leaves Wells hitting sixth.

Lindor was available off the bench after making it to Miami last night, but he wasn’t used. He’s leading off tonight.

This would seem to be one of the better nights for Baty to play, given that the Mets are going up against a tough righty (Sandy Alcantara) and they have a strikeout pitcher on the mound in Kodai Senga. One imagines Acuña will get the nod on Wednesday, since it definitely makes sense to have his glove in play with Clay Holmes pitching.

Rodriguez appears to be one of the game’s best prospects in those rare instances that he’s able to take the field. He went 3-for-4 with a double and a walk in the Saints’ opener Friday before missing time. He hit .280/.459/.567 in 47 games, most of them in Double-A, last year.

Good news. He’s starting at first base and batting sixth against the Rangers.

Limited to DHing by shoulder soreness, Steer was expected to open up on the IL before Austin Hays got hurt. It might have been better for everyone had the Reds followed through on that anyway, as Steer is just 1-for-12 thus far. The club has Gavin Lux at DH and Blake Dunn in left field tonight.

He won’t get to face longtime Cubs batterymate Kyle Hendricks. After an exceptional spring (.405/.511/.649 in 45 PA), Contreras has opened the regular season 0-for-18 with eight strikeouts. Taking him out of the lineup makes room for Nolan Gorman, who is DHing while Alec Burleson plays first base.

Thompson is back in the majors for the first time since 2022, when he went 3-10 with a 5.18 ERA in 121 2/3 innings for the Pirates. The Braves will have him available in middle relief tonight.

Chavez threw 41 pitches while allowing one run in two innings last night, so he’s being banished one day after getting called up. One imagines he’ll stick around if he clears waivers and probably get another chance before long.