MLB Player News

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Monday that Schwellenbach (elbow) has yet to resume throwing, and the right-hander appears unlikely to return this season, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Schwellenbach is a little more than a month removed from suffering a small fracture in his pitching elbow. While Atlanta has yet to officially rule the right-hander out for the season, he's without a timeline to resume throwing, and he'll need extended time to be built back up once he picks up a baseball. With Atlanta already essentially out of the playoff picture, the club has little incentive to push Schwellenbach to return in September.

Lopez (shoulder) recently resumed playing catch but remains without a timeline to return from the 60-day injured list, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander underwent arthroscopic surgery April 1 and was cleared to start throwing again after the All-Star break, but he remains in the early stages of his rehab program. Lopez still appears to have a shot at returning before the end of the season, but if he doesn't advance to throwing off a mound within the next week or two, he likely won't have enough time to get stretched back out for a starting role. Pitching out of the bullpen in September could be an option, however.

Sale (ribs) threw a bullpen session Monday and is expected to face hitters soon in live batting practice, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Sale is just over two weeks away from being eligible for activation from the 60-day injured list, but Atlanta has little reason to rush him back onto the mound. The left-hander has been sidelined since mid-June with a fractured left ribcage. Because Sale has missed so much time, he's likely to make at least one rehab start before rejoining the rotation.

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Monday that Holmes has elected to treat his right elbow injury with rest and rehab rather than undergoing Tommy John surgery or another procedure, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Holmes has been diagnosed with damage to his UCL, but after weighing opinions from two doctors, he'll attempt to recover from the injury through non-surgical methods. Atlanta doesn't have a timeline for when Holmes will begin a throwing program, but if he hasn't shown enough progress early in the offseason, surgery would still be an option. Per O'Brien, even in the best-case scenario, Holmes won't be back on a mound until spring training.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that Blackburn (shoulder) will make another rehab start Friday, Joe Pantorno of amNY.com reports.

Blackburn looks ready to return from the 15-day injured list, having collected a 2.21 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB in 20.1 innings over four rehab starts. However, the Mets aren't ready to remove Frankie Montas from the rotation at this point, so they'll kick the can down the road and have Blackburn make another rehab start. Blackburn has been out since early July with a right shoulder impingement.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that the team is considering using an opener ahead of Montas in his next scheduled turn through the rotation Saturday versus the Brewers, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Montas' issues aren't exclusive to the first inning, but he has a 6.43 ERA and opponents have slashed .333/.379/.667 against him in the opening frame this season. The Mets will mull using the right-hander in a bulk-relief role this weekend as they seek to get him on track. Montas has posted a 6.68 ERA and 29:10 K:BB over 33.2 innings covering seven starts this season.

The Pirates activated Oviedo (lat/elbow) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Monday versus the Giants.

Oviedo will make his 2025 debut for the Pirates after he missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and the first four months of this season while working his way back from a right lat strain. The right-hander threw 62 pitches in his final rehab start last Tuesday, so he'll face some workload restrictions against the Giants.

The Mets selected Hamel's contract from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.

The right-hander will head to the big leagues for the first time, slotting into the Mets bullpen as a replacement for righty Austin Warren, who was optioned to Syracuse. Over 22 appearances (eight starts) at the Triple-A level this season, Hamel has produced a 4.73 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 59:15 K:BB in 53.1 frames. He'll likely function as a long reliever for the Mets and is unlikely to see much use in higher-leverage spots while he's up with the big club.

Taillon (calf) struck out one batter and allowed seven earned runs on seven hits across three innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Sunday. He also hit two batters.

Making his first appearance at any level since June 29, Taillon didn't issue any walks but lacked command in the 64-pitch outing. Though the right-hander's results left much to be desired, he left the contest feeling healthy and without any reported setbacks with his calf. The Cubs may want to build Taillon up a bit more in another rehab start, but he appears to be closing in on a return from the 15-day injured list. Chicago added Michael Soroka to the back end of its rotation before the trade deadline, but Taillon is likely to slot in as the team's No. 3 starter behind Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd once he gets activated.

Marquez (biceps) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.

Marquez was placed on the injured list July 23, but he has made relatively quick progress since. Manager Warren Schaeffer has already stated that Marquez will need a rehab assignment, so he may not be able to return until late August.