MLB Player News

Garcia (wrist) is starting Thursday's game at Triple-A Rochester.

Garcia hyperextended his left arm during a collision at first base Tuesday, but he'll be back in action after missing just one game. The 22-year-old is slashing .331/.387/.576 with eight homers, 35 runs, 27 RBI and a stolen base in Rochester this year and will likely be in consideration for a call-up soon.

Rojas (hand) is starting Thursday against the Dodgers.

Rojas was available off the bench if needed during Tuesday's series finale against the Royals, but he remained off the field for a third consecutive game due to his bruised left hand. However, he'll start at the hot corner and bat second during Thursday's matchup.

Gorman is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Gorman has started four of five games since being promoted late last week, and he'll take a seat for Thursday's series opener. The 22-year-old is off to a strong start through 20 plate appearances with a .294/.400/.412 slash line. Tommy Edman will shift to the keystone while Edmundo Sosa starts at shortstop.

Hoerner will be the Cubs' primary shortstop going forward, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Hoerner, who is starting at the six and batting eighth Thursday against the Reds, was activated from the injured list Wednesday and the expectation is that he will get the reps at shortstop while Andrelton Simmons starts at second base or comes off the bench most days. The Cubs are using this year as an audition for Hoerner to show he can stay healthy and stay productive, before the team potentially eyes up a big free-agent signing at the position this offseason. Hoerner is hitting .278/.300/.402 with two home runs and two steals in 30 games.

McNeil was removed from Wednesday's game against the Giants due to a left knee contusion, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

McNeil made a sliding catch in left field in the bottom of the third inning Wednesday but was shaken up since he crashed into the side wall. He was initially able to remain in the game but was replaced by a pinch hitter in the top of the fourth. The 30-year-old went 0-for-1 prior to his departure and will have at least one day to recover since the Mets have a scheduled day off Thursday. If McNeil is forced to miss any additional time, Luis Guillorme should see an uptick in at-bats at second base.

The Cubs reinstated Hoerner (ankle) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Hoerner's return to the 26-man active roster comes as somewhat of a surprise, as the expectation was that he would require a brief minor-league rehab assignment before being activated after he had been sidelined for the past two weeks with a right ankle sprain. The Cubs evidently felt encouraged enough by how Hoerner looked in a full workout earlier this week to activate him, but the 25-year-old may have to settle for a utility role now that he's ostensibly healthy again. Hoerner will be on the bench for Wednesday's game against the Reds, as the hot-hitting Christopher Morel gets a look at second base while the defensive-minded Andrelton Simmons mans shortstop.

Estrada will start at second base and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Mets, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Tommy La Stella's return from the injured list last week looked as though it would cost Estrada an everyday role, but that has yet to come to fruition. In fact, Estrada will make his ninth consecutive start Sunday, all of which have come at second base while La Stella has served exclusively as a designated hitter or third baseman since being activated. Estrada has done his part to ensure that La Stella nor anyone else encroaches on his role, as he's slashed .414/.469/.517 over his previous eight starts.

Garcia sustained a wrist injury Tuesday while playing for Triple-A Rochester, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

He exited the game after colliding with the opposing first baseman and is out of Wednesday's lineup. It's unclear how serious the injury is, but it seemed a call-up for Garcia was imminent, as he was hitting .331/.387/.576 with eight home runs in 37 games.

McNeil went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and two runs in Tuesday's 13-12 loss to the Giants.

Coming off a 2021 campaign in which he hit a disappointing .251, McNeil's contact-heavy approach is bearing more fruit in 2022. Wednesday marked his second multi-hit performance of the series and his 17th of the season. McNeil's 23-homer campaign in 2019 continues to look like a major outlier, but with the exception of 2021, the 30-year-old has shown that he's one of the more bankable contributors in the batting-average category throughout his career.

Chavis will start at first base and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Rockies in Pittsburgh.

Chavis will pick up his second straight start at first base, and he looks like he'll have a path to an everyday role against both right- and left-handed pitching after the Pirates moved Daniel Vogelbach (hamstring) to the 10-day injured list Tuesday. Over a 12-game stretch dating back to May 9, Chavis has slashed .395/.415/.605 with five extra-base hits, three runs, three RBI and a 1:9 BB:K.