MLB Player News

Miller (neck) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list during the team's current homestand, which runs until Sept. 3, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.

Miller has been on the injured list since June 21 due to neck pain, but skipper Dave Roberts stated Monday that the veteran is close to a return. Once activated, he'll rejoin the Dodgers' bullpen, where he found success earlier in the year. Miller owns a 2.40 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with a 31:18 K:BB across 30 innings so far this season.

Nance was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville on Monday, Paige Leckie of MLB.com reports.

Nance was activated from the 60-day injured list Wednesday after missing time with a shoulder injury, but he failed to make his 2023 debut. The right-hander was bumped to the minors to make room for George Soriano, who was reinstated from the paternity list Monday.

Soriano (personal) was reinstated from the paternity list Monday, Paige Leckie of MLB.com reports.

Soriano was placed on the paternity list Friday and will now return to the club after missing three contests. Tommy Nance was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move.

Brebbia (lat) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance Wednesday for Triple-A Sacramento, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Brebbia threw a simulated game Sunday, and he's now set to take another step in the right direction by making a rehab appearance. The right-hander was moved to the 60-day IL on July 31 due to a right lat strain, so he'll likely need a game or two in the minors to get acclimated before the team activates him.

Kinley (elbow) will make a rehab appearance with Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday, Kelsey Wingert-Linch of AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain reports.

Kinley is getting the green light for game action a little over a week after landing on the 15-day injured list. He's eligible for activation Friday and appears on track to rejoin the Colorado bullpen that day if Tuesday's outing goes smoothly.

Kranick (elbow) struck out four and gave up one hit and one walk over 2.2 scoreless innings Friday in his rehab start for Triple-A Indianapolis.

Kranick was lit up for five earned runs while recording just four outs in his first rehab start for Single-A Bradenton on Aug. 13, but he's bounced back well over his subsequent two outings, striking out six while issuing just one walk in 5.2 innings. The right-hander is working his way back from Tommy John surgery in June of 2022 and looks as though he's being built back up to a starting role, as he tossed 44 pitches Friday. Kranick will likely make at least two or three more rehab appearances for Indianapolis before the Pirates entertain the possibility of bringing him back from the 60-day injured list.

Hughes (knee) threw a live batting practice session Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The Cubs relayed that Hughes' throwing session went well, but the club has yet to reveal whether the southpaw is ready to take the next step in his recovery from left knee surgery, which would be pitching in minor-league rehab games. Hughes had the knee procedure in June and will likely require several outings in the minors to get fully ramped up before the Cubs are comfortable adding him back to their bullpen.

Helsley (forearm) said he's expecting to be activated from the 60-day injured list Wednesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Helsley was recently pulled off his minor-league assignment for about a week after experiencing pain in his forearm during his Aug. 18 outing with Double-A Springfield, but he rejoined the affiliate over the weekend and made a one-inning appearance Sunday, giving up two earned runs on three hits while striking out a batter. Though he wasn't at his sharpest Sunday, Helsey indicated that so long as he bounces back well from that rehab outing when he's re-evaluated Monday and Tuesday, he'll be on track to rejoin the St. Louis bullpen by the middle of the week. Helsley logged seven saves in 11 chances before landing on the IL in June, but the Cardinals could elect to ease him back into the closer role coming off the lengthy absence.

The Brewers recalled Bukauskas from Triple-A Nashville on Monday.

Bukauskas will provide the Brewers with a fresh arm out of the bullpen heading into Monday's series opener with the Cubs after the team needed four relievers to cover the final seven innings of Sunday's 10-6 win over the Padres. The Brewers required extra work from their bullpen because starter Adrian Houser (elbow) exited the contest after recording just two outs. Houser was moved to the 15-day injured list Monday to clear a spot on the active roster for Bukauskas.

The Cardinals optioned Naile to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.

With St. Louis bringing right-hander Drew VerHagen (personal) back from the bereavement list, Naile will return to the minors after a one-day stint with the Cardinals. Naile appeared out of the bullpen in Sunday's 3-0 loss to the Phillies, tossing 1.1 scoreless frames.