MLB Player News

Ruf (knee) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Nashville, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Ruf has been sidelined since early June due to a non-displaced fracture in his right kneecap, so he'll probably need several rehab games to get back up to speed. The 37-year-old holds a weak .224/.333/.286 batting line in 57 major-league plate appearances this season between San Francisco and Milwaukee.

Winker (quadricep/back) is scheduled to resume his rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Nashville, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Winker suffered a quad injury while playing in a game for Nashville earlier this month, but it has proven to be a minor setback and he could return to the Brewers as early as this weekend. The 30-year-old originally landed on the 10-day injured list July 26 with back spasms.

Morel went 1-for-5 with a solo home run Monday in a 5-4 win against Colorado.

Morel connected for a mammoth 466-foot solo shot in the fifth inning to give the Cubs their first lead. It was the second straight game with a long ball for the slugger, and he's up to 22 homers over 365 plate appearances on the season. Morel isn't an everyday player due in part to his 32.1 percent strikeout rate, but he's a constant power threat when he's in the lineup as suggested by his 15.04 AB/HR.

Rooker went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, a stolen base and a walk in a 4-0 win against the Astros on Monday.

Rooker put the A's on the board in the second inning with a monstrous 442-foot solo shot off Framber Valdez. The 28-year-old leads Oakland with 24 homers and 58 RBI on the campaign, though he's also struck out 151 times. His 32.3 percent strikeout rate is second-highest in the majors among qualified hitters.

Belt was removed from Monday's game against the Rangers due to lower back muscle spasms.

Belt will be considered day-to-day until further notice. Spencer Horwitz stepped into the DH spot in Belt's place.

Soler (oblique) has been cleared to begin a hitting progression, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Soler has been rehabbing from a right oblique strain in Miami, and he's been cleared to start ramping up his baseball activities. He'll be eligible to return from the 10-day injured list Sept. 16 against Atlanta, though it's unclear if he'll be ready to go after missing the minimum.

Harper went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored in Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader against Atlanta.

His two-run game-tying blast came with two-outs in the ninth to send the game to extras. Harper entered the opening game of Monday's double-header with a modest four-game hit streak that only slightly masked a 4-for-32 homer-less slump over his past nine games. Harper is now slashing .296/.396/.484 with 16 homers, 60 RBI, 71 runs and nine steals in 405 at-bats over 109 games.

Ohtani (oblique) has been scratched from Monday's game against the Mariners, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani was set to make his return to the starting nine after missing time with a tight right oblique, but he'll be held out at the last moment. The star two-way player didn't feel right when taking swings in the batting cage, so the club will push his return back by at least one day, per Bollinger. Mike Moustakas will take his place in the DH slot and hit fourth.

Canario was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Monday.

Canario received only one at-bat after being called up on the first day of the month, so the Cubs decided to send him back to Iowa to open up a roster spot for fellow outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Ohtani (oblique) is in the lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

A tight oblique cost Ohtani a little over a week of action, but he is ready to resume playing. He will serve as the designated hitter and hit second for the Angels on Monday night.