MLB Player News

Amaya (ankle) has started running on a treadmill but is "still weeks away" from a return, manager Craig Counsell said, per MLB.com.

Amaya was carted off the field after stepping awkwardly on first base and spraining his ankle during a game on Aug. 13. It was a tough break for the catcher, who was making his first appearance for the Cubs since May 24 after recovering from an oblique injury. Amaya may be able to help Chicago late in the season and in the playoffs, though fantasy managers shouldn't expect much more from the 26-year-old in 2025.

Soroka (shoulder) has resumed playing catch and is set to throw off a mound Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

Soroka, who came over to Chicago in a trade before the deadline, left his team debut Aug. 4 after just two innings and 31 pitches due to a right shoulder strain. The veteran righty seems to be slowly working his way back, and the Cubs are targeting a mid-September return to the majors. Soroka could slot back into the rotation when healthy, either bumping No. 5 starter Colin Rea to the bullpen or potentially filling in for Jameson Taillon, who left his last start early due to left groin tightness.

Muncy (oblique) is expected to face live pitching Tuesday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Muncy started to take swings off a tee last week, and he will now progress to facing real pitching. The 35-year-old was placed on the 10-day injured list Aug. 15 due to a right oblique strain, so he's eligible to return to action at any point. Manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Muncy could be activated during the team's upcoming road trip, which begins next Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

The Dodgers designated Kennedy for assignment Monday.

Kennedy will head to the waiver wire while the Dodgers bring utility player Enrique Hernandez (elbow) back from the injured list. After being claimed off waivers by the Dodgers on Aug. 15, Kennedy went 1-for-17 with one RBI and one run scored over seven games. If he clears waivers, Kennedy could accept an outright assignment and stick around with the organization at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

The Dodgers activated Hernandez (elbow) from the 10-day injured list prior to Monday's game against the Reds.

Hernandez isn't listed in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener, but he'll see his first action since July 5 over the next few days now that he's made a full recovery from left elbow inflammation. Manager Dave Roberts noted Monday that Hernandez will draw starts Tuesday and Wednesday, per Jon Paul Hoornstra of Newsweek.com. Hernandez was hitting just .083 with one home run, four RBI and two runs scored in his last 10 appearances before going down with the injury.

The Mets announced July 29 that Smith (elbow) has been throwing bullpen sessions and could be close to facing live hitters in batting practice, MLB.com reports.

Updates on Smith's rehab from his July 2024 Tommy John surgery with an internal brace have been scarce over the past month, but assuming he's experienced no setbacks during the ramp-up process, he could have an outside shot at returning from the 60-day injured list in September. Before suffering the elbow injury last summer, Smith had been an integral piece in the New York bullpen, posting a 3.06 ERA while collecting two saves and six holds over his 19 appearances in 2024.

McCutchen is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.

The Pirates will give McCutchen a routine day off after he had been included in the starting nine in each of the last three contests. With McCutchen taking a seat, Bryan Reynolds will get a day off from playing right field but will stick in the lineup at designated hitter.

Kiner-Falefa is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.

Kiner-Falefa will retreat to the bench for the series opener in St. Louis after he started in each of the last three contests. Jared Triolo will cover third base Monday in Kiner-Falefa's stead, which opens up shortstop for Liover Peguero.

Davis is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.

Davis had started behind the plate in four of the Pirates' last six games, going 3-for-12 with two doubles, one walk, one stolen base, one RBI and two runs during that stretch. He'll give way to Joey Bart on Monday, but Davis could be Option 1A at catcher for the Pirates for the time being.

Gasser (elbow) struck out four batters and allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks across 4.2 innings in a rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Nashville.

Gasser has now made eight starts in the minors since beginning his rehab assignment July 19 in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. Though pitchers are typically allotted just 30 days of rehab time in the minors while on the injured list, pitchers like Gasser who are returning from Tommy John surgery are eligible for up to three consecutive 10-day extensions, and the Brewers appear to have taken advantage of that rule to give the right-hander some additional ramp-up time. Since shifting his assignment to Nashville on Aug. 8, Gasser has turned in a 1.98 ERA over 13.2 innings in four starts, but his other ratios (1.32 WHIP, 12:6 K:BB) aren't quite as shiny. Milwaukee will likely continue to allow Gasser to work as a starter during his rehab assignment, but if he rejoins the big club over the final five weeks of the season, he would presumably work out of the bullpen, unless injuries test the organization's starting depth.