MLB Player News

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Sale (ribcage) will likely be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Saturday's game in Philadelphia, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

With Sale checking out well physically following his third and final rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Gwinnett, he'll be on track to rejoin the Atlanta rotation one week later for what will be his first start with the big club since June 18. Before suffering a left ribcage fracture in his start against the Mets that day, Sale had delivered an impressive encore to his Cy Young-winning season in 2024, turning in a 2.52 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 114:26 K:BB in 89.1 innings with Atlanta. The veteran lefty tossed 77 pitches in his final outing with Gwinnett and could have his workload monitored carefully Saturday, but fantasy managers will likely still want to activate Sale this week as he rejoins the big club.

Trevino is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Will Banfield will handle the catching duties for Cincinnati on Sunday after Trevino started behind the plate in each of the previous seven games behind the plate while going 4-for-24 with three RBI and a run scored. Trevino should continue to see the bulk of the playing time at catcher while top backstop Tyler Stephenson (thumb) is on the injured list.

Andujar is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Since joining the Reds on July 31 after being acquired from the Athletics, Andujar is slashing a sizzling .358/.414/.623 with three home runs in his first 17 games with his new team. He should continue to occupy a prominent spot in the heart of the lineup whenever he starts, but Andujar will hit the bench for the second time in the series while the Reds use Austin Hays at designated hitter and Gavin Lux, TJ Friedl and Noelvi Marte at the outfield spots.

McCann will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Reds.

Though he's included in the lineup for the series finale, McCann was on the bench for the previous two games and appears to have moved into the No. 2 role at catcher after Gabriel Moreno (finger) made his long-awaited return from the 60-day injured list Friday. McCann has been a serviceable replacement since he signed with Arizona in late June, slashing .247/.337/.403 with three home runs and nine RBI through his first 29 games with the team.

Moreno is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

Moreno returned from the 60-day injured list Friday and started the past two games behind the plate for Arizona, going 4-for-8 with a home run, a double and four RBI. James McCann will step in to catch for Zac Gallen in the series finale.

Del Castillo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

The left-handed-hitting Del Castillo will hit the bench for the fourth time in five games, with two of his absences coming against lefties and two coming against righties. He had been serving as the Diamondbacks' primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching, but manager Torey Lovullo may prefer to use a committee of players at DH moving forward, as Del Castillo has struck out at a 34.8 percent clip since the beginning of August.

The Padres recalled Wagner from Triple-A El Paso on Sunday.

Acquired from the Blue Jays on July 31, Wagner was subsequently optioned to El Paso, where he slashed .270/.333/.405 with two home runs and one stolen base in 17 games. He's been recalled from Triple-A to replace Jackson Merrill (ankle) on the active roster, though Gavin Sheets is the likelier candidate to benefit from regular playing time while Merrill is on the shelf. Wagner, meanwhile, will bolster the Padres' infield depth but likely won't be in store for steady starts.

Sheets will start in left field and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

With Jackson Merrill landing on the injured list Saturday due to the left ankle sprain he sustained Aug. 15, Sheets should be primed to handle an everyday role in the outfield until Merrill makes his return. Sheets had already started in each of the Padres' previous five games, going 4-for-16 with two home runs, one double, four RBI and three runs.

Fermin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

After starting behind the plate in each of the past four games, Fermin will get a breather for the series finale. Elias Diaz will handle catching duties for San Diego, forming a battery with starting pitcher Nick Pivetta.

Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres.

Smith looks to be receiving a routine breather after he started at catcher or designated hitter in each of the Dodgers' last five games. Dalton Rushing will spell him behind the dish and bat ninth in Sunday's series finale.