MLB Player News

Feltner (head) is set to begin a rehab assignment with High-A Spokane on Wednesday, Kelsey Wingert-Linch of AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain reports.

Feltner has taken a while to recover and resume a throwing progression after being struck on the head by a line drive in mid-May, but he's on the verge of appearing in a game for the first time in more than three months. Barring any setbacks, Feltner should be ready to return from the 60-day injured list before the campaign comes to a close.

Matz (lat) underwent an MRI on Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Matz has been shut down since landing on the injured list Aug. 14, and the Cardinals decided it was time to send him for a test. The team will decide on the next step after the results have been read, and per Denton, "If cleared soon, (Matz) could be brought back as a starter or reliever depending on the number of games left."

Liberatore (back) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Memphis, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Liberatore landed on the injured list last Tuesday, and he will get back up on the bump one week later. He has not appeared in a game since Aug. 16, so he could be back with the big club at some point in early September.

Stone was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday.

After getting the call from Triple-A on Sunday, Stone was deployed as a bulk reliever behind Caleb Ferguson in the Dodgers' series finale with Boston, pitching six innings and giving up four runs on five hits while picking up the win. Though the Dodgers have an opening in the rotation, the team appears likely to call up Ryan Pepiot from Triple-A to start Wednesday versus the Diamondbacks rather than sticking with Stone. By moving Stone back to the minors, the Dodgers were able to clear room on the 26-man active roster for waiver pickup Tyson Miller. Stone should settle back into the Oklahoma City rotation upon rejoining the club.

The Brewers placed Houser on the 15-day injured list Monday with right elbow effusion.

When Houser exited after two innings in his start during Sunday's win over the Padres, the Brewers relayed that the 30-year-old was dealing with "minor" right forearm tightness. Follow-up tests revealed that he was actually experiencing fluid buildup in his elbow, and a trip to the injured list was deemed necessary. Bryse Wilson ended up covering four scoreless innings behind Houser on Sunday and could be a candidate to step in as the Brewers' new No. 5 starter, though it's conceivable that manager Craig Counsell opts for a four-man rotation this week thanks to a well-timed day off Thursday.

The Padres recalled Waldron from Triple-A El Paso on Monday.

The 26-year-old right-hander will join the 26-man active roster as a replacement for Yu Darvish (elbow), who was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday. Darvish had been lined up to make his next turn through the rotation in Wednesday's game in St. Louis, so Waldron could be an option to make a spot start that day or serve as a bulk reliever if he's not needed out of the bullpen Monday or Tuesday. Waldron has previously made two starts with San Diego this season, covering 9.2 innings between them while allowing seven earned runs on nine hits and four walks.

The Padres placed Darvish on the 15-day injured list Monday with right elbow inflammation.

San Diego had been listing Darvish as its confirmed starting pitcher for Wednesday's series finale in St. Louis, but the right-hander will end up being deactivated after he picked up the elbow injury in his most recent outing Friday in Milwaukee or during his between-starts bullpen session. The Padres had moved the struggling Rich Hill to the bullpen this past weekend, but he'll presumably step back into the rotation to fill the spot vacated by Darvish, who won't be eligible to return until Sept. 10.

Atlanta optioned Shuster to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.

He won't end up getting another turn through the rotation after he stepped in as Atlanta's No. 5 starter this past weekend in place of the injured Yonny Chirinos (elbow). Shuster failed to escape the fifth inning in his start against the Giants on Sunday, taking the loss while giving up four earned runs on four hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. Atlanta called up right-hander Darius Vines from Triple-A in a corresponding move, and he could end up replacing Shuster as the big club's fifth starter this week if he isn't needed in relief over the next couple of days.

Vines was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Vines has missed a large chunk of the season with a shoulder issue but has pitched well when healthy, including of late at Gwinnett with a 2.86 ERA and 25:11 K:BB over 28.1 frames. He will be available out of the bullpen for now, but if he's not needed the next two days, he could start Wednesday in Colorado. Vines will be making his major-league debut whenever he gets into a game.

General manager Ben Cherington confirmed that Ortiz will receive another start with the Pirates either Tuesday or Wednesday in Kansas City, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The Pirates are condensing their rotation from six men to five this week, and Ortiz will end up sticking around over Osvaldo Bido, who was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday. Ortiz likely doesn't have a long leash in the Pittsburgh rotation, however, as he was roughed up for five earned runs on seven hits and five walks over 3.1 innings this past Wednesday against St. Louis in what marked his first outing with the Pirates since July 4. Through 12 outings (11 starts) with the big club this season, Ortiz owns a 5.37 ERA and 1.84 WHIP.