MLB Player News

Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that Garcia (elbow) has yet to resume a throwing program, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Garcia has had his rehab assignment shut down on two occasions because of soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow. While Espada wasn't ready to rule Garcia out for the remainder of the season, the skipper acknowledged Monday that the right-hander is running out of time to make it back in 2024. Even if Garcia is able to start ramping up again in the next week or two, he might not be able to complete a starter's throwing progression and could have to settle for a bullpen role once he returns from the 60-day injured list.

Manager Oli Marmol told reporters Monday that Matz did not feel any back pain following his rehab outing with Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Matz came away with the no decision Sunday after allowing one run on two hits while striking out three across four frames. His next rehab appearance will take place Friday, and the plan is for the 33-year-old southpaw to toss five innings and approximately 75-to-80 pitches. Matz has not pitched for the Cardinals since late April due to a herniated disc in his back, though he could be on his way back to the big club if he comes out of Friday's outing unscathed.

Criswell (illness) might not be ready for activation Friday, when he's first eligible to return from his seven-day stay on the COVID-19 injured list, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Criswell has dealt with some significant symptoms while on the COVID-19 IL, and while the Red Sox are hopeful that he can start Friday in Baltimore in place of James Paxton (calf), he sounds like he might need a bit more time to recover. Josh Winckowski would be a candidate to take the ball for Boston on Friday if Criswell isn't ready.

The Brewers optioned Hall to Triple-A Nashville on Monday.

Hall had some good moments in his return from the 60-day injured list Sunday, as he struck out a career-high nine batters while allowing three runs over 4.2 innings in a spot start against the Reds. However, the Brewers will stick with a five-man rotation moving forward, so Hall will head back to Nashville and stay stretched out while he waits for a starting spot to open up.

The Red Sox activated Bello (personal) from the paternity list Monday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Bello was away from the club over the weekend while welcoming a new child to the family, but he is back with the Red Sox to start Monday's game against the Rangers. The right-hander sports a nifty 45:12 K:BB over 40.1 innings since the start of July, although he's submitted a 4.46 ERA during that stretch.

The Red Sox placed Paxton on the 15-day injured list Monday with a right calf strain, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Paxton suffered the injury during Sunday's 10-2 loss to the Astros and required assistance off the field. The southpaw was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday, but the severity of the calf strain has not yet been revealed. The Red Sox are likely to turn to either Josh Winckowski or Cooper Criswell (COVID-19 injured list) to serve as their new fifth starter in place of Paxton, who is first eligible to return from the IL on Aug. 27.

Lopez (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.

Lopez's upcoming start with Gwinnett may be the only one he requires before returning from the 15-day injured list, potentially setting him up to rejoin Atlanta's rotation either Sunday on the road against the Angels or back at home next Monday versus the Phillies. The right-hander hadn't made a start since July 28 because of right forearm inflammation.

Darvish (personal) has yet to rejoin the Padres since landing on the restricted list July 6, but he has been working out and throwing on his own and most recently tossed a live batting practice session at a San Diego-area high school Sunday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Darvish hasn't pitched for the Padres since May 29, as he first landed on the injured list with a left groin strain, then made a rehab start June 17 with High-A Fort Wayne before experiencing minor elbow inflammation. He had resumed his throwing program before he stepped away from the team in early July to tend to the personal matter, and neither injury is believed to be a concern at this point. While the veteran righty hasn't informed the Padres whether he plans to return to the team in 2024, the fact that he's been ramping up his throwing would seem to suggest that he intends to come back this season. The Padres are likely to remain mum on Darvish's situation until he formally rejoins the club, but his potential late-season return would provide a significant boost to a surging squad that now finds itself within striking distance of the Dodgers for the division lead. Over his first 11 starts this season before going on the IL and then the restricted list, Darvish went 4-3 with a 3.20 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 53:15 K:BB in 56.1 innings.

Heaney (4-12) took the loss Sunday against the Yankees after he gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out four.

The left-hander labored throughout the contest and had given up two runs through his first four frames, but he departed with runners on the corners with two outs in the fifth inning and had those baserunners added to his tally when Giancarlo Stanton clubbed a three-run homer off Jose Leclerc. It's the second time in Heaney's past three starts that he's failed to complete five innings, and he's surrendered 10 runs (nine earned) between those two short outings. He has a 4.05 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 115:34 K:BB across 120 innings this season and tentatively lines up for a matchup with Minnesota this weekend.

The Padres outrighted Wolf to Triple-A El Paso after he cleared waivers Saturday.

Wolf will remain in the organization after he went unclaimed upon being moved off the Padres' 40-man roster Thursday. The 25-year-old lefty previously made a spot start for the Padres in 2023 but has spent the entire 2024 campaign in the minors since being reacquired from the Pirates shortly after Opening Day. Over 23 outings (18 starts) for El Paso this season, Wolf owns a 7.21 ERA and 1.89 WHIP across 83.2 innings.