MLB Player News

Romero (abdomen) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list before the end of August, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Romero was dealt from the Cardinals to the Brewers at the deadline, but he's been on the shelf since July 14 due to appendicitis. While initial injury updates while he was with the Cardinals pointed to a mid-August return, McCalvy notes that Romero still needs to successfully make it through several side sessions and a rehab assignment, which should set him up for his Milwaukee debut before the end of the month.

Nelson (elbow) is expected to begin a bullpen progression within the next 7-to-10 days, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Nelson has been on the injured list since June 19 after suffering a flexor strain and UCL sprain in his right elbow. The team reported in mid-July that the right-hander was closing in on a throwing program, and this latest update indicates that he's continuing to progress. A timetable for Nelson's return is still up in the air and will depend on how his elbow feels upon returning to the bump.

Gallen (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Gallen is ready to take the next step in his recovery from right elbow inflammation, which caused him to land on the Diamondbacks' injured list July 12. He was moved to the 60-day IL on Aug. 3, so the earliest Gallen can return is Sept. 7, though the Diamondbacks will have a better sense of the right-hander's recovery timeline once he gets more bullpen sessions under his belt.

Burnes (elbow/teres major) will throw his next bullpen Tuesday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Burnes has spent most of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery, though he hit a snag in early June due to a teres major strain that shut him down from throwing. He resumed throwing just prior to the All-Star break and was cleared to throw bullpen sessions in early August, and the right-hander is targeting a return to the majors by early September.

Smith (neck) could take batting practice at some point this week, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Smith has been stuck on the injured list since June 11 but has been making recent strides in his recovery. Dave Roberts stated Monday that the week ahead will prove to be critical for Smith, who was cleared to resume some baseball activities near the end of July but still needs time to ramp up and then complete a rehab assignment before being activated from the IL.

The Dodgers designated Hernandez for assignment Monday.

The Dodgers shuffled their bullpen Monday, swapping out Hernandez and Kyle Hurt for Seth Halvorsen and Charlie Barnes. Hernandez has tossed 4.2 scoreless innings over his last three major-league outings and has a 6.45 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over 22.1 innings this season.

The Dodgers optioned Hurt to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday.

Hurt made four appearances since being promoted to the big leagues August 1, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out seven across five innings. However, he'll be sent back to Triple-A in favor of a fresh arm. Seth Halvorsen was recalled from Oklahoma City in a corresponding move.

The Dodgers selected Barnes' contract from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday.

The Dodgers shuffled their bullpen for fresh arms Monday, bringing up both Barnes and Seth Halvorsen while Kyle Hurt was optioned to Triple-A and Jonathan Hernandez was designated for assignment. Barnes has a 6.92 ERA and 1.85 WHIP over 13 innings across five major-league appearances on the season.

Cavanaugh is expected to serve as San Francisco's starting catcher for the foreseeable future after Daniel Susac was diagnosed with a left knee patella fracture Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Pavlovic notes that the Giants are in the process of calling up a backup catcher ahead of Monday's clash against Houston, and the team is also looking to acquire a veteran backstop to help out the rest of the way. However, there's a good chance that Cavanaugh will remain the team's starting catcher through the final few months of the 2026 season. The 24-year-old is batting .250 with one extra-base hit, three RBI and three runs scored in 22 games since July 1.

Pivetta (forearm) threw off a mound Monday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

It's not clear as to how many pitches Pivetta threw during Monday's throwing session, but it's a good sign that he was able to get back on the mound after exiting his last rehab appearance Tuesday due to tightness in his right elbow. He'll presumably be re-evaluated over the course of the next few days to determine the next step in his rehab.