The New York Mets optioned right-handed rookie Christian Scott to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, according to sources, further changing their roster a day after designating reliever Jorge Lopez for assignment following his ejection and glove-fling into the stands on Wednesday. In his first five major-league starts this year, Scott had a decent 3.90 ERA while striking out 25 hitters and walking six in 27 2/3 innings. He's expected to return to the big leagues soon, as the stint in the minors aligns with an upcoming stretch in which the Mets have extra days off due to their upcoming trip to London. Scott is considered the team's No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, so fantasy managers should keep him stashed if they have the room. This quick demotion will allow the Mets to limit the 24-year-old's innings a bit before he eventually rejoins the big-league rotation.

The New York Mets sent struggling third baseman Brett Baty to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, according to sources. The 24-year-old is being sent down to the farm for the second straight season after struggling to stand out given full-time repetitions at third. Mark Vientos had recently taken a share of Baty's at-bats at third base and has made the most of them, hitting .295/.354/.591 with three home runs in 14 games. Baty, meanwhile, is slashing .225/.304/.325 on the year. With Baty heading down to the farm, Vientos will presumably now have third base to himself, while the Mets recalled veteran shortstop Jose Iglesias for additional infield depth. Iglesias will be joining the big-league roster for the first time since signing a minor-league deal in December. Baty should have a chance to come back up to New York and reclaim playing time at the hot corner, but when that may be is unknown.

The New York Mets acquired catcher Luis Torrens from the New York Yankees on Friday in exchange for cash considerations and designated catcher Omar Narvaez in a corresponding move, according to sources. Narvaez was hitting just .154 this year with five RBI in 28 games, while Torrens has spent the 2024 campaign so far with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hitting .279/.339/.469 with an .807 OPS, five home runs and 19 RBI in 30 games played. The Mets are just trying to get by right now at the catcher position with Francisco Alvarez (thumb) still on the injured list. The 28-year-old Torrens will now serve as the direct backup to Tomas Nido with Narvaez out of the picture. Torrens can be ignored in fantasy leagues with a .227 career batting average and 19 home runs in six big-league seasons with three different teams.

Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch will not be in the starting lineup for Friday's matinee affair against the visiting division-rival Cincinnati Reds. Cody Bellinger is making the start at first base and will bat third, while rookie Pete-Crow Armstrong is in center field and is hitting in the eight-hole against Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft. Bellinger is swinging a hot bat right now for fantasy managers and has a solo home run in two career at-bats against Ashcraft. The Cubs recalled Crow-Armstrong from the minors on Thursday, which means the 26-year-old Busch could see more frequent time on the bench if the team is adamant about getting Crow-Armstrong consistent playing time. Outside of homering in five straight games early in the season, Busch has disappointed in the month of May and is hitting .208 (15-for-72) with two homers, six RBI and 32 K's in 85 plate appearances.

The St. Louis Cardinals placed outfielder Lars Nootbaar (oblique) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 30) with a left-oblique strain on Friday and recalled infielder Jose Fermin from Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move. Nootbaar is most likely going to miss more than 10 days after injuring himself on a check swing during the win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. The oft-injured 26-year-old opened the year on the IL as well due to fractured ribs and has been very frustrating to roster in fantasy. He's still worth holding onto if you have the room in deeper leagues, though, as he was hitting a strong .313/.418/.552 with four home runs in his last 79 plate appearances. Nootbaar's injury will mean more consistent playing time for Alec Burleson and Dylan Carlson, as well as veteran Matt Carpenter.